East Baton Rouge Parish School Board

2-Committee of the Whole Meeting Minutes

Thursday, August 1, 2024

A. Meeting Opening

1. Call to Order and Roll Call

The Meeting was called to order at 5:20 PM by School Board Vice President Patrick Martin.

Members present were Mark Bellue, Carla Powell Lewis, Shashonnie Steward, Nathan Rust, Michael Gaudet, Emily Soulé, and Patrick Martin.

Cliff Lewis was absent.

Dadrius Lanus came in after the roll call.

Others present were LaMont Cole, Superintendent; Laura Williams, Interim Chief of Schools; Andrea O’Konski, Chief of Accountability and Assessments; Amy Jones, Chief Technology Officer; Shenoa Warren, Chief of Literacy; Stacey Dupre, Chief of Support and Special Projects; Kelly Lopez, Chief Financial Officer; James Crochet, Chief Business Operations Officer; John McCann, Interim Chief Operations Officer; and Randy Morales II, Chief of Plant Operations.

B. Information Only

1. Roll Forward Property Tax Millage

2. Fiscal Transparency Report

C. Unfinished Business

1. Hourly Rate-University Students

Motion to approve a maximum hourly rate of $20.00 for university students seeking professional credentials in areas of employment working extended day school-based programs.

Motion by Emily Soulé, second by Michael Gaudet.

Final Resolution: Motion Carries

Yea: Bellue, Steward, Rust, Gaudet, Soulé, Martin

Abstain: Powell Lewis

D. Items for Consideration

1. Grants: Early Childhood

Approval of the following 2024-2025 Early Childhood Grants:

a) Early Childhood Education Fund in the amount of $154,885 to increase early childhood seats for children birth to three years old.
b) Family Engagement and Leadership Planning in the amount of $100,000 to support strategic planning for early childhood family engagement.
c) 2024-2025 Louisiana Early Educator Investment Collaborative Grant in the amount of $50,000 to gather and analyze data from early educators regarding inadequate compensation and benefits in early childhood programs. Strategic Alignment: Student Achievement

Motion by Nathan Rust, second by Carla Powell Lewis.

Final Resolution: Motion Carries

Yea: Bellue, Powell Lewis, Steward, Rust, Gaudet, Soulé, Martin

2. Louisiana Compliance Questionnaire

Approval of the Louisiana Compliance Questionnaire as required for the 2023-2024 financial audit of the East Baton Rouge Parish School System.

Motion by Nathan Rust, second by Mark Bellue.

Final Resolution: Motion Carries

Yea: Bellue, Powell Lewis, Steward, Rust, Gaudet, Soulé, Martin

3. Approval of Fiscal Agent Contract: Capital One

Approval of the Fiscal Agent between the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board and Capital One Bank for a two-year optional extension beginning October 1, 2024, through September 30, 2026.

Motion by Carla Powell Lewis, second by Shashonnie Steward.

Final Resolution: Motion Carries

Yea: Bellue, Powell Lewis, Steward, Rust, Gaudet, Soulé, Martin

4. 2024-2025 Salary Schedule Amendment: Registered School Nurses

Approval to amend the 2024-2025 salary schedule to increase the part-time rate for registered school nurses from $18.00 per hour to $35.00 per hour. Strategic Alignment: Operational Excellence & Exemplary Customer Service

Motion by Nathan Rust, second by Emily Soulé.

Final Resolution: Motion Carries

Yea: Bellue, Powell Lewis, Steward, Rust, Gaudet, Soulé, Martin

5. Memorandum of Understanding (MOU): Junior Achievement

Approval of a Memorandum of Understanding between the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board and Junior Achievement of Greater Baton Rouge in the amount of $90,500 to provide support services for students. Strategic Alignment: Student Achievement/Funding Source: General Fund

Motion by Michael Gaudet, second by Nathan Rust.

Final Resolution: Motion Carries

Yea: Bellue, Lanus, Powell Lewis, Steward, Rust, Gaudet, Soulé, Martin

6. Professional Services Contract: Arts Council of Greater Baton Rouge

Approval of the following professional services contracts between the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board and Arts Council of Greater Baton Rouge in the amount of $65,000 to provide professional development and arts infusion. Strategic Alignment: Student Achievement/Funding Source: General Fund

Motion by Carla Powell Lewis, second by Nathan Rust.

Final Resolution: Motion Carries

Yea: Bellue, Lanus, Powell Lewis, Steward, Rust, Gaudet, Soulé, Martin

7. Professional Services Contract: Kids' Orchestra

Consideration of a request for the approval of a professional services contract between the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board and Kids Orchestra in the amount of $210,000 to provide services for the Kid's Orchestra after-school program for 2024-2025. Strategic Alignment: Student Achievement/Funding Source: General Fund/ESSER & Fine Arts (General Fund)

Motion by Nathan Rust, second by Emily Soulé.

Substitute motion to defer the consideration of a request for the approval of a professional services contract between the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board and Kids Orchestra in the amount of $210,000 to provide services for the Kid's Orchestra after-school program for 2024-2025 to the full Board without recommendation.

Motion by Dadrius Lanus, second by Michael Gaudet.

Final Resolution: Motion Carries

Yea: Bellue, Lanus, Powell Lewis, Steward, Rust, Gaudet, Soulé, Martin

8. Professional Services Contract: Manship Theatre

Approval of the following professional services contracts between the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board and Douglas Manship, Sr. Theater Complex Holding, Inc. (Manship Theater) in the amount of $43,655 to provide four touring productions for select schools. Strategic Alignment: Student Achievement/Funding Source: General Fund

Motion by Nathan Rust, second by Dadrius Lanus.

Final Resolution: Motion Carries

Yea: Bellue, Lanus, Powell Lewis, Steward, Rust, Gaudet, Soulé, Martin

9. Professional Services Contract: English Learners Engage

Approval of a professional services contract between the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board and English Learners Engage in the amount of $58,800 to provide support and professional development on school improvement best practices. Strategic Alignment: Student Achievement/Funding Source: Redesign

Motion by Nathan Rust, second by Mark Bellue.

Final Resolution: Motion Carries

Yea: Bellue, Lanus, Powell Lewis, Steward, Rust, Gaudet, Soulé, Martin

10. Professional Services Contract: Studyville

Approval of a professional services contract between the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board and Studyville in the amount of $75,000 to provide tutoring services. Strategic Alignment: Student Achievement/Funding Source: General Fund

Motion by Nathan Rust, second by Emily Soulé.

Final Resolution: Motion Carries

Yea: Bellue, Lanus, Powell Lewis, Steward, Rust, Gaudet, Soulé, Martin

11. Professional Services Contract: Baton Rouge Youth Coalition (BRYC)

Approval of a professional services contract between the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board and Baton Rouge Youth Coalition (BRYC) in the amount of $794,519.31 for students to participate in college and career readiness programs. Strategic Alignment: Student Achievement/Funding Source: General Fund

Motion by Nathan Rust, second by Emily Soulé.

Final Resolution: Motion Carries

Yea: Bellue, Lanus, Powell Lewis, Steward, Rust, Gaudet, Soulé, Martin

12. Professional Services Contract: City Year

A friendly amendment to defer the consideration of a request for the approval of a professional services contract between the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board and City Year, Inc. in the amount of $650,000 to provide high-dose tutoring and family engagement support to the full Board without recommendation. Strategic Alignment: Student Achievement/Funding Source: General Fund

Motion by Michael Gaudet, second by Nathan Rust.

Final Resolution: Motion Carries

Yea: Bellue, Lanus, Powell Lewis, Steward, Rust, Gaudet, Soulé, Martin

13. Professional Services Contact: Everyday Labs

Approval of a professional services contract between the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board and EveryDay Labs in the amount of $ 221,558.97 to support student attendance Strategic Alignment: Exemplary Customer Service/Funding Source: ESSER III Incentive

Motion by Mark Bellue, second by Dadrius Lanus.

Final Resolution: Motion Carries

Yea: Bellue, Lanus, Powell Lewis, Steward, Gaudet, Soulé, Martin

Nay: Rust

14. Professional Services Contract: Amplify

Approval of a professional services contract between the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board and Amplify in the amount of $237,248.00 to support K-4 literacy assessments and intervention. Strategic Alignment: Academic Achievement/Funding Source: Federal Funds

Motion by Mark Bellue, second by Michael Gaudet.

Final Resolution: Motion Carries

Yea: Bellue, Lanus, Powell Lewis, Steward, Rust, Gaudet, Soulé, Martin

15. Professional Services Contract: Renaissance Learning

Approval of a professional services contract between the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board and Renaissance Learning in the amount of $165,158.07 to support a data analytics platform and early warning systems. Strategic Alignment: Academic Achievement/Funding Source: Federal Funds

Motion by Emily Soulé, second by Carla Powell Lewis.

Final Resolution: Motion Carries

Yea: Bellue, Lanus, Powell Lewis, Steward, Rust, Gaudet, Soulé, Martin

16. Professional Services Contract: Dreambox Learning

Approval of a professional services contract between the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board and Dreambox Learning in the amount of $399,984.93. Strategic Alignment: Student Achievement/Funding Source: General Fund

Motion by Michael Gaudet, second by Shashonnie Steward.

Final Resolution: Motion Carries

Yea: Bellue, Lanus, Powell Lewis, Steward, Rust, Gaudet, Soulé, Martin

Motion to defer items 17-21 (17. Agreement for Services: Center for High School Success, 18. Memorandum of Understanding: 100 Black Men of Metro Baton Rouge, LTD., 19. Contract Amendment: HES, 20. Litigation, 21. Litigation) to the full Board August 15th.

Motion by Nathan Rust, second by Dadrius Lanus.

Motion Carries

Yea: Bellue, Lanus, Powell Lewis, Steward, Rust, Gaudet, Soulé, Martin

E. Next Meeting Dates/Announcements

1. Announcement of Meetings

F. Adjournment

There being no further business, the Board adjourned by acclamation.