East Baton Rouge Parish School Board

Committee of the Whole Minutes

Thursday, September 5, 2024

A. Meeting Opening

1. Call to Order and Roll Call

The meeting was called to order at 5:12 PM by Vice-President Patrick Martin.

Members present were Mark Bellue, Shashonnie Steward, Cliff Lewis, Nathan Rust, Michael Gaudet, and Patrick Martin.

Emily Soulé came in after the roll call.

Dadrius Lanus and Carla Powell Lewis were absent.

Others present were LaMont Cole, Superintendent;  Adam Smith, Interim Deputy Superintendent; and Gwynn Shamlin Jr., General Counsel.

B. Information Only

1. Fiscal Transparency Report

C. Items for Consideration

1. Grant: Student Enhancement Block Grant

Approval of the Student Enhancement Block Grant (8g) in the amount of $391,448 to provide three pre-k4 classes at Audubon, Shenandoah, & Twin Oaks Elementary Schools. Strategic Alignment: Student Achievement.

Motion by Mark Bellue, second by Shashonnie Steward.

Final Resolution: Motion Carries

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

2. Pupil Progression Plan

Approval of the 2024-2025 school year district Pupil Progression Plan. Strategic Alignment: Student Achievement

Motion by Shashonnie Steward, second by Michael Gaudet.

Final Resolution: Motion Carries

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

3. Professional Services Contract: Nearpod

Approval of a professional services contract between the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board and Nearpod, LLC in the amount of $286,590 to provide K-12 supplemental curriculum platform and associated educational tools and resources. Strategic Alignment: Student Achievement/Funding Source: General Fund

Motion by Mark Bellue, second by Nathan Rust.

Final Resolution: Motion Carries

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

4. Agreement: EverDriven

Approval of an agreement between the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board and EverDriven to provide for the provision of alternative transportation solutions. Strategic Alignment: Operational Excellence/Funding Source: General Fund

Motion by Michael Gaudet, second by Shashonnie Steward.

Final Resolution: Motion Carries

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

5. RFP Selection: Budget Consulting Services

Acceptance of the recommendation of the RFQ Selection Committee to select Swanson Consulting as the budget consulting service and authorize the Superintendent to execute a contract and related matters.

Motion by Nathan Rust, second by Shashonnie Steward.

Final Resolution: Motion Carries

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

6. HVAC Mechanical Services

Approval to advertise, review, and approve HVAC mechanical services contracts for district services. Strategic Alignment: Exemplary Customer Service/Funding Source: Proposition #1.

Motion by Cliff Lewis, second by Nathan Rust.

Final Resolution: Motion Carries

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

Not Present at Vote: Steward

7. LDOE Differentiated Stipend

Approval of the distribution of the LDOE Differentiated stipends for the 2024-2025 fiscal year. Strategic Alignment: Operational Excellence

Motion by Michael Gaudet, second by Emily Soulé.

Final Resolution: Motion Carries

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

Not Present at Vote: Steward

8. Cooperative Endeavor Agreement: Southern University

Item was pulled without consideration.

9. Policy

Adoption of the following new policies:

a) IKB, Miscellaneous Instructional Policies: Controversial Issues
b) JGCF, Behavioral Health Support For Students

Motion by Cliff Lewis, second by Michael Gaudet.

Final Resolution: Motion Carries

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

Not Present at Vote: Steward

10. Amended Policies

Adoption the following amended policies:

a) EB-Buildings and Grounds Management
b) GAMA – Employee Smoking, Tobacco, and Marijuana Use
c) JCDAA – Student Smoking, Tobacco and Marijuana Use
d) IDCH – Home Study Program
e) IDE – Co-Curricular Activities and Extracurricular Activities
f) IDFA – Interscholastic Athletics
g) IDBA – Sex Education
h) JBE – Truancy
i) JCDAE – Electronic Telecommunications Devices
j) JD – Discipline
k) JDD – Suspension
l) JDE – Expulsion
m) JGCE - Child Abuse

Motion by Nathan Rust, second by Emily Soulé.

Final Resolution: Motion Carries

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

Not Present at Vote: Steward

D. Presentations

1. Property & Liability Insurance Presentation

E. Next Meeting Dates/Announcements

1. Announcement of Meetings

F. Adjournment

There being no further business, the Committee of the Whole adjourned by acclamation.