East Baton Rouge Parish School Board

2-Committee of the Whole Meeting Minutes

Thursday, January 9, 2025

A. Meeting Opening

1. Call to Order and Roll Call

Vice-President Gaudet called the meeting to order at 5:32 PM.

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

Others present were LaMont Cole, Superintendent;  Adam Smith, Deputy Superintendent; Catasha Edwards, Chief Academic; Andrea O'Konski, Chief of Accountability and Assessments; Amy Jones, Chief Technology Officer; Stacey Dupre, Chief of Support and Special Projects; Beanka Williams, Chief Officer-Human Resources; Kelly Lopez, Chief Financial Officer; James Crochet, Chief Business Operations Officer; John McCann, Interim Chief Operations Officer; and Randy Morales II, Chief of Plant Operations.

B. Fiscal Transparency Report

1. Fiscal Transparency Report

C. Information Only

1. School Presentation

D. Items for Consideration

1. Test Security Policy

Approval of the 2024-2025 East Baton Rouge Parish School System's Test Security Policy.

Motion by Dadrius Lanus, second by Shashonnie Steward.

Final Resolution: Motion Carries

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

2. Call for Election

Approval of a resolution to call for election of the renewal of the property taxes on May 3, 2025.

Motion by Shashonnie Steward, second by Cliff Lewis.

Final Resolution: Motion Carries

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

3. Contract Renewal: City of Baton Rouge (Adult Education-EBR Prison)

Approval to renew a contract between the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board and the City of Baton Rouge in the amount of $134,110 to allow the EBRPSS Department of Adult and Continuing Education to continue providing adult education classes and HiSET testing for inmates at the East Baton Rouge Parish Prison from January 1, 2025, through December 31, 2025. Funding Source: City of Baton Rouge Grant

Motion by Emily Soulé, second by Carla Powell Lewis.

Final Resolution: Motion Carries

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

4. 2025 East Baton Rouge Parish Strategic Plan

Motion to approve the 2025 East Baton Rouge Parish School System Strategic Plan with metrics provided by the Superintendent no later than May 2025.

Motion by Nathan Rust, second by Dadrius Lanus.

Final Resolution: Motion Carries

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

5. Guiding Principles

Motion to approve the Alignment Guiding Principles and timeline.

Motion by Shashonnie Steward, second by Dadrius Lanus.

Final Resolution: Motion Carries

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

6. Resolution: ITEP

Motion to approve the resolution and appoint the Board President as the ITEP committee representative.

Motion by Patrick Martin, second by Carla Powell Lewis.

Final Resolution: Motion Carries

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

E. Next Meeting Dates/Announcements

1. Announcement of Meetings

F. Adjournment

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