East Baton Rouge Parish School Board

Regular Meeting Minutes

Thursday, January 16, 2025

 
 
A. Meeting Opening
1. Invocation and Pledge of Allegiance
The Invocation was led by School Board Member Emily Soulé, and Cadet Second Lieutenant Mahki Matthews led the Pledge of Allegiance from Istrouma High School, accompanied by Senior Army Instructor Lieutenant Colonel (Retired) Steven W. Johnston.
 
2. Call to Order and Roll Call
Board President Steward called the meeting to order at 5:04 PM.
 
Members present wereMark Bellue, Carla Powell Lewis, Shashonnie Steward, Cliff Lewis, Michael Gaudet, Emily Soulé, and Patrick Martin.
Dadrius Lanus and Nathan Rust were absent.
 
Others present were LaMont Cole, Superintendent;  Adam Smith, Deputy Superintendent;
Gwynn Shamlin Jr., General Counsel; Catasha Edwards, Chief Academic Officer; Taylor Gast, Administrative Director of Communications; Amy Jones, Chief Technology Officer; Andrea O’Konski, Chief of Accountability and Assessments; Beanka Williams, Chief Officer-Human Resources; James Crochet, Chief Business Operations Officer; John McCann, Interim Chief Operations Officer; Kelly Lopez, Chief Financial Officer; Laura Williams, Interim Chief of Schools; and Stacey Dupre, Chief of Support and Special Projects.
 
B. Minutes
1. Meeting Minutes
Approval of the School Board minutes of the December 19, 2024, Regular Board meeting, the December 5, 2024, Special Board meeting, and the December 5, 2024, Committee of the Whole meeting as published in the Official Journal.
 
Motion by Patrick Martin, second by Carla Powell Lewis.
Final Resolution: Motion Carries
Yea: Bellue, Powell, Steward, Lewis, Gaudet, Soulé, Martin
 
C. Information Only
1. Monthly Financial Report
 
2. Personnel Changes
 
D. Receive As Information
1. Update from Superintendent
 
F. Consent Agenda
1. Consent Vote
The following items were approved as part of the Consent Agenda.
 
Motion by Mark Bellue, second by Cliff Lewis.
Final Resolution: Motion Carries
Yea: Bellue, Powell Lewis, Steward, Lewis, Gaudet, Soulé, Martin
 
2. Test Security Policy
Approval of the 2024-2025 East Baton Rouge Parish School System's Test Security Policy.
 
3. Call for Election
Approval of a resolution to call for election of the renewal of the property taxes on May 3, 2025.
 
4. 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
 
5. 2025 East Baton Rouge Parish Strategic Plan
Approval of the 2025 East Baton Rouge Parish School System Strategic Plan with metrics provided by the Superintendent no later than May 2025
 
6. Guiding Principles
Approval of the Alignment Guiding Principles and timeline.
 
7. Resolution: ITEP
Approval of a resolution to appoint the Board President as the ITEP committee representative.
 
End of the Consent Agenda Items
 
G. New Business
1. Charter Application: Collegiate Academies
 
Motion to deny the Collegiate Academies Charter application and related matters.
 
Motion by Patrick Martin, second by Cliff Lewis.
Final Resolution: Motion Carries
Yea: Bellue, Powell Lewis, Steward, Lewis, Gaudet, Soulé, Martin
 
2. Charter Application: GEO North Baton Rouge Elementary (K-5)
 
Motion to deny the GEO North Baton Rouge Elementary (K-5) Charter application and related matters.
 
Motion by Patrick Martin, second by Emily Soulé.
Final Resolution: Motion Carries
Yea: Bellue, Powell Lewis, Steward, Lewis, Gaudet, Soulé, Martin
 
3. Charter Application: GEO North Baton Rouge Upper (6-12)
 
Motion to deny the GEO North Baton Rouge Upper (6-12) Charter application and related matters.
 
Motion by Patrick Martin, second by Cliff Lewis.
Final Resolution: Motion Carries
Yea: Bellue, Powell Lewis, Steward, Lewis, Gaudet, Soulé, Martin
 
4. Charter Contract Renewal: CSAL
 
Motion for approval to renew, for a 3-year term, the charter school agreement with CSAL and provide for related matters.
 
Motion by Patrick Martin, second by Cliff Lewis.
Final Resolution: Motion Carries
Yea: Bellue, Powell Lewis, Steward, Lewis, Gaudet, Soulé, Martin
 
5. Charter Contract Renewal: BASIS Midcity
 
Motion for approval to renew, for a 6-year term, the charter school agreement with BASIS Midcity and provide for related matters.
 
Motion by Carla Powell Lewis, second by Emily Soulé.
Final Resolution: Motion Carries
Yea: Bellue, Powell Lewis, Steward, Lewis, Gaudet, Soulé, Martin
 
6. Charter Surrender: IDEA Public Schools, Inc.
 
Motion to accept the relinquishment terms of the existing IDEA Public Schools Louisiana charters for IDEA Bridge and Innovation and to authorize the Superintendent to enter into administrative agreements with the charter management organizations for the remainder of existing charter terms and to return to the Board for the final approval of the agreements.
 
Motion by Emily Soulé, second by Michael Gaudet.
Final Resolution: Motion Carries
Yea: Bellue, Powell Lewis, Steward, Lewis, Gaudet, Soulé, Martin
 
7. Student Expulsion
Discussion/Consideration of a request to appeal a student expulsion.
 
No motion was received; therefore, the expulsion will be upheld.
 
H. Organizational Items
1. Announcement of Meetings
 
I. Adjournment
 
There being no further business, the Board adjourned by acclamation.
 

_______________________________ _______________________________
LaMont Cole Shashonnie Steward
Secretary/Treasurer to the Board School Board President