East Baton Rouge Parish School Board

Regular Meeting Minutes

Thursday, November 21, 2024

A. Meeting Opening

1. Invocation and Pledge of Allegiance

2. Call to Order and Roll Call

The meeting was called to order at 5:04 PM by President Powell Lewis.

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

Dadrius Lanus came in after the roll call.

Others present were LaMont Cole, Superintendent; 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; James Crochet, Chief Business Operations Officer; John McCann, Interim Chief Operations Officer; Randy Morales II, Chief of Plant Operations; Catasha Edwards, Chief of Literacy.

B. Minutes

1. Meeting Minutes

Approval of the School Board minutes of the October 17, 2024, Regular Board meeting and the October 3, 2024, Committee of the Whole meeting as published in the Official Journal.

Motion by Nathan Rust, second by Cliff Lewis.

Final Resolution: Motion Carries

Yea: Bellue, 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. Unfinished Business

1. Amended Policy: EFA, Internet Safety and Network Use

Approval of the amended School Board policy and related matters: EFA, Internet Safety and Network Use.

Motion by Patrick Martin, second by Dadrius Lanus.

Final Resolution: Motion Carries

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

G. Consent Agenda

1. Consent Vote

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

Motion by Emily Soulé, second by Dadrius Lanus.

Final Resolution: Motion Carries

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

2. 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 Excellence

3. 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

4. Amended Policies

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

5. 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.

End of the Consent Agenda Items

H. New Business

1. Student Expulsion

Discussion/Consideration of a request to appeal a student expulsion.

No motion was received; therefore, the expulsion will be upheld.

2. Appeal Hearing-Student Expulsion

Request to appeal a student expulsion.

The Appeal was not heard due to resolution prior to the meeting.

3. Appeal Hearing-Student Expulsion

Request to appeal a student expulsion.

The Appeal was not heard due to resolution prior to the meeting.

I. Organizational Items

1. Announcement of Meetings

J. Adjournment

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