East Baton Rouge Parish School Board

Regular Meeting Minutes

Thursday, March 20, 2025

A. Meeting Opening

1. Invocation and Pledge of Allegiance

School Board Member Dadrius Lanus led the invocation, and Cadet Private First Class Liam Woods, Liberty Magnet High School, led the Pledge of Allegiance, accompanied by Major (Retired) Bradley Dieutto, Army Instructor.

2. Call to Order and Roll Call

President Shashonnie Steward called the meeting to order at 5:03 PM.

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

Patrick Martin was absent.

Others present were LaMont Cole, Superintendent; Adam Smith, Deputy Superintendent; Gwynn Shamlin Jr., General Counsel; Catasha Edwards, Chief Academic Officer; Amy Jones, Chief Technology Officer; Andrea O’Konski, Chief of Accountability and Assessments; Lisa Smothers, Chief Officer-Human Resources; James Crochet, Chief Business Operations Officer; John McCann, Interim Chief Operations Officer; Kelly Lopez, Chief Financial Officer; Laura Williams, Chief of Schools; Kwesi Gilbert, Chief of Plant Operations; and Stacey Dupre, Chief of Support and Special Projects.

B. Minutes

1. Meeting Minutes

Approval of the School Board minutes of the February 20, 2025, Regular Board meeting and the February 6, 2025, Committee of the Whole meeting as published in the Official Journal.

Motion by Michael Gaudet, second by Cliff Lewis.

Final Resolution: Motion Carries

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

C. Information Only

1. Monthly Financial Report

2. Personnel Changes

D. Receive As Information

1. Update from Superintendent

E. Reports from Board Appointees to Committees/Agencies

1. Board Appointees

F. Consent Agenda

1. Consent Vote

The following items were approved as part of the Consent Agenda, excluding item #4.

Motion by Cliff Lewis, second by Nathan Rust.

Final Resolution: Motion Carries

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

2. Broadmoor Middle Site

Approval for the use of the Broadmoor Middle Site as an Esports and Athletic Facility on the Broadmoor Middle site.

3. School Relocation: McKinley High

Approval to relocate McKinley High School to the Kenilworth Middle School site for the 2025-2026 and 2026-2027 school years.

5. Job Descriptions

Approval of the following job descriptions: a) Literacy Mentor b) Master Teacher c) Executive Master Teacher d) Mentor Teacher

6. Resolution: Millage

Adoption of the Resolution for the purpose of levying millages effective on the 2025 Assessment Roll as required by law by June 1, 2025.

7. Graduation Agreements

Approval of an agreement between the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board and the following: a) Southern University in the amount of $68,490 for the rental of FG Clark Activity Center for high school graduations. b) Louisiana State University in the amount of $58,000 for the rental of the Pete Maravich Assembly Center for high school graduations. c) Premier Production & Sound Services, LLC (PSS) in the amount of $62,800 to provide audio and video for graduation live streaming. Funding Source: General Fund

8. Inter-Governmental Agreement: Baton Rouge Police Department

Approval of an Inter-Governmental Agreement between the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board and the Baton Rouge Police Department in an amount not to exceed the Board approved $42 per hour to provide one full-time School Resource Officer at McKinley High School. Funding Source: General Fund

9. Right-of-Way Instrument: Entergy Louisiana, LLC

Approval of a Right-of-Way Agreement between the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board and Entergy Louisiana, L.L.C. in the amount of $22,800 to provide utility services at the rear of the Crestworth Elementary.

10. 2025-2026 Board Meeting Calendar

Approval of the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board meeting schedule for the 2025-2026 school year.

End of the Consent Agenda Items

4. Demolition of Arlington Preparatory Academy

Authorize staff to advertise, accept the low bid, meeting specifications, and make the award of contract for demolition of Arlington Preparatory Academy, 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. (Ms. Anderson/Mr. Gilbert)

Motion by Mark Bellue, second by Michael Gaudet.

Final Resolution: Motion Carries

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

G. New Business

1. Student Expulsion

Motion to hear the request to appeal a student expulsion.

Motion by Dadrius Lanus, second by Carla Powell Lewis.

2. Student Expulsion

No motion, the expulsion will be upheld.

3. Student Expulsion

Motion to hear the request to appeal a student expulsion.

Motion by Nathan Rust, second by Carla Powell Lewis.

4. Student Expulsion

No motion, the expulsion will be upheld.

5. Student Expulsion

No motion, the expulsion will be upheld.

6. Student Expulsion

No motion, the expulsion will be upheld.

H. Presentations

1. ICARE, Mental Health & Counseling

2. Center for High School Success

I. Organizational Items

1. Announcement of Meetings

J. Adjournment

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