East Baton Rouge Parish School Board

Committee of the Whole Meeting Minutes

Thursday, December 5, 2024

A. Meeting Opening

1. Call to Order and Roll Call

School Board Vice-President Patrick Martin called the meeting to order at 5:12 PM.

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

Shashonnie Steward was absent.

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; 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.

B. Fiscal Transparency Report

1. Fiscal Transparency Report

C. Information Only

1. School Presentation

2. School and District Performance Scores

3. Announcement of Public Meeting

D. Items for Consideration

1. Grants

Consideration of a request for the acceptance of the following grants:

a) Marketing Education Retail Alliance (MERA) in the amount of $25,990 to provide for nine high schools to run a school-based enterprise and related matters.

b) Marketing Education Retail Alliance (MERA) in the amount of $5,885 to provide training for Glen Oaks High to earn a Basic Industry Based Credential (IBC) in Certified Logistics Associate (CLA) and related matters.

c) Marketing Education Retail Alliance (MERA) in the amount of $21,875 to provide professional development workshops that will increase student internship competencies in the areas of leadership, communication, workplace conflict resolution, work ethic, corporate etiquette, self-efficacy, and related matters.
d) Grow Your Trade Grant sponsored by DEWALT to provide $10,000 worth of DEWALT tools for CTEC programs and related matters.

e) New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Foundation in the amount of $4,000 to Scotlandville Magnet High for additional band equipment and related matters.

f) Neighbors Federal Credit Union in the amount of $10,777 for school site projects at LaSalle Elementary, Belfair Montessori Middle Magnet, and Glen Oaks Middle and related matters.

g) Entergy Grant in the amount of $1,000 to Belfair Montessori Magnet for the school garden and related matters.

Motion by Nathan Rust, second by Dadrius Lanus.

Final Resolution: Motion Carries

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

Not Present at Vote: Gaudet

2. Professional Service Contract: District Management Group

Consideration of a request for the approval of a professional services contract in the amount of $62,000 to provide a Breakthrough Results (BTR) Program for five early childhood school-based teams to focus on improving proficiency in literacy. Strategic Alignment: Student Achievement/Funding Source: LA4

Motion by Nathan Rust, second by Michael Gaudet.

Final Resolution: Motion Carries

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

3. Professional Services Contract: First Choice Therapy

The item has been pulled.

4. Contract: First Student Inc.

Approval of a contract between the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board and First Student Inc. not to exceed $470,000 to provide for vacant school bus routes.

Motion by Nathan Rust, second by Emily Soulé.

Final Resolution: Motion Carries

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

5. Contract Amendment: HES

Motion to defer the discussion/consideration of the approval of a request from HES Facilities Management of a contractual increase of $960,000 based on the Cost Of Living Adjustment (COLA) of 4% to begin in the school year 2024-2025 to the full Board without recommendation.

Motion by Dadrius Lanus, second by Carla Powell Lewis.

Final Resolution: Motion Carries

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

6. Litigation

Approval of the recommendation from Gwynn Shamlin, General Counsel, EBRPSB, in the matter of: Tresa Jones and A'Lique Carr v. Violette Gibson, East Baton Rouge School Board and Certain Underwriters at Lloyd's of London: Sit No: C-723442; Section: 23:19th JDC; Parish of East Baton Rouge and to provide for related matters.

Motion by Mark Bellue, second by Dadrius Lanus.

Final Resolution: Motion Carries

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

Not Present at Vote: Gaudet

E. Next Meeting Dates/Announcements

1. Announcement of Meetings

F. Adjournment

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