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EVERYONE.[A. Meeting Opening]
THANK YOU FOR COMING TODAY, THURSDAY, MAY 15TH TO OUR REGULAR MEETING AGENDA FOR THE EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH SCHOOL BOARD, AND WE HAVE OUR INVOCATION AND PLEDGE.THE INVOCATION WILL BE LED BY SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER CLIFF LEWIS AND THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE WILL BE LED BY CADET CORPORAL ISABELLA MC MORRIS FROM NORTHEAST HIGH SCHOOL, ACCOMPANIED BY SENIOR ARMY INSTRUCTOR, LIEUTENANT COLONEL, RETIRED SHIRLEY DE SUTTON.
WOULD EVERYONE PLEASE STAND, STAND.
GRACIOUS, FATHER AND HEAVEN, THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING US TO SEE THIS DAY, A DAY THAT WAS NOT PROMISED.
WE PRAY WITH HEAVENLY FATHER THAT THROUGH WISDOM AND KNOWLEDGE, YOUR WILL WILL BE DONE TODAY AS WE STRIVE TO DO WHAT'S BEST FOR THE PARENTS AND STUDENTS OF EAST BEAR RIDGE PARISH SCHOOL SYSTEM.
GOOD EVENING, SCHOOL BOARD PRESIDENT MS. STEWART, SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS, SUPERINTENDENT COLE EMPLOYEES, CITIZENS AND FRIENDS OF EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH SCHOOL DISTRICT.
I'M LIEUTENANT COLONEL RETIRED SHIRLEY SUTTON, SENIOR ARMY INSTRUCTOR AT NORTHEAST HIGH SCHOOL, WHERE I HAVE THE PLEASURE OF SERVING UNDER THE AWESOME LEADERSHIP OF OUR HEAD, VIKING.
I'M ELATED TO INTRODUCE OUR, THE NORTHEAST HIGH SCHOOL'S OUTSTANDING CADET.
SHE'S THE DAUGHTER OF MR. TROY MC MORRIS.
DURING THIS PAST YEAR, THIS YOUNG LADY HAS DISTINGUISHED HERSELF AS AN ORGANIZED AND TASK-ORIENTED LEADER.
SHE HAS ACHIEVED A 4.1 GPA AND IS ENUMERATED ON THE A HONOR ROLL ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE LIST.
SHE EXEMPLIFIES THE HIGHEST VALUES AND CAN BE AND, AND CAN ALWAYS BE COUNTED ON TO DO WHAT'S RIGHT.
THIS PAST YEAR SHE WAS SELECTED AS THE NORTHEAST HIGH SCHOOL, LET ONE CADET OF THE YEAR AND PLACED IN A DISTRICT COMPETITION.
HER FAVORITE VOLUNTEER SERVICE WAS THE WALLS PROJECT WHERE SHE HELPED PAINT AN ELDERLY PERSON'S HOME AND THE CENTER OF HOPE HOMELESS SHELTER, WHERE SHE DONATED AND HELPED MANAGE THE COLLECTION OF MUST NEEDED ITEMS. THIS, THIS DILIGENT, RESILIENT, AND WELL-MANNERED CADET WILL ATTEND JRTC LEADERSHIP CAMP THIS SUMMERS SUMMER.
HER HOBBIES INCLUDE ARCHERY AND READING.
HER FUTURE PLANS ARE TO TO ATTEND COLLEGE TO ULTIMATELY EARN A DOCTORATE AND PSYCHOLOGY DEGREE.
HER MOTTO IN LIFE IS PROGRESS OVER PERFECTION.
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, IT IS WITH GREAT PRIDE AND RESPECT.
I INTRODUCED TO YOU CADET SERGEANT ISABELLA MC MORRIS.
I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE 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.
UM, MS. MCMORRIS, ON BEHALF OF THE EAST BATON ROUGE, UH, PARISH SCHOOL BOARD, WE COMMEND YOU FOR YOUR ACHIEVEMENTS AND ONLY ASK THAT YOU CONTINUE.
WOULD YOU LIKE TO WEAR THIS? YEP.
UH, NEXT WE HAVE MADAM SECRETARY.
CAN I GET, UM, A ROLL CALL? DISTRICT FOUR, PRESIDENT STEWART, PRESENT, DISTRICT SEVEN, VICE PRESIDENT GODDE.
MR. LANIS, PRESENT DISTRICT THREE.
MS. POWELL LEWIS, DISTRICT FIVE.
MR. LEWIS PRESENT, DISTRICT SIX.
MADAM PRESIDENT, IF YOU DON'T MIND, I'D LIKE TO USE A POINT OF PERSONAL PRIVILEGE BEFORE WE GET DEEP INTO THE AGENDA.
UM, RECENTLY WE LOST A GIANT OF A MAN WHO SERVED THIS COMMUNITY AND SERVED OUR PARISH TO THE BEST OF HIS ABILITY.
HE WORKED ACROSS, UH, COMMUNITY LINES, WHILE SOME DIDN'T ALWAYS AGREE, HE WAS ONE THAT BROKE THROUGH THE CEILING ON BEHALF OF BATON ROUGE AND EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH, AND I'M TALKING ABOUT OUR PAST PRESIDENT, UH, UH, MAYOR, PRESIDENT OF OUR, UH, PARISH, MR. MELVIN KIPP HOLDEN.
SO WE COULD, I WOULD LIKE TO CALL FOR A MOMENT OF SILENCE ON BEHALF OF HIS FAMILY.
[B. Minutes]
UM, ITEM B, THE MINUTES, UM, APPROVAL.APPROVAL OF THE SCHOOL BOARD, MINUTES OF THE APRIL 3RD, 2025, COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE MEETING.
APRIL 17TH, 2025, REGULAR BOARD MEETING, THE APRIL 28TH, 2025 SPECIAL BOARD MEETING, AND AS
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PUBLISHED IN THE OFFICIAL JOURNAL.DO I HAVE A MOTION? OKAY, I HAVE MS. SOLE AND COACH LEWIS SULE ZULE AND COACH LEWIS.
ANY PUBLIC COMMENT? NO PUBLIC COMMENT.
[C. Information Only]
FOR INFORMATION ONLY, UM, MONTHLY FINANCIAL REPORT.AND NUMBER TWO, UH, PERSONNEL CHANGES.
ARE THERE ANY REPORTS OR, OKAY.
[D.1. Update from Superintendent]
ITEM D RECEIVE AS INFORMATION ONLY AND WE NOW GONNA HAND IT OVER TO OUR SUPERINTENDENT.THANK YOU MADAM PRESIDENT, BOARD MEMBERS, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, BOYS AND GIRLS, AND THOSE OF YOU WATCHING AT HOME.
UH, TODAY IS DAY 183, UH, OF MY SERVICE TO THE SCHOOL SYSTEM AS SUPERINTENDENT, AND IT IS A 17TH DAY OF OUR REALIGNMENT PLAN IMPLEMENTATION.
UH, AS ALWAYS, CAN THANK YOU FOR THE SUPPORT AS PART OF THE FEBRUARY PROGRESS REPORT, UH, TO THE COMMUNITY, WE ISSUED A CHALLENGE TODAY TO BE GREAT.
WE HAVE ACHIEVED GREATNESS IN OUR THREE OPERATIONAL AREAS OF STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT, OPERATIONAL EXCELLENCE, AND THEN EMPLOYEE DEVELOPMENT.
UH, STATEWIDE TESTING IS ENDING THIS WEEK, UH, TO ALL THE STUDENTS WHO TOOK TESTING THIS SPRING.
I APPLAUD YOU, AND WE ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO SEEING THOSE RESULTS, UH, AS THEY CONTINUE TO ROLL IN THROUGH OUR SCHOOL STAFF WHO PREPARED AND SUPPORTED OUR STUDENTS IN TESTING.
I WANT TO THANK YOU, UH, FOR ALL THAT YOU DO.
UH, YOU HAVE DONE A YOMIS JOB OF MAKING SURE, UH, WE WERE ABLE TO MOVE THROUGH THE TESTING CYCLE, THE TESTING SEASON, UH, WITH EASE, AND YOU ARE WHAT MAKES OUR SCHOOL SYSTEM GREAT.
AS WE LOOK TO THE END OF THE SCHOOL YEAR, PLEASE NOTE, UH, THE IMPORTANCE OF THE FOLLOWING AREAS.
THE LAST DAY FOR SENIORS IS MAY 9TH AND GRADUATIONS WILL BEGIN TOMORROW.
GRADUATIONS OVER THE NEXT SEVEN DAY PERIOD, TWO A DAY.
UH, IT'S GOING TO BE A FUN EXPERIENCE TO WATCH OUR YOUNG PEOPLE, UH, GRADUATE AND COMPLETE THIS JOURNEY OF THEIR LIVES.
WE LOOK FORWARD TO CELEBRATING WITH THE CLASS OF 2025, MAY 23RD.
NEXT, UH, FRIDAY IS THE LAST DAY OF SCHOOL FOR STUDENTS AND TEACHERS, UH, STUDENTS.
GOOD LUCK ON FINAL EXAMS, AND PLEASE, LET'S ALWAYS WORK TO FINISH STRONG.
BEHAVE YOURSELVES WHILE YOU'RE AT SCHOOL.
AND LET'S HAVE A QUIET ENDING OF THE SCHOOL YEAR.
PARENTS, PLEASE CONTACT YOUR CHILD'S SCHOOL FOR MORE INFORMATION TO FIND OUT SPECIFIC PROGRAMS THAT MEETS THE NEEDS OF YOUR INDIVIDUAL CHILD.
AS THIS IS OUR LAST MEETING BEFORE THE SUMMER, I WISH EVERYONE A VERY HAPPY SUMMER.
THANKS TO OUR STUDENTS AND STAFF FOR SUCH A GREAT SCHOOL YEAR.
IT HAS BEEN THE THRILL OF MY LIFE TO SERVE AS SUPERINTENDENT AND LOOKING FORWARD TO OUR CONTINUED EFFORTS, UH, TO DARE TO BE GREAT.
OUR WORK CONTINUES, AND WE WILL WORK TO BE STRONGER THAN EVER.
I ALSO LOOK FORWARD TO EVERY SINGLE STUDENT IN OUR SCHOOL SYSTEM RETURNING NEXT SCHOOL YEAR, AND FOR THOSE FAMILIES WHO REACHED OUT TO ME SAYING, YOU WANT YOUR CHILD TO ATTEND ONE OF OUR SCHOOLS, WE LOOK FORWARD TO ENROLLING YOU FOR THE FALL OF 2025 AS WELL.
UNDER OUR OPERATIONAL EXCELLENCE.
AND AFTER LISTENING TO THE BOARD AND OUR COMMUNITY OVER THE PAST SEMESTER, UH, WE ARE EXCITED TO ANNOUNCE THAT AFTER WORKING, UH, WITH OUR BUDGET CONSULTANT OVER THE LAST YEAR, UH, SINCE THE BOARD HAS APPROVED, UH, THE THE CONTRACT, WE HAVE LEARNED A GREAT DEAL.
UH, THE TEAM AND I ARE EXCITED TO PRESENT TO YOU, UH, NEXT MONTH, A BALANCED BUDGET, AND WE HAVE, UH, TAKEN A NEW PROCESS WHERE WE HAVE ENGAGED THE COMMUNITY A GREAT DEAL.
THE THE CONSULTANT MADE A SERIES OF RECOMMENDATIONS THAT HAVE GIVEN US A NEW LENS IN TERMS OF HOW WE, UH, UTILIZED THE PROCESS.
AND SO WE WENT THROUGH A SERIES OF MEETINGS.
UH, WE HAD MORE STAKEHOLDER, UH, ENGAGEMENT.
AND SO WE BELIEVE THAT WHAT WE ARE GOING TO PRESENT TO YOU IN TERMS OF THE BUDGET IS A, A MORE STAKEHOLDER FRIENDLY BUDGET, WHERE
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WE'VE HAD A GREAT DEAL OF INPUT, UH, FROM THE COMMUNITY IN A VERY UNIQUE WAY.AND IN ADDITION TO THAT, WE'VE TRIED TO PRIORITIZE, UH, OUR THREE PILLARS IN THE STRATEGIC PLAN, AS WELL AS MAKE SURE WE ARE INCLUDING, UH, THOSE INITIATIVES THAT ARE IMPORTANT TO THE BOARD THAT WE'VE DISCUSSED.
AND SO I AM LOOKING FORWARD, UH, TO NEXT WEEK, UH, WHEN WE HAVE SCHEDULED OPPORTUNITIES, UH, TO DISCUSS THE BUDGET BEFORE IT GOES LIVE.
AND I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO HAVING THOSE CONVERSATIONS WITH YOU.
UH, ON THIS NEW WAY OF LOOKING AT THE BUDGET FOR, UH, THE EAST PARENTS PARISH SCHOOL SYSTEM ON APRIL 28TH, THE BOARD APPROVED THE REALIGNMENT PLAN.
THERE IS A WEBPAGE DEDICATED TO OUR ALIGNMENT EFFORTS, AND I INVITE THE COMMUNITY TO VIEW THE PLAN, UH, THE DETAILS ON THE WEBSITE.
WE WILL CONTINUE OUR POST REGULAR UPDATES AND NEW COMPONENTS OF THE WEBPAGE AS WE INVITE YOU TO TRACK THE PROGRESS OVER THE SUMMER.
I BELIEVE THE PLAN IS INTENDED, UH, TO PUT STUDENTS FIRST AND THE OUTCOMES ARE GOING TO BE GREATER FOR THE SCHOOL SYSTEM.
AND I WANT MAKE SURE EVERYONE KNOWS, UH, ON THE WEBSITE, WE ARE PROVIDING A LIVE TRACKER THAT WILL BE UPDATED, UH, EVERY WEEK.
SO FAMILIES AND, UH, THOSE WHO LIVE IN OUR COMMUNITY CAN SEE EXACTLY WHAT IS HAPPENING WITH THE REALIGNMENT AT WHAT SCHOOL, WHERE WE ARE IN THE PROGRESS.
I'M SUPER, SUPER EXCITED ABOUT THE WORK THE TEAM HAS DONE.
UH, ANDREA, AMY, UH, AND WORKING WITH OUR CONSULTANT, UM, CONSULTANT, MS. WHITLEY, WE HAVE WHAT WE BELIEVE TO BE, UH, A FIRST CLASS WORLD CLASS SYSTEM IN TERMS OF PROGRESS MONITORING AND HOW WE ARE GOING TO MAKE SURE WE FRONT FACE TO THE COMMUNITY EXACTLY WHAT IS HAPPENING AT OUR SCHOOLS.
UH, WE HAVE RESEARCHED ALL OF THE CONSOLIDATION PLANS AROUND THE COUNTRY.
NO OTHER SCHOOL SYSTEM IN THE COUNTRY IS DOING ANYTHING QUITE LIKE EBR AS IT RELATES TO HOW WE ARE GOING TO, UH, DO THIS WORK.
IN FACT, WHAT WE'VE LEARNED IS NO OTHER, UH, SCHOOL COMMUNITY HAS ENGAGED, UH, AROUND REALIGNMENT AND CONSOLIDATION THE WAY WE DID OVER THE PAST, UH, THREE MONTHS.
AND AS WE GO THROUGH THE IMPLEMENTATION PHASE OF IT, UH, WE HADN'T SEEN ANYWHERE WHERE WE HAVE ENGAGED THE COMMUNITY IN A WAY THAT, UH, THE NEW DASHBOARD IS GOING TO DO.
SO, SO I WOULD ASK THAT YOU ALL, UH, ONCE, ONCE IT GOES LIVE NEXT WEEK, TO TAKE A LOOK AT THE DASHBOARD AND BE ABLE TO KEEP UP SPECIFICALLY WITH THE MOVEMENTS, UH, WHAT IS HAPPENING AT THE SCHOOLS, WHAT IS HAPPENING IN TERMS OF REBRANDING, ACADEMIC PROGRAMMING.
SO WE'RE REALLY, REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THAT UNDER THE EMPLOYMENT DEVELOPMENT AREA FOR OUR STAFF WHO MAY BE AFFECTED BY THE REALIGNMENT PROCESS, WE UNDERSTAND THAT THESE CONVERSATIONS LEAD TO SOME NATURAL CONCERNS.
ON MAY 8TH, WE HAD A TRANSITION JOB FAIR.
SMOTHERS AND HER TEAM DID A PHENOMENAL JOB OF ENGAGING WITH OUR STAFF, ANSWERING ALL OF THEIR QUESTIONS TO ENSURE THAT THEY, UH, ARE ABLE TO TRANSITION WITH EASE.
IN MOST CASES, UH, WE ARE ASKING, UH, TEACHERS SHOULD THEY CHOOSE TO FOLLOW THEIR STUDENTS.
UH, SECONDLY, WE DO, UH, IMPLEMENTING THE TAP MODEL, UH, AT TWO OF OUR SCHOOLS.
AND WE HAVE A HOST OF EMPLOYEES WHO ARE INTERESTED IN THE TAP MODEL.
AND THEN IN ADDITION TO THAT, WE HAVE, UH, PRINCIPALS WHO HAVE BEEN RECRUITING, UH, TO FILL VACANCIES.
SO WE ARE EXTREMELY EXCITED ABOUT THE OPPORTUNITY WE HAVE, UH, TO FILL THOSE VACANCIES.
SMOTHERS, YOU'RE DOING A FANTASTIC JOB OF REBRANDING, REORGANIZING RESHIFTING, THE FOCUS OF OUR, UH, HUMAN RESOURCES DEPARTMENT.
UH, AND AS I'VE SAID TO YOU, WE'VE HAD CHALLENGES IN THAT DEPARTMENT FOR SOME TIME.
SO I'M EXCITED ABOUT THE WORK YOU'RE DOING, UH, TO CHANGE THE FOCUS, TO BE MORE, UH, EMPLOYEE DRIVEN, AND TO BRING IN NEW INITIATIVES THAT ARE GONNA ENSURE EFFICIENCY AND EFFECTIVENESS IN THE WAY WE DO THIS WORK.
WE DON'T WANT TO BE AT THE BEGINNING OF THE SCHOOL YEAR HAVING CONVERSATIONS THAT WE WE'RE NOT BEING ABLE TO GET PEOPLE ONBOARDED AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE.
WE OUGHT TO BE THE BEST IN THE COUNTRY, IN MY OPINION.
AND SO I GAVE YOU THAT CHARGE.
SO THANK YOU FOR STEPPING UP ON MAY 12TH.
THE DISTRICT HOSTED A GALA CELEBRATING OUR EMPLOYEES OF THE YEAR AT VARIOUS LEVELS WITHIN THE ORGANIZATION.
CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL THE HONOREES.
AT OUR PRINCIPALS MEETING EARLIER THIS WEEK, UH, WE WANTED TO REVIEW THE END OF THE YEAR CLOSEOUTS.
WE WERE ABLE TO DO THAT REGARDING THE FINANCE ACCOUNTS, ACCOUNTABILITY AND TESTING, AS WELL AS THE REALIGNMENT.
AND WE ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO ENSURING, UH, THAT ALL OF OUR HIGH SCHOOLS AND MIDDLE SCHOOLS THAT ENGAGE IN MASTER SCHEDULING ARE ABLE TO DO SO, UH, EFFICIENTLY, MR. SMITH.
SO WE'RE EXCITED, MS. EDWARDS, THAT THOSE, UH, MASTER SCHEDULES SHOULD BE DONE SOONER RATHER THAN LATER, SO STUDENTS CAN KNOW, UH, WHAT THEIR SCHEDULES ARE GONNA LOOK LIKE EARLY SO THEY CAN BE BEGIN PAIRING WITH PRE-READING AND PREREQUISITE SKILLS AS WE GET READY TO GO INTO, UH, THE FALL SEMESTER.
UH, THE SUMMER PROFESSIONAL LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES ARE BEING SCHEDULED ACROSS THE DISTRICT, AND OUR PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT TEAM WILL BE SHARING SUMMER CALENDARS TO INSTRUCTIONAL STAFF THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE SUMMER.
ONE OF THE THINGS WE ARE, UH, ATTEMPTING, UH, TO HAVE FOR THE FALL OF 25 IS A DEAL, A WEEKLY DASHBOARD
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FOR THE ENTIRE SCHOOL SYSTEM.SO ANYONE IN OUR SCHOOL SYSTEM CAN GO TO THE DASHBOARD AND SEE WHAT IS HAPPENING, NOT ONLY, UH, IN THE DISTRICT, BUT ALSO AT THE INDIVIDUAL SCHOOLS.
UH, MS. WHITLEY HAS AGREED TO STAY ON AND BRING SOME OF HER FEDERAL, UH, UH, EXPERIENCE TO US TO HELP US.
UH, AMY AND ANDREA HAVE STEPPED UP AND SAID THAT THEY THINK IT'S A GOOD IDEA AND ARE EXCITED ABOUT LEADING THE WORK.
SO THANK YOU, AMY, BECAUSE, UH, YOU KNOW, IT'S GONNA BE A LOT OF ADDITIONAL WORK FOR YOU, BUT YOU'VE TOLD ME THAT YOU DON'T MIND WORKING.
AND SO I SINCERELY APPRECIATE, UH, YOUR EFFORTS IN MAKING SURE THAT WE GET THE DASHBOARD, UH, FOR OUR SCHOOL SYSTEM AS WELL AS TO ENSURE WE WANT TO MAKE SURE FAMILIES IN OUR COMMUNITY, UH, ARE AWARE OF WHAT IS HAPPENING IN OUR SCHOOLS.
UH, AS ALWAYS, AS WE BEGAN EARLY IN THE YEAR, UH, WE TALKED ABOUT MAKING SURE OUR CONVERSATIONS ARE ABOUT THOSE THINGS THAT MATTER MOST TO OUR SCHOOL SYSTEM.
AND TONIGHT, I'M SUPER EXCITED TO HAVE ONE OF OUR OUTSTANDING SCHOOL LEADERS WITH US, UH, TO TALK ABOUT THE WORK SHE AND HER TEAM ARE DOING, UH, AT SOUTH DOWNS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.
SO, MSIKA SCOTT, IF YOU WOULD, PLEASE COME FORWARD.
I'VE KNOWN, UH, MS. SCOTT A. LONG TIME WHEN SHE WAS AN INSTRUCTIONAL SPECIALIST IN THE DISTRICT WHEN SHE WAS A MIDDLE SCHOOL PRINCIPAL.
SHE IS A PHENOMENAL EDUCATOR, AND SO JUST THANK YOU FOR STICKING WITH EBR FOR AS LONG AS YOU HAVE IN VARIOUS DIFFERENT CAPACITIES.
UH, EVERY TIME WE'VE ASKED YOU TO STEP UP AND SERVE IN A DIFFERENT CAPACITY, YOU'VE DONE SOTOS.
GOOD AFTERNOON, PRESIDENT STEWART, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, AND OF COURSE, SUPERINTENDENT COLE.
AS HE JUST SAID, I AM SHEIKA SCOTT, AND I'M AN EXTREMELY PROUD PRINCIPAL AT SOUTH DOWNS PRE-K CENTER.
AND THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME THIS OPPORTUNITY TO GIVE YOU UPDATED INFORMATION ABOUT SOUTH DOWNS AND ALL OF THE WONDERFUL THINGS THAT WE HAVE GOING ON SOUTH DOWNS.
WE HAVE AN ENROLLMENT OF ABOUT 162 STUDENTS.
UH, WE ARE A DEDICATED PRE-K SCHOOL, SO WE HAVE PRE-K STUDENTS, ONLY THREE YEAR OLDS, THREE YEARS OLD, AND FOUR YEARS OLD.
OUR THREE YEAR OLDS ARE OUR ESS BABIES THAT COME IN.
UM, OUR SUBGROUP PERCENTAGES, WE HAVE A 72% AFRICAN AMERICAN.
AND WHAT MAKES SOUTH DOWNS VERY UNIQUE, UNLIKE ANY SCHOOL IN THE DISTRICT AND VERY FEW IN THE STATE, IS WE HAVE 65% OF OUR STUDENTS ARE ESS.
WHEN WE LOOK AT SITE PERFORMANCE, AND IT'S GONNA LOOK A LITTLE DIFFERENT FROM WHEN YOU SEE PREVIOUS PRESENTATIONS, YOU USUALLY SEE LEAP SCORES AND THOSE TYPES OF THINGS, AND WE DON'T HAVE THAT.
UM, WE ARE, OUR SCHOOL PERFORMANCE RATING IS A HIGH PROFICIENT, IT'S A 5.29, AND I JUST, I'M SO PROUD OF THAT BECAUSE I MUST SAY THAT WE ARE HOLDING OUR OWN, AS I SAID, 65% OF THE POPULATION ARE STUDENTS WITH SOME TYPE OF DISABILITY.
WE HAVE 16 CLASSROOMS. 13 OF THE 16 CLASSES ARE STUDENTS THAT HAVE EXCEPTIONAL SERVICES OR RECEIVE EXCEPTIONAL SERVICES.
AND THOSE CLASSES INCLUDE SMALL NUMBERS, DEVELOPMENT AND DELAYED, SEVERE AND PROFOUND.
WE DO HAVE THREE TRADITIONAL CLASSES AS WELL.
AND THOSE ARE OUR STUDENTS THAT, UM, THEY'RE TRADITIONAL BABIES.
I WOULD BE REMISS IF I DID NOT RECOGNIZE MISS JESSIE TAYLOR.
SHE'S OUR DEAN OF STUDENTS AND ALSO SERVES, UH, AS A TRADITIONAL TEACHER.
SO HOW ARE WE PERFORMING AND HOW DO YOU, HOW DO WE GET THOSE NUMBERS, UM, THAT WE JUST WENT OVER? SO ALL TEACHERS IN PRE-K, UM, ARE OBSERVED USING THE CLASS RUBRIC.
AND BASED ON THAT, IT HAS THREE DIFFERENT DOMAINS, EMOTIONAL SUPPORT, CLASSROOM ORGANIZATION, AND INSTRUCTIONAL SUPPORT.
AND THE FIRST COLUMN INCLUDES OUR SCORES, THE SITE BASED AVERAGE, AND YOU CAN SEE IN EMOTIONAL SUPPORT.
WE ARE NECK AND NECK WITH EVERYONE ELSE.
UM, CLASSROOM ORGANIZATION 5.82, HIGH PROFICIENT AND INSTRUCTIONAL SUPPORT, 3.85, WHICH IS AN APPROACHING PROFICIENT.
BUT ONCE AGAIN, I WANNA SAY THAT PORTION OF THE CLASS RUBRIC IS BASED SOLELY ON INSTRUCTION.
A LOT OF IT INCLUDES DIALOGUE, STUDENT FEEDBACK, FEEDBACK LOOPS, COMMUNICATION.
AND AS I SAID, WE HAVE A LOT OF ESS STUDENTS.
WE ARE CURRENTLY IN CONVERSATION WITH LOUISIANA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION TO CONSIDER THEM CHANGING THE CLASS RUBRIC FOR SOUTH DOWNS, AND ALLOWING OUR STUDENTS THAT ARE, THAT RECEIVE ESS SERVICES AND THAT ARE DEVELOPMENTALLY DELAYED ACTUALLY BEING ON THE TODDLER RUBRIC INSTEAD OF THE TRADITIONAL PRE-K RUBRIC.
SO THAT'S CURRENTLY WHAT WE'RE WORKING ON.
WE'RE GONNA MEET BACK WITH THEM IN THE SUMMER, BUT WE HAD A MEETING WITH THEM ABOUT A MONTH AGO, SO HOPEFULLY WE'LL BE ABLE TO CHANGE THAT.
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THE MISSION STATEMENT, AND I WISH I HAD SOME STUDENTS HERE, THEY COULD RECITE IT TO YOU, BUT THE MAIN PARTS OF OUR MISSION STATEMENT IS QUALITY PRESCHOOL EDUCATION AND A NURTURING AND SAFE ENVIRONMENT TO PREPARE OUR STUDENTS FOR THE FUTURE.WHEN I ARRIVED AT SOUTH DOWNS, I NOTICED EVERY SINGLE PERSON SAYS, I DON'T WANT MY CHILD TO LEAVE.
I DON'T WANT MY CHILD TO LEAVE.
AND I KNEW THAT MY STAFF DID AN EXCELLENT JOB AT PREPARING THE STUDENTS AT SOUTH DOWNS, BUT ONE OF MY BIGGEST CONCERNS WERE WHAT HAPPENS TO OUR BABIES WHEN THEY LEAVE SOUTH DOWNS, OR MY PARENTS EQUIPPED WITH THE TOOLS AND THE SKILLSET THAT THEY NEED TO ENSURE THAT THEY ARE KINDERGARTEN READY AND ULTIMATELY PRODUCTIVE CITIZENS.
SO WE STARTED SEVERAL DIFFERENT INITIATIVES TO SUPPORT OUR PARENTS, AND I DIDN'T PUT THEM ALL, BUT HERE ARE SOME OF THE, THE ONES THAT, THAT ARE VERY, VERY BENEFICIAL.
UM, WE HAVE MONTHLY LUNCH AND LEARNS WHERE PARENTS COME IN.
WE HAVE DIFFERENT VENDORS THAT PRESENT TO THE PARENTS, AND WE EVEN GO OVER THINGS SUCH AS CAR SEAT SAFETY.
WE'VE HAD A CAR SEAT DRIVE WHERE WE'VE GIVEN FREE CAR SEATS TO PARENTS.
UH, WE ALSO HAVE AWARENESS EVENTS.
UH, WE HAD OUR AUTISM AWARENESS PROGRAM, UM, IN APRIL, AND WE ALSO HAVE A HEALTH FAIR.
AS YOU CAN SEE, WE PARTNER WITH OUR DISTRICT'S, UH, CHILD NUTRITION PROGRAM, AND THEY HAVE PROVIDED A DIETICIAN THAT HAVE MET WITH OUR PARENTS AND GIVEN THEM INFORMATION.
AND ALSO, ONE OF THE OTHER THINGS THAT WE ARE DOING IS RECRUITING, HIGHLY RECRUITING.
UM, WE HAVE A WAITING LIST FOR THE FIRST TIME IN ABOUT SIX OR SEVEN YEARS, SO I'M REALLY PROUD OF THAT.
SO WE ARE IN THE MIDDLE OF RECRUITING FOR THE 25 26 SCHOOL YEAR.
SO FOR THOSE THAT ARE WATCHING, IF YOU HAVE ANY PRE-K STUDENTS, PLEASE GO TO EBR SCHOOLS.ORG AND APPLY.
SO, KINDERGARTEN READINESS, THIS IS WHERE I AM EXTREMELY, EXTREMELY PROUD OF.
UH, WHEN I ARRIVED AT SOUTH DOWNS AND AFTER DOING RESEARCH, I REALIZED THAT DROWNING IS THE NUMBER ONE CAUSE OF DEATH FOR KIDS UNDER THE AGE OF FIVE.
AND IT BECAME MY MISSION TO ENSURE THAT MY STUDENTS RECEIVE WATER SAFETY.
SO, WITH, UH, WITH OUR STAFF, WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO BUILD A PARTNERSHIP WITH CRAWFISH AQUATICS.
THIS PAST YEAR, WE HAD 121 STUDENTS THAT RECEIVED FREE SWIM LESSONS AT CRAWFISH AQUATICS.
AND THE YMCA, IT HAS BEEN TRULY, TRULY THE GIFT OF LIFE.
AND I'M SO PROUD WE ARE GONNA BE EXPANDING IT NEXT YEAR.
BUT IT HAS BEEN A VERY, VERY JUST BENEFICIAL PROGRAM.
AND JUST TO SEE THE KIDS, ESPECIALLY OUR SPECIAL NEEDS BABIES, THAT THEY'RE WHEELCHAIR BOUND AND THEY CAN'T, THEY CAN'T WALK, BUT YOU SEE 'EM AND THEY SWIMMING.
I MEAN, THEY ARE BACK STROKING, AND IT IS AMAZING.
AND I'M PROUD TO SAY THAT I TAKE SWIMMING LESSONS AS WELL.
SO, AND IT'S GOING VERY WELL, AND I'M SWIMMING.
ONE OF THE OTHER GREAT THINGS WE HAVE GOING ON IS AN INCLUSIVE ATHLETIC PROGRAM WITH YMCA AND A GRANT WITH ANCIENT ATHLETES.
WE OFFER TWO INCLUSIVE ATHLETIC PROGRAMS, T-BALL.
WE HAVE 17 STUDENTS ON OUR T-BALL, AND I THINK WE HAVE 14 ON SOCCER.
YOU SEE, UM, ONE OF OUR BABIES IN HER GATE TRAINER, AND SHE ACTUALLY PLAYS SOCCER.
SO WE HAVE SEVERAL WHEELCHAIR BOUND STUDENTS THAT ACTUALLY ENGAGE IN TEAM SPORTS.
AND ONE OF THE OTHER THINGS THAT WE'VE STARTED IS FIVE ON FINE ARTS.
WE'VE BUILT GREAT PARTNERSHIPS WITH B-R-C-V-P-A AND FOREST HEIGHTS, AND THOSE STUDENTS COME IN AND PERFORM FOR OUR STUDENTS.
UM, WE ACTUALLY HAVE FOREST HEIGHTS COMING TOMORROW TO PERFORM FOR OUR STUDENTS AT OUR PRE-K GRADUATION.
SO MOVING FORWARD, WHERE ARE WE GOING FROM HERE? UH, WE HAVE JUST PARTNERED WITH A C LEWIS, YMCA.
UH, WE ACTUALLY WORKED WITH THE MANSHIP YMCA THIS PAST YEAR, BUT THIS UPCOMING YEAR AND IN THE SUMMER, UH, SOME OF OUR MORE ADVANCED STUDENTS ARE GONNA BE CONTINUING SWIM LESSONS AT AC LEWIS.
UH, WE HAVE JUST PARTNERED WITH LSU COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING.
THEY HAVE DESIGNED AN INCLUSIVE PLAYGROUND.
THIS IS MY BIG, BIG PUSH REQUEST.
WE ARE IN DESPERATE NEED OF AN INCLUSIVE PLAYGROUND, AS I TOLD YOU, THE NUMBER OF STUDENTS THAT WE HAVE.
AND WE NEED AN AREA WHERE ALL OF OUR BABIES CAN PLAY TOGETHER.
UH, SEVERAL STUDENTS FROM THE COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING HAVE ACTUALLY WORKED WITH MY TEACHERS AND RECEIVED IMPACT, UH, INPUT FROM THE STUDENTS, AND THEY HAVE DESIGNED AN INCLUSIVE PLAYGROUND FOR US.
UM, IT'S, IT'S BEAUTIFUL, BUT WE ARE IN NEED OF FUNDING.
WE HAVE WORKED CLOSELY WITH A DF AND THEY HAVE GIVEN US SOME GRANT FUNDING.
SO WE DID GET A PLAYHOUSE, BUT WE ARE STILL WORKING
[00:25:01]
AND PUSHING SO THAT WE HAVE A FULL INCLUSIVE PLAYGROUND SO THAT ALL 162 STUDENTS AT SOUTHBOUND CAN ACTUALLY PLAY TOGETHER.THAT IS A LITTLE BIT ABOUT SOUTH DOWN'S PRE-K CENTER.
THANK YOU SUPERINTENDENT COLE FOR THE OPPORTUNITY.
AND IT IS A PLEASURE TO TELL YOU ABOUT SOUTH DOWN'S PRE-K.
WE ARE AT 2 0 5 0 HOOD AVENUE, IF YOU WANNA COME SEE US RIGHT OFF.
WE ARE GONNA WORK WITH YOU TO MAKE SURE YOU HAVE AN INCLUSIVE PLAYGROUND, UH, FOR THOSE STUDENTS.
THAT IS A PRIORITY, UH, FOR US.
SO WE WILL CONTINUE, UH, TO WORK WITH YOU.
UM, I KNOW YOU'VE SPOKEN TO, UH, MR. GILBERT A NUMBER OF TIMES ABOUT THAT REQUEST, AND, UH, EVERY SINGLE TIME YOU'VE SPOKEN TO HIM, HE'S REMINDED ME,
UH, SO WE WILL, WE WILL WORK WITH YOU, UH, TO MAKE THAT HAPPEN.
I DO WANNA MAKE MENTION TO OUR BOARD THAT ON, UH, MONDAY AFTERNOON, WE HAVE 18 STUDENTS FROM, UH, GLEN OAKS HIGH SCHOOL, WHO ARE GOING TO BE GRADUATING FROM BRCC WITH AN ASSOCIATE'S DEGREE.
IT IS THE LARGEST NUMBER OF STUDENTS WE'VE HAD EVER IN THE SCHOOL SYSTEM, UH, TO GRADUATE WITH THEIR HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA AS WELL AS THEIR ASSOCIATE'S DEGREE.
AND IT WOULD NOT BE PROPER IF I DID NOT RECOGNIZE, UH, THE PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATION'S VISION, UH, IN MAKING SURE THIS HAPPENED.
SO I WANT TO MAKE SURE I SAY, UH, PUBLICLY THAT THIS WAS DIVISION OF THE, MY PREDECESSOR, DR.
AND, UH, WE ARE EXCITED TO CONTINUE THOSE EFFORTS AND SEE THIS WORK COME TO FRUITION.
AND THOSE YOUNG PEOPLE GRADUATE WITH THEIR ASSOCIATE'S DEGREE, AS WELL AS WITH THEIR, UH, HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA.
AND WE ARE, ARE GOING TO CONTINUE, UH, THOSE EFFORTS WITH OUR PARTNERSHIP, NOT ONLY WITH BRCC, UH, BUT THE OTHER LOCAL COLLEGE, I MEAN UNIVERSITIES IN THE CITY, SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY, AS WELL AS, UH, LOUISIANA STATE UNIVERSITY.
WE RECOGNIZE THAT WE NEED TO CONTINUE TO GIVE OUR KIDS OPTIONS, UH, AND SO MANY OF OUR STUDENTS HAVE TAKEN ADVANTAGE OF THOSE OPTIONS.
UH, HAVING SAID THAT, THANK YOU AS ALWAYS FOR, UH, THE OPPORTUNITY TO SERVE.
AND WITH THAT, I COMPLETE MY REPORT.
THANK YOU, SUPERINTENDENT NICOLE.
UH, THOSE ARE SOME REALLY AWESOME THINGS THAT WE HAVE GOING ON.
AND SO, UH, I'M EXCITED FOR THE CHILDREN AND THE STUDENTS OF OUR DISTRICT AS WELL.
SO, MOVING ALONG, LET ME, BUT BEFORE I FORGET, UH, I WENT TO CRAWFISH AQUATICS, UH, WHEN SOUTH DOWNS WAS TAKING THEIR SWIMMING LESSONS.
AND I WALKED IN, YOU KNOW, I'M GONNA CRY, AND I WALKED IN WHERE THEY WERE SWIMMING AND I COULDN'T TAKE IT, UH, JUST TO SEE HOW HAPPY, UH, THOSE STUDENTS WERE IN THE POOL.
AND THEN TO SEE THEM, UH, AS MANY OF THEM, UH, MAY HAVE SOME PHYSICAL CHALLENGES, THEY WERE SWIMMING, UH, YOU KNOW, BACK STROKING.
AND IT WAS JUST, IT WAS OVERWHELMING TO SEE.
SO PLEASE CONTINUE TO EXCELLENT WORK.
THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU.
AND THANK YOU, UH, SOUTH BOUNDS AND MS. UH, UH, IKA.
SO MOVING ALONG, UH, TO ITEM E WE HAVE, OH, I'M SORRY.
WELL, THANK YOU MADAM PRESIDENT.
TWO THINGS, UH, I THINK I CAN APPRECIATE WHAT YOU JUST DID.
SUPERINTENDENT, UH, COLE, BY GIVING ACKNOWLEDGEMENT TO THE PAST ADMINISTRATION.
I WAS ONE OF THE ONES THAT WAS ON THE GROUND FLOOR TRYING TO HELP CREATE THE PROGRAM, WHICH IS WHY WE BROUGHT IT TO GLEN OAKS HIGH SCHOOL.
AND A LOT OF PEOPLE SAID IT COULDN'T BE DONE.
BUT YOU SEE THE FRUITS OF THE LABOR DOING SOMETHING LIKE THAT AND HOW IT CAN HELP ALL OF OUR STUDENTS, AND THAT WE CAN DO THIS, IT NOT ONLY HELPS THOSE STUDENTS, IT HELPS THOSE FAMILIES BECAUSE YOU CUT DOWN THEIR TIME AND YOU ALSO CUT THEM AMOUNT OF FUNDING THEY NEED TO SEND KIDS TO COLLEGE.
NOW, I DO WANNA REMIND SOMEBODY OF SOMETHING, WHILE MANY MAY REMIND OR REMEMBER HER AS A PRINCIPAL, THAT WAS MY 10TH GRADE CIVICS TEACHER, MS. SHEIKA SCOTT.
AND WITHOUT YOU, MY INTEREST TO EVEN GET INTO POLITICS WOULD NOT BE HERE.
AND I WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT YOU ARE PART OF MY STORY AND I HOLD YOU TIGHT.
ANY OTHER BOARD MEMBERS? ALL RIGHTY.
[E. Reports from Board Appointees to Committees/ Agencies]
UM, TO ITEM E, WE HAVE REPORTS FROM BOARD APPOINTEES TO COMMITTEES OR AGENCIES.DO WE HAVE ANY REPORTS FROM ANY OF OUR BOARD MEMBERS, MS. SOLE? YES.
I ATTENDED THE ICARE, UM, MEETING YESTERDAY TO JUST KINDA HEAR WHAT THEY FINISHED UP DOING THIS YEAR IN THE SCHOOL SYSTEM.
AND THEY HAVE DONE SO MANY THINGS FOR OUR STUDENTS.
AND, UM, THEY PLAN TO KICK OFF IN THE FALL, AND JUST LIKE THEY HAVE IN THE PAST HAVE
[00:30:01]
A DIFFERENT THEME EACH MONTH, I'VE ASKED THEM TO GET THAT TO US SO THAT THE BOARD CAN BE A LITTLE BIT MORE INFORMED ABOUT WHAT THE FOCUS IS FOR EACH MONTH.UM, SO HOPEFULLY WE'LL HAVE THAT AS THE SCHOOL YEAR KICKS OFF, BUT THEIR TAX PASSED, AND SO THEY HAVE ANOTHER 10 YEARS AHEAD OF 'EM AND ARE PLANNING AND LOOKING FORWARD TO, UM, WHAT ICARE HAS MOVING FORWARD.
THANK YOU, MS. SOLE, CO COACH.
SPONSORED A, UH, ROUND TABLE DISCUSSION AT THE LIBRARY.
AND IT WAS ENTITLED, UH, LEND YOUR VOICES AND IT SURROUNDED, UH, TRUANCY, CHRONIC ABSENTEEISM, AND A LOT OF THE CAUSES AND THINGS THAT LEAD TO TRUANCY AND, UH, CHRONIC ABSENTEEISM HAD AN OUTSTANDING, UH, PANEL.
UH, THERE, IT WAS A, A VERY INTERESTING CONVERSATION, AND WE TALKED ABOUT HOW AFTER EACH NATURAL DISASTER AMONG A LOT OF THINGS, BUT WE TALKED ABOUT AFTER EACH NATURAL DISASTER IN THE STATE OF L LOUISIANA, THERE HAS BEEN A SPIKE IN, UH, TRUANCY AND CHRONIC ABSENTEEISM.
SO, UM, IT WAS, IT WAS VERY INFORMATIVE.
AND IF YOU GET A CHANCE AND VS IS SPONSORING SOMETHING, PLEASE TRY TO ATTEND OUTSTANDING ORGANIZATION.
UM, UH, BOARD MEMBER, UH, RUSS.
UM, SERVING AS THE APPOINTEE TO OUR BRE COMMISSION, I'LL, UH, GIVE A BRIEF REPORT.
UM, FEW THINGS GOING ON WITH BRECK.
UH, I'LL REMIND EVERYONE THAT THERE'S A COUPLE BILLS IN THE LEGISLATURE, UH, THAT WOULD AFFECT A COUPLE DIFFERENT ASPECTS OF BRE.
UM, I'VE TRIED TO GET A LITTLE BIT FAMILIAR WITH.
THOSE WON'T GO TOO DEEP INTO IT TODAY.
IF, IF ANY OF THE BOARD WOULD LIKE TO DISCUSS THOSE, WE CAN.
UH, THE COMMISSION HAS NOT TAKEN A OFFICIAL, UM, POSTURE ON THOSE, BUT IT WOULD AFFECT, UH, ASPECTS OF BRE SO WORTH PAYING ATTENTION TO.
UM, AS WELL, IN THE PAST MONTH, UM, THE COMMISSION HAS NEGOTIATED WITH, UM, MR. WILSON, WHO, UH, HAS BEEN OUR SUPERINTENDENT, UH, TO AMEND HIS CONTRACT, TO ALLOW HIM TO STEP BACK FROM HIS FULL-TIME DUTIES AS SUPERINTENDENT.
UH, THE BOARD, OR EXCUSE ME, THE COMMISSION WILL BE SEEKING TO APPOINT AN INTERIM SUPERINTENDENT AT OUR NEXT MEETING, WHICH IS NEXT THURSDAY.
UM, WHILE WE UNDERGO A PROBABLY LENGTHY SEARCH TO FIND A PERMANENT SUPERINTENDENT.
SO A A LOT OF WORK GOING ON IN THE COMMISSION.
UH, WE'VE ALSO AGREED TO, UM, BUILD IN SOME ADDITIONAL MEETINGS THROUGH THE END OF THIS YEAR, ON THE SECOND TUESDAY OF THE MONTH, SO THE COMMISSION CAN MEET MORE FREQUENTLY.
IF ANY OF THE BOARD MEMBERS WANT TO SIT AND TALK, I CAN PROBABLY TALK FOR A LONG TIME ABOUT ALL THE INS AND OUTS OF, UH, OF, OF BRECK.
UH, BUT ON THE BRIGHTER SIDE, UH, REMIND OUR COMMUNITY THAT, UM, SUMMER IS COMING, UH, PRETTY SOON HERE.
AND, UH, BRECK OFFERS EXCELLENT SUMMER PROGRAMMING FOR KIDS AND CAMPS, SOME OF THE BEST IN THE PARISH.
UM, SO IF YOU'RE LOOKING FOR THINGS FOR YOUR KIDS TO DO THIS SUMMER, DEFINITELY EXPLORE THAT.
ANY OTHER BOARD MEMBERS HAVE ANY REPORTS? OKAY.
[F.1. 2024-2025 General Fund Revised Budget]
UM, TO ITEM F, UNFINISHED BUSINESS CONSIDERATION OF A REQUEST FOR APPROVAL OF THE REVISED 20 24, 20 25 GENERAL FUND BUDGET FOR THE EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH SCHOOL SYSTEM.MS. LOPEZ, IS THERE A PRESENTATION? THIS IS A CARRYOVER, I THINK BOARD MEMBER RUSS, UH, REQUESTED THAT IT BE MOVED, UH, WITHOUT ANY ACTION.
AT THE LAST MEETING, WE HAD A VERY THOROUGH PRESENTATION BOARD MEMBERS, IF YOU ALL HAVE ANY ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS OF MS. LOPEZ, UH, WE, WE CAN TAKE THOSE QUESTIONS NOW, UH, ABOUT THE REVISED BUDGET, ARE THERE ANY PUBLIC COMMENTS? ANY BOARD COMMENTS? OKAY, I MOVE TO APPROVE.
UM, SO I HAVE MR. RUSS AND, UH, MR. LANDIS, MADAME SECRETARY, CAN YOU CALL FOR A VOTE, PLEASE VOTE.
[G. Consent Agenda]
MOVING ALONG TO ITEM G, THE CONSENT AGENDA, RIGHT CONSENT AGENDA, ITEM ONE, CONSENT AGENDA.[00:35:01]
THE FOLLOWING ITEMS OUGHT TO BE APPROVED AS PART OF THE CONSENT AGENDA AND ARE CONSIDERED TO BE ROUTINE AND WILL BE ENACTED ON ONE MOTION.THERE WILL BE NO SEPARATE DISCUSSION OF ITEMS UNLESS A BOARD MEMBER.
SO REQUEST IN WHICH EVENT THE ITEM WILL BE REMOVED FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA, CONSIDERED AS AN ITEM ON THE REGULAR AGENDA FOR A SEPARATE VOTE PROCEEDING.
THE LAST ITEM ON THE REGULAR AGENDA.
NUMBER TWO, PROFESSIONAL SERVICE CONTRACTS, EXCEPTIONAL STUDENT SERVICES, CONSIDERATION OF A REQUEST FOR THE APPROVAL OF THE PROFESSIONAL SERVICE CONTRACTS BETWEEN THE EAST BAT ROUGE PARISH SCHOOL BOARD, AND THE FOLLOWING DEAF RESOURCE CENTER FOR GREATER BATON ROUGE, LLC IN THE AMOUNT OF $80,000 TO PROVIDE QUALIFIED SOUND LANGUAGE INTERPRETER SERVICES TO STUDENTS FUNDING SOURCE IDEA, PART B, DR.
CAA, LL WILLIAMS, LP, B-C-P-A-D-N-C-S-P.
VERY SKILLED RE, UH, BEHAVIOR SERVICES IN THE AMOUNT OF $60,000 TO PROVIDE APPLIED BEHAVIORAL ANALYSIS SERVICES, FUNDING SOURCE IDEA, PART B, EAGAN HEALTHCARE, UH, CORPORATION, DOING BUSINESS AS EAGAN OCHSNER, HCBS RIVER PARISHES IN THE AMOUNT OF TWO HUNDRED THOUSAND TWO HUNDRED NINETY EIGHT THOUSAND THREE HUNDRED FIFTY DOLLARS TO PROVIDE NURSING SERVICES TO STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES FUNDING SOURCE IDEA, PART B TURNER, LLC, IN THE AMOUNT OF $1,211,000 SIX $11,600 TO PROVIDE NURSING SERVICES TO STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES.
FUNDING SOURCE I-D-E-A-B, PEDIATRIC SERVICES OF AMERICA, L-L-C-L-L-C, DOING BUSINESS AS IVANA HEALTHCARE IN THE AMOUNT OF 932,000 TO PROVIDE NURSING SERVICES TO STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES FUNDING SOURCE IDEA, PART B, DEMOLITION OF EDEN PARK.
CONSIDERATION OF A REQUEST FOR AUTHORIZATION TO, FOR STAFF TO ADVERTISE EXCEPT THE LOW BID MEETING SPECIFICATIONS, TO MAKE AN AWARD OF A CONTRACT FOR DEMOLITION OF EDEN PARK AS SPECIFIED IN THE A IN THE A PLAN FOR IMPROVEMENT FACILITIES SLASH TECHNOLOGY DISCIPLINE AND COMPENSATION IN THE EASTBOUND RIDGE PARISH SCHOOL SYSTEM.
THE PLAN AS REVISED THROUGH FEBRUARY, 2022, 2018, OR REJECT ANY AND ALL BIDS FOR JUST CAUSE IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LOUISIANA PUBLIC BID LAW GRANT.
CONSIDERATION OF A REQUEST FOR THE APPROVAL OF THE FCC CYBER SECURITY PROGRAM GRANT, UH, AGREEMENT AWARD, INCLUDING RELEASE OF A REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS, SELECTION OF A PROPOSAL, AND AUTHORIZE THE SUPERINTENDENT AND STAFF TO EXECUTE A CONTRACT TO PROVIDE EQUIPMENT AND SERVICES TO ENHANCE NETWORK AND DATA SECURITY RELATED TO, UH, RELATED AND RELATED MATTERS.
THIS IS THE END OF THE CONSENT AGENDA.
DO I HAVE A MOTION? OH, Y'ALL ON IT? ALL RIGHT.
DO WE HAVE ANY PUBLIC COMMENT? UH, COACH, DO WE HAVE ANY ITEMS? LEMME JUST NOTE FOR THE RECORD THAT THERE ARE NO INTERNET COMMENTS ON ANY OF THE ITEMS ON THE AGENDA TONIGHT.
DO WE HAVE ANY BOARD COMMENTS? OH, COACH, I'M SORRY.
COACH LEWIS, UH, AT THE LAST MEETING, NATHAN, I THINK YOU, WE, YOU'VE HAD A FRIENDLY AMENDMENT THAT WE WAITED TILL SOME OF THE OTHER MEMBERS WERE HERE TO DISCUSS, UH, PROFESSIONAL SERVICES.
WAS THAT THE ONE? I THINK THAT'S IT.
I THINK IT, I THOUGHT IT WAS, I THINK IT WAS THE BUDGET.
DO YOU WANNA COMMENT ON IT? NO.
WANNA, MADAM SECRETARY, YOU WANNA CALL FOR A VOTE? OH, WAIT, I'M SORRY.
UM, BEFORE I CALL, UH, FOR A VOTE, UM, I HAVE, UH, I WANNA TAKE A POINT OF PRIVILEGE AND, UH, READ A COMMENT ON BEHALF OF OUR COLLEAGUE, UH, MS. CARLA POWELL LEWIS, UM, AS IT RELATES TO ITEM THREE OF THE CONSENT AGENDA, UH, WHICH IS THE DEMOLITION OF EDEN PARK.
AND SO, UM, IT SAID, SHE SAYS, GOOD EVENING.
THIS IS CARLA, PAULA LEWIS, DISTRICT THREE REPRESENTATIVE.
I REGRET THAT I AM UNABLE TO PRESENT THIS EVENING TO BE PRESENT THIS EVENING DUE TO PERSONAL ILLNESS.
HOWEVER, I WANT TO GO ON RECORD IN FULL SUPPORT OF THE DEMOLITION OF THE FORMAL EDEN PARK ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.
THIS LONG VACANT BLIGHTED PROPERTY HAS BECOME A SAFETY CONCERN AND DOES NOT REFLECT THE VISION WE HOLD FOR NORTH BATON ROUGE.
AS PART OF MY ONGOING COMMITMENT TO COMMUNITY SAFETY AND REVITALIZATION, I BELIEVE REPURPOSING THIS SPACE FOR POSITIVE COMMUNITY USE, SUCH AS WALKING TRAILS OF YOUTH PRACTICE FIELDS WILL BETTER SERVE OUR FAMILIES AND CREATE NEW
[00:40:01]
OPPORTUNITIES FOR GROWTH AND ENGAGEMENT.THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONTINUED PARTNERSHIP.
AS WE WORK TOGETHER FOR THE BETTERMENT OF OUR NEIGHBORHOODS, CALL PAUL LEWIS.
THANKS, MADAME SECRETARY, PLEASE VOTE.
[H.1. Professional Service Contract: Prismatic]
ALONG TO ITEM H, WHICH IS NEW BUSINESS, UM, NUMBER ONE, PROFESSIONAL SERVICE CONTRACT PRISMATIC CONSIDERATION OF A REQUEST FOR THE APPROVAL OF A PROFESSIONAL SERVICE CONTRACT BETWEEN THE EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH SCHOOL BOARD AND PRISMATIC IN THE AMOUNT OF $245,000 TO PROVIDE FOR STRATEGIC AND OPERATIONAL PLANNING AS IT RELATES TO TRANSPORTATION EFFICIENCIES AND COLLEGE, I'M SORRY, CONSOLIDATION OF ROUTES, REDUCTION OF TRANSFER BUSES AND OTHER MATTERS RELATED TO THE REALIGNMENT OF SCHOOLS.AND A SCHOOL START TIME PILOT AS IDENTIFIED IS SCHOOLS FUNDING SOURCE GENERAL FUND.
MR. COLE, I HAVE A PUBLIC COMMENT.
I, HI, UH, CHARLES S HERE WITH THE ADVOCATE.
UM, I JUST WANTED TO MENTION THE, I SAW YOU TALK ABOUT A START TIME PILOT IN THE MOTION AND IN THE, ALL THE INFORMATION, BUT THE ACTUAL THING YOU'RE VOTING ON IS A CONTRACT AND THE TIMELINE, YOU HAVE TALKS ABOUT PICKING SCHOOLS VERY SOON FOR THIS PILOT.
I DON'T SEE THEM MENTIONED IN HERE.
TYPICALLY, THE BOARD HAS VOTED ON CHANGING START TIMES BY NAME.
I DON'T IF YOU'RE GONNA DO IT THIS MONTH.
I DON'T SEE ANY MEETINGS SCHEDULED.
SO THE MOTION THAT'S WRITTEN ON THERE MAY NOT BE SUFFICIENT TO ACTUALLY CHANGE START TIMES AND SELECT SCHOOLS.
SO YOU MAY WANNA THINK ABOUT THAT AS YOU COMPOSE YOUR MOTION TODAY.
ARE THERE ANY OTHER PUBLIC COMMENTS? ARE THERE, MR. LANIS? THANK YOU.
UM, SO I ACTUALLY WANTED TO ADDRESS THAT AND I WANTED TO ASK YOU A QUESTION AT ONE OF OUR LAST MEETINGS.
WAS THIS, THE INFORMATION YOU WERE TELLING YOU WERE GONNA BRING BEFORE US? I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE AND SAY THIS ON THE RECORD, BECAUSE IT WAS DISCUSSED, AND I THINK YOU SPECIFICALLY SPECIFIED, IF I'M NOT, CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG, THAT THERE ARE THOSE WHO KNOW HOW TO DO LOGISTICS WELL, BUT THEY DON'T KNOW HOW TO DO START TIMES.
WELL, AND THERE ARE THOSE WHO KNOW HOW TO DO START TIMES WELL, BUT THEY DON'T KNOW HOW TO DO LOGISTICS WELL, ABSOLUTELY.
AND THE REASON WHY YOU'RE BRINGING THIS RIGHT NOW IS BECAUSE IT'S MERGES THESE, THESE TWO THINGS TOGETHER AND IT HELPS YOU ALL TO GET INTO CONFORMITY BEFORE WE ACTUALLY IMPLEMENT THIS.
I JUST WANTED TO ASK THAT QUESTION.
RITO IS ON A TEAMS CALL, AND SO I JUST WANT TO BE CLEAR TO ADDRESS, UH, THE COMMENT MADE BY ONE OF OUR GUESTS.
UH, THE RECOMMENDATION, UH, THAT WAS PRESENTED TO THE BOARD AT OUR LAST MEETING, UH, TALKED ABOUT THE EVALUATION OF OUR TRANSPORTATION SERVICES AND SUGGESTED, UH, THAT IF THE SCHOOL SYSTEM IS INTERESTED IN PILOTING, UH, SCHOOLS, UH, FOR EARLY, FOR START TIME IN THE FALL, UH, THAT WE CAN, WE, SHE FEELS LIKE, UH, WORKING WITH MR HOW IN THE TRANSPORTATION DEPARTMENT, WE'RE IN A PLACE WHERE WE COULD, UH, LOOK AT THAT.
SO FOR ME, UH, AS WE LOOK AT ALL OF WHAT HAS BEEN LISTED IN TERMS OF OUR ROUTING, DECREASING TRANSFER, AND THEN THE POSSIBILITY, THE REASON WHY THE INFORMATION IS IN THE CONTRACT, THE WAY THAT IT IS, IS SIMPLY BECAUSE, UH, IN ORDER TO LOOK AT START TIMES IS GONNA BE A COST IN ORDER TO LOOK AT TRANSPORTATION AND REROUTING AND DE DE REMOVING SOME OF OUR TRANSFER SITES IS GOING TO BE A COST.
AND OUR CONVERSATIONS WITH, WITH DR.
RITO, SHE, WE TALKED TO HER ABOUT BEING ABLE TO EVALUATE ALL OF THOSE SERVICES IN ONE.
SO NO, WE HAVE NOT IDENTIFIED ANY SCHOOLS.
THIS IS JUST TO EXPLORE WHAT AREAS WE COULD IMPLEMENT THIS AND THEN GO DOWN THE ROAD OR BEGINNING TO HAVE COMMUNITY CONVERSATIONS AS EARLY AS JANUARY.
AND THEN THINK ABOUT IF THAT IS A POSSIBILITY.
UH, HER BEING AN EXPERT IN THE FIELD, UH, THE SCHOOL SYSTEM, SEEKING TO FIND IDENT, UH, COMPANIES THAT COULD DO THIS WORK SINCE THE FALL OF 2023.
UH, WE LOOKED AT QUOTES, WE LOOKED AT DIFFERENT COMPANIES, AND WE LOOKED AT INDIVIDUALS WHO COULD DO BOTH WELL.
AND WE'VE IDENTIFIED THIS INDIVIDUAL.
SHE'S COME IN AND DONE SOME WORK WITH US FOR THE LAST FOUR MONTHS, AND, UH, SHE'S AGREED TO STAY HERE, BOOTS ON THE GROUND, AND WORK WITH OUR TEAM.
NOT JUST SHE, BUT I THINK SHE HAS A EIGHT TO 10 MEMBER TEAM THAT ARE GONNA BE BOOTS ON THE GROUND THROUGH
[00:45:01]
JANUARY TO WORK WITH US, A, TO REROUTE TRANSPORTATION UPGRADE, PROVIDE EFFICIENCIES FOR OUR SYSTEMS SO WE CAN PROVIDE A BETTER SURFACE B, LOOK AT OUR TRANSFER SITES AND CONSIDER DECREASING OUR TRANSFER SITES AS A RESULT OF THE EFFICIENCIES.AND THEN C POSSIBLY LOOK AT SCHOOL START TIMES FOR SCHOOLS IN PARTICULAR AREAS THAT WE, UH, IDENTIFIED, BUT WE HAVE NOT IDENTIFIED ANY SCHOOLS, BUT WE WANT TO BEGIN THOSE CONVERSATIONS AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE.
AND SHE'S AGREED, UH, TO BE HERE TO ASSIST US IN OUR WORK.
WE DID NOT BRING THE CONTRACT AT THAT LAST MEETING BECAUSE THAT WE HAD A NUMBER OF PEOPLE OUT, NUMBER OF BOARD MEMBERS OUT, AND I WANTED BOARD MEMBERS TO HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO LAY FRESH EYES ON THE CONTRACT, HAVE THE CONVERSATION, ASK ANY QUESTIONS, AND WE ASKED HER TO BE BACK WITH US TONIGHT.
SO I DO WANNA SAY FOR THE RECORD, WE HAVE NOT IDENTIFIED ANY SCHOOLS.
WE HAD NOT ENGAGED THE COMMUNITY AT ALL.
WE HAVE HAD INTERNAL CONVERSATIONS, AND IN OUR INTERNAL CONVERSATIONS, WE'VE HAD DISCUSSIONS WITH SHE AND HER TEAM ARE PRIMATIC.
AND EARLY ON WHEN WE BEGAN THIS WORK FOUR MONTHS AGO, I SAID TO HER, WE WANTED TO LOOK AT THE POSSIBILITY OF CHANGING START TIMES AT A LATER DATE AND TIME.
BUT WHILE WE HAVE HER, BECAUSE SHE AND HER TEAM ARE IN HIGH DEMAND, WE WANNA DISCUSS EVERY ASPECTS, UH, POSSIBLE OF THE WORK THAT WE ARE TRYING TO ACCOMPLISH IN THE SCHOOL SYSTEM.
SUPERINTENDENT COLE, IS IT SAFE TO SAY THAT THIS ISSUE IS SO CRITICAL THAT YOU CANNOT AFFORD TO WAIT IN TERMS OF IMPLEMENTATION? BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT ALL OF THIS WORK IS GOING TO TRANSLATE INTO HOW SOON WE CAN GET THIS DONE BEFORE NEXT SCHOOL YEAR STARTS? ABSOLUTELY.
I COULDN'T HAVE SAID IT BETTER MYSELF.
UH, THIS BOARD, UH, HAS GIVEN ME A, A CHARGE OF A IMPROVING OUR TRANSPORTATION SERVICES.
I FEEL LIKE WE'VE DONE THAT THIS YEAR, BE, UH, EXPLORING THE POSSIBILITY OF CHANGING START TIMES BECAUSE ALL OF THE RESEARCH SAYS, UH, IT HAS A GREATER IMPACT NOT ONLY ON OUR STUDENTS, BUT ON COMMUNITY.
AND SO WE WANNA MOVE AS SWIFTLY AS POSSIBLE.
UH, AND AS I'VE SAID, TIME AND TIME, UH, BEFORE, IF IT CAN DONE, IF IT CAN BE DONE, UH, EVENTUALLY WE MUST ATTEMPT TO DO IT IMMEDIATELY.
AND SO THIS IS WHAT THE WORK, UH, IS ABOUT.
AND I JUST YIELD WITH THIS RIGHT HERE.
IT'S JUST, IT IS VERY IMPORTANT THAT YOU SAY CERTAIN THINGS ON THE RECORD BECAUSE IF YOU DON'T, THE NARRATIVE CAN BE TWISTED AND TURNED IN CERTAIN, IN, IN SUCH A WAY THAT IT BECOMES SENSATIONALIZED IN A WAY THAT IT DOES NOT BENEFIT THOSE WHO WE TRYING TO SERVE.
I JUST WANTED TO SAY THAT FOR THE RECORD.
UM, I THINK MR. LANDIS COVERED, UM, SOME OF THE QUESTIONS I WAS GONNA ASK, SO THANK YOU FOR THAT.
UM, I, UH, I DO SUPPORT BRINGING MORE SUPPORT TO OUR TRANSPORTATION, UH, DEPARTMENT THAT WE REALLY NEED.
AND I KNOW THAT'S AN AREA THAT WE HAVE A TON OF WORK TO DO.
AND, UM, I THINK THAT, THAT THIS OUTFIT, UM, IS WELL POSITIONED TO HELP BRING NOT ONLY WHAT WE NEED AS A, AS A FOUNDATION, BUT ALSO LIKE YOU SAID, TO LOOK AT WHAT DOES THE FUTURE LOOK LIKE.
UH, I THINK MY QUESTION WOULD BE, UM, IN RELATION AND TO MR. LUCIER'S COMMENT, UM, IF WE, IF, IF THERE WAS A RECOMMENDATION MADE, UM, TO, TO DO A PILOT OF SCHOOL START TIMES, IS THAT SOMETHING THAT THE BOARD WOULD NEED TO APPROVE? AND WOULD YOU BRING THAT TO THE BOARD FOR DISCUSSION? YES, SIR.
I WOULD, UH, BRING THEM TO THE BOARD FOR DISCUSSION.
I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT WAS ON THE RECORD.
UH, UH, FURTHER, THE, THE ONLY THING I WOULD REQUEST, AND I WOULDN'T HOLD UP OUR, OUR APPROVAL IF WE CHOSE OF THIS CONTRACT FOR THAT, BUT, UM, I, I, I DO SEE THAT, YOU KNOW, IN, IN THE MEMO THAT IT TALKS A LITTLE BIT ABOUT, YOU KNOW, WE'RE GONNA USE A VARIETY OF DIFFERENT METRICS FOR HOW WE WOULD MEASURE THE OUTCOME OF THIS CONTRACT.
UM, I WOULD LIKE TO SEE, EVEN IF IT WAS JUST TO GET IT TO THE BOARD, SOME CLEARLY DEFINED OUTCOMES THAT, THAT YOU WILL SEEK TO, UM, TO SEE THROUGH THE END OF THIS CONTRACT, UM, MEASURABLE KPIS, UM, IN TERMS OF HERE'S WHAT WE'RE GONNA SEE IN TERMS OF IMPROVEMENTS TO ROUTING, UM, ON TIME AND, AND ALL THOSE DIFFERENT METRICS THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT.
SO THAT WHEN, WHEN WE GET TO THE END OF THIS CONTRACT, WE CAN MEASURE VERY CLEARLY AND SEE AS A BOARD WHAT THE RETURN ON THE, ON THAT MONEY WAS.
UM, BOARD MEMBER RUSS, WE WILL COME IN, UH, JUNE WITH THOSE METRICS SO YOU CAN SEE WHAT THE OUTCOME IS GOING TO LOOK LIKE.
OR WHAT WE WANT IT TO LOOK LIKE.
AND THEN AT THE END WE CAN EXPLORE AND, UH, THOSE MEASUREMENTS TO SEE THAT WE'VE ACCOMPLISHED OUR GOAL.
UM, UH, MR. RUSS ASKED ONE OF THE KEY QUESTIONS THAT I HAD.
SO, SO, SO THANK YOU FOR CLARIFYING THAT, THAT IT WILL COME BACK TO US TO SAY WE'RE GOING TO PILOT IN SCHOOLS X, Y, AND Z UM, EARLY START TIMES.
I JUST WANNA ENCOURAGE, I THINK THE, THE, THE MR. LUCIER'S COMMENT, YOU KNOW, IDENTIFIES THAT OBVIOUSLY THERE'S SIGNIFICANT CHANGE RIGHT? ASSOCIATED WITH THAT, WHICH IS GOOD.
AND I, AS, AS EVERYBODY IN HERE KNOWS, I STRONGLY SUPPORT LOOKING VERY HARD AT LATER SCHOOL START TIMES.
UH, BUT I ALSO WOULDN'T WANT TO, UH, JEOPARDIZE THE LONG-TERM
[00:50:01]
SUCCESS OF THAT BY TELLING A BUNCH OF PARENTS IN LIKE, JULY 15TH, HEY, BY THE WAY, SCHOOL'S STARTING AT EIGHT, NOT SEVEN.UM, AND, AND, AND, AND DISRUPT WHAT THEIR THINKING ALREADY WAS.
SO I WOULD JUST ENCOURAGE US TO, TO BE AS EXPEDITIOUS AS POSSIBLE IN IDENTIFYING, UH, THE BROAD PARAMETERS OF THAT SO WE CAN LET THE AFFECTED SCHOOLS KNOW, UH, AND, AND ENGAGE THEM BEFORE WE MAKE THAT FINAL DECISION, UM, ON WHETHER TO DO THAT OR NOT.
'CAUSE IF WE, IF WE DO IT WRONG, THEN, THEN THAT'LL TURN PEOPLE AGAINST THIS, UH, IN MY VIEW, MUCH NEEDED LONG-TERM REFORM.
UH, WE STARTED HAVING THE CONVERSATION WITH PRINCIPALS ABOUT THE NEED TO MAKE SOME ADJUSTMENTS IN THE WAY WE DO BUSINESS IN OUR SCHOOL SYSTEM SOME TIME AGO.
SO THERE HAVE ALREADY BEEN PRINCIPALS WHO HAVE BEGUN HAVING CONVERSATIONS WITH THEIR SCHOOL IMPROVEMENT TEAMS AROUND WHAT THEY KNEW NEED TO DO AT THEIR SCHOOLS.
FROM SCHOOLS ABOUT LOOKING AT, UH, START TIMES AND FAMILIES HAVE MADE REQUESTS TO LOOK AT START TIMES.
SO, UH, THE PLAN IS TO GO TO THE SCHOOL FAMILIES AND HAVE A CONVERSATION.
WE'RE NOT GONNA FORCE, UH, START TIME DOWN TO ANY, UH, SCHOOL'S APPARATUS TO BEGIN.
BUT WE DO RECOGNIZE THERE IS A DESIRE IN THIS COMMUNITY FOR THAT.
AND SO ABSOLUTELY, UH, WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THE COMMUNITY KNOWS, UH, WE'RE NOT WAITING, UH, WE'RE NOT, UH, LOLLYGAGGING, WE'RE JUST, UH, MOVING AS EXPEDITES AS WE CAN TO BEGIN THE PROCESS.
I JUST WANNA MAKE, YOU KNOW, BUT TEACHERS HAVE TO FIGURE OUT WHAT THEIR OWN CHILDCARE ARRANGEMENTS ARE AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
UM, WE'VE GOTTA MAKE SURE WE'VE GOT THE ADEQUATE STAFFING, UM, UM, AND ALL OF THAT.
SO I JUST EN ENCOURAGE US TO, YOU KNOW, TIME IS SHORT BEFORE NEXT SCHOOL STARTS.
I HAVE COMPLETE FAITH IN THIS CONSULTANT.
I A HUNDRED PERCENT, UH, SUPPORT THIS VERY EXCITED ABOUT, AND I APPRECIATE YOU MOVING FORWARD AS QUICKLY AS YOU HAVE ON IT.
PATO, YOU GOT ALL OF THAT
MR. MARTIN, DO WE HAVE ANY, UH, ADDITIONAL COMMENTS FROM OUR BOARD MEMBERS? OKAY.
I HAVE A, UM, A MOTION FROM MR. MARTIN AND I HAVE A SECOND BY MR. RUSS.
AND WE ARE GONNA GET MS. MADAM SECRETARY TO CALL FOR A VOTE.
[H.2. Student Expulsion]
TO ITEM TWO, STUDENT EXPULSION BOARD MEMBERS.HAVE YOU HAD THE OPPORTUNITY, I'M SORRY, WELL, DISCUSSION, CONSIDERATION OF A REQUEST TO APPEAL A STUDENT EXPULSION.
MR. SHAMBLIN BOARD MEMBERS, HAVE YOU HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO REVIEW THIS CASE? DO I HAVE A MOTION TO HEAR THE MATTER AT OUR NEXT REGULAR MEETING? HEARING NO MOTION AND SECOND SUPERINTENDENT RECOMMENDATION STANDS.
[H.3. Student Expulsion]
STUDENT EXPULSION DISCUSSION, CONSIDERATION OF A REQUEST TO APPEAL A STUDENT EXPULSION BOARD MEMBERS.HAVE YOU HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO REVIEW THIS CASE? DO I HAVE A MOTION TO HEAR THE MATTER AT THE NEXT REGULAR BOARD MEETING? DO I HAVE A SECOND? COACH LEWIS? I HAVE A MOTION BY MR. LANIS.
MOVING ALONG TO ITEM F I'M SORRY.
[I.1. Foundation for East Baton Rouge School System]
PRESENTATIONS FOUNDATION FOR THE EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH SCHOOL SYSTEM.THANK YOU MS. LIGHTFOOT, WE APPRECIATE YOU STEPPING UP.
IT'S BEEN A PLEASURE TO WORK WITH YOU THIS YEAR.
LOOKING FORWARD TO OUR CONTINUED EFFORTS TO RAISE, UH, $80 MILLION FOR THE SCHOOL SYSTEM.
SUPERINTENDENT COLE, THANK YOU SO MUCH.
IT'S BEEN A PLEASURE TO WORK WITH YOU.
SO, UM, THANK YOU PRESIDENT STEWART.
THANK YOU SUPERINTENDENT COLE AND THANK YOU BOARD MEMBERS FOR LETTING ME COME UP HERE AND PROVIDE A BRIEF UPDATE REGARDING THE FOUNDATION AND HOW WE ARE EVOLVING TO BETTER SERVE AND SUPPORT THE SCHOOL SYSTEM.
SO THE FOUNDATION HISTORICALLY HAS SERVED AS A, OH, DO I HAVE TO AVOID THIS? YEAH, YOU CAN DO IT.
SO THE FOUNDATION HISTORICALLY HAS SERVED A PASS THROUGH ORGANIZATION.
AND SO WE WERE THERE TO TAKE CORPORATE DONATIONS TO FUND PROGRAMMATIC THINGS WITH EBR.
SO NOW WE ARE SHIFTING TO, WE'RE GOING TO STILL DO THAT, BUT WE ALSO ARE GOING TO BECOME THE FUNDRAISING NORM OF THE SCHOOL SYSTEM.
THAT SHIFT IS GOING TO REQUIRE VERY INTENTIONAL EFFORT.
WE HAVE TO DO SOME BRAND BUILDING, WE HAVE TO DO SOME DONOR CULTIVATION AND STRATEGIC ME MESSAGING TO BUILD TRUST AMONGST THE COMMUNITY.
[00:55:01]
SO WE ARE MAKING THE CASE FOR THE IMPORTANCE OF PUBLIC EDUCATION.AND I WOULD ARGUE THAT RIGHT NOW OUR CASE IS, THIS IS PROBABLY THE STRONGEST IT'S BEEN IN YEARS, IS OUR CASE.
AND SO THIS, OUR SCHOOL'S TRANSFORMATION IS GIVING US AN OPPORTUNITY TO TELL THIS STORY AND THE NEED FOR PUBLIC EDUCATION AND THE IMPORTANCE OF IT.
SO HOW ARE WE GOING TO, HOW ARE WE EVOLVING AND HOW ARE WE WORKING TO DO THAT? WELL, IT'S GONNA START WITH OUR BOARD ENGAGEMENT AND OUR GOVERNANCE.
THIS PAST YEAR WE WELCOMED FIVE NEW BOARD MEMBERS.
WE ARE ACTIVELY RECRUITING FOUR ADDITIONAL BOARD MEMBERS RIGHT NOW.
AND WHEN I CAME ABOARD, I WANTED THE BOARD, I CHALLENGED THE BOARD TO ALL DONATE PERSONALLY TO THE, TO WHERE THEY WANTED TO GO WITH THE FOUNDATION.
THEY PUT IT TOWARD EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION.
SO WE HAVE A HUNDRED PERCENT BOARD PARTICIPATION FROM THE STAFF AND THE MEMBERS.
AND I'VE TAKEN A CUE FROM SUPERINTENDENT COLE.
I STOLE YOUR GOOD IDEA OF HAVING MEETINGS IN OUR SCHOOLS.
I WANTED TO BRING THE FOUNDATION BOARD MEMBERS CLOSER TO THE WORK.
SO WE HAVE OUR MEETINGS, WE MEET EVERY OTHER MONTH AND WE DO MEET IN SCHOOLS.
WE'VE MELT AT FLAME AND WE'VE TAKEN A TOUR AND WE'VE BEEN AT CTEC.
AND SO WE WOULD LIKE TO CONTINUE THOSE THIS SUMMER DEPENDING ON WHAT, UM, FACILITIES ARE AVAILABLE FOR US TO MEET IN.
SO WE'VE GOT OUR BOARD MEMBERS.
NOW WE'VE GOT TO MOVE ON TO OUR FOCUS.
WE HAVE LOOKED AT OUR STRATEGIC PLAN FROM 2022, AND WE ARE LOOKING AT WHAT IS REALLY GONNA MOVE THE NEEDLE.
WE HAVE OUR PRIORITIES ARE EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION, WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT, LITERACY, AND THE DIRECT SUPPORT FOR SCHOOLS, AND THEN THE COMMUNICATIONS AND MARKETING PIECE THAT I MENTIONED.
AND WE HAVE REFORMED OUR COMMITTEES ON OUR BOARD AND THEY ARE MEETING AND WE ARE MOVING ALONG WITH THAT.
I'M VERY PROUD TO TELL YOU THAT TODAY.
SO YEAR TO DATE, THE FOUNDATION HAS RAISED $313,000 THIS YEAR.
TO GIVE YOU SOME CONTEXT, OVER THE PAST SIX YEAR, THE AVERAGE HAS BEEN $207,000.
LAST YEAR WAS A BOOM YEAR BECAUSE WE HAD THE STATE MATCH FOR ONE-TO-ONE WITH EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION, AND THEY WERE ABLE TO MATCH A GENEROUS GIFT FROM THE, A GENEROUS GRANT FROM WILSON FOUNDATION AND EXXON AND A DF.
SO THAT WAS AN ADDITIONAL $250,000 THAT CAME INTO US LAST YEAR.
THAT WAS, THAT WAS AN AMAZING BOON AND WE'RE PROUD OF IT.
WE DID NOT HAVE THAT THIS YEAR, BUT I AM PROUD OF WHAT WE RAISED.
SO WE WERE ABLE TO RAISE $41,000 IN THE EARLY, EARLY STEPS FOR SUCCESS CAMPAIGN.
AND THAT WAS GONNA BE MATCHED BY THE STATE ONE TO ONE.
WE HAD COX COMMUNICATIONS DONATED A HUNDRED LAPTOPS TO STUDENTS AT CLAIBORNE ELEMENTARY.
AND THEN RECENTLY WE SECURED A HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS GRANT FROM FUEL, WHICH IS, UM, FUTURE USE OF ENERGY IN LOUISIANA, UM, TO FUND 40 PAID INTERNSHIPS.
THIS IS A GRANT FROM THE NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION THAT WAS GIVEN TO LSU.
AND WE ARE, UM, WE ARE A SUB-AWARD OF THAT, OF THAT.
AND THIS IS A LONG-TERM, UM, INVESTMENT THROUGH THIS GRANT.
SO WE, WE WILL CONTINUE THIS FOR MANY YEARS.
AND SO WE ARE ALSO INVESTING IN A GRANT WRITING FIRM.
UM, 'CAUSE WE NEED TO INCREASE OUR CAPACITY AND PURSUE LARGE SCALE FUNDRAISING.
ALL RIGHT, SO MS. STEWART, AFTER OUR MEETING WITH YOU, WE DEVELOPED AN ONLINE FORM AND IT'S ON OUR WEBSITE.
AND THIS IS FOR PRINCIPALS AND TEACHERS TO COEN AND ENTER THEIR NEEDS.
NOW, WE DO NOT HAVE THE FUNDING TO MEET THESE NEEDS AT THIS, AT THIS TIME.
WHAT WE ARE CREATING IS A LIBRARY OF NEEDS.
AND THESE ARE GONNA BE THINGS THAT WE CAN USE AS WE'RE GOING OUT AND WE'RE TALKING, WE'RE LISTENING TO DONORS BECAUSE THEY MAY NOT BE INTERESTED IN EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION OR WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT, BUT THEY COULD BE INTERESTED IN SOMETHING ELSE WE HAVE.
SO WE NEED THIS LIBRARY'S NEEDS.
THE GOAL IS TO BUILD OUR GENERAL FUNDS SO WE ARE ABLE TO FUND THESE PROJECTS THAT ARE, THAT ARE NEEDED.
SO THIS, LIKE I SAID, I WILL SEND YOU THE LINK.
YOU CAN HAVE THIS AND YOU CAN LOOK AT THE APPLICATION.
SO WE GOT THAT DONE FOR YOU, MS. STEWART.
AND THIS IS ALSO GOING TO CREATE TRANSPARENCY AND OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO BE VERY STRATEGIC WITH OUR DONOR EN ENGAGEMENT.
SO HOW ARE WE GONNA FUND THIS STUFF? ALRIGHT, SO WE LAUNCHED, WE DID A SOFT LAUNCH IN APRIL AT THE SUPERINTENDENT'S LEADERSHIP LUNCHEON AT CTEC OF THE SUPERINTENDENT SOCIETY.
AND THIS IS SOCIETY IS BUILT TO STRENGTHEN THE GENERAL FUND.
AND THIS IS GONNA PROVIDE THE SUPERINTENDENT WITH FLEXIBILITY TO MEET URGENT NEEDS AND ALSO SOME PROJECTS THAT WE ARE GETTING THROUGH OUR PORTAL THAT WE REALLY NEED THE SUPPORT.
AND WE ARE REALLY EXCITED BECAUSE WE HAVE A MEDIA PARTNERSHIP WITH GREATER BATON ROUGE BUSINESS REPORT.
AND WE'RE GOING TO USE THIS TO PROMOTE THE SOCIETY AND TO RECOGNIZE OUR DONORS TO THE SOCIETY AND GIVE THEM STORYTELLING OPPORTUNITIES ABOUT WHY PUBLIC EDUCATION IS IMPORTANT.
AND SO THIS IS GOING TO ELEVATE THE PUBLIC AWARENESS AND, UM, IT'S GOING TO LEND CREDIBILITY TO THE WORK WE'RE DOING.
[01:00:01]
A VIDEO FOR YOU THAT JULIO, UM, MALARA RECORDED FOR US, AND THIS IS GOING TO BE, THIS IS AN EXAMPLE OF WHAT A DONOR AT A CERTAIN LEVEL WILL BE ABLE TO RECORD AND THAT WE CAN SHOW ON THE COMMUNITY, ON THEIR, ON EBRS, I MEAN, I'M SORRY, BUSINESS REPORTS WEBSITE ON SOME MEDIA, UM, HARD COPY ELSEWHERE.HI, MY NAME IS JULIO MALARA AND I'M THE CEO OF MALARA ENTERPRISES.
MANY OF YOU HAVE HEARD ME TALK ABOUT MY UPBRINGING BY A SINGLE MOTHER WHO WORKED HARD TO GIVE ME EVERY OPPORTUNITY.
I'LL BE HONEST, PRIVATE SCHOOL WAS, WASN'T AN OPTION FOR US, BUT MY PUBLIC EDUCATION, THAT WAS A CORE INFLUENCE THAT SHIFTED THE TRAJECTORY OF MY LIFE.
THE FUTURE OF OUR WORKFORCE IN THE CAPITAL REGION WILL BE SHAPED BY PUBLIC EDUCATION.
WE CAN'T AFFORD TO GIVE UP ON THE PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM.
I CERTAINLY WON'T, AND NEITHER SHOULD YOU.
THERE'S A DIRECT LINK BETWEEN STUDENT POVERTY, TRUANCY, AND CRIME, BUT BEYOND THAT, PUBLIC EDUCATION IS TASKED WITH SOMETHING BIGGER, GIVING EVERY CHILD, NO MATTER WHERE THEY COME FROM, A CHANCE TO BE GREAT, THEY'RE SHAPING THE NEXT GENERATION OF CEOS, DOCTORS, ENGINEERS, ARTISTS, LAWYERS AND ENTREPRENEURS, THE PEOPLE WHO WOULD LEAD THIS CITY FORWARD.
EVEN IF YOUR CHILD DOESN'T ATTEND EBR SCHOOLS, YOU STILL HAVE A ROLE TO PLAY.
WE CAN'T AFFORD TO SIT ON THE SIDELINES.
OUR TEACHERS AND OUR STUDENTS NEED US.
SO LET'S STEP UP, LET'S STARE TO BE GREAT BY INVESTING IN THOSE SHAPING BATON ROUGE'S FUTURE.
BECAUSE WHEN OUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS SUCCEED, WE ALL SUCCEED.
SO I WAS VERY HAPPY THAT HE DID THAT FOR US, AND HE'S GOING TO BE DOING THAT FOR US.
AND THIS IS AN IN KIND GIFT FROM BUSINESS REPORT OR HAPPY TO HAVE THEIR SUPPORT.
SO LOOKING AHEAD, WE ARE CONTINUING TO ALIGN OUR FUNDING WITH THE DISTRICT.
AND AS YOU TRANSFORM, WE'RE GOING TO STRENGTHEN OUR PARTNERSHIPS WITH EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION, LITERACY AND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT.
AND WE ARE ELEVATING PUBLIC EDUCATION AS A SHARED COMMUNITY INVESTMENT BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT WE TRULY BELIEVE IT IS.
AND WHAT IS YOUR ROLE? HOW CAN YOU HELP US? ALL RIGHT.
SO YOU CAN, FIRST OF ALL, YOU CAN SHARE OUR FOUNDATION'S WEBSITE WITH THAT, WITH YOUR DISTRICT, UM, LEADERS, YOUR PRINCIPALS AND OTHER LEADERS FOR THE APPLICATION.
SO WE CAN BUILD THAT LIBRARY OF NEEDS.
UM, YOU CAN HELP US IDENTIFY HIGH IMPACT PROGRAMS THAT YOU HAVE AND COMMUNITY PARTNERS THAT WE COULD POSSIBLY WORK WITH, UM, INVITE POTENTIAL DONORS TO, TO OUR SCHOOL AND A FOUNDATION BOARD MEMBER AND OUR MYSELF WOULD BE HAPPY TO COME THERE ALONG WITH YOU AND THEN BE A CHAMPION FOR THE SUPERINTENDENT SOCIETY AND OUR INVESTMENT IN STUDENTS.
AND WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO BUILDING A STRONGER, MORE TRUSTED PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM.
AND FINALLY, I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU.
I WANT TO TELL YOU, I AM SO PROUD OF THE DECISION MAKING FROM THIS BOARD, AND YOU'VE REALLY STUCK YOUR NECK OUT THERE WITH THE SCHOOL REALIGNMENT.
AND I WANT TO TELL YOU THAT I HAVE NOT HAD A CONVERSATION SINCE THIS DECISION HAS BEEN MADE WITH ANYONE IN THE COMMUNITY THAT HAS SAID THEY DISAGREED WITH IT.
IN FACT, THEY HAVE SAID THEY WERE SO RELIEVED THAT IT'S FINALLY HAPPENING.
AND THERE'S, SO I WANT TO THANK YOU BECAUSE YOU DON'T REALIZE THIS, BUT YOU ARE, YOU'RE NOT FUNDRAISERS, BUT YOU ARE FUNDRAISERS BECAUSE YOU, YOU HAVE MADE MY, YOU HAVE MADE MY JOB A LITTLE EASIER.
AND BY YOUR DECISION MAKING, YOUR SOUND DECISION MAKING AND THOUGHTFUL DECISION MAKING, YOU HAVE INSPIRED CONFIDENCE IN THE SCHOOL SYSTEM.
AND SO THIS IS A CONFIDENCE THAT MAKES IT EASIER FOR THE FOUNDATION TO BRING IN PHILANTHROPIC INVESTMENT.
UM, AND JUST TO PIGGYBACK ON WHAT SHE JUST SAID, I AM VERY PROUD OF THIS BOARD TOO.
UM, WE WORK TOGETHER AWESOMELY, UM, WE, WE, YOU KNOW, WE MESH.
AND, UH, WE HAVE BEEN ON THE GRIND GETTING THINGS DONE, AND I THINK THAT'S AWESOME FOR THE STUDENTS.
AND ULTIMATELY WE ARE PUTTING STUDENTS FIRST.
[J.1. Announcement of Meetings]
ITEM J, ORGANIZATION ITEMS. AND COACH LEWIS, BEFORE WE GO TO A GERMAN, I'D LIKE TO TAKE A PERSONAL, UH, POINT OF PRIVILEGE ANNOUNCEMENTS BEFORE I GO TO ANNOUNCEMENTS.HOWEVER, I KNOW BASED ON CONVERSATIONS WITH SEVERAL OF THEM, THEY SHARE MY SENTIMENTS AND ARE OPPOSED TO SOME OF THE CONTENTS OF SENATE BILLS 25 AND 2 34 PROPOSED BY SENATOR EDMUND AND REPRESENTATIVE VERE.
[01:05:01]
I'M NOT OPPOSED TO THE VOTERS OF EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH AND THE CITIZENS OF ST.GEORGE VOTING TO ESTABLISH THEIR SCHOOL SYSTEM JUST LIKE BAKER CENTRAL AND ZACHARY.
HOWEVER, THE PROPONENTS OF THOSE BREAKAWAY DISTRICTS, AS THEY'RE CALLED, DID NOT ATTEMPT TO CIRCUMVENT ESTABLISHED PROTOCOL FOR THE FORMING OF A SCHOOL DISTRICT.
PROTOCOLS ESTABLISHED BY THE LOUISIANA LEGISLATURE, MEMBERS OF THIS BOARD HAVE MET TWICE WITH SENATOR EDMOND AND REPRESENTATIVE VERE, WHERE WE WERE, WHERE OUR CONCERNS PRIMARILY AROUND 2 34 WERE EXPRESSED.
AND TO THIS DATE, THOSE CONCERNS HAVE BEEN LARGELY IGNORED, GIVEN AN IMPRESSION ON MY, FROM, FROM WHERE I SIT, GIVEN THE IMPRESSION THAT WE ARE IN FAVOR OF IT.
AND I MENTIONED I HAVE COLLEAGUES ON THIS BOARDS WHO ARE NOT, BESIDES WHAT I CONSIDER A HALF-HEARTED ATTEMPT TO ADDRESS LEGACY COSTS.
SENATOR EDMUND AND REPRESENTATIVE SHE OR SEEKING TO CIRCUMVENT ESTABLISHED PROTOCOLS, MOUS WITH STATE, WELL, I'M SORRY, WITH SENATE BILL 2 34, THAT WOULD ALLOW STUDENTS WHO RESIDE IN ST.
GEORGE TO ATTEND MAGNET SCHOOLS IN THE EAST BATON ROUGE SCHOOL DISTRICT.
IF THAT'S THE CASE, IF THAT'S THE CASE, SHOULD THE PARENTS AND STUDENTS IN BAKER CENTRAL AND ZACHARY BE AFFORDED THE SAME OPPORTUNITY TO ATTEND MAGNET PROGRAMS. IF YOU WANT YOUR OWN SCHOOL DISTRICT, FORM YOUR OWN MAGNET SCHOOLS.
IF YOU WANT YOUR OWN SCHOOL DISTRICT, FORM YOUR OWN MAGNET SCHOOLS.
DON'T GET ME WRONG, AND I DON'T THINK YOU WILL, BECAUSE I'VE BEEN ON RECORD FOR ALMOST THREE YEARS.
I'M ALL ABOUT PROVIDING CHILDREN WITH FAIR AND EQUITABLE EDUCATION OPPORTUNITIES.
WHAT I'M NOT IN FAVOR OF AND NOR WILL I SUPPORT LEGISLATION THAT COULD POSSIBLY DENY FOREVER.
'CAUSE THIS BILL SAYS YOU CAN ATTEND OUR MAGNET SCHOOLS, MAGNET SCHOOLS THROUGH PERPETUITY, WHICH MEANS FOREVER IN A DAY.
NOR WILL I SUPPORT LEGISLATION THAT COULD POSSIBLY DENY FOREVER A SEAT TO A CHILD WHOSE PARENTS WORK AND PAY TAXES IN THIS SCHOOL DISTRICT TO EDUCATE THEIR CHILDREN AS WELL AS EVERYBODY ELSE'S CHILDREN.
I WOULD NEVER SUPPORT LEGISLATION THAT WOULD DENY THAT CHILD A SEAT.
AND A LOT OF FANS BEHIND THAT ONE.
IS IT DARRIS? AIN'T NOBODY CLAPPING BUT YOU ONE.
I'M, I'M GOING, I'M GETTING TO THAT PART.
A PUBLIC HEARING WILL BE HELD ON THE 25 26 BUDGET TO BE HELD JUNE 5TH, 2025 AT 4:00 PM IN THE CENTRAL OFFICE BOARDROOM COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE MEETING TO BE HELD JUNE 5TH, 2025 AT 5:00 PM IN THE CENTRAL OFFICE.
A REGULAR MEETING TO BE HELD JUNE 12TH, 2025 AT 5:00 PM IN THE CENTRAL OFFICE BOARDROOM.