East Baton Rouge Parish School Board
Regular Meeting Minutes
Thursday, October 17, 2024
A. Meeting Opening
1. Invocation and Pledge of Allegiance
2. Call to Order and Roll Call
The meeting was called to order at 5:05 PM by President Powell Lewis.
Members present were Mark Bellue, Dadrius Lanus, Carla Powell Lewis, Shashonnie Steward, Cliff Lewis, Nathan Rust, Michael Gaudet, and Emily Soulé.
Patrick Martin was absent.
Others present were LaMont Cole, Superintendent; Adam Smith, Deputy Superintendent; Gwynn Shamlin Jr., General Counsel; 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; Randy Morales II, Chief of Plant Operations; and Catasha Edwards, Chief of Literacy; Lakesha Reese-Penn, Instructional Data Coordinator.
B. Minutes
1. Meeting Minutes
Approval of the School Board minutes of the September 19, 2024, Regular Board meeting, the September 5, 2024, Special Board meeting, and the September 5, 2024, Committee of the Whole meeting as published in the Official Journal.
Motion by Nathan Rust, second by Emily Soulé.
Final Resolution: Motion Carries
Yea: Bellue, Lanus, Powell Lewis, Steward, Lewis, Rust, Gaudet, Soulé
C. Information Only
1. Monthly Financial Report
2. Personnel Changes
3. Announcement of Public Meeting
Notice is hereby given that at its meeting to be held on Thursday, November 21, 2024 at 5:00 p.m. at its regular meeting place, the East Parish Rouge Parish School Board Office, 1050 S. Foster Drive, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, the Parish School Board of the Parish of East Baton Rouge, State of Louisiana, plans to consider adopting a resolution ordering and calling an election to be held in Consolidated School District No. 1 of the Parish of East Baton Rouge, State of Louisiana to authorize the renewal of ad valorem taxes therein.
D. Receive As Information
1. Update from Superintendent
2. Update from the Board President
F. Consent Agenda
1. Consent Vote
The following items are to be approved as part of the Consent Agenda.
Motion by Shashonnie Steward, second by Mark Bellue.
Final Resolution: Motion Carries
Yea: Bellue, Lanus, Powell Lewis, Steward, Lewis, Rust, Gaudet, Soulé
2. Stipend
Approval of the distribution of the LDOE Certificated and Support staff stipends for the 2024-2025 fiscal year. Strategic Alignment: Operational Excellence
3. Grants
Acceptance of the following grants and related matters:
a) 2024-2025 Art in Education Supplies and Materials Grant in the amount of $4,000 for art supplies for Park Elementary.
b) 2024-2025 Deborah Rochelle Teacher Grant in the amount of $13,396 to provide funding to four teachers for school site projects.
c) ADF Teacher Grant in the amount of $29,894 to provide funding to seven schools for site projects. Strategic Alignment: Student Achievement
d) 2024-2025 Louisiana Department of Education CCAP B-3 grant in the amount of $808,034 to sustain enrollment for current students enrolled in the infants to three-year-old program. Strategic Alignment: Student Achievement
e) 2024-2025 High Dosage Tutoring Grant and approval of the budget in the amount of $2,080,565 to provide high dosage tutoring for students grades Kindergarten through 5th grade. Strategic Alignment: Student Achievement
4. Grants: Public Service Commission
Acceptance of the following Public Service Commission Grants and related matters:
a) Melrose Elementary in the amount of $192,500
b) Scotlandville High in the amount of $452,827
c) Liberty High in the amount of $328,000
d) Glen Oaks High in the amount of $626,411
e) Professional Development Center (PDC) in the amount of $116,919.73 f) Baton Rouge Magnet High in the amount of $596,877.33 to fund energy efficiency projects. Strategic Alignment: Operational Excellence
5. Professional Services Contracts
Approval of professional services contracts between the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board and the following:
a) Studyville, in an amount up to $1,700,000, to provide high-dosage tutoring services in reading and math and authorize the Superintendent to negotiate and execute contracts with additional state-approved vendors. Strategic Alignment: Student Achievement/Funding Source: High Dosage Tutoring Grant
b) Beable Life-Ready Literacy in the amount of $344,712.50 to provide literacy and career and college readiness. Strategic Alignment: Student Achievement/Funding Source: MSAP Grant, Fostering Diverse Schools Grant & Magnet
c) Lexia Learning Systems LLC in the amount of $ 525,979.50 to provide reading instruction to students. Funding Source: Title I Strategic Alignment: Student Achievement
d) Lexia Learning Systems LLC in the amount of $93,005 to provide professional learning for teachers to improve literacy and language. Strategic Alignment: Student Achievement & Employee Development/Funding Source: CLSD
e) Proximity Learning to provide virtual instruction for students in grades six through twelve. Strategic Alignment: Student Achievement/Funding Source: General Fund (Ms. Hall) f) Sedgwick Claims Management Services, Inc. as the Third Party Claims Administrator for the East Baton Rouge Parish School System and to authorize the General Counsel and the Superintendent to negotiate and execute a contract. Strategic Alignment: Operational Excellence/Funding Source: Workers' Compensation/Risk Management
6. Resolution: Special Counsel
Approval of a resolution regarding the retention of Phelps Dunbar, LLP as special counsel for the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board and related matters.
Adoption of amended policy BCB, School Board Meeting Rules of Procedure.
8. Litigation
Approval of the recommendation from Gwynn Shamlin, General Counsel, EBRPSB, in the matter of: Nhung N. Tu v. East Baton Rouge Parish School Board, et al, Docket No.731854, Section 23, Parish of East Baton Rouge, State of Louisiana and to provide for related matters
End of the Consent Agenda
G. New Business
1. Student Expulsion
Motion to hear the student expulsion at the November Regular Meeting.
Motion by Dadrius Lanus, second by Emily Soulé.
2. Student Expulsion
Motion to hear the student expulsion at the November Regular Meeting.
Motion by Dadrius Lanus, second by Cliff Lewis.
3. Litigation
Approval of the recommendation from Gwynn Shamlin, General Counsel, EBRPSB, in the matter of: Carly Tamor, et al. v. East Baton Rouge Parish School Board, et al: Suit No. 740164; Section 23; 19th JDC; EBR Parish and to provide for related matters
Motion by Mark Bellue, second by Nathan Rust.
Final Resolution: Motion Carries
Yea: Bellue, Lanus, Powell Lewis, Steward, Lewis, Rust, Gaudet, Soulé
H. Presentations
1. Data Aggregation Report
I. Organizational Items
1. Announcement of Meetings
J. Adjournment
There being no further business, the Board adjourned by acclamation.
______________________________ ______________________________
LaMont Cole Carla Powell Lewis, M.Ed.
Secretary/Treasurer to the Board School Board President