* This transcript was created by voice-to-text technology. The transcript has not been edited for errors or omissions, it is for reference only and is not the official minutes of the meeting. [00:00:04] GOOD [A. Meeting Opening] AFTERNOON EVERYONE, AND THANK YOU FOR COMING TO SHARE WITH US ON OUR REGULAR MEETING FOR THE OCTOBER 15TH, 2026, REGULAR MEETING. THE INVOCATION WILL BE LED BY SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER NATHAN RUSS, AND THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE WILL BE LED BY CADET LIEUTENANT COLONEL CASSIDY BOWERS OF TARA HIGH SCHOOL, ACCOMPANIED BY LIEUTENANT COLONEL RAFAEL MORRISON, SENIOR ARMY INSTRUCTOR. WOULD YOU ALL PLEASE STAND? PLEASE BOW YOUR HEADS WITH ME. FATHER GOD, WE PRAISE YOU AND WE THANK YOU FOR THE MOST WONDERFUL BLESSING THAT YOU GIVE US ALL OUR CHILDREN. UH, WE PRAY THAT WE WILL HONOR YOU BY CARING FOR THEM AS THEY WERE OUR OWN. THAT WE WILL WORK DILIGENTLY, TIRELESSLY TO SERVE THAT CHILDREN AND THE FAMILIES THAT DEPEND ON US, TO POUR INTO THEIR STUDENTS AND HELP THEM FIND A PROMISING FUTURE. LORD, WE PRAY THAT YOUR WILL WILL BE DONE IN THE MEETING AND EVERYTHING THAT WE DO, AND THAT WE WILL HONOR YOU. IN YOUR NAME WE PRAY, AMEN. AMEN. GOOD EVENING, UH, MADAM PRESIDENT, MR. VICE PRESIDENT LEWIS, UH, ESTEEM MEMBERS OF THE BOARD. I'M LIEUTENANT COLONEL RAPHAEL MORRISON, TARA HIGH SCHOOL, AND TODAY IS MY PRIVILEGE, PRIVILEGE TO INTRODUCE, UH, CADET LIEUTENANT COLONEL CASSIDY BOWERS. UH, SHE'S A SENIOR AT TARA HIGH SCHOOL. SHE'S BEEN IN THE PROGRAM FOR ALL FOUR YEARS. SHE'S THE BATTALION COMMANDER, WHICH MEANS SHE'S THE HIGHEST RANKING CADET IN OUR PROGRAM, AND SHE'S ALSO OUR COLOR GUARD COMMANDER. SHE'S BEEN DOING THAT NOW FOR TWO YEARS. UM, SHE HAS A 3.5 GPA SHE, AFTER THIS SEMESTER, SHE'LL BE THREE CLASSES AWAY FROM GETTING HER ASSOCIATE'S DEGREE. UM, AND SO, UH, FINGERS CROSSED SHE'LL DO WELL THIS SEMESTER. UH, UPON COMPLETION OF HIGH SCHOOL, SHE WANTS TO JOIN A NATIONAL GUARD AND BECOME A 68 WHISKEY, WHICH IS A MEDIC, UH, WITH EVENTUALLY GOING TO SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY AND BECOMING A NURSE THROUGH THEIR NURSING PROGRAM. UM, CASSIE IS ONE OF OUR SUCCESS STORIES. AND THEN WHEN I FIRST MET HER, A LOT OF TIMES WE SEE THESE KIDS A FRESHMAN AND WE JUST KIND OF SAY, WELL, SHE AIN'T GONNA MAKE IT. THEY MIGHT NOT MAKE IT, BUT I SENT HER TO, TO CAMP AND SHE CAME BACK WITH A RENEWED PURPOSE, RENEWED DRIVE, RENEWED MOTIVATION. UM, LITTLE STORY. WE HAVEN'T HAD A BATTALION COMMANDER SINCE I'VE BEEN HERE. SHE'S THE FIRST ONE. I'VE BEEN AT TERRA HIGH SCHOOL FOR FIVE YEARS BECAUSE WE TAKE THAT POSITION SO SERIOUSLY AT TERRA HIGH SCHOOL. AND SHE CAME BACK. SHE DIDN'T ASK TO BE IT, SHE JUST STARTED MENTORING THE YOUNG FRESHMEN, THE YOUNG SOPHOMORES, AND MYSELF AND MY FELLOW INSTRUCTOR WAS LIKE, SHE'S GONNA BE THE ONE. AND SHE'S BEEN AWESOME. UM, AND IT'S VERY RARE FOR ME AS MY FIFTH YEAR AT TARA, WATCHING A KID GO FROM A FRESHMAN MATURE, TAKE THE ADVICE THAT WE GIVE THEM AND SU YOU KNOW, SPONGE IT ALL IN, AND THEN ACTUALLY PUT INTO ACTION. AND SHE'S DONE THAT. AND I'M SUPER PROUD OF HER. I'M TRYING NOT TO BE EMOTIONAL, BUT I'M SUPER PROUD OF HER. UM, AND SHE'S ONE OF THE BRIGHT STARS AT TARA HIGH SCHOOL. SO, CADET CASSIDY. BOWERS. GOOD AFTERNOON EVERYONE. MAY YOU PLEASE JOIN ME FOR THE PLEASURE OF ALLEGIANCE. 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. WAIT BEFORE YOU GO, MS. CASSIDY, JOINING US TODAY, PRESENT YOU WITH THE SUPERINTENDENT, THE SUPERINTENDENT BOARD TAKE. OKAY. AND THANK YOU. MOVING ALONG. UM, MADAM SECRETARY, CAN I HAVE A ROLL CALL PLEASE? DISTRICT FOUR, PRESIDENT STEWART. PRESENT, DISTRICT FIVE. BRYCE, VICE PRESIDENT LEWIS. PRESENT DISTRICT ONE. MR. BLUE? HERE. DISTRICT TWO. MR. LANIS? DISTRICT THREE. MS. POWELL LEWIS. DISTRICT SIX. MR. RUSS? PRESENT. DISTRICT SEVEN. MR. GODDE? HERE. DISTRICT EIGHT, MS. SOLE? HERE. HERE. DISTRICT NINE. MR. MARTIN. WE HAVE A QUORUM. THANK YOU MA'AM. MOVING [B. Minutes] ALONG TO ITEM B, MEETING MINUTES, APPROVAL OF THE SCHOOL BOARD MINUTES OF THE SEPTEMBER 3RD, 2026, COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE MEETING AND THE SEPTEMBER 17TH, 2026 REGULAR BOARD MEETING AS PUBLISHED IN THE OFFICIAL JOURNAL. I DON'T HAVE ANY COMMENTS. DO I HAVE ANY BOARD COMMENTS? [00:05:02] NO. DO I HAVE A MOTION? I HAVE A MOTION FROM MR. GODDE AND I HAVE A SECOND FROM MR. LEWIS. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY I I DON'T HAVE TO DO THAT ANYMORE, HUH? . I KNOW. NO, NO WE DON'T. YEAH, I JUST SO USED TO IT. MADAME SECRETARY, CALL FOR THE VOTE. PLEASE VOTE. WELL, MAYBE NOT. I KNOW. I THINK SOMETHING HAPPENED TO HER. IT IS NOW PLEASE VOTE. MOTION CARRIES. [C. Information Only] THANK YOU. MOVING RIGHT ALONG. ITEM C, INFORMATION ONLY. YOU HAVE ITEM ONE, THE MONTHLY FINANCIAL REPORT. AND NUMBER TWO, YOU HAVE PERSONNEL CHANGES [D.1. Update from the Superintendent] D RECEIVE AS INFORMATION. AND WE WELCOME OUR SUPERINTENDENT, MR. COLE. OH, I'M SORRY. I DIDN'T SEE. THERE YOU GO. MR. GOLD AGE. YES. THANK YOU. I JUST WANT TO, UH, MAKE A COUPLE OF BRIEF COMMENTS. ONE, UM, I WANT TO GIVE A SHOUT OUT TO THE FINANCE GROUP BECAUSE THE MONTHLY REPORT HAS REALLY COME AROUND AND IT'S REALLY SOMETHING USEFUL THAT WE CAN LOOK AT AND KEEP TRACK OF. SO I WANT TO THANK, THANK YOU FOR ALL THAT. AND I ALSO WANTED TO GET WITH OUR HEAD OF HR, DR. SMOTHERS, YOU AND I MET TODAY, SO I KNOW THE ANSWER OF THIS, BUT I'M GONNA KEEP HAMMERING ON THE NUMBER OF VACANCIES THAT WE HAVE BECAUSE THAT WAS ONE OF THE MAIN IMPACTS THAT WE HOPE TO HAVE BY INCREASING OUR SALARY SCHEDULE. SO COULD YOU GIVE US JUST A BRIEF UPDATE ON WHERE WE ARE WITH, UH, TEACHER VACANCIES? AND AGAIN, I KNOW THE ANSWER, BUT I WANT TO HAVE EVERYBODY ELSE HAVE IT. . OH, YES, SIR. ALRIGHT. GOOD AFTERNOON, EVERYONE. UM, CURRENTLY WE HAVE 75 TEACHER VACANCIES, 74. YOU HIRED SOMEBODY YESTERDAY. 74. I HIRED SOMEBODY YESTERDAY. ABSOLUTELY. YOU ABSOLUTELY SOUP. THANK YOU SO MUCH, . YES, MA'AM. YES. SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH. AND IT IS JUST AN INDICATION THAT, THAT, YOU KNOW, WHAT WE WERE TRYING TO DO IS WORKING BECAUSE OH YEAH, WHEN I FIRST CAME ON THE BOARD, THAT NUMBER WAS 180, 190 AND STUFF LIKE THAT. AND, AND WE'VE CONSTANTLY GOTTEN IT DOWN. SO, UH, I WANT TO APPLAUD THE HARD WORK OF THE HR DEPARTMENT AND ALSO THE FAITH THAT THE COMMUNITY AND THE BOARD HAD AND, AND GIVING THOSE SALARY INCREASES. 'CAUSE I THINK THAT'S PLAYING A BIG ROLE OF IT. YEAH. MR. LEWIS, MS. MOTHERS, YOU CAN ANSWER FROM BACK THERE. , WHAT'S THE HIGHEST NEED AREA THAT WE STILL FACE? PSS THOUGHT SO. OKAY. THANK YOU MS. SOLE. WELL, SINCE WE'RE TALKING ABOUT IT, I WENT YESTERDAY TO THE HR DEPARTMENT AND MET WITH DR. SMOTHERS. AND IF YOU HAVE CONSIDERED APPLYING FOR EBR, IT IS SO MUCH EASIER TO APPLY. DR. SMOTHERS IS JUST HER, HER WHOLE TEAM IS DOING GREAT WORK OVER THERE. SO, UM, YES, THE PAY RAISE. EASIER TO GET ON BOARD HERE. COME AND JOIN US IN EBR. THANK YOU, DR. SMOTHERS. YOU'RE DOING A GREAT JOB. THANK YOU, MS. SULE. UM, NOW WE MOVING ALONG TOO. SUPERINTENDENT COLE. I'M MADAM PRESIDENT, VICE PRESIDENT, UH, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD. BEFORE WE MOVE, UH, TO, UH, MY REPORT, I'D LIKE TO TAKE AN OPPORTUNITY, UH, TO RECOGNIZE A YOUNG LADY WHO HAS MADE, UH, THE REALLY, REALLY HEARTBREAKING DECISION TO RETIRE, UH, FROM OUR SCHOOL SYSTEM. UH, LAURA WILLIAMS, UH, HAS DEDICATED 35 YEARS OF HER LIFE, UH, TO THE EAST BARR PARISH SCHOOL SYSTEM. UH, UH, AND SHE TOLD ME, UH, WHEN I BECAME SUPERINTENDENT, UH, THAT SHE WAS PREPARED TO RETIRE THAT DAY. AND I THOUGHT IT WAS BECAUSE I WAS SELECTED, BUT SHE SAID THAT SHE HAD JUST BEEN PREPARING OR TO GO HOME. I ASKED HER WOULD SHE STAY TWO YEARS HOPING I COULD GET HER TO STAY FOUR. UH, BUT SHE DID STAY TWO YEARS. AND SO, UH, I WANT TO THANK HER FOR CHOOSING TO STAY TWO YEARS, UH, 20 YEARS AGO, UH, MS. WILLIAMS WAS VERY, VERY INSTRUMENTAL, UH, WHEN I BECAME PRINCIPAL AT CAPITAL MIDDLE. AND SHE, UH, WAS THERE EVERY DAY AND SHE HELPED US AND SHE MENTORED PEOPLE AND TEACHERS AND ME. UH, AND SO, UH, I DON'T KNOW. I WOULD BE WHERE I AM TODAY WHERE NOT, UH, FOR HER FRIENDSHIP OR SUPPORT, HER GUIDANCE AND HER HELP. AND SO WE SINCERELY APPRECIATE THE WORK AND [00:10:01] YOUR DEDICATION THAT YOU'VE GIVEN, UH, TO OUR SCHOOL SYSTEM. SO, ON BEHALF OF THE EAST BARRING PARISH SCHOOL SYSTEM, WE HAD A CELEBRATION FOR HER OUR LAST MONTH, UH, WHERE WE GAVE HER, UH, A BIG PLAQUE AND, YOU KNOW, WE DID A, A, A REALLY NICE SENDOFF. UH, THEN SHE WENT ON VACATION. AND SO NOW SHE'S BACK. AND I ASKED HER IF SHE WOULD COME TO THE BOARD SO, UH, ALL OF YOU COULD, UH, GIVE HER HER FLOWERS WHILE SHE COULD SMELL 'EM. AND WHILE WE DO THAT, I HAVE A, A GIFT THAT WE GONNA GIVE MS. WILLIAMS TONIGHT. OKAY? OH, OH, LET'S GO DOWN BOARD MEMBERS, SINCE WE WEREN'T INVITED TO THE CELEBRATION . SO LAST WEEK WE HAD, UH, WHAT WE RECOGNIZED ALL OF OUR EMPLOYEES IN THE SCHOOL SYSTEM FOR 20 YEARS, 30 YEARS, 40 YEARS, AND 50 YEARS. AND THIS IS A CERTIFICATE THAT PROBABLY PRESENTED TO LAURA WILLIAMS AND RECOGNITION OF YOUR 35 YEARS OF SERVICE TO THE EAST PARENTS PARISH SCHOOL SYSTEM. SO WE GONNA GIVE YOU THAT AND THEN WE GONNA PUT THIS, ALRIGHT, SO WE GONNA TAKE THE PICTURES? CAN WE? THERE YOU GO. I JUST HAVE ONE QUESTION. HOW DID SHE GET CERTIFIED AT 12 ? WILL HER TEAM PLEASE COME FORWARD TO GET IN THE PICTURE, PLEASE? MS. SMOTHERS? MS. SMOTHERS, SHE SAID MS. SMITH, SHE SAID THOSE NAMES. SHE SAID YOU GUYS ALL, ALL OF YOU GUYS, ALL THE ELT. YEAH. THERE YOU GO. YEAH. ELT PEOPLE. COME ON. ELT. COME ON. MY ELT PEOPLE, , ELT. ALL THE TALL PEOPLE NEED TO BE IN THE BACK. ALL THE, ALL THE CHALLENG YOU CAN SEE. THE CAMERA CAN SEE. ALRIGHT, EVERYBODY. 1, 2, 3. ME TOO. OKAY. YOU KNOW I LOVE ME AND NICE SNEAKERS. MR. COLE KNOWS THAT EBR TUGS AT MY HEART AND I GET REAL FULL, BUT 35, IT DIDN'T FEEL LIKE 35 YEARS I WAS TALKING TO MY CHILDREN. THEY SAID, HOW DO YOU DO ANYTHING THAT LONG? AND THEY TOLD ME, THEY SAID, BECAUSE YOU LOVE IT. YOU HAVE LOVED IT. I'VE LOVED EVERYTHING I'VE DONE IN EBR. I'M SO ETERNALLY GRATEFUL TO HAVE BEEN PART OF THE EBR FAMILY AND PART OF THIS LEADERSHIP TEAM. I BELIEVE THAT EBR IS GONNA SOAR BEYOND WHAT YOU COULD HAVE EVER IMAGINED. I KNOW THAT GOD HAS HIS HANDS ON EBR, HE HAS HIS HANDS ON THE LEADERSHIP TEAM, AND WE ARE GO GOING TO GO HIGHER IN, UH, SUPERINTENDENT KOHL'S WORDS. UM, THANK YOU FOR TRUSTING ME TO BE PART OF THIS FAMILY. THANK YOU FOR ENTRUSTING THE CHILDREN, THE FAMILIES, AND THE EDUCATORS FOR ME TO LEAD. THIS IS MY LEGACY. I WON'T DO ANYTHING ELSE FOR 35 YEARS, . AND I'M JUST SO GRATEFUL THAT THIS IS ONE LEGACY THAT I'M EXTREMELY PROUD TO BE A PART OF. SO HUMBLY, I THANK YOU AGAIN AND I WISH YOU THE BEST. THANK YOU. THANK YOU MS. WILLIAMS. THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE. NOW LISTEN, YOU DON'T HAVE TO STAY FOR THE ENTIRE MEETING, BUT YOU'RE MORE THAN WELCOME TO . ABSOLUTELY. UH, SO GOOD EVENING. UH, BOARD MEMBERS, UH, EBR FAMILY, THOSE OF YOU AT HOME, THOSE WHO ARE HERE, AS WE SETTLE INTO, UH, THE MONTH OF OCTOBER, I HOPE EVERYONE HAD A REFRESHING FALL BREAK AND HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO REST AND RECHARGE AS WE STEP BACK INTO OUR SCHOOLS. WE REMAIN FIRMLY FOCUSED AND GROUNDED ON THE CORE MISSION OF EDUCATING ALL STUDENTS FOR SUCCESS. THERE IS NO TURNING BACK. OCTOBER MARKS NATIONAL PRINCIPALS MONTH SPEAKING AS A FORMER PRINCIPAL. THIS RECOGNITION HITS ESPECIALLY CLOSE TO HOME. I WANT TO PERSONALLY EXPRESS MY GRATITUDE FOR THE OUTSTANDING LEADERS WHO GUIDE OUR CAMPUSES EVERY SINGLE DAY. OUR PRINCIPAL WORK RELENTLESSLY SUPPORTING OUR STUDENTS, EMPOWERING OUR TEACHERS, AND BUILDING STRONG RESILIENT SCHOOL COMMUNITIES. I RECOGNIZE, KNOW, AND UNDERSTAND THE WORK OF THE PRINCIPAL IS NOT EASY, BUT YOU GUYS DO IT WITH SUCH GRACE AND PROFESSIONALISM. [00:15:01] AND WE'RE HAPPY TO HAVE YOU, UH, WORK IN OUR SCHOOLS. YOUR LEADERSHIP SHAPES THE CULTURE, THE VISION, AND THE FUTURE OF OUR SCHOOLS DAILY. WE'RE DEEPLY GRATEFUL FOR YOUR UNWAVERING DEDICATION TO EXCELLENCE AND FOR THE VITAL ROLE YOU PLAY EVERY SINGLE DAY IN THE LIVES OF OUR STUDENTS. UNDER THE AREA OF STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT, WE ARE INSPIRED BY THE WORK OF TER ROBERT MARZANO'S HIGH RELIABILITY SCHOOLS RESEARCH. WE HAVE LAUNCHED A HIGH RELIABILITY SCHOOL SITE VISITS. IT'S PART OF OUR COMMITMENT TO CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT EIGHT ACROSS DEPARTMENTAL CENTRAL OFFICE TEAMS. EACH LED BY A MEMBER OF THE EXECUTIVE LEADERSHIP TEAM, INCLUDING MYSELF, HAVE BEEN ASSIGNED A GROUP OF SCHOOLS TO PROVIDE ADDITIONAL SUPPORT AND PARTNERSHIP THROUGHOUT THE YEAR. THE CYCLED VISITS ALLOW US TO CELEBRATE SUCCESSES, IDENTIFY PROMISE AND PRACTICES AND SUPPORT SCHOOLS, AND IMPLEMENTING THE SYSTEMS AND STRUCTURES THAT LEAD TO IMPROVE STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT. SO ALL OF US, UH, ON THE EXECUTIVE LEADERSHIP TEAM ARE IN SCHOOLS, UH, EVERY WEEK AT LEAST TWICE A WEEK, LOOKING AT, UH, TWO SPECIFIC AREAS RIGHT NOW. UH, WE'RE LOOKING AT, UH, EFFECTIVE CLASSROOM INSTRUCTION AND ALSO ARE OUR STUDENTS BEING EXPOSED TO HIGH QUALITY INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS. AND SO WE VISIT THE CAMPUSES, UH, WE VISIT CLASSROOMS, WE EVALUATE IF WE'RE SEEING THOSE TWO THINGS. UH, MS. EDWARDS AND HER TEAM HAVE CREATED A RUBRIC FOR US TO USE SO WE CAN MONITOR AND MEASURE WHAT WE'RE SEEING. AND THEN ALL OF OUR CROSS DEPARTMENTAL TEAMS HAVE BEEN ASSIGNED TO ADDRESS THE ISSUES. THE FOUNDATION OF THE WORK THAT WE'RE DOING IN TERMS OF HIGH RELIABILITY SCHOOLS IS MAKING SURE THAT WE ARE COACHING ON SITE. SO EVERY SCHOOL WE GO IN, WE APPROACH IT AS IF THOUGH IT IS AN ACTUAL GAME TAKING PLACE, AND WE ARE PROVIDING A SIGNIFICANT LEVEL OF COACHING, UH, TO THE PRINCIPALS AS WELL AS TO THE TEACHERS. IT'S NOT ABOUT I GOT YOU OR I CAUGHT YOU DOING SOMETHING WRONG. IT'S ABOUT IF IN FACT THERE'S AN AREA WHERE WE CAN IMPROVE, WE'RE NOT GONNA WAIT. WE WANNA MAKE THOSE IMPROVEMENTS ON THE SPOT. AND SO THE VISITS HAVE BEEN REALLY EYE-OPENING, PARTICULARLY FOR THOSE OF US WHO SERVE, UH, IN CENTRAL OFFICE CAPACITIES, BECAUSE I THINK BEING IN THE SCHOOLS IS ACTUALLY WHERE THE WORK HAPPENS. AND SO, UH, WE'RE SEEING SOME VERY INTERESTING THINGS AND WE'RE ABLE TO IDENTIFY SOME OF THE CHALLENGES SOME OF THE SCHOOLS MIGHT HAVE AND PROVIDE THE SIGNIFICANT SUPPORT, UH, FOR SCHOOL LEADERS. AND I THINK THEY ARE APPRECIATIVE OF OUR EFFORTS BECAUSE AGAIN, WE'RE NOT REPRIMANDING. WE'RE NOT TRYING TO WRITE PEOPLE UP, WE'RE NOT TRYING TO, UH, GET PEOPLE IN TROUBLE AS MUCH AS WE ARE SIMPLY SAYING, HEY, WE RECOGNIZE, UH, IN OUR SCHOOL SYSTEM, WE CURRENTLY HAVE A NUMBER OF D AND A NUMBER OF SCHOOLS THAT HAVE BEEN IDENTIFIED AS F AND WE KNOW, UH, THAT WE CAN DO SO MUCH BETTER. BUT OFTENTIMES WE HAVE TO ADDRESS THE PROBLEMS AS EARLY AS POSSIBLE. AND SO WE'VE DONE SOME SIGNIFICANT WORK IN THESE SCHOOLS. WE'RE SEEING SOME, UH, CHANGES AND SOME ADJUSTMENTS. SO WE'RE REALLY EXCITED ABOUT WHAT'S TO COME AS A RESULT OF THE WORK WE'RE DOING. LATER THIS MONTH. EBR SCHOOLS WILL BE REPRESENTED AT THE NATIONAL COUNCIL OF GREATER CITY SCHOOLS CONFERENCE, WHERE MEMBERS OF OUR TEAM AND I HAVE BEEN INVITED TO PRESENT ON TWO OF OUR KEY DISTRICT STRATEGIES, OUR OPERATIONAL APPROACH TO ADJUSTING SCHOOL START TIMES, AND OUR FRAMEWORK FOR IMPLEMENTING HIGH DOSES TUTORING. I'M PROUD THAT EBR STRATEGIC WORK IS BEING RECOGNIZED ON A NATIONAL STAGE. I WANT TO THANK OUR TEAM FOR SHARING OUR MODELS AND EXPERIENCES WITH DISTRICT LEADERS FROM ACROSS THE COUNTRY. AND SO WE WILL, UH, DO THAT OVER TWO DAYS NEXT WEEK AT THE COUNCIL GREATER CITY SCHOOLS. AND THEN I WILL PARTICIPATE, UH, IN A NATIONAL PODCAST JUST TALKING ABOUT, UH, THE WORK WE'VE DONE HERE IN EAST RIDGE PARISH AND THE IMPROVEMENTS WE'VE MADE. UH, AND MANY, MANY, MANY OF THE KEY INDICATORS THAT HAVE BEEN CHALLENGES FOR SCHOOL DISTRICTS ACROSS THE COUNTRY. UH, WE'VE SHOWN CONSIDERABLE AMOUNT OF IMPROVEMENT HERE IN OUR SCHOOL DISTRICTS. SO WE'RE REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THE OPPORTUNITY TO SHARE WITH THE WORLD AND THE NATION, UH, WHAT WE'RE DOING HERE FIRSTHAND. UH, FACE TO FACE. OCTOBER BRINGS TWO CRITICAL INITIATIVES CENTERED ON SUPPORTING WHOLE CHILD ACROSS EBR SCHOOLS. FIRST, WE RECENTLY OBSERVED WORLD MENTAL HEALTH DAY ON OCTOBER 8TH. AND SO I WANT TO THANK EVERYONE WHO WERE AGREE WITH OUR DEPARTMENT OF MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES TO SHOW COMPASSION, SUPPORT, AND HOPE BUILDING ON A FOUNDATION OF WELLNESS. OCTOBER IS RED RIBBON MONTH ACROSS OUR DISTRICT. OUR ICARE PROGRAM IS INVITING EVERY SCHOOL TO PARTICIPATE IN ACTIVITIES ALL MONTH LONG, LEADING TO RED RIBBON WEEK ON OCTOBER 23RD THROUGH OCTOBER 31ST. I URGE OUR STUDENTS AND STAFF AND FAMILIES TO ACTUALLY JOIN BOTH OF THESE EFFORTS TO WORK COLLECTIVELY TO KEEP OUR SCHOOLS HEALTHY, SAFE, AND DRUG FREE AS PART OF OUR COMMITMENT TO KEEPING OUR CAMPUSES SAFE AND SUPPORTIVE. COMPREHENSIVE SCHOOL SAFETY AND SECURITY AUDITS HAVE NOW BEEN COMPLETED AT 13 OF OUR MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOLS DISTRICT-WIDE. THESE REGULAR AUDITS ENSURE OUR EMERGENCY PROTOCOLS AND PHYSICAL SECURITY MEASURES REMAIN STRONG, STANDARDIZED, AND EFFECTIVE ACROSS ALL OF OUR SCHOOLS. UNDER THE AREA OF EMPLOYEE DEVELOPMENT, EVEN THOUGH OUR STUDENTS WERE OFF CAMPUS ON OCTOBER 9TH, LEARNING REMAINED IN FULL MOTION ACROSS OUR EBR SCHOOLS. OUR DISTRICT OFFERED MORE THAN 70 DIFFERENT, UH, PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT SESSIONS ACROSS 16 DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS, GIVING OUR TEACHERS LEADERS AND SUPPORT [00:20:01] STAFF DEDICATED SPACE TO SHARPEN THEIR SKILLS, COLLABORATE AND ELEVATE THE CLASSROOM PRACTICES THAT DIRECTLY DRIVE STUDENT SUCCESS. INVESTING IN OUR TEAM IS ONE OF THE SINGLE MOST IMPACTFUL WAYS WE INVEST IN OUR STUDENTS. AND THOSE ONGOING AND LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES REFLECT OUR DEEP COMMITMENT TO CONTINUOUS GROWTH AND EXCELLENCE ACROSS THE BOARD. ALSO, ON OCTOBER 9TH, OUR DISTRICT TOOK TIME TO CELEBRATE THE EXTRAORDINARY GROUP OF TEAM MEMBERS REACHING MAJOR SERVICE MILESTONES, 30 PLUS YEARS DEDICATED EBR SCHOOLS TO OUR DEDICATED EBR SCHOOLS. THESE INDIVIDUALS HAVE SPENT DECADES SERVING OUR STUDENTS, GUIDING OUR STUDENTS, AND SUPPORTING OUR FAMILIES. THAT STEADFAST COMMITMENT HAS TRULY SHAPED THE FABRIC OF OUR DISTRICT. ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD, OUR LEADERSHIP TEAM, AND OUR ENTIRE COMMUNITY, I WANT TO EXPRESS MY DEEPEST GRATITUDE FOR THEIR OUTSTANDING SERVICE AND FOR THEIR LASTING LEGACY. THEY CONTINUE TO BUILD ACROSS GENERATIONS. A SPECIAL THANK YOU GOES TO THE OFFICE OF HUMAN RESOURCES FOR ORGANIZING SUCH A MEANINGFUL EVENT. TO HONOR OUR LONGSTANDING STAFF AT THIS TIME, UH, WE ARE GOING TO HEAR FROM ONE OF OUR OUTSTANDING PRINCIPALS WHO SERVES, UH, AT THE SCHOOL LEADER AT CRESS WORTH ELEMENTARY, UH, WAY UP NORTH. UH, UH, AND SO SHE'S DOING A PHENOMENAL JOB AND HAS MADE SIGNIFICANT IMPROVEMENTS AT THE SCHOOL. AND SO, CREST WORTH ELEMENTARY, UH, IS OUR HIGHLIGHT THIS MONTH. AND WE WANNA WELCOME PRINCIPAL CANDACE MYERS, UH, TO SHARE WITH US ABOUT THE WONDERFUL WORLD OF CREST WORTH ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, PRINCIPAL MYERS. WOOHOO. GOOD EVENING BOARD PRESIDENT STEWART, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD AND SUPER SUPERINTENDENT COLE. I AM CANDACE MYERS, PRINCIPAL OF CREST WORTH ELEMENTARY. I HAVE ALONG WITH ME TONIGHT, OUR ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL, MS. TERRELY BLUNT. UH, WE WOULD LIKE TO THANK YOU. THANK YOU ALL FOR INVITING US HERE TONIGHT TO SPOTLIGHT CRESS WORTH. UM, ELEMENTARY, I'D LIKE TO START OFF WITH OUR MISSION, MISSION AND VISION. IT BASICALLY ENCOMPASSES WHO WE ARE AS A SCHOOL. THE VISION OF CRESS WORTH ELEMENTARY IS TO TRANSFORM LIVES, BREAK ECONOMIC BARRIERS, AND CREATE OPPORTUNITIES FOR EVERY CHILD TO ACHIEVE SUCCESS. THROUGH EDUCATION, WE SEEK TO EDUCATE THE WHOLE CHILD WHILE FOSTERING A LOVE FOR LEARNING THROUGH RIGOROUS STANDARDS, HIGH EXPECTATIONS AND COLLABORATION AMONG ALL STAKEHOLDERS. WE ARE COMMITTED TO PREPARING STUDENTS FOR COLLEGE, CAREER, AND LIFE. AND OUR MISSION STATEMENT IS THAT WE WILL ACHIEVE THE VISION OF CRESTBROOK ELEMENTARY THROUGH LITERACY EDUCATION, EXPANDED SCHOOL-BASED SPECIALIZED PROGRAMS, SOCIAL EMOTIONAL HEALTH, EXPOSURE, SERVICE, AND COLLEGE AND CAREER READINESS. OUR SCHOOL DEMOGRAPHICS, WE ARE LOCATED, WE WERE BUILT IN THE HISTORIC CRESTBROOK ELEMENTARY WAS BUILT IN THE HISTORIC NORTH BATON ROUGE SCOTLANDVILLE COMMUNITY IN 1973, LOCATED IN THE AVENUES RIGHT BEHIND SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY. THE GRADES AND POPULATION SERVE, WE SERVE AS PRE-K THROUGH FIFTH GRADE CURRENTLY PRIOR TO THE REALIGNMENT. WE SERVICE KINDERGARTEN THROUGH EIGHTH GRADE, AND SOME OF THAT DATA WILL BE REFLECTED IN THIS PRESENTATION ON THIS EVENING. CURRENTLY, WE HAVE 210 STUDENTS. OUR SPECIALIZED PROGRAMS ARE INNOVATIVE STEM PROGRAM, GIFTED RESOURCE PROGRAM. WE ARE A FEEDER SCHOOL FOR SCOTLANDVILLE MIDDLE, AND WE HAVE ADDITIONAL ANCILLARY CLASSES SUCH AS MUSIC, PE, LIBRARY, STEM, AND DANCE. OUR SUBGROUP PERCENTAGES, WE ARE 95% ECONOMICALLY DISADVANTAGED, 97% AFRICAN AMERICAN, 3% WHITE, HISPANIC OR OTHER OUR ACADEMIC DATA. WE'RE GONNA START OFF WITH OUR DIBELS DATA, WHERE WE ARE, WHERE WE STARTED VERSUS WHERE WE ARE GOING. OUR LITERACY GOAL. ALL STU, OUR LITERACY GOAL IS FOR ALL STUDENTS TO READ ON OR ABOVE GRADE LEVEL BY THIRD GRADE. SO IN YEAR 2024 AND 2025, OUR KINDERGARTEN STUDENTS WERE 24 PROFICIENT. THAT MEANS 24% OF THEM WERE READING ON OR ABOVE GRADE LEVEL. LAST SCHOOL YEAR, WE INCREASED TO 41% PROFICIENT IN KINDERGARTEN AND FIRST GRADE. IN YEAR 24, 25, 20 7% OF OUR FIRST GRADE STUDENTS WERE READING ON OR ABOVE GRADE LEVEL, WE INCREASED TO 36% PROFICIENT. AND SECOND GRADE, 49% OF OUR STUDENTS WERE READING ON OR ABOVE GRADE LEVEL. LAST SCHOOL YEAR, WE INCREASED TO 57% AND THIRD GRADE, 44% WERE READING ON GRADE LEVEL OR ABOVE IN YEAR 24, 25, AND WE INCREASED TO 47%. IT IS AN OVERALL INCREASE FROM 2024 2020 4 25 TO 25 TO 26. IT IS AN OVERALL INCREASE OF A 10% GROWTH. OUR ACADEMIC DATA FOR LEAP CREST WORTH WAS HIGHLIGHTED IN THE ADVOCATE AS EAST BATON ROUGE'S MOST IMPROVED SCHOOL, [00:25:01] INCREASING OVERALL MASTERY BY 14 PERCENTAGE POINTS ON THE 25 26 LEAP ASSESSMENT. THANK YOU. SO ACHIEVE THIS IS THE PERCENTAGE OF STUDENTS SCORING PROFICIENT IN YEAR 24 25. IN MATH, WE HAD 15.2% OF OUR STUDENTS WERE PROFICIENT IN MATH. LAST SCHOOL YEAR, WE INCREASED TO 40.7%. IN ELA 23.7% OF OUR STUDENTS SCORE PROFICIENT. IN 24 25, WE INCREASED TO 40.1%. IN SCIENCE, 9.2% OF OUR STUDENTS SCORED MASTERY OR HIGHER, WE INCREASED TO 19%. AND IN SOCIAL STUDIES, 8.5% WERE PROFICIENT OR HIGHER. WE INCREASED TO 19% FOR GROWTH. THIS IS THE PERCENTAGE OF STUDENTS MEETING THEIR ANNUAL GROWTH GOALS. IN 24 25, 27 0.8% OF OUR STUDENTS WERE PROFICIENT, MET THEIR MATH GROWTH, UH, MATH GROWTH GOALS. WE INCREASED TO 50.9% IN ELA 39.5 OF OUR STUDENTS, UM, MET THEIR GROWTH GOALS. WE INCREASED TO 43%. AND MATH OUR LOWEST 25, UH, WE HAD 33.3% IN 24 25, WE DIDN'T HAVE ANY REPORTING DATA BECAUSE WE HAD UNDER 15 STUDENTS IN THIS CATEGORY, WHICH WAS, UH, UNFORTUNATE BECAUSE THE 13 THAT WE HAD WERE AT LIKE A 69%, UM, THAT HAD ATTAINED THEIR GROWTH GOALS. SO HOPEFULLY, UH, WE DO THAT DOES COUNT FOR US THIS UPCOMING SCHOOL YEAR. AND IN ELA, OUR LOWEST 25, 40 7% MET THEIR GROWTH GOALS. AND WE DECREASED BY ABOUT EIGHT PERCENTAGE POINTS TO 39.3 IN OUR ELA LOWEST 25. SO WE ARE VERY, UM, VERY PROUD OF OUR GROWTH, ALTHOUGH WE'RE NOT SATISFIED. YOU CAN SEE FROM OUR SCHOOL PERFORMANCE SCORE IN 2324 CRESS WORTH WAS A 51.2 D AND 24 25 A 53.6 D. THE SIMULATED SCORE WAS A 25.5 F, AND WE INCREASED OUR 36 C. SO THIS IS AN SPS INCREASE OF 10 PERCENTAGE POINTS. OUR GOAL FOR THIS SCHOOL YEAR IS TO INCREASE BY SEVEN OR MORE POINTS TO REACH A-B-S-P-S. AND YOU BETTER BELIEVE WE'RE GOING TO GET IT . WE HAVE NO DOUBT IN OUR MINDS, UH, WHAT IS CONTRIBUTING TO OUR ACCESS. PRETTY MUCH A SHARED VIS VISION, OUR BELIEF SYSTEM. UM, AT CRESTBROOK ELEMENTARY, EVERYONE BELIEVES WE UNDERSTAND OUR PURPOSE AND EVERYONE IS ON BOARD WITH THE VISION. UM, EVERYONE IS WORKING DILIGENTLY AND HARD. WE ARE A TEAM AND WE UNDERSTAND OUR WHY. SO EVERY DAY WHEN WE STEP INTO THE BUILDING, WE STEP INTO THE BUILDING WITH PURPOSE. UH, WE'RE VISIONARIES NOT JUST COMING FROM THE PRINCIPAL, BUT ALSO COMING FROM THE TEACHERS AND ADDITIONAL STAFF IN THE SCHOOL. THEY BRING IDEAS. UM, THEY HAVE DIFFERENT, UM, VISIONS OF THINGS THAT THEY WANT TO ACCOMPLISH. AND WE ALL WORK HARD TO SUPPORT ONE ANOTHER ON BEHALF OF OUR STUDENTS. ALSO, SUCCESSES IN THE SUPPORT. NOW WE ARE ALSO DATA DRIVEN. WE IMPLEMENT WHAT WE IMPLEMENT IN THE BUILDING IS BASED ON WHAT OUR STUDENTS NEED INSTRUCTIONALLY, SOCIAL, SOCIALLY, EMOTIONALLY, AND BASED ON THE DATA. WE CONSISTENTLY IMPLEMENT OUR DATA TEAM PROCESS AND OUR WEEKLY DATA TEAM MEETINGS. SO WE ARE ALWAYS LOOKING AT THE DATA. WE ARE LOOKING AT WHERE OUR STUDENTS ARE SCORING STRONG AND WHERE THEY NEED ADDITIONAL SUPPORT, AND WE RESPOND TO THAT DATA. NOT ONLY DO WE DO THAT FOR ACADEMICS, WE ALSO DO THAT WITH SOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL SUPPORT AS A PART OF OUR VISION. UM, WE WANT OUR STUDENTS TO BE SOCIALLY AND EMOTIONALLY HEALTHY. AND, UM, ONE THING THAT WE DO IS WE HAVE TIERED, UM, GROUPS WHERE THE COUNSELOR WORKS WITH OUR STUDENTS. WE HAVE PARTNERSHIPS WITH CAPITAL, UM, AREA. WE ALSO HAVE SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY. UH, WE HAVE ABOUT IN THREE INTERNS FROM SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY THAT ALSO COME TO THE SCHOOL WEEKLY. AND EVERYONE WORKS TOGETHER, UM, WITH OUR STUDENTS WITH SOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL HELP, UM, HELP IN ADDITION TO THE ACADEMICS. SO ALSO SUCCESSES AND THE SUPPORT. WE ARE, WE ARE IN THIS TOGETHER. MEMBERS OF THE IOT PROVIDE INTENSIVE, CONSISTENT TEACHER SUPPORT BASED ON THE NEED AND CONSISTENTLY LEAD WEEKLY PLC MEETINGS. I MEAN, WE'RE IN IT WITH OUR TEACHERS AND THEY KNOW THAT IT'S NOTHING THAT WE WON'T DO AS A LEADERSHIP TEAM. I MEAN, WE'LL GO IN, WE'LL TEACH WE'LL MOUNT FLOORS, WE'LL CLEAN NOSES. WE'RE ALL IN IT TOGETHER. UM, THERE'S NOTHING THAT'S BENEATH US. AND I THINK THAT OUR TEACHERS KNOW THAT AND THEY COME TO US OPENLY AND WILLINGLY WHEN THEY, WHEN THEY NEED HELP. AND AS A RESULT, UM, WE HAVE A LOT OF SUCCESS BASED ON THE WAY THAT WE SUPPORT THEM AND THE WAY THAT WE SUPPORT ONE ANOTHER. WE BELIEVE IN HAVING FUN. CELEBRATE, CELEBRATE, CELEBRATE SCHOOL SHOULD BE A PLACE THAT CHILDREN ENJOY COMING. UH, WE DID HAVE DISTRICT FEEDBACK RECENTLY. WHAT MADE ME VERY PROUD IS WE WORK VERY HARD TO ESTABLISH, UH, POSITIVE RELATIONSHIPS WITH OUR STUDENTS. AND A PART OF THE FEEDBACK STATED THAT THE RESPECT THAT THE TEACHERS HAVE FOR THE STUDENTS AND THE RESPECT THAT THE STUDENTS HAVE FOR THE TEACHERS, UM, THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE WORK DILIGENTLY AND HARD ON. WE ALSO [00:30:01] WORK HARD ON HAVING FUN. WE HAVE HAPPY KIDS AT THE SCHOOL. THEIR FEEDBACK ALSO SAID THAT OUR STUDENTS ARE HAPPY, WHICH THEY ARE. WE ARE GONNA CELEBRATE PBIS MONTHLY AND WEEKLY CHAMPION OF THE MONTH. THAT'S A VIP CELEBRATION WITH ME, WITH THE PRINCIPAL. WE SING, WE DANCE, WE HAVE CUPCAKES, WE HAVE TREATS. WE HAVE A WONDERFUL TIME. I LET THEM KNOW THAT THEY ARE VIP, THEY ARE MY VIP GUEST. UH, WE HAVE ACADEMIC, ACADEMIC HONORS PROGRAMS. SO EVERY SEMESTER WE WILL HONOR OUR STUDENTS FOR THE FIRST AND SECOND NINE WEEKS. THIRD AND FOURTH NINE WEEKS FOR THEIR ACADEMIC SUCCESSES. UH, WE ALSO CELEBRATE ZERN, IREADY LEAD, DIBELS ATTENDANCE, YOU NAME IT. WE'RE GONNA CELEBRATE IT. UM, AND ENCOURAGE IT BECAUSE WHAT WE WANT TO DO IS ENCOURAGE THAT BEHAVIOR FROM OUR STUDENTS. WE HAVE, UM, INCREASED WITH OUR INTEN, OUR AT ATTENDANCE THIS SCHOOL YEAR, THE MONTH OF AUGUST, I THINK IT WAS LAST SCHOOL YEAR, ABOUT 90.4%. THIS SCHOOL YEAR. WE HAD ABOUT 95%, RIGHT AT 95% OF OUR STUDENTS WHO SHOWED UP FOR SCHOOL. AND, UM, ATTENDANCE IS ONE OF THE CHALLENGES THAT WE FACE AT CRESTBROOK ELEMENTARY. SO WE ARE ALSO MEETING WITH PARENTS. WE'RE HAVING MORE, UM, PARENT MEETINGS CONCERNING ATTENDANCE, JUST DOING WHAT WE, WHATEVER WE HAVE TO DO TO GET OUR STUDENTS IN THE BUILDING. ALSO, EDUCATING THE WHOLE CHILD. WE BELIEVE IN EDUCATING THE WHOLE CHILD EXPOSURE AND EXPERIENCES. EXPOSURE IS A LARGE PART OF OUR VISION. WE TAKE OUR CHILDREN ON FIELD TRIPS. WE TAKE THEM ON OUT OF STATE FIELD TRIPS. WE BELIEVE IF YOU SEE IT, YOU CAN ACHIEVE IT. UM, THEY GO, THEY, LAST SCHOOL YEAR, THEY WENT TO MISSISSIPPI TO THE CIVIL RIGHTS MUSEUM. THEY ALSO WENT TO HOUSTON, HOUSTON, TEXAS TO NASA. THEY GO ON A LOT OF STEM FIELD TRIPS. IT IS A REQUIREMENT THAT OUR TEACHERS IN THE SCHOOL, WE WANT THEM TO GO ON AT LEAST THREE FIELD TRIPS, UM, PER SCHOOL YEAR. SOME, SOME GRADE LEVELS HIT TWO, BUT THE MAJORITY DID HIT THREE, UM, OR MORE. SO WE HAVE YEARLY PROGRAMS THROUGH THE ARTS DEPARTMENT. WE PUT ON, WE PUT ON OUR VERY FIRST MUSICAL PRODUCTION ON LAST SCHOOL YEAR, ANNIE. THAT WAS A HUGE ACCOMPLISHMENT FOR US. THAT WAS THE VISION OF OUR MUSIC TEACHER. SHE HAD TAKEN THE KIDS TO A FIELD TRIP AT ANOTHER SCHOOL AND SHE ENTERED THE BUILDING AND SHE SAID, MS. MYERS WE'RE HAVING A PRODUCTION. AND I SAID, LET'S DO IT. YOU KNOW, WE DIDN'T KNOW HOW WE WERE GONNA DO IT. THE COUNSELOR WROTE THE GRANT THAT ACQUIRED THE FUNDS IN ORDER FOR US TO PURCHASE, UM, THE MUSICAL. WE DON'T NECESSARILY HAVE RESOURCES, BUT EVERYONE PULLED TOGETHER AND MADE IT HAPPEN. THIS IS A TWO TEAM. IT'S A MUSIC TEACHER AND IT'S A DANCE TEACHER. AND THE STAFF, UM, FILLED IN THE GAPS. SO JUST WHEREVER THEY HAVE GIFT AND TALENTS, WHOEVER CAN SING, THEY HAVE VOCAL LESSONS. WE WORKED WITH, WORKED WITH OUR STUDENTS, AND WE SOLD OUT. WE ORDERED 200, UM, TICKETS AND WE SOLD EVERY LAST ONE OF OUR TICKETS. SO WE'RE SUPER PROUD OF THAT. YES, MA'AM. UM, ALSO THIS SCHOOL YEAR, WE WILL, UH, THE PRODUCTION WILL BE MAD GAS SCORE. AS I STATED BEFORE, OUR OUTSTATE FIELD TRIPS. NASA, HOUSTON, TEXAS CIVIL RIGHTS MUSEUM IN MID MISSISSIPPI. EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES, GIRLS ON THE RUN, BOY SCOUTS. THIS IS THE FIRST YEAR WE'RE IMPLEMENTING ELEMENTARY SCORE SPORTS AT CREST WORTH. WE BELIEVE OUR STUDENTS SHOULD HAVE VOICE. THEY CAME UP TO ME LAST SCHOOL YEAR. THEY SAID, MS. MYERS, YOU THINK WE CAN GET SPORTS? I SAID, YES, WE CAN. SO PRETTY MUCH WHATEVER THEY ASK FOR. I MEAN, LAST YEAR THEY WROTE A LETTER SAYING THEY NEEDED MORE RECESS, SO THEY GOT 10 EXTRA MINUTES OF RECESS THIS SCHOOL YEAR. IT'S JUST BASICALLY TEACHING THEM THAT YOU HAVE A VOICE AND THAT YOU MAKE A DIFFERENCE. AND SO I TOLD THEM ALL THE TIME, LIKE, GUYS, YOU HAVE TO SPEAK UP IF IT'S SOMETHING THAT YOU WANT. JUST BE RESPECTFUL. BUT YOU HAVE TO SPEAK UP. IF IT'S SOMETHING DESIRE YOU, DESIRE YOU, UM, YOU HAVE AN OBLIGATION, UM, TO VOICE THAT. AND I THINK OUR STUDENTS ARE GETTING VERY GOOD WITH VOICING THEIR DESIRE. IT'S ALMOST TO THE POINT WHERE I THINK THEY'RE A LITTLE BOSSY. THEY LIKE TO BOSS ME AROUND A LITTLE BIT. BUT THEY KNOW THAT MS. MYERS DEFINITELY LIKES TO TELL THEM. UM, YES. SO ALSO WE WILL HAVE SPORTS TO SCHOOL YEAR. WE PERFORMED AND AT LEAST THREE DISTRICT MUSICAL, UM, THREE DISTRICT PRODUCTIONS THIS YEAR. THEATER, MUSIC, AND DANCE. UH, SHOWCASES HUMAN CAPITAL, THE TEACHERS AND STAFF IN THE BUILDING BASE, UM, THE HUMAN CAPITAL. SO WHAT I HAVE TO SAY IS WHAT CONTRIBUTES MOST TO OUR SUCCESS ARE THE PEOPLE IN THE BUILDING. THE P CRESTBROOK IS A VERY SPECIAL SCHOOL. AND I SAY THIS ALL THE TIME AND TO MY STAFF. I REALIZE AS A PRINCIPAL HOW BLESSED I AM. THE PEOPLE IN THE BUILDING OUR, THEIR BELIEF SYSTEM, AND NOT ONLY OUR CHILDREN, BUT IN THEIR ABILITY TO REACH CHILDREN. THEY ARE DEDICATED. THEY, I HAVE A TEACHER THAT STARTS TUTORING EVEN BEFORE WE START PAYING THEM FOR TUTORING. JUST, THEY'RE GOING TO, THEY'RE GONNA BRING CHILDREN TO PERFORMANCES, PRACTICES. THEY'RE GONNA STAY THE EXTRA MILE WORK AFTER SCHOOL, UM, WITH CHILDREN. I'M VERY, VERY, UM, BLESSED. AND I BELIEVE THAT THE CHILDREN OF CRESS WORTH ELEMENTARY ARE ALSO BLESSED BECAUSE WE HAVE THESE PEOPLE IN OUR BUILDING. WE HAVE PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN AT CRESS WORTH FOR OVER 35 YEARS. WE HAVE TWO TEACHERS THAT HAVE BEEN AT CRESS WORTH FOR OVER 25 YEARS. SO THE DEDICATION TO THE COMMUNITY AND TO THE SCHOOL OF CRESS WORTH IS DEFINITELY THERE. AND WHEN YOU'RE IN THAT TYPE OF ENVIRONMENT, [00:35:01] IT PUSHES EVERYONE TO BE THEIR BEST. AND IT PUSHES EVERYONE TO BRING THEIR BEST EVERY SINGLE DAY. BECAUSE IF YOU'RE MEDIOCRE, YOU'RE GONNA FEEL UNCOMFORTABLE. SO JUST BEING SURROUNDED BY EXCELLENCE, IT PUSHES EVERYONE, INCLUDING MS. MYERS, THE PRINCIPAL, TO BE EXCELLENT BECAUSE I WON'T WALK IN A BUILDING WHERE MY TEACHERS ARE GIVING ME THEIR ALL, AND I'M NOT GIVING 110%. SO IT'S JUST SOMETHING THAT I VALUE THAT I REALIZE, YOU KNOW, THE JEWEL THAT WE HAVE, THE PEOPLE WHO MAKE UP CRESS WORTH ELEMENTARY, THE COMMUNITY WHO MAKE UP CRESS WORTH ELEMENTARY. IT'S A VERY SPECIAL SCHOOL. AND I'M SO GRATEFUL THAT YOU ALL ALLOWED, UM, US THE OPPORTUNITY TO HIGHLIGHT CREST WORTH ON THIS THIS EVENING BECAUSE IT'S A LOT OF GREAT THINGS GOING ON AT CREST WORTH ELEMENTARY. AND ALSO OUR VILLAGE. WE HAVE, WE HAVE OUR COMMUNITY PARTNERS. WE'VE BEEN WORKING OVER THE YEARS TO GET OUR COMMUNITY INVESTED BACK INTO OUR SCHOOL. AND I CAN SAY THAT THEY ARE GREATER. KING DAVID BAPTIST CHURCH COUNCILMAN KINNEY, SENATOR REGINA BARROW, IMMACULATE CONCEPTION CATHOLIC CHURCH, M ZETA CHAPTER OF ZETA FIVE BETA SORORITY INCORPORATED. PARTNERSHIPS WITH SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY AND CAPITAL AREA HUMAN SERVICES. AND THAT IS TO NAME A FEW. AND THESE ARE JUST A FEW SNAPSHOTS. UM, I INCLUDED, YOU'LL SEE THE COUNCILMAN KENNY. HE DONATED, UM, A THOUSAND DOLLARS TO US FOR OUR STUDENTS TO GO TO THE CIVIL RIGHTS MUSEUM. THAT WAS A VISION BY ONE OF MY ESS TEACHERS. HE HAD HAD IT FOR TWO YEARS AND IT CAME TO FRUITION ON LAST SCHOOL YEAR. SO WE WERE VERY GRATEFUL FOR THAT. UH, OUR STUDENTS PERFORMING IN, I LOVE MUSICALS, THE THEATER PRODUCTIONS, UM, CREST WORTH. WE HAVE BLACK HISTORY PROGRAMS, CHRISTMAS PROGRAMS, UM, CHOIR. UM, IT'S A PICTURE OF ONE OF OUR PRE CARES AT THE PUMPKIN PATCH. UM, AND YOU HAVE SOME OF OUR STUDENTS BEING REWARDED FOR POSITIVE BEHAVIOR. AND ON THE SECOND, UM, PAGE, UM, A PART OF OUR EXTRACURRICULAR, WE HAVE A PICTURE OF THE BOY SCOUTS. THIS, THAT WAS THE CHARTER BUS WHEN OUR STUDENTS WERE HEADED TO THE CIVIL RIGHTS MUSEUM. OUR NASA EITHER ONE A FOR OUR HONORS PROGRAM, WE BREAK OUT THE TROPHIES. THE MEDALS. WE DO IT BIG FOR OUR KIDS BECAUSE THEY DESERVE IT. UM, WE LET THEM KNOW, YOU KNOW, HOW PROUD WE ARE OF THEM IN THEIR ACCOMPLISHMENTS. AND AS YOU CAN SEE THAT BEAUTIFUL SMILE ON, UM, ON HER FACE. UH, THAT WAS OUR ANNIE, UM, OUR FLYER THAT WE SENT OUT TO THE PARENTS. A LITTLE CLIP FROM THE ANNIE PRODUCTION PUMPKIN PATCH AND OUR PRE-K TEACHER WITH, UH, DR. SEUSS, UH, WEEK. SO ONCE AGAIN, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HAVING US ON, UM, THIS EVENING. IT IS, IT'S BEEN AN HONOR AND A PLEASURE TO HIGHLIGHT CRESTBROOK ELEMENTARY. THANK YOU, MS. MY DON'T GO ANYWHERE. DON'T GO ANYWHERE. MS. CALL PAUL LOOSE. FIRST, THANK YOU SO MUCH MS. MYERS FOR BRINGING THAT POWERFUL, UH, PRESENTATION. I ABSOLUTELY ENJOY EVERY TIME I COME TO VISIT WITH YOU GUYS. I'M A LITTLE DISTURBED THAT I'M NOT ON THE PICTURE WITH THE BOY SCOUTS BECAUSE I REMEMBER THAT DAY WHEN WE CHANGED OUT THE FLAG, AND I DON'T KNOW WHY I'M NOT ON THAT PICTURE. I'M GOING TO TELL YOU WHAT HAPPENED, . I LOST ABOUT FIVE OR SIX PICTURES OF HOW, AND YOU WERE IN A PICTURE WITH THE BOY SCOUTS . YES. SO I APOLOGIZE FOR THAT. YES, MA'AM. YES MA'AM. BUT OF COURSE, AS I MENTIONED TO YOU, YOU KNOW THAT YOU'LL BE SEEING ME SOON. BUT I WANTED TO JUST ASK THE QUESTION ABOUT, UM, YOUR SUCCESS. YOU KNOW, WHEN WE THINK ABOUT SCHOOLS ON THE NORTH SIDE OF TOWN, UH, WE KNOW THAT THERE'S CHRONIC ABSENTEEISM IN MAJORITY OF OUR SCHOOLS, ELEMENTARY, MIDDLE, AND HIGH SCHOOL. WE ALSO KNOW THAT THERE'S, IT'S NOT JUST THE STUDENTS, BUT IT'S ALSO IN SOME CASES THE STAFF AS WELL THAT YOU KNOW, THAT, THAT, YOU KNOW, DO NOT REMAIN AS ATTENTIVE AND AS ENGAGED AS WE WOULD LIKE FOR THEM TO BE. SO COULD YOU SPEAK TO, WHAT IS IT LIKE, I'M SURE THERE ARE HIGH RETENTION LEVELS FOR TEACHERS ON YOUR CAMPUS. WHAT DO YOU SAY AND DO WITH YOUR PARENTS? BECAUSE OF COURSE, YOU KNOW, WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON THE GETTING THE PTAS AND PTOS IN AS MANY SCHOOLS AS POSSIBLE ON THE NORTH SIDE OF TOWN AS POSSIBLE. SO, SO WHAT DOES THAT LOOK LIKE IN REGARDS TO THE SUCCESS THAT YOU SEE ON YOUR CAMPUS? WHAT WE DO IS WE SIT DOWN AND REFLECT. WE DON'T REALLY MAKE EXCUSES OR WE DON'T TAKE CHALLENGES. WE SIT DOWN AND WE SAY, OKAY, THIS IS A CHALLENGE. WHAT CAN WE DO? UM, WHAT CAN WE DO TO FIX THIS PROBLEM? YOU SPOKE ABOUT ATTENDANCE. UM, PARENTAL SUPPORT. THIS SCHOOL YEAR, THAT WAS AN ISSUE. WE WERE HAVING LOW TURNOUT. SO THIS SCHOOL YEAR, THE TEACHERS CALLED EVERY PARENT AND INVITED THEM TO OPEN HOUSE, BIGGEST TURNOUT OF OPEN HOUSE. THE TEACHERS CALLED EVERY PARENT AND INVITED THEM TO PARENT-TEACHER CONFERENCES. INSTEAD OF JUST SENDING THE FLYERS HOME, WE NEED TO DO PERSONAL CALL OUTS, BIGGEST ATTENDANCE OF PARENT-TEACHER CONFERENCES. SO WE REFLECT ON WHAT WE CAN DO. THE COUNSELOR, SHE UM, SHE BROUGHT SOMETHING TO ME. SHE SAID, WE NEED TO DO MORE PARENT TEACHER MEETINGS. AND SO WE CAN EDUCATE OUR PARENTS JUST ON THE VALUE OF EDUCATION WHERE WE NEED THEIR SUPPORT. SO WE'VE BEEN DOING THAT THIS YEAR WITH ATTENDANCE, AND AS A RESULT, ATTENDANCE HAS BEEN INCREASING. [00:40:01] SO IT'S REALLY JUST NO EXCUSES. YOU KNOW, THIS IS THE JOB WE HAVE TO GET IT DONE, BUT WHAT CAN WE DO AS A SCHOOL? WHAT CAN WE DO AS A TEAM TO, YOU KNOW, FIT TO WORK TOWARDS, UM, ELIMINATING THOSE CHALLENGES TO THE BEST OF OUR ABILITY. AND AS LONG AS WE SEE SUCCESS, IT MOTIVATES US. SO, YOU KNOW, WHEN ATTENDANCE STARTS TO GO, WHEN YOU GET MORE PEOPLE IN OPEN HOUSE, THAT MOTIVATES US, IS NOT DIFFICULT AT ALL TO GET THE STAFF TO DO IT. 'CAUSE AS I STATED, THEY'RE INVESTED. I DON'T HAVE TO TWIST STORMS OR ANYTHING. WE TALK ABOUT IT, WE BRAINSTORM TOGETHER, WE COME UP WITH SOLUTIONS, AND WE AS A TEAM WORK TOGETHER TO SEE THOSE, THOSE IMPROVEMENTS HAPPEN. SO IT SOUNDS LIKE I HEARD YOU SAY HUMAN INTERACTION. YES, MA'AM. WORKS BETTER THAN THAN JUST EMAILING AND TEXT MESSAGES. ABSOLUTELY. GOTCHA. THANK YOU. YOU'RE WELCOME. MR. LEWIS. CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR GROWTH. THANK YOU. AND, AND THE, UH, THE, YOU KNOW, ACROSS THE BOARD MM-HMM . BUT YOUR SCHOOL IS YOUR VILLAGE. YES. EXPOSURE. MM-HMM . KIDS ENJOY COMING TO SCHOOL. YES. IF, IF THEY DON'T ENJOY COMING TO SCHOOL, IF THEY, IF THEY DON'T ENJOY LIKE THE THINGS THAT HAPPEN TO 'EM, THEY'RE NOT GOING TO COME. NO. UM, EXPOSURE IS, IS GREAT. AND, AND YOU'VE GOT 217 KIDS. IS THAT TWO HUNDRED AND TEN, TWO HUNDRED TEN KIDS? MM-HMM . THAT'S, THAT'S A GREAT NUMBER TO WORK WITH. YES. BECAUSE I MEAN, THEY'RE, THEY'RE ENGAGED. MM-HMM . I CAN WHAT YOU TALK AND I CAN JUST KINDA SEE WHAT HAPPENS IN YOUR SCHOOL ON A DAILY BASIS. YOU KNOW, I CAN, I CAN SEE YOUR PASSION FOR YOUR KIDS. AND, AND I'M GONNA SAY THIS FOR THE THIRD TIME THIS SEMESTER, EVERY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL IN THIS TOWN SHOULD HAVE THE KIND OF PROGRAMMING THAT YOU HAVE THAT BATON ROUGE CENTER HAS. YES, SIR. THAT, UH, WHAT WAS THE OTHER, THE LAST MS. WILLIAMS, UH, MAYFAIR LAB. MAYFAIR LAB, MAG WOODS. YOU GUYS ARE DOING A GREAT JOB. THANK YOU. AND UNTIL WE START TELLING OUR OWN STORY AND STOP LETTING OTHER PEOPLE TELL OUR STORY, ABSOLUTELY. WE WILL ONLY, WE'LL HAVE TO HEAR ABOUT THAT IN A VACUUM. WHAT YOU GUYS ARE DOING, EVERYBODY NEEDS TO KNOW ABOUT IT, SIR. AND EBR BETTER START TELLING YOUR OWN STORY. I'VE BEEN SAYING IT FOR THREE AND A HALF YEARS AND I GOT FOUR MORE YEARS TO SAY IT AND THE DRUM BEATS GONNA GET LOUDER AND LOUDER AND LOUDER. MM-HMM . 'CAUSE WE BETTER START TELLING OUR OWN STORY. YES SIR. 'CAUSE IF WE DON'T, SOMEBODY ELSE WILL. THANK YOU COACH. AND I JUST PUT MYSELF IN THE QUEUE. NOT GONNA TAKE LONG, BUT I JUST WANTED TO GIVE YOU KUDOS MS. MEYERS, UM, ON THE ACCOMPLISHMENTS AND EVERYTHING THAT'S GOING ON AT CREST WORTH. UH, I'VE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO VISIT ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS AND YOU'RE DOING A TREMENDOUS JOB. JUST WANTED TO GIVE YOU YOUR FLOWERS NOW. THANK YOU SO MUCH. YOU'RE WELCOME. THANK YOU MS. MEYER. KEEP UP THE EXCELLENT WORK. WE SINCERELY APPRECIATE YOU. THANK YOU. AND I'LL BE OVER TO . OKAY. YOU KNOW, DROP MY PACKAGE OFF FOR YOU. SAME. THANK YOU MADAM PRESIDENT. UM, YOU HAVE A PUBLIC COMMENT. THIS RIGHT NEXT? NO, I WANNA TALK ABOUT CREST WORK. OKAY. MY NAME IS JACQUELINE GERMANY AND I'VE WATCHED THE GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT THAT HAS HAPPENED AT CREST WORK. I'VE SEEN THE CHANGES AND I'VE SEEN WHAT YOU ALL HAVE GONE THROUGH. I HAVE HAD MY GRANDCHILD THAT WAS A PART OF CREST WORK AND I STAND WITH EBR SCHOOLS. AND TODAY I JUST WANNA SAY THANK YOU. WE APPRECIATE YOUR WORK. YOU APPRECIATE WHAT YOU'RE DOING BECAUSE WHEN I HAVE TO GO DOWN PAST YOUR SCHOOL TO VISIT MY FRIEND LIVED BELAIRE WHO LIVES ON CREST WORTH DRIVE, I PASS BY THAT SCHOOL OFTEN. AND I'M SO HAPPY TO HEAR ABOUT THE PROGRESS AND WHAT'S HAPPENING THERE. AND AS A PARENT, AS A MOTHER, AND AS A CITIZEN IN BATON ROUGE, I WANT TO STAND BEFORE YOU TODAY AND LET YOU KNOW EXACTLY HOW I FEEL. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU MS. GERMANY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. MS. MYERS. AGAIN, KEEP UP THE EXCELLENT WORK MS. WILLIAMS. YOU DON'T HAVE TO LEAVE. . THAT CONCLUDE. THAT CONCLUDES MY REPORT. THANK YOU SUPERINTENDENT COLE. MOVING ALONG TO ITEM E REPORTS FROM BOARD APPOINTEES TO COMMITTEES OR AGENCIES. ARE THERE ANY REPORTS THAT ANY BOARD MEMBERS WISH TO SHARE AT THIS TIME? [00:45:01] SEEING NONE IN THE QUEUE. MOVING ALONG TO [F. Consent Agenda] ITEM F CONSENT AGENDA, WE HAVE MISS SOLE. SHE'S DRINKING A WATER CONSENT AGENDA. THE FOLLOWING ITEMS ARE TO BE APPROVED AS PART OF THE CONSENT AGENDA AND ARE CONSIDERED TO BE ROUTINE AND WILL BE ENACTED WITH ONE MOTION. THERE WILL BE NO SEPARATE DISCUSSIONS OF ITEMS UNLESS A BOARD MEMBER. SO REQUEST 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. NUMBER ONE, RESOLUTION AND COOPERATIVE ENDEAVOR AGREEMENTS. C-E-E-C-E-A, LOUISIANA DEPARTMENT OF TREASURY. CONSIDERATION OF THE REQUEST FOR THE FOLLOWING, A APPROVAL OF A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE SUPERINTENDENT AND DEPUTY SUPERINTENDENT TO SIGN CONTRACTS AND BINDING AGREEMENTS. B, APPROVAL OF THE AUTHORIZATION FOR THE SUPERINTENDENT TO EXECUTE A CEA PROVIDED BY THE LOUISIANA DEPARTMENT OF TREASURY AND THE STATE OF LOUISIANA FOR THE FOLLOWING, ONE $50,000 TO PROVIDE MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS FOR MULTIPLE SCHOOLS. TWO $35,000 TO ENHANCE SAFETY AND SECURITY OR BROADBAND ENHANCEMENTS AT NORTHEAST HIGH THREE $35,000 TO ENHANCE SAFETY AND SECURITY OR BROADBAND ENHANCEMENTS AT NORTHEAST ELEMENTARY. TWO. GRANT LOUISIANA CENTER FOR SAFE SCHOOLS. LCSS. CONSIDERATION OF A REQUEST OF ACCEPT THE LOUISIANA CENTER FOR THE SAFE FOR THE SCHOOL SAFETY GRANT. AN ACCOMPANYING COOPERATIVE ENDEAVOR AGREEMENT CEA IN THE AMOUNT OF $100,000 TO PROVIDE VISITOR MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS, COMMUNICATION, SIGNAGE AND CAMERAS AT BELL FAIR MONTESSORI SCHOOL AND BR FOUR LANGUAGE ACADEMIC IMMERSION MAGNET. THREE. DIFFERENTIATED STIPEND. CONSIDERATION OF A REQUEST FOR THE APPROVAL OF THE DISTRIBUTION OF THE DIFFERENTIATED STIPEND. FOUR. POLICY CONSIDERATION OF A REQUEST FOR THE APPROVAL OF THE FOLLOWING POLICIES AND POLICY REVISIONS. A-G-B-R-I-A PERSONAL LEAVE. B-I-D-D-Y. EDUCATION OF STUDENTS WITH EXCEPTIONALITIES. C-I-D-D-F-C DASH CAMERAS AND SPECIAL EDUCATION CLASSROOMS SLASH SETTINGS. DJD DASH DISCIPLINE. EJDD DASH SUSPENSIONS. F-J-G-C-E DASH CHILD ABUSE, GEH DASH PROFESSIONAL SERVICES PROCUREMENT FIVE. EXTERNAL AGREEMENT. LOUISIANA STATE UNIVERSITY. CONSIDERATION OF A REQUEST FOR THE APPROVAL OF AN AMENDMENT TO THE EXTERNAL AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH SCHOOL BOARD AND THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS OF LOUISIANA STATE UNIVERSITY IN AGRICULTURAL AND MECHANICAL COLLEGE IN THE AMOUNT OF $85,875. TO EXTEND THE AGREEMENT FOR ONE YEAR TO PRO TO PROVIDE THREE EXTERNS FUNDING SOURCE GENERAL FUND. SIX PROFESSIONAL SERVICE CONTRACTS. GREAT MINDS CONSIDERATION OF A REQUEST FOR THE APPROVAL OF A PROFESSIONAL SERVICES CONTRACT BETWEEN EAST BANNER ERS, PARISH SCHOOL BOARD AND GREAT MINDS IN THE AMOUNT OF $301,000 TO PROVIDE PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT TO SUPPORT IMPLEMENTATION OF THE NEW EUREKA MATH CURRICULUM. FUNDING SOURCE REDESIGN. SEVEN MEMORANDUMS OF UNDERSTANDING MOU EARLY CHILDHOOD CONSIDERATION OF A REQUEST FOR THE APPROVAL OF A MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING MOU BETWEEN THE EAST BANNER ERS, PARISH SCHOOL BOARD, LEAD AGENCY AND THE FOLLOWING, A, A STEP ABOVE CHILDREN'S LEARNING ACADEMY. BABC, CHILDREN'S LEARNING ACADEMY. C, BEACON LIGHT LEARNING CENTER, LLCD, BUSY BS E. COURAGE TO CONTINUE CONTINUE. L-L-C-D-B-A, FOUNTAIN BLUE CHILDREN'S ACADEMY. F GOD'S LITTLE ANGELS CHILD DEVELOPMENT CENTER, G, GREATER BRIDGE ACADEMY H JAYA'S LEARNING CENTER I JUST US CHILDCARE OF BATON ROUGE. J KSCOPE, K KIDS CAROUSEL ACADEMY, FIVE LOCATIONS. L LITTLE DREAMERS CHRISTIAN ACADEMY M LONDON BRIDGE EARLY LEARNING CENTER, THREE ACADEMIES [00:50:02] N RAISING ANGEL STEM ACADEMY OF EXCELLENCE O SECOND BAPTIST CHURCH EARLY LEARNING CENTER, P, SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY CHILD DEVELOPMENT LABORATORY Q HEAVEN CHILDCARE AND LEARNING CENTER. R VILLAGE KIDS EARLY LEARNING CENTER S YOUNG SCHOLARS ACADEMY, T-W-Y-W-C-A OF GREATER BATON ROUGE IN THE AMOUNT OF $1,051,000 FOR SCHOLARSHIPS TO EXPAND EARLY CHILDHOOD SEATS FOR THREE YEAR OLDS. AND UNDER FUNDING SOURCE EARLY CHILDHOOD STATE FUNDING EIGHT HIGH SCHOOL EXPERIENCE INITIATIVE PROJECTS. CONSIDERATION OF A REQUEST TO APPROVE GROUPS 2, 3, 4. AND SUBSEQUENT GROUPS AS DEEMED APPROPRIATE BY THE SUPERINTENDENT FOR THE HIGH SCHOOL EXPERIENCE INITIATIVE AND AUTHORIZE THE SUPERINTENDENT TO NEGOTIATE AND EXECUTE COMPLIANCE CONTRACTS UNDER STATE BID AND PROCUREMENT LAW. NINE. LITIGATION CONSIDERATION OF A REQUEST FOR THE APPROVAL OF THE RECOMMENDATION FROM GWEN SHALIN, GENERAL COUNSEL E-B-R-P-S-B IN THE MATTER OF SHINRA WHARTON VERSUS CYNTHIA POWELL AND THE EAST BATON NERGE PARISH SCHOOL BOARD SUIT NUMBER 7 5 0 3 8 6 SECTION 25 19TH JD AND RELATED MATTERS 10 LITIGATION CONSIDERATION OF A REQUEST FOR THE APPROVAL OF THEIR RECOMMENDATION FROM GWEN SHALIN, GENERAL COUNSEL E-B-R-P-S-B IN THE MATTER OF KATHY RICHARDSON VERSUS EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH SCHOOL BOARD AND RELATED MATTERS. THAT'S WHEN I SAY THAT'S IT. I SO MOVED. , I SO MOVED. THAT'S THE MOTION. I SO MOVE. I SO MOVE. I SO MOVE THAT. . THANK YOU. AND THAT'S IT. OKAY, THANK YOU. SO ARE THERE ANY ITEMS THAT ANY BOARD MEMBER WISHES TO SEPARATE APART FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA? OKAY, SO WITH THAT BEING SAID, I DON'T SEE ANY PUBLIC COMMENTS. ARE THERE ANY ONLINE COMMENTS? I KNOW, BUT I AIN'T, I WANNA SEE COMMENTS FIRST. YEAH, SEE I GOT IT. SEE I GOT IT. OKAY, SO DO I HAVE A MOTION RATHER THAN ME? OKAY, EMILY MOVE. AND SECOND BY MS. CARLA. PAUL LEWIS. MAD SECRETARY PLEASE VOTE. MOTION CARRIES. THANK YOU. MOVING ALONG TO ITEM [G.1. Student Expulsion] G, NEW BUSINESS STUDENT EXPULSION. DISCUSSION. CONSIDERATION OF A REQUEST TO APPEAL A STUDENT EXPULSION BOARD MEMBERS. HAVE YOU HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO REVIEW THE CASE? DO I HAVE A MOTION TO HEAR THE MATTER AT OUR NEXT REGULAR MEETING? IF NO MOTION, THEN I MOVE ALONG. ITEM [G.2. Student Expulsion] TWO, STUDENT EXPULSION DISCUSSION. CONSIDERATION OF A REQUEST TO APPEAL A STUDENT EXPULSION BOARD MEMBERS. HAVE YOU HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO REVIEW THE CASE? DO I HAVE A MOTION TO HEAR THE MATTER AT OUR NEXT REGULAR MEETING? SEEING NO HANDS MOVING ALONG. ITEM THREE, STUDENT [G.3. Student Expulsion] EXPULSION DISCUSSION, CONSIDERATION OF A REQUEST TO APPEAL A STUDENT EXPULSION BOARD MEMBERS. HAVE YOU HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO REVIEW THIS CASE? DO YOU HAVE A MOTION TO HEAR THE MATTER AT OUR NEXT REGULAR MEETING? SEEING NONE. MOVING RIGHT ALONG. ITEM H, ORGANIZATIONAL [H.1. Announcement of Meetings] ITEMS. AND MR. GODDE, YOU HAVE THE PLEASURE. THANK YOU. ORGAN, UH, ANNOUNCEMENT OF MEETINGS. COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE MEETING WILL BE HELD ON NOVEMBER 5TH, 2026 AT 5:00 PM IN THE CENTRAL OFFICE BOARDROOM. AND THE REGULAR MEETING WILL BE HELD ON NOVEMBER 19TH, 2026 AT 5:00 PM IN THE CENTRAL OFFICE. BOARDROOM. BEFORE WE ADJOURN, I WANTED TO GIVE A KUDOS SHOUT OUT TO THE BIG BUDDY PROGRAM. THEY CAME IN ON THEIR OFF DAY ON TUESDAY. UH, THEY WERE ON AN ACTUAL CIVIL, UH, FIELD TRIP. AND SO THEY CAME OUT. UH, SOME OF YOUR BOARD MEMBERS MAY HAVE SEEN POSTCARDS AT YOUR DESK AND SO THEY ACTUALLY LEFT YOU CARDS TO THANK YOU AND TO EXPRESS HOW MUCH THEY APPRECIATE THE AFTERSCHOOL PROGRAM. SO KUDOS TO BIG BUDDY AND ALL THAT. THEY DO. I AM A PRODUCT OF BIG BUDDY AS WELL. SOME OF THE SAME PEOPLE STILL WORK THERE. IT'S AMAZING. I WAS QUESTIONING THAT, BUT I REALIZED THAT SOME OF THE LEADERS IN BIG BUDDY ARE YOUNGER PEOPLE. AND SO I WAS LIKE, OKAY, WELL MAYBE THEY WERE YOUNG, BUT YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU'RE A YOUNG CHILD YOU DON'T [00:55:01] REALLY LOOK AT 'EM AS THAT OLD. AND SO I WAS LIKE, THEY'RE STILL THAT BIG BUDDY ALL THESE YEARS, . AND SO KUDOS TO BIG BUDDY. AND SO WITH THAT BEING SAID, JUST WANTED TO GIVE THEM A SHOUT OUT AND THANK THEM FOR COMING ON THEIR OFF DAY AS WELL, UM, WHILE THEY WERE OUT ON THE FALL BREAK. UH, WITH THAT BEING SAID, THAT'S ALL I WANTED TO SAY. AND WE ARE ADJOURNED. * This transcript was created by voice-to-text technology. The transcript has not been edited for errors or omissions, it is for reference only and is not the official minutes of the meeting.