2024-12-19

East Baton Parish School Board

Regular Meeting Minutes

Thursday, December 19, 2024

A. Meeting Opening

1. Invocation and Pledge of Allegiance

The Invocation was led by School Board Member Shashonnie Steward, and the Pledge of Allegiance was led by Cadet Captain Keylie Kornbacher, Glen Oaks High School, accompanied by Senior Army Instructor, Major (Retired) Korey G. Lewis.

2. Call to Order and Roll Call

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

Dadrius Lanus came in after the roll call.

Cliff Lewis was absent.

Others present were LaMont Cole, Superintendent; 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. Minutes

1. Meeting Minutes

Approval of the School Board minutes of the November 21, 2024, Regular Board meeting, the November 7, 2024, Special Board meeting, and the November 7, 2024, Committee of the Whole meeting as published in the Official Journal.

Motion by Patrick Martin, second by Nathan Rust.

Final Resolution: Motion Carries

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

Not Present at Vote: Steward

C. Information Only

1. Monthly Financial Report

2. Personnel Changes

D. Receive As Information

1. Update from Superintendent

I. Presentations

1. School and District Performance Scores

D. Receive As Information

2. Update from the Board President

3. 2023-2024 Audit Results

4. Announcement of Public Meeting

F. Unfinished Business

1. 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 February Committee of the Whole and request a comprehensive report from staff with a comprehensive recommendation.

Motion by Patrick Martin, second by Nathan Rust.

Final Resolution: Motion Carries

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

G. Consent Agenda

1. Consent Vote

The following items were approved as part of the Consent Agenda, excluding G4 (Contract: First Student).

Motion by Michael Gaudet, second by Shashonnie Steward.

Final Resolution: Motion Carries

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

2. 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.

3. Professional Service Contract: District Management Group

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

5. 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.

End of the Consent Agenda Items

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 Dadrius Lanus, second by Patrick Martin.

Final Resolution: Motion Carries

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

H. New Business

1. Student Expulsion

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