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[A. Notice and Instructions]
REGULAR MEETING OF THE EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH SCHOOL BOARD FOR THURSDAY, APRIL 22ND TO 2021.NOTICE THE PUBLIC WILL BE ALLOWED TO ATTEND AT A REDUCED CAPACITY RATE OF 50% CAPACITY FOR THE PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT CENTER MEETING ROOM SPACE.
ONCE THE CAPACITY HAS BEEN REACHED ADMISSION INTO THE MEETING SPACE WILL BE CLOSED.
ALL AUDIENCE MEMBERS WILL BE REQUIRED TO WEAR A MASK AT ALL TIMES, MASKS WILL BE AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST.
ALL AUDIENCE MEMBERS WILL ALSO UNDERGO TEMPERATURE SCREENING BEFORE ENTERING THE MEETING ROOM.
THE REGULAR MEETING SCHEDULED FOR APRIL 22ND, 2021 AT 5:00 PM.
WE'LL BE STREAMING LIVE VIA YOUTUBE.
A LINK TO WATCH THE MEETING CAN BE FOUND ON BOARD DOCS LOCATED ON THE SCHOOL BOARD'S WEBSITE.
A PERIOD FOR WRITTEN PUBLIC COMMENT WILL BE PROVIDED BEFORE THE MEETING, AS WELL AS BEFORE EACH ACTION ITEM BY THE BOARD ON AN ACTION ITEM, INDIVIDUALS WISHING TO MAKE A PUBLIC COMMENT ABOUT ANY OF THE POSTED ACTION ITEMS WILL NEED TO CLICK ON THE AGENDA ITEM IN THE BOARD DOCS AND SUBMIT VIA THE HIGHLIGHTED PUBLIC COMMENT.
HYPERLINK ON THE AGENDA, ITEM DETAILS ONLINE COMMENTS ARE AVAILABLE FOR PUBLIC VIEW.
I WOULD LIKE TO ASK EVERYONE TO PLEASE SILENCE YOUR CELL PHONES OR ANY OTHER NOISE MAKING DEVICES.
[B. Meeting Opening]
WOULD LIKE TO ASK BOARD MEMBER MARK BALLOU TO LEAD US IN THE INVOCATION HEAVENLY FATHER.WE THANK YOU FOR THE GIFT OF LIFE AND WE PRAY FOR THE HEALTH AND SAFETY OF EVERYONE IN OUR COMMUNITY.
WE ASK FOR YOUR GUIDANCE AND WISDOM, HELP US TO ENGAGE IN MEANINGFUL DISCUSSION.
ALLOW US TO GROW CLOSER AS A GROUP AND NURTURE THE BONDS OF COMMUNITY.
CONTINUE TO REMIND US THAT WE ARE HERE IN THE PURSUIT OF TRUTH AND THE SERVICE OF OTHERS.
WE ASK THESE THINGS IN YOUR NAME.
I AM GOING TO, UH, DELAY THE, UH, PLEDGE IF I CAN COUNSEL UNTIL OUR CADET ARRIVES TO LEAD US IN THE PLEDGE.
SO WE'LL MOVE FORWARD WITH THE MEETING UNTIL THEY GET HERE.
IF THAT'S OKAY WITH EVERYBODY.
MADAM SECRETARY, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL DISTRICT.
NINE PRESIDENT'S ADMIN PRESENT DISTRICT FOUR, VICE PRESIDENT CALVINS PRESENT DISTRICT ONE.
MR. LANDIS, MR. LANDIS, UH, DISTRICT THREE, MR. HOWARD DISTRICT FIVE.
MS. WARD JACKSON DISTRICT SIX, MS. DYSON PRESENT DISTRICT SEVEN, MR.
[C. Minutes]
MEETING MINUTES APPROVAL OF THE SCHOOL BOARD MINUTES OF THE MARCH 18TH, 2021 REGULAR BOARD MEETING AS PUBLISHED IN THE OFFICIAL JOURNAL.DO I HAVE A MOTION MR. BERNARD MOVES.
AND DO I HAVE A SECOND? MS. COLLINS SECONDS.
ARE THERE ANY COMMENTS FROM THE BOARD ON THE MINUTES? ARE THERE ANY SCENE ON THERE? ARE THERE ANY COMMENTS FROM THE AUDIENCE ON THE MEETING MINUTES SEEING NONE BACK TO THE BOARD.
MADAM SECRETARY, PLEASE CONDUCT THE VOTE.
YOU CAN GO AHEAD AND CALL THE ROAD DISTRICT ONE.
DISTRICT FOUR, VICE PRESIDENT COLLINS,
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DISTRICT SIX.MS. DYSON? YES, DISTRICT SEVEN.
[D.1. Coach Roman Bates]
D RECOGNITION.STEVE, ONE RECOGNITION OF FORMER CAPITAL HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL COACH.
UH, AND I WON'T BE LONG, BUT I THOUGHT IT WAS GREAT, BUT IMPORTANT THAT AGAIN, WE ALWAYS RECOGNIZE THOSE WHO HAVE DEDICATED THEIR LIVES IN SERVICE TO OUR COMMUNITY AND ALSO TO OUR SCHOOLS.
SO WE GOT OUT, WE WOULD BE REMISS IF WE DIDN'T, UH, HIGHLIGHT THIS A BRAVE PERSON.
AS MANY OF YOU HAVE HEARD, WE HAVE LOST ANOTHER LONG TIME.
EBR EMPLOYEE, RETIRED COACH AND COMMUNITY HERO WITH THE PASSING OF FORMER CAPITAL HIGHS, HIGH SCHOOL HEAD FOOTBALL COACH, ROMAN BATES COACH BASED DEDICATED 34 YEARS OF HIS LIFE TO MENTORING THOUSANDS OF YOUNG MEN AROUND THE CITY OF BATON ROUGE AND EATON PARK COMMUNITY OF HIS MANY ACCOMPLISHMENTS COACH BATES IS REMEMBERED FOR BEING THE 13TH ALL TIME WINNING HIS COACH AND L H S A HISTORY LEADING THE CAPITAL HIGHLIGHTS TO THE 1999, FOUR EIGHT STATE CHAMPIONSHIP.
I DON'T KNOW IF THERE'S ANYONE HERE TONIGHT FROM THE CAPITAL HIGH COMMUNITY, BUT AGAIN, UH, ON BEHALF OF OUR SCHOOL BOARD, WHO WOULD LIKE TO DEDICATE THIS TIME TO JUST TAKE ONE MOMENT OF SILENCE FOR COACH ROMAN BAIT.
SO WE COULD THANK YOU EVERYONE.
AND THANK YOU, PRESIDENT TECH.
THANK YOU, MR. LANDIS SAID, I DIDN'T PUSH THE BUTTON TO SPEAK, BUT SINCE NO ONE'S IN LINE, UM, I THINK IT'S CRITICALLY IMPORTANT THAT WE RECOGNIZE PEOPLE WHO GIVE THEY'RE REALLY LIKE, I DIDN'T KNOW, COACH BATES WELL, UM, BUT HE WAS A LEGEND.
WHEN I CAME HERE, I KNEW ABOUT HIM AND THEN I FOLLOWED, UH, ATHLETICS AND, UH, CLEARLY HE WAS A LEGEND AND, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE PUT IN THEIR WHOLE LIVES AND YOU KNOW, WHEN THEY WALK AWAY AND THEY RETIRE OR WHAT HAVE YOU, UM, WE NEED TO DO A BETTER JOB.
I THINK OF A BOARD AS RECOGNIZING THOSE PEOPLE FOR THE WORK THAT THEY DO.
AND THAT INCLUDES NOT ONLY COACH BATES, BUT OUR SCHOOL TEACHERS, OUR ADMINISTRATORS, AND EVERYONE.
I DON'T WANT TO SEE IN OUR DISTRICT THAT ON SOMEONE'S LAST DAY OF WORK, THAT THEY GET A BOX AND THEY WALK OUT THE DOOR.
I JUST THINK WE NEED TO AND COULD DO MORE.
AND THE SUPERINTENDENT AND THEIR NURSES THAT MAY MAYBE A LITTLE BIT OF A CHALLENGE I'M OFFERING TO YOU.
UM, BUT, BUT TO, TO COACH BATES, WHAT, UH, WHAT, UH, THINK ABOUT HOW MANY YOUNG LIVES HE IMPACTED AND, UH, HE HE'LL DO MORE FOR CHILDREN AND FOR EDUCATION AND HIS HE'S DONE MORE FOR CHILDREN AND EDUCATION IN HIS LIFE THAN I'LL EVER DO.
AND, UM, SO I WANNA, I WANNA, UH, SECOND, UH, YOUR COMMENT, SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR BRINGING THAT TO US, MR. LANDIS, ANY OTHER COMMENTS SEEING NONE? WE WILL MOVE TO ITEM D TWO
[D.2. VIPS "Partners in Education"]
VIPS PARTNERS IN EDUCATION RECOGNITION OF THE VIPS PARTNERS IN EDUCATION FOR THE MONTH OF APRIL.HOW ARE YOU? WONDERFUL, THANK YOU FOR ASKING, HOW ARE YOU? GREETINGS SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS, SUPERINTENDENT RCS, PRESIDENT NAR TATLIN, AND VICE PRESIDENT COLLINS AND ALL MEMBERS OF THE SCHOOL BOARD.
UH, THANK YOU ALL FOR HAVING US AGAIN THIS MONTH TO RECOGNIZE ANOTHER WONDERFUL VIPS PARTNERSHIP WITH COMMUNITY PARTNER, NICKY SCOTT, NICOLE, SCOTT, UM, AND SHE IS WITH YOGA NEW, OUR, HER COMPANY HAS BEEN DOING SOME AMAZING WORK IN THE COMMUNITY AND PARTNERSHIP WITH NOT ONLY FRAN YOU, BUT ALSO WITH THE MAYOR'S OFFICE.
UM, I'M SURE SHE'S A FAMILIAR FACE.
UM, AND WE'RE JUST SO HONORED TO HAVE HER PARTNER WITH VIPS THROUGH HER YOGA FOR OUR FUTURE INITIATIVE, IN WHICH, UM, SHE HAS A SPECIFIC CAUSE TO TARGET YOUTH IN OUR COMMUNITY AND EXPOSE THEM TO YOGA AND ALL THE WONDERFUL BENEFITS THAT IT PRESENTS.
UM, WE BEGAN OUR PARTNERSHIP IN FALL LAST YEAR, UH, PRIOR TO COVID AND, UM, WHAT WAS FALL LAST YEAR OR MUST'VE BEEN SPRING? UM, SO, UM, THIS PARTNERSHIP BEGAN AT EBR READINESS WITH A VERY UNIQUE, UM, POPULATION OF STUDENTS THAT BENEFITED GREATLY FROM THIS EXPERIENCE.
SHE WOULD VISIT THE SCHOOL WEEKLY AND DO A ONE HOUR SESSION WITH THE STUDENTS
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AND TEACHERS ALIKE.AND FROM THAT THEY GAINED, UM, MINDFULNESS EXPERIENCES, UM, COPING SKILLS, UM, SOME SELF-ACTUALIZATION, UM, STRESS MANAGEMENT, ALL OF THE WONDERFUL BENEFITS THAT, THAT YOGA PRESENTS FAST FORWARD TO THIS SPRING.
WE ACTUALLY PARTNERED AGAIN FOR GLENOAKS MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS WHERE SHE VISITED THE SCHOOL.
UM, AND WHEN WE DID AN OUTDOOR YOGA EXPERIENCE WITH THE TEACHERS AND FACULTY, AS WELL AS, UH, MOST OF THE STUDENT BODY, A LOT OF ATHLETES AS WELL, UM, AS YOU CAN IMAGINE, YOU KNOW, THEY, THEY, STUDENTS MAY NOT, MAY NOT HAVE BEEN AS FAMILIAR WITH YOGA AND WERE PUSHED OUT OF THEIR COMFORT ZONE, BUT, UM, WE WERE VERY PLEASED TO SEE THE LEVEL OF COMMITMENT AND INVOLVEMENT OF THESE STUDENTS.
AND WE'LL BE CONTINUING THIS PARTNERSHIP AS WELL THROUGHOUT THE REST OF THE SCHOOL YEAR AND INTO NEXT NEXT FALL.
UM, I WILL LET MS NICKI TUX TO TELL YOU ALL ABOUT HOW HER EXPERIENCE PARTNERING WITH IT AS WELL.
EXCUSE ME, LET ME, I'LL JUST TAKE A MOMENT AND THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HAVING ME.
UM, THIS HAS BEEN A REALLY GREAT EXPERIENCE.
I DO HAVE A LOVE FOR CHILDREN AND, UM, AS A FACULTY MEMBER AT BRAND-NEW, UM, WE HAVE ALREADY HAD A PARTNERSHIP WITH VIPS.
WE, UH, WE'RE ENCOURAGED TO PICK UP, UM, UH, READING BUDDIES, READING BUDDIES AS PART OF OUR SERVICE AND SERVICE LEARNING PROJECT THERE.
AND SO I WAS ALREADY FAMILIAR WITH VIPS, UM, AND WHEN THEY REACHED OUT AND ASKED IF I COULD, UM, POSSIBLY OFFER YOGA TO THE STUDENTS, I WAS MORE THAN HAPPY TO SAY YES, I WAS VERY HAPPY TO HAVE MET SO MANY, UH, NEW FRIENDS, UM, IN THE DIFFERENT SCHOOLS AND PROGRAMS HAS BEEN AMAZING EXPERIENCE.
SO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR, THANK YOU.
AND NOW I THINK WE HAVE A COMMENT FROM MS. COLLINS.
I JUST WANT TO SAY I'M SO EXCITED TO MEET YODA, NO WAR AND PUBLIC HOLIDAY, OR IF THE GROUND YOU MAKE ME SO EXCITED.
SO WHEN YOU, WHEN SHE'S PRESENTING YOU AS A PARTNER WITH BILLS, UH, I'M JUST SO GLAD THAT OUR STUDENTS ARE ABLE TO EXPERIENCE, UH, WHAT YOU HAVE TO OFFER.
UH, I HAVE BEEN A ADVOCATE FOR MINDFULNESS AND IN YOGA AND WHATNOT IN CLASSROOMS AND FOR THE YOUTH AND, AND, UH, IT IS TRULY, IT'S SCIENTIFICALLY PROVEN TO BE BENEFICIAL, UH, IN ADDITION TO THE RELATIONSHIPS THAT ARE BUILT.
UH, SO THE SOCIAL, EMOTIONAL, AND THE COGNITIVE BENEFITS OF WHAT YOU'RE DOING, UH, CAN'T BE APPRECIATED ENOUGH.
THANK YOU, MS. COLLINS, AND THANK YOU, MS. SCOTT, WHAT ABOUT BOARD YOGA? JUST SERIOUSLY.
I REALLY DO THINK WE NEED BOARD YOGA, BUT, UH, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE WORK THAT YOU DO.
I WOULD LIKE TO MENTION THAT SHE ALSO CONTRIBUTED SOME VIDEOS WITH HER DAUGHTER AND HERSELF THAT ARE ON OUR YOUTUBE CHANNEL AT VIPS BATON ROUGE, SO THAT SCHOOLS AND THE PUBLIC CAN UTILIZE THOSE AS WELL.
I JUST CONGRATULATE YOU AND THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ALL THE WORK WITH YOU.
THIS IS A METAL FROM THE BOARD AND OUR SUPERINTENDENT AND TO YOUR WHOLE ORGANIZATION.
[E.1. Monthly Financial Report]
ONE MONTHLY FINANCIAL REPORT.I'M DEFINITELY A LOT OFF TONIGHT.
UM, AND SEEING NO COMMENTS, PERSONNEL CHANGES
[F.1. Update from Superintendent]
F ONE UPDATE FROM THE SUPERINTENDENT, DR.UH, FIRST I JUST WANTED TO SAY, UM, I WANTED TO CELEBRATE OUR ADMINISTRATIVE PROFESSIONALS.
UH, I KNOW IT WAS ADMINISTRATIVE PROFESSIONAL DAY, BUT I USUALLY CALL IT ADMINISTRATIVE PROFESSIONAL WEEK.
AND JUST WANTED TO SAY ON BEHALF OF MYSELF AND THE BOARD, WE ARE JUST SO EXCITED ABOUT THE COMMITMENT, UH, THAT OUR ADMINISTRATIVE PROFESSIONALS HAVE TO OUR STUDENTS, UH, IN EAST BATON ROUGE, ALSO THEIR ATTENTION TO DETAIL AND COMMITMENT TO CUSTOMER SERVICE.
WE COULD NOT DO THIS WORK WITHOUT YOU, AND WE JUST ARE VERY HAPPY ABOUT THE HUGE ROLE THAT THEY PLAY IN HELPING OUR SCHOOL SYSTEM FUNCTION WITH EXCELLENCE.
UM, I'D LIKE TO ALSO SHARE THAT WE HAVE HAD OVER 30 APPLICATIONS FOR
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OUR JACK STARS SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM TO DATE AS MAYBE KNOW THE JACK STAR SCHOLARSHIP WAS THE SCHOLARSHIP GIVEN BY SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY.UH, THE PROGRAM GUARANTEES TWO SCHOLARSHIPS PER HIGH SCHOOL, UH, OR APPROXIMATELY 26 SCHOLARSHIPS TO GRADUATE SENIORS FROM ALL HIGH SCHOOLS IN EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENTS WILL RECEIVE ACADEMIC CAREER FINANCIAL AND COLLEGE READINESS PROGRAM AND OUTREACH INITIATIVE SUPPORT.
UH, RECIPIENTS WILL ALSO BE PROVIDED WITH INFORMATION ON SUMMER INTERNSHIPS AND RESEARCH ASSISTANTSHIP.
WE ARE EXTREMELY GRATEFUL TO SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY'S COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURE AND CUSS AND CONSUMER SCIENCES FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY FOR OUR STUDENTS OVER THE COURSE OF THE PAST WEEK, WE'VE MET WITH OUR PRINCIPALS, TEACHERS, STUDENTS, AND PARENT ADVISORY GROUPS COMPRISING OF OVER 200 STAKEHOLDERS, UM, FOR, UH, FEEDBACK AND ALSO HAVING 2000 ONLINE REPORTS ON OUR SMART START PLAN AND ALWAYS WAYS TO IMPROVE OUR CALENDAR.
UH, WE APPRECIATE THE FEEDBACK IN OUR COMMUNITY'S ENGAGEMENT.
UH, AND I LOOK FORWARD TO THIS CONTINUED ENGAGEMENT IN ALL, UH, ISSUES THAT WE HAVE IN OUR SCHOOL SYSTEM.
UH, CSRS I'D LIKE TO INVITE OUR PARTNERS FROM CSRS TO GIVE A BRIEF UPDATE ON THE CAPACITY STUDY AT THIS TIME.
GOOD EVENING, PRESIDENT TECHMAN VICE PRESIDENT COLLINS, UH, DR.
NARCISSE AND OTHER BOARD MEMBERS.
MY NAME IS JUDITH ANDERSON WITH CSRS AND, UM, I THANK YOU FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY TO PROVIDE AN UPDATE UH, FOR THOSE LISTENING THAT MAY NOT BE AWARE OF CSRS IS UNDERTAKING A FACILITY STUDY FOR THE DISTRICT, AND THIS IS A FACT-BASED STUDY THAT IS TO HELP THEM LEAD AND HELP LEAD THE DISTRICT INTO CREATING A STRATEGIC MASTER PLAN AND SO SOME OF THOSE THINGS THAT THE MAIN FOCUS OF THAT IS TO MAKE SURE AND CREATE EFFICIENCIES.
WE'LL BE LOOKING AT FUNCTIONAL PLANNING, STUDENT ENROLLMENT, UM, PLANNING AGAIN, JUST IN AN OVERALL SENSE SPACE UTILIZATION, UM, AND OPERATIONAL COSTS.
SO THIS IS PRETTY MUCH SOMETHING THAT I'M FOCUSED ON FIVE TO 10 YEARS, BUT THAT FUTURE OUTLOOK.
SO WE'RE LOOKING AT A TOTAL NUMBER OF SCHOOLS NEEDED TO SUPPORT ENROLLMENT GRADE CONFIGURATIONS THAT'S EXISTING AND PROPOSED, UM, AND THEN ENROLLMENT FOR EACH SCHOOL RECOMMENDATIONS OF ANY NEW SCHOOLS THAT MAY BE NEEDED, UH, DESCRIPTIONS OF IMPROVEMENTS OF SITES, AND THEN JUST OVERALL PROPERTIES LOOKING AT THOSE AND MAYBE MAKE IT THOSE THAT UTILIZED AS THEY ARE NOW, AND EVEN MAYBE UNDERUTILIZED AND THEN A BUDGET THAT ACCOMPANIES ANY IMPACT.
SO THOSE ARE THE NEXT STEPS RIGHT NOW.
LAST MONTH, WE WERE PRETTY MUCH COLLECTING DATA.
UM, A GOOD BIT CAME FROM THE SYSTEM OFFICE THIS MONTH.
WE'VE BEEN TAKING TIME TO PUT, TO INPUT ALL OF THAT DATA INTO THE DATABASE SO WE CAN BEGIN ANALYSIS NEXT MONTH.
OUR HOPE IS TO HAVE SOME MEETINGS WITH THE STAKEHOLDERS TO JUST DISCUSS VISION AND HOW YOU ALL SEE US MOVING, UM, INTO THE FUTURE.
AND THEN IN JUNE, IT'S PRETTY MUCH A PRESENTATION OF WHAT THAT STUDY HAS BEEN.
WOW, HERE'S SOME EXAMPLES OF WHAT'S BEEN GOING ON.
UM, I KNOW IT'S KIND OF SMALL, BUT WHAT WE DID WAS FOR EACH SCHOOL, WE PRESENTED A QUESTIONNAIRE TO THE PRINCIPALS TALKING ABOUT THEIR CAPACITIES, UM, THE PROGRAMS THAT THEY'RE OFFERING NUMBERS OF STUDENTS, SO ON AND SO FORTH AND SO ON AND SO FORTH, AND JUST HOW THEY'RE FUNCTIONING AND THEN TO THE RIGHT YOU'LL SEE SITE PLANS.
AND SO PART OF WHAT THIS ANNOUNCES WILL ENTAIL, OR A SITE PLAN OF EACH SCHOOL, AND IT JUST SHOWS IF THERE IS A PLAN FOR IT TO GROW INTO LARGER NUMBERS, HOW THAT MAY, IT MAY HAPPEN ON A PARTICULAR SCHOOL SITE.
UM, ONE EXAMPLE THAT'S SHOWN RIGHT NOW IS AN AUDUBON IN SHERWOOD, AUDUBON ELEMENTARY AND SHERWOOD MIDDLE, AND THEY SHARE A SITE.
AND SO THEY'RE STILL MAKING LAND THERE.
AND IT JUST, AGAIN, PART OF THIS STUDY WILL HELP IDENTIFY WHETHER OR NOT THERE IS ROOM ON THAT SITE TO GROW.
UM, AND IN, UH, IN PRODUCT WILL PRETTY MUCH BE A WRITTEN REPORT THAT'S PRESENTED.
AND ALONG WITH THAT IS AN INTERACTIVE DATA PORTAL.
SO WHEN YOU HAVE SPECIFIC QUESTIONS ABOUT A CERTAIN SCHOOL, YOU WILL BE ABLE TO GO TO THAT DATA PORTAL AND, UM, IT SHOULD BE ABLE TO KIND OF ANSWER THOSE QUESTIONS TO SHOW HOW WE GOT TO THE END RESULT.
MS. DYSON, HI, THANK YOU FOR THIS.
UM, SO IN THE REPORT THAT WE ENDED
[00:20:01]
UP GETTING IN, IS IT JANE? YES.UM, BUT, UH, IN IT, IT WON'T HAVE THIS, UM, SMALL FONT THAT WE CAN'T, YOU KNOW.
AND SO EACH SCHOOL WILL HAVE, UM, THIS BREAKDOWN ALONG WITH ALL OF OUR VACANT, UM, CORRECT UNIMPROVED PROPERTIES AS WELL.
AND YOU'LL SHOW THE ANCHORAGE AND ALL OF THAT.
I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE GET IT IN A NO, AND THAT'S ACTUALLY ALSO THE REASON THAT IT IS NOT JUST A WRITTEN REPORT.
IT IS SOMETHING THAT IS INTERACTIVE, SO HE CAN BE ABLE TO BLOW UP, ESPECIALLY WHEN WE GET INTO THOSE SITE PLANS, THEY ARE SO LARGE.
IF WE DID IT IN A WRITTEN FORMAT, IT WOULD ALMOST BE USELESS.
SO THAT IS WHY KIND OF THAT TWO-FOLD OF A DELIVERABLE.
BUT WE'LL GET IT IN A, IN A BOOKLET LIKE THIS TOO, AND YOU'LL BLOW IT UP WITH LARGE ENOUGH FONT.
WE REALLY APPRECIATE IT MUCH NEEDED.
THANK YOU, MS. DYSON, MS. COLLINS.
UM, YEAH, AS, UH, WHY ARE YOU DOING, GOING THROUGH THIS PROCESS? UM, AS NEW NEEDS ARISE, WILL YOU BE ABLE TO, UH, ADD CONSIDERATIONS TO YOUR PROCESS? SO FOR EXAMPLE, I'M PARTICULARLY THINKING ABOUT, UH PRE-K UM, AND, UH, THE IMPLEMENTATION OF A NEW PRE-K CLASSES ACROSS THE DISTRICT.
I'M ASSUMING WHEN IT COMES BACK UP THAT THAT DOES GET APPROVED WITH THAT TYPE OF THING BE CONSIDERED AS PART OF YOUR OVERALL PLAN.
SO I GUESS THAT'S A TWOFOLD ANSWER IN THAT WE WANT TO MEET AND TALK ABOUT, YOU KNOW, WHAT SCHOOLS SPECIFICALLY THAT MAY WANT TO HAPPEN.
IT MAY BE ALL, BUT THE OTHER PART OF THAT IS ON THOSE SITE PLANS SHOWING WHAT'S AVAILABLE AND WHAT CAN HAPPEN ON THOSE CURRENT SITES, IF IT WON'T ALREADY SUIT GROWTH.
VICE PRESIDENT COLLINS, MR. BALLOU AND THEN, UM, AS PART OF YOUR EVALUATION, ARE YOU GOING TO BE, UH, INCLUDING ENROLLMENT THAT, UH, CHARTER SCHOOLS THAT THE DISTRICT HAS AUTHORIZED DURING AND IN TERMS OF, UH, THE NUMBER OF SCHOOLS NEEDED OR, OR WHERE WE MAY NEED ADDITIONAL SCHOOLS? WE ARE, YES, WE ARE ACCOUNTING, UH, ACCOUNTING FOR CHARTERS, WHETHER WITHIN OR OUTSIDE OF, YES.
UM, I DON'T SEE ANY MORE QUESTIONS, MS. ANDERSON.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR, UH, YOU DID SUCH A GREAT JOB OF PRESENTING IT, I GUESS.
UM, ONE MORE, UH, BASED UPON SOME FEEDBACK FROM BOARD MEMBERS, I'D LIKE FOR US, I WOULD LIKE FOR MS. LYNN WILLIAMSON TO SHARE A LITTLE BIT MORE DETAIL ON OUR EXPANDED SUMMER ENRICHMENT IN ATHLETICS OPPORTUNITIES, BASED ON OUR SMART START PLAN, UH, TO SHARE WITH THE COMMUNITY GOOD EVENING, PRESIDENT TASK, TATLIN, VICE-PRESIDENT COLLEGE SUPERINTENDENT, NARCISSISTS, AND MEMBERS OF THE BOARD.
I'M TRULY EXCITED ABOUT THIS OPPORTUNITY TO PROVIDE FREE SPORTS CLINICS THIS SUMMER AND NEW OR EXPANDED SPORTS PROGRAMS FOR STUDENTS IN THE EAST BATON ROUGE, PARISH SCHOOL SYSTEM, STUDENT ATHLETIC PROGRAMS, UH, PROMOTE PHYSICAL ACTIVITY, TEAM BUILDING AND MOTIVATED LEARNERS, AS WELL AS YOU KNOW, MANY OTHER, UH, THINGS, A CHART.
UM, THIS IS WHAT WE CURRENTLY HAVE IN ELEMENTARY.
WE DO NOT HAVE A ELEMENTARY SPORTS PROGRAM SPONSORED BY OUR SCHOOL DISTRICT.
UM, WE ARE GOING TO OFFER SUMMER CLINICS AND, AND, UH, FREE TUTORING TO THESE ELEMENTARY KIDS AND THEN IMPROVE STUDENT ENGAGEMENT, ATTENDANCE, CLASSROOM PARTICIPATION, AND OTHER THINGS IN THE MIDDLE SCHOOL, SIX THROUGH EIGHT, WE CURRENTLY HAVE FOOTBALL, VOLLEYBALL, SOCCER, TRACK, AND FIELD BASKETBALL AND VOLLEYBALL AND SOFTBALL FOR THE MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS.
WE ARE GOING TO EXPAND THE ATHLETIC PROGRAMS TO INCLUDE LONGER, A LITTLE LONGER SEASONS.
AND, UH, THAT WAY THEY WILL HAVE MORE OPPORTUNITIES FOR PRACTICES AND GAMES, WHICH IS IMPORTANT.
UM, WE ALSO WILL HAVE SUMMER TUTORING FOR, FOR OUR, UH, UH, CLINIC ATTENDEES, WHICH WE'RE EXCITED ABOUT HIGH SCHOOL.
UH, WE HAVE TO FOLLOW THE GUIDELINES OF LHSC, WHICH WE ARE, BUT WE'RE GOING TO PROVIDE, UM, TUTORING OPPORTUNITIES FOR ALL STUDENT ATHLETES THIS SUMMER.
[00:25:01]
MS. COLLINS, WHAT'S THE PRICE THING OWN IT.AND I THINK THIS IS ALL AMAZING.
I JUST TRY TO MAKE SURE I'M KEEPING UP.
WHAT'S THE PRICE TAG ON THE PROPOSAL? HAVE YOU BEEN ABLE TO, UH, GET TO THE, TO THAT PLACE YET? YES, MA'AM JUST FOR THE SUMMER PROGRAMS. IT'S $190,000 BAR, BUT, BUT I'LL EXPLAIN IT OR IT'LL MAKE MORE SENSE.
WHEN I EXPLAIN THE, UH, LOCATIONS, I CAN MOVE TO THAT SLIDE THAT SHOWS NOT THE PRICE, BUT IT IS ONE 90 AND THAT INCLUDES THE COACHES, UH, SUPPLEMENTS.
AND, UM, THE BENEFITS I'LL COME BACK TO THAT.
WE'RE GOING TO HAVE THE SUMMER CLINICS.
WE'RE GOING TO HAVE EIGHT WEEKS OF SUMMER CLINICS.
WE'RE GOING TO HAVE THREE SITES AT ALL.
THE AT PRE-K THROUGH ONE, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE THREE SITES, GRADES TWO AND THREE.
WE'RE GOING TO HAVE THREE SITES, FOUR, A FOUR AND FIVE, AND WE'RE GOING TO HAVE THREE SITES FOR GRADES SIX THROUGH EIGHT.
AND, UM, AND THE SITES ON THOSE, WE ARE WORKING ON THE SITES BECAUSE WE'RE TRYING TO MAKE IT IN DIFFERENT GEOGRAPHIC LOCATIONS TO, TO MEET THE NEEDS OF OUR STUDENTS.
AND THEN FOR QUICK CLARITY ON IT, UH, ONE NIGHT THEY, THE CLINICS, IT'S THIS BREAKDOWN OF ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS AND MIDDLE SCHOOL.
SO YOU HAVE THE PRICE TAG ON THE SUMMER CLINICS.
DO YOU ALSO HAVE IT FOR THE, UH, ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS AND MIDDLE SCHOOLS FOR THE FALL? YES, MA'AM.
WE ARE CURRENTLY WORKING ON THAT.
IT'S ALMOST COMPLETE, BUT, BUT I DON'T WANT TO GIVE YOU A TOTAL FIGURE YET BECAUSE WE'RE IN THE PROCESS OF DOING THAT.
AND THEN, AND THIS IS NOT SOMETHING I'M GOING TO HOLD YOU TO, I'M JUST TRYING TO, OKAY.
DO YOU HAVE ANY ESTIMATED RANGE OF WHAT THAT MIGHT LOOK LIKE? LIKE A HUNDRED THOUSAND VERSUS A MILLION? LIKE, IT'S NOT GOING TO BE $2, BUT IT'S NOT GOING TO BE $4 MILLION.
NO, MA'AM IT, IT MIGHT BE BETWEEN TWO 50 AND 300 FOR THE, FOR THE WHOLE YEAR.
AND THAT INCLUDES THE MIDDLE AND THE ELEMENTARY.
UM, LIKE I SAID, WE'RE GOING TO DO EIGHT WEEK CLINICS.
UM, AND, AND THREE PER GRADE LEVEL CLUSTERS.
WE'RE GOING TO HAVE THE, THE, THIS SUMMER, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE FLAG FOOTBALL, VOLLEYBALL, SOCCER, BASKETBALL, TRACK, AND FIELD FOR ELEMENTARY AND MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS.
AND ALL THESE CLINICS WILL BE FREE AND THEY WILL BE FROM SEVEN 30 TO THREE 30 EVERY DAY, MONDAY THROUGH THURSDAY, WE'LL FOLLOW THE DISTRICT SCHEDULE.
AND, UM, THEY WILL BE PROVIDED FREE LUNCH, BREAKFAST.
THEY WILL HAVE AN HOUR AND A HALF TUTORING SLASH LITERACY COMPONENT.
THEY HAVE TO ATTEND THAT BEFORE THEY ATTEND THE SKILLS CLINIC.
SO IT'S GOING TO BE, YOU KNOW, SOMETHING THAT, THAT NO OTHER DISTRICT IN THE STATE HAS.
I CALLED SOME COLLEAGUES OF MINE FROM CATTO AND OTHER SURROUNDING AREAS.
NO ONE HAS IT IN THE PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM AND SPONSORS IS SPONSORED BY THE SCHOOL SYSTEM.
SO THIS IS GOING TO BE A ONE OF A KIND FOR THE STATE.
AND I'M JUST REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THAT.
WE HAVE, WE, ARE YOU DONE MS. WILLIAMSON? WELL, I JUST WANT TO TELL YOU ON NEXT STEPS, I DO HAVE SEASONS UP FROM THE SPORTS AND THEY'RE LISTED HERE.
YOU HAVE THAT IN YOUR, IN YOUR POWERPOINT.
WE'RE GOING TO HAVE SEASONS, WE'LL HAVE FLAG FOOTBALL, VOLLEYBALL, KIND OF COINCIDE WITH EACH OTHER.
THEN WE'LL HAVE A WINTER ONE, WHICH IS SOCCER, A WINNER TWO, WHICH WOULD BE BASKETBALL.
AND THEN SPRING, WE WOULD HAVE TRACK AND FIELD.
WE'RE GOING TO CONFIRM THE LOCATION AND THE DATES.
UM, WE'RE GOING TO CREATE A REGISTRATION PORTAL.
WE'RE GOING TO HIRE QUALIFIED STAFF AND COACHES, AND THEN WE'RE GOING TO PURCHASE THE EQUIPMENT BECAUSE WE'RE GOING TO PROVIDE THAT EQUIPMENT TO THOSE SCHOOLS.
UM, I, WASN'T TRYING TO HURT YOU.
UH, I THINK THIS IS GREAT, UH, ON, REGARDING THE ATHLETIC CAMPS AT HO HOW MANY EMPLOYEES WILL WE, UH, HAVE PARTICIPATING IN THIS FIVE,
[00:30:01]
A TOTAL OF 60, I'LL HAVE FIVE AT THREE SITES FOR EACH SUBGROUP.DO WE ANTICIPATE A NEED FOR VOLUNTEERS, OR I KNOW THERE'S LEGAL THINGS TO CONSIDER, BUT DO WE NEED VOLUNTEERS? UH, ARE WE PLANNING ON INCORPORATING VOLUNTEERS IN THE CAMPS? I WOULD LOVE VOLUNTEERS IF IT'S ALLOWED BY THE DISTRICT.
HUH? UH, I, I JUST HAVE A, HOW IS THERE A STRENGTH AND CONDITIONING PROGRAM THAT WE HAVE FOR, UM, OUR, UH, SPORTS OVER THE SUMMER? I'M NOT, NOT WITHIN THIS, BUT JUST IN THE NATURAL FLOW FOR HIGH SCHOOLS.
DIFFERENT SCHOOLS HAVE THEIR OWN WEIGHT ROOMS. AND WHAT THEY DO IS THE COACHES ARE THEY, THEY, YOU KNOW, WE, THE EBR PAYS FOR A COUPLE OF THE, UH, STRENGTH AND CONDITIONING COACHES AND THEY WORK OUT ON SOME.
DOES IT, DO YOU KNOW, I MEAN, I KNOW IT'S A LITTLE BIT OF A DIFFERENT SCHEDULE EVERY TIME, BUT DID THEY, DID THEY GET THE KID, THE KIDS IN LIKE DURING THE WEEKDAYS FOR A CERTAIN NUMBER OF DAYS DURING THE SUMMER? OR WHAT HAVE YOU, THEY DO, THEY DO HAVE THEM DURING THE WEEK, DAYS IN THE SUMMER.
I'M JUST INTERESTED IN THAT BECAUSE AS A YOUNG MAN, WHEN I WAS, UM, PLAYING SPORTS, IT REALLY WAS GOOD FOR ME TO HAVE, UH, TO BE AROUND ADULTS DURING THE SUMMERTIME WHEN I WAS AWAY FROM LEARNING AND SO ON AND SO FORTH.
SO I AM A BIG ADVOCATE OF A SUMMER PROGRAM, STRENGTHENED, CONDITIONING, WHATEVER IT MIGHT BE.
AND I WOULD LOVE TO INCORPORATE THE TUTORING FOR HIGH SCHOOL IN WITH THAT STRENGTH AND CONDITIONING PROGRAM.
UM, MS. UH, THANK YOU, MS. DYSON.
UM, I JUST THINK ALL OF THIS IS GREAT.
I, I WANTED TO, UM, ASK ABOUT THE THREE SITES FOR EACH.
I'M JUST THINKING ABOUT HOW LARGE THE GEOGRAPHIC AREA IS TO COVER AND IS THREE, I MEAN, I GUESS IS THAT BECAUSE OF A BUDGET, BECAUSE IT'S A LOT OF TERRITORY FOR THREE.
UM, AND THEN IS THERE GOING TO BE A CAP ON HOW MANY CAN REGISTER AT EACH SITE BASED ON, UM, THE GOVERNOR'S ORDERS PER OCCUPANCY? YES.
SO HOW MANY STUDENTS DO YOU THINK WE CAN OFFER THIS TAPE? WELL, WHAT I WANT TO DO IS KINDA HAVE, AND I HAVE A COPY THAT I'M WORKING ON, BUT LET'S SAY TO, TO INCORPORATE MORE STUDENTS AT ONE SITE, I WANT TO HAVE, LIKE, LET'S SAY SOCCER FOR GIRLS IN THE MORNING WHILE BOYS ARE PLAYING, UH, BASKETBALL IN THE MORNING.
AND SO THEN WE, FLIP-FLOP THE TWO PROGRAMS TO WHERE NOW I CAN COME INSIDE AND THE OTHER GROUP CAN GO OUTSIDE.
WE CAN, WE CAN HAVE MORE STUDENTS THAT WAY.
AND I WAS HOPING WHEN WE TALKED, I WAS HOPING THAT, UM, WE COULD OFFER AN INSIGHT INSTEAD OF AN HOUR OF THE TUTORING.
I WAS HOPING AND, AND JUST ENRICHMENT LITERACY.
I WAS HOPING TO GET PART OF THE MORNING, LIKE AN HOUR IN THE MORNING AND AN HOUR IN THE AFTERNOON.
SO SAY, I KNOW WHEN WE TALKED THAT YOU HAD TALKED ABOUT, UM, POSSIBLY LIKE YOU CAN GET THERE FROM SEVEN TO SEVEN 30 AND THEN TUTORING STARTS AT SEVEN 30, AND THEN I'M JUST THINKING ABOUT THIS CHILD THAT GETS DROPPED OFF AND THEY'VE ALREADY MISSED THE TUTORING FOR THAT DAY.
AND SO I'M JUST THINKING OF THE LOGISTICS OF IT.
I MEAN, SO I'M THINKING THAT WE, WE, WE MAY DO BETTER AND BE ABLE TO GET, UM, MORE, UM, PARTICIPATION IN THE TUTORING PART.
AND I THINK MAYBE THEY NEED THE HOUR OUT OF THE WEATHER AND THE HATE AND ALL OF THAT, BOTH IN THE MORNING AND IN THE AFTERNOON, AND MAYBE NOT FIRST THING IN THE MORNING.
MAYBE MID-MORNING AND MID-AFTERNOON, WELL, YOU KNOW, ESPECIALLY MAYBE AFTER LUNCH, BECAUSE YOU WOULDN'T WANT TO EAT AND THEN GO OUTSIDE ON A FULL STOMACH IN THE HEAT.
AND THERE'S, YEAH, WE WILL CONSIDER THAT FOR YOU.
I JUST DEFINITELY WANT TO MAKE SURE WE'RE PUTTING THAT ENRICHMENT IN THERE ENOUGH TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE.
AND I'LL BE INTERESTED TO SEE HOW MANY CHILDREN WE END UP BEING ABLE TO OFFER THIS TO AND HOW MANY WE END UP HAVING TO, UM, YOU KNOW, NOT INCLUDE, I THINK IT'S GOING TO BE HUGE BECAUSE IT'S A FREE, I KNOW, AND I'M, I'M CONCERNED THAT THERE MAY BE MORE DEMAND THAN WE HAVE
[00:35:01]
OPENINGS FOR MAY NOT BE THIS YEAR BECAUSE OF THE LATE START ON THIS AND THE LIGHT, YOU KNOW, DEVELOPMENT OF THIS, AND THEY'VE ALREADY SIGNED UP SOMEWHERE ELSE, BUT I THINK THIS COULD BE A REALLY GAME CHANGER IF WE COULD GROW IT.VICE PRESIDENT COLLINS, JUST A QUICK THOUGHT.
UM, AND IT COULD ACTUALLY MAYBE HELP WITH SOME OF MY COLLEAGUES, CONCERN, UH, THOUGHT ABOUT SOME OF THE EXISTING ORGANIZATIONS THAT ARE ALREADY DOING AT THE MEDICS WITH SOME OF THESE AGE GROUPS, UH, BREAK TEAMS AND THEM, YOU KNOW, MOM AND POP TEENS FOR LACK OF A BETTER DESCRIPTION.
UM, AND SO MAYBE, AND I'M JUST LIFTING THIS UP, MAYBE THERE'S OPPORTUNITY FOR SOME TYPE OF PARTNERSHIP SO THAT, UM, I'M SURE A LOT OF IT, I MEAN, FREE 99 VERSUS HOW MUCH THEY HAVE TO COME UP WITH TO PARTICIPATE IN THOSE OTHER PROGRAMS THAT PEOPLE ARE ALREADY DOING.
A LOT OF PARENTS WILL GO AHEAD AND CHOOSE OUR FREE OPTION.
UH, AND SO, UH, I'M JUST LIFTING UP.
IT MIGHT BE, UM, MAYBE WE COULD PUT OUT, IT MIGHT BE AN OPPORTUNITY THERE FOR PARTNERSHIP.
I CAN'T EVEN PRETEND TO KNOW HOW IT WOULD WORK, BUT IT MIGHT BE A PARTNERSHIP OPPORTUNITY TOO.
THAT WOULD ALSO GIVE US MORE CAPACITY AND A DRESS SOMEONE WITH, UH, MS. DIES AND THEN SAYING, YES, MA'AM.
AND ALSO I'M LOOKING AT, UM, DONATION LIKE FUNDING, YOU KNOW, REACHING OUT TO DIFFERENT ORGANIZATIONS.
VICE PRESIDENT COLLINS, MR. LANDIS, THANK YOU, PRESIDENT SIMON AND NOT TO OVER-COMPLICATE THIS, THE CONVERSATION OR THE PROGRAM.
CAUSE IT SOUNDS PHENOMENAL DECEASED.
UH, MY ONLY QUESTION IS, HAVE WE THOUGHT ABOUT, UH, ACCESS BECAUSE I KNOW WHAT THE OPPORTUNITY IS THERE, BUT IT MAY BE A LOT OF FAMILIES THAT MAY NOT HAVE TRANSPORTATION TO GET TO THOSE SITES.
SO HAVE WE THOUGHT ABOUT TRANSPORTATION OF HELPING THOSE FAMILIES THAT MAY NOT HAVE THE MEANS OF GETTING TO THOSE CAMPS, BUT DEFINITELY, DEFINITELY NEED THOSE PROGRAMS FOR THE STUDENTS.
I WILL CALL MR. HOLIDAY TRANSPORTATION TOMORROW, FIRST THING, AND I'LL ASK HIM, YOU KNOW, IF WE CAN, IF WE CAN WORK TOGETHER.
AND I LOVE THE IDEA OF BEING ABLE TO OFFER MORE, UH, ROLES AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR OUR STAFF AND ALSO FOR OUR COACHES AS WELL IN TERMS OF, UH, OPPORTUNITIES TO MAKE MORE MONEY THROUGHOUT THE SUMMER.
IN TERMS OF EQUITY, WE'VE BEEN REALLY THINKING ABOUT HOW DO WE PROVIDE MORE ACCESS FOR KIDS WHO DON'T HAVE, UH, NOT ONLY FOR ATHLETICS, BUT ALSO FOR OUR SUMMER CAMPS.
UH, SO WE'VE BEEN IN CONVERSATIONS STARTING TO PROCESS TO COMMUNICATE WITH PRINCIPALS ABOUT PROVIDING KIDS WITH SCHOLARSHIPS WHO ARE GOING TO PAID CAMPS, WHERE WE WOULD, UH, BE ABLE TO GIVE SCHOLARSHIPS TO KIDS WHO WERE, UM, UM, THAT WOULD HAVE FREE REDUCE THAT FOLLOWED THE, THE FREE REDUCED CATEGORY.
SO, UM, ACCESS DOES NOT BECOME A PROBLEM FOR THEM.
UM, I KNOW FOR US IN ATHLETICS, WE, UH, BECAUSE IT'S JUST US TO DO THIS.
WE WERE ABLE TO DO THAT, BUT WE'RE ALSO THINKING ABOUT WHAT DOES THAT MEAN WITHIN OUR SUMMER CAMPS, UH, WITHIN OUR SCHOOLS THAT ARE ACTUALLY, UH, CHARGING, UH, PARENTS WHERE IT'S CLEAR.
THAT IS A SUPER DENNIS UPDATE.
[Additional Item]
I WANT TO GO BACK NOW.UM, AND SINCE WE DON'T HAVE OUR, UH, SENIOR ARMY INSTRUCTOR TO INTRODUCE OUR CADET, I DO HAVE ONE OF HIS FORMER TEACHERS HERE.
SO I'M GOING TO CALL ON MR. MATTHEWS TO INTRODUCE HIM.
I DIDN'T KNOW I WAS GOING TO GET THE OPPORTUNITY TO DO THIS TODAY, BUT IT IS WITH GREAT PLEASURE.
GREAT PRIDE THAT I GET TO INTRODUCE TO YOU.
A STUDENT WHO ACTUALLY PUSHED ME TO PUSH HIM TO MAKE ME A BETTER TEACHER WHILE I WAS TRYING TO MAKE HIM A BETTER READER.
UM, HE IS CURRENTLY A FRESHMAN AT LIBERTY MAGNET, HIGH SCHOOL.
HE IS DISTRICT LEADER IN JRTC.
HE ASPIRES TO BE VALEDICTORIAN AND TO ATTEND HOWARD UNIVERSITY TO STUDY CRIMINAL JUSTICE, JEREMIAH
[00:40:01]
TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.CONGRATULATIONS ON ALL YOUR HARD WORK.
AND THIS IS A BATTLE FROM THE BOARD AND THE SUPERINTENDENT TO CONGRATULATE YOU FOR YOUR ENDEAVORS.
NOW BACK TO THE REGULAR BOARD MEETING, UH, ITEM JEAN WARNING, THE BOARD, UH, REPORTS FROM BOARD APPOINTEES TO COMMUNITY AGENCIES.
[H.1. Revised 2021-2022 School Year Calendar]
H ONE CONSIDERATION OF A REQUEST FOR APPROVAL OF THE REVISED 2021, 2022 SCHOOL YEAR CALENDAR FUNDING SOURCE AND COST PROJECTION CARES ACTS APPROXIMATELY 20 MILLION.DARCY'S THANK YOU, PRESIDENT TIME.
AND I'LL LAX NOW FOR ADAM SMITH TO COME UP AND TALK ABOUT THE CALENDAR.
UH, MR. SMITH HAS BEEN WORKING TO LEAD THROUGH THE WORK AROUND THE CALENDAR FOR OUR ASSISTANT SMITH RESIDENT, TACK MINT, VICE PRESIDENT COLLINS, MAMMALS, OTHER BOARDS, UH, SUPERINTENDENT NAZIS.
UH, I STAND HERE BEFORE YOU THIS EVENING TO ASK WHAT CONSIDERATION FOR THE ADOPTION OF AN AMENDMENT OF THE 2021 22 SCHOOL YEAR.
UH, BEFORE I START MY PRESENTATION, I WOULD JUST ASK THE LISTENING AUDIENCE AND MY FRIENDS THAT ARE SITTING BEHIND ME, UH, LESS THAN NOT ALLOW PERFECT TO GET IN THE WAY OF GOOD.
I WILL BE THE FIRST ONE TO ADMIT THAT THE CURRENT CALENDAR THAT WE ADOPTED IN MARCH WAS NOT A PERFECT, THE CALENDAR WAS A GOOD CALENDAR.
AND WHAT SYSTEMS LEA IS LOCAL EDUCATION AGENCIES TRY TO DO.
THEY WORK IN CERTAIN PARAMETERS TO BUILD OUT A CALENDAR.
FIRST BESSIE REQUIRES ALL LOCAL EDUCATION AGENCIES TO ADOPT A CALENDAR WITH A MINIMUM OF 63,720 INSTRUCTIONAL MINUTES.
ALSO, WHAT LEA HAS TRIED TO DO IS TO BUILD IN A CALENDAR WHERE THE STATE GENERALLY RELEASED THEIR STATE ASSESSMENT CALENDAR TO ENSURE THAT WE COVER THE APPROPRIATE STANDARDS BEFORE STATEWIDE ASSESSMENT.
THE SECOND PARAMETER THAT LEA IS LOOKING AT IS THEY EMPLOYERS, THEY EMPLOYEES RATHER, WE HAVE TWO CATEGORIES OF EMPLOYEES CERTIFIED AND CLASSIFIED.
AND GENERALLY WHEN WE BUILD OUT THE CALENDAR, WE LOOK AT OUR CERTIFIED NINE MONTH EMPLOYEES, WHICH ARE A HUNDRED, 881 DAY EMPLOYEES.
BUT THE PARTICULAR CALENDAR THAT WE'RE ASKING YOU TO ADOPT THIS EVENING HAS 185 DAYS FOR OUR TEACHERS.
NOW, MOST EMPLOYEES, WHICH THEY WILL BE COMPENSATED FOR, AND PROBABLY THE MOST IMPORTANT PARAMETER IS COMMUNITY STAKEHOLDER.
OVER THE PAST WEEK, THERE HAS BEEN FOUR COMMUNITY FORUMS, UH, TWO IN MRS. DYSON'S COMMUNITY.
ONE IN MRS. MR. LANDIS, THIS COMMUNITY AND THE LAST WE HAD THIS WEEK WAS IN MRS. BERNARD COMMUNITY.
THE SUPERINTENDENT HAS HELD A PRINCIPAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE THIS WEEK, THE TEACHER ADVISORY COMMITTEE, THIS ADVISORY COMMITTEE THIS WEEK, A PARENT AND A STUDENT AND A DISTRICT WIDE SURVEY WITH OVER 7,000 RESPONSES.
NOW I'VE BEEN WORKING ON THE CALENDAR FOR THE PAST SIX, FIVE YEARS AND NEVER IN MY TENURE HAVE, WE'VE HAD THAT MUCH INVOLVEMENT WITH ADOPTING A CAT CALENDAR, THE CALENDAR DEBT WE PRESENT TO YOU TODAY, I WOULD JUST LIKE TO GO OVER THE, THE COLOR COAL FOR THE MONTH.
IF YOU LOOK AT THE MONTH OF JULY, YOU'LL SEE FROM JULY 19 THROUGH THE 23RD, THAT'S THE SCHOOL LEADERSHIP INSTITUTE HIGHLIGHTED IN YELLOW, ANYWHERE WHERE YOU SEE RED IS TYPICALLY A PROFESSIONAL IN SERVICE WITH PD DAY FOR EMPLOYEES, BLUE IS RECOGNIZED OR DENOTES A START DATE FOR STUDENTS.
YOU'LL SEE A NEW COLOR ON THIS MAP.
[00:45:01]
I'LL CALL IT ORANGE.ORANGE IS OUR FOCUS ASSESSMENT WINDOW FOR OUR STUDENTS, WHICH YOU HAVE THREE WEEKS FOR ASSESSMENT FOR THIRD THROUGH HIGH SCHOOL, I WOULD JUST LIKE TO HIGHLIGHT FOR YOU SOME OF THE CHANGES OR COMPARISON FROM THE PREVIOUSLY ADOPTED CALENDAR AND THIS CURRENT CALENDAR THAT WE'RE PROPOSING TO YOU THIS AFTERNOON, THE CALENDAR THAT YOU ADOPTED IN MARCH HAD 65,830 INSTRUCTIONAL MINUTES.
THE CALENDAR THAT WE'RE PROPOSING TO YOU HAVE 67,375 MINUTES.
THE CALENDAR THAT YOU ADOPTED HAD FIVE INSTRUCTIONAL DAYS BUILT INTO IT.
THE CALENDAR WE HAVE PROPOSED TO YOU TO THIS EVENING HAS NINE INSTRUCTIONAL DAYS BUILT INTO AS MANY OF YOU GUYS AWARE.
IT'S VERY IMPORTANT THAT WE TRY TO BUILD AS MUCH INSTRUCTIONAL TIME INTO OUR CALENDAR BECAUSE OVER THE PI OR THE PAST FIVE YEARS, I'VE BEEN WORKING WITH THIS CALENDAR, WE'VE HAD WEATHER PATTERNS THAT HAS FORCED US TO SHUT DOWN CLOSE.
SO MOST DISTRICTS, THEY WILL DO THEIR BEST TO TRY TO BILL AS MUCH INSTRUCTIONAL TIME UNTIL TO COUNTER AS POSSIBLE.
IN THE PREVIOUS CALENDAR THAT WAS ADOPTED, THERE WAS NO DAYS ALLOCATED FOR THE SCHOOL LEADERSHIP INSTITUTION.
THIS CALENDAR, AS I MENTIONED PREVIOUSLY, HAS THE LEADERSHIP INSTITUTION FOR A FULL WEEK FOR SCHOOL LEADERS AND THEIR STAFF THROUGH THE WEEK OF JULY 19TH THROUGH THE 23RD.
ALSO, YOU WILL NOTICE THAT IN THIS CURRENT CALENDAR THAT WE ARE PROPOSING, THAT WE HAVE PROPOSED SEVEN PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT OR IN-SERVICE DAYS FOR TEACHERS PROBABLY MOST IMPORTANT WHERE WE RECEIVE A LOT OF THE FEEDBACK AND CONCERN WAS THE START TIME FOR TEACHERS AND STUDENTS.
THE ORIGINAL DATE FOR START DATE FOR STUDENTS WAS AUGUST 9TH.
WE WERE ABLE TO PUSH BACK A COUPLE OF DAYS AND START THE YEAR ON AUGUST 11 FOR STUDENTS TO ALLOW THOSE SEVEN DAYS FOR PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT FOR OUR TEACHERS FALL BREAK.
YOU'LL NOTICE THAT IN THE PREVIOUS CALENDAR, WE HAD THREE DAYS FOR FALL BREAK.
THIS CURRENT CALENDAR THAT WE'RE PROPOSING.
WE HAVE TWO DAYS, WE HAVE TO ABSORB ONE OF THOSE DAYS IN FALL BREAK TO BUILD IN THE EXTRA INSTRUCTIONAL MINUTES.
ALSO, YOU WILL NOTICE THAT HALF DAYS, HALF DAYS IS MISSING FROM THE PROPOSED CALENDAR.
IT WAS INTERESTING LISTENING TO SOME OF THE STUDENTS.
STUDENTS SAID SOME OF THE STUDENTS AT THE HALF DAYS WERE PRETTY MUCH A WASTE.
I KNOW THAT THERE HAD BEEN SOME CONCERN AROUND ALLOWING TEACHERS, THE OPPORTUNITY TO GRADE PAPERS DURING THOSE HALF DAYS DOING FINAL EXAMS OR MIDTERM EXAMS. BUT I'M CERTAIN THAT OUR SCHOOL, BELL AND LEADERS CAN WORK AROUND A SCHEDULE WHERE YOU MAY HAVE CERTAIN TASKS GIVEN ON CERTAIN DAYS WHERE TEACHERS WILL HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO, TO GRADE THOSE EXAMS. ALSO WITH OUR ELEMENTARY STUDENTS, I KNOW THAT HAS NORMALLY BEEN A DAY WHERE WE WERE HAVING TO OBSERVE A PARENT CONFERENCE DAY, JUST AS COVID AS A FORCED US TO THINK OUT OF THE BOX.
WE HAVE TO USE LEVERAGE SOME OF THE TECHNOLOGY MEET ONLINE WITH SOME OF OUR PARENTS AFTER SCHOOL, PHONE CALLS, ET CETERA.
SO I'M CERTAIN THAT OUR PRINCIPALS, WE WORKING WITH OUR, OUR TEACHERS TO PROVIDE THOSE DAYS WERE TIME BROTHER TO WHERE PARENTS WOULD NEED TO COME IN TO MEET WITH STUDENTS WITH THEIR TEACHERS.
AND ACTUALLY TEACHERS SHOULD ACTUALLY GREAT TEACHERS MEET WITH PARENTS, STAY IN CONTACT WITH PARENTS ALL YEAR ROUND, SPRING BREAK.
AS YOU WOULD NOTICE IN THE PREVIOUS CANDLES, THERE WAS SIX DAYS AND THIS CURRENT CALENDAR DAYS, FIVE DAYS SPRING BREAK HAS BEEN MOVED UP THE WEEK.
AS I SAID, IN MY OPENING, LET'S NOT LET PERFECT GET IN THE WAY OF GOOD.
AND BECAUSE WE DID NOT HAVE ANY PROFESSIONAL RELEASE DAYS EARLY RELEASE DAYS IN THIS CURRENT CALENDAR, WE DID NOT WANT OUR TEACHERS AND STUDENTS CLOSING OUT THE YEAR ON THE SAME DAY.
SO WE WERE ABLE TO, UH, EXTEND ONE DAY FOR STUDENTS TO GET THE ADDITIONAL NINTH DAY FOR INSTRUCTION AND TO PUSH TEACHER IN DATE BACK ONE DAY, WHICH IS ON THE MAY 23RD, WHICH TEACHER WERE ORIGINALLY, UM, ANDY ON MAY 20TH.
NOW I KNOW THAT THERE HAS BEEN A LOT OF CONCERN
[00:50:01]
ABOUT THE SMART START AND THE EIGHT DAYS, BUT THE ULTIMATE AIM OF THE SMART START AS I CAN APPRECIATE WAS TO INCREASE INSTRUCTIONAL TIME FOR OUR STUDENTS, WHETHER THEY WERE GAPS PRE COVID, POST COVID.THE BOTTOM LINE, THE SECOND AIM WAS TO EMBED JOB JOB EMBEDDED PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT, SUPPORTING NOT JUST OUR TEACHERS, UH, CAFETERIA WORKERS, BUS DRIVERS, ANYONE WHO SERVICE KIDS IN OUR SCHOOL SYSTEM.
AND YOU JUST HEARD FROM LYNN WITH WILLIAMS ABOUT ADDING ADDITIONAL OPPORTUNITIES DURING THE SUMMER.
SO, BUT CAMPS, UH, ATHLETIC CAMPS PROVIDE THOSE SERVICES TO OUR FAMILIES IN OUR COMMUNITY TO PROVIDE ACCESS.
AND SO THAT WAS THE ARCHING AIM OF A SMART START, NOT JUST THE ADDITIONAL EIGHT DAYS STARTING IN JULY.
I CLOSE OUT ANY COMMENTS OF QUESTIONS AND I'M SURE THE BOYS ARE LIT UP.
I MEAN, I AM THE ONLY ONE, BUT, UM, AND I FEEL A STORM BREWING BEHIND.
SPEAKING OF STORMS, UH, ARE THERE ARE THE SO, AND I'M SORRY, I JUST, I WAS TRYING TO FOLLOW ALONG FOLLOW ALONG AND IT'S NOT A COMPLAINT, BUT SOME OF THE PRINT WAS SMALL AND I HAVE A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS.
BUT I JUST LIKE TO DELVE INTO A LITTLE BIT, UM, DAYS FOR HURRICANE, WE NOW TALK ABOUT SNOW CAUSE WE HAVE ICE STAYS IN LOUISIANA.
UM, FLOOD, THOSE DAYS ARE BUILT IN THOUGH.
DAYS ARE BUILT IN, WE HAVE NINE.
WE WOULD NORMALLY CALL THEM CONTINUOUSLY DAYS AND CONTINUE TO ACCESS NINE INSTRUCTIONAL DAYS BUILT INTO THIS PARTICULAR COUNT.
HOW MANY ARE THOSE? DO YOU KNOW, OFF HAND? NINE DAYS NINE.
THE PREVIOUS COUNSELORS THAT WE ADOPTED ONLY AT FIVE DAYS.
SO, UM, THE OTHER QUESTION I HAVE IS, IS THE ORIGINAL SMART START PLAN.
HAD THE KIDS COMING BACK TWO WEEKS EARLY AND ARE WE, AND IT WAS 20 MILLION AND NOW THIS PLAN IS 20 MILLION.
AND I GUESS MAYBE I'M ASKING YOU, IT SEEMS TO ME THAT IT WOULDN'T COST AS MUCH, BUT THAT'S A VERY UNEDUCATED WAY TO ASK THIS QUESTION, BUT CAN YOU TALK THROUGH, SO NOW, BECAUSE UH, WE BUILT IN THE DAYS INTO THE ACTUAL CALENDAR, WHEN PEOPLE REPORT BACK A 20 MILLION IS NOW DOWN TO ZERO.
SO WE ARE NOT GOING TO SPEND ADDITIONAL DOLLARS FOR THOSE, FOR THOSE EARLY DAYS FOR THE 20TH, BECAUSE THE, THE, IF WE HAD THE ENTIRE STAFF COME BACK ON THAT JULY 28TH, WE'D BE PAYING EVERY SINGLE DAY ADDITIONAL AS A SCHOOL DAY, WHICH COSTS A TOTAL OF KELLY DID YOU COME TO THE MIC? KELLY? I THINK JUST SO WE CAN MAKE SURE GREAT QUESTION ACTUALLY.
WE CAN ACTUALLY GO THROUGH THE, THAT WAS SHARED WITH THEM.
I JUST WANTED TO KIND OF GET A SENSE OF IT.
THAT'S ALL I'M, IT'S NOT PROBING QUESTIONS.
I JUST, IF YOU COULD HIT IT A LITTLE BIT, THE EXTRA DAYS THAT ARE BUILT INTO THE CALENDAR, IT'LL BE ABOUT $4.4 MILLION.
I'VE GOT A LOT OF STUFF UP HERE.
SO, UM, ONE OF THE CONVERSATIONS THAT WAS HAD IS THAT PREVIOUSLY IN PREVIOUS YEARS, TEACHERS WOULD GET $25 A DAY FOR PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT OR DID I DREAM THAT? NO, YOU DID NOT DRINK IT.
SO WHAT DO THEY, ARE WE PAYING THEM NOW? YES.
ARE YOU PAID AT THE HOURLY RATE FOR THOSE ADDITIONAL DAYS? THEY DIDN'T REALLY RATE AT THAT DAILY RATE.
SO I THINK THAT'S MY FINANCIAL QUESTIONS.
THERE MAY BE MORE SO YOU MAY WANT TO FLOAT.
UM, SO ONE OF THE, SO FIRST OF ALL, I LOVE THE PD PIECE.
I'M MARRIED TO A 33 YEAR EDUCATOR AND THAT SHE RAVES ABOUT THAT.
SO GIVING THE TEACHERS THE TOOLS THAT THEY NEED, UM, ONE OF THE REAL, ONE OF THE QUESTIONS THAT I DO HAVE ABOUT IT, AND I WANT YOU TO WALK THROUGH WITH ME IS I WANT TO HA I WANT TO UNDERSTAND THE EQUITY PIECE IN THIS PLAN.
UM, BECAUSE, AND I'M NOT, THIS IS NOT A SPEECH.
THIS IS JUST, I WANT TO UNDERSTAND IT, BUT YOU KNOW, CLEARLY IF YOU, YOU ADD NINE DAYS, THAT'S FINE, BUT I, YOU KNOW, HOW ARE WE GOING TO REACH THE STUDENTS WHO MOST NEED TO BE REACHED? AND I'M GOING TO ASK A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS.
YOU DON'T NEED TO TAKE NOTES CAUSE I HAVE THEM WRITTEN DOWN.
BUT, UH, SO THAT'S THE FIRST THING.
AND THEN IS THERE NOT A DIFFERENTIATION BETWEEN PROFESSIONAL
[00:55:01]
DEVELOPMENT BASED ON THE STUDENTS THAT THEY'RE TEACHING? I MEAN, YOU KNOW, THEIR PARTICULAR SITUATION OR WHAT HAVE YOU, AND YOU CAN WALK ME THROUGH THIS WITH ME, LIKE I'M IN MIDDLE SCHOOL, I'LL START WITH THE, THE LATTER QUESTION.THERE IS PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT BUILT IN BASED OFF THE NEEDS OF STUDENTS AND REALLY THAT PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT.
WHAT I CONCLUDE IS JOB EMBEDDED.
IT REALLY BUILDS AROUND WHAT'S HAPPENING AT THE SCHOOL LEVEL.
MAJORITY OF OUR SCHOOLS, WHAT WE HAVE PROFESSIONAL LEARNING COMMUNITIES, PLCS, UH, DATA TEAM MEETINGS.
AND BASED OFF THOSE MEETINGS, THAT'S WHERE PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT AT THE SCHOOL SITE REALLY BEGAN BASED OFF THE NEEDS AND HOW THOSE KIDS ARE PERFORMING ON A TEACHER-MADE ASSESSMENTS OR WHAT THEY CALL COMMON FORMATIVE ASSESSMENTS AND THE EQUITY PIECE FOR ME, MR. TOPMAN AND DR.
NRCS, MY DIFFER EQUITY FOR ME AS ME IS EXTENDING TIME, QUALITY TIME.
AND, AND, AND PART OF THE EQUITY PIECE IS THAT WE'RE EXTENDING INSTRUCTIONAL TIME TO THE DAY.
BUT THE PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT IS REALLY TARGETED AROUND THE NEEDS OF TEACHERS.
FOR EXAMPLE, EVEN WITH THE USING TECHNOLOGY, WE WERE AT A FORMAT LEE HIGH SCHOOL, I THINK SENATOR BILL CASSIDY WAS THERE.
AND THAT WAS ONE OF THE THINGS THAT THE STUDENTS ASKED, YOU KNOW, WHAT IS THE PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT FROM SOME OF OUR TEACHERS AROUND TECH USING TECHNOLOGY.
UH, AND THE STUDENTS NOTICED THAT RIGHT AWAY THAT SOME OF THE TEACHERS WERE LIMITED WITH USING THE TECHNOLOGY.
AND SO, SO WHEN YOU LOOK AT TIME PLUS ITS QUALITY, AND I LOOK AT THE QUALITY AS THE PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT THAT WE'RE PROVIDING TO OUR STAFF, I THINK THAT COVERS THE EQUITY GAP.
IT'S NOT QUALITY WHEN I WAS A FORMER PRINCIPAL.
I EXPECTED INSTRUCTION BELL TO BELL TO MAXIMIZE ON EVERY INSTRUCTIONAL MINUTE OF THE DAY.
AND SO, SO THE EQUITY PIECE FOR ME AND DR.
DARCY'S MAY WANT TO ADD ON TO THAT.
I THINK, UH, EXACTLY WHAT ADAM SHARED AND THE OTHER PART IS THE ADDITIONAL INSTRUCTION DAYS GIVES TEACHERS TIME TO THINK ABOUT HOW THEY THINK ABOUT THE INTERVENTION FOR KIDS.
AND SO, UH, THERE'S A LOT OF DIFFERENT WAYS TO DO THAT.
SO BECAUSE YOU GIVE THEM MORE DAYS TO DO THAT, THEY CAN SPREAD THAT OUT.
THEY COULD PUT MORE TARGETED CLASS FOR CHILDREN, BUT WHEN YOU DON'T HAVE ENOUGH TIME IN THE CLASSROOM TO DO THAT, YOU KNOW, THEN YOU'RE PACKING THE INFORMATION FOR KIDS AND YOU HAVE LIMITED TIME TO DO THAT WORK.
UM, SO IN THE CONVERSATION, WE'VE TALKED A LOT ABOUT, I SAID, WE'VE TALKED A LOT ABOUT, WE HAD MAYBE I JUST, IT WAS IMPORTANT TO ME, BUT WHAT ABOUT, I KNOW THERE WAS DISCUSSION ABOUT WRAPAROUND SERVICES AND THINGS.
SO THE TEACHERS ARE TEACHING LONGER.
WHAT DO WE DO FOR THOSE MOST AT RISK KIDS? HOW DO WE GET THEM THE SORT OF WRAPAROUND SERVICES THAT THEY NEED IS THAT BUILT INTO THIS PIECE? OR IS THAT SOMETHING SEPARATE? YEAH, OUR, OUR GOAL IS WE START DOING WORK AROUND OUR SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL LEARNING AND TRAUMA INFORMED PRACTICES IS TO HAVE A SYSTEM BUILT IN SCHOOLS TO BE ABLE TO DO THAT.
SO ALL OF THE LOAD OF CHILDREN'S CHALLENGES ARE NOT JUST ON THE TEACHER.
AND SO WHAT YOU'RE GOING TO SEE ALSO AS A PART OF OUR INVESTMENT IS MAKING SURE WE CREATE SYSTEMS AROUND OUR SOCIAL WORKERS TO WORK WITH, WITH TEACHERS AND STUDENTS, UM, SUPPORT SYSTEMS AROUND HOW THEY SHOULD THINK ABOUT INTERVENTIONS, DO EARLY WARNING INDICATORS AND THOSE THINGS.
I MEAN, AND A LOT OF THERE ARE, WE HAVE SCHOOLS THAT DO IT, BUT THEY DO IT ON THEIR OWN WITHOUT A FEWER SYSTEM ACROSS THE SCHOOLS.
AND SO THAT WILL, THAT WILL HELP US TO KIND OF WORK THROUGH WITH OUR PARTNERS THAT WAY.
UM, IS THERE ANY NEED FOR, UM, UH, REQUEST TO BESSIE RELATIVE TO, UH, TESTING CHANGES? NO, SIR.
THANK YOU AGAIN, PRESIDENT TUBMAN.
UH, THANK YOU, UH, MR. SMITH FOR YOUR PRESENTATION.
IT WAS EXCELLENT SPOT ON AND I WON'T BE LONG, BUT I WILL SAY THIS OR YOU MAKE A MISTAKE.
THE MOST IMPORTANT THING YOU CAN DO IS OWN IT AND FIGHT AND WORK WITH THE PEOPLE THAT DO THE WORK IN ORDER TO BRING ABOUT THAT CHANGE.
AND MY HAT GOES OFF TO ALL OF THOSE EDUCATORS THAT HAVE VOICED THEIR CONCERNS, NO MATTER HOW HOT THAT MEETING WAS LAST WEEK, I UNDERSTAND IT WAS LONG AND I APOLOGIZE FOR THAT AND I'M PRETTY SURE THE BOARD DOES ALSO, IT WAS ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED AT THE RESULT AFTER THAT, AND THAT'S HOW WE WERE ABLE TO DO THIS.
AND MY COMMITMENT IS THAT WE CAN CONTINUE TO WORK TOGETHER USING THAT PROCESS MOVING FORWARD.
AND THANK YOU AGAIN, THE SUPERINTENDENT FOR HERE IN OUR COMMUNITY.
THANK YOU BOARD FOR HEARING OUR COMMUNITY FOR HOLDING THOSE TOWN HALL MEETINGS.
LISTENING TO OUR IS CONCERNED.
I JUST ONLY ASK THAT WE CONTINUE TO DO THIS MOVING FORWARD.
AND IT'S BEEN POINTED OUT TO ME THAT WE DO NOT HAVE A MOTION.
IS THERE A MOTION ON THE FLOOR, UM, MOVED BY MR. LANDIS, SECONDED BY MR. GODADDY, MS. VICE PRESIDENT COLLINS.
UM, I JUST, I DON'T HAVE ANY, UH, UH, STRONG OPPOSITION OR WHATEVER.
UM, WHAT IS THE USUAL NUMBER OF PROFESSIONAL
[01:00:01]
DEVELOPMENT DAYS AND OUR USUAL CALENDAR YEAR? USUALLY, UH, UNDER THE PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATION ADMINISTRATION, I WAS ABLE TO BUILD IN AT LEAST FOUR DAYS ON THE FRONT END.UH, WHAT WE LEARNED FOR COVID REMEMBER WE HAD FOUR DAYS BUILT IN THREE OR FOUR DAYS BUILT IN, BUT WE WERE ABLE TO PUSH BACK TWO DAYS AND TAKE TWO DAYS AS KIDS STARTED TWO DAYS LATE, UH, WHEN WE STARTED BACK IN AUGUST.
SO, UH, WE WERE FORTUNATE IN THE CALENDAR THAT YOU ADOPTED TO BUILD IN FIVE DAYS.
UH, THAT WAS THE FIRST, BUT NOW, UH, BECAUSE OF, UH, THE CONVERSATIONS AROUND THIS PARTICULAR CALENDAR, UH, WE WERE ABLE TO GO BACK AND REALLY LOOK AT, UH, WHAT WE COULD LEVERAGE FOR US WITH EARLY RELEASE DAYS, UH, FALL BREAK, TO BUILD IN ADDITIONAL PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT DAYS IN THE FRONT END OF THE SCHOOL YEAR.
AND ALSO SAY FUNDING, I GUESS, AS YOU JUST HEARD FROM, UH, MRS. LOPEZ AT 20 MILLION FROM 14 4 MILLION, THE, UH, MY, MY ONLY CONCERN AND, AND, UH, AND IT'S NOT A HUGE CONCERN.
IT JUST REALLY REQUIRES CLARITY.
UM, WE HAVE, IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING THAT WE'VE HAD DISTRICT LEVEL PD AND THEN SCHOOL SITE LEVEL PD.
UH, AND SO THEN ALL WE SUCKING UP ANY SCHOOL SITE LEVEL PD WITH THIS CURRENT, WITH THIS PROPOSAL, DR.
NICETIES MAY HAVE CAN RESPOND TO THAT.
ROBINSON MAY WANT TO COME UP, BUT I THINK IT'S WHEN WE TALKED ABOUT IT, IT'LL BE A SHARED APPROACH.
THERE WILL BE SOME DAYS THAT WILL BE ALLOCATED FOR THE DISTRICT, PROVIDE DISTRICT WIDE PD.
ALSO WITHIN THE SEVEN DAYS, THERE'LL BE TIME FOR TEACHERS TO HAVE SITE-BASED PD AND TO SET UP THEIR CLASSROOMS WITHIN THOSE SEVEN DAYS.
BUT IS THAT SUPERINTENDENT RESTRICTED TO, UM, THEM HONING DOWN THE DISTRICT LEVEL PD? UM, IS THAT, THAT ALLOCATED TIME JUST FOR THAT, OR WILL A PRINCIPAL, IF A PRINCIPAL SEES A NEED, IS THERE ALREADY TIME IN THE CALENDAR THAT ALLOWS FOR THAT PRINCIPAL TO PULL IN PD DAY THAT HE OR SHE KNOWS IS SPECIFICALLY NEEDED FOR THEIR SCHOOL SITE? YEAH, I MEAN, UM, SO IN THIS, IN THE SEVEN DAYS, THE DISTRICT WILL ONLY HAVE THREE OF THOSE SEVEN FOR THOSE DAYS, WE'LL GO DOWN TO THE SCHOOLS AND THEN THROUGHOUT THE YEAR, PRINCIPALS WORK WITH THEIR FACULTY ON WHETHER IT'S FACULTY MEETINGS FOR DEVELOPMENT AND THOSE THINGS.
SO, UM, OUR GOAL IS TO, UM, AS A MATTER OF FACT, EVEN OUR CURRENT STRUCTURE PRINCE, UH, TEACHERS WILL ACTUALLY START ON THEIR FIRST DAY, NOT AT THE DISTRICT, BUT ACTUALLY AT THE SCHOOL.
UH, AND THEN FROM THERE WE WILL GET THREE DAYS WITH THEM.
AND THEN THE REST OF THE TIME WE'LL BE AT THE SCHOOL WITH THEIR PRINCIPALS.
WE RECEIVED THAT FROM THE PRINCIPAL ROUND TABLE WHERE I MEET WITH ALL THE PRINCIPALS IN THE CITY, WE SPOKE WITH THE PRINCIPAL ADVISORY AND THOSE GROUPS.
I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE, I KNEW YOU HAD INITIALLY ABOUT EIGHT DAYS OF PD, YOU KNOW, FROM THE ORIGINAL PLAN.
AND SO THEN THAT WAS MY ONLY CONCERN THAT, THAT WASN'T PUSHING OUT THE OTHER PD THAT IS ALSO EQUALLY NEEDED.
I'M GOING TO GO TO, UH, ATTORNEY SHANNON.
CAUSE I THINK HE HAS A POINT HE WANTS TO MAKE.
I WANT TO, I WANT TO MAKE SURE WE ASK SOME CLARIFICATION ON THE LANGUAGE OF THE MOTION, BE SURE WE'RE VERY SPECIFIC.
UM, AND I WANT TO READ IT BACK TO YOU AND W WE'RE GOING TO, I'M GOING TO ADD SOME WORDS TO MAKE SURE WE ARE SPECIFIC ABOUT WHAT WE'RE ADOPTING.
UH, YES, WE MIGHT HAVE TO HAVE MR. LANDIS IN HERE, SO LET'S LET SOMEBODY ELSE ASK SOME QUESTIONS AND THEN I'LL TELL YOU WHAT WE, I THINK WE CAN WAIT UNTIL WE GET TO YOU ON THE QUEUE IF THAT'S OKAY.
UH, MR. HOWARD, THANK YOU, PRESIDENT TAMMY.
AND I'M, I JUST WANTED TO SPEAK ABOUT, UM, THE, UH, STUDENT ADVISORY COUNCIL MEETING, UM, AND JUST ENCOURAGE OTHER BOARD MEMBERS.
IF YOU GET AN OPPORTUNITY, UM, TO GO TO THOSE MEETINGS, TO HEAR DIRECTLY FROM OUR KIDS, UM, THEY PROVIDED SOME VERY INSIGHTFUL AND VERY PRACTICAL INFORMATION AROUND LIKE THE THINGS AND THE ISSUES THAT WE AS ADULTS FIGHT ABOUT ALL THE TIME.
UM, AND JUST TO BE REALLY STUDENT FOCUSED AND CENTERED AROUND THE TRUE MISSION OF A SCHOOL DISTRICT ON.
SO I'LL JUST ENCOURAGE YOU FOLKS TO GO OUT AND, AND SEE AND HEAR FROM OUR STUDENTS.
THEY HAVE A LOT OF INSIGHT TO PROVIDE AS IT RELATES TO THE ISSUES THAT WE DEAL WITH.
THANK YOU, MR. HOWARD, MR. GAUDETTE.
AND, UH, LIKE SOME OF THE SPEAKERS BEFORE ME, I'M GLAD THAT, UM, UH, THE COMMUNITY AND TEACHERS AND OTHER STAFF BROUGHT FORTH THEIR COMMENTS, BECAUSE I THINK WE ACTUALLY ENDED UP WITH A MUCH BETTER PLAN AS WE GO FORWARD.
AND, UM, YOU KNOW, IT'S NOT A MISTAKE IF YOU'VE LEARNED SOMETHING FROM IT AND COME OUT BETTER, SAID, I, I VIEWED THIS AS A PROCESS.
[01:05:01]
ONE IS, UH, YOU KNOW, WE TALK A LOT ABOUT THE SOCIAL EMOTIONAL LEARNING AND FROM SOME OF THE READING THAT I'VE BEEN DOING AND SOME OF THE RESEARCH AND TALKING TO PARTICULARLY ONE SCHOOL THAT, UH, IT'S A, IT'S A STATE SCHOOL, BUT, UH, THAT HAS REALLY PUT AN EFFORT INTO IT.UH, THAT PERSON TOLD ME THAT IT WAS THE MOST SUBSTANTIAL THING THEY'D DONE IN THEIR SCHOOL, THAT IT IMPROVED ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE MORE THAN ANYTHING ELSE THAT THEY HAD DONE, BUT IT TOOK THREE YEARS FOR IT TO SHOW ITSELF.
AND SO I JUST WANT EVERYONE TO BE AWARE THAT IT'S SOCIAL, EMOTIONAL LEARNING IS SOMETHING THAT WE NEED.
RESTORATIVE JUSTICE IS SOMETHING THAT WE NEED, BUT DON'T EXPECT RESULTS OVERNIGHT.
IT TAKES PEOPLE TIME TO LEARN HOW TO USE IT.
IT TAKES TIME FOR THE EFFECTS OF IT TO BE SHOWN.
SO I'M VERY GLAD THAT WE'RE DOING THAT.
AND I APPLAUD, UH, THE DISTRICT AND I HOPE THAT ALL OF OUR FACULTY AND STAFF WILL EMBRACE IT.
I DO HAVE A QUESTION ON THE PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT.
HEY, IT, CAUSE I I'M, I GOT CONFUSED AND IT'S PROBABLY I'LL GO I'M IN THE MIDDLE SCHOOL SECTION SITTING ALONGSIDE OUR PRESIDENT, BUT, UH, FOR THE ORIGINAL CALENDAR, THE ORIGINAL CALENDAR HAD FIVE PD DAYS AT THE BEGINNING OF THE YEAR WHERE THE TEACHER'S ONLY GOING TO BE PAID $25 A DAY FOR THOSE DAYS, NO FULL PAY.
I JUST WANT TO, I JUST WANT IT TO UNDERSTAND THAT CLEARLY.
SO AS WE GO TO THE SEVEN DAYS, THEY'RE GETTING PAID FOR THE, FOR THE WHOLE SEVEN DAYS.
THAT'S THAT WAS THE ONLY THING I REALLY WANTED TO BE CLEAR ABOUT.
IT WAS NOT CLEAR IN MY MIND AT ALL.
WHERE DID THE, WHERE DO THEY GET PAID? $25 A DAY FOR PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT? IT'S AN HOURLY BASIS BASED ON IF THEY DO ANY PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT OUTSIDE OF THE NORMAL WORK DAY OR OUTSIDE OF THE NORMAL WORK DAY.
CAUSE I KEPT HEARING THAT AND I KEPT GETTING CONFUSED AS TO WHERE THAT WAS COMING FROM.
AND NOW I'M SORRY, $25 AN HOUR OUTSIDE THE NORMAL WORK DAY, $25 AN HOUR, $25 A DAY.
I'VE HEARD PEOPLE SAY $25 A DAY.
THANK YOU, MR. GODA AND BOARD MEMBERS, DON'T QUALIFY FOR THAT PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT FEE.
SO WE MAY NOT BE PROFESSIONAL AND MIDDLE-SCHOOL HERE WE COME.
UM, MS. WADE JACKSON, THANK YOU, PRESIDENT.
UM, JUST WANTED TO MAKE A COUPLE OF COMMENTS ABOUT, YOU KNOW, THE BENEFITS LIKE, UM, MR. GOLDADE MENTIONED, UM, YOU KNOW, THERE'S ALWAYS A REALLY GOOD LEARNING EXPERIENCE WHEN YOU GO THROUGH SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
UM, WE GOT A CHANCE TO HEAR FROM OUR TEACHERS AND PRINCIPALS ABOUT THINGS THAT THEY DO IN THEIR CLASSROOMS THAT REALLY, REALLY WORK.
AND, UM, I REALLY APPRECIATED THE FEEDBACK AND, AND HEARING, YOU KNOW, SOME OF THE PASSIONATE THINGS THAT THEY'RE DOING IN THE, IN THE CLASSROOM AND ALSO SOME THINGS THAT THEY THINK THAT THEY'RE DOING, THAT'S NOT SO EFFECTIVE.
UM, YOU KNOW, WITH, WITH ALL OF THE MISUNDERSTANDING THAT TOOK PLACE AROUND SMART START, I FOUND IT REALLY INTERESTING THAT ONCE PEOPLE HEARD WHAT THE PLAN WAS AND SAW ALL THE BENEFITS, UM, THEY WERE ON BOARD, YOU KNOW, WITH, UM, SURPRISINGLY, YOU KNOW, THEY, THEY REALLY CAME ON BOARD WITH, EXCEPT FOR THE, THE EARLY, UH, STARTING IN JULY INITIALLY, UH, EVERYBODY WAS UPSET ABOUT THE JULY START AND DIDN'T SEE THE BENEFITS OF OTHER THINGS THAT WERE BEING OFFERED.
BUT ONCE THEY WERE ABLE TO GET A REALLY GOOD LOOK AT THE PLAN, UM, THEY WERE A WHOLE LOT MORE ON BOARD.
AND, UM, SURPRISINGLY I STARTED GETTING EMAILS, TELL ME TO DO THE SMART, SMALL START SMART, YOU KNOW, BRING THEM BACK EARLY.
YEAH, THAT'S THE, THAT'S THE BEST THING TO DO, YOU KNOW? SO IT WAS A WORLD WIND EXPERIENCE, BUT, UM, BUT YOU KNOW, UH, I THINK MOST PEOPLE KNOW THAT I'VE BEEN AN ADVOCATE FOR A SEPTEMBER START FOR EVER, UM, AROUND, UM, LABOR DAY WHEN IT'S NOT AS HOT.
UH, BUT I WOULDN'T DARE GO THERE THIS YEAR WITH ALL OF THE, I WAS JUST VERY HAPPY TO, UH, TO SAY, MOVE BACK TO AUGUST AGAIN, YOU KNOW, SO THAT, UH, PEOPLE COULD REALLY, UM, ENJOY THE SUN AND, UH, TAKE SOME TIME TO, TO REALLY DO SOME THINGS FOR THEMSELVES AND GET TOGETHER AGAIN WITH THEIR FAMILIES.
NOW THAT COVID IS, IS LIGHTENING UP SOMETHING WE HOPE, BUT WE DON'T KNOW.
UH, AND I DON'T WANT US TO FORGET ABOUT THE CONCERNS AROUND COVID AND RETURNING TO THE CLASSROOM TO MAKE MAKING SURE THAT OUR CLASSROOMS ARE CLEAN AND THAT, UM, THE
[01:10:01]
GROUPS THAT ARE SUPPOSED TO BE CLEANING OR CLEANING THE WAY THAT THEY SHOULD, BECAUSE, UH, IT'S NOTHING TO PLAY WITH.AND, UH, BUT I DO APPRECIATE SO MUCH THAT, UH, THAT, YOU KNOW, WE'VE, WE'VE COME TO A BETTER UNDERSTANDING AND A BETTER AGREEMENT.
AND, UM, BUT THEN OF COURSE, YOU KNOW, LOOKING AT THE EMAIL AND THAT'S STILL, YOU KNOW, STILL PEOPLE THAT ARE YOU CAN'T PLEASE, EVERYBODY, YOU KNOW, I DON'T UNDERSTAND THAT.
SO, UM, I'M JUST GLAD THAT THE MAJORITY OF THE DISTRICT SEEMS TO BE HAPPY.
WE DON'T HAVE PITCHFORKS AND TORCHES ON US.
SO, UM, SO I JUST WANT TO COMMEND EVERYBODY FOR ALL THE HARD WORK THAT THEY'VE DONE IN OUR SUPERINTENDENT.
I APPRECIATE YOU TAKING THE HEART.
SOME OF THE THINGS THAT, UM, I WAS ATTEMPTING TO EXPRESS AT THE COMMITTEE AT THE WHOLE, AND, UH, I'M JUST HAPPY THAT, YOU KNOW, THIS IS COME TO COME TO LIGHT, THAT WE'LL BE STARTING, YOU KNOW, AROUND THE, THE REGULAR TIME.
AND, UH, AND THEN THE KIDS GET TWO MORE DAYS ON TOP OF THAT.
SO, YOU KNOW, UM, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
AND I JUST WANT TO SAY THAT I APPRECIATE ALL OF THE EMAIL, ALL OF THE, UH, INSIGHT AND COMMENTS, YOU KNOW, HOWEVER HARD IT WAS, UM, YOU KNOW, IT'S, IT'S A GROWING EXPERIENCE.
SO, UH, THANK YOU FOR YOUR RECONSIDERATION AND, UH, THANK YOU TO THE BOARD FOR GOING THROUGH ALL OF THIS ALONGSIDE EVERYBODY ELSE.
SO THANK YOU MS. SQUARE JACKSON, MR. LANICE.
UH, I ALMOST FORGOT OUR STUDENTS, MAN.
THAT WAS PROBABLY THE MOST REFRESHING THING THAT WE GOT A CHANCE TO SEE WHAT SEEING STUDENTS BEING INVOLVED IN THAT PROCESS AND HEARING THEM VOICE THEIR CONCERNS AROUND MAKING SURE THAT WE, UH, MAKE, UH, MAKE IT A PRIORITY FOR OUR ESL STUDENTS.
THAT WAS ONE OF THE THINGS THAT THEY TALKED ABOUT, UH, MAKING SURE THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT MENTAL HEALTH COUNSELORS, NOT JUST FOR STUDENTS, BUT ALSO FOR OUR EDUCATORS.
AND THE MOVEMENTS ON THE CALENDAR AROUND EASTER, IT'S JUST, YOU WOULD NEVER THINK THAT STUDENTS HAVE THAT LEVEL OF UNDERSTANDING ABOUT THE INNER WORKINGS OF HOW THE SCHOOL BOARD DOES A LOT OF THE THINGS THAT WE DO, BUT THEY WERE RIGHT ON IT.
AND THIS IS THE ONLY THING THAT I WOULD OFFER TO OUR BOARD FROM ALL THE CONCERNS THAT WE DID HERE.
WHEN WE TALK ABOUT PDS AND THE STUDENTS, AND I'M SORRY, OUR TEACHERS AND OUR PRINCIPAL GOING TO PDS.
ONE THING I WOULD LIKE TO OFFER IS SAYING, CAN WE CONSTRUCT A PD WHERE WE LISTEN TO OUR TEACHERS AND OUR PARENTS AND LET THEM LEAD WHILE WE'RE ONLY LISTENING SO THAT WE CAN BE BETTER AT RESPONDING TO THEIR NEEDS WHENEVER THE CONCERNS DO COME UP, THAT WOULD BE MY BIGGEST OFFICE.
THANK YOU, MR. LANDIS, MS. BERNARD, THAT WAS KIND OF MY LINE OF THINKING AS WELL, MR. LANDIS.
UM, I WAS JUST WONDERING IF WE HAVE ANY CLARIFICATION ON THE PROVIDERS FOR THE PD AT THIS TIME, I REALIZED WE ARE NOT VOTING ON THE PROVIDERS IN THIS MOTION, BUT, UH, DO WE KNOW KIND OF WHAT WE, WHAT WE INTEND WITH THAT? I'LL DEFER THAT TO SUPERINTENDENT DARCY'S OKAY.
NARCISSE WAS, DO HAVE WE IDENTIFIED TO PROVIDE US OTHER PD FOR HOW WE IDENTIFY PROVIDERS FOR PD? I'M SORRY, SAY THAT AGAIN.
HOW DO WE, HAVE WE IDENTIFIED PROVIDERS FOR THE PD? UH, LET ME CALL, UH, UH, MS. UH, BOARDMAN BERNARD, UH, DR.
BARBARA LASHLEY, UH, WHO CAN SHARE SOME OF THE PROVIDERS.
UM, A LOT OF THE WORK THAT THEY TALKED ABOUT IDENTIFYING WAS BASED ON A LOT OF THE DATA THAT THEY LOOKED AT ON WHERE OUR SCHOOLS ARE HAVING SOME CHALLENGES.
AND SO I WANTED TO LET THEM SHARE THAT INFORMATION.
SO ARE WE BRINGING IN OUTSIDE PROGRAMS OR, WELL, THERE, THERE WILL BE SOME OUTSIDE PROVIDERS.
WE WILL HAVE SOME PEER DEVELOPED AS WELL.
AND WE ALSO, UM, ARE TAKING THE IDEA THAT WE ACTUALLY LEARNED FROM A TOWN HALL WHERE WE CAN BE ABLE TO CREATE MINI GRANTS FOR TEACHERS TO BE ABLE TO, WE'RE DOING SOME GOOD WORK TO BE, TO DO THAT.
I THINK WE HAVE TO FIGURE OUT WHAT THE MECHANISM OF THAT WOULD BE, BUT I REALLY PROCESS, SO WE HAVEN'T FULLY FIGURED IT OUT, BUT WE'VE HAD BEEN IN A CONVERSATION AND FIGURING OUT FOR TEACHERS WHO ARE DOING SOME GREAT WORK, UH, WHAT WOULD THAT LOOK LIKE? AND SO, UM, I THINK WE'VE INTRODUCED, TRYING TO MAKE SOME ADJUSTMENTS IN THAT PROCESS.
I REALLY APPRECIATE THAT VERY MUCH.
I THINK YOU'RE GOING TO BE SURPRISED PLEASANTLY.
DO YOU STILL WANT TO HEAR OR, WELL, WE COULD JUST WAIT UNTIL WE GET TO THE APPROVAL FOR THE PROVIDERS WHEN, WHEN THAT COMES.
[01:15:01]
THANK YOU, MR. BERNARD.UH, I GUESS WE'LL, LET'S GO AHEAD AND WORK THE, UH, THE MOTION, IF YOU WILL, UH, ATTORNEY SHANNON LIKE TO PRESENT TAMMY, I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE WE'RE CLEAR ON THE MOTION.
AND WE DID ADD SOME LANGUAGE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE KNOW WHAT WE'RE ADOPTING.
WELL, THE READ THE MOTION, UH, TO ADOPT THE REVISED 2021, 2022 SCHOOL YEAR CALENDAR, FURTHER IDENTIFIED AS OPTION ONE A AND THAT WAY PEOPLE KNOW EXACTLY WHAT WE'RE VOTING ON, WHAT WE'RE ADOPTING, WHAT WAS PRESENTED BY MR. SMITH.
AND ALSO, UM, WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT THE DOLLAR AMOUNT REFLECTED, UH, IN THE APPROVAL IS ACCURATE.
SO I WANT TO MAKE SURE IF, IF MS. LOPEZ COULD GIVE US THAT DOLLAR AMOUNT, SO THAT THE MINUTES ACCURATE FLAG, WHAT, WHAT IT IS WE'RE APPROVING, WHAT'S BEING PAID FOR SLIP AS IT'S ON OUR WAY IN THE SECONDARY.
WE'LL NEED TO APPROVE THAT, BUT GO AHEAD.
AND IT, UH, SO FOR THE CALENDAR, WHICH IS A 92 FALL 93 DAY SPRING CALENDAR WILL COST APPROXIMATELY $4.4 MILLION.
MR. LANDIS, MR. GODI, ARE YOU OKAY WITH THOSE CHANGES? OKAY.
SO I DO WANT TO BRING UP BECAUSE THERE ARE ADDITIONAL DAYS, THERE WILL BE THREE ADDITIONAL 10 DAY CHECK PERIODS BECAUSE WE WILL HAVE TO PAY THREE ADDITIONAL DAYS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR.
UM, MS. DYSON I JUST AM VERY GRATEFUL FOR, UM, THE OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE HEARD FROM SO MANY TEACHERS, PARENTS, PRINCIPALS, UM, STUDENTS.
SO MANY PEOPLE HAVE BEEN ENGAGED IN THIS PROCESS, AND I, I FELT VERY BADLY THAT WE'RE IN THE MIDDLE OF A VERY DIFFICULT, UM, TIME, AND I'M SORRY THAT WE MADE THAT MORE DIFFICULT THAN WE HAD TO, BUT, UM, WE DID STEP BACK AND I APPRECIATE ALL OF THE COMMUNITY THAT GAVE US SO MUCH INFORMATION.
AND, UM, I APPRECIATE THE SUPERINTENDENT FOR AGREEING TO STEP BACK AND, UM, LISTEN, AND THEN NOT ONLY LISTEN, BUT ACTUALLY ACT ON THE OPINIONS BEING SHARED.
AND A LOT OF TIMES PEOPLE SAY THAT THEY'RE LISTENING AND IT DOESN'T AFFECT CHANGE, AND IT DOESN'T ALWAYS AFFECT CHANGE.
IT, IT MAY NOT AT TIMES BECAUSE THERE MIGHT JUST BE A DISAGREEMENT, BUT IN THIS CASE, SO MANY PEOPLE HAD OPINIONS AND INPUT AND THOUGHTS.
THERE'S BEEN MANY, MANY TIMES I KNOW, SPECIFIC TO MY, UH, AREA THAT I CAN HAVE A TOWN MEETING AND HARDLY ANYONE SHOWS UP EXCEPT FOR A FEW, A HANDFUL OR TWO HANDS AND CENTRAL OFFICE STAFF.
AND SO THIS WAS AN OPPORTUNITY TO ACTUALLY SEE THE ENGAGEMENT OF REAL PEOPLE AND, UM, AND, AND HOW MUCH THEIR OPINIONS MATTER, BY THE WAY WE DID STEP BACK, LISTEN, AND THEN HAVE CHANGED SOME COURSE HERE.
UM, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I WANTED TO THAT STAND OUT TO ME IS THAT, UM, TEACHERS HAVE BEEN ASKED TO DO SO MUCH THIS YEAR WITH TRYING TO SIMULTANEOUSLY TEACH VIRTUALLY AND IN PERSON THAT THAT WAS A HUGE ASK THAT WE MADE.
AND I RECOGNIZE THAT, AND I FELT SURELY THAT I FEEL SURE THAT OUR BOARD AND OUR SUPERINTENDENT RECOGNIZED THAT THAT WAS A MONUMENTAL TASK, A HEAVY, HEAVY LIFT THAT WE ASKED FOR OUR TEACHERS WHO WERE PEOPLE TOO, THAT WERE EXPERIENCING SOME OF THE EFFECTS OF COVID DIRECTLY OR IN THEIR EXTENDED FAMILIES.
AND SO, UM, THIS HAS JUST BEEN A CHALLENGING TIME, AND I APPRECIATE THAT.
UH, A LOT OF HARD WORK HAS GONE INTO THIS YEAR AND THE PRIDE THAT I'VE, I'VE SEEN FROM TEACHERS WHO ARE SO THANKFUL THAT THEIR HARD WORK, IN SOME CASES, THEIR, THEIR HARD WORK AND THE HARD WORK OF THE STUDENTS AND PARENTS IS PAYING OFF AND THERE, THEY DIDN'T HAVE SOME OF THE LOSSES THAT SOME HAD.
[01:20:01]
AMAZING TO HEAR SOME OF THE PERSONAL STORIES OF TEACHERS AND STUDENTS AND HAVE PARENTS TRYING TO MANAGE IT ALL.SO ONE OF THE THINGS ABOUT THIS CALENDAR THAT I DO LIKE THAT WAS IN THE PROPOSED CALENDAR IS THE ADDITIONAL TWO DAYS.
SO WE, WE, WHEN WE HEARD LAST WEEK ABOUT THE PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND THAT IT REALLY WAS ONLY GOING TO INCOME, THE CENTRALIZED PD WAS GOING TO REALLY ONLY ENCOMPASS THREE TO THREE AND A HALF OF THE DAY DAYS.
UM, I REALLY LIKED THE FACT THAT THIS BROUGHT BACK THAT SOME TIME FOR THE TEACHERS TO GO BACK WITH THEIR TEAMS AND AT THEIR SITE, THEIR PRINCIPALS TO DO PD THAT IS SPECIFIC TO THAT SCHOOL TO GET THEIR CLASSROOMS READY.
SO NOW WE'RE PAYING THEM SOME DAYS TO HELP WITH GETTING THEIR ROOMS READY.
AND I SEE CARS ALL SUMMER LONG, UM, IN THE PARKING LOTS AT SCHOOLS.
AND I KNOW THEY'RE IN THERE WORKING ON THEIR CLASSES AND CLASSROOMS. AND, UM, SO I APPRECIATE THAT WE'RE PAYING THEM NOW SOME TO DO THAT.
SO OVERALL IT'S NOT, NOT A PERFECT CALENDAR.
UM, THERE THERE'S THINGS HERE AND THERE.
I KNOW, UM, YOU KNOW, CERTAIN PEOPLE DON'T LIKE CERTAIN THINGS.
AND I, AS A PARENT KNOW THAT WE REALLY LIKED THOSE HALF DAYS IN DECEMBER.
AND IN MAY, ONCE YOU HAVE A MIDDLE SCHOOLER OR A HIGH SCHOOLER WHERE THEY'RE TRYING TO TAKE MIDTERMS AND FINALS, AND I'M SURE THAT WE'LL HAVE A LOT OF CHILDREN, STUDENTS CHECKING OUT SO THAT THEY CAN GO HOME AND HAVE DIS UNINTERRUPTED, UM, STUDY TIME.
UM, BUT MAYBE WE CAN PLAN FOR, UM, QUIET SPACES IN OUR, UM, WITH, WITH AN, A TEACHER THERE AND REAL STUDY TIME AFTER TESTS HAVE BEEN GIVEN DURING THAT DECEMBER AND MAY IN A VERY CONTROLLED ENVIRONMENT, UM, FOR, FOR OUR STUDENTS.
SO I'M SURE WE CAN PLAN THAT SOMEHOW SITE BY SITE, UM, WHAT, WHAT THEIR STUDENTS REALLY NEED.
SO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR EVERYONE'S WORK ON THIS VICE PRESIDENT COLLINS, OKAY.
TO A GENERAL COUNSEL'S POINT ON THE COST DIFFERENCE.
AND MS. LOPEZ CLARIFIED THAT THE SALARY AND BENEFIT PORTION IS 4.4 MILLION.
I WOULD BE REMISSED IF I DID NOT MENTION THAT THIS IS BASED ON THE CURRENT SALARY SCHEDULE, YOU WILL DO A NEW SALARY SCHEDULE IN JUNE WHEN YOU APPROVE THE GENERAL FUND BUDGET.
AND SO IT MAY ADJUST SLIGHTLY, BUT AGAIN, I WOULD BE REMISSED IF I DIDN'T MAKE.
UM, AND I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT I'M CLEAR, BUT I'M LOOKING AT BECAUSE OF THE ADJUSTMENTS THAT WE HAVE MADE LISTENING TO OUR CONSTITUENTS AND HEARING FROM OUR FRONTLINE PROFESSIONALS, UM, I WOULD TEACH US, WE WENT FROM A $20 MILLION PRICE TAG TO A $5.7 MILLION PRICE TAG.
ONCE YOU ALSO INCLUDE SOME OF THE PROPOSED CONTRACTORS.
WELL, HOW YOU LIKE THAT? I'D LIKE, I, I THINK I APPRECIATE A CLOSE TO $15 MILLION SAVINGS ON THE PLAN.
I THINK WE, I THINK, UH, YOU KNOW, THAT SOUNDS GOOD TO ME.
VICE PRESIDENT COLLINS, MR. GODIN.
SORRY, THE DOUBLE DIP, BUT, UH, MS. DYSON REMINDED ME OF A COUPLE OF THINGS I WANTED TO SAY, FIRST OF ALL, TO OUR TEACHERS, UH, I KNOW WE HAVE TALKED SOME ABOUT THE LEARNING GAP THAT HAS OCCURRED THIS YEAR.
UH, AND I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT ALL OF OUR FACULTY AND STAFF RECOGNIZES THAT WHAT WE'RE REALLY REFERRING TO IS THE UNUSUAL CIRCUMSTANCES THAT WE HAVE OCCURRED THAT HAVE OCCURRED TO US IN THIS YEAR WITH THE UNUSUAL CHALLENGES THAT HAVE HAPPENED AND IN NO WAY, SHAPE OR FORM.
ARE WE TRYING TO SAY THAT THE TEACHERS AND STAFF HAVE NOT DONE A GREAT JOB, BECAUSE PARTICULARLY WHEN I LOOK AROUND THE COUNTRY AND I LOOK AT SCHOOLS LIKE IN CHICAGO AND LOS ANGELES IN NEW YORK THAT ARE NOT EVEN BACK IN THE CLASSROOMS YET, UH, OUR TEACHERS AND STAFF HAVE DONE A TREMENDOUS JOB, UH, THREE THIS YEAR.
AND THE ONLY REASON WE AREN'T IN WORST SHAPE IS BECAUSE OF THE UNBELIEVABLE JOB THAT THEY HAVE DONE.
SO I JUST WANTED TO MAKE THAT CLEAR THAT NO, NO WAY ANYONE ON THIS BOARD IS SAYING THAT ANYONE HAS DONE A BAD JOB.
[01:25:01]
THE OPPOSITE, THE JOB HAS BEEN EXEMPLARY.AND, UH, WE REALLY APPRECIATE YOU.
AND THANK YOU FOR ALL THE TIME AND EFFORTS THAT YOU HAVE PUT IN THAT WAS ABOVE AND BEYOND THE NORMAL.
AND ALSO IN GOING ABOVE AND BEYOND THE NORMAL, I THINK HE BECAME A PARENT TO ALL OF US, JUST HOW FLAT OUT EXHAUSTED EVERYONE IS BOTH EMOTIONALLY AND PHYSICALLY.
AND WE HEARD YOU, WE UNDERSTAND THAT.
AND SO I'M HAPPY THAT WE CAN MAKE THESE ADJUSTMENTS TO GIVE YOU SOME TIME TO RECHARGE YOUR BATTERIES, UH, AND COME BACK INTO THIS.
AND AGAIN, THAT EXHAUSTION THAT YOU'RE SEEING, LIKE I SAID, BOTH PHYSICALLY AND MENTALLY COMES FROM THE EFFORT THAT YOU GUYS HAVE PUT INTO KEEPING OUR STUDENTS AS UP TO SPEED AS POSSIBLE.
IT CAN BE GIVEN THESE UNUSUAL TIMES.
SO FOR ALL OF THAT, I WANT TO GIVE YOU MY HEARTFELT THANKS.
AND I THINK I CAN SPEAK FOR THE REST OF THE BOARD.
THANK YOU VERY, VERY MUCH FOR A JOB WELL DONE.
AND WE'RE TRYING TO GIVE YOU THE TOOLS AND RESOURCES TO EVEN BE ABLE TO DO A BETTER JOB NEXT YEAR.
THANK YOU, MR. GOODAY, MISS WHERE JACKSON, THANK YOU, MR. TATLIN.
UM, GOT TO COME BACK BECAUSE I FORGOT SOMETHING AS WELL.
UM, AND THIS QUESTION MAY HAVE BEEN ASKED AND ANSWERED.
UH, SO, UM, WE MOVED THE, UH, THE, UH, ADJUSTMENT DOWN TO THE END OF THE YEAR.
SO ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT THE LEAP, CORRECT? YEAH.
SO I THINK, I THINK, UH, BOARDMAN THAT REMEMBER HOW MS. JACKSON'S ACCIDENT, DO WE NEED TO REQUEST MSCI TO MOVE THE, OH NO, NO, WE DIDN'T NEED TO ADJUST ANY WINDOWS.
WE'RE STILL FOLLOWING THE SAME STATE WINDOW.
WE'VE JUST KIND OF FOCUSED IT TO WHERE WE ALLOW THREE WEEKS AND WE'LL HAVE FOUR DAYS WITH STUDENTS TO SCHOOLS TO MAKE TRANSITION BETWEEN SPRING BREAK, AS YOU, WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE CALENDAR AND THEN WE'LL GO INTO ASSESSMENT TESTING RIGHT TO THAT.
SO WE DON'T HAVE TO ASK BESSIE TO DO ANYTHING FOR US WITH GOOD STATE ASSESSMENT.
THAT'S UM, THAT'S, THAT'S GOOD, BUT, BUT, UH, I, I DO WANT TO THANK THEM THOUGH, BECAUSE THEY WERE WILLING, YOU KNOW, TO COME TO THAT FOR US AND HELP US WITH THAT AS WELL.
AND, UM, THAT'S, THAT'S LIKE THIS, LIKE CLOSE TO THE HISTORICAL, YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT THE PAST RELATIONSHIP STRINGS THAT WE'VE HAD, YOU KNOW, THINGS ARE GETTING SO MUCH BETTER.
AND SO I REALLY APPRECIATE THEM BEING WILLING TO DO THAT.
SO I REALLY WANT TO EXPRESS MY APPRECIATION TO THE LOCAL BESSIE BOARD MEMBERS AND SUPERINTENDENT BRUMLEY, UM, FOR BEING, FOR STANDING BY BASICALLY IF, UH, IF WE NEEDED THEM.
AND, UM, YOU KNOW, WE, WE DON'T REALIZE HOW IMPORTANT THAT CALENDAR IS TO NOT ONLY PARENTS, TEACHERS AND STUDENTS, BUT ALSO COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS USE THIS CALENDAR AS THEY'RE PLANNING, YOU KNOW, THEY'RE LOOKING AT WAITING FOR IT AND, UM, THEY GET IT AND THEY, YOU KNOW, THEY START, UH, DEVISING PLANS CAUSE YOU KNOW, A LOT OF THEM WORK WITH OUR KIDS AS WELL.
AND UM, THEY START LOOKING AT THEIR CALENDAR FOR THE YEAR TOO.
SO, YOU KNOW, WE DON'T REALIZE HOW IMPORTANT THAT IS.
UM, SO, UH, ONE OTHER THING, UM, ABOUT TEACHER SUPPLIES FOR CLASSROOMS, DO WE HAVE ANY FUNDS BUDGETED INSIDE OUR SMART START FOR, UH, CLASSROOM SUPPLIES FOR TEACHERS THE BEGINNING OF THE YEAR? YEAH, WE, WE, UM, CURRENTLY RIGHT NOW, UM, UH, TEACHERS GET A $25 AN HOUR.
I'M 20, SORRY, $25 PER STUDENT IN THE MOI MATERIALS INSTRUCTION.
YES, BUT WE WILL BE, UM, PROVIDING TEACHERS WITH, UH, ADDITIONAL DOLLARS, UM, WHICH WE'RE STILL WORKING ON, UH, TOO, SO THEY CAN, UH, NOT HAVE TO SPEND MONEY OUT OF THEIR OWN POCKET SO THEY CAN PURCHASE THERE.
ANY ADDITIONAL THING THAT THEY NEED.
OUR GOAL IS TO HOPEFULLY GET THAT BY IF WE TALK, OH, WE'RE GOING TO WORK ON IT IN JULY.
WE'RE WORKING WITH SCHOOL AIDS TO FIND OUT THE BEST OPPORTUNITY TO DO THIS AS WELL AS TO OBTAIN ALL THE ITEMIZED INVOICES.
BUT SINCE IT IS A FEDERAL GRANT, WE HAVE TO STAY IN COMPLIANCE.
SO WE'RE JUST, WE'RE WORKING OUT THE DETAILS.
THAT'S REALLY GOOD NEWS BECAUSE YOU KNOW, FOR SO LONG, THEY'VE BEEN HAVING TO COME OUT OF POCKET AND, YOU KNOW, THAT'S AN INSTANT, AN EXPENSE THEY SHOULDN'T HAVE TO, UH, TO CURB.
I JUST WANTED TO CLARIFY THAT THE FUNDING SOURCE FOR THE ADDITIONAL DAYS IN THE CALENDAR IS FROM, UM, ESTHER
[01:30:01]
THREE, IS THAT IN THE MOTION? AND SHOULD WE PUT THAT TO THE MOTION MR. CHAMBERLAIN, AND ALSO THAT WE'RE APPROVING A CALENDAR.WE'RE NOT APPROVING THE SMARTSTART PLAN.
ALL THESE OTHER ALLOCATIONS WILL HAVE TO COME BEFORE THE BOARD AT ANOTHER TIME.
SO THIS IS THE APPROVAL OF THE CALENDAR.
THE MOTION IS TO APPROVE THE CALENDAR.
AND I THINK WITH THAT, WE'RE APPROVING THE ADDITIONAL 4.4, APPROXIMATELY 4.4 MILLION FOR THE ADDITIONAL DAYS FOR THE EDUCATORS.
I WANT TO MAKE SURE WHAT DID YOU HAVE A QUESTION IN THE BEGINNING WAS, SHOULD WE, DOES IT NEED TO BE IN THE MOTION THAT IT'S THE SOURCE OF THE FUNDING IS S FOR THREE, IT WILL BE REFLECTED IN THE MINUTES, EVERY ITEM THAT WE ADOPT AS A REFLECTION OF COSTS AND SOURCE FUNDING SOURCE.
THANK YOU, MR. BERNARD, MR. LANDIS.
HAVE WE THOUGHT ABOUT HOW WE'RE GOING TO REPURPOSE THE DOLLARS THAT WE'RE SAVING? HAVE WE THOUGHT ABOUT HOW COULD WE, HOW WE COULD REINCORPORATE THIS BACK INSIDE OF THE CLASSROOM? JUST GEARS? YEAH, WE WE'VE BEGUN THINKING ABOUT THAT.
UM, A COUPLE OF THINGS, ONE IS WE'VE BEEN THINKING ABOUT HOW WE CAN PROBABLY PUT MORE INVESTMENT IN, UH, SOCIAL WORKERS IN SOME OF THE PACES AROUND THE SOCIAL, EMOTIONAL LEARNING.
UH, WE'RE ALSO THINKING ABOUT WHAT THAT WILL LOOK LIKE AROUND ADDITIONAL NURSES, AS YOU KNOW, WE DON'T HAVE SUFFICIENT AMOUNT OF NURSES.
UM, AND WE'RE ALSO THINKING ABOUT, UM, UH, YOU KNOW, AS A BOARD MEMBER BERNARD AND HER TOWEL, THEY TALKED ABOUT, YOU KNOW, MINI GRANTS FOR TEACHERS TO DO PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENTS WHERE WE'RE THINKING ABOUT SHIFTING SOME OF THOSE DOLLARS IN THAT PARTICULAR WAY.
UM, BUT WE'RE STILL WORKING THROUGH THAT BECAUSE NOW THAT WE HAVE THOSE ADDITIONAL DOLLARS, THE OTHER COMPONENT IS DIFFERENTIATING BETWEEN ONE TIME COSTS AND CONTINUING COSTS.
AND SO WE'RE WORKING THROUGH ALL THOSE OPTIONS NOW.
THANK YOU, MR. LANDIS, MS. DYSON.
SO, UM, TYPICALLY THAT $25 PER STUDENT, UM, FOR SUPPLIES, MATERIALS, UM, CLASSROOM ITEMS THAT TYPICALLY GOES TO THE SCHOOL FUND AND IT ALL, IT DOESN'T ALWAYS, I THINK THAT AT DIFFERENT SCHOOLS IT'S HANDLED DIFFERENTLY.
I'M NOT SURE THAT IN EVERY SCHOOL, EACH TEACHER, EACH CLASSROOM TEACHER HAS THE ABILITY TO SPEND THOSE FUNDS IN THEIR PARTICULAR CLASSROOM.
AND SO WE MIGHT NEED TO TALK ABOUT HOW TO, UM, MAKE SURE THAT THAT, UH, FLOW THROUGH ACTUALLY HAPPENS AND THEN MAYBE SET SOME PARAMETERS AS TO, YOU KNOW, POTENTIAL QUALIFYING ITEMS AND, AND THAT KIND OF THING.
WE ACTUALLY DO THAT RIGHT NOW.
UM, THEY, WHAT THEY DO IS THE SCHOOLS ACTUALLY PROVIDE WHAT THEY WOULD LIKE TO PURCHASING.
AND THE PURCHASING DEPARTMENT BASICALLY ORDERS THE WHOLE, UH, MOI FOR THE ENTIRE DISTRICT.
AND THEN IN JULY, THOSE VENDORS START DELIVERING THOSE ITEMS TO THE SCHOOLS.
BUT I DON'T KNOW THAT IT TRICKLES DOWN TO THE CLASSROOM TEACHERS SAYING, I NEED THIS IN MY CLASS.
SO I'M JUST GOING TO STEP IN HERE.
I W WE'RE ON WE'RE ON THE CALENDAR.
SO I'D REALLY LIKE TO TRY TO STAY ON THE CALENDAR WEEKEND OR SOMEHOW WE STARTED TO DISCUSS YOU'RE RIGHT.
AND I'M WRONG FOR LETTING IT FLOW, BUT I'M, I'M STEPPING IN NOW.
I'D LIKE ANOTHER OPPORTUNITY DURING THIS MEETING TO GET THIS, UH, THE SUPERINTENDENT WAS TRYING TO GIVE SOME FEEDBACK ON THAT.
WE WILL, I HAVE A MECHANISMS TO DO THAT MS. DYSON, WHERE WE'RE GOING TO WORK THROUGH THAT.
UM, W WHEN WE GET THE ADDITIONAL DOLLARS THAT WE'LL GET DOWN TO TEACHERS.
SEEING NO OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS FROM THE BOARD.
WE NOW GO TO THE AUDIENCE FOR COMMENTS.
ANY COMMENTS FROM THE AUDIENCE, SORRY.
UM, STORM MATTHEWS, DON COLLINS IS MY SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER.
UM, I WANT TO START OFF, I READ A REALLY GOOD QUOTE BY DR.
UM, IT WAS IN THE ADVOCATE, TREMENDOUS OPPORTUNITY, NOT ONLY TREMENDOUS OPPORTUNITY IS NOT ONLY A RETURN TO NORMALCY, BUT A CHANCE TO ACCELERATE STUDENT LEARNING AND SET BATON ROUGE ON A PATH TO GREATER AND MORE EQUITABLE STUDENT OUTCOMES THAN EVER BEFORE ACHIEVED.
I WOULD GIVE YOU POINTS FOR THAT, THAT QUOTE.
[01:35:01]
WITH THE PROS OF THIS PLAN, KNOWING THAT THE PD THAT WE GET THE PD DAYS FOR OUR PRINCIPALS BACK, THAT'S A REALLY GOOD THING, BECAUSE THERE ARE THINGS THAT WE HAVE TO DO AT THE SCHOOL LEVEL.I TALK ABOUT ALL THOSE WONDERFUL POLICIES THAT MR. SHAMBLIN WRITES THAT KEEP US LEGAL SO THAT WE DON'T, UM, COMMIT SEXUAL HARASSMENT OR BREAK LAWS OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT.
WE HAVE TO DO THOSE EVERY SINGLE YEAR.
WE HAVE TO GO THROUGH ALL OF THOSE POLICIES AND MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE IN CODE AND, UM, GO THROUGH WHAT OUR SCHEDULES ARE GOING TO BE, WHERE OUR DUTY IS, WHERE WE'RE SUPPOSED TO STAY IN SO THAT WE CAN KEEP OUR EYE ON CHILDREN.
AND THAT TAKES THE PRINCIPALS A COUPLE OF DAYS TO GET THROUGH THE HANDBOOK AND GET THROUGH ALL OF THAT.
SO I AM GLAD TO SEE THAT I KNOW NOT ALL TEACHERS WILL AGREE WITH ME ABOUT THE SEVEN DAYS.
UM, BUT I WAS HAPPY TO SEE THAT AT THE BEGINNING OF THE YEAR.
UM, I JUST, I STILL, I SAID THIS TO YOU AT MISS BERNARD'S, UM, TOWN HALL TEACHERS START WITH AN OBJECTIVE.
I KNOW THAT YOU'RE NOT A CAREER EDUCATOR, BUT TEACHERS START WITH AN OBJECTIVE.
WE DO THIS TO ENSURE THE GOAL IS ATTAINED.
INSTEAD, ALL YOU CARE ABOUT IS DID YOU GET YOUR EIGHT DAYS? YES.
I'M GLAD YOU ATTAINED YOUR GOAL.
BUT HOWEVER, MY GOAL IS THAT MY STUDENTS, I BRING THEM UP OR IF THEY'RE HIGH, I PUSH THEM HIGHER THAT YOUNG MAN THAT I INTRODUCED TO YOU WHEN I GOT HIM, HE READ ON LIKE ON 11TH GRADE LEVEL.
HE IS NOW AT A COLLEGIATE LEVEL.
I PUSHED HIM TO READ OVER A THOUSAND AR POINTS IN ONE YEAR, I PUSHED HIM FURTHER THAN HE'S EVER BEEN PUSHED IN HIS LIFE.
AND HE DOESN'T READ LIKE THAT.
NOW THAT HE'S LEFT ME, BUT I PUSHED HIM.
SO I SAY THAT TO SAY, YOU WERE GIVEN OPTIONS ON HOW TO DO A TIERED CURRICULUM THAT WOULD ACTUALLY HELP WITH OUR LOSSES AND PUSH OUR HIGH KIDS HIGHER.
BUT INSTEAD YOU GOT YOUR EIGHT DAYS.
UM, I AM BOTH EDUCATOR AND I AM A PARENT.
I HAVE TWO SONS WHO ARE STUDENTS IN ABR.
I DO APPRECIATE THE DISTRICT LISTENING TO THE COMMUNITY AND THE CONCERNS THAT WERE RIGHT.
THERE ARE MANY THINGS ABOUT THE NEW CANDIDATE THAT I DO APPRECIATE.
UM, AS A PARENT, I LIKE THE START DATE.
SO LIKE THE END DATE, UM, AND, AND ALSO APPRECIATE ALL OF THE WORK THAT IS GOING IN TO TRY TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE THOSE SERVICES TO TRY TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE SERVICING ALL OF OUR CHILDREN, LIKE THE, POSSIBLY DOING THE SCHOLARSHIPS FOR THOSE STUDENTS WHO WANT TO PARTICIPATE IN, UM, THE, THE ACADEMIC, THE ATHLETIC PROGRAMS FOR THIS SUMMER.
UM, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I WANTED TO POINT OUT IS THAT THE VOICES THAT MOST OFTEN ARE HEARD ARE THE ONES FROM PEOPLE WHO HAVE THE MEANS TO BE PRESENT AT THIS MEETING PARENTS, FROM WORKING CLASS AND LOWER INCOME FAMILIES, DON'T HAVE THE SAME EXIT AS A TEACHER AND MOTHER OF THREE, WHILE I WANTED TO BE ABLE TO GIVE COMMENT LAST WEEK, I COULDN'T SAY PROVIDE MY COMMENTS.
I HAD CHILDREN TO PICK UP FROM DAYCARE AND HOMEWORK TO DO WITH MY KIDS.
I KNOW I CAN'T BE THE ONLY PARENT WITH THIS EXPERIENCE IN THE DISTRICT.
I WANT TO ENCOURAGE THE BOARD TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY MAKE THEMSELVES, AND THESE MEETINGS MORE ACCESSIBLE TO ALL PARENTS.
LAST WEEK COMMITTEE MEETING WAS DOMINATED MOSTLY BY WHITE MIDDLE-CLASS FEMALE TEACHERS, AND SOME PARENTS.
THERE WERE VERY FEW PARENTS AND EVEN TEACHERS OF COLOR PRESENT.
AND IT ISN'T BECAUSE WE DON'T CARE.
STUDENTS FROM ECONOMICALLY DISADVANTAGED BACKGROUNDS DESERVE TO HAVE ACCESS TO THE SAME TYPES OF ENHANCING EXPERIENCES OVER THE SUMMER AND DURING SCHOOL, AS THEIR MIDDLE AND UPPER CLASS COUNTERPARTS.
WHILE SOME STUDENTS COME FROM FAMILIES THAT CAN AFFORD TO TAKE THEM ON VACATIONS, THAT HELP BROADEN THEIR UNDERSTANDING OF THE WORLD.
THAT'S NOT THE CASE FOR THE MAJORITY OF THE STUDENTS WHO ATTEND SCHOOLS IN THIS DISTRICT.
WITH THAT BEING SAID, I DO FULLY SUPPORT THE CALENDAR CHANGE AND FOCUSING ON THE STRONGER 180 DAYS FOR STUDENTS.
BUT I STILL BELIEVE THAT IT'S IMPORTANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE STILL MAKING SURE THAT WE SERVE AS ALL OF THE STUDENTS, UM, IN OUR DISTRICT AND GIVING THEM ACCESS TO THOSE SUMMER ENRICHMENT PROGRAMS THAT GIVE THEM, UH, UH, ACCESS TO A STRONG START.
AND MY LAST THING, ADDITIONALLY, I UNDERSTAND THE STRESS THAT TEACHERS HAVE IF STUDENTS HAVE FELT, CAUSE I FEEL A WHOLE DIFFERENT KIND OF TIRED THIS YEAR.
AND THE LAST THING IS I APPRECIATE IT.
THAT SURVEY THAT YOU ALL SENT OUT ON TUESDAY ON THE GET COMMUNITY FEEDBACK, BUT I WOULD PUSH, LIKE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE GET MORE THAN 24 HOURS TO COMPLETE THAT SURVEY SO THAT YOU CAN HEAR FROM ALL OF THE PEOPLE IN YOUR DISTRICT.
MY NAME IS VALENCIA JOHNSON WITH THE EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH ASSOCIATION OF EDUCATORS.
[01:40:01]
UH, ONCE I COMMEND YOU ON, UH, LISTENING TO THE VOICES OF THE DISTRICT, UH, THE VOICES OF THE COMMUNITY, THE VOICES OF THE STAFF AND THE VOICES OF THE STUDENTS, AND, UM, REFLECTING ON YOUR CHANGE AND, UH, REFLECTING ON THE CALENDAR THAT YOU HAD AND MAKING CHANGES THAT WERE RELEVANT TO SERVICING OUR STUDENTS ALSO, UM, I WANT TO, UH, THANK YOU, UH, FOR MAKING THE CHANGES THAT WE, THAT WE REALLY NEEDED.UM, AND I HEARD THE SUPERINTENDENT SAY THAT, UM, THE MONEY THAT WE SAY THAT WE'RE GOING TO USE THAT, UM, FOR MORE SOCIAL, EMOTIONAL, UH, LEARNING, WHICH WAS ALREADY INCLUDED IN THE PLAN THAT HE HAD.
SO WHY NOT USE THAT, UH, THAT MONEY TO GIVE BACK TO THE TEACHERS INCREASE THE STIPEND.
YOU HAVE THREE YEARS TO SPEND THIS MONEY USUALLY FOR, UM, UH, THE STIPEND FOR THE TEACHERS NEXT YEAR.
SO YOU HAVE ALL OF THIS TIME TO SPEND THIS MONEY LEFT, TO BE WIRE STEWARDS OVER IT.
AND YOU TALK, I HEARD THE BOARD MEMBERS TALK ABOUT HOW HARD THE TEACHERS WORK WELL LESS, BUT SHOW THEM THAT WE REALLY APPRECIATE THEM.
UM, I DO APPRECIATE THE SURVEY THAT WENT OUT EARLIER THIS WEEK.
I THINK IT DID INDICATE A WILLINGNESS TO HEAR FROM THE COMMUNITY.
HOWEVER, I FELT THE SURVEY WAS LACKING IN CONTENT AS I WAS GOING THROUGH AND ANSWERING THE QUESTIONS.
I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT I WAS AGREEING TO WHAT I WAS GIVING UP AND WHAT WAS, WHAT NEEDED TO BE, UM, COMPROMISED.
SO I, UH, SURVEY WAS A GREAT IDEA AND I LOVE HOW SOUNDED LIKE UNPRECEDENTED RESPONSES FROM THE COMMUNITY, WHICH IS GREAT.
BUT I THINK IF WE DO A SURVEY LIKE THAT, AGAIN, PARENTS AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS NEED TO KNOW THE IMPLICATIONS OF THE CHOICES, BECAUSE I WAS THINKING, OH, I LIKE A WEDNESDAY START DATE.
AND THEN AFTER THE FACT I LEARNED FROM THE TEACHERS, WHAT THAT MEANS, IT MEANS, UH, MAYBE, UH, SPRING BREAK HAS CHANGED OR THERE'S NO HALF DAYS OR THOSE KINDS OF THINGS.
IT FELT LIKE THE SURVEY WAS USED KIND OF TO MANIPULATE, TO GET THE DATA YOU WANTED.
UH, THE OTHER THING I WANTED TO SEND SAY IS IF IT TOOK A COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT LIKE WE'VE HAD IN THE LAST FEW WEEKS TO SEE THAT OUR TEACHERS ARE TIRED, Y'ALL NEED TO PAY BETTER ATTENTION TO OUR TEACHERS.
UM, LAST, TH THE OTHER THING IS THIS MOVE PROPOSED CALENDAR.
I DON'T SEE HALF DAYS BUILT IN FOR PARENT TEACHER CONFERENCES THAT I UNDERSTAND OUR ELEMENTARY SCHOOL TEACHERS ARE MANDATED TO HAVE.
SO WHERE DOES THAT HAPPEN? AND IF WHAT'S HAPPENING AFTER SCHOOL, ARE WE COMPENSATING OUR TEACHERS FOR THAT? AND SPEAKING TO WHAT ONE OF THE PARENTS SAID, WHAT ABOUT THE, UM, PARENTS WHO DON'T HAVE ACCESS? SO I THINK WE NEED TO BE THINKING ABOUT THAT.
AND THEN I APPRECIATE, UM, MR. LANA'S, HOW YOU BROUGHT UP THAT, UM, THE BUDGET NOW, UH, WE'RE SAVING ABOUT $16 MILLION.
WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO WITH IT? SOCIAL WORKERS, SMALLER CLASSROOM SIZES.
UM, I HOPE IT'S NOT ANOTHER NEW CURRICULUM.
UM, I HOPE WE'RE REALLY LISTENING TO OUR EDUCATORS FOR WHAT THEY THINK IS BEST AND IT'S GOING TO SERVE THEIR KIDS.
AND IF WE GATHERED THE DATA, WHERE'S THE GREATEST NEED, THAT'S WHERE WE SHOULD BE FUNNELING IN OUR MONEY.
THAT'S WHERE WE SHOULD BE HAVING SMALLER CLASS SIZES.
HE'S IN, PRE-K FOUR WITH YOU GUYS.
UM, I THINK FOR THIS CALENDAR, I'M SURE YOU'VE GOTTEN PLENTY OF EMAILS FROM TEACHERS, AND I WOULD URGE YOU TO STICK WITH THE TEACHERS WHEN VOTING FOR THIS PLAN OR NOT.
UM, THEY'RE THE ONES WHO HAVE TO WORK THROUGH IT.
UM, I WOULD LIKE TO TALK ABOUT LAST MEETINGS, UH, DISCUSSION OF THIS ITEM.
UM, I HAD A CONVERSATION THAT IT SOUNDS LIKE WE THAT'S, THE SHAREHOLDERS HERE IN BATON ROUGE WANT TO CHANGE, BUT WHEN YOU COME UP WITH A PLAN, WE'LL SAY NOT THAT CHANGE.
AND WE'LL DO, AS YOU SAID, PITCHFORKS AND TORCHES AT THESE MEETINGS, UH, THAT'S NOT THE CASE.
WE DO WANT CHANGE IN THIS DISTRICT.
WE WANT THIS DISTRICT TO WORK FOR EVERYONE, BUT WE WANT TO SAY IN IT, WE WANT OUR TEACHERS TO HAVE A SAY IN IT.
WE DON'T WANT A TOP DOWN LEADERSHIP SAYING WE'RE DOING THIS.
PLAN, UM, AGAIN, A PLAN, A PLAN, NOT A SLIDESHOW WITH ACRONYMS AND ACROSTICS, A PLAN THAT ACTUALLY WE KNOW WHAT THE PD IS GOING TO BE IN.
WHO'S GOING TO ADMINISTER IT A PLAN THAT WE KNOW ON THIS DAY, WE'RE DOING THIS, NOT JUST AN ACRONYM, UM, IN TERMS OF THE LAST COMMENTERS
[01:45:01]
ACCESS TO MEETINGS POINT.UM, COULD YOU PLEASE START READING THE, THE ONLINE COMMENTS THAT WOULD HELP, UH, ELIMINATE SOME BARRIER TO THIS, UM, SO THAT PEOPLE WHO CAN'T COME TO THIS MEETING WHO CAN'T TAKE TIME OFF OR FIND A SITTER FOR THEIR KIDS AT THE LAST MINUTE CAN ACTUALLY HAVE A SAY TO YOU GUYS AND THAT YOU CAN HEAR THEM OUT LOUD.
UM, BECAUSE I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY OF YOU ARE READING THEM ONLINE.
UM, AND THEN I KNOW THERE'S BEEN TALK ABOUT THE DIFFICULTIES WE FACE AND THAT'S WHY WE'RE CHANGING THE CALENDAR.
IT IS A GLOBAL PANDEMIC AND IT IS GLOBAL AND EVERYONE IS GOING THROUGH IT, RIGHT? PANDEMIC, NOT JUST THE DIFFICULTIES ARE THESE TRYING TIMES.
UM, EVERYONE'S DISTRICT IS GOING THROUGH THIS.
SO WE'RE NOT THAT FAR BEHIND GUYS.
UM, AND THEN IF WE COULD KEEP UP THE PUBLIC OFFENSE EVENTS OF THIS LAST WEEK, UM, THE MONDAY ONE I HEARD WAS VERY EFFECTIVE, UM, AND PRODUCTIVE.
UM, IF WE COULD KEEP THOSE UP, THAT WOULD BE GREAT.
UM, LET'S MAKE THIS ONE SHORTER SO THAT I CAN GET MY KIDS HOME FOR BEDTIME.
I AM THE DIRECTOR OF ORGANIZING AND STRATEGY FOR THE SOUTH LOUISIANA COALITION FOR EDUCATION.
I FIRST OFF WANT TO THANK THE BOARD MEMBERS WHO FOR THE PAST COUPLE OF YEARS HAVE MADE IT A PRIORITY TO ENGAGE THE COMMUNITY, NOT JUST WHEN THINGS ARE HOT, BUT REALLY ALL OF THE TIME YOUR EFFORTS ARE APPRECIATED.
MY COMMENTS TONIGHT ARE TO THOSE BOARD MEMBERS TO ALSO GET ON BOARD AND EVERYONE COLLECTIVELY MAKE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT A PRIORITY.
SO THANK TO THOSE WHO HAVE, AND IN THE PAST FEW WEEKS, I'VE ALSO MADE IT A PRIORITY TO LISTEN TO THE COMMUNITY, NOT JUST SOME OF THE TIME, BUT ALL OF THE TIME LAST WEEK, THE COMMUNITY PUSHED FOR INCREASED INVOLVEMENT AND SEVERAL BOARD MEMBERS DID DECIDE TO STEP UP AND HOLD TOWN HALL MEETINGS AND RESPONSE.
AS A MEMBER OF DISTRICT EIGHT, I HAD THE PLEASURE OF ATTENDING BOARD MEMBER BERNARD'S MEETING.
AND WHAT WAS THE PARENT IS THAT THERE IS A NEED TO CONSISTENTLY ENGAGE OUR PARENTS, OUR STUDENTS, AND OUR TEACHERS FRUSTRATIONS BOIL OVER WHEN COMMUNITIES ARE SILENCED, THEN COMMUNITY MEMBERS ARE NOT FEELING HEARD.
I ENCOURAGE YOU TO CONTINUE COMMUNITY MEMBERS.
I ENCOURAGE YOU TO CONTINUE SPEAKING TRUTH TO POWER BOARD MEMBERS HOLD HIGH, THE TORCH OF LEADERSHIP AND DO WHAT YOUR CONSTITUENTS ELECTED YOU TO DO, WHICH IS TO LEAD.
PARENTS SHOULD NOT HAVE TO JUMP THROUGH 1000 HOOPS TO HAVE ACCESS TO INFORMATION AND SERVICES CONCERNING THEIR CHILDREN.
PLEASE CREATE SPACES THAT ALLOW FOR COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO ENGAGE IN A WAY THAT IS INTENTIONAL AND EFFECTIVE.
IT IS IMPERATIVE THAT THIS MOMENTUM CONTINUE UNTIL THE FALL.
I ENCOURAGE BOARD MEMBERS TO MAKE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT A PRIORITY, NOT JUST SOME OF THE TIME, BUT ALL OF THE TIME, NOT JUST WHEN THINGS ARE CONTENTIOUS, BUT WHEN THINGS ARE RIGHT AND COMMUNITY NEEDS TO BE HEARD, SIZE SUPPORTS, INCREASING RESOURCES AND DOLLARS TO THOSE CLOSEST TO KIDS.
A COMMON THEME IS TO TREAT OUR EDUCATORS AS EXPERTS, ALLOCATING DOLLARS TO SUPPORTING TEACHERS INCREASING PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT THAT IS SPECIFIED AND ENGAGING FOR TEACHERS AND ENSURING THAT THE COMMUNITY WORKS IN TANDEM WITH YOU AT THE TABLE.
ALL OF THESE NECESSARY STEPS HELP US FILTER INTO A SHARED ACCOUNTABILITY.
WHAT IS THE GOAL TO HAVE AN EQUITABLE SCHOOL DISTRICT, HIGH QUALITY EDUCATION FILTERS INTO AN OPPORTUNITY FOR ALL OUR STUDENTS TO BE ABLE TO SUCCEED.
LET'S CONTINUE TO WORK COLLECTIVELY TO BUILD POWER WITHIN OUR FAMILIES AND SCHOOL SYSTEMS. SO THEY KNOW, AND DO NOT HAVE TO QUESTION IF THEIR VOICE IS VALUED.
GOOD EVENING, JENNIFER HARDING, A PARENT OF A FIFTH GRADER, UM, IN DISTRICT FIVE, MS. JACKSON'S DISTRICT.
UM, SO I, I WISH THAT I WAS COMING UP HERE TO SAY THAT I FULLY UNDERSTAND WHAT'S HAPPENING.
I FEEL LIKE WE'RE VOTING ON A CALENDAR THAT HAS NESTED EIGHT DAYS INTO A SCHOOL YEAR.
NOT REALLY QUITE SURE WHY MR. TOTMAN I REALLY APPRECIATED YOU KIND OF PUSHING FOR SOME OF THAT, YOU KNOW, MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE PLAN, BECAUSE I DON'T FEEL LIKE THAT'S BEEN, UM, LIKE REALLY PUT OUT THERE FOR US TO DIGEST YET.
UM, I STILL, I LOOKED AT THE WEBSITE BEFORE I CAME HERE AND I, YOU KNOW, I SAW THE SLIDESHOW FROM YESTERDAY, BUT NOW THAT I'M HERE, I'M ACTUALLY SEEING LIKE THE CALENDAR.
UM, I DIDN'T KNOW WHERE TO FIND THAT INFORMATION.
I APPRECIATE THE SURVEY THAT WENT OUT.
UM, BUT THE ONLY REASON I KNEW ABOUT IT IS BECAUSE SOMEBODY SENT ME A SCREENSHOT OF A TEXT.
THEY GOT, UM, THAT'S THE ONLY WAY I FOUND OUT ABOUT IT.
SO NOT EVERYBODY IN THE DISTRICT WAS EVEN SENT OUT THAT SURVEY.
UM, I MEAN, I THINK IT'S REALLY ENCOURAGING AND I WAS REALLY SUPER EXCITED TO SEE THE PARENT COMMITTEES MEETING AND THE TEACHER COMMITTEE'S MEETING.
[01:50:01]
I WOULD LOVE TO KNOW HOW YOU GET ON A PARENT COMMITTEE.CAUSE I I'M A PERSON WHO LIKES TO BE ENGAGED AND I WOULD CERTAINLY VOLUNTEER MY TIME AT ONE OF THOSE.
UM, SO I HOPE, I HOPE THAT WE CAN JUST CONTINUE TO CREATE MORE OF THESE SPACES, UM, WHERE, WHERE WE CAN BE PARTNERS WITH YOU, UM, IN THIS PROCESS.
BUT, UM, I STILL THINK THAT, THAT WE ARE SUFFERING FROM A LACK OF INFORMATION AND DETAILS.
I DON'T KNOW HOW WE'RE MEASURING LEARNING LOSS.
I DON'T KNOW HOW WE'RE MEASURING SUCCESS.
I DON'T KNOW WHERE I COULD FIND THAT INFORMATION IF I WANTED TO.
UM, IT SOUNDS LIKE WE'RE SAVING SOME MONEY.
UM, THAT'S GREAT, BUT THERE'S NO BUDGET FOR THIS.
THIS CARES ACT MONEY THAT I HAVE SEEN.
UM, I JUST FOUND OUT LISTENING TO ONE OF THE OTHER COMMENTS OR IS THAT WE HAVE THREE YEARS TO SPEND THIS MONEY.
I MEAN, I THINK THAT YOU JUST REALLY NEED TO HEAR US WHEN WE'RE SAYING THAT WE WANT MORE INFORMATION.
WE WANT TO BE A PART OF THIS PROCESS.
IN FACT, WE DEMAND TO BE A PART OF THIS PROCESS, UM, GOING FORWARD.
AND SO WE DON'T HAVE TO STAY HERE TILL TWO IN THE MORNING, LET'S DO BETTER.
SO YOU DON'T HAVE TO ENDURE ALL THESE COMMENTS.
THANK YOU, MS. HARDY, MY NAME IS HALEY NASA.
I WEAR A LOT OF STAKEHOLDER HATS, BUT I'M HERE RIGHT NOW AS A TEACHER.
I WASN'T PLANNING TO SPEAK, SO I DON'T HAVE A POLISHED SPEECH.
I JUST WANTED TO SPEAK TO SOMETHING THAT I SEE AS BEING A PROBLEM IN THE PROPOSED CALENDAR.
AND THAT IS THAT THERE ARE NO CONFERENCE DAYS BUILT INTO IT.
AND THERE IN FACT WERE NO CONFERENCE DAYS IN ANY OF THE FOUR OPTIONS PRESENTED FOR US TO REVIEW BEFORE DOING THE SURVEY.
THE SURVEY ALSO DID NOT HAVE ANYWHERE FOR US TO PUT ANY TYPE OF COMMENTS OR FEEDBACK.
SO AS TEACHERS, WE WERE UNABLE TO PROVIDE THAT INFORMATION TO YOU.
I'M NOT SURE IF YOU WERE AWARE BECAUSE YOU ARE NOT EDUCATORS THAT WE ARE REQUIRED TO DO TWO CONFERENCES A YEAR PER STUDENT.
AND SO AS A FIRST GRADE TEACHER, I HAVE 26 STUDENTS AND I HAVE TO DO 26 IN THE FALL AND 26 IN THE SPRING, I SPEND ABOUT 20 MINUTES PER CONFERENCE.
ALTHOUGH IF YOUR CHILD IS STRUGGLING, I'M GOING TO SPEND MORE.
AND AS A TEACHER, BECAUSE I REALLY CARE ABOUT MY STUDENTS, I'M GOING TO SPEND AS MUCH TIME AS YOU NEED.
THAT SAID, IT'S UNFAIR TO ASK ME TO DO THAT ON MY OWN TIME.
UNPAID, BECAUSE THAT EQUATES TO 26 CONFERENCES AT 20 MINUTES IS A FULL WORK DAY.
AND I DO HAVE LESSON PLANS THAT I WRITE AND PAPERS THAT I GRADE AND CHILDREN THAT I RAISED.
I ONLY HAVE A 30 MINUTE PREP A DAY.
SO IN ORDER TO DO THOSE CONFERENCES IN THE FALL, I WOULD HAVE TO TAKE AN ENTIRE MONTH'S WORTH OF PREP.
DURING WHICH TIME I DIDN'T GRADE ANYTHING.
I DIDN'T CREATE AN ASSESSMENT.
I DIDN'T ANALYZE ANY STUDENT DEBT, STUDENT DATA.
I DIDN'T WRITE A LESSON PLAN JUST TO DO THOSE CONFERENCES.
AND THAT ASSUMES THAT PARENTS CAN MEET WITH ME AT 10 15 WHILE THEY'RE AT WORK.
AND SO IF THEY CAN'T, THERE'S NO OTHER TIME, I THINK IT'S AN UNREASONABLE EXPECTATION OF TEACHERS AND OF PARENTS THAT CONFERENCES WILL NOT BE DONE ON A DESIGNATED CONFERENCE DAY.
AND SO I WOULD ASK THAT YOU CONSIDER THAT AND THAT PERHAPS SOMEBODY MAKE A MOTION TO ADD CONFERENCE DAYS OR TO SAY, LET'S GO BACK AND ADDRESS THIS ISSUE BEFORE WE PASS IT.
I AM A PARENT OF TWO EBR STUDENTS AND A PROUD GRADUATE OF OUR SCHOOL SYSTEM.
I TOO AM THANKFUL FOR THE COMMUNITY SURVEY.
HOWEVER, WHEN I WAS ANSWERING THE QUESTIONS, I FELT LIKE I WAS MAKING DECISIONS WITHOUT THE REQUISITE INFORMATION TO MAKE AN INFORMED DECISION.
I WOULD'VE MADE A DIFFERENT CHOICE.
HAD I KNOWN THERE WOULD BE A DANGLING MONDAY AS A RESULT.
I HOPE THAT AN IMPORTANT LESSON WAS LEARNED IN THIS PROCESS REGARDING COMMUNICATION.
COMMUNICATION INCLUDES BOTH RECEIVING INFORMATION, AS WELL AS GIVING INFORMATION.
MY BOARD MEMBER DID NOT HOLD A TOWN HALL TO INVITE ENGAGEMENT FROM HIS CONSTITUENTS.
I HOPE THAT THE COMMUNICATION YOU WERE RECEIVING NOW IS THAT WE WANT TO BE PARTNERS IN OUR CHILDREN'S EDUCATION.
[01:55:01]
STEP UP LOUISIANA.I'M ALSO A CONSTITUENT ANGIO DIOCESE DISTRICT, AND I WAS JUST COMING UP TO LET YOU GUYS KNOW THAT I'M NOT SURE IF THIS IS A SOLID PLAN TO GO FORWARD WITH AS FAR AS THE PRACTICALITY, UM, THE STRUCTURE OF THE DAYS, BECAUSE IF I'M LISTENING TO THE, UH, PUBLIC COMMENTS BEFORE I CAME UP SPECIFICALLY FROM TEACHERS, AND IT'S JUST REALLY CONCERNING TO HEAR THAT THE STRUCTURE OF THE DAYS WILL IMPEDE ON THEIR PREPARATION TO SHOW UP AS THEIR BEST SALES FOR OUR CHILDREN.
I'M JUST BEING HONEST WITH Y'ALL JUST COMING FROM A REALISTIC PERSPECTIVE.
AND, UM, I'M NOT SAYING THAT WE DON'T NEED A SMART PLAN.
AND I'D ALSO HEARD THAT WE HAVE THREE YEARS TO SPEND THIS MONEY AT A TOWN HALL.
I WAS AT THE OTHER DAY, I EXPRESSED THE DOCTOR SIT ON OUR SEATS AND ALSO TO SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER, CONNIE MENARD, THAT WE ACTUALLY NEED TWO TO THREE YEARS TO FULLY GET OUR KIDS UP TO PAR.
SO PLEASE, YOU KNOW, AS A CONSTITUENT AND A VOTER AND THEY TAXPAYER OF THIS PARISH ASK THAT YOU PLEASE CONSIDER THE MOST AMICABLE WAY TO UTILIZE THIS MONEY OVER THE NEXT THREE YEARS BECAUSE WE ALREADY HAVE, AND SHE EVEN GET THE ACHIEVEMENT GAP HAS Y YOU KNOW, AND WE TRUST ANY OF Y'ALL TO BE WISE STEWARDS OF OUR TAX DOLLARS.
AND WE DON'T HAVE TO SPEND IT UP ROUGHLY LET'S LOOK AT THIS IN A SILENT PLAN FOR THE NEXT THREE YEARS BECAUSE OUR CHILDREN ARE DEPENDENT ON US AND WE HAVE TO BE COMMITTED TO THEIR PROGRESSION ACADEMICALLY.
WE'RE RANKED NATIONALLY AT THE BOTTOM, AND THEN EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH IS ALREADY RANKED A LOW IN THE STATE, YOU KNOW, AND THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO REALLY THINK THROUGH AND BE INNOVATIVE AND, AND SEE WHAT PARTNERSHIPS LOOK LIKE TO FILL IN GAPS.
AND WHAT DOES SUPPORT REALLY LOOK LIKE FOR OUR EDUCATORS AND EDUCATIONAL STAFF? SO THANK YOU AND PLEASE RETHINK SOME AMICABLE DAYS MONDAYS.
UM, PRESIDENT TOPMAN, MADAM VICE PRESIDENT COLLINS, DR.
UM, I'M GOING TO BE REALLY SHORT.
I JUST ASK YOU TO PLEASE JUST NOT VOTE ON THIS, LIKE, JUST GO BACK TO THE REGULAR CALENDAR.
THE ONE THAT YOU GUYS HAVE ALREADY APPROVED Y'ALL ARE PATTING OURSELVES ON THE BACK FOR DOING A GREAT JOB OF GETTING ALL OF THIS INPUT, BUT I DON'T SEE WHERE YOU'VE ACTUALLY YOU'VE ACTUALLY COME TO A GOOD DECISION HERE.
SO PLEASE JUST DON'T PASS THIS.
LET US HAVE OUR REGULAR CALENDAR, PLEASE.
HOW ABOUT I TOLD HIM TONIGHT, CAN YOU STORE MY TIME? HOPEFULLY GO THIS HER TIME.
I TONIGHT A PRESIDENT AND ALL THE REST OF THE BOARD MEMBERS, I THINK THAT THIS IS A GRAVE DISSERVICE OUR CHILDREN.
WE HAVE WASTED TIME AND MONEY BY HAVING A SURVEY TOWN HALL MEETINGS, ALL FOR A CALENDAR THAT OUR BOARD HAD ALREADY APPROVED.
WE COULD HAVE BEEN USING THIS TIME TO DO MUCH MORE BENEFICIAL THINGS SUCH AS INSURANCE OR CHILDREN WITH DISABILITIES CAN ACTUALLY HAVE THEIR ACHIEVEMENT GAPS CLOSED, SOCIOECONOMIC DISADVANTAGED, CHILDREN RECEIVING PROPER AND ADEQUATE RESOURCES, ENGLISH LANGUAGE LEARNERS, ACTUALLY HAVING THEIR NEEDS MET, ET CETERA.
WE COULD HAVE EVEN BROUGHT OUR SCHOOL BUILDINGS INTO ADA COMPLIANCE WITH SOME OF THE TIME THAT WE HAVE TAKEN OUT.
BUT INSTEAD WE HAVE WASTED TIME ON FOOLISHNESS AND I'M CALLING IT FOOLISHNESS BECAUSE WE'RE USING THE CARES ACT MONEY FOR SOMETHING THAT WE WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO DO.
THE FOLLOWING YEAR $20 MILLION CAN GO A LONG WAY.
$20 MILLION CAN GIVE EACH SCHOOL WHAT THEY NEED.
HAVE WE TAKEN THE TIME OUT TO LOOK AT A SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITY SCHOOL MODEL EACH AND EVERY LAST ONE OF YOU HAVE A PROBLEM IN YOUR SCHOOL DISTRICT EACH AND EVERY LAST ONE OF YOU ARE SUPPOSED TO REPRESENT CONSTITUENTS LIKE ME EACH AND EVERY LAST ONE OF YOU HAVE HEARD YOUR PEOPLE VOICES.
AND EVERY LAST PERSON HAS SAID THAT WE WANTED THE CALENDAR THAT WAS ORIGINALLY APPROVED.
THE SURVEY DID NOT GIVE US AN OPTION TO SAY WE WANTED THAT ORIGINAL CALENDAR.
[02:00:01]
CHILDREN ALSO NEED THE EDUCATION.STAFF MEMBERS NEED THAT BREAK, BUT STAFF MEMBERS ALSO WANT TO EDUCATE.
I'M NOT SAYING THAT NOT ONE PERSON WANTS TO DO THEIR JOB AFTER ALL OUR STAFF IS DEDICATED TO OUR CHILDREN AND WORKING AND NOT GETTING PAID THE ACTUAL AMOUNT OF MONEY THEY SHOULD.
THAT'S COMMITMENT THAT WE HAVE ASKED FOR TIME AND TIME AGAIN, AND WE KEEP BREAKING THEIR BACKS.
LET'S GIVE THEM THE ORIGINAL CALENDAR, UNLESS OF COURSE Y'ALL WANT TO BE IN COURT VAN FOR PEOPLE VACATIONS, OR UNLESS YOU WANT TO COMMIT MORE FEDERAL PROBLEMS SUCH AS NOT ABIDING BY THE IEP.
SO I ASKED YOU, I STRONGLY ENCOURAGE YOU.
AND STAYING WITH YOUR ORIGINAL DECISION, WHICH WAS THE ORIGINAL CALENDAR.
AND MR. LANDIS NE WOULD LOVE TO SEE YOU.
THANK YOU, MS. CORLEY, SEEING NO OTHER COMMENTS FROM THE AUDIENCE.
WE COME BACK TO THE BOARD MS. COLLINS, VICE PRESIDENT COLLINS.
UM, I JUST WANTED TO, UH, FIRST LIFT UP AND AGREE WITH, UH, ONE OF THE CONCERNS ABOUT, UM, A SUBSTANTIVE PLAN BASED ON DATA OR APPRECIATE THAT THE SUPERINTENDENT AND TEAM HAS WORKED HARD ON, UM, PROVIDING, UH, THE ESTIMATED BUDGET WITH THE LINE ITEM AMOUNTS.
UM, BUT I, WHEN I ALSO LOOK FORWARD TO IS AS MANY HAVE STATED, UM, WHAT'S THE CURRENT STATE OF OUR CHILDREN BASED ON THE CURRENT STATE OF OUR CHILDREN, NOT A GLOBAL APPROACH, BUT BASED ON THE CURRENT STATE OF OUR KIDS, THEN WE NEED TO DO ABC X, Y, Z, TO ADDRESS THAT.
AND SO THEN WHEN THESE CONTRACTS ARE PROPOSED, THEN AS A BOARD MEMBER, WHEN IT'S TIME TO VOTE YAY, OR NAY ON A PARTICULAR CONTRACT, THEN I KNOW THAT, OKAY, YEAH, I CAN VOTE FOR THIS CONTRACT BECAUSE I KNOW THAT IT'S GONNA ADDRESS A, B, C, X, Y, Z, NEED OUR KIDS.
SO I WANT TO, UH, LIFT THAT UP.
UH, THE CURRENT ITEM IS THE CALENDAR ITSELF AND NOT THE ACTUAL PLAN.
UM, AND ALSO MENTIONED, AND POINT OUT THAT THIS ITEM IS THE CALENDAR, NOT THE ACTUAL PLAN THOUGH.
INFORMATION ABOUT PROPOSED CONTRACTS AND THE PLAN HAVE BEEN PRESENTED.
THE QUESTION I HAVE IS, UH, HOW WILL WE MAKE SURE WE ACCOMMODATE OUR, UH, TEACHERS WHO HAVE TO PROVIDE PARENT TEACHER CONFERENCES? I ALSO NEED, I ALSO DID NOT REALIZE, UM, THAT THE SURVEY DID NOT INCLUDE AS AN OPTION.
UH, THE ORIGINAL CALENDAR THAT HAS ALREADY BEEN APPROVED, UM, W WHICH PUTS THINGS IN A DIFFERENT CONTEXT, UM, OVERALL, BUT ON THE PARENT TEACHER CONFERENCES, UM, IS ADAM IN THE ROOM SINCE HE'S THE ONE THAT'S MOST FAMILIAR WITH ADJUSTING CALENDARS, UM, DO YOU HAPPEN TO, UH, SINCE THE POINT WAS RAISED, YOU KNOW, THERE'S A LOT OF MOVING PIECES, IS IT, UH, YOU KNOW, IT'S A POINT THAT APPEARS TO HAVE BEEN OVERLOOKED NOW THAT IT'S BEEN RAISED? ARE THERE ANY THOUGHTS TO HOW TO RECTIFY THAT? WELL, THE YOUNG LADY WHO CAME, UH, THE TEACHER, I'M SURE SHE'S AN EXCELLENT TEACHER.
AND, UH, SHE MENTIONED THAT SHE MEETS WITH ALL OF OUR FIRST GRADE STUDENTS, BUT I THINK POLICY REALLY ONLY REQUIRES FOR YOU TO MEET, HAVE A MANDATORY PARENT CONFERENCE WITH THOSE STUDENTS THAT ARE IN JEOPARDY OF FAILING.
UH, SOME PRINCIPALS MAY REQUIRE MORE, UH, THROUGHOUT THE YEAR, BUT, BUT I DO KNOW THAT, UM, UH, THE FIRST NINE WEEKS, CORRECT FIRST NOW WEEKS FOR THOSE STUDENTS, ESPECIALLY ELEMENTARY STUDENTS WHO ARE IN JEOPARDY OF FAILING THAT, UH, THERE IS A MANDATORY PARENT TEACHER CONFERENCE.
SO AS I MENTIONED IN THE PRESENTATION, WE WOULD HOPE THAT, YOU KNOW, PRINCIPALS PROVIDE THOSE OPPORTUNITIES WHERE TEACHERS CAN MEET WITH PARENTS THROUGHOUT THE DAY, OR LEVERAGED, UM, THE TECHNOLOGY FOR THOSE PARENTS WHO HAVE ACCESS.
NOW, REMEMBER, WE ARE ONE-TO-ONE,
[02:05:01]
WE DO PROVIDE, YOU KNOW, HOTSPOTS FOR THOSE FAMILIES WHO MAY NEED THE, UH, INTERNET CONNECTION.I'M SURE THAT, UM, CHROMEBOOKS, WE PURCHASED CHROMEBOOKS FROM PRE-K THROUGH 12.
AND SO, UH, IF ANY PARENTS THAT ARE IN A NEED, I'M SURE WE STILL HAVE THOSE MOBILE DEVICES STILL AVAILABLE.
I'M LOOKING IN THE WRONG WAY WITH AMY.
AND SO, SO THOSE ARE SOME OF THE WAYS THAT WE CAN POSSIBLY LEVERAGE, UM, THOSE EARLY RELEASE DATES FOR THOSE STUDENTS WHO MAY THOSE TEACHERS WHO MAY NEED TO MEET WITH THEIR PARENTS BASED OFF, UH, STILL STUDENTS WHO MAY BE IN JEOPARDY OF FAILING THE FIRST TIME.
I DON'T, I DON'T KNOW THAT THAT NECESSARILY ACCOMMODATES AND, AND RECTIFIES THE ISSUE.
I'M JUST THINKING ABOUT WHEN MY BOYS WENT TO SCHOOL, I'M THINKING ABOUT MY BRAIN'S SON.
I DIDN'T WAIT UNTIL THEY WERE FAILING TO MEET WITH A TEACHER.
A LOT OF THE TEACHERS DIDN'T WAIT UNTIL THEY WERE FAILING.
I KNOW THE POLICY, BUT CERTAINLY I GO, I HAVE NO RESEARCH AT MY FINGERTIPS.
I'M QUITE SURE BEST PRACTICES SEE BEST PRACTICES THAT YOU WILL BE CONTINUOUSLY MEETING WITH PARENTS IN CONTACT WITH PARENTS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR, THE TEACHER.
SO THEN A PARENT LIAISON IN THE PAST YEAH.
IN THE BEST CONTACT OF THOSE POSITIVE CONTACTS SAYING THAT THE STUDENT IS DOING WELL.
UM, UH, I MEAN, IS THERE A WAY TO, UH, BE ADDED BEING SOMEONE THAT'S VERY EXPERIENCED WITH THE INS AND OUTS OF, UH, THE, UH, CALENDAR AND CREATION OF A CALENDAR? IS THERE A WAY TO PASS THIS PARTICULAR CALENDAR, BUT, UH, AND ALSO HAVING BEEN A PRINCIPAL, ET CETERA, AND DEALING WITH THE NEEDS OF TEACHERS, IS THERE A WAY TO PASS THIS CALENDAR AND STILL ACCOMMODATE HEALTHY PARENT TEACHER CONTACT IN, IN THE, IN THE DAY, DAY TO DAY OPERATIONS OF THE SCHOOL? WELL, IF THE ASSAY IS, ARE YOU ASKING TO INCORPORATE EARLY RELEASE DAYS, IF THAT HAS DONE, OF COURSE, THAT WOULD TAKE AWAY FROM THE ADDITIONAL INSTRUCTIONAL TIME THAT WE COMMITTED.
NOW, THE QUESTION IS, IF, IF THERE'S A WAY TO INCORPORATE HEALTHY PARENT TEACHER, CURRENT COMMUNICATION OR CONTACT WITHIN PASTOR'S CALENDAR.
UH, YOU KNOW, I'M QUITE SURE, YOU KNOW, THERE ARE TEACHERS THROUGHOUT THE PARENTS THAT ARE DOING IT REGARDLESS OF THE CALENDAR THAT WE HAD IN PLACE, BECAUSE ESSENTIALLY WE, I WOULD EXPECT THAT TEACHERS ARE IN COMMUNICATION WITH THEIR PARENTS.
NOW, EVEN THOUGH WE HAVE EXHAUSTED ALL OF OUR INSTRUCTIONAL DAYS NOW, UH, BECAUSE OF COVID, WE PUSHED THE CALENDAR BACK IN FOR THOSE WEATHER DAYS.
SO I WOULD ASSUME THAT TEACHERS ARE COMMUNICATING WITH THEIR PARENTS DO IN, IN THE CURRENT CALENDAR, THE CHANGES TO THE CURRENT CALENDAR.
CAUSE I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE I'M UNDERSTANDING THE CURRENT, BUT THE BEAT 2020 THROUGH 21 SCHOOL CANADA, THEY WILL CURRENTLY IN HIS HEAD CHANGES FROM CORPORATE YADA YADA, YADA.
BUT DO THOSE CHANGES STILL ALLOW, DID THOSE CHANGES STILL ALLOW TIME IN THE DAY? BECAUSE EVEN IF WE TAUGHT THEM ABOUT MAXIMIZING AND LEVERAGING TECHNOLOGY, WHICH I THINK IS AN EXCELLENT IDEA AND IN SOME WAYS, UH, SAVES TIME ALSO UNDERSTAND HOW MUCH TIME IT TAKE TO RESPOND TO EMAILS AND PHONE CALLS AND KITCHEN UP WITH PEOPLE.
UM, I THINK BECAUSE OF COBIT, UH, PRESIDENT VICE PRESIDENT COLLINS, UH, SCHOOLS AND TEACHERS ARE PROBABLY IN ANY OTHER YEAR MORE IN CONTACT WITH PARENTS, UH, BECAUSE KIDS ARE VIRTUAL.
UM, SO I WOULD IMAGINE THAT THAT COMMUNICATION GAP HAS BEEN CLOSED BECAUSE OF CON COVID.
UH, I KNOW THAT MANY OF OUR SCHOOLS ARE WORKING WITH CHILD WELFARE AND ATTENDANCE TO MAKE CERTAIN THAT FOR THOSE STUDENTS WHO ARE NOT LOGGING IN VIRTUALLY, BUT I WOULD SUSPECT THAT SCHOOLS ARE MORE IN CONTACT WITH PARENTS THIS YEAR THAN ANY OTHER WITHIN THIS CURRENT CALENDAR.
AND AS I MENTIONED, YOU KNOW, WE DON'T HAVE ANY, WE HAVE EXHAUSTED ALL OF OUR INSTRUCTIONAL DAYS BECAUSE OF INCLEMENT WEATHER AND THOSE THINGS.
BUT I WOULD IMAGINE THAT TEACHERS ARE BEING CREATIVE WITH MAKING CONTACTS WITH THEIR PARENTS
[02:10:01]
NOW WITH THE PASSING OF THIS CALENDAR.UM, UH, THERE IS WAYS THAT SCHOOLS COULD, AND TEACHERS AS WELL COULD BE IN CONTACT WITH THEIR PARENTS.
AS I MENTIONED, YOU KNOW, IF I WAS, IF I GO BACK AND THINK OF, I WAS A BUILDING LEVEL PRINCIPALS, OUR CREATE TIME SPACES WHERE, YOU KNOW, FOR THOSE PARENTS, TO TEACHERS WHO HAVE OPPORTUNITIES TO ACTUALLY, UM, UM, MEET WITH THEIR TEACHERS, UH, I KNOW EVEN WITH, UH, IDA WITH IPS AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE AND IMPORTANT DOCUMENTS, SCIENCE, THERE ARE THINGS WHITE, CREATIVE WAYS THAT DEPARTMENTS AND SCHOOLS I'VE BEEN WORKING WITH THOSE WITH OUR PARENTS.
I DON'T KNOW IF THAT TOTALLY ANSWERED YOUR QUESTION, BUT ESSENTIALLY TO THE, TO THE BEST, AND IT'S NOT GOING TO BE, I WOULD HONESTLY SAY IT'S NOT GOING TO BE POSSIBLY NORMAL ACROSS, UH, THE DISTRICT, BECAUSE I WOULD SAY THAT DEPENDING ON WHAT STAFFING LOOKS LIKE, WHAT ANCILLARY TIME, YOU KNOW, SECONDARY IS A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT THAN ELEMENTARY, YOU KNOW, FOR MOST SCHOOLS THAT ARE A 90 MINUTE PLANNING, YOU HAVE THAT 90 MINUTE TIME TO PLAN.
AND, AND FOR WHEN I WAS A PRINCIPAL, I DIDN'T HAVE TEACHERS PLANNING EVERY SINGLE DAY.
THAT WAS TIME THAT I ALLOWED IT FOR A DAY A WEEK OR TWO DAYS A WEEK WITH TEACHERS THAT WOULD MEET IN THEIR PLANNING PERIODS, ALONG WITH THEIR PLCS.
BUT THE OTHER TIME WAS INDIVIDUAL PLANNING.
AND SO I'M CONFIDENT THAT I BUILD A LEVEL OF ADMINISTRATORS STRAIGHT AS, ESPECIALLY AT THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS WILL KIND OF WORK THROUGH THAT.
UM, AND I KNOW JUST FROM PERSONAL EXPERIENCE, SEVERAL MANY MOONS AGO, BEING A SUB, SOME SCHOOL SITES ARE NOT BUILT TO ACCOMMODATE REGULAR PLANNING TIME.
CAUSE I REMEMBER IT WAS JUST, I DON'T REMEMBER THE NAME OF THE SCHOOL OR THE PRINCIPAL WHO WAS THERE AT THE TIME, BUT ONE SUB SUBSTITUTE, UH, SITUATION WAS EXTREMELY ENLIGHTENING BECAUSE I LITERALLY HAD NO TIME TO EVEN GO TO THE BATHROOM.
WELL, I'LL JUST SHARE ONE OF THE THINGS THAT, YOU KNOW, I'M JUST SPEAKING, PUTTING ON MY PRINCIPAL HAT WITH MY TITLE, ONE FUNDS, UM, MS. UH, VICE PRESIDENT COLLINS.
I PURCHASED SUBS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR.
I HAD A SON THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE YEAR THAT WOULD, THAT WAS ABLE TO SUPPORT TEACHERS OR IF I HAD PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT, THINGS OF THAT NATURE.
SO I KIND OF USE SOME OF MY FUNDING IN THAT WAY.
AND THAT BRINGS ME TO MY LAST THOUGHT FOR THE MOMENT I JUST WANT TO RAISE UP.
THEN WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO SEE MOVING FORWARD IS NOT ONLY JUST THE DATA, BUT BOTTOM, BOTTOM UP INSTEAD OF TOP DOWN SUPPORTS OR THESE SCHOOLS, WHEN WE TALKING ABOUT CARES, ACT FUNDS AND FUTURE PLANNING, LIKE WHAT SUPPORTS DO WE NEED TO GIVE PRINCIPALS AND TEACHERS ON EACH SCHOOL SITE? LIKE PERHAPS THAT LAST RECOMMENDATION OF THAT SUBSTITUTE TO HELP ALLEVIATE AND GIVE TEACHERS TIME IS A GREAT SOLUTION.
AND I DON'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT LORD, I'M PASSING THIS CALENDAR BECAUSE PEOPLE SPENT ALL THIS TIME, BUT THEN I'M STILL PUTTING TEACHERS ON THE BIND, BUT IT APPEARS AND SUPERINTENDENT, I'M NOT, I DON'T WANT TO PUT WORDS IN YOUR MOUTH.
UH, I'VE NOT SEEN YOUR FULL PLAN.
THAT'S WHY I'M MAKING COMMENT RIGHT NOW.
IT APPEARS AT THE MOMENT THAT EVERYTHING IS TOP DOWN AND NOT ADDRESSING NEEDS THAT ARE SPECIFIC TO SCHOOL SITES.
AND THEN WE CAN MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE BEING MINDFUL OF THOSE THINGS AS WE MOVE FORWARD.
WHEN I WENT OUT WITH OUR CARE ZAG AND ESTHER DOLLARS, UM, IT, THAT WOULD BE SO GREATLY APPRECIATED THE INTERVENTIONS THAT'S NEEDED FOR THE LOW PERFORMANCE STUDENTS, WHICH WOULD ALSO HELP ADDRESS EQUITY, ET CETERA, ET CETERA.
UM, I LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING MORE OF, UH, CARES ACT AND ESSER, UH, PROPOSALS, UH, FROM YOUR SUPERINTENDENT.
AND, AND I, I RESPECTFULLY OFFER THAT INSIGHT THAT IF WE COULD SEE THAT, THAT TYPE OF THING AS WELL, BASED ON THE SCHOOL SITE NEEDS, I'D GREATLY APPRECIATE IT.
AND SHE, UH, ANSWERED, UM, SHE ASKED MY QUESTION.
SO MS. WHERE JACKSON, THANK YOU, PRESIDENT TAMPA.
UM, YEAH, MY, MY ONLY CONCERN IS, IS AROUND, UH, BUDGET.
AND THEN THAT DOESN'T PERTAIN TO THIS PARTICULAR CALENDAR, BUT THE CALENDAR IS ALL, THIS IS TIED TO CARES ACT AND ALL OF THE FUNDING.
AND, UH, WE'VE BEEN GETTING LOTS OF REQUESTS FOR
[02:15:01]
THE ACTUAL BUDGET THAT, UH, FOLLOWS ALONG WITH THE CARES ACT.SO, UM, I WANTED TO ASK SPECIFICALLY IF, UM, WHEN CAN WE EXPECT, UH, THE BUDGET, UH, PRESENTED THIS TIED TO THE CARES ACT IN ALL OF THE OTHER FUNDING THAT WE'LL BE USING THIS YEAR? KELLY LOPEZ COME UP OR CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER AND DR.
THE
IT'S DUE TO THE STATE DEPARTMENT ON APRIL 30TH AND YOU WILL RECEIVE IT AT THE COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE, FOR YOUR APPROVAL.
THAT'S THAT'S PRETTY, PRETTY NEW.
THANK YOU, MS. SQUARE JACKSON, MS. DYSON.
SO WE TALKED ABOUT THE, UM, THE, IN ONE MORE TALKING ABOUT THE BUDGET AND THE CALENDAR, AND WE'RE, IF WE CHANGE TO THIS NEW VERSION.
UM, AND WE TALKED ABOUT THE REDUCED DOLLAR TOTAL DOLLARS.
UM, I, MY QUESTION, I THINK I UNDERSTOOD THAT YOU SAID THAT THERE WOULD BE THREE, UM, SALARY PERIODS THAT WOULD INCREASE TO 10 DAY NOW.
CAN YOU EXPLAIN THAT? BECAUSE I'M GETTING FEEDBACK THAT THEY'RE GOING TO TAKE AWAY THE HALF DAYS AND THEY'RE GOING TO MAKE US WORK THESE EIGHT DAYS WHEN THE OLD ONE PAID US AND THIS ONE DOESN'T PAY US ANY EXTRA, BUT I THOUGHT I UNDERSTOOD YOU TO SAY STILL GOING TO BE PAID AT THE REGULAR RATE IN THEIR SCHEDULE.
SO TEACHERS, THE WAY THE PAYROLL SCHEDULE WORKS ARE PAID NINE DAYS AT A TIME.
AND SO IN A NORMAL NORMAL CALENDAR YEAR, THEY RECEIVED TWO 10 DAY CHECKS, ONE IN AUGUST AND ONE IN JANUARY.
NOW WITH THIS NEW BUDGET AT A NEW CALENDAR, IT'S 92 AND 93 DAYS FALL AND SPRING, AS YOU KNOW, OUR NORMAL CALENDAR IS 91 91.
SO SINCE THEY'RE WORKING THREE EXTRA DAYS INTERMITTENTLY THROUGHOUT THE YEAR, THE FALL HOLIDAY, UM, IN MAY AND AN EASTER, THERE WILL BE ADDITIONAL DAYS TO PAY, WHICH WILL CAUSE THREE ADDITIONAL 10 DAY CHECKS.
AND THEY'RE NOT RECEIVING 10 DAYS.
IT'S BECAUSE IT'S AN EXTRA DAY ADDED TO THEIR NORMAL CHECK.
SO INSTEAD OF TWO, 10 DAY CHECKS FOR YEAR, THEY WILL RECEIVE FIVE THIS YEAR.
SO THEY ARE BEING PAID ABSOLUTELY ADDITIONAL DAYS THAT ARE BUILT IN, INSTEAD OF ONLY AT THE FRONT END.
NOW THEY'RE BUILT IN, BUT THERE WILL BE EXTRA PAY BECAUSE OF THAT.
YES MA'AM AND WE'RE WORKING OUT THE DATES RIGHT NOW WHEN THEY WOULD RECEIVE THEM AND PUT THEM INTO THE PAYROLL SCHEDULE.
NOW THE QUESTION IT'S ABOUT THE, UM, TEACHER PARENT CONFERENCES, UH, REVISED STATUTE, 17 SECTION FOUR OH 6.7 TEACHER PARENT CONFERENCES REQUIRED ATTENDANCE CONSEQUENCES.
UNIVERSAL CITATION WAS IN A ROW STATUTES, 17 FOUR OH 6.7 PARENT TEACHER CONFERENCES WILL SAY, HEY, ONE, A TEACHER.
SO SCHEDULE AT LEAST TWO PARENT TEACHER CONFERENCES DURING THE FIRST SEMESTER, EACH SCHOOL YEAR, AT LEAST ONE PARENT OR GUARDIAN OF THE SCHOOL OF THE CHILD'S CHILD ATTEND OR PARTICIPATE IN AT LEAST ONE OF THE SCHEDULED PARENT TEACHER CONFERENCES.
SECTION TWO, A TEACHER MAY NOT REQUIRE A PARENT OR GUARDIAN TO ATTEND THE CONFERENCE.
IF THE CONFERENCE IS DEEMED TO BE UNNECESSARY DUE TO THE STUDENT'S ACADEMIC RECORD.
AND MY QUESTION IS, NOW THAT WE'VE TAKEN THE HALF DAYS, HOW DO WE SCHEDULE THOSE IN? BECAUSE I GUESS THEY'RE JUST HAVE THEIR PLANNING PERIOD IS THE ONLY OPPORTUNITY LIKE TH THIS IS A VERY REAL CONCERN THAT I'VE HAD SINCE THE BEGINNING.
THAT MIGHT BE AN OPTION THAT SOME PRINCIPALS MAY CHOOSE TO ELECT OR USING A SCHEDULING TIME AROUND THE PLANNING PERIODS.
UM, FOR THOSE PARENT TEACHER CONFERENCES, THAT MAY BE ONE OPTION.
SO IS IT, ARE THEY GOING TO HIRE A SUB FOR THEM? IF THE PARENT CANNOT COME AT, LIKE THE TEACHER SAID 10 15 DURING HER PLANNING PERIOD? WELL, I MEAN, I DON'T KNOW WHO'S GOING TO BE IN THE CLASSROOM
[02:20:01]
WITH THE STUDENTS.UM, IF THE TEACHER CANNOT DO IT, IF THE PARENT CANNOT MAKE IT DURING HER PLANET PERIOD, IF THAT'S THE ONLY TIME I WOULD THINK THAT SHE WOULD NEED TO, HE, OR SHE WOULD NEED TO A LOT, SOME OTHER TIME DURING THE DAY, WE DON'T EXPECT THEM TO DO IT ON SATURDAYS.
AND THAT HAPPENS, THAT HAPPENS DURING THE NORMAL YEAR.
AND WHEN WE DO HAVE, UH, EARLY RELEASE DAYS WHERE WE HAVE TO WORK AROUND, SOMETIMES PARENTS SCHEDULES, I'VE DONE IT AS WELL.
IF I HAD A PARENT THAT SHOWED UP WHO CAN ONLY MEET AT A CERTAIN TIME, I WOULD FIND SOME TYPE OF COVERAGE TO ALLOW THAT PARENT TO MEET WITH THAT TEACHER.
AND SO, UH, IT'S NOT UNUSUAL THAT SCHOOL BELL, BELL, 11 PRINCIPALS ARE VERY FLEXIBLE WITH HOW THEY ACCOMMODATE PARENTS WITH THOSE CONFERENCES THAT HAPPENS QUITE OFTEN.
I JUST THOUGHT THAT'S WHAT THE HALF DAYS WERE FOR.
THERE'S NOTHING ELSE THAT WE CAN DO.
THANK YOU, MS.
YOU WANT TO, WE NEED TO RESTATE THE MOTION SINCE IT'S BEEN SUCH A LONG TIME QUESTION, MR.
THE MOTION IS TO APPROVE THE REVISED 2021 2022 SCHOOL YEAR CALENDAR FURTHER IDENTIFIED AS OPTION ONE, A FUNDING SOURCE COST PROJECTION CARES ACT APPROXIMATELY $4.4 MILLION.
THANK YOU, MADAM SECRETARY, PLEASE CONDUCT THE VOTE.
YOU CAN ROLL CALL IF YOU LIKE MR. LANA'S, YOU CAN'T GET HIM WAS JUST ROLL CALL DISTRICT ONE.
MR. LANA'S DISTRICT THREE, MR. HOWARD.
UH, I'M GOING TO HAVE TO GO, NATE.
I'M NOT SATISFIED WITH THEIR PARENT TEACHER CONFERENCE DISTRICT FIVE.
MS. WHERE JACKSON DISTRICT SIX.
MR.
[H.2. Crestworth Middle School Attendance Zone]
ITEM H TO CONSIDERATION OF A REQUEST FOR THE APPROVAL OF THE RECOMMENDATION FOR THE MODIFICATIONS TO THE ATTENDANCE ZONES FOR THE REOPENING OF THE CRESTS WORTH MIDDLE SCHOOL SITE WITH THE START OF THE 2021, 2022 SCHOOL YEAR AND RELATED MATTERS.ARE YOU UP? OH, I'M SORRY, MR. HOWARD.
UH, MOVED BY MR. HOWARD, UH, SECONDED BY MR. LANDIS.
WE HAVE SOMEBODY THAT'S GOING TO COME UP AND TALK ABOUT THIS.
MARCY'S SOMEONE'S GOING TO COME TALK ABOUT THE CROSSWORK MIDDLE SENTENCE LINES, I GUESS I SHOULD RECEIVE.
MR. SMITH, CAN YOU PLEASE COME UP AND MR.
YOU GUYS ARE AWARE THAT IN FEBRUARY OF 2018, UH, THE BOARD VOTED AND THE COMMUNITY, UH, ADOPTED A 10 YEAR TAX PLAN YEAR.
TWO OF THAT TAX PLAN REQUIRED, UH, DEFINES ADDITIONAL MIDDLE SCHOOL SEATS IN THE NORTHERN PART OF THE DISTRICT OF SCOTLAND BELT AREA.
UH, WE COULD EITHER, UH, EXPAND, RENOVATE OR EXPAND A FACILITY CRESS WORTH ELEMENTARY.
CROSSWORD METAL WAS GIVEN BACK TO US, UH, FROM THE RSV AND IT WAS DECIDED WE HAVE A PROJECT THAT'S ALREADY STARTED FOR RENOVATION.
IT WAS DECIDED THAT WE WOULD TURN THE CROSSWORD SITE INTO A K EIGHT MODEL, UH,
[02:25:01]
CURRENTLY, UH, WE'VE HAD, I THINK IT WAS IN MAYBE OCTOBER, OCTOBER, WE HAD A COMMUNITY FORUM COMMUNITY MEETINGS WITH ALL THREE SCHOOLS, PROGRESS, RON AND CREST WORTH OVERWHELMINGLY.UH, THE, THE COMMUNITY SAID THAT THEY WOULD AGREE TO SAY, NIKKI IS THE MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS TO A NEIGHBORHOOD MIDDLE SCHOOL.
AND SO WHAT THIS ITEM ALLOWS US TO MIRROR THE SCOTLANDVILLE HIGH SCHOOL ATTENDANCE ZONE FOR GRADES SIX THROUGH EIGHT.
I DON'T SEE ANY QUESTIONS FROM THE BOARD.
UH, MS. UH, VICE PRESIDENT COLLINS JUST, UM, PROVIDE SOME CLARITY ON THE, UM, PROCEDURALLY WHERE WE ARE ON THE K THE GRADE CONFIGURATION.
I KNOW THE TASK PLAN SAID MIDDLE SCHOOL, UH, AS WE LOOKED AT IT, UH, THERE'S BEEN DISCUSSION AROUND A K EIGHT.
I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE I'M CLEAR ON THE PROCEDURAL POSTURE.
WELL, ESSENTIALLY WHAT, ESSENTIALLY THE WORTH ELEMENTARY, IT WON'T REQUIRE A PSYCHO.
THE SCHOOL WOULD NATURALLY BECOME A, WHAT WE CALL A COMBO SCHOOL, SORT OF LIKE WHAT WE HAVE AT BELFAIR AND MAYFAIR LAB IT'LL NATURALLY GROW INTO A COMBO SCHOOL, WHICH IT WILL REMAIN AT ELEMENTARY SITE.
UH, THE PLANTS ARE AT THE START OF NEXT SCHOOL YEAR.
I THINK THE SUBSTANTIAL COMPLETION DATE WAS PUSHED UP MAYBE TILL JULY, BUT I THINK, UH, WITH THE STARS, THIS CALENDAR, WE CAN LOOK AT EARLY AUGUST, UH, WHAT MOVING THE ELEMENTARY STUDENTS, WHICH IS ADJACENT PROPERTY INTO THE MIDDLE SCHOOL CONFIGURATED SITE.
AND SO BASICALLY IT JUST REQUIRES THE SUPERINTENDENT TO, UM, FILL OUT A REQUEST FOR A GREAT CONFIGURATION, BECAUSE CURRENTLY RIGHT NOW THE SCHOOL IS A CONFIGURING IT WITH THE STATE AS A PRE-K THROUGH FIVE.
AND IT WOULD JUST BE A MATTER OF JESS WANTS THE, THE PORTAL OPENS WITH THE STATE, JUST REQUESTING THAT, UH, THE SCHOOL BE WITH CONFIGURATED INCOME TO BECOME A COMPOST SCHOOL.
SO THERE'S NO BOARD ACTION THAT'S NEEDED FROM US PROCEDURALLY.
GENERALLY, THE POLICY KICKS IN WHEN THE BOARD EITHER OPENS OR CLOSES THE SCHOOL IN THIS CASE, UH, THE BOYS ISN'T CLOSING THE SCHOOL IS PHYSICALLY MOVING THE SITE, THE SCHOOL DOESN'T GO AWAY.
UM, AND THE, THE TAX PLAN THAT THE MIDDLE SCHOOL PIECE HAS ALREADY APPROVED THROUGH THE TAX PLAN AND THROUGH BOARD ACTION FOR THAT PIECE, SO.
VICE PRESIDENT COLLINS, MS. DYSON.
SO IF I'M UNDERSTANDING CORRECTLY, THE COMMUNITY IN THE SCOTLANDVILLE AREA ARE SUPPORTING THIS PLAN AND IT MOVES THEM FROM HAVING TO GO TO PARK FOREST TO CLOSER TO HOME.
AND, UM, WE'RE IN LINE WITH THE TAX PLAN ADHERING TO WHAT WE SAID WE WOULD DO.
SO, UM, WILL THERE, UH, BE, I'M WONDERING WHY ARE WE, WHAT, WHY AREN'T THEY JUST MOVING THE SIXTH, SEVENTH AND EIGHT? WHY IS IT BEING PHASED IN? WELL, AS WE DISCUSSED THIS, WE WILL WANT TO ALLOW THE PRINCIPAL TO GROW HER CULTURE.
YOU HAVE STUDENTS THAT HAVE BEEN AT PARK WAS SMELLED FOR TWO OR THREE YEARS.
I THINK IT WOULD KIND OF BE UNFAIR TO UNROOT THOSE KIDS AND JUST MOVE THEM OUT OF THE FACILITY THAT THEY'D BEEN AT, THE TEACHERS THEY'VE BEEN WITH FOR THE PAST THREE YEARS.
AND SO WE'RE ASKING THE PRINCIPAL, ALLOWING THE PRINCIPAL OPPORTUNITY TO KIND OF GROW ON CULTURE, YOU KNOW, AS YOU MIX ELEMENTARY AND MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS TOGETHER, UH, IT COULD BE QUITE A CHALLENGE.
AND SO ONE OF THE THINGS THAT THE PRINCIPAL REQUESTED, WHICH IS NOT UNCOMMON, WE'VE DONE IT AT THE HIGH SCHOOL LEVEL, AND WE'LL ALSO, WE'VE DONE IT WITH THE CURRENT JEFFERSON TERRACE MODEL THAT WILL ALLOW IT TO PHASE HIM UP.
AND THEN IS THERE, IS THERE ENOUGH SEPARATION AT THE SITE? YEAH, I DON'T HAVE THE CAPACITY AT THIS POINT WHAT THE SCHOOL HOLDS, BUT YES, THERE'LL BE UP TO SHARE THE LIBRARY IS JUST PHASING IN AND, AND THERE'S ENOUGH SEPARATION AS FAR AS THE SEPARATE WING OR SOMEWHERE SPECIFIC.
SO EVERYBODY'S GOOD WITH THE PRESSBOOKS.
THANK YOU, MS. SQUARED, JACKSON, THANK YOU FOR THAT.
UM, JUST FOR CLARITY, YOU MENTIONED THAT THERE ARE TWO BUILDINGS THERE.
ONE THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL IS NEXT DOOR AND THE SITE THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT, UM, THE SIGN OF THIS ON THE TABLE IS THE MIDDLE SCHOOL.
[02:30:01]
WE'RE, WE'LL BE MOVING THE KIDS FROM THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL SITE INTO THE NEW BUILDING, CORRECT.UM, INTO THE MIDDLE SCHOOL AREA.
WHAT HAPPENS WITH THE, THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL BUILDING THAT WAS A PART OF THE, UH, PRE-K, WHAT DO YOU, THE PROPER NAME, THE CENTERS, MICRO CENTERS.
THAT WAS PART OF THE SUPERINTENDENTS DIVISION WITH THE MICROSERVICE STAFF.
THE ELEMENTARY SITE WILL COME BECOME A MICRO CENTER.
I, I JUST WONDERED, YOU KNOW, ABOUT THAT SIDE, IF WE REMOVE IT, WHAT WAS THE PLAN FOR, FOR THAT? AND SO IT'S CONNECTED TO THE, THE PRE-K EXPANSION.
THANK YOU, MS. SQUARE JACKSON, MR. HOWARD, THANK YOU, PRESIDENT TAMMY.
I JUST WANTED TO LIFT UP THAT, UM, THE COMMUNITY AS MRS. MILLS SAY WE HAD A MEETING SOMETIME AGO ABOUT THIS PARTICULAR PROJECT.
THERE HAS BEEN AN OUTCRY FOR A TRADITIONAL PUBLIC SCHOOL, MIDDLE SCHOOL IN, UM, IN THAT PARTICULAR AREA, AS WELL AS A CONSISTENT BEAT PART OF A SCALPEL MAGNET HIGH SCHOOL.
AND SO THIS OPPORTUNITY GIVES US BOTH.
AND, UM, SO I JUST APPRECIATE THE BOARD FOR SUPPORTING THIS NOTION.
AND I HOPE THAT WE CAN SEE THIS, UM, COMPLETELY THROUGH, UM, AS WE CONTINUE TO BUILD THOSE COMMUNITY OF SCHOOLS AND THE KTA MODELS AND ALL OF THESE THINGS THAT ATTRACT THAT FAMOUS BACK TO THE DISTRICT.
SO THANK YOU GUYS FOR YOUR SUPPORT.
THANK YOU MRS. SMITH FOR YOUR WORK, BECAUSE IT'S BEEN SOME TIMES SINCE MY FIRST DAY ONE IS, WELL, WE GET A LOT OF WORK TO GET TO THIS POINT.
SO I JUST APPRECIATE THE SUPPORT AND, UM, THE SUPPORT OF THE BOARD FOR THIS MOTION.
UM, SEEING NO OTHER COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS FROM THE BOARD AT THIS MOMENT, WE GO TO THE AUDIENCE COMMENTS FROM THE AUDIENCE UM, SINCE PRE-K WILL NOT BE HAPPENING FOR THIS SCHOOL YEAR AT CREST FOURTH, CAN WE LEAVE THE ELEMENTARY WHERE IT IS AND OPEN THE MIDDLE UP TO THE MIDDLE GRADES? WHAT MR. SMITH SAID ABOUT THE PRINCIPAL GROWING THE CULTURE DOES MAKE A LOT OF SENSE.
UM, BUT THAT DOES ALSO TAKE NOT HAVING TO WORRY ABOUT FIVE-YEAR-OLDS WITH 14 YEAR OLDS DOING INAPPROPRIATE THINGS OR OLDER SIBLINGS TAKING UP FIGHTS FOR YOUNGER SIBLINGS AS WELL.
YOU HAVE THE COMMENTS FROM THE AUDIENCE.
WE COME BACK TO THE BOARD, THE BOARD IS CLEAR, MADAM SECRETARY, PLEASE CONDUCT THE VOTE.
DID YOU GET IT? WE CAN DO ROLL CALL IF WE NEED TO.
SORRY, DISTRICT WHILE MR. MILLER.
MR. LANDIS DISTRICT THREE, MR. HOWARD.
DISTRICT FOUR, VICE PRESIDENT COLLINS, DISTRICT FIVE.
[H.3. Forest Heights Expansion]
CONSIDERATION OF A REQUEST FOR THE APPROVAL OF THE RECOMMENDATION TO THE OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE TO MODIFY A PLAN TO IMPROVE FACILITIES, TECHNOLOGIES, DISCIPLINE AND COMPENSATION IN THE EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH SCHOOL SYSTEM TAX PLAN TO ALLOW FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF A MIDDLE SCHOOL COMPONENT AT THE FOREST HEIGHTS ACADEMY OF EXCELLENCE MOVED BY MR. ATLANTIS.IS THERE A SECOND SECONDED BY MS. MS. BERNARD? DO YOU WANT TO SAY YES TO YOU? THE, I WAS JUST TRYING TO FOLLOW A PROCEDURE.
I WAS WAITING FOR YOU TO CALL.
I DO WANT TO LET THE PRINCIPAL SPEAK FIRST AND THEN KIND OF TALK ABOUT, UM, WHAT WE TALKED ABOUT WHEN WE VISITED.
I WANT TO FIRST SAY, UM, IT'S A PLEASURE TO BE BEFORE THE BOARD HAS BEEN A COUPLE OF YEARS AND STUFF HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO ADDRESS EVERYONE.
SO, UM, THANK YOU FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY.
NRCS, PRESIDENT TAPPIN, VICE-PRESIDENT COLLINS AND THE AVR FAMILY.
UM, I'M LADARIAN JACKSON PRINCIPAL AT FOREST HEIGHTS ACADEMY.
THIS IS ADMINISTRATIVE DEAN LESLIE MONCRIEF, AND WE'RE HERE TODAY BECAUSE THERE IS A, UH, DESIRE TO EXPAND OUR PROGRAM TO THE MIDDLE SCHOOL, UH, COMPONENT FROM A PRE-K
[02:35:01]
FIVE MODEL TO A PRE-K EIGHT MONTHS.WE HAVE DONE SOME PRELIMINARY, UM, SURVEYING ABOUT PARENTS.
UM, WE ALL AGREE THAT GIVING THEM SOME SAY-SO AND ALLOWING THEM THE OPPORTUNITY TO EXPRESS THEIR, UM, REACTION TO THE NEWS.
WE THINK THAT THAT'S VERY IMPORTANT WHEN THIS, UH, INITIALLY WAS BROUGHT TO THE TABLE BACK IN FALL 2019, WE DID AN INITIAL SURVEY AT THAT TIME.
WE HAD ABOUT 76, 77% OF THE RESPONDENTS, UM, THAT THEY WERE EXCITED ABOUT THE POSSIBILITY OF IT.
OF COURSE, THEY NEEDED MORE INFORMATION THAN WE HAD AT THE TIME, BUT WE JUST WANTED TO GAUGE, UM, WHETHER OR NOT THIS WOULD BE SOMETHING THAT OUR, OUR FAMILIES WOULD BE INTERESTED IN BECAUSE WE ALL AGREED THAT WITHOUT THEM, NONE OF THIS WOULD BE, UH, POSSIBLE.
AND SO, UM, ONCE WE HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO RE-ENGAGE THIS DISCUSSION, UH, THIS SEMESTER, UH, I ACTUALLY SENT OUT A SECOND SURVEY, UM, JUST TODAY AND WE STILL HAVE QUITE A FEW PARENTS TO RESPOND IN SUCH A SHORT TIME.
OF COURSE, I WANT TO REENGAGE THEM FURTHER, UM, WITH GREATER DETAIL, BUT WE STILL HAD AS OF TODAY, ABOUT 80 SOMETHING PERCENT OF PARENTS EXCITED ABOUT THE POSSIBILITY THEY NEED MORE INFORMATION, SO THAT, UH, WHERE I NEED MORE INFORMATION SO THAT I CAN RE-ENGAGE THEM.
AND WE CAN, UM, HAVE THAT DIALOGUE ABOUT WHAT THIS WOULD LOOK LIKE, WHAT THEIR EXPECTATIONS OF IT WOULD BE.
WHAT KIND OF SPECIALIZED PROGRAMS HAVE NOT HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK TO MS. PORTER TO SEE WHAT KIND OF CHANGES WOULD BE MADE TO THE CRITERIA? UM, BECAUSE WE ARE DEDICATED, UM, ACADEMIC AND VISUAL PERFORMING ARTS MAGNET.
WE, THE ONLY SCHOOL IN BETTERMENT WAS LIKE THAT AT THE ELEMENTARY LEVEL.
UM, AND SO WE NEED TO KNOW WHAT THAT MEANS IN TERMS OF THE MIDDLE SCHOOL COMPONENT, BUT THERE'S A LOT OF HURDLES TO JUMP BEFORE WE GET TO THAT POINT.
AND SO BEFORE WE CAN EVEN RE-ENGAGE THEM, BECAUSE THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE MORE QUESTIONS THAN I CAN ANSWER, AND WE START THAT PROCESS WITHOUT THIS ULTIMATE IMPORTANT OPTION OR OBSTACLES SHOULD I SAY? AND SO IT'S THAT YOU ALL, UM, IT'S ON YOU ALL'S TABLE AT THIS POINT, BUT I AM EXCITED ABOUT IT.
AND MY FACULTY AND STAFF WILL ENJOY THE DISCUSSIONS AROUND.
THEY'D LIKE TO BE INVOLVED IN THE DECISION MAKING PROCESS TO THE GREATEST EXTENT POSSIBLE, BUT WE CAN'T MOVE FORWARD UNTIL WE GET PAST THIS.
I BELIEVE THAT WE CAN, UM, ENGAGE SOME OF THE PARTNERS IN OUR DISTRICT WHO HAVE ALREADY WENT THROUGH THIS MODEL.
I KNOW THAT I HAD SPOKEN TO A COUPLE OF MY COLLEAGUES WHO CURRENTLY HAVE A K TO EIGHT MODEL.
UM, BUT ALSO SOME OF THE MIDDLE SCHOOL PRINCIPALS HAVE SOME VERY GOOD INSIGHT AS WELL, BUT AGAIN, WE WON'T BE ABLE TO MOVE FORWARD UNTIL WE GET PAST SOME OF THESE VERY CENTRAL STEPS.
UM, BUT I THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE US HERE TONIGHT, AND I LOVE TO, UH, BE PART OF THAT PROCESS IF IT SHOULD COME TO FRUITION.
THANK YOU, MR. JACKSON, UM, DO YOU WANT TO GO NOW? YES, SIR.
THANK YOU, PRESIDENT, UH, TIMING.
AND ALSO THANK YOU PRESIDENT JACKSON.
I MISS OUR PRINCIPAL JACKSON, UH, FOR, UH, BEING HERE TODAY AND LETTING THE BOARD KNOW EXACTLY WHAT THE COMMUNITY FEEDBACK HAS BEEN AROUND THIS PARTICULAR PROCESS.
UH, WHAT I WILL DO NOW IS TAKE A PAGE OUT OF MY BOARD COLLEAGUE, MIKE
UH, I WAS ONE OF THOSE BOARD MEMBERS AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT STUCK OUT TO ME THE MOST IS THAT I DON'T HAVE A STANDALONE MIDDLE SCHOOL.
AND BECAUSE OF THAT, I HAVE NO SCHOOL FOR MALE STUDENTS TO FEED INTO, BUT I WANT TO GIVE SOME CONTEXT TO THIS.
SO PEOPLE UNDERSTAND EXACTLY WHAT I MEAN CURRENTLY RIGHT NOW, FOREST HEIGHTS HAS ABOUT 414 STUDENTS.
AND DALE HAS ABOUT 305 STUDENTS.
UH, UH, SHARON HILLS HAS ABOUT 252 STUDENTS FOR THE MOST PART HAS ABOUT 497 STUDENTS.
AND THE SPA CHARTER HAS ABOUT 548 STUDENTS.
EACH OF THESE SCHOOLS ARE ONE MILE IN THE RADIUS FROM THE HIGH SCHOOL YET THE HIGH SCHOOL ONLY HAS 681 STUDENTS, 260.
ONE OF THOSE STUDENTS ARE MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS IN THAT CAPACITY IS SET AT 325 FOR THOSE MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS INSIDE OF THAT SPACE.
AND WE HAVE AN IMMEDIATE SPACE FOR ABOUT 450 STUDENTS.
SO AGAIN, THAT'S BEEN ONE OF THE MAJOR ISSUES THAT I'VE HAD AND MAJOR CONCERNS THAT I HAD IS THAT THERE IS NO, NO MIDDLE SCHOOL FOR THOSE STUDENTS TO FEED INTO.
SO A LOT OF THOSE STUDENTS ARE GOING TO OTHER SCHOOLS ON THE OTHER SIDE OF TOWN.
WHEN WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY NOW TO FIX THIS PROBLEM MUCH LIKE WHAT'S HAPPENING IN THE SCOTLAND VIA WITH CHRIS WORTH, UH, ELEMENTARY.
BUT I DO WANT TO TALK ABOUT SOME OF THE BENEFITS.
ONE OF THE BENEFITS WOULD BE THAT THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL CURRENTLY IS THE DESIGNATED
[02:40:01]
MAGNET.ONE OF THE THINGS WE TALKED ABOUT LAST WEEK AND MR. SMITH CAN SPEAK TO THIS IS THAT THE NEW SCHOOL WAS BEING PROPOSED TO COME BACK AS A PORTFOLIO SCHOOL.
THAT MEANS EVERY SINGLE SCHOOL THAT I JUST NAMED, EVERY CHILD THAT GOES TO THOSE SCHOOLS ARE GOING TO HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO GET INSIDE OF THE SCHOOL.
SO ONE, IT WOULDN'T BE A SCREENING PROCESS FOR THE NIGGA NAME.
UH, IT, IT ENHANCED THE PROGRAM TRACKING FOR THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL WHILE ALSO ESTABLISHING HIGH SCHOOL PROGRAM ALIGNMENT FOR MATRICULATING MIDDLE-SCHOOLERS.
IF WE WERE TO MAKE THIS HAPPEN.
AND IT WOULD ALSO CREATE ANOTHER EXCELLENT SCHOOL BECAUSE FOR AS HIGH AS A ELEMENTARY IS A BLUE RIBBON SCHOOL AND AS ATTRIBUTED TO THE MUCH SUCCESS THAT YOU GUYS DO EVERY SINGLE DAY, UH, WITH OUR STUDENTS AT THAT SCHOOL.
UH, BUT I JUST WANT TO ALSO BRING YOU GUYS UP TO SPEED ON THE PROCESS.
WE MET WITH FOUR DIFFERENT SUPERINTENDENTS, CURRENT AND INTERIM, WHICH ALL APPROVED OF AND SUPPORTED THE PLAN.
UH, WE WALKED THE PROPERTY SEVERAL TIMES WITH CSRS, UH, SEVERAL TIMES WITH MARCUS ALSO WITH MS. JUDITH WHO HAS COME ON AND TAKE OVER MR. MARCUS IS, UH, A ROLE OR IS TRANSITIONING TO THE ROLE, THE BOARD ATTORNEY, UH, SUPERINTENDENT DRAKE, UH, MR. SMITH, DR.
UH,
UH, AGAIN, WE SURVEYED SEVERAL PARENTS STAFF, UH, GAUGING THE COMMUNITY SUPPORT AROUND THE SCHOOL BECAUSE WE THOUGHT THAT WAS VITALLY IMPORTANT AND ALSO FOR A SENSE OF TRANSPARENCY.
AND WE WALKED THE COMMUNITY AND WE TALKED TO SOME OF THE RESIDENTS REGARDING THE EXPANSION JUST TO GET THEIR FEEDBACK, BECAUSE AGAIN, ONE OF THE PROBLEMS THAT WOULD HAVE IS AT THE END OF EVERY SINGLE DAY, UH, THE PARKING INSIDE OF THE INSIDE OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD IS IT'S, IT'S ATROCIOUS.
THE STATE, AT LEAST A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE COMPLAINED ABOUT IT.
SO AS YOU ALL CAN IMAGINE, A LOT OF PEOPLE, WHEN WE WENT BACK AND ASKED THEM, HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT THIS? THEY WERE EXCITED ABOUT IT BECAUSE THEN THEY WOULDN'T HAVE THAT PROBLEM MOVING FORWARD.
SO IT ATTRACTS, IT ALLEVIATES THE TRAFFIC ISSUE AND ALSO RESOLVES THE AUDITORIUM CAPACITY ISSUE BECAUSE THEY HAVE TALKED ABOUT SHARED SPACES OVER REGULAR THOSE HIGH SCHOOL, WHICH IS LITERALLY WALKING DISTANCE FROM THIS SCHOOL AND THAT THE NEW BEAUTIFUL AUDITORIUM.
AND I GUESS, I GUESS I'LL LET YOU SPEAK TO THAT, THAT THEY ARE ACTUALLY DOING THIS YEAR'S PERFORMANCE AT GLENOAKS HIGH SCHOOL.
SO IT'S SOMETHING THAT CAN CONTINUE.
UH, AGAIN, IT'S $4 MILLION ALREADY EXIST UNDER THE CURRENT PLAN, UH, AND THE FACILITY IS STILL AVAILABLE FOR PURCHASE.
IF YOU GUYS ARE LOOKING AT THE SURVEYS, YOU'LL SEE ONE SURVEY SAYS 61 RESPONSES.
THIS IS THE ONE THE SURVEY TAKEN TODAY, AND IT'S SHOWN AS AN INCREASE IN INTEREST, UH, FROM PARENTS, UH, AT THE SCHOOL AT 83.6% LAST YEAR, THE 2020 SURVEY, WHICH ABOUT 87 PEOPLE RESPONDED TO 78.2% OF THE PEOPLE WERE VERY INTERESTED IN SEEING THIS PLAN GO THROUGH.
UH, THE LAST THING THAT YOU'LL SEE ON FINE IS A SCOPE OF THE PROPERTY OR AN OVERVIEW OF THE PROPERTY.
ONE THING THAT STOOD OUT ABOUT THE PROPERTY IS THAT IT ALREADY HAS, UH, STRUCTURALLY THE BONES ARE GOOD.
UH, THE CAFETERIA IS ALREADY EXISTING SIDE OF THE SCHOOL.
THERE ARE FOUR DIFFERENT WINGS.
SO THE SCHOOL COULD CREATE A SIXTH GRADE HALL, SEVENTH GRADE HALL, EIGHT GRADE HALL, AND AN ADMINISTRATIVE HALL.
UH, THERE'S ENOUGH SPACE FOR MULTIPURPOSE SPACE, UH, TO CREATE A LIBRARY ALREADY.
A PARKING LOT IS LARGE ENOUGH TO ACCOMMODATE BUSING AND FLOAT WITHOUT WHICH WOULD ALLOW FOR A MUCH QUICKER TRANSPORTATION TIMES.
AND WITH LESS TRAFFIC CONGESTION INSIDE OF THE AREA, THE LOCATION IS DIRECTLY NEXT DOOR TO THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.
SO IN TERMS OF TRANSITIONING AT THE END OF THE DAY FOR THE STUDENTS AND A STAFF, THAT WOULDN'T BE AN ISSUE AND THERE'S ENOUGH SPACE ALSO FOR, UH, A PARENT AND COMMUNITY RESOURCE CENTER ON A BACK END OR BACK WING OF THE SCHOOL.
SO, UH, I'D LOVE TO DIALOGUE MORE ABOUT IT.
I THINK THIS IS SOMETHING THAT THE COMMUNICATOR COMMUNITY AS A WHOLE COULD DEFINITELY BENEFIT FROM IT.
I JUST THANK YOU ALL FOR ALLOWING THIS PROCESS TO TAKE HOLD AND BRINGING IT BEFORE THE COMMUNITY TODAY.
SO I'M GOING TO JUST TRY TO ADD A LITTLE BIT OF A PROCESS TO THIS AND THANK YOU FOR BRINGING IT AND THANK YOU, UH, PRINCIPAL JACKSON FOR BEING HERE AND FOR THE WORK YOU'RE DOING AT THAT, THAT GREAT SCHOOL.
UM, THIS ITEM DOES NOT CREATE A MIDDLE SCHOOL AT CREST WORTH.
IT'S SIMPLY, IT'S A PROCESS TYPE.
SO I'M GOING TO, I'M ACTUALLY GOING TO LET FOUR SIDES.
YEAH, I'M REALLY HAVING A BAD BACK.
UH, I'M GONNA LET, I'M GONNA DIALOGUE IN A SECOND WITH MR. SAM SALMON.
WAS THAT REALLY? CAUSE, UM, I'LL SWING AGAIN.
THE IDEA IS THAT, UM, THE WAY, AND AGAIN, MR. SHAMBLIN, WE'LL KIND OF COVER SOME OF THIS, BUT THE WAY THAT THE TAX PLAN READS IT, IT READS CONSTRUCTION OF CLASSROOMS AND FACILITIES OF CLASSROOM ADDITIONS AND RENOVATIONS, CLASSROOMS, ADDITIONS, OR RENOVATIONS IN ORDER TO DO ANYTHING DIFFERENT FROM THAT, FOR EXAMPLE,
[02:45:01]
PURCHASE LAND, WE WOULD ACTUALLY HAVE TO GO TO THE OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE AND ASK THEM FOR, UH, YOU KNOW, UH, THE ABILITY TO HAVE THE FLEXIBILITY TO DO THAT RIGHT.AND SO IF, IF THIS PASSES AND WE GO TO OVERSIGHT AND WE ASK FOR THAT, BUT WE CAN'T PUT IT.
EVERYTHING HAS TO COME BACK TO THE BOARD THAT THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE SCHOOL, THE GRADE CONFIGURATION, THE FLOW, THIS IS REALLY JUST SORT OF PERFUNCTORY TO JUST SAY IF, UM, IF MS JUDITH IS ABLE TO WORK MAGIC AND MAKE SOMETHING WORK AND WE NEEDED TO PURCHASE LAND, OR WE WANTED TO PURCHASE THAT BUILDING AND THAT BUDGET WORKED AND SO ON, I THINK IT'S AROUND $4 MILLION.
AND SO I JUST WANT EVERYONE TO KNOW THIS IS WE ARE NOT GOING TO GET IT RIGHT THIS TIME.
WE ARE NOT GOING TO, WE'RE NOT SITTING HERE VOTING, WHETHER WE'RE GOING TO MAKE A MIDDLE SCHOOL THERE.
WE'RE SIMPLY SAYING, WE'RE JUST GOING THROUGH THE PROCESS OF MAKING SURE WE'RE CROSSING OUR T'S AND DOTTING OUR I'S.
UH, AND THEN EVERY, EVERYTHING IS STILL VOTED ON.
EVERYTHING IS BROUGHT BACK TO US AND, UH, WE MOVE FORWARD OR DON'T MOVE FORWARD AT THAT POINT.
BUT THAT'S ALL THIS IS REALLY DOING.
I JUST WANTED TO MAKE THAT CLEAR.
DO YOU, YOU WANT TO ADD ANYTHING? WHAT DID I MISS OTHER THAN GETTING THE NAME WRONG? NO.
SO THAT'S, IT, THAT'S ALL WE'RE REALLY DOING IS JUST GOING THROUGH THAT FIRST STEP IN THE PROCESS.
I JUST WANTED TO MAKE THAT CLARIFICATION AS WE ROLL ALONG MR. BERNARD.
UM, I REALLY MS. ANDERSON IS MS. ANDERSON HERE.
HOW MUCH DO DOES IT TAKE TO BUILD A MIDDLE SCHOOL AND DESIGN AND FURNISHED THE BUILDING? BECAUSE WE HAVE TO FURNISH IT ALSO WITHOUT THE TAX PLAN.
SO I THINK THERE'S NOT HAVE TO BE SOME MORE DISCUSSION ON THAT, JUST IN A SENSE OF THE NUMBERS, UH, NUMBER OF STUDENTS THAT WE'RE GOING TO, UM, ALLOW FOR JUST THE ME TO REALLY BE ABLE TO GIVE YOU A BUDGET NUMBER.
SO HOW MANY STUDENTS WOULD, WOULD WHAT'S SPACE SIZE AND HOW MANY STUDENTS ABOUT WOULD THIS ACCOMMODATE THIS PARTICULAR BUILDING? WE HAD THIS MONEY, THE MONEY THAT'S ALLOCATED THE 4 MILLION.
OH, LET ME ALLOW ME TO GO BACK AND JUST KIND OF LOOK AT THAT.
UM, JUST AT PAST FACILITIES AND WALK IS HERE, ACTUALLY MARCUS MAY KNOW RIGHT OFF HAND.
OH, IS MARCUS MY SUPPORT? HEY, MR. WILLIAMS. HELLO.
I AM DOING, WHAT IS THE QUESTION? HOW ARE YOU DOING? I'M DOING WHAT MIDDLE SCHOOL? HOW MUCH DOES IT COST OR HOW MANY STUDENTS CAN'T AFFORD A MILLION DOLLAR MIDDLE SCHOOL ACCOMMODATE? HOW MANY STUDENTS KNOCKING ANSWERED A NEW SCHOOL? YOU CAN'T GET A NEW SCHOOL FOR 4 MILLION, BUT YOU KNOW, A NEW SCHOOL, A MIDDLE SCHOOL IS PROBABLY 35 MILLION FOR A NEW MIDDLE SCHOOL.
IF WE WERE TO JUST, IF YOU ASKED US TO DESIGN A NEW MIDDLE SCHOOL WITH THE FULL PROGRAM, PROGRAMMATIC REQUIREMENTS FOR MIDDLE SCHOOL WOULD BE 35 MILLION.
SO WE USED TO DO OUR HIGH SCHOOL WAS GOING TO BE A, A PRESERVE 50, 55 BECAUSE OF ATHLETICS.
YEAH, IT'S SCHEDULED IN THE TAX PLAN.
AND SO IS CROSSWORD, UH, THE SCOTLANDVILLE AREA IN MIDDLE SCHOOL.
THEY'RE THERE IN THE SAME YEAR AS EACH OTHER.
NOW, NOW THAT WAS IN YOUTUBE, THE SCOTLANDVILLE MIDDLE AT CRESTWOOD.
WE'RE AT THE POINT WHERE WE'RE STARTING TO PLAN FOR THE YEAR THREE.
SO THE FOREST HEIGHTS PROJECT YEAR THREE PROJECT, THREE CRYSTAL WORTH WAS YEAR TWO.
SO WE JUST BE AT THAT PROJECT AND IT'S A SUMMER PROJECT.
AND THEN I'M TRYING TO GET, UNDERSTAND THE VISION.
SO HOW, WHAT WILL THE STUDENTS AND THE PARENTS NEED TO DO IN ORDER TO ENROLL AT THIS K EIGHT, THE SIX, EIGHT PORTION.
THAT'S NOT GOT THE MAGNET APPLICATION PERIOD
[02:50:01]
AND ALL THAT, THAT WE, HOW DO, HOW DO WE DO THAT? THERE'S A, UH, PORTFOLIO OPTION FOR MAGNET SCHOOLS AS WELL.AND SO, UM, THE IDEA IS THAT IT WILL ALLOW MORE STUDENTS FROM THAT AREA TO HAVE ACCESS TO THAT TYPE OF PROGRAM VIA THE PORTFOLIO.
SO IT WOULD BE, I UNDERSTAND THE PORTFOLIO THAT'S DONE AT, UH, LIBERTY.
UM, AND, UM, I THINK BRCC, I MEAN, BR VPA.
AND, UM, SO YEAH, THEY SHOW SOME ART TALENT, THEY HAVE A PORTFOLIO, SO WE WILL GO THROUGH THE MAGNET.
SO IT WILL STILL BE PART OF THE DEDICATED MAGNET PROGRAM WHERE THEY SUBMIT THEIR PO PORTFOLIO.
NO, ALL THE KIDS THAT ARE CURRENTLY AT THE ELAM AT THE ELEMENTARY SITE WOULD HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO STAY.
I THINK THE INTENT FROM, AND MR. LANA, SHE PROBABLY EXPLAINED THIS.
IT'S JUST TO KEEP THOSE KIDS WHO LIVE IN HIS OWN ANOTHER OPTION FROM HAVING TO OPT OUT, TO GO TO OTHER MAGNET PROGRAMS WHO PREFER THE VISUAL PERFORMING ARTS, WHICH WOULD BE MCKINLEY MIDDLE TO HAVE TO TRAVEL SO FAR.
AND SO THE PORTFOLIO OPTION OF THOSE KIDS INTERESTED, HEY, ANY KID, THEY STILL WOULD HAVE THE OPTION TO CHOOSE ANY OTHER MAGNET PROGRAMS THROUGHOUT THE PARISH IF THEY CHOOSE.
SO WHAT THEY INTEND IS TO PROVIDE THOSE KIDS WITH AN OPTION OF PARS WITH PROGRAMMING MIDDLE SCHOOL PROGRAMMING, UH, AT THE, UH, GRAY SIX TO EIGHT.
MY VOICE I'VE BEEN HOARSE FOR THE PAST COUPLE OF WEEKS.
SO, UM, SO IS THERE AN APPLICATION PERIOD, OR IS THERE GOING TO BE AN ATTENDANCE LINES OR I'M JUST TRYING TO UNDERSTAND HOW WE'RE GOING TO DO THIS? WELL, WE HADN'T WORKED ALL THE CANS, BUT I WOULD ASSURE THAT THERE WOULD BE SOME, AN APPLICATION AND MAYBE IF SPACE IS AVAILABLE, THERE MAY BE KIDS WHO MIGHT'VE WANT TO OPT INTO THIS PARTICULAR SCHOOL, BUT THE INTENT IS NOT TO HAVE, AND MAYBE A PRIORITY ZONE, BUT THE INTENT IS NOT TO HAVE A CRITERIA BASED ON TEST SCORES, RIGHT.
AND, UM, SO THERE WILL BE A TAB JUST LIKE AT OTHER MAGNET SCHOOLS, THERE'S A CAP ON HOW MANY THEY CAN TAKE.
I'M AFRAID THAT THE, THE, UM, INTEREST MAY BE MORE THAN THE CAPACITY.
THAT'S, THAT'S ALWAYS A POSSIBILITY.
AND WE HAVE, WE HAVE THAT NOW IN SOME OF OUR SITES.
SO IT'LL BE HANDLED THE SAME WAY.
THIS IS HOW MANY IT CAN HOLD AND YES MA'AM.
MR. SMITH, WAIT, YOU CAN SEE I'M CONFUSED.
I WAS, I WAS TAKING THE WORD PORTFOLIO TO MEAN THAT THE PORTFOLIO WAS A SCHOOL PORTFOLIO, THAT THERE WOULD BE THE MAGNET COMPONENT AS ONE PART OF THE PORTFOLIO, BUT THEN A TRADITIONAL SCHOOL OPTION FOR SIXTH, SEVENTH, AND EIGHTH GRADE.
UH, ALSO AT THAT SAME SCHOOL, CORRECT.
IS THAT CORRECT? SO IT'S NOT, THEY, THE SIXTH, SEVENTH AND EIGHT WOULD NOT BE ALL MAGNET THAT YOU WOULD HAVE TO PROVIDE A PORTFOLIO TO GET INTO THE PORTFOLIO.
MS. DYSON REFERS TO THIS COULD BE PART OF THE SCHOOL WILL BE MAGNET, BUT THEN THE OTHER PART OF SCHOOL WILL BE TRADITIONAL.
AND I FORESEE THAT ACTUALLY, AND THIS IS JUST ME.
I FORESEE WITH THE PORTFOLIO AT IT.
YOU MIGHT END UP GOING INTO A TALENTED SITE BASED OFF, CORRECT? CORRECT.
AND SO, UM, I JUST WANT IT TO BE CLEAR.
IT'S NOT GOING TO BE ALL MAGNET.
IT'S GOING TO BE PART MAGNET AND PART REGULAR AT THE MIDDLE SCHOOL LEVEL PART TRADITIONAL, TRADITIONAL.
SO HE'S GONNA BE PART MAGNET PART TRADITIONAL AT THE MIDDLE SCHOOL LEVEL.
AND I THINK THIS IS A GOOD PLAN.
MY ONLY QUESTION OR THOUGHT WAS THAT RIGHT DOWN THE STREET, WE HAVE SIXTH, SEVENTH AND EIGHTH GRADE AT GLEN OAKS.
AND, UH, HAS ANY CONSIDERATION BEEN GIVEN, GIVEN TO MOVING THE MIDDLE SCHOOL, THOSE STUDENTS FROM GLEN OAKS TO THIS NEW MIDDLE SCHOOL AND RETURNING GLEN OAKS TO JUST A HIGH SCHOOL.
I'M NOT ASKING FOR AN ANSWER RIGHT NOW AS WE GO THROUGH, I REALIZE THIS IS VERY PRELIMINARY, BUT IT JUST SEEMS STRANGE TO HAVE TWO TRADITIONAL MIDDLE SCHOOL CLASSES WITHIN SEVERAL BLOCKS OF EACH OTHER AT DIFFERENT SCHOOLS.
AND MAYBE THAT'S THE WAY THE FACILITIES WORK.
AND THERE'S NO WAY TO GET AROUND THAT, BUT JUST, JUST LOOK AT THAT AS YOU GO THROUGH.
UM, AND I LOVE THE CONVERSATION, BUT WANT TO BE REALLY CLEAR FOR THIS AGENDA ITEM? ALL WE'RE REALLY DOING IS ASKING FOR A PATHWAY THAT IN THE EVENT WE'RE ABLE TO PUT THE PUZZLE TOGETHER, UM, THAT, YOU KNOW, JUDITH CAN, UM, I MEAN, MS. ANDERSON, I'M SORRY, CAN PUT TOGETHER, UH, SOMETHING THEN
[02:55:01]
SHE WOULD HAVE, WHICH WE BELIEVE IS ALLOWED NOW IN THE TAX PLAN, LIKE FOR EXAMPLE, THE PURCHASE OF PROPERTY, WHICH IS NOT A PART OF IT.AND SO THE LARGER CON, NOT THAT WE CAN'T HAVE IT NOW, BUT I JUST WANT TO BE CLEAR RIGHT NOW.
EVERYTHING'S GOT TO COME BACK TO US AND THERE'S A LOT OF THINGS.
I MEAN, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO LOOK AT FEEDER PATTERNS.
WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO LOOK AT, UM, THE SCHOOLS THAT ARE CURRENTLY BEING FED TO HOW IT WILL IMPACT THOSE SCHOOLS.
WHERE WILL THE KIDS COME FROM? UH, SO THERE'S A LOT, I MEAN, THERE'S A LOT OF A GREEN IN FRONT OF US, AS THEY SAY.
UH, BUT THIS JUST SORT OF ALLOWS MS. ANDERSON AN OPPORTUNITY, AND WE DON'T WANT TO SEND HER OFF TO GO DO THIS PROJECT UNLESS WE KNOW THAT THE TAX PLAN IS GOING TO ALLOW US TO DO IT.
AND THAT'S REALLY ALL WE'RE DOING.
I THINK AGAIN, IF I'M, IF I'M WRONG, CORRECT ME, BUT WE'RE JUST GIVING, WE'RE JUST TELLING MS. SANDERSON, OKAY, GO SEE WHAT YOU CAN PULL TOGETHER, GO SEE WHAT YOU CAN NEGOTIATE, SEE WHAT WE CAN GET FOR $4 MILLION AND THEN SHE'LL GO WORK HER MAGIC AND SHE'LL DO IT.
SO I JUST WANTED TO MAKE THAT, THAT CLARIFICATION, MR. BERNARD, I WANT TO SAY THAT I AM SUPPORTING THIS ITEM BECAUSE IT IS A REQUEST TO GET CLARIFICATION AND PERMISSION FROM THE OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE.
AND THEN BACK TO THE BOARD, WHAT IT IS NOT LIKE MR. THOMAS SAID, IT IS NOT AN RFQ FOR DESIGN OR CONSTRUCTION.
AND, UM, IT IS NOT ESTABLISHING A MIDDLE SCHOOL AT THE SCHOOL AND IT IS NOT ESTABLISHMENT AND TENNIS LINE IS NOT STATIC INCREASING THE SCOPE OF THE MAGNET PROGRAM OR ANY OF THOSE THINGS.
AND I WOULD THINK AT THAT, AT THAT POINT THAT MS. PORTER WOULD BE BROUGHT INTO THE CONVERSATION.
AND I'M SURE I CAN'T EVEN IMAGINE THAT SHE WOULDN'T BE SO THANKS.
THANK YOU, MR. BERNARD, MS. WHERE JACKSON, THANK YOU, PRESIDENT.
TEDMAN, UH, SEE THAT THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF, UM, WORK, A LOT OF STUDY GOING INTO THIS.
UM, IT RELATES TO THE TAX PLAN, UH, SPECIFICALLY THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT, UH, AS WELL.
UM, THE QUESTION I'M WONDERING ABOUT IS HOW THIS ALL RELATES TO A MASTER PLAN THAT, UM, WE, WE DEFINITELY NEED TO TAKE A LOOK AT, UH, I CAN SEE THAT THERE'S A LOT OF INTEREST FOR THE, THIS KIND OF TRANSITION WITH, WITH THE BUILDINGS AND EVERYTHING AND, UM, YOU KNOW, AND IT ALL, IT ALL SOUNDS GOOD.
I'M JUST WONDERING HOW IT AFFECTS THE ENTIRE DISTRICT.
AND, UM, I KNOW THAT WE, WE NEED, WE'VE BEEN NEEDING FOR VERY LONG TIME TO DO A MASTER PLAN FOR THE DISTRICT.
SO WE KNOW WHERE ALL OF OUR PROPERTIES ARE, WHAT WE'RE DOING WITH ALL OF THE PROPERTIES.
AND, UM, YEAH, I JUST FEEL AN URGENCY TO, TO GET THIS DONE BECAUSE, UH, YOU KNOW, WE'VE GOT A LOT OF THIS ON THE TABLE.
UH, WE TEND TO WAIT FOR EITHER AN EMERGENCY TO, TO MAKE SOME CHANGES OR WE SEE SOMETHING LIKE THIS THAT LOOKS REALLY GOOD.
IT LOOKS LIKE THERE'S A LOT OF INTEREST IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD, BUT WE HAVE GOT TO TAKE A LOOK AT ALL OF OUR PROPERTIES AND, UM, AND, UH, THE FEEDER PATTERNS, ATTENDANCE LINES, UM, BECAUSE THEY'RE SO OLD, YOU KNOW, WE'VE GOT KIDS IN PROPERTIES THAT LIVE FAR AWAY, AND I KNOW THIS IS A GOOD INTENTION TO, TO, UM, HAVE A GOOD SCHOOL RIGHT THERE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD, UH, SO THAT THE CHILDREN THERE, THE FAMILIES THERE CAN ACCESS THE SCHOOL AND, OR TAKE INTO, TO, UM, TAKE ADVANTAGE OF ALL THE THINGS THAT ARE, THAT ARE THERE.
UM, SO I JUST, I JUST WANNA ASK AGAIN, WHEN ARE WE GOING TO JUST GET A REALLY GOOD LOOK AT EVERYTHING THAT WE HAVE, AND REALLY DO A DEEP DIVE ON OUR FACILITIES AND OUR ACADEMIC PLAN AND ALTOGETHER, UH, WHEREVER WHERE JACKSON, UH, YES.
OUR GOAL IS TO HAVE A FACILITIES MASTER PLAN, UM, ALIGN WHEN WE DO OUR STRATEGIC PLAN AND OUR BUDGET IN JUNE.
SO, UH, WHEN YOU SEE THAT PLAN, WE SHOULD SEE ALL OF THOSE CONNECTED, UH, AND THEN THAT WILL GIVE US, UM, VALUE OF THE BOARD CLARITY ON WHERE PROPERTIES ARE, WHERE THINGS ARE, AND THEN WE'LL BE ABLE TO MAKE MORE COHESIVE DECISIONS IN THAT WAY.
UM, YES, THE DEMOGRAPHIC STUDY.
HOW DOES THE DEMOGRAPHIC STUDY WORK INTO THIS PARTICULAR ITEM? UM, LET ME ALLOW, UM, UM, THE CSRS AND MR. SMITH RESPONDS ON THE FACILITIES PLAN.
SO, UM, INSTANCE OF THE DEMOGRAPHIC STUDY, THAT IS SOMETHING THAT WE ARE LOOKING AT AND TAKING INTO CONSIDERATION WHAT, DURING THIS STUDY.
[03:00:02]
SO THAT IS A PART OF THE STUDY.SO WHAT, WHAT DOES IT SAY, WELL, HOW DOES IT RELATE TO THIS? WAS IT TELLING YOU WHAT'S THE DEMOGRAPHIC GRAPHIC STUDIES SAY ABOUT THAT PARTICULAR AREA? AND WE HAD THAT GOTTEN, WE LOOKED AT ANY OF THAT.
I'M JUST WONDERING WE HAVEN'T GOT, WE HAVEN'T REALLY USED, WE HAVE NEXT STUDY IN THIS YET.
IT'D BE GOOD TO JUST MENTION FOR THE BOARD, ALL THE ELEMENTS OF THE, MAYBE AGAIN, JUST THE ELEMENTS OF THE FACILITIES AND MASTER PLAN, WHAT ARE THE COMPONENTS SO THEY CAN BE AWARE OF, UM, AS FAR AS WHAT WE'RE TAKING INTO CONSIDERATION, UM, INDIVIDUAL CAPACITIES, THE VIEW SCHOOL THAT'S FUNCTIONAL, UM, WHAT IT WAS BUILT TO ACTUALLY, UH, ENCOMPASS, UH, ACADEMIC PROGRAMMING, UH, FEEDER PATTERNS ARE TAKEN INTO CONSIDERATION DEMOGRAPHICS.
THE DEMOGRAPHICS STUDY IS TAKEN TO CONSIDERATION, UH, AVAILABLE, LAYING IN THE FACILITY ITSELF, IMPROVEMENTS THAT IT MAY OR MAY NOT NEED.
AND THEN THE BUDGETS TO ACCOMPANY THAT, OR ARE WE LOOKING AT WHERE KIDS ARE COMING FROM? UH, YOU KNOW, THE, THE BAD WORD, ATTENDANCE LINES, YOU KNOW, IF IT'S, UH, AND THEN THE PORTFOLIO I'M, I'M STILL NOT REAL CLEAR ON THE, THE PORTFOLIO SCHOOL, THE, THE DIFFERENCE.
CAUSE SOMEONE MENTIONED THAT LIBERTY, THE LIBERTY MODEL IS A PORTFOLIO SCHOOL, BUT PORTFOLIO SCHOOLS HAVE, BUT WHEN WE FIRST OPENED UP LIBERTY HIGH SCHOOL BACK THEN WAS LEE HIGH SCHOOL.
AND THEN AT SOME POINT MAYBE FIVE YEARS AGO, IT BECAME A DEDICATED MAGNET.
BUT PRIOR TO WHEN WE ORIGINALLY WE OPENED LEE HIGH SCHOOL AND IT WAS BASED OFF PORTFOLIO INTEREST.
AND THEN AT SOME POINT THAT WAS THE DECISION TO MAKE IT A DEDICATED MAGNET, UH, WHERE JACKSON, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO IN ALL OF THIS IS ALIGNMENT OF PROGRAMS, BUDGET, ACADEMICS, FEEDER PATTERN.
SO THE WORD CAN SEE A FULL COHESIVE APPROACH.
SO WHEN WE ARE MAKING DECISIONS AROUND HOW BUILDINGS SHOULD LOOK OR PATTERNS AND THOSE THINGS, WE CAN BE AT A, MAKE A BETTER DECISION AROUND THE ACADEMICS FOR STUDENTS IN THE SYSTEM.
SO WE THINK THAT WHEN THE FACILITIES AND MASTER PLAN COMES IN JUNE ALIGNED TO THE DECISION THE BOARD WILL MAKE WITH THE BUDGET AND OTHER COMPONENTS, THE BOARD WILL BE IN A BETTER POSITION TO MAKE A MORE INFORMED DECISIONS AROUND A LOT OF DIFFERENT THINGS.
WELL, JUST FROM, FROM WHAT I'VE HEARD, YOU KNOW, THIS SOUNDS REALLY GOOD.
YOU KNOW, IT'S MOVING IN THE DIRECTION WHERE, YOU KNOW, WE ACTUALLY PLACE, UH, GOOD PROGRAMMING IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD SO THAT THE PEOPLE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD CAN ACTUALLY ACCESS IT WITHOUT HAVING TO TRAVEL VERY FAR.
SO, YOU KNOW, I COMMEND YOU ON THAT AND, AND I'M JUST LOOKING FORWARD TO WHEN WE CAN DO THAT SAME THING ALL ACROSS THE DISTRICT, NO MATTER WHERE YOU LIVE.
THANK YOU, MS. SQUARE JACKSON, MR. LANDIS.
I'M SEEING NO OTHER QUESTIONS FROM THE BOARDS.
UH, WE WERE, I WAS GOING TO TAKE PUBLIC COMMENT AND WE COULD COME BACK, BUT IF YOU GO AHEAD, I JUST WANT TO TAKE A SECOND TO PLUG IN, UM, SOMETHING VERY IMPORTANT TO ME.
UM, FOR MANY OF YOU ALL WHO HAVE NOT BEEN TO WAY FOR AS HIGH AS PRODUCTION OF THAT HAVE NOT BEEN FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO SEE MY BABIES IN ACTION.
WE WILL HAVE TWO PRODUCTIONS ON GLEN OAK HIGH CAMPUS IN THE STATE OF THE AUDITORIUM.
THE FIRST DRESS REHEARSAL WILL BE MAY 12TH AT NINE 30.
YOU ALL HAVE AN OPEN INVITATION.
WE WERE RESERVED SEATING AND THEN OPENING NIGHT WOULD BE THE NEXT NIGHT, MAY 13TH AT PM.
UM, YOU WON'T WASTE YOUR TIME.
SO I WANT YOU TO TAKE A MINUTE TO PLUG MY BABIES.
MY TEACHERS HAVE BEEN WORKING HARD.
IT HAS BEEN A LOGISTICAL NIGHTMARE, UM, OPERATING AND NAVIGATING THROUGH COVID.
AND I JUST WANT AS MANY PEOPLE TO SEE THIS AS POSSIBLE.
UM, OKAY, MR. LANDIS, I JUST WANTED TO SECOND THAT SENTIMENT AND AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THAT UP, BUT HAVE YOU HAVE NOT SEEN THAT PRODUCTION BEFORE IT IS NEXT LEVEL, AND PLEASE MAKE THE TIME OUT TO COME AND SEE HIM.
MAYBE KIDS WOULD DEFINITELY APPRECIATE IT.
MAYBE WE CAN GET MS. UH, ARMANDO PUT THAT ON OUR CALENDARS.
DON'T LEAVE YET BECAUSE WE MIGHT HAVE MORE QUESTIONS.
WE HAVE TO GO TO THE AUDIENCE AND THEN WE'LL, UH, WE MAY COME BACK.
UH, COLLEEN, THE BUILDING FOR THIS PLAN SOUNDS GREAT.
UM, EVERYTHING YOU'VE SAID ABOUT IT, I'M HERE ABOUT THE FACT THAT
[03:05:01]
WE APPARENTLY DON'T HAVE A MASTER PLAN ABOUT WHAT BUILDINGS WE OWN.RFCS FOR FACILITATING US GETTING THAT PLAN, BUT BOARD MEMBERS YOU HAVE BEEN HERE, SO PLEASE, YOU KNOW, GOING FORWARD, LET'S BE MORE PROACTIVE ABOUT THIS STUFF.
ANY OTHER COMMENTS FROM THE AUDIENCE? HI.
I WOULD LOVE TO SEE THIS MIDDLE SCHOOL.
HOWEVER, I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW HOW WILL WE BE ABLE TO AFFORD IT AND HOW MUCH, HOW MANY STAFF MEMBERS WILL WE NEED AT THIS SCHOOL? HOW WILL WE BE ABLE TO AFFORD THEM? MY CHILD IS REACHING FOR THE MICROPHONE BECAUSE HE'S INQUIRING ON HOW MUCH WE'RE GOING TO PAY THIS THERE BECAUSE THEY, HE NEEDS THAT WHATEVER SCHOOL HE ATTENDS, HE NEEDS A LOT OF FUNDING AND THE FUNDING NEVER SEEMS TO REACH OUT CHILDREN WITH DISABILITIES.
I LOVE MAGNET PROGRAMS. I LOVE GIFTED AND TALENTED PROGRAMS AND WOULD LIKE FOR GIFTED AND TALENTED AND MCKINLEY HIGH SCHOOL TO BE REINSTATED FULLY, FULLY.
BUT I DEFINITELY KNOW THAT WE CURRENTLY HAVE OVER 80 POSITIONS, BUT EDUCATORS DIRECTLY IN THE CLASSROOM THAT HAS NOT BEEN FILLED.
AND WE JUST SPENT $20 MILLION OF THE CARETAKE MONEY ON A CALENDAR.
THEN NOBODY CARES FOR I'M REALLY ASKING THAT WE FOCUS ON WHAT'S IMPORTANT.
AND WHAT IS PERTINENT? WHAT IS PERTINENT IS HAVING SCHOOL BUILDINGS THAT ARE CLEAN SCHOOL BUILDINGS THAT ARE IN A INCOME POINT AND STAFF THAT ARE ACTUALLY HAPPY SO THAT THEY CAN ACTUALLY TEACH OUR CHILDREN.
AND UNFORTUNATELY, THAT'S NOT GOING TO HAPPEN WHEN YOU HAVE 35 KIDS TO ONE TEACHER.
SO WE CAN NOT JUST KEEP CATERING TO MAGNET STUDENTS, ESPECIALLY THEN WHEN WE SAY EACH ONE, TEACH ONE, BUT EACH ONE IN EVERY CLASSROOM EVERY DAY, WHAT'S THE NEW MODEL, MR.
AND, AND AS, AS IT CHANGES SO AS OUR PLANS, BUT THE PLAN THAT SHOULD NOT EVER CHANGE IS THE FOCUS BEING ON THE CHILDREN.
AND SO AS WE FOCUS ON THE CHILDREN, RIGHT NOW, WHAT WE ARE SHOWING IS DIRECT AND BLOOD DISCRIMINATION AGAINST EVERY CHILD, EXCEPT FOR CHILDREN IN THE MAGNET PROGRAM.
SO I ASKED THAT WE LOOK BACK AT THIS PROGRAM AND WE DO NOT APPROVE IT AND SAY, ARE WE ACTUALLY HAVE THAT INFORMATION? THANK YOU.
THANK YOU, MS. CORLEY, ANY OTHER COMMENTS FROM THE AUDIENCE SEEING NONE BACK TO THE BOARD? ANY OTHER COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS FROM THE BOARD SEEING NONE.
MADAM SECRETARY, PLEASE CONDUCT.
OH, I'M SORRY, MR.
WILL YOU PLEASE CONDUCT THE VOTE? WE CAN CALL THE ROLL.
[I. Consent Agenda]
WE NOW MOVE TO THE CONSENT AGENDA.I ONE MS. WHALE JACKSON, THE LIGHTS ON.
THE FOLLOWING ITEMS ARE TO BE APPROVED AS PART OF THE CONSENT AGENDA.
THE FOLLOWING ITEMS ARE CONSIDERED TO BE ROUTINE AND WILL BE ENACTED WITH ONE MOTION.
THERE WILL BE NO SEPARATE DISCUSSION OF ITEMS UNLESS THE BOARD MEMBER.
SO REQUESTS IN WHICH EVENT, THE ITEM WILL BE REMOVED FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA AND CONSIDERED AS AN ITEM ON THE REGULAR AGENDA FOR A SEPARATE VOTE PRECEDING THE LAST ITEM ON THE REGULAR AGENDA GRANTS, CONSIDERATION OF A REQUEST FOR APPROVAL OF THE FOLLOWING GRANTS, AMERICAN ASSOCIATION FOR EMPLOYMENT IN EDUCATION, EIGHT E IN THE AMOUNT OF $500 TO PROVIDE AA MEMBERSHIP AND FUNDING FOR EBR PSS, COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS, PROJECT LOUISIANA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION, L D O E IN THE AMOUNT OF 6,500 TO SUPPORT
[03:10:01]
THE PRE EDUCATOR PATHWAY FOR THE 2021 2022 SCHOOL YEAR, ONE TIME SUPPLEMENT CONSIDERATION OF A REQUEST FOR THE APPROVAL OF A $1,300 ONE TIME SUPPLEMENT TO THOSE WHO QUALIFY TO BE DISTRIBUTED DURING THE 2021, 2022 SCHOOL YEAR FUNDING SOURCE COST PROJECTION GENERAL FUND, APPROXIMATELY 9 MILLION MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING MOU BRICK ISTROUMA HIGH TRACK CONSIDERATION OF A REQUEST FOR THE APPROVAL OF A MINIMUM MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING BETWEEN THE EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH SCHOOL SYSTEM AND BRICK TO THE JOINT USE OF THE ISTROUMA HIGH TRACK AND FACILITY PROFESSIONAL SERVICES CONTRACT CONSIDERATION OF A REQUEST FOR THE APPROVAL FOR THE APPROVAL OF PROFESSIONAL SERVICES CONTRACTS BETWEEN EAST BATON ROUGE, PARISH SCHOOL SYSTEM, AND SCHOOL LEADERSHIP LEADERSHIP CENTER OF NEW ORLEANS IN THE AMOUNT OF $51,150 FOR PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT FOR THE DIOCESE OF BATON ROUGE, CATHOLIC SCHOOLS, FUNDING SOURCE, THE TITLE TWO NON-PUBLIC DIOCESE OF BATON ROUGE, CATHOLIC SCHOOLS INVITATION FOR BID I F B WALK-IN COOLER FREEZER, CONSIDERATION OF A REQUEST AUTHORIZING THE SUPERINTENDENT AND STAFF TO ISSUE AN INVITATION FOR BID IFB FOR THE REPLACEMENT FREEZER COOLER AT QUEST CREST WORTH ELEMENTARY SCHOOL TO BE RELOCATED TO CREST WORTH MIDDLE SCHOOL CAMPUS FOR THE 2021 2022 SCHOOL YEAR FUNDING SOURCE CHILD NUTRITION REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL RFP DISTRICT FINANCIAL SYSTEM, CONSIDERATION OF A REQUEST AUTHORIZING STAFF TO ISSUE A REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL RFP, TO SEEK PROPOSALS FOR ENTERPRISE RESOURCE PLANNING, ERP SOFTWARE, PROFESSIONAL SERVICES, CONTRACT ACCOUNTABILITY, AND ASSESSMENT CONSIDERATION OF A REQUEST FOR THE APPROVAL OF PROFESSIONAL SERVICES CONTRACTS BETWEEN EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH SCHOOL SYSTEM AND THE FOLLOWING A ACHIEVEMENT NETWORK, A NET IN THE AMOUNT OF $346,391 TO PROVIDE GRADES THREE THROUGH EIGHT BENCHMARK ASSESSMENTS, PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND SUPPORT FUNDING SOURCE CARES AT B ACHIEVEMENT NETWORK, A NET IN THE AMOUNT OF 100, $4,214 AND 60 CENTS DOWN TO THE PENNY TO PROVIDE GRADES NINE THROUGH 11 BENCHMARK ASSESSMENTS, FUNDING SOURCE GENERAL FUND ACHIEVEMENT NETWORK ACHIEVEMENT NETWORK, A NET IN THE AMOUNT OF 55,000 TO PROVIDE PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT FUNDING SOURCE FUNDING SOURCE GENERAL FUND ILLUMINATE EDUCATION INCORPORATED IN THE AMOUNT OF $196,890 TO PROVIDE A VIRTUAL MANAGEMENT TOOL TO HOUSE DATA FUNDING SOURCE CARES ACT ILLUMINATE EDUCATION, INC.IN THE AMOUNT OF $7,500 TO PROVIDE PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT FUNDING SOURCE GENERAL FUND AMPLIFY EDUCATION, INC.
IN THE AMOUNT OF $762,817 TO PROVIDE ASSESSMENTS, SCREENERS AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT, NOT CONTRACT EARLY CHILDHOOD CONSIDERATION OF A REQUEST FOR THE APPROVAL TO RENEW THE INTER AGENCY CONTRACT BETWEEN THE EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH SCHOOL SYSTEM AND THE LOUISIANA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION TO ALLOW AN EARLY CHILDHOOD GUIDE TO APPROVE FAMILIES FOR THE CHILD CARE ASSISTANCE PROGRAM, SEEK OUT FUNDING SOURCE STATE FUNDS ALLOCATED BY THE LDL E 10 NAMING OF NEW SCHOOL AT UNIVERSITY TERRORISTS SITE CONSIDERATION OF THE PROPOSED RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THE NAMING OF THE NEW SCHOOL TO BE LOCATED AT THE UNIVERSITY TERRORIST SITE, 11 CONSOLIDATE AND MOVE SCHOOLS SITES CONSIDERATION OF A REQUEST FOR THE APPROVAL OF THE FOLLOWING, A CONSOLIDATE BROOKSTOWN MIDDLE-SCHOOL AND CAPITOL MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS AT THE CAPITOL MIDDLE SCHOOL SITE FOR THE 2021 2022 SCHOOL YEAR B MOVE EBR READINESS NINE THROUGH 12 TO THE BROOKSTOWN MIDDLE SCHOOL SITE FOR THE 2021 2022 SCHOOL YEAR 12 CONTRACT COLLABORATIVE FOR ACADEMIC SOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL LEARNING CASEL CONSIDERATION OF A REQUEST FOR THE APPROVAL OF THE CONTRACT BETWEEN THE EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH SCHOOL SYSTEM AND COLLABORATIVE FOR ACADEMIC, SOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL LEARNING CASTLE IN THE AMOUNT
[03:15:01]
OF 152,000 TO PROVIDE DISTRICT-WIDE SOCIAL, EMOTIONAL LEARNING COORDINATION AND SUPPORT FUNDING SOURCE CARES, ACT 13, JOB DESCRIPTIONS AND DESCRIPTION.I'M SORRY, JOB POSITIONS AND DESCRIPTIONS CONSIDERATION OF A REQUEST FOR THE APPROVAL OF THE FOLLOWING JOB POSITIONS AND DESCRIPTIONS.
A DEPUTY CHIEF OF POLICY BE DIRECTOR OF EQUITY AND DIVERSITY.
AND THIS IS THE END OF THE CONSENT AGENDA.
WE WERE BY MS. SQUARE JACKSON, SECONDED BY MR. BALLOU.
IS THERE ANY, UH, MS. COLLINS, YOU'D LIKE TO PULL AN ITEM.
THANK YOU, MS. WADE JACKSON, ITEM 11, MR. GAUDETTE ITEM THREE.
YOU DON'T WANT TO JUST DO THEM ALL INDIVIDUALLY.
I ALSO WAS GOING TO PULL THREE.
WELL, THERE'S A LITTLE LEFT, UH, MR. SHAMBLIN, UH, I NEED TO, I NEED TO RECOMMEND A SLIGHT CHANGE IN LANGUAGE FOR ITEM 10.
THE RECOMMENDATION FOR THE SUPERINTENDENT, UM, FOR THE MEN OF NEW SCHOOL IS MCKINLEY HIGH SCHOOL AND PROBABLY SHOULD PULL IT DOWN BECAUSE IT'S BEEN READ IN.
SO, ALL RIGHT, WHAT'S LEFT TWO.
SO WHAT WE ARE ON NOW IS THE CONSENT AGENDA, WHICH ACCORDING TO MY NOTES INCLUDES THE PAPER.
NOW I'M JUST GETTING THE CONSENT AGENDA, UH, IS ITEM TWO GRANTS FOR MOU FIVE PROFESSIONAL SERVICES, SIX INVITATION FOR BID SEVEN REQUESTS FOR PROPOSALS NINE CONTRACT FOR EARLY CHILDHOOD.
SO THAT'S WHAT WE ARE ON IN THE CONSENT AGENDA.
AND THE BOARD MEMBERS HAVE ANY COMMENTS ON THOSE ITEMS IN THE CONSENT AGENDA.
SEEING NONE, WE GO TO THE AUDIENCE.
THIS IS FOR THE CONSENT AGENDA.
THE COMMENTS FROM THE AUDIENCE ON THE CONSENT AGENDA.
WE SHOULD DEFINITELY, THEY'RE NOT, THEY'RE NOT ON.
THAT'S PULLED, WE'RE GOING TO TAKE THAT INDIVIDUALLY.
I THINK THAT SOME OF THOSE REALLY SHOULDN'T HAVE EVEN WHERE ARE YOU GOING TO HAVE A CHANCE TO SPEAK TO IT WHEN IT COMES OUT? UH, GREEN? I'M SORRY.
I RAN AND GOT OUT OF BREATH AND BECAME DISCOMBOBULATED.
PRESENT JUST A STANDALONE ANSWER.
I JUST APPRECIATE THAT YOU DID THAT PORT FOR ME.
I'M HERE AT MY TIME AND I CAN GET IT BACK ON THE NEXT SIDE.
WE'LL GET THE WHOLE THREE MINUTES THE WHOLE THREE MINUTES.
ANY OTHER COMMENTS ON THE CONSENT AGENDA? SEEING NONE BACK TO THE BOARD.
I'M GUESSING WE'RE CALLING THE ROLL, RIGHT? YEAH, LET'S DO IT.
[I.3. One-Time Supplement]
NOW TO ITEM NUMBER THREE, ONE TIME SUPPLEMENT CONSIDERATION OF REQUEST FOR APPROVAL OF A $1,300 ONE TIME SUPPLEMENT TO THOSE WHO QUALIFY TO BE DISTRIBUTED DURING THE 2122 SCHOOL YEAR FUNDING SOURCE COST PROJECTION GENERAL FUND, APPROXIMATELY $9 MILLION.SO I HAVE A MOTION MOVED BY MR.
YES, MY, I FULLY SUPPORT THIS,
[03:20:01]
UH, RESOLUTE OUR MOTION, BUT I JUST WANTED TO GIVE, SINCE THE, UH, STIPULATIONS AROUND THE AWARDING OF THE $1,300 HAS CHANGED SLIGHTLY FROM WHAT WE PAT, WHAT WE TALKED ABOUT AT THE MEETING.I WANTED TO GIVE OUR SUPERINTENDENT AND STAFF A CHANCE TO REVIEW WHAT THE CURRENT, UH, REGULAR OR WITH THE CURRENT RULES, I GUESS IS THE RIGHT WORD.
WHAT THE CURRENT STIPULATIONS AROUND THE RECEIVING THE BENEFIT WOULD BE, BUT I FULLY SUPPORT IT AND I WOULD JUST LIKE TO GET, HAVE, HAVE THEM HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO EXPLAIN IT.
YOU WANT TO GO AHEAD? I'LL ASK FOR MS. DONALDSON, UH, THE HEAD OF OUR HUMAN RESOURCES TO ADDRESS THAT MR. NELSON.
UH, PRESIDENT HAPMAN, UM, VICE PRESIDENT COLLINS, SUPERINTENDENT.
DARCY'S ALL THE MEMBERS OF THE BOARD IN THE COMMUNITY.
UM, SO WE TOOK THE FEEDBACK AND WE TOOK AN OPPORTUNITY TO LOOK BACK, TO MAKE SURE THAT WE WERE NOT, UH, ADVERSELY IMPACTING ANYONE.
UM, UH, AND WE ALSO WANTED TO TAKE AN OPPORTUNITY TO JUST TO SHARE WITH YOU KIND OF HOW WE GOT HERE AND WHAT W WHAT WE'VE DONE.
SO I WANTED TO START WITH THE INTERESTING THING THAT MOST ORGANIZATIONS AROUND THIS COUNTRY AROUND THIS WORLD HAD TO DO.
AND ONE OF THE THINGS, MOST PEOPLE KNOW THAT IN K-12 EDUCATION, WE KIND OF REINVISION A LITTLE SLOWER THAN EVERYONE ELSE.
AND SO WE HAD TO START ON MARCH 13TH WHEN WE HAD TO DESIGNATE ESSENTIAL EMPLOYEES.
AND IT WAS A VERY INTERESTING CONVERSATION BECAUSE WHEN I INDICATED THAT WE NEEDED TO DESIGNATE ESSENTIAL PEOPLE TO COME TO WORK, UM, EVERYONE WAS LIKE, WHAT? EVERYONE'S ESSENTIAL? AND I SAID, NO, IT'S AN EMERGENCY.
YOU GOT TO SAY, WHO CAN COME BECAUSE WE HAVE TO ACTUALLY PROVIDE THEM WITH A LETTER IN CASE THERE IS SOME TYPE OF RULING THAT PEOPLE CAN'T TRAVEL.
AND SO THEY WOULD HAVE TO HAVE A LETTER WITH THEM TO SAY THAT THEY'RE COMING TO WORK FOR THE EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH SCHOOL SYSTEM.
SO AT THE BEGINNING, UM, FROM MARCH 13TH THROUGH PHASE ONE, WE HAD ABOUT 600 EMPLOYEES THAT WERE DESIGNATED AS ESSENTIAL.
THOSE WERE CHILD NUTRITION PEOPLE.
WE HAD TRANSPORTATION PEOPLE, CAUSE WE WEREN'T CERTAIN INITIALLY HOW LONG WE WOULD HAVE TO DO THIS.
WE ALSO INTRODUCED SOME NEW TERMS TO K-12 ED, RIGHT? UM, WE STARTED TELEWORKING AND TELEWORKING WAS UNUSUAL BECAUSE WE TALKED, WE ACTUALLY HAD OUR EMPLOYEES HAVE TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO WORK FROM HOME.
THE NEXT THING WE DID IS WE HAD ALTERNATE TELEWORK FOR OUR HIGH VOLUME LOCATIONS, WHERE WE HAD LOTS OF PEOPLE IN ONE SPACE.
WE ALLOWED EMPLOYEES TO DO THAT PARTICULAR, UM, MECHANISM.
AND THEN WE DID VIRTUAL EDUCATION.
AND I BRING THIS UP TO YOU ALL TO, TO, TO LET YOU SEE, WE DID AN AMAZING JOB AS A K-12 SCHOOL DISTRICT TO BRING BACK OUR STUDENTS.
AS I TALKED TO, UH, SCHOOL LEADERS AROUND THE COUNTRY IN HR, THEY'RE JUST STARTING TO BRING STUDENTS BACK.
THEY'RE JUST STARTING TO BRING EMPLOYEES BACK, BUT OUR EMPLOYEES, BECAUSE WE'RE LOUISIANA AND WE'RE JUST GREAT LIKE THAT.
UM, THEY, THEY CAME BACK AND STARTED TO SERVE.
SO AS WE WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HONOR THOSE EMPLOYEES, AND AGAIN, TOOK THE FEEDBACK, UM, FROM THE LAST WEEK'S MEETING, WE WANTED TO GO BACK AND REVISIT TO MAKE SURE THAT AGAIN, WE'RE, WEREN'T HARMING ANY, UH, INAPPROPRIATELY.
AND MR. UH, SMITH'S SPOKE ABOUT THIS EARLIER BECAUSE IT'S A LITTLE BIT MORE COMPLEX BECAUSE THIS IS ONE OF THE FEW TIMES THAT WE, THIS IS THE FIRST TIME I CAN REMEMBER I'VE BEEN IN THIS FOR 21 YEARS WHERE EVERY EMPLOYEE IS GETTING THE SAME STIPEND.
UH, NO MATTER YOUR CLASSIFICATION, YOUR EDUCATION, WE ARE HONORING ALL OF OUR EMPLOYEES ON ALL DIFFERENT LEVELS, UH, WITH THIS PARTICULAR STIPEND.
SO WHAT WE DID IS WENT BACK AND REVISITED THE DATES ON THE LEVELS ON THE PAYMENT.
AND SO WE WANTED TO SAY THAT WHEN, UH, IF A PERSON STARTED OCTOBER ONE, 2020, AND THEY WORKED THROUGH MAY 22ND, 20, 21, THEY WOULD GET THE FULL $1,300.
AND THAT GAVE US ABOUT 5,428 EMPLOYEES THAT, THAT, UH, MADE THAT CRITERIA.
IF THEY WERE HIRED BETWEEN DECEMBER 18TH, 2020 THROUGH DECEMBER, UM, MAY 22ND, 2021, THEY WOULD RECEIVE A THOUSAND DOLLARS AND THAT'S ABOUT 110 EMPLOYEES.
AND THEN IF THEY WERE HIRED MARCH 30TH, 2021 BEFORE MARCH 30TH, 2021, AND, UH, THROUGH MAY 22ND, 2021, THEY, WE GET $650.
NOW THIS DOES NOT TAKE INTO ACCOUNT THE, UH, UM, EMPLOYEE ATTENDANCE PIECE.
[03:25:03]
SO WE WENT BACK TO LOOK AT THE EMPLOYEE ATTENDANCE PIECE WITH THIS PARTICULAR SITE OPENED, AND WE WANTED TO PROVIDE SOME MORE FLEXIBILITY, UM, WITH THE STRUCTURES.AND YOU CAN SEE THERE, THE NUMBER OF EMPLOYEES THAT ARE OUT THERE, ESPECIALLY ACTUALLY AT THIS TIME ON, WELL, ON MONDAY, APRIL 19TH, THIS, THESE ARE THE NUMBER OF EMPLOYEES THAT WILL BE ELIGIBLE FOR THE DIFFERENT LEVELS.
UM, AND WE, WE DECIDED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE DID ZERO TO 20 DAYS, $1,300, 21 TO 90 DAYS, UM, A THOUSAND DOLLARS 91 TO 125 DAYS, $650.
AND IF THEY MISSED 126 DAYS OF WORK, UM, THEY WOULD NOT BE ELIGIBLE FOR IT.
ANYTHING NOW MIND YOU, WITHIN A NINE MONTH PERIOD OF TIME, OUR, IT WOULD BE 182 DAYS.
SO, UH, THAT WAS THE, THAT'D BE A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF THE YEAR.
AND THAT'S ONLY 87 AND EMPLOYEES THAT FALL IN THAT.
AND MOST OF THOSE EMPLOYEES WHO WERE, UM, TO FALL WITH THE EIGHTIES, THAT 87, OUR EMPLOYEES WHO WERE IN PENDING, UH, DUE TO VARIOUS THINGS OF POTENTIAL JOB ABANDONMENT OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT, UM, IF THEY WERE EMPLOYED AS OF DECEMBER 18TH, 2020, UM, AND THEY MISSED ZERO TO 20 DAYS, THEY WOULD BE ELIGIBLE FOR A, UM, A THOUSAND DOLLARS.
AND THAT'S ABOUT 107, UH, EMPLOYEES.
AND IF BETWEEN 21 TO 90 DAYS, THEY WOULD BE ELIGIBLE FOR SIX 50.
SO WE DID A SLIDING SCALE FOR THAT.
AND THEN EMPLOYED AS OF MARCH 31ST, WE STILL ALLOWED, UH, SOME LEEWAY WITH THAT.
AND SO THEY CAN MISS UP TO 20 WORK DAYS AND THAT WOULD GIVE THEM A $650.
NOW THIS STILL THE REMINDER, JUST TO REMIND YOU IF AN EMPLOYEE WAS ON COVID LEAVE, WHETHER IT WAS THE EXTENDED FMLA, WHETHER IT WAS THE EMERGENCY LEAVE THAT THE DISTRICT, UH, INSTITUTED, UM, THIS WOULD NOT COUNT AGAINST THEM.
SO THOSE DATES, WE HAVE DOCUMENTED ALREADY IN HR, IF AN EMPLOYEE MADE, DIDN'T LET US KNOW THAT THEY WERE OUT BECAUSE OF COVID, THEY CAN STILL CONTACT US.
THEY CAN STILL PUT IN A REQUEST THROUGH OUR DIGITAL SYSTEM AND WE CAN PROCESS IT.
AND SO WE STILL HAVE ENOUGH TIME BETWEEN NOW AND, UH, MAY 22ND, 20, 21 TO RECTIFY AND ADDRESS IT.
SO WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WE GIVE THEM AN OPPORTUNITY TO CORRECT ANYTHING.
AND SO THEY CAN CONTACT US IN HR BY APPLYING ONLINE IN OUR PERFECT FORUMS PORTAL.
THIS JUST GIVES YOU AN IDEA OF THE NUMBER OR KIND OF GRAPHICALLY WHO GETS, WHO'S GOING TO GET THE WHOLE PIE.
AND SO YOU CAN SEE IT'S, UH, VERY, UM, LARGE NUMBER OF PATIENTS, EMPLOYEES THAT WE'VE INCLUDED.
AND SO WE WANTED TO, AGAIN, MAKE SURE THAT WE HONOR THOSE EMPLOYEES.
WE LISTENED TO EMPLOYEES WHO WERE HERE EVERY DAY.
WE LISTENED TO EMPLOYEES WHO WERE OUT BECAUSE OF, UH, VARIOUS REASONS.
ONE OF THE THINGS WE COULD NOT DO IS WE COULD NOT, UM, DESIGNATE MATERNITY LEAVE SEPARATE FROM OTHER LEAVES.
AND THE REASON WHY IS BECAUSE IF WE DID THAT, THERE WOULD BE DISCRIMINATION, REVERSE DISCRIMINATION AGAINST PEOPLE WHO WERE OUT FOR OTHER REASONS.
SO WE WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE PROTECTED THE SYSTEM BY DOING, DOING A VERY FAIR ACROSS THE BOARD THING.
ANOTHER PIECE THAT WE LOOKED AT WAS OUR PART-TIME EMPLOYEES AND OUR SUBSTITUTES.
AND SO WE INCREASED THE AMOUNT TO A THOUSAND DOLLARS IF THEY WORKED AT LEAST 120 DAYS OUT OF THE SCHOOL YEAR AS A LONG-TERM SUB OR STUFFED IN MULTIPLE LOCATIONS, BECAUSE THE LONG-TERM STUFF BY DEFINITION IS A SUB THAT WORKS AT ONE SCHOOL SITE.
BUT IF IT'S A SUB THAT WORKED AT DIFFERENT SCHOOL SITES FOR 120 DAYS, THEY WOULD STILL BE ELIGIBLE FOR THIS OR A 960 HOURS.
AND WE GAVE THOSE EMPLOYEES A THOUSAND DOLLARS AND THEN THOSE EMPLOYEES, THOSE, UH, PART-TIME EMPLOYEES OR SUBSTITUTES THAT WORKED OKAY, AT LEAST A 75 DAYS, OR, UM, THE EQUIVALENT, OH $600, THEY WOULD GET $650.
AND SO THAT'S ABOUT 80 EMPLOYEES.
UH, NOW MIND YOU, THE SCHOOL YEAR IS NOT OVER.
SO WE HAVE OPPORTUNITIES FOR SUBS WHO THEY WANT TO UP THEIR MONEY, AND THERE'S A VACANCY ON ONLINE.
THEY CAN TAKE THAT VACANCY AND MOVE UP THAT STIPEND FOR THEMSELVES.
SO JUST TO KIND OF EXPLAIN A PERSON HAS TO BE AN ACTIVE EMPLOYEE.
UM, YOU CAN HAVE EMPLOYEES WHO, PEOPLE WHO GET HIRED AND THEY MAY NOT REPORT.
THEY MAY REPORT A FEW DAYS FOR SOME OTHER REASON, AND THEY MAY NOT REPORT AGAIN.
AND SO WE HAVE TO ACTUALLY GO THROUGH A PROCESS TO TERMINATE THEM.
AND SO TO PROTECT THE SYSTEM, WE GO THROUGH THIS PARTICULAR PROCESS.
[03:30:01]
MAKE SURE THAT YOU UNDERSTAND THEY WOULD BE DISQUALIFIED FROM THIS BECAUSE THEY HAD NOT, THEY THERE, WE CAN'T FIND THEM.UM, AND SO ANOTHER ONE IS A PERSON WHO MAY HAVE BEEN ON APPROVED SICK LEAVE, AND WE DO NOTIFY THEM CONTINUOUSLY THROUGH A DIGITAL SYSTEM AND THEY HAVE NOT RETURNED TO WORK.
AND WE WERE STILL TRYING TO COMMUNICATE WITH THEM AND THEY STILL HAVE NOT, UH, REAUTHORIZED THEIR LEAVE.
UM, AND IT'S EXTENDED BEYOND THAT, THE APPROPRIATE TIME PERIOD.
UM, THEY MAY BE IN PENDING STATUS BECAUSE WE'RE WAITING TO FIND OUT WHAT'S HAPPENING.
THOSE PARTICULAR EMPLOYEES WOULD BE AN EXAMPLE OF A DISQUALIFIED EMPLOYEE.
WE WILL ALLOW EMPLOYEES WHO MAY FIND THEMSELVES DISQUALIFIED.
IF THEY HAVE QUESTIONS, THEY CAN CONTACT US.
WE WILL HELP THEM THROUGH THE PROCESS.
AND WE WILL HAVE AN APPEALS, UH, OPPORTUNITY FOR THOSE EMPLOYEES TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE DOING THIS FAIR AND EQUITABLY ACROSS THE DISTRICT.
SO THE ESTIMATED EXPENDITURE, THIS IS BEFORE, UM, THE BENEFITS, UM, IS ABOUT $7 MILLION NOW WITH BENEFITS IT'S 9 MILLION.
SO THIS IS BEFORE WE DO BENEFITS FOR ALL EMPLOYEES THAT ARE ELIGIBLE TO RECEIVE THIS, THIS NUMBER MAY FLUCTUATE, JUST BECAUSE AGAIN, THE ELIGIBILITY MAY BE ADJUSTED BASED UPON THE ATTENDANCE OF THE EMPLOYEE AND STATUS.
ADVERSE IMPACT ON EMPLOYEES ARE TIRING PRIOR TO JUNE ONE.
UM, AND THAT WAS ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE WERE WORRIED ABOUT BECAUSE THE ANTICIPATED, UM, DISBURSEMENT DATE IS JUNE 8TH.
AND SO IF A PERSON RETIRES MAY 22ND, WE STILL HAVE TIME TO PAY THEM AND NOT ADVERSELY IMPACT THEIR RETIREMENT BENEFITS OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT BECAUSE THEY GENERALLY WOULD GET THEIR LAST CHECK ON JUNE 15TH.
UM, SO WE'RE EXCITED TO BE ABLE TO PROVIDE THAT OPPORTUNITY FOR OUR RETIREES.
UM, AND RIGHT NOW WE HAVE ABOUT 33 EMPLOYEES THAT ARE GOING TO BE RETIRING AT THE END OF THIS YEAR.
AND I'M SO GLAD MR. TOPMAN MENTIONED THE IDEA OF DOING SOMETHING SPECIAL FOR OUR RETIREES.
SO WE'RE LOOKING AT FIGURING OUT HOW TO DO A SPECIAL, UM, RETIREMENT RECEPTION, SOCIALLY DISTANCE SAFE FOR THOSE RETIREES.
SO WE CAN GIVE THEM A PLAQUE, UH, TO THANK THEM FOR THEIR SERVICE.
UH, CAUSE WE APPRECIATE, WE HAVE GREAT EMPLOYEES IN OUR DISTRICT ACROSS THE BOARD AND, UH, WE JUST WANT TO HONOR THEM FOR THE WORK THAT THEY DO AND THAT'S ALL.
AND I CAN ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.
YES, I HAVE, UM, ALSO PULLED THIS ITEM BECAUSE I WANTED TO, AGAIN, UM, THANK ADMINISTRATION AND ALL OF YOU WHO HAVE WORKED ON THIS.
AND AGAIN, LISTENED BECAUSE THERE WERE A LOT OF QUESTIONS AROUND, YOU KNOW, WHO WAS GOING TO BE ELIGIBLE, WHO WASN'T AND THE RETIREES AND ALL OF THOSE THINGS.
AND SO I APPRECIATE THE, UM, THE VERY CLEAR WORK THAT'S BEEN DONE ON THIS.
UM, AND I APPRECIATE US GOING THROUGH A PRORATED, UM, SITUATION HERE BECAUSE THIS WAS AN UNUSUAL TIME.
UM, THE, UM, ONE OF THE QUESTIONS THAT I HAD IS, UM, SO IF SOMEONE DECIDED THAT THEY WERE GOING TO TAKE THEIR LEAVE, UM, COVID UM, THEY HA IT WAS BECAUSE OF COVID, BUT THEY DECIDED TO TAKE IT AS THEIR DAYS OFF PAID LEAVE INSTEAD OF COVID PAID LEAVE, UM, BECAUSE THEY COULD GET MORE PAY BY TAKING IT THAT WAY.
AND, UM, SO AT THIS POINT THEN THEY FALL INTO THIS PRORATED OF THE THOUSAND DOLLARS.
UM, BUT THEY HAVE, IF THEY HAVE THE OBLIGATION, THEY CAN PROVIDE IT TO US.
AND WE WILL, IT WOULD BE THAT THEY NEED TO PROVIDE A PROOF THAT THEY WERE TOLD NOT TO BE ON THE CAMPUS OR THAT THE, SOMEBODY TOLD THEM TO QUARANTINE OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT FROM A DOCTOR SHOWING WHETHER THEY HAD COVID OR SOMEONE IN THEIR HOUSEHOLD HAD HAD IT AND THEY WERE EXPOSED.
WE JUST NEED THAT DOCUMENTATION IN THE TIME PERIOD.
AND WE'LL CROSS CHECK IT WITH THEIR ATTENDANCE AND WE'LL BE ABLE TO ADDRESS IT THAT WAY.
OTHERWISE THEY FALL INTO THIS OTHER AND THEY GET THE PRORATING.
AND, UM, SO IF THEY DECIDE TO SWITCH IT, THEN THEY WOULD HAVE SOME PAY THAT.
SO WE, WE, WE WOULDN'T ACTUALLY GO BACK AND SWITCH IT.
UM, WE, BECAUSE IT, AGAIN, IT DEPENDS ON THE TYPE OF COVID LEAVE BECAUSE THERE WERE ELEMENTS OF COVID LEAVE.
THERE WERE A HUNDRED PERCENT AND ELEMENTS THAT WERE 65%.
[03:35:01]
UM, ONE OF THE THINGS WE WORK TO EXPLAIN TO EMPLOYEES IS THAT INITIALLY THE IDEA OF COVID LEAVE WAS FOR PEOPLE WHO WORKED AT LIKE WALMART OR PLACES LIKE THAT, WHO DON'T HAVE THE AMOUNT OF PAID LEAVE THAT WE HAVE, UH, AS, AS EMPLOYEES OF A SCHOOL SYSTEM.AND SO WHAT WE DID, UM, IS WE TOOK THE COVID LEAVE AND WE PUT IT AS A LAYER ON TOP OF OUR REGULAR LEAVE.
SO WE COVERED THAT ABOVE THAT, WHICH WAS AN EXPENDITURE OF ABOUT A MILLION DOLLARS FOR, FOR BOTH SETS OF COVID LEAVES, UH, FOR EMPLOYEES.
UM, BUT IT IS IT, THEY HAVE TO BE VERY CAREFUL BECAUSE IF IT'S NOT THE RIGHT TYPE OF COVID LEAVE THAT THEY GO BACK AND TRY TO RECOUP.
THEY MAY END UP OWING THE DISTRICT MONEY BECAUSE THEY WERE OVERPAID.
SO WE ADVISE THEM TO KIND OF TALK TO US ABOUT IT AND LET'S TALK THROUGH IT, UH, TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY DON'T DO SOMETHING, UH, UNINTENTIONAL.
UH, BECAUSE AGAIN, WE HAVE A, A VERY GOOD PAID LEAVE, UM, PIECE AND IN THE PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM.
AND SO, UM, IT MAY BE THAT THERE'S MORE THAN A $300 BECAUSE THEY WERE ALREADY PAID THAT, RIGHT.
I JUST WANT TO CLARITY ON THAT.
AND THEN THE OTHER THING IS JUST, UM, ON AN ANNUAL BASIS, WE'RE TRYING TO DO A BETTER JOB OF, OF LETTING PEOPLE KNOW THAT WE NEED TO KNOW AS SOON AS POSSIBLE ABOUT RETIRING NOTICE.
AND SO HAVE, ARE WE MAKING A REAL CONCERTED EFFORT TO HAVE ENCOURAGED PEOPLE IF YOU'RE RETIRING ANY TIME SAYING, PLEASE LET US KNOW, BECAUSE WE NEED TO PLAN FOR THAT.
SO WE, WE ACTUALLY PROVIDE, UM, EMPLOYEES, A DECLARATION OF INTENT THAT GOES OUT IN FEBRUARY, AND WE GENERALLY GET A RESPONSE RATE ABOUT THREE, 3000 EMPLOYEES THIS TIME, UH, COMPLETED THE REQUIRES, BUT STILL PEOPLES ARE STILL DECIDING.
AND SOMETIMES AN EMERGENCY OCCURS WITHIN THEIR FAMILY OR LIFE, AND THEY HAVE TO DO AN EMERGENCY RETIREMENT, BUT WE'RE GOING TO START DOING SOME, UH, MEETINGS WITH RETIRED WITH PEOPLE WHO ARE KIND OF AT THAT RETIREMENT POINT WHERE THEY CAN COME TO A MEETING AND ASK QUESTIONS ABOUT THEIR, ABOUT OPTIONS.
THEY CAN ALWAYS COME TO US AND MEET WITH US ONE-ON-ONE BUT SOMETIMES PEOPLE JUST WANT TO COME AND GET INFO.
AND SO WE'RE GOING TO DO SOME INFO SESSIONS FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE INTERESTED IN RETIREMENT.
THANK YOU, MS. DYSON, MR. LANDIS, THANK YOU, PRESIDENT TO MANILA AND BE ALONE MS. DONALDSON AND THE TEAM.
I JUST WANT TO THANK EACH AND EVERY SINGLE ONE OF YOU FOR YOUR DILIGENCE IN HELPING TO RESOLVE THIS MATTER.
EAST BEVERAGE PAST SCHOOL SYSTEM IS THE LARGEST EMPLOYEE OR EMPLOYER IN THE CITY OF BATON ROUGE.
SO I NOTICED IT WAS NOT AN EASY FEAT FOR YOU GUYS TO DO, BUT I DEFINITELY APPRECIATE IT.
I KNOW THIS BOARD APPRECIATE IT.
THANK YOU, MR. THANK YOU, MR. LANDIS.
I, UM, SO THIS, THIS WILL BE PAID ON JUNE 8TH.
YOU SAID WE ANTICIPATE THE EXPENDITURE.
THE, UM, JUNE 8TH IS THE DATE, UH, THAT IT WILL GO OUT DIRECT DEPOSIT.
I AM ABSOLUTELY THRILLED THAT YOU ALL FIGURED OUT HOW TO DO IT BECAUSE IT SEEMED LIKE WHEN WE HAD THE DISCUSSION A WEEK AGO, THERE WAS NO WAY WE WERE GOING TO BE ABLE TO DO IT BECAUSE OF BUDGET CONSTRAINTS OR WHATEVER I AM, WHATEVER MAGIC YOU WORKED.
I'LL UH, I WANT TO THANK EVERYBODY WHO WORKED ON IT, SO THANK YOU SO MUCH.
UM, SEEING NO OTHER COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS FROM THE BOARD, WE'LL GO TO THE AUDIENCE AND WE'RE ON ITEM NUMBER THREE, ONE TIME SUPPLEMENT.
I JUST WANT TO THANK THE BOARD AND DAPHNE AND KELLY.
UM, UM, I I'M JUST SO HAPPY THAT, THAT WE HAVE, UH, SOMETHING THAT WE CAN WORK WITH, THAT YOU LISTENED TO PEOPLE.
AND, UM, THAT WE HAVE SOME WE CAN GO BACK TO WORK WITH.
I DO WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT RESIGNATES ALSO ARE ABLE OKAY.
CAUSE SOMETIMES IT'S JUST TIME TO TIME TO GO AS LONG AS YOU DO IT AT THE, YOU KNOW, AT THE RIGHT TIME.
I'VE GOT A LOT TO SAY AT THIS ONE.
UM, THIS IS A COMMENT FROM A TEACHER WHO IS AT HOME WITH HER NEWBORN AND A TODDLER.
THE VERY IDEA THAT WOMEN WHO HAD NO CHOICE, BUT TO MISS THE REQUIRED MEDICAL RECOVERY TIME OF SIX WEEKS OR EIGHT WEEKS, IF IT WAS A C-SECTION SHOULD NOT BE GIVEN THE FULL STIPEND IS THE DEFINITION OF DISCRIMINATION.
[03:40:01]
HERE IS THAT THAT MEN ARE NOT OFFERED A PATERNITY LEAVE.UM, I GUESS PATERNITY LEAVE IS A REAL THING, SO IT SHOULD NOT BE DISCRIMINATING IF WE'RE OFFERING THE WOMEN MATERNITY LEAVE AND THEY'RE NOT GETTING THIS STIPEND.
AND IF THE MEN TAKE PATERNITY LEAVE AND THEY DON'T GET THE STIPEND, I KNOW ONE MALE TEACHER, WHO'S NOT GOING TO GET THE FULL AMOUNT UNDER THIS BECAUSE HE TOOK TIME OFF FOR PATERNITY LEAVE.
AND I KNOW A TEACHER WHO'S NOT GOING TO GET THE FULL FULL AMOUNT BECAUSE SHE TOOK TIME OFF FOR MATERNITY LEAVE.
SO LET'S DO, LET'S DO BOTH IN OUR EXEMPTION PLEASE.
UM, IF I DID THE MATH, RIGHT BASED ON THAT SLIDE, WE'RE LOOKING AT $630,950 IN ORDER TO BRING EVERY EMPLOYEE UP TO THE FULL AMOUNT THAT THEY WOULD GET IF THEY GOT THEIR FULL AMOUNT, REGARDLESS OF ATTENDANCE.
SO IF YOU TAKE AWAY THE ATTENDANCE REQUIREMENT, THAT'S THE, THAT'S THE DOLLAR AMOUNT.
UM, OF COURSE THIS IS BEFORE BENEFITS, WHICH WOULD BRING US UP TO JUST OVER $8 MILLION.
UH, WE JUST SAVED $15 MILLION FROM THE CALENDAR CHANGE IF I'M REMEMBERING CORRECTLY FROM A COUPLE HOURS AGO.
SO MAYBE WE SPEND SOME OF THAT MONEY TO BRING EVERY EMPLOYEE UP TO THE FULL AMOUNT THEY WOULD GET BASED ON THEIR START DATE.
UM, COVID LEAVE AS I'M SURE IT'S BEEN MENTIONED WAS A REAL THING, UM, THAT, THAT THE COVID LEAVE TIME.
THE TEACHERS TOOK WHEN THEY WERE ACTUALLY SICK, BEING ACCEPTED AS GOOD.
UH, BUT WHAT ABOUT THE TIME WHEN THEY'RE IN QUARANTINE? BECAUSE THEIR KID'S DAYCARE, FOR EXAMPLE CLOSED.
SO THEY HAD TO GO HOME AND TAKE LEAVE.
DOES THAT COUNT TOWARDS THIS? BECAUSE MY SON'S TEACHER HAD TO GO HOME SIX TIMES BECAUSE THEIR KID KEPT GETTING EXPOSED AT DAYCARE BECAUSE THE DAYCARE KEPT GETTING EXPOSED.
SO IS THAT EXEMPTION WRITTEN INTO HERE? BECAUSE AS IT IS WRITTEN NOW, IT IS NOT, IS IT
AND ALL OF THE PRINCIPALS KNEW TO WRITE THAT DOWN CORRECTLY AND CODE IT CORRECTLY.
AND THEN PROBABLY LAST FRIDAY'S EMAIL.
I KNOW YOU HAVE THE EMAIL ADDRESSES FOR ALL TEACHERS.
CAN YOU PLEASE EMAIL ALL TEACHERS THAT IF THEY WERE RETIRING OR QUITTING, THAT THEY NEED TO TAKE TALK TO HR AND ALL TEACHERS, NOT JUST, YOU KNOW, THE ONES WHO HAVE ALREADY FILLED OUT THE RETIREMENT FORM, UH, BECAUSE WE DON'T MAKE SURE EVERYONE GETS THIS MONEY.
I WOULD LIKE TO SAY THANK YOU FOR THE BUDGETING.
UM, INCREASING THE PAY FOR SUBSTITUTES.
CAUSE I KNOW THEY WORK REALLY HARD AND THEY PUT IN THE WORK.
UM, I'LL ASK THAT YOU EMAIL ALL OF THE TEACHERS BECAUSE I LIVED ON TEACHER THAT IS DISQUALIFIED BECAUSE OF HER PREGNANCY.
AND SHE SAID TO GET A LOT OF DOCTOR'S APPOINTMENTS, A LOT OF SHOTS.
SO COULD Y'ALL JUST SEND AN EMAIL OUT TO ALL OF THE TEACHERS AND THE RETIREES, JUST SO LIKE, YOU KNOW, TO CONTACT Y'ALL THROUGH THE EBR WEBSITE.
I COULDN'T RUN THIS TIME CAUSE HE MADE ME CARRY ON, BUT I REALLY DIDN'T TRULY BELIEVE THAT WE SHOULD FIND A WAY TO GIVE THOSE THAT HAD TO RESIGN OR RETIRE DUE TO COVID.
UM, AS WE KNOW, WE DID LOSE OUR SUPERINTENDENT, MS. LESLIE BROWN.
SHE WAS GONE BY CLOSE SOMEWHERE IN OCTOBER.
UM, AND WE HAD TO GET AN INTERIM ALL DOING COVID NOT, IF MS. BROWN WAS HERE, WHAT DO YOU THINK SHE MAY CONSIDER? WE ALSO HAD TO GET MS. BROWN BECAUSE MR. JORDAN LEFT ALL IN THE MIDST OF COPING, WE REALLY NEED TO LOOK AT IF I WAS IN AN EMPLOYEE WORK WITH THIS SCHOOL SYSTEM, I WOULD HAVE TO RESIGN BECAUSE I WOULD NOT BE RETIREMENT AGE RIGHT NOW.
I THINK RETIREMENT TO 65 62, AND THEY'RE TRYING TO MAKE IT 67.
I WOULD NOT HAVE THE AGE, THE AGE, BUT I MIGHT HAVE THE YEARS.
[03:45:01]
ACCORDING TO THE WAY WE HAVE EVERYTHING SET UP TODAY, IF I NEEDED TO RETIRE, RESIGN DUE TO MY CHILD, BEING IMMUNOCOMPROMISED, THEN I WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO RECEIVE THE FUNDING.EVERYONE RIGHT NOW THROUGHOUT THIS ENTIRE COUNTRY IS RECEIVING THE STIMULUS.
AND IF THEY DIDN'T RECEIVE IT, WHEN EVERYONE ELSE RECEIVED IT, THEY WERE ABLE TO RECEIVE IT FROM, UH, UH, UH, QUIT THE TAX CREDIT.
SO IF THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, SOME FEET, WHY CAN'T EDR AS AN EQUAL EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER CONSIDER THAT TOO.
WE REALLY SHOULD SAY THAT WE REALLY VALUE OUR STAFF.
AND I THINK SHOWING THEM THAT WE REALLY VALUE THEM WOULD BE TO GIVE EVERYBODY LIKE CDOT ORIGINALLY SAY EVERYBODY BOATING HUNDRED, OR IS IT 1400? MR. LANDIS IS 1300.
CAUSE HE CAUSE 1300 AND IF WE CAN SEE FIT TO BRING THEM UP TO THE INQUIRIES, THEIR PAY SALARY, THAT WOULD BE GREAT TOO, BECAUSE WE DEFINITELY DO NOT WANT TO LOSE HOURS TO NEIGHBORING SCHOOL SYSTEMS. WE HAVE GREAT STAFF THAT IS DEDICATED AND COMMITTED AND LOVE OUR CHILDREN.
WE LOVE THEM BACK AND GIVE EVERY SINGLE PERSON 1300.
AND IF MY CHILD COULD SAY IT RIGHT NOW, I'M QUITE SURE HE WOULD SPEAK IN AGREEMENT BECAUSE HIS STAFF TRULY WENT ABOVE AND BEYOND.
THAT'S THE ONLY THING I ASKED AND PLEASE REMEMBER, WE CAN'T TAKE IT OUT OF THE CARES ACT MONEY.
ANY OTHER COMMENTS FROM THE AUDIENCE? SEE NONE BACK TO THE BOARD.
UM, UH, UM, I THINK THIS BOARD MEMBER'S OPINION IS THE STAFF DID AN OUTSTANDING JOB THIS TIME AROUND VERY WELL THOUGHT OUT, VERY METICULOUS IN HOW THEY DID IT.
AND, UH, THE DETAIL IS INCREDIBLE AND I JUST, IT WAS IT'S, YOU KNOW, AGAIN, WE STARTED LAST WEEK AND WE GOT A LOT BETTER TODAY.
AND SO I JUST WANT TO THANK THE STAFF, UH, FOR THE WORK THAT THEY PUT IN.
AND IT LOOKS TO ME TO BE, UM, A FAIR, UH, UH, ALLOTMENT.
AND, UM, AND AGAIN, I'M GOING TO SAY IT AGAIN.
I'M PARTICULARLY THRILLED THAT WE'RE GOING TO GET IT OUT EARLIER, UH, IN THIS YEAR.
SO, UM, BUT I JUST HAD TO MAKE THAT COMMENT BECAUSE I KNOW STAFF WORKED THEIR FINGERS OFF AND JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT I THINK I PERSONALLY THANK THEM FOR THAT MS. JACKSON.
OH, THE QUESTION IS AROUND MATERNITY AND PATERNITY LEAVE.
HOW DOES IT FIT IN THERE IF IT DOES AT ALL AT ALL? CAN YOU GIVE ME SOME EXPLANATION ON HOW MATERNITY LEAVE FITS INTO THE, UM, INTO THE HAZARD PAY INTO THIS STIPEND? MS. DONALD'S OOPS.
SO WE DO OFFER MATERNITY AND PATERNITY LEAVE FOR OUR EMPLOYEES.
UM, BUT THE THING IS THAT WE COULDN'T SEPARATE BASED UPON THAT BECAUSE YOU, YOU WOULD GET INTO A POTENTIAL REVERSE DISCRIMINATION SITUATION BECAUSE IT'S JUST LIKE ONE PERSON MAY HAVE ANXIETY AND THAT'S WHY THEY TOOK OFF VERSUS ANOTHER PERSON WHO MAY HAVE HAD KNEE SURGERY.
UM, SO WE WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE DIDN'T GET INVOLVED AND WE DIDN'T, UM, MAKE ANY, UM, SEPARATIONS BASED UPON GENDER OR, UH, ANYTHING LIKE THAT.
WE WANTED TO JUST TO BE FAIR ACROSS THE BOARD DOESN'T MATERNITY LEAVE, UH, ISN'T MATERNITY LEAVE USUALLY COVERED IN, UM, IN ANY OF, OF OUR, UM, UM, IT, IT IS.
SO I'M SAYING THAT IN TERMS OF W WITH GIVING THE STIPEND, WE COULDN'T DESIGNATE A DIFFERENT STIPEND FOR THOSE WHO HAD CHILDREN VERSUS THOSE WHO WERE OUT BECAUSE OF ANOTHER REASON, BECAUSE IT WOULD, IT COULD POTENTIALLY BE CONSIDERED, UM, DISCRIMINATION AGAINST THE OTHER GROUP.
SO WE WERE JUST TRYING TO MAKE SURE THAT WE, WE WERE JUST, IT IS, IT ISN'T APPROVED DAILY AND IT FALLS UNDER THE SAME UMBRELLA, BUT WE COULDN'T SEPARATE THE TYPE VERSUS THE COVID BECAUSE WE KNEW THAT THIS WAS RELATED SPECIFICALLY TO COVID.
UM, SO THAT'S WHY THE COVID PIECE IS SEPARATED, BUT OUR REGULAR SICK LEAVE POLICY, UM, IS ENCOMPASSED WITHIN THIS.
I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT THE AUDIENCE
[03:50:01]
WAS HAD SOME, SOME FEEDBACK ON THAT FRATERNITY AND, UM, MATERNITY LEAVE SITUATION AS IT RELATES TO THIS PARTICULAR STIPEND.MA'AM THANK YOU, MS. SQUARE JACKSON, MS. COLLINS, VICE PRESIDENT COLLINS.
I ACTUALLY, UM, THANK YOU, UH, CLARIFIED.
UM, AND SO FOR EXAMPLE, IF SOMEONE WAS OUT BECAUSE THEY NEEDED A HIP REPLACEMENT, THERE WOULDN'T BE COVID LEAVE.
THEY HAD TO STAY OUT FROM WORK FOR X NUMBER OF DAYS, OR THEY HAD A KIDNEY TRANSPLANT, WHATEVER.
THEN THEY WOULD EQUALLY BE DISQUALIFIED AS SOMEONE ON MATERNITY LEAVE.
SO AS LONG AS IT, SO THERE WAS AS LONG AS IT FALLS UNDER OUR ACTUAL CURRENT SICK LEAVE POLICY, UM, THAT, THAT, THAT WOULD BE COVERED UNDER THAT.
SO IT'S, IT'S, IT'S A, IT'S A SEPARATION BECAUSE THE COVID WAS A, UH, EMERGENCY LEAVE THAT WAS FEDERALLY MANDATED.
AND THEN THE DISTRICT DID A SECONDARY ONE AFTER THE FEDERALLY MANDATED ONE ENDED.
UH, WELL THERE'S ONE THAT CAN BE LEGALLY SEPARATED, BUT NOT THE OTHER MA'AM YES.
MA'AM BECAUSE, AND BECAUSE THIS WAS ACTUALLY RELATED TO THE ACTUAL PAIN IS RELATED TO COVID.
VICE PRESIDENT COLLINS, MR. GAUDETTE.
ALL RIGHT, MAN, LET'S TRY, PLEASE VOTE.
[I.8. Professional Services Contracts: Accountability and Assessment]
OF A REQUEST FOR THE APPROVAL OF A PROFESSIONAL SERVICES CONTRACT BETWEEN THE EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH SCHOOL SYSTEM AND THE FOLLOWING A ACHIEVEMENT NETWORK, A ANATOMY AMOUNT OF $346,391 TO PROVIDE GRADES THREE THROUGH EIGHT BENCHMARK ASSESSMENTS, PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND SUPPORT FUNDING SOURCE CARES ACT B ACHIEVEMENT NETWORK, A NET IN THE AMOUNT OF $104,214 AND 60 CENTS TO PROVIDE GRADES NINE THROUGH 11 BENCHMARK ASSESSMENTS, FUNDING SOURCE GENERAL FUND TO SEE THE ACHIEVEMENT NETWORK, A NET IN THE AMOUNT OF $55,000 TO PROVIDE PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT FUNDING SOURCE GENERAL FUND DE ALUMINATE EDUCATION INC.IN THE AMOUNT OF $196,890 TO PROVIDE VIRTUAL MANAGEMENT TOOL TO HOUSE DATA FUNDING SOURCE CARES, ACT II ELIMINATE EDUCATION, INC IN THE AMOUNT OF 7,500 TO PROVIDE PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT FUNDING SOURCE GENERAL FUND AF AMPLIFY EDUCATION, INC.
AND THE AMOUNT OF $762,817 TO PROVIDE ASSESSMENTS, SCREENERS AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT FUNDING SOURCE CARES ACT.
DO I HAVE A MOTION MOVED BY MR.
DON'T SEE ANY BOARD MEMBERS THAT WISH TO SPEAK EXCEPT FOR VICE PRESIDENT COLLINS.
I DON'T EVEN NECESSARILY HAVE TO ASK ME SO KIND OF SCARED TO DO A PRESENTATION BECAUSE I ASKED, UH, THE QUESTIONS I HAD LAST TIME.
I HAD ALSO REACHED OUT ON THE STATE LEVEL BECAUSE AGAIN, BASED ON A PREVIOUS BOARD ACTION REGARDING THE BENCHMARK ASSESSMENTS, UH, I HAD SOME CLARIFY SOME QUESTIONS THAT I NEEDED CLARIFIED AND ONCE I GOT ON CLARIFY, UM, MY POSITION IS NOT TO SUPPORT THE PORTION FOR THE
THE REASON WHY IS BECAUSE WE ALREADY RECEIVED THESE SERVICES FOR FREE WITH THE LEAD THREE 60 SOFTWARE.
UM, MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT YES,
[03:55:02]
UH, SOME TEACHERS HAVE CONCERNED AROUND HOW TO MANIPULATE THE DATA, UH, AND WITH THE LEAD THREE 60 SOFTWARE, HOWEVER, UH, OTHER DISTRICTS HAVE, UH, FOUND WORK AROUNDS, UH, FOR FREE.UH, AND I'M SURE WE COULD DO THE SAME.
I'M NOT UNDER, I HAVE NOT, UH, RESOLVED FOR MYSELF, UH, THE NEED TO SPEND HALF A MILLION DOLLARS ON A NET FOR THAT BENCHMARK ASSESSMENT SERVICES.
I KNOW THEY'D BE USED THEM, UH, FOR THEIR, UH, TEACHER COACHING, UH, OR SCHOOL SITE COACHING SERVICES.
AND THEY DO A GREAT JOB IN THAT REGARD, UH, AND HAVE BEEN, UH, AN A NEEDED ASSET IN THAT WAY.
BUT IN TERMS OF THE BENCHMARK ASSESSMENTS, ALSO THE HIGH SCHOOL, UM, UH, BENCHMARK ASSESSMENTS WERE A NET IS TIER TWO.
SO I SEE OUR, OUR SCHOOLS WE'LL STILL NEED ADDITIONAL BENCHMARK ASSESSMENT TOOLS.
UM, THREE 60 ALSO GIVES THE BENEFIT OF, UH, THE REASON WHY IT'S FREE.
IT HAPPENS TO ALSO BE MADE BY THE COMPANY THAT DOES THE END OF YEAR ASSESSMENT.
AND SO THE INTERFACE, UH, OF THE LEAD THREE 60 SOFTWARE IS THE SAME AS THE INTERFACE AS THE END OF THE YEAR SOFTWARE.
AND WE'VE DISCUSSED BEFORE, DURING THE BOARD MEETINGS, THE IMPORTANCE OF STUDENTS HAVING THAT HAPPEN ZONE WITH THE SOFTWARE AND BEING FAMILIAR WITH THE SOFTWARE BY THE TIME THEY GET TO THE TEST, I HAVE NOT SEEN ANY DATA THAT, UH, OUTWEIGHS THE BENEFIT, UH, OF WHAT LEAP THREE 60 HAS TO OFFER DISTRICT FOR FREE, UH, TO, TO, TO SAY, SWITCH TO A DIFFERENT INTERFACE, SWITCH TO A DIFFERENT COMPANY THAT ALSO WE'LL PROBABLY HAVE FOLKS GRUMBLING AND COMPLAINING FROM WHATEVER NUANCE THAT THEY DON'T LIKE BY THAT DIFFERENT COMPANY.
UH, SO THAT'S ALL I HAVE FOR MY COMMENT.
UH, YOU ALL VOTE, OF COURSE, AS YOU SEE FIT AGAIN, I DON'T NEED ANOTHER PRESENTATION FROM THIS ULTRA ESCAPES.
SHE DID AN EXCELLENT JOB, UH, EXPRESSING, UH, THE FEW BENEFITS THAT SHE SAW WITH A NIT IN PARTICULAR, BUT I CAN'T GET PAST THE THINGS THAT I LIFTED UP.
VICE PRESIDENT COLLINS, MS. BERNARD, MS.
WE CURRENTLY USE A, LIKE THREE 60 WHERE WE DO THE DIAGNOSTIC AND OUR ON ONE INTERIM TWO, AND THAT FOLLOWS THE SAME SCHEDULE.
THE WINDOW DATES MAY BE SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT, BUT WE WOULD USE THE SAME SCHEDULE WITH A DIAGNOSTIC INTERIM ONE AND INTERIM TWO, NONE OF THE END OF THE YEAR.
SO FOR THE DEVIL, THE STATE ONLY REQUIRES THE BEGINNING OF THE YEAR.
WE HAVE CURRENTLY NOT BEEN DOING THE END OF THE YEAR, BUT WITH THE DEVILS PLATFORM, ONE OF THE REASONS OBVIOUSLY THAT WE DIDN'T DO IT IS BECAUSE OF THE DOUBLE DATA ENTRY, BUT WITH THE EASE OF USE OF THE DEVILS PLATFORM WITH THE ONLINE COMPONENT, IT WOULD MAKE IT EASIER TO DO THAT END OF THE YEAR ASSESSMENTS THAT WE COULD MEASURE.
THAT WOULD BE THE ONLY DIFFERENCE, BUT IT WOULD NOT.
IT WOULD NOMINATE A LOT OF THE TIME THAT IT TAKES FOR THE TEACHERS TO COMPLETE IT WITH THE ONLINE COMPONENT IS DEVILS THE A HUNDRED, THIS A THREE, THREE, SIX DIBELS THE PARENT COMPANY FOR THE ONLINE DEVIL'S PLATFORM EXAMPLE FLY.
IS THIS I'M SORRY, AMPLIFY AMPLIFY.
OH, IS THAT THE LAST ONE? YES, MA'AM THAT'S THE DOUBLES ONE.
ALL RIGHT, BECAUSE I'M NOT LOOKING AT THE BACK OF THE BACKEND RIGHT HERE RIGHT NOW.
WELL, I PROBABLY COULD SUPPORT THAT ONE, BUT I HAVE TEND TO AGREE WITH MS. COLLINS ON SOME OF THESE OTHERS.
THANK YOU, MR. THANK YOU, MR. BERNARD, MR. HOWARD.
UM, THANK YOU, PRESIDENT SIMON.
AND SO I GUESS MY QUESTION IS ALL CONSTANTLY IS IF YOU CAN JUST KIND OF GIVE US AN, I KNOW YOU DID THIS LAST WEEK AND I APOLOGIZE FOR MY ABSENCE, BUT IF YOU COULD JUST GIVE US A BRIEF, UM, WE ALREADY UTILIZE A NET IN OUR INNOVATION NETWORK SCHOOLS.
SO IF YOU COULD GIVE US JUST A BRIEF OVERVIEW AS TO THE, THE, THE SUCCESS, I GUESS, OF THE PARTNERSHIP AND HOW A DISTRICT WIDE APPROACH WITH THIS PARTICULAR SYSTEM WOULD BE A BENEFIT TO THE DISTRICT.
I KNOW THERE'S MIXED FEELINGS ABOUT LEAP THREE 60 AND THE KIND OF SERVICES THERE WAS TESTING ASSESSMENTS AND RENDER, AND HOW TEACHERS FEEL ABOUT IT.
THERE'S, I'VE HEARD DIFFERENT FEELINGS FROM DIFFERENT TEACHERS.
SO IF YOU CAN JUST KIND OF GIVE US
[04:00:01]
A OVERVIEW OF LIKE THE SUCCESS AND HOW A DISTRICT-WIDE APPROACH WITH THIS PARTICULAR SYSTEM WILL BE A BENEFIT TO THE DISTRICT.TO YOUR POINT, AND TO YOUR QUESTION, THAT INNOVATION NETWORK HAS USED THEM FOR THEIR, UM, PROFESSIONAL LEARNING SERVICES AND FOR THEIR JOB EMBEDDED COACHING ON THE DATA.
UH, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE'VE HEARD COMING OUT OF THAT GROUP, AS WELL AS OTHER GROUPS, IS THEIR FRUSTRATION WITH THE LEVEL OF REPORTING.
AND SO THE CARES ACT GAVE US AN OPPORTUNITY TO HELP SOLVE THAT ISSUE.
AND SO TO YOUR POINT, WE REMEMBER WE DID A FLIGHT LAST YEAR FOR THE GROWTH OF THOSE SCHOOLS USING THOSE SERVICES, AND WE THOUGHT WE SAW GAINS.
AND SO, AND USING THE ASSESSMENT TO PAIR WITH THE COACHING, WE LOOKED FORWARD TO THE OUTCOMES THAT WOULD BE THERE.
THE DIFFERENCE IN THE REPORTING IS THAT THERE ARE ACTUALLY SIX CATEGORIES OF STANDARD REPORTING AFFILIATED WITH A NET.
THEN YOU CAN GO AND CUSTOMIZE SIX NEW BUCKETS.
AND AN ADDITION TO THAT, THERE OPPORTUNITIES TO MERGE IT INTO OTHER DATA SOURCES.
AND THERE'S A PARENT REPORT COMPONENT THAT OUR TEAM GOT REALLY EXCITED ABOUT BECAUSE THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE WERE NOT USING UTILIZING RIGHT NOW WITH OUR CURRENT PLATFORMS. SO IT BREAKS DOWN THE WHOLE LOUISIANA CONTENT STANDARDS AND EXPLAINS TO A PARENT HOW IT COULD HELP THEIR CHILD BETTER PREPARE FOR THE LEAP.
SO TO YOUR POINT, MR. HOWARD, UH, WE'VE HAD POSITIVE PARTNERSHIP SO FAR WITH THIS COMPANY AND THE TEAM GOT REALLY EXCITED.
WE WERE REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THE OPPORTUNITY TO PROBLEM-SOLVE THE PLC ISSUE FOR OUR TEAMS WITH MORE ROBUST REPORTING.
AND BEYOND THAT, THEY WERE EVALUATED BY THE LOUISIANA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION, WHERE THEY WERE STRONG AND EVERY AREA RATED, UM, DESIGN SCORING AND REPORTING WAS ONE OF THOSE STRONG AREAS WHERE THEY RECEIVED COMMENDATION.
AND SO IT IS A TIER ONE EVALUATION FOR THOSE GRADES THREE THROUGH EIGHT FOR THE, UH, ASSESSMENT.
DID I ANSWER YOUR QUESTION? YEAH.
SO MY QUESTION, AND I WOULD JUST ASK THAT IF THIS DOES PASS, UM, WHEN IT COMES UP AND SAY THE ROLLOUT OF B THE PROPER, I GUESS, THE WAY THAT YOU USE IT, OR THE, THE MIX WE'RE NOT MIXING TESTS AND SERVICES THAT PEOPLE UNDERSTAND HOW TO BEST REAP THOSE BENEFITS THAT YOU SPEAK OF, AS OPPOSED TO THINKING THAT WE'RE LIKE HAVING COMPETING TESTING SERVICES AND TEACHERS FEELING LIKE THEY'RE HAVING TO UTILIZE ANOTHER SYSTEM AS A FORM OF, UM, UH, ACQUIRING DATA.
YOU ALL CONVERSATION EARLIER WITH HAVING CLARITY AROUND THE DATA SO THAT WE CAN MAKE THE DECISIONS WITH OUR NEW STRATEGIC PLAN THAT WILL GIVE US AN OPPORTUNITY.
I BELIEVE THAT WE CAN REPORT OUT THOSE KPIS AT SHORTER INTERVALS AND BE CLEAR ABOUT THE REPORTING THOSE KPIS.
AND I THINK IT'S A DIFFERENT WAY TO ENGAGE US ALL IN CONVERSATION.
THANK YOU, MS. HOWARD, MS. CARLA VICE PRESIDENT COLLINS.
JUST WANT TO MENTION THAT ONE OF THE CONCERNS ON THE STATE LEVEL IS THAT THEY INTENTIONALLY DON'T HAVE LEAD THREE 60 REPORT OUT DATA IN SOME OF THE WAYS THAT HAVE BEEN REQUESTING BECAUSE THEY WANT TEACHERS TO USE A DIFFERENT APPROACH IN HANDLING HOW TO ADDRESS SOME OF THE CONCERNS.
AND THAT'S BE LABELED A POINT JUST TO LIFT IT UP AGAIN FOR WHY I'M THAT IN PARTICULAR IN, BUT ON SCHOOLS THAT USE THREE 60 HAVE ALSO IMPROVED AS WELL.
THANK YOU, VICE PRESIDENT COLLINS.
WE WILL NOW GO TO THE AUDIENCE.
ARE THERE ANY COMMENTS ON ITEM EIGHT FROM THE AUDIENCE? OKAY.
SO LAST WEEK I CAME AND, UM, I SAID, I'D BE WILLING TO PLAY WITH IT AND TELL YOU WHAT I THOUGHT BECAUSE ALL OF MY TESTS WERE TRAPPED AND GONE.
AND I HAVE A HUGE SHOUT OUT TO ACCOUNTABILITY BECAUSE IN LA I GUESS IT HAD TO BEEN LIKE 12 HOURS BECAUSE THAT MEETING RAN SO LATE INTO THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT.
UM, I HAD ALL OF MY TESTS BACK, SO THANK YOU.
UM, AND THEN ALSO, YOU KNOW, MOVING AROUND IN THERE A LITTLE BIT MORE, YOU KNOW, WITH THE DATA THERE, THERE ARE SOME ISSUES, YOU KNOW, WITH THE CURRENT PROGRAM.
UM, BUT LOOKING AT THE ASSESSMENT OPTION, UM, MATH, I THINK THAT'S DIFFERENT FROM WHAT YOU WERE TALKING ABOUT, MR. HOWARD, UM, IS THAT THE, WHAT I SAW FOR MY NECK WAS NOT USER-FRIENDLY.
UM, AND I'D ALSO LIKE TO POINT OUT THAT THIS PROGRAM WAS ALSO USED IN DC AND TENNESSEE.
[04:05:01]
FOR FREE WORKSUM, I THINK SHE SAID EXACTLY WHAT WE HAVE FOR FREE WORKS.
SO WHY ARE WE SPENDING THIS MONEY ON SOMETHING WHEN WE ALREADY HAVE SOMETHING THAT WORKS FOR FREE? UM, I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO POINT OUT, WE SHOULD NOT BE SPENDING THIS CARES ACT MONEY UNTIL WE KNOW EVERYTHING THAT WE WANT TO SPEND IT ON.
I KNOW WE HAD THAT GOOD MEETING MONDAY, WHERE ALL THE TEACHERS GOT TOGETHER AND WE TALKED ABOUT WHAT WE WANTED IN A SCHEDULE.
WHY CAN'T WE DO THAT FOR THE CARES ACT MONEY? WHY CAN'T WE HAVE A MEETING WITH THE TEACHERS AND THE SCHOOL BOARD WHERE WE THROW EVERYTHING UP ON A BOARD THAT WE WANT TO SPEND THIS MONEY ON, AND WE PICK A PRIORITY OF WHAT WE WANT FIRST AND WHO KNOWS, MAYBE WE DO WANT THIS TESTING SOFTWARE.
MAYBE I'LL BE A HUGE FAN OF IT ONCE WE KNOW OUR FULL LIST OF WHAT WE WANT, BUT I THINK WE NEED TO HAVE A FULL BUDGET FIRST.
LIKE WE DON'T SPEND MONEY ON EVERYTHING BEFORE WE PAY OUR MORTGAGE.
WE DON'T BUY NEW FUN STUFF BEFORE WE PAY OUR ELECTRICITY.
LET'S MAKE A FULL LIST OF WHAT WE WANT TO SPEND OUR CARES ACT MONEY BEFORE WE BUY SOMETHING WE ALREADY HAVE FOR FREE.
GOOD EVENING AGAIN, JENNIFER HARDING, UM, DISTRICT FIVE, I'M JUST GOING TO ECHO WHAT HAS ALREADY BEEN SAID.
WE'VE GOT, WE'VE GOT THINGS THAT ARE FREE.
I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY WE'RE, UM, CREATING A PROBLEM JUST TO THROW MONEY AT IT.
I MEAN, YOU KNOW, YOU HEAR FOLKS TALKING ABOUT YOU GET YOUR STIMULUS CHECK AND YOU SHOULD DO SOMETHING WITH IT, LIKE, YOU KNOW, PAY A BILL OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT, RATHER THAN GO OUT AND BUY A TV OR SOME SHINY OBJECT.
THIS REALLY FEELS LIKE A SHINY OBJECT.
UM, AND I ALSO AM NOT REALLY HEARING, Y'ALL SAY HOW THESE NEW ASSESSMENTS FIT INTO A PLAN AND HOW THEY WILL BE USED AND A JUSTIFICATION FOR WHY WE WOULD NEED TO SPEND THIS KIND OF MONEY FOR SOMETHING THAT WE'RE ALREADY GETTING FOR FREE.
AGAIN, WE WANT YOU TO JUSTIFY WHAT YOU'RE DOING WITH THIS MONEY.
WE WANT YOU TO COME UP WITH A BUDGET AND EXPLAIN TO US WHY, BECAUSE YES, THIS MONEY IS COMING FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AND YES, WE CAN SAY BUDGET NEUTRAL AND THEY ALL OF THESE GREAT, YOU KNOW, PHRASES AND EVERYTHING, BUT WE WANT YOU TO BE RESPONSIBLE WITH THE MONEY.
ULTIMATELY, THIS IS TAXPAYER MONEY THAT YOU'RE USING.
THIS IS MONEY THAT I PAY IN MY TAXES, AND WE ARE IN TRUSTING YOU AS OUR ELECTED OFFICIALS TO MAKE SMART DECISIONS.
UM, AND WE'RE NOT HEARING THAT ANY INFORMATION ABOUT THAT, YOU KNOW, AND SO MAKE A BUDGET, MAKE A PLAN, WAIT A COUPLE OF MONTHS, PUT IT TOGETHER, BRING THAT BEFORE THE PUBLIC, GIVE US TIME TO DIGEST THAT INFORMATION AND THEN VOTE ON IT.
THAT'S HOW THIS PROCESS SHOULD WORK.
SO MY CONCERN IS SIMILAR TO EVERYONE ELSE'S UM, ABOUT THESE ADDITIONAL ASSESSMENTS, IT SEEMS THAT THEY ARE REDUNDANT SINCE WE ALREADY HAVE LI THREE 60 AND DIBELS.
UM, I'M ALSO CONCERNED ABOUT THE PLAN FOR THE DATA.
WE KNOW THAT THE CHANGES MADE WILL TAKE THREE YEARS TO SHOW IMPROVEMENT.
IT DOESN'T SEEM LIKE A GOOD USE OF MONEY.
UM, WE CAN GET THE SAME INFORMATION WITH WHAT WE ALREADY HAVE.
PLEASE MAKE A RESPONSIBLE DECISION.
ANY OTHER COMMENTS FROM THE AUDIENCE? GOOD EVENING, EVERYONE.
UH, TME IS PRESIDENT OF THE LOUISIANA ASSOCIATION OF EDUCATORS, UH, AND A MEMBER OF THE ACCOUNTABILITY COMMISSION OR EL DOE.
SO WE'RE CURRENTLY IN THE PROCESS OF HAVING TALKS ABOUT CHANGING ACCOUNTABILITY AND WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE IN SCHOOL SYSTEMS. SO, UM, I'VE JUST WANTED TO PUT THAT INFORMATION OUT THERE BEFORE YOU MAKE A DECISION ON CHANGING SOME THINGS TONIGHT.
LET'S TAKE A LOOK AT WHAT IS GOING TO BE COMING DOWN THE TUBES FIRST, BECAUSE I'M NOT SURE WHETHER OR NOT THAT HAS ACTUALLY BEEN VOTED ON BY BESSIE YET.
SO I'M JUST ASKING THAT YOU ALL PUT THAT INTO, UH, TAKE THAT INTO CONSIDERATION BEFORE YOU MAKE A DECISION ON THIS.
I'M MARIA HARMON, UM, CONSTITUENT HERE IN EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH, AND I ALSO WORKED WITH A GROUP CALLED STEP UP LOUISIANA.
AND I JUST WANTED TO KNOW WHY AREN'T WE
[04:10:01]
PARTNERING WITH THE TEACHER LABOR UNIONS TO JUST DO AN ASSESSMENT OF THE CURRICULUM ACROSS THE PARISH OF EACH SCHOOL SITE TO DETERMINE HOW DO WE NEED TO STRUCTURE IT? THIS IS SOMETHING THAT COULD BE A BIT MORE COST EFFICIENT.THEY HAVE THE RESOURCES TO DO IT.
AND ALSO, I DO THINK WE NEED MORE DIRECTION FROM THE STATE BEFORE WE MOVE FORWARD ON A BIG EXPENSE LIKE THIS AS WELL.
BUT WE HAVE THIS, THE RESOURCES ALREADY HERE IN HIS PARISH.
I REALLY FEEL LIKE WE NEED TO TAKE ADVANTAGE.
UM, BECAUSE THE ASSESSMENT ITSELF IS USED TO DETERMINE AND IMPLEMENT A MODEL CALLED A SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITY SCHOOLS MODEL, WHICH IS EVIDENCE BASE IS EFFECTIVE.
SO I DO FEEL LIKE WE WILL BE SELLING OURSELVES SHORT BY NOT EMBARKING ON THIS OPPORTUNITY.
THE WORD F R E E FREE IS ALWAYS A GREAT THING.
SO WHY WOULD WE FIX SOMETHING THAT'S NOT BROKE? IF WE GAVE ME A FULL FRAME, WHY DO WE WANT TO SPEND MONEY ON SOMETHING ELSE? THAT DOESN'T MAKE SENSE? I REMEMBER CDOT SAYING, UM, QUITE A FEW THINGS.
IT'S GOING TO COME OUT WITH THE CARES ACT MONEY AND THEY MADE CHANGED WHEN IT WAS OTHER THINGS THAT WAS GOING TO COME UP WITH THE CARES ACT MONEY.
SO I THINK THAT WE NEED TO SEE IF THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE CAN PHYSICALLY DO TO WHERE IT'S NOT GOING TO CAUSE US TO GO INTO THE RED, TO THE NEGATIVE, BECAUSE WE STILL HAVE TO SAY WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO TO MAKE SURE WE'RE STAFF AND STAFF IS SAFE FROM COVID IN THE 2021, 2022 SCHOOL YEAR.
AND THAT IS SUPPOSED TO BE ONCE THE CARE IS SUPPOSED TO BE DONE WITH THE CARES, TAKE MONEY SAFETY.
SO I THINK THAT WE ACTUALLY FIRST REQUIRE, AND THEN I THINK, UH, WE DID REQUIRE THAT THAT WAS SOMETHING THAT WAS RE REQUESTED.
IF THE COW FOR THE LIST SAYING WHAT WAS GOING TO BE COMING OUT, THE CARES ACT MONEY, HOW MUCH MONEY WE RECEIVED, THIS IS WHAT WE'RE GOING TO USE SUCH AS LIKE A KIND OF LIKE A LEDGER.
IT WOULD BE GREAT IF WE CAN DO THAT AND NOT JUST FOR TRANSPARENCY AND ACCOUNTABILITY, BUT ALSO SO THAT WE CAN KNOW EXACTLY WHERE EVERY SINGLE PENNY IS GOING.
UM, I DO APPRECIATE THE INDIVIDUALS I SPOKE BEFORE MINT IS YOU DON'T GO BUY THINGS BEFORE YOU TAKE CARE OF THE ESSENTIALS FIRST.
SO LET'S TAKE CARE OF THE CENTRAL'S PURSE, BECAUSE IF WE DON'T HAVE STAFF MEMBERS AND STUDENTS THAT CAN RETURN INTO A BRICK AND MORTAR BUILDING SAFELY, THEY PAYING FOR A PROGRAM WOULD JUST BE A WASTE OF MONEY BECAUSE NO ONE WOULD BE ABLE TO HEAR.
ANY OTHER COMMENTS FROM THE AUDIENCE SEEING NONE, UH, BACK TO THE BOARD MS. BERNARD, THANK YOU, PRESIDENT TEMIN.
UM, I HAVE HEARD THE COMMENTS AND I HAVE, I'VE BEEN ASKING FOR A REALLY LONG TIME THAT WE NOT MAKE THESE TYPES OF ALLOCATIONS, DR.
NARCISSE, UM, TO, TO, UNTIL WE HAVE A FULL ACCOUNTING OF WHAT WE'RE GETTING AND WHAT WE'RE GOING TO SPEND IT ON, BECAUSE LIKE THE OTHER FOLKS, I WANT TO PRIORITIZE THE THINGS THAT ARE REALLY IMPORTANT TO ME BEFORE I SPEND ALL THE MONEY AND THE FISCAL CONSERVATIVE IN ME HAS TO AGREE.
TIA MILLS MADE A VERY GOOD POINT.
IF ACCOUNTABILITY IS CHANGING NEXT YEAR, WE MIGHT WANT TO WAIT UNTIL WE KNOW EXACTLY WHAT BESSIE IS ADOPTING.
WE'VE BEEN THROUGH HOW MANY ACCOUNTABILITY CHANGES IN THE LAST, UM, 10 YEARS AS A CONSEQUENCE, SEVERAL, I MEAN, IT'S LIKE EVERY TWO TO THREE YEARS, THERE'S A MAJOR SHIFT IN ACCOUNTABILITY.
SO I WOULD SAY FOUR OR FIVE TIMES SEVERAL.
AND, AND, AND I THINK THAT'S A VERY GOOD POINT BECAUSE WE WOULD JUST BE THROWING THE MONEY AWAY IF WE CHANGED TO SOMETHING THAT NEEDS TO BE ADJUSTED DIFFERENT.
SO I AM GOING TO, I, YOU KNOW, ACTUALLY, HONESTLY I THINK THE RESPONSIBLE THING TO DO WOULD BE TO POSTPONE THIS UNTIL THE MAY MEETING.
WE MIGHT HAVE BETTER INFORMATION.
WE COULD STILL MAKE THIS, UH, PASS THIS IN MAY AND STILL HAVE ALL OF THESE PIECES IN PLACE BY
[04:15:01]
THE FALL.SO, UM, I THINK WE SHOULD JUST MAKE THIS UP.
I'M GOING TO MAKE A SUBSTITUTE MOTION THAT WE, UM, MOVE THIS TO THE MAY BOARD MEETING, NOT THROUGH THE COMMITTEE AS A WHOLE, OR MAYBE SHOULD DO Y'ALL WANT IT TO GO THROUGH THE COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE AGAIN, OR JUST STRAIGHT ONTO THE BOARD AGENDA FOR MAY OR WE CAN ALWAYS PULL IT.
WE PUT THIS ON POSTPONE THIS UNTIL THE MAY BOARD MEETING, THE FULL BOARD MEETING SECOND.
AND I'M SORRY, I DON'T WANT TO DRAG OUT THE TESTIMONY AGAIN.
I MAYBE, MAYBE THE PUBLIC WHO'S IN ATTENDANCE WILL JUST AGREE WITH THAT AND, AND WE CAN GO ONTO IT.
WE HAVE A SUBSTITUTE MOTION HAS BEEN MOVED AND PROPERLY SECONDED TO MOVE THIS ITEM TO THE MAY BOARD MEETING.
UM, MS. WHERE JACKSON, THANK YOU, PRESIDENT TAPPIN.
UM, I WOULD, I WOULD SUPPORT THAT IN THAT I AM A LITTLE BIT LEERY ABOUT ALL OF THIS, ESPECIALLY F WOULD THAT 762,000.
UM, YOU KNOW, I DON'T, I DON'T, UH, I DON'T KNOW WHAT IT'S ALL, WHAT ALL IS INCLUDED IN, IN ASSESSMENTS AND, AND EVERYTHING.
UM, WHAT I'M CONCERNED ABOUT THE ONES, ESPECIALLY THAT ARE COMING OUT OF THE CARES ACT IS WE HAVEN'T SEEN THE FULL BUDGET FOR THE CARES ACT.
UM, AND THERE'S A LOT OF CONCERN, UM, IN THE COMMUNITY AROUND THIS, AROUND THE SPENDING AND THEN WITH WHAT'S GOING TO BE HAPPENING WITH ASSESSMENTS, MAYBE CHANGING.
UM, I WOULD HESITATE TO, UM, TO, UM, TO VOTE YES.
ON, UH, ON THIS PACKAGE AT THIS TIME.
SO I WOULD PREFER NOT TO, UM, PASS THIS AT THIS TIME, IF IT, IF IT MEANS THAT WE NEED TO MOVE IT DOWN A LITTLE, TO GET MORE INFORMATION OR, UM, OR SEE THAT, THAT BUDGET, BECAUSE I TOO AM ONE OF THOSE THAT LIKE TO KNOW WHAT I'M SPENDING, YOU KNOW, IN HOUSEHOLD, YOU KNOW, I KNOW WHAT I WAS COMING IN AND, AND I KNOW WHAT TO EXPECT.
I KNOW THAT I CAN'T GO OVER A CERTAIN AMOUNT, BUT AT THIS POINT I'M NOT VERY CONFIDENT IN, UM, IN, UH, THE TOTAL OF WHAT WE HAVE AND WHAT WE NEED.
AND, AND I HAVE A, UH, A REAL CONCERN AROUND THE, UM, THE CLINIC, THE CLEANING, WHAT WERE, YOU KNOW, HOW ARE WE GONNA MAKE SURE THAT ALL THE BUILDINGS ARE IN THE RIGHT CONDITION? YOU KNOW, WE'VE BEEN THROUGH YOUR BOARD MEMBERS AND, YOU KNOW, WE'VE BEEN THROUGH OVER THE LAST, UH, NOT JUST WITH COVID, BUT EVEN PRE COVID.
WE'VE HAD A LOT OF CONCERNS AROUND THE, UM, THE STATE OF THE BUILDINGS IS AS FAR AS, AS, UM, MAINTENANCE SCHOOLS.
SO I WOULD LIKE TO SEE WHAT'S IN THE BUDGET FOR THAT AS WELL BEFORE I, UM, CONTINUE TO APPROVE ITEMS THAT ARE COMING OUT OF THE CARES ACT FUND.
THANK YOU, MS. THANK YOU, MS. WARE JACKSON, MS. DYES.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I WANTED TO DO IS TO ASK THE SUPERINTENDENT, UM, WHAT HE'S THINKING ABOUT ALL THIS AND, AND THAT, THAT, UH, WAS JUST INTERJECTED AS FAR AS ANY KIND OF UPCOMING, UM, CHANGES OR THAT KIND OF THING.
YEAH, THE, THE AINA IS CONSIDERED AS TIER ONE FROM THE STATE.
UM, SO THERE'S NOT GOING TO BE AN IMPACT IN TERMS OF ACCOUNTABILITY COMPONENT.
THAT'S BEEN BROUGHT UP CONCERNING THE ASSESSMENT.
UM, THEY, UM, WE'VE BEEN IN CONVERSATION WITH THE STATE SUPERINTENDENT AND OTHER ACTUAL STATE OFFICIALS THAT ARE ON THIS.
AND THEY SAID ANYTHING THAT WE PICK WITHIN THE TIER ONE IS GOOD.
WE ALSO TALKED ABOUT AS WELL WITH THE ASSESSMENTS IN THE HIGH SCHOOL.
AND THE QUESTION FOR US WAS WHAT MADE MORE SENSE FOR OUR TEACHERS AND SUPPORTING THEM WHAT OUR SCHOOL LEADERS, UM, IT'S IMPORTANT FOR US TO HAVE A BENCHMARK THAT IS ALIGNED ALL THE WAY THROUGH.
UM, I UNDERSTAND THIS NOTION OF THINGS BEING FREE, BUT IT'S ALSO ABOUT WHAT HELPS OUR TEACHERS AND PRINCIPALS MAKE BETTER DECISIONS FOR KIDS.
AND SO THAT HAS BEEN THE ALIGNMENT.
UM, AS YOU HEARD FROM, UH, ANDREA, I CAN HAVE HER COME BACK UP AGAIN.
SHE HAS DONE A LOT OF WORK IN THIS.
SHE'S BEEN OUR DATA AND ACCOUNTABILITY PERSON FOR YEARS, AND, UH, THIS HAS NOT BEEN A RANDOM DECISION.
UM, MATTER OF FACT, WHEN I CAME ON
[04:20:01]
BOARD, UH, THERE WAS A DISCUSSION AROUND THE CHALLENGES THAT THE SCHOOLS HAD AROUND THE UNCOMMON ASSESSMENTS, LEAP WAS ALSO A CONCERN.UM, AND SO WE'RE JUST TRYING TO MOVE INTO THE DECISIONS TO DO THAT.
MY CONCERN ABOUT WHEN YOU MOVE THESE THINGS TO LATER DATES, IT JUST TAKES LATER FOR US TO HELP HAVE OURS, UM, OUR STAFF PREPARED TO SUPPORT KIDS TO DO IT.
AND SO THAT IS A CONCERN, RIGHT? YES.
NE, THE CONCERN THAT I WOULD HAVE LAST AND TO YOUR QUESTION IS WE WOULD NEED TO START CURRICULUM ALIGNMENT.
AMY HAS VOLUNTEERED TO US TO ALIGN THE ASSESSMENT INSTEAD OF US HAVING TO REDO THE CURRICULUM.
AND SO THAT'S HUGE BECAUSE USUALLY WHEN YOU DO THIS, YOU START RESHAPING CURRICULUM.
SO TEACHERS PACING, GUIDES AND WHATNOT WOULD HAVE MINIMAL CHANGE BECAUSE THEY WILL REDESIGN THEIR ASSESSMENTS.
THAT'S ONE OF THESE CONTRACTORS TO HAVE A CONSULTANT WORK WITH THE TEAM IN THIS BUILDING AND OUR ACCOUNTABILITY TEAM OVER THE SUMMER.
AND ONE OF THE CONTRACTORS DATED TO START PRESUMABLY TOMORROW, SO THAT THAT WORK COULD START AND PREPARATION.
THE REASON WHY YOU SEE SO MANY CONTRACTS ALSO IS BECAUSE WE BLOCKED OUT PD FOR THE SUMMER.
WE HAVE TO ONBOARD CENTRAL OFFICE STAFF FIRST, THEN BRING IN TEACHERS AFTER JULY ONE AND SO PREP TIME.
BUT AS YOU, AS YOU WOULD IMAGINE WITH MAJOR NATIONAL VENDOR, THEIR CONSULTANTS GET BOOKED QUICKLY.
AND SO THEY WON'T CONFIRM DATES FOR TIME UNTIL THIS CONTRACT IS SIGNED.
AND THEN THE LAST THING I ADDED, I APPRECIATE THE COMMENTS ABOUT, UM, THE FISCALLY CONSERVATIVE, THOSE OF YOU.
WHO'VE KNOWN ME FOR A WHILE, KNOW THAT I'VE STARTED OUT AT CENTRAL OFFICE AND TITLE ONE.
AND I THINK ABOUT WHAT RICHARD
BETH LEE AND I WOULDN'T HAVE BROUGHT THIS TO YOU, IF IT DIDN'T PASS THE EYE TEST FOR US, NUMBER ONE, AND NUMBER TWO, WHEN THE OTHER THING I LEARNED IN TITLE ONE, TITLE ONE AND FEDERAL FUNDS DON'T SIMPLY EXIST A LEVEL PLAYING FIELD, OR CHECK A BOX OR MEET A REQUIREMENT.
THEY EXIST TO EXPAND UPON AND PROVIDE QUALITY OPPORTUNITIES TO STUDENTS SO THAT THEY WERE BEING A BETTER SITUATION FOR TEACHING AND LEARNING TO MEET, REACH ITS PEAK.
AND SO WE BRING THIS TO YOU AS A NET AND ALL THE OTHER ONES, BECAUSE WE THINK IT AFFORDS US AN OPPORTUNITY TO DO THAT.
WE DO BELIEVE IT PASSES THAT REASONABLE NECESSARY TESTS.
WE DO BELIEVE IT'S SOMETHING THAT CAN SUPPLEMENT AND COMPLIMENT AND EXPAND OUR, OUR, UH, ASSESSMENT PLATFORM TO BETTER SERVE TEACHING AND LEARNING TO APPRECIATE YOUR COMMENTS AND RESPECT YOUR OPINION ON THIS GREATLY AND ALSO OUR SUPERINTENDENTS.
SO I JUST WOULD LIKE TO RESOLVE, TO KEEP IN MIND THAT IT'S A REALLY BIG SHIP THAT WE'RE TRYING TO MOVE IN.
ONE, ONE THING AFFECTS THE NEXT AFFECTS THE NEXT, AND YOU KNOW, WE'VE GOT TO GET THIS, THIS SHIP TURN.
AND SO, UM, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THAT.
I BELIEVE, UH, I BELIEVE MR. LANDIS IS UP NEXT TIME.
UM, I CAN SPECIFICALLY REMEMBER WHEN I WAS INSIDE OF THE CLASSROOM USING ELIMINATE AND USING ANUS.
SO I DO HAVE MY PERSONAL TAKES ON THOSE TWO, UH, SOFTWARE TOOLS.
HOWEVER, I AM CURIOUS, WHY ARE WE USING SPRINGBOARD? MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT SPRINGBOARD HAS, UH, THE HIGHEST YIELDING, UH, IT'S BEST FOR HAS THE BETTER YIELDING RESULTS FOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS.
AND ALSO THE HIGH PERFORMING TEACHERS USE THIS PARTICULAR PLATFORM.
SO WHY ARE WE USING THAT IF ANYBODY COULD ANSWER MR. HANNAH? SO, LIKE I SAID, IT'S BEEN A WHILE SINCE I'VE BEEN OUT OF TITLE ONE WORLD OR CURRICULUM WORLD, BUT I'M GONNA, UM, TAKE MY BEST STAB AT THIS INDIVIDUAL SCHOOLS ARE USING SPRINGBOARD FOR THEIR AP OR PRE AP COURSES TO PREPARE STUDENTS FOR, FOR THOSE ASSESSMENTS.
IT'S NOT A DISTRICT WIDE PURCHASE.
TYPICALLY THAT IS SOMETHING THAT THOSE SCHOOLS WILL EITHER USE WITH A SIDE BUDGET, MAGNET, BUDGET, SOMETIMES TITLE FUNDS, OR A SIDE CURRICULUM FUNDS, BUT IT'S NOT CONSIDERED THE DISTRICTS TIER ONE.
OUR SCHOOLS ALL USE THE DISTRICT TIER ONE CURRICULUM, BUT TO YOUR POINT, SOME OF THOSE OTHER SCHOOLS BLENDED IN TO SUPPLEMENT.
AND MY LAST QUESTION WOULD BE IN TERMS OF TIME, IF WE DID WAIT UNTIL THE MAY COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE, WOULD THAT BE ENOUGH SUBMIT SUFFICIENT TIME FOR US TO LOOK OVER EVERYTHING AND STILL VOTE AND HAVE ENOUGH TIME TO GET EVERYTHING DONE? IT'S GOT TO BE A CHALLENGE FOR US, BECAUSE LIKE I SAID, THESE ARE NATIONAL COMPANIES WITH THEIR PRESENTERS AND THEIR VENDORS.
AND SO WE, WE CAN'T BOOK OR CONFIRM, PICK PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT DATES
[04:25:01]
WITH THEM UNTIL THIS CONTRACT IS SIGNED BECAUSE THEY WILL COMMIT THEIR RESOURCES UNTIL WE COMMIT.THEY'VE ALREADY SIGNED THEIR END OF THE CONTRACTS.
I HAD CALLS WITH ALL OF THEM LAST WEEK.
WE HAVE A TENTATIVE ROADMAP PLANNED OUT, UH, ABOUT WHERE WE KNOW WHERE WE'RE GOING.
BUT AGAIN, IN ORDER TO CONFIRM AND BOOK DATES, UM, WE NEED A SIGNED CONTRACT.
I, I, BUT I, I, I WOULD HAVE TO SAY THAT I DON'T THINK THEY ARE PASSED ON A MULTI-MILLION DOLLAR CONTRACT THAT WE WAITED A LITTLE WHILE.
AND, UH, MY QUESTION WAS ANSWERED REGARDING, UH, ANY DISADVANTAGES TO WAITING A MONTH AND, UM, YEAH, I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT.
UH, YOU, YOU KNOW, YOU POINTED OUT, UH, THE, THE, UH, UH, GAINS WE HAD IN THE INNOVATION NETWORK AND, AND, AND THE SPEED AND, UM, UH, WITH USING IT AND ALSO, UM, UH, TH ANOTHER BIG SELLING POINT WAS, UH, BEING ABLE TO REPORT TO THE BOARD, UH, MORE QUICKLY.
AND, UM, THAT'S A VERY USEFUL TOOL, UH, AS A BOARD MEMBER TO BE ABLE TO, UH, HAVE THAT INFORMATION REPORTED BACK SO THAT WE CAN MAKE DECISIONS AND, AND ADJUST AS NECESSARY.
UM, UM, YEAH, I, I MEAN, I'VE BEEN AROUND MS.
AND THEN I THINK, UH, JUST SEEING HER ENTHUSIASM FOR, UH, HAS SOLD ME ANYWAY.
AND, UM, IF IT WILL, UH, IF IT IS GONNA MAKE A DIFFERENCE, UH, UH, WITH A MONTH, UH, I PREFER TO, UM, THAT WE GO AHEAD AND PASS IT TODAY SO WE CAN GET STOPPED.
IT'S ABOUT MAKING THINGS MORE COMFORTABLE AND EASIER FOR OUR TEACHERS AND OUR STUDENTS TO MAKE THEM MORE EFFICIENT, BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT WE'VE TALKED ABOUT LAST TIME.
THESE ARE INTERIM ASSESSMENTS TO INFORM INSTRUCTION.
IT SAYS IT TO INFORM INSTRUCTION.
SO TEACHERS CAN GET A TEMPERATURE CHECK TO SEE WHERE TO GO WITH THE NEXT QUARTER OF TEACHING.
I JUST WANT TO, UH, ABOVE ALL THINGS, POURING OUT, UH, SOME VERY TIMELY INFORMATION THAT WE RECEIVED, UM, UH, ACTIONS TAKEN PLACE ON THE STATE LEVEL, UM, AND THAT THESE CONTRACTORS, UH, WILL DEFINITELY BE WILLING TO ACCOMMODATE OUR TIME.
AND I SEE BOARD MEMBER WHERE JACKSON, THANK YOU, MADAM VICE PRESIDENT, UM, YOU KNOW, IN, IN LIGHT OF THE, THE, UH, TIMELINE AND, UH, THESE ARE ASSESSMENTS THAT WE NEED TO DO PRETTY QUICKLY, RIGHT? DR.
NAZIS, AS FAR AS, UM, THE BEGINNING OF THE SCHOOL YEAR AND KNOWING WHERE OUR KIDS ARE.
UM, YEAH, SO ONE OF THE CHALLENGES WE HAVE IN OUR SYSTEM IS NOT GETTING MATERIALS TO OUR STAFF EARLY ENOUGH, TO HAVE THEM BE PREPARED FOR WHAT THEY NEED TO DO.
UH, THIS IS JUST ONE OF MANY ITEMS AND THE EARLIER WE'RE ABLE TO MAKE A DECISION THE BETTER THEY CAN PREPARE FOR THE NEXT STEPS.
UM, I WOULD NOT RECOMMEND US WAITING FOR A MONTH, BUT THE BOARD MUST DECIDE, BUT THE EARLIER THE BETTER THEY CAN PREPARE THE BETTER THEY CAN HAVE CONVERSATIONS AROUND LEARNING THE NEWEST, THE NEW INTERIM ASSESSMENT CONVERSATIONS ABOUT WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE, THE BETTER THE STAFF CAN PREPARE FOR SUPPORTING THERE'S A LOT OF MOVING PIECES TO THIS, AND, UM, WE NEED A COMMON BENCHMARK ASSESSMENT ACROSS OUR SYSTEM TO PERFORM BETTER FOR STUDENTS.
AND YOU MENTIONED, UH, TIER ONE IN YOUR CONVERSATION WITH, UH, A DOCTOR.
WE'RE IN CONSTANT CONVERSATION WITH THIS STATE.
WE ALMOST HAD EVEN PARTNERED WITH THEM AROUND A LOT OF OUR LITERACY WORK AS WE STARTED DOING OUR WORK.
AND SO WE'VE HAD A FULL CONVERSATION WITH, UH, DR.
BROMLEY AND HIS STAFF AROUND ALL OF THE ASSESSMENT AND THE WORK WE'RE DOING SPECIFICALLY AS WE'RE TRYING TO INCREASE PERFORMANCE IN LITERACY AND MATHEMATICS.
[04:30:01]
OKAY.UM, JUST WANT TO POINT OUT THAT AIDEN ED IS NOT TIER ONE FOR HIGH SCHOOL, NINE THROUGH 12.
MY BT IS TIER ONE FOR OTHER GRADES, BUT I DON'T WANT PEOPLE TO BE CONFUSED BECAUSE I SAID IT'S NOT TIER IS NOT TIER ONE IS NOT IT'S TIER TWO FOR HIGH SCHOOL.
THAT MEANS WE WOULD HAVE TO THEN STILL SUPPLEMENT THAT, UM, INSIDE OF IT, WE BOTH SAYING, UH, SAME THINGS, BUT IT WILL SOUND CONFUSING WHEN YOU SAYING TIER ONE AND TIER TWO, I'M JUST POINTING OUT THAT A PIECE IS NOT TIER ONE.
I DIDN'T WANT ANYBODY TO BE CONFUSED ON THEM ON THE TIERS.
AND MY LAST COMMENT ASSEMBLY IS, UM, I'D HATE FOR US TO DO THIS.
AND THEN THE STATE SAYS WE CHANGED THE BALL GAME A WEEK AND WE COULD'VE JUST SIMPLY WAITED AND THAT'S IT.
THANK YOU, MS. COLLINS, THE BOARD IS CLEAR.
UH, WE GO DOWN, GO TO THE AUDIENCE ON THE SUBSTITUTE MOTION, WHICH IS TO DELAY ITEM EIGHT UNTIL THE MAY FULL BOARD MEETING.
AGAIN, MY NAME IS SIERRA HART.
I'M WITH THE SOUTH LOUISIANA COALITION FOR EDUCATION AS AN EDUCATOR THAT TEACHES 142 CHILDREN.
EVERY SINGLE DAY, WE UTILIZE A WOMAN AT MY SCHOOL JUST FOR THOSE TEACHERS WHO MAY NOT KNOW ABOUT ALUMINATE, IT'S A GREAT PROGRAM, ESPECIALLY WHEN IT COMES TO AGGREGATING DATA.
YOU'RE ABLE TO GET DIFFERENT CHARTS, COMPARISONS, AND STUDENT DATA.
SO LOOK TO REALLY SEE HOW YOU CAN PUSH YOUR STUDENTS.
YOU CAN LOOK AT DATA FROM PREVIOUS YEARS IF YOU'RE USING THE PROGRAM.
I THINK IT WOULD BE GREAT FOR THE TEACHERS TO BE ABLE TO USE.
IT HELPS ME WITH MY STUDENTS, AS FAR AS PUSHING THEM.
WE JUST HAD A BENCHMARK WHERE UTILIZE LUMINATE TO BE ABLE TO DO THAT.
I KNOW THAT, YOU KNOW, CHANGE SOMETIMES COMES QUICKLY, BUT AT THE, AT THE PROGRAM WILL BE GREAT.
TIA MILLS FOR LONG ENOUGH, AND WE ALL KNOW I'M STORM.
I PRETTY MUCH KNOW EVERYTHING THAT'S GOING ON IN THE DISTRICT, AND SHE'S BETTER THAN I AM AT KNOWING WHAT'S GOING ON.
SO SHE IS TELLING YOU THAT SOMETHING MIGHT BE COMING DOWN THE LINE.
I WOULD LISTEN VERY INTENSELY.
UM, ALSO I THINK THIS, THIS BOARD FOUND OUT THIS WEEK, HOW QUICKLY WE CAN DO SOMETHING.
WE'VE GOT, WHAT, WHAT MONTH IS IT? I DON'T KNOW.
I WAS, I HAD THE HOSPITAL TODAY, SO I DON'T DON'T KNOW WHAT MONTH IT WAS THAT WE ENDED UP IT'S APRIL.
WE'RE NOT GIVING THE TEST TILL AUGUST.
I'M PRETTY SURE WE WILL BE OKAY.
CAUSE I, 100% WANT THIS NO DIBBLES FOR THESE ELEMENTARY TEACHERS 100%, ONE DAY.
SO, YOU KNOW, UM, YEAH, WE'LL BE, IT'LL BE FINE.
SO TO PUT THIS OFF UNTIL MAY, THIS IS NOT A SPEED RACE, ESPECIALLY WHEN THE STATE MIGHT CHANGE SOMETHING AND THEN WE'VE WASTED HALF A MILLION DOLLARS, UNLESS THERE'S A KICKBACK.
I WOULD ASK THAT YOU PLEASE DEFER THIS TO ME.
UM, AND THEN ALSO I SAW SOME WISE LIGHT UP WHEN I MENTIONED LET'S HAVE A MEETING TO TALK ABOUT HOW WE'RE SPENDING THE CARER'S MONEY.
SO IF WE COULD SCHEDULE THAT AND SEND OUT AN EMAIL TO THE STAKEHOLDERS AND TEACHERS TO DO THAT, I'LL SHOW UP, I'LL BRING MY KIDS, I'LL BRING MY KIDS' TEACHERS.
LET'S GET A PLAN OF HOW WE'RE GOING TO SPEND ALL THIS MONEY TO MAKE SURE THAT SCHOOL NEXT YEAR IS SAFE.
I'M ALSO A CONSTITUENT ANY SPANISH PARISH AND ALSO WITH STEP UP LOUISIANA.
AND I DO THINK IT IS WISE TO PUSH THIS TO ME.
I MENTIONED EARLIER, COMING UP HERE, WE HAVE TO MAKE WISE DECISIONS.
AND I REALLY FEEL LIKE THIS IS A WISE DECISION.
WE NEED TO SEE WHERE THE STATE IS GOING TO GO.
MAYBE THAT COULD BE AN AID TO HELP US FIGURE THIS OUT.
BECAUSE AGAIN, WE'RE TRUSTING YOU GUYS TO BE OUR FIDUCIARY STEWARDS AND, UM, UTILIZING THIS MONEY IN THE BEST WAY POSSIBLE IN THE MOST EFFECTIVE WAY AS WELL.
AND I HONESTLY BELIEVE WE NEED TO PUSH THIS TO ME.
THIS ISN'T AN IMMEDIATE NEED OF URGENCY.
[04:35:01]
WE HAVE TIME AND, UH, WE WE'RE TRUSTING IN YOUR OWN WISDOM TO MAKE THE RIGHT DECISION.AND THIS IS A WISE DECISION TO MOVE THIS TO ME.
I THINK THAT THIS MOTION WAS A WONDERFUL MOTION BECAUSE WE REALLY, TRULY NEED TO BE FISCALLY CONSERVATIVE ABOUT OUR SPENDING.
UM, HOPEFULLY IF WE BRING THIS BACK IN MAY, CDOT CAN PROVIDE US WITH A LIST THAT ACTUALLY REFLECTS WHAT MONEY, WHAT MONEY WE WERE SEEING, WHERE THE MONEY IS ACTUALLY GOING AND HOW MUCH WE WERE ACTUALLY HAVE LEFT, BECAUSE I'VE, AS I'VE TOLD YOU BEFORE THE MOST, THE MOST, THE POPULATION THAT IS THE MOST FEDERALLY COVERED IS OUR CHILDREN WITH DISABILITIES.
AND MY DOG IS FULL OF ENERGY RIGHT NOW BECAUSE HE IS SAYING, WAIT UNTIL MEGAN, THIS ISSUE, BECAUSE WE NEED TO SPEND SOME MONEY ON OUR CHILDREN WITH DISABILITIES.
MILLS FOR TALKING ABOUT THE ACCOUNTABILITY COMMISSION AND WHAT THEY HAVE COMING DOWN THE LINE, BECAUSE THE SPECIAL EDUCATION ADVISORY PANEL IN AOD, OH, WE HAVE SOME STUFF COMING DOWN THE LINE TOO.
SO WAIT, GET YOUR PANTIES OUT OF A BUNCH AND WAIT, I THINK, I THINK SOMEBODY HAS TOLD ME ONCE BEFORE A WISE MAN WILL HOLD ON TO HIS MONEY.
CAUSE SOMETIMES SOME THINGS MIGHT GO ON SALE.
AND ALSO REMEMBER WE STILL HAVE TO PAY EVERYBODY $1,300, 1300.
SO LET'S WAIT AND LET'S COME BACK WITH THAT LEDGER.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE FRIENDLIER MOTION.
ANY OTHER COMMENTS FROM THE AUDIENCE? SEE NONE BACK TO THE BOARD, MR.
PRESIDENT TATLIN, UH, TWO ITEMS THAT I'D LIKE TO BRING UP, FIRST OF ALL, I'D LIKE TO EXTEND MY APOLOGIES TO DR.
CETO AND MR.
AND PARTICULARLY FOR YOU, MS.
AND TO HAVE ANY IMPLICATION THAT YOU WOULD BE ACCEPTING, ANY KIND OF KICK BACK IS JUST SIMPLY RIDICULOUS.
I HOPE YOU REALIZE THAT BESSIE DOES NOT HAVE A MAY BOARD MEETING THAT IS ON THEIR CALENDAR.
THERE IS NO BOARD MEETING FOR MAY, SO BESSIE CAN TAKE NO ACTION.
THERE IS NO BOARD MEETING ON THE BAY FOR THE BESSIE BOARD ITSELF, WHICH WOULD HAVE TO TAKE ACTION ON THIS.
SO THERE'S NO POSSIBILITY OF BESSIE ACTION UNTIL JUNE.
AND SO FOR THOSE REASONS, IF WE DO, IF WE DELAY THIS, WE'RE NOT GOING TO HAVE ANY MORE INFORMATION THAN MADE AND WE HAVE NOW, AND IT WOULD JUST BE KICKING THE CAN DOWN THE ROAD.
LIKE WE CONTINUE TO DO WHEN WE HAVE MA'AM, I'LL GIVE YOU THE FLOOR.
IF YOU'D LIKE TO SAY SOMETHING, YOU HAVE AN ACCOUNTABILITY, BUT THAT DOES NOT PASS THE RULES.
THE BESSIE AND TARA BLESSING PASSES.
WE DON'T, WE'RE NOT HAVING A MEAN, I'M SORRY, BUT UNTIL BESSIE PASSES, IT, IT IS NOT FINAL AND BEST.
THEY WOULD HAVE ABSOLUTELY NO OPTION TO PASS IT UNTIL JUNE.
AND THAT THEIR MEETING IS AT THE END OF JUNE, WHICH WOULD PUT US IN JULY.
SO IF WE DON'T PASS IT AND GET ON WITH IT, WE DON'T HAVE IT FOR THIS COMING YEAR.
AND TO HOW WE DO THIS, THIS IS WHERE, THIS IS WHERE WE ARE.
WE KEEP KICKING THE CAN DOWN THE ROAD.
LET'S EITHER DO IT OR LET'S SAY, WE'RE NOT GOING TO DO IT AND RECOGNIZE THAT BY NOT DOING THIS, WE'RE NOT DOING IT.
SO WE ARE NOW THE VOTE WILL OCCUR ON THE SUBSTITUTE MOTION, WHICH IS TO MOVE THE ITEM TO THE MAY FULL BOARD MEETING.
MADAME SECRETARY, PLEASE CONDUCT THE VOTE.
[04:40:05]
YEAH, THAT'S WHAT I SAID THERE.MADAM SECRETARY ONE SECOND, RESET AND GO.
WHEN YOU GET A CHANCE,
[I.10. Naming of New School at University Terrace Site]
10, UH, CONSIDERATION OF THE PROPOSED RECOMMENDATION FOR THE NAMING OF THE NEW SCHOOL TO BE LOCATED AT THE UNIVERSITY TERRORIST SITE.AND BEFORE WE TAKE A MOTION, WE'RE DOING THIS BECAUSE WE, WE NEED, UH, LANGUAGE, CORRECT, UH, COUNSELOR THAT'S CORRECT.
UM, WE WANT THIS TO RECONSIDERATION OF THE PROPOSED RECOMMENDATION FOR THE NAMING OF THE NEW SCHOOL TO BE LOCATED AT THE UNIVERSITY TERRORIST SITE AS MCKINLEY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.
THAT WAS MCKINLEY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.
DO I HAVE A MOTION MOVED BY MR.
SEEING NO QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS FROM THE BOARD.
UH, WE GO TO THE AUDIENCE ON THE NAMING OF THE NEW UNIVERSITY, UH, OF THE, OF WHAT GLEN JUST READ.
UH, THE, UH, UNIVERSITY TERRACE SITE IS MCKINLEY
A MEMBER OF THE COMMUNITY PASTOR IN THIS AREA, LIFELONG MEMBER OF THE COMMUNITY.
AND AS I SPOKE LAST WEEK, UH, THE COMMUNITY AS THE HOME, I BELIEVE THAT THIS IS, UH, OUT OF THE THREE NAMES THAT WERE LIFTED.
AND I, UM, I HOPE THAT YOU ALL WILL UNANIMOUS, UH, UNANIMOUSLY RATHER, UH, VOTE TO NAME THIS MCKINLEY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.
AND THEN AGAIN, I'D BE REMISS IF I DID NOT SAY, UH, BUT AS WE MOVE FURTHER ALONG, WE WANT TO LOOK AT REDRAWING, THOSE DISTRICT LINES.
SO THAT MCKINLEY ELEMENTARY, MCKINLEY, MIDDLE AND MCKINLEY HIGH, WE'LL ALL BE IN THE SAME, UH, SUB DISTRICT OF OUR DISTRICT.
ANY OTHER COMMENTS ON THE NAMING OF THE UT SITE AS THE MCKINLEY ELEMENTARY? GOOD EVENING, TRESTLE AUGUSTINE EMPLOYEE OF EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH AT THE UNIVERSITY TERRORIST SITE AND A ALUMNI UP, YOU CAN, UM, FIRST LET ME SAY THAT AS A PARENT OF A CHILD WHO GOES THERE CURRENTLY, WHO WAS ON THAT COMMITTEE TO NAME THAT SCHOOL YOU CAN'T IN ELEMENTARY AND THE MCKINLEY ELEMENTARY STUDENTS ALL AGREED ALONG WITH THE MEMBERS THAT SOUTH BATON ROUGE ACADEMY WAS UNANIMOUSLY VOTED ON ON ALL 10 PANEL MEMBERS.
SO I LIKE TO MAKE THAT VERY CLEAR SECOND THING, EXCUSE ME.
I AM VERY GLAD THAT THEY ARE NOT CONSIDERING A PERSON FOR THE SIMPLE FACT THAT THINGS CAN GET A LITTLE MUDDLED WHEN WE IN SCHOOLS, AFTER PEOPLE.
UM, FINALLY, AS A PERSON WHO GREW UP IN THAT AREA, THIS IS MY CONCERN.
MY MOTHER WENT TO MCKINLEY ELEMENTARY WHEN THEN SHE WENT OVER TO BUCHANAN.
THERE WAS THAT SCHOOL AT SOME POINT IN TIME.
SO NOW WE'RE LOOKING AT EITHER A CONTINUING A HISTORY THAT HAS ALREADY ENDED OR RESTARTING A HISTORY.
UM, I AM A LITTLE UNCLEAR ABOUT HOW WE WOULD DO THAT.
AND THEN, UM, FINALLY SOMEONE MENTIONED THAT THE CHILDREN FROM THAT SCHOOL WOULD BE LIKE THE WOODLAWN SYSTEM, WHERE THEY COULD FEED INTO MCKINLEY MIDDLE, AND THEN FEED INTO MCKINLEY HIGH.
ONE THIRD OF THOSE CHILDREN WOULDN'T BE REGULAR ELEMENTARY STUDENTS.
SO THEY WILL NOT BE ABLE TO FEED INTO MCKINLEY MIDDLE.
THEY WOULD ONLY BE ABLE TO FEED INTO MCKINLEY HIGH BECAUSE OF THE MAGNET AND THE GIFTED COMPONENTS THAT ARE THERE AT MCKINLEY, MIDDLE AND MCCAIN IN THE HEART.
SO FOR THOSE WHO THINK THAT THOSE CHILDREN WILL BE ABLE TO
[04:45:01]
FEED INTO THAT SCHOOL, PLEASE THINK ABOUT THE FACT THAT WHERE THEIR DISTRICT IS NOW, THEY WILL EITHER FEED IT TO STILL GLASGOW, MIDDLE, OR WESTDALE, MIDDLE DUE TO THEIR ADDRESSES.SO IF WE WANT TO COMPLETELY DO A FEED IN PROGRAM, YOU'RE GOING TO EITHER HAVE TO MAKE IT A MAGNET, WHICH IS NOT POSSIBLE OR DECREASE SOMETHING THAT MCKINLEY MIDDLE.
OTHER COMMENTS, SEEING NONE BACK TO THE BOARD MS. WHERE JACKSON, THANK YOU, PRESIDENT TEDMAN.
UM, BOTH MR. GOLDIE AND I ATTENDED THE MEETINGS AND, UH, I PARTICULARLY WALKED AROUND AND, UH, TALKED TO PEOPLE AFTER THE MEETING, UM, LISTENED INTENTLY DURING THE MEETING.
AND, UH, THERE WAS AN OVERWHELMING DESIRE TO NAME THE SCHOOL.
UM, MCKINLEY ELEMENTARY, THAT MCKINLEY AREA IS VERY UNIQUE IN THAT IT HAS TWO REPRESENTATIVES, YOU KNOW, UH, MR. GOLDIE AND I MISS TO GO TO THE PHYSICAL BUILDING AND I HAVE THE BLOOD, I'VE GOT THE PEOPLE TO PEOPLE AND, UM, MR. GOLDA AND I BOTH AGREE THAT WE ARE GOING TO LISTEN TO WHAT THE, WHAT THE PEOPLE IN THE, UH, IN THE AREA REQUESTED.
AND, UH, AND THOSE AT THE, UM, AT THE MEETING, BECAUSE WE ALL KNOW THE, UM, THE LONG HISTORY OF MCKINLEY HIGH SCHOOL, YOU KNOW, THE FIRST, UH, BLACK HIGH SCHOOL IN THE, IN THE WHOLE TERRITORY, YOU KNOW, AND, UM, OVER A HUNDRED YEARS OLD NOW, AND THERE'S SO MUCH PRIDE, SO MUCH PANTHER PRIDE IN THAT TERRITORY.
YOU WOULDN'T, YOU WOULD JUST BE AMAZED.
UM, TWO OF MY KIDS GRADUATED FROM, UM, KENLEY HIGH SCHOOL AS WELL.
SO, UH, UM, I MAY NOT HAVE GONE TO THE SCHOOL, BUT, UM, I GOT ENOUGH PANTHER.
I GOT ENOUGH PANTHER BLOOD IN ME TO, UH, TO SAY I'M VERY PROUD TO, UH, TO BE A MCKINLEY HIGH PARENT.
AND, UM, AND I'M PROUD TO, TO BE ABLE TO INTRODUCE, UM, MCKINLEY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.
SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH ON BEHALF OF THE MCKINLEY HIGH, UM, TERRITORY.
THANK YOU, MS. SQUARE JACKSON, THE BOARD IS CLEAR.
UM, MADAM SECRETARY, PLEASE, UH, CONDUCT THE VOTE.
[I.11. Consolidate and Move School Sites]
ITEM 11 CONSIDERATION FOR A REQUEST FOR THE APPROVAL OF THE FOLLOWING, A CONSOLIDATE BROOKSTOWN MIDDLE SCHOOL AND CAPITOL MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS AT THE CAPITOL MIDDLE SCHOOL SITE FOR THE 2122 SCHOOL YEAR B MOVE EBR READINESS NINE THROUGH 12 TO BROOKSTOWN MIDDLE-SCHOOL SITE FOR THE 2122 SCHOOL YEAR.DO I HAVE A MOTION MOVED BY MR. ATLANTIS SECONDED BY MR. BALLOU? ANY COMMENTS FROM THE BOARD MS. WHERE JACKSON? YES, SIR.
I WAS THE ONE THAT ASKED HER TO PULL THIS ITEM.
UM, YOU KNOW, WHEN WE FIRST TALKED ABOUT THIS AND WE LOOKED AT NUMBERS, YOU KNOW, EVERYTHING, UH, LOOKED GOOD, YOU KNOW, MADE SENSE.
YOU KNOW, UH, I WAS ASKED ABOUT MCKIM, I'M SORRY, I'M STILL ON THE KINDLING CAPITAL METAL.
UH, YOU KNOW, AS FAR AS THE CAPACITY AND WHETHER THERE WAS ROOM AND, YOU KNOW, LOOKING AT THE SITUATION WITH, UH, EBR READINESS, UM, YOU KNOW, I KNOW IT'S, IT'S, IT'S A, IT'S A SITUATION WHERE IT'S, IT'S LIKE ONE OF THOSE EMERGENCY TYPE SITUATIONS, YOU KNOW, WE'VE GOT A FULL GROWN SIZE OF PEOPLE OVER AT AN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.
AND, UM, YOU KNOW, THAT'S NOT A, NOT A GOOD PLACE FOR THEM AT ALL.
UM, WHAT I WANT TO BRING TO OUR ATTENTION IS THAT, UM, AGAIN, THE NEED FOR A PLAN THAT REALLY LOOKS AT, UH, ATTENDANCE LINES AND WHO, WHO WHO'S IN THE SCHOOLS, BECAUSE, UM, QUITE FRANKLY, IF WE MAKE THIS MOVE AND, UH, WE CONSOLIDATE, UH, BROOKSTOWN MIDDLE ALL OVER AT, UH, AT CAPITAL, UH, WE'LL BE BRINGING
[04:50:01]
IN AT LEAST NINE, MAYBE 10 DIFFERENT NEIGHBORHOODS INTO THAT SCHOOL.AND, UM, BASED ON WHAT HAPPENED WHEN WE MOVED THE BROADMORE KIDS OVER TO BROOKSTOWN, IF YOU TALK WITH THAT PRINCIPAL ABOUT THE SITUATION'S OVER THERE, THEY REALLY NEEDED A LOT OF HELP, UM, DEALING WITH THE TERRITORIAL REALISM AND, AND ALL.
SO, UM, YOU KNOW, I, I JUST, I CAN'T SUPPORT BRINGING IN, UH, YOU GOT EASY TOWN, GUS YOUNG MELROSE, EAST BROOKSTOWN AREA, MCDONALD LAND, DIXIE BROADMORE, SHERWOOD ACRES, AND GLEN OAKS ALL IN THE BUILDING OVER AT, UM, CAPITOL MIDDLE, AND WITHOUT SOME EXTRA SUPPORTS THERE, UH, THERE'S GOING TO BE SOME, SOME BIG TIME TROUBLE.
JACKSON IS THE PRINCIPAL THERE.
UM, SHE'S GOING TO NEED SOME, SOME REAL SUPPORT.
UM, AND, AND I'M NOT TALKING ABOUT HAVING TWO PRINCIPALS OVER THERE.
YOU KNOW, SHE'S GOING TO NEED A COUPLE OF DEANS AND AN AP THEY'VE ALREADY HAD, THEY HAVE RESTORATIVE PRACTICE PIECE OVER THERE RIGHT NOW, BUT, UH, DR.
NARCY, SHE IS REALLY GONNA NEED, UM, SOME EXTRA HELP.
YOU KNOW, I I'VE BEEN THERE A BUNCH OF TIMES OVER AT, UH, CAPITOLA MIDDLE, AND I KNOW, YOU KNOW, I KNOW THAT TERRITORY AND SOME OF THE THINGS THAT SHE'S HAD TO GO THROUGH JUST ON A REGULAR BASIS, YOU KNOW, SO, UM, UH, I, I REALLY, YOU KNOW, I, I JUST CAN'T, I CAN'T SUPPORT, UH, DOING THIS OVER AT, UH, CAPITOL MIDDLE, ESPECIALLY WITHOUT THE SUPPORTS THAT, THAT I KNOW IS GOING TO BE NEEDED THERE.
UM, CAUSE, UM, IT'LL BE, UH, YOU KNOW, WITH ALL THE TERRITORIALISM AND, AND, UM, THE, THE DISCIPLINE ISSUE IS GOING TO BE A REAL BIG PIECE HERE.
SO, UM, I JUST WANTED TO EXPLAIN WHY I HAVE TO VOTE NO ON THIS.
UM, AND ENCOURAGE YOU, YOU KNOW, THAT IF THIS THING PASSES, UM, THEY'RE GOING TO NEED SOME EXTRA HELP OVER THERE.
AND WE GOT TO LOOK AT THESE ATTENDANCE LINES, CAUSE THIS IS LOOKING RIDICULOUS WHEN YOU PUT IN, UH, NINE OR 10 DIFFERENT NEIGHBORHOODS, UH, ALL IN, IN ONE SCHOOL AND THESE NEIGHBORHOODS ARE FAR APART.
SO I URGE US TO GET THAT PLAN TOGETHER AND, UH, AND DECIDE WHAT WE NEED TO DO WITH, WITH, UH, WITH ALL THESE BUILDINGS THAT WE HAVE.
AND ALSO LOOKING AT THE, UH, POPULATION THERE.
I DON'T THINK WE ACCOUNTED, WE, WE TOOK IT TO ACCOUNT THAT SOME OF THOSE STUDENTS ARE GOING TO HAVE TO BE RETAINED, SO NOT ALL OF THEM ARE MOVING.
SO WE NEED TO TAKE A REAL CLOSE LOOK AT THIS AND MAKE SURE THAT, THAT SCHOOL'S NOT BURSTING OUT OF THE SCENES WHEN IT COMES TO, UH, NEXT FALL.
AND, UM, AND WE ENDED UP WITH SOME, SOME NEGATIVE NEWS.
THANK YOU, MR. JACKSON, MR. ALANNIS.
THAT'S WHAT JACKSON CAPITAL'S IN YOUR DISTRICT, CORRECT.
SO I'LL GIVE A GREAT DEAL OF RESPECT TO EVERYTHING THAT YOU JUST SAID ON IT.
I JUST WANT US TO REMEMBER THOUGH, THE REASON WHY WE GET INTO THIS WORK AND THE MESSAGE THAT IT SENDS OUT STUDENTS.
WHEN WE TELL THEM THAT THEY CAN'T WORK TOGETHER BECAUSE THEY COME FROM DIFFERENT NEIGHBORHOODS AND THAT'S NOT TO KNOCK ANYTHING THAT YOU JUST SAID, MS. JACKSON, BUT THAT'S A REAL THING.
AND WE TALKING ABOUT A COMMUNITY INCLUSION.
WE TALK TALKING ABOUT OUR STUDENTS, WORKING WITH EACH OTHER, CHANGING THE OUTLOOK AND TRAJECTORY OF OUR CITY.
THAT'S HOW WE BEGIN TO DO IT IS ABOUT ADDRESSING WHAT WE HAVE A PROBLEM AND START PUTTING THE PIECES THERE TO MAKE IT A DNI.
IF THIS DOES HAPPEN, WE HAVE TO INFUSE THIS SCHOOL WITH THE RESOURCES THAT THEY NEED TO MOVE THEM FORWARD.
BECAUSE CLEARLY WE SEEN WHAT HAS HAPPENED WHEN THOSE SCHOOLS ARE SEPARATE AND APART.
SO I ALSO DO GREATLY THINK ABOUT WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN WHEN THEY DO MERGE AND BECOME ONE INSIDE OF THE SAME BUILDING.
WE SEE THE SAME THING HAPPENED IN THAT CLAYBORNE, UH, WHEN WE CLOSED EMERGED OR HOW A PARK.
SO I WANT TO SEE A MUCH CLEANER, MUCH SAFER TRANSITION.
THANK YOU, MR. LANDIS, MS. DYSON.
SO WE'RE SUPPOSED TO BE GETTING OUR REPORT.
THAT'S GONNA INCLUDE, UM, THE, UH, INFORMATION FROM THE DEMOGRAPHIC STUDY AND THE FACILITIES AND, UM, TAKE INTO ACCOUNT ARCHER'S TRANSITION REPORT AND ALL OF THAT.
AND SO I THINK THAT, UH, WE WOULD BEST
[04:55:01]
WAIT UNTIL WE GET THAT REPORT IN JUNE TO START TALKING ABOUT SCHOOL CONSOLIDATIONS, BECAUSE IT MIGHT NOT BE, UM, YOU KNOW, MAY BE THAT THE WRONG PEOPLE, STUDENTS ARE ZONED TO THE WRONG SCHOOLS.AND I FELT LIKE WE JUST NEED THE WHOLE, ALL OF THE INFORMATION BEFORE WE MAKE A DECISION SUCH AS THIS, BECAUSE WE'RE, WE'RE CONTINUING.
IF WE DO THIS, WE'RE CONTINUING DOWN THE PIECEMEAL PATH OF NOT HAVING ALL OF THE INFORMATION AND DEVISING A MASTER PLAN AND YOU KNOW, VERY THOUGHTFULLY WITH OUR STRATEGIC PLAN.
SO, UM, I WOULD LIKE TO SEE US, UM, OKAY.
I WOULD MAKE A MOTION TO, UH, I'D LIKE TO MAKE A SUBSTITUTE MOTION TO, UM, DELAY THIS UNTIL WE HAVE THE INFORMATION THAT WE ARE WAITING ON.
YOU WANT A SECOND TIME? SO WE HAVE A SUBSTITUTE MOTION.
SO WE USUALLY DO DATE CERTAIN MS.
SO, SO I DON'T HAVE A JEAN DAY IN AND CERTAIN, BECAUSE I DON'T KNOW WHAT, I DON'T THINK WE GOT THE JUNE DATE THAT THE OTHER INFORMATION WAS COMING.
UM, BUT I, I WOULD LIKE TO SAY THAT I'D LIKE IT AT THE SOONEST AVAILABLE ONCE WE CAN THOUGHTFULLY LOOK THROUGH ALL OF THE REPORTS THAT ARE DUE IN JUNE TO US.
SO, SO I DON'T KNOW HOW TO SAY THE TINKLER DAY POINT OF ORDER.
YOU DO NOT, IF YOU DON'T, I DIDN'T RECOGNIZE YOUR ORDER YET.
UM, I'M SORRY, MS. BERNARD, WHAT'D YOU SAY? OKAY, GO AHEAD.
SO TELL ME YOUR I'M SORRY, MS. DYSON, TELL ME, TELL ME WHAT YOUR SUBSTITUTE MOTION IS.
MY SUBSTITUTE MOTION IS TO WAIT UNTIL WE HAVE THE REPORTS WITH, FOR THE FACILITY PLAN.
THAT INCLUDES THOUGHTFULNESS WITH THE DEMOGRAPHIC STUDY AND ALL OF THE PIECES THAT ARE GOING TO BE GOING INTO THAT.
AND, UM, THAT I'D LIKE TO WAIT UNTIL WE HAVE THE ABILITY TO MAKE A COMPLETE MASTER PLAN.
AND WE'RE, WE'RE KNOWING WHY WE'RE DOING EACH MOVE THAT WE'RE MAKING.
AND SO I DON'T HAVE A DEFINITE DATE, A SPECIFIC DATE, BUT WE HAVE TO WAIT IN MY OPINION UNTIL AFTER WE RECEIVE AND CAN DIGEST THE REPORT IN JUNE.
SO MY, UH, MY ABILITY TO DIGEST THAT REPORT MIGHT BE DIFFERENT THAN ANOTHER BOARD MEMBER'S ABILITY TO DIGEST THAT REPORT.
AND SO I'M JUST TRYING TO GET IT RIGHT.
AND THAT'S ALL I'M TRYING TO DO IS GET IT RIGHT.
SO, I MEAN, DO WE WANT TO SAY TO THE NEXT BOARD MEETING, AFTER WE RECEIVED THE REPORT OR, YOU KNOW, TAB, IF YOU WANT IT TO BE NEBULOUS, I'M HAPPY FOR IT TO BE NEBULOUS.
I WOULD MAKE JUST, I MAKE A SUGGESTION, MAYBE A MOTION TO DELAY THIS TO A DATE, NOT CERTAIN.
AND THEN WE KNOW WHEN WE'RE READY AND WE'VE GOTTEN TIME TO DIGEST ALL OF THE INFORMATION YOU HAVE, THE MOTION YOU FEEL LIKE YOU GOT IT.
CAN YOU HEAR ME A MOTION TO DELAY THE CONSOLIDATION OF BROOKSTOWN MIDDLE SCHOOL AND CAPITOLA MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS AT THE CAPITOL MIDDLE SCHOOL SITE FOR THE 21 2021, 2022 SCHOOL YEAR, AND TO MOVE EBR READINESS TO THE BROOKSTOWN MIDDLE SCHOOL SITE FOR THE 2021, 2022 SCHOOL YEAR TO A DATE.
NOT CERTAIN WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND, MR. LANDIS.
UH, SO THIS IS GOOD DIALOGUE AROUND THIS TOPIC FIRST AND FOREMOST, BUT THIS WOULD BE MY QUESTION.
IF WE MOVE THIS TO JUNE, WHAT DOES THAT PUT US INSIDE OF THIS PROCESS? BECAUSE WE HAVE TO THINK ABOUT SEVERAL THINGS.
IF WE DID IT IN JUNE, WE WON'T BEAR TO VOTE ON UNTIL THE REGULAR BOARD MEETING AND WE WOULD STILL HAVE TO NOTIFY THOSE, THE SCHOOL AND THE FAMILY.
SO I'M THINKING ABOUT THE PROCESS OF, OKAY, LET'S SAY
[05:00:01]
THAT WE VOTED TO MOVE THEM.I THINK THAT'S TOO LATE IN THE PROCESS FOR THEM TO FIGURE OUT WHAT SCHOOL THEY'RE GOING TO GO TO ONE MONTH BEFORE SCHOOL STARTS BACK.
UH, ANOTHER THING THAT WE NEED TO THINK ABOUT IS SWING SPACE.
WE HAVE SEVERAL SCHOOLS THAT WE THINK WE HAVE TO GET READY TO BUILD OUT.
AND WE SAID DURING THIS PROCESS, WHEN WE VOTED ON THIS LAST TIME, THAT THAT WAS NOT ENOUGH SWING SPACE AVAILABLE AT THIS TIME, THERE ARE SEVERAL GROUNDBREAKINGS THAT WE HAVE TO DO AROUND THE DISTRICT.
SO THEN WHAT WOULD WE PUT THESE, THE STUDENTS THAT ARE ALREADY AT EBR READINESS AT BANKS, THE BANKS ELEMENTARY NOW, BECAUSE WHAT I DO KNOW IS THEY CAN'T STAY INSIDE OF THAT BUILDING, NOT DEPLORABLE SHAPE.
SO WE HAVE TO FIGURE OUT TIMELINESS.
AND WHAT DO WE PUT THOSE EBR READINESS STUDENTS? I KNOW SOME SERIOUS THINGS WE HAVE TO THINK ABOUT THAT.
THANK YOU, PRESIDENT ATTACHMENT.
UH, MR. LANA SAID SOME OF THE SAME THINGS I WAS GOING TO SAY, UH, AGAIN, UH, TIMING WISE IS KICKING THE CAN DOWN THE ROAD.
UH, IF WE DON'T PASS THIS TONIGHT, THEN WE'VE GOT TO FIGURE OUT WHAT DO WE DO WITH THE FOLKS AT EBR READINESS? BECAUSE AGAIN, THEY CAN'T STAY WHERE THEY ARE AND WE CAN'T DECIDE TO MOVE THEM WITH A BOAT IN LATE JUNE OR JULY.
UH, BECAUSE WE JUST HEARD ALL THE PARENTS COMPLAINING ABOUT US CHANGING, UH, THINGS ON THEM AT THE LAST MINUTE AND SO ON AND SO ON AND SO ON.
UH, SO I, I DON'T KNOW IF I'M BEFORE THIS OR AGAINST THIS, BUT I HAVE TO SAY THAT WE'VE GOT TO DECIDE ONE WAY OR THE OTHER, BECAUSE WE NEED TO GET FOLKS PARTICULARLY THE EBR READINESS.
THEY, IF WE'RE NOT GOING TO DO THIS, THEY GOT TO COME UP WITH A PLAN B AND BE WORKING ON THE PLAN B.
SO I AM AGAINST THE MOTION TO DEFER.
WE SHOULD EITHER VOTE IT UP OR VOTED DOWN, UH, AND THEN LET'S GO WITH IT.
WE CANNOT KEEP KICKING THE CAN DOWN THE ROAD BECAUSE THESE PEOPLE NEED TO KNOW WHERE ARE THEY GOING TO BE AT SCHOOL? AND IF THEY KNOCK VBR, READINESS IS NOT GOING TO BE THERE.
WE HAVE TO HAVE OUR STAFF GO FIGURE OUT WHERE THEY NEED TO BE.
AND I'M NOT SAYING I'M A VOTE ON THE FINAL MOTION, CAUSE I HAVEN'T DECIDED YET, BUT WE NEED TO VOTE.
AND, AND I, I UNDERSTAND THE SENTIMENT, UH, BEHIND, UH, MS. DYSON'S MOTION.
UH, IT'D BE IDEAL TO BE ABLE TO, IF WE'RE GOING TO CHANGE AN ATTENDANCE LINE THAT WE'RE GOING TO DO EVERYTHING AT ONE TIME, BUT, UM, THAT IS A LONG PROCESS.
UM, AND RIGHT NOW WE'VE GOT A LOT OF, A LOT OF STUDENTS, A LOT OF FAMILIES WAITING TO FIND OUT WHERE THEY'RE GOING TO BE GOING TO SCHOOL.
AND I JUST DON'T, UH, UM, I DON'T THINK JUST GETTING ONE PIECE IN A FEW MONTHS IS GOING TO SOLVE ANYTHING.
AND I THINK, UH, UH, WE NEED TO, TO VOTE ON IT TODAY AND LET THOSE, THOSE FAMILIES KNOW WHERE THEY'RE GOING TO BE GOING TO SCHOOL.
AND, UM, ALSO I, I, WHO IS THIS GUY OVER HERE, UH, WITH ALL THESE GREAT POINTS, UH, CALL CALM, RESERVED, UH, INSPIRING MAN.
HE'S WHAT, WHAT HAPPENED, BUT I AGREE WITH EVERYTHING YOU SAID AND, UH, AND, UH, UM, I'M JUST, UH, I'M JUST IMPRESSED WITH DERRIUS TODAY.
HE'S, HE'S MADE A LOT OF GOOD POINTS TONIGHT BY DINNER.
UH, UH, THANK YOU, MR. BALLOU.
UH, MR. HOWARD, THANK YOU, PRESIDENT TAT MAN.
AND YEAH, I JUST WANTED TO SAY THE SAME THING, UH, AS MY COLLEAGUES, AS IT RELATES TO THE TIMING OF IT, THIS CONVERSATION IS NOT NEW.
THIS CONVERSATION BEGAN WHEN MR. SMITH WAS THE SUPER INTERIM SUPERINTENDENT.
WE HAD SEVERAL OPPORTUNITIES TO FIGURE OUT ALL OF THE THINGS THAT FOLKS ARE TALKING ABOUT TONIGHT.
SO EVEN IF YOU DON'T SUPPORT IT, I JUST WISH THAT WE JUST GO AHEAD AND VOTE AGAINST IT AND, AND DECIDE WHAT'S THE NEXT PLAN.
BUT WE'VE HAD THIS CONVERSATION SEVERAL TIMES BECAUSE THE PURPOSE THAT THIS WHOLE CONVERSATION CAME ABOUT BECAUSE OF WHAT WAS HAPPENING AT EPR READINESS.
AND SO WE HAD OPPORTUNITIES TO, TO BRING IDEAS, TO BRING SOLUTIONS OR RESOLUTION.
SO IF YOU DON'T WANT, IF YOU DON'T WANT TO VOTE FOR IT, JUST VOTE AGAINST IT SO THAT WE CAN FIGURE OUT WHAT TO DO NEXT.
THANK YOU, MR. HOWARD, THE BOARD IS CLEAR.
WE NOW GO TO THE AUDIENCE ON THE SUBSTITUTE MOTION.
I'M STYLISH AND I DIDN'T, YOU WEREN'T OUT.
MR. PRESIDENT, UM, WHAT WAS, I JUST WANT TO SOMEONE TO REFRESH MY MEMORY.
SO THE INITIAL PLAN WAS THAT MR. MONSON HAD, HAD GOTTEN A FACILITY READY? WAS IT GLEN OAKS? THE ORIGINAL GLENOAKS MIDDLE CAMPUS?
[05:05:05]
YES, MA'AM GOOD EVENING.WHEN ALL THIS STARTED ORIGINALLY, THERE WAS AN OPTION TO LOOK AT A PIECE OF LINUX CAMPUS, NOT THE FULL CAMPUS.
AND SO THERE WERE, THERE WERE PROS, THERE ARE PARTS OF THAT CAMPUS.
THERE WEREN'T BETTER SHAPE, BUT IT WAS NOT CONDUCIVE THE WHOLE CAMPUS.
THERE STILL NEEDED TO BE SOME RENEGE REMEDIAL ISSUES.
AND WE HAD TO ALSO SPEND A LOT OF MONEY TO BRING THAT SITE UP TO PAR.
UM, SO AGAIN, THIS MOVE WOULD, WOULD BE LESS OVERALL SPINNING BECAUSE BOTH SITES ARE IN GOOD SHAPE.
YOU'RE MOVING STUDENTS INTO TWO GOOD FACILITIES, AND WE DON'T HAVE ANY PLANS ON WHAT WE'RE DOING WITH THE GLENOAKS MIDDLE SITE THAT HAS BEEN RENT, PARTIALLY RENOVATED IT.
MR. AS SOON AS HIS TEAM HAD DONE REMEDIAL WORK THERE, AND IT CAN INCLUDE MORE WORK IN THE FUTURE, IT CAN BECOME A SWING SPACE, CAUSE WE'RE GOING TO NEED THAT IN THE FUTURE.
SO AS WE GET CLOSER TO THOSE DATES AND TIMES WHERE WE MAY NEED SOME SWING SPACE, IT COULD SERVE AS THAT CAMPUS, BUT WE'LL HAVE A MUCH LONGER RAMP TO PREPARE THAT SITE FOR THAT.
UM, THAT'S THE AREA OF TOWN WE'RE GOING TO NEED THE SWING SPACE IN.
SOMETIMES YOU NEED SWING SPACE WHEREVER YOU CAN GET IT.
WE ARE GOING TO THE AUDIENCE ON ITEM NUMBER 11, EXCEPT TO KEEP MOTION.
WE'RE, WE'RE DISCUSSING THIS SUBJECT MATTER.
SO I THINK WE GO TO THE AUDIENCE FOR BOTH MOTIONS.
I MEAN, WE DON'T GO BACK IN BETWEEN MOTIONS.
SO WHETHER YOU WANT TO SPEAK FOR THE SUBSTITUTE OR THE MAIN, THIS IS YOUR OPPORTUNITY.
I AM IN DISAGREEMENT WITH THE MERGING OF BROOKSTOWN METAL AND CAPITOL METAL.
I SPOKE WHEN DRAKE WAS HERE IN REGARDS TO EBR READINESS THAT PACE, THIS BOARD PARTICULARLY PAY, BUT THE AGENDA ITEMS STATING THAT WE WOULD CREATE NOT ONE BUT TWO ALTERNATIVE SCHOOLS, ONE ON EACH SIDE OF THE PARISH EG BECAUSE OF GANGS.
SO NOW YOU WANT TO LOOK ME IN MY FACE AND TELL ME THAT IT WAS OKAY FOR US TO PASS THAT.
AND NOW WE'RE GOING TO MERGE TWO SCHOOLS THAT MISS EVELYN, WHERE JACKSON JUST TOOK OUT THE TIME AND NAMED AREAS THAT DO NOT WORK.
THEY HAD ARLINGTON PREP REMOVED FROM HIS DISTRICT AND SENT OVER TO MS. COLLINS.
HE AIN'T DOING THAT FOR SOUTH DOWNS AND THEY IN A DISK IN A DILAPIDATED BUILDING, BUT YET YOU WANT TO TAKE THE CHILDREN THAT YOU CLAIM.
YOU LOVE, THAT YOU CARE ABOUT, THAT YOU REALLY TRULY WANT TO MAKE THE BEST.
OH, YOU WANT THEM TO GO IN A BUILDING IN AN AREA THAT YOU KNOW IS DETRIMENTAL TO THEM? TELL ME WHAT, HOW THAT IS SOCIALLY.
EMOTIONALLY HELP TELL I WILL GLADLY WAIT.
GLEN OAKS WOULD NEVER MERGE WITH SCOTLAND VIA IT WOULD NEVER EMERGE WITH CAPITAL AND WOULD NEVER MERGE WITH A STROMA.
YOU WOULD NEVER MERGE WITH ANY SCHOOL IN THIS DISTRICT.
MR. HOWARD WOULD KNOW THE SAME THING.
JUST LIKE EVERY BOARD MEMBER UP THERE.
WHAT I WOULD DO SIT THERE AND WANT TO MAKE THAT SUGGESTION.
AND HAVE WE EVER LOOKED AT THE IMPACT THAT THIS WOULD HAVE ON THE OWNER'S BATTLE? I'M GOING TO SAY, WHERE ARE THEY SUPPOSED TO GO? WHERE ARE THEY SUPPOSED TO GO? TAMMY CDOT, WHERE ARE THEY GOING TO GO? WHERE ARE THEY GOING TO WORK? I DON'T WANT IT FROM NOBODY ELSE.
OTHER THAN THE PERSON THAT'S SUPPOSED TO BE ON LEAVE BECAUSE I WOULD LEAD A DON'T KNOW THE ARROGANT IN ORDER FOR HIM TO LEAVE.
I THINK WE SHOULD ENTERTAIN MS. DADS MOTION.
OH, FRIENDLY MOTION TO GET US THAT INFORMATION.
LIKE IT WAS REQUESTED THAT THE COW THAT HAD US HERE AT TWO IN THE MORNING TO DISCUSS THIS ITEM, PROVIDE THAT INFORMATION WITH THE AMPAGE AND BRING THE PEOPLE THAT WILL BE IMPACTED AND AFFECTED BY BRINGING THEM IN ON LET THEIR VOICES BE HEARD.
AND THAT'S WHEN YOU CAN MAKE A DECISION.
IF YOU WANT TO LEAVE, YOU LEAVE BY LISTENING.
YOU DON'T MAKE ASININE DECISIONS WITHOUT GETTING PEOPLE'S IMPACT OR INFORMATION.
[05:10:10]
GOOD EVENING EVERYONE.UM, I'VE HEARD THAT THIS ADMINISTRATION LACKS DATA-DRIVEN DECISIONS.
SO I HAVE SOME DATA FOR YOU AS OF A FEW DAYS AGO, THE 45 STUDENTS THAT WERE AT THE BANK'S LOCATION WERE FROM SEVEN OH 700 FOR ONE STUDENT.
SEVEN OH SEVEN NINE ONE ONE STUDENT FIVE STUDENTS FROM SEVEN OH EIGHT OH TWO SIX FROM SEVEN OH FIVE, TWO FROM SEVEN OH EIGHT OH SIX THREE FROM SEVEN OH SEVEN.
ONE FROM SEVEN OH EIGHT OH EIGHT THREE FROM SEVEN OH EIGHT ONE ZERO FOUR FROM SEVEN OH EIGHT 11 FOUR FROM SEVEN OH EIGHT 12 ONE FROM SEVEN TO EIGHT, ONE FOUR, FOUR FROM SEVEN OH EIGHT ONE FIVE FOUR FROM SEVEN AND EIGHT, ONE SIX THREE FROM SEVEN OH EIGHT ONE SEVEN ONE FROM SEVEN OH EIGHT, ONE EIGHT AND TWO FROM SEVEN OH EIGHT TO ZERO.
SO THAT ACCOUNTS FOR THE 45 STUDENTS, DO YOU WANT TO DISPLACE 300 MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS FOR 45 STUDENTS WHO DID SOMETHING TO GET THEMSELVES SUSPENDED OR EXPELLED.
AND YOU'RE GOING TO KICK 300 STUDENTS OUT OF THEIR SCHOOL IN LATE APRIL, BY THE WAY, THE BEACH WITH CAMPUS HOUSES, 45 STUDENTS.
AS OF EARLIER THIS WEEK, THE GREENVILLE CAMPUSES HOW'S THIS 34, THE EATON PARK CAMPUS HAS A ZERO.
AS, AS I KNOW THE, UM, THE OLD SOUTH BOULEVARD HOUSES, ZERO, AS FAR AS I KNOW, GLENOAKS MIDDLE SCHOOL HAS A ZERO.
SO I DON'T SEE ANY REASONABLE WAY THAT YOU CAN JUSTIFY KICKING 300 PERFECTLY INNOCENT KIDS OUT OF THEIR MIDDLE SCHOOL, JAMMING THEM INTO ANOTHER SCHOOL AND GOING FROM NICE TO NICE ROOMY SCHOOLS TO ONE PRETTY CROWDED SCHOOL, WHERE THEY'RE SUDDENLY GOING TO BE EXCUSES, NOT TO BE ABLE TO PROVIDE ALL THE SERVICES THAT ARE LEGALLY REQUIRED FOR THOSE STUDENTS.
AND WHEN MR HAS PERSUADED YOU NOT TO MOVE THE KIDS FROM BANKS, YOU KNOW, WHOEVER IT IS THAT WEEK OR MONTH TO GLEN OAKS, I'M PRETTY SURE I HEARD THE ADMINISTRATION SAY THEY WERE GOING TO COME BACK WITH A COMPREHENSIVE PROPOSAL, NOT A LET'S KICK 300 FOR MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS OUT, NOT WEARING THEM.
SO THEY COULDN'T GET A WHOLE BUNCH OF PEOPLE HERE TO ARGUE ABOUT IT, HOPE THAT PASSES BEFORE ANYBODY REALLY PAYS ANY ATTENTION TO WHAT'S GOING ON.
AND OH, BY THE WAY, WE STILL DIDN'T HAVE A CLUE WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO TO REDUCE THE NUMBER OF SUSPENSIONS OR EXPULSIONS OR GET THOSE PEOPLE BACK ON THE RIGHT PATH.
SO, YOU KNOW, YOU HIRED SOMEBODY THAT'S NOT QUALIFIED FOR THE JOB, SO BE IT.
BUT AT SOME POINT YOU HAVE TO HAVE SOME STANDARDS AND YOU HAVE TO MAKE HIM DO HIS JOB OR FIND SOMEBODY THAT CAN DO IT.
THERE IS NOTHING THAT JUSTIFIES THIS MOVE, NOTHING I LISTED WHAT FIVE CAMPUSES THAT WOULD BE BETTER SPOTS TO PUT THEM.
I DIDN'T EVEN LIST THE RED OAKS ELEMENTARY WHERE YOU'VE GOT ANOTHER POPULATION.
FANNY, ANY OTHER COMMENTS FROM THE AUDIENCE
SO, UM, I'M GOING TO SAY THIS AND NOT IN FAVOR OF THE MERGER.
I'M VERY CONCERNED ABOUT, UM, THE, UH, THE TEACHER FOR PUPIL RATIO, UM, THAT IS, UH, OF THE GRAVE CONCERN TO ME, UH, BASICALLY TAKING STUDENTS, UPROOTING THEM FROM, UH, A COMMUNITY AND A CULTURE THAT THEY'VE GROWN ACCUSTOMED TO, TO PLACE THEM SOMEWHERE ELSE IN A NEW LOCATION, NEW EVERYTHING.
I'VE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY, UNFORTUNATELY, TO EXPERIENCE SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
UH, WHEN I WAS AN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL TEACHER AND, UH, COMPLETELY IN PUPPY, THE STUDENTS THAT ARE TAUGHT IN A NEGATIVE WAY, BUT THE LAWS WERE FOREVER CHANGED AND IT TOOK A VERY LONG TIME TO GET THEM ON THE RIGHT TRACK AND COMFORTABLE ENOUGH TO BE IN THE SETTING THAT THEY WILLING TO MOVE FORWARD.
I DO AGREE WITH MR. GO THERE, MR. LANDIS, WHATEVER DECISION IS MADE AND NEEDS TO BE MADE TONIGHT, THAT IT IS MY HOPE THAT IT IS, OH, NOT SUBMERGED.
UM, BUT WHATEVER YOU ALL DECIDE, I'M PRETTY SURE YOU GOT TO
[05:15:01]
PRETTY MUCH DO THEM ANYWAY, REGARDLESS OF WHAT THE PUBLIC SAYS.I, WASN'T GOING TO TALK ON THIS OPTION, BUT, UH, I HAVE TO RESPOND TO SOMETHING SOMEBODY ELSE SAID, UM, OUR ALTERNATIVE STUDENTS NEED A SAFE PLACE AS WELL.
THEY NEED A CLEAN SCHOOL AS WELL.
THEY NEED A DECENT SCHOOL AS WELL.
THEY MAY HAVE MADE BAD DECISIONS.
THEY MAY HAVE GOTTEN PUT OUT OF SCHOOL FOR WHATEVER REASON THEY MAY HAVE, UM, GOTTEN IT PUT INTO THAT SITUATION.
UM, BUT THEY NEED A SAFE PLACE AS WELL WITH CARING, LOVING TEACHERS AND ALTERNATIVE TEACHERS ARE SOME OF THE MOST DEDICATED, UM, TEACHERS THAT I HAVE EVER MET.
UM, AND SO, YOU KNOW, I DO WANT THEM TO HAVE A GOOD SCHOOL TO BE ABLE TO GO INTO BECAUSE THE SITUATION THEY ARE CURRENTLY AND IS ABSOLUTELY PHENOMENALLY UNACCEPTABLE.
UM, I DO UNDERSTAND OTHER PEOPLE'S, UM, WEARINESS OF COMBINING THE TWO SCHOOLS.
AND, UM, I WAS GETTING TEXT MESSAGES AS A BOARD MEMBER, UM, WHERE JACKSON WAS SPEAKING, UM, FROM TEACHERS IN THAT DISTRICT, UM, GO GREEN WITH HER 100%.
UH, I KNOW WE DON'T HAVE A LOT OF SWING SPACE.
I KNOW WE'VE GONE BACK AND FORTH ON, ON WHAT TO DO.
AND SO IS A LAST LITTLE BIT KURANDA SAID, PUT HIM AT GLEN OUTSIDE.
ANY OTHER COMMENTS FROM THE AUDIENCE, SEEING NONE BACK TO THE BOARD I'M UP? UM, I AGREE.
I CAN KEEP UP WITH WHO I AGREE WITH, BUT WHOEVER SAID THAT WE NEED TO MAKE A DECISION TONIGHT.
I AGREE WITH Y'ALL AND IT'S NOT THAT I'M, YOU KNOW, I THINK WE NEED TO MAKE A DECISION BECAUSE I THINK WE'RE GETTING SHORT ON TIME.
I THINK WE GOT TO LET PARENTS KNOW WHEN, WHERE THEY'RE GOING TO BE GOING TO SCHOOL.
AND SO I'M, I'M NOT FOR, I'M NOT POOR PUTTING IT OFF.
I, I, I THINK WE GOT TO MAKE A DECISION AND, AND THEN GO WITH IT, WHATEVER THAT'S GOING TO BE SO THAT PARENTS CAN PLAN.
AND SO THAT, THAT IS THE ONLY REASON I, UM, WILL VOTE AGAINST THE SUBSTITUTE MOTION.
I'M I'M I GUESS, LIKE, I DON'T KNOW WHO I'M LIKE, MAYBE YOU MR. GAUDETTE.
I DON'T KNOW, MAYBE YOU MR. HOWARD, BUT I DON'T KNOW HOW I'M GOING TO VOTE ON IT, BUT I DEFINITELY THINK WE NEED TO MAKE A DECISION AND THEN TURN STAFF LOOSE ON WHATEVER'S GOING TO HAPPEN.
AND SO, UH, THERE WAS A MY COMMENTS, MR. GAUDETTE.
YEAH, I JUST THANK YOU PRESIDENT OF TAB.
AND I JUST WANTED TO MAKE ONE QUICK COMMENT BECAUSE SOME ILLUSION WAS MADE IN THE PUBLIC COMMENTS ABOUT ARLINGTON.
UH, I JUST WANT TO BE VERY CLEAR ARLINGTON HAD TO MOVE BECAUSE THAT BUILDING WAS FALLING APART AND IT WAS SO FAR OUT OF ADA COMPLIANCE.
IT WASN'T EVEN IN THE, IN THE ALPHABET.
UH, AND SO SOMETHING ABSOLUTELY HAD TO BE DONE TO THAT BUILDING AND THAT'S WHY IT WAS MOVED.
AND I REALLY APPRECIATE BOARD MEMBER COLLINS BEING ABLE TO TAKE THAT SCHOOL TO MOVE IN HER AREA.
AND I THINK FROM WHERE, WHAT I'VE SEEN IN VISITING THE SCHOOL, IT'S DOING VERY WELL, WHERE IT IS WITH A GOOD FACILITY.
UM, SO I DON'T WANT TO CAST ANY ASPERSIONS ON THE STUDENTS THAT ATTEND ARLINGTON BECAUSE THEY NEEDED TO BE MOVED BECAUSE THAT BUILDING WAS FALLING APART.
AND THEY WERE A HIGH SCHOOL COMPARED TO SOUTH DOWNS, BEING A MUCH LOWER LEVEL OF STUDENTS, UH, IN THERE.
UM, I'M LIKE MR. TATLIN, PRESIDENT TAPPIN.
I'M NOT SURE EXACTLY HOW I'M GOING TO VOTE ON THIS, BUT, UH, YOU KNOW, THIS IS SOMETHING, UH, THAT PREDATES DR.
THIS IS NOT, UH, YES, HE SIGNED THE LETTER, BUT THIS IS A RECOMMENDATION COMING FROM STAFF.
THIS HAS BEEN AN ISSUE THAT'S BEEN FLOATING AROUND SINCE MR. DRAKE WAS HERE.
SO THIS IS NOT A SUPERINTENDENT ISSUE.
THIS IS AN ISSUE OF WHAT DO WE HAVE AND WHAT'S THE BEST WAY TO DO IT.
AND HOW SHOULD THE STAFF ADDRESS IT? I'M NOT A HUNDRED PERCENT CONVINCED THAT THIS IS THE BEST WAY TO ADDRESS IT.
SO I I'M STILL MULLING THAT OVER, BUT PLEASE, YOU KNOW, UH, IN THREE MONTHS, DR.
BARCC HAS NOT TURNED OVER EVERY BARREL.
[05:20:01]
HAVE TO START, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE WERE SAYING THINGS ABOUT MS.AND WE GOT TO DECIDE IF WE WANT TO GO WITH THIS OR NOT.
AND IF NOT, THEN THE STAFF'S GONNA HAVE TO GO BACK AND COME UP WITH ANOTHER PLAN.
SO THANK YOU, PRESIDENT DAMRON.
AND I JUST WANTED TO JUST ECHO THAT SENTIMENT, THAT THIS DECISION WAS NOT MADE BY ANYONE ON THIS BOARD.
THIS DECISION WAS MADE MONTHS AGO.
THE ANNOUNCEMENT JUST DIDN'T COME OUT UNTIL NOW.
UH, ALSO WHEN HE'S TALKING ABOUT STUDENTS AND MOVEMENT, I JUST WANT TO REMIND FOLKS THAT ONE OF THE MOST HIGH SCHOOLS SHUT DOWN IN 2016 HALF OF THOSE STUDENTS WENT TO SCOTLAND VIEW, DECIDED SCHOOLS.
WE SAID THEY COULDN'T WORK WITH EACH OTHER.
IN FACT, THOSE STUDENTS LOVE THAT SCHOOL SO MUCH.
THEY DIDN'T COME BACK, WHICH IS WHY MY SCHOOL IS STILL UNDER ENROLLED.
JUST WANTED TO POINT THAT OUT.
I ALSO HAVE SEVERAL STUDENTS FROM GREEN OAKS DID ATTEND SCHOLAR VIEW BALLET OF STROMA, AND IT'S VICE VERSA STUDENTS FROM A STROMA AREA AT THREE OH FIVE, THEY ATTEND OTHER OTHER SCHOOLS AND OTHER AREAS ALSO.
AND I'LL GIVE YOU AN, UH, A QUICK SYNOPSIS OF WHO WAS DOING THIS AT A GREAT RATE MENTORSHIP AT MADISON PREP.
THEY GET STUDENTS FROM EVERY SINGLE ZIP CODE ALL ACROSS OUR CITY AND PARISH, AND THEY DO A VERY GOOD JOB WORKING WITH THOSE STUDENTS, GETTING THEM TO WORK TOGETHER, BUILDING A SCHOOL COMMUNITY THAT IS BENEFICIAL FOR THEM AND THEIR FAMILIES.
AND I JUST WANT TO SPEAK TO SOMETHING MR. FEENEY SAID, BECAUSE HE SAID THAT WE NEED TO DO SOMETHING TO REDUCE SUSPENSIONS AND EXPULSIONS.
I THINK THE BEST WAY WE DO THAT IS DOING THE ZERO TOLERANCE POLICY.
THANK YOU, MR. LANDIS, MS. VICE PRESIDENT COLLINS, JUST ONE, UH, SOME OF THIS WAS MENTIONED LAST MEETING, BUT AS A REFRESHER, THE CAPACITY THAT WILL BE AT THE CAPITOL METAL AFTER THE SCHOOLS CONSOLIDATE, CAN I GET THAT NUMBER?
THE CAPACITY IS PROJECTED TO BE AROUND 85 TO 90%.
UM, AND AGAIN, REMEMBER, YOU'RE ROLLING STUDENTS FORWARD.
SO IT'S ONLY REALLY THE SIXTH AND SEVENTH GRADERS OF BROOKSTOWN GOING TO CAPITOL.
THE INCOMING SIXTH GRADERS WOULD NEVER HAVE BEEN ON THE BROOKSTOWN CAMPUS.
SO IT'LL BE, YOU KNOW, THAT'LL BE A NEW SCHOOL FOR THEM AS WELL.
AND THE STUDENTS AT BROOKSTOWN AND CAPITAL, WHERE DO THEY MATRICULATE TO HIGH SCHOOL, BOTH SCHOOLS CURRENTLY GO AND, AND GO INTO A STREAM OF HIGH SCHOOL.
SO THEY ALL ATTEND THE SAME HIGH SCHOOL UNLESS I GO OUTSIDE FOR PROGRAMMING.
THIS MERGED ATTENDANCE ZONE WILL MATCH THE HISTORY OF MY HIGH SCHOOL ATTENDANCE ZONE.
SO THEN, SO THEN THE CONSOLIDATED CAPITAL, CORRECT.
THOSE TWO ATTENDANCE ZONES WOULD SIT ON TOP OF EACH OTHER.
WELL, CURRENTLY, IF YOU REMEMBER FROM THE CHART, IF YOU TAKE THE ISTROUMA ZONE AND KIND OF CUT IT IN HALF BROOKSTOWN IS ON THE NORTH SIDE AND CAPITAL'S ON THE SOUTH.
THIS WILL MAKE ONE ATTENDANCE ZONE THAT MATCHES THE, UM, SO A SOLID, A SOLID FEEDER PATTERN.
OF, DO YOU HAPPEN TO SOMEBODY HAD A QUESTION ABOUT TEACHER PUPIL RATIO? UM, WOULD I, MY UNDERSTANDING HAS BEEN THAT THERE WON'T BE A DECREASE OR INCREASE IN THE TEACHER PEOPLE RATIO, BUT AM I INCORRECT IN THAT? I UNDERSTAND IT.
UM, MS. DONALDSON CAN SPEAK TO THE DETAILS, BUT IT'LL FOLLOW THE DISTRICT, UM, STAFFING PLANS AND THE STAFFING FORMULA.
SO NOTHING UNIQUE ABOUT THIS THAT WOULD CAUSE A CHANGE IN THE TEACHER PERCEPTION.
I WILL SAY NORMALLY BOTH SCHOOLS ARE IN A CIR SCHOOL, SO THEY'LL BE UP STAFF TO A CERTAIN DEGREE AS WELL AND GET ADDITIONAL RESOURCES.
UM, AND THEN, UH, HM, THAT'S IT, UH, I WAS GOING TO ASK MR. SMITH TO, UH, REFRESH EVERYBODY OR ENLIGHTENED EVERYBODY ON THE HISTORY OF THAT BRUCE TIME, MIDDLE CAP, AS A MATTER OF FACT, LET'S DO THAT JUST REAL BRIEFLY, MR. SMITH, UM, BECAUSE IT ALSO POINTS TO THE UNIQUENESS OF THE BRUCE TIME, MIDDLE OF CAMPUS, UH, SITUATION.
[05:25:01]
STAB AT THAT TOO.I THINK IT WAS 2014 WHEN THE SCHOOL WAS INITIATED AS A MAGNET PROGRAM SCHOOL AND A REGULAR SCHOOL AS WELL WITH A MAGNET COMPONENT.
UM, IT DID THAT FOR SEVERAL YEARS.
AND THEN IN 2017, WHEN A STREAM UP BEGAN TO COME ONLINE, THE MAGNET PROGRAM WAS MOVED TO THE ISTROUMA HIGH SCHOOL CAMPUS WHERE IT IS TODAY.
AND SO IT BROOKS DOWN REVERTED BACK TO A TRADITIONAL SCHOOL ONLY.
SO REALLY BROOKS HAS FUNCTIONED AS A MIDDLE SCHOOL FOR ABOUT SEVEN YEARS.
SO 2014, IT OPENED AS A BRAND NEW MIDDLE SCHOOL.
I THINK ADAM WOULD KNOW FOR SURE, A BRAND NEW MIDDLE SCHOOL A FEW YEARS AGO WITH A MAGNET AND TRADITIONAL COMPONENT, CORRECT.
THE BOARD IN 2017 DECIDED IT WAS BEST OR PRIOR TO THAT POINT, BUT IT WAS IMPLEMENTED IN 2017 THAT HALF OF THEIR CAMPUS ON BRUCE TOP MIDDLE OF THE MAGNET BE MOVED TO A STRONG METAL.
AND THE REASON WHY WE OPENED BROOKSTOWN ELEMENTARY AS A MIDDLE SCHOOL IS BECAUSE WE HAD A POPULATION OF STUDENTS WHO WERE TRAVELING A FAR DISTANCE ACROSS TOWN BECAUSE OF THE STATE TAKE OVER, UH, PRESCOTT METAL.
AND SO THE BRAIN KNOWS KIDS CLOSER TO HOME.
BROOKSTOWN WAS CLOSED AS AN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL HAS SAT VACANT FOR A LITTLE WHILE AND THE DISTRICT REOPENED IT AS A MIDDLE-SCHOOL TO CAPTURE THOSE MOST STUDENTS WHO WANT TO STAY IN EBR AND NOT ATTEND THE RSD PRESCOTT.
THANK YOU, MS. COLLINS, MS. WARE JACKSON.
YEAH, WE WERE TALKING ABOUT KICKING THE CAN DOWN THE ROAD AND YOU KNOW, WE'VE BEEN KICKING THAT CAN FOR SO LONG.
UH, THESE ARE THE KINDS OF THINGS THAT WE CONSTANTLY RUN INTO.
UM, YOU KNOW, I DON'T LIKE TO GO WITH THE, IF I WOULDA COULDA SHOULDA STUFF, BUT YOU KNOW, WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT PARTICULAR ISSUES FOR SEVERAL YEARS WITH NO MOTION, NO, NO MOVEMENT ON IT.
UM, JUST A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO, WE HAD A RETREAT WHERE THERE WERE LOTS OF THINGS THAT WERE GOING TO TAKE PLACE IN 2019.
AND, UM, ODDLY ENOUGH, WE, WE POSTPONED TO DEFINITELY A DATE ON CERTAIN WHEN IT COMES TO, UH, LOOKING AT FACILITIES AND ATTENDANCE LINES AND CAPACITY AND ALL OF THOSE THINGS.
AND NOW HERE WE ARE IN A SITUATION WHERE WE'VE GOT, UM, 45 KIDS IN AN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL SETTING WHERE THEY NEVER SHOULD HAVE BEEN IN THE FIRST PLACE.
IF WE HAD LOOKED AT FACILITIES AND EVERYTHING A WHILE THAT THIS WOULD HAVE BEEN TAKEN CARE OF A LONG TIME AGO.
UH, YOU KNOW, I DON'T, I DON'T EXPECT THIS TO, UH, TO PASS THIS SUBSTITUTE LOTION CAUSE WE'RE IN A CRUNCH WE'RE IN CRUNCH TIME NOW, YOU KNOW, AND, UM, YOU KNOW, WE'VE, WE'VE LOOKED AT DIFFERENT THINGS.
UM, LIKE SOMEONE SAID, WE LOOKED AT, UH, GLEN OAKS MIDDLE, UM, THERE WAS ENOUGH ROOM THERE TO ACCOMMODATE THE NUMBER OF STUDENTS THAT, THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT.
UM, BUT FOR WHATEVER REASON, YOU KNOW, WE, WE COULDN'T DO THAT.
WE SPENT SOME DOLLARS GETTING THAT SEMI READY, UH, JUST SO THAT WE COULD LOOK AND SEE THAT, YOU KNOW, IT'S, IT'S, IT'S NOT HORRIBLE, YOU KNOW, IT'S A WHOLE LOT BETTER.
LOOK WHEN I'M, LET ME NOT GET INTO GLEN OAKS MIDDLE ONCE AGAIN, BECAUSE WE WENT THROUGH THAT ALREADY.
BUT, UM, THE MAIN POINT I WANT TO MAKE IS THAT THIS IS, THIS IS WHAT HAPPENS.
WE KEEP, YOU KNOW, IN THE, IN THE SITUATION WITH BROOKSTOWN, WE ROB PETER TO PAY PAUL.
UM, WE GET WHAT WE NEEDED TO DO FOR A STREAMER BROOKSTOWN SUFFERED.
AND, UM, WE PUT A PROGRAM IN THERE THAT WAS SUPPOSED TO ATTRACT KIDS WITHOUT, SO THAT THE SCHOOL WOULD ACT LIKE A MAGNET WITHOUT HAVING TO BE A MAGNET SINCE IT HAD LOST ITS MAGNET TO ANOTHER SCHOOL, UM, THAT WORKED FOR AWHILE.
AND THEN, YOU KNOW, WE DON'T KNOW WHAT HAPPENED.
UM, BUT YOU KNOW, UM, I'M SAYING ALL THIS, JUST TO SAY, I AM JUST SO TIRED OF MAKING THESE DECISIONS THAT WORK FOR ONCE ONE AREA, IT DOESN'T WORK FOR ANOTHER AREA.
WE JUST NEED SOME CONSISTENCY IN THE WHAT AND THE WHY WE DO THINGS AND WE NEED TO BE PROACTIVE.
AND, UH, THIS IS ANOTHER SITUATION WHERE WE HAVE TO REACT AND WE HAVE TO MAKE A DECISION.
AND, UH, WITHOUT REALLY LOOKING AT ALL OF THE PIECES AND PARTS, I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY ZIP CODES, UH, DR.
FINNEY, UM, COUNTED OFF, BUT, UH, I DON'T KNOW, PROBABLY MORE ZIP CODES
[05:30:01]
AND NEIGHBORHOODS I COULD NAME, BUT, UM, AT ANY RATE, UH, WITHOUT THE PROPER SUPPORTS AND KNOWING THAT, YOU KNOW, THIS, THIS, THESE POPULATIONS WILL BE ATTENDED TO, UH, I CAN'T SUPPORT, UM, MOVING THOSE KIDS IN KNOWING THE HISTORY OF BROOKSTOWN AND, YOU KNOW, ALL OF THE DIFFERENT THINGS THAT IT'S BEEN THROUGH FROM, YOU KNOW, BEING A SCHOOL THAT HAD A MAGNET PROGRAM, WHERE KIDS WERE WALKING AROUND WITH LITTLE JACKETS ON, LIKE THEY WERE IN PRIVATE SCHOOL THERE, THEIR ATTITUDES CHANGED, ALL KINDS OF THINGS CHANGED, BUT WE DIDN'T CONSIDER THAT WE HAD TO, WE HAD TO GO AND PROP UP ANOTHER, ANOTHER SCHOOL.AND THIS IS A PRIME EXAMPLE OF WHY WE DO, UM, WE LOST, UM, PRE-K, COULDN'T COME TO THE TABLE BECAUSE OF, UM, ATTENDANCE LINE CHANGES WHERE, YOU KNOW, WE COULDN'T MOVE THESE KIDS, YOU KNOW, CAUSE WE DIDN'T NEED, WE DIDN'T HAVE ENOUGH, UH, ENOUGH TIME OR WHATEVER REASON WE COULD GIVE.
UH, WE COULDN'T PUT FREE K IN AREAS THAT NEVER HAD, IT COULD NEVER ATTRACT, UH, KIDS INTO THE SCHOOL FROM THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
AND, UH, HOPEFULLY, YOU KNOW, ALL OF THOSE THINGS WOULD, WOULD WORK A WHOLE LOT BETTER AND SMOOTHER IF, UM, IF WE WOULD, IF WE WOULDN'T HAVE KICKED THE CAN DOWN THE ROAD AND WE, YOU KNOW, WE KEEP DOING THAT AND YOU KNOW, I AGREE, YOU KNOW, WE NEED TO, WE NEED TO DECIDE WE NEEDED TO DECIDE MONTHS AGO ON WHAT WAS GOING TO TAKE PLACE.
SO, UM, I JUST HAD TO TELL YOU THAT, UM, I'M SORRY.
UH, ANYWAY, I JUST FEEL FOR THOSE, THOSE KIDS AND THE FACULTY, THAT'S GOING TO BE AFFECTED BY THIS.
AND, UM, AND YOU KNOW, SOME OF THE, THE CHARTER SCHOOLS THAT'LL BE SITTING BY WAITING THE SUCK UP, WHATEVER.
THANK YOU, MS. SQUARE JACKSON.
WE HAVE A SUBSTITUTE MOTION BY MR.
IS THAT CORRECT COUNSEL? YES, SIR.
MADAM SECRETARY, PLEASE CONDUCT THE VOTE.
PLEASE VOTE MOTION FAILS, MOTION FAILS.
WE'RE NOW ON THE MAIN MOTION BY MR. LANDIS AND MR. BALLOU TO APPROVE THE ITEM.
MADAM SECRETARY, PLEASE CONDUCT THE VOTE.
[I.12. Contract: Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning (CASEL)]
WE MOVE NOW TO ITEM NUMBER 12, CONSIDERATION OF A REQUEST FOR THE APPROVAL OF A CONTRACT BETWEEN THE EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH SCHOOL SYSTEM AND COLLABORATIVE FOR ACADEMIC, SOCIAL, AND EMOTIONAL LEARNING CASTLE IN THE AMOUNT OF $152,000 TO PROVIDE DISTRICT-WIDE SOCIAL, EMOTIONAL LEARNING COORDINATION, AND SUPPORT FUNDING SOURCE.DO I HAVE A MOTION? UM, MS. COLLINS MOVES.
DO I HAVE A SECOND, MR. HOWARD SECONDS? LET'S SEE.
NO QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS FROM THE BOARD.
SEE NO COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS FROM THE BOARD.
ARE THERE ANY COMMENTS FROM THE AUDIENCE ON ITEM 12? THE CONTRACT NEEDS TO BE CHANGED BECAUSE THE DATES ARE IN JULY.
AGAIN, FROM WHAT I REMEMBER THE BACKUP FROM A WEEK AGO, YOU'RE PAYING FOR THIS WITH CARA ZACK MONEY.
OH, I HAVEN'T SEEN THAT BUDGET YET.
AND I DON'T THINK YOU HAVE EITHER.
[05:35:01]
SO ASSUMING THAT'S THE SOURCE OF FUNDING APPROVING THIS AS PREMATURE.I'M ACTUALLY JUST HERE TO TALK ABOUT SENATE BILL TWO 11, BECAUSE IT IS A, IF IT IS APPROVED, WHICH IT SHOULD BE APPROVED.
I THINK IN THE NEXT COUPLE OF MONTHS, UM, IT ACTUALLY REQUIRES BESSIE TO, UH, WORK ON SOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL LEARNING TRAINING FOR TEACHERS AND ADMINISTRATORS.
I DON'T KNOW ANYTHING ELSE OTHER ABOUT IT.
I THINK THAT WE NEED TO DO SOME MORE RESEARCH INTO IT BECAUSE IF WE DON'T HAVE TO SPEND THE CARES ACT MONEY, UM, IF THE STATE IS GOING TO PAY FOR IT, THEN, THEN, YOU KNOW, JUST TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO SAVE MONEY BASICALLY.
UM, CAUSE I THINK WE DO NEED THE SOCIAL EMOTIONAL LEARNING, AND I THINK THAT CASTLE I'VE LOOKED INTO IT AND IT SEEMS LIKE A, IT SEEMS LIKE A GREAT PROGRAM.
UM, BUT IF THE STATE IS ALREADY GONNA PAY FOR IT, THEN I DON'T WANT US TO SPEND DISTRICT MONEY THAT WE COULD USE ON SOMETHING ELSE.
LIKE MAYBE SPECIAL EDUCATION SUPPORTS BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH OF THOSE.
ARE YOU SAYING THAT THE STATE IS CONSIDERING REQUIRING IT OR CONSIDERING JUST PAINFUL IT? AND I THINK THEY ALREADY HAVE SOME SEL STUFF THEY DOING, BUT ON A SMALL BASIS.
I JUST KNOW THAT THE BILL IS UP FOR CONSIDERATION.
UM, I'M NOT A LAWYER OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT, SO I READ ABOUT IT AND I JUST WANT YOU GUYS TO KNOW ABOUT IT.
I WOULD LIKE TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION, CAUSE I THINK I MIGHT BE A LEGAL EXPERT RIGHT HERE ON AIRPORT.
UM, ACTUALLY, UM, FIRST LADY DOWN AT EDWARDS, UM, HEY BE YOU OFTEN ALSO IN THIS LEGISLATION TO DEAL WITH ADVERSE CHILDHOOD EXPERIENCES.
IN ADDITION TO SOCIAL, EMOTIONAL LEARNING, THAT ADVERSE CHILDHOOD EXPERIENCES, WE ALREADY HAVE PEOPLE IN OUR STATE THAT ARE HIGHLY CERTIFIED AND CREDENTIALED TO DO THAT.
ROBERTA BAKARI, WHO WAS THE LEAD PERSON OVER OUR BLUE BUSES THAT OUR SCHOOL SYSTEM HAD.
SHE ALSO IS CERTIFIED IN DOING THIS WORK.
SO IT, THERE ARE PEOPLE THAT, UH, THAT ARE CERTIFIED DIRECTLY IN BATON ROUGE THAT ACTUALLY HAVE THE EXPERIENCE AND THE CERTIFICATION AND THE CREDENTIALING THAT IS PROVIDING THIS TRAINING FOR FREE.
SO WE DON'T HAVE TO SPEND, I DON'T CARE, EXACT MONEY THAT WE NEED.
ADDITIONALLY, WHEN WILL WE GET THE ORGANIZATIONAL CHART THAT ACTUALLY REFLECT, UH, HOW THIS SYSTEM IS GOING TO WORK ALONG WITH ANY BUDGET NEUTRAL JOBS? CAUSE RIGHT NOW WE JUST KEEP ROBBING PETER TO PAY PAUL, TO PAY SUSIE, TO PAY JOHNNY AND TO PAY PLUTO.
I WOULD LIKE IT IF WE COULD STOP FLIP-FLOPPING ON DIFFERENT SUBJECTS AND WE CAN ACTUALLY TALK ABOUT WHAT THE REAL, WHAT THE REAL THING IS AT HAND, IF WE'RE GOING TO REQUIRE, I DO BELIEVE WE SHOULD REQUIRE OUR SCHOOL SYSTEM STAFF TO HAVE SOCIAL, EMOTIONAL LEARNING.
BUT ALSO WE THINK, I BELIEVE THAT WE NEED TO REQUIRE ALL OF THE CABINET CDOT AND THE BOWLER BECAUSE RIGHT NOW, YEAH, I HAVE MADE ME SOCIALLY EMOTIONALLY DRINK BECAUSE YEAH, I HAVE NOT HAD DONE ANYTHING THAT MISS THE GO DAY I'M TELLING YOU, I MAY HAVE TO.
SOMETIMES I HAVE TO LAUGH TO KEEP FROM CRYING BECAUSE IT'S A DAMN SHAME ON HOW WE ACTUALLY DO WHEN IT COMES TO THIS MONEY.
I DON'T WANT US TO BE LIKE SHARKS, ALL TRYING TO GET THE BAY TO EAT IT UP.
OR SHOULD I SAY ALLIGATORS IN THE SWAMP? CAUSE WE ALL ENDED BY MISTAKE.
I WANT US TO ACTUALLY REALLY, TRULY THINK ABOUT THE IMPACT THAT IT HAS ON EVERY SINGLE PERSON.
IF I AM SOCIALLY, EMOTIONALLY, MENTALLY UNEFFECTIVE, THEN THAT IMPACT COULD AFFECT MS. DYSON, WHICH COULD THEN AFFECT CDOT THAT CAN ALSO AFFECT MR BLUE.
SO I JUST THINK THAT WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT IT IS EVERY SINGLE PERSON THAT ACTUALLY HAVE TO DO THIS TRAINING AS WELL AS THE PARENTS, BUT WE DEFINITELY NEED TO PROVIDE THE SUPPORTS AND WE DEFINITELY DON'T NEED TO SPEND THE CARES ACT MONEY ON THAT BECAUSE IT IS FREE.
AND THE AUTHOR OF THAT LEGISLATION, UH, MR. TAMMY FOR ADVERSE CHILDHOOD EXPERIENCES IS SENATOR KATRINA JACKSON.
ALL RIGHT, MR. TAMMY, ANYBODY HAVE A POINT OF PERSONAL PRIVILEGE? I THINK IT MIGHT BE.
UM, ANY OTHER COMMENTS FROM THE AUDIENCE? YES, SIR.
[05:40:01]
I WASN'T GONNA SAY ANYTHING, BUT PEOPLE ARE ALLOWED TO DISAGREE, BUT THE LEVEL OF DISRESPECT IS JUST UNCALLED FOR MS. CURLEY HAS CAME UP HERE WITH SEVERAL TIMES AND IDENTIFIED EVERYBODY ELSE BY BOARD MEMBER, DIASON BOARD MEMBER, MR. AND CALLED THE SUPERINTENDENT.YOU DON'T HAVE TO AGREE WITH NOTHING.
THIS MAN SAYS, YOU DON'T HAVE TO LIKE HIM, BUT YOU NEED TO RESPECT HIM AS A MEMBER OF THIS COMMUNITY.
AND SO NOBODY ELSE IS GOING TO SAY SOMETHING ABOUT IT, BUT I'M GOING TO SAY SOMETHING YOU DON'T HAVE TO LIKE, I DIDN'T VOTE FOR DR.
NAZIS, BUT YOU FITTING TO RESPECT THIS MAN FOR HIS POSITION, WHETHER YOU AGREE OR DISAGREE WITH WHAT HE HAS TO SAY.
NO, LIKE JUST, THAT'S JUST DISRESPECTFUL.
AND I DON'T THINK US AS A BOARD SHOULD CONTINUE TO ALLOW THE LEVEL OF DISRESPECT THAT IS CONTINUOUSLY GOING ON WITH THAT AND CALL HIM BY HIS FIRST NAME.
WHAT DO YOU LIKE HIM OR NOT? THANK YOU MR. HOWARD.
UM, IS IT GOING ABOUT IT DONE? CAN SOMEBODY, UH, WE DIDN'T DO IT LAST TIME.
LIKE HALLE, BELIEVE ME, GO GET OUT OF HERE BEFORE 2:00 AM.
SOME PEOPLE DON'T NECESSARILY UNDERSTAND THIS FACILE SET UP AND IT MIGHT HELP PEOPLE IF THEY UNDERSTOOD AS TO WHY IT IS STILL A GOOD IDEA TO DO IT, REGARDLESS OF SOME OTHER FACTORS, IS ANYBODY PREPARED TO JUST GIVE A LITTLE, NOT A LONG PRESENTATION, BUT A BASIC OVERVIEW OF HOW COUNCIL OPERATES AND OTHER DISTRICTS AND, AND, AND, AND HOW WE'RE LOOKING TO DO IT.
UH, IF THIS PASSES HERE, THANK YOU.
I'M I'M SORRY, BUT I'M GOING TO GIVE YOU ALL AN OVERVIEW AND I HOPE, UM, THAT I COVER EVERYTHING.
A LITTLE TALLER THAN EVERYBODY ELSE.
I'VE HAD THE WONDERFUL EXPERIENCE TO DO A LOT OF RESEARCH OVER THE YEARS BECAUSE I'VE BEEN WORKING IN MENTAL HEALTH FOR QUITE SOME TIME.
AND THIS IS BY FAR ONE OF THE BEST PROGRAMS THAT I'VE LOOKED AT AND THAT I'VE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO START ENGAGING WITH.
SO A LOT OF PEOPLE THINK THAT SOCIAL, EMOTIONAL LEARNING IS JUST, HEY, THIS IS A CURRICULUM.
SOCIAL, EMOTIONAL LEARNING IS A STRUCTURE.
IT'S A STRUCTURE THAT LOOKS AT IT, LOOKS AT THE KEY COMPONENTS THAT STUDENTS NEED.
THEIR FIVE KEY SOCIAL EMOTIONAL COMPONENTS.
CASTLE HELPS US TAKE WHAT WE HAVE, TAKE THE STRUCTURE THAT SUPPORTS SOCIAL, EMOTIONAL, AND HELPS US LOOK AT THE PROGRAMS WE HAVE TO IMPLEMENT IT.
IT THEN MOVES OUT TO THE SCHOOL WHERE WE ADJUST CULTURE.
IT GOES TO THE COMMUNITY WHERE WE ENGAGE THE COMMUNITY AND OUR FAMILIES.
SO IT'S NOT JUST A CURRICULUM.
CASTLE WILL PROVIDE THE SUPPORT TO LOOK AT WHAT WE HAVE TO DEVELOP, WHAT OTHER COMPONENTS WE NEED IN SOCIAL, EMOTIONAL LEARNING, AND HELP US TUTOR AND COACH OUR STAFF, OUR TEACHERS, TO HELP US HELP OUR STUDENTS.
MS. COLLINS, DID I COVER IT? UH, YEAH.
UH, I THINK THAT'S IMPORTANT FOR PEOPLE TO UNDERSTAND.
IT'S NOT JUST, UH, UH, I MEAN, THERE ARE A LOT OF LIFESTYLE AND SOCIO-EMOTIONAL BOOKS AND CURRICULUM, AS YOU MENTIONED, BUT CASTLE IS GOING TO HELP US IMPLEMENT A SYSTEM OF SUPPORT.
IS THAT THE BEST WAY TO IT? THAT YES.
AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT MAY HELP PEOPLE UNDERSTAND, AS YOU KNOW, AS A DISTRICT, WE GO THROUGH ACCREDITATION AND YOU HAVE AN ACCREDITING ORGANIZATION THAT HAS STRUCTURES AND PROTOCOL TO HELP YOU MOVE UP TO THE LEVEL YOU NEED TO BE AT.
CASTLE IS VERY SIMILAR TO THAT.
THEY'RE GOING TO HELP US GET THE STRUCTURE, THE TRAINING AND WHAT WE NEED TO MOVE UP TO THE LEVEL WE NEED TO BE AT.
AND I'M VERY IMPRESSED WITH, AND THEY ARE, THEY ARE WELL VERSED AT WORKING WITH DISTRICTS LIKE OURS.
THANK YOU, MS. COLLINS, MR. LANA'S.
I JUST WANT TO SAY THAT I'M A SCIENTIST.
UH, WHEN I STEPPED IN, I JUST SAID, UH, AGAIN, I WENT TO THE CASTLE, UH, CONFERENCES, SAW IT FIRST HAND.
THEY USE STELLAR TOOLS TO MOVE THE NEEDLE IN THOSE SPACES.
THANK YOU, MR. LANDIS, THE BOARD IS CLEAR.
UM, MADAM SECRETARY, PLEASE CONDUCT A VOTE.
[05:45:06]
WE MOVE[I.13. Job Positions and Descriptions]
TO ITEM 13 CONSIDERATION OF REQUEST FOR THE APPROVAL OF THE FOLLOWING JOB POSITIONS AND DESCRIPTIONS.I'M A DEPUTY CHIEF OF POLICY BE DIRECTOR OF EQUITY AND DIVERSITY.
DO I HAVE A MOTION MOVED BY MR.
ARE THERE ANY COMMENTS FROM THE AUDIENCE ON JOB POSITIONS AND DESCRIPTIONS BOARD MEMBER HOWARD.
HE KEPT SAYING HE WAS GOING TO BRING HIS VILLAGE, BRING HIS VILLAGE, BRING HIS VILLAGE, AND YOU STOPPED HIM.
HE SAID, WHO IS YOUR VILLAGE? AND HE WAS LIKE, OH, NO, NO, NO, NOT MY WIFE AND MY DAUGHTER.
THAT'S WHAT I'M BRINGING WITH ME.
THAT'S MY VILLAGE, MY WIFE AND MY DAUGHTER.
BUT AS I LOOK AROUND THIS ROOM, WE SEE FOUR OF THOSE VILLAGE MEMBERS.
PLUS TWO, HE SNEAKED IN BEHIND THE BOARDS BACK.
AND NOW THREE MORE THAT HE'S PUTTING ON THE AGENDA.
ONE OF WHICH WILL YOU SERVE THE BOARD'S POWER.
IF Y'ALL ACTUALLY VOTE FOR SOMEBODY WHO HAS POWER OVER YOU, THAT, THAT, THAT JUST, YOU NEED TO MAKE SURE YOU HAVE READ THE JOB DESCRIPTION AND WHAT THEY HAD THE ABILITY TO DO THAT PERSON, YOUR EMPLOYEE, YOU HAVE TWO EMPLOYEES, THAT PERSON, YOUR EMPLOYEE WOULD BE HIRING SOMEBODY WHO WOULD POLICY YOU.
THAT WOULD BE LIKE ME HIRING SOMEBODY TO DIRECT MY PRINCIPAL.
THAT'S JUST NOT WHAT WE'RE SUPPOSED TO DO.
UM, ALSO REMEMBER THAT WE DO NOT HAVE ANY MONEY.
WE JUST KEEP SAYING THAT I KNOW CARES ACT IS HERE RIGHT NOW.
UM, BUT LET'S, YOU KNOW, REMEMBER THAT WE'RE POOR AND YOU DON'T JUST RUN OUT AND GO BUY A HUMMER.
CAUSE YOU, YOU KNOW, WITH GET A LOTTERY CHECK, UM, AND YOU CAN'T PUT FLEXIBLE SPENDING IS YOUR PAY SOURCE ON ALL THREE JOB DESCRIPTIONS.
NOBODY SAID ANYTHING ABOUT ANDREA AT ALL, NOTHING WHATSOEVER.
IT WAS ACTUALLY THEN SUPERINTENDENT JOSEPH WHO TOOK THE KICKBACKS IN TENNESSEE, BUT CONSIDERING EVERYTHING FOLLOWS DR.
NARCIS I WOULDN'T BE SURPRISED IF HE DID IT TOO.
MAYBE I'M REMEMBERING THE TIMELINE INCORRECTLY, BUT I BELIEVE AT THE MEETING IN JANUARY WHEN DR.
NARCIS WHO WAS STILL, UH, CHIEF OF SECONDARY SCHOOLS IN DC WHILE HE WAS ALREADY ALLEGEDLY OR SUPERINTENDENT, UM, HE ASKED FOR 24 NEW POSITIONS.
AND I THINK THERE WAS SOME SUGGESTION THAT THAT WOULD SOMEHOW BE REVENUE NEUTRAL.
SO, SO FAR HE IS, I THINK, CREATED, UM, ABOUT THREE QUARTERS OF A MILLION DOLLARS IN NEW SPENDING IN THE CENTRAL OFFICE.
AND I DON'T THINK HE IS ADDED ANY REDUCTIONS IN SPENDING.
I DON'T THINK HE'S PUT MORE TEACHERS IN THE CLASSROOM.
SO LET'S GO THROUGH THE LIST IN TERMS OF HIGHEST PAID PEOPLE IN THIS DISTRICT, YOU HAVE DR.
NARCIS WHO, EVEN THOUGH I DON'T RESPECT, I'LL CALL HIM DOCTOR, UM, UH, 255,000.
YOU HAVE MR. SHAMBLIN AT SOMETHING NORTH OF 136,000.
THE NEXT HIGHEST PAID PEOPLE IS A FIVE-WAY TIE.
UH, CLARENCE MICHAEL ROBINSON.
YOU HAVE KAREN SMITH AND YOU HAVE FRANK CHESTER WHO BY THE WAY, APPEARS NOT TO BE QUALIFIED FOR THE JOB HE HOLDS BASED ON COMPARING HIS JOB DESCRIPTION.
YOU APPROVED WITH THE CREDENTIALS THAT I GOT FROM HR PURSUANT TO A PUBLIC RECORD REQUEST.
OH, AND, UH, SOMEBODY WHO IS IN A POSITION THAT YOU DID NOT APPROVE BEING OPEN BACK UP.
ALEXANDRA DARROW STUBS ALSO HAS A SALARY OF 130,000.
SO I LIKED SOME OF MY COLLEAGUES IN THE AUDIENCE ARE CURIOUS IF DR.
LASHLEY IS UPSET ABOUT HER MUESLI SALARY OF 107,000.
[05:50:02]
AND THAT'S WHY THERE'S NOW A DIRECTOR OF LITERACY, BECAUSE THAT IS OR CHIEF OF WHATEVER, BECAUSE THAT'S SOMEHOW BETTER THAN THE JOB SHE HAS NOW.YOU KNOW, WHO KNOWS? I HAVE NO IDEA WHO DR.
NARCIS INTENDS TO HIRE, BUT I DO KNOW THAT YOU HAVE A BOARD POLICY THAT SAYS THERE MUST BE NOTICED AS A VACANCY POSTED.
I'M STILL WAITING FOR THE RESPONSE FOR MY PUBLIC RECORD REQUESTS.
WHEN I ASKED FOR THOSE NOTICES OF VACANCY FOR THE SIX REALLY WELL-PAYING CENTRAL OFFICE JOBS, ONE OF WHICH I WOULD HAVE BEEN INTERESTED IN APPLYING FOR HAD I SEEN THE NOTICE OF VACANCY.
IT DOESN'T SAY MUCH FOR THE SHIFT THAT YOU ON THE BOARD HAVE BEEN RUNNING FOR THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS.
IF THERE'S NO INTERNAL CANDIDATE WORTH EVEN INTERVIEWING.
BUT SOMEHOW I HAVE THE FEELING OF MAJORITY OF YOU WILL SAY, GIVE THE NEW GUY WHAT HE WANTS.
LET HIM GO AHEAD AND BANKRUPT.
THE SYSTEM KNOW HE'LL BE GONE IN THREE YEARS.
LIKE, HAS IT BEEN HIS CUSTOM, BUT I WOULD URGE SOMEBODY THAT CLAIM TO BE CONSERVATIVE, HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF FUDICIARY RESPONSIBILITY AND VOTE.
WE DON'T HAVE THE MONEY FOR THOSE JOBS.
UM, BUT THIS ITEM CAME UP EIGHT HOURS AROUND EIGHT HOURS INTO THE MEETING LAST WEEK AND HAS COME UP SIX HOURS INTO THE MEETING THIS WEEK.
AND THERE'S A LINE OF PEOPLE STANDING OUTSIDE.
AND THOSE ARE THE PEOPLE WHO CAN STAY UP THIS LATE AND HAVE CHILDCARE AND CAN BE HERE.
SO FOR THOSE OF US WHO CAN'T BE HERE, LET ME READ THE DESCRIPTION OF THIS NEW CHIEF OF POLICY.
THE DEPUTY CHIEF OF POLICY WILL WORK TO PROVIDE PROFESSIONAL OVERSIGHT ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF ALIGN PROCEDURES AND POLICIES FOR EATS BATON ROUGE, PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
THEY WILL OPERATIONALIZE AND CLARIFY THE DISTRICT'S POLICY FOR STAKEHOLDER ACCESS TO THE CLEAR STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES OF THE DISTRICT.
THAT SOUNDS A LOT LIKE Y'ALL'S JOBS.
AND WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE BREAKDOWN FOR THAT JOB DESCRIPTION, WHICH IS THREE PAGES, UM, IT BREAKS DOWN INTO JOBS THAT ARE SORT OF YOUR JOBS AND JOBS THAT ARE THE PR DIRECTOR'S JOBS TO MAKE SURE EVERYBODY KNOWS THE PLAN.
AND I DIDN'T LOOK DEEP INTO THE OTHER TWO BECAUSE I HAVE OTHER THINGS TO DO WITH MY TIME, BUT WE DON'T NEED THIS.
WE SAID WHEN IT WAS 24 JOBS, WE DON'T NEED THIS.
WE'RE SAYING WHEN IT'S THESE THREE AND THE LAST THREE, AND THE FEW THAT SNUCK IN, BUT WE DON'T NEED THIS.
PLEASE VOTE AGAINST THESE JOBS OR AT LEAST AMEND THEM TO SET, SET THE SALARY AT THE SAME SALARY THAT OUR TEACHERS ARE PAID AS ALL YOUR SALARIES SHOULD BE
I'M THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE SOUTH LOUISIANA COALITION FOR EDUCATION.
SO BACK IN FALL 2019 SLIDES ADVOCATED FOR AN EQUITY MINDED SUPERINTENDENT, AS EQUITY CONTINUES TO BE TOP OF MIND, HOW ARE WE GOING TO GUARANTEE AN EQUITY LENS? IF WE WANT OUR SUPERINTENDENT TO BE EQUITY MINDED, WE NEED TO HAVE AN EQUITY OFFICER TO SERVE AS A FILTER, A CHECK AND BALANCE.
IF YOU WILL, TO ENSURE POLICIES, PLANS, AND STRATEGIES ARE EQUITY FOCUS, BECAUSE WE WANT ALL OF OUR KIDS TO BE SUCCESSFUL, RIGHT? I WOULD ENCOURAGE US AS A COMMUNITY TO EXPAND OUR PERSPECTIVE BEYOND MY OPIC VIEW OF RESOURCES AND EMBRACE THE STEPS THAT WILL RENDER CHANGE IN OUR COMMUNITY.
IF WE ARE SERIOUS ABOUT EQUITY, THEN WE HAVE TO BE SERIOUS ABOUT THE CHANGE THAT WILL SUPPORT THE GROWTH WHICH WE WANT TO SEE IN OUR KIDS AND OUR COMMUNITY EQUITY OFFICERS IN SHORT SCHOOLS DO NOT PERPETUATE THE DISPARITIES.
WE HAVE BEEN WITNESSING BECAUSE QUITE FRANKLY, SOME OF THE CURRENT BELIEFS AND PRACTICES OF OUR DISTRICT ARE CONTRIBUTING TO THE GAPS AND ACHIEVEMENTS.
WE SEE IN OUR STUDENTS, ALL THE WHILE BEING AN EQUITY FOCUS DISTRICT REQUIRES AN EQUITY MINDED SOUP, AND AN EQUITY OFFICER WHO CAN COURAGEOUSLY AND CONSISTENTLY ASK THE QUESTIONS THAT WILL SUPPORT ALL STUDENTS.
IN THEORY, HERE IS OUR OPPORTUNITY AND CHANCE TO FURTHER MANIFEST EQUITY IN PRACTICE.
THANK YOU GUYS FOR YOUR SERVICE.
IT IS ALMOST 11 O'CLOCK AND YOU'RE STILL HERE.
SO I JUST WANT TO START OFF BY SAYING THANK YOU BECAUSE I KNOW THAT'S HARDER.
UM, AGAIN, MY NAME IS SIERRA HART.
[05:55:01]
DIRECTOR OF ORGANIZING AND STRATEGY AND AN EIGHTH GRADE LOUISIANA HISTORY TEACHER HERE IN EAST BATON ROUGE.SO UNDER THE SUPERVISION OF THE SUPERINTENDENT OR DESIGNEE, THIS POSITION IS RESPONSIBLE FOR DEVELOPING AND IMPLEMENTING SHORT AND LONG RANGE EQUITY GOALS THAT SUPPORT THE DISTRICT STRATEGIC PLAN, MISSION AND VISION.
WHILE SPECIFICALLY PROMOTING A CLIMATE OF EQUITY AND INCLUSION FOR ALL STUDENTS, I'M HEARING THIS IN SUPPORT OF THE CHIEF OF EQUITY AND DIVERSITY OFFICE.
IT CREATES AND PROMOTES A SYSTEM OF TRANSPARENCY, PROVIDING AN ADDITIONAL LAYER OF ACCOUNTABILITY THAT THIS DISTRICT SO NEEDS AS AN EDUCATOR THAT TEACHES OVER 100 STUDENTS A DAY.
I UNDERSTAND THAT EACH ONE OF MY CLASSES REQUIRE SOMETHING DIFFERENT WHEN CREATING LESSONS OR ENGAGING MY STUDENTS, I HAVE TO BE INTENTIONAL BY CONSIDERING THEIR NEEDS IN THE SAME WAY EACH SCHOOL IN THIS DISTRICT REQUIRES A SPECIFIC SET OF RESOURCES TO BE ABLE TO PROVIDE THOSE SPECIFIC NEEDS OF THAT SCHOOL.
A CHIEF EQUITY AND DIVERSITY OFFICER CAN PROVIDE AND FACILITATE AN IN-DEPTH NEEDS ASSESSMENT THAT EVALUATES THE SERVICES BEING PROVIDED FOR OUR MOST VULNERABLE POPULATIONS, ARE OUR STUDENTS WITH EXCEPTIONALITIES RECEIVING THEIR SERVICES, OUR HOMELESS STUDENTS BEING GIVEN THE RESOURCES THEY NEED.
ARE WE ALLOCATING DOLLARS TO WHERE THEY WILL BENEFIT STUDENTS WHO ARE IN MOST NEED AND EQUITY OFFICER CREATES A CLEAR PATHWAY TO PROVIDE THEM THE ACCESS THAT TRULY MAKES WHAT SEEMS IMPOSSIBLE POSSIBLE.
AND IT CREATES A CONTACT THAT COMMUNITY MEMBERS CAN LEAN ON TO SERVE AS A CONSCIOUS OF THIS DISTRICT AND WORK IN HOLDING ALL STAKEHOLDERS ACCOUNTABLE.
SO I SAYS, WHEN ADVOCATING FOR EQUITY, SINCE OUR INCEPTION AND BELIEVE THAT A POSITION LIKE THIS IS NECESSARY, AS WE CONTINUE UPON THE ROAD TO EQUITY WITHIN EBR SCHOOLS, WE WANT TO ENSURE THAT THIS ROLE IS NOT SUPPLEMENTAL OR AN AD, BUT IT'S AN AT THE EPICENTER OF EVERYTHING THAT WE SAY AND DO FOR KIDS IN THIS PARISH, STREAMLINING CENTRAL OFFICE, TO MAKE SURE THE NECESSARY SUPPORTS REACH STUDENTS OVER A YEAR AGO, WE BEGAN THIS EQUITY MINDED, THE SUPERINTENDENT SEARCH, AND NOW DR.
NARCIS, WE ARE DEPENDING ON YOU, YOUR STAFF AND MEMBERS OF THE BOARD TO APPROVE THIS ITEM TO ENSURE WE ARE IN FACT ON THE ROAD TO EQUITY.
UH, YOU'VE HEARD FROM THE COLLEAGUES WITH THE SOUTH LOUISIANA COALITION, UH, FOR EDUCATION, I WANT TO, UM, PROVIDE A LITTLE BIT MORE CONTEXT AND THEN OFFER FOR ANYONE OF THE BOARD MEMBERS THAT MAY, UH, DESIRE, UH, PERHAPS AN ALTERNATIVE.
SO, UM, AS OF, UH, THE 2019 2020 SCHOOL YEAR, UM, OF THE 38, I'M SORRY, 3,864 TEACHERS, UH, THAT WERE LISTED IN EBR, 53% OF THE TEACHERS WERE CONSIDERED TEACHERS OF COLOR WHILE 79% OF OUR STUDENTS ARE STUDENTS OF COLOR RANKING US 30TH OUT OF 69 PARISHES.
IN TERMS OF THAT GAP BETWEEN TEACHER AND STUDENT, IF WE LOOK A LITTLE BIT DEEPER INTO YOUR SCHOOLS, LIKE YOU'RE A SCHOOL BANNERS HIGH, WHICH I'M A GRADUATE UP VERSUS IN TERMS OF THAT GAP BETWEEN TEACHER AND STUDENT, IF WE LOOK A LITTLE BIT DEEPER INTO YOUR SCHOOLS, LIKE YOUR, A SCHOOL BANNERS HIGH, WHICH I'M A GRADUATE OF.
YEAH, IT'S 75% OF THE TEACHERS.
THERE ARE WHITE 15% OF AFRICAN AMERICAN, ALTHOUGH, UH, 63% OF THE STUDENTS, THERE ARE STUDENTS OF COLOR, 36% BEING AFRICAN-AMERICAN AT LIBERTY HIGH SCHOOL.
63% OF YOUR TEACHERS ARE WHITE.
ALTHOUGH 81% OF THE STUDENTS THERE IDENTIFY AS COLOR AND 69% BEING AFRICAN-AMERICAN.
I BRING THAT OUT, NOT TO BELABOR A RACIAL ISSUE, BUT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE UNDERSTAND THE NECESSITY FOR EQUITY WITHIN OUR DISTRICT, EVEN WITHIN, UH, OUR HIGHEST PERFORMING SCHOOLS.
SO EQUITY AND DIVERSITY MUST BE AT THE FOREFRONT OF OUR MINDS CONSISTENTLY.
SO I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE CASE SHE WERE NOT AWARE OF THAT DATA, UH, THAT WE BRING THAT OUT WITH THAT BEING SAID, I UNDERSTAND CONCERNS THAT THE COMMUNITY HAS BROUGHT UP.
UM, I UNDERSTAND PERHAPS BUDGET CONCERNS THAT HAVE BEEN LEVIED IN TERMS OF BEING ABLE TO AFFORD ALL THREE.
I WOULD SUGGEST THAT SOMEONE TONIGHT, UH, ONE OF THE BOARD MEMBERS PLEASE, UH, MAKE A FRIENDLY AMENDMENT TO THE MOTION THAT WE DO NOT TAKE ALL THREE OF THESE AS ONE LUMP SUM, BUT THAT YOU GO THROUGH AND YOU LOOK AT EACH ONE INDIVIDUALLY AT ITS MERIT, UH, BECAUSE I DO BELIEVE WE NEED AN EQUITY OFFICER OR CHIEF, UH, CHIEF OFFICER OF EQUITY AND DIVERSITY, PERHAPS THE OTHER TWO, RIGHT, AS WE WORK THROUGH, WHAT ARE THE QUALIFICATIONS OF CURRENT POSITIONS, UH, AND HOW SOME OF THAT CAN BE MESS UP FLESHED
[06:00:01]
OUT MAY BE ABLE TO BE BROUGHT ON AT A LATER TIME.OR WE MAY FIND THAT WE ALREADY HAVE POSITIONS WITHIN THE DISTRICT THAT CAN DO A BETTER WORK.
AND SO I REALLY HOPE THAT YOU'LL LISTEN TO THAT, THAT YOU WILL TAKE, UM, THAT, THAT ALTERNATIVE.
UM, AND IF YOU DO NOT, THEN I WOULD HAVE TO SUPPORT THAT YOU WOULD VOTE AGAINST AS A LUMP SUM AND COME BACK TO BRING ABOUT EQUITY DIVERSITY, THANK FOR YOUR COMMENTS.
SO WE CANNOT AFFORD ANY OF THESE POSITIONS, NOT ONE.
IF I WAS GOING TO PROPOSE ANY POSITION THAT WE NEEDED, IT WOULD BE A DIRECTOR OF EQUITY.
I MEAN, IT WOULD BE THE DIRECTOR FOR THE EEOC EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY COMMISSION BECAUSE ONE BOARD MEMBER JUST SINGLED ME OUT FOR REFERRING TO OUR SUPERINTENDENT BY HIS FIRST NAME, NORTH CSUN KNEE CASE OFTEN GET MISTAKEN.
SO I THOUGHT IT WAS APPROPRIATE FOR ME TO REFER TO HIM BY HIS FIRST NAME.
BUT I HAVE LISTENED TO MANY OF OUR FEMALE COLLEAGUES IN OUR SCHOOL SYSTEM BE REFERRED TO BY THEIR FIRST NAME, WHICH FOR ME AGENDA ITEM.
SO I THINK WHEN IT COMES TO THESE POSITIONS THAT WE WANT TO CREATE, IT WOULD BE WISE TO CREATE A POSITION IF WE COULD AFFORD IT, BUT WE CAN'T.
WE GIVE, WE PAY FOR IT THROUGH CARE ZACK FUND, HOW WILL WE BE ABLE TO PAY FOR THE FOLLOWING YEAR? WE WON'T, WE WILL NOT.
IS ANYBODY WILLING TO GIVE UP THEIR SALARY, ANY OF THE BOARD MEMBERS, ANY OF THE CABINET, ANY OF THE EDUCATORS WE'RE ASKING FOR MORE PEOPLE TO BE ADDED IN A CABINET THAT IS ALREADY FISCALLY HEAVY, THAT WE CAN'T, THAT IS TAKING MONEY DIRECTLY FROM THE CLASSROOM.
WHEN WE TALK ABOUT EACH ONE, TEACH ONE, EACH ONE IN EVERY CLASS MEMORIAL, EVERY CITY, EACH ONE IN EVERY DISTRICT THROUGHOUT THIS ONE SYSTEM, WE CAN'T AFFORD.
I REMEMBER AT THE COMMITTEE OR THE HOME, MR. LOPEZ SPOKE ABOUT US GOING INTO THE RATE.
IF WE TRY TO PAY THE STIPEND AT THE END OF THIS SCHOOL YEAR, BUT STAFF THAT HAS BEEN DEDICATED AND COMMITTED, UNLIKE ANYBODY ELSE THAT HAVE BEEN ON THE FRONT LINE, IF WE CAN'T PAY THEM, I'M SURE THAT WE CAN'T PAY ANYBODY ELSE THAT WE CORRECT AFTER WHILE WE DID GET TWO POSITIONS SNUCK IN AFTER THE BOARD ONLY APPROVED FOR THOSE TWO INDIVIDUALS COMBINED ARE RECEIVING OVER $200,000.
HOW ARE WE GOING TO CONTINUE TO PAY? IF ALL THE CHILDREN WITH DISABILITY WERE TO FILE A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT, WHAT IMPACT WOULD IT HAVE ON THIS SYSTEM CONSIDERING THAT IS WHERE THE MAJORITY OF YOUR FUNDING COME FROM.
THEY FILED ON THE TITLE, ONE, TITLE, TWO, TITLE NINE, IDA, CIVIL RIGHTS AND FIVE OH FOUR.
AND I CAN CONTINUE IF YOU WANT.
AND WE CAN'T KEEP TRYING TO CREATE SOMETHING OUT OF NOTHING.
ANY OTHER COMMENTS FROM THE AUDIENCE? SEE NONE.
WHAT I'M SEEING NOW, UH, BACK TO THE BOARD, MR. LANDIS.
I JUST WANTED TO SPEAK BRIEFLY.
THIS TIME OF NIGHT, I CAN BE ANYBODY.
SO I JUST WANTED TO SPEAK FEW THINGS ON THESE ITEMS. I THINK I SPOKE TO THIS LAST WEEK AND JUST TO GET SOME CLARITY ON THIS, BECAUSE SOMEBODY COME TO THE, MY I'M TRYING TO SEE WHO WAS THE YES.
SO, UM, FOR CLARA AND TRANSPARENCY, TWO OF THESE POSITIONS ALREADY EXIST.
THEY JUST BEING REPURPOSED IN THE NAME OF THE NAMES HAVE CHANGED THE CORRECT? YES, SIR.
AND THOSE TWO POSITIONS ON THE DIRECTOR OF EQUITY AND DIVERSITY, WHICH WAS THE DIRECTOR OF EEOC OR DIRECTOR EQUAL OPPORTUNITY, EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY COMMISSION.
AND THE OTHER ONE IS CHIEF OF LITERACY, WHICH WAS DEPUTY SUPERINTENDENT FOR INSTRUCTIONAL SERVICES.
[06:05:01]
I JUST WANTED TO GET CLARITY ON THAT.MY NEXT THING THAT I WANTED TO BRING UP, AND THESE ARE ACTUALLY THE NOTES FROM OUR SUPERINTENDENT SEARCH LAST YEAR, BACK WHEN MS. LESLIE BROWN AND DR.
TOWNS WERE INTERVIEWED, THEN THE QUESTIONS THAT WE'LL COMPILE FROM THIS WERE QUESTIONS THAT CAME DIRECTLY FROM OUR COMMUNITY INPUT MEETINGS.
BACK WHEN WE WERE CONDUCTING OUR SUPERINTENDENT SEARCH AT THAT TIME, THIS WAS ONE OF THE QUESTIONS DR.
TOWNS, UH, AND MS. LESLIE BROWN, WOULD YOU BE WILLING TO CREATE A CABINET POSITION THAT SOLELY FOCUSES ON EQUITABLE DISTRIBUTION OF SCHOOL RELATED RESOURCES, EITHER A CHIEF EQUITY OFFICER OR OFFICE OF DARK UP DIVERSITY.
NOW THESE WERE THE, THESE WERE THE COMMUNICATIONS THAT WE HAD WITH OUR COMMUNITY.
WE ASKED THESE QUESTIONS DURING THAT MEETING AT THAT TIME, AND THERE WAS A LOT OF SUPPORT BEHIND IT.
THERE ARE SEVERAL REASONS WHY WE NEED SOME OF THESE POSITIONS.
MOST SPECIFICALLY, THE DIRECTOR OF EQUITY AND DIVERSITY.
AND I JUST GIVE SOME NUMBERS JUST FOR CLARITY.
CURRENTLY WE HAVE 30 UNDER-PERFORMANCE SCHOOLS TO 52% OF ALL AFRICAN-AMERICAN MALES ARE NOT ON TRACK TO GRADUATE YET.
FIRST TIME OFFENDERS IN PARISH PRISON, THREE 48% OF ALL STUDENTS ARE GRADUATED FROM HIGH SCHOOL.
I'M SORRY, AFRICAN-AMERICAN STUDENTS THAT GRADUATED FROM HIGH SCHOOL WITHOUT A BASIC CREDENTIAL ON THEIR DIPLOMAS FOR THE AVERAGE ACT SCORE RIGHT NOW IN BATON ROUGE IS A 16.
THERE IS A SERIOUS PROBLEM, AND WE HAVE TO FIX IT.
THESE ARE NOT FACTS SOLELY FROM MAYBE YARD.
THESE COME FROM THE STATE BECAUSE WE HAVE TO REPORT IT AND TURN IT INTO THE STATE PLAN.
WE PUT, WE HAVE TO DO SOMETHING AND WE HAVE TO DO SOMETHING FAST FOR OUR STUDENTS IN REGARDS TO THIS, AS IT REGARDS TO EQUITY AND DIVERSITY.
UM, NOT HIM SECRETARY, PLEASE CONDUCT A VOTE.
[J.1. Resolution: Adoption of 2021 Millage]
TO J ONE RESOLUTION, UH, ADOPTION CONSIDERATION, OR REQUEST TO ADOPT A RESOLUTION AS REQUIRED BY LAW FOR THE OFFICE OF THE ASSESSOR NO LATER THAN JUNE 1ST, 2021 FOR THE PURPOSES OF LEVYING MILLAGES EFFECTIVE ON THE 21 ASSESSMENT ROLES.I ALWAYS FEEL LIKE THE MIC IS NOT CLOSE ENOUGH WITH MODERN TECHNOLOGY.
BE IT RESOLVED THAT THE FOLLOWING MILLAGES ARE HEREBY LEVIED ON THE 2021 TAX ROLL ON ALL PROPERTIES, SUBJECT TO TAXATION BY THESE BARRIERS PARENTS SCHOOL BOARD, UH, A FOR GENERAL FUND CONSTITUTIONAL TAX, 4.998 MEALS, SPECIAL MAINTENANCE TAX, 0.99 MEALS, SPECIAL TAX ADDITIONAL AID TO PUBLIC SCHOOLS, 6.17 MEALS, SPECIAL TAX ADDITIONAL TEACHERS, 2.6, FOUR MEALS, SPECIAL TAX EMPLOYEE SALARIES AND BENEFITS.
1.77 SPECIAL TAX EMPLOYEE SALARIES AND BENEFITS.
6.78 SPECIAL TAX REPLACING REDUCED STATE AND LOCAL RECEIPTS.
4.73 SPECIAL TAX EMPLOYEE SALARIES AND BENEFITS 5.69 SPECIAL TAX EMPLOYEE SALARIES AND BENEFITS 6.82, WHICH IS A TOTAL OF 40.57 MEALS FOR THE GENERAL FUND AND FOR THE A D A P P SPECIAL TEXT TO SUPPORT A D A P B ZERO POINTS 68 MEALS ALTOGETHER.
IT FURTHER, FURTHER RESOLVED THAT THE PROPER ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICIALS OF THE PARISH OF EAST BATON ROUGE, STATE OF LOUISIANA B, AND THEY ARE HERE BY EMPOWERED, AUTHORIZED AND DIRECTED TO SPREAD SAID, TEXAS, AS HEARING ABOVE
[06:10:01]
SET FORTH UPON THE ASSESSMENT ROLE OF SAID PARISH FOR THE YEAR 2021.AND TO MAKE THE COLLECTION OF THE TAX IS IMPOSED FOR AND ON BEHALF OF THE TAXING AUTHORITY, ACCORDING TO LAW, AND THAT THE TAX IS HERE IN LEVIED SHALL BECOME A PERMANENT LIEN AND PRIVILEGE ON ALL PROPERTIES.
SUBJECT TO TAXATION, AS HERE IN SAID FORTH AND COLLECTION THEREOF SHALL BE ENFORCEABLE IN THE MANNER PROVIDED BY LAW.
THE FOREGOING RESOLUTION WAS READ IN FULL.
THE ROLE WAS CALLED AND, OH, I DON'T HAVE TO READ THAT PART.
IT'S BEEN A LONG TIME SINCE I DID A RESOLUTION.
DO I NEED A MOTION OR THE, OKAY, SO MS. COLLINS MOVES AND MR. HOWARD SECONDS, MS. DYSON.
I WOULD LIKE MS. LOPEZ TO COME UP AND HELP US ALL UNDERSTAND THIS, INCLUDING OUR VIEWING AUDIENCE.
SO WHAT WE'RE DOING WITH THIS RESOLUTION IS WE ARE BASICALLY PROVIDING THE TAX ASSESSOR WITH THE MILLS THAT WE WOULD LIKE TO USE FOR NEXT YEAR ON THE TAX ROLLS.
THIS IS NOT INCREASING, THIS IS NOT ROLLING FORWARD.
THIS IS SIMPLY SAYING THESE ARE OUR MILLAGES.
PLEASE PUT THEM ON YOUR TAX ASSESSMENT ROLES SO THAT WE CAN COLLECT PROPERTY TAXES NEXT YEAR.
THAT IS, THAT IS WHAT THIS DOES.
SO IT'S JUST GIVING US THE ABILITY TO COLLECT WHAT WE'RE ALREADY CURRENTLY COLLECTING.
YES, MA'AM ON THE 2021 ASSESSMENT ROLE.
SO, YOU KNOW, OTHER, UH, COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS FROM THE BOARD, WE GO TO THE ADI AUDIENCE ON THE RESOLUTION.
HELLO, AGAIN, I'M A MATHEMATICIAN, NOT A HISTORIAN.
SO I MAY HAVE THESE DETAILS OFF BY A LITTLE BIT, BUT IT SEEMS AS THOUGH SOMETIME WITHIN THE LAST APPROXIMATELY ONE YEAR, YOU HAD A DISCUSSION WHERE YOU WERE TRYING TO DECIDE WHETHER TO ROLL FORWARD OR TO NOT ROLL FORWARD AND CHOSE TO KICK THE CAN DOWN THE ROAD.
AND YOU KICKED A LITTLE TOO HARD AND YOU MISSED THE DEADLINE.
AND SO YOU DIDN'T GET TO ROLL TAXES FORWARD, BUT I SEE, I THINK I SAW PERHAPS IN ONE OF THE ARTICLES IN THE ADVOCATES, THAT THERE WOULD BE AN OPPORTUNITY TO DO THAT IN A SUBSEQUENT YEAR.
SO I WAS PUZZLED WHEN I DISCOVERED THAT THERE WAS AN AD PLACED IN THE LOCAL PAPER FOR A PUBLIC HEARING IN MARCH.
SO IT SEEMS AS THOUGH THERE WAS AN ADMINISTRATIVE DECISION TO GIVE PROPERTY OWNERS A TAX BREAK, YET AGAIN OF EIGHT AND A HALF OR $9 MILLION A YEAR, SHIFTING THE BURDEN UNFAIRLY OVER TO PROP TWO, A SALES TAXES, WHICH ARE REGRESSIVE AND UNFAIR AS OPPOSED TO PROPERTY TAXES, WHICH ARE A LITTLE LESS REGRESSIVE.
AND SO I REALIZED I CAN'T ASK QUESTIONS, BUT I'M REALLY PUZZLED ABOUT WHY THAT MARCH HEARING DIDN'T HAPPEN AND WHY EFL, AT LEAST AS RECENTLY AS LAST WEEK, YOU DIDN'T HAVE EIGHT OR $9 MILLION TO PUT TEACHERS' STIPENDS ON THIS FISCAL YEAR.
WHY YOU'RE GOING TO DEFAULT KEEP THE TAX PROPERTY TAX RATE LOWER THAN WHAT THE VOTERS APPROVED BY 5%.
UM, I UNDERSTAND THE REPUBLICAN THEME IS NO TAXES PERIOD.
SOMEHOW GOVERNMENT'S MAGICALLY GOING TO DO SERVICES WITHOUT COLLECTING ANY TAXES, I GUESS JUST BY CHARGING POOR PEOPLE FEES, BUT IT SEEMS INCREDIBLY IRRESPONSIBLE NOT TO HAVE BROUGHT THIS FORWARD IN TIME TO AT LEAST CONSIDER AND THEN MAKE A VOTE THAT YOU'RE NOT GOING TO ROLL FORWARD.
I DON'T KNOW IF YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE YOUR ATTORNEY SPEAK.
MY GUESS IS SINCE IT'S APRIL AND THIS IS DUE BY JUNE 1ST, YOU HAVE PROBABLY YET AGAIN, KICK THE CAN DOWN THE ROAD FOR ANOTHER YEAR OR THREE OR FIVE OR WHATEVER, AND YOU'LL NEVER GET THOSE TWO MILLS BACK.
FAN, ANY OTHER COMMENTS FROM THE AUDIENCE SEEING NONE BACK TO THE BOARD, MADAM SECRETARY, PLEASE CONDUCT A VOTE, PLEASE VOTE.
[06:15:07]
THE MOTION CARRIES MOTION CARRIES.[Additional Item]
TO TAKE IT'S VERY LATE, BUT I'M GOING TO TAKE A, UH, JUST A VERY BRIEF, UH, MOMENT OF PERSONAL PRIVILEGE.UM, I COMPLETELY AGREE WITH MR. HOWARD IN HIS COMMENTS EARLIER, AND MAYBE THAT'S, YOU KNOW, THIS MAY, I MAY WELL NEED TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY AND I IT'S WHAT I'LL, IT'S ALL I'VE EVER KNOWN.
WHEN I CAME ON THE BUS, EVERY SUPERINTENDENT I'VE EVER HAD AND EVERY BOARD MEMBER I'VE EVER SERVED WITH HAS BEEN JUST, YOU KNOW, IT GETS PERSONAL.
AND I MEAN, FOR THOSE OF US THAT HAVE BEEN TOGETHER IN JAIL, YOU'VE BEEN HERE A LONG, A LOT LONGER THAN ALL OF US.
AND IT'S A SHAME BECAUSE WE GOT TO TALK ABOUT IDEAS AND NOT PEOPLE.
AND I I'M HAPPY TO VISIT WITH MR. CHAIRMAN ABOUT WHAT WE CAN AND CAN'T DO.
I KNOW THERE ARE LAWS REGARDING, YOU KNOW, SPEECH AND THINGS LIKE THAT, BUT I DO MUCH BETTER WHEN WE TALK ABOUT IDEAS, WE TALK ABOUT CONCEPTS.
WE KEEP, WE FOCUS ON CHILDREN AND WE DON'T ATTACK EITHER EACH OTHER PERSONALLY, UH, OR, OR OUR PROFESSIONALS OR OUR STAFF OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT.
AND AGAIN, I TAKE A BIT OF RESPONSIBILITY FOR IT BECAUSE IT'S ALL I'VE EVER KNOWN.
IT'S THE WAY IT WAS WHEN I CAME ON THE BOARD.
AND THE ONLY SUPERINTENDENT I'VE EVER WORKED WITH THAT WASN'T ATTACK WAS MS. BROWN, BECAUSE SHE WASN'T HERE THAT LONG.
AND SO I'M HAPPY TO WORK WITH YOU AND MR. SHAMBLIN TO SEE, YOU KNOW, WHAT THE OPTIONS ARE, BUT IT'S, IT'S, IT'S REALLY DISAPPOINTING.
SO THAT'S THE SAD PART OF MY, UH, I TAKE SOME RESPONSIBILITY FOR IT AND I'LL SEE WHAT I, I CAN DO BETTER.
UM, ON A HAPPIER NOTE, I WANT TO TAKE A MOMENT TO, UH, DO A FEW THINGS.
I WANT TO GIVE A SHOUT OUT TO MY DEPUTIES WHO ARE HERE AND WHO COME TO THESE MEETINGS AND THEY'VE GOT TO STAND IN THE BACK.
UM, NOT, NOT TO DISH YOU, BUT THE GUY WHO WAS THERE BEFORE HE ACTUALLY WOULD CHECK THE ROOM FOR ME AND LET ME KNOW IF THERE WAS ANY BODY TO SPEAK.
UH, BUT ANYWAY, UM, I'M GOING TO GIVE A GREAT DEAL OF CREDIT AND, UH, LOVE TO THE STAFF.
THANK YOU ALL FOR, UH, THESE LATE NIGHTS AND THE WORK YOU'VE DONE.
AND IT'S NOT, IT'S NOT US PATTING OURSELVES ON THE BACK.
YOU DID A GOOD JOB OF TURNING AROUND, UH, WHAT WE DID, LIKE WHAT HAPPENED LAST WEEK IN, INTO SOME REALLY GOOD STUFF THIS WEEK.
AND I JUST WANT TO THANK EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU.
AND THEN, AND THEN I WANT TO GIVE A LITTLE BIT OF LOVE TO OUR PRODUCTION TEAM BECAUSE THEY COME OUT HERE AND SET UP BASICALLY A MOVIE STUDIO, UH, EVERY WEEK.
SO, YEAH, AND THIS IS BY NO MEANS A PAT ON THE BACK, BUT I WANT TO THANK THE BOARD MEMBERS FOR THEIR SERVICE.
UM, AND I THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMITMENT.
I THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU'RE DOING.
I KNOW THAT EVEN THOUGH I MAY DISAGREE WITH YOU ON VOTES, I DON'T THINK YOU'RE TRYING TO DO ANYTHING BAD.
I DON'T THINK YOU'RE TRYING TO HURT CHILDREN.
I DON'T THINK YOU TRYING TO HURT FAMILIES.
I THINK YOU'RE TRYING TO DO WHAT YOU BELIEVE IS THE BEST AND REPRESENT YOUR CONSTITUENCY.
AND, AND NOW THAT IS THAT SORT OF RELATIVELY LONG, UH, POINT OF PERSONAL PRIVILEGE, UH, EXTENDED.
SO MR. HOWARD, UH, ORGANIZATIONAL ITEMS, I'M SORRY.
WAIT, BEFORE WE GO ON, I THINK MR.
I JUST WANTED TO THANK SINCE THIS IS ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT WEEK.
I REALLY WANT TO THANK MISS APRIL ARMAND, WHO KEEPS US ALL STRAIGHT AND SPENDS MORE TIME HERE THAN ANYONE ELSE.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR HELP AND YOUR SERVICE.
WE COULDN'T DO THIS WITHOUT YOU.
AND IN CASE ANYONE REALLY WANTS TO KNOW YOU DO RUN.
THE BOARD IS NOT WHOEVER, BUT THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR SELFLESS TIME AND SERVICE.
[K.1. Announcement of Meetings]
HOWL.I MEAN, A COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE MEETINGS WILL BE HELD ON MAY SIX, 2021 AT 5:00 PM.
AND THE PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT CENTER, THE REGULAR BOARD MEMBER MEETING IS SCHEDULED TO BE HELD ON MAY 20TH, 2021 IF 5:00 PM AT THE PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT CENTER.
THANK YOU, MR. HOWARD AND MR. HOWARD MOVES THAT WE ADJOURN.