East Baton Rouge Parish

Regular Meeting Minutes

Thursday, February 20, 2025

A. Meeting Opening

1. Invocation and Pledge of Allegiance

The Invocation was led by School Board Member Soulé, and the Pledge of Allegiance was led by Cadet Staff Sergeant Jaylah Mark, Liberty Magnet High School, accompanied by Senior Army Instructor Colonel (Retired) Jona M. Hughes.

2. Call to Order and Roll Call

Board President Steward called the meeting to order at 5:11 PM.

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

Dadrius Lanus was absent.

Others present were LaMont Cole, Superintendent; Gwynn Shamlin Jr., General Counsel; Adam Smith, Deputy Superintendent; 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; Stacey Dupre, Chief of Support and Special Projects; and Kwesi Gilbert, Chief of Plant Operations.

B. Minutes

1. Meeting Minutes

Approval of the following East Baton Rouge Parish School Board Meeting Minutes:

a) January 9, 2025, Special Board meeting

b) January 9, 2025, Committee of the Whole meeting
c) January 16, 2025, Regular Board meeting

d) January 30, 2025, Special Board meeting as published in the Official Journal.

Motion by Patrick Martin, 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

3. Point of Information

Announcement of the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board Members who have successfully completed annual training for 2024 mandated by Louisiana Revised Statutes, Title 17, Section 53, and the total credit hours received: Mark Bellue (1), Dadrius Lanus (0), Carla Powell Lewis (16), Cliff Lewis (9.5), Shashonnie Steward (6.5), Michael Gaudet (8), Nathan Rust (14), Emily Soulé (7.5), and Patrick Martin (20).

D. Receive As Information

1. Update from Superintendent

E. Reports from Board Appointees to Committees/Agencies

1. Board Appointees

F. Unfinished Business

1. 2025-2026 School Year Calendar

Motion to approve Option 2 for 2025-2026 School Year Calendar.

Motion by Nathan Rust, second by Emily Soulé.

Final Resolution: Motion Carries

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

Nay: Lewis

G. Consent Agenda

1. Consent Vote

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

Motion by Carla Powell Lewis, second by Nathan Rust.

Final Resolution: Motion Carries

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

Recuse: Martin

2. Extern Agreement: Louisiana State University

Approval of an amendment to the Extern Agreement between the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board and the Board of Supervisors of Louisiana State University and Agricultural and Mechanical College not to exceed $115,919 to extend the agreement for one year to provide up to 9 externs. Funding Source: General Fund

3. Grant: Real-time Early Access to Literacy (REAL)

Acceptance of the Real-time Early Access to Literacy (REAL) Grant and approval of the related budget in the amount of $192,750 to provide effective literacy tutoring, training, and support and related matters.

4. Grant: Academic Distinction Fund (ADF)

Acceptance of the Academic Distinction Fund (ADF) grant in the amount of $15,000 to build a playhouse at Southdowns Pre-K Center.

5. Professional Services Contract: K12 Insight

Approval of a professional services contract between the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board and K12 Insight in the amount of $190,000 to provide a cloud-based platform to enhance customer service.

6. Professional Services Contract: Bailey Education Group, LLC

Approval of a professional services contract between the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board and Bailey Education Group, LLC in the amount of $107,800 to provide professional development and coaching sessions for special education teachers and administrators. Funding Source: Redesign

7. Professional Services Contract: Amplify Education Inc.

Approval of a professional services contract between the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board and Amplify Education Inc. in the amount of $288,400 to provide coaching for teachers on science resources in CIR and UIR schools. Funding Source: Redesign

8. RFP E-Rate Selection

Accept the RFP Committee recommendation and to authorize the Superintendent and staff to negotiate and execute a contract between East Baton Rouge Parish School Board and Lockstep Group dba Transformyx to provide E-Rate qualified services and equipment as specified in the related Request for Proposals.

9. Demolition of Banks Elementary

Authorize staff to advertise, accept the low bid, meeting specifications, and make the award of contract for demolition of Banks Elementary School, as specified in the "A Plan to Improve Facilities/Technology, Discipline, and Compensation in the East Baton Rouge Parish School System" (the "Plan") as revised through February 22, 2018, or reject any and all bids for just cause in accordance with the Louisiana Public Bid Law.

10. Litigation

Approval of the recommendation from Gwynn Shamlin, General Counsel, EBRPSB, in the matter of: Nina Dillon v. EBR Parish School Board and Vincent Woodard, Docket No. 735131, Division O, 19th Judicial District Court of East Baton Rouge Parish and to provide for related matters.

End of the Consent Agenda Items

H. New Business

1. RFP Selection: Occupational and Physical Therapy Services

Accept the RFP Committee recommendation and to authorize the Superintendent and staff to negotiate and execute a contract between East Baton Rouge Parish School Board and First Choice Therapy to provide Occupational and Physical Therapy Services and related matters.

Motion by Patrick Martin, second by Carla Powell Lewis.

Final Resolution: Motion Carries

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

2. Student Expulsion

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

3. Student Expulsion

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

4. Student Expulsion

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

I. Presentations

1. Junior Achievement

2. Fair Share

J. Organizational Items

1. Announcement of Meetings

K. Adjournment

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