Dec 17, 2020 School Board

KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK.

NEXT ON THE AGENDA IS THE ROLL CALL.

[00:05:06]

MADAM SECRETARY DISTRICT SEVEN PRESIDENT GO DAY HERE, DISTRICT THREE, VICE PRESIDENT HOWARD PRESENT DISTRICT ONE.

MR. BLUE HERE, DISTRICT TWO, MR. LANA'S DISTRICT THREE, MS. COLLINS PRESENT DISH DRAKE FIVE.

MS. WARD JACKSON, DISTRICT SIX, MS. DIASON DISTRICT EIGHT, MS. BARNARD PRESENT DISTRICT NINE.

MR. TOTMAN PRESENT.

APPROVAL OF THE SCHOOL BOARD MINUTES OF NOVEMBER, 1920 20 REGULAR BOARD MEETING AND DECEMBER 3RD, 2020 COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE MEETING AS PUBLISHED IN THE OFFICIAL JOURNAL.

WE DO HAVE A CORE.

NEXT IS ITEM C1

[C. Minutes]

DO I HAVE A MOTION? SO I'VE MOVED BY MR. HOWARD A SECOND BY MR. BALLOU.

ARE THERE ANY COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS FROM THE BOARD SEEING NONE, ANY COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS FROM THE AUDIENCE? MADAM SECRETARY, DO YOU HAVE ANY AUDIENCE CARDS? THANK YOU.

BACK TO THE BOARD.

ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS FROM THE BOARD SEEING NONE.

MADAM SECRETARY, PLEASE VOTE.

MS. COLLINS.

ARE YOU MA'AM OH, I'M SORRY.

MISS MINORITY.

YOU IN AND NOT IN TEAMS IN BOARDEX MR BLUE.

YES, THE MOTION CARRIES.

STUDENT OF THE YEAR RECOGNITION OF THE 2021 EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH SCHOOL SYSTEM.

NEXT IS ITEM D ONE

[D.1. Student of the Year]

STUDENTS OF THE YEAR IS MR. JOE FREON, OR YOU WILL BE PRESENTING THIS.

TO EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH.

GOOD AFTERNOON BOARD.

I AM EXCITED TO ANNOUNCE THAT WE HAD 79 STUDENTS SELECTED FOR STUDENT OF THE YEAR, THIS YEAR, DISTRICT PERSONNEL MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY AND BUSINESS LEADERS ACCEPTED THE CHARGE TO PICK THIS YEAR.

STUDENT OF THE YEAR.

THE STATE DEPARTMENT REQUIRES THAT THE DISTRICT HAS A STUDENT OF THE YEAR FOR THE DISTRICT AND A DISTRICT CHARTER STUDENT OF THE YEAR.

SO THIS YEAR WE HAVE A TOTAL OF SIX STUDENTS OF THE YEAR.

THESE INDIVIDUALS WERE PICKED AND THEIR NAMES WILL BE SUBMITTED TO THE STATE DEPARTMENT FOR THE NEXT ROUND OF VOTES.

AND THESE STUDENTS ARE FOR DISTRICT ELEMENTARY.

WE HAVE DEV IRE FROM BUCHANAN ELEMENTARY, OUR DISTRICT MIDDLE'S I'M SORRY.

OUR DISTRICT CHARTER ELEMENTARY STUDENT IS CLOSE TO AND KELLY FROM J K HAYNES CHARTER SCHOOL.

OUR DISTRICT MIDDLE STUDENT OF THE YEAR IS ASUR WAR AND THEY'RE FROM GLASGOW MIDDLE SCHOOL.

AND OUR DISTRICT CHARTER MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENT OF THE YEAR IS THE TIFFANY LONDON FROM INSPIRE CHARTER ACADEMY.

OUR HIGH SCHOOL DISTRICT STUDENT OF THE YEAR IS EMILY BOLDER FROM BATON ROUGE, MAGNET HIGH SCHOOL.

AND OUR DISTRICT CHARTER HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT OF THE YEAR IS FAITH WOODS FOR MENTORSHIP STEAM ACADEMY.

AND WE WOULD LIKE TO CONGRATULATE ALL OF THOSE STUDENTS FOR SUCH A GREAT JOB OF JUST INTERVIEWING THEIR PORTFOLIOS WERE OUTSTANDING.

THEY ARE SOME STELLAR CANDIDATES AND HOPEFULLY THEY WILL BRING THE STUDENT, THE STATE STUDENT OF THE YEAR HOME

[00:10:01]

IF YOU ARE ABLE YESTERDAY, WE DID PREMIER THE STUDENT OF THE YEAR VIDEO.

THAT WAS A LOT OF WORK, BUT A LOT OF FUN, BUT I WANT TO THANK MR. HOLMES, ANDREW HOLMES AND MR. DERRICK KYLE FROM THE STROMA HIGH SCHOOL WHO FILMED THE ENTIRE PROGRAM.

I ALSO WANT TO THANK JOHN PASSER FROM WBR Z WHO HOSTED ALONG WITH MR. FOR YOUR GREAT WORDS AND OUR SUPERINTENDENT, MR. SMITH.

AND THAT'S ALL WE HAVE.

THANK YOU, MR. JEFFREY ON.

AND I'D LIKE FOR US TO GIVE HER A ROUND OF APPLAUSE TO THESE STUDENTS, UH, THEY REALLY DESERVE IT.

AND, AND IT'S UNFORTUNATE AT THIS TIME THAT WE CAN'T HAVE THEM HERE IN PERSON TO CELEBRATE THEIR ACCOMPLISHMENTS, BUT I GUARANTEE YOU THAT EVERY MEMBER OF THE BOARD, UH, FULLY WISHES IN THE BEST AND CONGRATULATES THEM ON THEIR HARD WORK.

THANK YOU NEXT SINCE MR. JOE FARREN IS STILL HERE, UH, IS

[D.2. Holiday Greeting Card Contest Winners]

HOLIDAY GREETING CARD CONTEST WINNERS EVERY YEAR.

AGAIN, I JUST LOVE ALL OF THESE ANNUAL ACCOLADES WE CAN GIVE EACH YEAR.

THE FINE ARTS DEPARTMENT HOLDS A PARISH WIDE HOLIDAY GREETING CARD DESIGN CONTEST, ONE ELEMENTARY, ONE MIDDLE, AND ONE HIGH SCHOOL ENTRY IS SELECTED FOR OUR DISTRICTS, ANNUAL HOLIDAY GREETING CARDS, MAIL TO DISTRICT STAKEHOLDERS AND SUPPORTERS, AS YOU KNOW, AND I HOPE YOU ALL ENJOYED THE CARDS THAT YOU RECEIVED AT THE COW.

AND THEY THEN, FOR THOSE OF US WHO DID NOT SEE THEM, WHO WILL GET A CHANCE TO SEE THEM IN THE MINUTE THEY WERE SOME OUTSTANDING CARDS.

SO AT THIS TIME WE WOULD LIKE TO ACKNOWLEDGE THOSE WINNERS AND JUST SHOW YOU HOW THOSE GREETING CARDS LOOKED, UH, ELEMENTARY WINNER, BELIEVE IT OR NOT AS DEVON, WHO IS ALSO OUR ELEMENTARY STUDENT OF THE YEAR, HE IS FROM BUCHANAN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.

AND THAT IS HIS HOLIDAY CARD.

A MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENT IS ALEXANDRA HERNANDEZ FROM PARK FOREST ELEMENTARY.

AND HER TEACHER, MS. SALMA, HER SON HELP, WELL, NOT HELPED, BUT I GUESS GOD HAD HER WITH THAT BEAUTIFUL CARD THERE.

AND OUR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT IS VICTORIA WILLIAMS FROM BATTERY'S MAGNET HIGH.

HER TEACHER IS MR. SEATON AS TEST.

AND THIS IS HER CARD, WHICH I ACTUALLY LOVE THE DETAILED VIDEO THAT THESE KIDS PUT IN.

I DID NOT ANNOUNCE I ARTS TEACHER AT BUCHANAN.

THAT'S KELLY HARASSED YOU.

AND THOSE ARE OUR WINNERS FOR THIS YEAR'S HOLIDAY CARDS.

THANK YOU YOU VERY MUCH.

AND WE APPRECIATE VERY MUCH THE CARDS FROM THE STUDENTS.

AND AGAIN, IT'S OUR REGRET THAT WE CANNOT HAVE THEM HERE IN PERSON TO CONGRATULATE THEM ON THEIR OUTSTANDING WORK.

AS A PERSON.

WHO'S AN ENGINEER WITH ZERO ARTISTIC TALENT.

I, UH, APPRECIATE THEIR ABILITIES ON MAKING THESE CARDS.

I'M TRULY JEALOUS MYSELF.

I CAN'T DRAW A STRAIGHT LINE, BUT I ADMIRED HIM.

I CAN'T EVEN DRAW A STRAIGHT LINE.

THE REGION FOR INSTITUTIONAL ENERGY MANAGEMENT AWARD, UH, EAST BATON ROUGE SPARE SCHOOL SYSTEM HAS BEEN SELECTED BY ASSOCIATION OF ENERGY ENGINEERS AS A REGION FOR INSTITUTIONAL ENERGY MANAGEMENT AWARD WINNER FOR 2020, I ASSUME.

UH, NEXT WE HAVE

[D.3. Region IV Institutional Energy Management Award]

WAS IT, UH, MR. UH, MR. MCCANN AND MR. SMITH ARE ON OR NOT IN THE ROOM, MR. GOODY, WOULD YOU WANT TO, UH, ACCEPT THE AWARD ON BEHALF OF THE SCHOOL DISTRICT? OKAY.

THE SUPERINTENDENT SMITH, PRESIDENT GOATEE AND MEMBERS OF THE BOARD.

UH, MY NAME IS DON SAVOIE.

I'M THE DIRECTOR OF THE ENERGY MANAGEMENT PROGRAM FOR THE SCHOOL DISTRICT.

IT'S MY PLEASURE TO PRESENT THE ASSOCIATION OF ENERGY ENGINEERS, REGIONAL INSTITUTIONAL ENERGY MANAGEMENT AWARD FOR 2022, THE EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH SCHOOL SYSTEM, THE ASSOCIATION OF ENERGY ENGINEERS, WHICH I'M A MEMBER IS AN INTERNATIONAL PROFESSIONAL SOCIETY THAT EACH YEAR SEEKS OUT THE GOOD WORK THAT IS BEING DONE IN ENERGY MANAGEMENT AND RECOGNIZE AS THOSE ORGANIZATIONS THAT STAND OUT FROM THE REST.

THE ENERGY MANAGEMENT PROGRAM HERE WAS SELECTED ABOVE OTHER ENTRIES FROM ACROSS REGION FOUR, WHICH INCLUDES 13 STATES.

OUR PROGRAM IS BEING RECOGNIZED FOR THE SIGNIFICANT ACCOMPLISHMENTS IT HAS ACHIEVED SINCE ITS INCEPTION IN 2007, MAINLY BY REDUCING THE DISTRICTS

[00:15:01]

ENERGY USE OF ELECTRICITY AND NATURAL GAS, AS WELL AS ITS THE RESULTING CARBON FOOTPRINT BY 33%.

THIS TRANSLATES TO OVER $46 MILLION IN UTILITY COST AVOIDANCE.

OVER THAT PERIOD OF TIME AS MONEY THAT'S BEEN FREED UP TO SUPPORT OTHER EDUCATIONAL, YOU PRIORITIZE PRIORITIES AND ALSO DEMONSTRATES, UH, BEING GOOD STEWARDS OF THE PUBLIC MONEY.

ADDITIONALLY, UH, THE PROGRAM HAS HA HAS GOTTEN SOME ADDITIONAL RECOGNITION AS WELL.

IT'S IT'S CONTRIBUTED TO FOR US DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION, GREEN RIBBON SCHOOL AWARDS SO FAR, UH, IT'S GOT AN EPA ENERGY STAR NATIONAL BUILDING COMPETITION WINNER THAT WAS CLAIBORNE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.

AND SO FAR TO DATE, WE HAVE 31 ENERGY STAR BUILDING CERTIFICATIONS, THE LATEST BEING BROADMOORE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL TO EXPLAIN WHY THE ENERGY MANAGEMENT PROGRAM IS SUCCESSFUL.

IT COMES DOWN TO ACTIONS AND, AND PEOPLE, BUT THE FOUR MAIN OBJECTIVES OF THE PROGRAM IS ACTIVE MANAGEMENT AND MONITORING OF UTILITY CONSUMPTION TO FIND AND ELIMINATE WASTE TO DRIVE AND MOTIVATE THE EFFICIENT DAY-TO-DAY USE AND OPERATION OF THE FACILITIES TO PROMOTE AND COLLABORATE ON ENERGY EFFICIENT FACILITY, DESIGN STANDARDS FOR NEW CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS.

AND LASTLY IT TO ENGAGE AND EDUCATE ALL STAKEHOLDERS TO CONTINUALLY PROMOTE AN INFLUENCE ENERGY EFFICIENT BEHAVIORS IN ORDER TO NURTURE AND SUSTAIN A CULTURE OF ENERGY AWARENESS AND CONSERVATION.

SO PEOPLE DRIVE THE PROGRAM SUCCESS FIRST, WE STARTED OUT WITH A SKILL TEAM AND IT WAS MADE UP OF SAN ANGELES, CANO, DWAYNE WILKINSON, ADAM PRICE, AND MELISSA FONTENEAU, UH, SCHOOL STAFF AND STUDENT SUPPORT, WHICH IS VERY IMPORTANT.

DEMETRIUS WELLS AND LEON KALER AND THE ARAMARK CUSTODIAL AND THE FACILITIES OPERATIONS AS WELL AS THE CSRS PROJECT MANAGERS.

SO ON BEHALF OF THE ENERGY ASSOCIATION OF ENERGY ENGINEERS, CONGRATULATIONS IS, WAS ALWAYS VERY NICE TO RECEIVE AN AWARD LIKE THAT.

AND IT ALSO IS A LEARNING MOMENT FOR THE STUDENTS ABOUT WHAT CAN BE DONE, UH, TO HELP CONSERVE ENERGY AND CUT CARBON EMISSIONS.

SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THAT.

UH, NEXT WE HAVE ITEM E FOR INFORMATION ONLY THE MONTHLY

[E.1. Monthly Financial Report]

FINANCIAL REPORT, ALL BOARD MEMBERS RECEIVE THAT AND IT'S OPEN TO THE PUBLIC.

IS THERE ANY COMMENTS FROM THE BOARD ON THE MONTHLY FINANCIAL REPORT? THE ONLY COMMENT I'D MAKE IS I HAVE SEEN, YOU KNOW, WE WATCH VERY CLOSELY THE, UH, SALES TAX COLLECTIONS AS YEAR TO DATE.

OUR SALES TAX COLLECTION IS STILL UP SLIGHTLY FROM THE PRIOR YEAR.

SO WE HOPE THAT TREND CONTINUES.

[E. 2. Personnel Changes]

UH, NEXT FOR INFORMATION ONLY IS THE PERSONNEL CHANGES.

ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS FROM THE BOARD ABOUT PERSONNEL CHANGES? SEEING NONE, WE WILL MOVE TO

[F.1. Update from Superintendent]

ITEM F AND UPDATE FROM THE SUPERINTENDENT AND OUR SUPERINTENDENT IS VISITING WITH US TODAY, REMOTELY.

SO MR. SMITH, THANK YOU, MR. BULLOCK.

CAN YOU GUYS SAY THEM? SPEAK A LITTLE LOUDER.

AND JANUARY THROUGH JANUARY 4TH, JANUARY 4TH WILL BE A PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT DAY FOR TEACHERS AND STUDENTS WHO ARE ATTENDING VIRTUALLY AND FACE-TO-FACE LINE.

GO THERE.

CAN YOU GUYS HEAR ME? YES.

UH, MY SUPERINTENDENT REPORT, I WOULD LIKE TO THE THIRD ANNUAL ABRF TREAT WENT VIRTUAL THIS YEAR.

IT WAS A HUGE SUCCESS CLOSE TO 180 EBR HOMELESS STUDENTS RECEIVE PRESENCE FROM MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY.

I WOULD LIKE TO THANK EVERYONE INVOLVED FOR MAKING THIS HOLIDAY.

IT'S A LITTLE EXTRA SPECIAL FOR OUR STUDENTS.

ONCE AGAIN, A CHILD TUITION DEPARTMENT WILL DELIVER BOX MEALS TO OUR FAMILIES.

OVER THE WINTER BREAK MEAL BOXES WILL INCLUDE A COMBINATION OF FRESH BAKED BREAD, CEREAL, FROZEN ENTRY, CANNED FRUIT AND VEGETABLES AND MILK TO PREPARE FIVE MEALS, WHICH IT WILL BE BREAKFAST, LUNCH, DINNER, SNACKS FOR STUDENTS.

IF PARENTS, IF YOU ARE INTERESTED, PLEASE GO TO OUR WEBSITE@EBRSCHOOLS.ORG TO REGISTER FOR THESE DELIVERIES.

I WANT TO REMIND THE LISTING, ORDERING IT AUDIENCE AND VIEWING AUDIENCE THAT JUST ME WINTER BREAK RECENTLY BEGAN AS MONDAY, DECEMBER 21ST

[00:20:02]

WE WILL RETURN.

WE RETURNED ON JANUARY 25TH, 2021.

AND MR. GAUDETTE FINALLY, I WOULD JUST LIKE TO FINALLY JUST WISH ALL OF OUR FAMILIES AND EMPLOYEES A GREAT ONE, A BREAK AND A HAPPY NEW YEAR.

PLEASE STAY SAFE, TAKE CARE OF YOURSELVES, YOUR FAMILIES.

AND I LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOU IN 2021.

THANK YOU, MISS BUILDING.

AND, AND I'M SURE THE WHOLE BOARD HERE WISHES YOU AND YOUR FAMILY A MERRY CHRISTMAS.

TO REPORTS AND BOARD APPOINTEES TO COMMITTEES AND AGENCIES.

ANY COMMENTS FOR THE INTERIM SUPERINTENDENT SEEING NONE? UH, WE WILL GO

[G.1. Board Appointees]

ARE THERE ANY COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS FROM THE, UH, ANY REPORTS FROM ANY OF THE BOARD MEMBERS FOR THIS ITEM? SEEING NONE.

WE'LL NOW MOVE TO UNFINISHED BUSINESS

[H.1. Contract: The Emerge Center]

CONSIDERATION OF REQUESTS FOR THE APPROVAL OF PROFESSIONAL SERVICES CONTRACT BETWEEN THE EASTBOUND RACE BEAR SCHOOL BOARD AND THE EMERGED CENTER FOR 2021 2022.

MR. SHAMBLIN, ARE YOU ON THE LINE, SIR? YES, I AM.

CAN YOU HEAR ME? UH, WE CAN HEAR YOU.

ALL RIGHT.

UM, THIS CONTRACT COMES TO THE BOARD FROM EMERGE.

UM, IT IS A RENEWAL, UM, SCHEDULED, UH, IF APPROVED TO BEGIN JULY ONE OF 2021.

UM, THE CONTRACT IS FOR AN AMOUNT OF A 400 AND TWENTY-FIVE THOUSAND DOLLARS TO PROVIDE SERVICES FOR CLARITY.

THE CONTRACT IS WITH THE EMERGE CENTER, UM, WHICH THEN PROVIDES SUPPORT TO THE EMERGE SCHOOL.

UM, THE APPENDIX TO THE CONTRACT LAYS OUT THESE SPECIFIC SERVICES.

UM, AND I'LL TAKE ANY QUESTIONS.

ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS FROM THE BOARD? UH, I AM NOT SEEING A REQUEST TO SPEAK WORKING HERE.

OH, I NEED A MOTION.

UH, DO I HAVE A MOTION MOTION BY MR. BALLOU? DO I HAVE A SECOND SECOND BY MR. TATLIN AT THIS TIME, I WOULD LIKE TO CALL MS. UH, WIDOW TO COME UP TO THE MICROPHONE AND JUST GIVE A BRIEF OVERVIEW.

UM, FIRST I'D LIKE TO THANK ALL OF YOU FOR RECOGNIZING LAST MEETING.

THE POSITIVE IMPACT EMERGE HAS HAD ON THE CHILDREN WITHIN OUR COMMUNITY.

UM, I KNOW YOU ALL RECOGNIZED IT.

UM, SOME OF YOU EMAIL ME, CONTACTED ME AND THANKED US FOR THE WORK THAT WE HAVE.

UM, WE HAVE AND CONTINUED TO BRIDE FOR THE CHILDREN WITHIN OUR, UH, COMMUNITY, UH, DURING THIS TIME.

UM, I HOPE THAT, UH, YOU GUYS CAN, UM, SUPPORT US SUPPORT EMERGE AND WITH THIS ADDITIONAL FUNDING REQUEST SO THAT WE CAN MOVE FORWARD TO, UM, COMPLETE OUR CHARTER NEXT YEAR.

AND DURING THAT TIME WE CAN WORK TOGETHER TO LOOK TOWARD OTHER FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES.

UM, I KNOW I SENT YOU EACH AN EMAIL YESTERDAY LOOKING AT A POTENTIAL OPPORTUNITY THAT WE WOULD LIKE TO EXPLORE FURTHER WITH YOU, AND THERE ARE OTHER OPPORTUNITIES THAT ARE OUT THERE, UM, TO MEET THE FUNDING NEEDS.

SO AGAIN, I HOPE THAT YOU SUPPORT US, UM, OUR FAMILIES WITHIN THE COMMUNITY WHO TRULY NEED A CENTER OF EXCELLENCE FOR CHILDREN WHO HAVE AUTISM IN ORDER FOR THEM TO MOVE TO THE NEXT LEVEL AND BE INTEGRATED INTO OUR COMMUNITY SCHOOLS WITHIN THE BATON ROUGE SCHOOL DISTRICT.

MA'AM APPRECIATE IT.

UH, MR. CHATMAN, UH, THAT WAS AN ACCIDENT.

GROWING MORE AND MORE DISAPPOINTED.

MS. COLLINS, I NEED SOME CLARITY.

THEY WOULD A FEW THINGS, UM, UH, BEFORE I DECIDE, UM, EMERGED AS ONE OF THE ONLY NEW CHARTERS I EVER VOTED ON.

UM, BECAUSE ON THE SURFACE IT LOOKED GOOD.

MS. COLLINS, I'M SORRY.

I'M HAVING A HARD TIME HEARING YOU.

OH, I'M SORRY.

THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THAT TO MY ATTENTION EMERGE WAS ONE OF THE ONLY NEW CHARTERS I HAVE, UH, VOTED TO APPROVE.

AND, UM, AS I'M LEARNING MORE THINGS I'M

[00:25:01]

UM, THE FINANCIAL MODEL IS NOT, DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE SUSTAINABLE.

AND I HAVE LEARNED THAT SINCE THE TIME OF THE APPROVAL OF THE CHARTER, UH, EMERGE HAD BEEN, UH, ADVISED TO BE CAREFUL ABOUT TAKING THAT APPROACH.

AND HERE WE ARE, UH, WITH THIS PARTICULAR ITEM TO VOTE ON MORE FUNDS, UH, AND IT GIVES ME GREAT PAUSE, ESPECIALLY AFTER I VISITED, UH, SPOKE ONE-ON-ONE.

AND THEN ON THE DAY OF THE BOARD MEETING, UH, WHEN I FIRST CAME ONTO THE COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE, IT WAS PRESENTED VERY DIFFERENTLY TO ME THAN WHAT WAS PRESENTED, UH, IN PERSON.

AND SO I HAVE GOTTEN TO A PLACE WHERE I'M VERY UNCOMFORTABLE CONTINUING TO SUPPORT EMERGE, UM, IN THIS WAY.

UM, I HAVE QUESTIONS AROUND ONCE YOU LOOK AT, UM, AND, AND IT'S NOT NECESSARILY ANYONE'S PLACE TO SAY HOW A CHARTER SHOULD HIRE IN, IN THEIR INFRASTRUCTURE AND THEIR ORGANIZATIONAL MODEL, BUT WE ONLY 48 BABIES TO HAVE A CEO AND A PRINCIPAL, AND THEN SAY YOU CAN'T PAY, UH, IS HARD.

SO CAN YOU CLARIFY THOSE THINGS FOR ME? YES, DEFINITELY.

FIRST OF ALL, THE CEO SALARY IS, DOES NOT HIT THE EMERGED SCHOOL FOR AUTISM STOP, UM, SALARY STRUCTURE THAT IS COMPLETELY WITHIN THE EMERGE CENTER.

WE HAVE THREE CORPORATIONS AND WITHIN THAT, WE HAVE THE EMERGE SCHOOL, THE EMERGE FOUNDATION AND THE EMERGE CENTER.

UM, THE, THE SALARIES THAT HIT, I'M GLAD YOU BROUGHT UP SALARIES BECAUSE WE HAVE SIX TEACHERS.

WE HAVE 10 ASSISTANTS, WE HAVE ONE SPECIAL EDUCATION COORDINATOR AND ONE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR SLASH PRINCIPAL.

THE TEACHER SALARIES THAT WE HAVE ARE 25% BELOW THAT OF ABR.

OUR ADMINISTRATIVE SALARIES ARE 18% BELOW EBR.

UM, SO I KNOW HE'LL HELP ME NOT UNDERSTAND WHAT, OKAY, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR CLARIFYING THAT, THE THING, THE CEO, BECAUSE THEN IT'S NOT JUST CEO OF THE SCHOOL WITH 48 STUDENTS AS CEO OF THE HI.

AND MAY I CLARIFY SOMETHING ELSE? HAM, WHENEVER YOU, UM, AS WE DISCUSSED LAST TIME, OUR CHILDREN COME TO US THROUGH A SYSTEM IN WHICH THEY ARE PICKED BY COMPUTER.

WE DO NOT PICK THE CHILDREN.

IT'S A RANDOM SELECTION PROCESS.

SEVERAL OF OUR CHILDREN DO NOT HAVE NEVER RECEIVED THERAPY SERVICES BEFORE THEY HAVE NEVER BEEN IN A SETTING TO WHERE, UM, THEY HAD OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY, SPEECH THERAPY, ABA SERVICES, NONE OF THAT.

WHEN WE RECEIVED THESE CHILDREN 100% OF OUR TIME AT TIMES, IT'S A ONE-ON-ONE INTERACTION FOR FOUR MONTHS AT A TIME TILL WE CAN MOVE TO A, UH, FROM THIS INTENSIVE STRUCTURE OF ONE-TO-ONE TO TWO, TO ONE RATIO TO A THREE TO ONE IS WHAT WE'D LIKE TO SEE.

SO YES, WE DO HAVE QUITE A BIT OF STAFF, BUT LET ME ALSO SHARE ANOTHER THING WITH YOU.

WHEN YOU HAVE CHILDREN OF THIS NATURE THAT NEED A LOT OF CARE.

UM, YOU HAVE TWO CHILDREN THAT CAN'T SIT IN A CHAIR BECAUSE I'VE NEVER HAD THERAPY CHILDREN THAT CAN'T FEED THEMSELVES.

IT'S A LOT OF WORK UPFRONT.

IT REALLY IS.

SO, YOU KNOW WHAT I DO WHEN YOU, WHEN YOU SPEAK ABOUT SALARIES EVERY DAY AT LUNCHTIME FOR TWO AND A HALF TO THREE HOURS, NOT ON THE SCHOOL'S BUDGET, BUT ON OUR CENTER, I SEND THREE STAFF MEMBERS, THREE STAFF MEMBERS THAT ARE CHARGED THAT THEIR SALARIES COME OUT OF A DIFFERENT COMPANY, THREE HOURS A DAY, FIVE DAYS A WEEK.

SO WHEN YOU START LOOKING AT AND ADDING THAT UP, UM, WE DO SPEND A LOT MORE BECAUSE OUR CHILDREN NEED IT.

WE DON'T HAVE THE FUNDING THAT COMES DIRECTLY FROM THE SCHOOL, BUT AS YOU SAID, THOSE BABIES, AS LONG AS A BURJ SAND, THEY'RE NOT GOING TO GO WITHOUT THE CRITICAL SERVICES THAT THEY NEED.

AND SO, UH, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

AND I, UM, I DO PERSONALLY APPRECIATE AN INTENSIVE MODEL AS YOU EXPLAINED, BUT I ALSO, UH, TO HELP ME TO UNDERSTAND WHAT, UH, WHEN YOU DOING 25%, LESS THAN A DISTRICT FOR A TEACHER IN THE CLASSROOM, IT CAUSES ME CONCERN THAT YOU MAY END UP WITH.

AND I, AND I UNDERSTAND WHY, BECAUSE YOU HAVE

[00:30:01]

SUCH AN INTENSIVE MODEL, WHICH I THINK, I MEAN, I DON'T HAVE ENOUGH SPED UNDERSTANDING TO KNOW WHAT'S TOO MUCH OR TOO LITTLE.

I WILL NOT PRETEND BUT BUYING INTO THE CONCEPT OF STUDENTS NEEDING INTENSIVE INTERVENTION WITH YOUR GOAL BEING NOT ONLY HAVE THEY NOT NECESSARILY RECEIVED SERVICES BEFORE, BUT ALSO IT WAS, YOU ALL EXPLAINED TO ME THAT YOUR GOAL IS LET'S GET THE BABIES ONTO THEIR HOME CAMPUS.

SO I, I GET, I THINK I GET CONCEPTUALLY INTENSE INSTRUCTION AND, AND YOU HAVE VERY INTENSIVE INSTRUCTION IN ORDER TO MOVE THE CHILDREN FROM THAT ENVIRONMENT TO A LESS RESTRICTIVE ENVIRONMENT.

AND OUR GOAL IS TO TRANSIT, TRANSITION THOSE STUDENTS AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.

HELP ME UNDERSTAND WHAT IS, DO YOU, WHAT IS YOUR TEACHER TURNOVER RATE? WHEN YOU HAVE A DIFFICULT TIME? I HAVE A VERY DEDICATED STAFF.

UM, OUR TEACHERS WOULD NOT BE IN THE ROLES THEY ARE, UNLESS THEY LOVE THEIR, THEIR WORK.

THEY LOVE THEIR CHILDREN, THESE CHILDREN, THEY ARE VERY SATISFIED AT BEING AT A MARCH BECAUSE THEY GET, THEY GET TO SEE THE CHILDREN BLOSSOM.

THEY BLOOM THERE, THEY ARE SIDE BY SIDE WITH THE PARENTS AND THE THERAPY TEAM WORKING CLOSELY WITH THE CHILDREN SO THAT THEY CAN TRANSITION THEM TO THE NEXT LEVEL.

I MEAN, IT'S A BLESSING TO SEE A CHILD LEAVE OUR CENTER AND WE LEAVE OUR SCHOOL AND MOVE TO A LESS RESTRICTIVE ENVIRONMENT.

AND IT WAS BECAUSE OF US THAT THAT CHILD IS SUCCESSFUL.

AND LIKE I'VE SAID BEFORE, IT'S, IT'S, IT'S NOT JUST THE CHILD, IT'S THE FAMILY.

AND, UM, WE HAVE A COUPLE OF FAMILIES HERE TONIGHT THAT WANT TO SHARE THEIR STORIES.

AND IT'S PRETTY AMAZING WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT THE GIFT THAT WE WERE ABLE TO GIVE TO THESE FAMILIES IN THAT WORKING WITH THEIR CHILDREN, MOVING THEM TO THE NEXT LEVEL.

UM, IT'S, IT'S TRULY, IT'S, IT'S UNBELIEVABLE.

AND WE HAVE THE MOST EXCEPTIONAL STAFF AND, UM, I MEAN, I COULD NOT BE HAPPIER WITH THE WORK THAT THEY DO WITH THE TEACHERS AND THE IN-CLASS SUPPORT STAFF.

SO EACH CLASSROOM HAS A TEACHER TEACHER, RIGHT.

AND THEN UP, AND I FORGET THE, THE, THE TITLE YOU GAVE WHEN I VISITED, BUT IT'S MORE THAN ONE ADULT IN EACH CLASSROOM, CORRECT? YES.

SOMETIMES LIKE, UH, LIKE I HAD SHARED WITH YOU, OUR GOAL IS BASICALLY BECAUSE OF THE, THE ABILITY TO COGNITIVE ABILITIES OF OUR CHILDREN CAN, WE WILL HAVE AN AVERAGE THREE TO ONE.

A LOT OF OUR RESTRICTIVE ENVIRONMENTS ARE A TWO TO ONE ON STUDENT TO TEACHER RATIO, BUT WE DO HAVE THOSE THAT HAVE TO BE A ONE-ON-ONE AT TIMES.

AND SO, UM, THAT'S WHY WE HAVE THE NUMBER OF STAFF THAT WE, THAT WE CURRENTLY HAVE.

AND AGAIN, AND LET ME SHARE ANOTHER THING WITH YOU IN THAT.

UM, WHEN YOU LOOK AT OUR MODEL, YOU LOOK AT OUR CHILDREN, UM, UH, 48 CHILDREN, WE HAVE 29 OF THOSE CHILDREN THAT ARE NON-VERBAL AND ARE USING ASSISTIVE DEVICES TO COMMUNICATE AND HAVING A CHILD TRAINING A CHILD TO USE THIS DEVICE TO TELL YOU, HEY, I'M HUNGRY, OR I NEED TO GO TO THE RESTROOM, OR I NEED A BREAK JUST TO EXPRESS THE SIMPLE THINGS THAT ARE NEEDED.

I MEAN, THAT'S VERY, VERY INTENSIVE.

UM, THANK YOU.

THAT'S ALL I HAVE IN THIS MOMENT.

I DO STILL HAVE CONCERN AROUND TEACHERS GETTING 25%.

THAT'S JUST A NUMBER I WANTED TO THROW OUT BECAUSE WHEN WE START TALKING ABOUT, UM, THE AMOUNT OF SALARIES AND THE AMOUNT OF STAFFING, I WANT FOLKS TO UNDERSTAND THAT OUR TEACHERS ARE AT EMERGE BECAUSE THEY LOVE WHAT THEY DO, AND THEY LOVE THE CHILDREN.

AND THEY LIKE TO SEE THE PROGRESS OF THE CHILDREN AND BEING ABLE TO SAY, HEY, I WAS A PART OF THAT.

I MADE A DIFFERENCE IN THAT CHILD'S LIFE.

AND THAT'S WHAT I FEEL TEACHING IS ALL ABOUT.

AND, AND, UM, I ACTUALLY DON'T DOUBT THAT THE CONCERN THOUGH IS OFTEN THE FRONTLINE WORKER IS THE ONE THAT WIND CUTS OR WHEN THERE ARE, WHEN FOLKS HAVE TO FIGURE OUT, UM, HOW TO CUT EXPENSES, THEN THAT'S WHAT GETS HIT.

AND SO THAT'S WHERE MY CONCERN COMES FROM, BUT I APPRECIATE YOU EXPLAINING TO ME, UM, AND CLARIFY, AND ESPECIALLY THE CEO PIECE.

I CAN'T IN MY MIND SUPPORT THE INCREASE BECAUSE I DON'T BELIEVE THAT IT'S THE SAME ANNABELLE FOR THE THINGS THAT WE ARE HAVING WITHIN THE SCHOOL.

DOES ANYONE ELSE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS BEFORE I'VE MOVED AWAY? WELL, WE DO HAVE SOME PEOPLE ON THE QUEUE, SO YOU MIGHT AS WELL STAY THERE IN CASE MR. HOWARD, THANK YOU FOR LETTING GO DAY.

UM, CAN YOU HEAR ME? THANK YOU, PRESIDENT.

GOOD DAY.

UM, SO MY QUESTION IS REALLY, UM, NOT REALLY A QUESTION, MAYBE A COMMENT OR CONCERN FOR, UH, MR. SHAMBLIN.

THE CONTRACT CURRENTLY SITS AT $250,000.

THE INCREASE HAS ACCIDENT US FOR AN ADDITIONAL 100 AND I GUESS $75,000.

I WOULD BE MORE COMFORTABLE IF WE WERE MAINTAINING THE CONTRACT WHERE IT WAS.

UM, BUT

[00:35:01]

THERE'S NOT GOING TO BE AN INCREASE IN KIDS.

AND WE DON'T SEE IN MY MIND, I DON'T SEE THE MODEL BECOMING SUSTAINABLE FROM THE ONSET OF THE CONTRACT.

I THINK THE QUESTION OR THE CON THE CONCERN SHOULD HAVE BEEN ABOUT SUSTAINABILITY.

SO I WOULD SUPPORT KEEPING THE CONTRACT AT THE RATE THAT IT IS NOW, BUT I CAN'T SUPPORT THIS ADDITIONAL $175,000 INCREASE.

SO IT'S NOT A COMMENT, NOT A CONCERN.

I MEAN, NOT A QUESTION, BUT JUST A CONCERN THAT I WOULD LIKE TO UPLIFT TO THE BOARD AND TO THE STAFF AND EVERYONE ELSE.

THANK YOU, MR. BELLEW.

I, I, UH, OBVIOUSLY I MADE THE MOTION, SO I DO SUPPORT, UM, THE, UH, CHANGE IN THE CONTRACT.

NOW I JUST WANNA POINT OUT, UH, YOU KNOW, FROM TALKING TO MR SHAMBLIN AND TO CLARIFY, AND I THINK I'VE GOT IT RIGHT, BUT THE WAY OUR INITIAL CONTRACT, THE, UH, SERVICES THAT WERE INCLUDED, UH, AS PART OF THE, UH, INDIVIDUAL EDUCATION PLAN, UH, MIRRORED, WHAT OUR, UH, OUR THIRD PARTY, UH, SPECIALIST PROVIDED AT OTHER SCHOOLS AND, UH, THE EMERGE MODEL, UH, IS, IS MUCH MORE INTENSIVE.

AND, UM, SO AS PART OF THE CHANGE IN THE CONTRACT, UM, UH, WE ALLOWED ADDITIONAL, UH, SERVICES, UH, AND THE HOPES THAT, YOU KNOW, UH, THOSE SERVICES COULD BE RE UH, REIMBURSED BY MEDICAID.

AND SOME, SOME OF THOSE ADDITIONAL SERVICES WILL BE REIMBURSED, BUT I THINK, I BELIEVE THERE ARE A COUPLE THAT, THAT, UH, WE FOUND OUT SINCE WILL NOT BE REIMBURSED BY MEDICAID.

SO ALTHOUGH WE'RE INCREASING THE HARD CAP BY 170 THAT $75,000, UH, FROM TALKING TO MR. SHAMBLIN, WE COULDN'T, WE COULDN'T PUT A, UH, A NUMBER AS TO HOW MUCH WE'LL ACTUALLY WIND UP PAYING, BECAUSE WE DON'T JUST DON'T KNOW, UM, HOW MUCH THOSE NON-REIMBURSABLE SERVICES WILL AMOUNT TO.

UM, BUT YOU KNOW, EMERGE IS SUCH A, UH, UH, A UNIQUE SCHOOL, UH, NOT ONLY IN THE STATE, BUT NATIONWIDE AND, AND, UM, YOU KNOW, I THINK WE'RE THREE YEARS INTO IT NOW, IS THAT RIGHT? AND, YOU KNOW, I, UH, WOULD HATE TO PULL THE RUG OUT FROM UNDER HIM NOW.

AND I THINK WE OUGHT TO ALLOW, UM, YOU KNOW, ANOTHER YEAR, UH, TO MAKE SURE WE WORK TOGETHER AND, AND, UH, GET IT RIGHT AS FAR AS THE FUNDING AND, AND, UM, YOU KNOW, HE WENT ON THE BOARD, UH, HAS ANY RESERVATIONS.

IF TH IF THERE'S SOMETHING SMALL, YOU KNOW, I'LL BE WILLING TO CONSIDER A FRIENDLY AMENDMENT.

IF YOU WANT TO CHANGE ANYTHING, UH, MAKE ANY SMALL CHANGES.

BUT, UH, I'D LIKE TO SEE THE SCHOOL SCHOOL MOVE FORWARD.

HE'S INTELLECTUALLY DISABLED.

THANK YOU, MR. BELLEW SEEING NO OTHER COMMENTS ON THE BOARD.

ARE THERE ANY COMMENTS FROM THE AUDIENCE, THE IN-PERSON AUDIENCE, SARAH, WOULD YOU PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME AND WHEN YOU START, AND I WANT TO TELL THE AUDIENCE THAT WE WILL BE ENFORCING THE THREE MINUTE, UH, TIME LIMIT, PLEASE.

MY SON BROOKS ATTENDS EMERGE.

I DON'T KNOW IF ANY OF Y'ALL HAVE CHILDREN.

I'M ASSUMING THAT SOME OF YOU DO THE SOUND OF THEIR VOICE.

I'LL LOOK IN THEIR EYE.

THE THINGS THAT ALL OF YOU FIND IN THIS MOMENT, DIFFICULT TO LOOK AT ME, AS I SAY THESE THINGS, AND YOU JUST STARE AT A COMPUTER AT THE SAME THINGS OFF HEAL.

MY SON HAS NEVER SAID HIS NAME OR MY NAME WHEN BROOKS WAS BORN, HE FAILED A HEARING TEST AT THE HOSPITAL, AND WE WERE TOLD THAT THAT SIMPLY WAS JUST PROBABLY FLUID IN THE EARS, TOO, WHICH WE LATER FOUND OUT HE HAD ABOUT A 35% PERMANENT HEARING LOSS.

AUTISM PEOPLE SPEAK OF BEING ON THE SPECTRUM.

WHEN YOUR CHILD IS AT A PRIVATE SCHOOL THAT COSTS $12,000 A YEAR.

YOU THINK THAT THAT'S GOING TO BE THE ANSWER.

AND YOU REALIZE THAT THEY'RE IN A CORNER AND A JUMP JUMP FOR FIVE HOURS A DAY BECAUSE THE TEACHERS DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO WITH THAT CHILD.

SO THEN YOU MOVE HIM TO A SCHOOL THAT DOES JUST ABA THERAPY.

THAT'S INSURANCE DRIVEN ALONG WITH ABOUT A $6,000 A YEAR PREMIUM THAT YOU PAY.

AND YOU FIND OUT THAT THEY DON'T DO ANYTHING OTHER THAN ABA THERAPY.

WHEN YOU FIND A SCHOOL LIKE EMERGE, WHOSE TEACHERS CLEARLY ARE THERE FOR THE LOVE OF SPECIAL NEEDS TO DEAL WITH A CHILD THAT HAS SEIZURES.

WHEN HE HAS A FEVER,

[00:40:01]

HE WEARS BRACES TO TRY TO WALK.

THE ONLY WORD HE KNOWS IN LIFE IS GOOD.

AND IT GOES LIKE THIS.

GOOD.

IT'S INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT THAT WHEN YOU, AS A PARENT FIND A SCHOOL LIKE THIS FOR YOUR CHILD, AND YOU REALIZE THIS IS SO MUCH WRAPPED INTO ONE TO GIVE MY SON THE GREATEST CHANCE AT LIFE, YOU'LL DO ANYTHING FOR IT.

SO IF THIS SCHOOL HAS TO GO PRIVATE AND YOU'RE OPEN TO IT, BEING A PRIVILEGED ONLY SCHOOL, THAT IF YOU CAN AFFORD YOUR CHILD TO HAVE CARE, THEY CAN ATTEND.

AND WHEN 95% OF THAT SCHOOL DROPS NEXT YEAR, BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE THE FUNDING OR THE TIME TO SAY, GO FIND AMPLE FUNDING.

NEXT TIME YOU COME TO US, YOU TWO WILL HAVE GIVEN THE SAME PRIVILEGE THAT WE ALL FIGHT SO HARD FOR IN LIFE TO HAVE EQUALITY, DIVERSITY, ALL THE INCREDIBLE THINGS OF 2020, THAT WE'RE ALL WORKING FOR.

MEN, WOMEN ALIKE, YOU TWO WILL BE SIDING WITH PRIVILEGE.

CAUSE THOSE WILL BE THE ONLY CHILDREN OF BATON ROUGE WHO ARE ABLE TO AFFORD TO GO TO A SCHOOL LIKE THIS.

THIS IS MORE THAN A SCHOOL.

THIS IS SO MUCH MORE.

I GIVE ANYTHING TO HEAR MY SON SPEAK, BUT THAT'S PROBABLY THREE MINUTES.

NEXT, PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME, SIR, PLEASE.

AND WHEN THE YELLOW LIGHT COMES ON, YOU HAVE ONE MINUTE LEFT AND THEN WHEN THE RED LIGHT COMES ON, THE MIKE WILL BE CUT.

PERFECT.

HI, I'M UH, MIKE PRITCHARD.

UH, MY SON GOES TO THE EMERGENCY CENTER OR MERGED SCHOOL.

UH, MY SON'S NAME IS MICAH.

HE'S A SIX YEAR OLD BOY WITH AUTISM.

HE WAS DIAGNOSED VERY EARLY ON, UH, AND HE HAS BEEN AT THE MERCHANT CENTER OR MERGED SCHOOL FOR TWO YEARS AND HE WAS AT THE MERCHANT OR BEFORE THEM.

UH, MY SON IS COMPLETELY NON-VERBAL.

UH, WE HAVE NEVER HEARD HIM SAY MY NAME.

I HAVEN'T HEARD HIM SAY A LOT OF THINGS, BUT, UH, EMERGE HELPED HIM TO ULTIMATELY BE AS SUCCESSFUL AS HE IS TODAY.

UH, HE STARTED OFF, UH, GOING TO THERAPY, OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY, SPEECH THERAPY, UH, ABA, AND ALL THESE THINGS ALL IN ONE PLACE, UH, SO THAT HE COULD SUCCEED, UH, SOMETHING I NEVER THOUGHT I WOULD SEE HIM TO EVEN TALK ABOUT HIM GOING TO A DIFFERENT SCHOOL OR WHAT SCHOOL HE COULD EVEN POSSIBLY GO TO.

UM, EMERGE HAS BEEN THERE TO GET HIM ON HIS FIRST AAC DEVICE.

UH, AND THAT'S SO IMPORTANT TO US BECAUSE NOW HE CAN TELL US WHEN HE'S HUNGRY OR TELL HIS TEACHER WHEN HE'S GOT TO GO TO THE BATHROOM OR JUST WHEN HE'S SAD.

UH, WELL, UH, WHENEVER HE'S HAVING A BAD DAY, HE SAY, I WANT SAD POLICE IS WHAT HE TELLS US WHEN HE'S HAVING A ROUGH DAY.

UH, NOW THIS IS WHERE THE SUCCESS OF THE MERGED SCHOOL.

UM, WE'RE HAVING THE CONVERSATIONS WITH THIS, UH, THE TEACHERS AND THE TEAM AT EMERGE THAT MY SON COULD TRANSITION TO A PROGRAM WITH NEURO-TYPICAL PEERS.

UH, THAT'S SOMETHING I NEVER EVEN THOUGHT WAS POSSIBLE WITH A KID WHO CAN'T SPEAK.

UH, SO WE'RE SO EXCITED THAT HE'S PART OF THAT, UH, EMERGE IS INTENSIVE.

IT'S EARLY FOCUSED, UH, BY PROVIDING THIS CARE FOR THESE KIDS EARLY ON, THEY STAND A CHANCE TO BE ABLE TO MOVE AND EXCEED IN LIFE AND TO BE WITH THEIR NEAR TYPICAL PEERS AND BE WITH OTHER STUDENTS.

AND NOT JUST BE THE KID WHO WAS SITTING IN A CORNER OR IN THESE PROGRAMS THAT ARE OUTSIDE OF THE CLASSROOM.

UM, SORRY, A LITTLE BIT NERVOUS GOING THROUGH MY NOTES.

UH, SO THAT'S WHAT MAKES EMERGE, UH, SO DIFFERENT.

UM, THEY HAVE THERAPY IN SCHOOL IN ONE PLACE.

WE DON'T HAVE TO, YOU KNOW, PICK UP MY SON TO GO TAKE HIM TO THERAPY SOMEWHERE ELSE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE DAY, WHICH IMPACTS PARENTS WITH JOBS.

UH, THAT'S ALL AVAILABLE IN THE MERGE CENTER.

THEY, YOU KNOW, BRING THERAPISTS IN THERE TO HELP THE KIDS OUT.

THEY NEED EXTRA THERAPY ON TOP OF WHAT'S AN IEP, AND WE CAN GET THAT ALL DONE IN ONE PLACE, UH, EMERGE ALSO EVEN HELPED ROLL OUT AAC DEVICES INTO EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH.

SO WE CAN EVEN GET THOSE INTO IEP SO THAT MY SON, WHEN HE DOES TRANSITION OUT OF EMERGE, CAN BRING HIS DEVICE WITH THEM AND BE ABLE TO COMMUNICATE WITH HIS TEACHERS OUTSIDE OF EMERGE.

SO JUST WANT TO FINALLY SAY THESE KIDS HAVE WORKED VERY HARD, UH, HARDER THAN A LOT OF KIDS OUR AGE.

UH, THEY DESERVE TO SEE THEIR HARD WORK THROUGH, UH, EMERGE, NOT GETTING THIS FUNDING IS GOING TO IMPACT FAMILIES ACROSS BACKGROUNDS.

LIKE I SAID, WHETHER EVEN IF THE KIDS, PARENTS CAN'T AFFORD TO SEND THE PRIVATE SCHOOL PEOPLE WITH JOBS AND STUFF LIKE THAT, MIGHT NET BE ABLE TO GIVE THEM THE THERAPY THEY NEED.

IT'S A, IT'S A TOUGH DECISION TO PUT KIDS IN, I MEAN, PARENTS IN THEIR PLACE.

SO PLEASE THANK YOU NEXT.

[00:45:06]

HI.

HI, MY NAME IS CHRISTIE HAMLIN MCDANIEL.

MY SON, CHRISTOPHER IS NINE YEARS OLD AND HE HAS BEEN AT EMERGE SINCE HE WAS ABOUT TWO AND A HALF.

HE STARTED OUT WITH THE EMERGE CENTER AND HAS TRANSITIONED INTO THE EMERGENT SCHOOL FOR AUTISM.

CHRISTOPHER IS NON-VERBAL A LOT OF THE CHILDREN THAT DO GO TO THE EMERGE SCHOOL FOR AUTISM ARE NON-VERBAL, BUT THE ABILITY TO BE ABLE TO INTEGRATE WITH VERBAL CHILDREN HAS HELPED CHRISTOPHER TREMENDOUSLY, UH, NOT HAVING A SITUATION WHERE THERE ARE A WHOLE BUNCH OF NEURO-TYPICAL CHILDREN, UH, AND MAYBE A FEW AUTISTIC CHILDREN HAS ALSO HELPED CHRISTOPHER.

EVENTUALLY HE WILL GET TO A POINT WHERE HE'LL BE ABLE TO ASSIMILATE BETTER WITH NEURO-TYPICAL CHILDREN, BUT FOR RIGHT NOW, THE BEST THING FOR CHRISTOPHER IS TO LEARN IN AN ENVIRONMENT WITH CHILDREN LIKE HIM.

HE LEARNS BY WATCHING AND SEEING WHAT HIS PEERS ARE DOING AND TAKING CUES FROM THEM.

AND HE ALSO LEARNS FROM HIS INCREDIBLE TEACHING STAFF.

CHRISTOPHER WOULD COMPLETELY LOSE ABOUT A WHOLE YEAR OF WHAT HE'S LEARNED IN SCHOOL.

IF HE DIDN'T HAVE EMERGE, IF HE HAD TO GO INTO THE PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM.

AND I FEAR THAT A LOT OF OTHER CHILDREN WOULD ALSO HAVE THE SAME CIRCUMSTANCES.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT WE WOULD DO WITHOUT EMERGE.

IT FRIGHTENS ME TO HAVE HIM IN A NEURO-TYPICAL SETTING WITH, WITH OTHER KIDS.

HE DID TEMP, TEMPORARILY ATTEND A PRE-KINDERGARTEN IN A STEM CLASS, AND THEY DIDN'T DO ANYTHING OTHER THAN BABYSIT HIM ALL DAY.

AND I'M CONCERNED THAT WE WOULD GO BACK TO THAT AND HE'S SO SMART AND HE'S SO LOVING AND HAPPY.

I FEEL THAT IT WOULD JUST FAIL HIM AND I DON'T THINK IT WOULD GIVE HIM A CHANCE.

UM, THAT'S PRETTY MUCH ALL I HAVE TO SAY.

MA'AM NEXT GOOD EVENING.

UM, MY NAME IS JAY I'M STILL ON HER TIME.

IS THAT, DOES THAT MATTER? I HAVE TO SET IT.

OH, SORRY.

UM, SO MY NAME IS JOSALYNN CARTER.

I HAVE A SON.

HIS NAME IS, UH, DON WHO ATTENDS THE, UH, EMERGED SCHOOL FOR AUTISM.

UM, PRIOR TO, UM, BEING ACCEPTED INTO EMERGE SCHOOL, HE WAS A CHILD, A STUDENT, UH, IN THEIR BALLOON PROGRAM, WHICH IS WITH THE EMERGE CENTER.

UM, WHAT I WANT TO SHARE WITH YOU IS THE EXPERIENCE THAT I HAD LOOKING FOR FACILITY.

HAD WE NOT BEEN ACCEPTED INTO THE EMERGED SCHOOL FOR AUTISM? I WENT TO SEVERAL INSTITUTIONS TO TRY TO SEE THE SERVICES THAT WERE PROVIDED WHEN MY SON WAS DIAGNOSED.

HE WAS DIAGNOSED PROBABLY THREE MONTHS BEFORE HIS BIRTHDAY, WHICH SO HE WAS A LITTLE OVER TWO AND A HALF.

SO HE HAD ONE MONTH OF EARLY STEPS.

BY THE TIME WE HAD ALL THE EVALUATION CONDUCTED, UM, EARLY STEPS GAVE HIM SPEECH THERAPY ONE DAY, UH, ONCE A WEEK AND OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY ONCE A MONTH OR ONCE EVERY OTHER MONTH, MY SON IS NON-VERBAL.

HE COULDN'T PULL THE PENCIL, COULDN'T FEED HIMSELF.

AND HE WAS ABOUT TO BE THREE YEARS OLD.

ONCE WE GOT INTO THE EMERGE CENTER, I SAW HIS POTENTIAL SKYROCKET AND IT WAS BECAUSE OF THE ATTENTION THAT WAS PROVIDED TO HIM BY SPECIALIZED THERAPEUTIC RESOURCES THAT THEY OFFER THAT THEY'RE TRAINED IN.

I APPRECIATE THE HARD WORK THAT THE EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH SCHOOL SYSTEM DOES FOR OUR CHILDREN, BUT I KNOW THAT THEY ARE STRETCHED TO THEIR LIMITS AND IT IS NOT IMPOSSIBLE, BUT IT IS VERY DIFFICULT WHEN YOU HAVE A CHILD THAT HAS THE AMOUNT OF NEEDS.

AND THAT REQUIRES THE ATTENTION THAT IT DOES LIKE MY CHILD DOES.

AND WHENEVER I WAS THINKING ABOUT THIS, I WENT TO THE DUNHAM SCHOOL TO SEE WHAT THEIR, UH, OFF WHAT THEY COULD OFFER.

$26,000 FOR THE SERVICES THAT I'M GETTING AT THE EMERGE SCHOOL, THE REACH CENTER, UH, THE REACH PROGRAM THROUGH THE PAROCHIAL SYSTEM, $14,000 FOR THE EXACT SAME SERVICES THAT I'M GETTING FROM THE EMERGE CENTER.

IT HAS ULTIMATELY BY APPROVING THIS CHART INITIALLY WAS A HUGE BLESSING FOR THIS COMMUNITY THAT HAS ONE IN 56 CHILDREN WITH AUTISM.

WHAT YOU HAVE DONE.

[00:50:01]

THAT IS A HUGE BLESSING.

AND NOW IT SEEMS LIKE A CARROT THAT IS BEING DANGLED IN FRONT OF US BECAUSE OF THE RISK OF IT BEING TAKEN AWAY.

THAT THAT IS WHAT I'M DEALING WITH.

THAT IS WHAT I'M DEALING WITH, LOOKING AT THE PEOPLE THAT, UH, MY SON GOES TO SCHOOL WITH, WHO WILL NOT BE ABLE TO CONTINUE.

MA'AM NEXT? PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME.

MY NAME IS LAUREN CWO.

UM, MY DAUGHTER ARWIN IS EIGHT YEARS OLD AND SHE ATTENDS THE EMERGENT SCHOOL FOR AUTISM.

SHE HAS BEEN RECEIVING SERVICES THROUGH EMERGE, UH, SINCE SHE WAS DIAGNOSED WITH AUTISM AROUND THE AGE OF TWO, AND I ACTUALLY ALSO HAVE A SON WITH AUTISM AND HE RECEIVED SERVICES GOING ALL THE WAY BACK TO THE BATON ROUGE SPEECH AND HEARING FOUNDATION.

SO I HAVE WATCHED THEM GROW FROM THE BATON ROUGE SPEECH AND HEARING FOUNDATION TO THE EMERGE CENTER, AND NOW THE EMERGE SCHOOL.

AND FOR ME AND MY FAMILY, THE ENTIRE ORGANIZATION HAS BEEN LIKE A REFUGE IN A STORM.

IT'S HARD TO EXPLAIN HOW DIFFICULT IT CAN BE TO RAISE TWO CHILDREN WITH AUTISM.

YOU LOVE THEM SO MUCH AND YOU WANT THE WHOLE WORLD FOR THEM, BUT YOU FEEL LIKE YOU HAVE NO INSTRUCTION MANUAL FOR HOW TO HELP THEM.

AND YOU CAN FEEL VERY ISOLATED FROM SORT OF NORMAL FAMILIES BECAUSE YOUR CHILDREN CAN'T PARTICIPATE IN NORMAL THINGS DUE TO SENSORY BEHAVIORS AND OTHER PROBLEMS. AND, UM, ANY MERGE HAS JUST THEY'VE.

THEY THEY'VE ALWAYS BEEN THERE FOR US.

MY DAUGHTER, ARWIN SHE'S EIGHT YEARS OLD.

SHE IS BEAUTIFUL AND BRILLIANT AND HILARIOUS AND CREATIVE, BUT SHE CANNOT HOLD A CONVERSATION WITH YOU MOST OF THE TIME NOW ARWIN UM, WHEN SHE FIRST BEGAN AT EMERGE SCHOOL, SHE, SHE CAN TALK, BUT IT'S BASICALLY LIKE SHE CAN LIST LOTS OF NAMES OF ANIMALS AND THINGS LIKE THAT, BUT SHE COULDN'T TELL YOU, YOU KNOW, IF SHE WAS HAPPY OR SET, NOW, I HAVE SEEN SO MUCH PROGRESS SINCE SHE STARTED.

SHE SPEAKS TO ME IN COMPLETE SENTENCES.

THAT'S SOMETHING I NEVER THOUGHT SHE WOULD BE ABLE TO DO.

IT'S THE THING WITH AUTISM IS THERE'S NO CURE, THERE'S NO MAGIC PILL.

WHAT THERE IS IS JUST THIS INTENSIVE ONE-ON-ONE THERAPY.

IT DOES WORK AUTOMOTIVE SPECTRUM.

ALL THE CHILDREN ARE DIFFERENT AND THEY ALL HAVE A DIFFERENT, YOU KNOW, POTENTIAL INSIDE THEM.

AND I FEEL LIKE THAT'S WHAT EMERGE EMERGENCIES.

AND I ARE SAYING, UM, WHY SO FEW STUDENTS AND SO MANY STAFF IS BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT IT TAKES.

UM, I HAVE SEEN IT WITH MY OWN EYES, NOT JUST IN MY KIDS, BUT IN THE OTHER KIDS WHO ATTEND EMERGE AS WELL.

I WILL SEE THEM MAKING PROGRESS.

AND EVEN IF IT'S SMALL PROGRESS, JUST ANYTHING THAT CAN IMPROVE THEIR QUALITY OF LIFE, IMPROVE THEIR ABILITY TO COMMUNICATE THEIR ABILITY TO FUNCTION.

YOU KNOW, WE ALWAYS SAY, YOU GOT TO REMEMBER KIDS WITH AUTISM, GROW UP INTO ADULTS WITH AUTISM, AND THIS COMMUNITY WILL HAVE TO HELP PROVIDE CARE FOR THEM WHEN THEY ARE ADULTS.

AND SO REACHING THEM WHEN THEY'RE YOUNG AND THEIR MINDS ARE STILL DEVELOPING.

I JUST, I FEEL LIKE THEY HAVE UNLIMITED POTENTIAL JUST TO HAVE A BETTER QUALITY OF LIFE.

AND THAT IS WHAT EMERGED HAS PROVIDED FOR US.

AND I REALLY THINK IT'S A MODEL FOR WHAT SCHOOLS FOR CHILDREN WITH AUTISM SHOULD BE.

SO I'M JUST ASKING YOU, PLEASE PROVIDE THEM WITH THE FUNDING.

IT'S BEEN A, SO MUCH A BLESSING FOR ME.

THREE TIMES A WEEK WITH JACKSON'S TEACHER ON HOW HIS PROGRESS IS AND WHAT WE CAN DO TO HELP HIM WITH HIS FEEDING AND POTTY TRAINING AND ALL THIS.

MA'AM ARE THERE ANY OTHER PUBLIC COMMENTS? HI, I'M SHANA.

THIS IS LANCE.

UH, OUR, UM, OUR SON JACKSON ATTENDS THE MURDER.

HE'S EIGHT YEARS OLD.

HE IS NON-VERBAL IS ATTENDED TO THE EMERGE CENTER SINCE HE WAS TWO.

WE HAVE BEEN LUCKY TO GET HIM EARLY SERVICES.

JACKSON STILL HAS A LOT OF ISSUES THAT WE FIGHT.

ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE FIGHT ARE MELTDOWNS.

I KNOW YOUR QUESTION, MS. COLLINS WAS THE AMOUNT OF TEACHERS PER STUDENTS.

YOU KNOW, WHEN JACKSON NEEDS EXTRA CARE, THERE'S SOMEONE TO TAKE HIM OUT TO THE PLAYGROUND, TO HELP HIM CALM DOWN, OR TAKE HIM TO THE, UH, OT GYM TO HELP HIM WITH WHATEVER HE'S GOING THROUGH.

HE HAS FEEDING ISSUES THAT THEY CAN PROVIDE EXTRA PEOPLE TO HELP HIM WITH HIS FEEDING.

YOU KNOW, HE'S STILL NOT POTTY TRAINED AT EIGHT YEARS OLD THAT THEY HAVE PEOPLE THAT MAKE SURE THAT HE'S GETTING CARED FOR.

I DON'T THINK THAT HE WOULD GET THAT AT OTHER PLACES.

AND IF YOU DON'T HAVE A KID THAT GOES THROUGH THAT, YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT IT TAKES TO HAVE THE PEOPLE AT EMERGE, PROVIDE THE LOVING CARE THAT THEY DO TO YOUR CHILD.

I COMMUNICATE MORE THAN

[00:55:01]

AND WE, SHE DOES THAT BECAUSE SHE WANTS TO HELP HIM NOW BECAUSE SHE HAS TO, YOU KNOW, I MEAN, I GUESS THAT'S WHAT I WANT Y'ALL TO KNOW IS THAT THEY, THEY LOVE OUR KIDS AND THEY WANT TO HELP OUR KIDS.

YEP.

AND I JUST WANT TO EXPRESS MY GRATITUDE FOR, YOU KNOW, THE LAST THREE YEARS THAT MY SON HAS BEEN THERE AND JUST HOW MUCH OF A BIG DIFFERENCE THAT HAS MADE IN OUR LIVES.

AND JUST THE THOUGHT OF HIM, YOU KNOW, NOT BEING ABLE TO GO TO A SCHOOL WHERE ALL OF HIS PEERS ARE JUST LIKE HIM IN THAT SENSE, IT'S REALLY JUST TERRIFYING FOR US.

AND, UH, AND EVERYBODY THERE HAS THE SAME DIAGNOSIS.

YOU KNOW, YOU GO TO A NORMAL SCHOOL AND YOU DON'T KNOW HOW YOUR KID'S GOING TO BE TREATED WHEN THEY CAN'T TALK, OR THEY'RE NOT POTTY TRAINED.

AND THAT'S SCARY FOR A CHILD, FOR PARENTS, WITH A CHILD WITH SPECIAL NEEDS.

SO THAT'S SOMETHING ASKS YOU ALL TO CONSIDER OF WHERE DID THEY GO IF THIS PLACE DOESN'T EXIST.

THANK YOU, MR. FINNEY.

I KNOW WHAT THEY'RE GIVEN THERE, AND I KNOW THAT THEY'RE TAKEN CARE OF.

I'M SURE EMERGE IS A GREAT SCHOOL, BUT ON THE OTHER HAND, I'VE NEVER HAD PARENTS COME UP AND SAY THAT THEIR SCHOOL WAS HORRIBLE.

UM, SO OF COURSE THE PARENTS THAT ARE WELL-SERVED OR THAT SCHOOL THINK IT'S GREAT.

MY CONCERN IS THAT EMERGED SIGNED THE CONTRACT THAT SAID FOR THE AMOUNT PER STUDENT, THAT YOU GET AT A TYPE ONE SCHOOL, THEY COULD EDUCATE THESE STUDENTS WITH PHILANTHROPY, MAKING UP THE REST OF THE SHORTFALL, BECAUSE WE ALL KNOW THAT IT'S GOING TO BE MORE THAN 10 OR 12,000.

THE KID.

I WOULD HOPE THAT THERE'S A LONG-TERM PLAN FOR MAKING THIS THING FINANCIALLY SUSTAINABLE, AND THAT IT WORKS FOR ALL THE AUTISTIC KIDS THAT NEED SERVICES, NOT JUST THOSE THAT HAPPENED TO WIN THE LOTTERY AT EMERGE.

SO IF YOU APPROVE THIS AS A FINISHED THIS YEAR, YOU KNOW, SO BE IT, BUT I DON'T THINK IT'S A GOOD BUDGETARY PROCESS.

YOU WANT TO FOLLOW LONG-TERM THANKS FOR YOUR TIME.

THANK YOU, MR. FANNY, MY NAME'S TED TO SONYA.

UM, I'VE GOT A SON IAN DYSTONIA THAT GOES TO THE EMERGENT SCHOOL.

THE EMERGENCY CENTER HAS BEEN A PART OF MY FAMILY SINCE NOVEMBER OF 2016.

I HAVE FOUR CHILDREN, TWO OF WHICH ARE DIAGNOSED WITH AUTISM AND I'VE PREVIOUSLY EXPERIENCED TWO SEPARATE THERAPY CLINICS.

AND THREE OTHER PROGRAMS OFFERED BY LOCAL SCHOOLS, LOCAL PROGRAMS BEFORE DISCOVERING THE BLESSING AS THE EMERGENCY CENTER.

AND I'M HERE TO SAY THAT THERE'S NOTHING IN THIS COMMUNITY.

THAT'S LIKE EMERGE.

THEY HAVE GIVEN US HOPE.

THE STAFF HAS CONSISTENTLY BEEN THERE THROUGH EVERY SINGLE STEP OF BOTH OF MY BOYS JOURNEY.

AND FOR THAT, I AM FOREVER GRATEFUL AND HAS RECEIVED GROUP AND INDIVIDUAL SPEECH THERAPY IN THE BEGINNING AND WAS ENROLLED FOR TWO YEARS IN THE BLOOM PROGRAM.

AND HE IS NOW IN HIS SECOND YEAR WITH THE EMERGE SCHOOL.

MY YOUNGER SON WAS ENROLLED FOR ONE YEAR IN THE BLOOM PROGRAM AND HAS SINCE MOVED TO A LOCAL HOMESCHOOL GROUP FOR KINDERGARTEN.

IAN CAN SPEAK, BUT HE'S NOT GOING TO HAVE A CONVERSATION WITH YOU.

HE HAS ECHOLALIA.

SO WHEN YOU ASK HIM A QUESTION, HE'S GOING TO REPEAT WHAT YOU SAID.

HE STRUGGLES WITH HIS EMOTIONS AND HE NEEDS A LOT OF ASSISTANCE TO KEEP HIM FROM SELF-HARM.

HE IS ONE OF MANY KIDS THAT BENEFITS GREATLY FROM THE ONE-ON-ONE THERAPY AND EXTREMELY SMALL GROUPS THAT EMERGED.

HE REQUIRES A LOT OF QUEUING AND REMINDING AND NEEDS ASSISTANCE TO STAY IN HIS CHAIR AT HIS DESK FOR ANY EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME.

EVERY DAY WITH HIM CAN BE DIFFERENT.

HAS GOOD DAYS ARE AMAZING AND IT'S TOUGH DAYS ARE INCREDIBLY CHALLENGING AND ALL OF THESE THINGS EMERGE, NEVER FALTERS.

WHEN I DROPPED HIM OFF, I KNOW HE'S GOING TO BE TAKEN CARE OF WITHOUT ANY JUDGMENT.

I KNOW HE IS HAPPY AND I KNOW HE IS BEING CHALLENGED AND WORKED WITH HE'S BEING SHOWN KINDNESS, ACCEPTANCE, AND, AND BOTH OF MY BOYS HAVE MADE TREMENDOUS ADVANCES WITH THE HELP OF EMERGE.

AND AS MY FIRST CHILD, AND AT FOUR YEARS OLD, HE LEARNED TO REPEAT MY WIFE AND SIGNED THAT I LOVE YOU EMERGE HAS DONE A TIME FOR US.

I'M NOT GOING TO READ EVERYTHING I'VE GOT.

I THINK EVERY, ALL THE OTHER PARENTS HAVE COVERED IT.

AND I FEEL LIKE IT'S OBVIOUS THAT, THAT THEY HAVE AN INCREDIBLE IMPACT ON ALL OF US WHO HAVE CHILDREN WITH AUTISM.

THEY'VE DONE INCREDIBLE THING FOR US.

AND I WOULD DO ANYTHING TO KEEP MY CHILDREN LIKE A LOT OF THE OTHER PARENTS.

IT SCARES ME TO THINK ABOUT PUTTING MY CHILDREN SOMEWHERE ELSE, BECAUSE

[01:00:01]

AND THAT MEANS EVERYTHING TO ME.

ANY OTHER MEMBERS OF THE AUDIENCE? OKAY.

YOU'VE ALREADY SPOKEN.

GO AHEAD.

QUICKLY.

MR. S FANNIE SPOKE TO SUSTAINABILITY.

UM, YESTERDAY I EMAILED YOU GUYS ABOUT A METHOD OF SUSTAINABILITY WHEN EMERGE FIRST FILED THE APPLICATION.

ONE OF THE AREAS THAT WE WE ASKED FOR WAS THE ABILITY TO LOOK AT HIGH COST SERVICES.

IF WE LOOKED AT HIGH COST SERVICES, MY ASK MISS ARE, IF THEY WERE FILED AND FILED CORRECTLY, WE WOULD RE RECEIVE OVER $400,000.

THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE'VE GOTTEN PUSHED BACK ON, THAT WE WERE NOT ALLOWED TO DO.

AND SO I EMPLOY YOU TO PLEASE, UM, LET'S MOVE FORWARD AND, AND WORK ON HIGH COST ALLOCATION.

IT'S NOT JUST GOING TO BENEFIT A MERGE.

LOOK AT MY NUMBERS, LOOK WHAT WE PULLED TOGETHER.

IT BENEFITS ALL THE CHILDREN OF EBR.

ALSO, AS FAR AS THE PARENTS LOOKING AT THE FINANCIAL SITUATION OF OUR PARENTS, ONLY TWO CHILDREN WILL BE ABLE TO CONTINUE OUT OF MERGE.

SO, UM, WHEN WE LOOK AT DIVERSITY, WE'RE 75% OF OUR CHILDREN ARE NONWHITE.

WE ARE, WE ARE, UH, TRULY AN ENVIRONMENT THAT NURTURES CHILDREN.

UM, THERE ARE WAYS TO MAKE US SUSTAINABLE.

THERE ARE WAYS THAT, UM, I WISH YOU GUYS WOULD ENTERTAIN THAT YOU WOULD EXPLORE, UM, AND THAT WE DON'T HAVE TO LET THESE CHILDREN AND THESE PARENTS DOWN.

UM, THANK YOU.

NO MORE FROM THE AUDIENCE.

ARE THERE ANY MORE COMMENTS FROM THE BOARD MS. BERNARD? THANK YOU, MR. .

THANK YOU, MR. .

UM, I CAN SUPPORT THIS.

UM, ONLY IF WE EITHER ACCEPT A FRIENDLY OR A SUBSTITUTE MOTION, UM, THAT WE WOULD AMEND THE CONTRACT TO INCLUDE SERVICES ONLY REIMBURSABLE BY MEDICAID, INCLUDING SPEECH OT AND PT.

MS. LOPEZ, CAN YOU CLARIFY FOR ME THE REIMBURSEMENTS? YES.

MA'AM THE, UM, MEDICAID REIMBURSEMENTS ARE FOR SPEECH THERAPY, OCCUPATIONAL PHYSICAL THERAPY, UM, WHICH THE EMERGENCY CENTER PROVIDES SPEECH AND OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY ONLY TO THE STUDENTS OF THE EMERGE SCHOOL.

UM, THE DISTRICT ACTUALLY PROVIDES THE PHYSICAL THERAPY FOR, UH, ONE OF THEIR STUDENTS AND WE ARE REIMBURSED AT 65% OF THE COST.

SO THE REIMBURSEMENT IS ONLY AT 65%.

AND SO WE COVER THE OTHER 35%.

YES MA'AM.

BEFORE YOU LEAVE, COULD YOU GIVE A COMMENT ABOUT THE HIGH NEEDS, UH, ALLOCATIONS THAT WE'RE NOT GOING AFTER RIGHT NOW, FROM WHAT I UNDERSTAND? WELL, SURE.

HIGH COST SERVICES IS WHAT SHE'S SPEAKING OF THE LOUISIANA DEPARTMENT OF ED ACTUALLY SETS HIGH COST SERVICES FOR US.

WE DON'T GET THAT CHOICE.

AND IT'S AT $37,000 PER STUDENT CURRENTLY WITH THE IEP AND THE SPECIAL ED RATE AND EVERYTHING.

THESE STUDENTS RECEIVE 14,004, 85%, UM, TYPICAL PER STUDENT FOR US, THAT WOULD BE FOR THE EMERGED SCHOOL, UM, WHICH IS HIGHER BECAUSE THEY ARE ALL SPECIAL ED.

UM, TYPICALLY OUR CHILDREN THAT RECEIVE HIGH COST SERVICES ARE EXTREMELY MEDICAL, FRAGILE STUDENTS WHO ARE IN WHEELCHAIRS, WHO MAY HAVE FEEDING TUBES WHO REQUIRE A REGISTERED NURSE ALL DAY LONG TO BE WITH THEM ARE, CANNOT ATTEND SCHOOL.

SO THEY HAVE A NURSE AT HOME AND THEN OUR TEACHERS ACTUALLY GO TO THEM.

BUT SINCE THEY ARE ON BEING EDUCATED AT THAT TIME, IT BECOMES OUR RESPONSIBILITY TO COVER THE REGISTERED NURSE.

FOR EXAMPLE, WE HAVE THREE STUDENTS THAT WE JUST SIGNED A CONTRACT FOR $90,000 FOR NURSING SERVICES FOR THESE STUDENTS WOULD QUALIFY FOR HIGH COST SERVICES BECAUSE OF THE COST OF EDUCATING AND THEIR MEDICAL FRAGILITY.

SO WE DON'T GET TO MAKE THAT CHOICE.

IT'S HOW MUCH WE HAVE TO SPEND ON THE CHILD MEDICALLY AND THE EMERGE STUDENTS DON'T QUALIFY BECAUSE THEY DON'T REACH IT.

BUT ALL OF THE MERGED SERVICES ARE IN THEIR EIP.

YES, THE IPDS.

SO WE WOULD BE REQUIRED TO PROVIDE THOSE AT ANY COST IF THEY WERE AT OUR SCHOOLS.

WE WOULD PROVIDE ALL SPECIAL EDUCATION AND EVERYTHING ELSE THROUGH THE GENERAL FUND.

WITH OUR SPECIAL EDUCATION TEACHERS, WE PROVIDE SERVICES TO OUR STUDENTS, BUT IT'S NOT MEDICATION.

BECAUSE LIKE WE DO

[01:05:01]

SO IF THEY CAME BACK TO US, WE WOULD HAVE TO PROVIDE THE SAME LEVEL OF SERVICES IN EIP, WHATEVER THE IEP SAYS.

SO THANK YOU ABOUT THAT.

JUST ONE MORE THING, BECAUSE W W LET ME INVITE YOU, WOULD YOU PLEASE GIVE US A CLARIFICATION? GO AHEAD, GO AHEAD.

LET'S SPEAK TO THE IEP SO THAT OUR CHILDREN HAVE, WE, WE ARE DEALING WITH THIS RIGHT NOW, AND I THINK IT'S SOMETHING THAT YOU AS SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS NEED, NEED TO REALLY UNDERSTAND WHAT'S GOING ON WITHIN THE SCHOOL SYSTEM.

OUR CHILDREN LEAVE IN MARCH WITH AN IEP THAT STATES SPECIFICALLY WHAT THEIR NEEDS ARE.

WE SPEAK TO OUR PARENTS ONCE THEY LEAVE.

AND WE THINK IN THEIR, THEIR TRANSITION, THIS IS WHAT THEY'RE RECEIVING.

ONCE THEY RE THEY GO TO A SCHOOL WITHIN EBR, THE IEP HAS CHANGED, NOT FOR THE BETTERMENT OF THE CHILD.

WHAT HAPPENS IS IT, IT FITS THE NEEDS OF THE SCHOOL.

THAT'S NOT WHAT WE WANT FOR OUR CHILDREN.

NOW, WHAT I'M DOING IS EDUCATING MY PARENTS BECAUSE I HAVE TO CLOSE THE SCHOOL.

I'M GOING TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR PARENTS, THESE CHILDREN RECEIVE EVERYTHING THAT THEY ARE ENTITLED TO THROUGH THAT IEP.

SO GUYS BE PREPARED.

YOU WILL BE PAYING A LOT MORE BECAUSE THE PARENTS HAVE TO AGREE THAT YOU CANNOT CHANGE AN IEP JUST BECAUSE A SCHOOL CANNOT PROVIDE THE SERVICES.

AND SO IT'S VERY IMPORTANT THAT EVERYONE UNDERSTAND THAT, BUT THAT IS HAPPENING NOW WITHIN THE SCHOOL SYSTEM.

AND THAT'S SOMETHING THAT NEEDS TO STOP.

UH, MS. I, MR. TATLIN.

OH, I'M SORRY.

YOU STILL, I'M SORRY.

UM, WERE YOU ALL GOING TO ACCEPT THAT AS A FRIENDLY OR YEAH, I'M ON MICROSOFT AND WHERE Y'ALL GOING TO ACCEPT THAT AS A FRIENDLY OR, OH, OKAY.

I WOULD, I WOULD LIKE TO AMEND THE MOTION FOR THE CONTRACT TO APPROVE THE CONTRACT, TO INCLUDE SERVICES REIMBURSABLE BY MEDICAID AND MEDICARE OR MEDICAID, INCLUDING SPEECH OT AND PT.

SO ONLY SERVICES THAT ARE BILLABLE, THAT WE WERE REIMBURSED.

THOSE, UM, YOU KNOW, I'M THINKING THAT IT, IT RIGHT NOW, WE CAN'T QUANTIFY WHAT THAT'S GOING TO BE AFTER A YEAR.

WE MAY HAVE A BETTER, UM, BETTER IDEA W HOW MUCH THAT WOULD BE.

AND WE MAY CONSIDER THAT AT THAT TIME.

BUT I, I, I WOULD PREFER NOT TO, UH, PUT THAT CLARIFICATION AT THIS TIME.

THEN I WOULD MAKE THAT AS A SUBSTITUTE MOTION.

WOULD YOU PLEASE STATE YOUR SUBSTITUTE MOTION MOTION TO APPROVE THE CONTRACT, TO AMEND THE CONTRACT, TO INCLUDE, SORRY, MOTION TO AMEND THE CONTRACT TO INCLUDE SERVICES ONLY REIMBURSABLE BY MEDICAID, INCLUDING SPEECH OT AND PT.

SO THAT IS THE MOTION.

DO WE HAVE A SECOND, SECOND IT BY MS. COLLINS.

AND THEN I WANTED TO ASK MS. LOPEZ TO CLARIFY FOR ME, UH, CA CAN WE QUANTIFY THESE THINGS AT THIS TIME? BUT DO WE HAVE, OH, YOU DO HAVE THE INFORMATION, RIGHT.

UM, I CAN READ, I CAN TALK TO EIS, MAKE CLAIMS AND SEE IF THEY CAN TELL ME THE EXACT AMOUNT, BECAUSE WE RUN OUR CLAIMS THROUGH THEM EVERY MONTH, AS THE, FOR EXAMPLE, WHEN THE EMERGE CENTER SENDS ME A BILL, ONCE BEFORE I SET IT UP FOR PAYMENT, I SEND IT TO MED EIS MEDICAL LINES TO START THE PROCESS.

UM, BUT WHAT I CAN DO IS I CAN TELL YOU HOW MUCH THEY CLAIM PER MONTH, AND I CAN GIVE YOU 65% OF IT, SO I CAN GIVE YOU A GOOD BALLPARK, BUT I WOULD NEED EIS MED CLAIMS TO TELL ME EXACTLY HOW MUCH WE GET BACK FROM EACH ONE OF THOSE, BECAUSE THEY MAKE THE CLAIMS FOR ME, I WOULD BE GOOD WITH A BALLPARK ACTUALLY RIGHT NOW, MR. BLUE, WOULD THAT SATISFY YOUR CONCERNS? MAY I ASK A QUESTION BEFORE WE GET INTO THAT RIGHT NOW, THE ONLY INFORMATION WE GET FROM EMERGE IS WHAT THEY'RE ACTUALLY GIVING TO US, TO BILL.

SO YOU'RE NOT EVEN SEEING THE TOTAL PIECE OF THE INFORMATION IF THEY WERE BEING ABLE TO GET THESE ADDITIONAL SERVICES, BECAUSE YOU'RE NOT EVEN SEEING THOSE BILLS TODAY, CORRECT? NO, WHAT I GET IS FOR THEIR OCCUPATIONAL THERAPIST AND THEIR SPEECH THERAPIST, RIGHT? CORRECT.

I JUST WANTED TO MAKE THAT CLEAR.

I'M SORRY, MR. BERLIN, SHE WAS ASKING YOU A QUESTION.

WELL, I THINK THAT CLAIRE'S WATERS, YOU'VE ALREADY MADE A SECOND.

YOU'VE ALREADY MADE, YOU'VE ALREADY MADE A SUBSTITUTE MOTION WITH A SECOND, SO IT'S ON THE TABLE.

ON THE SUBSTITUTE MOTION, ARE YOU DONE MS. BERNARD? OKAY.

SO, UH, WE'RE NOW

[01:10:01]

UH, MS. JACKSON, OH, THANK YOU.

UM, PRESIDENT GOLDIE, UM, THE SPEAKER MENTIONED THE HIGH COST SERVICES.

AND IN READING SOME OF THE BACKUP I WAS LOOKING AT, I HAD A QUESTION ABOUT HOW OFTEN WE FILE AND IT WAS MY UNDERSTANDING THAT WE TAKE LIKE 12 TO 18 MONTHS TO REQUEST REIMBURSEMENT FOR, UM, HIGH COST SERVICES.

AND, UM, WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO, I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THIS SCHOOL CONTINUE.

AND I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO SEE, UM, THAT OUR DEPARTMENT THAT HANDLES, UH, SPECIAL NEEDS, UM, STUDENTS WOULD, UM, THERE'S GOTTA BE A WAY THAT WE CAN FILE THIS A LITTLE MORE OFTEN SO THAT WE CAN GET, AND ALSO GET THE MAXIMUM FROM WHAT I UNDERSTAND.

WE'RE NOT, WE'RE NOT GETTING THE MAXIMUM THAT WE CAN.

AND I WOULD LIKE TO SEE US LOOK AT THAT AND REALLY TAKE, UH, TAKE SOME, UM, MEASURES TO CHANGE THAT SO THAT WE CAN GET THE MAXIMUM BENEFIT, NOT JUST FOR THIS SPECIAL SET OF CHILDREN AT THIS SCHOOL, BUT ALL OF OUR SPECIAL NEEDS KIDS, UH, THROUGHOUT THE DISTRICT.

UH, SO I, UM, SUPPORT THE, UH, ORIGINAL MOTION AND WOULD LIKE TO SEE US MOVE IN A DIRECTION OF, UM, GETTING THE MAXIMUM THAT WE POSSIBLY CAN AND NOT WAITING, UM, LONGER TO, UM, TO REQUEST THESE REIMBURSEMENTS.

AND IF IT'S A, UM, IF IT'S, IF IT'S A MATTER OF STAFF, I WOULD LIKE US TO REALLY TAKE A LOOK AT THAT DEPARTMENT AND SEE WHAT WE CAN DO TO, UM, GET THE, THE HANDS-ON THAT WE ACTUALLY NEED OR UNDERSTAND THAT EMERGE HAD OFFERED SHARING SOME OF THAT, SOME STAFF OR SOME TIME THAT WILL HELP TO DO THAT.

SO I WOULD JUST LIKE US TO EXPLORE EVERY OPTION AVAILABLE TO, UM, KEEP THE SCHOOL OPEN AND TO, UH, CHANGE SOME PRACTICES THAT WE HAVE WITHIN OUR SYSTEM, SO THAT WE CAN GET THE MAXIMUM AMOUNT AND SERVE OUR CHILDREN BETTER.

THANK YOU, MS. JACKSON, MS. DYSON, I BELIEVE THAT YOU MIGHT HAVE MISSED, UM, SOMEONE BEFORE MS. JACKSON, IS THAT, IS IT MY TURN? OH, I'M SORRY.

I THOUGHT YOU HAD SPOKEN.

MY, MY MISTAKE.

IF WE DON'T KNOW WHAT THAT FIGURE IS, WE COULD BE ESSENTIALLY CLOSING THE SCHOOL BECAUSE THE NUMBER'S TOO LOW.

USUALLY WHEN I SPEAK, NO ONE NOTICES MY APOLOGIES.

NO WORRIES.

UH, NO, NO, NO PROBLEM.

THANK YOU, MR. PRESIDENT FIRST.

UM, I JUST WANTED TO SPEAK TO THE FAMILIES WHO CAME AND SPOKE.

UM, I CAN'T IMAGINE WHAT YOU GO THROUGH ON A DAILY BASIS AND THE CHALLENGES THAT YOU HAVE AND, UM, YOUR VOICE IS NOT, NOT HEARD.

UM, GOD BLESS YOU.

AND, UM, YOU KNOW, IT'S, UM, IT'S, IT'S JUST AN INCREDIBLE CHALLENGE.

AND I KNOW, UM, I KNOW THAT EVERYONE ON THIS BOARD, REGARDLESS OF HOW THEY VOTE, UH, UNDERSTAND, MAYBE DON'T UNDERSTAND BECAUSE WE DON'T LIVE IT EVERY DAY, BUT ARE SENSITIVE TO, UH, WHAT YOU GO THROUGH.

AND, AND I JUST WANTED TO SAY, GOD BLESS YOU.

UM, I, UM, I WAS PRESIDENT WHEN WE PUT THE CONTRACT TOGETHER AND AT THAT TIME WE DISCUSSED WITH THE LEADERS OF EMERGE THAT WE THOUGHT THAT THE MODEL WASN'T SUSTAINABLE OVER TIME.

UM, I DO PLAN TO SUPPORT THE UNDERLYING MOTION TO FUND EMERGE ONE MORE YEAR SO THAT WE CAN TRY TO SEE IF WE CAN GET THE MODEL, RIGHT.

UH, NOT SO CERTAIN I WOULD DO THAT NEXT YEAR, BUT I AM, I AM, I WAS THE SECOND ON THE MOTION.

SO OBVIOUSLY I'M SUPPORTIVE OF IT.

UM, ONE OF THE BIG CHALLENGES IN MS, WHERE JACKSON SPOKE TO IT WAS THE DELAY IN REIMBURSEMENT, BUT AS I APPRECIATE IT, IT'S NOT NECESSARILY JUST THE APPLICATION.

IT TAKES THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AND MS. LOPEZ MAY WANT TO SPEAK TO IT.

IT TAKES THEM SOMETIMES TWO OR THREE YEARS TO PAY US.

SO THAT'S THE LARGER ISSUE AS OPPOSED TO WHEN IT'S, YEAH, IT'S DEPENDING ON WHO YOU TALK TO, IT'S EITHER TWO OR THREE YEARS.

SO THERE IS A, A LEAD TIME WHEN WE NEGOTIATED THE CONTRACT, WE ACCEPTED THAT AND SAID, OKAY, WE CAN, I HATE TO USE THE TERM, BUT BASICALLY FLOATED, RIGHT.

UM, BECAUSE CLEARLY THEY ARE SERVING A POPULATION THAT IS, UH, VERY, VERY DIFFICULT TO SERVE.

UH, TH TH BOTH, YOU KNOW, THESE CHILDREN, UH, HAVE A TREMENDOUS CHALLENGES AND SO DO THEIR FAMILIES.

THE OTHER PART OF IT IS, IS THAT, UH, IF WE DON'T AND, AND THE CONCERN I HAVE MR. BERNARD, WITH YOUR, UH, UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU'RE TRYING TO DO, AND I APPRECIATE AND ADMIRE IT, I'M CONCERNED THAT IF WE DON'T KNOW WHAT THAT NUMBER IS,

[01:15:01]

AND, AND I DON'T WANT TO DO THAT.

AND THAT'S, THAT'S THE ONLY REASON I DON'T SUPPORT THAT PART OF, YOU KNOW, YOUR SUBSTITUTE.

IT'S ONLY IT'S.

I LIKE THE IDEA OF THINKING THROUGH IT AND TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHERE WE CAN GET RIGHT ON IT.

BUT I HAVE A CONCERN, AND I DON'T WANT TO SEE THIS SCHOOL CLOSE, BUT I DO WANT TO CHALLENGE THE SCHOOL, THE PARENTS, AND EVERYONE INVOLVED TO, TO TAKE A LOOK AT THIS MODEL.

AND I DON'T THINK IT'S THE HIGHER, UH, CARE, UH, THE MORE, UH, UH, CRITICAL CARE THAT'S GOING TO BE THE MONEY.

I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S GOING TO BE OUTSIDE FUNDRAISING.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT IT'S GOING TO BE.

I DON'T HAVE AN ANSWER.

I'M I COME FROM A FUNDRAISING BACKGROUND.

SO MY SENSE IS YOU SET UP A DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT AND YOU GO OUT AND RAISE MONEY, BECAUSE IF THESE PARENTS WENT AND TOLD THAT STORY ABOUT WHAT THEY GO THROUGH ON A DAILY BASIS BROADLY, I THINK YOU COULD RAISE A WHOLE LOT OF MONEY.

UH, BUT I DO, I AM CONCERNED ABOUT YOUR MODEL.

I'M GOING TO SUPPORT THE UNDERLYING MOTION.

UM, BUT I DON'T KNOW THAT I WOULD SUPPORT IT AGAIN NEXT YEAR.

SO, UM, THANK YOU, MR. PRESIDENT.

AND I'M SORRY ABOUT OVERLOOKING YOU, MS. DYSON.

UM, SO I HAVE, UM, CONCERNS ABOUT THE LENGTH OF TIME FOR THAT AS WELL, BECAUSE I WAS HOPEFUL THAT WE COULD GET TO SOME AGREEMENT ON A PAY AS REIMBURSED, UM, BASIS, BUT I, SOMETHING WOULD HAVE TO BE DONE.

NOW, IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING FOR MEDICAID, THAT THE DOLLARS THAT WE FILE WITH THE STATE, UM, AND THAT THESE DIAGNOSES, UM, USUALLY, UM, HELP THE FAMILY, THE CHILD RECEIVE MEDICAID REIMBURSEMENT ON, ON BE MEDICAID ELIGIBLE.

UM, SO ARE WE FALLING WITH BOTH MS. LOPEZ? ARE WE FILING WITH BOTH STATE MEDICAID AND FEDERAL REIMBURSEMENT? BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT I'M HEARING TONIGHT IS FEDERAL.

IT RUNS THROUGH THE STATE, BUT IT'S FEDERAL DOLLARS.

SO WHAT WE DO IS YEARLY FOR OUR EMPLOYEES.

WE HAVE TO DO THE COST SERVICES REPORT, WHICH HAS TO RUN THROUGH DHH, WHICH HAS TO RUN THROUGH POSTLEWAITE AND NETTERVILLE, AND, AND MRES HAPPENS, RIGHT? YOU WAIT A LONG TIME FOR OUR MONEY FOR OUR CONTRACTORS.

WE HAVE A CONTRACT WITH EIS MED CLAIMS. SO LIKE I WAS SAYING, WHEN I RECEIVE A BILL FROM THE EMERGE CENTER, BEFORE I EVEN SET IT UP FOR PAYMENT, I'M SENDING IT TO EIS MED CLAIMS FOR THEM TO START PROCESSING IT.

AND THEN WE GET PAID ON A MONTH TO MONTH BASIS FOR OUR CONTRACTS LIKE THAT.

UM, WHEN DID THAT START? BECAUSE I THOUGHT YOU EXPLAINED IT THE LAST TIME WE JUST N LIKE I SAID, WE JUST STARTED THAT THIS EIS IS NEW AND THEY'VE BEEN A GREAT HELP, AND I'VE ACTUALLY SENT THEM AN EMAIL.

THEY HAVEN'T HAD, THEY'RE STILL FIGURING OUT HOW TO RESEARCH TO BREAK OUT EXACTLY HOW MUCH WE GET SPECIFICALLY FROM THOSE BILLABLES.

UM, BUT FOR THE REST, THE COST THERAPY THROUGH OUR EMPLOYEES.

THAT IS ONLY A ONCE A YEAR.

IN FACT, WE JUST TURNED IT IN LAST MONTH.

IT'S EVERY NOVEMBER.

UM, BUT WE ARE PROCESSING IT, BUT WE ONLY GET 65%.

AND THAT'S ONLY FOR OT SPEECH AND PHYSICAL THERAPY, IF WE HAVE THOSE COSTS, MEANING NOT THE ABA SERVICES.

RIGHT NOW, BECAUSE IT'S VERY, VERY EXPENSIVE.

RIGHT.

UM, SO, SO SINCE THE COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE, WE HAVE ACTUALLY PUT IN PLACE THE STEP OF THE MUM RUNNING, RUNNING IT MONTHLY.

SO THAT'S WHAT WE ARE, RIGHT.

NOT FOR OUR EMPLOYEES JUST FOR CONTRACT.

OUR EMPLOYEES IS STILL HERE.

SO THAT IS I THINK, GOING TO BE A BIG HELP WITH THIS.

UM, AND SO I WAS HOPEFUL THAT SOME DISCUSSIONS DURING THESE TWO WEEKS, UM, MAY HAVE TAKEN PLACE SO THAT WE COULD GET TO THE POINT WHERE WE MIGHT, COULD HAVE SOME OF THAT KIND OF STUFF, UH, WORKED THROUGH, UM, HAVE, HAS ANY CHANGE.

AND I KNOW WE ARE, WE DON'T HAVE FULL.

UM, BUT I, I THINK THEY'RE ON THE CALL UP ARE WATCHING, UM, DO HAVE DISCUSSIONS TAKEN PLACE OVER THIS TWO WEEK PERIOD, UM, THAT HAVE CHANGED THE ASK IN ANY WAY? NOT THAT I'M AWARE OF.

NO,

[01:20:01]

NO, NO.

UM, AND SO HAS EMERGE, IN FACT, AS MY COLLEAGUE, MS. JACKSON SAID, HAVE THEY ACTUALLY OFFERED MANPOWER FOR FILING? IS THAT CORRECT? I, I WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THIS NOW.

THAT IS NOT CORRECT.

MAY I SPEAK TO THAT? YES, PLEASE.

THE HIGH COST SERVICES PIECE WAS BROUGHT TO MS. LOPEZ'S ATTENTION OVER A YEAR AGO BY THE FORMER PRINCIPAL OF THE SCHOOL, MRS. LEE BAZAAR, IT, IT WAS ADDRESSED.

WE, WE ALL, WE ACTUALLY HAD A COMMITTEE THAT PULLED TOGETHER AND WE WERE TOLD WE, WE OFFER.

AND IN FACT, I DO WANT TO PULL IT TOGETHER.

I WOULD RATHER PULL IT TOGETHER AND GIVE IT TO AVR TO SUBMIT, BECAUSE I FEEL LIKE THERE'S AN EDUCATIONAL COMPONENT THAT THE TEAM HAS TO HAVE.

WHEREAS MY STAFF WILL BE FULLY EDUCATED.

WE TAKE, WE DROP BILLS, MONTHLY OR PT, OT, AND ABA SERVICES TO MEDICAID.

YOU KNOW, I WATCHED THE AGING FROM AN OPERATIONAL STANDPOINT, YOU WOULD NEVER NOT DROP WEIGHT TO DROP BILLS SO LONG.

UM, AND SO, UM, I WILL MAKE SURE THAT THE HIGH CALL SERVICES WAS FIELD AND BILLED CORRECTLY.

AND WE WILL, WE WILL DO THAT AS A SERVICE THROUGH OUR OFFICES.

AND SO, UM, IS THAT ACCEPTABLE TO RECEIVE THEM IN THAT WAY, MS. LOPEZ? SO HIGH COST SERVICES IS A TOTALLY DIFFERENT PIECE.

THAT IS A SEPARATE THING THROUGH THE DEPARTMENT OF ED.

YOU HAVE TO HIT $37,000.

THEIR CHILDREN DON'T HIT $37,000.

AND THAT'S FROM OUR SPECIAL ED DEPARTMENT.

I ACTUALLY CALLED AND CONTACTED IT'S $37,000.

THAT'S THE STATE LIMIT.

THAT'S WHAT THE DEPARTMENT OF ANIMALS IS THE MINIMUM.

CORRECT.

SO THEIR CHILDREN DON'T HIT THAT LEVEL.

SO THEY'RE NOT ELIGIBLE FOR HIGH COST SERVICES BECAUSE PER STATE MFP THEY'RE ELIGIBLE FOR $14,000.

AND LIKE I SAID, ALL OF OUR CHILDREN WHO RECEIVE HIGH COSTS, WE RECEIVE HIGH COST SERVICES FUNDING FOR OUR EXTREME MEDICAL CASES.

THESE ARE VERY MEDICALLY FRAGILE CHILDREN.

SO SHAKING HEAD, BECAUSE I'M SPEAKING WITH PEOPLE AT, WITHIN PAST AND PRESENT INDIVIDUALS WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION AND THEY BACK TO DIFFERENT THAT RESPONSE.

SO I, I THINK PROBABLY A SIT DOWN WITH THE APPROPRIATE INDIVIDUALS TO HELP THOSE WHO DON'T UNDERSTAND WHAT WE CAN PROVIDE FOR THE CHILDREN, NOT JUST FOR OUR CHILDREN, BUT WITHIN EDR IS, IS A CONVERSATION, WHAT PEOPLE, SO, UM, I WOULD, I WOULD LOVE TO SEE THAT HAPPEN AND, YOU KNOW, WITH OPEN MINDS AND THINKING OUT OF THE BOX AND TRYING TO BE CREATIVE HERE.

AND, UM, I'M NOT SURE WHERE, WHERE, WHAT INFORMATION, YOU KNOW, GOT LEFT OR WHATEVER.

BUT I WOULD THINK THAT A, UM, COMMITTEE WITH SOME OF OUR SENIOR STAFF MEMBERS AND, AND, AND SOME OF YOURS, AND TRY TO ACTUALLY WORK IN PARTNERSHIP AND, AND TRY TO WORK THROUGH SOME OF THE POSSIBILITIES OF, YOU KNOW, THE, THE, UH, DOLLARS.

SURE.

I'D LOVE TO BRING IN SOME PEOPLE FROM SPECIAL EDUCATION DEPARTMENT, BECAUSE THEY ARE A MUCH BETTER VERSED IN THIS.

I JUST, I JUST RUN THE BILL AND, AND MAYBE THEY AREN'T AS VERSED IN THIS PARTICULAR, YOU KNOW, WE ALL CAN GROW.

AND SO WE ALL MUST GROW IN THIS SITUATION.

AND FROM WHAT I UNDERSTAND THIS APPROACH, IF THIS IS APPROVED TONIGHT, THIS IS FOR JUST TO FINISH OUT THIS CONTRACT.

AND, UM, YOU KNOW, CAUSE I TYPICALLY FEEL LIKE YOU'RE IN A CONTRACT.

THIS IS WHAT YOU'VE AGREED TO DO.

AND, BUT I CERTAINLY, I FEEL FOR ALL OF THE PARENTS, ALL OF THE SIBLINGS, YOU KNOW, ALL OF THE EXTENDED FAMILY THAT HAVE THESE CHALLENGING ISSUES, DEALING WITH THEM EVERY DAY AND TRYING TO DO THE BEST BY EACH AND EVERY CHILD, I FEEL THAT WAY ABOUT OUR CHILDREN, UH, WHO AREN'T IN A TYPE ONE CHARTER AS WELL, UM, THAT ARE UNDER OUR CARE.

UM, AND, AND SO MAYBE WE HAVE A BETTER WAY OF, OF DOING SOME OF OUR OWN BILLING AS WELL.

AND, BUT I DO KNOW THAT THERE IS AN ABA PROBLEM TYPICALLY WITH BILLING

[01:25:01]

AND REIMBURSEMENT.

SO, UM, I'LL BE GLAD TO HEAR AS WELL.

WHAT, WHAT ALL TRANSPIRES WITH THIS? THANK YOU COLLINS.

SO FIRST I JUST WANT TO, UH, YOU KNOW, CLARIFY THAT, UH, I'M SURE NONE OF MY COLLEAGUES HERE TONIGHT, QUESTION HOW VALUABLE EMERGES, AND FACT AGAIN, NOT TOO OFTEN THAT I'M GOING TO SUPPORT A NEW CHARTER.

I SUPPORTED EMERGE THAT BEING SAID, UM, I STILL CONTINUE TO HAVE QUESTIONS AROUND THE FINANCIAL SUSTAINABILITY AND THE STAFF AND SUSTAINABILITY BECAUSE EDR TEACHERS COMPLAINED ABOUT NOT GETTING ENOUGH MONEY.

AND WHEN YOU SAY 25% LESS, YOU STRUGGLING TO GET SOME N N F AND ALL OUR TEACHERS, ANYBODY WHO, UH, PURSUES A CAREER, UH, DEALING WITH ALL OF OUR DIFFERENT KINDS OF CHILDREN EVERY SINGLE DAY, THEY ALL LOVE WHAT THEY DO, WHETHER THE AD EMERGE OR SOMEWHERE ELSE, UM, HAVING ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS AROUND, HELP ME UNDERSTAND IT.

IT'S VERY FUZZY.

IT'S GETTING MORE, IT GETS MORE AND MORE FUZZY FOR ME.

UM, I MEAN, HELP ME UNDERSTAND THE MOVING PIECES WITH THE BILLING, WHERE WE CAN COME UP WITH A CONCRETE NUMBER FOR THIS CONTRACT, BUT THEN WHEN WE DISCUSS OTHER OPTIONS, WE CAN'T COME UP WITH A NUMBER.

I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHAT I'M MISSING.

UH, AND SO I'M NOT SAYING THAT TO BE FUNNY, I JUST REALLY DON'T UNDERSTAND WHAT I'M MISSING.

MS. COLLINS, WOULD YOU LET ME TRY TO ANSWER THAT REAL QUICK AT YOUR PLEASURE.

THAT CONTRACT INCLUDES A CAP.

IT IS NOT A SOLID NUMBER.

IT IS A CAP.

AND SO IT WOULD BE, THEY WOULD BILL UNTIL THEY REACHED THAT NUMBER.

IF THEY DON'T REACH THAT NUMBER, THEY DON'T, THEY ONLY GET WHAT THEY BILL FOR IF THEY REACHED THAT NUMBER, IT CUTS OFF AT THAT CAP.

SO I JUST WANT YOU TO BE CLEAR ABOUT WHAT WAS IN THE CONTRACT.

THAT'S REAL SIMPLE EXPLANATION.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THAT.

NOW MY OTHER QUESTION IS, UM, AND I THINK IT WAS MENTIONED IN A PREVIOUS MEETING, BUT I NEED A REFRESHER WHAT PREVENTS EMERGED FROM BEING HIS OWN MEDICAID PROVIDER AND BILLING MEDICAID LEA.

AND SO THE STATUTE SAYS ONLY THE LEA.

ALL RIGHT.

THE EXPERIENCES OF THE FAMILIES WHO HAVE TESTIFIED.

I WANTED TO MAKE SURE I REMEMBERED THAT CORRECTLY.

UM, I'M SORRY FOR ANSWERING YOUR QUESTION.

OOH.

UH, ANSWERS IT.

SO NO WORRIES.

UM, I, AGAIN, I, I DO ACTUALLY CONTINUE TO BE SUPPORTIVE OF EMERGE.

UM, I'M NOT CONFUSED ABOUT THE LEVEL OF INTERVENTION, UH, NEED SOME CLARITY AROUND A FEW THINGS, BUT I GET CONCEPTUALLY THAT YOU SAYING THAT YOU PROVIDE A HIGHER LEVEL OF INTERVENTION, UH, TO GET THOSE STUDENTS, UH, IN A MORE MAINSTREAMED ENVIRONMENT AS POSSIBLE AT THEIR SCHOOL OF CHOICE.

UM, BUT AGAIN, UH, I DON'T KNOW IF WE TRULY HELPING, UH, Y'ALL LONGTERM, UH, BY APPROVING THIS.

SO, UM, THANKS FOR ANSWERING MY QUESTIONS AND GIVING ME MORE CLARITY.

AGAIN, THIS IS NOT A DISS AT EMERGE.

IT'S NOT A DISS AT HELPING OUR AUTISTIC STUDENTS.

ONE OF THE REASONS WHY I FELT COMFORTABLE ABOUT SUPPORTING EMERGING, THE FIRST PLACES THAT I PERSONALLY RECEIVED SERVICES FROM EMERGES PREVIOUS NAMESAKE WHEN I WAS IN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL NEXT DOOR AUT.

SO AS A COMMUNITY, LONGSTANDING COMMUNITY STAKEHOLDER, I FEEL LIKE WE, THEY HAD SOME TRUST THERE.

UM, AND ALSO I'M PERSONALLY IMPACTED BY FAMILY MEMBERS AND CLOSE FRIENDS WHOSE CHILDREN HAVE AUTISM.

AND MY SISTER'S GODSON WHOM SHE RAISED FOR SEVEN YEARS, GOT SERVICES FROM EMERGE CENTER.

SO I'M A FRIEND OF EMERGE, BUT, UM, I I'M STRUGGLING WITH HOW THIS HAS PLAYED OUT IN THE DIFFERENT INFORMATION THAT I'M GETTING ALONG THE WAY.

UM, SO AGAIN, I'M NOT TRYING TO GET ME ASKING QUESTIONS AND ME BEING CAUTIOUS.

IT'S NOT THIS AND EMERGE OR DISMISSING

[01:30:01]

I KNOW PERSONALLY FAMILIES, UH, EXCUSE ME, MY OWN FAMILY HAVE SIMILAR TESTIMONY.

UM, AND SO I GET IT.

AND I HAVE TO ADMIT, I HAVE GOTTEN LOST IN THE REQUEST TO SPEAK.

SO, UM, MR. BERNARD, I WOULD LIKE TO WITHDRAW MY SUBSTITUTE MOTION IF THE SECOND IS AGREEABLE, THE SUBSTITUTE MOTION, SECOND DEGREE.

SO THE SUBSTITUTE MOTION IS DRAWN.

ARE THERE ANY OTHER COMMENTS FROM THE BOARD? I GUESS I WOULD JUST LIKE TO MAKE ONE COMMENT.

I'VE BEEN LISTENING TO ALL OF THE DISCUSSION, GO BACK AND FORTH.

AND A COUPLE OF OBSERVATIONS.

ONE IS I TRULY IS MR. CHAPMAN AND THE REST OF THE BOARD SAID, MY HEART GOES OUT TO THE PARENTS WHOSE CHILDREN ARE AT EMERGE.

I KNOW IT IS A VERY DIFFICULT THING, UH, TO RAISE A CHILD WITH AUTISM.

UH, I HAVE A NIECE WHO IS VERY HANDICAPPED AND I ALSO HAVE VERY CLOSE FRIENDS WHO HAVE CHILDREN.

SO I HAVE A FIRSTHAND KNOWLEDGE FIRSTHAND VIEW, NOT A FIRSTHAND KNOWLEDGE, BUT A FIRSTHAND VIEW OF WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE TO DO THAT.

UH, SECONDLY, I THINK, UH, YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I THINK WE NEED TO UNDERSTAND IS THIS IS THE FIRST OF A KIND SCHOOL, BOTH IN EBR AND IN THE STATE.

AND MAYBE THEY DIDN'T GET EVERYTHING RIGHT THE FIRST DAY.

AND BY ALSO THINK AT OUR DISTRICT IS LEARNING A LOT ABOUT THIS.

WE'VE ALREADY CHANGED HOW WE'RE DOING MEDICARE AND BILLING AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

SO I THINK OUR DISTRICT ALSO HAS A LOT TO LEARN.

SO I APPLAUD MS. DYSON AND OTHERS FOR TALKING ABOUT MAKING SURE WE GET TOGETHER AND WORK THROUGH THIS BECAUSE I THINK ANOTHER YEAR COULD HELP A LOT IF WE REALLY PUT OUR HEADS TOGETHER.

AND MY LAST COMMENT, BEFORE WE WILL CLOSE AND GOLF TO THE VOTE, YOU KNOW, WE PASSED A LOT OF DISCUSSION AROUND THIS TABLE HAS BEEN AROUND THE CONCEPT OF EQUITY.

AND I HEARD ONE PERSON GIVE A DEFINITION OF EQUITY IS THAT IS SUPPLYING THE RESOURCES TO THE KIDS THAT THEY NEED SO THEY CAN REACH THEIR OBJECTIVES THEY CAN ACHIEVE.

AND I THINK THAT IS A VERY GOOD DEFINITION OF EQUITY.

AND THIS IS ONE OF THE VERY FIRST TIMES THAT WE'RE COMING UP TO HAVE TO MAKE HARD DECISIONS ON AN EQUITY BASIS.

AND I THINK EQUITY, AND, YOU KNOW, IT'S NOT FAIR FOR US TO SAY, WELL, THEY NEED TO GET THEIR BILLING DONE AND GIVE THAT THEY GET THE MONEY WHEN WE GET REIMBURSED.

WHEN OUR S JUST BECAUSE THEY'RE A CHARTER, BECAUSE OUR KIDS ARE GETTING EXACTLY THE SAME SERVICES, THEY GET THE PHYSICAL THERAPY AND OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY.

THEY RECEIVE THOSE PEOPLE GET PAID THE SAME OR THAT MONTH, AND WE DON'T GET REIMBURSED FOREVER.

SO WHY SHOULD WE HOLD THE CHARTER SCHOOL TO A DIFFERENT STANDARD JUST BECAUSE THEIR KIDS ARE IN A CHARTER AS OPPOSED TO THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

SO I THINK WE NEED TO BE COGNIZANT OF THAT.

AND I REALLY THINK THIS IS AN EQUITY ISSUE THAT WE NEED TO GIVE THESE KIDS THE RESOURCES THAT THEY NEED.

AND THIS IS SORT OF OUR FIRST CHANCE TO TAKE OUT A STEP.

AND IF YOU REALLY BELIEVE IN EQUITY AND YOU REALLY BELIEVE IN EQUITY FUNDING, AND YOU REALLY BELIEVE THAT THAT'S THE WAY WE WANT TO GO, THAT THIS IS A FIRST STEP, BECAUSE IT IS OBVIOUS THESE KIDS ARE RECEIVING THE SERVICES.

IT IS OBVIOUS THE KIDS NEED THE SERVICES.

IT IS OBVIOUS.

THE PARENTS GREATLY APPRECIATE THE SERVICES AND IT IS DOING FOR THE KIDS, WHAT THEY NEED, WHICH IS THE DEFINITION OF EQUITY.

SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

ANY OTHER COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS MR. SHAMBLIN? UH, YES, SIR.

I JUST WANT, I JUST WANT TO CLARIFY THAT THE CONTRACT BEING APPROVED TONIGHT IS ACTUALLY FOR, UM, JULY OF 2021.

I WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT IT WAS CLEAR.

I THOUGHT I HEARD A FEW BOARD MEMBERS SAY IT WAS A CONTINUATION.

UM, ARE, UH, WHAT, WHAT AFFECT THE CURRENT CONTRACT IN PLACE? THIS IS FOR CONTRACT BEGINNING, JULY ONE, 2021 FOR A ONE-YEAR TERM.

THANK YOU, SARAH.

MS. COLLINS.

UM, I HAVE STATED BEFORE THAT, I BELIEVE, UH, ONLINE COMMENTS OUGHT TO BE READ.

AND SINCE I AM READING ONE THAT WAS EMAILED, UH, I WOULD LIKE TO PRESENT IT BECAUSE IT IS FROM ONE OF MY CONSTITUENTS.

SURE.

UM, THE EMERGE CENTER SHOULD NOT GET THIS MONEY BECAUSE IT IS WHAT WAS SIGNED.

IT WAS SIGNED UP FOR DID THEIR BUSINESS PLAN NOT INCLUDE THE MEETING.

THE IEP IS OF ALL CHILDREN.

THAT IS WHAT ALL EBR TEACHERS DO EVERY DAY WITH NO ADDITIONAL PAY.

ALSO, THERE ARE REPORTS OF DEGREE TEACHERS ONLY MAKING 13 OR $14 AN HOUR, WHICH SHOULD HAVE

[01:35:01]

BEEN COVERED.

WHAT ARE THEY DOING WITH THEIR MONEY? THEY HAVE ALREADY TOLD THEIR TEACHERS, THEY WILL GO PRIVATE IF THEY DO NOT GET THEIR MONEY.

AGAIN, I DO NOT PERSONALLY TAKE ISSUE WITH EMERGE.

I'M STILL HOPEFUL THAT WHAT MOTIVATED ME TO BE SUPPORTIVE AND VERY RARE INSTANCE OF ANY CHARTER SCHOOL, UM, THAT I, THAT I CAN CONTINUE TO FEEL COMFORTABLE.

I HAVE MORE QUESTIONS THAT I WILL NOT WASTE TIME HERE WITH THE MEETING, BUT I DID ALL, I DID WANT TO GO AHEAD AND READ THAT FROM MY CONSTITUENT.

CAN YOU PLEASE READ THE NAME OF THAT INTO THE RECORD? YES.

STOLEN MATTHEWS.

UH, DON'T DO THE ADDRESS RIGHT.

STAR STAR MATTHEWS AS WELL.

CONSIDERATION OF A REQUEST FOR THE APPROVAL TO RELOCATE ABR READINESS CAMPUS FROM THE OLD BANKS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL ON 72ND AVENUE TO GLEN OAKS MIDDLE SCHOOL.

ANY OTHER COMMENTS SEEING NONE? MADAM SECRETARY, PLEASE VOTE.

WHO ARE YOU WAITING ON? MR. JACKSON? LET'S JUST DO A QUICK ROLL CALL, MR. BLUE.

MS. COLLINS UPSTATE MS. WARD JACKSON.

[H.2. Relocation of EBR Readiness (HS) Campus]

IF SOMEONE WOULD BE HERE SPEAKING FOR MR. KNEE CASE, ARE WE GOING TO JUST GO STRAIGHT WITH THE MOTION, MR. YOU'RE ON.

HELLO, GOOD EVENING.

UM, AGAIN, WE'VE LOOKED AT SEVERAL OPTIONS AND WE HAVE SOME, UH, INFORMATION TO PRESENT TONIGHT, UH, AS WELL AS SHOWING THE CAMPUS AND THIS CURRENT STATE.

AND WE ALSO HAVE OPTIONS TO CONSIDER, TO DEFER AND LOOK AT SOME OTHER SITES AS WELL.

I THINK MR. MUNSON IS IN THE AUDIENCE AS WELL WITH THE PRESENTATION.

I'M GETTING AN IQ.

GO AHEAD, MR. MANSON.

HELLO EVERYONE.

UM, I'M LOOKING FOR OUR LITTLE PRESENTATION.

HERE WE GO.

UM, OKAY.

I JUST NEED TO MAKE CONTACT WITH EVERYBODY.

UM, BASICALLY I JUST WANTED TO, UM, YOU CAN KEEP GOING.

I WANTED TO JUST SHOW A FEW OF THE PICTURES OF THE FACILITIES THAT WE ARE PROPOSING.

UM, AGAIN, THEY WERE, UH, THE 100 BUILDING, WHICH IS A TWO STORY BUILDING, THE 300 BUILDING.

UH, CAN YOU HOLD RIGHT THERE? I'LL BACK UP JUST A LITTLE BIT.

I'M NOT READY FOR THAT.

UM, BACK UP A LITTLE BIT MORE.

UM, OUR REQUEST WAS FOR THE USE OF GLENOAKS MIDDLE SCHOOLS, TWO STORY BUILDING, WHICH WE CALL 100 AND 200, THE 300 BUILDING THAT CONTAINS THE LIBRARY, THE GYMNASIUM AND THE DINING FACILITY ONLY FOR THE INITIAL MOVE IN FOR EBR READINESS.

UH, SOME OF THE CONCERNS WITH THE FACILITY ARE PARKING LIMITATIONS.

KEEP GOING.

THIS JUST SHOWS JUST SOME OF THE NUMBERS, UH, OF ENROLLMENT NORMALLY, AND THEN WHAT WE HAVE CURRENTLY AT EBR READINESS, UH, WHICH WE CALL, UM, BANKS ON 72ND.

YOU CAN KEEP GOING.

[01:40:04]

UM, IT'S HARD FOR ME RE ROOF AND COVERED LEAK, UH, ROOF LEAKS, UH, MILDEW ISSUES THAT WE HAVE, THEIR HVAC ISSUES, TECHNOLOGY AND SO ON AND SO FORTH THAT THE SCHOOL IS FACED WITH RIGHT NOW.

WE REALLY PROPOSING TO MOVE THE STUDENTS OUT OF THAT FACILITY AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.

KEEP GOING.

UH, RECENTLY WE HAD AN ISSUE WHERE ONE OF THE SUPPORT BEINGS FOR A CANOPY HAD COLLAPSED AND DUE TO HAVING STUDENTS IN THE BUILDING, I HAD TO GET IT CORRECTED.

SO THE PICTURE ON THE LEFT IS THE BEFORE PICTURE ON THE RIGHT, AS IT BEING CORRECTED.

SO THERE ARE OTHER ISSUES THAT WE'VE HAD THERE WITH ROOF LEAKS AND SO ON AND SO FORTH.

THERE'S SOME OF THE PICTURES MAY SHOW, UH, THIS IS ON THE LEFT.

THE DINING AREA AREA ON THE RIGHT IS THE AUDITORIUM.

AND AGAIN, ONE OF THE ISSUES THAT THE STUDENTS THERE ARE HIGH SCHOOL AGED KIDS AND THEY'RE IN AN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL SETTING.

SO WE REALLY WANTED TO MOVE THEM IN TO A FACILITY THAT, UH, WAS MORE CONDUCIVE TO THEIR AGE GROUP.

UM, THESE ARE, UH, SHOTS FROM THE DINING FACILITY, UH, AT, UH, AT BANKS AS WELL.

UH, SOME OF THE COVERED WALKWAYS, UH, OVER THERE AS WELL.

YOU CAN KEEP GOING.

UM, YEAH, SORRY ABOUT THE DELAY ON THIS.

THESE ARE SOME OF THE SHOTS FROM THE GLEN OAKS MIDDLE SCHOOL, AND, UM, OKAY.

AND I'M GOING TO JUST GO THROUGH THE PICTURE SO WE CAN KEEP GOING.

I JUST WANT TO KIND OF JUST GIVE SOME HIGHLIGHTS, UM, STOP RIGHT THERE FOR ME.

THAT'S GOOD RIGHT THERE.

UM, AGAIN, THE, THE REQUEST WAS PRIMARILY FOR HVHC NEEDS THAT THE SITE, UH, PAINTING, UH, GENERAL MAINTENANCE, UH, IT ISSUES AS WELL.

AND THAT WAS THE REQUEST FOR THE FUNDING.

IN THE 700 BUILDING THAT, UH, DID GET MOLD IN IT.

UM, THE PUSH JUST RECENTLY, I GUESS THIS PAST WEEK WAS JUST TO MAKE IT CONDUCIVE FOR A WALKTHROUGH FOR THE VARIOUS BOARD MEMBERS TO COME BY AND JUST TRY TO SEE THE POTENTIAL IN THE BUILDING.

AND THAT'S WHAT WAS DONE IN THIS PAST WEEK.

YOU CAN KEEP GOING.

THAT'S ACTUALLY ONE OF THE AREAS THAT WE CONDUCT VOTING IN RIGHT NOW, YOU CAN KEEP GOING.

SO THESE ARE ALL IN, IT SAYS IT ON THE LEFT, THERE THAT'S THE TRUTH.

THAT'S UPSTAIRS IN THE, UH, CORRIDORS OF UPSTAIRS.

THAT'S THE LIBRARY AND THE 300 BUILDING.

UM, ALSO, UM, HISTORICALLY I THINK IN THE SECOND TAX PLAN, THERE WAS APPROXIMATELY $1.2 MILLION THAT WAS SPENT IN THIS FACILITY.

UM, DURING THAT TIME, THE DISTRICT, UH, ONLY, UH, PERFORMED A PERCENTAGE OF TAX PLAN ACTIVITIES IN THE BUILDINGS THEY DIDN'T DO.

WHAT'S DONE NOW WHERE THEY DO THE ENTIRE BUILDING.

SO BACK THEN THEY DID JUST DIDN'T DO THE WHOLE, THERE WAS SOMETHING FAIRLY NEW AND THEY DIDN'T WANT TO SPEND ALL THE MONEY IN ONE AREA.

SO THEY DID A PERCENTAGE AND HIS SCHOOL, AND THAT'S EVIDENT HERE.

THE ENTIRE BUILDING DID NOT RECEIVE, UM, TAX PLAN FUNDING.

SO YOU COULD SEE THE LIBRARY, CEILINGS BEING REPLACED, AIR CONDITIONING, DEDICATED LIGHTS, KEEP GOING, UH, STOREFRONT WALLS IN THE HALLWAYS.

THAT'S THE DINING FACILITY, UH, THAT'S CONNECTED WITH THE GYMNASIUM CAN KEEP GOING.

THERE'S THE GYMNASIUM, UH, HAD AN UPGRADE IN SEATS.

UM, KEEP GOING.

THAT'S JUST A LOCKER ROOM OFF FROM THE GYM.

UH, THIS PICTURE IS JUST A VIEW OF THE OLD AUDITORIUM, UM, THAT PROBABLY HASN'T BEEN USED SINCE THE LATE NINETIES AND, UM, THE ACTUAL AUDITORIUM STAGE AREAS, PROBABLY EVEN LONGER THAN THAT.

BUT, UH, IT, IT HAD SUCCUMB TO A LOT OF VANDALISM OVER THE YEARS.

AND SO WE JUST RECENTLY, UH, REMOVED, UH, AT LEAST, UH, 80% OF ALL THE STORED COMPUTERS AND FURNITURE THAT WAS LEFT IN THAT AREA.

UH, THIS IS JUST A VIEW OF THE SEATING AREA, UM, AND THAT SAME AUDITORIUM.

UM, THIS IS A VIEW BETWEEN THE SEVENTH AND 800 HALL, UH, WINGS, IF YOU WOULD, THESE ARE TWO WINGS THAT WERE NOT INTENDED FOR USE IN THE INITIAL REQUEST, BUT, UH, WE JUST STARTED TO CLEAN THEM UP JUST ENOUGH FOR A GENERAL WALKTHROUGH, JUST TO SEE THE POTENTIAL AND TO SEE, UH, WHAT UPGRADES HAD BEEN MADE IN THOSE AREAS AS WELL.

UM, THIS IS JUST ANOTHER AREA THAT, THAT

[01:45:01]

AND WE'VE RECENTLY CLEANED THAT AREA.

THIS IS A SCIENCE LAB BUILDING THAT USED TO BE AT ONE TIME, A, UM, EXCUSE ME, UM, A, UH, WELDING SHOP AND THIS CONVERTED TO A SCIENCE LAB BUILDING.

SO YOU CAN KEEP GOING THERE AGAIN.

IT'S JUST, UM, JUST AGAIN, ANOTHER CLASSROOM, IF YOU COULD SEE THERE, UH, THE TAX PLAN RENOVATED THE WINDOWS LIGHTS, IT WAS A TYPICAL CLASSROOM PACKAGE AND STILL HAS NO FURNITURE LEFT IN IT FROM PREVIOUS, UH, CHARTER SCHOOLS.

SO I APPRECIATE YOUR TIME.

I JUST WANTED TO BE ABLE TO AT LEAST GIVE AN IDEA OF THE CHANGES IF YOU HAVEN'T HAD TIME TO ACTUALLY VISIT THE SITE.

UH, AND IF THERE ARE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS, I'LL BE GLAD TO.

ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS FOR MR. MONSON? UH, MR. LANDIS, WOULD YOU LIKE TO SPEAK? I'M TRYING TO SEE.

MR. WOULD YOU LIKE TO SPEAK NOW? THANK YOU, SIR.

PRESENT AND GO THERE.

I HAVE QUITE A FEW.

WE DO NOT HAVE A MOTION YET.

SO MOVED.

DO I HAVE A SECOND SAGGING IT BY MR. BALLOU NOW, MR. LANDON.

THANK YOU, PRESIDENT TO, UM, I HAVE QUITE A FEW QUESTIONS IF YOU DON'T MIND.

SO JUST, JUST BEAR WITH ME AND MR. MUNSON, PRIOR TO DECEMBER 3RD, HOW MUCH MONEY WAS DEDICATED TO THE SCHOOL TO GO INTO THIS FACILITY? COULD YOU REPEAT IT ONE MORE TIME? LIKE I SAID, PRIOR TO DECEMBER 3RD, HOW MUCH MONEY WAS DEDICATED TO THIS PARTICULAR FACILITY FOR ANY UPGRADES OR RENOVATIONS? SO I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE I'M CLEAR.

I UNDERSTAND YOUR QUESTION.

SO YOU'RE SAYING SINCE I STARTED RENOVATING THE BUILDING JUST THIS PAST WEEK OR PRIOR TO THAT, PRIOR TO ME JUST WORKING AT THE SCHOOL THIS PAST WEEK, UH, LET ME REPHRASE.

MAYBE THAT'LL HELP PRIOR TO THE LAST, OUR LAST COMMITTEE, THE WHOLE SCHOOL BOARD MEETING ON DECEMBER 4TH, BEFORE THAT HOW MUCH MONEY WAS DEDICATED AND HOW MUCH MONEY WENT INTO THIS PARTICULAR CAMPUS TO DO ANY OUTSIDE RENOVATIONS, MAINTENANCE, WHATEVER IT MAY BE, HOW MUCH MONEY WAS DEDICATED TO THIS CAMPUS ONLY, I DON'T HAVE THE REPORTER THAT I KNOW FROM TIME TO TIME WHEN THE CHARTER SCHOOLS NEEDED ASSISTANCE.

UM, UH, WE WILL HAVE EITHER ARAMARK STAFF OR SOMEONE WOULD GO OVER TO ASSIST THEM WITH SOME SMALL SCALE SHORT DURATION PROJECTS.

I WILL SAY IT'S HARD FOR ME TO BELIEVE BECAUSE I ACTUALLY WORKED AT THIS SCHOOL WHEN THOSE SCHOOLS WERE THERE AND IT WAS VERY HARD TO GET ANYTHING DONE.

IN FACT, WE HAD TO CALL OUT THE RSD SUPERINTENDENT TO TRY TO HELP US NEGOTIATE.

HOW DO WE GO ABOUT RECEIVING MONEY TO FIX THE SCHOOL? HOW MUCH MONEY WAS DEDICATED BETWEEN DECEMBER 4TH AND DECEMBER 17TH.

SO THAT STARTING FROM THE LAST BOARD MEETING UP UNTIL TODAY, HOW MUCH MONEY HAS GONE INTO THIS SCHOOL FOR A MAINTENANCE FOR OUTSIDE AND INSIDE APPROXIMATELY $50,000, $50,000.

SO THAT WAS APPROXIMATELY 25 FOR THE ARBORS TO DO THE WORK ON ALL OF THE OVERGROWN HEDGES AND TREES AROUND THE CAMPUS AND ABOUT 25 INSIDE THE BUILDING.

NOTHING HAD WENT INTO THE BUILDING DON'T REHAB AT ALL.

SO MY NEXT QUESTION IS WHY WASN'T THAT MONEY DEDICATED TO THE SCHOOL BEFORE THE LAST SCHOOL BOARD MEETING? WELL, I CAN SAY THAT PROBABLY IN THE LAST SIX MONTHS TO A YEAR, I'VE BEEN AUTHORIZED TO START SPENDING FUNDS IN OUR RSDS.

SO I'VE WORKED WITH LANIER, PRESCOTT, KENILWORTH, WHO HADN'T HAD TO DO A LOT AT DALTON, BUT I'VE RESPONDED SEVERAL TIMES.

UH, SO I'VE BEEN WORKING IN THOSE FACILITIES.

AND SO JUST WITH THAT, THIS IS JUST AN EXAMPLE.

THE ONLY REALLY PUSH WAS PRIMARILY FOR THE BOARD MEMBERS TO BE ABLE TO GET, UH, AN IDEA OF WHAT THE POTENTIAL WAS IN THIS BUILDING TO START USING IT, OPPOSED TO WHAT WAS GOING AROUND THE DISTRICT.

AS FAR AS DEMOLISHING THE BUILDING.

I JUST DIDN'T WANT THE BUILDING TO BE CONSIDERED TO BE DEMOLISHED.

I WANTED THE BUILDING TO BE RESTORED AND HAVE THIS BEST CHANCE TO BE RESTORED MY QUESTION.

I JUST GO BACK TO THE QUESTION.

WHY WAIT UNTIL AFTER DECEMBER 4TH AT THE BUILDING HAD BEEN SITTING THERE ALL THAT TIME,

[01:50:01]

I MEAN, BEFORE ANY WORK TOOK PLACE AT THIS BUILDING, THE TREES WERE EVERYWHERE.

THE BUILDINGS HAD MOLD, AS YOU SAID EARLIER, ALL AROUND IT, NOT ONLY INSIDE OF IT.

SO AGAIN, THAT QUESTION IS WHY WASN'T IT DONE BEFORE THEN? OKAY.

WHAT, WHAT REALLY HAPPENED WAS THE IDEA THAT AT ONE TIME IDEA CHARTER WAS BEING DISCUSSED ABOUT TAKING OVER THE BANKS SITE.

SO I NEEDED TO HELP FIND A HOME BECAUSE NO ONE HAD STARTED TO LOOK FOR A SITE FOR EBR READINESS SCHOOL TO MOVE INTO.

WE JUST LOST THE USE OF GOING TO NORTH BANKS ON CADILLAC STREET.

SO I NEEDED TO FIND A PLACE THAT WAS LARGE ENOUGH.

AND SO THOSE BUILDINGS THAT I REQUESTED WOULD HAVE BEEN LARGE ENOUGH FOR THAT LOW SCHOOL TO GO INTO.

AND SO THAT HAPPENED BACK THIS SUMMER.

SO I'VE BEEN WORKING WITH BERNHARDT, WHO IS OUR HPAC PROVIDER AND GOING THROUGH, AND I HAVE BEEN WORKING IN THAT BUILDING SINCE, UH, SOLARITY AT, THAT'S STILL THEIR NAME.

WHEN THEY MOVED OUT, I STARTED TO WORK ON THE HVAC FAN MOTORS AND A NUMBER OF OTHER THINGS.

AND SO THE ONLY PUSH, THE ONLY REAL PUSH THAT I'VE HAD WAS THE IDEA THAT WE HAD VOTING IN THE BUILDING.

AND I HAD TO ALSO MAKE SURE IT WAS CONDUCIVE FOR VOTING EVERY, EVERY TIME THERE WAS A, A SESSION.

SO MONEY HAS GONE IN AND I CAN SHOW THE AMOUNT OF MONEY.

UH, BUT I CAN'T RIGHT NOW THAT I'VE SPENT WORKING WITH THE HVAC PROVIDER, BECAUSE THE FIRST THING THAT I NEEDED TO DO AS A PRIORITY IS TO ENSURE THAT HEATING AND COOLING WOULD BE, UH, SUPPORTIVE IN THOSE FACILITIES.

SO I REALLY WANT US TO REALLY THINK ABOUT A DECISION THAT WE'RE GOING TO MAKE.

AND I WANT US TO THINK ABOUT THIS BASED ON NOT ONLY WHAT ARE WE GOING TO RELOCATE EBR READINESS, BUT ALSO WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO ABOUT REPURPOSING AND RENOVATING ALL OF OUR ALTERNATIVE SCHOOL SITES WHILE THIS IS A VERY IMPORTANT ITEM.

IT IS MUCH LARGER THAN SIMPLY MOVING ONE SCHOOL BECAUSE WE HAVE TO CHANGE THE WAY THAT WE HANDLE AND MAINTAIN ALL OF OUR SITES.

BECAUSE WHAT IS HAPPENING IS WE ARE PERPETUATING A SCHOOL TO PRISON PIPELINE CYCLE, WHERE THE PEOPLE WANT TO BELIEVE THAT OR NOT BECAUSE WE HAVE THE MOST AT RISK STUDENTS ATTENDING THIS SCHOOL AND THE SCHOOLS THAT THEY SHOULD BE GOING TO SHE'LL LOOK, NOTHING LIKE THE ONES WHERE THEY WERE ATTENDING.

AND THAT'S EVERY SINGLE SCHOOL YOU CAN NAME GREENVILLE, YOU CAN NAME NORTHDALE, YOU CAN NAME, UH, UH, UH, UH, BANKS ELEMENTARY.

WHY IS IT THAT AS ALWAYS ALTERNATIVE SCHOOL STUDENTS THAT ARE ATTENDING FACILITIES THAT LOOK LIKE THOSE, AND I'M NOT COMING DOWN ON YOU.

I JUST WANT, I WANT THAT TO BE UNDERSTOOD.

THAT IS JUST A GENERAL QUESTION.

WHY IS IT THAT IT'S ALWAYS THOSE STUDENTS THAT ATTEND THE WORST TYPE OF FACILITIES AND TAUGHT INSIDE OF OUR ENTIRE SYSTEM? WELL, WHEN THEY ARE THE MOST AT RISK THAT WE DEAL WITH, BUT JUST TO GIVE IT MORE CONTEXT, I WANT TO READ SOMETHING FROM THE FACILITY SUMMARY ASSESSMENT FROM 2019, AND THIS WAS FROM CSRS DUE TO THE MAGNITUDE OF REPAIRS NEEDED TO MAKE THIS SCHOOL INTERIOR AND EXTERIOR OPTIMAL FOR LONG-TERM USE.

WHEN COMPARED TO THE AGE AND CONDITION OF THE SCHOOL FACILITY, WE DO NOT RECOMMEND PROCEEDING WITH ANY LONG-TERM CAPITAL INVESTMENTS AT THIS SITE.

THIS IS FROM OUR PROJECT MANAGERS WHO HANDLE ALL OF OUR SCHOOL FACILITIES.

HE WENT ON TO SAY THE SCHOOL NEEDS MAINTENANCE ATTENTION AS REGARDS ALL AND ALL INTERIOR FINISHES, CEILING SYSTEMS, FLOOR TILES, ET CETERA, CLEANING OUT EXISTING GUTTERS AND DOWNSPOUTS REPAIR OF DEFICIENT ITEMS AS RE AS A RESULT OF NOT RUNNING THE AC SYSTEM AND THE BUILDINGS AC REQUIREMENT, REPAIRS AND REPLACEMENT REPAIR OF SIDEWALK COVERS THROUGHOUT THE SCHOOL REPAIR OF SIDEWALKS AND PAY AND PAVING ISSUES, REPAIR OF REPLACEMENT OF BUILDING ENVELOPE, COMPONENTS, REPAIR, AND REPLACEMENT OF PLUMBING COMPONENTS, REPAIR OF UNDERGROUND SITE DRAINAGE, REPAIR OF, AND REPLACEMENT OF ITEMS REQUIRED FOR ADA AND LIFE SAFETY CODE REQUIREMENTS, REPAIR AND REPLACEMENT OF FIRE, ALARM DEVICES, AND EXISTING POWER AND DATA INFRASTRUCTURE.

HAVE ANY OF THOSE THINGS BEEN CORRECTED? THE FISH ARE FIXED

[01:55:01]

OFF THAT LIST.

OH, HAVE ALL OF THOSE THINGS BEEN CORRECTED AND FIXED IT OFF THE LIST IS A VEHICLE.

WELL, THE MEDIA ANSWER IS NO, BUT THOSE ARE MAINTENANCE ITEMS THOUGH.

THOSE ARE THINGS THAT WE HAVE TO DO AT ALL OF OUR FACILITIES, AIR, AIR, AIR, EVEN OUR NEWEST FACILITIES HAVE TO UNDERGO THOSE, THOSE ITEMS ROUTINELY.

AND SO THAT IS THE PLAN TO RENDER THOSE SERVICES AT THAT SITE AND ALL OF OUR SITES.

I WOULD LIKE TO ALSO PROVIDE A REPORT THAT I HAVE BEEN PROVIDING, UH, ON ALL THE RSDS THAT WE HAVE IN THE F THE EFFORTS TO SUPPORT THEM, UH, AS WELL IN THE ACTIVITIES THAT WE'VE DONE WITH ANY OTHER REPORT THAT WOULD BE REQUESTED.

ARE YOU AWARE THAT ACCORDING TO THE SCHOOL'S WORK CODE SUMMARY BEGINNING JULY 1ST, 2017 UNTIL DECEMBER 12TH, 11, 2020, THE SCHOOL HAS BEEN TESTED FOR ITS FESTA 17 TIMES THAT'S NECESSARY ALL OF OUR SCHOOLS.

THAT'S PROBABLY MY STRONGEST SUIT.

ALL OF OUR SCHOOLS, EVERY SIX MONTHS ARE SUPPOSED TO GO THROUGH A SIX MONTH SURVEILLANCE TO ENSURE THAT THOSE, UH, ASBESTOS BUILDING MATERIALS ARE IN GOOD CONDITION OR THOSE BUILDINGS THAT HAVE ASSUMED AS BEST AS CONTAINING BUILDING MATERIALS EVERY THREE YEARS.

UM, OUR FACILITIES ARE SUPPOSED TO BE RECEIVE A RE-INSPECTION.

I ACTUALLY PERFORMED INSPECTIONS AND WROTE MANAGEMENT PLANS FOR AS BEST AS IN MY PRIOR.

SO I'M VERY FAMILIAR AND THAT IS TO ENSURE THE OCCUPANTS SAFETY.

AND THIS IS MY LAST THING.

AND I'M READING FROM BULLETIN SEVEN 41 CHAPTER 15 OF BUILDINGS, OR PLANT OPERATIONS AND MAINTENANCE SECTION FIVE 1501 SUBSECTION D SCHOOL FACILITIES AND GROUNDS SHOULD BE KEPT ATTRACTIVE, FUNCTIONAL, CLEAN THROUGH OUR REGULAR PREVENTATIVE AND CORRECTIVE MAINTENANCE.

UM, CURRENTLY I WOULD LIKE TO SAY THAT, UH, WE HAVE EMPLOYED RCI WHO NOW TAKES CARE OF ALL OF OUR GROUNDS AND ATHLETIC FIELDS.

I'VE HIRED A LOCAL, UH, GROUNDS COMPANY WHO EVEN AT GLEN OAKS MIDDLE SCHOOL HAS DONE A PRETTY GOOD JOB CONSIDERING, UH, I WANT TO IMPROVE IT.

I THINK, UH, SOME OF THE COMMUNITY, UH, THEY'RE SEEING THE CHANGES IN FIVE DAYS CAN GET AN IDEA OF WHAT I WANT TO DO FOR THAT FACILITY AND ALL OF OUR FACILITIES.

UH, I TAKE A LOT OF PRIDE IN THAT.

AND SO, UM, YOU KNOW, I DON'T KNOW ELSE HOW TO RESPOND TO THAT, BUT THERE'S SOMETHING THAT IS DEAR TO ME.

AND THAT'S WHY I WORKED SO DILIGENTLY AT THAT SITE.

AND I HAVE NO PROBLEMS WITH THAT.

MR. MUNSON, AS I SAID BEFORE, THIS IS NOT TO COME DOWN ON YOU, BUT THIS IS TO RAISE A BIGGER POINT.

IS THAT AGAIN, WE HAVE TO DO A MUCH BETTER JOB WITH THE WAY THAT WE, UH, HANDLE THE BUILDINGS THAT OUR MOST VULNERABLE STUDENTS ARE INSIDE OF, UH, BECAUSE WE HAVE TO SEND A MESSAGE TO THEM ALSO, BUT NOT ONLY THAT WE HAVE TO THINK ABOUT WHAT ABOUT THE TAXPAYERS THAT PAY MONEY AND TO MAKING SURE THAT THOSE BUILDINGS ARE CLEAN.

WHAT ABOUT ALL OF THOSE PEOPLE'S WHOSE PROPERTY VALUES WENT DOWN BECAUSE THAT, THAT PARTICULAR SITE JUST WAS NOT CLEAN AND IT WASN'T CLEAN FOR A VERY LONG TIME.

THAT'S, THAT'S, THAT'S THE REASON WHY I TOOK IT UPON MYSELF PERSONALLY, TO SEE TO IT THAT NOW THAT WE HAVE COMPLETE, AND THAT WAS THE OTHER PIECE, THE WHOLE PIECE OF COMING HERE WAS TO GET YOUR SUPPORT, UH, IN MOVING FORWARD WITH TAKING BACK OWNERSHIP OF THAT FACILITY.

AND I WANTED TO REALLY THANK, ESPECIALLY ALL THE CONTRACTORS THAT CAME AND WORK WITH ME AND SUPPORTED ME THAT WEEK.

AND, UH, I LOOK FORWARD TO MOVING FORWARD WITH IT CAN CONTINUE IN THAT.

AND I WILL SAY THAT MY HAT GOES OFF TO YOU FOR THE WORK THAT YOU HAVE PUT INSIDE OF THE SCHOOL.

AND WHILE I CAN APPRECIATE EVERYTHING THAT YOU HAVE DONE, MY VOTE IS STILL GOING TO REMAIN THE SAME.

I DO NOT THINK THAT THIS SCHOOL IS CONDUCIVE FOR ANY CHILD TO GO INSIDE OF BECAUSE NO CHILD SHOULD HAVE TO BE SURROUNDED AROUND BLIGHT, UH, WHILE THEY'RE INSIDE OF OUR SCHOOL BUILDINGS.

I DO THINK THAT WE HAVE MORE SUFFICIENT OPTIONS THAT WE CAN EXPLORE, UH, THAT WILL PUT NOT ONLY THOSE CHILDREN OR THOSE STUDENTS IN A BETTER CONDITION, BUT ALSO THOSE STAFF THAT SCHOOL.

SO I JUST SAY, THANK YOU.

AND AGAIN, I COMMEND YOU FOR YOUR WORK.

MR. SMITH.

MOVE, UH, EBR REDMOND'S OUT OF, UH, OUT OF BANKS INTO THE NOTES.

THANK YOU, PRESIDENT.

GO THERE.

AND I JUST WANT TO CONVENE THE BOARD, UH, WITH THIS CONVERSATION AROUND ALTERNATIVE STUDENTS.

AND, UH, THANK THE BOARD FOR TAKING THE OPPORTUNITY TO VISIT THIS SITE AS IT STANDS, YOU KNOW, TALKING WITH STAFF, WE'RE NOT AT A POINT TO WHERE AT THE START OF THE SEMESTER TO

[02:00:01]

SO WHAT I'M ASKING STAFF TASK TASKS AND STAFF TO DO IS TO, UH, FIND A LOCATION THAT'S FEASIBLE, UH, THAT WE CAN MOVE OUR TEACHERS CURRENTLY.

THERE'S ABOUT 40 STUDENTS.

I THINK YOU MIGHT'VE SAW ON THE PRESENTATION, UH, THAT MAYBE 10 TO 12 KIDS MADE A 10.

I THINK WE HAVE SOME OPTIONS ON THE TABLE TO WHERE WE CAN, UH, GET THE FACULTY OUT OF EBR READINESS.

THERE ARE STILL SOME IT, UH, SPECIAL SYSTEMS THINGS THAT NEED TO OCCUR.

AND SO WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO DO IS COME BACK WITH MORE OF A COMPREHENSIVE PLAN AROUND OUR FACILITIES, BECAUSE AT THE END OF THE DAY, I'VE TALKED WITH MR. LANCE AND I DO BELIEVE THAT, UH, LINUX MIDDLE IS AN IMPORTANT FACILITY IN OUR PORTFOLIO, UH, WHETHER IT BECOMES, UH, A ONE-STOP SHOP OR ALTERNATIVE EDUCATION WITH, WITH SOME ADDITIONAL INVESTMENTS OR IF BECOME SWINGSPACE.

WE HAVE TO SERIOUSLY LOOK AT, UH, WITH THE UPCOMING OF, UH, TAX PLAN PROJECTS IN PHASE FOUR, NOT HAVING ADEQUATE SCREEN SPACE, UH, FOR, FOR SOME OF OUR SCHOOLS.

AND SO I WANT TO COMMEND LARRY FOR THE WORK THAT HE'S DONE WITHIN THE WEEK, BECAUSE HE'S DONE A YEOMAN'S JOB WITH GETTING THAT FACILITY READY FOR VOTING AND, AND FOR THE TOURS.

I THINK MANY OF YOU, YOU GUYS HAVE SEEN THE OPPORTUNITY AND THE POTENTIAL OF THE SITE, UH, I'VE TAUGHT PROPERTY EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU GUYS.

AND, AND, AND, UH, AND EVEN THE CONVERSATION WITH MR. LANA'S, UH, HE WAS OPEN TO SEEING, UH, GOING OUT TO MIDDLE, BE USED AT SOME POINT WITH SOME ADDITIONAL INVESTMENTS, UH, IN THE SITE.

BUT I THINK THAT WE CAN, WE CAN FIND SOME PERMANENT SOLUTIONS AROUND.

I TURNED THE EDUCATION, ESPECIALLY FOR SECONDARY STUDENTS.

UH, BUT I JUST THINK, I THINK WE NEED, ALLOW US AN OPPORTUNITY TO KIND OF DIG A LITTLE DEEPER BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, WHETHER WE END UP CONSOLIDATING SOME SITES, UH, WE HAVE CAPACITY IN SOME OF OUR SCHOOLS, UH, EXISTING SCHOOLS WE CAN CONSOLIDATE.

AND SO, BUT AT THIS POINT IN MY MEETING WITH STAFF, UH, THIS AFTERNOON, UH, WE WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO MOVE, UH, UH, THE STUDENTS OR THE FACULTY IN, UH, GLENOAKS AT THE START OF, UH, THIS SECOND SEMESTER.

SO TO BE CLEAR, MR. SMITH, ARE YOU ASKING US TO WITHDRAW THE MOTION, ELISE, THE MOTION JUST TO MOVE FROM BANKS? YES.

AND I DON'T KNOW, I DON'T KNOW MS. COLLINS, UH, IF YOU WILL GIVE TO, UH, THE FLORIDA MS. COLLINS, MS. COLLINS, YOU WERE NEXT ON THE LIST AT, UM, AT, UM, I WOULD JUST LIKE TO OFFER A SUBSTITUTE.

UH, THE BUILDING IS 70 SOME ODD YEARS OLD, AND I APPRECIATE, UH, AS OTHERS HAVE STATED, UH, THE WORK THAT MR. MONSON HAS PUT INTO MAKING THE FACILITY PRESENTABLE, I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO POINT OUT THAT WE JUST GOT THIS BUILDING BACK UNDER OUR REIGN AS A DISTRICT, UH, FROM THE RSD THIS SUMMER.

UM, AND THERE ARE SOME RESPONSIBILITIES WHEN IT COMES TO FACILITY THAT FALLS ON CHARTERS AND FALLS ON THE DISTRICT BECAUSE IT'S STILL OUR BUILDING, BUT IT'S NOT A HUNDRED PERCENT ON THE DISTRICT.

AND I THINK THAT IS SOMETHING THAT WE CAN'T OVERLOOK IN THIS CONVERSATION BECAUSE THIS KIND OF A STATION INVOLVES THE REPUTATION OF THE DISTRICT.

AND IT WOULD NOT BE FAIR TO THE DISTRICT TO TAKE FULL BLAME FOR THE CONDITION OF THAT SITE, BECAUSE LEGALLY WE DON'T HAVE A HUNDRED PERCENT RESPONSIBILITY FOR EVERY THING INVOLVING FACILITIES FOR ANY RSD SCHOOL.

THAT BEING SAID THAT BUILDING IS 70 SOME ODD YEARS OLD.

AND THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A GLENOAKS MIDDLE BEING 7,700 YEARS OLD.

AND THEN OUR ALTERNATIVE SCHOOL IN MY DISTRICT NORTH DALE, IS THAT IT HAS BEEN UNDER OUR THAT'S OUR SCHOOL.

AND WE HAVE, UH, DONE THE REGULAR REPAIRS AND MAINTENANCE.

I VISITED NORTHDALE FREQUENTLY, NEVER BEEN IN THE CONDITION OF BANKS OR GLEN OAKS, MIDDLE.

UH, AND, AND, AND IN TERMS OF LONG-TERM, WHAT DOES THAT MEAN FOR A BUILDING THAT'S 70 SOMETHING YEARS OLD THAT HAS NOT BEEN RECEIVING PROPER CARE FOR AT LEAST A DECADE OR MORE? UM, THEN I THINK IT HAS MORE SIGNIFICANT LONG-TERM IMPLICATIONS.

AND FOR THAT REASON, I FEEL MORE COMFORTABLE SUPPORTING, UH, EBRS NEEDS GETTING OUT OF THAT NASTY BANKS BUILDING NOW.

UH, BUT THEN I PREFER TO SEE EBR RED IN THIS, IN A BETTER LONG-TERM SOLUTION, THEN GLENOAKS MIDDLE, AND I'VE HAD DISCUSSION.

AND THERE ARE SOME VERY STRONG POSSIBILITIES, UH, THAT, UH, THAT I, I FEEL, I KNOW THAT THE EBR READINESS FACULTY AND STAFF FEEL BETTER ABOUT, UH, ONCE WE SOLIDIFY THEM.

[02:05:01]

AND SO IF, UH, IF MY COLLEAGUES DON'T MIND, I WOULD LIKE TO OFFER A SUBSTITUTE MOTION, UM, FOR EBR READINESS TO MOVE OFF OF THE BANK'S CAMPUS AND OPERATE A SATELLITE OFFICE TO BE DETERMINED BY STAFF FOR THE SPRING SEMESTER OF THIS SCHOOL YEAR.

BECAUSE AS BEEN MENTIONED, UH, THE BANK'S FACILITIES ENTIRELY TO, TO, UM, FILTHY FOR LACK OF A BETTER DESCRIPTION AND THAT GLEN O'S MIDDLE SITE IS NOT READY, BUT THEY NEED TO GET OUT OF THAT BANK'S BUILDING.

UM, AND THE REST OF MY EMOTION IS THAT STAFF WILL ALSO PREPARE ANOTHER OPTION FOR ADDITIONAL OPTIONS FOR PERMANENT LOCATION FOR THE 2021, 2022 SCHOOL YEAR.

SO THAT IS CLEAR.

AND I'LL REPEAT WHAT I'M OFFERING THOUGH, AS CLEAR TO THE BANKS, EXCUSE ME, TO THE EBR AND HIS FAMILY, THAT WE GETTING THEM OUT OF THOSE NASTY CONDITIONS RIGHT NOW, THIS IS THE STUDENTS, THE NUMBER OF STUDENTS ATTENDING THE CAMPUS RIGHT NOW IN THIS COVID ENVIRONMENT IS SMALL ENOUGH THAT A SATELLITE OPTION IS FEASIBLE FOR NEXT SEMESTER.

UH, AND THEN THE LANGUAGE OF THE MOTION ALSO ALLOWS THAT THEY HAVE A BETTER PERMANENT SOLUTION BY THE COMING SCHOOL YEAR.

NOT OLD, WE GONNA FIGURE OUT, UH, UH, A BETTER PERMANENT SOLUTION EVENTUALLY.

AND THEN FOUR YEARS LATER, YOU KNOW, ALL WE STUCK HERE.

UH, SO I'LL REPEAT THE LANGUAGE TO MAKE SURE THAT I'M BEING CLEAR ON WHAT I'M PRESENTING.

UH, THE, THE SUBSTITUTE MOTION IS FOR EBR READINESS TO MOVE OFF THE BANK'S CAMPUS AND OPERATE A SATELLITE OFFICE TO BE DETERMINED BY STAFF FOR THE SPRING SEMESTER OF THE SCHOOL YEAR, WHILE STAFF PREPARES ADDITIONAL OPTIONS FOR A PERMANENT LOCATION FOR THE 2021 THROUGH 2022 SCHOOL YEAR.

CAN I GET A SECOND? SO THE MOTION IS BY MS. COLLINS SECOND BY MS. MENARD.

DISCUSSION ON THE SUBSTITUTE MOTION.

LET'S SEE.

I HAVE UP ON THE LIST, MS. BERNARD, YOU WERE NEXT.

I WAS GOING TO ASK MR. MONSON, UM, WHAT THE DATE WAS WHEN GLEN OAKS WAS RETURNED TO THE DISTRICT.

IT WAS THIS PAST SUMMER.

UM, THE CHARTER FINALLY MOVED INTO NORTH BANKS, AND I HAD BEEN WORKING WITH THE MANAGER DURING THAT TIME.

UH, IT TOOK THEM A WHILE TO GET ALL OF THEIR THINGS OUT, ALL THE ITEMS THAT THEY HAD PAID FOR.

THEY, THEY TOOK KIND OF TOOK WITH THEM.

UM, SO IT WAS THIS PAST SUMMER.

AND ABOUT THE ASBESTOS, UM, ARE THERE SPECIAL CERTIFICATIONS THAT ARE REQUIRED TO DO? YES.

UH, THE PERSON THAT PERFORMS THE ASSESSMENT IS AN ASBESTOS INSPECTOR.

UM, THEN IT'LL GO TO AN ASBESTOS MANAGEMENT PLANNER.

UM, AND THEN EVERY ONE OF OUR SITES HAS AN ASBESTOS INSPECTION BOOK AND AN EXPRESS.

THIS MANAGEMENT PLAN, NEW FACILITIES HAVE TO HAVE A CER CERTIFICATES STATING THAT AS BEST AS PRODUCTS WERE NOT USED IN THEM.

CAN YOU HOLD THESE CERTIFICATIONS? I HAVE A CONTRACTORS CERTIFICATIONS THROUGH DEQ.

I DO.

OKAY, GREAT.

I THANK YOU FOR EXPLAINING THAT TO ME.

I DIDN'T KNOW ALL OF THAT.

SO IT'S KIND OF ROUTINE THAT THERE'S AN ASBESTOS INSPECTION.

THAT'S JUST SOMETHING WE DO ROUTINELY.

SURE.

IT DOESN'T MEAN THAT THERE'S A PROBLEM.

NO PROBLEM, MR. ATLANTA, SHE WE'RE NEXT UP IN THE QUEUE.

OF BANK'S ELEMENTARY, WE CAN DO SOME THINGS OVER THERE BEFORE WE JUST ABSOLUTELY SAY LET'S TEAR THESE SCHOOLS DOWN BECAUSE CLEARLY IT WAS PUT UP SIX MONTHS AGO THAT WE TEAR THESE SCHOOLS DOWN AND YOU FIND SOME VIABILITY OUT OF THIS SCHOOL.

AGAIN, I JUST WANTED TO COMMEND YOU FOR THE WORK THAT YOU HAVE DONE MR. MUNSON.

AND I'M NOT SAYING THAT WE CANNOT USE THIS SITE JUST SO THAT'S UNDERSTOOD.

BUT AS I SAID TO YOU SEVERAL TIMES WHEN ME AND YOU SPOKEN ONE-ON-ONE, AND AS I SAID, WITH A SUPERINTENDENT, ADAM SMITH, WHO'S JUST SAID IT HIMSELF, I'M IN FULL AGREEMENT.

IF WE CAN PUT SOME CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS ON THIS ONE PARTICULAR SITE, RIGHT? AND THAT WE COME UP WITH A COMPREHENSIVE PLAN FOR HOW WE DO THOSE SAME IMPROVEMENTS AT EVERY SINGLE ALTERNATIVE TO A SCHOOL SITE.

AND IF THAT IS THE COMMITMENT FROM NOT ONLY OUR BOARD, BUT FROM OUR ENTIRE SYSTEM, I THINK THAT IS SOMETHING THAT WE CAN USE BECAUSE I AM OF THE UNDERSTANDING THAT AS THE TAX PLAN ROLLS OUT, WE'RE GOING TO NEED SWING SPACE FOR SEVERAL OF OUR SCHOOLS.

AND THIS IS ANOTHER QUESTION I WOULD HAVE FOR YOU.

IF WE COULD DO THIS FOR GLEN OAKS MIDDLE SCHOOL, IS IT POSSIBLE THAT AFTER WE GET THOSE STUDENTS OUT

[02:10:01]

SO IN YOUR OPINION, AS A PROFESSIONAL, IF YOU LOOK AT THE BANK'S ELEMENTARY SCHOOL SITE, IS THERE ROOM TO IMPROVE THIS SCHOOL IN THE SAME SENSE OF WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT WITH GLENOAKS MIDDLE SCHOOL? I WOULD FIRST SAY YES, ONLY IF THE ROOF HAD BEEN REPLACED.

THE ROOF SYSTEM AT THAT SCHOOL IS WHAT WE CALL TAR AND GRAVEL.

THAT'S THE ORIGINAL ROOF SYSTEM.

IT IS FAILING IN NOT A LOCALIZED MANNER, BUT EVENLY DISTRIBUTED.

THAT MEANS THAT THERE ARE LEAKS OVER THE COVERED WALKWAYS THERE'S LEAKS IN THE CLASSROOMS, AND ALL THOSE THINGS IMPACT THE HEALTH AND SAFETY OF OUR OCCUPANTS AND VISITORS.

SO THE ANSWER ULTIMATELY WOULD BE NO.

ARE THERE ANY OTHER SITES THAT ARE IN THE SAME LEVEL OF CONDITION AS THIS, THAT COULD BE SAVED? I KNOW WE TALKED ABOUT, UH, IT WAS, OH, HE DIDN'T PARK, UH, HE DIDN'T PARK HAS A TAR AND GRAVEL ROOF SYSTEM AS WELL.

THERE ARE ABOUT MAYBE THREE SITES THAT WE HAVE THE KILL BUILDING, UH, EDEN PARK IN BANKS.

I DON'T THINK WE HAVE ANY OTHERS, TO MY KNOWLEDGE THAT HAVE THAT ORIGINAL ROOF WHEN IT WAS CONSTRUCTED LIKE THAT, THERE IS YOU HAVE TO TEAR THAT OFF AND START OVER.

AND SO WITH THE AGENT DETERIORATION OF THE BUILDING, ANOTHER BUILDING THAT'S CLOSE TO THAT IS GREENVILLE, BUT SO I KNOW THAT I DON'T WANT TO DRAG IT ON, BUT THE ANSWER TO BANKS WOULD BE NO.

AND THEY'RE THERE.

AND I WOULD LOVE TO TALK WITH YOU ABOUT ANY OTHER FACILITY, UM, THAT HAS GREAT POTENTIAL, UH, LIKE THAT.

UM, BUT, UM, BUT DEFINITELY NOT BANKS.

UNTIL WE IT'S PROBABLY BETTER LIKE INSTEAD OF USING THE WORD SATELLITE.

AND I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO SUPERINTENDENT, UH, ADAM SMITH, UH, FOR HAVING THOSE DILIGENT CONVERSATIONS AND ALSO WANTED TO THANK A BOARD MEMBER, DAVID TADEMAN FOR COMING OUT AND HAVING SOME CONVERSATIONS.

AND WELL, AS WE, AS IT REGARDS, HOW DO WE MOVE FORWARD WITH A LOT OF OUR FACILITIES AND HOW DO WE COME UP WITH SOME COMPREHENSIVE PLANS MOVING FORWARD? SO I JUST WANTED TO THANK ALL OF YOU.

APPRECIATE IT.

THANK YOU, MS. DYSON.

SO, UM, I REALLY LIKED, UM, MR. SMITH'S IDEA OF, AND HE, AND IT'S BEEN DONE QUITE OFTEN WHERE, UM, A SUPERINTENDENT WILL JUST DECIDE TO PULL SOMETHING OFF OF AN AGENDA BECAUSE MORE WORK NEEDS TO HAPPEN AROUND IT.

UM, AND, AND THEN BRING IT BACK TO US MAYBE IN JANUARY.

UM, I'M, I'M A LITTLE BIT UNSURE.

UH, I BELIEVE THAT WOULD BE VERY ADVANTAGEOUS, UM, A LITTLE BIT UNSURE WITH THE SUBSTITUTE MOTION, TALKING ABOUT A SATELLITE LOCATION.

THAT'S GOING TO BE, UM, IDENTIFIED AND READY OR WHATEVER WITHIN, UM, FOUR WEEKS WITH A LOT OF HOLIDAYS IN THERE.

SO I DON'T KNOW IF, UH, UH, POTENTIAL, UM, SATELLITE, I DON'T KNOW WHAT SAD.

THAT'S NOT WHAT I TAKE AS A SATELLITE, BUT I GUESS IT MEANS A TEMPORARY LOCATION FOR THE EXISTING STUDENTS AND TEACHERS JUST UNTIL THE FOLLOWING SCHOOL YEAR, WHEN THEY MOVED TO A MORE PERMANENT LOCATION, PLEASE CLARIFY.

CAUSE I I'M COMING CONFUSED.

WELL, I WENT OUT AS I HAD BEEN HAVING DISCUSSION OVER THE PAST SEVERAL DAYS.

IT, THE, THE, THE LANGUAGE SATELLITE WAS SUGGESTED TO GIVE FLEXIBILITY AND TO HOW THEY MOVE FORWARD FOR THE, THIS ONE SEMESTER.

UM, NOT BECAUSE I WAS LIKE, WELL, CAN THEY JUST DO VIRTUAL A HUNDRED PERCENT OR SOMETHING WOULD THAT SMALL NUMBER? AND THAT, THAT LANGUAGE MAY HAVE BEEN TOO RESTRICTIVE IN TERMS OF OPTIONS FOR NEXT SEMESTER.

UM, AND SO THAT'S WHY THE TERMINOLOGY OF SATELLITE LOCATION, BECAUSE SOMETIMES THOSE STUDENTS DO NEED TO COME IN PERSON, EVEN THOUGH THE NATURE OF THE SCHOOL IS NOT ONE THAT THEY COME EVERY SINGLE DAY, UH, TO THE CAMPUS, UH, ESPECIALLY IN A COVID ENVIRONMENT.

BUT THAT'S THE, THAT'S THE REASON WHY I USE THE TERM SATELLITES.

I WAS JUST TRYING TO GET SOME CLARITY ON THAT.

CAUSE I DIDN'T UNDERSTAND BECAUSE I MANAGED A SATELLITE PRACTICE FOR YEARS AND IT WAS AN ONGOING THING.

IT WASN'T TEMPORARY, IT WAS JUST ANOTHER LOCATION OTHER THAN THE MAIN LOCATION.

SO I WAS LIKE, I MEAN, IT HAD LIKE CONFUSED ME, BUT SO YOU REALLY MEAN TEMPORARY

[02:15:01]

YEAH, THAT WAS FINE.

I DIDN'T, I'LL BE HONEST.

I DIDN'T NECESSARILY, BRO, YOU KNOW, TEMPORARY IS, IS LESS RIGID AND STILL MEETS THE PURPOSE AND IT'S NOT CONFUSING.

SO, SO, UM, I WAS JUST TRYING TO, UM, TO UNDERSTAND A LITTLE BIT BETTER.

ON, ON THAT.

AND I DON'T KNOW, YOU KNOW, IS A FEW WEEKS GOING TO GIVE US ENOUGH TIME TO LOCATE A, UH, TEMPORARY.

I KNOW WE HAVE A LOT OF, UM, CAPACITY IN OTHER SCHOOLS, BUT I DON'T KNOW IF THIS POPULATION IS GOING TO BE GOOD TO MIX WITH OR IF WE'VE GOT SOME OTHER THOUGHTS ON THAT WHERE ADULTS ARE IN A BUILDING AND AREN'T FILLING IT.

UM, AND I UNDERSTAND THAT, UM, MR. NICK CASE MAY HAVE SOME ADDITIONAL INSIGHTS THAT HE WOULD LIKE TO SHARE.

ARE YOU ON MR. CASE? YES.

MA'AM ONE OF THE OPTIONS WE HAVE AND WHILE WE CONTINUE TO EXPLORE MORE SPACE IS THAT WE CAN DO A SATELLITE AREA AND A PART OF A SCHOOL OR ANOTHER LOCATION.

UH, AND AGAIN, JUST KIND OF WHITE, WHAT WAS MENTIONED.

WE CAN HAVE A SPACE WHERE WE COULD STILL HAVE STUDENTS.

SOME STUDENTS COME AT A, AT CERTAIN TIMES WE DO HAVE A LOT OF STUDENTS WHO ARE STILL BEING VIRTUAL ONLY EVEN WITHIN THE ALTERNATIVE SCHOOL.

SO WITH THOSE SMALL NUMBERS, WE COULD STILL HAVE A PLACE WHERE STUDENTS CAN COME AND CONTINUE TO GET ONE-ON-ONE HELP IF THEY NEED IT.

WE CAN ROTATE TEACHERS IN AND OUT OF THERE IN A SPACED OUT PLACE.

BUT AT THE SAME TIME, UM, YOU KNOW, ALLOW OTHER TEACHERS TO WORK FROM HOME UNTIL WE GET THAT FINAL SOLUTION OF A SITE, UH, CHOSEN AND PICKED.

SO, UM, I KNOW THIS IS A CHALLENGING, UM, POPULATION AND I KNOW THAT, UM, SOMETIMES SOME STUDENTS LEARN BEST AND IN PERSON.

UM, SO DO YOU HAVE A, OR DOES THE TEAM HAVE A FEW OPTIONS AS FAR AS WHERE THIS TEMPORARY SITE WOULD BE? YEAH, SO THOSE ARE AREAS WE'RE CONSIDERING A FEW DIFFERENT AREAS.

UM, SOME MAY BE WITHIN THE SCHOOL ITSELF, YOU KNOW, IT CAN AND REALLY COLLAPSING DOWN TO THE MOST USABLE SPACES AT BANKS ONLY.

UM, AND THEN WE'RE ALSO LOOKING AT SOME OF THE OTHER SITES.

WE HAVE ADMINISTRATIVE SPACE IN THE SCHOOL, THINGS LIKE THAT AS WELL.

AND SO YOU THINK THAT THIS IS A, UM, A DOABLE SOLUTION TO GET THOSE STUDENTS OUT AT THE CURRENT SITE ON BANK AND BANKS.

AND, UM, IS THAT SOMETHING THAT YOU SUPPORT YOU'RE SUPPORTING? UH, YES.

ON THIS SUGGESTION ALSO WAS, UH, BROUGHT UP BY MS. TAMAR JOHNSON.

WHO'S ON THE CALL AS WELL.

UM, AND HER TEAM REVIEWING THIS AS AN OPTION AS WELL.

SO IT WAS RECOMMENDED TO US AND WE CAN SUPPORT THAT AGAIN UNTIL WE CAN COME BACK AND BRING A MORE PERMANENT SOLUTION OF FORWARD.

THANK YOU FOR ALL THAT CLARITY.

I REALLY APPRECIATE IT.

AND SO, UM, KIM, MY SECOND, UM, AGREE TO, UH, MEN, THE SUBSTITUTE MOTION FOR THAT TO BE TEMPORARY INSTEAD OF SATELLITE LOCATION.

UM, THE, UH, THE BIGGEST AREA OF CONCERN I SAW WAS THE WALKWAYS, YOU KNOW, THAT NEEDED A SCRAPING AND SOME KILTS AND, UM, SOME NICE, FRESH SILVER PAINT SO THAT IT WOULD MATCH THE OTHER WALKWAYS.

NEXT ON THE LIST IS MS. WARE JACKSON, PRESIDENT GOLDEN.

UM, I WOULD SUPPORT THE SUBSTITUTE MOTION NOW THAT I REALIZE THAT WE CAN'T DO EVERYTHING THAT WE NEED TO DO IN ORDER TO MAKE THE SCHOOL READY STUDENT READY BY THE, UH, BY THE FIRST, UM, FIRST OF THE YEAR, UM, I DID SPEND A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF TIME AT GLENOAKS MIDDLE ON FRIDAY, AND I WAS REALLY, REALLY IMPRESSED WITH THE CONDITION OF THE CLASSROOMS THAT YOU WERE ASKING TO USE AND THE CAMPUS ITSELF WITH THE WIDE OPEN SPACES AND THE OAK TREES AND THE FOOTBALL FIELD AND ALL THAT AREA WHERE, YOU KNOW, IT'S JUST BEGGING FOR KIDS TO BE,

[02:20:01]

AND ALSO THAT WHEN KIDS ARE THERE, YOU KNOW, THEY THEY'RE LOOKING AT WHEN THEY'RE WALKING FROM CLASS TO CLASS THAT IT'S NOT AN ASS OR, UM, WE HAD THOSE OLD WINDOWS, OVERHEAD DRAIN PIPES.

AND I KNOW, UH, THANK YOU SO MUCH MR. MONSON FOR SPENDING THAT AMOUNT OF TIME WITH ME AND REALLY WALKING THROUGH THAT.

SO WE COULD ENVISION SOME WONDERFUL THINGS THAT CAN HAPPEN ON THAT CAMPUS.

I'M SO LOOKING FORWARD TO THE DATE WHEN WE ALL GET TOGETHER AND WE LOOK AT ALL OF OUR PROPERTIES AND ALSO THAT WE CAN REALLY SEE WHAT WE HAVE, UH, BUT AT THIS SCHOOL, THERE WAS THIS, UM, WONDERFUL SCIENCE LAB, YOU KNOW, FOR, UM, SCIENCE LABS IN THERE AND A CLOSET FULL OF MICROSCOPES.

UM, OH, A SCIENCE PROGRAM THERE, WHETHER WE PUT NO MATTER WHAT TYPE OF STUDENT POPULATION WE, WE PLACED THERE WOULD REALLY BENEFIT FROM A PROGRAM LIKE THAT.

GOOD THAT THE FACILITY IS JUST READY FOR CHILDREN TO ENJOY AND EXPLORE SCIENCE.

UM, BUT IF WE WERE TO ADD, UH, THE POPULATION THAT WE WERE ORIGINALLY SPEAKING OF, I WOULD REALLY, REALLY WANT TO SEE SOME WRAPAROUND SERVICES AND PROGRAMS FOR, UM, SOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL LEARNING AND, UM, UM, AND REALLY GOOD KEEPING OUR REALLY GOOD TEACHERS THERE WHO HAVE A HEART FOR THOSE CHILDREN AND, UM, AND CARE DEEPLY FOR THEM.

SO I WOULD REALLY LIKE FOR US TO REVISIT, UH, PROPOSITION TWO AND MAKE SOME REVISIONS THAT WOULD BE NECESSARY TO EFFECTIVELY SERVE THIS VERY FRAGILE, BUT REALLY STRONG-WILLED, UH, POPULATION OF STUDENTS AND HELP PUT A STOP TO THAT SCHOOL, TO PRISON PIPELINE.

UM, THOSE KIDS REALLY, REALLY NEED, UM, THEY, THEY REALLY NEED, THEY, THEY NEED PEOPLE TO LOVE THEM, YOU KNOW, THEY NEED, THEY NEED TO KNOW THAT WE CARE ABOUT THEM AND, UH, THEY NEED TO BE IN AN ENVIRONMENT THAT IS, UM, JUST AS GOOD OR IN MY OPINION, EVEN BETTER THAN WHAT WE PROVIDE FOR, UH, FOR OUR KIDS THAT DON'T NEED THAT MUCH ATTENTION.

SO, UM, I'M HOPING THAT WE WILL ADD SOME TRAINING, LIKE BEYOND HIGH SCHOOL, SO THAT THERE'LL BE LOOKING FORWARD TO SOME KIND OF JOB READINESS, UH, AT LEAST A TWO YEAR PROGRAM.

WE'VE JUST GOT TO THINK A WHOLE LOT DIFFERENTLY TO, UH, PROVIDE WHAT THESE STUDENTS REALLY, REALLY NEED.

SO I AM SO EXCITED ABOUT BOARD MEMBERS BEING WILLING TO, UM, LOOK AT A COMPREHENSIVE PLAN, NOT JUST FOR THIS SCHOOL, BUT FOR OUR ENTIRE DISTRICT SO THAT WE KNOW WHAT WE HAVE AT HAND, BECAUSE, UH, LOOK AT THIS, THIS PROPERTY, YOU KNOW, I KNOW SOMEONE SPOKE ABOUT, UH, LETTING IT GO OR, OR TEARING IT DOWN.

AND, YOU KNOW, I THINK IF THAT, IF THAT HAPPENED, LIKE I TOLD MR. SMITH, I'D BE THE FIRST ONE TO GO LAY DOWN IN FRONT OF A BULLDOZER AFTER LOOKING AT THAT PROPERTY, BECAUSE IT IS TRULY A DIAMOND IN THE ROUGH, AND IT'S NOT THAT ROUGH EITHER, YOU KNOW? SO, UH, I APPRECIATE YOUR TIME MR. MUNSON, AND HOPEFULLY WE'LL BE ABLE TO GET THIS FACILITY, UH, UP TO PAR.

IT'S NOT GOING TO TAKE THAT MUCH, YOU KNOW, LIKE YOU SAID, IT'S JUST THE LIKE INTERCOM SYSTEMS AND SYSTEM SAFETY ITEMS AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE.

SO I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO IT.

AND I REALLY WANT TO SEE THE DAY VERY SOON.

WE HAVE STUDENTS IN THERE ENJOYING EVERYTHING THAT, UH, THAT THE SCHOOL CAMPUS HAS TO PROVIDE.

MR. TATLIN, THANK YOU, MR. PRESIDENT, AND I WILL BE BRIEF.

I PROMISE.

UM, I, UH, WANTED TO THANK MR. LANDIS FOR INVITING ME OUT TO GLENOAKS MIDDLE, TO TAKE A LOOK AT THE, UH, SCHOOL.

AND I WASN'T ABLE TO SEE THE, I WAS THERE EARLY.

SO, BUT OBVIOUSLY I'VE SEEN THE PICTURES, WHAT AN INCREDIBLE PIECE OF PROPERTY.

I MEAN, IT IS A BEAUTIFUL PIECE OF PROPERTY, THE OAK TREES, THE WIDE OPEN SPACES, AND FOR THE PARTS THAT WERE RENOVATED, THEY LOOK REALLY, REALLY GOOD.

AND I, I JUST WANT TO OFFER MY ASSISTANCE IN ANY WAY THAT I CAN TO WORK, TO, UH, CREATE A VISION FOR THAT, WHATEVER IT IS.

AND I'VE TALKED TO MR. LANDIS ABOUT IT AND WHATEVER THAT VISION IS, I THINK THIS BOARD IS A WILLING AND ABLE AND READY TO, UH, TO WORK WITH THE BOARD MEMBER FROM THAT DISTRICT TO HELP MAKE SOME THINGS HAPPEN.

AND I WANTED TO POINT OUT AGAIN, I'M GOING TO BE QUICK, CAUSE I KNOW PEOPLE ARE GETTING ANXIOUS, BUT I WANT TO POINT OUT WHEN WE, AND THOSE OF YOU WHO ARE ON THE BOARD WILL REMEMBER VALLEY PARK WAS AWFUL AND

[02:25:01]

WE MADE A DECISION.

IT WAS OUR SUPERINTENDENT, BUT HE MADE A DECISION TO CREATE SWING SPACE THERE.

AND WE USE IT, I THINK FOR TWO OR THREE SCHOOLS, OF COURSE THEN CLAIM WANTED IT.

AND, AND, YOU KNOW, SO YOU TOOK A PIECE OF PROPERTY THAT WAS IN DISREPAIR THAT NO ONE WANTED TO BE AT.

WE CREATED SOME SWING SPACE FOR IT, AND THEN EVERYBODY WANTED IT.

RIGHT.

AND SO MAYBE THERE'S A VISION IN THERE SOMEWHERE WITH THAT, BUT WE NEED SWINGSPACE.

WE, IF YOU LOOK AT OUR TAX PLAN, WE HAVE GOT TO HAVE SOME SORT OF A SIGNIFICANT SWINGSPACE TO MAKE THE PLAN WORK THE WAY IT'S SUPPOSED TO WORK.

SO, UM, I, I'M JUST SAYING I, UM, I LOVE THE CAMPUS.

I HOPE THERE'S SOMETHING WE CAN DO WITH IT.

UM, WE, IT GOES TO MY LAST POINT, WHICH IS BOY, DO WE NEED A STRATEGIC PLAN? UH, AND THAT IS SOMETHING THAT I KNOW, UH, WE'VE MOVED ON AND THANK YOU, UH, PRESIDENT GOTAY FOR GETTING THAT PROCESS STARTED, WE NEEDED SOONER THAN LATER, AND IT NEEDS TO ADDRESS ALL OF THE ISSUES IN ADDITION TO FACILITIES, WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO WITH ALTERNATIVE EDUCATION? UH, HOW ARE WE GOING TO MAKE IT BETTER? HOW ARE WE GOING TO BETTER SERVE THAT POPULATION? SO I JUST WANTED TO MAKE THOSE POINTS SPECIFICALLY ABOUT THE SWING SPACE IN VALLEY PARK.

IF WE BUILD IT, THEY WILL COME.

AND SO THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR WORK.

THANKS FOR THE EFFORTS ON THIS.

THANK YOU, MS. BROWN.

THANK YOU, MS. BERNARD, WOULD YOU LIKE TO SPEAK, I WAS GOING TO ASK MR. SMITH TO TALK TO US ABOUT A MASTER PLAN FOR CONSTRUCTION AND FOR BUILDINGS, UH, FOR, TO AN ASSESSMENT OF ALL OF THE BUILDINGS AND THE CONDITION OF THEM.

BUT I THINK THE BOARD HAS BELABORED THAT POINT IN MANY OTHER MEETINGS.

AND SO IT'S NOT NECESSARY.

UM, I'M ACTUALLY JUST GOING TO CALL FOR THE QUESTION WE'VE BEEN ON THIS ITEM FOR 50 MINUTES.

WE HAVE TO GO TO PUBLIC COMMENT.

YEAH, I KNOW WE HAVE TO GO TO PUBLIC COMMENT, BUT, BUT THIS IS NOT DEBATABLE.

SO FIRST WE HAVE TO GO TO PUBLIC COMMENT AND ABOUT COMMON QUESTION.

SO THERE'S NO ONE ELSE ON THE LIST.

SO, UH, LET'S MOVE TO THE PUBLIC COMMENT.

IF YOU'RE HERE IN THE AUDIENCE AND WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK, PLEASE COME UP TO THE MICROPHONE AND STATE YOUR NAME.

THIS IS PUBLIC COMMENT ON THE SUBSTITUTE MOTION TO MOVE, UH, THE EBR READINESS TO TEMPORARY FACILITIES FOR THE NEXT SEMESTER.

WHILE WE RESEARCH A PERMANENT FACILITY FOR THE EBR READINESS, THE ANY PUBLIC MEMBERS WHO WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK MA'AM ARE YOU COMING TO SPEAK ON THIS? YES.

WE'RE A GRASSROOTS ORGANIZATION.

OVER HERE.

HI, MY NAME IS MARIA HARMON.

I AM, UH, WITH STEP UP LOUISIANA.

UH, WE MAY END UP ORGANIZE WITH PARENTS IN NEW ORLEANS AND BATON ROUGE, BUT I WAS JUST COMING TO SPEAK TO, JUST TO REFLECT ON THE OCCURRENCE THAT LED US UP TO THIS POINT WITH GLENOAKS MIDDLE'S CAMPUS.

WHAT WE'VE SEEN IS JUST THE RESULT OF PRIVATIZATION EBR SCHOOL DISTRICT.

GHLIT HAD LITTLE TO NO INVOLVEMENT BECAUSE OF THE BIG BARRIER SET WITH THE RECOVERY SCHOOL DISTRICT.

COULD THAT MEAN WHAT A TYPE TWO CHARTER SCHOOL I BELIEVE SO.

BECAUSE WE'RE PUTTING THEM IN ENVIRONMENTS WHERE THEY DON'T FEEL VALUABLE AND IT HAS TO CHANGE.

HAD LITTLE TO NO GOVERNANCE OVER THAT SCHOOL TO BEGIN WITH, BUT YOUR CHILDREN, OUR CHILDREN IN THE SCHOOL DISTRICT STILL WERE HOUSED IN THAT BUILDING.

AND IT REALLY GIVES ME PAUSE WHEN, AND I APPRECIATE DANGEROUS FOR GOING THROUGH THAT SCHOOL BECAUSE I'M THINKING ABOUT THE CHILDREN THAT WENT TO BRIDGE ACADEMY THAT WAS THERE, THE CHILDREN THAT WAS AT THEIR UNDER REDESIGNED SCHOOLS PREVIOUSLY KNOWN AS SOLARITY.

AND THAT'S THE SAME PEOPLE THAT WAS RUNNING FAILING SCHOOLS, CHARTER SCHOOLS IN THE SCHOOL DISTRICT, BUT THEY REBRANDED THEMSELVES, CHANGED THE NAME AND ARE OPERATING IN HIS PARISH.

SO THIS JUST, IT'S JUST REALLY CONCERNING TO SEE WHAT HAPPENS WHEN THINGS JUST COMPLETELY LOSE OUT OF THE CONTROL OF THE LOCAL SCHOOL DISTRICT AND WHAT LOSS OF REAL COMMUNITY CONTROL DOES, BECAUSE THIS IS A TRAJECTORY WELL, RETROSPECTIVE, YOU KNOW, A TIMELINE OF OUR CHILDREN BEING EXPOSED IN THAT BUILDING.

AND IT REALLY MAKES ME THINK ABOUT HOW THE PROCESS GOES IN NEW ORLEANS, BECAUSE WHEN ALL THE SCHOOLS CAME BACK UNDER LPSB, IT WAS A LOT OF BACK AND FORTH BETWEEN THEM AND RSV.

THEY HAD A LOT OF CONTROL OVER THE CAPITAL OF THOSE BUILDINGS AND THAT'S THE SAME SITUATION HERE.

SO I COMPLETELY UNDERSTOOD WHAT MS. COLLINS SAID.

AND I JUST CAME JUST TO GIVE A LITTLE BIT MORE CLARITY BY WHAT THAT MEANS WHEN WE LOSE LOCAL CONTROL OF OUR SCHOOLS.

AND, UM, I'M, I'M REALLY GLAD THAT WE ARE GOING IN A DIFFERENT DIRECTION BECAUSE I DON'T THINK ANY CHILD SHOULD BE THERE RIGHT NOW AT ALL.

BUT I JUST REALLY THINK IT'S UNFORTUNATE AS OVERALL THAT WE DON'T HAVE EQUITABLE BUILDINGS TO EDUCATE OUR CHILDREN.

YOU KNOW, ALL OF THAT MEANS SOMETHING, ALL OF THAT.

AND I AGREE, WE'RE PUMPING OUR KIDS INTO THE PRISON SYSTEM

[02:30:01]

SO I REALLY HELP, UH, THERE ARE SOME TRUE SOLUTIONS THAT CAN COME OUT OF THIS IN A LONG TERM, BECAUSE WE CAN'T AFFORD THIS PLACE IN OUR CHILDREN FROM BUILDING TO BUILDING.

THEY NEED CONTINUITY.

THAT'S ALL I HAVE TO SAY.

THANKS, GOOD EVENING.

THIS IS MY CHILD AT THE TEENS EBR SCHOOL SYSTEM THAT IS NON-VERBAL WITH AUTISM AMONGST OTHER DISABILITIES.

AND I NOTICED THAT WE APPROVED A CHARTER FOR $425,000 THAT WE SHOULDN'T HAVE MY CHILD WAS IN THERAPY.

SO WE WERE LATE.

THAT PAINS ME BECAUSE NOW WE'RE TALKING ABOUT AN ALTERNATIVE SCHOOL, ABOUT AN ALTERNATIVE SCHOOL BUILDING, BUT YET WE APPROVED A SEGREGATED CONTRACT FOR A SEGREGATED SCHOOL.

THE SCHOOL DID NOT HAVE ANYTHING THAT WAS DIVERSE, NOR INCLUSIVE AD DEA WAS NOT WAIVED.

I HAD DEA WASN'T.

I HAD WAIVED THAT SCHOOL WAS NOTHING SHORT OF A CIVIL RIGHTS VIOLATION.

MY CHILD AND I WERE ASSAULTED BY THAT CEO AT THE, UH, AT THE COMMITTEE OF THE HOME, MAN.

THIS IS A COMMENT ON TALKING ABOUT THE ALTERNATIVE SCHOOL, MY CHILD AND I WERE ASSAULTED AT THIS COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE MEETING BY THE D BY THE CEO OF EMERGE, DEANNA WILLIAMS. AND MY CHILD STARTED HAVING MALADAPTIVE BEHAVIORS AT HIS SCHOOL.

AFTER THAT THOSE MALADAPTIVE BEHAVIORS CAN CAUSE HIM TO END UP BEING PUT IN AN ALTERNATIVE SCHOOL AND ALTERNATIVE SCHOOL THAT IS NOT IN ANY TYPE OF WAY, ANY CONDITION THAT IS CONDUCIVE ENVIRONMENT FOR LEARNING.

WHY DO WE CONTINUE TO COME UP WITH INSANE THINGS AND THINK THAT IT'S REALISTIC? AND THAT THINK THAT IT SHOULD BE OKAY.

THESE INSANE DECISIONS THAT WE MAKE LITHIUM DOES NOT TREAT ELECTROSHOCK THERAPY DOES NOT TREAT WHAT WE'LL TREAT THEM IS COMMON SENSE.

YOU HAVE PLENTY OF PARENTS LIKE MYSELF THAT ARE DEDICATED AND COMMITTED TO HELPING THIS SCHOOL SYSTEM PROPEL FORWARD IN THE CORRECT DIRECTION.

UH, WITH CHILDREN DO NOT HAVE TO GO INTO AN ALTERNATIVE SCHOOL.

IF THEY ARE PROVIDED LOVE AND TRUE EDUCATION.

WE HAVE DEDICATED STAFF THAT HAVE GIVEN THEMSELVES THEY IN AND DAY OUT LIKE MY CHILD'S TEACHER, BUT YET WE DON'T APPRECIATE THEM.

THE 425,000 YOU GAVE TO EMERGE, YOU COULD'VE GAVE A RAISE.

SO I WOULD STAY OFF THE FOUR, THE 425,000 YOU GAVE TO EMERGE.

YOU COULD HAVE USED THAT TO FIX THE BUILDING.

THE 425,000 YOU GAVE TO EMERGE.

YOU COULD HAVE PROVIDED A LOT OF THINGS THAT OUR CHILDREN NEED TO HAVE A BETTER EDUCATION AT A BETTER FUTURE.

IF OUR CHILDREN FUTURE REALLY MATTER.

AND IF WE ARE BUILDING THE FUTURE OF BATON ROUGE, THEN THAT MEANS WE WOULD STOP GIVING THE MONEY TO PEOPLE THAT REALLY TRULY DON'T CARE ABOUT THE CHILDREN.

WHY IS IT THAT WE HAVE TO HAVE SOMETHING THAT IS SEGREGATED TO ACTUALLY GIVE SOME DO, DO SOMETHING.

MA'AM NEXT.

BUT ANYONE ELSE FROM THE AUDIENCE LIKE TO SPEAK, SEEING NONE, WE WILL COME BACK TO THE BOARD AND IF ANYONE WISHES TO SPEAK, WE WILL FIRST HAVE THE CALL TO QUESTION.

IF NO ONE WISHES TO SPEAK, WE WILL GO STRAIGHT TO THE VOTE, SEEING NO REQUEST TO SPEAK.

MADAM SECRETARY, THE, THE MOTION FOR EVERYONE'S, UH, REMEMBRANCE IS TO PROVIDE TEMPORARY SPACE FOR THE EBR READINESS.

I'M NOT GOING TO SAY THE EXACT WORDS, TEMPORARY SPACE FOR EBR READINESS WHILE THE STAFF FOR THE NEXT SEMESTER, WHILE THE STAFF WORKS THROUGH BETTER LONG-TERM SOLUTIONS.

I HOPE I PARAPHRASE THAT CLOSE ENOUGH FOR, FOR NEXT SCHOOL YEAR.

CHARTER ACADEMY SCHOOL CONTRACT CONSIDERATION REQUESTS OR THE NEW RULE, THE CONTRACT WITH INSPIRE CHARTER ACADEMY.

MADAM SECRETARY FORGOT THE 2022.

[02:35:07]

[H.3. Inspire Charter Academy School Contract Renewal]

MR. KONSKI, MAY I HAVE A MOTION? SO MOVED BY MR. TAPPIN SECOND BY MR. BALLOU.

GOOD EVENING, EVERYONE.

TONIGHT, WE BRING, BEFORE YOU A CONSIDERATION OVER RENEWAL REQUEST FOR INSPIRE CHARTER SCHOOL, FROM THE ACCOUNTABILITY PERSPECTIVE, YOUR BACKUP DOCUMENTATION HAS NOT CHANGED JUST TO REMIND YOU THAT AN BY JANUARY 30, FIRST OF THE ENDING TERM OF, UH, OF A CHARTER SCHOOL'S TERM, A DECISION HAS TO BE RENDERED BY ITS AUTHORIZING BOARD.

SO WE WERE DUE A DECISION ON THIS MATTER BY JANUARY 31ST OF 2021, AND SPAR CHARTER SCHOOL WAS PREVIOUSLY A D THEY HAVE RISEN TO A C PER OUR LOCAL CHARTER POLICY.

THAT CRITERIA WAS MET FOR A THREE YEAR TERM RENEWAL.

I, THAT THAT'S THE INFORMATION THAT I HAVE FOR YOU, UNLESS YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS.

MS. SILAS IS HERE WHO CONDUCTED THE ANNUAL REVIEW UNDER HER SUPERVISION.

THE PRINCIPAL FROM INSPIRE CHARTER IS ALSO WITH US TONIGHT WITH HER TEAM TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.

AND I KNOW MR. SHAMBLIN IS ON THE LINE.

SHOULD YOU HAVE ANY CONTRACTUAL QUESTIONS? THANK YOU.

ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS FROM THE BOARD, MR. HOWARD? YEAH.

JUST, UH, THANK YOU.

I CAN HEAR MYSELF.

OH YEAH.

I JUST WANT TO REITERATE, UH, TODD BOARD, UH, THAT WE, WE DID PASS THE POLICY REFLECTIVE OF WHAT'S HAPPENING WITH THIS PARTICULAR SCHOOL.

IF THERE'S ANY REVISIONS THAT WE, AS A BOARD NEED TO MAKE TO THE POLICY, THAT IS A PROCESS THAT WE NEED TO TAKE.

AND, UM, WE ARE OPEN TO IT.

I THINK THE COMMITTEE WHO WORKED ON IT, IT'S OPEN TO IT.

UM, JUST, JUST TO PUT THAT OUT THERE, THAT WE CAN AMEND THE POLICIES AS WE SEE FIT.

IF WE SEE CHANGES EXIST.

UM, THIS IS THE FIRST OPPORTUNITY THAT WE HAD TO ENACT THE POLICY AND UTILIZE IT TO, UM, PROVIDE THIS PARTICULAR RENEWAL.

I THINK THE PROCESS WENT WELL.

I THINK WE HAD A VERY ROBUST PROCESSES IN THE BEGINNING, BUT IF THERE ARE THINGS THAT NEED TO BE CHANGED, WE NEED TO LOOK AT OUR POLICY, UM, AND NOT HAVE TO DO IT ON A CASE BY CASE BASIS.

BUT LOOK AT OVERALL CHANGES THAT WE CAN MAKE TO THE POLICY.

SO, UM, WE FIX PROBLEMS AND PROVIDE SOLUTIONS THROUGH POLICY AS A POLICY MAKER COMBINING.

SO I JUST WANT TO ENCOURAGE US TO CONTINUE TO DO THAT.

THANK YOU, MR. HOWARD, UH, SEEING NO OTHER BOARD MEMBERS WISHING TO SPEAK, UH, WE NOW WE'LL TAKE COMMENTS FROM THE AUDIENCE.

IF ANYONE IN THE AUDIENCE WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK, PLEASE COME UP TO THE MICROPHONE NOW.

GOOD EVENING.

YOUR POLICY SAYS THAT INITIAL, UM, APPROVAL OF A CHARTER DOES NOT GIVE A SCHOOL, AN UNLIMITED LIFE.

YOUR POLICY ALSO STATES THAT IF A CHARTER SCHOOL ACHIEVES A C, UM, THAT YOU ARE, THAT THE SUPERINTENDENT SHELL RECOMMEND RENEWAL.

IT ALSO SAYS THE BOARD MAY RENEW THE CONTRACT.

THE BOARD MAY ALSO DECIDE, AND THIS IS NOT IN THE POLICY, BUT THIS IS ME TALKING.

THE BOARD MAY DECIDE THERE ARE BETTER WAYS FOR YOU TO SPEND YOUR MONEY.

I COULD IMAGINE LOTS OF BETTER WAYS LIKE ALTERNATIVE EDUCATION, WRAPAROUND SERVICES TO MAKE SURE YOU TAKE PROPER CARE OF AUTISTIC CHILDREN, NOT JUST THE ONES THAT EMERGE, BUT EVERYWHERE ELSE.

UM, I WOULD HOPE THAT IF YOU CONTINUE TO BRING MISS MCMURRY UP SEVERAL TIMES, YOU RECALL THE NUMBER ONE SHE DOES NOT REPRESENT THE CHARTER BOARD.

SHE REPRESENTS THE H THE CMO THAT THEY, UM, CONTRACT WITH.

AND I WOULD RESPECTFULLY REQUEST A CHANCE TO REBUT ANYTHING THAT SHE SAYS, FURTHERMORE, YOUR AGENDA ITEM SAYS INSPIRE CHARTER ACADEMY, SCHOOL CONTRACT RENEWAL.

YOU CAN'T RENEW A CONTRACT THAT DOESN'T EXIST.

FURTHERMORE, BECAUSE THE CONTRACT DOESN'T EXIST.

I THINK IT WOULD BE A HORRIBLE POLICY FOR YOU TO EVEN BE CONSIDERING THIS FOR ADOPTION TONIGHT.

I THINK THEY HAVE EXACTLY BETWEEN NOW AND THE COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE TO NEGOTIATE A CONTRACT THAT THEY CAN PRESENT TO YOU FOR THE RENEWAL PERIOD THAT IS ALMOST OVER AND ONLY IF THEY PRESENT A CONTRACT THAT THEY ARE READY TO SIGN, THAT HAS BEEN APPROVED BY THEIR BOARD, THAT YOU CAN CONSIDER.

WOULD IT BE PRUDENT, REASONABLE, AND APPROPRIATE FOR YOU TO EVEN ENTERTAIN THE POSSIBILITY THAT YOU MIGHT GIVE THEM ANOTHER THREE YEARS TO BUY IT AT THE PUBLIC TREASURY? THIS IS A LOT OF MONEY.

YOU, YOU YOU'RE CONSIDERED VERY CAREFULLY.

WHETHER YOU COULD AFFORD

[02:40:01]

A FEW HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS FOR EMERGE TWO WEEKS AGO, YOU DECIDED YOU COULDN'T AFFORD HALF A MILLION DOLLARS TO EXPAND THE CAMPUS AT UNIVERSITY TERRACE.

AND YET YOU'RE READY TO ALL JUST SAY YES AND MOVE ON TO THE SUPERINTENDENT SEARCH AND SPEND MILLIONS COMMIT MILLIONS OF DOLLARS FOR ANOTHER SEVERAL YEARS TO A CHARTER SCHOOL THAT DOES NOT MORE RENEWAL.

AND WITH ANY LUCK IT'LL COME TO A VOTE WHEN TWO MORE BOARD MEMBERS HAVE LEFT THE ROOM AND IT WON'T PASS.

I'M GOING TO MAKE A PERSONAL POINT HERE.

MR. FINNEY BOUGHT, UH, BROUGHT UP A VERY GOOD, UH, CATCH, UH, MR. SHAMBLIN.

UH, THE MOTION AS WRITTEN IS PROBABLY INCORRECT BECAUSE WE ARE NOT VOTING TO RENEW THE CONTRACT.

WE'RE VOTING TO RENEW THE TERM OF THE CHARTER SCHOOL ARE, AND I DO NOT KNOW WHAT THE APPROPRIATE WORDS ARE FOR THAT.

MS. CAN YOU HELP US? OR, UH, AND I WILL SAY MR. FINNEY, WE DO HAVE A SIGNED CONTRACT IN HAND THAT WE BROUGHT AT THE NEXT MEETING AND I REQUESTED IT NOT BE ON THE AGENDA TONIGHT BECAUSE I WANTED TO GO THROUGH THE COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE SAY WOULD HAVE A CHANCE FOR VIEW OF THE PUBLIC.

SO IN THE, IN THE, UH, UH, OBJECTIVE OF KEEPING FULL PUBLIC INPUT ON THE CONTRACT, WE'RE NOT PRESENTING THAT TONIGHT, BUT WE DO HAVE A SIGNED CONTRACT THAT WE HAVE NOT SIGNED YET, BUT THEY HAVE SIGNED MR. MR. YOU, YOU ARE CORRECT IN THAT TONIGHT'S DECISION IS ABOUT THE TERM.

I'LL HAVE TO DEFER TO MR. SHAM ON, I BELIEVE HE'S ON THE LINE ABOUT THE LEGAL LANGUAGE, BUT TONIGHT IT'S JUST THE OPTION TO GO AHEAD AND RENEW THE CHARTER TO RENEW THE CHARTER, THE CHARTER, AND I'LL LET HIM SPEAK TO THE CONTRACT.

MR. SHAM, YOU CAN JUST SAY RENEWAL AT THE CHARTER INSTEAD OF RENEWAL OF THE CONTRACT.

IT'S RENEWING THE CHARTER, MR. SHAMBLIN, IS THAT OKAY WITH YOU, SIR? YES, I AGREE.

UM, AND TO, TO CLARIFY FOR THE BOARD, AND I BELIEVE THE BOARD HAVE ALL RECEIVED A SIGNED COPY OF THE CONTRACT FOR INSPIRE GOING FORWARD WITH THAT CONTRACT.

AND SEVERAL OTHERS WILL BE PRESENTED TO THE BOARD FOR APPROVAL IN JANUARY.

AND I ASSUME MR. TAPPIN, MR. BALOO, YOU WILL ACCEPT THAT AS A FRIENDLY AMENDMENT.

NEXT FROM PUBLIC COMMENT.

BE ABLE TO CALL OUT THE NAME OF ANYBODY THAT'S BEING DISRESPECTFUL WHEN I'M ACTUALLY TALKING.

THANK YOU, MR. SHAMBLIN FOR THE CLARIFICATION.

UM, I THINK THAT IS A SHAME THAT WE ACTUALLY MISLEAD THE PUBLIC AND MAKE THEM THINK THAT SOMEBODY SCHOOLS ARE ACTUALLY DOING SOMETHING THAT THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO DO.

AND THEN THAT SOME OF THESE CHARTERS, SO LIKE A MERGED CHARTER AND ITS BUYER DO NOT HAVE THE FEDERALLY REQUIRED PLANS SUCH AS THE AMERICAN DISABILITIES ACT.

THAT'S A PROBLEM.

AND YOU HAVE CHILDREN LIKE MINE THAT ACTUALLY ATTEND THESE SCHOOLS, RECEIVE THE MONEY.

DON'T, DON'T PROVIDE THEM WITH THE EDUCATION AND THEN SEND THEM RIGHT BACK INTO EBR SCHOOL SYSTEM WHERE WE HAVE TO EDUCATE THEM WITHOUT THE FUNDING.

THAT'S IT IS MR. MIKE GOLDEZ PRESIDENT OF THE SCHOOL BOARD.

I THINK THAT IT WOULD BE EXTREMELY PRUDENT OF YOU TO ACTUALLY TELL THE SCHOOL BOARD TO NOT APPROVE ANY MORE CHARTERS, NOT TO RENEW A CONTRACT, NOT TO RENEW ANYTHING, DEALING WITH THEM AND THE RE, AND TO ACTUALLY GET OUR MONEY BACK FROM EMERGE BECAUSE THEY DON'T HAVE ANY OF THE FEDERALLY REQUIRED POLICIES AS IT RELATES TO ANY CHILD THAT HAVE A DISABILITY THAT SHOULD GIVE YOU PAUSE, BECAUSE THAT MEANS THAT EACH AND EVERY SINGLE LAST ONE OF YOU ARE LIABLE, LIABLE FOR CHILDREN LIKE MINE, WHO IS ACTUALLY REACHING FOR THIS MICROPHONE.

THAT WISHED THAT HE HAD THE ACTUAL VERBIAGE TO SAY, TO LET YOU KNOW HOW HE FEEL TO NOT BE ABLE TO GO TO ANY OF THOSE SCHOOLS.

IF HE WANTED TO HAVE THE FREEDOM OF CHOICE TO BE EDUCATED AND CAN NOT BE EDUCATED PROPERLY, BUT EBR TRADITIONAL PUBLIC SCHOOLS IS EDUCATING HIM.

THE SCHOOL THAT'S UNDER THAT'S IN MR. LANE IS SCHOOL DISTRICT NORTHEAST ELEMENTARY.

THAT'S A SCHOOL THAT EVERY SCHOOL IN THIS ENTIRE SCHOOL SYSTEM SHOULD ACTUALLY TRY TO MODEL THAT'S.

THE PRINCIPAL NAME IS DR.

JANIE SHOWS.

THE ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL IS MS. CHANEL FERNANDEZ.

THOSE THAT, THAT STAFF THEIR CARE, THEY CARE ABOUT THE CHILDREN.

THEY LOVE THEM WHOLEHEARTEDLY, AND THEY DO THEIR JOB ACCORDING TO FEDERAL AND STATE LAW.

THAT IS WHAT WE SHOULD BE REQUIRED TO DO.

THAT IS WHAT WE SHOULD DO, AND WE'RE NOT DOING IT.

NONE OF THESE CHARTERS ARE DOING IT.

AND IT'S VERY SAD.

AND IT SAID THAT WE ACTUALLY HAVE PRIVATE CONVERSATIONS GOING ON, MS. DODSON AND MR. TADEMAN WHERE YOU DON'T HAVE THE TIME AND ENERGY RIGHT NOW, THIS ISSUE.

AND I'M NOT GOING TO LET YOU, I'M TALKING ABOUT THIS ISSUE.

I SHOULD

[02:45:01]

CAUSE I ACTUALLY GIVE YOU ALL THE SAME.

I GAVE Y'ALL THAT.

WOULD YOU CUT THE MICROPHONE, PLEASE? THANK YOU.

NEXT.

MA'AM WE DO HAVE A, WE DO HAVE A COURT.

WE DO HAVE IT.

MA'AM WE DO HAVE A, WE DO HAVE A POLICY.

WE DO HAVE A POLICY ON PUBLIC, UH, COURTESY, AND YOU HAVE VIOLATED THE POLICY ON PUBLIC COURTESY.

I'M KIMBERLY BOUDREAUX AND I AM THE PRINCIPAL AND INSPIRE CHARTER ACADEMY.

I CAN THANK ALL OF YOU FOR YOUR PARTNERSHIP.

IT'S BEEN GREAT WORKING WITH YOU AND MAKING INSPIRED PART OF THE, UH, EBR CHARTER SYSTEM.

AND WE'RE MAKING SURE THAT WE'RE ABLE TO CONNECT WITH YOU.

THANK YOU TONIGHT FOR CONSIDERING OUR RENEWAL.

WE'VE WORKED VERY HARD.

I KNOW THAT WE DO HAVE A VERY LOW FEE.

IT IS NOT INTENTION TO CONTINUE TO GROW THE SCHOOL AND SHOW THAT WE'RE ABLE TO SERVICE ALL STUDENTS AND ALL FAMILIES IN THE COMMUNITY.

TO THE CONSENT AGENDA AND IT WILL BE READ BY MR. HOWARD VICE-PRESIDENT HOWARD CONSENT AGENDA.

MA'AM ANY OTHER PUBLIC COMMENT SEEING NONE BACK TO THE BOARD MS. COLLINS OR MS. COLLINS? ISN'T HERE, UH, BACK TO THE BOARD.

I SEE NO FURTHER COMMENT FROM THE BOARD.

MADAM SECRETARY, WE STILL HAVE A QUORUM.

SO THE MOTION CARRIES THE MOTION CARRIES NEXT.

WE WILL MOVE

[I. Consent Agenda]

THE FOLLOWING ITEMS ARE CONSIDERED TO BE ROUTINE.

IT WILL BE INACTIVE WITH ONE MOTION.

THERE WILL BE NO SEPARATE DISCUSSION OF ITEMS THAT LET'S SAY BOARD MEMBERS.

SO REQUESTS IN WHICH EVENT, THE ITEM WILL BE REMOVED FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA AND CONSIDERED AS AN ITEM ON THE REGULAR AGENDA FOR THE SEPARATE VOTE PROCEEDING OF THE LAST ITEM ON THE REGULAR AGENDA TO GRANT CONSIDERATION OF A REQUEST FOR THE APPROVAL OF THE FIRST TEE OF EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH GRANT IN THE AMOUNT OF 24,500 TO PROVIDE SEVEN ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS WITH TRAINING EQUIPMENT AND LESSON PLANS, CONSIDERATION OF A REQUEST FOR THE APPROVAL OF A PROFESSIONAL SERVICES CONTRACT BETWEEN THE EAST SPANISH PRIOR SCHOOL BOARD AND THE FOLLOWING HOUGHTON MIFFLIN HARCOURT, AND THE AMOUNT OF 28,000 TO PROVIDE PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT FUNDING SOURCE, STRIVING READERS, COMPREHENSIVE LITERACY GRADE MINUS PVC IN THE AMOUNT OF 26,875 TO PROVIDE PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT FUNDING SOURCE REDESIGN QUALITY MATTERS IN THE AMOUNT OF 60,200 TO PROVIDE PROFESSIONAL SERVICE DEVELOPMENT AND SUPPORT FUNDING.

SO SECURES ACT, STRONG STORY BOND RESOLUTION CONSIDERATION OF A REQUEST, AUTHORIZING THE ISSUANCE AND SELL BY THE EAST VANNERS CHARTER SCHOOL BOARD, FEDERAL LOUISIANA OF ITS NOT EXCEEDING $35 MILLION REVENUE ANTICIPATION NOTE PROVIDING FOR THE TERMS AND PAYMENT THEREFORE, AND PROVIDING FOR OTHER MATTERS IN CONNECTION THERE WITH NUMBER FIVE OR WATER POLICY, WATER ACCESS CONSIDERATION OF A REQUEST TO ADOPT THE FOLLOWING POLICIES, FECAL WATER BOTTLE FILLING STATIONS, G H M G A M A G H J EXCUSE ME, WATER BOTTLES STAFF IN J C D A G WATER BOTTLES STUDENTS, AND TO PROVIDE FOR RELATED MATTERS CONSTRUCTION OF BELFAIR MAGNET, MIDDLE SCHOOL, MAGNET SCHOOL BUILDING ADDITION, CONSIDERATION OF A REQUEST FOR THE AUTHORIZATION OF STAFF TO ADVERTISE EXCEPT THE LABIA TO MEET THE SPECIFICATIONS AND MAKE THE AWARD OF A CONTRACT FOR CONSTRUCTION OF THE BAREFOOT MONTESSORI MAGNET SCHOOL, CLASSROOM, ADDITION, OR REJECT ANY BEDS AND ALL BASED WHERE JUST CALLS IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LOUISIANA PUBLIC, BE IT LAW, LOUISIANA REVISED STATUTE, TITLE 38, CHAPTER 10 FUNDING SOURCE PHASE FOR TAX PLAN PROPOSITION ONE DEMOLITION OF UNIVERSITY TERRACE ELEMENTARY CONSIDERATION OF A REQUEST FOR THE AUTHORIZATION FOR THE STAFF TO ADVERTISE EXCEPT A LITTLE BIT IT'S MEANING THE SPECIFICATIONS.

THEN MAKE THE WAR FOR CONTRACT DEMOLITION OF UNIVERSITY TERRACE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL AS SPECIFIED IN THE PLAN TO IMPROVE FACILITIES, TECHNOLOGY, DISCIPLINE, AND COMPENSATION IN THE EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH SCHOOL SYSTEM.

THE PLAN THAT'S REVISED THROUGH FEBRUARY 2ND, 22ND, 2018, OR REJECT ANY AND ALL BASIS FOR JUST CAUSING ACCORDING TO THE LOUISIANA PUBLIC BID LAW, THE LOUISIANA REVISED STATUTE, TITLE 38, CHAPTER 10 AND LAST, UM, CONSIDERATION OF ANY REQUEST FOR THE APPROVAL OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS FROM GWEN SHAMBLIN GENERAL COUNCIL FOR THE SPANISH PRIOR SCHOOL BOARD AND THE MATTER OF WARREN FLORES VERSUS NALEO BUTLER, THE EAST VANNERS PRIOR SCHOOL BOARD IN BERKELEY INSURANCE COMPANY SUIT NUMBER IS SIX SIX NINE FOUR NINE TWO SECTION DIVISION 2219 JDC PARISH OF EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH, AND TO PROVIDE

[02:50:01]

I HAVE TWO COMMENTS AND I'LL BE BRIEF WITH RESPECT TO THE BELFAIR EDITION.

IT SEEMS LIKE POOR PLANNING TO PUT AN ADDITION, UH, FOR MIDDLE SCHOOL, ONE MILE AWAY FROM A MIDDLE SCHOOL THAT ISN'T FULL.

AND WITH RESPECT TO THE DEMOLITION OF UNIVERSITY TERRACE ELEMENTARY, THERE WAS MUCH HAND RIGGING TWO WEEKS AGO ABOUT NOT SAY NOT SPENDING THE EXTRA MONEY TO BUY THE VACANT LAND BETWEEN THE EXISTING CAMPUS AND THE, UM, REC FACILITY ON THE OTHER SIDE OF ALASKA STREET.

YET YOU HAVE ON THE AGENDA ITEM, TEARING DOWN A BUILDING THAT WAS BRAND NEW.

I DON'T REMEMBER HOW FEW YEARS AGO, BUT THAT PRESCHOOL QUAD IS CERTAINLY LESS THAN 10 YEARS OLD.

AND I'M NOT SURE THAT IT'S THE BEST, UH, STEWARDSHIP OF THE RESOURCES YOU HAVE AT YOUR DISPOSAL TO BE DRIVING THE BULLDOZER THROUGH THAT BUILDING.

ESPECIALLY IF YOU CAN'T AFFORD TO EXPAND THE CAMPUS TO FILL THE APPROPRIATE SPACE.

SO I KNOW YOU'LL VOTE UNANIMOUSLY IN FAVOR OF THE MALL, BUT I FEEL BETTER HAVING HAD YOU LISTENED TO THOSE FEW MINUTES.

I GIVE YOU THAT SAME RESPECT WHEN I GET AWAY FROM THE MIC.

ANY OTHER COMMENTS FROM THE AUDIENCE? THE OLD FOLKS SAY A HIT DOG WILL HOLLER.

SO I HEARD THE DOG CATTLE A FEW MINUTES AGO.

WELL, ON OUR CONSENT AGENDA, WE HAVE WATER EXITS AS A PROBLEM, BUT WE GIVEN AWAY MONEY TO ALL THESE CHARTERS.

AND NOW WE GOT TO TALK ABOUT WATER ACCESS.

YOU DON'T SEE A PROBLEM WITH ONE OF THE ESSENTIAL THINGS THAT'S NEEDED.

ACCORDING TO MASLOW'S HIERARCHY OF NEEDS, HAVING TO BE PUT AS A CONSENT AGENDA ITEM, DEMOLITION OF BUILDINGS.

IT'S A LOT OF BUILDINGS THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN DEMOLISHED A LONG TIME AGO THAT SHOULD'VE BEEN REBUILT FROM THE GROUND UP, BUT THAT'S A REFLECTION OF THE FORMER SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER OF FORMER SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENT THAT WE HAD THAT WE CONTINUED TO GIVE RAISES TO THAT DID NOT DESERVE IT BECAUSE IT WAS NOT PROVIDING AN EQUITABLE BUILDING AND EQUITABLE RESOURCES TO ALL OF THE CHILDREN LITIGATION.

WE CONTINUE TO HAVE LITIGATION BECAUSE WE CONTINUE TO FAIL TO FOLLOW THE LAW.

BUT SOME UNAPPARENT REASON WE DON'T SEE, WE DON'T TEND TO KNOW THE LAW AND KNOW EXACTLY WHAT IT STAYS, BUT WE HAVE THREE JDS.

WE'RE ABOUT TO BE THREE JDS AS SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS.

AND WE HAVE A GENERAL COUNCIL THAT WE PAY A SIX FIGURE SALARY, AND YET WE CAN'T GET IT RIGHT.

WE CONTINUE TO HAVE MULTIPLE LITIGATIONS.

THAT'S WHERE I'M GOING TO GO FAIL CHARTERS AND LITIGATION.

MAYBE IF WE GIVE A LOT OF THE PARENTS LIKE ME, WHO TAKE TIME OUT OF THEIR BUSY SCHEDULE IN LIFE TO BRING THEIR CHILD DAY IN AND DAY OUT TO THE COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE MEETING UNTIL THE SCHOOL BOARD MEETINGS TO ACTUALLY GIVE YOU THEIR OPINION AND ACTUALLY LET THEIR VOICE BE HEARD.

MAYBE IF I STOP AND I JUST CONTINUE TO PURSUE LITIGATION LIKE EVERYBODY ELSE, JUST MAYBE JUST, MAYBE YOU WOULD GET IT RIGHT.

IT SHOULD NOT HAVE TO TAKE THAT.

WHEN A CHILD, MY CHILD HAD TO WITNESS HIS MAMA BEING ASSAULTED AGAIN AGAIN AT A SCHOOL BOARD MEETING, WE DON'T KNOW HOW TO LIVE ACCORDING TO OUR VISION AND OUR MISSION.

WE DON'T KNOW HOW TO ACT, HOW TO LIVE ACCORDING TO THE STRATEGIC PLAN THAT IS RIGHT BEHIND YOU.

THAT'S A PROBLEM.

SO MR. GOLDIE, AS PRESIDENT OF THE SCHOOL BOARD, I ENCOURAGED STRONGLY AND URGE YOU TO PLEASE HAVE A VERY NICE MEETING WITH ALL OF YOUR SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS TO GIVE PARENTS AND ALL OF THE PEOPLE IN THE PUBLIC THAT ACTUALLY COME UP HERE AND SPEAK THAT GIVE THEIR TAX DOLLARS TO THIS SCHOOL SYSTEM, THE RESPECT THAT THEY DESERVE, THE RESPECT THAT THEY GIVE YOU, BECAUSE

[02:55:01]

AND I, WON'T NOTHING SHORT OF THAT.

THAT'S A PROBLEM.

THE PROBLEM IS NOT THE PARENTS.

THE PARENT IS NOT THE KIDS.

THE PARENTS IS THE, IS THE LEADERSHIP THAT WE DON'T HAVE.

I WAS SCHOOL BOARD.

MA'AM ARE THERE ANY OTHER COMMENTS ON THE CONSENT AGENDA? OKAY.

SEEING NONE, ANY COMMENTS FROM THE, UH, QUESTIONS FROM THE AUDIENCE, UH, PULLED MY SHEET DOWN.

I'M SORRY, MS. JACKSON.

WELL, THANK YOU PRESIDENT.

GO DAY.

UM, I JUST WANTED TO, UH, EXTEND MY APPRECIATION FOR, UM, BELFAIR MONTESSORI BEING ABLE TO MOVE FORWARD.

UH, THE MONTESSORI PROGRAM IS, IS ONE THAT IS IN A HIGHER DEMAND.

AND, UM, I APPRECIATE THE, UM, ABILITY FOR OUR ELEMENTARY SCHOOL KIDS TO CONTINUE IN MONTESSORI THROUGH, UM, MIDDLE SCHOOL.

UM, IT'S, IT'S TOO BAD.

THEY CAN'T GO BEYOND THAT, BUT THAT'S ANOTHER, THAT'S A WHOLE NOTHER ISSUE, BUT, UM, I KNOW THAT PARENTS ARE VERY EXCITED ABOUT THEIR CHILDREN BEING ABLE TO STAY IN MONTESSORI, UH, THROUGH MIDDLE SCHOOL.

MY ONLY OTHER COMMENT IS, AND I JUST WANT TO MAKE THIS ABOUT THE UNIVERSITY TERRORISTS.

I'M HOPING THAT WE CAN FIGURE OUT A WAY TO, UH, WORK ON THOSE PROPERTIES AND THAT WE WERE LOOKING AT BEFORE.

UM, MY ONLY CONCERN IS, IS AROUND TRAFFIC AND, UM, JUST NOT HOLDING UP TRAFFIC, YOU KNOW, THAT'S, THE CONCERN IS ABOUT OUR, UM, COLLEGE DRIVE AND ACADIAN THROUGH WAY WITH, WITH OUR MAGNETS THERE AND, UH, THE CARPOOL LINES, UH, I WOULD NOT LIKE TO SEE SOMETHING LIKE THAT HAPPEN AT UNIVERSITY TERRORIST.

SO I'M HOPING THAT OUR, OUR STAFF AND THE CONSTRUCTION CREW WILL KEEP THAT IN MIND AND FIGURE OUT A WAY TO DO SOMETHING WITH THE PROPERTIES THAT ARE FRONTING ONE OF THOSE STREETS.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

YOU MA'AM ANY OTHER COMMENTS OR, UH, FROM THE BOARD ON THE CONSENT AGENDA, SEEING NONE, MADAM SECRETARY, PLEASE VOTE THE MOTION CARRIES.

OF SUPERINTENDENT, UH, APPLICANTS, DISCUSSION AND CONSIDERATION OF SELECTION OF APPLICANTS FOR INTERVIEWS, FOR THE POSITION OF SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS.

MADAM SECRETARY.

NEXT ITEM ON THE AGENDA IS SELECTION

[J.1. Selection of Superintendent Applicants]

AND I WILL READ INTO THE MOTION.

I WILL MAKE THE MOTION FOR THE NOMINATION PROCESS.

I MOVE THAT THE CANDIDATE NOMINATIONS TO RECEIVE INTERVIEWS FOR THE SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS PROCEED AS FOLLOWS, SUPPOSED TO BE.

I MOVED THE SELECTION OF THE CANDIDATES TO PROCEED AS FOLLOWS.

EACH BOARD MEMBER WILL NOMINATE UP TO FOUR, REPEAT FOUR NAMES ON THE BALLOT PROVIDED BY THE BOARD SECRETARY.

THE BOARD PRESIDENT ARE THE BOARD MEMBER, IF YOU WOULD.

SO CHOOSE WE'LL READ THE NOMINATIONS INTO THE RECORD.

THE BOARD SECRETARY WILL TALLY THE VOTES AND ANNOUNCE THE RESULTS FROM THESE RESULTS.

I, SECOND BALLOT WILL BE PREPARED WITH THE NAMES OF ALL CANDIDATES RECEIVING A MINIMUM OF FOUR VOTES IN THE PREVIOUS VOTE.

EACH BOARD MEMBER WILL THEN NOMINATE UP TO THREE NAMES ON THE BALLOT PROVIDED BY THE BOARD SECRETARY.

I REPEAT AFTER THREE NAMES ON THE SECOND BALLOT, AND I WILL READ THIS AGAIN BEFORE THE ACTUAL VOTES, THE BOARD PRESIDENT OR THE BOARD MEMBER WILL READ THE NOMINATIONS INTO THE RECORD.

THE BOARD SECRETARY WILL TALLY THE VOTES AND ANNOUNCE THE RESULTS FROM THESE RESULTS.

THE BOARD WILL INVITE ALL CANDIDATES RECEIVING A MINIMUM OF FIVE VOTES TO PARTICIPATE IN THE FINALIST INTERVIEWS IN JANUARY.

I SO MOVE.

DO I HAVE A SECOND SAGGING IT BY MR. TATLIN? THANK YOU.

UH, IS, IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION REQUESTED BY ANY OF THE BOARD MEMBERS ON, ON THIS MOTION

[03:00:02]

SEEING NONE, WE'LL GO TO THE AUDIENCE, THIS AUDIENCE, ANYONE FROM THE AUDIENCE WITH WHICH TO SPEAK GOOD EVENING, EVERYONE SIERRA HART, DIRECTOR OF ORGANIZING AND STRATEGY FOR THE SOUTH LOUISIANA COALITION FOR EDUCATION A YEAR AGO ON THIS DAY, WE WERE ALL TOGETHER AT WOODLAWN HIGH SCHOOL DURING THIS PROCESS AGAIN, AND AT THAT MEETING, THERE WAS ABOUT 30 TO 50 COMMUNITY MEMBERS.

AND SO MY ASK OF THE BOARD IS TO REALLY PRIORITIZE COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT.

WE UNDERSTAND ONE THAT WE ARE IN A PANDEMIC, BUT ALSO IF PRE PANDEMIC, WE ONLY HAD 32 ABOUT 50 COMMUNITY MEMBERS AT A MEETING POST PANDEMIC OR DURING THE PANDEMIC.

THE EXPECTATION IS THAT THE NUMBER WILL BE LESS IF THERE IS NOT INTENTIONAL, INNOVATIVE EFFORT INTO ORGANIZING AND GALVANIZING COMMUNITY MEMBERS.

AND SO, ALTHOUGH THIS PROCESS HAS BEEN EXPEDITED AND RAILROADED, WE AS THE SOUTH LOUISIANA COALITION FOR EDUCATION AS TEACHERS, COMMUNITY MEMBERS, PARENTS, AND STUDENTS WOULD LIKE IF THE BOARD WILL PRIORITIZE COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT BY EITHER HAVING THE FINALIST COME AND SOME VIRTUAL FORUM OR THE SAME WAY THAT WE COME HERE AND IT'S STREAMLINED THE SAME WAY THAT YOU HAD ON DR.

TOWNS AND NOT THE LILY BROWN COME THE FINALIST, BE ABLE TO BRING THEM HERE SO THAT THE COMMUNITY CAN ACTUALLY ENGAGE IN NEXT QUESTIONS.

THAT WAY THE COMMUNITY CAN BE A PART AS WELL AS ANY INNOVATIVE METHODS THAT YOU CAN THINK OF.

THERE IS A WHOLE COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT FOR YOUR BR UTILIZE THAT EMPLOYER, COMMUNITY MEMBERS.

YOU HAVE METHODS WHERE YOU CAN TALK TO TEACHERS.

ALL OF THOSE THINGS ARE IMPORTANT, ESPECIALLY WHEN WE ARE TRYING TO LEAD AND FIGURE OUT WHO WAS WANTING TO LEAD OUR DISTRICT.

WE DON'T HAVE TIME TO SILENCE THE COMMUNITY IN THIS PROCESS.

THE COMMUNITY NEEDS TO BE A PART OF THIS PROCESS, EVEN HERE.

NOW, NORMALLY THIS ROOM WILL BE PACKED.

I THINK THIS IS JUST AN EXAMPLE OF HOW DISENGAGED PEOPLE ARE.

AND AS A BOARD, YOU SHOULD WANT THE COMMUNITY TO BE HERE.

YOU SHOULD BE DISAPPOINTED THAT THAT WE AREN'T HERE.

AND YES, WE ARE REACHING HOLIDAYS, WHICH SHOULD MAKE IT EVEN MORE OF A PRIORITY THAT YOU GET AS MUCH COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT AS POSSIBLE, DESPITE THE TIME RESTRICTIONS AND ANYTHING ELSE THAT'S IN THE WAY, IT'S YOUR JOB TO ENGAGE US.

AND SO I ASK THAT YOU DO THE JOB OF THOSE WHO ELECTED YOU TO SERVE IN THIS POSITION.

MA'AM AND I WOULD JUST LIKE TO COMMENT, WE DO VALUE THE PUBLIC INPUT AND WE HAVE NOT PUBLISHED EXACTLY HOW WE WILL GO ABOUT DOING THAT BECAUSE WE DID NOT KNOW HOW MANY NOMINEES WE WILL HAVE AND THE FORM THAT MIGHT TAKE MAY DIFFER DEPENDING ON THE NUMBER OF NOMINEES WE HAVE, BUT WE DO PLAN ON HAVING THE ABILITY FOR PUBLIC INPUT AND PUBLIC INTERACTION WITH THE CANDIDATES NEXT.

HI, MY NAME IS MARIA HARMON.

I'M ONE OF THE CO-FOUNDERS AND CO-DIRECTORS WITH STEP UP LOUISIANA.

UM, I'M JUST COMING UP HERE JUST TO EXPRESS THE NEED AGAIN FOR COMMUNITY INPUT AND TRANSPARENCY.

UM, DURING THE COURSE OF THE LAST SEARCH, THERE WERE A LOT OF IMPLICATIONS THAT OCCURRED WITH JUST THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY'S INFLUENCE, REALLY RARING, UH, THE AGENDA FOR PRIVATIZATION.

WHEN WE KNOW THE REAL COMMUNITY CHOICE WAS SOMEONE THAT WAS LOCAL.

ALSO.

UM, AGAIN, WE HAVE THE, UH, RARING HEAD OF THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY, AGAIN, WITH IT HORRENDOUS LETTER, REALLY TRYING TO SHAME ADAM SMITH, WHICH I REALLY THOUGHT WAS NOT GOOD AT ALL, UM, FROM MY LIDO AND OTHER PEOPLE.

AND IT'S JUST, AGAIN, IT'S JUST PUSHING A CERTAIN AGENDA.

WE KNOW THESE PEOPLE ARE VERY INFLUENTIAL.

WE KNOW THEY HAVE MORE MONEY, MORE INFLUENCE THAN MANY GRASSROOTS COMMUNITY PEOPLE, EVERYDAY PEOPLE WHO HAVE THEIR CHILDREN IN THESE PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

UM, I JUST ASKED THAT THIS PROCESS IS EQUITABLE AND EQUITABLE.

I MEAN, MEETING PEOPLE WHERE THEY'RE AT MEETING PEOPLE'S NEEDS.

IF WE KNOW THAT WE NEED TO ENGAGE WITH PEOPLE WHERE THEY'RE USUALLY BUSY AND NOT AVAILABLE AFTER FOUR, WE NEED TO THINK OF SOME CREATIVE WAYS TO MEET AND ENGAGE WITH PARENTS.

SOME FAMILIES ARE NOT GOING TO BE HAVING EASY ACCESS TO INTERNET AND BROADBAND.

WE NEED TO THINK OF SOME SOCIALLY DISTANCE WAYS TO BE ABLE TO ENGAGE PEOPLE WHERE THEY'RE FULLY AWARE OF WHAT'S GOING ON IN REAL TIME.

UM, AGAIN, I, I, MY ONLY FEAR IS THAT THIS PROCESS, AGAIN, WHAT MAY BE HIJACKED BY THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY, AND THAT'S THE LAST THING WE NEED.

I'M JUST IMPLORING EVERYONE HERE.

JUST BE AUTHENTIC AS POSSIBLE WITH INTEGRITY AND JUST REALLY BEING FOR YOUR REAL CONSTITUENTS, THE PEOPLE THAT ACTUALLY VOTED FOR YOU, NOT THE PEOPLE THAT PAY FOR YOUR CAMPAIGNS.

WITH CANDIDATES VIA SMALL FORUMS, HOSTED BY BOARD MEMBERS, UM, AND A PUBLIC TOWN HALL WHERE CANDIDATES ANSWERED QUESTIONS SUBMITTED BY COMMUNITY MEMBERS.

NEXT GOOD EVENING.

I'M CANDACE DAMON.

I'M ALSO A REPRESENTATIVE FROM THE SOUTH LOUISIANA COALITION FOR EDUCATION, AND I WANTED TO RETURN TO ONE OF THE POINTS MADE BY ONE OF MY COLLEAGUES ABOUT COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT.

DURING THE LAST SUPERINTENDENT SEARCH PROCESS, COMMUNITY MEMBERS WERE ABLE TO CONNECT

[03:05:01]

IT IS IMPERATIVE THAT THE BOARD PROVIDE THOSE SPACES AGAIN, REGARDLESS OF THE NUMBER OF SEMIFINALISTS SELECTED TONIGHT.

IN ADDITION AT THE DECEMBER 3RD BOARD MEETING, PRESIDENT MIGHT GO DAY STATED THAT COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS CAN REACH OUT TO CANDIDATES FOR ENGAGEMENT OPPORTUNITIES, NOTING THAT THE CANDIDATES WILL LIKELY RESPOND IN ACCORDANCE WITH RECOMMENDATIONS FROM THE, UM, BOARD OR THE CONSULTING FIRM IT'S IMPERATIVE TO ENSURE BOTH CANDIDATE PARTICIPATION AND COMMUNITY PARTICIPATION THAT THE BOARD PARTNERS WITH INTERESTED ORGANIZATIONS TO PLAN AND EXECUTE A PUBLIC TOWN HALL, PERHAPS THAT LOOKS LIKE SEVERAL MEETINGS WITH CANDIDATES ON EACH INTERVIEW DAY, PERHAPS THAT LOOKS LIKE ONE MAJOR TOWN HALL, DEPENDING ON THE NUMBER OF CANDIDATES IN PERSON INTERVIEWS WILL TAKE PLACE IN 21 DAYS, BEGIN PLANNING.

NOW CONNECT WITH THOSE ORGANIZATIONS NOW ENGAGE THE COMMUNITY.

NOW THESE DECISIONS MUST BE MADE WITH ALONGSIDE YOUR CONSTITUENTS.

I ALSO WOULD LIKE TO TAKE A MOMENT TO READ AN ADDITIONAL, UM, PUBLIC COMMENT SUBMITTED BY ANOTHER, OUR, UM, CHAIR, DOMINICK DALLAS, BECAUSE WE'RE NOT READING PUBLIC COMMENTS ALOUD TO ADD TO WHAT MY COLLEAGUE PREVIOUSLY STATED.

IT IS IMPERATIVE THAT THE BOARD PROCEED WITH THE SUPERINTENDENT SEARCH PROCESS WITH TRANSPARENCY AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT.

THE FACT REMAINS THAT CANDIDATES WERE BROUGHT IN LAST YEAR IN THE MIDST OF THE PANDEMIC.

AND EBR HAS THE MEANS TO CREATE OPPORTUNITY FOR COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO BE INVOLVED IN THE SEARCH, PUT YOUR PERSONAL AGENDAS ON THE BACKSEAT AND BE PROACTIVE IN RELATIONSHIP BUILDING WITH STAKEHOLDERS.

BY FINALLY USING THIS ROUND OF THE SUPERINTENDENT SEARCH AS AN OPPORTUNITY TO DEVELOP DEPTH OF RELATIONSHIPS FROM AN AUTHENTIC COMMUNITY, WE ALL WANT TO BE PROUD OF THE SUPERINTENDENT DECISION.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

THANK YOU NEXT.

HI, MY NAME'S DEVINE.

UM, I'M ALSO A MEMBER OF SLIDES.

I'M THE BOARD SECRETARY, SO YOU KNOW, SOMETHING COMMON.

UM, I'M ALSO A SPECIAL EDUCATOR, SO THAT'S EVEN MORE IMPORTANT.

UM, SO I JUST WANTED TO READ THAT YOU SAY YOU WANT MORE PARENTAL INVOLVEMENT AND COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT.

YOU CLAIM IT, IT TAKES A VILLAGE TO RAISE SHAPE AND DEVELOP A STUDENT.

YOU HAVE PRESENTED SLIM TO NO TRUE AVENUE FOR THE COMMUNITY TO GET THEIR VOICES HEARD.

YOUR ROLE IS TO SERVE THE COMMUNITY, NOT SILENCE OR DIMINISH OUR INPUT.

YOUR EDUCATORS HAVE BEEN INSTRUCTED TO TEACH AND BUILD COMPETENT ANALYTICAL THINKERS WHO ARE BOTH ADVOCATES AS AN EDUCATOR.

I AM REQUIRED, REQUIRED TO FOLLOW ALL EXPECTATIONS, INCLUDING WEARING A MASK WHILE TEACHING MY THIRD GRADERS, IF OUR YOUNGEST CHILDREN, KENNEDY TO THESE DRESS CODES, I AM MORE THAN CONFIDENT THAT YOU CAN'T AS WELL WEAR YOUR MASK OUT OF RESPECT.

THIS IS NOT A DO, AS I SAY, NOT AS I DO TIME.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME.

NEXT GOOD EVENING, EVERYONE.

UH, DEVIN.

RIGHT.

AND I SERVE CURRENTLY AS A PART OF THE SOUTH LOUISIANA COALITION FOR EDUCATION.

YOU'VE HEARD SO MANY OF MY COLLEAGUES AND IT'S REALLY CONCERNED EDUCATORS, COMMUNITY MEMBERS, UH, BEFORE.

AND THEY'VE ALL TALKED ABOUT MAKING SURE THAT THERE IS COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT, UH, IN THIS PROCESS, RIGHT.

UH, BUT I WANT TO SPEAK A LITTLE BIT MORE TO, UH, WHAT YOU'VE LAID OUT IN TERMS OF HOW THE VOTING IS GOING TO GO.

UH, AND I KNOW THAT, UH, SOMETIMES THE BOARD IS NOT VERY, UH, AS KIND TO US ASKING DIRECT QUESTIONS, I WANTING TO, UH, ANSWER THOSE.

BUT, UH, I AM, UH, JUST KIND OF INTERESTED AS TO WHY THERE'S ONLY GOING TO BE IN THIS NARROWING TIME, UH, THREE, UH, FINALISTS THAT, THAT ARE BROUGHT FORWARD IN THE LAST ROUND.

UH, THERE WERE FIVE THAT YOU ALL CAME THROUGH WHERE WE WERE ABLE TO HEAR FULL INTERVIEWS FROM THEM.

AND SO IN THIS TIME YOU'RE ONLY LIMITING THAT TO THREE.

I WOULD ASSUME THAT THE ANSWER IS GOING TO BE BECAUSE OF THE TIME TABLE THAT WE HAVE, BUT THAT WAS A TIMETABLE THAT YOU ALL CHOSE OR AGREED TO BASED ON THE PEOPLE THAT YOU HAVE HIRED TO DO THE FIRM.

SO THAT, TO ME, AS A MINT POINT, I BELIEVE THAT THERE NEEDS TO BE, UH, MORE THAN THREE, AT LEAST IN TERMS OF MAYBE FIVE, A LIFE THAT LAST TIME, SO THAT WE CAN ACTUALLY HEAR FULL INTERVIEWS OF THE PEOPLE BECAUSE IT'S SUCH A CRITICAL DECISION.

AND SO IF SOMEONE WOULD PERHAPS MAKE A FRIENDLY AMENDMENT TO THAT MOTION SO THAT THERE CAN BE MORE PEOPLE BROUGHT IN, YES, WE WERE ABLE TO SEE THEIR RESUMES.

WE HEARD THOSE BRIEF ON DEMAND QUESTIONS.

OUR ORGANIZATION, I PERSONALLY WOULD GLAD TO HEAR ANSWERS ABOUT EQUITY AND MAKING SURE THAT THAT'S AT THE FOREFRONT.

THAT'S WHAT WE PUSHED FOR LAST TIME, MADE SURE THAT EQUITY WAS A PART OF THAT CANDIDATE PROFILE.

UH, BUT I DON'T THINK IT SERVES OUR COMMUNITY.

IT DOESN'T SERVE THE MORE THAN 42,000

[03:10:01]

STUDENTS.

IT DOESN'T SERVE OVER 3000 EMPLOYEES FOR US TO LIMIT JUST DOWN TO THREE AND NOT HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO HEAR FULLER, UH, MORE.

AND, AND THE LAST THING THAT I WOULD SAY, ESPECIALLY IN A TIME LIKE THIS AS A PASTOR IN THE COMMUNITY, UH, THIS, THIS WEEKEND I'LL BE PRESIDING OVER MY SIXTH FUNERAL AS RELATED TO COVID-19.

AND I JUST THINK THAT IT IS DEPLORABLE, UH, THAT A DECISION HAS BEEN MADE TO STOP READING PUBLIC COMMENTS OUT LOUD AND FORCING PEOPLE TO PERHAPS PUT THEMSELVES IN UNHEALTHY SITUATIONS OR AT RISK TO COME AND BE A PART OF THE PROCESS.

MR. GODIN, THAT IS YOUR DECISION THAT IS ON YOU.

UH, AND I THINK THAT IT SHOULD BE REFLECTED THAT IT IS A POOR DECISION AND IT SHOWS A LACK OF COMPASSION AND UNDERSTANDING AND INCLUSIVITY.

AND I JUST NEEDED TO SAY THAT GOOD EVENING.

THANK YOU, SARAH.

AND I DO WANT TO CREATE A CORRECT ONE MISTAKE IN THAT A MISUNDERSTANDING THERE WILL BE EACH BOARD MEMBER WILL VOTE FOR THREE CANDIDATES TO COME FOR IN-PERSON INTERVIEWS.

MATHEMATICALLY, THAT MEANS UP TO FIVE CANDIDATES CAN BE SELECTED AS THE VOTES ARE SPLIT UP.

SO THERE IS A TOTAL POSSIBILITY THAT WE CAN HAVE FIVE IF THE SUPPORT IS THERE BECAUSE THAT'S 27, TOTAL VOTES AND FIVE, UH, FIVE INTO 27 IS FIVE BUS A LITTLE BIT MORE.

SO THERE'S A TOTAL POSSIBILITY TO HAVE FIVE CANDIDATES, DEPENDING ON THE STRENGTH OF THE CONVICTIONS OF THE DIFFERENT BOARD MEMBERS FOR THE DIFFERENT CANDIDATES.

I JUST WANTED TO CORRECT THAT WE'RE NOT LIMITED TO THREE.

YES, MA'AM THE BIBLE SAYS I'M A LOOK TO THE HILLS FROM WHICH MY HEALTH COMES FROM AND MY HELP COMING FROM THE LORD, ACCORDING TO THE BIBLE, HAIL IS A HOT PLACE.

AND RIGHT NOW THE SCHOOL BOARD MEETING HAS BEEN EXTREMELY HOT.

SO I TAKE IT THAT HELL IS A LOT HOTTER THAN THIS.

AND IF SO, I D I, FOR SURE DON'T WANT TO BE THERE.

BUT WHAT I DO KNOW IS THAT THIS SCHOOL BOARD SERVES A POPULATION THAT IS SO SOCIOECONOMIC DISADVANTAGE.

AND YET WE HAVE TO THINK ABOUT HOW WE'RE GOING TO ALLOW THEM TO PROVIDE THEIR INPUT, THE CHILDREN AND THE FAMILIES IN WHICH YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO SERVE HOLISTICALLY, THE CHILDREN AND THE FAMILIES WHOSE MINDS YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO FEED THE CHILDREN AND THE FAMILIES WHO HEART YOU AS OPPOSED TO MOLD, TO HAVE INTEGRITY, CHARACTER, RESPECT, COMPASSION, ACCOUNTABILITY, RESPONSIBILITY.

SO FOR SOME REASON OR ANOTHER, WE HAVE HAD SUPERINTENDENTS THAT DID NOT MIMIC THAT.

AND IT IS A SHAME THAT WE CONTINUE TO GET SUPERINTENDENTS THAT SEEMS TO SERVE THE BUSINESS INTERESTS INSTEAD OF THE PEOPLE WHO ACTUALLY COME DAY IN AND DAY OUT UNTIL YOUR BRICK AND MORTAR BUILDINGS.

MY CHILD IS ONE OF THE PEOPLE THAT HE JUST SPOKE OF WHO IS PUT IN JEOPARDY RIGHT NOW, BEING IN THIS BUILDING BECAUSE MY CHILD CANNOT WEAR A MASK DUE TO HIS HEALTH.

THAT LETTER HAS BEEN SENT TO THE SCHOOL SYSTEM.

YET WE HAVE SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS THAT THINK IT'S OKAY TO VIOLATE OPEN MEETING LAW AND ROBERT RULES OF ORDER.

I THINK YOU HAVE LITIGATION IN REGARDS TO THAT, WE SHOULD THINK ABOUT THE FUTURE OF EBR SCHOOL SYSTEM, THE FUTURE OF THE PEOPLE THAT WOULD ACTUALLY TAKE CARE OF YOU.

THE FUTURE OF THE PEOPLE THAT ACTUALLY WOULD MAKE SURE THAT YOUR BANK ACCOUNT ACTUALLY HAVE THE MONEY IT'S SUPPOSED TO.

HEY, STOP THINKING ABOUT THE BUSINESS ENTRY LIPSEY EPPOLITO DON'T CARE ABOUT YOU.

THEY WILL LEAVE YOU HIGH AND DRY.

THE MOMENT THAT THE NEEDLE IS PUT IN A DIFFERENT MANNER, POTASSIUM IS THE LETHAL INJECTION.

IF FOR SOME REASON OR ANOTHER, THAT'S WHAT YOU CONTINUE TO DO TO THIS SCHOOL SYSTEM, PROVIDE IT WITH A LETHAL INJECTION.

WE WANT A SUPERINTENDENT THAT ACTUALLY K CARE BY CHILDREN THAT ACTUALLY KNOWS THAT IF HE, THAT, IF HE'S A JUDAS, THAT HE CAN GO AND DO WHAT HE NEEDS TO DO, WE DON'T WANT A JUDAS.

WE WANT A MESSIAH AND THE MESSIAH IS NOT BOUGHT A MESSIAH IS RESURRECTED.

AND WHAT WE'RE ASKING FOR RIGHT NOW IS A RESURRECTION, A RESURRECTION UNTIL THE SCHOOL SYSTEM, BECAUSE RIGHT NOW WE ARE CRITICALLY SUFFERING.

WE ARE SUFFERING AND WE ARE ON A BETTER LIGHT.

AND WE DO NOT NEED TO HAVE TO GIVE HER SENSITIVE.

I HAVE A QUESTION WHICH YOU MAY OR MAY NOT WISH TO ANSWER.

MA'AM ARE THERE ANY OTHER PUBLIC COMMENTS?

[03:15:07]

AND THEN THE SUGGESTION, AND THEN A COMMENT.

THE QUESTION IS WHETHER BOARD MEMBERS ARE ALLOWED TO NOMINATE APPLICANTS FROM BEYOND THE 14 APPLICANTS THAT WERE PROPOSED, UM, BY THE SEARCH FIRM, THE SUBJECTS WE WOULD ALLOW.

THE SUGGESTION IS THAT THE, UM, THE, UH, IT FOLKS PUT A COPY OF BLANK, COPY OF THE BALLOT UP ON THE SCREEN FOR A FEW MOMENTS.

SO WE, WE WHO HAVE NOT LOOKED AT THE WHOLE LIST OF 14 OR SO, APPLICANTS COULD QUICK JOT DOWN THE NAMES.

WE CAN CUT, TRY TO MATCH WHAT WE HEAR TO THE CHOICES AND KEEP SCORE AS THIS PROCESS GOES ALONG.

AND THEN MY PUBLIC COMMENT IS THAT YOU HAVE SEVERAL SENIOR STAFF MEMBERS WHO ARE NOT ATTENDING THIS MEETING, PRESUMABLY IN SOME CASES, DUE TO PANDEMIC RELATED CONCERNS, YET YOU'RE NOT READING PUBLIC COMMENTS.

I DON'T THINK THAT'S A WISE TRADE-OFF YOU ARE ALLOWED TO DO BEYOND WHAT THE LAW REQUIRES YOU TO DO.

WE COULD DISAGREE ON WHETHER YOU ARE LEGALLY REQUIRED TO READ PUBLIC COMMENTS ALOUD.

IF YOU ARE MEETING IN PERSON, EVEN THOUGH YOUR STAFF MEMBERS AREN'T HERE PHYSICALLY PRESENT.

BUT IF YOU WOULD LIKE US TO BELIEVE THAT YOU CARE FOR THE PUBLIC'S ENGAGEMENT, YOU COULD GIVE THEM THE RESPECT TO READ THEIR PUBLIC COMMENTS, AT LEAST WITH RESPECT TO THIS AGENDA ITEM.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.

ANY OTHER COMMENTS? GOOD EVENING.

UM, I'M SUD JADAH FIRST.

I WOULD LIKE TO THANK ALL OF THE BOARD MEMBERS FOR BEING HERE.

AND, UM, I'M SPEAKING.

I HOPE I DON'T SOUND TOO LONG WINDED, BUT, UM, I JUST WANT TO OFFER SOME GRACE TO YOU ALL BECAUSE WE DON'T KNOW WHAT IT'S LIKE TO BE.

SOME OF US DON'T KNOW WHAT IT'S LIKE TO BE IN A LEADERSHIP POSITION.

MOST OF US DON'T KNOW WHAT IT'S LIKE TO BE IN YOUR SPECIFIC POSITION.

AND I KNOW THAT SOMETIMES PASSION CAN COME OFF AS AGGRESSION AND, UH, DELIVERY CAN CHANGE THE MESSAGE OF THINGS, BUT I REALLY PRAY AND HOPE THAT AS HARD AS IT IS THAT WE CAN LOOK BEYOND HOW SOMEONE SAYS SOMETHING, UM, OR THE TIMING OF IT.

AND WE CAN LOOK AT THE BIGGER PICTURE AND I HOPE THAT THAT'S UNITY.

AND I HOPE THAT IT IS, UH, DOING WHATEVER IS BEST FOR THE STUDENTS.

UM, I DON'T DOUBT THAT ANYONE ON THIS BOARD DOESN'T HAVE THAT INTEREST.

I THINK IT WILL BE A LITTLE BIT JUDGMENTAL OF ME TO MAKE THAT ASSUMPTION, DESPITE THE THINGS THAT I SEE.

BUT LIKE I SAID BEFORE, EVERYTHING'S NOT WHAT IT SEEMS. AND I KNOW A LOT OF TIMES I CAN SPEAK ON A LOT OF THE THINGS THAT AUDIENCE MEMBERS HAVE SPOKEN ON.

AND I THINK THAT THAT'S PRETTY UNDERSTOOD, BUT IT'S NOT ALWAYS UNDERSTOOD THAT YOU GUYS HOLD A POSITION WHERE IT'S A LOT ON YOU.

UM, AND JUST FROM MY EXPERIENCE FROM HAVING A LOT ON ME, IT ALLOWS ME TO HAVE SOME GRACE BECAUSE IT'S ONE THING TO SAY, HEY, DO THIS, YOU SHOULD BE.

AND THOSE WORDS ARE SO TRIGGERING BECAUSE WHEN YOU FEEL LIKE YOU HAVE THIS DEMAND ON YOU, IT CAN ALMOST MAKE YOU FEEL LIKE, WELL, I'M NOT GOING TO DO IT AT ALL.

UM, AND IT CAN KIND OF CHANGE YOUR ATTITUDE AND APPROACH ABOUT IT.

BUT I DO PRAY AND HOPE THAT WE CAN STAY FOCUSED ON A BIGGER PICTURE AND THAT IS UNITY AND WHATEVER NEEDS TO HAPPEN TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CAN GET THE COMMUNITY INVOLVED AND WE CAN SHOW THE COMMUNITY THAT WE DO VALUE.

UM, IT'S ONE THING TO SAY THOSE THINGS, IT'S ANOTHER THING TO ACT AND THAT, AND I THINK SOME OF THOSE FRUSTRATION COMES FROM ACCOUNTABILITY AND ACCOUNTABILITY.

DOESN'T FEEL GOOD LOOKING IN THE MIRROR AND SAYING, I HAVE TO CHANGE THIS.

IT DOESN'T FEEL GOOD, BUT IT'S NECESSARY.

AND AT THE END IT'S FRUIT ALWAYS.

SO, UM, I DUNNO, I, I THINK I SOUND A LITTLE DOWN, BUT I'M REALLY HOPEFUL THAT, UH, WE CAN ALL JUST COME TOGETHER.

YOU KNOW, I COME TO THESE MEETINGS AND I JUST SEE A LOT OF POINTING THE FINGER, EVEN AS A FIRST YEAR TEACHER.

UM, MY FIRST YEAR OF TEACHING, IT WAS A LOT OF POINTING THE FINGER AND I'M JUST LIKE, MAN, WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF WE JUST HOLD EACH OTHER'S HAND AND JUST BE INTENTIONAL ABOUT LIKE, YOU KNOW, I'M GOING TO FORGIVE YOU FOR THIS.

I'M GOING TO LOOK PAST THIS AND WE'RE JUST GOING TO STAY ON ONE TRACK.

SO AGAIN, I JUST WANT TO OFFER MY GRACE TO YOU GUYS.

I WANNA THANK YOU AND JUST ENCOURAGE YOU TO LOOK BEYOND THE DELIVERY AND LOOK AT THE HURT, YOU KNOW, LOOK AT THE, THE PAST.

MA'AM ARE THERE ANY OTHER COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC? ANY OTHER COMMENTS FROM THE BOARD,

[03:20:03]

MR. LANICE? YES, SIR.

THANK YOU, MR. PRESIDENT.

AND WHILE I WON'T BEAT THE ISSUE ANY FURTHER, I WILL JUST AMPLIFY REALLY QUICKLY, UH, THE IMPORTANCE OF MAKING SURE THAT WE PRIORITIZE, UH, PUBLIC INPUT THROUGHOUT THIS PROCESS, JUST SO WE CAN HAVE FULL ACCOUNTABILITY AND TRANSPARENCY FOR OUR ENTIRE COMMUNITY.

THANK YOU, MS. JACKSON, DID I OVERLOOK YOU OR MS. COLLINS? THAT WAS SOMEBODY ELSE.

MS. SCOTT.

OH YEAH, BUT THANK YOU.

SO JUST TO REITERATE FOR EVERYONE ONE LAST TIME.

SO THERE'S NO MISCONCEPTIONS OR NO.

WHERE DID MS. BERNARD GO? OH, SHE ALREADY GAVE ME HER ROUTE.

UM, WE'VE MET GETTING READY TO VOTE.

SO EACH BOARD MEMBER IN THIS ROUND WILL NOMINATE UP TO FOUR NAMES AND THE PERSON, THE PERSONS RECEIVING A MINIMUM OF FOUR VOTES, WE'LL MOVE TO THE NEXT ROUND.

SO EACH BOARD MEMBER GETS FOUR VOTES AND ANY PERSON RECEIVING FOUR VOTES MOVES TO THE NEXT ROUND.

IS THAT CLEAR WITH EVERYONE? OKAY.

SO IF YOU WOULD PLEASE MARK YOUR BALLOTS THAT HAVE BEEN GIVEN TO YOU PAPER BALLOT AND PASSED THEM, OR IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO READ YOUR OWN PLACE SIGNIFY AND I WILL LET YOU READ YOUR OWN.

AND SO WE WILL GO AND DISTRICT ORDER AND I CANNOT READ MR. LANA SAID, DO YOU WANT TO READ YOUR OWN OR DID YOU PASS IT? SO A DISTRICT ORDERS, MR. BELLEW, WOULD YOU CALL THE DISTRICT GARDEN, WHICH I DON'T MESS IT UP.

DISTRICT ONE.

MR. BALLOU FOR MR. BELLEW.

HE HAS ONE VOTE FOR MR. SMITH.

ONE VOTE FOR JEREMY COOVIAN ONE VOTE FOR MARLA SHEPHERD AND ONE VOTE FOR MR. DR.

DISTRICT TWO, MR. LANA'S, JEREMY QVO MALA SHEPHERD TO WANT TO GROVER DISTRICT THREE, MR. HOWARD, MS. SMITH, UH, JEREMY , MARLA SHEPHERD AND DR.

TOWANNA GUAVA.

AND WHAT DR.

SILVANA GROVER GROVER.

DISTRICT FOUR, MS. COLLINS, ADAM SMITH AND WALLACE SHEPHERD DISTRICT FIVE.

MS. WARD JACKSON.

MS. WHERE JACKSON HAS ONE VOTE FOR ADAM SMITH.

ONE VOTE FOR MARLA SHEPHERD, ONE VOTE FOR A DOC FOR MR. MAURICE NARCIS AND ONE VOTE FOR MS. GROVER.

THESE ARE ALL DOCTORS.

AND I'M NOT SAYING DOCTOR, UH, DISTRICT SIX, MS. DYSON, ADAM SMITH.

DR.

NARCIS.

I'M GOING TO GIVE YOU ANOTHER ONE AND MARLA SHEPHERD DISTRICT SEVEN.

MR. GOODWIN.

MY VOTES ARE FOR ADAM SMITH, MARLA SHEPHERD.

CETO MARTIN RCS AND TOWANDA GLOW GROVER DISTRICT EIGHT.

MS. BERNARD, MS. BERNARD VOTES FOR ADAM SMITH, JEREMY COOVIAN AND DISTRICT NINE.

MR. TOTMAN.

I CAN'T SEE IT.

I SEE IF I CAN FIGURE IT OUT.

IS THIS YOUR SIGNATURE, MR. PATMAN? UH, YES IT IS.

UH, MR. TOTMAN VOTES FOR ONE FOR MR. SMITH, ONE FOR MARLA SHEPHERD AND ONE

[03:25:01]

FOR, UH, MR. .

ARE YOU READY FOR ME TO CALL HER OUT? YES, PLEASE.

NINE VOTES FOR ADAM SMITH, FOUR VOTES FOR JEREMY ONE VOTE, VOTE FOR CLEAR.

I'M NOT GOING TO BUTCHER HER LAST NAME.

UH, EIGHT VOTES FOR MARLA SHEPHERD, FIVE VOTES FOR CDOT DARCY'S AND FOUR VOTES FOR TOWANNA GROVER.

SO IN THAT, UH, ARDOR, MR. SMITH, MS. DOC, MS. SMITH, DR.

GROVER, UH, MR. COOVIAN, DR.

SHEPHERD AND DR.

NARCIS MOVED TO THE NEXT ROUND.

IS THERE A CONCURRENCE? OKAY.

ARE YOU GOING TO PASS OUT A NEW BALLOT WITH THE, AND WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO THIS TIME IS WE'RE GONNA PASS OUT THE SAME BALLOT, BUT THE, THE F THE SEMIFINALISTS OR WHATEVER FROM THE FIRST ROUND WILL BE HIGHLIGHTED.

SO YOU ONLY VOTE FOR THE HIGHLIGHTED CANDIDATES AND THEN BOARD MEMBERS.

I'M SORRY, MR. HOWARD.

OH, I WAS JUST SO JUST OFFERING A SUGGESTION IN THE SPIRIT OF WHAT THE COMMUNITY JUST SAID.

WE JUST ELIMINATED THE CANDIDATES DOWN TO A CERTAIN NUMBER.

I THINK IT WOULD BE WISE IF WE COULD INVITE THE ONES WHO ARE REMAINING, UM, TO AN INTERVIEW SO THAT THE COMMUNITY, LIKE THEY SAY, IT COULD GET AN INPUT.

I KNOW WE'VE ALREADY VOTED ON THE MOTION, BUT JUST OFFERING UP A POTENTIAL SUGGESTION TO ALLEVIATE SOME OF THE CONCERNS THAT WE'VE HEARD DOING OUR, UM, DURING OUR, UH, LAST THING.

I MEAN, CAUSE WE COULD BASICALLY GET TO ONE CANDIDATE HERE AND THERE WILL BE NO OPPORTUNITY FOR THE COMMUNITY TO ENGAGE.

SO I JUST WANTED TO OFFER THAT UP AS A POTENTIAL SOLUTION TO ALLEVIATE THE COMMUNITY CONCERNS.

HM, NO, NO, I GOT IT.

UM, IF THAT'S A, UH, FRIENDLY, UH, SUGGESTION, I DID NOT ACCEPT IT.

I DO NOT ACCEPT IT BECAUSE, UH, MATHEMATICALLY THERE'S IMPOSSIBLE THAT WE'RE GOING TO COME DOWN TO ONE.

AND SO WE WILL DEFINITELY HAVE, AND IF PEOPLE CAN'T GET UP TO FOUR VOTES, FIVE VOTES, UH, THAT IT TAKES, IF YOU'RE NOT IN THE TOP FIVE, IF YOU'RE NOT IN THE TOP THREE OF AT LEAST FIVE MEMBERS, UH, WELL THAT, WASN'T MY FRIEND SUGGESTING YOU DENIED IT.

YOU, WE CAN CONTINUE UNDERSTAND.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR SUGGESTION.

AND WE MAY END UP WITH FIVE.

ANYWAY, WE'RE DOING ARTS AND CRAFTS.

WE'RE NOT HAVING ANOTHER ROUND OF PUBLIC COMMENT.

THIS IS ALL ONE VOTE ON THE SAME MOTION.

THAT IS YOUR OPTION.

I CAN WHISTLE I WILL SAY MR. FINNEY, IF YOU'D LIKE TO COME BACK INTO THE ROOM, I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT, THAT THERE IS NO CHANGE ON THIS VOTE, EVEN THOUGH I DISAGREE, I WILL ALLOW YOU TO HAVE A CHANCE TO DO PUBLIC COMMENT.

I BELIEVE YOU'RE STILL OBLIGATED TO HAVE A, UH, A PUBLIC INTERVIEW.

I APPRECIATE THAT.

AND I BELIEVE THERE MAY BE OTHER FOLKS THAT WOULD LIKE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK.

IF YOU'RE SO INCLINED.

I WAS JUST GOING TO SAY THAT EVEN IF YOU END UP WITH ONLY ONE FINALIST,

[03:30:02]

SO EVEN IF THERE IS ONLY ONE FINALIST OR WHAT SEEMS MORE LIKELY TWO OR THREE, THERE WILL STILL BE AN OPPORTUNITY TO ENGAGE THE PUBLIC.

AND THANK YOU FOR AIRING ON THE SIDE OF PUBLIC TRANSPARENCY.

THANK YOU, MR. FINNEY.

IS THERE ANYONE ELSE UH, THANK YOU AGAIN FOR THE TIME, EVEN THOUGH I JUST GOT HERE, I JUST WANT TO, AGAIN, TO SPEAK TO THIS.

SO, UM, THIS IS GOOD.

I APPRECIATE YOU FOR CLARIFYING THAT BEFORE.

UH, UM, UM, I'M A MATH EDUCATOR OF 10 YEARS.

I UNDERSTAND THE LAW OF NUMBERS AND HOW THAT WORK.

THIS IS EXACTLY WHAT I WAS TRYING TO GET TO RIGHT HERE.

SO IN THIS ROUND, IT IS LIKELY THAT YOU'RE GOING TO LIMIT EVEN MORE, RIGHT? BECAUSE OF THE NUMBERS.

WHO ARE YOU GOING TO BRING TO INTERVIEW? MY ONLY REQUEST AND SUGGESTION IS THAT YOU ALL CONSIDER BRINGING ALL FIVE FOR INTERVIEW SO THAT WE CAN SEE THE BEST THAT IS OUT THERE FOR OUR CHILDREN, FOR OUR EDUCATORS, JANITORS, PARENTS, GRANDPARENTS, GUARDIANS, PRINCIPALS, BUS DRIVERS.

IT MAKES SENSE TO BRING AS MANY AS POSSIBLE SINCE YOU HAVE A CHANCE TO REDO WHAT WAS DONE BEFORE, AND UNFORTUNATELY COULD NOT BEAR ANY FRUIT THAT THAT'S ALL I'M SAYING.

IT IS LIKELY THAT YOU'RE GOING TO NARROW DOWN YET AGAIN IN THIS ROUND AND TO SPEAK FOR CLARITY IN THE LAST SEARCH, YOU DID NOT DO A DOUBLE ELIMINATION IN ONE NIGHT.

YOU MADE SURE THAT YOU BROUGHT AFTER THE FIRST NARROWING DOWN, ALL THOSE PEOPLE FOR INTERVIEW.

AND THEN YOUR FINAL TWO, YOU OPENED UP FOR A TOWN HALL, WHICH YOU STILL HAVE NOT LAID OUT A FULL PLAN FOR THAT HAPPENING, EVEN THOUGH YOU'VE ALREADY GOT THE INTERVIEWS SCHEDULED, YOU COULD HAVE A DATE FOR A TOWN HALL SCHEDULED.

THAT'S ALL I'M SAYING.

ALL I'M ASKING IT MAKES SENSE.

DO IT.

ANY OTHER COMMENTS? OKAY.

ONE, WE NEED A CLOCK IN HERE BECAUSE IT MAKES NO SENSE FOR US TO HAVE A MEETING THAT LASTS THIS LONG.

I COMMITTED THE WHOLE MEETING LASTED UNTIL MIDNIGHT, A LITTLE BIT SHY OF THAT.

THE SCHOOL BOARD MEETINGS, WHEN IT CAME TO ELECTING, THE SUPERINTENDENT LASTED A LITTLE BIT PAST MIDNIGHT.

HERE WE ARE, AGAIN, TRYING TO DECIDE ON A SCHOOL ON A SUPERINTENDENT.

SO HERE'S MY SUGGESTION BECAUSE WE'RE GOING TO GIVE PUBLIC INPUT AND BEING A PARENT OF A CHILD THAT'S IN OUR SCHOOL SYSTEM AND MY, AND Y'ALL RECEIVED THE MOST MONEY FOR MY CHILD.

LET ME GIVE YOU SOME REAL INPUT.

THE REAL INPUT AS FOLLOWS.

WE HAVE ALREADY NARROWED IT DOWN TO ABOUT FIVE PEOPLE.

IF WE'RE GOING TO ELIMINATE ANY MORE PEOPLE, JUST ELIMINATE THE ONES THAT HAD THE LEAST AMOUNT OF VOTES.

THE ONES THAT HAD THE LEAST AMOUNT OF VOTES SHOULD JUST GO AHEAD AND BE ELIMINATED.

AND THEN WE KEEP THE ONES THAT HAD THE TOP NUMBERS THAT IS WHAT'S BEST FOR OUR SCHOOL SYSTEM.

IF WE'RE GOING TO MOVE FORWARD, IF WE'RE GOING TO MOVE FORWARD, WE NEED TO LOOK LIKE WE NEED TO THINK ABOUT THE CHILDREN.

LOOK AT HIM.

HE'S THE ONLY ONE THAT FATEFUL.

IT COMES UP IN THIS BUILDING AND HE HAS A DISABILITY.

AND IF HE CAN TAKE OUT TIME OUT OF HIS LIFE AND SCHEDULE FROM THERAPY, COME DIRECTLY AFTER THERAPY, AFTER SURGERIES AND DOCTOR'S APPOINTMENTS.

I THINK THAT WE SHOULD ACTUALLY HAVE A SUPERINTENDENT THAT ACTUALLY IS GOING TO GIVE HIM THE ATTENTION THAT CHILDREN LIKE HIM.

SO RICHLY DESIRE AND NEED.

SO AS EACH AND EVERY LAST ONE OF YOU GET TO MARK AND ALL YOUR PAPERS, WHICH SOME OF Y'ALL NOT PAYING ME NO ATTENTION RIGHT NOW.

AND YOU'RE MARKING ALL YOUR PAPERS.

I THINK THAT WE SHOULD THINK ABOUT THAT.

LACK OF RESPECT AND SEE MY CHILD LEAVING SAW THE LACK OF RESPECT.

AND THAT'S WHY HE'S GIVEN THE MALADAPTIVE BEHAVIOR.

BECAUSE WHEN YOU GIVE LACK OF RESPECT TO PARENTS, THAT'S A, THAT'S ANOTHER LOOK AT YOU AND YOUR MALADAPTIVE BEHAVIOR.

SO GIVE US A SOUP, A SUPERINTENDENT THAT ACTUALLY IS NOT GOING TO BE A REFLECTIVE OF THAT.

THANK YOU, MR. PRESIDENT.

SEEING NO OTHER PUBLIC COMMENTS.

WE WILL COME BACK TO THE BOARD IF THE BOARD IS HERE.

UH, LET'S SEE, MR. LANA, SHE'S ALREADY SPOKEN, RIGHT? OR IS THIS A NEW ONE?

[03:35:01]

UM, I'LL JUST SPEAK BRIEFLY.

AND I'LL SAY THAT WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT THE MATH, IF THERE'S A POSSIBILITY THAT WE CAN SELECT FIVE PEOPLE BASED ON THE CURRENT FORMULA, THEN I DON'T SEE ANY REASON WHY WE SHOULDN'T INVITE ALL FIVE CANDIDATES BACK ANYWHERE, IF THERE'S A POSSIBILITY, BECAUSE THERE WON'T BE ANY, UH, ADVERSE EFFECT ON THE PROCESS.

SO I AM IN FULL AGREEMENT THAT I THINK THAT WE SHOULD BRING ALL FIVE CANDIDATES BACK.

JUST WANT TO LET THAT BE KNOWN.

WOULD YOU LIKE TO MAKE A SUBSTITUTE MOTION, SIR? OKAY, THANK YOU.

ARE THERE ANY, MR. HOWARD? YEAH, SO SINCE MY FRIENDLY AMENDMENT WAS DENIED, I WILL MAKE A SUBSTITUTE MOTION THAT WE CONSIDER ALL FIVE REMAINING CANDIDATES FOR AN INTERVIEW TO BE SELECTED BY EBR SUPERINTENDENT.

WE'LL GET A SECOND.

SO WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND, ANY DISCUSSION ON THE SUBSTITUTE MOTION, ANY PUBLIC COMMENT ON THE SUBSTITUTE MOTION TO INVITE THE FIVE CANDIDATES THAT WE HAVE NOW? UH, JUST ONE QUESTION AND YOU CAN JUST THINK ABOUT IT.

SOMETIMES WE TRY TO GET THINGS AND SOMETIMES I FIGHT AGAINST THINGS I'M GOING WANT, I'M FIGHTING AGAINST IT.

AND SOMETIMES I JUST HAVE TO ASK MYSELF, WHY NOT? YOU KNOW, I COULD CHOOSE THIS BATTLE.

I COULD FIGHT AGAINST FIVE OR THREE.

UM, IT REALLY IT'S PETTY.

IT'S REALLY PETTY, SO FUNNY.

UM, BUT WE COULD DIVIDE, BUT WE CAN DO THREE, ONE AT FIVE, YOU KNOW? SO JUST THINK ABOUT THAT.

I, I DON'T KNOW WHO ULTIMATELY MAKES A DECISION.

UM, BUT WHEN I FIVE MORE THAN THAT, THIS WILL BE AN ACTION TO SHOW THE PUBLIC WHAT YOU SAID.

AND THAT IS, I VALUE YOUR WORDS.

SO THAT'S IT WANT A HOARDER PLEASE? YES.

MA'AM WE HAVE ALREADY ADOPTED A PROCESS.

THAT'S RIGHT.

WE'VE ALREADY ACCEPTED THE SUBSTITUTE MOTION IS NOT AN ORDER.

CORRECT? WE ALREADY ADOPTED A PROCESS.

SORRY.

THE MOTION ON THE PROCESS HAD ALREADY BEEN DONE.

SO THE MOTION IS OUT OF ORDER AT THIS POINT.

I AM SORRY.

YOU HAVE A VERY GOOD POINT OF ORDER.

I'M SORRY, MR. FINNEY, BUT SINCE THERE IS NO MOTION, THERE'S NO PUBLIC COMMENTS.

IT'S ALL GOOD.

NO, SIR.

SO THE, THE, WHERE WE ARE NOW IS THAT WE HAVE THE BALLOT IN FRONT OF YOU AND EACH BOARD MEMBER WILL VOTE FOR THREE CANDIDATES UP TO THREE CANDIDATES.

UH, AND, AND ANY CANDIDATES RECEIVING FIVE OR MORE VOTES WILL BE, UH, BROUGHT IN FOR IN-PERSON INTERVIEWS.

SO PLEASE MARK YOUR BALLOTS.

AND I MIGHT ADD THIS VOTING PROCESS WAS PASSED OUT DAYS AGO.

PRINTED IT REALLY NEAT.

SO IF YOU PASS YOUR BALLOTS UP TO ME, PLEASE IF YOU WANTED TO KEEP IT TOP SECRET, THANK YOU TWO MINUTES AND I WILL BE SMART ENOUGH TO PUT THEM IN ORDER THIS TIME, MS. DYSON I WOULD ALSO LIKE AN EXTRA FORM.

NO, THAT'S FINE.

CAN I GET SOME CRAYONS, MS. JACKSON AND MS. COLLINS.

WHERE JACKSON, YOU'RE GOING TO READ YOUR OWN OR DO YOU WANT ME TO READ IT? OKAY.

YEAH, I COULD NEED IT AFTER YOU READ IT.

IF YOU WANT TO READ IT.

DISTRICT ONE.

MR. BLUE.

SORRY, MR. DISTRICT ONE.

UH, MR. BELLEW DO I HAVE YOUR SIR? YES.

YES, I DO.

DISTRICT ONE.

MR. BALLOU HAS ONE VOTE FOR JEREMY COOVIAN

[03:40:03]

AND ONE VOTE FOR DR.

DISTRICT TWO.

MR. ATLANTA, MR. LANDIS WOULD READ HIS OWN, UM, A SMITH JEREMY QVR, MARLIN SHEPHERD, DISTRICT THREE, MR. HOWARD AND SNIFFED JEREMY CURRY ON DACA TO WANT TO GO OVER.

WHAT WAS THE LAST ONE? ROVER DR.

TAWANA GROVER.

DISTRICT FOUR, MS. COLLINS HAS ONE VOTE FOR ADAM SMITH AND ONE VOTE FOR MARLA SHEPHERD DISTRICT DOG.

MS. WARD JACKSON AND SMITH.

DR.

MORAL A SHEPHERD AND DRAFT THE SEATTLE NORTH DISTRICT SIX.

MS. DYSON, MS. DYSON HAS ONE VOTE FOR ADAM SMITH.

ONE VOTE FOR MARLA SHEPHERD AND ONE VOTE FOR DISTRICT SEVEN.

MR. GODIN, I HAVE, EXCUSE ME, ONE VOTE FOR MARLA SHEPHERD, ONE VOTE FOR SEACO NARCISSUS AND ONE VOTE FOR TORONTO CLOVER DISTRICT.

GREAT.

MS. BARNARD, MS. BERNARD HAS ONE VOTE FOR ADAM SMITH.

ONE VOTE FOR JEREMY ON AND ONE VOTE FOR MARLA SHEPHERD DISTRICT NINE.

MR. TOTTEN, MR. TATLIN HAS ONE VOTE FOR ADAM SMITH.

ONE VOTE FOR MARLA SHEPHERD AND ONE VOTE FOR CETO NARCISSE ALL RIGHT.

I HAVE SEVEN FOR ADAM SMITH, FOUR FOR JEREMY SEVEN FOR MARLA SHEPHERD AND TWO FOR TAWANA GROVER.

MA'AM SO THE CANDIDATES THAT WILL BE INVITED FOR IN-PERSON INTERVIEWS WILL BE ADAM SMITH, DR.

MARLA SHEPHERD AND DR.

IS THAT CONCUR THAT ANY BOARD MEMBERS CONCUR ON THE VOTE? THANK YOU.

MY AGENDA.

I HEAR IT.

DISCUSSION CONSIDERATION OF THE SECTION OF LAND OF PURCHASE IN SOUTH BATON ROUGE.

NEXT WE WILL MOVE ON TO THE

[J.2. Land Purchase: South Baton Rouge]

MR. KURTZ.

THANK YOU, MR. GODETTE.

WHEN WE HAVE THEM, THE FIRST SITE THAT WE LOOKED AT BEFORE, JUST TO GIVE EVERYBODY AN IDEA OF DIMENSION IT'S 29 ACRES, AND IT'S APPROXIMATELY A THOUSAND FEET OR MORE IN WIDTH, UM, SITE B, WHICH IS ONE THAT WE TALKED ABOUT BEFORE IS 58 POINT 18 ACRES.

BOARD MEMBERS.

UH, WE HAVE A PACKAGE HERE AND IN OUR LAST MEETING, THERE WAS SOME DISCUSSION IN QUESTION ABOUT THE, UH, SIZE OF CONSIDERING SCHOOLS AND WHAT'S FIVES OF LAND TRACKS WERE NEEDED.

SO IN OUR, WHERE, OH, THERE WE GO.

IN OUR PRESENTATION.

THIS IS SOMETHING, THIS FIRST SLIDE HERE IS JUST TO REFRESH EVERYONE WITH THE SCHOOL ATTENDANCE ZONES AND WHAT I'M GOING TO RUN THROUGH VERY QUICKLY.

OUR SITES TO GIVE YOU AN IDEA OF WHAT EXISTING SCHOOLS ARE LIKE.

THIS IS JUST A SAMPLING FOR INSTANCE, SCOTLANDVILLE HIGH SCHOOL, WHICH IS A MAGNET IS 35 ACRES MOVING TO THE NEXT.

TARA IS 26.8 ACRES LIBERTY FORMERLY KNOWN AS LATE.

ALSO REPRESENTED HERE IN HIS LEE WAS APPROXIMATELY 26 ACRES.

WOODLAWN IS 48.7 ACRES.

ISTROUMA 29 ACRES, UH, LEE, WHICH WE'VE ALREADY REFERENCED.

MCKINLEY IS 22 ACRES THAT WILL CHANGE WHEN BUCHANAN CHANGES, BROADMORE 32.4 ACRES, BEL AIR 27.5 ACRES.

THIS WILL GIVE YOU AN IDEA OF WHAT EXISTING SCHOOLS ARE LIKE.

AND IF WE ALLOW SOMETHING THAT PROVIDES US WITH 30 TO 35, THAT SHOULD BE ADEQUATE.

THE BIGGER QUESTION IS GOING TO BE SOMETHING THAT'S A BIT OUT OF CONTROL.

AND THAT'S HOW THESE DESIGN ELEMENTS ARE FEATURED ON THE SITE AND HOW WE GET TO UTILIZE LOW SITES.

[03:45:01]

FOLLOWING FROM THERE, WE GO TO SITE C, WHICH THIS IS ONE THAT WE HAD COMMENTS ON, BUT I WANTED TO SHOW THIS TO MAKE SURE WE WERE CORRECT.

FROM LAST TIME, THE PREVIOUS PROPERTIES INVOLVED, ONLY ONE OWNER TRACKED IT DID NOT INVOLVE MULTIPLE OWNERS.

AND IN LOOKING AT THIS, THE SITE HAS A YELLOW, A BLUE, THE YELLOW SITE BY ITSELF IS APPROXIMATELY 15 AND A HALF ACRES.

AND THE OTHER SIDE IS 47.21.

THIS WOULD BE LARGER THAN ANY OTHER HIGH SCHOOL SITE WE HAVE.

AND IT'S UNLIKELY THAT WE MAY NEED BOTH.

HOWEVER, THERE HAVE BEEN SOME QUESTIONS ABOUT ACCESS AND IN THIS PARTICULAR SITE, IN MY LAST PRESENTATION, WE TALKED ABOUT PERKINS ROAD AND PERKINS ROAD HAS BEEN TAKEN OVER BY THE CITY PARISH.

UH, THERE IS A ROAD TRANSFER PROGRAM AND IN MEETING WITH FRED RIPER, THIS IS SOMETHING THAT THEY WOULD MAKE CONSIDERATE CONSIDERATION ON HOW PERKINS ROAD IS DESIGNED SO THAT IF AND WHEN A SCHOOL, WHEREVER TO BE LOCATED, THEY WOULD CERTAINLY WORK THAT IN THEIR DESIGN.

IT WOULD BE UNLIKE WHAT THE STATE WANTED TO DO, WHICH IS NOT AS TRAFFIC AND USER-FRIENDLY FOR SCHOOL BUSES OR SCHOOL TRAFFIC LOOKING AT THIS SO THAT WE HAVE AN UNDERSTANDING OF THIS PARTICULAR PROPERTY.

THE NEXT SLIDE IS A ZONING MAP TO GIVE YOU AN IDEA OF WHAT IS AROUND IT IN TERMS OF ZONING.

RIGHT NOW, IT HAS SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENTIAL ON EITHER SIDE.

IT HAS CURRENTLY THE FRONTAGE OF THIS PROPERTY IS ZONED COMMERCIAL.

THEY'RE SINGLE FAMILY, RESIDENTIAL AND CONCENTRATION ACROSS THE STREET.

AND IT IS NEAR A MAJOR RETAIL AREAS.

NOW LOOKING AT IT ON THE FOLLOWING PAGE, YOU'LL BE ABLE TO SEE WHERE THE FLOOD PLAIN IS.

AND UNFORTUNATELY, BECAUSE WE ARE LATE TO THE GAME AND BEING ABLE TO PICK A SITE THAT THIS END OF TOWN, MANY OF THE SITES ON THIS END OF TOWN ARE GOING TO HAVE SOME OF THE SITE AFFECTED BY FLOOD PLAIN.

SO WE'LL HAVE TO DO SOME WORK TO BE ABLE TO BUILD WITHIN THAT SITE AND THIS PARTICULAR SITE RIGHT HERE, UM, THE AREA THAT IS CLOSEST TO THE RAILROAD TRACK, WHICH IF YOU LOOK AT THE, UH, WHITE BOXES, JUST ABOVE THE FLOOD, PLAIN, THAT IS THE RETAIL AREA WHERE LOWE'S AND, UM, WALMART AND SAM'S ARE LOCATED KNOWN AS THE SEGUIN MARKETPLACE.

THIS AREA HAS A LEVY, WHICH IS THE RAILROAD TRACK THAT RUNS ALONG IT.

SOME OF THE FLOODING THAT'S, THERE IS BACKWATER FLOODING FROM, UH, OR ITS CREEK OR ITS CREEK IS SLATED TO BE DREDGED BY THE CORVETTE ENGINEERS, UM, AS FOR WHAT WILL HAPPEN.

UH, THIS YEAR PIECE OF PROPERTY DOES HAVE SOME AREA THAT IS LOW.

HOWEVER, WE DO HAVE THE OPTION OF BEING ABLE TO, TO USE PLAY FIELDS AND OTHER THINGS IN SOME OF THE LOW AREAS THAT ARE THINGS THAT DO NOT MATTER WHEN THEY ARE A BIT INUNDATED.

UM, OUT OF THIS, IF YOU LOOK AT OUR NEXT SLIDE, WHICH KIND OF GIVES YOU AN IMMEDIATE VIEW OF WHAT IS AROUND THIS, UM, YOU CAN SEE THAT WE'RE IMMEDIATELY ABUTTED BY A NEIGHBORHOOD ON THE LEFT.

AND THERE IS AN UNNAMED AREA JUST BELOW THAT THAT IS DEVELOPED AS A BRECK PARK, WHICH IS KIND OF IN THE CORNER OF THE L.

UM, FROM A, I VIEW THIS PROPERTY RIGHT NOW IS OWNED BY ONE OWNER.

IT'S CURRENTLY IMPROVED WITH HOUSING AND STABLES, AND IT MEETS OUR SIZE REQUIREMENT BASED ON WHAT WE'VE SEEN BEFORE.

MOVING ON TO SITE D SITE D IS ONE THAT WE DISCUSSED BEFORE, AND IT TOO IS OWNED BY TWO DIFFERENT LANDOWNERS.

IT HAS EXCELLENT ACCESS.

HOWEVER, BETWEEN THE TWO WE WOULD NEED TO TAKE PART OR THE REAR OF ONE, OUR WORK WITH ACCESS RIGHT NOW WRITES AVENUE DEAD ENDS INTO THIS PROPERTY.

AND AT THE OTHER END IS SEGAN.

EXCUSE ME, IS REGER ROAD, WHICH PARALLELS THE INTERSTATE.

BOTH OF THESE ROADS STOP AT THE PROPERTY LINE AND FOR PROPER ACCESS, WE'D HAVE TO DO SOME ROAD WORK.

ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE DID NOT DISCUSS IN THE PREVIOUS MEETING IS THAT THE BUILDING THAT FRONTS ON RIGHTS AVENUE IS FEDERAL EXPRESS.

UM, I DON'T KNOW HOW THAT WILL EFFECT, BUT IN THIS PARTICULAR PROPERTY,

[03:50:01]

EXCUSE ME, THE, UM, SITE ITSELF IS ALL BASICALLY CLEARED.

AND WHILE IT MAY SHOW THAT IT HAS FLOODPLAIN, MUCH OF THE SITE WAS FILLED WHEN THE INTERSTATE WAS IMPROVED.

UM, ON THE FOLLOWING PAGE, WE HAVE A, UM, LEGEND TO GIVE YOU A BETTER IDEA OF WHAT WE'RE DEALING WITH WITH THE ZONING IMMEDIATELY AROUND IT.

THERE IS ACTUALLY IMMEDIATELY TO THE NORTH.

THERE IS AN APARTMENT DEVELOPMENT AND, UM, A PARK, WHICH IS CURRENTLY UNDEVELOPED AND THERE ARE SINGLE-FAMILY RETAIL TO THE WEST.

HOWEVER, IT HAS NO ACCESS TO THE SITE MOVING OVER TO THE FLOOD PLAIN.

ON THE NEXT PAGE, YOU WILL SEE THAT THERE IS SOME FLOOD PLAIN THAT WORKS THROUGH THIS PROPERTY.

HOWEVER, SOME OF THIS HAS ALREADY BEEN FILLED TO DATE, BUT IT'S STILL NOTED AS BEING IN THE FLOOD PLAIN.

IT WOULD, IT WOULD NEED TO BE STUDIED FURTHER TO DETERMINE, UM, IN LOOKING AT THESE TO BE ABLE TO, IF WE CAN SKIP OVER TO TWO SLIDES OVER TO OPTION ONE, EXCUSE ME, TRYING TO GIVE YOU AN IDEA ON THIS TRACK, WHAT 35 ACRES WOULD LOOK LIKE OR COULD LOOK LIKE.

ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE'VE TALKED ABOUT IN THE PAST IS HAVING VISIBILITY FOR THE SCHOOL SYSTEM.

UM, IT MAY BE THAT IN A FINAL SCHOOL CONFIGURATION, WE DON'T HAVE A PERFECT SQUARE.

IT MAY TURN OUT THAT WE COULD DO SOMETHING THAT HAS SOME FRONTAGE ON THE INTERSTATE AND MORE FRONTAGE ON THE OTHER SIDE, JUST BASED ON COSTS, PROPERTY, THAT FRONTS DIRECTLY ON THE INTERSTATE, GENERALLY AS MUCH HIGHER, TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW THIS COULD BE CONFIGURED.

IT'S GOING TO TAKE FURTHER STUDY WITH A PLAN AND WITH OUR PROGRAM MANAGER, TO GET AN IDEA OF HOW THE COMPONENTS COULD FIT BEFORE WE CAN ACTUALLY NEGOTIATE BETWEEN THE TWO LANDOWNERS, EXACTLY HOW IT'D BE ACCESSED AND HOW THIS WOULD BE SHAPED.

BUT THIS WILL GIVE YOU AN IDEA OF OPTION ONE AND OPTION TWO.

AGAIN, WE'RE DEALING WITH TWO LAND OWNERS.

THIS IS ANOTHER IDEA WHEREBY WE WOULD ONLY PURCHASE THE REAR AREA AND TAKE UP ABOUT 35 ACRES.

WE MAY NOT NEED 35 ACRES IN A PERFECT WORLD.

YOU SAW WHERE SOME OF OUR OTHER SCHOOL SITES WERE PENDING THE LAYOUT.

WE MIGHT BE ABLE TO GET BY WITH 30 ACRES, BUT IT ALL DEPENDS ON OUR ACTUAL FINAL LAYOUT.

NOW, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT YOU WILL NOTICE IN THIS OPTION TWO IS AN EXTENSION OF RIGA ROAD AND EXACTLY WHERE THAT WOULD BE.

I'M NOT QUITE SURE, BUT IN ORDER TO HAVE DUAL INGRESS AND EGRESS, THIS WOULD BE EXCELLENT FOR THE SITE.

UM, IF YOU LOOK AT THIS, THE LAND OWNER HAS SOLD WHEN HE SOLD THE PROPERTY FOR FEDERAL EXPRESS ACTUALLY SOLD PART OF THE LAKE AS PART OF THE RETENTION AREA.

THAT'S SOMETHING THAT'S GOING TO TAKE SOME FURTHER EVALUATION DUE TO THE NATURE OF HOW THE SCHOOL IS GOING TO BE USING THE SITE.

WHAT WE WOULD REALLY LIKE TO SEE ON THE PROPERTY AND UNDERSTANDING THAT A LAKE IS NOT NECESSARILY, UM, SOMETHING THAT'S CONDUCIVE TO A SCHOOL.

UH, IT WOULD BE NICE IF WE COULD HAVE THAT OFF THE SITE.

SO THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE CAN LOOK AT AND WE'VE GOT DIFFERENT OPTIONS THAT WE'VE LAID OUT DOLLARS AND CENTS WISE ARE GOING TO NEED TO BE FURTHER STUDIED BASED ON A LOCATION AND FURTHER ENGINEERING, BUT THERE'S STILL, ONCE A SITE MAY BE SELECTED, THERE STILL HAS TO BE SOME DECISIONS ABOUT HOW THE SITE IS CONFIGURED, HOW IT'S ACCESSED AND HOW IT'S GOING TO BE ENGINEERED TO BE ABLE TO GET TO THE BOTTOM LINE OF THAT SITE SELECTION.

ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT THE SITES ZAPPING ON THE LIST? HI, I REALLY JUST WANTED TO MAKE THE POINT THAT, UM, YOU, YOU WERE COMPARING IT TO SOME OTHER SITES AND THERE WERE ACREAGE, BUT THERE'S REALLY ONLY ONE LAND PURCHASE THAT'S IN THE TAX PLAN FOR, AND IT'S THIS YEAR 2019, 2000.

AND, UM, WHICH WE'VE EXTENDED INTO A LITTLE, A LITTLE BIT OUT.

UM, BUT IT'S, IT'S SUPPOSED TO BE A PIECE OF LAND THAT IS BIG ENOUGH FOR AN ELEMENTARY AND A MIDDLE, UH, BECAUSE IT'S UNLIKELY THAT THERE WILL BE ANY LAND DONATED.

UM, THESE TWO SITES, UH, THE DESIGN FOR THE ELEMENTARY IS SLATED TO BEGIN IN 2020, 2021.

AND THAT WOULD BE, I THINK, UH, IN THE SPRING, EARLY IN THE SPRING.

UM, AND THE CONSTRUCTION WOULD BE IN 2021, 2022.

THEN THE SECONDARY

[03:55:01]

SCHOOL WOULD BEGIN IN 2024, 2025 WITH DESIGN THAT YEAR AND THEN CONSTRUCTION IN 2025, 26.

SO, UM, I JUST WANTED TO MAKE THAT POINT.

SO ABOUT WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT CONFIGURING AND BUYING A SMALLER ACREAGE OF THESE AVAILABLE LOTS, IT'S, IT'S LIKELY, I'M SUGGESTING THAT WE PROBABLY NEED TO JUST GO AHEAD AND PURCHASE AS BIG A PIECE AS WE'LL BE SUITABLE AND AVAILABLE TO US.

SO THAT THAT'S ALL, I DIDN'T REALLY HAVE ANY QUESTIONS AND IT'S BEEN POINTED OUT TO ME THAT WE DON'T HAVE A MOTION ON THE FLOOR YET.

SO MR. TATLIN, WOULD YOU LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION? I WOULD.

UM, THANK YOU, MR. PRESIDENT.

AND THANK YOU, MR. KURTZ FOR THE INFORMATION.

UM, THIS IS, UM, TWO OF THOSE FOUR PIECES OF PROPERTY ARE IN MY DISTRICT.

UM, I DON'T HAVE SCHOOLS IN MY DISTRICT THAT YOU GOTTA, YOU GOTTA GO A LONG WAY BEFORE YOU GET TO A HIGH SCHOOL.

WE'VE, WE'VE MADE SOME ADJUSTMENT THAT, UM, RECENTLY, BUT, UM, SO THERE ARE TWO PROPERTIES THAT I LIKE, BUT I, I, UM, I'M GONNA MAKE A MOTION, UM, AND I'M GONNA READ IT OUT.

UM, AND SO, UM, MADAM SECRETARY, I'M GOING TO READ THIS OUT.

YOU'RE GOING TO GET IT, OR YOU OKAY.

I MOVE THAT.

WE AUTHORIZE A BOARD PRESIDENT IN CONSULTATION WITH OUR LEGAL COUNSEL AND REAL ESTATE CONSULTANT TO NEGOTIATE AND EXECUTE THE PURCHASE OF THE LAND AS OUTLINED IN THE CURRENT TAX PLAN FOR THE LAND PURCHASE FOR THE NEW SCHOOL IN THE SOUTHERN PART OF EAST BATON ROUGE SCHOOL DISTRICT, BY THE WAY, THAT'S QUOTED DIRECTLY OUT OF THE, OUT OF THE PLAN, UM, AS IDENTIFIED BY OUR LOCAL REAL ESTATE CONSULTANT AS ITEM D UM, UH, ON THE PROPERTY, UH, NEAR THE INTERSECTION OF INTERSTATE 10 IN SIEGEN LANE.

I'M SURE YOU GOT ALL OF THAT, RIGHT? SO WE HAVE A MOTION, MS. DYSON, SECOND POINT OF CLARIFICATION.

THE CLARIFICATION IS, DID YOU SAY LAND PURCHASE FOR NEW SCHOOL OR NEW SCHOOLS BECAUSE I'M READING ON THIS PIECE OF PAPER ASSESS SCHOOLS? YEAH.

I TOOK THE, UM, I'M OPEN FOR A FRIENDLY AMENDMENT, BUT I TOOK IT OFF OF THIS DOCUMENT, THE TAX PLAN DOCUMENT, AND I LITERALLY, YEAH.

LAND.

SO I QUOTED LAND PURCHASE FOR NEW SCHOOLS IN SOUTHERN PART OF THE EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH SCHOOL DISTRICT.

AND THAT'S WHY IT WAS SO WORDY, BUT I PULLED UP, I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT IT SAYS SCHOOLS PLURAL, BECAUSE, UM, THAT'S KIND OF IMPORTANT.

THAT'S ALL MR. TATLIN.

I'M SECRETARY.

I HAVEN'T WRITTEN, COULD YOU WALK IT OVER TO, YEAH, IT'S JUST GIVE ME THE PROPERTY AGAIN.

UM, IT, IT, AT THE END OF IT, HE BASICALLY, AND YOU PROBABLY DON'T NEED TO PUT THIS ON HERE BECAUSE IT'S ALREADY REFERRED TO AS D SO YOU COULD PROBABLY TAKE THAT OFF, BUT JUST FOR CLARIFICATION, I SAID AT THE PROPERTY NEAR THE INTERSECTION OF SIEGEN LANE AND THE INTERSTATE, I WAS GOING TO GO PERKINS IN THE INTERSTATE THAT PHARMACY.

NO, IT'S THE SEGUIN.

IT'S THE SEGUIN INTERSTATE PROPERTY.

I THINK THAT'S THE RIGHT.

SO IT'S D OKAY.

I WANT TO MAKE SURE I'M MAKING THE RIGHT MOTION.

THAT THAT'S, SHE HAS A COPY OF THE MANIFEST.

AND I THINK THAT IT, I THINK THAT'S A GOOD PIECE OF PROPERTY FOR US FOR A VARIETY OF REASONS.

I LIKE THE IDEA OF THE INTERSTATE VISIBILITY, EVEN IF WE WEREN'T DIRECTLY ON THE INTERSTATE, YOU STILL GET A GOOD LOOK AT THE SCHOOL FROM THE INTERSTATE.

UM, I THINK THE LAND AROUND IT WILL BE, UM, MORE VALUABLE.

UH, IT IT'S ALREADY CLEARED.

UH, AND I LIKE THE FLOOD PLAIN A LITTLE BIT BETTER.

I WILL ADMIT I WAS GOING BACK AND FORTH ON TWO PROPERTIES.

UM, AND WE JUST NEED RELIEF, UH, FOR, UH, TARA AND AT, UH, WOODLAWN.

AND WHEN YOU PUT UP YOUR FIRST MAP, I THINK IT SHOWED THOSE ATTENDANCE LINES THAT REACH INTO AN AREA WHERE THERE ARE NO SCHOOLS AND WE NEED TO, WHEN DO WE GET SOME SCHOOLS THERE? SO THAT'S, THAT'S MY MOTION.

AND I'LL, I'LL JUST BE QUIET AND LET THE CONVERSATION, MR. TAPPIN AND MR. HOWARD, I JUST, UH, DOING YOUR FIRST PRESENTATION A WHILE AGO, WHEN YOU WENT THROUGH THESE PROPERTIES, YOU INDICATED WHICH PROPERTIES FELL WITHIN THE BOUNDARY LINES OF ST.

IF YOU COULD DO THAT SAME THING FOR US.

WELL, FOR ME, UM, FOR THIS, UH, PROPERTY A ST.

GEORGE, YES OR NO PROPERTY WOULD BE ST.

GEORGE'S TO NO PROPERTY.

SEE ST.

GEORGE'S NO PROPERTY D ST GEORGE'S.

AND THOUGH, RIGHT NOW WE DON'T, WE DON'T HAVE ST.

WE COULD ALWAYS ELECT TO GO EITHER WAY, WHATEVER NEEDED TO HAPPEN WITH THAT SCHOOL, IF IT BECOMES CITY OF BATON ROUGE, AND THIS, I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN IN THE FUTURE, IT COULD BE ANNEXED INTO THE CITY.

AND I DON'T KNOW THAT ST GEORGE'S OUR BIGGEST ISSUE, BUT OUR BIGGEST ISSUE IS, UH, IF WE GO, IF WE LOOK AT THIS, UH, PROPERTY HERE, THE PROPERTY DIRECTLY ACROSS THE INTERSTATE, WHICH IS THE ASHNER DEVELOPMENT, THAT IS PART OF THE CITY OF BATON ROUGE,

[04:00:01]

THE OTHER TRACK THAT WE LOOKED AT THAT WAS ON PERKINS ROAD, IT IS NOT INSIDE THE DESIGNATED CITY OF ST.

GEORGE, RIGHT? RIGHT.

SO NOT, NOT TO CUT YOU OFF, I UNDERSTAND THAT THERE IS NO OFFICIAL ST.

GEORGE, BUT BASED OFF OF THE BOUNDARIES LINES, AS WRITTEN, AS VOTED ON BY THE CONSTITUENTS OF ST.

GEORGE, IF YOU CAN INDICATE FOR THIS BOARD MEMBER, WHICH HE WILL, WHETHER EACH PROPERTY SITE IDENTIFIED FALLS WITHIN THAT BOUNDARY LINE, THAT WOULD BE GREAT.

CAUSE YOU DID IT THE FIRST TIME, BUT IT'S NOT APPEARING ON HERE.

AND FOR ME, I NEED TO UNDERSTAND AND KNOW FOR CLARITY, WHICH ONE OF THESE PROPERTIES AS WRITTEN FALLS WITHIN THE BOUNDARIES OF ST.

GEORGE, ALL RIGHT.

IF WE GO BACK AND WE LOOK AT IT, WE HAVE, UH, WELL, IF WE GO BACKWARDS, WE GO FROM D D IS IN WHAT IS CURRENTLY THE VOTING AREA OF ST.

SHE WAS NOT IN THE VOTING AREA OF ST.

GEORGE, UM, B UM, I'M NOT SURE.

I DON'T THINK IT IS IT'S AT THE END OF STARRING LANE AND A IS NOT, IT IS ON, UH, NICHOLSON DRIVE SLASH LA AUTHORITY.

IS THAT IT? MR. CHAIRMAN? THANK YOU, MR. LANDIS.

I JUST WANTED TO ECHO THE MESSAGE FROM, UH, VICE-PRESIDENT HOWARD, IF WE ARE IN ANY AREAS THAT ARE IN ST.

GEORGE, I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THAT WE HAVE THAT SCHOOL PROPERTY ANNEX TO OUR CITY BEFORE I FEEL COMFORTABLE VOTING ON IT.

I JUST WANTED TO SAY THAT FOR THE RECORD.

ARE THERE ANY OTHER COMMENTS SAYING NO FURTHER COMMENTS FROM THE BOARD? ANY COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC? UM, YEAH, I, I THINK I HAVE THE SAME INQUIRY ABOUT THE, UM, UH, WE, WE KNOW THAT OR SHOULD KNOW THE HISTORY BEHIND ST.

I MEAN, HE, THE REASON BEHIND THIS WAS EDUCATION.

UH, SO IF THE SITE IS SITE D OR ANY SITE CHOSEN WITHIN THOSE, UH, LINES ARE, UM, OR SITES CHOSEN, AREN'T WITHIN THE ST.

GEORGE LINES.

I MEAN, WE, WE KNOW WHAT COMES NEXT, SO, UM, LET'S JUST BE HONEST.

LET'S JUST BE HONEST TO THE PUBLIC AND EVERYONE LET'S JUST BE REAL 100%.

AND, UM, YEAH, I THINK THAT THAT IS DEFINITELY A CONCERN, UH, OF THE PUBLIC, IF THAT IS THE CASE.

I JUST WANTED TO SAY THAT.

THANK YOU, MR. KURT, YOU CAN SIT IF YOU'D LIKE, YOU CAN SIT.

IF YOU'D LIKE, YOU DON'T NEED TO STAND UP DURING THE PUBLIC COMMENTS.

HEY, I'VE BEEN SITTING FOR A WHILE.

IT'S NOT ABOUT THING OF IF, BUT WHEN, YOU KNOW, WE NEED TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE SOME SENSE OF CONTINUITY AND THINKING PROACTIVELY IN THIS SITUATION.

I WOULD LIKE TO SUGGEST THAT YOU CONSIDER AUTHORIZING THE, A BOARD PRESIDENT GENERAL COUNSEL AND REAL ESTATE ADVISOR TO NEGOTIATE WITH OWNERS FOR BOTH, BOTH PARTS OF C AND WHATEVER PARTS OF D, BECAUSE IF YOU LOCK INTO D SUDDENLY THAT LAND GETS A LOT MORE EXPENSIVE.

AND I HAPPEN TO LIKE, SEE A LOT BETTER.

YOU'RE NOT GOING TO BUY BOTH.

THEY'RE TOO CLOSE TO EACH OTHER.

THAT WOULD BE MY SUGGESTION TO GIVE THEM THE OPTION NEGOTIATING WITH THE FOLKS FOR C ALSO COME BACK AND THINK ABOUT A OR B LATER, BUT I WOULD SUGGEST FOR TODAY, WIDENING YOUR HORIZONS.

SO YOU CONSIDER C ALSO.

I LIKE THE FACT THAT IT'S SURROUNDED BY NEIGHBORHOODS, NOT ALL THAT COMMERCIAL AND INDUSTRIAL TRAFFIC.

I JUST DON'T SEE D AS A PLACE I'D WANT TO SEND MY KIDS TO SCHOOL.

C SEEMS NICE AND QUIET.

AND I THINK, YOU KNOW, I LIVE IN THE FLOOD PLAIN AND EVERY NOW AND THEN THE CREEK MOVES INTO MY HOUSE.

SO YOU LIVE IN SOUTH LOUISIANA, YOU DEAL WITH IT.

AND IF YOU KNOW WHAT THE FLOODING POSSIBILITY IS, YOU DESIGN THE BUILDING AROUND IT.

UM, I'M JUST REALLY CONCERNED ABOUT THE MAJORITY OF THE LAND THAT WAS PRESENTED IS IN A FLOOD ZONE AREA.

IT LOOKS LIKE IN THE LOCATION IS JUST UNAVOIDABLE.

THAT'S JUST WHAT IT IS.

BUT, UM, I JUST ENCOURAGE THAT.

IF THERE'S A PLAN FOR Y'ALL TO PARTNER WITH CITY PARISH MERGE RESOURCES, WHERE WE CAN THINK IN A PREVENTATIVE WAY TO JUST ENSURE CONTINUITY FOR OUR CHILDREN TO BE EDUCATED, BECAUSE WHEN DISASTERS COME,

[04:05:01]

UM, AND ALSO I JUST ENCOURAGE THE BOARD TO JUST BE INTENTIONAL ABOUT LOCATING A SPACE.

THAT'S NOT GOING TO BE IN A CONTROVERSIAL AREA LIKE ST.

GEORGE, IF IT IS AGAIN, I APPLAUD YOU FOR BRINGING THAT UP TO YOUR MARYLAND DANGEROUS, YOU KNOW, UM, ANNEX INTO THE, UH, INSTEAD OF PAYERS INTO THE CITY.

SO THANK YOU.

MA'AM I LIKE TO THANK MR. LANTIS AND VICE PRESIDENT HOWARD FOR YOUR QUESTIONS AND YOUR, UM, YOUR STATEMENT.

IT WAS RIGHT ON TIME AND IT WAS VERY BEFITTING.

SECONDLY, A LOT OF THAT PROPERTY IS, UM, PAWN HAS PONDS AND LAKES AND WATERFRONT CHILDREN WITH DISABILITIES, WHICH I'M SURE WILL BE ATTENDING AND ATTENDING THE SCHOOL.

WHETHER IT'S AN ELEMENTARY, MIDDLE OR HIGH SCHOOL ARE ATTRACTED TO WATER.

GUESS Y'ALL DIDN'T KNOW THAT THAT'S HOW A LOT OF CHILDREN WITH AUTISM DIE, THEY DROP.

SO I THINK THAT ANY PROPERTY THAT IS LOCATED CLOSE TO A PARK SHOULD NOT BE A CONSIDERATION BECAUSE A PARK IS A PUBLIC ENTITY.

WE DO HAVE SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS THAT SIT ON BRICK PARKS BOARD.

SO THEY KNOW THAT THAT IS A PUBLIC ENTITY.

WE CANNOT CONTROL IT, AND THAT WOULD ALLOW PUBLIC ACCESS TO A BUILDING SO THAT WE CAN HAVE AN ACTIVE SHOOTER SITUATION.

WE DON'T WANT THAT.

I THINK ABOUT ALL THE SAFETY PROBLEMS THAT WE COULD POSSIBLY HAVE.

AND WE WOULD KNOW THAT IF WE HAVE AN AMERICAN DISABILITIES ACT PLAN, WHICH I'M SURE WE DO HAVE, BUT WE JUST NEED TO REVIEW IT TO MAKE SURE THAT WHEN WE GETTING READY TO PURCHASE A PLAN, PURCHASE A PIECE OF PROPERTY, THAT WE MAKE SURE THAT IT'S, THAT WE WILL BE ABLE TO DO ALL EVACUATION POLICY PLANS, AS WELL AS THAT, WE CAN MAKE SURE THAT WE BUILD SOMETHING THAT IS GOING TO BE IN LINE WITH THE AMERICAN DISABILITIES ACT.

UM, LAST BUT NOT LEAST, MR. TADEMAN STATED AT IT WAS A HIGH SCHOOL, MS. BERNARD STATED ELEMENTARY AND MIDDLE.

AND I KNOW THAT THE AGENDA IS REFLECTIVE OF WHAT MS. BERNARD STATES.

SO I AGREE, LOU APPRECIATE IF THE BOARD COULD MAKE SOME CLARIFICATION FOR THAT ON THAT ISSUE FOR THE PUBLIC, BECAUSE WE CANNOT MISLEAD THE PUBLIC BEFORE WE MAKE ANY TYPE OF DECISION AND ARE STRONGLY ENCOURAGE US TO GO WITH WHAT MR. LANDIS STATED, WHICH IS WE DO NOT APPROVE ANYTHING UNTIL WE ACTUALLY KNOW IF WE WILL BE ABLE TO BUILD A BUILDING THAT IS CONDUCIVE FOR ALL OF OUR STUDENTS, CHILDREN WITH DISABILITIES BEING AT THE FOREFRONT.

MA'AM ANY OTHER PUBLIC COMMENTS, PUBLIC COMMENTS? UH, I, I WOULD SAY THAT, UH, MR. FINNEY FINI HAS A VERY GOOD SUGGESTION.

YES, BUT WE WILL.

WE WILL NIGGA.

NOW THIS IS ONLY GIVING THE AUTHORIZATION TO NEGOTIATE.

IT IS NOT GIVING THE AUTHORIZATION AND WE CAN, YOU KNOW, TO SIGN ARE DOING, WE CAN ALWAYS WALK, UNDERSTAND WE CAN ALWAYS WALK AND THEY, WE WILL MAKE IT CERTAIN THAT WE CAN ALWAYS WALK.

I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE THAT CLEAR SO THAT EVERYONE KNOWS THIS IS NOT SELECTED.

IT IS AUTHORIZATION.

SEE THAT THAT IS CORRECT.

AND I DO NOT BELIEVE THE MOTION STATES ANY SORT OF SCHOOL.

IT JUST SAYS THE LAND.

IS THAT CORRECT? YEP.

YEP.

AND GIVE US MORE OPTIONS AS A, AS A BOARD AND I'M NEGOTIATING AS WELL.

ANY, UH, LET'S SEE HERE.

I'VE LOST TRACK OF WHO'S UP HERE.

UM, MR. LANICE, I THINK YOU WERE NEXT CAUSE MR. HOWARD HAS SPOKEN MS. COLLINS.

UM, NOT JUST BECAUSE DR.

FEENEY IS ALSO ONE OF MY CONSTITUENTS, UH, BUT IT DOES SOUND AND I ABSOLUTELY AM MOLTEN TO BE VERY RESPECTFUL THAT THIS IS, UH, UH, MR. THOMAS DISTRICT, BUT I WOULD LIKE TO OFFER, UH, HOPEFULLY A, A FRIENDLY THAT WE CONSIDER THE C AND D SITES.

THE REASON WHY, UM, I THINK THE MOTION WOULD HAVE MORE SUPPORT AND BE LESS DIVISIVE, UM, UH,

[04:10:01]

UM, I, I DO PERSONALLY FEEL A LITTLE ANGST.

I DO APPRECIATE THAT THE, UH, PROPERTY IS ADJACENT.

AND SO, UM, TO ST.

GEORGE PROPO, THE, TO THOSE PROPOSED CITY OF ST.

GEORGE, WHICH COULD GIVE US SOME OPTIONS, UH, TO, UH, MET A LOSS FOR WORDS IT'S BEEN SAID EARLIER, BUT, UH, TO THANK YOU, MA'AM I WAS ABOUT TO SAY A MAN AND I KNEW THAT WENT RIGHT TO ANNEX.

UM, AND I MEAN, I WOULD IMAGINE IT'S IN THE BEST INTEREST OF THE DISTRICT THAT WE WOULD DO.

SO, UM, BUT I'M STRUGGLING WITH ONLY MOVER FORWARD WITH SITE D UM, YOU KNOW, FOR A COUPLE OF REASONS WHICH HAVE ALREADY BEEN STATED.

UM, I THINK LOOKING AT BOTH SITES C AND D WOULD HELP ALLEVIATE A LITTLE BIT OF HEARTBURN AND GET MORE SUPPORT FROM MORE BOARD MEMBERS, UM, OR IS THAT, THAT WOULD BE MY HOPE.

UM, SO ARE YOU PROPOSING A FRIENDLY AMENDMENT TO ADD SITE D SITE C? YES, BECAUSE IT'S GOING TO GET NASTY, YOU KNOW, I MEAN, I'M JUST, DON'T GET NASTY IF WE JUST, RIGHT.

MA MAY I MAKE A COMMENT? UM, ONE OF THE THINGS I'VE DONE IN MY PROFESSIONAL CAREERS NEGOTIATE A LOT OF CONTRACTS.

AND JUST HAVING, I CAN TELL YOU THAT IF YOU GO IN WITH D AND THEY KNOW YOU YOU'RE COMING IN WITH D YOU HAVE A LOT OF LEVERAGE, BECAUSE THEY KNOW IF YOU WALK, YOU'VE WALKED AND PLAYING BETWEEN TWO SIDES WITH ALL OF THE ENGINEERING WORK AND ALL OF THE THINGS THAT NEED TO GO INTO DOING THESE THINGS THAT MAKES OUR COSTS DOUBLE TO BE ABLE TO DO IT BECAUSE IT'S GOING TO COST US SOMETHING TO NEGOTIATE THIS.

AND I DON'T, I DON'T FEEL THAT I WOULD HAVE MY HANDS TIED.

I WON'T BE PRESIDENT THEN, BUT I DON'T FEEL WE WOULD HAVE OUR HANDS TIED BEHIND OUR BACK IF WE ONLY HAVE ONE SITE, BECAUSE YOU CAN NEGOTIATE VERY HARD WHEN THEY KNOW, IF YOU WALK, YOU'VE GONE AND YOU'RE NOT COMING BACK.

SO I HAVING TWO SITES, YOU KNOW, IT'S NOT LIKE BUYING A HOUSE.

THIS IS NOT, YOU'RE NOT DEALING OF THIS HOUSE OR THIS HOUSE.

IT'S A LOT OF TIME AND EFFORT THAT GOES INTO EVALUATING A SITE AND COMING UP WITH A PRICE ON IT.

AND I DON'T, I DON'T FEEL WE WOULD BE AT A NEGOTIATION DISADVANTAGE IF WE GO IN ONLY FOCUSING ON ONE SITE RIGHT NOW THAT WE CAN, YOU KNOW, THIS IS ONLY AN AUTHORIZATION.

THIS IS NOT A, NOT A THING SAYING WE'RE GOING TO BUY.

AND THERE ARE STATE REQUIREMENTS ABOUT WHAT WE CAN PAY FOR LAND.

UH, I DON'T KNOW MR. KURTZ, HOW THAT WORKS, BUT THERE ARE STATE REQUIREMENTS THAT WE CAN'T OVERPAY FOR LAND OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT.

SO ONLY PAY WHAT THE APPRAISED VALUE WE'RE NOT, UH, WE CAN'T GO INTO MODE.

SO I THINK THERE'S A LOT OF PROTECTIONS AROUND THAT.

AND, YOU KNOW, THEY WANT HIGHER THAN THE APPRAISED VALUE.

IT'S A NO GO.

AND WE GO TO THE OTHER SITE, BUT I, I JUST COSTING THAT GOING TO TWO SITES RIGHT NOW, IT'S KIND OF LIKE HAVING BELTS AND SUSPENDERS AND IT CAN END UP DELAYING AND COSTING, COSTING US MONEY.

THAT'S JUST MY OPINION.

WE CAN DO WHATEVER MY OFFER FOR A FRIENDLY IS TO ADDRESS A COUPLE OF CONCERNS, NOT JUST THAT PARTICULAR ONE.

UM, I MEAN, YOU KNOW, I, YOU TRY, I TRY, I'M TRYING NOT TO, BUT WITH, WITH IT BEING ADJACENT AND POTENTIAL FOR ANNEXATION IS NOT THE SAME THING AS SAYING IT'S GOING TO BE ANNEXED.

UM, AND THEN THAT'S THAT WHOLE, UH, AND, AND WHILE MY FRIENDLY DOESN'T ELIMINATE THAT IT AT LEAST GETS US PAST THIS POINT WITHOUT, UM, A BLOWING UP IN THIS MOMENT.

I MEAN, YOU KNOW, SO NOT RIGHT NOW, BUT LET'S TALK A LITTLE MORE, CAUSE I HAVE SOME QUESTIONS IF THAT'S OKAY.

UM, I MEAN, YOU CAN MAKE IT, YOU CAN MAKE IT A SUBSTITUTE IF YOU PREFER, BUT I, YOU KNOW, I, I JUST WANT TO, I HAVE SOME MORE QUESTIONS.

I MEAN, WELL, SO I'LL OFFER A SUBSTITUTE THAT THE, UH, THE PROPERTY TO BE NEGOTIATED OR BOTH, UH, THE PROPERTIES TO BE NEGOTIATED OR BOTH C AND D I W I WOULD SUGGEST, UM, USING THE LANGUAGE MR. TAPPIN RECOMMENDED A USE FOR HIS MOTION FOR THE SUBSTITUTE, BUT, BUT, BUT SUBSTITUTING PROPERTY, C AND D AT THE END OF THAT LANGUAGE.

REQUESTS,

[04:15:01]

JUST SIMPLY PUTTING C AND D AT THE END OF WHAT HE PREVIOUSLY, UH, THE PREVIOUS MOTION.

YES, THAT'S FINE.

CAN I GET A SECOND? OKAY.

SO, UH, MR. CHAPMAN AND MS. DYSON, DID YOU ACCEPT THE, THAT IT'S NOT FRIENDLY AS A SUBSTITUTE SUBSTITUTE MOTION? I'M SORRY.

YEAH, I MEAN, IT WAS FRIENDLY, BUT SO COLLINS AND HOWARD, SO THE SUBSTITUTE MOTION IS ON THE FLOOR.

ANY OTHER COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS FROM THE BOARD? I DON'T HAVE MY LIST ANYMORE.

I NEED SOMEONE TO HELP ME.

UM, COMPUTER DIED, MR. TATLIN.

YEP.

UM, MR. PRESIDENT, AND, AND, UH, DAWN.

I, UH, I WILL TELL YOU THAT PERSONALLY, I STRUGGLED WITH THOSE TWO PROPERTIES.

UM, THE OTHER ONE IS CLOSER TO MY HOUSE.

NOT THAT THAT MEANS ANYTHING, BUT, UM, I THINK THEY EACH HAVE SORT OF PROS AND CONS AND, AND MY, SO I DRIVE PAST THAT.

I MEAN, IT'S WHERE I LIVE.

I DRIVE PAST THERE EVERY DAY AND I USED TO PLAY GOLF POORLY ON THAT LITTLE DRIVING RANGE.

THAT'S PART OF THE, THE, UM, C PROPERTY.

YOU KNOW, HOW WE'RE GOING TO LAY THAT SCHOOL.

UM, AND I'VE BEEN THERE WHEN IT WAS FLOODED, YOU KNOW, LIKE WHERE I WAS DRIVING BALLS INTO THE WATER ON PURPOSE, USUALLY IT'S BY ACCIDENT.

BUT ANYWAY, UM, AND THAT, THAT WAS ONE OF THE ISSUES.

NOW I KNOW MR. KURTZ HAD SAID THAT, UM, THAT THEY WERE GOING TO DREDGE WARD'S CREEK, BUT OF COURSE, IF IT'S BACK WATER, I'M NOT REALLY SURE.

AND SO IT, THAT DRAWS SOME CONCERNS BECAUSE EVEN IF THEY HAVE, IF THEY DREDGE IT, YOU COULD HAVE MORE BACKWATER DEPENDING ON WHERE THE BACKUP IS.

I, I DON'T KNOW WHERE THAT IS.

AND JUST FOR THE RECORD I USED TO IN MY OLD HOUSE USED TO LIVE ON WARDS CREEK AND IT COMES UP FAST AND IT COMES UP BIG, NEVER FLOODED OUT, BECAME REALLY CLOSE A FEW TIMES.

AND SO I WORRY ABOUT, UM, I WORRY ABOUT THAT.

AND I'M JUST, I'M KIND OF GOING THROUGH THE MENTAL GYMNASTICS TO SHARE WITH YOU ALL MY THOUGHTS, BECAUSE I I'VE, I'VE TOILED OVER THIS A LOT.

UM, THE TRAFFIC'S BAD ON SEGUN AND THE INTERSTATE WHERE, UM, D IS, BUT IT'S ALSO BAD WHERE C IS.

UM, IF YOU WANT TO ACCESS THAT PROPERTY FROM THE SEGUIN SIDE, YOU ACTUALLY HAVE TO TAKE A LEFT TURN IF YOU'RE GOING NORTH AND THEN GO UNDER THE, UM, UH, OVERPASS.

I MADE IT, I INTENTIONALLY DROVE PAST IT A FEW TIMES TO SEE IF THERE WAS ANY WAY THAT ON THAT PIECE OF PROPERTY THAT THEY COULD PUT IN A TERM AFTER THE APARTMENT COMPLEX, BUT BEFORE THE BRIDGE GOES UP AND THERE'S A VERY SMALL, I DON'T KNOW IF THEY COULD DO IT.

I'M NOT AN ENGINEER, BUT IT'S A REALLY SMALL WINDOW.

IT REALLY BACKS UP WHEN YOU TAKE THAT LEFT TURN, UH, SAY COMING FROM THE OTHER WAY ONTO THAT LITTLE SERVICE ROAD THAT GOES ACROSS, IF YOU'RE COMING UP PERKINS ROAD, WHICH THAT'S THE ROUTE FROM MY OFFICE AND YOU'RE GOING WHERE IT'S TWO LANES TO THE ONE LANE WHERE YOU CROSS SEGUN, AND NOW YOU'RE ON PERKINS ROAD BETWEEN, UH, SEGUN AND PICU.

IT, IT BACKS UP A LITTLE THERE, BUT WHERE IT REALLY BACKS UP IS ON ALL OF THE FEEDERS ON SEGUIN, COME IN ONE WAY ON PERKINS COMING.

THE OTHER WAY, IF YOU GET CAUGHT IN A LIGHT, YOUR EIGHT OR 10 LIGHT CYCLES, IF YOU'RE COMING STRAIGHT UP PERKINS AT THE WRONG TIME OF DAY, AND THOSE WERE SOME OF THE THINGS THAT CONCERNED ME ABOUT THAT PROPERTY, THE FLOOD MITIGATION ISSUES, OF COURSE, I WANT TO BE CLEAR HERE AND THAT I THINK ALL OF THEM HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF FLOOD MITIGATION ISSUES, BUT AS I DROVE PAST THE PROPERTY ON THE, UH, MALL, I MEAN, YOU KNOW, RIGHT ACROSS FROM THE MALL TO THE INTERSTATE PROPERTY, I'LL REFER TO IT.

UM, IT LOOKS HIGH FROM THE INTERSTATE.

IT LOOKS LIKE IT WAS BUILT UP QUITE A BIT AGAIN, I DON'T KNOW.

AND I KNOW YOU PROBABLY, WE COULD PROBABLY REQUEST, YOU KNOW, FLOOD MITIGATION, UM, ISSUES.

UM, AND I GUESS THE, THE, UH, SO, SO I, I W I WOULD TELL YOU THAT I, UM, I, I TOILED WITH IT, YOU KNOW, UH, BOTH WAYS.

UM, AND SO, UH, UH, BUT I, I DO THINK, UH, MY, MY IDEA WAS TO BE INTENTIONAL ABOUT IT, TO PICK IT, TO AUTHORIZE OUR CONSULTANTS AND CSRS, TO GIVE US SOME MORE FEEDBACK ON,

[04:20:01]

I LIKE MR. KURTZ SUGGESTED TO US AND COME BACK, UM, WITH A SOLID PLAN.

I'VE ALREADY TALKED ABOUT THE ISSUES THAT WE HAD.

I MENTIONED HIGH SCHOOLS, BECAUSE IF YOU LOOK AT THE TAX PLAN, UM, THAT WE HAVE ONE ITEM FOR PURCHASE OF PROPERTIES AND, UH, SOUTH BATON ROUGE, THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL IS SLATED TO BE SO TO BEGIN, UM, UH, DESIGN IN MARCH.

UM, AND THEN I THINK IT'S MAYBE TWO YEARS AFTER THAT THE SCHOOL, THE HIGH SCHOOL, UH, COMES ABOUT, UM, IF YOU ASK ME, I WISH WE WOULD HAVE PUT THE HIGH SCHOOL FIRST, BECAUSE THAT'S WHERE THE BIG DEMAND WAS.

AND I WOULDN'T EVEN BE OPPOSED TO IF MY COLLEAGUES AGREED GOING TO THEM AND ASKING THEM TO FLIP FLOP AND WHERE WE COULD BUILD THE HIGH SCHOOL FIRST, YOU ALL KNOW KIDS IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD.

THEY, THEY, THEY GO TO TARA, IT'S ALL HOME WAY AWAY.

WOODLAWN IS A LOT CLOSER.

UM, BUT THE REALITY OF IT IS WOODLAWN IS OVERCROWDED, UH, HAS GOT, I THINK THE BIGGEST ATTENDANCE ZONE IN THE WHOLE PARISH.

AND, AND, AND WE NEED, WE NEED RELIEF, YOU KNOW, AND THEN I'M JUST GOING TO SAY ONE MORE THING.

AND I I'M, I'M, I, I APPRECIATE EVERYBODY'S COMMENTS AND THE WAY THIS IS, YOU KNOW, HANDLED, UM, IF YOU RIDE, YOU WANT TO COME, YOU WANT TO COME TAKE A RIDE OUT IN ARIA TOWN WHERE I LIVE.

CAUSE I DO LIVE INSIDE THE PROPOSED CITY OF ST.

GEORGE BOUNDARIES.

AND, UH, THEY ARE BUILDING HOUSES ON, I MEAN, IN NEIGHBORHOODS ARE POPPING UP LIKE UNBELIEVABLE.

IT'S LIKE A, IT'S LIKE A SCIENCE FICTION MOVIE.

THEY'RE JUST POPPING UP EVERYWHERE.

I RIDE DOWN ONE DAY AND I LOOK, AND I'M LIKE, I DIDN'T KNOW THERE WAS A NEIGHBORHOOD THERE AND ALL OF A SUDDEN THERE'S 40 HOUSES THERE.

SO THERE'S A LOT OF POTENTIAL STUDENTS THERE FOR US.

THERE'S A LOT OF POTENTIAL FAMILIES.

AND SO WHATEVER PROPERTY IT IS, WE NEED TO DO SOMETHING AND WE NEED TO MOVE FORWARD.

AND I JUST WANTED TO MAKE THAT POINT THAT I'M NOT NECESSARILY AGAINST, UH, SEE IF THAT'S WHERE IT FELL AND WHO KNOWS.

WE MIGHT NOT BE ABLE TO NEGOTIATE ON D AND WE MIGHT HAVE TO COME BACK TO THE BOARD AND GO FOR C.

UM, BUT I DID WANT TO ASK MR. KURTZ ABOUT THAT.

I'M NOT ASKING YOU TO TAKE A POLITICAL POSITION, BUT I'M ASKING YOU, YOUR THOUGHTS DOES, DOES, UM, DOES THE, DOES ADDING NEGOTIATIONS WITH BOTH, UH, PIECES OF PROPERTY BENEFIT US? AND I KNOW WHAT MIKE SAID, AND I, YOU KNOW, RESPECT MY PRESIDENT, BUT GIVE ME YOUR THOUGHTS ON, ON IF IT GIVES US A COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGE TO, TO NEGOTIATE, UM, OR, OR GO WITH IT, I GUESS, IN ANSWER TO YOUR QUESTION, I THINK IT GIVES YOU A COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGE TO GET DOWN TO SOME BASIC TERMS. ANY DEAL THAT WE DO IS GOING TO HAVE TO HAVE A CONTINGENCY PERIOD TO DO SOME INSPECTION, BUT FIRST WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO GET DOWN TO SOME, SOME BARE PRICE NUMBERS AND SOME THINGS THAT ARE ACCESS OTHER THINGS THAT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO DO AND RUN THROUGH JUST A LITTLE BIT OF STUDY TO MAKE SURE ONE OTHER POINT ABOUT THE, UH, PERKINS ROAD LOCATION IS THAT IT DOES HAVE ACCESS FROM THE ADJACENT NEIGHBORHOOD.

IF WE SEGREGATED SCHOOL BUSES FROM OTHER TRAFFIC, WE COULD POTENTIALLY LOOK AT IT IN THAT WAY.

THERE ARE A LOT OF WAYS TO LOOK AT THINGS.

UH, THEY ALREADY HAVE SCHOOL BUSES THAT SERVICE THAT AREA.

SO, UM, THERE'S, UH, THERE ARE A LOT OF WAYS THAT WE HAVE TO LOOK AT, BUT WE HAVE TO HAVE A LOT OF THOUGHTS FROM A LOT OF DIFFERENT PROFESSIONS TO BE ABLE TO ADDRESS FIL TRAFFIC, UH, LAYOUT, MITIGATION, UTILITIES, ALL THOSE THINGS THAT ARE GOING TO GET DOWN TO THE FINAL DESIGN WHILE IT MAY LOOK LIKE IT'S THERE.

IT DOESN'T NECESSARILY MEAN IT'S THERE OR IN THE RIGHT CAPACITY.

THANK YOU, PRESIDENT.

WHO'S NEXT ON THE LIST, MS. BERNARD, YOU WAVE WHO'S NEXT, GO AHEAD.

I JUST WANTED TO ASK IF, UM, MR. TAPPIN, IF EXECUTE WAS PART OF HIS MOTION AND NEGOTIATED AND EXECUTED THE CONTRACTOR, I HAVE EXECUTED THE MOTION.

YOU DO HAVE EXECUTED THE MOTION.

THANKS.

THAT'S ALL I WANTED TO KNOW, DONNA.

BUT IT'S MORE THAN JUST THE PURCHASE PRICE OF THE PROPERTY.

AND JUST FOR CLARIFICATION, THE REASON I PUT IT IN THERE IS WHEN YOU'RE NEGOTIATING REAL ESTATE DEALS, YOU WANT TO, YOU'VE GOT TO CREATE SOME FLEXIBILITY FOR YOU GUYS TO GO OUT AND GET THE BEST PRICE.

AND, AND I'M SORRY.

I KNOW I LOST THE FLOOR, BUT I WOULD LIKE, YOU KNOW, TO, TO, I GUESS, TO MAKE THE POINT THAT, UM, THERE ARE EVEN OTHER ISSUES, RIGHT? IF THERE IS MITIGATION, WHAT IS THE PRICE OF THAT GOING TO BE? SO FOR EXAMPLE, IT'S NOT LIKE WE'RE GOING OUT AND SPENDING $10 MILLION ON A PIECE OF PROPERTY.

UH, WE'RE GOING TO SPEND AS LITTLE AS WE CAN.

HOPEFULLY WE CAN GET A GOOD DEAL.

HOPEFULLY NOT LEAD A NEED, A LOT OF MITIGATION AND HOPEFULLY HAVE MONEY LEFTOVER IN THE TAX PLAN TO DO OTHER THINGS.

UM, WE'VE ALWAYS COME IN, YOU KNOW, UNDER BUDGET AND AHEAD OF SCHEDULE, AS THEY ALWAYS SAY, I I'D LIKE TO SEE US COME IN THAT WAY AGAIN,

[04:25:01]

IT'S ALL THE THINGS THAT GO AROUND IT LIKE MR. KURTZ WAS SAYING.

SO THAT'S WHY I PUT EXECUTE.

ANY OTHER COMMENTS? UH, I THINK WE NEED TO GO TO THE AUDIENCE ON THE SUBSTITUTE MOTION.

JACKSON, I'M SORRY, MISS WHERE JACKSON, MADAM SECRETARY, CAN YOU WAVE TO ME? OKAY.

SHOULD BE MADE ACCESSIBLE TO THE PUBLIC.

YEAH, IT WAS FINE.

UM, I MAY HAVE MISSED SOMETHING, YOU KNOW, BUT I WAS JUST WONDERING, UM, ABOUT PROPERTY B YOU KNOW, LOOKING AT THE SIZES.

AND, UM, SO, UH, SO I MAY HAVE MISSED SOMETHING AS TO BUY, YOU KNOW, THESE TWO PROPERTIES WOULD BE BETTER THAN A, THAN B, JUST, JUST FOR MY OWN UNDERSTANDING.

WHAT WAS IT ABOUT B THAT'S NOT AS ATTRACTIVE WAS LOOKING AT THE, THE ACREAGE IS, UM, PRETTY LARGE.

COULD YOU, COULD YOU JUST KIND OF GO BACK AND TELL ME ABOUT THAT? I CAN KIND OF GIVE YOU AN ADDRESS ON BOTH OF THOSE.

UM, IF YOU TAKE A LOOK AT BOTH A AND B, THEY ARE FURTHER AWAY FROM SOME OF THOSE SCHOOLS SYSTEMS OR SCHOOL DISTRICTS THAT ARE ALREADY UNDER SEVERE PRESSURE.

AND ONE OF OUR EARLIER PRESENTATIONS WE TALKED ABOUT, AND OF COURSE NOW, YOU KNOW, THERE'S A LOT OF HOUSES SPRINGING UP EVERYWHERE, BUT PREVIOUSLY WE MADE A PRESENTATION THAT THERE'S ABOUT 3,500 ACRES LEFT TO DEVELOP IN, UH, SOUTH BATON ROUGE ON THIS SIDE OF THE INTERSTATE.

AND OF THAT, WE HAD SAID, YOU KNOW, THAT MAY BE ANOTHER SIDE.

IF WE GO TOO FAR, WE MAY NEED ANOTHER SCHOOL AT SOMETIME IN THE FUTURE.

AND THAT WAS DISCUSSION THAT CAME ABOUT FROM THE BOARD.

SO, UM, THE PREFERENCE FROM PREVIOUS BOARD DISCUSSIONS WERE, UM, C AND D.

WE INCLUDED THESE TO MAKE SURE EVERYBODY UNDERSTANDS WHAT WE HAVE TO CHOOSE FROM.

AND THE LONGER WE WAIT ON MAKING A DECISION, OUR PROBLEM IS AS EVERYTHING CONTINUES TO GROW AND GET BUILT, WE GET LESS AND LESS CHOICE.

AND THE LESS CHOICE WE HAVE, THE MORE, UM, EFFECTED THAT PROPERTY IS.

SO WE HAVE TO LOOK AT IT AND THINK WE'RE LOOKING FOR A LARGE CHUNK OF LAND AND FINDING ONE IS DIFFICULT AT BEST.

OH, OKAY.

NO WAS JUST, I WAS JUST LOOKING AT THAT BECAUSE IT WAS THE FARTHEST SOUTH AND, UM, HAD LOTS OF SPACE BETWEEN ALL OF THEM.

ARE THERE ANY OTHER COMMENTS IN THE QUEUE, MADAM SECRETARY NOW WE'RE NOW GO TO THE PUBLIC, IF THERE'S ANY, UH, PUBLIC COMMENT ON THE SUBSTITUTE MOTION.

HI, UH, I LISTENED TO COMMENTS A FEW MINUTES AGO WHERE WE TALKED ABOUT, UM, TRAFFIC.

SO THERE'S NO MATTER WHICH WAY WE LOOK AT IT.

THERE'S ALWAYS TRAFFIC ON SEGUN, PERKINS AND STAR LANE.

SO ANY OPTION YOU CHOOSE ON EITHER ONE, YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE A TRAFFIC PROBLEM BECAUSE, UH, BATON ROUGE HAS A HUGE TRAFFIC PROBLEM.

SO THAT SHOULD NOT BE A TOPIC.

UM, WHAT SHOULD BE A TOPIC IS HOW MUCH WOULD FLOOD INSURANCE COSTS? BECAUSE A MAJORITY OF THESE PLANS, IF YOU LOOK AT THEM AT NUMBER FOUR ON SOME OF THEM, IT ACTUALLY TALKED ABOUT, UM, THEY WERE ACTUALLY PART OF THE 100 YEAR PLANT AND A 100 YEAR FLOOD PLAN.

AND WITH THE 100 YEAR FLOOD PLAN, FEMA REQUIRED ALL THOSE PROPERTIES TO HAVE TO PURCHASE FLOOD INSURANCE.

SO I THINK THAT OUR SCHOOL SYSTEM SHOULD ACTUALLY CONSIDER HOW MUCH THE FLOOD INSURANCE WOULD COST FOR THAT, UH, FOR THAT PARTICULAR PROPERTY.

BEFORE YOU DO ANY TYPE OF NEGOTIATING ON PURCHASING, UM, SECONDLY, YOU NEED TO CONSIDER HOW YOU WOULD ACTUALLY BE ABLE TO KEEP THE CHILDREN SAFE, BECAUSE AS I LISTENED TO MR. TAPPIN, TALK ABOUT THE TRAFFIC AND WHAT HE SAW WHEN HE DROVE AROUND POST THE FLOOD AND HOW CLOSE IT IS IN PROXIMITY TO HIS OFFICE, YOU NEED TO CONSIDER HOW YOU'RE GOING TO KEEP THE CHILDREN SAFE SAFETY FOR THE CHILDREN, EVACUATING THE CHILDREN IN THE EVENT THAT WE DO HAVE A NATURAL DISASTER SUCH AS ANOTHER 100 YEAR FLOOD, NATURAL DISASTERS, SUCH AS HURRICANES, BECAUSE WE DID JUST HAVE A REAL, EXTREMELY ACTIVE HURRICANE SEASON, UM, EVACUATION FOR IF WE HAVE AN ACTIVE SHOOTER, IF WE ACTUALLY PURCHASED THE PROPERTY THAT IS IN CLOSE PROXIMITY TO THE BRICK PORT.

SO THOSE THINGS HAVE TO BE TAKEN INTO CONSIDERATION FOR ANY TYPE OF NEGOTIATIONS.

AND THAT INFORMATION

[04:30:01]

BECAUSE AGAIN, THESE ARE OUR CHILDREN, AND IF ANYTHING HAPPENED TO ANY OF OUR CHILDREN WHILE THEY ARE IN THE SCHOOLS, CARE THAT MAKE EACH AND EVERY LAST ONE OF YOU LEGALLY LIABLE, I KNOW THAT THE THREE JDS UP HERE, OR TO THE SOON TO BE THREE JDS CAN ACTUALLY EXPRESS TO YOU ALONG WITH MR. SHAMBLIN ABOUT THE LEGALITIES IN WHICH YOU WOULD ACTUALLY SUFFER.

IF YOU DO NOT MAKE SURE THAT IT IS ABOUT THE CHILDREN, THE CHILDREN IS THE IMPORTANT THING.

NOT ANYTHING ELSE.

UM, LAST BUT NOT LEAST, NOBODY ACTUALLY GAVE A CLARIFICATION ON WHETHER OR NOT IT IS A HIGH SCHOOL, ELEMENTARY SCHOOL OR MIDDLE SCHOOL THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT PUTTING ON THE PREMISES, BECAUSE THE AGENDA SAID ONE THING, BUT AS YOU DISCUSSED, YOU SAID SOMETHING DIFFERENT.

SO I JUST NEED THAT CLARIFICATION FOR THE PUBLIC FOR TRANSPARENCY AND ACCOUNTABILITY.

SAY TO OTHER PUBLIC COMMENTS.

UM, SO FROM MY UNDERSTANDING, THIS LAND WILL BE USED FOR A SCHOOL, CORRECT? OUR SCHOOLS OR A TAX PLAN CALLS FOR ELEMENTARY, MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOL.

UM, MY OTHER QUESTION IS, IS THERE A POSSIBILITY THAT THIS SCHOOL WILL BE AND ST GEORGE'S CITY, IF THAT BECOMES THE CASE, OR WOULD THE SCHOOL BE A PART OF EAST BATON ROUGE SCHOOL DISTRICT? SO THE QUESTION IS, IS THERE A POSSIBILITY THAT THIS SCHOOL WILL BE, IT WENT DOWN TO ANSWER QUESTIONS FROM THE PUBLIC THAT WAS COVERED THREE DIFFERENT TIMES IN THE DISCUSSION.

I'M SORRY, WE DON'T ANSWER QUESTIONS FROM THE PUBLIC AND DURING THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD, THAT QUESTION HAS BEEN ASKED AND ANSWERED.

OH, IT HAS BEEN ANSWERED YES.

MULTIPLE TIMES.

OH, OKAY.

WELL THIS BE BROADCASTED.

WHAT CAN I WATCH IT? SURE.

ANY OTHER PUBLIC COMMENTS SEEING NONE BACK TO THE BOARD, ANY COMMENTS FROM THE BOARD? MADAM SECRETARY? SO THE MOTION WE'RE VOTING ON IS A SUBSTITUTE MOTION.

OH, MS. WARE JACKSON.

WE'RE GOING OLD FASHIONED.

RAISE IT HERE.

I COULDN'T GET THROUGH THIS QUICK ENOUGH.

I'M RIGHT.

THAT, THAT QUESTION ANSWERED JUST, UM, FOR THE CONVENIENCE OF AUDIENCE HERE, WHETHER THAT PROPERTY IS IN, UH, EAST BATON ROUGE.

I MEAN, I'M SORRY.

BATON ROUGE OR THE PROPOSED, UM, CITY, IF YOU WOULD ALLOW ME TO ANSWER, I THINK THE ANSWER IS THE PROPERTY NUMBER C IS, IS, UH, UNINCORPORATED.

SO IT'S NOT IN ST.

GEORGE ARE IN BATON ROUGE AND PROPERTY D IS WITHIN THE CURRENT PROPOSED DISTRICT OF ST.

GEORGE, WHICH IS NOT ENACTED YET, BUT IT IS ADJACENT TO EAST BATON ROUGE, CITY LIMITS.

AND IT COULD BE SUBJECT TO ANNEXATION INTO EAST BATON ROUGE.

IT COULD BE SUBJECT TO ANNEXATION WHO WOULD, WHO WOULD HAVE TO, UM, PROPOSE THAT.

WOULD IT BE THE OWNERS OF THE PROPERTY OR WOULD IT BE THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE NEAR THE PROPERTY? THE, THE, AND MR. KURTZ, CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG, BUT IT WOULD BE THE OWNERS OF THE PROPERTY AND WHETHER IT WAS DONE BEFORE OR AFTER WE PURCHASED COULD BE EASILY SOMETHING THAT'S IN A NEGOTIATION.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

IF WE SO CHOOSE TO HAVE AN ANNEXED, IS THAT A CORRECT? THAT'S CORRECT.

MADAM SECRETARY, PLEASE VOTE.

MA'AM WE ONLY HAVE ONE CH ONE BITE AT THE APPLE.

DO WE HAVE ANY OTHER, I'M NOT TRYING TO BE DISRESPECTFUL, BUT IF WE MAKE EXCEPTIONS FOR YOU, WE ENDED UP MAKING EXCEPTIONS.

SO EVERYONE ELSE I'M SORRY.

NEXT.

IS THERE ANY OTHER DISCUSSIONS MR. FINNEY? WE ALREADY, I'M SORRY, WHAT? OH, WAIT, I'M SORRY.

CLOSE PUBLIC DISCUSSION.

WE'RE GONE.

THAT WAS A QUESTION FROM THE BOARD AFTER THE PUBLIC DISCUSSION WAS CLOSED.

THANK YOU FOR KEEPING ME STRAIGHT.

IF ANYONE THINKS THIS IS VERY EASY TO KEEP ALL OF THIS STRAIGHT.

IT'S NOT A, SO THE PUBLIC DISCUSSION IS CLOSED BECAUSE WE'VE BEEN IN, CAME BACK.

SO I'M SORRY.

I DID NOT.

UH, SHE ASKED A QUESTION.

IT WAS RESPONDED TO, SO, UH, ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FROM THE BOARD SEEING NONE? SO WE'RE VOTING ON THE SUBSTITUTE MOTION TO CONSIDER C AND D CORRECT.

[04:35:01]

WHAT? UH, COLLINS AND HOWARD COLLINS, THE MOTION THAT HOWARD SEGMENT AND IT'S FOR C AND D MOTION FAILS.

COULD YOU PLEASE PUT UP THE, OH WAIT, HOLD ON.

OH, OKAY.

SO THE MOTION SUBSTITUTE MOTION FAILED SHEET MOTION FAILS.

SO NOW WE REVERT BACK TO THE MAIN MOTION, WHICH FOR A PROPERTY, WHICH WAS FOR A PROPERTY D ONLY ANY COMMENTS FROM THE BOARD ON PROPERTY D ONLY, I THINK AT THIS TIME I DID WE DO PROPERTY.

DID WE? THE SUBSTITUTE MOTION CAME AFTER THE PUBLIC COMMENT ON THE FIRST TIME.

CORRECT.

SO WE DID NOT HAVE TO REOPEN PUBLIC COMMENT, UH, PROPERTY D I CANNOT SEE MY SCREEN.

SO, UH, COULD YOU PLEASE CALL OUT ANYONE FOR COMMENTS THERE THERE'S NO ONE, NO ONE FOR COMMENTS.

UM, MR. HOWARD JUST POPPED UP.

I JUST WANT TO CALL IT THE ROLL CALL VOTE.

UM, A ROLL CALL VOTE.

IS THAT WHAT'S IT CALLED FOR? OKAY, SO YOU CALL FOR A ROLL CALL VOTE.

AND THIS IS FOR CONSIDERATION OF PROPERTY C SO MADAM SECRETARY, WOULD YOU, I'M SORRY, I'M SORRY.

BELL.

LONG NIGHT, UH, PROPERTY D THANK YOU FOR KEEPING ME STRAIGHT, UH, FOR PROPERTY D MADAM SECRETARY, WOULD YOU PLEASE CONDUCT A ROLL CALL? VOTE DISTRICT ONE.

MR. BLUE.

DISTRICT TWO.

MR. LANA'S DISTRICT THREE, MR. HOWARD, NO DISTRICT FOUR.

MS. COLLINS.

NATE, YOU SAID THAT RIGHT? UH, DISTRICT FIVE.

MR. CHAPMAN MOTION CARRIES.

NEXT WE GO TO ITEM THREE UNDER NEW BUSINESS CONSIDERATION OR REQUEST FOR THE APPROVAL OF 20, 20, 20, 21 EAST BATON ROUGE SCHOOL SYSTEM, TEST SECURITY POLICY.

[J.3. Test Security Policy 2020-2021]

SO MOVED BY MR. TOPMAN SECOND BY MR. HOWARD, ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS FROM THE BOARD? MADAM SECRETARY? ARE THEY IN QUESTIONS AND COMMENTS? NOPE.

NO QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS FROM THE BOARD.

ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS FROM THE AUDIENCE? HI.

IN THE MIDST OF COVID, UM, OUR CHILDREN ARE REQUIRED TO SOCIAL DISTANCE.

AND SO I HAVE SEVERAL QUESTIONS IN REGARDS TO TEST SECURITY.

UM, ARE WE, HOW ARE WE GOING TO ADMINISTER THE TEST? BECAUSE WE DO KNOW THAT THE, THE NOVEL CORONAVIRUS CAN ACTUALLY BE TRANSMITTED.

UM, IT'S IT DOES NOT DIE WHEN IT'S ON SURFACES, SUCH AS PAPER.

UM, IF THESE, UH, IF THESE TESTS IS GOING TO BE ADMINISTERED DOING THE ACTUAL, UM, VIA ELECTRONICALLY, HOW IS, HOW ARE WE GOING TO ENSURE THAT THE CHILDREN ARE NOT ABLE TO EXIT THE OTHER THINGS SUCH AS GOOGLING? THE ACTUAL ANSWER IS A LOT OF DIFFERENT THINGS THAT ARE NOT BEING CONSIDERED, ESPECIALLY ACCOMMODATIONS AND MODIFICATIONS FOR THE CHILDREN WITH DISABILITIES THAT WOULD ACTUALLY NEED TO HAVE THESE TESTS ADMINISTERED BECAUSE SOME OF OUR CHILDREN, UM, ACTUALLY GET WORKINGS AS A TEST, WHICH IS THE TEST THAT THEY TAKE IN PLACE OF A C T S A T, ET CETERA.

SO I THINK THAT WHEN IT COMES TO TESTING, ADMINISTERING, I THINK THAT YOU NEED TO ACTUALLY HAVE SOME SPECIAL EDUCATION TEACHERS, UM, THE ESS DEPARTMENT, AND SOME PARENTS WHO IS ACTUALLY WORKING WITH THEIR CHILDREN DAY IN AND DAY OUT SO THAT YOU CAN ACTUALLY TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION HOW TEST SECURITY IS GOING TO LOOK.

BECAUSE I MEAN, AFTER ALL WE DO HAVE, WE STILL HAVE A LARGER AMOUNT OF OUR POPULATION THAT IS AT HOME ATTENDING SCHOOL VIRTUAL.

SO HOW WOULD TEST AND BE ADMINISTERED

[04:40:01]

THAT WAY? I MEAN, WE'RE NOT DOING THINGS ON THE COLLEGIATE WAY, HOW THE COLLEGES ARE DOING IT.

COLLEGES ACTUALLY MAKE YOU PAY FOR TEST ADMINISTRATION.

SO I'M JUST WONDERING HOW SECURE WOULD OUR TESTING BE AND HOW EFFECTIVE WOULD IT BE? BECAUSE SOME OF OUR CHILDREN, AS WE KNOW, BEING, UH, HAVING SO MANY THAT ARE ECONOMICALLY DISADVANTAGED, THIS IS THEIR FIRST TIME ACTUALLY BEING ABLE TO UTILIZE AN ELECTRONIC DEVICE, UH, UTILIZING A LAPTOP OR A TABLET IS MUCH DIFFERENT FROM UTILIZING YOUR IPAD OR ANDROID CELL PHONE.

SO I THINK THAT WE NEED TO TAKE A LOT OF THAT INTO CONSIDERATION.

I THINK WE ALSO NEED TO LOOK AT HOW WE'RE GOING TO ACTUALLY MAKE SURE OUR STAFF IS AFFECTIVELY TRAINED AND ABLE TO MAKE SURE THAT THESE TESTS ARE PROPERLY ADMINISTERED.

AND THAT IS GOING TO BE ANOTHER COST THAT WE DON'T HAVE THE MONEY TO GIVE BECAUSE WE KEEP GIVING IT TO THESE UNNECESSARY CHARTERS.

SO I THINK THAT IF WE'RE GOING TO LOOK AT THE COMMENT DOES TESTING SECURITY, WE CAN DO ONE OR TWO THINGS WE CAN ASK FOR A WAIVER TO NOT DO THE TESTING AT ALL.

OR WE CREATE A COMMITTEE THAT CONSISTS OF PARENTAL INVOLVEMENT, AS WELL AS THE ESS DEPARTMENT, MORE PARTICULAR, THE SPECIAL ED TEACHERS AND THE GUIDANCE COUNSELORS WHO ARE HAVING TO USE THEIR MASTER DEGREE, UH, THEIR MASTER DEGREE.

MA'AM ARE THERE ANY OTHER PUBLIC COMMENT ON THE TESTING SECURITY POLICY? JUST ONE QUICK QUESTION, IS THERE A POSSIBILITY THAT STUDENTS WILL NOT HAVE TO TAKE ANY STANDARDIZED TESTING AT THE END OF THIS SCHOOL YEAR? THAT'S A STATE DECISION.

AND I'M SORRY, I ANSWERED A QUESTION.

I BROKE MY OWN RULE, SEEING NO OTHER PUBLIC COMMENT.

ANY OTHER ADDITIONAL COMMENT, IS THAT A REQUEST TO SPEAK FROM, UH, MS. COLLINS, UM, CAN STAFF, UH, RESPOND TO STUDENTS ALREADY TAKING THEIR STANDARDIZED TESTS OR LED CAUSE THEY STARTED YOU'RE ACTUALLY RIGHT NOW OUR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS ARE IN THE END OF COURSE WINDOW.

SO WE HAVE THOUSANDS OF HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS ACROSS THE DISTRICT.

UH, WHO'VE BEEN ENGAGED FOR THE LAST THREE WEEKS AND END OF COURSE, EXAMS THAT ARE REQUIRED BY THE STATE.

WE WILL IN GRADES FIVE THROUGH 12, UH, GO ONLINE FOR THOSE STUDENTS.

OUR THIRD AND FOURTH GRADERS WILL CONTINUE TO BE PAPER-BASED TESTING.

AND TO ANSWER TO THE QUESTION EARLIER, WE'RE FOLLOWING OUR POLICY TRACKS AND STATE POLICY AND WE'RE FOLLOWING THEIR GUIDELINES FOR GROUP SIZE AND SOCIAL DISTANCING.

SO FOR CLARITY, OUR STUDENTS FIFTH THROUGH 12 HAVE BEEN ALREADY DOING THEIR ANNUAL STANDARDIZED.

THIS IS ABOUT THE THIRD OR FOURTH YEAR NOW THAT THEY'VE BEEN TAKING ONLINE ASSESSMENTS.

UH, AND THEN EVEN THOUGH WE IN THE CORONAVIRUS SITUATION, YES, WE HAVEN'T SEEN ANY TESTING WAIVERS YET AND, AND TESTING HAS TO BE DONE AT A SECURE SITE.

SO IT CAN'T BE DONE REMOTELY.

IT HAS TO BE DONE AT A DISTRICT AUTHORIZED TESTING CENTER THAT WE'VE INFORMED THE STATE WHERE WE'RE GOING TO TEST THEM, WHO WE'RE TESTING THAT DAY.

IT WOULD BE NICE IF THE STATE WOULD SHOW SOME HUMAN COMPASSION.

I BELIEVE THEY'RE HEARING A LOT ON THAT, YOU KNOW? THANK YOU.

FOR CONSIDERATION OF REQUEST TO ADOPT POLICIES.

ARE THERE ANY OTHER COMMENTS FROM ANY OTHER BOOK QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS FROM ANY OTHER BOARD MEMBERS SEEING NONE? MADAM SECRETARY MOTION CARRIES ITEM

[J.4. Policy]

J D DISCIPLINE AND J D E EXPULSION AND STUDENT RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES HANDBOOK REVISION RELATED TO VIRTUAL LEARNING AND DISCIPLINE.

UH, MR. SHAMBLIN, WOULD YOU LIKE TO JUST GIVE A QUICK COMMENT BECAUSE I BELIEVE THIS BRINGS US IN COMPLIANCE WITH STATE LAW.

THAT IS CORRECT AT 48 OF THE, UH, LOUIS, UH, THE, THIS YEAR IS 2020 LEGISLATIVE SESSION REVISE LOUISIANA LAW TO REQUIRE SCHOOL BOARDS, UH, DISCIPLINE POLICIES TO CLEARLY DEFINE RULES OF CONDUCT AND EXPECTATIONS OF STUDENTS ENGAGED IN VIRTUAL INSTRUCTION.

UM, IT ALSO REQUIRED US TO CONVENE, UH, RECONVENE THE DISCIPLINE, UM, REVIEW COMMITTEE TO REVISE

[04:45:01]

THE HANDBOOK TO ALSO FALL INTO COMPLIANCE WITH STATE LAW.

AND SO WHAT IS BEFORE THE BOARD AT THIS POINT OR TWO POLICY CHANGES? UH, ONE WITH REGARD TO EXPULSION, ONE WITH REGARD TO DISCIPLINE, UM, AND, AND THE ONE WITH REGARD TO DISCIPLINE ADS, DETAILED LANGUAGE, DEFINING VIRTUAL INSTRUCTION AND DISCIPLINE RELATED THERE TOO.

UM, AND THE HANDBOOK REVISION, UH, PROVIDES A SPECIFIC DEFINITION OF VIRTUAL VIRTUAL LEARNING FOR PARENTS AND THE CONNECTED ISSUES ADDRESSES THE CONNECTED ISSUES.

UM, I DO APOLOGIZE TO THE BOARD.

WE WANTED TO BRING THIS TO THE KYLE, BUT BECAUSE OF, UM, THE TIMING IN WHICH WE RECEIVED, UH, THE RECOMMENDED POLICY UPDATES THAT THAT COULDN'T HAPPEN.

SO WE BROUGHT IT TO THE REGULAR MEETING.

THIS IS REQUIRED TO BE ADOPTED PRIOR TO DECEMBER 31ST OF THIS YEAR.

AND SO WE WILL BE IN COMPLIANCE WITH AN ADOPTION TONIGHT.

AND THAT'S IT.

DO I HAVE A MOTION WE NEED, OH, OKAY.

DO WE NEED A MOTION MOVED BY MR. LANICE? DO I HAVE A SECOND SECOND BY MR. HOWARD? MS. COLLINS? I SHOULDN'T PUT MY PIN UP TOO FAST.

LET ME SEE.

CAN I REMEMBER? OKAY.

SO ONE, THIS, UH, REMINDS ME OF THE REQUEST OF REVIEWING OUR ZERO TOLERANCE POLICY OVERALL FOR OUR, UH, DISCIPLINE POLICY AND, UM, UH, FOR THE SAKE OF TIME AND THE HOLIDAY SEASON, I WILL JUST ASK THAT THE INTERIM SUPERINTENDENT AND STAFF BE MINDFUL OF UPDATING ME OFF OFFLINE ON THE STATUS OF THAT.

AND THEN MY OTHER THING WAS, OH, DO WE ALREADY HAVE IT MANDATORY THAT OUR STUDENTS USE A VIRTUAL BACKGROUND IN CLASS SO THAT WE DON'T HAVE THOSE DISTRACTIONS WINDOW OUT? SO THEN I WOULD JUST LIKE TO RECOMMEND THAT, AND PERHAPS WE CAN REVISIT THAT OFFLINE.

UH, I KNOW, UH, I'M HEARING OTHER PLACES ARE DOING THAT AND THAT WOULD HELP ALLEVIATE IF, IF YOU CAN'T SEE, UH, MAMA, BROTHER, SISTER IN THE BACKGROUND DOING, YOU KNOW, WHATEVER TO BE A DISTRACTION, THAT PROBABLY WOULD BE HELPFUL TO THE LEARNING ENVIRONMENT.

AND WE CAN DO THINGS.

I, IN MY STUDIES AT SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY LAW CENTER TO ELABORATE AND HELP VISUAL, YOU KNOW, FOLKS VISUALIZE WHAT I'M SAYING.

UM, THEY OFFER, YOU KNOW, FOUR OR FIVE PICTURES TO CHOOSE FROM, YOU KNOW, MAYBE IT'S THE DISTRICT OFFICE, OR MAYBE IT'S THE LOGO OF THE SCHOOL SYSTEM OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT FOR THE VIRTUAL BACKGROUND OR IN OUR CASE, IT MIGHT BE SIMPLE A DAY.

WE CHOOSE ONE.

UH, AND I DON'T KNOW IF THE TECHNOLOGY ALLOWS AUTOMATIC VIRTUAL BACKGROUND, UH, TO BE USED.

I DON'T KNOW, BUT I'M JUST OFFERING THAT TO HELP WITH THE LEARNING ENVIRONMENT.

ANY OTHER COMMENTS SEEING NONE? MADAM SECRETARY, PLEASE VOTE.

YEAH, WE WENT TO THE PODIUM.

I THINK WE DID.

MOTION CARRIES.

JUST TO DOUBLE CHECK.

WE DID GO TO THE PUBLIC BEFORE WE DID THE VOTE.

NO, DID, DID WE GO TO THE PUBLIC BEFORE WE DID THIS VOTE? MY APOLOGIES, HUH? I HAVE A MOTION, A MOTION TO RECONSIDER THE VOTE BY WHICH WE JUST PASS THAT SO THAT WE CAN GO BACK AND DO IT AGAIN.

WE WE'VE SEEN A LOT OF CASES WHERE CHILD PROTECTIVE SERVICES HAVE BEEN CALLED.

SECOND, ALL PRO CAN WE DO THAT BY UNANIMOUS CONSENT? DO WE HAVE UNANIMOUS CONSENT TO REOPEN SO WE CAN DO PUBLIC COMMENT SEEING UNANIMOUS CONSENT? UH, WE WILL REOPEN THAT FOR THE PUBLIC COMMENT.

I APOLOGIZE.

UH, SO IF THERE'S ANY PUBLIC THAT WOULD LIKE TO VOTE ON THE, UH, LIKE TO COMMENT ON THESE POLICY CHANGES, PLEASE STEP FORWARD.

HI, MY NAME IS MARIA HARMON WITH STEP UP LOUISIANA.

I WAS JUST REALLY CONCERNED ABOUT WHAT INSTANCES THAT HAVE OCCURRED SINCE VIRTUAL LEARNING HAS HAPPENED.

UM, MANY PARENTS WHO, FOR INSTANCE, MAY NOT SEE EYE TO EYE WITH SOME OF THESE ADMINISTRATORS IN THE DISTRICT, WHAT THEY WILL DO IS

[04:50:01]

IT WAS A AGREGIOUS CLAIMS THAT WERE MADE ON PARENTS.

UM, AND I JUST REALLY FEEL LIKE THESE ARE IMPLICATIONS THAT SHOULD REALLY BE LOOKED AT AND MAKING SURE THAT WE DON'T HAVE STAFF OF THE EBR SCHOOL DISTRICT, UH, WEAPONIZING THE, THE, THE DEPARTMENT FOR CHILD AND FAMILY SERVICES.

UM, IT'S ALREADY AN ISSUE WITH RETALIATION, BUT THIS IS JUST GOING TO A WHOLE NOTHER DEGREE.

UM, AND I EVEN WAS CALLED TO A PARENT'S HOUSE THAT WAS PART OF, UH, MY PARENT UNION AND STEP UP WE'RE ACTUALLY SEEN AND MET AND SPOKE WITH THE, UH, CASEWORKER FROM, UH, DCFS.

AND IT WAS JUST A TRANSPIRING OCCURRENCE THAT WENT ON FOR A LONG PERIOD OF TIME BETWEEN ADMINISTRATORS LIKE THE PRINCIPAL AT MCKINLEY, MIDDLE MAGNET, AND ONE OF THE, UH, OCCUPATIONAL THERAPIST, I BELIEVE THEY JUST HAD AN ONGOING CONFLICT WITH OUR PARENTS.

AND AGAIN, I JUST REALLY FEEL LIKE IT'S EXTREMELY, UM, HARMFUL AND JUST REALLY UNDERSTANDING HOW WE CAN CRIMINALIZE OUR PARENTS IN THE SCHOOL SYSTEM FOR SIMPLY JUST SPEAKING UP AND ADVOCATING FOR THEIR CHILDREN TO MAKE SURE THAT THEIR NEEDS AND ACCOMMODATIONS ARE BEING MET, ESPECIALLY IF THEIR CHILD HAS AN IEP.

SO I JUST WANT TO BE CLEAR ABOUT IT, THAT WE'RE INTENTIONAL ABOUT THESE TYPES OF SAFEGUARDS IN HIS POLICY AND, UM, AND MAKING SURE THAT WE'RE NOT FUELING THE PR THE SCHOOL TO PRISON PIPELINE.

UM, WE ALREADY HAD A CASE IN JEFFERSON PARISH WITH A CHILD BEING, UH, AFTER SIZE IN AN EXTREME WAY AS WELL.

SO I JUST FELT THE NEED IS, BUT THAT, UH, THANK YOU.

NEXT, THANK YOU FOR REALIZING THAT WE WERE ABOUT TO VIOLATE OPEN MEETING LAW AND ROBERT ROOFS ABOUT WATER.

UM, BUT BY NOT ALLOWING THE PUBLIC TO COMMENT, UM, BUT ON THE TOPIC, THIS, UH, DISCIPLINE POLICY POLICY DOES NOT TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION OUR CHILDREN WITH DISABILITIES WHO NEED ACCOMMODATIONS AND MODIFICATIONS.

WHEN THEY'RE TRYING TO ATTEND VIRTUAL, THEIR PARAPROFESSIONAL IS NOT AT THE HOUSE WITH THEM.

SO IF A CHILD THAT HAS A DISABILITY SUCH AS AUTISM CANNOT STAY STILL, LIKE MY CHILD HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO STAY STILL.

EVERY TIME I CAME TO THIS MICROPHONE, THEN WHAT WOULD HE, WHAT DISCIPLINE WOULD HE BE SUBJECTED TO SUSPENSION RECOMMENDATION FOR EXPULSION? SEND ME THROUGH A MANIFESTATION DETERMINATION REVIEW, SEND HIM TO THE JUVENILE DETENTION, POSSIBLY CAUSE ME UNNECESSARY HEARTACHE AND MONEY.

THEN I WOULD HAVE TO GO AFTER EACH AND EVERY LAST ONE OF YOU.

WHAT D WHY DO WE PUT OUR PARENTS THROUGH THE UNNECESSARY HARDSHIP? I THINK THAT WE NEED TO THINK ABOUT DISCIPLINE IN A MORE COMPASSIONATE MANNER, BECAUSE TOO MANY TIMES WE TRY TO DO THINGS SO HARSH AND SO BRUTAL.

AND WHAT WE GET IS A HARSH AND A BRUTAL RESULT.

IF WE TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION SOME COMPASSION AND SOME LOVE, THEN MAYBE WE CAN GET A RESULT OF COMPASSION AND LOVE.

A LOT OF THE CHILDREN ONLY NEED UNDERSTANDING.

THEY ONLY NEED SOMEBODY THAT ACTUALLY CARES.

AND IF WE, AND IF WE GET THE TYPE OF REACTIONS THAT WE GET FROM OUR SCHOOL BOARD, FROM THE TEACHERS AND THE STAFF, THEN I PROMISE YOU, IT WILL NOT BE PRETTY.

WE WILL HAVE MORE AND MORE LITIGATION.

SO WHAT I ASK IS THAT IF YOU'RE GOING TO TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION A NEW DISCIPLINE POLICY TO GO INTO OUR STUDENT RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES HANDBOOK, YOU CREATE A COMMITTEE THAT DEALS WITH THAT CONSIST OF PARENTS, SPECIAL ED TEACHERS, REGULAR ED TEACHERS, PARAPROFESSIONALS, CHILD WELFARE, AND ATTENDANCE, BECAUSE THOSE ARE THE PEOPLE THAT WILL BE AFFECTED AND IMPACTED BY WHATEVER DISCIPLINE POLICY YOU PUT INTO PLACE.

SOME OF THE PRINCIPLES YOU NEED TO STRIP AUTONOMY FROM THEM BECAUSE THEY DON'T KNOW THE CEILING FROM THE FLOOR.

SO I THINK THAT WE NEED TO THINK ABOUT THIS IN A MORE REALISTIC AND REASONABLE WAY SO WE CAN PREVENT UNNECESSARY, UNNECESSARY HARM TO OUR CHILDREN, BUT ALSO PREVENT LITIGATION.

FOR IS IT GIVES PARENTS MORE VOICE IN WHAT HAPPENS WITH VIRTUAL INSTRUCTION.

MA'AM ANY OTHER PUBLIC COMMENT? SAY NONE.

NOW WE WILL GO BACK AGAIN TO THE BOARD, ANY COMMENTS FROM THE BOARD? OKAY.

UM, JUST, UH, THANK YOU, MR. PRESIDENT.

I JUST, JUST TO, FOR THE SAKE OF THE PUBLIC CLARITY, THIS, THIS POLICY THAT WAS ADOPTED BY THE STATE WAS IN DIRECT RESPONSE TO THE ISSUE THAT HAPPENED IN JEFFERSON PARISH.

SO ACTUALLY WHAT THE POLICY ALLOWS

[04:55:01]

SO THEY HAVE A RIGHT TO APPEAL TO SCHOOL BOARDS.

IF THEY DON'T LIKE THE DECISION OF THE SCHOOL BOARD, THEY HAVE THE RIGHTS TO APPEAL TO DISTRICT COURT.

SO THIS IS EXACTLY IN RESPONSE TO THE THINGS THAT WERE BROUGHT UP DURING PUBLIC COMMENT.

THE STATE WANTED TO GIVE PARENTS SOME MORE OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE VOICE AS IT RELATES TO WHAT HAPPENS IN DISCIPLINE ON A VIRTUAL ENVIRONMENT.

SO JUST WANTED TO CLEAR THAT UP FOR THE PUBLIC.

ANY OTHER COMMENTS FROM THE BOARD SEEING NONE? MADAM SECRETARY, I GOT KICKED OFF.

ALL RIGHT.

WE GOT TO DO THE WHOLE THING ACCORDING TO A CERTAIN ONE.

MR. BALLOU.

MR. LANDIS, MR. HOWARD.

MR. CHAPMAN MOTION CARRIES.

NEXT IS ORGANIZATIONAL ANNOUNCEMENTS.

[K.1. Announcement of Meetings]

UH, AND AS I READ THESE OUT, I WANT EVERYONE TO RECOGNIZE THAT THIS MAY BE SUBJECT TO CHANGE AS WE REVAMP, UH, OUR, NOW THAT WE HAVE THE NUMBER OF CANDIDATES AND WE LOOK AT HOW WE WILL DO, UH, THE COMMUNITY INPUT ON THE, UH, CANDIDATES, UH, INTERVIEWS WITH THE CANDIDATES.

AND SO I WILL READ THESE OUT, BUT THESE ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE.

AND IF THEY DO CHANGE THAT WE WILL BE DULY POSTED AND PUBLICIZE.

SO SUPERINTENDENT SEARCH APPLICANT INTERVIEWS WERE HELD ON JANUARY 7TH, 20, 21 TIME AND LOCATION TO BE DETERMINED.

SUPERINTENDENT SEARCH APPLICANT INTERVIEWS TO BE HELD ON JANUARY 8TH, 20, 21 TIME AND LOCATION TO BE DETERMINED.

SUPERINTENDENT SEARCH APPLICANT INTERVIEWS TO BE HELD ON JANUARY 9TH, 20, 21 TIME AND LOCATION BE DETERMINED COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE MEETING TO BE HELD ON JANUARY 14TH, 2021 AT 5:00 PM AT THE PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT CENTER.

AND I BELIEVE WE'RE MISSING THE, UH, POSSIBILITY OF A SPECIAL MEETING BEING CALLED BEFORE THE COMMITTEE TO HOLD ON JANUARY 14TH FOR THE ELECTION OF THE SUPERINTENDENT.

SO I WANT TO PUT THAT INTO THE RECORD SELECTION.

YES, I'M SORRY.

UH, AND THEN THE REGULAR BOARD MEETING TO BE HELD ON JANUARY 21, 2020 AT 5:00 PM AT THE PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT CENTER.

AND AGAIN, THESE COULD BE SUBJECT TO SOME CHANGES AND THEY WILL BE DULY NOTED AND PUBLICIZED AS REQUIRED.