[A. Meeting Opening]
[00:00:04]
TODAY IS THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 22ND, 2024.
IT IS 5:00 PM UH, WELCOME TO THE REGULAR MEETING, UH, OF THE EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH SCHOOL BOARD.
THE INVOCATION TONIGHT BE LED BY SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER NATHAN RUSS, AND THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE WILL BE LED BY CADET SERGEANT SKY WILLIAMS OF BELLOR HIGH SCHOOL, ACCOMPANIED BY ARMY INSTRUCTOR, FIRST SERGEANT, RETIRED WILLIAMS, C ALSO BROOK JUNIOR.
I, OUR HIGH SCHOOL TEACHER OF THE YEAR.
LET US STAND TO DO, PLEASE JOIN ME IN A PRAYER.
OUR LORD IN HEAVEN, WE PRAISE YOU.
WE THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING THAT YOU ARE.
WE THANK YOU FOR THE BLESSINGS THAT YOU'VE BESTOWED UPON US, THE FOOD ON OUR PLATES, THE ROOFS OVER OUR HEAD, THE CLOTHES ON OUR BACK, BUT, UH, MORE SO THAN EVERETT.
LORD, WE THANK YOU FOR THE FAMILIES AND THE CHILDREN OF THIS COMMUNITY.
WE PRAY THAT AS WE DO THE WORK OF, OF YOUR PEOPLE, LORD, THAT WE WILL KEEP THOSE CHILDREN AND, AND FAMILIES IN MIND AS WE, UH, GO FORWARD AND DISCUSS AND THINK AND TALK ABOUT WHAT IS BEST FOR OUR FAMILIES.
GOOD EVENING, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN.
I AM FIRST SERGEANT WILLIAM C ALSO BROOK, JR.
I AM THE LET ONE INSTRUCTOR FOR ALL INCOMING FRESHMEN AT BELAIRE MAGNET HIGH SCHOOL.
I BRING TO YOU GREETINGS FROM PRINCIPAL MS. VERDE BATIS, FACULTY, STAFF, AND ADMINISTRATION, MR. ADAM SMITH, SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS, CALLER POWELL LEWIS, BOARD PRESIDENT AND BOARD MEMBERS.
IT IS MY DISTINCT HONOR AND PLEASURE TO INTRODUCE TO YOU ONE OF THE OUTSTANDING JRTC CADETS AT BEL AIR MAGNET HIGH SCHOOL.
CADET WILLIAMS IS THE LET TO CADET OF THE YEAR FOR EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH.
THIS WONDERFUL CADET IS A CHEERLEADER AS WELL AS A MEMBER OF THE BETA CLUB AND HONORS SOCIETY.
ADDITIONALLY, AS A SOPHOMORE IN HER SECOND YEAR OF JLTC, SHE PARTICIPATED IN THE ACADEMIC AND LEADERSHIP BOARD.
UPON GRADUATING, SHE PLANS TO ATTEND NEW YORK UNIVERSITY AND MAJOR IN BUSINESS WITH A CON, A CONCENTRATION IN CULINARY ARTS.
HER DREAM IS TO BECOME A PASTRY CHEF BY LOSE BY, BY UTILIZING HER NEWFOUND TALENT OF CREATING NEW DESIGNS IN PASTRY.
LATER ON, SHE PLANS TO RETURN TO NEW ORLEANS TO OPEN UP A BAKERY SHOP.
SHE WOULD LIKE TO OPEN A BAKERY FEATURING ORIGINAL AND INNOVATIVE IDEAS.
CADET WILLIAMS IS THE DAUGHTER OF MS. SABLE WILLIAMS, MANSOURS MADAMS. HERE TO LEAD US IN THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.
I PRESENT TO YOU CADET STAFF SERGEANT SKY WILLIAMS OF BEL AIR MAGNET HIGH SCHOOL.
HI, Y'ALL READY? I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS, ONE NATION UNDER GOD IN THE VISIBLE, LIVE TO YOU AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.
WE WILL NOW HAVE OUR ROLL CALL, DISTRICT THREE.
PRESENT, DISTRICT NINE, VICE PRESIDENT.
[B. Minutes]
B ONE, MEETING MINUTES, APPROVAL OF THE SCHOOL BOARD MINUTES OF THE JANUARY 25TH, 2024 REGULAR SCHOOL BOARD MEETING.[00:05:02]
SPECIAL BOARD MEETING AND THE FEBRUARY 8TH, 2024 COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE MEETING AS PUBLISHED IN THE OFFICIAL JOURNAL.IS THERE A MOTION IT HAS BEEN MOVED BY MR. RUSS? IS THERE A SECOND? MR. GOE? OKAY.
IT HAS BEEN SECONDED BY MR. GOE.
UH, COMMENTS FROM THE BOARD? OKAY.
SEEING NONE WILL RETURN, UH, TO COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC.
SEEING NONE, RETURNING TO COMMENTS FROM THE BOARD.
MADAM PRESIDENT, CAN WE DO A ROLL CALL? YES.
WE WILL NOW ENTER INTO A ROLL CALL.
DISTRICT NINE, VICE PRESIDENT MARTIN? YES.
[C. Information Only]
C INFORMATION ONLY.UH, ARE THERE ANY, UH, IS THERE A MONTHLY FINANCIAL REPORT FOR TODAY OR PERSONNEL CHANGES? OKAY.
LOOKS LIKE MS. LOPEZ IS COMING TO THE FRONT BOARD MEMBERS, SUPERINTENDENT SMITH, MS. KYLE LEWIS.
UM, TODAY I'M GONNA DO THE GENERAL FUND BUDGET AND SPECIAL REVENUE, SPECIAL REVENUE BUDGETS FOR JANUARY, 2024 REVIEW, AS I DO EVERY MONTH FOR Y'ALL.
SO THROUGHOUT THIS PRESENTATION, I'VE ALSO INCLUDED JANUARY, 2023 JUST AS, UH, UH, INCLUDED FOR CONTEXT.
SO Y'ALL CAN SEE THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THIS YEAR AND LAST YEAR AS WE CONTINUE ON THE JANUARY, 2024 TOTAL.
MFP ENROLLMENT IS 38,189, WHICH IS A DECREASE FROM PREVIOUS YEAR OF 294 STUDENTS.
THE SCHOOL TYPES OF PERCENTAGES ARE INCLUDED FOR YOUR REVIEW.
THE TOTAL GENERAL FUND STAFF BY FUNCTION IS ALSO INCLUDED AND AS EXPECTED, YOUR TEACHERS ARE YOUR LARGEST POPULATION.
ABOVE, YOU'LL NOTE THE MAJOR SOURCES OF REVENUE FOR THE GENERAL FUND.
CURRENTLY, THE DISTRICT HAS COLLECTED APPROXIMATELY 62% OF OUR PROPOSED PROPERTY TAXES.
THE DISTRICT RECEIVES THE YEARLY PROPERTY TAX ON JANUARY 15TH, AND TOTAL PROPERTY TAXES COLLECTED BY THE DISTRICT HAS BEEN $146 MILLION TO DATE WITH AN ADDITIONAL 60 MILLION ANTICIPATED IN FEBRUARY.
SALES TAX IS 45 DAYS IN ARREAR, SO WE DO NOT COMPLETELY COLLECT ALL OF OUR SALES TAXES FOR THIS FISCAL YEAR UNTIL AUGUST OF 2024.
MFP HAS ADJUSTED BASE UPON THE OCTOBER COUNT.
AS YOU KNOW, WE DO TWO COUNTS EVERY YEAR.
WE DO OCTOBER ONE AND FEBRUARY ONE.
THE LDL ASSISTS WILL NOT CLOSE UNTIL TOMORROW, SO WE DO NOT HAVE A FORMALIZED FEBRUARY COUNT AS OF THIS POINT ABOVE, OR THE GENERAL FUND EXPENDITURES THROUGH JANUARY, 2024.
AS EXPECTED, YOUR THREE HIGHEST CATEGORIES ARE SALARIES, BENEFITS, AND CHARTER SCHOOLS.
CURRENTLY, WE'RE RUNNING AT 57% OF OUR PROPOSED EXPENDITURES, AND AT THIS POINT OF THE YEAR, WE EXPECT TO BE AT ABOUT 58%.
SO WE'RE, WE'RE EXACTLY EXACTLY WHERE WE'RE SUPPOSED TO BE.
WE ARE CURRENTLY WORKING ON THE SECOND STIPEND PAYMENT THAT WILL BE RELEASED ON MARCH 22ND FOR ALL EMPLOYEES ABOVE YOU.
WE'LL NOTE THE MAJOR SOURCES OF REVENUE FOR OUR SPECIAL REVENUE FUNDS OF THE DISTRICT.
CURRENTLY, THE DISTRICT HAS COLLECTED APPROXIMATELY 48% OF THE PROPOSED REVENUE.
THE REASON THIS IS IMPORTANT TO NOTE IS THAT OUR PROPS ONE, TWO, AND THREE AGAIN ARE 100% SALES TAX DRIVEN.
YOU WILL NOT COMPLETELY COLLECT ALL THAT MONEY UNTIL AUGUST OF 2024.
THE OTHER SOURCES ARE GRANT FUNDS.
WITH ALL OF OUR GRANTS, IN ORDER TO RECEIVE THE FUNDS, YOU MUST SPEND THE FUNDS AND WE ARE REIMBURSED AT THAT POINT.
SO THEY'RE ALWAYS ABOUT 30 DAYS BEHIND, ABOVE THE SPECIAL REVENUE EXPENDITURES THROUGH JANUARY, 2024.
SALARIES AND BENEFITS AGAIN, AT OUR HIGHEST EXPENDITURES, WE ARE CURRENTLY AT 59% AND OUR EXPECTATION IS 58% OF THE YEAR.
SO OUR JANUARY, 2024 FINANCIALS BY PERCENTAGE.
SO AS WE SAID, OUR GENERAL FUND, WE'VE COLLECTED ABOUT 62% OF OUR REVENUE.
[00:10:01]
HALF OF YEAR OF MFP.WE HAVE TILL AUGUST TO GET OUR SALES TAX.
WE HAVE COLLECTED ALMOST ALL OF OUR PROPERTY TAXES AT THIS POINT.
THE PROPS, AS I STATED, ARE ABOUT NEAR 50%, BUT THEY HAVE A FULL NOTHER 45 DAYS TO GROW OUT AT THE END OF THE YEAR.
AND THEN ESSER TITLE AND OUR NON-MAJORS ARE WAITING ON REIMBURSEMENTS.
OUR EXPENDITURES ARE RIGHT WHERE THEY BELONG.
THE ONLY ONE THAT IS AN ODD ONE IS OUR PROP TWO AND OUR PROP THREE.
AS YOU KNOW, IT WAS THE, UH, CONSIDERATION OF THE BOARD TO PAY THE STIPENDS OUT OF PROP THREE AND PROP TWO, UM, TO PAY THEIR OWN.
SO THOSE ARE A LITTLE BIT HIGHER THAN THEY NORMALLY WOULD BE, BUT AFTER THE STIPENDS THIS YEAR, WHATEVER THE PLEASURE OF THE BOARD, WE FOR NEXT YEAR WILL BE ADJUSTED AT THAT TIME.
UM, IS THERE A PERSONNEL CHANGE REPORT OR ANYTHING OF, OF THAT NATURE TODAY? OKAY.
[D.1. Update from Superintendent]
ALPHABET D RECEIVE AS INFORMATION UPDATE FROM THE SUPERINTENDENT.THERE ARE MANY THINGS TO CELEBRATE IN OUR SCHOOL SYSTEM THIS MONTH.
I WOULD LIKE TO ONCE AGAIN TO CONGRATULATE DERRICK WYNN, A THIRD GRADE MATH AND SCIENCE TEACHER AT CREST WORTH ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.
HE'S A RECIPIENT OF A MILKEN EDUCATIONAL AWARD, WHICH COMES WITH A CASH VALUE OF $25,000.
MILKEN AWARD FOUNDER LAUREN MILKEN, JOINED BY LOUISIANA SUPERINTENDENT KAY BROMLEY, PRESENTED THIS AWARD BEFORE ASSEMBLY OF CHEERING STUDENTS, PROUD COLLEAGUES, DIGNITARIES AND MEDIA, BOTH THE BOYS AND GIRLS, INDOOR TRACK AND FIELD CHAMPIONS CALLED EBR HOME.
WE PROUDLY, PROUDLY CONGRATULATE THE TEAMS AT GLEN OAKS HIGH SCHOOL AND SCOTLANDVILLE HIGH SCHOOL FOR THEIR ACCOMPLISHMENT IN BRINGING HOME THE RECENT STATE CHAMPIONSHIP.
FEBRUARY IS NATIONAL MAGNET SCHOOL MONTH.
WE HONOR THESE SITES FOR THEIR AND THEIR FAMILIES AND SCHOOLS FOR THEIR CONTRIBUTIONS FOR THEIR DIVERSE PORTFOLIO OF SCHOOLS IN OUR DISTRICT.
ALSO, FEBRUARY IS NATIONAL BLACK HISTORY MONTH.
I WOULD LIKE TO THANK OUR STUDENTS, SCHOOL STAFF, DEPARTMENT HEADS AND COMMUNICATION TEAM FOR THEIR, FOR EVERYTHING THEY'VE DONE TO MAKE THIS MONTH A SPECIAL MONTH FOR OUR STUDENTS.
WE WILL CONTINUE TO CELEBRATE AND PROMOTE THE PAST AND PRESENT COMPLIMENTS OF OUR AMERICAN COMMUNITY MEMBERS IN OUR COMMUNITY.
LOOKING AHEAD TO MARCH WEEK, THE CELEBRATIONS CONTINUED WITH THE FOLLOWING KEY DATES.
NATIONAL SCHOOL SOCIAL WORKER WEEK IS MARCH 3RD THROUGH THE NINTH NATIONAL.
SEL WEEK IS MARCH 4TH THROUGH THE EIGHTH AND INTERNATIONAL SEL.
MARCH IS ALSO KNOWN AS ARTS IN OUR SCHOOLS.
WE LOOK FORWARD FOR SCHOOLS FOR SHOWCASING THEIR FINE ART PROGRAMS. THE DISTRICT WILL CONTINUE TO HOST THE FAFSA NIGHT FOR ALL INTERESTED STUDENTS ON TUESDAY, MARCH 5TH, A CT ASSESSMENT WILL ALSO BEGIN AND BE COMPLETED BY EACH OF OUR DISTRICT HIGH SCHOOLS.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON ALL EVENTS ABOVE SHARED BY THE SCHOOLS WILL BE SHARED BY OUR DISTRICTS IN THE UPCOMING DAYS.
MADAM PRESIDENT, THAT CONCLUDES MY REPORT.
UH, THANK YOU SUPERINTENDENT FOR YOUR REPORT, BUT I WOULD ASK, UH, THERE HAVE BEEN SOME MAJOR CHANGES IN THE LEADERSHIP AT THE SCHOOL LEVEL OR RIGHT ABOVE THE SCHOOL LEVEL.
UH, WOULD YOU PLEASE TAKE A MOMENT TO DESCRIBE THOSE CHANGES AND, AND WHAT'S CHANGED AND, AND HOW THAT HAS, UH, COME ABOUT? MOST DEFINITELY.
UM, UNDER THE PRE PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATION, WHAT WE HAD WAS WE HAD EXECUTIVE DIRECTORS WHO SUPPORT, UH, SCHOOLS.
THEY WERE COACHING SCHOOLS FROM, UH, AREAS FROM ELEMENTARY THROUGH MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOL.
MAJORITY OF OUR ELEMENTARY, MAJORITY OF OUR EXECUTIVE DIRECTORS, THEY HAD ELEMENTARY EXPERIENCE.
SO WHAT I WANTED TO DO IS TO ALIGN THE STRENGTHS NOT WORK FROM A DEFICIT.
UH, WHAT NATIONAL RESEARCH SHOWS IS THAT IF YOU LOWER THE, UH, PRINCIPAL SUPERVISORY TO AROUND NO MORE THAN 10 TO 12 SCHOOLS, YOU GET BETTER RESULTS WHERE YOU CAN HAVE INTIMATE RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN THE SUPERVISORS AS WELL AS THE, UH, THE, UH, PRINCIPALS BECAUSE WHAT YOU WANT IS THAT INTIMATE RELATIONSHIP WHERE THEY CAN SPEND TIME BECAUSE THE ROLE OF THE PRINCIPAL SUPERVISORS HAS CHANGED OVER THE YEARS.
IT'S NOT JUST ABOUT SUPERVISORS, BUT IT ALSO IS ABOUT COACHING.
AND, AND WE HAD SOME, UM, EXECUTIVE DIRECTORS THAT HAD UP TO 17 SCHOOLS, UH, IN ELEMENTARY, MIDDLE, AND HIGH SCHOOL, AND THERE WAS INEQUITY WITH SOME EXECUTIVE
[00:15:01]
DIRECTORS WHO MIGHT ONLY HAD FIVE OR EIGHT SCHOOLS.AND SO WHAT WE WANTED TO DO IS TO KIND OF BALANCE THAT OUT AND TO ALLOW, UH, THOSE EXECUTIVE DIRECTORS TO WORK FROM AN AREA OF STRENGTHS.
AND I SHARED THAT WITH THE PRINCIPAL AS WELL AS THE BOARD MEMBERS.
AND I THINK THAT'S A MAJOR SHIFT BECAUSE I'VE DONE THE WORK OF AN EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR.
UH, MY PRIMARY, WHEN I WAS AN EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, I PRIMARILY FOCUSED WITH MIDDLE SCHOOLS, WHICH WAS MY AREA OF STRENGTH AT THE TIME.
AND SO I JUST THOUGHT IT WAS A DISADVANTAGE FOR SOME OF OUR EXECUTIVE DIRECTORS TO BE COVERING, UM, JUST THE AMOUNT OF SCHOOLS THAT THEY WERE COVERING AND, UM, AND NOT BEING ABLE TO ACTUALLY SPEND TIME, QUALITY TIME WITH THE PRINCIPALS THAT THEY'RE WORKING WITH.
AND I, I FULLY AGREE WITH THOSE THINGS.
I WOULD JUST ENCOURAGE YOU FOR IN THE FUTURE IN SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT TO HAVE THINGS OF SUBSTANCE LIKE THIS.
THIS IS THE KIND OF THINGS WE NEED TO TALK ABOUT.
UH, A CALENDAR IS INTERESTING BUT NOT SUBSTANTIAL.
AND, UH, I I WOULD REALLY LIKE TO HAVE MEAT IN THIS AND, AND WHAT'S REALLY HAPPENING IN THE DISTRICT AND THE THINGS TO PUBLICIZE THAT TO SO EVERYONE CAN KNOW THAT AND THINGS LIKE THAT, BECAUSE I THINK THOSE ARE THE THINGS THAT ARE IMPORTANT FOR US TO BE FOCUSED ON.
[E.1. Board Appointees]
ALPHABET E REPORTS FROM BOARD APPOINTEES TO COMMITTEES AND AGENCIES.ARE THERE ANY, UM, REPORTS FROM, UH, BOARD MEMBERS THAT ARE SERVING ON COMMUNITY AGENCIES? OKAY, I DON'T HAVE ONE, BUT I WOULD LIKE TO TAKE A MOMENT OF PERSONAL PRIVILEGE TO RECOGNIZE ONE, ONE THING ABOUT OUR WONDERFUL SCHOOLS AND JUST I WANNA INVITE ALL OF MY COLLEAGUES ON THE BOARD TO COME ON MARCH 2ND TO THE ESPORT MADNESS, UH, UH, ESPORTS TOURNAMENT.
IT'S BEING HELD AT THE, AT OUR ESPORTS ARENA, WHICH ALSO DOUBLES SOMETIMES AS OUR PLANNING, UH, OR AS OUR PDC BUILDING.
UH, I WENT LAST TIME FOR A BRIEF PERIOD AND IT IS PHENOMENAL TO SEE THE STRENGTH OF THAT PROGRAM AND THE EXCITEMENT THAT THE KIDS HAVE, UH, UH, COMPETING VERY FORCEFULLY.
UM, BUT IT'S A VERY LARGELY STUDENT RUN THING AND REALLY INCREDIBLE OPERATION.
SO IT'S 10 TO THREE, UM, DOORS OPEN AT 9:00 AM SATURDAY, MARCH 2ND.
I WOULD REALLY ENCOURAGE EVERYBODY TO COME TO COME OUT THERE ON 3000 NORTH SHOREWOOD FOREST.
UH, UPON OF PRIVILEGE ON THE 28TH, UM, OF THIS MONTH, AND, UH, MR. SMITH DID MENTION THERE WAS BLACK HISTORY MONTH.
WE'VE BEEN IN THE PROCESS FOR THE LAST THREE OR FOUR WEEKS, MR. EUGENE COLLINS AND I PUTTING TOGETHER A, UM, PROGRAM AT DROCK.
THERE WILL BE A PRESS RELEASE IN A COUPLE DAYS, BUT I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY OF YOU GUYS IN HERE REMEMBER, BUT DROCK WAS THE FIRST ELEMENTARY SCHOOL INTEGRATED IN EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH.
WE'RE IN THE PROCESS OF CONTACTING AT LEAST SIX OF THOSE STUDENTS, THREE BLACKS, THREE WHITES, AND WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A, FIRST OF ALL, THESE PEOPLE WILL BE PRESENTED A PROCLAMATION FROM THE MAYOR'S OFFICE.
WE WILL HAVE, UH, STUDENTS DOING BOOK REPORTS FROM THERE, WE'LL MOVE INSIDE AND HAVE A PANEL DISCUSSION.
WE'RE GONNA BE ASKING THESE CHILDREN, YOU KNOW, WHAT WAS HAPPENING IN YOUR MINDS AT THIS TIME? IF YOU CAN REMEMBER, JUST KIND OF FIND OUT WHERE THEY WERE AT THE TIME.
AND A LOT OF PEOPLE MAY NOT REALIZE, BUT DROCK ELEMENTARY IS WHERE THE, IS THE SITE OF WHERE THE BATTLE OF BATON ROUGE WAS FOUGHT IN THE CIVIL WAR.
MR. DROCK WAS THE FIRST MAYOR OF BATON ROUGE.
THE BATON ROUGE GAZETTE WAS HIS NEWSPAPER, AND HE WAS ALSO A CONFEDERATE MAJOR.
SO WE JUST, IT IS IN, IN RECOGNITION OF BLACK HISTORY WEEK, WE JUST KIND OF WANT TO TALK ABOUT THESE THINGS, GET 'EM OUT IN THE OPEN, HOPEFULLY KINDA REVITALIZE DROCK AND GET THAT INTEREST BACK TO WHERE IT WAS A FEW YEARS AGO.
IT'S A GREAT SCHOOL OVER THERE, BUT IT'S BEEN KINDA LOST IN THE SHUFFLE WITH SO MANY DIFFERENT THINGS GOING ON.
UM, AND, UH, CLOSING SAYING THIS, THAT WAS A KIND OF A HEADSTONE PLAQUE ON THE CAMPUS THAT NOBODY KNEW WHAT IT WAS FOR AND KIDS WERE RUNNING AROUND PLAYING ON IT, PLAYING ON THE PLAYGROUND, TRIPPING OVER IT, HURTING THEMSELVES.
WELL, IT WAS A PLAQUE HONORING DROCK.
AND ABOUT FOUR OR FIVE YEARS AGO THAT PLAQUE WAS MOVED TO A MUSEUM IN WEST BATON ROUGE.
MR. COLLINS RECALLS AS A STUDENT RUNNING ON THE PLAYGROUND, HAVING TO BE AWARE THAT THIS PIECE OF CONCRETE WAS OUT THERE, BUT NOBODY KNEW IT WAS FAR.
SO I ENCOURAGE YOU ALL, UM, TO KEEP A LOOKOUT FOR THE PRESS RELEASE AND HOPEFULLY WE WILL HAVE A WONDERFUL PROGRAM AND
[00:20:01]
GET TO SHARE SOME OF THE UNDOCUMENTED HISTORY IN THIS SCHOOL SYSTEM.I HAVE ENTERED INTO THE QUEUE AS WELL.
UH, IN THE SPIRIT OF ANNOUNCEMENTS, I KNOW THAT TWO TONIGHT'S AGENDA IS PRETTY SHORT, AND I AM EXCITED ABOUT THAT BECAUSE OUR STUDENTS ARE PERFORMING AT INDEPENDENCE PARK THEATER THIS EVENING AT 7:00 PM UH, TO CLOSE OUT THEIR BLACK HISTORY MONTH, UH, ACTIVITIES WITH A HIP HOP PRESENTATION.
SO I CHALLENGE MY COLLEAGUES AND ALL OF YOU WHO ARE IN THE ROOM AND POSSIBLY THE LISTENING AUDIENCE AS WELL TO MAKE YOUR WAY OVER TO INDEPENDENCE PARK THEATER FOR 7:00 PM UM, BECAUSE I'M SURE THAT THEY WILL HAVE A, A WONDERFUL PRESENTATION, UH, TO CLOSE OUT THIS MONTH'S ACTIVITIES.
50 YEARS OF HIP HOP, 50 YEARS OF HIP HOP.
[F. Consent Agenda]
WE ARE NOW TO THE CONSENT AGENDA, MS. STEWART.THE FOLLOWING ITEMS ARE TO BE APPROVED AS PART OF THE CONSENT AGENDA AND CONSIDERED TO BE ROUTINE AND WILL BE ENACTED WITH ONE MOTION.
THERE WILL BE NO SEPARATE DISCUSSIONS OF ITEMS UNLESS A BOARD MEMBER SOW 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.
PROCEEDING THE LAST ITEM ON THE REGULAR AGENDA.
STIPEND CONSIDERATION OF THE REQUEST TO ACCEPT THE LDOE DIFFERENTIATED COMPENSATION ALLOCATION AND APPROVE THE ONE-TIME NON-REOCCURRING TEACHER STIPEND.
STRATEGIC ALIGNMENT OPERATIONAL EXCELLENCE OF MS. HALL.
NUMBER THREE, GRADUATION AGREEMENTS.
CONSIDERATION OF A REQUEST FOR THE APPROVAL OF AN AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH SCHOOL BOARD AND THE FOLLOWING, A SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY IN THE AMOUNT OF $60,500 FOR THE RENTAL OF FG CLARK ACTIVITY CENTER FOR HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATIONS B LOUISIANA STATE UNIVERSITY AND THE AMOUNT OF $55,360 FOR THE RENTAL OF THE PETE MAVIC ASSEMBLY CENTER FOR HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATIONS STRATEGIC ALIGNMENT OPERATIONAL EXCELLENCE FUNDING SOURCE GENERAL FUND.
PROFESSIONAL SERVICES CONTRACT YOUTH EDUCATIONAL SERVICES INCORPORATED.
CONSIDERATION OF A REQUEST FOR THE APPROVAL OF A PROFESSIONAL SERVICES CONTRACT BETWEEN THE EAST BATON ROUGE PERRY SCHOOL BOARD AND YOUTH EDUCATIONAL SERVICES INCORPORATED YES, IN THE AMOUNT OF $47,925 TO PROVIDE INSTRUCTION TO A CT CLASSES AT BRAMO HIGH STRATEGIC ALIGNMENT STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT AND DEVELOPMENT FUNDING SOURCE TITLE ONE SCHOOLWIDE FIVE.
POLICY REVISION SICK LEAVE BANK.
CONSIDERATION OF A REQUEST FOR THE APPROVAL OF THE FOLLOWING SCHOOL BOARD POLICY REVISION AND RELATED MATTERS GR, I'M SORRY, G-B-R-I-B-B SICK LEAVE BANK.
CONSIDERATION OF A REQUEST FOR THE APPROVAL OF THE FOLLOWING POLICY AND POLICY REVISIONS, A BBC BOARD COMMITTEES NEW BBCB SCHOOL BOARD MEETINGS, RULES OF PROCEDURE REVISED CBC MEETINGS, REVISED D-B-C-B-A NOTICE OF SCHOOL BOARD MEETINGS REVISED SEVEN LITIGATION CONSIDERATION OF A REQUEST FOR THE APPROVAL OF THE RECOMMENDATION FROM GWEN SHAMBLIN, GENERAL COUNSEL.
EBR PARISH SCHOOL BOARD IN THE MATTER OF ANNA SUDAN VERSUS EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH SCHOOL SYSTEM AND CHRIST L WOODS.
JDC PARISH EAST BATON ROUGE AND TO PROVIDE RELATED MATTERS SEVEN.
LITIGATION CONSIDERATION OF A REQUEST FOR THE APPROVAL OF THE RECOMMENDATION FROM GWEN SHAMBLIN, GENERAL COUNSEL E-B-R-P-S-B IN THE MATTER OF SAMAYA BREMMER VERSUS EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH SCHOOL BOARD CASE 7 0 3 3 6 8.
SECTION 26 19 JDC AND TO PROVIDE FOR RELATED MATTERS.
NUMBER NINE, LITIGATION CONSIDERATION FOR A REQUEST FOR THE APPROVAL OF THE RECOMMENDATION FROM GWEN SHALIN, GENERAL COUNSEL.
E-B-R-P-S-B IN THE MATTER OF ASHLEY DEWEY.
VERSE, MARIE BABIN, EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH SCHOOL BOARD AND BERKELEY INSURANCE COMPANY.
SECTION 20 1D 19TH JDC PARISH OF EAST BATON ROUGE AND TO PROVIDE FOR RELATED MATTERS, 10 ADVERTISING FOR EBR SUPERINTENDENT POSITION.
DISCUSSION, CONSIDERATION FOR THE APPROVAL OF THE FOLLOWING.
BOARD LEADERSHIP CONVENE A VISION PLAN AND RETREAT, FOLLOWED BY A SERIES OF BOARD WORKSHOPS AND A SERIES OF COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT MEETINGS ACROSS THE DISTRICT BETWEEN FEBRUARY 20, 24 AND APRIL 30TH, 2024.
HOLDING NO LESS THAN FOUR MEETINGS.
THREE IN-PERSON MEETINGS EACH HELD IN A DIFFERENT BOARD DISTRICT AND ONE VIRTUAL MEETING.
[00:25:01]
EACH COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT MEETING WILL ALLOW MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC TO EXPRESS THEIR PERSPECTIVES AND OPINIONS REGARDING THE DISTRICT'S VISION AND THEIR SUPERINTENDENT SEARCH PROCESS.B, THAT THE GOAL OF THESE WORKSHOPS AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT MEETINGS BE THE DEVELOPMENT OF A COMMUNITY VISION FOR OUR SCHOOLS AND A FRAMEWORK OF PRIORITIES FOR THE TYPES OF SCHOOLS AND STUDENTS.
THE DISTRICT SHOULD DEVELOP ALL BUILDING ON OUR CURRENT FOUNDATIONS AND STRATEGIC PLANS.
C THAT ALONG WITH THE VISION, THIS WORK WILL DEVELOP A SET OF CRITERIA SOUGHT IN A PERMANENT SUPERINTENDENT FOR THE DISTRICT D.
THAT DIVISION FRAMEWORK OF PRIORITIES AND SUPERINTENDENT CRITERIA BE PRESENTED TO THE BOARD FOR POTENTIAL ADOPTION NO LATER THAN APRIL 30TH AND E, THAT THE POSITION OF THE SUPERINTENDENT WILL BE ADVERTISED BASED ON THE ADOPTIVE VISION FRAMEWORK OF PRIORITIES AND CRITERIA FOR AT LEAST 30 DAYS PRIOR.
I'M SORRY, 30 DAYS BEGINNING, NO LATER THAN MAY 6TH, 2024.
ALRIGHT, BEFORE WE MOVE FORWARD, ARE THERE ANY ITEMS THAT, UH, ANY WOULD LIKE TO PULL AT THIS TIME? YES SIR.
SEEING NONE THEN WE WILL, UM, GO AHEAD AND, AND ACTUALLY TAKE THE CONSENT AGENDA WITH ALL ITEMS EXCEPT ITEM 10.
UH, IS THERE A MOTION IT HAS BEEN MOVED BY MR. RUSS.
IS THERE A SECOND? IT HAS BEEN SECONDED BY MR. GODDE COMMENTS FROM THE BOARD AND THIS IS FOR ALL ITEMS OTHER THAN ITEM 10.
ALRIGHT, SEEING NONE, WE WILL NOW TURN TO COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC.
OKAY, MS. MATTHEWS, I'M HAVING TO RETHINK EVERYTHING AT THE MOMENT.
UM, YEAH, I'M JUST GONNA GO AHEAD AND WAIVE.
SEEING NO FURTHER COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC, WE WILL NOW TURN BACK TO COMMENTS FROM THE BOARD.
MR. MARTIN, I'D JUST LIKE THE RECORD REFLECT THAT I'M RECUSING MYSELF SINCE ONE OF THESE ITEMS INVOLVES LSU.
UH, SEEING NO FURTHER COMMENTS FROM THE BOARD, WE WILL NOW ENTERTAIN A VOTE ON ITEMS ONE THROUGH NINE.
[F.9. Advertising for EBR Superintendent Position]
ITEM F 10 ADVERTISING FOR EBR SUPERINTENDENT POSITION.DISCUSSION, CONSIDERATION FOR THE APPROVAL OF THE FOLLOWING, A BOARD LEADERSHIP CONVENE A VISION PLANNING RETREAT FOLLOWED BY SERIES OF BOARD WORKSHOPS AND A SERIES OF COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT MEETINGS ACROSS THE DISTRICT BETWEEN FEBRUARY 20, 24 AND APRIL 30TH, 2024.
HOLDING NO LESS THAN FOUR MEETINGS, THREE IN-PERSON MEETINGS, EACH HELD IN A DIFFERENT BOARD DISTRICT AND ONE VIRTUAL MEETING.
EACH COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT MEETING WILL ALLOW MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC TO EXPRESS THEIR PERSPECTIVES AND OPINIONS REGARDING THE DISTRICT'S VISION AND THE SUPERINTENDENT SEARCH PROCESS.
ALPHABET B, THAT THE GOAL OF THESE WORKSHOPS AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT MEETINGS BE THE DEVELOPMENT OF A COMMUNITY VISION FOR OUR SCHOOLS AND A FRAMEWORK OF PRIORITIES FOR THE TYPES OF SCHOOLS AND STUDENTS THE DISTRICT SHOULD DEVELOP ALL BUILDING ON OUR CURRENT FOUNDATIONS AND STRATEGIC PLANS.
ALPHABET C, THAT ALONG WITH THE VISION, THIS WORK WILL DEVELOP A SET OF CRITERIA SOUGHT IN A PERMANENT SUPERINTENDENT FOR THE DISTRICT ALPHABET D THAT THE VISION FRAMEWORK OF PRIORITIES AND SUPERINTENDENT CRITERIA BE PRESENTED TO THE BOARD FOR POTENTIAL ADOPTION NO LATER THAN APRIL 30TH AND E, THAT THE POSITION OF SUPERINTENDENT BE WILL BE ADVERTISED BASED ON THE ADOPTED VISION FRAMEWORK OF PRIORITIES AND CRITERIA FOR AT LEAST 30 DAYS
[00:30:01]
BEGINNING NO LATER THAN MAY 6TH, 2024.IS THERE A MOTION? OKAY, IT HAS BEEN MOVED BY MR. GOER.
IS THERE A SECOND? IT HAS BEEN SECONDED BY MR. MARTIN.
UH, COMMENTS FROM THE BOARD AT THIS TIME.
UH, PRESIDENT POWELL POWELL, LEWIS, I'M SORRY.
UH, I PULLED THIS JUST BECAUSE AT THE LAST MEETING WE SAID THAT IT CAME VERY RELATIVELY LATE AND THERE WAS NOT A LOT OF TIME FOR PUBLIC REVIEW AND COMMENT, SO I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT IT GOT PULLED SO THAT IF THE PUBLIC DID HAVE ANY REVIEW AND COMMENT, THEY'D HAVE A, AN OPEN OPPORTUNITY TO DO THAT.
UH, ALSO I WANT TO REMIND EVERYONE THAT, UH, I THINK OUR STATEMENT WAS THAT WE WANTED TO PUT THE ADVERTISEMENT AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE, UH, OUT INTO THE NEWSPAPER.
SO I'M HOPING THAT THAT WILL BE A TOPIC OF DISCUSSION AT THE WORKSHOP TOMORROW.
AND, UH, WE CAN GET THAT ADVERTISEMENT MOVING QUICKLY BECAUSE THERE ARE A LOT OF SUPERINTENDENT POSITIONS OPEN ACROSS THE COUNTRY AND, UH, UH, NOW IS THE TIME TO BE APPLYING FOR THOSE THINGS.
SO THAT'S, I JUST WANTED TO EXPLAIN WHY I PULLED IT AND, UH, I SUPPORT THE SUPPORT THE, UH, THING, BUT I JUST WANTED TO GIVE THE PUBLIC A CHANCE FOR COMMENT.
UM, SEEING NO FURTHER COMMENTS FROM THE BOARD, WE WILL NOW TURN TO COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC.
MS. MATTHEWS, YOU, I APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK ON IT.
I'M A NERD AND AFTER BEING HERE FOR FOUR HOURS OR HOWEVER LONG WE'RE HERE, I DO GO HOME AND WATCH THEM AGAIN.
UM, AND AFTER LOOKING AT THE COMMENTS AND, UM, READING EVERYTHING OVER AGAIN, I ACTUALLY HAVE TO RESCIND MY COMMENTS FROM LAST TIME.
AND I DO AGREE WITH, UM, PRESIDENT POWELL LEWIS AND VICE PRESIDENT MARTIN.
UM, AND I'VE CHANGED MY MIND AND DO THINK THAT THE CURRENT TIMEFRAME IS BETTER THAN THE APRIL OF THE, THE APP, UM, EXCUSE ME, OF THE ADVERTISING DATE, NOT THE APPLICATION DATE.
BUT, UM, I DO THINK THAT THE WAY IT CURRENTLY IS SET UP, UM, IS THE, THE BETTER TIMEFRAME.
SEEING NO FURTHER COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC, WE RETURN TO COMMENTS FROM THE BOARD.
SEEING NONE, WE WILL ENTERTAIN A VOTE.
[G.1. Announcement of Meetings]
ORGANIZATIONAL ITEMS, UH, ANNOUNCEMENTS OF MEETINGS.WHERE'S WHAT Y'ALL WANT ME TO READ FROM HERE OR LET ME HELP YOU OUT.
OH, YOU SURE? READY? ALRIGHT, GO.
BOARD RETREAT TO BE HELD FRIDAY, I'M SORRY, TO BE HELD FEBRUARY THE 23RD FROM 4:00 PM TO 7:00 PM AND FEBRUARY 24TH FROM 8:30 AM TO 3:00 PM AT THE REMA HIGH SCHOOL LIBRARY.
SOME OR ALL BOARD MEMBERS MAY ATTEND BOARD WORKSHOP TO BE HELD MARCH 7TH, 2024 AT 5:00 PM IN THE CENTRAL OFFICE BOARDROOM.
SOME OR ALL BOARD MEMBERS MAY ATTEND COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE TO BE HELD MARCH 7TH, 2024, IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING BOARD WORKSHOP IN THE CENTRAL OFFICE.
BOARDROOM LSBA ANNUAL CONVENTION TO BE HELD MARCH 10TH THROUGH THE 12TH, 2024 AT THE CROWN PLAZA BATON ROUGE.
SOME ALL BOARD MEMBERS MAY ATTEND REGULAR MEETING TO BE HELD.
MARCH 21ST, 2024 AT 5:00 PM IN THE CENTRAL OFFICE.
MR. GOEY, OUR COACH LEWIS, WHO WOULD LIKE TO MAKE THE FINAL MOTION.
GO AHEAD MR. I MOVE MAY ADJOURN.
THIS MEETING IS NOW ADJOURNED.
GO CATCH THAT SPECIAL PRESENT PRESENTATION.