East Baton Rouge Parish School Board

Committee of the Whole Meeting Minutes

Thursday, November 7, 2024

A. Meeting Opening

1. Call to Order and Roll Call

The meeting was called to order at 5:16 PM by Vice-President Patrick Martin.

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

Mark Bellue, Dadrius Lanus were absent.

Others present were Adam Smith, Deputy Superintendent; Gwynn Shamlin Jr., General Counsel; Andrea O’Konski, Chief of Accountability and Assessments; Amy Jones, Chief Technology Officer; Stacey Dupre, Chief of Support and Special Projects; Beanka Williams, Interim 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 Catasha Edwards, Chief Academic Officer; Lakesha Reese-Penn, Instructional Data Coordinator; Joni Sam, Executive Director; and Jennifer Lightfoot, Executive Director-Foundation.

B. Receive As Information

1. School Presentation

C. Fiscal Transparency Report

1. Fiscal Transparency Report

D. Items for Consideration

1. Oversight Committee Financial Update

Approval of the Semi-Annual Financial Tax Plan Update and the 2023-2024 Preliminary Actual Results for propositions 1, 2, and 3. Strategic Alignment: Operational

Motion by Nathan Rust, second by Shashonnie Steward.

Final Resolution: Motion Carries

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

Not Present at Vote: Powell Lewis

2. Professional Services Contract: Youth Educational Service, Inc.

Approval of a professional services contract between the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board and Youth Educational Service, Inc. in the amount of $100,000 to provide ACT instruction. Strategic Alignment: Student Achievement/Funding Source: Title I Schoolwide

Motion by Shashonnie Steward, second by Cliff Lewis.

Final Resolution: Motion Carries

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

Not Present at Vote: Powell Lewis

3. Amended Policies

Consideration of a request for the approval of the following amended School Board policies and related matters:

a) BBBC, School Board Member Continuing Education
b) EFA, Internet Safety and Network Use
c) GBA, Contracts and Compensation
d) GBRIB, Sick Leave
e) GBRIBB, Sick Leave Bank
f) JDA, Corporal Punishment
g) JGC, Student Health Services
h) JGCB, Immunizations
i) JGCD, Administration of Medication
j) JGCDA, Naloxone

Motion to bifurcate the amended policies to consider policy EFA separately from the remaining policies and to consider the remaining policies in one action.

Motion by Nathan Rust, second by Shashonnie Steward.

Final Resolution: Motion Carries

Yea: Steward, Rust, Gaudet, Soulé, Martin

Not Present at Vote: Powell Lewis, Lewis

Motion to defer policy EFA-Internet Safety and Network Use to the full Board without recommendation.

Motion by Nathan Rust, second by Shashonnie Steward.

Final Resolution: Motion Carries

Yea: Steward, Rust, Gaudet, Soulé, Martin

Not Present at Vote: Powell Lewis, Lewis

Approval of the following amended School Board policies and related matters:

a) BBBC, School Board Member Continuing Education
b) GBA, Contracts and Compensation
c) GBRIB, Sick Leave
d) GBRIBB, Sick Leave Bank
e) JDA, Corporal Punishment
f) JGC, Student Health Services
g) JGCB, Immunizations
h) JGCD, Administration of Medication
i) JGCDA, Naloxone

Motion by Shashonnie Steward, second by Nathan Rust.

Final Resolution: Motion Carries

Yea: Steward, Rust, Gaudet, Soulé, Martin

Not Present at Vote: Powell Lewis, Lewis

4. Litigation

Approval of the recommendation from Gwynn Shamlin, General Counsel, EBRPSB, in the matter of: Leonard Briscoe and Danielle Briscoe, individually and on behalf of their minor
child vs. East Baton Rouge School Board, Docket No. 718214, Section 26, 19th Judicial District Court, Parish of East Baton Rouge, State of Louisiana and to provide for related matters

Motion by Shashonnie Steward, second by Michael Gaudet.

Final Resolution: Motion Carries

Yea: Steward, Rust, Gaudet, Soulé, Martin

Not Present at Vote: Powell Lewis, Lewis

E. Presentation

1. Proximity Learning and Substitute Utilization Updates

F. Next Meeting Dates/Announcements

1. Announcement of Meetings

G. Adjournment

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