East Baton Rouge Parish School Board

Regular Meeting Minutes

Thursday, September 19, 2024

A. Meeting Opening

1. Invocation and Pledge of Allegiance

The Invocation will be led by School Board Member Emily Soulé, and the Pledge of Allegiance will be led by Cadet Lieutenant Colonel Taylin Carr, Woodlawn High School, accompanied by Senior Army Instructor, Colonel (Retired) Eric Keys.

2. Call to Order and Roll Call

The meeting was called to order at 5:11 PM by President Powell Lewis.

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

Dadrius Lanus came in after the roll call.

Shashonnie Steward was absent.

Others present were LaMont Cole, Superintendent; Adam Smith, Interim Deputy Superintendent; Gwynn Shamlin Jr., General Counsel; Laura Williams, Interim Chief of Schools; Andrea O’Konski, Chief of Accountability and Assessments; Amy Jones, Chief Technology Officer; Shenoa Warren, Executive Director of Early Childhood; Stacey Dupre, Chief of Support and Special Projects; Nichola Hall, Chief of Human Resources; Kelly Lopez, Chief Financial Officer; James Crochet, Chief Business Operations Officer; John McCann, Interim Chief Operations Officer; Randy Morales II, Chief of Plant Operations; and Marlon Cousin, Interim Administrative Director-Communications and Public Relations; Catasha Edwards, Chief of Literacy; Lakesha Reese-Penn, Instructional Data Coordinator.

B. Minutes

1. Meeting Minutes

Approval of the School Board minutes of the August 1, 2024, Special Board meeting, the August 1, 2024, Committee of the Whole, and the August 15, 2024, Regular meeting as published in the Official Journal.

Motion by Patrick Martin, second by Cliff Lewis.

Final Resolution: Motion Carries

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

C. Information Only

1. Monthly Financial Report

2. Personnel Changes

D. Receive As Information

1. Update from Superintendent

2. Update from Board President

E. Reports from Board Appointees to Committees/Agencies

1. Board Appointees

F. Consent Agenda

1. Consent Vote

The following items were approved as part of the Consent Agenda.

Motion by Dadrius Lanus, second by Patrick Martin.

Final Resolution: Motion Carries

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

2. 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.

3. Pupil Progression Plan

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

4. 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

5. 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

6. 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.

7. 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.

8. LDOE Differentiated Stipend

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

9. Policy

Adoption of the following new policies:

a) IKB, Miscellaneous Instructional Policies: Controversial Issues

b) JGCF, Behavioral Health Support For Students

10. Amended Policies

Adoption of 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

End of the Consent Agenda Items

G. Organizational Items

1. Announcement of Meetings

H. Adjournment

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