Jun 18, 2020 School Board

WE'LL NOW MOVE ON TO ITEM C ONE MEETING MINUTES APPROVAL OF THE SCHOOL BOARD MINUTES OF THE MAY 21, 2020 REGULAR MEETING AS PUBLISHED IN THE OFFICIAL JOURNAL.

DISTRICT EIGHT, MS. BERNARD DISTRICT NINE.

[Item C (Part 1 of 2)]

DO I HAVE A MOTION MOVED BY MR. BALLOU? DO I HAVE A SECOND BY MS. DYSON? MA'AM SECRETARY.

HAVE YOU IS GOOD.

ARE THERE ANY DISCUSSIONS ABOUT THE MINUTES FROM THE BOARD SEEING NONE, ANY DISCUSSION ABOUT THE MINUTES FROM THE AUDIENCE AND I WILL CHECK THE, UM, I DON'T THINK THERE'S ANY ON MR. GOODAY WHO MADE THE MOTION? I'M SORRY.

UH, MR. BALLOON MADE THE MOTION MS. DYSON SECONDARY.

AND I DO NOT SEE ANY ITEMS ON ITEM C, TWO AND THE INTERNET.

UH, SO BACK TO THE BOARD, ANY COMMENTS FROM THE BOARD SAYING NONE, MADAM SECRETARY, PLEASE VOTE.

WE MAKE SURE WE GET ALL THE ELECTRONICS WORKING PROPERLY FOR THIS VOTE.

YOU'RE NOT, YOU'RE NOT POPPING UP.

NO, IT SHOULD POP UP NO MATTER WHAT, THAT'S WHY WE GET THIS WORKING.

GOT IT.

ARMAND HAS ALL, ALL MEMBERS, BUT HER PRESENCE WITHOUT IT.

MADAM SECRETARY, ARE WE STILL WAITING? MOTION CARRIES.

UH, NEXT WE MOVE ON TO ITEM D ONE, THE MONTHLY FINANCIAL REPORT FOR INFORMATION ONLY.

[1. Monthly Financial Report]

[00:05:01]

DO ANY BOARD MEMBERS HAVE ANY COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS ABOUT THE FINANCIAL REPORT? SEEING NONE

[2. Personnel Changes]

WE'LL MOVE ON TO ITEM D TWO PERSONNEL CHANGES.

AND FOR THIS, I WILL DEAL THE FLOOR TO SUPERINTENDENT DRAKE.

UH, I DID WANT TO, UH, CLARIFY SOME THINGS ON THE PERSONNEL REPORT.

I SENT AN EMAIL OUT EARLIER THIS WEEK, UH, WITH THE PERSONNEL REPORT ITEMS AND EXPLAINING SOME OF IT.

BUT I NOW REALIZE I PROBABLY NEEDED A LOT MORE INFORMATION.

SO WE HAVE A TOTAL OF 26 ADMINISTRATORS, SCHOOL ADMINISTRATORS, EITHER PRINCIPALS OR ASSISTANT PRINCIPALS.

WHO'VE BEEN IN A POSITION, AN INTERIM POSITION FOR UP TO THREE YEARS, A CUSTOM HAD IT OVER THE YEARS.

AND MY FIRST TWO YEARS, WE DID THIS AS A PRINCIPAL OR AN ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL EARNED A YEAR OF INTERIM STATUS AND THEY WERE APPROVED EVALUATIONS, SUCCESSFUL EVALUATIONS, AND ALSO HAD THE RECOMMENDATION FROM THEIR SUPERVISOR.

WE TOOK THE INTERIM OFF THAT AND BASICALLY WHAT THAT DID WAS GIVE THEM A TWO YEAR CONTRACT.

UH, THERE, WHEN WE GOT INTO A SEVERE DEFICIT, A FEW YEARS BACK, WE HAVE A $35 MILLION DEFICIT THAT WE CUT COMPLETELY LAST YEAR, BUT OVER THE YEARS WE'VE BEEN CUTTING.

BUT LAST YEAR WE HAD A $35 MILLION DEFICIT.

I FROZE ALL OF THE, UH, ANTRUM STATUS, SCHOOL, ADMINISTRATORS, FACULTY, UH, TEACHER, I MEAN PRINCIPALS AND ASSISTANT PRINCIPALS.

AND SO FOR YEAR BEFORE LAST, LAST YEAR, THOSE ADMINISTRATORS WERE NOT MOVING INTO THE FULL TIME STATUS.

UH, SINCE WE BALANCED THE BUDGET THIS PAST YEAR, THIS IS THE FIRST YEAR.

AND I CAN'T TELL YOU HOW MANY YEARS THAT WE'VE BALANCED THE BUDGET.

AND WE ARE GOING TO PROPOSE ANOTHER BALANCED BUDGET THIS YEAR.

I FELT IT WAS TIME TO TAKE A LOOK AT THAT.

AND I ALSO RECEIVED A PHONE CALL FROM THE PRINCIPAL OF MCKINLEY, MIDDLE MAGNET, ASKING WHO HAS BEEN IN AN INTERIM POSITION FOR THREE YEARS AND HAS DONE AN EXCELLENT JOB.

AND SO I STARTED LOOKING AT THAT AND I ASKED, UH, OUR ASSISTANCE, UH, MR. ADAM SMITH, THEN THE CASE AND DR.

TAMALE TO TAKE A LOOK AT THOSE PEOPLE WHO NEED, UH, WHO DESERVE AND WHO, UH, WHO BELONG IN THAT NON INTERIM STATUS.

AND SO WE HAVE 26, UH, PEOPLE WHO I'M GOING TO RECOMMEND THAT WE TAKE THE INTERIM OFF 16 ASSISTANT PRINCIPALS, 10 PRINCIPALS.

I ALSO WANT YOU TO REALIZE THAT WE HAVE 151 PRINCIPALS AND ASSISTANT PRINCIPALS.

SO THIS IS A SMALL NUMBER.

HOWEVER, I ALSO WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT WE, OVER THE LAST FIVE YEARS, WE HAVE 14 LESS SCHOOL ADMINISTRATORS TODAY THAN WE DID BEFORE.

WE HAVE 151 PRINCIPALS AND ASSISTANT PRINCIPALS TODAY.

AND WHEN I TOOK OFFICE FIVE YEARS AGO, WE HAD 165.

SO WE'VE BEEN SORT OF A MAKING THE SHIP A LITTLE MORE LAME.

SO I WANT TO SAY TO THE 26, UH, PEOPLE THAT WE, THAT I AM VERY, VERY PROUD TO BE ABLE TO HONOR THEM WITH A FULL CONTRACT.

UH, AS IN THE CASE OF MCKINLEY, MIDDLE MAGNET, THIS PERSON HAS BEEN IN THE JOB DOING A GREAT JOB FOR THREE YEARS AND CERTAINLY DESERVES THAT HONOR.

AND SO WE HAVE 16 ASSISTANT PRINCIPALS, 10 PRINCIPALS WHO'VE BEEN RECOMMENDED TO ME THROUGH REVIEW OF THE ASSISTANCE, AND THAT'S HOW THIS ITEM CAME UP.

SO I'LL BE GLAD TO ENTERTAIN ANY QUESTIONS IF YOU HAVE THEM.

UH, ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS ON THE PERSONNEL REPORT FROM THE MEMBERS OF THE BOARD? WE WILL MOVE ON TO REPORT FROM BOARD APPOINTEES AND COMMITTEES TO COMMITTEES AND AGENCIES.

WOULD ANYONE LIKE TO MAKE A REPORT? I'M SORRY.

[Item E]

I WAS THINKING YOU LIKE YOU'RE RIGHT.

YOU COME UP THIS? SHE IS A SEMIFINALIST FOR THE STATE TEACHER OF THE YEAR.

THANK YOU, MR. GAUDETTE SUPERINTENDENT REPORT.

I'VE GOT QUITE A BIT ON IT TONIGHT, BUT WE HAVE SOME RECOGNITIONS THAT WE WANT TO MAKE AND CERTAINLY, UH, ARE VERY DESERVING.

FIRST.

I'D LIKE TO RECOGNIZE THE 20, 21 TEACHER AND PRINCIPAL OF THE YEAR SEMIFINALISTS THAT'S IN THE STATE OF LOUISIANA.

SO OUR DISTRICT HAD A SEMIFINALIST FOR THE TEACHER AND FOR THE PRINCIPAL OF THE YEAR.

FIRST ONE I'D LIKE TO INTRODUCE, AND I'D LIKE TO CALL MR. NICK CASE UP TO THE, TO THE PODIUM AS WELL.

UH, MS. NATALIE, ROY GLENN FROM GLASGOW MIDDLE SCHOOL.

WOULD

[00:10:01]

CONGRATULATIONS, MR. WE'RE ROLLING.

I WOULD JUST LIKE TO TAKE A FEW MOMENTS TO THANK MY FELLOW TEACHERS AT GLASGOW MIDDLE FOR WELCOMING ME A TEACHER, NEW TO THE DISTRICT FOR 24 YEARS.

I TAUGHT AT A PRIVATE SCHOOL.

I'VE COME OVER TO EBR FOR THE PAST TWO, AND I LOVE IT.

UM, THANK THEM FOR SELECTING ME TO REPRESENT THEM.

I'D LIKE TO THANK MY PRINCIPAL, AARON HOWARD, FOR TAKING A CHANCE ON ME AND SUPPORTING MY CRAZY IDEAS LIKE FIRING, UM, 12 STUDENT MADE POTTERY KILNS IN THE BACKYARD OF HER SCHOOL.

I WOULD LIKE TO THANK MY STUDENTS FOR THEIR ENTHUSIASM AND INTELLIGENCE.

THEY HAVE INSPIRED ME AND I LOVE WORKING FOR THEM.

AND WITH THEM LAST I'D LIKE TO THANK THE FOUNDATION FOR EBR SCHOOLS AND EXXON EXXONMOBIL FOR GRANTS.

THEY AWARDED MY ROOM AND TECHNOLOGY PROGRAM.

WE GREATLY APPRECIATE WHAT THEY HAVE DONE FOR US.

AND I WOULD JUST LIKE TO ASSURE, UM, BOARD MEMBERS AND ALL THAT AS A WHITE TEACHER OF MAINLY BLACK CHILDREN, THAT THE LIVES OF MY BLACK STUDENTS MATTER.

THANK YOU, MS. ROY, ALSO, WE HAVE A PRINCIPAL WHO IS A SEMIFINALIST FOR THE STATE PRINCIPAL OF THE YEAR, MS. SHANEEKA SCOTT FROM SCOTLANDVILLE REENGINEERING, MIDDLE MAGNET SCHOOL.

CONGRATULATIONS.

GOOD AFTERNOON, SUPERINTENDENT DRAKE PRESIDENT GO DAY VICE PRESIDENT HOWARD AND MEMBERS OF THE BOARD.

I'M SO HONORED TO HAVE BE AWARDED A SEMIFINALIST FOR THE STATE OF LOUISIANA AS PRINCIPAL OF THE YEAR.

UM, MS. ROYAL TELL YOU IT STARTED OUT WITH OVER 300 APPLICANTS AND THEN THEY NARROWED IT DOWN TO JUST 20.

SO, AND WE FIND OUT IN ABOUT TWO WEEKS IF WE MADE IT AS FINALISTS, BUT THANK YOU SO MUCH TO MY SUPERVISOR, MR. JOHN MCCAIN, TO MS. TERESA PORTER, DIRECTOR OF MAGNET PROGRAM.

SHE IS A HUGE SUPPORT OF SCOTLANDVILLE PRE-ENGINEERING MAGNET ACADEMY TO MY STAFF.

I HAVE A WONDERFUL STAFF AND MOST IMPORTANTLY TO MY BABIES THAT I MISS SO MUCH THE WONDERFUL STUDENTS AT SCOTLANDVILLE PRE-ENGINEERING MAGNET ACADEMY.

SO CONGRATULATIONS SUMMER, DAN.

THANK YOU, MS. SCOTT, NEXT WE HAVE MISS SUMMER DAN SUMMER, WOULD YOU COME UP TO THE MICROPHONE? SUMMER IS THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE ABR CAREER AND TECH CENTER CALLED SCITECH.

AND SHE HAS BEEN NAMED A 2020 FINALIST FOR THE STEM EDUCATOR CATEGORY OF THE ADA LOVELACE AWARDS.

IT'S BEEN IN BUSINESS A LONG TIME, AND THIS ORGANIZATION CELEBRATES WOMEN ACROSS THE GULF SOUTH WHO HAVE MADE AN IMPACT IN THEIR LOCAL TECH COMMUNITY.

I DO WANT TO SAY IT'S OKAY.

IT'S ACTUALLY AN HONOR.

AND I WAS VERY SURPRISED TO BEING NOMINATED AND BEING THE FINALIST FOR THIS AWARD.

IT WAS NOT SOMETHING I WOULD HAVE EXPECTED, BUT I DO WANT TO THANK MR. DRAKE AND MR. KNEE CASE.

BECAUSE WHEN I WENT FOR AN INTERVIEW, I SPECIFICALLY ASKED IF I COULD DO GO HACK, WHICH IS AN IT COMPETITION FOR HIGH SCHOOL KIDS.

AND THEY WERE LIKE, SURE.

SO THEY LET ME REALLY EXPERIMENT AND BE INNOVATIVE WITH SCITECH WITH OUR TECHNOLOGY.

ALSO WANT TO THANK OUR IT FOR THE DISTRICT BECAUSE I KNOW I HAVE DRIVEN THEM CRAZY WITH MY IDEAS THAT I WANT TO DO OVER THERE.

AND, UM, THANK YOU TO MY STAFF AND MY TEAM AND MY INSTRUCTORS CAUSE THEY HAD BEEN SUPER, SUPER SUPPORTIVE AND THANK YOU TO THE SCHOOL BOARD.

CAUSE Y'ALL ARE AWESOME.

THANK YOU MS. DIANE, THESE NEXT TWO STUDENTS ARE NOT ARE OUT OF TOWN RIGHT NOW, BUT I THOUGHT IT WAS VERY IMPORTANT FOR US TO MENTION THEIR NAMES TOO BAD.

BATON ROUGE MAGNET HIGH SCHOOL SENIORS WERE AMONG 161 STUDENTS IN THE UNITED STATES.

I WANT YOU TO THINK ABOUT THAT.

TWO OF OUR STUDENTS FROM BATON ROUGE HIGH ARE AMONG THE ONLY 161 STUDENTS CHOSEN AS PRESIDENTIAL SCHOLARS IN THE NATION.

AND BOTH OF THEM WILL BE TRAVELING TO THE WHITE HOUSE TO RECEIVE THAT HONOR.

SOON.

BOTH OF THEM WILL BE ATTENDING UNIVERSITIES ALL AROUND THE WORLD AS WELL.

AND THEY'RE OUT OF TOWN RIGHT NOW.

THIS PRESTIGIOUS HONOR ANNOUNCED BY THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION RECOGNIZES THE OUTSTANDING HIGH SCHOOL SENIORS AND ACADEMICS AND THE ARTS AS WELL AS IN CAREER AND TECHNICAL EDUCATION FIELD.

SO THEY ARE ST.

VETERANS MAGNET, HIGH SCHOOL, SENIORS, SON, JOHN LEE, AND CINDY ZANE.

SO CONGRATULATIONS TO THEM.

AND AS EVERYONE PROBABLY KNOWS, WE HAVE FINISHED ALL OF OUR GRADUATIONS AND I REALLY WANT TO THANK THE PRINCIPALS IN PARTICULAR BECAUSE THEY WERE INSISTENT AFTER TALKING TO THEIR STUDENTS INSISTENT UPON HAVING SOME SORT OF IN PERSON GRADUATION.

AND ALL

[00:15:01]

OF OUR GRADUATIONS WERE HELD IN OUR FOOTBALL STADIUMS. THIS YEAR, WE'VE COMPLETED ALL OF THEM.

THEY WERE FANTASTIC.

THEY WERE ALSO, UH, VIEWED ON YOUTUBE OVER 31,000 VIEWS.

SO I WANT TO THANK THE, UH, PRINCIPALS, THE TEACHERS AND STAFF OF ALL OF OUR HIGH SCHOOLS AND ESPECIALLY OUR GRADUATING SENIORS.

I DON'T WANT TO SAY TO THEM, I DID A VIDEO FOR THEM MAYBE THREE WEEKS AGO, BUT BASICALLY WHAT IT SAYS WAS I WANT YOU TO THINK ABOUT THESE HIGH SCHOOL SENIORS.

THEY WERE BORN DURING NINE 11, RIGHT AROUND THAT TIME.

THEIR FRESHMAN YEAR WAS THE YEAR OF THE FLOOD IN BATON ROUGE.

SO THEY WERE OUT OF SCHOOL, A PERIOD OF TIME AND MANY HAD TO MOVE FROM HOUSE TO HOUSE.

IT WAS TERRIBLE.

I DIDN'T THINK ANYTHING COULD BE WORSE THAN THE FLOOD YEAR.

AND NOW THEY'RE GRADUATING IN A YEAR THAT THEY HAD NINE WEEKS OF SCHOOL STOPPED BECAUSE OF A PANDEMIC.

BUT I CAN TELL YOU THOSE KIDS, THOSE GRADUATING SENIORS, WE HAVE ARE GOING TO BE THE MOST RESILIENT, THE MOST CREATIVE, THE MOST INNOVATIVE, THOSE ARE GOING TO BE THE YOUNG MEN AND WOMEN WHO CHANGED THIS WORLD.

AND SO I REALLY WANT TO JUST SAY AND GIVE A SHOUT OUT TO OUR SENIORS, 20, 20 SENIORS AND ALL THAT THEY'VE DONE FOR US OVER THE MANY YEARS THEY'VE BEEN IN OUR SCHOOL SYSTEM.

SO THANK YOU SENIORS.

NEXT I'D LIKE TO CALL UP DR.

NADINE MAN, WHO IS GOING TO RECOGNIZE, UH, AND PROBABLY TELL US ABOUT HOW MANY MILLIONS OF MEALS THAT WE HAVE SERVED IN TO OUR CHILDREN SINCE MARCH 14TH.

SO DR.

MAN, I THINK SHE WANTS TO HONOR SOME OF THE PEOPLE WHO'VE BEEN RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS.

THANK YOU, SUPERINTENDENT TRAIT, PRESIDENT, GO DAY MEMBERS OF THE BOARD.

UH, HA I HAVE WITH ME TODAY, REPRESENTATIVES FROM, UH, THREE COMPANIES THAT WE HAVE UTILIZED TO SERVE OUR CHILDREN SINCE WE CLOSED ON MARCH 13TH.

UM, RIGHT AFTER SCHOOL CLOSED, WE, WE OPENED 10 OF OUR SCHOOLS AND WE THOUGHT THAT WOULD BE THE DIRECTION TO GO.

BUT RIGHT AWAY I HAD STAFF WHO BEGAN GETTING SICK.

I HAD EIGHT TO CONTRACTED COVID.

IT WAS A MILD CASE SALE RECOVERED WELL, AND THEY'RE DOING WELL.

UH, BUT WE HAD TO TURN QUICKLY FROM BEING DINE IN, TO TAKE OUT TO, UH, BOUGHT SHELF STABLE TYPE MEALS FOR THE PARENTS.

SO WE HAD TO QUICKLY FIGURE OUT A WAY, AND IT WAS A NEW TERRITORY FOR US, BUT, UH, WE CONTACTED, UH, BALLARD HOSPITALITIES, AND THEY'RE HERE REPRESENTED BY REPRESENTED BY SCOTT, STEVE AND PAUL BALLARD.

FIRST THREE RIGHT HERE.

AND THEY HAVE PROVIDED FOR US TO SHELF STABLE MEALS TO DATE RATHER THROUGH JUNE 30TH.

CAUSE I ASKED FOR A CALCULATION THROUGH JUNE 30TH, WE WILL HAVE SERVED BY THEN 4.1 MILLION SHELF, STABLE BREAKFAST AND LUNCH MEALS.

THE NEXT GROUP WE CAME IN CONTACT WITH WAS UM, THROUGH THE, UM, A RESTAURANT GROUP, THE CITY GROUP, HOSPITALITY, STEVEN HIGHTOWER, AND HE'S NEXT IN LINE HERE.

UH, HE PROVIDED FOR US FROZEN MEALS, SO HE DIDN'T START RIGHT AWAY.

HE CAME ON BOARD A LITTLE LATER AND BY THE END OF JUNE, HE WILL HAVE SERVED 2 MILLION OF THE FROZEN LUNCHES AND SHELF STABLE BREAKFAST.

NOW TO COMPARE THAT TO WHAT WE WOULD HAVE SERVED DURING THIS SEVEN, ABOUT 73 DAYS, WE NORMALLY WOULD HAVE SERVED ABOUT 3.1, 3.9 MILLION, ALMOST 4 MILLION.

SO IT'S AN INCREASE OF ABOUT 36% BECAUSE WITH WE'RE UNDER THE SUMMER FEEDING PROGRAM AND ANYONE IS ABLE TO COME TO OUR SCHOOL TO PICK UP A MEAL.

SO I'M QUITE SURE WE'RE FEEDING KIDS FROM EAST FELICIANO AND CENTRAL AND BAKER AND OTHER PLACES BECAUSE WE DON'T TAKE NAMES.

THEY JUST SHOW UP WITH A, IN THEIR CAR TO PICK US UP.

NOW WE'VE HAD A LONGSTANDING RELATIONSHIP WITH KLAN PETER DAIRY, AND THEY'RE REPRESENTED BY MR. KENNY CLIMB, PETER AND JEFF BRO AT THE END.

AND THEY HAVE DONE AN OUTSTANDING JOB.

WE'VE HAD TO TURN ON A DIME WITH OUR PACKAGING A COUPLE OF TIMES.

AND UH, TODAY RATHER BY THE END OF JUNE, THEY WILL HAVE PROVIDED FOR EBR FOR OUR PARENTS, FRESH MILK, 330 GALLONS OF MILK.

SO IT'S A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT.

IT WAS REALLY IMPORTANT FOR ME, FOR OUR PARENTS TO HAVE SOME FRESH MILK.

WE HAVE SOME SHELF STABLE AND SOME FRESH, SO IT DOESN'T OVERWHELM EITHER THE REFRIGERATOR OR THE PANTRY.

SO WE'VE DONE A GREAT JOB WITH THAT.

WE'VE ALSO HAD A RELATIONSHIP WITH CAPITAL CITY PRODUCE AND THE ORIGINAL KEVIN CADRE, A PRODUCE COMPANY WITH POTATOES.

I WAS ABLE TO GET A FRESH FIVE POUND BAGS OF POTATOES TO GIVE OUT

[00:20:01]

TWICE DURING THIS TIME.

UM, AND I'M USING FUNDING UNDER OUR FRESH FRUIT AND VEGETABLE PROGRAM.

AND UM, BY THE END OF NEXT WEEK, WE WILL HAVE DISTRIBUTED 295,000 POUNDS OF POTATOES TO OUR FAMILY.

SO THOSE ARE FRESH POTATOES.

NOW YOU MAY THINK THIS IS, UH, A BIG, UH, EVENT, BUT WHEN YOU REALLY LOOK AT WHAT I HAD TO ASK THESE GUYS TO DO, THEY HAD TO PROVIDE THE, UH, BREAKFAST AND LUNCH MEAL PATTERN.

THEY HAD TO MAKE THAT THEY HAD TO PACKAGE THEIR PRODUCT DIFFERENTLY.

FOR INSTANCE, THE FROZEN MEALS HAD TO BE IN A, UH, MICROWAVEABLE CONTAINER, THE, UH, THE SHELF STABLE.

WE HAD TO HAVE A STURDY ENOUGH BOX.

IT WOULD HOLD 35 POUNDS OF PRODUCT ON THE INSIDE AND THE MILK WE CHANGED FROM OUR POUCHES TO ONE GALLON SIZE CONTAINER AND THEN TO TWO HALF DALEN.

SO THE KIDS COULD GET CHOCOLATE MILK AND WHITE MILK.

SO WE WERE ABLE TO PROVIDE THAT.

SO THERE'S BEEN SOME, UH, A LITTLE BIT OF TWISTING AND TURNING TO THAT.

THEY ALSO HAD TO DELIVER DAILY TO FIVE SCHOOL SITES.

NOW BY THAT, I MEAN, YOU DON'T JUST DRIVE UP AND DROP IT OFF.

THEY HAD TO DISTRIBUTE THE PRODUCT.

THEY HAD TO PROVIDE THE STAFF TO DISTRIBUTE IT, WHICH MEANS FROM TWO TO MAYBE 10 PEOPLE OUT OF SITE.

PLUS WE HAD SOME GREAT VOLUNTEERS WHO HELPED US FROM A VARIETY OF, OF, OF PLACES AS WELL AS THE GYMNAST FROM LSU AND THE, UH, SOME BASKETBALL HIGH SCHOOL BASKETBALL TEAMS AND, UM, THE, UH, OUR OWN VIPS ORGANIZATION AND FROM SEVERAL OTHER GROUPS.

SO WE HAVE HAD SOME VOLUNTEERS, BUT THEY HAD TO ORGANIZE THE TRAFFIC FLOW.

THEY HAD TO EDUCATE OUR PARENTS ON HOW TO COME IN, RAISE THE TRUNK OF THEIR CAR, DON'T GET OUT OF YOUR CAR AND MOVE FORWARD.

AND IT WAS ALMOST LIKE AN ASSEMBLY LINE.

THEY ALSO HAD TO TICK OFF A SHEET TO COUNT THOSE BOXES.

THAT'S A DELIVERABLE THAT USDA REQUIRES.

SO THEY HAD FOR EVERY BOX, THEY HAD TO MAKE A TICK MARK AND TURN THOSE IN FOR OUR AUDIT PURPOSES.

NOT ONLY THAT USDA ALLOWED, UH, GAVE US ONE OTHER TASK.

AND THAT WAS, IF A PARENT PICKED UP MORE THAN ONE BOX, THEY HAD TO FILL OUT A PAPER AND SAY, WHICH, WHAT KIDS WERE GETTING AT, WHAT WAS THEIR ADDRESS? WHAT ARE THEIR AGES? AND WE ARE VALIDATING, WE'RE PULLING 10 EACH DAY AND CALLING THOSE PARENTS TO SEE IF THEY REALLY GOT THE BOXES.

SO, UH, IT'S BEEN AN INCREDIBLE JOURNEY.

UM, THEY'VE HAD TO WORK THROUGH RAIN AND SHINE AND ET CETERA, AND, UM, THEY HAVE BEEN GREAT.

AND I HAVE TO SAY THIS, THEY'VE HAD A SOLID COMMITMENT TO THIS PROJECT.

THEY'VE TAKEN OWNERSHIP OF IT AS, AS I'VE ASKED THEM TO DO.

CAUSE I HAD NO STAFF ON THE GROUND.

THEY'VE ENSURED THE QUALITY, THE SAFETY AND ACCOUNTABILITY AS REQUIRED.

UH, THEY'VE BEEN PROFESSIONAL.

THEY'VE BEEN VERY RELIABLE, UM, DEPENDABLE AND FLEXIBLE AS WE'VE HAD TO.

I'VE TOLD THEM I'VE THROWN OUT A FEW, FEW ROCKS THERE AND WE'VE HAD TO MAKE ADJUSTMENTS.

UH, THEY'VE CERTAINLY BEEN, UM, UH, PROVIDED EXCELLENCE TO OUR CUSTOMERS ALSO.

SO ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD AND THE SUPERINTENDENT, I WANT TO SAY, THANK YOU.

AND I HAVE A SUPERINTENDENTS METAL FOR EACH OF YOU.

MAN.

COVID RESPONSE TASK FORCE.

DID YOU MEAN 330,000 GALLONS? WHAT DID I SAY? 330 330,000.

EVERY CHILD GETS EIGHT OUNCES.

SO IF YOU ACTUALLY MULTIPLY THAT TIMES 16, YOU CAN SEE THAT THAT'S HOW MANY SERVINGS OF MILK WOULD BE GIVEN.

BUT I ASKED HIM JUST TO QUANTIFY IT IN GALLONS.

THAT'S A LOT OF MILK.

IT IS.

I WANT TO ADD ALSO THAT THE CITY GROUP, UH, RAISE YOUR HAND, MR. HOT TOWER.

HE REPRESENTS 70 OF THE RESTAURANTS IN BATON ROUGE.

SO WE WERE ABLE THROUGH THE CITY GROUP, THROUGH MR. HIGHTOWER TO PUT THE WORK, UH, UP TO 70, UH, ADDITIONAL RESTAURANTS TO MAKE THOSE FROZEN MEALS.

SO WE WE'VE, WE'VE HELPED THE CITY OF BATON ROUGE QUITE A BIT THROUGH ALL OF THE, I THINK WE'VE MADE A TREMENDOUS IMPACT ON OUR CHILDREN ACROSS THE WHOLE PARISH AND ON THE ECONOMY FOR, FOR BATON ROUGE.

THAT'S BEEN A GREAT SUCCESS STORY SINCE WE'D BEEN OUT.

I'D LIKE TO CALL UP MR. SMITH, ADAM SMITH.

UH, HE, I ASKED ADAM ABOUT THREE OR FOUR WEEKS AGO TO PUT TOGETHER A

[00:25:01]

AND HE HAS DONE THAT, UH, GOING BACK TO SCHOOL THIS YEAR, AS I SAID, ONE OF THE GREAT SUCCESSES WE'VE HAD HAS BEEN THE CHILD NUTRITION PROGRAM.

THE OTHER ONE IS PREPARING FOR A DISTANCE LEARNING MODEL IN OUR SCHOOLS AND, AND FOR WHEN WE RETURN, BECAUSE WE DON'T KNOW EXACTLY WHAT THAT WILL LOOK LIKE.

SO MR. SMITH HAS PUT TOGETHER A DIVERSE GROUP OF STAKEHOLDERS.

I'M GOING TO TURN IT OVER TO HIM.

AND HE'S GOT A SHORT PRESENTATION FOR US, MR. SMITH, PRESIDENT VICE PRESIDENT HOWARD, UH, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD AND SUPERINTENDENT DRAKE WOULD JUST LIKE TO THANK YOU, MR. DRAKE, FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO KIND OF RECOGNIZE THIS, UH, VERY IMPORTANT TASK WAS DOING YOUR SUPERINTENDENTS, UH, REPORT.

UM, THIS TASK FORCE, UH, WAS CREATED TO COLLECT A MARSHALL, THE EXPERIENCES AND EXPERTISE OF COMMUNITY STAKEHOLDERS AND STAKEHOLDERS THROUGHOUT OUR PARISH, UH, HAD AN OPPORTUNITY, UH, ABOUT A WEEK AGO TO, UH, BE A JUDGE ON A HIGH SCHOOL ESSAY CONTEST FOR THE MAYOR'S OFFICE, SPONSORED BY THE MAYOR'S OFFICE.

AND THE TOPIC OF THE ESSAY CONTEST WAS WHAT SHOULD HIGH SCHOOL EDUCATION LOOK LIKE IN A COVID-19 CULTURE? AND AFTER READING ABOUT 20 ESSAYS, BETWEEN 700 TO A THOUSAND WORDS, THAT WAS ONE SENTENCE THAT'S KIND OF STUCK OUT WITH ME AS WE BEGIN TO CREATE THIS TASK FORCE.

AND THAT SENTENCE FROM ONE, THE ESSAY SAYS THE ANSWER LIES WITHIN THE OUTCOMES OF THE COLLABORATIVE EFFORT AND THE SHARE RESPONSIBILITIES OF ALL STAKEHOLDERS ARE REPEAT THAT THE ANSWER LIES THE OUTCOME OF THE COLLABORATIVE EFFORTS AND THE SHARED RESPONSIBILITIES OF ALL STAKEHOLDERS.

COVID-19 THIS, THIS PANDEMIC IS NEW TO US.

I'VE BEEN A PART OF A HURRICANES AND A SCHOOL CLOSURES BEFORE, BUT, UH, I DON'T THINK ANY OF US, AND I KNOW THAT ANY OF US HADN'T SEEN ANYTHING TO THE LIKES OF THIS.

UM, THANK YOU FOR THE HELP.

THIS SLIDE JUST REPRESENTS THE PHASES OF BOSS OF THE STATE OPEN SCHOOL IN, AND THAT'S, YOU CAN REALIZE WHEN WE WERE IN, UH, THE GOVERNOR CALLS IS CLOSED SCHOOLS, UH, MAY MARCH 13TH AND, UH, AND THIS SLIDE JUST REPRESENTS THE DISTRICT RESPONSES TO THOSE PHASES OF THE GLOVE GOVERNORS ORDERS.

FOR EXAMPLE, YOU JUST HEARD FROM DR.

NADIEM MAN, WHEN THE, UH, WHEN THE GOVERNOR CLOSED SCHOOLS ARE MARCHED, UH, 13TH, UH, THERE WAS TWO THINGS THAT, THAT WAS TOP PRIORITIES FOR THE DISTRICT.

THAT WAS WHAT FEEDING OUR COMMUNITY AND PROVIDING CONTINUING EDUCATION OPPORTUNITIES FOR OUR STUDENTS.

AND AS YOU LOOK AT PHASE ONE PHASE, ONE KIND OF REPRESENTS, YOU KNOW, THE RESPONSE TO PROVIDING, UM, LEARNING OPPORTUNITY.

AS FAR AS WITH, UH, WE KNEW THAT WE HAD TO PROVIDE SOME FORM OF A CREDIT RECOVERY AND SOME REMEDIATION FOR OUR STUDENTS.

AND IN PHASE TWO, AS WE BEGAN TO MOVE, WHICH WE ARE CURRENTLY IN, UH, WE ARE PROVIDING, UH, SUMMER REMEDIATION.

AND AS WE MOVE INTO THE MONTH OF JULY, WE'LL BE VOMITING, A STRONG START FOR ALL OF OUR STUDENTS IN THE DISTRICT.

THIS IS AN IMPORTANT SLIDE THAT WE WANTED TO SHARE WITH OUR TASK FORCE COMMITTEE.

UM, THESE ARE THE THREE MAIN LENS OR, OR INFLUENCES THAT GUIDE WHAT WE DO AS A SCHOOL SYSTEM, UH, STATE, I MEAN, NATIONAL STATE AND LOCAL LEVELS.

YOU KNOW, WE, UH, RESPOND TO THE CDD CDC, UH, GUIDANCE AS WELL AS TO, TO THE GOVERNANCE ORDER FROM THE STATE LEVEL, AS WELL AS CITY AND PARISH.

AND SO THIS JUST KIND OF REPRESENTS WHAT INFLUENCES THE BEHAVIOR OF THE SCHOOL SYSTEM.

AS WE PREPARE TO OPEN UP IN AUGUST, THIS REPRESENTS THE PURPOSE OF THE, UH, TASK FORCES, UH, TO PROVIDE A GUIDANCE AND FEEDBACK OR BLUEPRINT THAT, THAT OUTLINES THE COOPERATION CONDITIONS AND PROTOCOLS FOR OUR DISTRICT, UH, PROVIDES INPUT AND EDIT SUPPORT AND RESOURCES FOR ALL STAKEHOLDERS IN OUR COMMUNITY, AND TO RECEIVE INFORMATION AND PROVIDE INFORMATION FOR AMBASSADORS FOR VARIOUS SECTORS OF OUR COMMUNITY, WHICH FOSTERS COMMUNITY, UH, COORDINATION AND COHESIVE FOR OUR METRO AREA.

A TASK FORCE IS BROKEN INTO FOUR SUB COMMITTEES, VERY IMPORTANT SUB COMMITTEES, TEACHERS AND LEARNING, WHICH MS. GOD IS ONE OF THE CO-CHAIRS OF OUR TEACHING AND LEARNING, UH, UH, SUBCOMMITTEE, UH, HEALTH, SAFETY, AND EMOTIONAL NEEDS.

AND WE HAVE DR.

JACQUELINE MA'AM.

SHE REPRESENTS A CO-CHAIR OF THAT COMMITTEE, AND WE HAVE FACILITY AND OPERATIONS, COMMUNITY RELATIONSHIPS AND PARTNERSHIPS.

SO THESE ARE FOUR OR FIVE GUIDING PRINCIPLES.

UH, THE GUARANTEE ACCESS TO A, UH, A VIABLE CURRICULUM, WHETHER IT'D BE REMOTE OR A BRICK AND MORTAR SAFE AND HEALTHY, WHETHER IT'S IN A TEACHER LEARNING ENVIRONMENT, OFFICE, UH, VIRTUALLY, UH, UNINTERRUPTED, UH, SUPPORT SERVICE OF ALL STAKEHOLDERS, SEAMLESS TRANSITIONS, UH, TO, UH, CLOSE

[00:30:01]

LEARNING GAPS AND EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION TO FOSTER PUBLIC TRUST.

THIS IS OUR TIMELINE.

UH, WE HAD OUR FIRST KICKOFF MEETING, UH, LAST FRIDAY, JUNE 12TH.

UH, WE HOPE TO KIND OF FORMALIZE A DOCUMENT, A BLUEPRINT, A PLAN TO PRESENT TO THIS BOARD AND THE SUPERINTENDENT, UH, IN LATE JULY, EARLY AUGUST, UH, EACH WORKING GROUP HAS TWO WORKING SESSIONS.

UH, THE FIRST WORKING GROUP SESSION WAS LAST TUESDAY.

WE HAD OUR, UH, ACADEMIC AND, UH, FACILITY AND OPERATION, WHICH, UH, WHICH, UH, MET ON A TUESDAY, JUNE 16TH.

UH, THIS IS IMPORTANT SLIDE.

THIS REPRESENTS THE MEMBERS OF OUR, UH, TASK FORCE.

AND NOW I'LL JUST LEAD THE UP FOR A MOMENT AND IT KIND OF REPRESENTS A CROSS SECTOR OF PARENTS, EDUCATORS.

WE HAVE, UH, TWO UNION GROUP GROUPS REPRESENTED.

WE HAVE, UH, MENTAL HEALTH AND, UH, HEALTH CARE SERVICES REPRESENTATIVE.

WE HAVE COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS, WE HAVE FAITH BASED ORGANIZATIONS.

WE HAVE, UM, THE MAYOR'S OFFICE HAS REPRESENTATIVE.

WE HAVE BRETT WORKER REPRESENTATIVE, AND WE HAVE OUR BUSINESS COMMUNITY REPRESENTED AS WELL.

THESE ARE INTERNAL TASK FORCE, MIDDLE, UH, MEMBERS.

WE HAVE, UH, OUR EYE CARE REPRESENTATIVES ARE, UH, OUR FACILITATORS OF EACH WORKING GROUP.

AND, UH, THEY INSCRIBING EACH OF THE MEETINGS THAT WE'LL HAVE, AND WE'LL ROLL THOSE DOCUMENTS UP AND PRESENT TO THE BOARD AND SUPERINTENDENT, UH, SOMETIME LATE JULY, AS I MENTIONED, EARLY AUGUST.

THESE ARE OUR MEETING DATES, AS I MENTIONED PREVIOUSLY, AND FINALLY, UH, CLOSE OUT THIS SLIDE, EACH OF THE WORKING GROUPS ARE MEETING SALE VIRTUALLY THROUGH OUR TEAM'S PLATFORM.

MEMBERS RECEIVED A GOOGLE DOC WITH GUIDING QUESTIONS TO KIND OF GUIDE THE DISCUSSION AND INPUT.

UH, WE'VE PUT TOGETHER A ONE NOTE, UM, REPOSITORY FOR DOCUMENTS AND RESOURCES FOR, UH, TASKFORCE AND EYE CARE.

AS I MENTIONED, THEY ARE TAKING RESPONSIBLE TO TAKE FACILITATING EACH MEETING AND RECORDING EACH, EACH OF THE SESSIONS.

IF YOU GUYS HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, I KNOW I'VE TAKEN A LITTLE OVERDUE, MR. DRAKE.

UM, HE GAVE ME 60 SECONDS TO PRESENT.

SO, UH, UH, ANY QUESTIONS FROM THE BOARD ARE MORE THAN LOVE TO ANSWER.

WE'VE GOT TO GET OUT THERE BECAUSE WE NEED FOR FAMILIES TO UNDERSTAND THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE FLEXIBLE AND TRY TO MEET THE NEEDS OF THE FAMILY.

YOU HAD A REQUEST TO SPEAK IN.

OH, IT'S OKAY.

WELL, THANK YOU GENTLEMEN, WHO HAD HELPED OUT WITH OUR FEEDING SERVICES, BUT I WILL BE REMISS THAT I DID NOT ALSO SHOUT OUT THREE O'CLOCK PROJECT STEPPED IN AND WORKED SEVEN DAYS, SEVEN DAYS A WEEK.

SALINAS, TURN ON YOUR MIC.

CAN YOU HEAR ME NOW? OKAY.

I STEPPED BACK A LITTLE BIT.

I WAS JUST SAYING JUST ONE OF THE THINGS, THE THREE O'CLOCK PROJECT IS STEPPING IN AT A TIME WHERE WE REALLY DIDN'T HAVE AS MANY RESOURCES AND THEY DID THIS COMPLETELY FREE OF CHARGE TO THE DISTRICT.

AND THIS IS A COMPANY THAT IS STATIONED OUT OF NEW ORLEANS, AND THEY CAME ALL THE WAY TO EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR KIDS ARE BEING FED NOT ONLY THROUGHOUT THE WEEK, BUT ON THE WEEKEND WHEN NO ONE ELSE COULD POSSIBLY HELP.

SO I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE LIFT THEM UP AND THANKED THEM AS WELL.

THANK YOU, MR. THANK YOU, MR. LANDIS.

AND I THINK WE ALL AGREE WITH THAT, MS. DYSON, I JUST HAVE A QUICK QUESTION.

UM, AND I'M NOT SURE IF IT'S FOR MR. SMITH OR MS. GASSED, BUT, UM, UM, I'M AWARE THAT, UH, I'VE SEEN A SURVEY AS FAR AS, UM, A SURVEY TO ASSESS A PARENT AND A STUDENT INPUT AND GAIN THAT.

AND I WAS JUST WONDERING HOW MUCH A RESPONSE WE'RE RECEIVING.

UM, I KNOW I HAVE SHARED IT IN SOCIAL MEDIA.

I'M TRYING TO HELP, AND I'M NOT SURE IF ALL OF THE BOARD HAS BEEN SENT BACK AND OR HOW, HOW OUR RESPONSE IS GOING, BECAUSE I REALLY DO BELIEVE, AND I DID LOOK AT THE POLL SURVEY AND I APPRECIATED THE FACT THAT IT'S ASSESSING A COMFORT LEVEL OF FAMILIES AND, YOU KNOW, GIVING THEM OPTIONS SUCH AS, YOU KNOW, A HUNDRED PERCENT, MAYBE A STAGGERED DAY.

UM, ALSO A BLENDED APPROACH WITH SOME DAYS FOR THEIR CHILDREN WOULD BE DISTANCE LEARNING AND OTHER DAYS WOULD BE ON SITE.

AND THEN THE A HUNDRED PERCENT DISTANCE LEARNING.

I DO KNOW THAT JUST IN MY MAILBOX, I'M RECEIVING ALL KINDS OF MARKETING LITERATURE, AND I REALLY BELIEVE THAT WE'VE GOT TO GET OURS.

REALLY.

[00:35:02]

AND WE, WE VERY POSSIBLY ARE GOING TO HAVE DIFFERENT OPTIONS.

IT'S NOT GOING TO BE MANDATED, BUT THAT THEY CAN CHOOSE BETWEEN DIFFERENT OPTIONS.

SO I DON'T KNOW WHO THIS IS REALLY FOR.

WELL, TAYLOR CAN RESPOND, BUT ALSO WE JUST TALKED ABOUT THIS THIS MORNING AND OF OUR SENIOR CABINET MEETING.

AND UP TO THINK THIS MORNING, WE HAD ROUGHLY ABOUT ALMOST 10,000 RESPONSES FROM OUR FAMILIES AND MAJORITY OF THE RESPONSES, YOU KNOW, OUR FAMILIES WANT TO STAY WITH US.

UH, THEY WANTED EITHER THE BRICK AND MORTAR, THEY WOULD RETURN AS SOON AS THE SCHOOL OR SOME TYPE OF HYBRID MODEL MODEL, UH, VIRTUAL LEARNING.

SO, UH, I THINK IN MY OPINION, I THINK THE FEEDBACK IS AS IT'S COMING IN QUITE WELL.

AND MS. DYSON, I PLAN TO SEND OUT AN EMAIL TOMORROW, WHICH EXPLAINS A LOT OF THIS AND TELLS HIM WHERE WE ARE IN THE PROCESS.

OF COURSE, WE WANT OUR KIDS BACK IN THE SCHOOLS IN PERSON, AS MUCH AS THE CDC, THE GOVERNOR, AND WHATEVER ELSE GUIDANCE ALLOWS US, BUT WE WANT TO HAVE THAT OPTION AS WELL.

THAT'S WHAT THIS SURVEY IS.

IT IS ABOUT.

AND WE RECOGNIZE THAT SOME OF OUR STUDENTS WHO HAVE UNDERLYING HEALTH ISSUES MIGHT NEED THEM A VIRTUAL TYPE PLATFORM.

AND SO IF THEY LIVE WITH SOMEONE WHO YES, FRAGILE YES ARE AT RISK.

UM, AND SO DO YOU ANTICIPATE MR. DRAKE THAT YOUR EMAIL WILL HAVE A LINK TO THE SURVEY SO THAT THEY CAN JUST HAVE IT RIGHT THERE AND CAN, UH, WE CAN, WE CAN ADD THAT WE SEND IT TO, AND IT'S BEEN ON SOCIAL MEDIA.

I THINK WE'RE GETTING GREAT RESPONSE FOR THE SHORT TIME PERIOD OF TIME IT'S BEEN OUT.

WE CAN DO THAT.

AND I THINK MS. GAS IS ABOUT TO DO ANOTHER BLAST OUT GOOD THIS WEEK.

I JUST HAVE A LITTLE BIT MORE HERE.

THANK YOU, MR. SMITH, FOR THAT, UH, ABR HAS BEEN SELECTED TO RECEIVE THE ASSOCIATION OF ENERGY, ENERGY ENGINEERS REGION FOR INSTITUTIONAL ENERGY MANAGEMENT AWARD FOR 2020 EACH YEAR.

A, HE SEEKS OUT THE GOOD WORK THAT IS BEING DONE IN ENERGY MANAGEMENT AND IN, IN RECOGNIZING THOSE ORGANIZATIONS THAT STAND OUT FROM THE REST OF THE REGION FOR INSTITUTIONAL ENERGY MANAGEMENT AWARD.

AND THAT GOES THROUGH ARAMARK.

UH, EXXON MOBIL HAS BEEN A GREAT PARTNER OF OURS FOR MANY YEARS.

UH, THEY HAVE STEPPED UP ONCE AGAIN AND DONATED THREE PALLETS OF SANITIZER.

THAT'S OVER 720 GALLONS OF SANITIZER THAT WILL BE USED FOR OUR SCHOOL FOOD SERVICE AND TRANSPORTATION DEPARTMENTS.

AND I WANT TO, UH, FINALLY SAY, THANK YOU TO THE CABINET.

WE HAD A SENIOR CABINET TEAM'S MEETING THIS MORNING AND WE'VE BEEN ON THESE EVERY WEEK SINCE MARCH 13TH.

AND WE STARTED OUT EVERY DAY.

AND THEN WE WENT TO, UH, THREE DAYS A WEEK AND THEN TO TWO, WHERE IT'S STILL GOING ON AT TWO DAYS A WEEK.

AND I JUST WANT TO TELL EVERYONE IN THIS AUDIENCE AND EVERYONE WHO'S LISTENING AND WATCHING THE AMOUNT OF QUALITY WORK THAT OUR STAFF PRODUCES ON A DAY IN AND DAY OUT, UH, OPPORTUNITY.

THEY, THEY ARE INCREDIBLE.

AND I FINISHED UP THIS MORNING BY SAYING, WHOEVER IS SELECTED AS THE NEXT SUPERINTENDENT IS GOING TO BE BLESSED TO BE ABLE TO WORK WITH THE STAFF THAT WE HAVE.

THEY ARE PHENOMENAL.

YOU JUST WOULDN'T BELIEVE THE WORK THAT IS PRODUCED FROM THIS STAFF.

AND I JUST WANT TO SAY, THANK YOU.

AND I KNOW THE BOARD KNOWS THIS, BUT NOT EVERYBODY KNOWS THAT BECAUSE THEY DON'T HEAR IT ALL THE TIME, BUT I JUST WANT TO THANK THE STAFF THAT WE HAVE, NOT ONLY IN OUR CENTRAL OFFICE, BUT IN THE PRINCIPALS, IN THE SCHOOLS AS WELL.

THIS HAS BEEN A PARTNERSHIP AND A COLLABORATION IT'S BEEN THE HARDEST WORK I'VE EVER BEEN AROUND.

AND SO EVEN THOUGH WE'RE WORKING FROM HOME SOMETIMES, YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU'RE HOME, THAT'S YOUR OFFICE AND THAT OFFICE NEVER CLOSES WHEN YOU'RE AT HOME.

RIGHT? AND SO PEOPLE ARE WORKING 24 SEVEN IN THIS, IN THIS NEW WORLD THAT WE'RE IN.

SO I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO OUR STAFF FOR THE GREAT, GREAT WORK, ESPECIALLY IN THE QUALITY THAT THEY'VE PRODUCED OVER THE LAST THREE OR FOUR MONTHS.

SO THAT'S ALL.

ON TO ITEM BOARD APPOINTEES.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MR. DRAKE.

UH, NOW WE MOVE

[Item F]

DO ANY BOARD MEMBERS HAVE ANY REPORTS THEY'D LIKE TO GIVE FROM COMMUNITY BOARDS? SAY YOU DO.

STOPS STRUCK, AND THE SCHOOLS CLOSED EXXON MOBILE BATON ROUGE DONATED THEIR EXISTING INVENTORY OF HAND SANITIZER TO ONLY TWO GROUPS, UM, TO EAST BETTERS PAIR OF SCHOOLS VIA OUR FOUNDATION AND TO THE BATON ROUGE HEALTH DISTRICT.

OH, I'M SORRY.

MISSING TOO MANY SCREENS TO KEEP UP WITH MS. BERNARD.

NOPE.

OKAY, THERE WE GO.

THANK YOU, MR. .

I JUST WANTED TO MENTION THE THINGS THAT THE FOUNDATION FOR EBR SCHOOLS HAS BEEN DOING ON BEHALF OF OUR STUDENTS AND OUR FACULTY, OUR EMPLOYEES, MR. DRAKE MENTIONED A LITTLE BIT OF IT.

UM, BUT I WANT US TO GO INTO A LITTLE BIT MORE DETAIL ON COVID-19 FIRST TRUCK

[00:40:01]

SO WE WERE VERY FORTUNATE IN THAT.

THAT WAS AT A TIME IF YOU REMEMBER WHEN HAND SANITIZER WAS, UM, NOT TO BE HAD IN ANY SCHOOLS, I MEAN, ANY STORES YOU COULD NOT BUY IT.

UM, AND, UH, THEY, THEY GAVE, UM, A HUNDRED PARCEL SIZE BOTTLES THAT WERE DISTRIBUTED TO EMPLOYEES WHO WERE COOKING, SERVING, AND THE DRIVE AND GO DRIVE, GRAB, AND GO MEALS AND DRIVE UP MEALS.

AND, UM, IT HELPED TO SAVE SOME OF OUR STUDENTS AT EAST STRESS.

IT, IT SAVED OUR EMPLOYEES AT A TIME WHEN, YOU KNOW, WE WERE ALL REALLY, REALLY STRUGGLING.

UM, THE NEXT THING THAT THEY DID WAS PERSONAL HOTSPOTS, EXXON MOBILE BATON ROUGE, UM, JUMPED IN WHEN WE HAD CONDUCTED THE STUDENT SURVEYS THAT MS. DAWSON WAS REFERRING TO AND PROVIDED MOBILE HOTSPOTS FOR 51 STUDENTS, 14 STUDENTS THAT IS TRUMAN HIGH SCHOOL AND 37 STUDENTS AT BROOKSTOWN MIDDLE.

UM, THESE WERE ALL A HUNDRED PERCENT OF THE STUDENTS AT THOSE TWO SITES THAT IDENTIFIED AS NOT HAVING CONNECTIVITY IN THEIR HOMES.

SO, UM, IT WAS A TWO, IT'S A DONATION OF $240 PER STUDENT FOR 12 MONTHS OF CONNECTIVITY.

TOM'S 51 STUDENTS IS $12,240.

AND THEN RECENTLY I THINK THIS WAS ANNOUNCED THIS MORNING.

WE HEARD BACK TODAY FROM EXXONMOBIL AND IT WAS REALLY FABULOUS, UH, NEWS.

THEY ARE DONATING 720 GALLONS, WHICH IS A THREE PALLET, UM, DONATION OF 144 OR FIVE GALLON PAILS OF SANITIZER THAT WE WILL BE ABLE TO USE IN THE SCHOOL DISTRICT TO KEEP OUR STUDENTS AND OUR FACULTY AND ALL OF OUR EMPLOYEES SAFE.

THIS WAS DONE THROUGH THE FOUNDATION FOR EBR SCHOOLS.

AND, UM, WE ARE THE RECIPIENT OF ONE OF THE LARGEST DONATIONS OF THE SANITIZER PRODUCT THAT EXXON MOBILE HAS PROVIDED TO ANYONE IN THE STATE.

THE ONLY OTHER GROUP THAT GOT THIS MUCH HANDS, THIS MUCH OF THIS PRODUCT, THIS SANITIZER PRODUCT WAS THE ENTIRE LSU SYSTEM, GOT THE SAME AMOUNT THAT WE GOT.

SO WE ARE JUST REALLY, REALLY BLESSED AND OUR FOUNDATION IS WORKING REALLY HARD FOR US.

SO THANKS.

AND, UH, I THINK IT'S VERY IMPORTANT AS MUCH, AND AS HARD AS ALL OF OUR EMPLOYEES WORKED, UH, WE REALLY NEED TO CONGRATULATE THE COMMUNITY ON STEPPING UP AND HELPING US OUT TO FILL IN THE GAPS AND TO ALLOW OUR STAFF TO DO THE THINGS THAT THEY DID.

SO THIS WAS TRULY A COMBINED EFFORT, UH, AS WE GO THROUGH AND OUR THANKS GO OUT TO ALL OF YOU.

WHO'VE HAD A PART IN THIS AND IT'S STILL GOING ON.

SO WE STILL HAVE, WE STILL HAVE THE NEXT YEAR COMING UP.

SO, UH, WE'RE GOING TO BE WORKING VERY HARD TO KEEP OUR STAFF AND STUDENTS AND THE COMMUNITY SAFE, UH, AND TO DO THAT WE WILL NEED EVERYONE'S HELP.

ALL OF YOU WHO HAVE HELPED.

ALL OF THE STAFF WHO HAVE WORKED SO DILIGENTLY AND, UH, LOOK FORWARD TO A SUCCESSFUL FALL WHEN WE GET TO REOPEN SOME SCHOOLS.

ITEM G ONE AND I GUESS G ONE IS KIND OF AN APP, A LABEL FOR THIS ONE.

ARE THERE ANY OTHER COMMITTEE GROUPS, SIG NONE.

WE'LL NOW GO TO

[Item G1]

UH, THE NAMING OF THE GLEN OAKS HIGH SCHOOL GYM, THE COACH HARVEY AGGER GYM.

MR. LANDIS, WOULD YOU LIKE TO MAKE THE MOTION MOTION? THANK YOU.

A MOTION BY MR. LANDIS A SECOND BY MS. DON COLLINS.

I DIDN'T READ THE MOTION.

THAT CONSIDERATION OF REQUEST TO NAME THE GLEN OAK SENIOR HIGH.

JIM IS THE KOCH HARVEY AGGER.

JIM ADGER JIM, UH, MR. SINGH, SIG NADIR.

ARE YOU HERE? THANK YOU, SIR.

WOULD YOU LIKE TO SAY ANYTHING? I WASN'T TAKING ROLE? I WAS ASKING GOOD EVENING, PRESIDENT GOLD AIDES OF VICE PRESIDENT HOWARD, MR. DRAKE AND DISTINGUISHED BOARD MEMBERS ARE IT'S A GREAT HONOR AND PLEASURE THAT YOU ALL CONSIDERED, UH, NAMING THE GYM AFTER COACH HARVEY.

ANDREW, HE'S BEEN A FIXTURE IN GLEN OAKS FOR A LONG TIME.

AND NOW WHEN SOMEONE ASKS, UH, WHEN YOU GO ANYWHERE, WHEN YOU SAY GLENOAKS, THE FIRST QUESTION ANYBODY ASKS US IS COACH ADDRESS STILL THERE.

YOU KNOW, SO NOW WITH THIS BEING DONE, COACH AGILE WILL FOREVER BE A GLENOAKS PATH.

THANKS.

GOOD EVENING BOARD MEMBERS AND MY BOARD MEMBER, MR. LAINEZ, UH,

[00:45:02]

I'M DEEPLY HUMBLED AND YEAH, GRATEFUL TO HAVE HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO WORK WITH OUR SUPERINTENDENT.

WE GO BACK FOR OVER 47 PLUS YEARS.

AND, UM, THIS HAS BEEN REALLY A WONDERFUL, WONDERFUL EXPERIENCE.

UH, THIS LAND IS A STUDENT, UH, STUDENT GLENOAKS HIGH SCHOOL.

I WANT TO GO BACK AND, AND PUT THE DATE ON THAT, BUT, UH, HE WAS A STUDENT.

UM, BUT I JUST WANT TO SAY THIS, THAT, UH, TO HAVE YOUR NAME PUT ON A FACILITY OR BUILDING OR A WALL IS QUITE AN HONOR.

UH, I'M HUMBLE AND GRATEFUL FOR THE OPPORTUNITY.

AND I JUST WANT TO THANK GOD AND TAKE ALL OF YOU, UH, FOR YOUR CANDIDATES.

AND I JUST HOPE THAT, UH, WE'LL MAINTAIN WHAT WE'VE TRIED TO KEEP IN PLACE EQUINOX HIGH SCHOOL.

I KNOW WE'VE GONE THROUGH SOME TRANSITION, BUT, UH, I LOVE A LITTLE SIDE SKILL AND WE ON OUR WAY BACK WHEN I WAY BACK.

THANK YOU AGAIN.

I APPRECIATE YOUR SMITH.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

UH, NOW RECOGNIZE MR. ATLANTA'S.

IF ANYONE KNOWS ME, THEY KNOW THAT I AM A TRUE WINDOWS, HIGH SCHOOL PANTHER THROWING THROUGH ALL THROUGHOUT MY HEART, BUT I CAN TELL YOU THIS WITHOUT A DOUBT, IF THERE IS ANYBODY THAT I KNOW THAT LOVES THAT SCHOOL MORE THAN I DO IT IS COACH AGILE OVER 40 YEARS DEDICATED TO THAT COMMUNITY.

5:00 AM I, AM I SAYING THAT RIGHT? FIVE STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS, FOUR STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS, ONE UNDEFEATED.

AS SOON AS YOU WALK INSIDE OF THAT GYM, YOU SEE THE DISTRICT CHAMPIONSHIPS THAT LINE UP ALL AROUND THAT GYM.

EVERYTHING THAT GLENOAKS IS HAS BEEN BECAUSE OF PEOPLE LIKE YOU, COACH AGILE WHEN A FEW MONTHS PAST, I WAS JUST TRYING TO THINK OF WAYS THAT WE COULD POSSIBLY HONOR YOU FOR ALL OF THE DEDICATION AND WHAT YOU'VE GIVEN THAT COMMUNITY OVER THERE.

AND I APPROACHED THE SUPERINTENDENT AND HE ACTUALLY STOPPED ME MIDWAY.

AND HE SAID, DON'T SAY ANYTHING ELSE.

IT'S A DONE DEAL.

LET'S JUST MAKE SURE WE GET EVERYBODY INVOLVED AND IT'S DONE.

AND I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU, SUPERINTENDENT DRAKE FOR MAKING THIS DREAM COME TRUE, COACH ATTA, YOU ARE BEYOND DESERVING OF THIS, AND I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR THE DEDICATION AND TIME THAT YOU HAVE PUT INTO THAT SYSTEM AND THAT SCHOOL.

HAS PUT A GREAT PLAYERS THAT YOU WOULD HEAR IN GREAT UNIVERSITIES, LIKE THE UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS AND NORTH CAROLINA AND DUKE AND ALL THESE SCHOOLS AND INTO THE NBA.

ARE THERE ANY OTHER COMMENTS FROM THE BOARD MR. BILLY? THANK YOU.

AND I, I ALSO, UH, WANTED TO COMMENT THAT, UH, THIS, UH, IS CERTAINLY, UH, THAT COACH ANDREW CERTAINLY DESERVING OF THIS HONOR.

AND, UH, IT TRULY IS FOR THOSE STUDENTS WHO COME, UH, DOWN THE ROAD BECAUSE, UH, ANYBODY WHO'S LIVED IN BATON ROUGE FOR ANY LENGTH OF TIME.

UH, CAN'T WALK IN THAT GYM WITHOUT THINKING OF COACH ANDREW.

AND, UH, YOU KNOW, UNFORTUNATELY WHEN I WALK IN THE GYM, ALL I THINK ABOUT IS HOW BAD HIS TEAMS MADE ME LOOK WHEN I WAS ON THAT BOARD.

UM, BUT, UH, BUT, UM, I'M GLAD YOU COULD BE HERE WITH US TONIGHT AND THANK YOU.

AND, AND ALSO, UH, SINCE I'M SO TERRIBLE AT KEEPING IN TOUCH WITH MY FORMER CLASSMATES, I DO WANT TO SAY HELLO TO MY FORMER BELLAIRE CLASSMATE, UH, MR. SIGNATOR HERE, AND THANK YOU FOR MAKING THE RECOMMENDATION.

THANK YOU, SUPERINTENDENT DRAKE, UH, COACH, ADGER ALLUDED TO, UH, OUR RELATIONSHIP GOING BACK 40 SOMETHING YEARS.

UH, HE WENT TO GLEN OAKS, JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL IN 1972, ABOUT A YEAR AND A HALF LATER.

I STARTED MY EDUCATION CAREER AT GLENOAKS JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL.

FEW YEARS LATER, HE WENT ON TO THE HIGH SCHOOL AND I WILL TELL YOU THAT HE'S NOT ONLY A GREAT TEACHER AND A GREAT MAN, BUT HE HAS WORKED HE'S IN HIS 46 OR 47TH YEAR RIGHT NOW.

AND Y'ALL LISTEN CAREFULLY.

HE'S MISSED ONE HALF OF ONE DAY IN 46 YEARS.

AND IF YOU WERE TO WALK INTO THAT GYM RIGHT NOW, AND THAT JIM'S BEEN THERE A LONG TIME, YOU COULD EAT OFF THE FLOOR, THAT JAM IT'S IN PERFECT CONDITION.

SO HE IS A TRAINER OF YOUNG MEN AND WOMEN.

HE IS, AND HE HAS, HE'S VERY HUMBLE.

HE DIDN'T SAY MUCH, BUT HE'S WON MANY STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS RUNNER UP.

[00:50:01]

THAT'S THE KIND OF LEADER IN THE KIND OF TEAMS HE'S HAD OVER THE YEARS.

AND SO I JUST WANT TO SAY YOU'RE SO DESERVING OF THIS, AND I JUST, I'M PROUD TO HAVE KNOWN YOU AND, UH, MANY MORE GREAT YEARS ARE AHEAD.

THANK YOU COACH SAYING NO MORE REQUESTS FROM THE BOARD WILL NOW GO TO THE PUBLIC.

ANY COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC, SEEING THAT, UM, UH, I DID NOT SEE ANY ONLINE, BUT THANK YOU FOR REMINDING ME.

THERE'S ONE.

MR. DOTA.

I DO NOT HAVE IT YET.

AH, OKAY.

UH, THIS IS FROM DORM MATTHEWS, UH, AND THE THING HERE IS WITH OUR CURRENT FINANCIAL PROBLEMS AND LOSING SO MANY TEACHERS WHO WILL, WHO WILL BE PAYING FOR THE NAME, CHANGES OUR PRIVATE DONOR OR FUNDRAISING.

ITEM TWO, NAMING OF A STREAM OF HIGH SCHOOL COURTYARD, THE REGIONAL DOUGLAS COURTYARD CONSIDERATION OF A REQUEST TO RE TO NAME THE ISTROUMA HIGH COURTYARD AS THE REGIONAL DOUGLAS COURTYARD.

THAT IS THE ONLY ONE I HAVE.

AND, UH, WE'LL FINISH THIS THING AND I'LL COME BACK.

UH, ANY OTHER COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC CIGNA AND WE'LL COME BACK TO THE BOARD.

ANY MORE COMMENTS OR OTHER COMMENTS FROM THE BOARD SEEING NONE, MADAM SECRETARY, PLEASE VOTE.

YES, THE MOTION CARRIES.

AND WITH THAT, I THINK IT'D BE APPROPRIATE BEST TO GIVE INNOVATION IS TO ADJUNCT COACH .

THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR SERVICE NEXT, UH,

[Item G2]

MR. BEST.

I HAVE A MOTION.

SO MOVED BY MR. HOWARD, DO I HAVE A SECOND SAGGING IT BY A MEMBER WHERE JACKSON, MR. BESTER THANK YOU.

SUPERINTENDENT DRAKES.

UH, WHAT PRESIDENT OR VICE PRESIDENT, UH, BOARD MEMBERS ON BEHALF OF A STREAM OF HIGH SCHOOL, THE STROMA HIGH ADVISORY COMMITTEE AND MRS. DOUGLAS AND THE DOUGLAS FAMILY.

WE THANK YOU FOR CONSIDERING OUR RECOMMENDATION, UH, AND ALLOWING US THE OPPORTUNITY TO, TO HONOR THE MEMORY AND THE CONTRIBUTIONS OF MR. DOUGLAS, UH, FOR OUR SCHOOL AND FOR THE COMMUNITY.

AND, UH, WE ARE VERY GRATEFUL FOR THAT OPPORTUNITY.

AND I'M GOING TO GOING TO ASK THESE TWO LADIES THAT ARE WITH ME TO SPEAK GOOD EVENING, SUPERINTENDENT DRAKE, SCHOOL BOARD, EVERYONE HERE AT THE MEETING.

UM, I FIRST WOULD LIKE TO THANK SUPERINTENDENT DRAKE, THE ADVISORY COMMITTEE THAT THE MALES FOR RECOMMENDING THAT THE COURTYARD BE NAMED AFTER MR. DOUGLAS, UM, THE DOUGLAS FAMILY WOULD LIKE TO THANK EVERYONE.

UM, THIS, HIS LEGACY WILL CARRY ON.

UM, THE COURTYARD BE A WELCOMING SIGHT TO THE STUDENTS, ALONG WITH THE MURAL THAT THEY PAINTED IN THE HALLWAY, BY THE PRINCIPAL OFFICE, WITH HIS QUOTE, THAT EVERYTHING YOU DO IN THE SPIRIT OF EXCELLENCE.

UM, AGAIN, I WANT TO THANK EVERYONE.

EVERYONE WHO WAS INVOLVED.

I'M DR.

JACKIE MA'AMS ON BEHALF OF THE

[00:55:01]

OSTOMY ADVISORY COMMITTEE.

AND IF YOU WILL, AND DOUG DELL'S ME, I WOULD LIKE TO SAY WHO THEY ARE.

I'M A NISHA GREEN, TALLAGHT THOMAS ROBINSON, MARCUS HALL, MICHAEL STEWART, APRIL WHITE, WOODY JENKINS, WAYNE MUSSINA, HANK HANNIGAN.

WE ARE A VERY DIVERSE GROUP.

WE ARE DIVERSE IN ETHNIC DIVERSITY.

WE ARE DIVERSE IN AGE.

WE ARE, UM, IT IS INDEED AN HONOR TO HAVE MADE THIS RECOMMENDATION AND, UH, THE EXPENDITURES FOR THE COST OF RENAMING, THE, UH, COURT OR NAMING THE COURT YARD WILL INCLUDE LETTERING ON THE MAIN BUILDING AS WELL AS A TOTEM POLE THAT WILL STATE REG REGINAL DOUGLAS COURTYARD, UM, PAID FOR BY THE STROMA ADVISORY COMMITTEE.

NOW WE GO TO THE, NOW WE GO TO THE BOARD, MR. HOWARD, MR. LANA SAID, MR. I'M SORRY.

MR. LANDIS WAS FIRST.

I YIELD TO MR. HOWARD, THIS DISTRICT.

SO I WOULD ALLOW THEM TO KNOW, I JUST WANTED TO THANK YOU.

AND MR. SO I APPRECIATE THAT.

UM, I JUST WANTED TO, TO JUST THANK YOU GUYS FOR MAKING THE RECOMMENDATION, UM, ANYONE WHO KNOW MR. DOUGLAS KNOW THAT HE ABSOLUTELY POSITIVELY LOVED THE SHOW, MY HIGH SCHOOL AND EVERYTHING THAT HE DID, UM, AS MS. DOUGLAS SAID IN THE SPIRIT OF EQUITY EXCELLENCE WAS TO REPRESENT A STREAM OF HIGH SCHOOL TO THE UTMOST.

UM, YOU KNOW, ME AND MR. DOUGLAS HAD MANY CONVERSATIONS AND HE, HE GENUINELY LOVED THAT SCHOOL.

UM, AND SO THIS IS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO HONOR HIS LEGACY, MR. BESSER, UM, YOU, YOU, YOU HAVE SOME BIG SHOES TO FILL, BUT YOU'RE DOING A PHENOMENAL JOB FILLING THOSE.

UM, AND THAT MY, MY, MY PROMISE TO MR. DOUGLAS IN EVERY CONVERSATION, HE ASKED ME ABOUT THE STROMA HIGH SCHOOL AUDITORIUM.

SO MY PROMISE AND MY DEDICATION IS TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ONE DAY GET THAT, OR JUST HOLDING HIM UP AND RUNNING FOR THE LEGACY OF MR. DOUGLAS.

SO I JUST THANK YOU GUYS FOR YOUR COMMITMENT AND YOUR DEDICATION TO A STROMAL HIGH SCHOOL.

THANK YOU, MR. BALLOU.

UM, UH, YOU KNOW, WHEN WE, WE DECIDED TO REOPEN THE STROMA, I GUESS THAT WAS 2016, 17, AND, UM, WE KNEW HOW CRUCIAL IT WAS TO THE SCHOOL SYSTEM AND, UH, FOR ANYBODY, IF YOU COULD GO BACK IN TIME AND, AND DRIVE UP WHEN BERN AVENUE, BEFORE, UH, SCHOOLS OPEN IN THAT AND DRIVE THROUGH THERE NOW, YOU'LL, YOU'LL SEE HOW BIG OF AN IMPACT THAT SCHOOL HAS HAD.

AND, UM, IT'S HARD TO IMAGINE, UH, WE WOULD HAVE SEEN THE SUCCESS WE DID WITHOUT, UH, MR. DOUGLAS AND, AND YUP.

YEAH, WELL, FROM THE INVOLVEMENT OF THE ALUMNI, TO THE STUDENTS, THE SURROUNDING COMMUNITY, UM, BUT, BUT HIS LEGACY WILL LIVE ON FOR, FOR YEARS TO COME.

AND HE HAD SUCH A TREMENDOUS IMPACT IN SUCH A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME.

AND, UH, HE REALLY WAS TAKEN PREMISE, UH, WAY TOO SOON.

SO, UM, THANK YOU FOR, WE'RE BRINGING THIS IN.

I THINK IT'S VERY DESERVING.

UH, ANY REQUEST MR. LANDIS? YEP.

I JUST WANT TO PERSONALLY, THANK EVERYBODY THAT WAS INVOLVED WITH NOT ONLY THIS, UH, COURTYARD RENAMING, BUT ALLOWING PRINCIPAL DOUGLAS, HIS LEGACY TO LIVE ON.

HE MAY NOT BE HERE WITH US RIGHT NOW, BUT IF YOU KNEW MR. DOUGLAS, YOU KNEW RIGHT NOW, HE WOULD HAVE A SMILE ON HIS FACE AND HE WOULD JUST BE SO ASTATIC AT WHAT IS TAKING PLACE RIGHT NOW.

HE MIGHT NOT BE HERE WITH US, BUT JUST KNOW HIS LEGACY WILL LIVE ON LET'S.

THANK THE FAMILY, DOCTOR MEMES, AND ALSO YOU, IT BEST TO THANK YOU.

I GOING TO DO? DO YOU KNOW ANYONE? AND THAT SAME DAY WE WERE SCHEDULED TO VISIT THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.

ANY OTHER, OR MR. DRAKE, YOU MR. GODA, I'D LIKE TO SAY, UH, TO THE ADVISORY COMMITTEE, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR WORKING WAY BEFORE THE SCHOOL REOPENED TO HELP THE SCHOOL GET BACK OPEN, AND THEN TO THIS CULMINATION OF REP MAKING THIS RECOMMENDATION.

UH, I'VE TALKED TO MR. HOWARD MANY TIMES ABOUT THIS OVER THE LAST YEAR, SINCE HE PASSED AWAY.

AND I WILL TELL YOU WHEN I WORKED FOR THE STATE DEPARTMENT, ST.

ALENA WAS ONE OF THE DISTRICTS THAT I CALLED ON.

AND ONE DAY I WAS UP THERE TALKING TO THE SUPERINTENDENT, KELLY, JOSEPH, AND SHE HAD LOST HER HIGH SCHOOL PRINCIPAL.

AND SHE SAID, MR. , WHAT AM

[01:00:01]

AND THERE WAS A GENTLEMAN THERE BY THE NAME OF REGINALD DOUGLAS, WHO WAS THE PRINCIPAL OF THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.

AND AFTER WE TOURED THAT SCHOOL, I SAID, YOU DON'T HAVE TO LOOK ANY FARTHER THAN THAT MAN, RIGHT THERE.

AND SHE PUT HIM AT, AND THEN HE BECAME THE PRINCIPAL AT ST.

ELENA HIGH SCHOOL AND CHANGED THAT SCHOOL CHANGED THAT SCHOOL COMPLETELY.

AND SO I KNEW WHEN, WHEN STROMA WAS GOING TO REOPEN THAT HE WOULD BE A GREAT CANDIDATE.

WHAT I DIDN'T KNOW WAS THAT HE WAS A TEACHER AT A STREAM OF HIGH SCHOOL WAY LONG TIME AGO.

I DIDN'T KNOW THAT, BUT, UH, HE WAS HOME AND THE DAY HE PASSED AWAY, I WOKE UP THE NEXT MORNING AND I SAID, I CANNOT BELIEVE I WILL NEVER BE ABLE TO TALK TO REGINALD DOUGLAS.

AGAIN, WE WERE VERY CLOSE.

AND SO THIS IS AN HONOR WELL-DESERVED AND MS. DOUGLAS, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.

I KNOW THAT'S NOT EASY, BUT THANK YOU SO MUCH.

UH, ARE THERE ANY MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC WHO WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK AT THIS TIME? SAY NONE.

I WILL MOVE INTO THE ONLINE REQUEST.

UH, THIS IS, YOU KNOW, MY GLASSES.

THIS WAS FROM DANA GILMORE.

THE NAMING OF THIS COURTYARD IN THE HONOR OF REGIONAL DOUGLAS WOULD BE A GREAT HONOR.

THE STUDENTS, STAFF AND ADMINISTRATORS OF A STREAMER HAS SHOWN THAT WITHOUT MR. DOUGLAS, MR. DOUGLAS, HIS PRESENCE, HIS DREAM HAS CONTINUED TO STAY ALIVE, HONORING THE CAMPUS PLAYGROUND.

AND HIS NAME WILL LET MANY STUDENTS WHO ATTEND THE HIGH SCHOOL.

KNOW WHAT MR. DOUGLAS MEANT TO THE EXTREME OF FAMILY.

NEXT IS FROM QUINN THENA WILLIAMS. WHEN I ATTENDED A STREAM OF HIGH, MR. DOUGLAS WAS ONE OF MY TEACHERS, AS WELL AS ONE OF MY COACHES AFTER GRADUATION IN 2003, MR. DOUGLAS REMAINED A STRONG MALE ROLE MODEL IN MY LIFE.

AS I PURSUED A CAREER IN THE MILITARY, WHEN A STREAMER REOPENED, I BECAME A VOLUNTEER COACH THERE.

THE FOLLOWING YEAR, I TRANSFERRED MY SON TO A MIDDLE MAGNET THROUGHOUT HIS ALL THROUGHOUT IT ALL.

MR. DOUGLAS WAS ALWAYS THERE AS A LISTENING EAR AND A VOICE OF REASON.

I FEEL IT WOULD BE FITTING TO HONOR HIM BY NAMING THE COURTYARD IN HIS HONOR.

NEXT IS FROM AL .

MR. DOUGLAS WAS A VERY INSPIRING PRINCIPAL.

HE ALWAYS BROUGHT A CREATIVE ASPECT TO EDUCATION AND MADE LEARNING ENJOYABLE.

MR. DOUGLAS HAD A GREAT WAY OF MOTIVATING STUDENTS TO DO THEIR BEST AND PUSH THEM TO BE THE BEST THEY COULD BE.

MAY HIS LEGACY LIVE ON FOR GENERATIONS TO COME FROM FELISA WHITLOCK.

I WANT THIS TO HAPPEN FROM ALISHA WHITLOCK.

I WANT THIS TO HAPPEN FROM RAYVON BROWN.

I WANT THIS TO HAPPEN.

UH, WE HAVE A THEME GOING HERE, UH, FROM TIFFANY WILLIAMS. NOT ONLY WOULD THIS NAME BE FITTING, BUT IT WOULD BE, IT WOULD DEFINITELY DISPLAY THE LEVEL OF RESPECT THE SCHOOL HAS FOR THEIR EMPLOYEES.

MR. DOUGLAS MADE THE DECISION TO COME BACK TO A STREAMER AND PUT EVERYTHING HE HAD INTO THE SCHOOL TO BE SURE IT WILL SERVE STRIVE.

ONCE IT WAS GIVEN BACK TO EBR, HIS LOVE AND DEDICATION TO THAT SCHOOL SHOWS LIKE NO OTHER.

IT WOULD BE MORE THAN RIGHT TO HONOR HIM FOR HIS TIME, EFFORT, ENERGY, AND COMPASSION.

HE PUT INTO MAKING A STREAMER.

WHAT IT IS TODAY FROM NAYA HILL.

I WANT THIS TO HAPPEN.

THIS WOULD MEAN THE WORLD TO ME FROM QUINN YANA JACKSON, I FEEL IT IS MORE THAN RIGHT TO NAME THE COURTYARD.

AFTER MR. DOUGLAS, HE LEFT AN IMPRESSION ON ME WHEN I WAS IN SCHOOL AND THE CURRENT STUDENTS AS WELL FROM KIANA BROWN.

I WANT THIS TO HAPPEN.

HE DESERVES IT.

HE WAS SO PROUD OF A STREAM OF HI, MY SON GRADUATED FROM A STREAMER AND I AM AN ALUMNI OF THE CLASS OF 92.

I'M A REFRESH TO MAKE SURE NO OTHER COMMENTS THAT COME IN.

HAVE YOU SENT IT TO US? MA'AM YES.

SEEING NONE.

WE WILL GO BACK TO THE BOARD.

ANY COMMENTS OR ADDITIONAL COMMENTS FROM THE BOARD SEEING NONE.

MADAM SECRETARY, PLEASE.

IT'S NOT SHOWING UP YET.

YES, .

[01:05:01]

VOTE CARRIES.

UH, I THINK AT THIS TIME IT WOULD BE APPROPRIATE TO GIVE OUR, THANKS TO MRS. DOUGLAS AND THE STREAMER, UH, ATTAIN THAT MADE THIS HAPPEN.

ITEM, THREE CONSIDERATION OF A REQUEST TO APPROVE THE SUBMISSION OF A MAGNET SCHOOLS ASSISTANCE PROGRAM GRANT.

[Item G3]

DO I HAVE A MOTION BY MS. BERNARD? GO HAVE A SECOND BY MS. COLLINS, MR. SMITH, OR MS. PORTER, ANY COMMENTS TO BE GIVEN? GOOD EVENING PRESIDENT.

PRESIDENT GO TO VICE-PRESIDENT HOWARD SUPERINTENDENT, DRAKE AND MEMBERS OF THE BOARD.

I AM HERE TO ASK FOR, TO CONSIDER APPROVAL OF A, ANOTHER MAGNET SCHOOLS ASSISTANCE PROGRAM GRANT.

I DO HAVE A PRESENTATION, VERY BRIEF.

SO WE ARE IN THE THIRD YEAR OF THE CYCLE, UM, THAT IN 2017, THE DISTRICT WAS AWARDED, UM, $15 MILLION AND THERE ARE FOUR SCHOOLS.

UM, THEY ARE IN, UM, COUNCIL.

THEY'RE IN BOARD PRESIDENT.

UM, THEY'RE IN DON COLLINS DISTRICT.

SO, UM, THE PURPOSE OF THE GRANT IS TO REDUCE RACIAL ISOLATION.

SO VERTICAL ARTICULATION IS VERY, VERY IMPORTANT FOR MAGNET PROGRAMS. UM, SO GLENOAKS PARKS WOULD BE K THROUGH FIVE AND GLEN LENNOX, HIGH SCHOOL, SIX THROUGH 12, AND WE WOULD CALL THAT HEALTH PROFESSIONALS.

SO THE PURPOSE OF THE GRANT IS TO REDUCE RACIAL ISOLATION AND WE ARE, YOU KNOW, TO PUT IN ATTRACTIVE THINGS AND IT MUST BE EVIDENCE-BASED.

WE WERE APPLYING FOR UP TO $15 MILLION.

AGAIN, THESE ARE THE PROPOSED SCHOOLS, GLENOAKS PARK, GLEN OAKS, HIGH SCHOOL CREST, FOURTH, MIDDLE AND MCKINLEY HIGH SCHOOL.

SO WHEN WE THINK ABOUT DEMOGRAPHICS, WHAT WE FOCUS ON IS, UH, SCHOOLS THAT HAVE A HIGHER NON-BLACK POPULATION, THEN THE DISTRICT.

AND IF YOU LOOK AT OCTOBER 1ST, 2019, THE DISTRICT ENROLLMENT, UH, THE DEMOGRAPHICS THAT IS, IS 72.6%.

SO THOSE SCHOOLS THAT ARE REPRESENTED THERE HAVE A HIGHER BLACK POPULATION.

SO THESE ARE THE THEMES I MENTIONED BEING ATTRACTIVE.

RIGHT? OKAY.

SO, UM, INTERNATIONAL BACCALAUREATE AND GLOBAL STUDIES IS BEING SUGGESTED FOR QUEST BIRTH MIDDLES SITES BECAUSE IT IS NOT OPEN AND IT WOULD BE A DEDICATED MAGNET GRADES K THROUGH EIGHT MCELLIOTT HIGH SCHOOL WOULD BE A PROGRAM WITHIN A SCHOOL.

SO IT WOULD BE LIKE A COMPONENT.

AND THAT WOULD BE FOR GRACE SEVEN THROUGH 12.

SO FOR INTERNATIONAL BACCALAUREATE, UM, IT IS DIVIDED INTO PRIMARY YEARS, MIDDLE SCHOOL YEARS.

AND THEN YOU HAVE THE INTERNATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL PROGRAM.

UM, FINALLY, UM, THE DIPLOMA BOUND PROGRAM, OR FOR 11 TO 12 GRADE STUDENTS, BASICALLY STUDENTS UP TO 19 YEARS OLD.

AND THAT DIPLOMA IS ACCEPTED WORLDWIDE, WHICH IS A VERY POPULAR PROGRAM.

AND BY THE WAY, I SHOULD SAY THAT THERE'S NO SCHOOL IN LOUISIANA WITH THE EXCEPTION.

I DO BELIEVE OF YOU.

HI, MAY HAVE A PYP.

SO THIS WOULD BE UNIQUE TO BATON ROUGE.

SO INTERNATIONAL BACCALAUREATE, INTERDISCIPLINARY THERE'S INTERCULTURAL, WHERE DOES THIS COMMUNICATIONS, UM, VERY HIGH ACADEMIC STANDARDS, AND THEN THERE'S A PERSONALIZED LEARNING ENVIRONMENT.

AND BECAUSE OF COVID AND THE PANDEMIC, ONE OF THE THINGS THE IB ORGANIZATION HAS DIED IS TO CREATE A VIRTUAL PLATFORM.

SO IF WE HAVE, UM, IF STUDENTS HAVE TO GO TO SCHOOL IN A HYBRID MODEL OR IN VIRTUAL SETTING, THIS CAN ALSO BE TAKEN CARE OF FOR, AT GLENOAKS HIGH SCHOOL.

UH, BOTH PROGRAMS WILL BE PROGRAMS, BUT THEN SCHOOL.

[01:10:01]

NOW THOSE PROFESSIONS ARE, UH, THEY FALL ALONG THE LOT LIKE SURGICAL ROBOTICS, PROSTHETIC DESIGNS, FORENSIC SCIENTISTS, MEDICAL ILLUSTRATOR.

IF YOU THINK ABOUT A CHILD WHO LIKES TO DRAW, FOR EXAMPLE, THE MEDICAL ILLUSTRATOR WOULD BE SOMETHING THAT THEY COULD WOULD INTEREST THEM.

SO, UM, ONE THING ABOUT THE MAGNET ASSISTANCE PROGRAM GRANT, NO ACADEMIC REQUIREMENTS.

SO, UM, STUDENTS WOULD APPLY AND, UH, BASED ON SEATS AVAILABLE, THEY WOULD GET IN AS WITH ALL MAGNET PROGRAMS, THAT WOULD BE A 2.5, A RETENTION REQUIREMENT, AND THE SELECTION PROCESS IS EQUALLY AS IMPORTANT.

SO BECAUSE WE WANT TO MAKE SURE STUDENTS IN A NEIGHBORHOOD RECEIVE PRIORITY INTO THOSE PROGRAMS, 55% OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD, STUDENTS WHO APPLY WOULD GET THOSE SEATS.

THEN, UM, THE 45% WOULD BE THROUGHOUT THESE VETERANS FIRST SCHOOL DISTRICT SIBLINGS.

WE CAN GET THE NEXT PARTY.

AND THEN OF COURSE WE HAVE TO PROGRAM VERTICAL ARTICULATION SUCH AS FROM THE WORTH SITE TO MCKINLEY HIGH SCHOOL.

SO, UM, JUST TO SUMMARIZE THE NEXT TIMELINE, JUNE 30TH IS THE DATE OF SUBMISSION.

AND OCTOBER 1ST IS WHEN DISTRICTS ARE NOTIFIED, WHETHER THEY RECEIVED THE GRANT OR NOT FROM THE US, USUALLY THE CALL COMES FROM THE CONGRESSMAN'S OFFICE TO THE DISTRICT AND SAY, YOU GOT THE GRANT.

NEXT.

WE WILL GO BACK TO THE BOARD.

THANK YOU, MS. PORTER FOR THE PRESENTATION, I'M GOING TO HAVE A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS RELATED TO THE THOUGHT PROCESS BEHIND, UM, THESE PARTICULAR SCHOOLS, MORE SPECIFICALLY A SCHOOL THAT'S IN MY DISTRICT.

UM, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT FOLKS IN MY COMMUNITY I'VE BEEN COMPLAINING ABOUT OR MISSES, UH, COMMUNICATING THAT THERE WAS A LACK OF AS A TRADITIONAL MIDDLE SCHOOL COMPONENT INSIDE OF NORTH BATON ROUGE.

I GUESS MY CONCERN IS, SO WHEN YOU SAY THAT THIS SCHOOL COURSEWORK MIDDLE AS A SITE RIGHT NOW, WE'LL COME BACK AS A DEDICATED MAGNET PROGRAM WITH A FEEDER PATTERN TO MCKINLEY HIGH SCHOOL.

I GUESS MY CONCERN IS WHY, UM, THE DEDICATED MAGNET COMPONENT.

AND IS THAT A FLEXIBLE PIECE OF THIS GRANT OR IS THAT JUST SOMETHING THAT HAS ALREADY BEEN DETERMINED? BECAUSE WE, WE HAVE SPEED, WHICH IS BASICALLY A DEDICATED MAGNET SCHOOL IN OUR COMMUNITY, AND THERE IS A LACK OF A TRADITIONAL MAGNET MIDDLE SCHOOL IN THE COMMUNITY.

SO WHY WOULD WE PUT AN ADDITIONAL DEDICATED MAGNET SCHOOL IN THAT COMMUNITY? IT SEEMS IT DOESN'T SEEM LIKE IT MAKES SENSE TO ME.

SO I JUST WANTED TO UNDERSTAND THE THOUGHT PROCESS.

AND THEN WHY WOULD THE FEEDER PATTERN, UM, WITH ALL DUE RESPECT TO THE BLUE FAMILY GO TO MCKINLEY HIGH SCHOOL, BUT WE ALREADY HAVE SCHOLAR BILL HIGH SCHOOL WITH COMPONENTS OF PROGRAMMING ALREADY WITHIN THAT COMMUNITY WITHIN A TWO MILE RADIUS.

SO I JUST WANT TO UNDERSTAND THE THOUGHT PROCESS BEHIND HOW WE GOT THERE.

THERE'S NO INTEREST REQUIREMENTS.

SO THAT'S A VERY GREAT QUESTION.

SO, UH, PRESS WORTH MIDDLE WAS CHOSEN BECAUSE THE BUILDING WAS EMPTY AND WE WOULDN'T HAVE TO DISPLAY STUDENTS.

SO I STAND SIBLEY STUDENTS IF THEY APPLY, THEY CAN GET IN THE, UM, THEATER PATTERN FOR MCKINLEY HIGH SCHOOL FROM, UM, FROM THE CRESWELL MIDDLE SITE.

WE LOOKED, WE DID LOOK AT SCOTLAND VILLE, BUT SCOTLANDVILLE HAS, UH, APPROXIMATELY MAYBE SIX PROGRAMS AND CAPACITY IS ALWAYS IMPORTANT.

SO WHEN WE LOOK AT THE GRANT AND THE SCHOOLS THAT COULD BE INCLUDED CAPACITY WAS ONE OF THE KEY ISSUES.

AND SO THE MAGICALLY YOU'RE CORRECT.

I MEAN, THE, THE THEATER SHOULD OSTENSIBLY BE INTO SCOTLANDVILLE HIGH SCHOOL, BUT SCOTLANDVILLE HIGH SCHOOL.

AND MR. NICE PASS CAN ALSO, UM, UM, CONFIRM THIS, THAT THEY HAVE MULTIPLE TRACKS IN THAT SCHOOL ALREADY.

WELL, I JUST WANT TO UPDATE, FLIP THIS TO THE SUPERINTENDENT INTO WHOEVER IS, I MEAN, I, I, A HUNDRED PERCENT AGREE WITH US TRYING TO GET ADDITIONAL FUNDING AS IT RELATES TO GRANT, BUT I DON'T KNOW IF I FEEL OR AM IN SUPPORT OF THIS BEING THE BEST STRATEGIC WAY TO REOPEN OR UTILIZE THE EMPTY SIDE OF COURSEWORK MIDDLE WHEN THERE IS A DIRE NEED FOR A TRADITIONAL MIDDLE SCHOOL WITHIN MY COMMUNITY.

AND SO TO ADD, NO, YOU SAY THE ADMISSIONS REQUIREMENTS, BUT WHEN I THINK ABOUT A DEDICATED MAGNET SCHOOL, I THINK ABOUT THE LEHIGH'S AND THE MAG IN THE BATON ROUGE, HIGHS OF THE WORLD AND THE MCKINLEY MIDDLE

[01:15:01]

MAGNETS THAT HAVE ACADEMIC CRITERIA.

AND EVEN THOUGH IT'S THE NEIGHBORHOOD COMPONENT, YOU STILL HAVE A MATRICULATION THAT'S TIED INTO MAGNET SCHOOLING.

AND SO I JUST DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S THE BEST USE OF THE SITE.

AND IT KIND OF BOTHERS ME BECAUSE WHEN THIS WAS BROUGHT TO MY ATTENTION, THERE WAS NO CONVERSATION AROUND IT BEING EARMARKED AS A DEDICATED MAGNET SITE.

SO AGAIN, THAT GOES INTO THE COMMUNICATION PIECE AND ALL OF THOSE THINGS THAT I'VE TALKED ABOUT A MILLION TIMES OVER AND OVER AGAIN.

SO I WON'T EVEN REHASH THAT TONIGHT, BUT I JUST DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S THE BEST USE OF THE SITE WHEN WE NEED A TRADITIONAL MAGNET SCHOOL WITHIN THAT COMMUNITY.

SO THANKS.

SO VICE-PRESIDENT AND HOWARD, IT CAN BE, UM, A SCHOOL WITHIN A SCHOOL JUST AS THE MCKINLEY HIGH SCHOOL PROGRAM.

SO THAT WAS JUST THE OPTION THAT WAS ON THE TABLE, RIGHT.

WHICH IS WHY I ASKED ABOUT THE FLEXIBILITY OF THE GRANT.

CAUSE I MEAN, MOST OF THE TIMES WHEN YOU HAVE GRANTS AND YOU EARMARK CERTAIN THINGS AND DEDICATIONS, LIKE THAT'S WHAT YOU HAVE TO UTILIZE THE GRANT FOR.

SO IF THERE IS FLEXIBILITY, I WOULD LOVE TO ENTERTAIN THE CONVERSATION ABOUT HOW WE MAKE THIS MORE FLEXIBLE TO FIT THE NEEDS OF THE COMMUNITY, AS OPPOSED TO JUST SLEPT, EXCUSE ME, SLAPPING ANOTHER DEDICATED MAGNET DISTINGUISHED, UM, ON THE SCHOOL.

AND I DON'T WANT THIS TO SOUND LIKE I'M LIKE, YOU KNOW, AGAINST THE GRAIN OF GETTING THE FUNDING, BUT LIKE IF WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO UTILIZE A SITE FOR A COMMUNITY NEED, THAT'S WHAT WE SHOULD BE DOING.

AND THAT'S WHAT PEOPLE WOULD LIKE US TO DO.

SO I JUST DON'T KNOW IF DEDICATED IT AS A MAGNET BASED OFF OF THOSE THINGS THAT YOU JUST SAID IS THE BEST THING.

SO IF THERE IS FLEXIBILITY, I WOULD LIKE TO ENTERTAIN CONVERSATIONS AROUND OUR ADDITIONAL OPTIONS AS WE, UH, HOPEFULLY GET THIS MONEY.

UM, SO FOR THE PURPOSE OF TONIGHT, WE JUST NEED TO IDENTIFY WHAT THE SCHOOL, BUT YOU'RE RIGHT.

THE FLEXIBILITY.

WE CAN CHANGE THAT IN THE GRANT, WHEREAS IT WOULD BE A PROGRAM WITHIN THE SCHOOL.

NEXT, UH, BOARD MEMBER DYSON.

UM, I ALSO WAS TRYING TO UNDERSTAND THE ENTRY POINTS IF YOU'RE GOING TO PURSUE THE, UH, WHAT IS IT, THE INTERNATIONAL BACCALAUREATE.

UM, SO AT WHAT POINTS CAN ONE ENTER INTO THAT PROGRAM AND, OKAY, SO IB IS, IS VERY SPECIALIZED AND THEY'RE, THERE'S THE TRAINING.

UM, THERE WILL BE A YEAR PLANNING, SO STUDENTS CAN ENTER AT ANY POINT BECAUSE THE CURRICULUM, THE, THE, THE TEACHING IS BASICALLY CENTERED ON THAT GLOBAL STUDIES, THE COMMUNICATION.

SO THEY CAN ENTER ALMOST AT ANY POINT WITH THE EXCEPTION, UH, 11TH AND 12TH GRADE.

I JUST SEE THIS AGAIN, AS SLAPPING ANOTHER PROGRAM OR A MAGNET COMPONENT AT A SCHOOL, AND IT'S NOT REALLY GETTING TO THE MEAT OF THE PROBLEMS IN OUR SCHOOL DISTRICT.

THAT'S WHAT I WANTED TO KNOW.

AND I, AND I, UM, YOU KNOW, I KNOW, I KNOW WE'VE HAD COMP FOR STATION OVER THE YEARS THAT BROADMORE HIGH MIGHT BE A GOOD SITE AS WELL.

AND SO, YOU KNOW, HOPEFULLY THIS'LL TAKE OFF AND, YOU KNOW, I THINK WE NEED TO BE WATCHING FOR WHAT WE'RE GOING TO PUT AT BROADMORE AS WELL.

BUT I THINK WITH, WITH THAT ONE CHANGE THAT WE COULD GET SOME NEIGHBORHOOD KIDS.

UM, I THINK THAT THAT CAME UP DURING OUR TAX PLAN DISCUSSIONS THAT THOSE MIDDLE SCHOOLERS WERE HAVING TO BE BUSED TO PARK FORESTS.

I THINK IF WE WOULD THAT SATISFY, UM, MR. , I MEAN, MR. HOWARD, I'M SORRY.

UM, WOULD THAT SATISFY THAT PIECE OF IT? IF YOU'VE GOT NEIGHBORHOODS, GET, UH, CHILDREN IN THERE AS WELL.

WE WE'VE, WE'VE BEEN HERE BEFORE, UM, AND I DON'T MEAN TO SPEAK OUT OF TURN, BUT I MEAN, SHE ASKS ME A QUESTION WHEN WE REOPENED LEHIGH SCHOOL, THERE WAS SUPPOSED TO BE A TRADITIONAL COMPONENT TO THAT SCHOOL.

LEE HIGH SCHOOL IS NOW A DEDICATED MAGNET SCHOOL WITH NO TRADITIONAL COMPONENT AND NO TRADITIONAL SEATS.

THERE WAS THE CAPACITY FOR THE SEATS, BUT IT'S NOT HAPPENING.

SO IF WE CAN SEE WHY I'M HERE AND SAY, OH, THIS IS WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO.

IT'S GOING TO BE FLEXIBLE.

IT'S BS BECAUSE WE'VE BEEN HERE BEFORE AND IT HAS NOT HAPPENED.

SO I UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU'RE SAYING IS POORLY.

I UNDERSTAND ABOUT THE FLEXIBILITY OF THE THING, BUT WE'VE BEEN HERE BEFORE AND THE THINGS ARE NOT HAPPENING.

THERE IS NO DIRECT FEEDER PATTERN.

SO SCOTLANDVILLE HIGH SCHOOL, THERE'S NO TRADITIONAL MIDDLE SCHOOL IN, IN, IN NORTH BATON ROUGE.

SO WE NEED TO BE ADDRESSING THE CONCERNS AND, AND JUST STOP THIS GAME AROUND.

OH, IT'S GOING TO BE FLEXIBLE.

WE CAN EARMARK, WE CAN DO THIS, A PROGRAM WITHIN A PROGRAM, JUST CALL IT FOR WHAT IT IS.

IT DOES NOT EXIST.

AND WE NEED TO BE FIGURING OUT WAYS TO UTILIZE GRANTS AND MONIES LIKE THIS, TO MAKE SURE THAT IT DOES EXIST FOR THE NEEDS OF THE COMMUNITY.

[01:20:01]

THANK YOU, MS. DYSON, WHERE YOU FINISHED.

I JUST, I THINK MAYBE THAT WENT A LITTLE BIT INTO A DIFFERENT PLACE.

WHAT, WHAT I THINK WHAT I WAS ASKING IS THAT THE CONCERNS THAT I HEARD DURING THE TAX PLAN MEETINGS WERE THAT THE MIDDLE SCHOOLERS NEEDED TRADITIONAL SEATS IN THAT AREA.

AND I'M ASKING THIS IS WOOD CREST WORTH BE A PART OF THAT PERCEIVED AREA.

SO BASED ON WHAT VICE PRESIDENT TRUMP, HOW IS SAYING, YES, WE COULD CHANGE IT, WHEREAS THERE WOULD BE A TRADITIONAL COMPONENT AND ALSO THE IB COMPONENT.

NOW IT WOULD REDUCE THE SEATS AND THAT'S FINE.

UM, THE, THE MOST IMPORTANT THING IS TO MAKE SURE WE PROVIDE AN OPTION FOR STUDENTS IN THAT AREA WHO DO NOT ATTEND ANY VR SCHOOL TO, UH, PARTICIPATE IN A ATTRACTIVE, IN A VERY, UM, RIGOROUS PROGRAM.

OKAY, THANK YOU.

NEXT I'M THINKING SPECIFICALLY, GOT TO YOUR QUESTION CONCERNING THE MIDDLE SCHOOL CAPACITY.

WE HAVE CURRENTLY MAYBE ABOUT 140 STUDENTS THAT ARE LEAVING THE SCHOLAR BILL ERA THAT THERE'S CURRENTLY ATTENDING PARK WAS MIDDLE, I THINK SCOTLANDVILLE SCOTLAND.

WELL, THERE'S THE CRESTWOOD WAS CONSTANT CAPACITY, MAYBE ABOUT EIGHT, 900 STUDENTS.

AND SO THE CAPACITY IS THERE TO ABSORB THE EXISTING MIDDLE SCHOOL POPULATION THAT CURRENTLY RESIDES WITHIN A, THAT ATTENDANCE HOME GET.

OH, VERY GOOD.

THAT'S WHERE JACKSON, THANK YOU, PRESIDENT DODI.

UM, A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS.

UH, WELL, I'M, I'M GLAD TO HEAR THAT SOME SEATS THAT THERE WILL BE ENOUGH SEATS FOR THE NEIGHBORHOOD KIDS.

CAUSE I KNOW FOR SEVERAL YEARS, UH, AND I HAVE FAMILY IN THAT AREA THAT HAD BEEN ASKING FOR, UM, MIDDLE SCHOOL SEATS.

SO THEY WOULDN'T HAVE TO GO ON ALL THE WAY ACROSS TOWN.

UM, IT'S, IT'S, IT'S A LITTLE BIT ODD THAT IT'S, THAT THEY'RE GOING FROM IX FAR, NORTH BATON ROUGE, AND THEN GOING INTO, UH, MCKINLEY.

UM, BUT YOU KNOW, WE'VE GOT TRANSPORTATION FOR THAT.

IT'S JUST A, KIND OF A, AN ODD FEEDER PATTERN.

BUT, UM, THE QUESTION I WANTED TO ASK WAS, YOU KNOW, WE'VE LOOKED AT, UM, THIS KIND OF PROGRAM BEFORE.

I KNOW A COUPLE OF SCHOOLS WERE ASKING ABOUT IT A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO AND, UM, IT, WE WERE LOOKING AT POSSIBLY A BROAD MORE, BUT I'M WONDERING IF THERE IS A LANGUAGE COMPONENT THAT'S IN IT.

CAUSE IN THOSE DISCUSSIONS A FEW YEARS AGO IT WAS KIND OF CENTERED AROUND LANGUAGE.

SO I WONDERED IF THERE WERE ANY LANGUAGE COMPONENTS IN THIS, NOT THERE, THERE AREN'T GREAT.

WELL, THE GLOBAL STUDIES WOULD BE THE CLOSEST TO THE LANGUAGE COMPONENT BECAUSE STUDENTS WHO PARTICIPATE IN THE PROGRAM, THEY HAVE TO BE, THEY HAVE TO TAKE A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF, UH, FOREIGN LANGUAGE COURSES.

SO TO YOUR QUESTION, YES.

JUST NOT IMMERSION, SO TO SPEAK.

IN PARTICULAR, UM, IT'S IS OPERATING EXACTLY AS MY COLLEAGUES, SO DESIRE.

BUT OUR IMMERSION ONLY GO SO FAR ANYWAY.

SO I'M WONDERING IF SOME OF THE KIDS THAT ARE IN THE IMMERSION PROGRAMS WOULD BENEFIT BY, UM, IF THERE WAS A CONNECTION THERE, BECAUSE I KNOW THEY'RE, THEY'RE LOOKING FOR SOMEWHERE TO GO ONCE THEY GET TO THE LAST PHASE.

MA'AM YOU'RE WELCOME.

THANK YOU MR. JACKSON, UH, BOARD MEMBER COLLINS.

UM, I JUST WANT TO SAY, UM, AND, AND I KNOW MY COLLEAGUE WAS NOT NECESSARILY DIRECTING HIS COMMENT TO MS. PORTER AS ELF, MS. PORTER HAD DECIDED FOR LEHIGH TO BE A DEDICATED MAIDEN, BUT I MUST SAY THAT I'M AWARE OF HOW A FEW THINGS PLAYED OUT AT THAT TIME.

UM, AND THAT WAS MORE INFLUENCED BY PRESSURE FROM CERTAIN BOARD MEMBERS WHO ARE NO LONGER HERE THAT LEHIGH ENDED UP BEING A DEDICATED MAGNET WITH CERTAIN, UH, ENTRANCE REQUIREMENTS.

I CAN SAY IN MY DISTRICT

[01:25:01]

SO AGAIN, I DON'T, I DON'T MAKE THE COMMENT AS F MY COLLEAGUE WAS, UH, ATTACKING MS. PORTER SPECIFICALLY, CAUSE I DO I'M IN AGREEMENT.

AND THAT'S WHY I WAS VERY GLAD TO, UH, HEAR HER PROPOSE THAT THE MAGNET PROGRAMMING FROM THE M SAP GRANT IN MY DISTRICT, IT'S NOT DISPLACING NEIGHBORHOOD KIDS.

AND SO I THINK THAT THAT'S EVIDENCE THAT IS NOT COMING FROM HER.

AND I DON'T THINK ANY BOARD MEMBER HERE THAT'S CURRENT WOULD PUSH FOR ANYTHING DIFFERENT.

AND I JUST WANT TO OFFER THAT.

AND I JUST SAW SOMEONE SAY I'M A LITTLE BIT JEALOUS ABOUT THE IB PART, BECAUSE I WAS TRYING TO, YOU KNOW, I WAS LIKE, OH, THAT WOULD SOMETHING LIKE THAT WOULD BE SO PERFECT FOR LABELLE AIR, UH, BECAUSE IT'S, IT'S A VERY CULTURALLY RICH PROGRAM AND THAT CAMPUS ALREADY CELEBRATES CULTURAL DIVERSITY IN SOME VERY BIG WAYS.

SO, YOU KNOW, I'M, BUT I'M HAPPY FOR YOU.

NEXT IS BOARD MEMBER.

THANK YOU, MR. .

THANK YOU, MS. PORTER FOR BRINGING THESE TO US, YOU KNOW, I'M, I'M, I'M A REAL, REAL BIG SUPPORTER OF MAGNET PROGRAMS BECAUSE I LIKE TO PROVIDE EVERY STUDENT IN THE DISTRICT ACCESS TO HIGH QUALITY SEATS.

UM, I DO HAVE SOME QUESTIONS, SO, AND I SHARE SOME OF MY COLLEAGUES' CONCERNS.

UM, THAT IB SEEMS PARTICULARLY WELL SUITED AND A GOOD FIT WITH, UH, THOSE WHO ARE IN IMMERSION LANGUAGE, IMMERSION PROGRAMS. SO THOSE KIDS WHO MATRICULATE FROM FLAME, UM, UP THROUGH.

AND SO I WOULD LIKE TO TALK ABOUT IT MORE BEFORE WE MAKE A DETERMINATION ABOUT EXACTLY WHERE AN IB PROGRAM MIGHT GO.

AND I WOULD LIKE TO CONSIDER, UH, IS IT MAYBE A GOOD IDEA TO HAVE SOME COMMUNITY INPUT AROUND WHAT WE'RE DOING AT CREST WORTH? I HEARD MY COLLEAGUES SAY THAT.

AND THEN I HAVE HEARD FOR MANY YEARS THAT WE NEEDED MORE MIDDLE SCHOOL SEATS IN THAT AREA.

I, I DON'T LIKE SENDING KIDS FROM THAT AREA ALL THE WAY TO PART FOR US BECAUSE IT IS A LONG WAY TO GO TO GO TO SCHOOL.

I MEAN, SO I JUST DON'T KNOW.

AND I THINK THAT JUST WITH, WITH COVID GOING ON, AND THERE'S NOT BEEN A LOT OF OPPORTUNITY FOR PEOPLE TO, TO DO THAT.

SO ARE YOU SAYING THEN THAT WE CAN CHANGE IT AFTER WE SUBMIT THE GRANT? OR ARE YOU SAYING THAT ONCE WE SEND IT THE GRANT, THIS IS IT.

SO IT'S THE SCHOOLS.

WE, WE, UM, MY PROPOSAL RATHER THAN THE CONSIDERATION IS TO INCLUDE THOSE PARTICULAR SCHOOLS.

NOW WE CAN CHANGE THE FORMAT OF THOSE SCHOOLS, BUT ONE OF THE THINGS WE LOOKED AT, UM, EVEN WITH THE SENIOR CABINET, MR. DRAKE, WE LOOKED AT THE RACIAL ISOLATION.

SO, UM, THERE ARE SOME SCHOOLS LIKE, UM, RON MOORE HIGH SCHOOL THAT WE LOOKED AT, IF THAT THE DEMOGRAPHICS ARE LOWER THAN THE, UM, THE 72.1, I THINK IT WAS, IT DOESN'T THE CRITERIA IS THE CRITERIA.

I MEAN, YOU, YOU, YOU WANT TO REDUCE RACIAL ISOLATION.

SO IF THE SCHOOL IS ALREADY DIVERSE, SO TO SPEAK IS NOT GOING TO HELP YOUR GRANT.

ABSOLUTELY.

I UNDERSTAND.

SO THAT ONE WOULDN'T FIT THE GRANT.

UM, AND THEN I ALSO WANTED TO EXPRESS A LITTLE CONCERN ABOUT PUTTING A MAGNET PROGRAM EVER AT MCKINLEY HIGH SCHOOL, I'M CONCERNED ABOUT, UM, HOW IT MIGHT IMPACT THE GIFTED PROGRAM THAT, THAT SCHOOL, THE NUMBERS OF THAT SCHOOL ARE VERY, VERY SMALL, AND WE NEED TO CONTINUE TO SUPPORT THE GIFTED AND TALENTED PROGRAM AND THE NUMBERS THAT MCKINLEY HIGH NEEDS IN ORDER TO, TO SERVE THE STUDENTS.

I KNOW THAT WHEN YOU FALL BELOW A CERTAIN POPULATION, THAT IT'S DIFFICULT TO GIVE THE OFFERINGS THAT ARE NEEDED THERE, AND THAT PROGRAM HAS, HAS BEEN DROPPING IN NUMBERS FOR A WHILE.

SO I WOULD LIKE TO INCLUDE THEM IN THE CONVERSATION IF WE CAN.

SO I DO HAVE SOME CONCERNS ABOUT THAT.

I SURE WISH WE COULD HAVE HAD THE COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE.

SO THIS IS TO YOUR POINT.

UM, GIFTED DID COME INTO CONVERSATION BECAUSE WE LOOKED AT CAPACITY.

WE LOOKED AT PROGRAMS AND THE COMPLIMENTARY ALIGNMENT OF VARIOUS PROGRAMS IN THE SCHOOL.

SO WHEN I WAS SPEAKING TO THE CONSULTANT AND EVEN TO, UM, DR.

PETRI, UM, WE, UM, DISCUSSED AND AGREED THAT IF THERE WERE SEATS AVAILABLE IN THE ELECTIVES FOR THAT IB CONTINUUM AND A STUDENT IN THE GIFTED PROGRAM WAS INTERESTED IN IT, THEY COULD TAKE THAT CLASS.

SO WE, WE DON'T WANT TO OSTRACIZE ANYONE.

WE JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT, UM, THE, THE PROGRAM, ONCE IT'S PUT IN IS, IS IMPLEMENTED WITH FIDELITY, AND THEN WE PROVIDE ALL OF THE TYPES OF OPPORTUNITIES TO STUDENTS.

[01:30:03]

NEXT IS MR. HOWARD BOARDMAN, VICE PRESIDENT OF HOWARD.

AND AGAIN, MY COMMENTS WERE NOT DIRECTED TOWARDS MS. PORTER, BUT TOWARDS THIS PROCESS AND THE FRUSTRATION THAT I HAVE AS WELL AS MY CONSTITUENTS HAVE.

THE LAST THING THAT I WOULD LIFT UP IS HERE.

WE ARE AGAIN, IF YOU, WHEN IS THE GRANT APPLICATION DUE JUNE 30TH? SO HERE WE ARE AT THE BOARD MEETING BEFORE A GRANT APPLICATION IS DUE, TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW THIS FITS INTO A STRATEGIC PLAN OR LACK THEREOF.

AND HERE WE ARE, AGAIN, AS A BOARD MEMBER WITH OUR BACKS AGAINST THE WALL TO MAKE A DECISION SO THAT WE CAN APPLY FOR THIS GRANT.

I UNDERSTAND THAT COVID HAS OCCURRED, BUT WE HAVE GOT TO BE BETTER.

WE HAVE GOT TO BE PROACTIVE.

WE CANNOT BE COMING 12 DAYS BEFORE YOU HAVE TO SUBMIT A GRANT TO BRING IT BEFORE THE BOARD TO TALK ABOUT THINGS THAT HAVE NOT BEEN INCLUDED IN THE CONVERSATIONS.

YES, MRS. SMITH CALLED ME AND TOLD ME ABOUT THE INTENTIONS ABOUT THIS NEVER WASN'T MENTIONED AT THE SCHOOL WOULD BE EARMARKED AS A DEDICATED MAGNET OR WHATEVER THAT TALKED ABOUT.

IT'S 12 DAYS BEFORE THE GRANT IS DUE.

WE COULD HAVE HAD THIS IN THE BOARD MEETING LAST, UH, LAST MONTH WE COULD HAVE TALKED ABOUT THIS.

SOME MORE PEOPLE COULD HAVE GOT THEIR CONCERNS AND THEIR QUESTIONS ANSWERED SO THAT WE WILL NOT HAVE OUR BACKS AGAINST THE WALL SO THAT WE WON'T BE.

CAUSE IF WE DON'T APPROVE IT TONIGHT, THEN THERE'S, THERE'S NO WINDOW CAUSE YOU CAN'T APPLY FOR IT BECAUSE THE DEADLINE WILL PASS THIS DISTRICT.

THE PEOPLE WHO WORK FOR THIS DISTRICT, YOU HAVE GOT TO DO BETTER.

IF WE REALLY WANT TO SEE STUDENT OUTCOMES, A TEAM, AND WE REALLY WANT TO CLOSE THE ACHIEVEMENT GAPS, WE CAN'T GET A GRANT APPLICATION 12 DAYS BEFORE IT'S DUE.

IT HAS PLAYED OUT AT A MEETING WHERE WE HAVE TO VOTE ON IT.

WE DON'T EVEN HAVE A WINDOW TO TALK ABOUT IT.

THERE'S NO DISCUSSION TO BE HAD BECAUSE IT'S EITHER YOU BOTH HAVE IT NOW.

YOU DON'T APPLY IT SIMPLE.

WE BROUGHT HER DO BETTER.

THANK YOU MR. HOWARD.

UM, MR. LANDIS.

AND THANK YOU, MS. PORTER FOR YOUR PRESENTATION.

THIS IS WHAT I WOULD SAY.

I THINK THAT WE'RE MISSING A BIG, BIG PART HERE.

WHAT DOES ALL OF THIS SAY ABOUT OUR NON TRADITIONAL NON MAGNET SCHOOLS? WHEN I THINK ABOUT SCHOOLS LIKE GLENOAKS, FOR INSTANCE, AN OAKS HAS SEVERAL MAGNET PROGRAMS. SO I UNDERSTAND, AND I COMPLETELY AGREE THAT IT'S NO PROBLEM TO REINVIGORATE AND REINFUSE MORE INTO THOSE PROGRAMS, BUT WE HAVE SCHOOLS LIKE A NORTHEAST HIGH SCHOOL WHO IS STRUGGLING WITH RECRUITMENT TO GET STUDENTS THERE BECAUSE THEY DON'T HAVE ADEQUATE PROGRAMS. AND THOSE SCHOOLS HAVE BEEN ASKING AND ASKING AND ASKING, WHEN ARE WE GOING TO DO MORE? WHEN ARE WE GOING TO SEND MORE RESERVES? WHEN ARE WE GOING TO SEND MORE RESOURCES SO THAT WE CAN BEGIN TO GROW THIS COMMUNITY? EVERYTHING WE TALKED ABOUT IN THIS BOARD HAS BEEN SURROUNDED, SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITY SCHOOLS, SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITY SCHOOLS START IN THE COMMUNITIES WHERE THEY ARE LOCATED.

SO TO SHIFT OUT DOLLARS FROM THOSE AREAS WHERE STUDENTS NEED THEM, WHERE THE EDUCATORS NEED THEM.

IT DOES VERY LITTLE TO HELP US MOVE THE TRAJECTORY OF OUR BOARD TO IMPROVE THOSE LOWER PERFORMANCE SCHOOLS.

BECAUSE THE NEW DO YOU ALL KNOW THE NEXT CONVERSATION IS GOING TO BE, IT'S GOING TO BE, LET'S START TALKING ABOUT SCHOOL CONSOLIDATION BECAUSE THOSE SCHOOLS ARE NOT MOVING.

AND WE HAVE TO ASK OURSELVES THAT IN THE DAY, HOW DID WE DO ENOUGH? CAUSE BEFORE I SHUT DOWN A SCHOOL, BEFORE I VOTE TO SHUT DOWN A SCHOOL, I WANT TO KNOW THAT WE DID ENOUGH BECAUSE IF WE DIDN'T DO ENOUGH, LET'S NOT HAVE THOSE CONVERSATIONS.

I'M ONLY ASKING THAT WE DO WHAT'S RIGHT BY OUR STUDENTS AND THAT WE DO WHAT'S RIGHT BY OUR COMMUNITY.

WE HAVE A CHANCE TO CHANGE THIS.

LET'S DO THAT.

ANYTHING THAT WE COULD DO AT THOSE SCHOOLS, WE CAN DUPLICATE AND DO AT SCHOOLS THAT ARE NONE BACK.

WELL, MR. ELENA'S, THAT'S A VERY GOOD POINT.

AND BEFORE COVID MR. SMITH AND I WORKED WITH AND COLLABORATED WITH SOME TRADITIONAL SCHOOLS, CRESTWOOD ELEMENTARY WAS ONE OF THEM.

WE DISCUSSED, UM, IMPLEMENTING A MUSEUM THEME INTO THE SCHOOL AND WE WERE GOING TO USE SOME TITLE, ONE FUNDS AND SOME OTHER THINGS.

AND MR. SMITH CAN SPEAK TO THIS MORE, BUT WE HAVE BEEN DISCUSSING INCUBATING PROGRAMS, NON MAGNET PROGRAMS IN SCHOOLS, BECAUSE WE RECOGNIZE THAT WE NEED TO MAKE SURE STUDENTS IN ALL SCHOOLS HAVE SOMETHING THAT NOT ONLY THEY CAN BE PROUD OF, BUT THAT THEY'RE INTERESTED IN LEARNING BECAUSE OUR GOALS ARE THE SAME.

WE WANT TO KEEP THEM HERE.

WE WANT TO KEEP THEM IN OUR SCHOOL.

SO I, I TOTALLY AGREE WITH YOU.

AND I JUST WANT YOU TO KNOW, I'M SORRY, I'M NOT QUESTIONING YOUR WORK WHATSOEVER, BUT IT DOES BECOME VERY FRUSTRATING WHEN WE GO THROUGH THESE SAME CONVERSATIONS OVER AND OVER AND OVER AGAIN.

AND THAT WE ALWAYS PUT OUR MAINTENANCE SCHOOLS AT THE TOP OF THE LIST.

MAGNET SCHOOLS SHOULD NOT BE THE ONLY HIGH PERFORMING, UH, SEATS AT EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH, NOT THE SECOND LARGEST SCHOOL DISTRICT IN THE STATE OF LOUISIANA.

NOW, WHEN WE'RE RECEIVING REWARDS FOR MAGNET SCHOOLS,

[01:35:01]

AND THAT'S WHY I WANT OUR DOLLARS TO SHIFT TOWARDS IS MAKING SURE WE PUT AN ADEQUATE EFFECTIVE, EQUITABLE RESOURCES BACK INSIDE OF THOSE SCHOOLS.

THANK YOU, MR. ATLANTIS, ANY OTHER COMMENTS FROM ANY OTHER BOARD MEMBERS NOW? I HAVE, I HAVE A FEW.

UM, MY FIRST QUESTION IS WHAT IS THE DOLLAR VALUE OF THIS GRANT IF WE APPLY UP TO 15 MILLION HOURS? OKAY.

UM, I GUESS THE, THE ISSUE I HAVE MORE OR LESS PARALLELS WITH MR. HOWARD AND MR. LANDIS HAS SAID HERE WE ARE LOOKING TO GET BIG DOLLARS AND MAKING STRATEGIC CHANGES IN THE FUNCTIONS OF DIFFERENT SCHOOLS AND OUR BACKUP MATERIAL HAD NOTHING ABOUT ANYTHING ABOUT IT BEING A DEDICATED MAGNET.

WE'VE KNOWN FOR A LONG TIME THAT WE WERE IN THE PROCESS OF GREAT GETTING CRES WORTH MIDDLE BACK.

UH, I KNOW I HAVE NEVER HAD A CONVERSATION ABOUT CROSSWORD BEING ANYTHING THAN A TRADITIONAL MIDDLE SCHOOL.

THIS IS THE FIRST I'VE HEARD ABOUT IT IS IN THE PRESENTATION THAT WAS JUST GIVEN.

AND THE REASON I SAY THAT IS I THINK THAT'S A VERY BIG FAILURE OF THE PROCESS.

UH, WE JUST HAVE NOT GOTTEN THE INFORMATION AND LIKE MR. HOWARD SAID THAT, UH, HERE WE ARE SITTING HERE WITH A DEADLINE JUST A FEW DAYS AWAY BEING PRESENTED WITH STRATEGIC CHANGES THAT WE'VE HAD KNOW THAT I PERSONALLY HAVE HAD NO INPUT ON AT ALL.

AND MOST OF THE OTHER BOARD MEMBERS HAVE HAD NO INPUT AT ALL.

SO I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO.

YOU KNOW, IT LEAVES ME, I DON'T KNOW IF I AGREE WITH THE STRATEGY AT ALL, BUT IF I DON'T, YOU TELL ME WE'RE PASSING AN OPPORTUNITY AT $15 MILLION.

BUT IF, IF I GO AHEAD AND DO IT, THEN I'M OKAY IN A STRATEGY THAT I HAD NO PART.

AND MOST OF THE BOARD HAD NO PART IN PUTTING TOGETHER.

AND SO I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO.

I AM AT A QUANDARY RIGHT NOW, UH, BECAUSE HERE WE ARE, WE'RE GOING TO BE CHANGING.

COVID-19 IS GONNA CHANGE LOTS OF THINGS.

UH, I AGREE.

I PERSONALLY AM NOT FOR MORE MAGNET PROGRAMS BECAUSE I THINK WE HAVE A LOT OF MAGNET PROGRAMS AND I WANT TO IMPROVE THE TRADITIONAL NEIGHBORHOOD SCHOOLS.

I ALSO DON'T WANT TO TURN FEDERAL DOLLARS DOWN, BUT I DON'T WANT TO BECOME BEHOLDEN TO THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT FOR THE DOLLARS TO MAKE THE STRATEGIC DECISIONS THAT WE NEED TO MAKE IN OUR DISTRICT.

SO I DON'T KNOW HOW I'M A VOTE ON THIS, BUT IT'S LEFT ME IN A HUGE QUANDARY.

AND WITH THAT, I'LL BE QUIET, BUT I REALLY DON'T FEEL WELL SERVED RIGHT NOW BECAUSE I FEEL I DON'T HAVE ANY GOOD CHOICES.

BOTH OF THE CHOICES I HAVE ARE NEGATIVE IS TO ACCEPT THE STRATEGY THAT I HAD NO INPUT ON OR ACCEPT THE FACT THAT I'M A FOREGO, AN OPPORTUNITY FOR GRANTS.

AND THAT'S NOT WHAT WE SHOULD BE ABOUT.

THANK YOU, MR. GAUDETTE.

CAN I, I WANT TO INTERJECT SOMETHING TOO.

IF, IF THIS IS APPROVED TONIGHT, BETWEEN NOW AND JUNE 30TH, CAN THE SCHOOLS BE TWEAKED BEFORE IT IS? IS THERE A FLEXIBILITY TO CHANGE THE SCHOOLS IF THE BOARD VOTES POSITIVE ON THIS TONIGHT BEFORE IT'S SO, SO THERE ARE TWO COMPONENTS.

FIRST IS THE VOLUNTARY SEGREGATION PLAN BECAUSE WE'RE UNDER UNITARY STATUS.

THE OTHER COMPONENT IS THE RESOLUTION.

SO THOSE SCHOOLS ARE LISTED.

THEY WOULD HAVE TO BE WHO WOULD APPROVE AND AS SUBMITTED WITH THE APPLICATION.

HAVE TO BE THERE FOR ACADEMICS AND ACHIEVE THOSE MARKS.

AND I'M SORRY, I'VE LOST MY SCREEN WITH THE REQUEST TO SPEAK.

DOES ANYONE ELSE ON THE BOARD WISH TO SPEAK FOR MS. DYSON? OKAY.

SO FROM WHAT I'M HEARING AROUND OUR TABLE, AND I KNOW THAT I DON'T KNOW HOW LONG YOU'VE KNOWN ABOUT THIS AND, AND ALL, AND I, WHEN I SAW IT, I THOUGHT, WOW, THAT'S A QUICK TURNAROUND, UM, TO EXPECT US TO, YOU KNOW, NOT HAVE AS, UM, PRESIDENT GOAT.

I SAID PART OF THE STRATEGIC PLANNING AND SELECTION OF THE SCHOOLS.

UM, BUT HERE WE ARE, AND I APPRECIATE YOUR HARD WORK ON IT.

I LIKE SO MUCH ABOUT THIS.

I AM, YOU KNOW, IT IS A MUCH HARDER THING TO MARKET SUCCESSFULLY AND GET THE BUY IN WHEN IT IS A PROGRAM WITHIN A SCHOOL THAT DEDICATED PART OF IT IS, UH, RINGS GOOD IN SOME PEOPLE'S EARS THAT EVERY CHILD WOULD

[01:40:01]

AND, BUT I THINK THAT WITH THE, WE ALL KNEW WE WERE GETTING CRESWELL.

UM, WE ALL KNEW THAT WE HEARD IN THE TRACKS PLAN THAT WE NEED TO GET THOSE MIDDLE SCHOOLERS CLOSER TO HOME.

SO I THINK, I DON'T THINK I'M HEARING PROBLEMS IF THE CREST WORTH SITE IS SOME OF EACH YES.

AND SO IT'S A SCHOOL WITHIN A MAGNET PROGRAM WITHIN A SCHOOL.

SO I, THAT'S WHAT I'M HEARING.

MOST OF THE CONVERSATION SUPPORT WHAT I THINK THE STICKING POINT IS, IS THEN WHERE DO THEY MATRICULATE TO, AND WHO HAS THE CAPACITY? WHO HAS THE LACK OF PROGRAMMING, WHO HAS THE CRITERIA? AND I HAVE A QUESTION, UH, HAVING WORKED VERY, VERY HARD ON THIS BOARD MANY YEARS AGO, WITH SOMEONE ELSE IN THE ROOM.

UH, MY FORMER COLLEAGUE, WE WORKED VERY HARD TO GAIN UNITARY STATUS AND TO HAVE LOCAL CONTROL OF OUR SCHOOLS.

SO I DO HAVE A QUESTION AND I HAD READ IT.

I WAS TRYING TO WRAP MY HEAD AROUND WHAT THAT MEANS, AS FAR AS, YOU KNOW, WHAT LOCAL CONTROL ARE WE GIVING AWAY IN THE SCHOOLS THAT ARE NAMED OR WHAT'S HAPPENING THERE.

SO, YOU KNOW, UH, NO LOCAL CONTROL IS, IS BEING GIVEN UP.

UM, BASICALLY, UM, WHAT THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION IS REQUESTING BECAUSE WE ARE UNITARY THAT YOU ARE AGREEING TO PUT THESE SCHOOLS IN THE GRANT.

IF WE WERE UNDER JUDICIAL OVERSIGHT, THEY WOULD POSSIBLY TELL YOU WHAT SCHOOLS RIGHT.

AND TOOK THE GRANT.

RIGHT, RIGHT.

UM, SO, UM, AND TO YOUR POINT, UM, ABOUT KNOWING ABOUT THE APPLICATION.

SO THIS WAS BACK IN APRIL SORT OF TIMEFRAME, AND OF COURSE, YOU KNOW, WHAT WAS GOING ON THEN? SO THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION GAVE UP, GAVE EVERYONE AN EXTENSION.

SO THEN, YOU KNOW, THINGS START OPENING UP SOMEWHAT AND WE BEGAN WORKING TOGETHER.

WE COULD COLLABORATE AND HAVE VIRTUAL MEETINGS.

AND THAT'S THE REASON WHY IT IS, IT SEEMS LIKE THE TIMELINE IS EXTREMELY TIGHT, BUT I MEAN, WE WERE UNDER CIRCUMSTANCES.

I HAD NO CONTROL OVER IT.

RIGHT.

SO I THINK THE ONLY STICKING POINT REALLY THAT I'M HEARING AT THIS POINT IS HOW DO WE SELECT THE HIGH SCHOOL? UM, AND YOU KNOW, HOW CAN THEY STAY AS CLOSE TO THAT SAME COMMUNITY AS POSSIBLE? AND I DON'T WANT TO SPEAK FOR ANYONE ELSE, BUT THAT'S WHAT I'M THINKING IS HAPPENING HERE.

AND SO I HAVE A QUESTION.

SO ARE WE MORE LIKELY TO BE AWARDED THE GRANT IF BASED ON THAT RATIO BEING HIGHER OR AS LONG AS WE MEET THAT 72%, DOES THAT CHECK OFF THAT BOX? DOES IT GET US ANY BETTER TO BE HIGHER IN THAT IT DOES BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT THEY'RE LOOKING FOR TO REJECT HIGHEST WHY.

AND THESE SCHOOLS ARE ALSO IN HOPE I'M PRONOUNCING THIS CORRECTLY IN THE ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY ZONE.

SO THAT ALSO HELPS WITH THE APPLICATION.

SO IT LIMITED YOUR AVAILABLE OPTIONS.

AND WE WANT TO GAIN, I MEAN, THIS LOOKS LIKE SUCH A GREAT PROGRAM, SO WHICH, SO THESE, YOU THOUGHT WERE THE BEST FOR SUCCESS AT GETTING AWARDS.

THAT'S CORRECT.

AND WERE THERE ANY CLOSE SECONDS? SO, UM, SO WE DID CONSIDER SOME OTHER SCHOOLS.

UM, SO SCOTLANDVILLE, MIDDLE PRE-ENGINEERED PRE-INJURY PREVENTION, YOUR MAGNET ACADEMY, UM, WAS CONSIDERED FOR AN EAST SPORTS PROGRAM, BUT THE PROBLEM WAS THEY'RE STILL THE FEEDER INTO SCOTLANDVILLE HIGH SCHOOL BECAUSE OF THE CAPACITY ISSUE.

UM, WE ALSO LOOK AT BROMO HIGH SCHOOL, BUT THERE'LL BE A LOAD AT 72 PER PERSON.

SUCH AS, UM, UH, SOCIOECONOMIC, BECAUSE RIGHT NOW I'M TALKING ABOUT ETHNICITY.

A LOT OF SCHOOLS ARE, I'M THINKING LIKE IN THE NEXT FIVE YEARS, IF THE TREND CONTINUES, WE WILL NOT HAVE TOO MANY SCHOOLS THAT WILL QUALIFY UNLESS WE USE ANOTHER VARIABLE

[01:45:01]

SO, UM, IN A FEW YEARS WE MAY NOT EVEN HAVE SCHOOLS THAT QUALIFIED, NOT MANY ANYWAY.

I HOPE I ANSWERED DIGESTING THIS.

YOU'RE WELCOME.

THANK YOU, BOARD MEMBER, WHERE JACKSON, THANK YOU, PRESIDENT.

UM, THE BEST THING I SEE IN THIS IS THAT CHRIS WORTH WILL BE OPEN FOR TRADITIONAL STUDENTS AND THERE WILL BE A MAGNET COMPONENT.

SO CHRIS WORTH WILL, UM, HAVE THOSE CHILDREN THAT HAVE BEEN WANTING TO GO BACK THERE FOR A VERY LONG TIME.

AND IT WILL ALSO HAVE THAT MAGNET COMPONENT TO DRAW, UM, MORE KIDS TO THAT AREA.

UM, I THINK WHAT I'M HEARING IS WHAT WE'VE BEEN HEARING FOR A VERY LONG TIME, WHICH IS THE NEED FOR, UM, A DELIBERATE, STRATEGIC, COMPREHENSIVE PLAN FOR OUR DISTRICT.

NOT JUST, UM, NOT ONLY THE BUILDINGS, BUT THE PROGRAMMING INSIDE AND THE, THE, UM, THE FEEDER PATTERNS.

AND I KNOW WE'VE GOTTEN A START WITH, UH, WITH SOME OF THAT.

AND, UM, OVER THE YEARS, WE'VE, WE'VE GOTTEN A LOT OF PUSHBACK AS WELL ABOUT DOING A COMPREHENSIVE PLAN WITH, YOU KNOW, EVERYTHING INVOLVED.

BUT I THINK IF WE KNOW WHERE WE'VE BEEN, GET A VERY GOOD UNDERSTANDING OF WHERE WE ARE NOW, UM, WE'LL BE ABLE TO MOVE FORWARD WITH A LOT MORE ACCURACY ABOUT GETTING TO THE GOAL THAT WE REALLY WANT TO GET TO, BUT WE'LL ALL NEED TO AGREE ON WHAT THAT GOAL IS FOR THE DISTRICT.

SO I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO SOME, SOME MORE CONVERSATIONS AMONG THE BOARD MEMBERS AND A NEW LEADERSHIP AROUND DEVELOPING A PLAN.

THAT REALLY MAKES SENSE SO THAT WE DON'T FIND OURSELVES, UM, GOING OUT LIKE IN THE GRANT WORLD.

SOMETIMES WE GO OUT CHASING DOLLARS AND, UH, INSTEAD OF, UM, STICKING TO OUR REAL MISSION AND OUR VISION AND GOALS.

SO I'M HOPING THAT WE'LL GET A VERY CLEAR VIEW OF WHAT THAT IS AND, UM, AND BE ABLE TO LOOK FOR OPPORTUNITIES THAT FIT THE GOALS THAT WE REALLY WANT TO GO TO.

CAUSE I THINK IN, IN THIS SITUATION, WE MAY BE, UM, BUILDING OUR PLAN AROUND THIS PARTICULAR GRANT INSTEAD OF THE OTHER WAY AROUND.

SO I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO A BETTER DAY HE'S OF THIS, BUT, UH, BUT I DO WANT TO ENCOURAGE YOU AND THANK YOU FOR, UH, FOR, FOR PURSUING THIS.

AND I THINK, UH, THE BEST LIGHT IS THAT CHRIS WORTH PIECE IN THERE, THE REST OF IT WILL WORK OUT.

UH, MS. PORT, UH, I KNOW THAT BROADMORE HIGH HAS BEEN MENTIONED SEVERAL TIMES TONIGHT AND WAS CONSIDERED AS VERY STRONG CANDIDATE, BUT THE POTENTIAL OF IT BEING A LITTLE BIT LOWER, UH, IN THE NUMBERS, UH, WOULD THAT BE A VIABLE OPTION? UH, IF IT WERE CHANGED TO THE BROADMORE HIGH LOCATION? I THINK WHAT, UM, WHAT I'VE HEARD HERE IS THAT THE 147 KIDS THAT ARE DISPLACED FROM SCOTLANDVILLE AREA TO PARK FOREST MIDDLE NEED TO COME BACK TO THE MIDDLE SCHOOL.

AND IF THAT IS, IS WITHIN REACH IN THIS PLAN, WHICH I HEAR IT IS IN MY PEER IN THAT CORRECT.

SO BROUGHT MORE HIGH SCHOOL WOULD BE IN THE GRANT INSTEAD OF MCKINLEY HIGH.

FROM THE SCOTLAND VILLE AREA FROM CREST, FROM PARK FOREST, MIDDLE TO QUEST WORTH MIDDLE.

SO, UM, IS SCHOOL FOR THE MOST PART CAN BE THE KEY IS KEEPING THAT NON-BLACK RATIO OR THE ETHNICITY, THE DEMOGRAPHICS, UM, ABOVE THE DISTRICT LEVEL.

AND SO THE SCHOOLS THAT WERE LISTED IN THE GRANT, THEY ALL WERE, BUT 72%, BUT YOU CAN, YOU, YOU, YOU CAN, IF THAT'S WHAT THE, YEAH, WHAT I'M HEARING THOUGH, I MEAN, THEY HAVE TO SELECT WHETHER THEY'RE GOING TO GO AFTER THIS GRANT AND IF THE, IF THE COMBINATION OF THE PATTERN IN THE SCOTLANDVILLE AREA AND THEN THE TRAVEL TIME AND ALL THAT TO MCKINLEY IS GOING TO BE PROBLEMATIC.

I WOULD SUGGEST MAYBE EVEN WITH WHAT I'VE HEARD, TAKING A LOOK AT EITHER BROADMORE OR SCOTLAND GO HIGH, AND MAYBE WE'RE MOVING PROGRAMS FROM SCOTLAND, GO HIGH THAT GIVE THIS OPPORTUNITY, OR, OR NOT.

WE TALKED ABOUT THIS, OR EVEN NOT APPLY FOR THIS.

THIS HAS ALL BEEN DISCUSSED, BUT MAYBE, MAYBE NOT.

I THINK THE BOARD HAS MADE SOME VERY GOOD POINTS TONIGHT.

WE WANT TO BRING THE KIDS BACK

[01:50:01]

AND THEN WE ALSO WANT TO HAVE THOSE VIABLE, GOOD PROGRAMS IN THOSE SCHOOLS.

SO I WAS ABOUT TO SAY VERY EXPENSIVE.

SO, UM, INCLUDING IN THE GRANT WOULD BE SOMETHING THAT THE DISTRICT WOULD NOT HAVE TO ABSORB THE COST OF THE PROGRAM.

UH, MS. BOARD MEMBER COLLINS.

UH, SO YEAH, THESE SCHOOLS ARE NOT IN MY AREA AND I HEAR SOME, UH, YOU KNOW, A LOT OF CONCERNS I DON'T WANT TO, IS IT MORE APPROPRIATE FOR ME TO WITHDRAW MY MOTION? I DON'T WANT TO IMPOSE WHAT I WOULD WANT ON SOMEBODY.

YOU KNOW WHAT I'M SAYING? THOSE SCHOOLS ARE NOT IN MY DISTRICT.

IS IT BETTER TO REVISIT THIS NEXT YEAR OR SOMETHING? UM, IF, IF THAT'S THE PLEASURE OF THE BOARD MEMBERS THAT ARE IN THOSE AREAS, I, I RESPECT THAT.

I DON'T WANT TO MOTION FOR SOMETHING IN SOMEBODY ELSE'S DISTRICT THAT IS NOT A GOOD TIME OR WHAT HAVE YOU.

SO YES, IF I MAY, I, I'M JUST GOING TO GO AHEAD AND SAY, YOUR MOTION IS FINE, MS. COLLINS, I WILL BE VOTING AGAINST THIS MEASURE BECAUSE I, AGAIN, ALL OF THE THINGS THAT I'VE, UH, ALLUDED TO EARLIER, SO I WILL NOT BE SUPPORTING THIS.

UM, SO I MEAN, ED, JOE WILL, YOU DO DO AS YOU MAY, BUT I JUST WOULD LIKE TO UPLIFT THAT I WILL NOT BE SUPPORTING THIS MEASURE FOR ALL OF THE THINGS THAT WE SAY.

AND UNFORTUNATELY WE POTENTIALLY LOSE OUT ON A $15 MILLION GRANT, BUT THAT'S WHY WE BETTER PREPARE.

AND THAT'S WHY WE HAVE A STRATEGIC PLAN THAT ALLUDES TO WHY WE SHOULD BE APPLYING IN US INSERT DOLLARS WHERE WE'RE NEEDED AND NOT JUST TO GET A GRANT AND HAVE TO RECYCLE OUR STRATEGIC PLAN BASED OFF OF MONEY THAT WE RECEIVE.

SO I WILL BE VOTING AGAINST IT, BUT I'M NOT ASKING YOU TO WITHDRAW YOUR MOTION.

THANK YOU, MS. BERNARD.

MS. COLLINS, WERE YOU DONE? YES.

WHAT ABOUT TARA HIGH SCHOOL? DID WE TALK ABOUT TARA HIGH SCHOOL? DOES IT FIT OR NOT? I KNOW IT HAS ANOTHER PROGRAM THERE, BUT YES, EARLY COLLEGE PROGRAM, CYBER TECHNOLOGY PROGRAM THAT WAS IMPLEMENTED.

I DO BELIEVE TERRORISM NUMBERS WERE ALSO BELOW THAT THRESHOLD.

UM, AND WHAT WOULD, WHAT WOULD THIS LOOK LIKE IF WE JUST WAITED A YEAR TO DO THIS? I KNOW WE WOULDN'T HAVE THIS YEAR TO START THE SCHOOL, BUT WE WOULD HAVE MORE TIME TO HAVE BOARD INPUT AND COMMUNITY INPUT TO IN MAKING SOME RECOMMENDATIONS AND GET GETTING SOME INPUT.

SO THIS IS AN OFF YEAR AND THERE IS GRANT CYCLE AND SIBLEY FOR THE NEXT UPCOMING, THE UPCOMING YEAR.

AND THE WAY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT DOES THIS IS BECAUSE IF THEY HAVE MONEY LEFT OVER, THEN THEY HAVE THAT OFF CYCLE.

WHAT WE'RE GOING TALK WITH DISCUSSING RIGHT NOW? UM, THE KEY IS WHEN YOU APPLY FOR A GRANT AND UNLESS SUPPOSE ZERO, WE DON'T GET IT.

THEN THE COMMENTS CAN HELP US CRAFT A BETTER GRANT FOR THE NEXT CYCLE WITH ALL THINGS BEING CONSTANT.

THAT'S INTERESTING TOO.

THANK YOU, MS. PORTER.

THANK YOU, MS. BERNARD, MS. DYSON.

UH, I THINK I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A SUBSTITUTE MOTION, UM, THAT THIS WOULD BE IN, IN PLAY WITH THE CHANGE OF CREST WORTH METAL BEING, UH, IT WOULD BE A PROGRAM WITHIN A SCHOOL SO WE COULD GET THOSE HUNDRED AND 60 STUDENTS, BUT WE COULD ALSO TRY TO ATTRACT MORE BECAUSE 160 STUDENTS IN, I CANNOT SUPPORT A SCHOOL WITH 160 STUDENTS CAUSE WE DON'T HAVE THE MEANS TO DO THAT.

AND SO THIS GIVES US AN OPPORTUNITY TO AFFORD TO DO THAT AND BUILD THIS PROGRAM.

AND FOR ME, WHAT I'M MAKING THIS AS PART OF THE MOTION THAT, THAT CHANGES AWAY FROM A DEDICATED MIDDLE SCHOOL MAGNET AND THAT, UM, AND THAT WE USE THIS TIME TO EXPLORE WHAT ALL OF THE POTENTIAL HIGH SCHOOL FEEDERS CAN BE AND WORK WITH THE BOARD MEMBERS TO FINALIZE JUST THAT PIECE OF IT.

I DON'T KNOW IF THAT WOULD REQUIRE

[01:55:01]

US TO MEET AGAIN.

I'M WILLING TO, I DON'T KNOW IF EVERYONE IS WILLING TO, BUT I DON'T WANT TO LOSE THIS OPPORTUNITY.

RESTART.

COULD YOU PLEASE PUT THAT IN THE FORM OF A MOTION? YES.

SO TWO, I MOVE THAT WE CHANGED THE LANGUAGE IN THE PLAN TO BE THAT THE PIECE IN IT REGARDING CRESS WORTH MIDDLE IS NOW A MAGNET WITHIN A SCHOOL AND, AND STRIKE DEDICATED AND, UH, ALLOW THE SUPERINTENDENT AND BOARD LEADERSHIP, WHICH INCLUDES ONE THAT IS VERY INVOLVED WITH THIS AREA.

SO, AND THEY CAN FINALIZE THE HIGH SCHOOL.

THAT'S MY MOTION.

IS THERE A SECOND? I'M SORRY.

GENERAL CONSOLE.

MY MIC.

CAN YOU HEAR ME? YES.

CAN I HELP YOU, MS. DYSON? IS IT OKAY? UM, SO IF I'M UNDERSTANDING THE INTENT, THE MOTION IS TO APPROVE THE MSF GRANT WITH A MODIFICATION, ADDING MORE HIGH SCHOOL IN PLACE.

NO, THAT THE MIDDLE SCHOOL CROSS FORTH BECOMES A MAGNET WITHIN A SCHOOL STRIKE DEDICATED, AND THAT WE ALLOW BEFORE THIS DEADLINE, WE ALLOW THE SUPERINTENDENT AND BOARD LEADERSHIP TO DETERMINE THE BEST FIT FOR WHERE IT GOES FOR THE HIGH SCHOOL LEVEL.

SO YEAH, SO THE SUBSTITUTE MOTION IS TO APPROVE THE GRANT WITH A MODIFICATION, CREATING MAGNET SCHOOL WITHIN THE REGULAR SCHOOL AT CRESWELL METAL AND PROVIDING FOR INPUT FROM THE SUPERINTENDENT AND BOARD LEADERSHIP AS TO THE BEST FIT FOR THEM PLACEMENT AT THE HIGH SCHOOL LEVEL.

AND ALL ELSE REMAINS THE SAME.

IS THERE A SECOND TO THAT MOTION? SECOND, MY BEST WORD, JACKSON, MR. LANDIS.

AND AGAIN, TWO WEEKS AGAIN, IT'S JUST SIMPLY NOT ENOUGH TIME.

MY ONLY QUESTION IS, IS THE ONE, WHEN DID THESE CONVERSATIONS OR FACILITATE ONE OF THESE CONVERSATIONS OR LOOK TO BE FACILITATED AGAIN, WE ONLY HAVE TWO WEEKS LEFT, BUT HOW, HOW WOULD THEY BE COMMUNICATED TO US? WOULD IT BE THROUGH EMAIL WHERE WE HOLD A SPECIAL MEETING? THAT'S I THINK ONE OF, IF I'M NOT MISTAKEN VICE PRESIDENT HALLWAY, ISN'T THAT ONE OF YOUR CONCERNS IS THAT THE TIMELINESS OF THIS IS JUST NOT ADDING UP WELL.

AND IF I MAY SORRY, GO AHEAD.

IF I MAY, MY MOTION, MY SUBSTITUTE MOTION WOULD BE THAT THIS BOARD IS APPROVING WHAT THEY CAN COME UP WITH AS THE BEST FIT WITH THE SUPERINTENDENT AND BOARD LEADERSHIP.

AND I UNDERSTAND, AND YOU KNOW, ME, I AM A STICKLER FOR THINGS TO COME THROUGH COMMITTEE AND COME TO US AHEAD OF TIME.

BUT I DO SEE THIS AS JUST, I DON'T WANT TO MISS THIS OPPORTUNITY AND THIS WAS DIFFERENT CIRCUMSTANCES THAN WE TYPICALLY OPERATE IN.

AND WE DID NOT HAVE A COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE AND IT MESSED UP THE WHOLE THING.

I'M A BELIEVER IN THE COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE PROCESS, BUT WE'RE HERE WHERE WE ARE NOW.

AND I THINK LET'S NOT NAME THE HIGH SCHOOL HERE IN THIS.

LET'S LOOK AT THE DATA AND LOOK AT THE STUDENT ENROLLMENT, LOOK AT THE DEMOGRAPHICS AND SEE WHAT WOULD POSSIBLY BE THE BEST FIT AND ALSO HOW WE CAN GET THE AWARD THE BEST AND DO THE MOST FOR THESE STUDENTS, WHICH I COMPLETELY UNDERSTAND.

BUT AGAIN, JUST PUSHING BACK ON WHAT HE WAS TALKING ABOUT, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT LOOKING AT ALL OF THIS DATA.

WE'RE TALKING ABOUT HOLDING UP ALL OF THIS PROCESS, AND WE'RE TALKING ABOUT DOING THIS LITERALLY IN TWO WEEKS.

THAT IS SIMPLY AS JUST NOT ENOUGH TIME.

I WOULD MUCH RATHER BE ABLE TO, FOR US TO SIT IN A ROOM AND HAVE THESE CONVERSATIONS RATHER THAN US DO THIS OVER THE COMPUTER, BECAUSE THERE'S CERTAIN THINGS THAT NEED TO BE SEEN WITH EYES RATHER THAN DISCUSSED OVER A COMPUTER SCREEN.

[02:00:01]

WOW.

AGAIN, I RESPECT YOU MAKING THE SUBSTITUTE MOTION, CORRECT.

I COMPLETELY ACCEPT AND APPRECIATE YOU MAKING THE SUBSTITUTE MOTION AGAIN, BUT TWO WEEKS IS JUST SIMPLY NOT ENOUGH TIME.

SO I'M GONNA JUST, I'LL JUST STOP THERE.

ANY OTHER COMMENTS FOR US? I WOULD JUST LIKE TO SIR.

I WANT TO MAKE IT, I WANT TO DO MINE FIRST.

UM, I AGREE WITH MUCH OF WHAT MR. LANDIS AND MR. HOWARD AND OTHER MS. COLLINS AND OTHERS HAVE SAID, AND PERSONALLY, I THINK THIS IS ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF, AND I'VE USED THIS ANALOGY BEFORE.

THIS IS A REALLY GREAT BRICK AND WE'RE PUTTING TOGETHER A REALLY GREAT BRICK, BUT NOBODY HAS AN IDEA OF WHAT THE WALL LOOKS LIKE.

AND SO WHILE I THINK THIS IS AN EXCELLENT PROGRAM IN ANYTHING ELSE, I'M GOING TO JUST HAVE TO VOTE AGAINST THIS PROPOSAL RIGHT NOW.

AND I THINK WE'D BE IN A MUCH BETTER SHAPE WITH A BETTER STRATEGIC PLAN AND MORE CONVERSATION TO BE ABLE TO APPLY FOR THIS GRANT NEXT YEAR, THAN TO TRY TO RAM IT THROUGH WITH, WITHOUT AGREEMENT ON WHERE ARE WE GOING.

AND WHAT'S THE STRATEGY BEHIND THIS TO MAKE IT PULL TOGETHER.

AND IT'S NO SLIGHT ON THE WORK THAT YOU GUYS HAVE DONE.

I KNOW YOU'VE WORKED ON IT VERY HARD THROUGH SOME UNUSUAL CIRCUMSTANCES, BUT I'M JUST NOT READY TO, TO MAKE A STRATEGIC PLAN BASED UPON A $15 MILLION GRANT FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT WHEN WE CAN COME BACK AND NEXT YEAR APPLY FOR ANOTHER GRANT.

I KNOW IT'S A MISSED OPPORTUNITY, BUT AT SOME POINT ALONG THE LINE AND WE TO START CONTROLLING OUR OWN DESTINY.

AND THEN WHERE ARE WE GO? SO WITH THAT, MR. SMITH, IF YOU'D LIKE TO SAY ANY FEW WORDS, PLEASE.

FIRST I WOULD JUST LIKE TO APOLOGIZE WHEN I REACHED OUT TO THE THREE BOARD MEMBERS, UH, VIA TELEPHONE TO, UH, EXPLAIN, UH, THE GRANT.

AND I APOLOGIZE, I DIDN'T GIVE ENOUGH DETAIL.

AND IN THE EMAIL THAT THERESA SENT TO THE BOARD, I DON'T KNOW IF IT, I DON'T REMEMBER EXACTLY IF IT INCLUDED THE LIST OF SCHOOLS, BUT I KNOW THAT THERESA DID REACH OUT TO THE BOARD MEMBERS TO, UH, TO SHARE WITH YOU THAT WE WOULDN'T BE APPLYING FOR THIS GRANT, UH, BUT AT THE PLEASURE OF THE BOARD.

BUT, YOU KNOW, WE WOULD, YOU KNOW, PULL THIS ITEM AND, AND, UH, APPLY ON THE MAIN CYCLE.

IT WAS A SHORT TIME.

WE DON'T HAVE THE COMMITTEE AS A WHOLE, UH, IT'S ALL CYCLE GRANT.

AND SO WE, WE TRY TO PUT QUALITY PROGRAMMING IN AREAS WHERE WE DON'T HAVE PROGRAMMING AND WORKING WITH PRINCIPALS, ALL PRINCIPALS ARE REQUESTING SOMETHING.

AND I ACTUALLY HAVE THE PRINCIPAL OF MCKINLEY HIGH SCHOOL HERE.

HE'S TAPPING ME ON THE SHOULDERS, SAY THIS, SAY THIS, SAY THIS BECAUSE HE WANTED.

SO IN MANY INSTANCES, YOU KNOW, WHEN WE TRY TO IMPLEMENT PROGRAMMING, EITHER IT'S GOING TO COME FROM GENERAL FUND.

AND I DON'T KNOW IF YOU GUYS REMEMBER WHAT THE ORIGINAL GRANT WITH THE PAR FOURS FEEDER PATTERN AND ARE FREE.

THE PATTERN WE STRUGGLE WITH IMPLEMENTING PROGRAMMING BASED OFF GENERAL FUND DOLLARS.

AND SO WE APPLY FOR THE GRANT AND WE DID NOT DISPLACE ANY, ANY STUDENTS IN THEIR HOME ATTENDANCE ON.

AND SO WE JUST THOUGHT THAT THIS WOULD BE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THOSE COMMUNITIES.

AND SO AT THE, AT, AT THE END OF THE DAY, WE'LL WILL ACT ON THE PLEASURE OF THE BOARD.

UH, SEEING NO OTHER REQUESTS TO SPEAK FROM THE BOARD WILL NOW GO TO THE AUDIENCE.

ANY COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS FROM THE AUDIENCE? YES, MA'AM KRISTA.

IT AS NOT ONLY THE ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL AT MCKINLEY HIGH SCHOOL, BUT AS A GRADUATE OF MCKINLEY HIGH SCHOOL, THAT IS THE REASON THE NUMBERS ARE FAILING OR ARE DECLINING.

I AM GOING TO HAVE TO, UM, I'M A MCKINLEY HIGH SCHOOL ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL DOMINIC'S AND THEN, UM, I'M ALSO A 2004 GRADUATE OF MCKINLEY HIGH SCHOOL.

SO IT IS NEAR AND DEAR TO MY HEART.

AND I'M VERY PASSIONATE ABOUT THE THINGS THAT GO ON IN SOUTH BATON ROUGE.

UM, I WAS A MEMBER OF THE GIFTED AND TALENTED PROGRAM, BUT I WAS BORN AND RAISED IN SOUTH BATON ROUGE.

AND WHAT HAPPENS THERE MEANS A LOT TO ME.

UM, I WAS THRILLED WHEN DR.

PETRI TOLD US THAT WE WILL BE GETTING OR POTENTIALLY GETTING A MAGNET PROGRAM AT MCKINLEY.

UM, BUT I AM A LITTLE CONCERNED ABOUT SOME OF THE COMMENTS THAT HAVE BEEN MENTIONED ABOUT MCKINLEY AND SOME OF THE, UM, THOUGHTS ABOUT MOVING THE PROGRAM AWAY FROM IT.

AND I DO WANT TO ADDRESS WHY, UM, ONE IS THE DROPPING GIFTED NUMBERS AT MCKINLEY.

I DO WANT TO MAKE IT VERY CLEAR THAT THE MCKINLEY GIFTED PROGRAM DOES NOT SUFFER BECAUSE STUDENTS DON'T WANT TO BE IN GIFTED OR BECAUSE NOTHING'S BEING DONE AT MCKINLEY TO, TO RAISE THOSE NUMBERS.

IT IS SUFFERING BECAUSE OF THE BOARD'S DECISION YEARS AGO TO MAKE LEHIGH SCHOOL, A DEDICATED MAGNET SCHOOL.

LEE HIGH SCHOOL BECAME A DEDICATED MAGNET SCHOOL AND STUDENTS WHO WOULD POTENTIALLY GO TO MCKINLEY ARE REFUSING THEIR GIFTED STATUS.

AND ALSO ARE SAYING, I WANT TO CONTINUE TO IN A MAGNET PROGRAM FROM MCKINLEY MIDDLE MAGNET TO GO TO LEE HIGH SCHOOL OR BATON ROUGE HIGH, I DON'T THINK THAT'S EVER BEEN PROPERLY ADDRESSED, BUT I'M HERE TO SAY

[02:05:01]

UM, I DO WANT TO KNOW, UH, WHO ARE, HOW WAS THE DECISION MADE ABOUT WHAT MAGNET PROGRAM WOULD BE PLACED AT MCKINLEY HIGH SCHOOL, THE IB PROGRAM, WHILE IT DOES SEEM LIKE ONE THAT WOULD THRIVE AT MCKINLEY? IS THERE ANY FLEXIBILITY ON WHO OR WHAT PROGRAM WE GET? BECAUSE WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT E-SPORTS AND OTHER MAGNET PROGRAMS AT MCKINLEY HIGH SCHOOL FOR YEARS NOW, UM, AS THIS IS MY SECOND YEAR AS ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL, BUT I WAS A TEACHER THERE FOR SIX YEARS.

UM, SO THIS HAS BEEN SOMETHING THAT WE'VE SAID FOR A LONG TIME.

I DON'T THINK THAT CHANGING CHRIS WORTH INTO A TRADITIONAL SCHOOL WITH A MAGNET COMPONENT WILL CHANGE ANY NEED TO HAVE A MAGNET PROGRAM AT MCKINLEY HIGH SCHOOL.

SO I HEAR THIS, THE THOUGHT OF, OH, WELL, THEY'RE IN THAT AREA FOR SCOTLANDVILLE.

SO THEY NEED TO GO TO SCOTLAND, VILLE.

THAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN MAKING MCKINLEY HIGH SCHOOL AND MAGNET SCHOOL WILL ALLOW STUDENTS WHO ARE IN MAGNET PROGRAMS ALL OVER THE DISTRICT TO KEEP THEIR MAGNET STATUS AND THEN TRANSFER INTO MCKINLEY HIGH SCHOOL MCKINLEY MIDDLE MAGNET IS LITERALLY FIVE MINUTES AWAY.

AND THOSE STUDENTS CAN THEN TRANSFER TO MCKINLEY HIGH SCHOOL AS NINTH GRADERS AND KEEP THEIR MAGNET STATUS THAT WILL HELP OUR NUMBERS.

IF WE PUSH THIS DECISION BACK FOR A YEAR, TWO YEARS OR WHATEVER, I WOULD HOPE THAT WE STILL CONSIDER MCKINLEY HIGH SCHOOL BEING A MAGNET SCHOOL.

WELL, NOT BECAUSE IT IS, UM, YOU KNOW, THE NUMBERS HAVE 72 OR 78%, 81%, UM, OF BLACK STUDENTS IN THE AREA, BECAUSE THAT IS TRUE.

BUT BECAUSE MCKINLEY HIGH SCHOOL IS DESERVING OF A PROGRAM THAT WILL BRING BACK THE STUDENTS THAT IT LOST NOT TO OUR FAULT.

AND, UM, I THINK THAT IT WOULD BE A GREAT WAY TO MAKE MCKINLEY HIGH SCHOOL CONTINUE ITS GREATNESS.

UH, THAT'S IT.

THAT THE SIXTH, SEVENTH, AND EIGHTH GRADE MAGNET AND MCKINLEY MIDDLE AND TO THE NINTH, 10TH AND 11TH, 12TH AS GRADUATE STUDENTS.

MA'AM YES.

MA'AM IN THE BACK, MR. SUPERINTENDENT, WARREN DRAKE AND SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS AND ALL ASSEMBLED.

I AM A 1967, GRADUATED FROM MCKINLEY SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL.

UM, MY CLASS OF 1967, SIX TO EIGHT AND 66 DEALT WITH SOME ISSUES IN THE EIGHTIES ABOUT MCKINLEY'S COLORS, BUT WE'RE NOT TALKING ABOUT COLOR.

WE ARE TALKING ABOUT GRANTS IN 1967.

I RECEIVED A $2,500 MUSICAL SCHOLARSHIP, BUT BECAUSE OF MY EXCELLENCE IN CALIFORNIA AND AT SAN FRANCISCO STATE NURSING AND COUNT MUSIC FOR 500 FORESTS, QUIET AT NIGHT, MRS. MELLON LOU TURNA DISMISSES DECEASED MATTER.

LUKE TURNER AT THAT TIME WAS THE MUSICAL DIRECTOR AND SHE SENT ME $25,000.

MCKINLEY HIGH SCHOOL SHOULD ALWAYS REMAIN A NEIGHBORHOOD SCHOOL.

I'VE HAD A GRANDSON TO GRADUATE FROM THE MCKENNA'S SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL, GIFTED AS WELL AS TALENT.

I'VE HAD THREE OTHER GRANDCHILDREN TO GRADUATE FROM LONDON RETURNED TO SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL GRANTS FOR NEIGHBORHOOD CHILDREN FOR THAT AREA WOULD BE MOSTLY APPRECIATIVE AND TRANSFERRING THEM HERE, THERE, AND YONDER.

WE WILL NOT ALLOW THAT ANYMORE BECAUSE OUR CLASS, THE HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATING CLASS OF 365 STUDENTS IN 1967 AND 250 AND 1960 TO EIGHT 66 AND ANOTHER 419 68, WE WILL NOT ALLOW IT.

AND THE GRANTS ARE WELCOME FROM THE NEIGHBORHOOD CHILDREN AND LIKE, UH, THE ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL OF THE MCKENZIE SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL STATED BEFORE MCKENNA'S MAGNET SCHOOL.

IT'S NOT TOO FAR FROM THE MCKINLEY SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL ON WESTBOUND KENNETH STREET.

SO THOSE CHILDREN WON'T HAVE TO BE BUSED.

THEY CAN BE WALKED, THEY CAN WALK TO THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD SCHOOL FROM

[02:10:01]

IT'S QUIET.

ARE YOU DONE WITH, DOES THAT CONCLUDE YOUR STATEMENT? MA'AM WELL, I WOULD LIKE FOR SOMEONE TO ADDRESS MY STATEMENT, PLEASE TYPICALLY DO NOT ANSWER QUESTIONS.

IT'S NOT QUESTION TO BE, I DIDN'T ASK A QUESTION.

I MADE US LATE SEVERAL STATEMENTS.

IF ANYONE WISHES TO RESPOND, FEEL FREE.

I APPRECIATE YOUR COMMENTS.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS.

VERY MUCH.

MCKINLEY HIGH SCHOOL IS A FLAGSHIP SCHOOL IN OUR DISTRICT AND IT'S AWESOME.

THE 400 GRADUATES AND THE 300 AND SOMETHING THAT'S PRETTY IMPRESSIVE IN THE LATE SIXTIES.

UH, SO I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS.

THE NUMBER OF STUDENTS THAT ARE ENROLLED THERE NOW ARE, I THINK IT'S EITHER GIFTED TO TALENTED, NOT MAGNET AND NEIGHBORHOOD CHILDREN.

WHAT ARE THOSE NUMBERS RIGHT NOW? I THINK IT'S ABOUT 1,011 HUNDRED 1100.

THAT'S VERY IMPRESSIVE.

MA'AM I HAVE ONE MORE ISSUE IN THEIR POWER TO COME UP.

LADY ARE BY ROBERT LEE HIGH SCHOOL THAT'S LATER.

THANKS.

THANK YOU MAN.

VERY MUCH FOR YOUR COMMENTS, MR. PATRI, I WANT TO TALK TO YOU ALL A LITTLE BIT.

I KNOW MANY OF YOU HAVE MENTIONED ABOUT, UH, POSSIBLY NOT VOTING AT ALL.

AND, UH, WE ARE ALL HERE FOR, UH, KIDS OVER THE COURSE OF THE LAST TWO YEARS.

UH, WE'VE LOST A LOT OF STAFF MEMBERS AND, UH, WITH THIS PROGRAM, UH, IT'S NOT TAKEN AWAY FROM SCOTLAND.

VILLE.

MCKINLEY IS GOING TO BE A SEVEN THROUGH 12 AT SOME POINT ANYWAY.

AND SO INSTEAD OF, YOU KNOW, UM, DEBATING OR DECIDING NOT TO GO THROUGH, WHAT WOULD THIS DO FOR THE SCHOOLS? UH, IT'S A $15 MILLION GRANT, UH, TO COORDINATORS FOR TECHNOLOGY.

YOU KNOW, THAT IS IMPORTANT FOR ALL OUR SCHOOLS AT THIS POINT.

SO WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT THE GRANT AND WHAT IT COULD DO GOING INTO THIS YEAR, I WANT YOU TO REALLY CONSIDER HOW THAT WOULD IMPACT STUDENTS, BECAUSE WE ARE ALL IN THE BUSINESS ABOUT STUDENTS.

AND, UH, WHEN YOU'RE IN THE BUSINESS ABOUT STUDENTS, YOU LET INDIVIDUALS WHO WORK A HARD, NO, MS. PORTER WORK EXTREMELY HARD TO PUT THIS TOGETHER.

AND PERHAPS SHE DIDN'T HAVE THE MEANS OF CONTACTING EVERYONE WITH COVID-19, BUT SHE'S A PROFESSIONAL.

THIS IS WHAT SHE DO.

AND AS WE LOOK AT THIS GRANT, YOU KNOW, I WOULD HIGHLY ENCOURAGE YOU TO CONSIDER THE GRANT TONIGHT AND TO GO AHEAD AND GET, THIS IS OUR BEST OPPORTUNITY TO WIN THIS GRANT AND THIS MONEY AND WITH THE MONEY WE CAN IMPACT SO MANY KIDS.

AND WHETHER THOSE KIDS ARE IN NORTH BATON ROUGE OR SOUTH BATON ROUGE, OR IN EAST BATON ROUGE, WE ARE IMPACTING KIDS.

AND THAT'S WHAT IT'S ALL ABOUT.

AND SO WHAT I WANT YOU ALL TO UNDERSTAND IS THAT, YOU KNOW, WE ARE HERE TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN OUR STUDENTS.

THIS, THIS PROGRAM WOULD ALLOW OUR TRADITIONAL STUDENTS TO GET INTO A MAGNET PROGRAM.

THAT'S WHAT, THAT'S WHAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT, YOU KNOW, GIVING THOSE TRADITIONAL STUDENTS OPPORTUNITIES.

AND WE ARE ABLE TO GIVE STUDENTS AN OPPORTUNITY.

AND AT THIS POINT WE WANT TO TAKE IT AWAY BECAUSE OF SOME LOGISTICS, YOU KNOW, LET'S NOT DO THAT.

LET'S GO FOR AND GET THE MONEY BECAUSE THIS IS OUR GREATEST OPPORTUNITY TO GET IT.

AND IF WE GET IT, WE CAN, WE CAN MANIPULATE AND DO THINGS TO ENSURE OUR STUDENTS ARE HAVING SUCCESS.

CORRECT ME IF I'M, IF I'M WRONG.

THANK YOU, DR.

PATRI, ARE THERE ANY OTHER COMMENTS FROM THE AUDIENCE WHILE I GO ON TO THE ELECTRONIC COMMENTS? DR.

TIA MILLS.

THANK YOU, MR. GO DOWN.

UM, I LISTENED TO A LOT OF THE STATEMENTS THAT WERE BEING MADE TONIGHT, AND I JUST FELT COMPELLED TO SAY SOMETHING IN THIS REGARD.

YOU KNOW, WE HAVE A MASS INFLUX OF APPLICATIONS FROM, UH, CERTAIN, UM, CERTAIN INITIATIVES THAT WILL GO NAMELESS BECAUSE OF A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT THINGS.

UM, CERTAIN WORDS CONSTANTLY USE LIKE INNOVATION OR WHAT HAVE YOU IN PROGRAMMING? WELL, THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO PROVIDE A PUBLIC SCHOOL WITH THAT.

UM, MR. GOLDIE, YOU REPRESENT, UH, MCKINNEY HIGH SCHOOL,

[02:15:01]

SO YOU NEED TO THINK ABOUT THE MESSAGE THAT YOU'RE SENDING.

IF YOU DO NOT SUPPORT THIS INITIATIVE.

I MEAN, I THINK THAT IT'S HEALTHY AND IT'S MUCH NEEDED FOR THESE GROUP OF KIDS.

THAT'S WHAT IT'S ALL ABOUT.

IT'S ABOUT THE CHILDREN.

AND SO IF WE HAVE TO PROVIDE FUNDING AND THESE SCHOOLS, THEN WE SHOULD BE ALL, WE SHOULD ALL BE FOR IT.

I MEAN, IF YOU CONTINUE TO WAIT THEN WHO KNOWS BEFORE? I MEAN, WE WON'T HAVE THIS OPPORTUNITY AGAIN, WE DON'T KNOW WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN IN THE FUTURE OF COVID IS, IS LOW RISE LOUD AND IN FULL OFFENSE.

AND SO WE ARE LOSING MONEY LEFT AND RIGHT, EVEN THOUGH WE HAVE FUNDING THAT WE RECEIVED FROM, UH, FROM THE, UH, FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, WE ARE STILL WAITING ON ADDITIONAL FUNDING FROM THE HEROES AG.

AND WE DON'T EVEN KNOW IF WE'RE GOING TO GET THAT OR NOT.

SO AGAIN, I ENCOURAGE ALL OF YOU TO, UH, TO SUPPORT THIS, PLEASE.

GOOD EVENING, EVERYONE.

I'M COUNSELING, MATARA WICKER A COUNCILWOMAN FOR DISTRICT 10 AND WHERE MCKINLEY HIGH SCHOOL IS LOCATED.

AND I'M JUST, I JUST HAVE ONE WORD THAT I'D LIKE TO PRESENT TO YOU AND THAT'S PLEASE, UH, PLEASE CONSIDER YOUR DECISIONS TONIGHT.

UH, BEING A MEMBER OF THE METRO COUNCIL FOR 12 YEARS, I GET THAT WHEN THINGS COME TO US, SOMETIMES WE FEEL RUSHED AND WE FEEL PUSHED AND IT'S NOT PERFECT THAT WE TEND TO MAKE OTHER DECISIONS BECAUSE WE DON'T WANT THE PROCESS TO BE THAT WAY.

WHEN WE HAVE A WINDOW OF OPPORTUNITY, WE HAVE WATCHED MCKINLEY HIGH SCHOOL GO THROUGH SO MUCH, AND THERE'S SO MUCH PRIDE.

YOU KNOW, WE DO IT, UH, IN EDDIE ROBINSON FOOTBALL CAMP THERE EVERY YEAR, THERE ARE SO MANY PEOPLE THAT HAVE GONE THROUGH MCKINLEY HIGH SCHOOL AND IN IT.

AND IT PAINS ME TO A DEGREE THAT IN THIS DAY AND TIME THAT WE'RE HAVING TO HAVE CONVERSATIONS TO ASK AND TO PLEAD INTO BED FOR RESOURCES, TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR CHILDREN HAVE THE BEST OPPORTUNITIES THAT THEY CAN POSSIBLY HAVE.

AND SO IN ALL CONSIDERATION, I'M A PRODUCT OF POLK ELEMENTARY.

YOU KNOW, WE HAD THAT WHOLE CONVERSATION ABOUT THE POSSIBILITIES WHEN WE WERE GOING THROUGH ALL THOSE DYNAMICS ABOUT POLK ELEMENTARY AND TO SEE THE LOOKS OF THE PARENTS AND THE CHILDREN IN THAT COMMUNITY.

AND JUST ONE IN SOMETHING BETTER MCKINLEY HIGH SCHOOL IS A SIGNIFICANT CATALYST FOR THE REVITALIZATION OF THAT ENTIRE COMMUNITY.

IT IS THE BLUEPRINT FOR REVITALIZING THAT COMMUNITY.

AND SO WE CAN HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE THE ABSOLUTE BEST OPPORTUNITY FOR THAT SCHOOL, FOR THE CHILDREN, FOR THE PARENTS AND FOR THAT COMMUNITY.

I'M JUST GOING TO ASK YOU ONE TIME TO PLEASE ALLOW THOSE RESOURCES.

WE PUT INTO THAT COMMUNITY WHO SO DESPERATELY NEEDS THEM AT THIS TIME.

UH, JENNIFER CARLYLE, UM, I WASN'T REALLY PREPARED TO SPEAK ABOUT THIS ISSUE TONIGHT.

I HAD NO IDEA IT WAS GOING TO TAKE THIS LONG, BUT I'M HEARING, UH, UH, I'M HEARING THIS CONVERSATION AND I'VE BEEN IN FRONT OF THE METRO COUNCIL FOR SEVERAL YEARS NOW, TALKING ABOUT MONEY AND MONEY AND MONEY AND MONEY AND MONEY.

I TOTALLY UNDERSTAND THE CONCEPT OF HAVING A STRATEGIC PLAN AND NEEDING TO FIGURE OUT WHERE YOU'RE GOING.

BUT I ALSO KNOW THAT ESPECIALLY DUE TO COVID, WE DON'T HAVE MONEY AND MOST ATLANTA'S I'M SORRY, BUT I WORK WITH SOME ORGANIZATIONS WHERE I STAY UP TILL TWO IN THE MORNING SOMETIMES TO GET STUFF DONE, I WILL SIT ON A PUBLIC ZOOM TO HAVE AN OPEN MEETING LAW AT TWO IN THE MORNING FOR YOU PEOPLE TO SIT AROUND AND FIGURE OUT HOW TO GET $15 MILLION, BUT WE CANNOT AFFORD TO LET PASS US BY.

I TOTALLY UNDERSTAND THAT.

I AGREE WITH STRATEGIC PLANS.

I LIKE TO HAVE BOXES AND MAKE, FIGURE OUT WHERE THINGS GO.

SOMEONE TOOK THAT BOX AND THREW IT UP IN THE AIR.

WE DON'T KNOW WHAT'S HAPPENING.

WE DON'T KNOW WHERE OUR MONEY IS, BUT WE KNOW MONEY IS GOING TO BE TIGHT THIS YEAR.

NEXT YEAR.

GOD ONLY KNOWS HOW LONG I DON'T SEE HOW WE TURN AWAY.

$15 MILLION.

WHEN WE'VE GOT A SCHOOL WHERE WE KNOW GIFTED IS STARTING TO TRICKLE AWAY.

WE NEED INNOVATIVE PROGRAMS. AND EVERYBODY I'VE HEARD ON MY TWITTER FEED ON MY FACEBOOK FEED IS LIKE, WE NEED THAT IB PROGRAM AT MCKINLEY.

IT WASN'T IN MY PLAN OF 22 MINUTES AGO, BUT IT'S IN MY PLAN.

NOW TAKE THAT MONEY AND RUN FOLKS.

THAT PETRI KNOWS ABOUT CHILDREN BECAUSE YOU'RE LOOKING AT ONE.

MY NAME IS CARRIE WILLIAMS AND THE MCKINNEY HIGH SCHOOL WHERE YOU TALKING ABOUT MY GOOD FRIEND IS THE GREATEST PRESS ON THAT SIDE, WHICH IS DR.

PATRIOT, THAT THE PATRIOT HAS TAUGHT ME IN SCHOOL AT THOUSANDS OF A HIGH SCHOOL.

WHEN IT COMES TO CHILDREN

[02:20:01]

HE SPUN MANY DAYS, MANY OPPORTUNITIES WITH ME AT DALLAS ABOUT HIGH SCHOOL.

SO WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT CHILDREN, DR.

PETRI KNOWS ABOUT CHILDREN.

SO I NEED YOU TONIGHT, BOARD MEMBERS TO VOTE FOR THIS BECAUSE I'M ONE OF THE PRODUCT THAT DR.

PATRIOT HAS PUT IN FOR FRED AND THE GRADUATE OF BOUNCED ABOUT HIGH SCHOOL, BECAUSE OF THAT, THE PATRIOT I'M STANDING HERE TODAY, SUPPORTING MCKINNEY HIGH SCHOOL.

NEXT GOOD AFTERNOON, GARY CHAMBERS.

UM, SO TO THE BIG BLUE NATION, I HEAR YOU, UH, NOBODY REPRESENTS LIKE MCLEAN MCKINLEY CLEARLY, RIGHT? UH, BUT I WANT TO SAY SOMETHING AS A RESIDENT OF NORTH BATON ROUGE AND A MAGNET PARENT, MY DAUGHTER GOES TO ONE OF THE BEST PERFORMANCE SCHOOLS IN EAST BATON ROUGE, PARISH, WESTDALE HEIGHTS, ACADEMIC MAGNET SCHOOL.

I'M A PROUD WHAM PARENT, BUT I ALSO KNOW THAT THE CAPACITY AT WESTDALE DOES NOT COMPARE TO A SINGLE SCHOOL IN NORTH BATON ROUGE, AND THAT THERE NEEDS TO BE MIDDLE SCHOOLS OPENED IN NORTH BATON ROUGE FOR YOUNG PEOPLE TO ATTEND SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER HOWARD, THANK YOU FOR STANDING UP FOR YOUR CONSTITUENTS.

THAT IS YOUR JOB AND YOUR DUTY, BECAUSE IF WE DO NOT OPEN TRADITIONAL SCHOOLS, WE WILL CONTINUE TO SEE CHARTERS TAKE AWAY RESOURCES FROM THIS DISTRICT.

AND MAGNET CAN NOT BE THE ONLY ANSWER WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE EVERY SCHOOL IN EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH IS A HIGH PERFORMING SCHOOL, AND WE SHOULD NOT REQUIRE A MAGNET FOR IT TO DO SO.

NOW I UNDERSTAND THE LOGIC OF $15 MILLION AND THE BOARD CAN DO WHAT IT WILL, AS IT RELATES TO THIS GRANT.

I'M NOT GOING TO TAKE A POSITION ON THE GRANT.

WHAT I'M GOING TO SAY IS THAT THE CONCERNS OF THE RESIDENTS OF NORTH BATON ROUGE, I WENT TO GLEN OAKS MIDDLE SCHOOL.

WHEN MR. WILLIAMS WAS THE PRINCIPAL.

I REMEMBER GETTING A PADDLING AT GLEN OAKS MIDDLE SCHOOL BY MR. WILLIAMS. I REMEMBER WHAT IT FELT LIKE TO GO TO A SCHOOL THAT WAS AROUND THE CORNER FROM MY HOUSE.

AND I DON'T WANT CHILDREN TO HAVE TO GO FAR AS HIGH SUBDIVISION.

THE CHILDREN GO TO BELLAIRE HIGH SCHOOL, BUT THE CHILDREN WHO LIVE IN ST.

PIUS SUBDIVISION ACROSS THE STREET, GO TO GLEN OAKS.

WE HAVE TO CHANGE SYSTEMICALLY HOW WE DO THIS.

AND THAT DOES REQUIRE A STRATEGIC PLAN.

AND WHAT I BELIEVE MR. HOWARD IS SAYING IS, IF NOT NOW, WHEN, WHEN ARE WE GOING TO STOP AND ADDRESS THE HISTORIC INSTITUTIONAL RACISM THAT IS CREATED THE DISCRIMINATION THAT EXISTS WITHIN OUR INEQUITIES IN OUR SCHOOL SYSTEM.

THAT IS WHAT WE ARE DEALING WITH.

AND MCKINLEY, I UNDERSTAND YOU WANTING THE MONEY.

AND THAT IS RIGHTFULLY SO YOU'RE RIGHT TO ADD, BUT WE CANNOT IGNORE THE FACT THAT NORTH BATON ROUGE NEEDS A INDEPENDENT NON MAGNET MIDDLE SCHOOL.

I WANT THE CHILDREN THAT LIVE IN MY COMMUNITY TO BE ABLE TO GO TO A SCHOOL THAT IS NOT A CHARTER OR A MAGNET.

THAT'S A HIGH PERFORMING SCHOOL IN NORTH BATON ROUGE.

AND I THINK THAT'S THE CORE OF THE ARGUMENT.

AND WHEN WE START TALKING ABOUT MONEY, WE FORGET ABOUT THE CORE ISSUE HERE, WHICH IS PROVIDING HIGH QUALITY EDUCATION IN EVERY CORNER OF THIS PARISH.

AND YOU SHOULDN'T HAVE TO HAVE A MAGNET DESIGNATION TO DO SO.

AND SAY, OH, WE'LL WAIT FOR IT NEXT YEAR.

THANK YOU, MR. CHAMBERS, ANY OTHER COMMENTS FROM, YES, SIR.

HOW ARE YOU DOING? MY NAME IS EDWARD PRATT AND I HADN'T PLANNED TO SPEAK, BUT I HAVE AN EMOTIONAL TIE TO MCKIM.

AND I JUST WANT TO SAY YOU HAVE A SITUATION WHERE NO SCHOOL DISTRICT ON EARTH WOULD SAY, LET'S TURN AWAY FROM 15 MILLION.

NOW, NONE, YOU HAVE A CHANCE TO MAKE A GREAT PROGRAM, ED MCKINLEY, AND GOD KNOWS I DO NOT STRIKE ANYTHING NEGATIVE AGAINST WHAT HE'S TALKING ABOUT WITH CRESTWOOD.

I GET THAT.

BUT RIGHT NOW YOU HAVE A CHANCE TO HELP CHILDREN.

IT'S NOT A PERFECT PLAN, BUT IT'S WHAT WE GOT.

SOMEBODY PUT THIS TOGETHER SO THAT THIS SCHOOL SYSTEM COULD GET 15 MILLION OUT.

AND I DON'T KNOW, ONE SCHOOL SYSTEM IN AMERICA WOULD WALK AWAY FROM THAT.

WE WOULD BE AN OUTLIER.

SOMETIMES YOU HAVE TO DO WHAT'S BEST AT THE MOMENT.

THAT'S ONE OF THOSE THINGS AND COME BACK AND SAY, WE WILL DO SOMETHING FOR CREST WORTH.

THAT'S DIFFERENT FROM WHAT WE'RE DOING NOW, BUT YOU DON'T TURN YOUR BACK ON A POT OF MONEY THAT COULD HELP CHILDREN IN BOTH SIDES OF THE SCHOOL, SAYS, OH, THE PARISH DO IT, DO THE RIGHT THING FOR NOW.

AND THEN LET'S COMMIT OURSELVES AS A SCHOOL SYSTEM TO DO THE THINGS THAT ARE RIGHT FOR CHRIS WORTH AND SCHOOLS LIKE THAT.

AND LIKE THE STUDENTS WHO LIVE IN THOSE AREAS, YOU JUST, YOU JUST DON'T TURN DOWN $15 MILLION

[02:25:01]

YOU DON'T KNOW IF YOU WILL EVER HAVE THIS CHANCE AGAIN.

AND IF YOU DON'T HAVE THAT CHANCE AGAIN, DID YOU HAVE HELP? NO.

WHAT YOU HAVE HEARD SOMEWHAT.

SO ALL I'M ASKING YOU TO DO IS RE IS CONSIDER WHAT YOU HAVE NOW AVAILABLE, WHICH IS SOMETHING, ANY SCHOOL SYSTEM IN AMERICA WITH WALK IN AND CRY FOR.

AND WE'RE HOPE THAT WE WOULD GIVE IT UP SO THEY CAN GET IT.

ALL RIGHT.

SO THAT'S, THAT'S MY WISH.

PLEASE, PLEASE THINK ABOUT WHAT YOU'RE DOING.

THE STUDENTS THAT YOU COULD HELP, AND YOU'RE NOT JUST HELPING STUDENTS, YOU HELPING COMMUNITIES.

ALL RIGHT.

THINK ABOUT THAT.

AND THEN NEXT YEAR, THAT MAY BE SOMETHING ELSE THAT WE CAN APPLY, BUT, BUT THEN YOU HAVE THE TIME TO SET UP A PLAN AND DO WHAT YOU NEED TO DO, BUT DON'T WALK AWAY.

DON'T WALK AWAY FROM THIS KIND OF FUNDING THAT COULD HELP HUNDREDS OF CHILDREN.

GOOD EVENING, EVERYONE.

MY NAME IS MARIA HARMON.

I'M JUST COMING UP HERE TO ENCOURAGE YOU TO GO FORWARD WITH THIS GRANT.

AGAIN, I'M ECHOING SENTIMENTS THAT MANY PEOPLE HAVE SPOKEN ON THEM LIKE EARLIER THAT WE DON'T KNOW IF ANOTHER OPPORTUNITY LIKE THIS IS GOING TO COME AGAIN.

UM, OUR CHILDREN NEED OPPORTUNITIES.

THEY NEED INVESTMENT.

THEY NEED WISE INVESTMENT AND WITH CARE.

SO PLEASE CONSIDER THE GRANT.

HI, ANITA.

GUSTUS PRESIDENT OF THE EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH ASSOCIATION, MS. DIASON.

I WANT TO COMMEND YOU FOR COMING UP WITH THE COMPROMISE ASSAULT.

I APPRECIATE THAT BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T INVOLVE CHILDREN ON THE OTHER SIDE.

AND THAT'S WHAT I'VE BEEN LOOKING FOR FROM THIS BOARD.

MR. HOWARD, THANK YOU FOR BEING SO PASSIONATE ABOUT NEEDING A HIGH, A MIDDLE SCHOOL FOR YOUR CHILDREN IN YOUR AREA.

I APPRECIATE THAT.

WHAT ELSE SAW TONIGHT MAKES ME PROUD OF THIS BOARD BECAUSE WE'RE LOOKING AT CHILDREN, BUT WE'VE ALREADY ESTABLISHED THAT THIS MIDDLE SCHOOL CAN HOLD MORE CHILDREN THAN WE HAVE AVAILABLE TO GO THERE.

SO WHY CAN'T WE COMPROMISE AND THEN STRIKE OUT LIKE MS. DYSON SET, DEDICATED ONE WORD AND LET'S MOVE FORWARD.

I WILL VOLUNTEER TO BE ON THE COMMITTEE.

I'M UP AT TWO OR THREE O'CLOCK IN THE MORNING.

ANYWAY, WHAT CAN WE DO TO MAKE THIS GO FORWARD? I AM ASKING YOU AS AN EDUCATOR WHO LOVES CHILDREN, WE HAVE MADE SOME OUTSTANDING CHANGES TONIGHT, AND I AM SO PROUD OF EACH OF YOU WHO'S SPOKEN, WHO SAID YOUR SIDE, BUT WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TONIGHT TO COMPROMISE.

WE MAY NOT ALL GET WHAT WE WANT, BUT WITH $15 MILLION, I BET YOU, WE CAN GET SOME THINGS THAT WE DO AND IT'S NOT.

AND WE'VE ALREADY ESTABLISHED THAT WE HAVE ENOUGH ROOM AT THE SCHOOL TO MIDDLE CHILDREN THERE LET'S DO SOMETHING GREAT.

LET OUR CHILDREN BE PROUD TO SAY WE REACHED ACROSS AND WE AGREED ON SOMETHING.

NONE OF US GOT EVERYTHING, BUT WE DID SOMETHING GREAT TONIGHT.

AND I WANT TO COMMEND YOU.

I WANT TO COMMEND THE STAFF FOR REACHING FORWARD TO TRY TO GET A GRANT, WHICH IS AN OUTSTANDING THING, EFFORT THAT I SAY, THANK YOU.

FROM THE EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH SCHOOL SYSTEM, AND THEY STILL WERE ALLOWED TO USE OUR BUSES AND MANY OF THE OTHER.

MA'AM WAS BACK THEN.

MR. SUPERINTENDENT, WARREN DREAD SCHOOL, BOARD AND STAFF.

I NEVER WANT TO ASSEMBLE.

WE HAVE BEEN AT HOME.

OUR STUDENTS HAVE BEEN AT HOME, CALL IT A COBRA 19, BUT I CALL IT WORLD WAR THREE.

WE'RE IN.

AND WE HAVE HAD ENOUGH TIME WITH OUR CHILDREN BEING AWAY FROM THE CLASSROOMS TO DO WHAT WE NEED TO DO AND ADDRESSING THE, I DIDN'T GET THE GENTLEMAN'S NAME.

I DON'T REMEMBER HIS NAME ABOUT NORTH MADDEN.

ROOIJ BATON ROUGE.

I REMEMBER WHEN MY 39 YEAR OLD, MY, MY 34 YEAR OLD AND I AM GRANDPARENT AND GREAT, GREAT GRANDPARENT.

NOW WHEN BAKER, ZACHARY AND CENTRA, AND SOME OF THE REST OF THE SCHOOLS WITHDREW

[02:30:01]

SO THEREFORE WE'RE TALKING ABOUT EAST BATON ROUGE, PARISH BAKER, NORTH BATON ROUGE AND ZACHARY AND NO OTHER SCHOOLS THERE.

AND CLINTON AND THOSE AREAS ARE DIFFERENT AREA.

AND $15 MILLION IS NOT A WHOLE LOT OF MONEY.

THIS IS 2020, THE NEW AGE, AND WE CAN GET $15 MILLION IF WE WANT TO.

AND I THINK WE NEED TO, BECAUSE I WOULD WANT THE GIFTED AND TALENTED ALONG WITH THE GIFTED, ALONG WITH THE TALENTED, ALONG WITH THE MAGNET STUDENTS AND THE COMPLETE NEIGHBORHOOD, BODY OF MCKINLEY, SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL, AND SOME OF THE, UH, GADELL LANE HIGH SCHOOL, AS WELL AS MAYFAIR TO ATTEND THE MCKENZIE SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL.

IT'S QUIET.

YES MA'AM THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

I JUST WANT TO REMIND THE PUBLIC THAT DURING THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD, WE ONLY ALLOW ONE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK.

SO WHEN YOU COME UP TO SPEAK, THAT IS YOUR CHANCE.

SO SIR, MR. FLOWERS, GOOD EVENING, DR.

DRE, ALL SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS, OF COURSE, I'M STANDING, UH, ON BEHALF OF MCKINLEY HIGH SCHOOL.

UM, I'M 82 GRADUATE.

MY FATHER IS A 51 GRADUATE.

MY OLDEST DAUGHTER, A 15 GRADUATE.

MY YOUNGEST DAUGHTER THINKS SHE'S GOING TO GRADUATE FROM THE SOUTHERN HIGH, BUT SHE'S GOING TO GRADUATE FROM MCKINLEY AS WELL.

I'M STANDING TO ASK YOU TO PLEA WITH YOU TO VOTE AFFIRMATIVELY ON THIS ACTION.

MCKINLEY COMPETES BATON CHAI, LEHIGH.

WE HAVE NOT BEEN COMPETING WITH BATON ROUGE HIGHLY, HIGHLY LATELY BECAUSE STUDENTS ARE CHOOSING TO GO TO THOSE SCHOOLS.

INSTEAD OF COMING TO MCKENNA TO THE GIFTED AND TALENTED PROGRAM.

I'M ASKING THAT YOU WOULD PUT A MAGNET COMPONENT AT MCKINLEY HIGH SCHOOL.

WE DON'T WANT TO GO THE WAY OF CAPITAL HIGH SCHOOL OR STROMA HIGH SCHOOL OR ROBERT E. LEE HIGH SCHOOL.

WE WANT TO BE COMPETITIVE IN EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH.

WE NEED A MAGNET COMPONENT.

THAT'S WHEN I'M STANDING IN THE AX, YOU GIVE US A MAGNET COMPONENT AT MCKINLEY HIGH SCHOOL, SINCE THAT'S WHAT YOU NEED TO COMPETE.

NOW, DR.

GOLDEN AND I HAD THIS CONVERSATION AND I CAN SOLVE YOUR MAGNET PROBLEM, GET RID OF THE PROGRAM AND PUT ALL OF THOSE MAGNET STUDENTS AND THEN NEIGHBORHOOD SCHOOLS WE'RE DONE.

BUT SINCE YOU DON'T WANT TO DO THAT, GIVE US A MAGNET PROGRAM.

THAT'S ALL I ASK.

THANK YOU, MR. FLOWERS.

ARE THERE ANY OTHER COMMENTS FROM PEOPLE IN THE PERSONAL AND THE IN PERSON, AUDIENCE SEEING NONE.

I'M GOING TO MOVE TO THE ONLINE CONTENT.

ME REFRESH HERE.

WHICH SCHOOL AND PROGRAMMING SHOULD HAVE BEEN DISCUSSED, RECEIVING SOME PARENTAL AND EDUCATORS INPUT BY MAKING EVERY SCHOOL A WATERED DOWN VERSION OF THE MAGNET PROGRAM OF A MAGNET PROGRAM IS BEYOND ME.

UH, THIS IS FROM STORM MATTHEWS.

THIS GRANT GIVES US SO MANY OPPORTUNITIES TO OUR KIDS.

MY SON ATTENDS BEL AIR AND THEIR ROBOTICS PROGRAM, AND HE HAS HAD MORE OPPORTUNITIES IN THIS PROGRAM THAT I WOULD EVER HAVE BEEN ABLE TO GIVE HIM.

THEY DID VERY WELL AT THE STATE CHAMPIONSHIP AND ARE READY TO GO TO THE WORLD BEFORE CLOSING, BRING ON MORE OF THESE OPPORTUNITIES.

THANK YOU FOR ALL THOSE WHO WORK ON THIS NEXUS FROM MARCY FRASER.

ONCE A GRANT IS WRITTEN, THE MONEY IS SPECIFICALLY EARMARKED.

HOWEVER, IB PROGRAMS, HISTORICALLY WEED OUT BRACKEN, BLACK AND BROWN CHILDREN.

WHAT ARE THE PLANS IS SURE THIS DOESN'T HAPPEN NEXT FROM SIMONE JOHNSON AS A RESIDENT OF THE SCOTLANDVILLE COMMUNITY.

I'M INTERESTED AS TO WHY A K EIGHT DEDICATED MAGNET WOULD BE CONSIDERED AND NOT A TRADITIONAL MIDDLE SCHOOL.

THERE'S NO REASON FOR STUDENTS.

NORTH BATON ROUGE BEING BUSED ACROSS TOWN.

THERE ARE SEVERAL ELEMENTARIES IN NORTH BATON RAIDERS THAT IT CAN HAVE A MAGNET COMPONENT AT IT FROM D THOMAS.

THERE IS A TRADITIONAL MIDDLE SCHOOL IN NORTH BATON ROUGE.

BROOKSTOWN MIDDLE SCHOOL IS A NORTH BATON ROUGE AND IS OFTEN FORGOTTEN, UH, FROM COLE HONDA CORLEY.

THIS IS EXTREMELY BAD WORDING FOR

[02:35:01]

LEE HIGH SCHOOL SHOULD LOSE ITS GIFTED PROGRAM.

CONSIDERING BATON ROUGE, MAGNET IS WITHIN A FIVE MILE RADIUS.

HAS ANYONE EVER CONSIDERED GIVING MCKINLEY HIGH BACK IT'S FULLY EQUIPPED GIFTED PROGRAM ELIMINATING ALL OF THESE FAKE IMITATION MAGNETS AND RESTORE OUR ORIGINAL DEDICATED MAGNET SCHOOLS.

HAS ANYONE CONSIDERED BUYING BACK OUR BUILDINGS AND SCHOOLS AND WHAT'S THE CHARTERS ARE USING SO WE CAN HAVE MORE STUDENTS AND KIDS TO FEED IN THESE PROGRAMS. I STRONGLY AGREE WITH NEEDING THE M S A P GRANT AND PROGRAMS, BUT THINK WE NEED TO DISCUSS THIS FURTHER FROM DR.

JAMES FINLEY FINNEY, EXCUSE ME, AT RESOLUTION TO ESTABLISH A NEW MAGNET SCHOOL SHOULD NOT BE CONSIDERED TONIGHT.

THE ITEM AGENDA IS TO CONSIDER GRANT ACCEPTANCE, UH, FROM PAIGE WHO IS A TEACHER, IT WOULD BE INCREDIBLY FOOLISH TO TURN DOWN THIS GRANT FROM M EDWARDS.

WHY IS BROOKSTOWN MIDDLE NOT CONSIDERED FOR THIS GRANT? THEY HAD A PROGRAM WITHIN A PROGRAM AND IT WAS TAKEN FROM THEM.

WHY NOT PUT ONE OF THESE PROGRAMS THERE FROM YVETTE PAIN? HOW IS THE PUBLIC MADE AWARE OF HOW EACH BOARD MEMBER VOTES FOR EACH AGENDA ITEM, JUST TO ANSWER THAT QUICKLY AND IT'S GOING TO BE PUBLISHED IN BOARD DOCS.

UH, SO IT WILL BE AVAILABLE TO VIEW FROM HANNAH AND AMAUROSIS.

I THINK IT IS CRAZY TO VIRGO THIS AMOUNT OF GRANT MONEY.

IT WILL MAKE ME THINK SO MUCH LESS OF THE BOARD MEMBERS.

IF YOU ALL LET THIS MONEY GO TAKE THE MONEY AND USE IT AT MCKINLEY HIGH SCHOOL, IT CAN DO SO MUCH GOOD FROM ANNA MARIE BLANK.

THE SCHOOL DISTRICT CAN NOT AFFORD TO REJECT THIS GRANT.

WE SEND OUT RAF LETTERS LAST YEAR, AND WE HAD NO IDEA OF HOW MANY STUDENTS WILL LOSE BECAUSE THEY WON'T ENROLL DUE TO COVID PANIC, A PANDEMIC.

WE SHOULD NOT REJECT FEDERAL DOLLARS COMING INTO OUR, INTO OUR SCHOOL SYSTEM, APPROVED THIS GRANT.

MY LAST COMMENT DID NOT TAKE THREE MINUTES.

I FORGOT TO ADD THAT YOU HAVE TO CREATE A STRATEGIC PLAN FOR THIS YEAR ANYWAYS, SAYING, YOU KNOW, I DON'T KNOW HOW THESE SCHOOLS WILL FIT IN IS A BOGUS CLAIM, FIT THEM INTO THE NEW STRATEGIC PLAN FROM ALICIA SCHEXNEIDER.

IT IS IMPORTANT TO NOTE GIFTED NUMBERS ARE NOT TRICKLING AWAY FROM OUR DISTRICT.

INSTEAD THEY'RE ARE TRICKLING IN A WAY TO MANAGE SCHOOLS BECAUSE THEY ARE FUNDED MORE THAN OUR TRADITIONAL SCHOOLS.

HOW WILL MCKINLEY BE ANY DIFFERENT? I DO NOT BELIEVE GIFTED STUDENTS WILL BE FREELY ALLOWED TO TAKE MAGNET ELECTIVES WITHOUT BEING ASKED TO MOVE OVER TO A MAGNET TRACK.

THIS HAPPENS AT SCHOOLS IN THIS DISH.

THIS HAPPENS AT SCHOOLS CURRENTLY IN THIS DISTRICT THAT HOUSED BOTH GIFTED AND MAGNET PROGRAMS. SCHOOLS DO NOT NEED TO HAVE MAGNET TO BE CONSIDERED GOOD SCHOOLS.

I THINK THIS IS A DANGEROUS PATH.

SOMETIMES YOU DO TURN YOUR BACK ON MONEY TO DO THE RIGHT THING.

SO THE PROGRAMS IN YOUR SCHOOLS FROM ERICA HAMMER DO NOT REJECT THIS GRANT TO BRING INTERNATIONAL BACCALAUREATE PROGRAM TO OUR DISTRICT, ESPECIALLY IF YOUR MOTIVE IS TO ADD ANOTHER CHARTER SCHOOL AND I WILL REFRESH ONE LAST TIME AND NOTHING ELSE SHOWED UP.

SO, UH, THAT IS CONCLUDES THE PUBLIC COMMENT.

AND WE'RE GO BACK TO THE BOARD.

AND I HAD MY REQUEST IN FIRST.

AND SO I WOULD LIKE TO ASK MR. SMITH AND, AND DR.

PORTER.

UM, I THINK THE BIGGEST CONTROVERSY OF THIS TENDS TO BE AROUND CRESS WORTH, WHICH IS A NEW SCHOOL COMING BACK INTO OUR AREA.

WHAT IS THE IMPACT ON THE GRANT? IF WE JUST ELIMINATED KRESS WORTH AND WENT FORWARD WITH THE REST OF THE GRANT, UH, TRYING TO GET TO THE MONEY, TO DO FOR MCKINLEY AND OTHERS, TO GIVE US TIME, TO FIGURE OUT STRATEGICALLY WHAT TO DO REQUESTS WORK.

WHAT THAT WOULD DO IS JUST INCREASE THEIR PER AMOUNT FOR THE THREE SCHOOLS NARROW, LEFT, AND NEW GRANT.

THAT DOESN'T SOUND LIKE A BAD OPTION.

NO.

SO, UM, TYPICALLY, UM, WHEN WE APPLY FOR A GRANT, WE WANT TO KEEP IT FOR SCHOOLS, APPROXIMATELY, AND TO TRY TO CREATE A LACK OF FETAL PREP, A FEEDER PATTERN OR VERDICT VERTICAL ARTICULATION.

SO THAT IS ONE OF THE THINGS THEY LOOK AT.

HOWEVER, IF WE WENT WITH THREE SCHOOLS AND WE ARE STILL APPLYING FOR THE SAME AMOUNT, BECAUSE AS I MENTIONED TO A BOARD MEMBER EARLIER, I BE INTERNATIONAL BACKLOG IS ONE OF THE MOST EXPENSIVE PROGRAMS THAT YOU COULD POSSIBLY IMPLEMENT.

SO THAT MONEY, IF WE RECEIVED THE ENTIRE 15 MILLION, IT WOULD BE DIVVIED UP BETWEEN THOSE THREE SCHOOLS.

[02:40:02]

OKAY, THANK YOU.

AND I'M GOING TO ASK OUR GENERAL CONSOLE A QUESTION, UH, IS THERE, AND I'M NOT A ROBERT'S RULES OF ORDER EXPERT, BUT IS THERE A MOTION? HOWEVER, IF WE WENT WITH THREE, CAUSE AS I MENTIONED TO A BOARD MEMBER EARLIER, I BE INTERNATIONAL BACKLOG IS ONE OF THE PROGRAMS THAT YOU COULD POSSIBLY IMPLEMENT.

SO MONEY.

IF WE RECEIVED THE ENTIRE 50 MILLION, MIDDLE FROM THE GRANT, YOU AND I'M GOING TO ASK OUR GENERAL COUNSEL AND ROBERT'S RULES ARE, AND I HOPE OTHERS.

I DON'T THINK THAT THE CRESS FOREST MIDDLE IS THE BIGGEST ISSUE HERE BECAUSE THE QUEST FOR MIDDLE WILL PROFILE.

IF WE TAKE OUT, THE DEDICATED WILL ALLOW FOR THOSE HUNDRED AND 60 STUDENTS IN IT AND IT, AND, AND THAT'S GOING TO BE TOO SMALL OF A SCHOOL TO OPERATE.

SO I THINK THIS, I THINK THAT THAT WASN'T THE PROBLEM.

IT WAS WHERE IT WAS GOING TO THEN FEED FOR HIGH SCHOOL, WHICH MY SUBSTITUTE MOTION GAVE, UH, THAT ABILITY FOR THE FINAL DECISION TO THE SUPERINTENDENT AND BOARD LEADERSHIP, MEANING THE TWO OF YOU.

AND SO THE THREE OF YOU WOULD, WOULD HAVE THE FINAL RESTING PIECE FOR THE HIGH SCHOOL DETERMINED BY THE TIME THE APPLICATION IS DUE.

BUT I DON'T THINK THAT IT'S THE MIDDLE SCHOOL BECAUSE THE MIDDLE SCHOOL IS GOING TO HAVE A VERY HARD TIME SURVIVING IF WE ONLY HAVE 160 STUDENTS IN IT, BECAUSE THIS BOARD MEMBER IS NOT GOING TO THINK THAT THAT'S THE WISEST THING THAT WE CAN DO IS TO CREATE TOO SMALL OF A SCHOOL.

AND I THINK THAT IF IT'S A COMBINATION, THEN IT WELCOMES EVERYONE.

AND I THINK THERE'LL BE PLENTY OF CAPACITY THERE.

I DON'T, I, AND I MIGHT BE WRONG, BUT I DON'T THINK THAT THE MIDDLE SCHOOL IS THE STICKING POINT, AS LONG AS WE TAKE DEDICATED OUT OF IT.

ANY BOARD MEMBERS CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG ON THAT.

BUT I WAS THINKING IT WAS THE HIGH SCHOOL THAT WAS CAUSING THE NEED FOUR MORE CONSIDERATION.

I WILL TAKE THAT AS A NOTE.

MCKINLEY'S IN YOUR HIGH SCHOOL.

UM, SO, UH, NEXT, UH, I THINK I HAVE MY ORDER, CORRECT? MS. COLLINS, OR DID YOU ALREADY SPEAK OKAY, MR. HOWARD? SO, UM, LET ME JUST, FIRST OF ALL, UM, THANK YOU GUYS FOR YOUR PASSION AND, AND, AND YOUR STATEMENTS REGARDING, UM, HOW YOU FEEL ABOUT WHAT'S HAPPENING HERE.

LET ME JUST BE CLEAR FOR THE RECORD.

THIS HAS ABSOLUTELY NOTHING TO DO WITH ME, NOT WANTING TO SUPPORT PROGRAMMING THAT IN YOUR HIGH SCHOOL, THAT IS ABSOLUTELY FALSE.

IF ANYONE TAKES THAT AS WHAT MY WORDS WERE OR WHAT I SAID, IT HAD ABSOLUTELY NOTHING TO DO WITH MCKANLIS IN YOUR HIGH SCHOOL, I WILL A HUNDRED PERCENT AGREE AND SUPPORT ALL OF THE THINGS THAT THE ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL SAID ABOUT WHY MAGNET DEDICATIONS OR DRIFTING AWAY FROM SOME OF OUR OLDER MAGNET PROGRAMS BECAUSE OF WHAT HAPPENED WHEN WE HIGH SCHOOL.

SO I, 100% AGREE WITH THAT.

MY PROBLEM IS THAT WE ARE MAKING DECISIONS ABOUT OUR SCHOOL DISTRICT IN LITERALLY WE HAVE NO INPUT TO KNOW WHAT, EXCUSE MY FIRST, WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON.

WE JUST FLIPPING A COIN AND DECIDING THAT THAT IS GOING TO BE OUR STRATEGIC PLAN TO IMPLEMENT PROGRAMMING.

USUALLY YOU SHOULD NOT HAVE TO HAVE A MAGNET DESIGNATION TO BE SUCCESSFUL IN THIS SCHOOL DISTRICT.

YOU SHOULD BE ABLE TO MAKE, WE HAVE A $450 MILLION BUDGET.

WE CAN PRIORITIZE PROGRAM MCKINLEY HIGH SCHOOL.

THAT'S REALLY WHAT WE WANT IT TO DO.

SO I'M NOT ABOUT TO ALLOW LIKE THE ARGUMENTS THAT BE HIJACK COULD BE LIKE ME SPEAKING AGAINST THE MCKINLEY.

CAUSE IT'S NOT.

IT'S LITERALLY ABOUT HOW THIS BOARD IN THIS SYSTEM OPERATES TO MAKE STRATEGIC PLANS BECAUSE YES, THIS $15 MILLION, THAT'S A $15 MILLION GRANT MAY BE GOOD FOR A LONG TIME, BUT IT'S NOT A SUSTAINABLE SOURCE OF CONTINUING PROGRAMMING.

WE HAVE TO TALK ABOUT SUSTAINABILITY IN THIS DISTRICT AND THAT'S WHAT WE HAVE FAILED TO DO FOR A LONG TIME.

SO THAT'S WHY I MADE THE COMMENTS THAT I MADE AND I STAND BY THEM BECAUSE THE PEOPLE IN THIS CENTRAL OFFICE KNOW THE FIRST MEETING ABOUT THIS GRANT WAS PROBABLY NOT UNTIL JUNE THE FIRST WITH A JUNE 3RD DELIVERABLE.

THAT'S PROBLEMATIC.

THAT'S A PROBLEM, NOT A PROBLEM WITH MCKINLEY SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL, BUT A PROBLEM WITH OPERATIONS IN THE CENTRAL OFFICE PERIOD.

SO I JUST WANT YOU GUYS TO KNOW THAT I, A HUNDRED PERCENT SUPPORT MCKENZIE IN YOUR HIGH SCHOOL.

I, 100% SUPPORT STUDENTS.

I HAVE SAID MANY STUDENTS AS A TEACHER TO

[02:45:01]

SO IT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH MAGNET, STAY FROM MACKENZIE HIGH SCHOOL, BUT THIS THING WITH OPERATIONS AND STRATEGY AROUND BUILDING A SUSTAINABLE FUTURE FOR THIS DISTRICT.

THANK YOU, MR. HOWARD SEEMS LIKE I MAY HAVE SKIPPED OVER A FEW PEOPLE.

AND SO I MIGHT DO THE BEST THAT I CAN.

MR. LANICE I THINK YOU WERE NEXT.

SO I HAVE A QUESTION BECAUSE YOU TALK ABOUT MCKINLEY HIGH SCHOOL.

AT THE END OF THE DAY, YOU HAVE TO REMEMBER WHAT THIS IS.

THIS IS JUST APPLYING FOR THE GRANT, WORRY ABOUT SCHOOLS AND OUR STUDENTS WHEN YOU SHOULD BE DOING THOSE THINGS IN OUR COMMUNITY.

SO THIS IS MY EX ON THE BOARD TONIGHT.

I MIGHT DO THE BEST THAT I CAN SAY IN FAVOR OF THIS GRANT AND WE DON'T GET IT.

WHAT HAPPENS NEXT? WHEN MCKINLEY THAT EXTRA SOLAR PROGRAM, I HAD A CONVERSATION WITH MS. PORTER, MS. PORTER, PLEASE CLARIFY.

BUT KELLY SAYS THEY WANT THE EYE, THE PROGRAM, HOW MUCH WILL IT COST US TO MAKE SURE THAT WE INFUSE THE SCHOOL WITH THE IB PROGRAM IN THE EVENT THAT GRANT DOES NOT GO THROUGH? SO THE INITIAL COST WOULD BE APPROXIMATELY $200,000, $200,000.

HELLO, WHAT ABOUT SUBSEQUENT YEARS AFTER? I DON'T HAVE A FIRM FIGURE ON THAT, BUT I DO KNOW ONE OF THE THINGS THAT COST IS THE, UM, THE LICENSE AND THE TRAINING FOR TEACHERS.

SO ALL TEACHERS WITHIN THE SCHOOL OR RATHER THE PROGRAM MUST BE TRAINED.

SO THIS IS MY EX TONIGHT.

I'M NOT ASKING FOR A VOTE, BUT WHAT I AM ASKING FOR IS THAT WE MAKE A VERBAL COMMITMENT THAT IF THIS GRANT DOES NOT GO THROUGH AND WE VOTE FOR IT, ALL RIGHT, LET ME REVERSE.

IF WE VOTE FOR THIS GREATER DOES NOT GO THROUGH.

LET'S MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE A VERBAL COMMITMENT TO INFUSE THIS SCHOOL, WHERE THEY PROGRAM THAT THEY WANT WITH THEIR COMMUNICATIONS AT THE TABLE WITH US, RATHER THAN US TRYING TO HAVE THESE COMMUNICATIONS WITHOUT THEM, WITHOUT COMMUNITY INPUT, WITHOUT STUDENT INPUT, WITHOUT THE ADMINISTRATION'S INPUT.

THAT GIVES US ENOUGH TIME TO GET THAT DONE.

$200,000 IS A SMALL AX FOR A SCHOOL THAT HAS BEEN LONGING FOR A PROGRAM SO THAT THEY CAN BE VALUABLE WITHIN THEIR OWN COMMUNITY.

SO TONIGHT I GET MY VERBAL COMMITMENT TO THE MCKINLEY HIGH SCHOOL FAMILY AND OTHER SCHOOLS THAT ARE LOOKING FOR PROGRAMS. IF WE HAVE THE DOLLARS, IT IS ON US, IT IS OUR OWN TO MAKE SURE WE TAKE CARE OF OUR SCHOOLS.

AND AGAIN, AS I SAID, I GIVE YOU A VERBAL COMMITMENT THAT I WOULD VOTE FOR A $200,000, UH, UH, FUNDS OR RESOURCES GOING TOWARDS THIS SCHOOL TO MAKE THIS HAPPEN.

IF THE GRANT DOES NOT GO THROUGH.

AND I'M TRYING TO CATCH BACK UP TO THE LIST MS. WHERE JACKSON I BELIEVE IS NEXT.

WE NEED TO KNOW WHERE WE ARE AND WHERE ARE WE GOING AND ALL OF THAT.

UM, I WANNA, I WANNA THANK THE, UM, THE PRINCIPAL OF, UM, BIG BLUE.

I SEE YOU.

UM, AND, AND THE, UH, THE RESIDENTS OF THE MCKINLEY HIGH SCHOOL AREA.

UM, I THINK THIS ITEM WAS REALLY A SLEEPER.

YOU KNOW, WE DIDN'T REALIZE THE IMPACT THAT THIS ITEM REALLY CARRIES.

IT CARRIES A HECK OF A PUNCH.

AND, UM, YOU KNOW, WE, WE HAVE BEEN BOMBARDED WITH A LOT OF INFORMATION IN THE LAST, UH, MONTH, YOU KNOW, TO THE POINT WHERE SOMETHING LIKE THIS COULD COME TO US AND WE MAY NOT SEE THE WEIGHT OF IT.

AND, UM, AND I'M LOOKING AT GLEN OAKS PARK IS IN HERE AS WELL.

UH, AND THAT'S, UH, A LITTLE SCHOOL THAT REALLY DESERVES A LOT OF ATTENTION.

UM, AND OF COURSE THAT PIECE WITH CRES WORTH WITH TAKING THE DEDICATED MAGNET PIECE OUT AND ALLOWING FOR, UH, TRADITIONAL, UH, TRADITIONAL STUDENTS TO HAVE A SEAT FINALLY IN THAT AREA IS, UH, IT'S AWESOME.

I KNOW THAT, YOU KNOW, LOOKING AT GLEN OAKS AND MCKINLEY, AND, BUT THAT, THAT ARGUMENT ABOUT MCKINLEY BEING DRAINED BECAUSE THE MCKINLEY MIDDLE DOESN'T FEED TO MCKINLEY ANYMORE, YOU KNOW, AND THAT SCHOOL IS OVER A HUNDRED YEARS OLD WITH A HISTORICAL BACKGROUND THAT IS TREMENDOUS.

UH, THIS HIGH SCHOOL NEEDS SOME HELP, YOU KNOW, AND WE'VE GOT A LOT OF STUDENTS THERE, BUT, UM, YOU KNOW, WE'RE ASKING FOR SOME PROGRAMMING TO COME THERE AND, UH, YOU KNOW, I LOOK, I DON'T WANT EVERYTHING TO BE A MAGNET SCHOOL.

Y'ALL KNOW HOW I FELT ABOUT, UM, BROOKSTOWN.

YOU KNOW, I WAS SAYING IT ATTRACTS LIKE A MAGNET WITHOUT BEING A MAGNET.

AND THEN WE HAD TO PUT A MAGNET LABEL ON IT.

ANYWAY, I'M ON THE WHY, BUT, BUT IN THIS CASE THOUGH, I REALLY FEEL LIKE, I KNOW WE NEED A STRATEGIC PLAN.

[02:50:01]

BUT HERE'S AN OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE SOME MORE DOLLARS INFUSED INTO MCKINLEY TO ACTUALLY HAVEN'T DRAW, YOU KNOW, I WOULDN'T WANT TO SEE MCKINLEY BE A TOTAL DEDICATED MAGNET.

THAT IS NOT WHAT I WOULD WANT, YOU KNOW, BUT TO HAVE A COMPONENT THERE WOULD BE A BIG PLUS FOR BIG BLUE.

SO I AM ASKING, AND I DON'T KNOW IF I NEED TO WITHDRAW MY SECOND TO THE, TO THE, UH, TO THE SUBSTITUTE MOTION OR HOW EXACTLY WE NEED TO DO THIS, BUT I DO WANT TO SEE THOSE EXTRA DOLLARS GO INTO MCKINLEY AND SUPPORTED SO THAT THEY CAN GET WHAT THEY NEED.

YOU KNOW, I REPRESENT THE COMMUNITY OF MCKINLEY HIGH.

SO I APPRECIATE YOU COMING HERE.

CAUSE LOOK, I'M THINKING ABOUT STUFF THAT'S FARTHER DOWN ON THE AGENDA AS A LOT OF HOT STUFF HERE, YOU KNOW, AND I DIDN'T SEE THIS AS A SLEEPER AND I WENT BACK AND LOOKED AT IT.

I LOOKED AT ALL MY BACKUP AND I SAW THIS, I SAW IT A FEW WEEKS AGO.

UH, BUT LOOKING AT IT AGAIN TODAY AND THEN HEARING THE THINGS THAT I REALLY NEEDED TO HEAR IS LIKE, WAIT, WAIT A MINUTE, WAIT A MINUTE.

YOU KNOW, WAIT, DON'T PASS THIS UP WOMAN.

YOU KNOW, UM, I IMPLORE THE BOARD TO, UH, TO ACCEPT THIS.

AND I MEAN, WE, WE, WE HAVE TO APPLY FOR IT.

YOU KNOW, WE'RE SPEAKING AHEAD OF TIME WHEN I'M SAYING ACCEPTED, BUT LET'S NOT PASS UP THE OPPORTUNITY TO APPLY AND ANY WAY A PLAN B FOR THESE SCHOOLS, BECAUSE WE DON'T WANT EVERYTHING TO BE, YOU KNOW, ALL MAGNET, YOU KNOW, THAT'S, THAT'S NOT WORKING FOR US.

YOU KNOW, WE'VE GOT TO BE ABLE TO PUT PROGRAMMING IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD SCHOOLS SO THAT THE PEOPLE IN OUR NEIGHBORHOODS WILL WANT TO GO TO THEIR SCHOOL.

AND RIGHT NOW MCKINLEY FAMILY IS, THAT'S THE BIGGEST, THAT'S A HUGE, HUGE FOLLOWING THERE.

I MEAN, I WENT TO MCKINLEY'S, UM, GRADUATION.

IT WAS THE BEST GRADUATION I HAVE EVER BEEN TO.

AND IT WAS RIGHT THERE ON THE CAMPUS, YOU KNOW, ON THE, ON THE FIELD.

I COULD STILL FEEL IT, YOU KNOW, I CAN, I'M STILL WEARING THE MASK, YOU KNOW, UM, WE'VE JUST GOT TO DO EVERYTHING WE POSSIBLY CAN FOR OUR TRADITIONAL SCHOOLS AND FOR OUR SCHOOLS, EVEN OUR SCHOOLS THAT HAVE SOME, SOME SPECIAL PROGRAMMING, BUT ARE STARTING TO SLIP AWAY, YOU KNOW, BECAUSE SOMETIMES, UH, IN THE DISTRICT, Y'ALL, WE, WE ROB PETER SOMETIMES TO PLAY, TO PAY PAUL, WE GOT TO QUIT DOING THAT.

WE DID THAT OVER WITH BROOKSTOWN.

YOU KNOW, WE DID THAT WITH A STROMA.

WE'VE DONE IT OVER AND OVER AGAIN, WE GOTTA STOP DOING THAT.

SO WHAT I'M ASKING IS THAT WE WOULD JUST MOVE FORWARD WITH IT.

UM, AND HAVE, LET'S START WORKING ON A PLAN B YOU KNOW, W WE, WE KNOW THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE WORKING ON THE STRATEGIC PLAN.

WE GOT TO DO SOME THINGS FOR, UH, ENGAGING MORE PROGRAMMING INTO, INTO OUR TRADITIONAL SCHOOLS.

SO, UM, YOU KNOW, AS MUCH AS I, I DON'T, YOU KNOW, I DON'T LIKE TO DO ALL MAGNET, YOU KNOW, W WE'RE MAKING THAT CHANGE IF WE CAN TWEAK IT THAT WAY SO THAT WE'RE NOT EXCLUDING OUR CHILDREN WHO LIVE NEARBY, YOU KNOW, THAT HURTS.

IT HURTS TO DO THAT, SO, OKAY.

LET'S STOP DOING THAT.

LET'S STOP THE BLEEDING OVER AT MCKINLEY CAUSE THEY'RE LOSING STUDENTS.

YOU KNOW, LOOK, I WAS A FAMILY THAT WAS, THAT ALMOST DID THAT.

YOU KNOW, MY FIRST CHILD WENT TO BATON ROUGE HIGH AND YOU KNOW, THAT WAS MY FIRST EXPERIENCE.

SO I THOUGHT, OKAY, WE'RE GOING TO GO THERE.

MY OTHER TWO DID NOT WANT TO GO THERE.

YOU KNOW, THEY WENT AND IT'S LIKE, LOOK, WE NEED TO GO TO MCKINLEY.

CAUSE THEY WANT A DIFFERENT TRACK.

THEY WERE ON THAT GT TRACK AND IT WAS A TOTALLY DIFFERENT ANIMAL, YOU KNOW? SO, UM, YOU KNOW, I'M PROUD TO BE, UH, I'M PAST THE PROUD, YOU KNOW, I GOT TWO FROM MCKINLEY AND ONE FROM, FROM BATON ROUGE HIGH.

SO, UH, I WANT TO DO EVERYTHING THAT WE CAN POSSIBLY DO FOR MCKINLEY BECAUSE THAT SCHOOL DESERVES IT.

YOU KNOW, WE'VE GOT SOME WONDERFUL SCHOOLS IN OUR DISTRICT AND I HATE TO BE BIASED, YOU KNOW, BUT I AM, I AM, I'M SORRY, I GOT PAST THE CHILDREN, YOU KNOW, AND I REPRESENT THE PEOPLE IN THAT AREA THAT SCHOOL MAY NOT BE DISTRICT FIVE SCHOOL, BUT I CARRY THE HEART OF THE PEOPLE IN THE MCKINLEY AREA.

AND THEY'RE ASKING, BEGGING US TO INFUSE THOSE DOLLARS, DO NOT PASS UP THE OPPORTUNITY FOR THIS GRANT FOR THIS GRANT.

JUST GO ON, MAKE THE APPLICATION, YOU KNOW, WE'LL BE PRAYING WE GET IT.

BUT IF WE DON'T, WE WILL NEED TO HAVE A PLAN B FOR NOT ONLY MCKINLEY, BUT ALL OF THESE SCHOOLS, YOU KNOW, IN, IN, IN PARTICULAR, UM, GLEN OAKS PARK, MY LITTLE SWEET PEA OVER THERE.

AND, UH, AND CREST WORK,

[02:55:01]

THAT'S COMING BACK TO US AND WE'VE GOTTA BE RESPONSIBLE TO THOSE CHILDREN WHO WANT TO BE THERE AND WANT TO HAVE SIGNIFICANT PROGRAMMING AT CHRIS WORTH.

YOU NEXT BOARD MEMBER BERNARD.

THANK YOU, MS. JACKSON.

UM, I THINK WE'RE HAVING A VERY LIVELY DISCUSSION HERE TONIGHT.

UM, I I'M WONDERING IF WE, IF THAT'S THE RIGHT THING TO DO, ISN'T JUST TO COME BACK AND MAKE A SECOND SUBSTITUTE MOTION AFTER THIS ONE AND TO REMOVE, PRESS WORTH AT THIS TIME.

I DO NOT WANT TO, I KNOW THAT I BE IN LANGUAGE IMMERSION OR NOT THE SAME THING, BUT THEY DO CO-LOCATE AND CO-EXIST VERY NICELY TOGETHER.

AND I WOULD HATE TO PUT A PROGRAM SOMEWHERE WHEN WE HAVEN'T DISCUSSED IT WITH THE LANGUAGE IMMERSION PARENTS.

SO, UM, I, I'M NOT SURE THAT THAT'S THE RIGHT TYPE OF PROGRAMMER FOR CROSSWORD.

AND, AND SO I THINK BACK TO WHAT MR. GOAT, I JUST SUGGESTED, WHICH IS THAT, UM, WHAT, I MEAN, I, I COULD BE, I THINK IF WE WOULD DO A DIFFERENT PROGRAMMING AT CROSSWORDS THAT WOULD SATISFY THE PROBLEM, I THINK, BUT, UM, UM, I DON'T KNOW.

SO I'M TORN NOW.

DO WE ASK MS. PORTER, MR. MR. SMITH AND BOARD LEADERSHIP AND THE BOARD MEMBERS WHO REPRESENT EACH OF THESE SCHOOLS TO WORK TOGETHER, TO DEVELOP PROGRAMMING THAT WILL BE INCLUSIVE AND PROVIDE THE SEATS IN THESE AREAS? OR DO WE JUST GO BACK AND DO THE THREE SCHOOLS AND, AND DO CREST WORTH ANOTHER YEAR? SO, I MEAN, I'M WILLING TO DO THAT.

I LIKED MR. MR. GODIVA'S SUGGESTION.

I THINK IT CHECKS SOME BOXES FOR MR. HOWARD.

ALSO, IF WE JUST TAKE CREST WORTH OUT AT THIS TIME, MR. I WANT TO ASK MR. HOWARD, MR. HOWARD, DO YOU THINK THAT IF WE, IF THERE WAS A DIFFERENT TYPE OF PROGRAMMING THAT YOU ALL COULD COME UP WITH FOR, FOR CREST WORTH, WOULD YOU BE WILLING TO DO TWO SCHOOLS, A SCHOOL WITHIN A SCHOOL WHERE THERE IS A MAGNET COMPONENT AND A NEIGHBORHOOD OR A ZONED COMPONENT THERE WITH ALL DUE RESPECT? MS. BERNARD, I THINK THAT WE HAVE DISCUSSED THIS IN DETAIL.

EVERYBODY HAS MADE THEIR POINTS VERY CLEAR.

I WOULD JUST ASK THAT WE VOTE AND YOU VOTE YOUR CONSCIENCE AND YOU VOTE WHAT YOU DECIDE TO DO ON THE ISSUE IN THE MOTION.

THAT'S ON THE TABLE.

THANKS.

THANK YOU, MS. COLLINS, MR. BALLOU.

UM, I SUPPORT THE, UH, RECOMMENDATION.

I JUST WANTED TO MAKE A QUICK COMMENT.

WE'VE HAD A LOT OF COMMENTS ABOUT THE LACK OF STRATEGIC DIRECTION, AND I JUST WANT TO REMIND THE BOARD THAT, UH, STRATEGIC DIRECTION IS OUR RESPONSIBILITY.

SO BEFORE WE START POINTING FINGERS, UH, WE NEED TO LOOK AT OURSELVES AND REALIZE, AH, IF THERE'S A LACK OF STRATEGIC DIRECTION, UH, UH, THAT'S ON US.

THANK YOU, MR. BALLOU, ARE THERE ANY OTHER COMMENTS FROM THE BOARD SEEING NONE.

MADAM SECRETARY, COULD YOU PLEASE READ OUR GENERAL COUNSEL? COULD YOU PLEASE READ EXACTLY WHAT WE'RE VOTING ON NOW? CAUSE THIS IS THE SUBSTITUTE MOTION, CORRECT? THAT'S CORRECT.

CAN YOU PLEASE READ THAT SO WE CAN BE CLEAR THE SUBSTITUTE MOTION TO APPROVE GRANT WITH MODIFIED LANGUAGE IN THE PLAN TO CREATE A MAGNET SCHOOL WITHIN THE REGULAR SCHOOL AT CROSSWORDS MIDDLE SCHOOL, AND PROVIDING FOR INPUT FROM THE SUPERINTENDENT AND BOARD LEADERSHIP ON THE PROGRAM FOR THE HIGH SCHOOL.

SO THAT IS WHAT WE'RE VOTING ON.

MADAM SECRETARY, WOULD YOU PLEASE CONDUCT A VOTE PLEASE VOTE.

OH, WAIT.

PEOPLE WERE HAVING TROUBLE VOTING HAS EVERYONE VOTED YET? MOTION CARRIES SINCE THIS HAS BEEN SOMEWHAT CONTROVERSIAL AND THE PEOPLE IN THE AUDIENCE HAVE NO IDEA OF WHO VOTED FOR WHAT? OH, IS IT UP THERE? YEP.

IT'S SUPPOSED TO BE .

NOTHING IS SHOWING UP.

THERE WAS TWO MOTIONS.

[03:00:02]

TWO NAYNAY, ONE ABSTAIN.

COULD YOU READ THEM OUT PLEASE? MA'AM MARK BLUE.

EVELYN WHERE JACKSON? YES.

CONNIE BERNARD ABSTAIN.

MA'AM MS. COLLINS, LACK OF DISC.

CLARIFY WHY I VOTED NO ON THE, FOR THE SAKE OF PUBLIC.

WHY I VOTED? NO ON THAT WAS I AGREE WITH THE CHRIS WIRTH LANGUAGE.

I DIDN'T AGREE WITH THE HIGH SCHOOL LANGUAGE.

I WANTED TO LEAVE IT, UH, AS ORIGINALLY PROPOSED ON THAT PIECE.

I WANT PEOPLE TO BE CONFUSED ABOUT.

MA'AM MR. WHERE JACKSON, I'D LIKE TO BE INCLUDED IN THE CONVERSATION AROUND PLEASE.

UH, MR. LANDIS, WE'LL BE VERY QUICK.

THIS IS, I JUST WANT TO REITERATE AGAIN, WHAT HAPPENS IF THIS GRANT DOES NOT GO THROUGH THAT NEEDS TO BE A COMMITMENT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE FUNDING OUR SCHOOLS AND UPLIFTING THESE PROGRAMS OR PUTTING PROGRAMS WHERE THERE IS A NEED.

WE HAVE THE FUNDING TO DO IT AS MS. S VICE PRESIDENT.

HOWARD SAID WE HAVE A $450 MILLION BUDGET.

IT IS UNACCEPTABLE TO THINK THAT THESE SCHOOLS ARE NOT PROPERLY BEING FUNDED WITH PROGRAMS THAT ARE EFFECTIVE.

WHAT HAPPENS TO ? OKAY.

NOW WE MOVE ON TO ITEM FOUR PROFESSIONAL SERVICES, CONTRACT, FEDERAL CONSIDERATION OF A REQUEST FOR THE APPROVAL OF PROFESSIONAL SERVICES CONTRACTS BETWEEN THE EASTBOUND REDDISH PARISH SCHOOL BOARD, AND THE FOLLOWING A SCHOOL LEADERSHIP CENTER OR GREATER NEW ORLEANS IN THE AMOUNT OF $32,000 TO PROVIDE PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT ON SCHOOL IMPROVEMENT, THROUGH EMPLOYEE ENGAGEMENT AND POSITIVE CULTURE FUNDING SOURCE TITLE TO NON-PUBLIC BE BETTER LESSONS IN THE AMOUNT OF $98,000 TO PROVIDE E L AND GUIDEBOOK PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT FUNDING SOURCE, STRIVING, READERS, COMPREHENSIVE LITERACY.

[Item G4]

ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS FROM THE BOARD SEEING NONE? ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS FROM THE AUDIENCE? MR. GAUDETTE WE NEED A MOTION.

OH, I'M SORRY.

DO I HAVE A MOTION? WELL, SOMEONE MAKE A MOTION.

MS. COLLINS, IS THERE A SECOND, SECOND BY MR. LANICE.

NOW WE'LL GO TO THE, UH, TO THE BOARD FOR ANY COMMENTS SEEING NONE.

WE'LL GO TO THE AUDIENCE.

ANY COMMENTS FROM THE AUDIENCE? SEE NONE.

UH, THERE IS ONE COMMENT FROM ON THE INTERNET FROM ERICA HAMMER.

WHY ARE SCHOOL LEADERSHIP CENTER SESSIONS HELD AT CATHOLIC SCHOOLS? DOES ABR PUBLIC SCHOOLS PAY FOR THE USE OF THEIR FACILITIES? COULD WE USE AN EBR PUBLIC SCHOOL PROPERTY INSTEAD? I DO NOT KNOW THE ANSWER TO THAT QUESTION.

MR. SMITH, MR. SMITH.

WE HAVE A QUESTION FOR YOU AND I WILL REPEAT IT.

THAT THE COMMENT FROM THE AUDIENCE IS WHY OUR SCHOOL LEADERSHIP CENTER SESSIONS HELD AT CATHOLIC SCHOOLS.

DOES ABR PAY FOR THE USE OF THEIR FACILITIES AND COULD BE USED AN EBR PROPERTY.

INSTEAD I THINK THIS GRANT IS PROBABLY A CATHOLIC DIOCESE AND THE MONEY IS THROUGH A TITLE FUNDS.

SO DOES THAT ANSWER THE QUESTION? YES.

FOR THE PUBLIC, THE WAY THESE FUNDS WORK IS THEY FUNNEL THROUGH TO US, BUT THESE FUNDS ARE EARMARKED FOR EQUITABLE SERVICES, EQUITABLE SERVICES.

IS IT PUBLIC? DID THE PRIVATE SCHOOLS.

AND SO THIS IS NOT ANYTHING THAT WE'RE ADMINISTERING.

THAT'S THE WAY THE PROGRAM WORKS.

IT JUST FLOWS THROUGH US TO THEM.

THAT'S VERY MUCH.

YUP.

ANY OTHER COMMENTS FROM THE AUDIENCE? SEEING NONE BACK TO THE BOARD, ANY COMMENTS FROM BOARD SAYING NONE, MADAM SECRETARY, PLEASE VOTE.

[03:05:01]

THE ITEM CARRIES.

FIVE, CONSIDERATION OF REQUEST FOR THE APPROVAL TO SELECT THE ADVOCATE AS THE OFFICIAL JOURNAL NEWSPAPER ADVERTISING OF THE EASTBOUND REPAIR SCHOOL SYSTEM FOR FISCAL YEAR 20, 20 AND 2021.

NEXT NUMBER

[Item G5]

ARE THERE ANY COMMENTS FROM THE, UH, MOTION BY MR. TATMA? THANKS FOR KEEPING ME IN LINE A SECOND.

ANYONE WOULD LIKE TO SECOND THE MOTION, MR. BALLOU, ANY COMMENTS FROM THE BOARD? I'M SORRY.

UH, MISS, I GOTTA PULL THE COMMENT LIST UP MR. HOWARD.

ISN'T HIS GUESTS IN THE BUILDER.

TAYLOR, MISS, TAKE A SECOND.

MR. DRAGON, MAY I ASK YOU IS, UM, IS IT IS OUR MR. UH, ATTORNEY SHAMLIAN LIKE, IS THE ADVOCATE THE ONLY AVAILABLE SOURCE OF MEDIA FOR, TO BE THE OFFICIALS AREN'T THESE VENDORS, PRAYERS, UM, SCHOOL SYSTEM.

SORRY ABOUT THAT.

THAT IS FINE.

UM, ONE OF THE CONSIDERATIONS HAS TO BE CIRCULATION.

I BELIEVE BASED ON LAW AND POLICY, I WILL CONFIRM THAT FOR YOU, BUT WE HAVE TO LOOK AT CIRCULATION NUMBER OF PEOPLE, THE PUBLICATION REACHES, ET CETERA, FOR IT TO BE THE OFFICIAL JOURNAL OF THE SCHOOL SYSTEM.

THE LAW REQUIRES EACH SYSTEM TO ADOPT AN OFFICIAL JOURNAL AND YOU HAVE TO MAKE SURE IT REACHES SO MANY PEOPLE.

SO I CAN INVESTIGATE THAT AND GET YOU A LITTLE MORE INFORMATION ON WHAT THE SPECIFIC REQUIREMENTS ARE AND THEN HAVE A DISCUSSION.

AND THE ONLY REASON THAT I ASKED ABOUT THAT, BECAUSE I, I JUST IMPLORE OUR BOARD TO UNDERSTAND THAT IF WE ARE HIRING AN AGENCY TO BE OUR OFFICIAL JOURNAL, I THINK THAT THERE SHOULD BE A VERY UNBIASED APPROACH IN HOW THEY TELL OUR STORY.

AND IF YOU READ THE ADVOCATE OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS, THE STORY OF EAST BATON ROUGE, PARIS HAVE BEEN ALWAYS NEGATIVE.

EVERY NEGATIVE THING THAT HAPPENS IN THIS DISTRICT HAS BEEN GLORIFIED AND THE POSITIVE THINGS HAVE BEEN ON THE BACK PAGE NEXT TO THE CLASSIFIED ADS.

SO WE'RE GOING TO BE EMPLOYING AGENCY TO BE OUR OFFICIAL JOURNAL.

WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT THERE IS UNBIASED APPROPRIATE REPORTING IN WHERE WE'RE REPORTING BOTH SIDES OF THE GOOD AND THE BAD WITH THE SAME AMOUNT OF ENERGY.

AND I JUST DON'T THINK THE ENERGY THAT THE ADVOCATE'S BEEN GIVEN THIS SCHOOL DISTRICT HAS BEEN THE STORY THAT OUR DISTRICT NEEDS TO BE.

THE STORY THAT OUR DISTRICT NEEDS, UM, NEEDS TO HAVE TOW.

SO I EMPLOYED THE ADVOCATE OF YOUR LISTENING IF YOU'RE WRITING.

SO UNDERSTAND THAT THE GOOD IS JUST AS GOOD.

IT'S JUST AS IMPORTANT AS THE BAD.

AND SO IF YOU'RE GOING TO GLORIFY THE DISTRICT GLORIFY BOTH THE GOOD IN THE BACK.

THANK YOU, MR. HOWARD.

SAY NO OTHER COMMENTS.

IF I AM CORRECT.

WE'LL GO TO THE AUDIENCE.

ANY COMMENTS FROM THE AUDIENCE ON THIS SUBJECT? YES, SIR.

LARRY WILLIAMS, DIRECTOR OF PURCHASING FOR THE SYSTEM AND WAREHOUSING.

LET ME COMMENT ON THIS.

I CAN CLARIFY THIS A LITTLE BIT.

I THINK WE'RE OBLIGATED TO USE THE ADVOCATE BECAUSE THEY HAVE THE STATEWIDE CIRCULATION NECESSARY TO MEET THE REQUIREMENT.

WE HAVE TO USE A PUBLICATION THAT REACHES THE ENTIRE STATE.

AND SO FOR ALL PRACTICAL PURPOSES, THERE'S NO ONE ELSE IN THE STATE TO DO THAT, THAT THERE'S.

SO THERE'S NOT A, IT'S NOT A COMPETITIVE PROCESS FOR THAT BECAUSE THEY'RE THE ONLY PEOPLE THAT CAN MEET THAT REQUIREMENT.

I APPRECIATE IT.

SEE, NO OTHER FURTHER COMMENTS FROM THE AUDIENCE.

THERE ARE NONE ON THE INTERNET, BACK TO THE BOARD.

ANY COMMENTS? ADDITIONAL COMMENTS FROM THE BOARD? MADAM SECRETARY PLEASE VOTE.

MR. BLUE, CAN YOU VOTE? SO YOUR VOTE IS YES.

AND I WILL TURN THE GAVEL OVER TO MR. HOWARD FOR A SECOND.

THE ITEM CARRIES.

ITEM FOR CONSIDERATION IS ITEM NUMBER SIX.

THE NEXT

[Item G6]

IT IS THE ADVERTISING VIA IT'S FOR FISCAL YEAR 2020 AND 2021.

IT IS A CONSIDERATION OF A REQUEST TO AUTHORIZE STAFF, TO ADVERTISE, RECEIVE AN AWARD, BE IT'S FOR MATERIALS, EQUIPMENT SUPPLIES SERVICES THROUGH JUNE 30TH OF 2021 TO THE LOWEST RESPONSIBLE BIDDER PROPOSAL MEETINGS, SPECIFICATIONS, AND ALL STATE AND FEDERAL REQUIREMENTS FOR QUOTES TO INFORM MY

[03:10:01]

INVITATIONS TO BE IN I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION.

SO MOVED BY MS. SECONDED BY MS. DYSON.

ARE THERE ANY COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS FROM THE BOARD SEEING NONE, ANY COMMENTS FROM THE AUDIENCE? SEE.

NOW WE'RE RETURNING BACK TO THE BOARD.

ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS BACK FROM THE BOARD SAYING NO, MADAM SECRETARY PLEASE VOTE.

MR. BLUE, COULD YOU VOTE? THE ITEM CARRIES THE ITEM CARRIES ITEM NUMBER SEVEN

[Item G7]

2020, 2021 PROPERTY AND CASUALTY INSURANCE PROGRAM POLICIES IS A CONSIDERATION OF REQUEST TO AUTHORIZE THE ADMINISTRATION TO APPROVE THE MOST COST EFFECTIVE PROPERTY AND CASUALTY INSURANCE PROGRAM, POLICY RENEWAL PACKAGE FOR THE EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH SCHOOL SYSTEM FOR 2020, 2021 FISCAL YEAR TO PROVIDE FOR RELATED MATTERS.

I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION AT THIS TIME.

SO MOVED BY MS. DYSON SECONDED BY MS. BERNARD, OR ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS FROM THE BOARD SEEING NONE? ANY QUESTIONS? ANY COMMENTS FROM THE AUDIENCE BACK TO THE BOARD? MADAM SECRETARY.

ON ITEM EIGHT, A CONSIDERATION OF REQUEST FOR THE APPROVAL OF A RESOLUTION OF THE RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE BOARD PRESIDENT AND THE SUPERINTENDENT TO EXECUTE AND SIGN ALL DOCUMENTS TO REJECT UNINSURED MOTORIST COVERAGE IN CONNECTION WITH THE EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH SCHOOL SYSTEMS, AUTOMOBILE LIABILITY, COVERAGE, AND ITSELF INSURED RETENTION PROGRAM FOR THE 2020, 20, 21 FISCAL YEAR.

MR. HOWARD, DID YOU CHECK THE ONLINE I MR. GOT IT.

COULD YOU REFRESH THE ONLINE COMMENTS? DO YOU SEE ONE MADAM SECRETARY, PLEASE VOTE.

AND IT WAS FLIPPED OUT BY THIS TIME.

[Item G8]

SO, SO MOVED BY MR. BY MR. TADEMAN SECONDED BY MS. BERNARD.

ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS FROM THE BOARD SEEING NONE? ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS FROM THE AUDIENCE SEEING? NONE.

I AM CHECKING THE INTERNET.

NOW BACK TO THE BOARD.

ANY COMMENTS SEEING NONE? MADAM SECRETARY PLEASE VOTE.

MR. HOWARD, WOULD YOU LIKE ? NO, I DON'T CARE.

WANT TO BACK UP FOR ONE QUICK MOMENT.

MA'AM I

[Item C (Part 2 of 2)]

ON THE INTERNET COMMENTS.

I HAD ONE THAT CAME IN LATE ON AN ITEM VERY EARLY IN THE AGENDA AROUND THE MINUTES, AND I DID NOT SEE IT AND I'M NOT SURE IT CAME IN BEFORE THE SUBJECT MATTER WAS CLOSED, BUT I WILL READ IT ANYWAY, JUST

[03:15:01]

SO THAT EVERYONE CAN HEAR IT.

THIS IS FROM PAGE WHO'S A PUBLIC SCHOOL TEACHER AND IT SAYS, I, THIS IS RELATED TO THE MINUTES.

I DO NOT SEE ANY PUBLIC SCHOOL TEACHERS ON THE REOPENING TASK FORCE.

I SAW PRINCIPALS AND TWO REPRESENTATIVES FOR TEACHER'S UNIONS.

WOULDN'T IT BE HELPFUL TO HAVE TEACHERS ON SUCH A TASK FORCE? SO I APOLOGIZE TO PAIGE FOR NOT CATCHING THAT COMMENT EARLIER, AND I WANTED TO BE ABLE TO HAVE IT READ INTO THE RECORD.

GO TO NUMBER NINE, RIGHT AWAY, LAND AGREEMENT, CONSIDERATION OF REQUESTS FOR THE APPROVAL OF A RIGHT OF WAY AGREEMENT BETWEEN EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH SCHOOL BOARD, AND THE CITY OF BATON ROUGE IN THE AMOUNT OF $532 TO TRANSFER OF PROPERTY OWNERSHIP, LESS MINERAL RIGHTS FOR A CONSTRUCTION PROJECT ON THE NORTHEAST CORNER OF THE INTERSECTION OF ARDEN WOULD DRIVE AND CHOCTAW DRIVE.

NOW WE

[Item G9]

DO I HAVE A MOTION MOTION BY MRS. BERNARD? DO I HAVE A SECOND BY MR. BALLOU? ARE THERE ANY COMMENTS FROM THE BOARD SEEING NONE, ANY COMMENTS FROM THE AUDIENCE SEEING NONE AND THEY ARE NO ELECTRONIC COMMENTS SUBMITTED BACK TO THE BOARD SEEING NONE.

MADAM SECRETARY, PLEASE VOTE.

MOTION CARRIES.

ITEM 10 CONSIDERATION OF REQUEST TO APPROVE THE PRE K PROGRAM POSITION AND DESCRIPTION FOR RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT SPECIALIST FUNDING SOURCE EARLY CHILDHOOD GUIDE PILOT.

[Item G10]

ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS FROM THE BOARD? OH, I'M SORRY.

SO MOVE ON MR. CHAPMAN.

THANK YOU FOR KEEPING ME IN LINE.

I WILL LEARN ONE DAY STAGNATE BY MR. HOWARD.

NOW, ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS FROM THE BOARD SEEING NONE TO THE AUDIENCE MS. WADE JACKSON? I'M SORRY, MY SCREEN.

WASN'T UP.

OH, THERE IT IS.

IT'S GOING IN NOW.

SORRY ABOUT THAT LITTLE TECHNICAL DIFFICULTY.

UM, MR. DRAKE, I WANTED TO ASK YOU A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THIS, THIS A NEW PRE-K POSITION AND JOB DESCRIPTION.

UM, YOU KNOW, WE KNOW HOW IMPORTANT PRE-K IS.

OH, THAT'S OUR FOUNDATION THERE.

I WAS WONDERING ABOUT THE QUALIFICATION.

I SEE THAT AS ONLY A MINIMAL QUALIFICATION OF A HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA.

UM, AND I, I WONDERED WHY, BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, THERE'S GOTTA BE SOME, THERE'S SOME, UM, TECHNOLOGY INVOLVED IN THAT AND, AND A LOT OF WRITING.

AND SO I WONDERED IF, IF, UM, IF JUST A HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA IS, UH, IS ENOUGH TO UNDERGIRD THAT POSITION.

AND HE'S HERE WITH US, BUT SO SHE GOT MY QUESTION.

SHE'S GOING TO ANSWER THIS HOWEVER REQUIRED JOB DESCRIPTION FOR A PILOT FROM THE STATE DEPARTMENT FOR PRE K THAT WE'RE DOING.

SO DAPHNE GOOD EVENING, EVERYONE, UH, TO MR. PRESIDENT GO DAY AND, UH, VICE PRESIDENT HOWARD, MR. DRAKE AND THE BOARD.

UM, SO THE, THIS IS PART OF A PROGRAM WHERE THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR SOMEONE.

AGAIN, THIS IS A MINIMUM REQUIREMENT, BUT IT'S SOMEONE WHO WOULD WORK WITHIN THE COMMUNITY TO WORK WITH FAMILIES, UH, LOW INCOME FAMILIES, UH, TO HELP THEM TO COMPLETE AND NAVIGATE THE PROCESS OF COMPLETING THE CHILDCARE ASSISTANCE PROGRAM APPLICATIONS.

UH, SO THIS IS GOING TO HELP US WITH FEEDING INTO OUR PRE-K PROGRAMS, CHILDREN, WHO, WHO ARE TRYING TO GET INTO THE DAYCARE CENTERS IN THE FAMILIES WHO ARE TRYING TO GET THE, UM, WAIVERS.

AND SO WE COLLABORATED WITH MICHELLE WEBB'S OFFICE, UM, TO FIND A PERSON, YOU KNOW, TO TRY TO SEE WHAT WE NEEDED FOR THIS POSITION.

AND IT WASN'T NECESSARILY THE DEGREE, BUT THE EXPERIENCE AS WORKING AS A CHILDCARE CENTER, UM, PROFESSIONAL, UH, WHICH DOESN'T NECESSARILY ALWAYS REQUIRE A COLLEGE DEGREE, BUT WE WANTED SOMEONE WHO WAS ARTICULATE AND ALSO WOULD BE ABLE TO COMMUNICATE WITH THE FAMILIES, UH, WHO WERE IN NEED OF THIS, THIS SERVICE AND HELP.

SO WE WANTED TO OPEN IT UP TO A BROADER, UH, GROUP INSTEAD OF HAVING TO SELECT JUST A CERTIFIED TEACHER OR SOMEONE LIKE THAT.

[03:20:04]

UH, MS. DYSON, DID YOU GO TO SCHOOL? I WAS, UH, MY QUESTION IS AROUND THIS AS FINDING A NEW POSITION.

AND IF THERE IS A POSITION THAT CAN BE, UH, ELIMINATED TO CREATE THIS NEW ONE.

SO THIS PARTICULAR POSITION IS TIED TO A GRANT THAT YOU ALL APPROVED.

AND SO WITHIN THE GRANT, THE DISTRICT HAD TO CREATE THIS POSITION, UH, AS PART OF THE GRANT.

SO WHAT WE DID IS ONCE THE, THE ACTUAL GRANT WAS APPROVED BY THIS BOARD, WE COLLABORATED WITH THEM TO CREATE THE POSITION.

AND SO IT'S FULLY FUNDED THROUGH THE LITTLE LOUISIANA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION.

SO IT'S NOT A GENERAL FUND POSITION.

WE DID LOOK THROUGH OUR JOB DESCRIPTIONS AND EVERYTHING, AND WE PUT SOME THINGS TOGETHER TO, UH, SELECT THIS POSITION, BUT IT WAS BECAUSE IT WAS SO UNIQUE.

WE WANTED TO MAKE SURE WE BROUGHT IT TO THE BOARD.

SO YOU WERE AWARE AND WE WANTED TO MAKE SURE WE WERE IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE GRANT AND WHAT THE POSITION NEEDED TO SAY AND WHAT THE RESPONSIBILITIES OF THIS PARTICULAR PERSON WOULD BE.

AND I THINK TO MORE PACIFICALLY, ASK YOU A QUESTION, IT COULD BE SOMEONE THAT'S ALREADY WITHIN THE DISTRICT THAT COULD COME OFF A GENERAL OPPOSITION.

AND THAT'S, THAT WAS MY QUESTION.

AND IF WE CAN TRY TO DO THAT, UM, AND, AND HAVE THAT ONE COME OFF, THAT WOULD BE MOST DESIRABLE.

YES MA'AM.

ANY OTHER COMMENTS FROM THE BOARD? SEEING NONE TO THE AUDIENCE? WE DO HAVE ONE COMMENT FROM THE AUDIENCE, AND THIS WAS FROM BERNADETTE WILKINSON.

THIS PERSON SHOULD HAVE A MINIMUM OF A COLLEGE EARLY CHILDHOOD DEVELOPMENT DEGREE, NOTHING LESS THAN A COLLEGE DEGREE SHOULD BE ACCEPTABLE.

AND THAT IS TO ONLY COME IN.

I HAVE, UH, ON THE INTERNET, UM, WOULD COME BACK TO THE BOARD.

ANY OTHER COMMENTS FROM THE BOARD SEEING NONE, MADAM SECRETARY, PLEASE VOTE.

I WAS ON THE WRONG PAGE.

MOTION CARRIES.

ITEM 11, CONSIDERATION OF REQUEST FOR THE APPROVAL OF AN ARAMARK PROPOSAL FOR THE PURCHASE OF ADDITIONAL CLEANING AND SANITIZING SUPPLIES FOR USE DURING THE 2020, 2021 SCHOOL YEAR FUNDING SOURCE COVID-19 SLASH FLOOD RECOVERY.

NEXT IS

[Item G11]

UH, MR. AND MR. MCCAIN, DO I HAVE A MOTION? DO I HAVE A SECOND BY MS. COLLINS? ALL RIGHT.

UH, MR. AND MS. TOWERED MEMBERS OF THE BOARD TO REEMPHASIZE A LITTLE BIT WITH MS. NEW CASE.

PRESIDENT GOAT, A VICE PRESIDENT, HOWARD, UH, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD AND MR. DRAKE, UH, TONIGHT WE'RE BRINGING FORWARD, UH, OUR TENTATIVE PLAN TO BEGIN PURCHASING PRODUCTS AND PREPARING FOR NEXT YEAR.

UH, WE KNOW THAT WE HAVE TO BE PROACTIVE.

UH, THIS PLAN ALLOWS US TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE PLENTY OF PRODUCTS IN THE PIPELINE AND THAT WE'RE PREPARED TO DO ALL THE THINGS THAT WE EXPECT WILL BE RELEASED IN THE NEXT TWO WEEKS WITH THE STATE REQUIREMENTS FOR REOPENING.

UM, ONE THING THAT'S VERY GOOD ABOUT THIS AS WE'VE GONE THROUGH THIS PROCESS, UM, MR. LARRY WILLIAMS, UM, HAS HELPED US AS WELL WITH PROCUREMENT IS THAT WE'RE MAKING SURE THAT WE FOLLOW THIS WITH THE FEMA GUIDELINES, SO THAT AGAIN, IT CAN BE REIMBURSABLE UP TO THAT 75%.

AND ALSO WE HAVE CARES ACT FUNDING AS WELL THAT WE MIGHT BE ABLE TO LEAN ON.

SO WE EXPECT A LOT OF THIS TO BE ABLE TO BE, UH, RECOUPED AT SOME POINT.

UM, SO AGAIN, UH, MR. UH, KOHLER WILL GIVE YOU THE PRESENTATION ON OUR PLAN.

ONE THING THAT WAS REALLY IMPORTANT FOR US IS TO MAKE SURE TONIGHT YOU'RE CLEAR, AND ALSO PARENTS ARE CLEAR OF WHAT, YOU KNOW, WE'RE ACTUALLY DOING TO PREP FOR THAT OPENING OF SCHOOL, WHATEVER THAT LOOK LIKE, AND THAT THERE'S A STRONG PLAN IN PLACE AND A PROFESSIONAL PLAN TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE PREPARED AND THAT STUDENTS ARE SAFE AND, AND STAFF AND TEACHERS ARE SAFE.

SO WITH THAT SAID, I'M GOING TO TURN IT OVER TO THE PRESENTATION.

THANK YOU, MISS MR. DRAKE,

[03:25:01]

WE HAVE BEEN DIALOGUING WITH OTHER DISTRICTS IN THE STATE, OUT OF THE STATE MONITORING THE CDC GUIDANCE.

THINGS ARE CHANGING DAILY.

AS YOU KNOW, IF YOU GO HOME TONIGHT, WATCH THE NEWS.

SOMETHING NEW WAS PROBABLY COME OUT ABOUT THE GUIDANCE.

THE SUPERINTENDENTS OFFICE HAS BEEN ON A WEEKLY CALLS WITH THE STATE DEPARTMENT.

THERE IS A SENSE OF URGENCY NOW ON THE CALENDAR, BECAUSE WE NEED TO GET IN THE PIPELINE TO PROCURE THE SUPPLIES FOR TWO REASONS, SAFEGUARD OUR STUDENTS AND TO HAVE THE CONFIDENCE OF THE PARENTS AND THE COMMUNITY THAT WILL KEEP OUR KIDS SAFE WHEN SCHOOL DOES REOPEN, AND WE DON'T KNOW QUITE ALL WHAT THOSE CONDITIONS WILL BE, BUT THE STATE WILL BE RELEASING A FINALIZED PLAN WITHIN A COUPLE OF WEEKS.

THE IDEA NOW IS TO GET YOUR APPROVAL FOR THIS OUTLAY FOR SOME BASIC ITEMS THAT WE NEED FOR SANITATION OF THE SCHOOL FACILITY AND OUR BUS FLEET.

AND WE, WE TRIED TO GO RIGHT DOWN THE MIDDLE ABOUT SOME KNOWN QUANTITIES AND KNOWN ELEMENTS WE WILL NEED.

AND THEN WE'LL ADJUST FURTHER DOWN THE LINE.

THE AMOUNTS ARE ENORMOUS WHEN YOU START FIGURING, FIGURING SANITIZING BUILDINGS, CLASSROOMS, AND MULTIPLE TIMES BUSES THROUGHOUT TODAY.

SO WITH THAT, UH, WE'LL PUT THE NUMBERS UP FOR YOU.

THIS, UH, INITIAL SLIDE SHOWS YOU THE ITEMS THAT WE, UH, INTEND TO PURCHASE.

INITIALLY, THEY ARE, UH, PRO PRIMARILY SANITIZING, UH, QUANTITIES.

YOU'LL SEE, THE FIRST ONE IS A SPECIALIZED OX, SEVERE, WHICH IS A BRAND NAME WHITE.

UH, WE WILL HAVE TO WIPE DOWN DESK HIGH TOUCH AREAS IN THE SCHOOL DOOR KNOBS AND OTHER SURFACES MULTIPLE TIMES.

AND WHEN YOU THINK OF THE NUMBER OF SITES WE HAVE, AND THE NUMBER OF CLASSROOMS, $315,000, SOUNDS LIKE A LOT, BUT WHEN YOU SPREAD IT OUT FOR THE ENTIRE SCHOOL YEAR, IT IS UNDERSTANDABLE WHY THAT NUMBER WOULD ACCELERATE TO THIS POINT.

ALSO HAND SANITIZERS FOR THE CLASSROOMS. THE STUDENTS WILL NEED TO HAND SANITIZE.

WE WILL HAVE TO BE VERY VIGILANT IN OUR RESTROOM FACILITIES ABOUT HAND WASHING STATIONS.

THE SOAP DISPENSERS WILL HAVE TO BE KEPT UP WITH WE'LL HAVE TO DO THAT BASIC FUNCTION BETTER THAN EVER DONE IT.

AND WE NEED TO AUGMENT THAT WITH THIS AMOUNT OF HAND SANITIZER TO START THE YEAR, UH, THE NEXT ITEM IS GENERIC BOTTLES.

SO WE CAN PUT SANITIZES ON EVERY SCHOOL BUS.

WE MENTIONED EARLIER, THE GOOD FORTUNE WE HAVE WITH THE EXXON DONATION, BUT THAT DONATION COMES IN FIVE GALLON PAILS.

SO WE NEED SOMETHING TO PUT IN SMALLER CONTAINERS ON OUR BUSES.

SO THAT'S WHAT THAT LINE ITEM IS ABOUT.

UH, AND FINALLY, DISPOSABLE GLOVES AND HAND TOWELS, ANYONE WHO IS WIPING DOWN SURFACES WITH THESE OXY VEER WIPES, IT HAS A ONE MINUTE DWELL TIME.

THAT MEANS WITHIN ONE MINUTE, IT WILL KILL ANYTHING ON THOSE SURFACES.

THAT IS A CONTAGION AND THE PERSON DOING THAT NEEDS TO BE HAVE SOME TRAINING.

AND YOU ALSO HAVE TO HAVE GLOVES ON WHEN YOU HANDLE THOSE WIPES.

WE'RE CURRENTLY DOING THAT ALREADY WITH OUR ATHLETES WHO HAVE RETURNED TO SCHOOL, UH, WITH THE WEIGHT ROOMS AND THE DRESSING ROOMS, AND WE'VE TRAINED OUR COACHES ON THAT PROCESS.

SO THAT IS THE BASIC ALLOTMENT.

THAT'S WHAT WE'RE REQUESTING YOUR APPROVAL FOR TONIGHT FOR THIS OUTLAY, AS MR. NIKKEI SAID, WE THINK 75% OF THIS WILL BE REIMBURSABLE WITH FEMA FUNDS.

WE ALSO THINK THERE MAY BE SOME CARES ZACK MONEY.

WE CAN APPLY TO IT.

AND THIS IS NOT THE LAST TIME WE'LL HAVE TO COME TO YOU TO ASK YOU ABOUT MAKING SURE WE HAVE THE NECESSARY SANITATION TO KEEP OUR KIDS SAFE.

SO WE WILL PROBABLY BE BACK, BUT THIS IS THE INITIAL OUTLAY TO GET US STARTED.

UH, AT THIS POINT, MR IS GOING TO COME UP AND WALK US THROUGH THE SLIDES THAT TALK ABOUT THE TECHNICAL PART OF CLEANING THESE SURFACES DAILY.

WHERE WE'RE MOST CONCERNED ABOUT.

THANK YOU, MR. MCCANN.

AND IF WE WOULD GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE, I'D LIKE TO DESCRIBE A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHAT WE'RE DOING RIGHT NOW.

UH, WE'RE IN THE PROCESS OF DOING WHAT WE CALL CLEAN IT, AND IT'S A VERY MUCH A TOP DOWN APPROACH.

SO WHEN, WHEN THE SCHOOLS WERE INITIALLY CLOSED DOWN, WE WENT INTO, INTO CLEAN AND SANITIZE MODE BECAUSE WE WERE ANTICIPATING THAT STUDENTS MAY RETURN, UH, THE GOVERNOR MADE A DECISION NOT TO RETURN.

SO WE WENT INTO DEEP CLEAN MODE, PROJECT MODE, AND PART OF THIS PROPOSAL WAS ALL ABOUT GETTING READY FOR WHEN THE STUDENTS RETURN.

AND THAT'S

[03:30:01]

UH, ONCE THE STUDENTS RETURN, WHERE WE KNOW WE'RE GOING TO HAVE MULTIPLE TOUCH POINTS.

AND SO IT'S GOING TO BE EXTREMELY IMPORTANT THAT WE HAVE THE RIGHT PRODUCTS TO MAKE SURE WE ADDRESS THOSE TOUCH POINTS.

SO IF I COULD GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE, SO WE'RE FOCUSING ON HIGH TOUCH AREAS.

AND AS YOU CAN SEE BY THE PICTURE, THESE ARE SOME TRAINING TOOLS THAT WE USE WITH STAFF TO MAKE SURE THEY UNDERSTAND WHAT ARE THOSE TOUCH POINTS.

AND, AND AGAIN, WE'RE BEING LEARNED HOW MANY TOUCH POINTS WE'LL HAVE BASED ON THE MOVEMENT OF STUDENTS.

UH, SO A LOT OF DECISIONS HAVE TO BE MADE.

UH, FOR EXAMPLE, YOU TAKE A HIGH SCHOOL THAT MAY CHANGE CLASSES.

THEY MAY BE TOUCHING THINGS, VARIOUS PLACES ALONG THE WAY.

AND SO WE NEED TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE THE RIGHT PRODUCT THAT HAS A DWELL TIME OR ONE MINUTE SO THAT IT SANITIZES AND DISINFECTS SO THAT WE GET NO CONTAMINATION FROM TWO OTHERS MOVED.

WE'LL MOVE TO THE NEXT SLIDE HERE.

WE TALK ABOUT SANITIZING.

IT, UH, THE DEEP CLEAN, WHERE WE'RE, AGAIN, WE INTRODUCED THE RIGHT PRODUCTS.

WE'RE LOOKING AT PUTTING HAND SANITIZER IN THE CLASSROOMS. AND RIGHT NOW WE'RE LOOKING AT PUTTING HAND SITE AND PIRATES IN THE CLASSROOMS. AND EVENTUALLY WE MAY BE LOOKING AT MORE OF A CENTRALIZED APPROACH, BUT RIGHT NOW WE FEEL LIKE IT'S IMPORTANT TO RESTORE THE COMMUNITY TRUST AND HAVE HANDSET AND TIES ARE AVAILABLE.

UH, WE WORK VERY CLOSELY WITH PARRAL AND WE'VE SECURED SEVERAL BOTTLES OF PARRAL THROUGH ARAMARK.

AND, UH, WHAT WE WANT TO DO WAS MAKE SURE WE EARMARK THOSE SUPPLIES FOR YOUR SCHOOL SYSTEM HERE.

MOVING ON TO THE NEXT SLIDE, THIS KIND OF GIVES YOU AN IDEA OF WHERE YOU'RE AT TODAY WITH SPACE CARE.

THIS IS WHAT YOU WOULD TYPICALLY DO, BUT ON THE RIGHT IS THE RECOMMENDED PROGRAM CALLED SPACE CARE QL.

PLUS THAT'S THE ENHANCED VERSION AGAIN, WHERE WE INTRODUCED THE OXIVIR THE HAND SANITIZER, THE ADDITIONAL TRAINING, AND THIS IS ALL ON THE RESPONSE TO COVID AND SOMEBODY THAT A LOT OF FOLKS HAVE ASKED, WELL, IS THIS SOMETHING THAT WILL CONTINUE ON FOREVER? AND THE ANSWER TO THAT IS NO.

IF, IF WE'VE FIND OUT A SOLUTION FOR COVID AND WE FIXED COVID, WE WILL NOT NEED TO CONTINUE TO KEEP DOING THE EXTENSIVE EFFORTS THAT WE HAVE HERE NOW, UNLESS WE ALL CHOOSE TO.

SO THAT'S WHY WE'RE, WE'RE SAYING THAT THIS IS A BOLT ON, IN RESPONSE TO THE COVID-19 NEXT SLIDE, THE TRAINING.

AGAIN, WE WORK WITH A LOT OF DIFFERENT INSTITUTIONS TO HELP US TRAIN.

WE NEED TO GET THESE PROGRAMS IN PLACE SO THAT WE CAN BEGIN TO TRAIN STAFF ON WHAT IS IMPORTANT, HIGH TOUCH POINTS THAT HAVE TO BE CLEANED.

HOW DO YOU DO IT? HOW OFTEN DO YOU DO IT? AND AGAIN, AS MR. MCCANN STATED, A LOT OF IT WOULD DEPEND UPON WHAT THE CDC, THE STATE, AND ALSO THE MOVEMENT OF STUDENTS TELLS US WHAT WE SHOULD DO.

SO THAT CONCLUDES THE PRESENTATION.

AND I WILL OPEN IT UP FOR QUESTIONS.

JUST ONE LITTLE, UH, ADDENDUM.

WE, WE ARE WORKING WITH OUR BUSINESS PARTNERS TO FLEX HOURS TO OVERLAP SCHEDULING.

SO WE DON'T HAVE ANY ADDITIONAL OUTLAY AND LABOR COST UP FRONT RIGHT NOW.

UH, WE DO KNOW THAT THE CDC GUIDANCE MAY CHANGE.

IT MAY CHANGE DURING THE YEAR.

UH, WE MAY HAVE TO OPEN UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS AND THEN CHANGE, AND WE MAY BE HOME FOR A COUPLE OF DAYS AND COME BACK ALL THAT IS INTEGRAL TO OUR DISTANCE LEARNING.

AND THE TOTAL PICTURE WE'RE TRYING TO DO TO BE PREPARED FOR THE EVENTUALITIES THAT MAY ONSET.

SO I JUST WANTED TO MENTION IT TO YOU ABOUT THE LABOR.

THERE'S NO UPFRONT LABOR COST.

ADDITIONALLY, RIGHT NOW.

I AM TRYING TO KEEP TRACK OF THE BOARD, MS. WHERE JACKSON IS THE COMMENT UP HERE FOR THIS ITEM OR THE PREVIOUS.

MS. SQUARED JACKSON.

I SAW THAT, UM, THERE'S SOME NUMBERS THERE, BUT NO QUANTITIES.

AND, UM, I WAS WONDERING ABOUT THAT THE, THE QUANTITIES THAT YOU'RE LOOKING AT, AND ALSO, I WONDERED HOW THE IMPACT OF THE, UM, THE DONATIONS THAT, UM, MR. DRAKE MENTIONED DURING HIS SUPERINTENDENTS REPORT WOULD AFFECT THE, UM, THE AMOUNT OF HAND SANITIZERS THAT WE DO.

I DON'T.

AND I MEANT TO ASK YOU THAT MR. DIRECTOR, REPEAT THAT NUMBER OF IT THAT YOU HAD, THAT WE RECEIVED.

THEY'LL GIVE US NUMBERS FOR THIS, YOU KNOW, HAND SANITIZER COMES AND A JAIL.

A LOT OF TIMES THE ONE THAT'S COMING FROM EXXON IS MORE OF A LIQUID.

THOSE ARE GOING TO BE USED IN OUR BUSES IS SPRAYED ON WIPED OFF TYPE OF THING.

THIS IS MAINLY FOR OUR SCHOOLS, FOR OUR OFFICES IN OUR SCHOOLS.

SO, SO THAT WOULDN'T AFFECT ANYTHING.

300 AND SOMETHING THOUSAND NUMBER.

AND IT'S THE PURE RAIL THAT, UH, ARAMARK CAN SOURCE FROM THAT DISTRIBUTOR IS IN A, MORE OF A GEL FORM.

SO YOU DON'T HAVE AS MUCH WASTE.

IT HELPS THE ECONOMY OF IT TOO.

HMM.

WELL, THAT FIRST NUMBER IS THE ONE I WAS LOOKING AT THAT

[03:35:01]

WHAT IS THE QUANTITY OF THAT PRODUCT, IF THERE'S JUST A NUMBER THERE, BUT WE DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH I KNOW IT'S ENOUGH FOR A YEAR, BUT HOW MUCH ARE WE GOING TO NEED FOR THAT YEAR TO GET TO THAT NUMBER? YES, MA'AM IT WOULD BE 2055 CASES.

AND A CASE IS A, IS A, A BOTTLE OR, UM, IT'S KINDA LIKE THE WIPES AND IT COMES 12 TO A CASE IN CASE YES.

MA'AM OH, THE SANITIZER IS ALSO 12 TO A CASE AND THERE'D BE 1,409 CASES.

AND WE'VE GOT TO BUILD OUT SO MUCH PER MONTH.

SO THERE'D BE A QUANTITY WE HAD ORDER TO GET STARTED.

AND THEN WE WOULD REPLENISH AND THEN ALSO GAUGE HOW MUCH WE'RE USING.

AND IF, IF SOMETHING HAPPENED ALONG THE WAY WHERE WE NO LONGER NEEDED TO USE THE OXY CBRE, WE WOULD JUST STOP ORDERING IT.

SO COULD, COULD YOU TELL ME, I'M JUST CURIOUS WITHOUT ME DOING THE MATH, I KNOW Y'ALL DID IT ALREADY.

SO WHAT IS THE COST PER CASE? I DON'T HAVE THAT LEVEL OF DETAIL WITH ME.

I BELIEVE IT WAS, UH, FOR THE CASE OF, UH, THE HAND SANITIZER, MY MEMORY SERVES ME CORRECTLY.

IT WAS LIKE $84.

I'D HAVE TO DOUBLE CHECK TO MAKE SURE THOUGH.

I JUST NEEDED TO KNOW.

I HATE TO JUST LOOK AT A NUMBER AND I'M LOOKING AT A TIMEFRAME AND I DON'T KNOW EXACTLY WHAT I'M BUYING.

LET ME STEP UP AND DIRECTOR OF PURCHASING, THEN ALL OF YOU THAT WE HAVE BEEN FOLLOWING THAT WE'RE NOT JUST ACCEPTING THEIR AND SAYING, OKAY, BECAUSE YOU'RE HERE, WE HAVE LOOKED AT OTHER COMPANIES, I WAS CONTACTED MORE CALLED THE OTHER COMPANY NAMES, AND WE'VE DONE SOME RESEARCH TO KNOW THAT THEIR PRICE IS EQUAL TO, OR LESS THAN ALTHOUGH MAYBE SLIGHTLY IT IS UNDER WHAT WE CAN GET THIS STUFF THROUGH FROM OTHER VENDORS, OTHER CONTRACTORS.

AND OF COURSE, IT'S PRETTY LOGICAL TO REALIZE THAT WITH THEM HERE IN THE ROLE THAT THEY'RE IN, WE HAVE MUCH ADVANTAGE AND LETTING THEM MANAGE THIS AND APPLY THE, APPLY THE LIQUIDS IN THE SAUCE HERE THAT WE NEED.

BECAUSE IF WE WERE TO JUST GO OUT AND BUY THIS STUFF IN BULK AND HAVE IT DELIVERED TO THE WAREHOUSE, WE'RE NOT EVEN TO THE POINT OF BEING ABLE TO USE IT AND MANAGE IT AND CONTROL IT, BE RESPONSIBLE FOR IT.

AND SO I'M SAYING ALL THAT TO SAY, WE'VE DONE OUR RESEARCH TO KNOW THAT THE PRICE IS WHERE IT SHOULD BE.

IT'S A LOT OF MONEY BECAUSE THERE'S A LOT OF PRODUCT AND THERE WILL BE REPEAT, PERHAPS REPEAT BUYS DEPENDING ON HOW THIS THING GOES.

BUT I'M TRACKING THAT CAREFULLY THROUGH PURCHASING.

I'VE GOT THE DOCUMENTATION.

WE NEED TO SHOW FEMA THAT THIS IS THE BEST WE CAN DO.

WE'VE GOT THE NUMBERS TO SHOW THAT I DON'T HAVE THOSE NUMBERS TO DELVE INTO THAT, BUT WE CAN SHARE THAT WITH YOU.

IF YOU REALLY WANT TO DRILL DOWN TO THAT DETAIL, WE CAN PROVIDE THAT.

I JUST NEEDED TO KNOW WHAT THAT, WHAT DID YOU KNOW? I KNEW HOW LONG AND WHAT THE BIG COST WAS, BUT I DIDN'T WANT TO KNOW HOW YOU BROKE IT DOWN.

I FEEL THAT YOU ALL MIGHT THINK THAT WE'RE JUST KIND OF LETTING AIRMARK TAKE CARE OF THIS.

AND I GOT TO DO THAT FOR IT VERY WELL, I THINK, BUT WE'RE MONITORING AND LOOKING AT WHAT OUR OPTIONS ARE FOR PRICE AND THE PRODUCT OF THE PLACES.

AND I'M VERY COMFORTABLE THAT WE'RE WHERE WE ARE, WHERE WE NEED TO BE WITH THE PUBLIC LINE.

THANK YOU, MR. KAPLAN.

UM, I THINK MR. NICHOLAS ANSWERED ONE OF MY QUESTIONS, WHICH IS THE REIMBURSEMENT, UH, FROM, I GUESS, THE FEDS, IS THAT WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT? IS THERE A STATE REIMBURSEMENT AS WELL, OR I'M NOT SURE ABOUT STATE, UM, BUT I DEFINITELY KNOW FROM THE FEDS RIGHT NOW, THERE IS.

WE CAN CHECK INTO THAT.

SO ANOTHER QUESTION, AND I GUESS I'M GOING TO MAKE SURE I'M NOT OFF TOPIC HERE, BUT WHAT ABOUT MASKS AND THINGS LIKE THAT? I MEAN, THAT'S NOT INCLUDED IN THIS, CORRECT.

THAT'S SOMETHING ELSE WE'RE LOOKING AT.

UM, WE'RE WAITING SEVERAL OF US TEAM MEMBERS HAVE BEEN FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO WORK ON SOME OF THE COMMITTEES THAT ARE, UM, WORKING WITH THE STATE TO KIND OF PUT TOGETHER SOME RECOMMENDATIONS.

SO WE'RE KIND OF WAITING TO SEE WHAT SOME OF THOSE RECOMMENDATIONS ARE GONNA BE SO THAT WE KNOW IF WE NEED TO GO AHEAD AND PURCHASE THAT WE HAVE BEEN ABLE, WE THINK WE CAN SOURCE ALL OF THAT AT THIS POINT.

IT'S JUST A MATTER OF WAITING TO SEE WHAT THE RECOMMENDATION WILL BE.

SO JUST, I JUST WANT TO MAKE A POINT.

UM, CAUSE I DO WORK WITH A COUPLE OF INDUSTRIES WHERE WE WERE OUT SEARCHING FOR PPE ALL THE TIME.

THERE WERE RUNS ON IT.

AND MY EXPECTATION IS WHEN EVERY SCHOOL DISTRICT IN THE STATE OF LOUISIANA AND ACROSS THE COUNTRY ARE LOOKING FOR MASKS, RIGHT.

AND WE'RE LOOKING FOR THEM AT THE SAME TIME, WE'RE EITHER GOING TO PAY A LOT OF MONEY OR WE'RE NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO GET THEM.

AND I JUST WANT TO, YOU KNOW, I KNOW YOU KNOW THAT, BUT I WOULD BE, UM, I WOULD BE ASSERTIVE IN TERMS OF TRYING TO SOLVE THAT PROBLEM.

RIGHT.

AND A LOT OF IT IS BASED ON WHETHER IT WILL BE RECOMMENDED VERSUS REQUIRED.

I GOT, THANK YOU.

THANK YOU, MS. PEREZ.

THANK YOU, MS. DYSON.

I WANTED AND I HAVE BEEN REACHED OUT TO BY VARIOUS, UH, SUPPLIERS AND THAT KIND OF THING.

I HAVE A QUESTION.

UM, SINCE WE, SINCE WE'RE NOT OPTING TO GO OUT FOR BID OR ANYTHING, OUR SEAT, YOU KNOW, THAT WAY

[03:40:01]

I, MY QUESTION IS AS ARAMARK IS ALREADY, UM, WORKING IN OUR SCHOOLS AND PARTNERING WITH US, ARE WE GETTING THIS AT ARAMARK COST OR ARE WE HAVING TO PAY SOME KIND OF A DISTRIBUTION FEE ON TOP OF THE COST OF THE ACTUAL SUPPLIES? SO WE, WE WORK WITH PARRAL AND SO WE'RE, WE'RE PASSING ALONG THE COSTS THAT WE GET FROM PARRAL.

THEN WE DO HAVE THE SHIPPING AND HANDLING EXPENSE AS WELL.

UM, BUT AS FAR AS MARKING IT UP AND I WAS MAKING A LOT OF MONEY OFF OF IT, THAT'S NOT THE INTENT.

UH, BUT WE, WE HAVE A RELATIONSHIP WITH PARRAL.

UH, I BELIEVE PERELLA IS, IS, IS OWNED BY GO JOE AND WE PURCHASE A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF HANSEL FROM THEM.

SO WE WERE ABLE TO PARTNER WITH THEM AND, AND GET A COMMITMENT OF A LARGE SUPPLY.

AND, AND I GUESS WHAT, WHAT GOT MY ATTENTION WAS WHEN, WHEN THEY SAID IT'S GOING TO BE A COMFORT FIRST COME FIRST SERVE BECAUSE THERE'S A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF ARAMARK ACCOUNTS OUT THERE THAT ARE GOING TO BE LOOKING TO GET THIS.

AND THAT WAS WHY WE WANTED TO PUSH AND SAY, LET'S, LET'S GET ON THE LIST.

AND IF YOU DECIDED TO ANOTHER POINT WHERE, HEY, THIS IS NOT WHAT WE WANT TO DO, I'LL JUST LET THE COMPANY KNOW THAT LISTEN FREE, THAT PERELLA UP FOR SOMEBODY ELSE.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THAT CLARITY.

AND WE DON'T NEED TO GIVE OUR MOC AND OTHER LARGE VENDORS, CARB LUNCH.

UH, SEEING NO OTHER COMMENTS FROM THE BOARD.

THAT'S CORRECT.

GO TO THE PUBLIC.

ANY COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC? YES, WE HAVE TWO COMING UP.

HELLO.

AGAIN, EVERYONE TALKED TO TNL WAS PRESIDENT OF THE LOUISIANA ASSOCIATION OF EDUCATORS.

UM, I JUST WANTED TO, UH, SPEAK BRIEFLY ON, UH, THE CURRENT ISSUES WITH MAKING SURE THAT WE HAVE EVERYTHING THAT WE NEED TO ENSURE THE SAFETY OF OUR CHILDREN AND EMPLOYEES FOR NEXT SCHOOL YEAR.

I ACTUALLY SERVE ON THE RESILIENT COMMISSION AND WE'RE WORKING THROUGH WHAT THAT WILL LOOK LIKE FOR THE NEXT SCHOOL YEAR.

I'M GLAD THAT MR. TUCKMAN BROUGHT UP THE, UH, NECESSARY, UM, IMPLEMENTATION OF MAKING SURE THAT WE HAVE THE MASS THAT ARE NECESSARY, KEEPING EVERYONE SAFE, EVEN THOUGH IT'S GOING TO COVER UP THE FACES OF ALL OF THE, UH, CUTE CHILDREN ACROSS OUR GREAT DISTRICT, INCLUDING THE, UM, EMPLOYEES AND, UM, INDIVIDUALS SUCH AS MYSELF, THEY ARE DEFINITELY IN NEED.

AND WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERYONE REMAINS SAFE.

UM, ALSO IN ADDITION TO THAT, THE NATIONAL EDUCATION ASSOCIATION HAS IMPLEMENTED A, UH, UH, THE ISSUANCE OF A 38 PAGE DOCUMENT CALLED ALL HANDS ON DECK, INITIAL GUIDANCE REGARDING REOPENING SCHOOL BUILDINGS.

AND SO, UH, IF YOU CANNOT HAVE, IF YOU DON'T HAVE ACCESS TO THAT DOCUMENT, I WOULD BE MORE THAN HAPPY TO SHARE THAT INFORMATION WITH, UM, THE MEMBERS OF THE BOARD.

AND SO I CAN ACTUALLY DO THAT TONIGHT.

SO, UH, AGAIN, THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME.

AND I JUST WANTED TO MENTION THAT CRITICAL INFORMATION.

I ACTUALLY CAME HERE TO SPEAK ON ANOTHER ITEM.

I DIDN'T COME HERE WITH MY BUSINESS HAT ON, BUT I WAS COMPELLED WHEN I SEE ARAMARK HERE REQUESTING A ALLOCATION OF FUNDS WITH A NON-SOLICITATION, UH, CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG.

I'M NOT AT THIS BODY OFTEN, BUT I THINK ARAMARK IS RECEIVING SOMEWHERE NORTH OF $25 MILLION A YEAR FROM THIS BODY TO DO VARIOUS SERVICES.

UM, I'M CONCERNED THAT OUR MINORITY REPRESENTATION DIDN'T BRING UP OR ASK ABOUT MINORITY PARTICIPATION AS SOMEONE WHO'S AN ADVOCATE OF INCLUSION AND DIVERSITY IN THE CONTRACT AND THAT PROCUREMENT OPPORTUNITY, I WOULD ENCOURAGE YOU IN THE PRESS UPON YOU TO BRING THAT UP EVERY TIME THERE'S A PROCUREMENT OPPORTUNITY.

YOU TALKED ABOUT THE DIVERSITY OR THE DEMOGRAPHICS, A MUCH THE STUDENT BODY BEING 72 TO 75% WHEN WE'RE THERE AT OUR PROCUREMENT OPPORTUNITIES.

THOSE PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN THE COMMUNITY WITH THAT SAME DEMOGRAPHIC DESERVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO COMPETE FOR THESE, UH, UH, PROCUREMENT OPPORTUNITIES.

UH, MR. LEE WILLIAMS HERE JUST AS HE DID WITH THE, UM, ADVOCATE WAS A STRONG ADVOCATE TO KEEP, UH, THE ADVOCATE IN PLACE FOR THE, UH, FOR THE OFFICIAL JOURNAL.

HE WAS A STRONG ADVOCATE JUST NOW FOR OUR MOCK TO KEEP THEM IN PLACE.

HAS HE EVER MADE A RECOMMENDATION AGAINST A CURRENT MAJOR VENDOR THAT Y'ALL HAVE LIKE AIR OR LIKE THE ADVOCATE HAS HAD, DOES HE WORK FOR EAST BEVERAGE PAST SCHOOL SYSTEM OR DOES HE WORK FOR THE PROCUREMENT? UH, I AM WALK THAT YOU PROCURE FOR THESE OPPORTUNITIES.

THOSE ARE SOME QUESTIONS AND CONCERNS THAT I HAVE,

[03:45:01]

WE NEED TO LOOK OUT FOR LOCAL SMALL MINORITY OWNED VENDORS, ESPECIALLY AT A TIME LIKE THIS.

WE DON'T NEED TO JUST GIVE THEM CARTE BLANCHE AND GIVE THEM EVERY OPPORTUNITY YOU SHOULD SEND IT OFF A BIT.

IT SHOULD NOT BE A NON-SOLICITATION.

I NEED ANITA AUGUSTUS, PRESIDENT OF THE SPANISH PARIS ASSOCIATION OF EDUCATORS.

MORE IMPORTANTLY, I'M IN PRE K EDUCATOR.

WHAT I WANT TO KNOW FROM ARAMARK.

AND I'M GOING TO LOOK AT YOU.

I WANTED TO COMMITMENT THAT OUR CLASSROOMS ARE GOING TO BE CLEAN.

WE HAVE HAD, WE'VE HAD THAT CONVERSATION WITH PRESIDENT GODADDY.

I CLASS WAS NOT BEING CLEANED ON A TYPICAL DAY.

HOW CAN I TRUST THAT THEY ARE GOING TO DO WHAT THEY SAID THEY'RE GOING TO DO WITH THE PRODUCT AND WE'RE NOT GOING TO HAVE WASTE INVOLVED.

MY CONCERN IS AS A PRE K TEACHER, I HAVE TO CLEAN MY CLASSROOM EVERY DAY BEFORE MY BABIES GET IN THERE.

SO WHILE WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THIS, LET'S BRING THIS INTO THE CONVERSATION BECAUSE IF THIS IS NOT GOING TO BE DONE PROPERLY, AND WE KNOW IN THE PAST THAT HAS NOT BEEN DONE, WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO TO PROTECT OUR BABIES? NOT JUST MY PRE-K BABIES, ALL OF OUR CHILDREN, WHEN IT HAS BEEN ESTABLISHED, WE HAVE TAKEN PICTURES.

WE HAVE MADE ANONYMOUS PHONE CALLS.

WE HAVE DONE EVERYTHING IN THE ABOVE AND OUR CLASSROOMS. WE STILL WALK IN THERE DAYS WHERE WE'RE EMPTYING TRASH CANS.

THEY PUT CHAIRS ON TOP OF THE DESK.

AFTER SUPPOSEDLY YOU HAVE SENSITIZED THEM WIRE CHAIRS ON TOP OF OUR TABLES, WHICH MEANS WHEN I GO IN THERE, I HAVE TO TAKE THE CHAIR STYLE AND RE SANITIZE.

I NEED A COMMITMENT THAT THIS WILL BE TAKEN CARE OF PROPERLY.

THANK YOU, MR. CHAMBERS.

SO, UH, FIRST I WANT TO ECHO WHAT HIS SISTER JUST SAID ABOUT CLEAN CLASSROOMS, UH, AND WHAT MR. DON SAID ABOUT MINORITY PARTICIPATION.

WHEN YOU LOOK AT THIS SCHOOL DISTRICT, THAT'S 80% BLACK.

AND WHEN I WATCH US WITH A $25 MILLION CONTRACT AND ALL OF THE VENDORS INVOLVED IN WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT, FOR THE MOST PART, UH, AS IT RELATES TO SCHOOL, CLEANING ARE CAUCASIAN.

THAT'S CONCERNING.

AND THEN WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT THE KOBE CRISIS, AS A PARENT, I'M LOOKING AT THE OPTION OF HOMESCHOOL BECAUSE I THINK THAT IT IS UNFORTUNATE THAT WE ARE RUSHING BACK INTO OPENING EVERYTHING.

AND WE DON'T EVEN KNOW A KID WALK OUT THE DOOR.

MY DAUGHTER CAN'T KEEP UP WITH A JACKET, LET ALONE A FACE MASK.

AND WE TALK ABOUT EVERY DAY OF THE WEEK, I GOT TO ASK HER, DO YOU HAVE YOUR JACKET? SO IF, IF, AND WHEN I LISTENED TO THE PRESENTATION AND I HEAR THEM SAY, WE'RE GOING TO TOUCH THE TOUCH POINT AND THE TOUCH POINT CLEARS IN A, IN A MINUTE.

OKAY? SO WHEN FIVE KIDS TOUCH THE DOOR AFTER THAT MINUTE, AND ONE OF THEM HAS COVID BECAUSE CHILDREN CAN CATCH COVID.

HOW THEN DO YOU PROTECT OUR CHILDREN? AND IF YOU BUST OUT CHILDREN AND PUT THEM IN A SCHOOL WHERE YOU CANNOT GUARANTEE THEM THEIR PROTECTION, YOU ARE FAILING THEM ON THE ONSET.

AND, AND IF YOU HAVE EDUCATORS IN THE ROOM TELLING YOU THAT THEIR CLASSROOMS ARE NOT CLEAN, AND YOU IGNORE THAT IN A PANDEMIC, YOU ARE FAILING THESE CHILDREN.

SO I WOULD ENCOURAGE YOU WHILE MOST OF US ARE EVEN NERVOUS ABOUT COMING TO A SCHOOL BOARD MEETING, RIGHT? THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT SENDING 40,000 CHILDREN INTO BUILDINGS THAT WERE NOT CLEANED PROPERLY BEFORE THIS.

AND WE'RE TALKING ABOUT SPENDING HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS, AND THERE'S NOT A BLACK PERSON ASSOCIATED WITH IT IN A SCHOOL DISTRICT THAT IS 80% BLACK.

THAT IS PROBLEMATIC.

WE SHOULD PAUSE THIS PROCESS.

SCHOOL DOES NOT START TOMORROW.

WE DON'T EVEN KNOW IF SCHOOL WILL START, UH, BECAUSE 20 PLUS STATES HAVE PEAKING COVE IN NUMBERS RIGHT NOW, 21 STATES.

OKAY? SO I KNOW REPUBLICANS AND ALL OF THOSE WHO DON'T BELIEVE IN FACE MASK AND ALL OF THAT STUFF LIKE THAT THINK THAT THIS IS A HOAX, BUT BLACK PEOPLE ARE DYING.

YOUR SCHOOL SYSTEM IS 80% BLACK.

AND WHAT HAPPENS WHEN THOSE CHILDREN TAKE THAT HOME TO THEIR GRANDMOTHERS? BECAUSE WE TOOK A WHITE THEY'RE WIPED OFF IN HIS MINUTE, AND 10 CHILDREN TOUCHED THE DOOR BEHIND IT.

AND THE FACE MASK IS GOING TO BE ON THE GROUND ALL OVER THE SCHOOL EVERY DAY.

SO PLEASE CONSIDER PUNTING THIS TO SOMETHING ELSE, OPENING UP THE BIDDING PROCESS, AS WELL AS CONSIDERING ARE WE BEING WISE ABOUT EVEN DISCUSSING REOPENING AT A TIME WHEN WE ARE NOT AWARE OF THE CONDITION OF OUR COMMUNITY, AS IT RELATES TO THIS PANDEMIC.

WILL THE TEACHERS BE EXPOSED TO THE SAME CLIMATE APPROVE THIS MOTION NEXT FROM PAIGE, WILL ARAMARK BE HIRING MORE STAFF NEXT FROM JOHN HARPER? ARE YOU CONSIDERING GETTING ADDITIONAL JANITORIAL STAFF TO HELP WITH KEEPING KIDS AND FACULTY SAFE FROM JEFFREY S I'VE HEARD COMMENTS FROM MY CHILDREN'S SCHOOLS THAT CREWS THAT CLEAN THE SCHOOLS AT NIGHT DO NOT DO AN ADEQUATE JOB.

ANY OTHER PUBLIC COMMENTS FROM THOSE HERE IN THE AUDIENCE? IF NOT, I WILL START ON THE, UH, INTERNET COMMENTS.

UH, THIS IS FROM DANIELLE FERGUSON.

I'M CON I'M CONCERNED AS I'M WATCHING THIS MEETING, I DON'T SEE TOO MANY PEOPLE WEARING MASKS AND THEY ARE TOUCHING THE SAME PODIUM AS A POTENTIAL TEACHER FOR EBR.

[03:50:01]

IN FACT, I'VE BEEN TOLD THAT CLASSROOMS ARE NOT SWEPT OR MOPPED NIGHTLY.

WHAT ARE THE CHECKS AND BALANCES YOU HAVE IN PLACE THAT EFFECTIVE DISINFECTING AND CLEANING IS DONE? HOW CAN WE AS PARENTS TRUST ARAMARK, THAT ARAMARK IS DOING THEIR JOB AND KEEPING OUR SCHOOLS CLEAN.

ALSO MANY SCHOOLS HAVE HAND DRYERS, ARE THERE PLANS TO REPLACE THEM STORM MATTHEWS AS A TEACHER? SO OFTEN I HAVE TO TAKE MY OWN TRASH OUT AS ARAMARK IS NOT EVEN DO THAT.

WILL THIS BE MONITORED? THAT THEY ARE ACTUALLY USING THESE ITEMS, UH, NEXT FROM KIM, WE HAVE DELAYS IN ARAMARK REQUESTS FOR NEW SOAP DISPENSERS WHEN THEY BREAK OR SOMETIMES WITH DELIVERY OF SOAP AND OTHER REGULAR SUPPLIES WILL ADDITIONAL FUNDING OR PROCEDURES BE PUT IN PLACE TO PREVENT DELAYS.

I HAVE SEEN IN MY OWN SCHOOL FROM LESLIE JENKINS, ARAMARK BARELY CLEANS.

NOW, CAN THIS APPLY? JUST BE GIVEN THE TEACHERS BECAUSE WE'RE THE ONES WHO CLEAN NOW, THEY DO NOT CLEAN OUR ROOMS PROPERLY AS IS, AND GIVE THEM $300,000 WILL NOT CHANGE THAT FROM CHELSEA.

IN THE BEGINNING OF THIS PRESENTATION, THEY WERE SAYING THAT DISINFECTANTS WILL BE USED.

HOWEVER, THEY FOLLOWED UP WITH SANITIZE IT SANITIZERS DO NOT WORK ON VIRUSES, ALWAYS HAND CITED.

SANITIZERS SHOULD ONLY BE USED IN PLACE OF HAND WASHING.

SO WHY ARE WE NOT LOOKING INTO INCREASING THE NUMBER OF HAND WASHING STATIONS AT SCHOOLS? ARE THERE ANY OTHER COMMENTS FROM THE AUDIENCE, UH, IN ATTENDANCE SEEING NONE BACK TO THE BOARD, MR. HOWARD, RIGHT.

MS. COLLINS.

MS. COLLINS WAS NEXT.

UM, SO TWO THINGS REGARDING REOPENING BROTHER CHAMBERS, YOU, YOU WEREN'T HERE AT THE TIME.

WE DID A PRESENTATION ON HOW THE DISTRICT IS GOING TO PROCEED ON REOPENING.

WE HAVE A TASK FORCE IN PLACE, AND WE ALSO, UH, PRESENTED, UH, TO WORK OUT THE DETAILS.

UH, BUT WE ALSO PRESENTED THAT WE WILL BE DOING THAT HYBRID APPROACH, UH, SO THAT YOU DON'T NECESSARILY HAVE TO CHOOSE TO HOMESCHOOL YOUR BABY.

IF SHE HAS UNDERLYING CONDITIONS OR YOU HAVE SOME MAJOR CONCERNS ABOUT THE APPROACH.

I JUST WANT HER TO LIFT UP, UH, THAT, UH, WE ARE BEING CAREFUL ABOUT HOW WE PROCEED.

YOU'RE REOPENING.

UM, IT MIGHT NEED SOME WORK, BUT WE NOT BLINDLY GOING ABOUT IT.

UH, I NEED CLARITY ON THIS SLIDE.

THE MONIES ARE ONLY FOR THE MATERIAL CAUSE I'M SEEING MATERIAL COSTS.

I'M NOT SEEING SERVICE CALLS OR SERVICE.

IS, IS THE MONEY.

IS THERE ANY INCREASE IN, SO THE CONTRACT IS WHAT IT IS WE NOT GOING UP ON BECAUSE THAT WERE REQUIRED TO BE A PROCESS, CORRECT.

IF WE WERE DOING MORE, I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE I'M UNDERSTANDING BECAUSE I AGREED WITH THE CONCERNS PRESENTED, BUT IF THAT'S NOT THE NATURE OF THIS, THEN THE PROPOSAL TONIGHT IS STRICTLY FOR SUPPLIES.

SANITIZING AND DISINFECTING.

IT HAS, THERE'S NO COST IN THERE FOR LABOR.

A LABOR THAT WILL PROVIDE IS WITHIN THE TERMS OF THE EXISTING CONTRACT.

I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MS. COLLINS, ANY OTHER COMMENTS MR. HOWARD? MIC CHECK.

UM, SO I JUST HAVE A QUICK QUESTION FOR THE REPRESENTATIVES FROM, UM, ADD MARK, UM, AND NOT TO SHARE SOME OF THOSE SAME CONCERNS THAT HAVE BEEN AFFLICTED BY, UH, FOLKS WITHIN THE COMMUNITY.

AND AS WE HAD THIS CONVERSATION, MY FEET IS, UM, GOING CRAZY ABOUT TEACHERS AND PRINCIPALS COMPLAINING ABOUT THE LEVEL OF SERVICE THAT THEY ARE ALREADY

[03:55:01]

RECEIVING.

UM, AND SO I JUST WANNA KNOW, LIKE HOW CAN YOU ASSURE, ENSURE US AS A BOY? CAUSE I KNOW WE NEED THE SUPPLIES AND AS MISS ATTAINMENT ALLUDED SM SO TAMMY AND I ALLUDED TO IT EARLIER, IT'S GOING TO BE HARD AS MORE DISTRICTS DECIDE TO OPEN UP, TO GET THESE SUPPLIES.

SO I DO UNDERSTAND THE SENSE OF URGENCY, BUT WHAT GUARANTEES CAN YOU, UM, MAKE TO THE BOARD THAT WE ARE, THAT PEOPLE ARE GOING TO BE SATISFIED IN THAT? I MEAN, YOU'RE GOING TO ACTUALLY USE THE MATERIALS, LIKE YOU SAID, YOU'RE GOING TO USE THEM, UM, FOR, UM, THIS LARGE AMOUNT OF MONEY.

UM, SO ANY INSURANCE, UH, ASSURANCE THAT YOU CAN PROVIDE FOR US.

UM, AND I MEAN, I JUST SHARED THOSE CONCERNS CAUSE PRINCIPALS ARE TEXTING TEACHERS OR TEXTING AND, AND REALLY COMPLAINING ABOUT THE SERVICES THAT THEY RECEIVED.

WE JUST HEARD FROM A TEACHER IN HERE.

UM, SO THAT'S CONCERNING TO ME AS A BUSINESS OWNER THAT SHOULD BE CONCERNING TO YOU AS WELL.

UM, SO JUST, IF YOU CAN PROVIDE US WITH ANY ASSURANCE AS TO, YOU KNOW, THE FIDELITY OF THIS, THIS, THE USAGE, THAT WOULD BE GREAT, YOUR CHARACTER SPONSOR.

GREAT QUESTION.

AND, UM, WHAT I'LL TELL YOU IS THAT WE HAVE A VERY GOOD QUALITY CONTROL PROCESS IN PLACE.

UM, WHILE I WOULD LIKE TO SAY THAT WE HAVE CONTROL OF EVERYTHING, UH, THERE ARE SOME THINGS THAT WE, WE HAVE TO, WE ARE CHALLENGED WITH AND, UM, WE WORKED THROUGH THAT.

UM, BUT, UH, OUR COMMITMENT IS, IS TO PROVIDE CLEAN, HEALTHY SCHOOLS FOR THE STUDENTS THAT ATTEND AS WELL AS THE STAFF.

AND, UM, I KNOW THAT WE DON'T DO IT RIGHT EVERY TIME, BUT WE ARE COMMITTED AND, UH, I WILL BE VISITING WITH MY STAFF ABOUT, UH, IMPROVING, UH, A LOT OF THE COMMENTS THAT I'VE HEARD HERE THIS EVENING.

AND I WOULD JUST OFFER UP MY, MY ASSISTANCE TO, TO GO EAT IF IT'S A WALKTHROUGH, IF IT'S SOMETHING TO, JUST TO ENSURE THAT WHAT WE'RE PAYING FOR IS ACTUALLY GOING TO BE BENEFICIAL.

CAUSE I MEAN, IT'S QUITE CONCERNING THAT WE HAVE TEACHERS WHO ARE STILL COMPLAINING ABOUT HAVING TO CLEAN THEIR OWN CON SCHOOLS WHEN WE KNOW HOW WE KNOW THE CONTROVERSY BEHIND THIS CONTRACT IN THE FIRST PLACE.

GO TO ITEM 12, POLICY REVISIONS, CONSIDERATION OF REQUESTS FOR APPROVAL OF THE FOLLOWING THE SCHOOL BOARD POLICY REVISIONS AND RELATED MATTERS.

ANY OTHER COMMENTS FROM THE BOARD KNOW, SEEING NONE, MADAM SECRETARY, PLEASE VOTE.

[Item G12]

CBA DAS, SUPERINTENDENT QUALIFICATIONS AS AMENDED.

DO I HAVE A MOTION, MR. PATMAN? DO I HAVE A SECOND, MR. HOWARD, MR. SHAMBLIN, WOULD YOU LIKE TO SPEAK TO THIS ISSUE? UH, YES.

THIS IS A REVISION OF POLICY CBA SUPERINTENDENTS, QUALIFICATIONS.

UH, THIS WAS NECESSARY BECAUSE AS PREVIOUSLY DRAFTED THE POLICY REFERS TO BESSIE POLICY AND THEN SETS US UP A SET OF MINIMUM STANDARDS OF MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS.

WHEN IN FACT, THE STATE NOW ALLOWS THROUGH A VARIETY OF AVENUES, UM, HIRING OF A SUPERINTENDENT WITH VARIOUS QUALIFICATIONS.

AND SO OUR POLICY WAS POTENTIALLY IN CONFLICT WITH STATE LAW AND POLICY.

UH, WHAT I HAVE DONE IS AMENDED THE POLICY TO ELIMINATE THE LISTING OF SPECIFIC MINIMUM STATUTE, UH, REQUIREMENTS.

UH, IT REFERS TO PRIMARILY TO BOLTON SEVEN 46 AT BULLETIN SEVEN 41, WHICH PROVIDE A STANDARD AND ALTERNATIVE AT, UM, ALTERNATIVE AVENUES FOR SUPERINTENDENTS TO BE HIRED.

ESSENTIALLY, THIS IS NECESSARY TO MAKE SURE OUR POLICY LINES UP WITH STATE LAW IS ALSO NECESSARY TO PASS PRIOR TO THE POTENTIAL HIRING OF A SUPERINTENDENT TONIGHT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE COMPLY WITH POLICY THAT LINES UP WITH STATE LAW.

EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH, AND DOING SOME AND AT WESTDALE, I HAD ONE AT WESTDALE ELEMENTARY AS WELL, AND ANOTHER ONE HAD BEEN ROUGE HIGH AND I WAS RUNNING ANOTHER THERE AS WELL.

HM.

UM, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

DO, ARE THERE ANY COMMENTS FROM ANY MEMBERS OF THE BOARD SEEING NONE, ANY COMMENTS FROM ANY OF THE MEMBERS OF THE AUDIENCE IN PUB AND IN PERSON? YES.

MA'AM EXCUSE ME AGAIN, MR. SUPERINTENDENT, WARREN DRAKE.

THIS IS GOING BACK TO THE MATTER ABOUT THE SANITIZING, EVERYTHING I REMEMBER WHEN I WAS ROOM MOTHER FOR ONE OF YOUR STUDENTS, ELYSSA, ROD BOWMAN AT TARA HIGH SCHOOL.

DURING THE EIGHTIES, WE HAD OUR OWN JANITORIAL SYSTEM, JANITORIAL SYSTEM, EBR

[04:00:01]

WE HAD OUR EAST ARE EAST BATON ROUGE, PARISH SCHOOL SYSTEM EMPLOYEES, AND THEY WERE AH, ELIMINATED OR SOMEHOW IN THE EARLY TWO THOUSANDS.

IF YOU CAN REMEMBER, YES, I DON'T REMEMBER THE EXACT DAY, BUT I THINK IT WAS IN THE LATE NINETIES.

THAT COULD HAVE BEEN THE LATE NINETIES, BUT WHEN EASTBOUND RIDGE PARISH HAD THEIR OWN EMPLOYEES, EBR, WE, THE SCHOOLS WERE KEPT BETTER.

THE CUSTODIANS KNEW THE CHILDREN, THE CUSTODIANS KNEW THE PARENT, THE CUSTODIAN KNEW THE TEACHERS.

THE CUSTODIANS KNEW THE PRINCIPAL.

THE TONIA KNEW THE CAFETERIA STAFF, THE CUSTODIAN KNEW THE PERSONNEL.

SO THEREFORE EVERYTHING WAS KEPT UP TO PAR, NOT ONLY THE GRASS, BUT THE CLASSROOMS WERE KEPT CLEAN AT NIGHT TO KEEP TEACHERS COULD COME IN IN THE MORNING AND FIND CLEAN FLOORS, CLEAN DESK, CLEAN BLACKBOARDS AND EVERYTHING.

DO YOU REMEMBER THOSE DAYS? YES, MA'AM.

I DON'T THINK WE NEED TO GO BACK TO THOSE DAYS.

AND THESE BENDERS PAIR PARA SCHOOL SYSTEM NEWS, THE HAIR, HIRE THEIR OWN EMPLOYEES AND PAY THEM EAST BATON ROUGE, PARISH, EMPLOYEE WAGES, ALONG WITH THEIR HEALTH INSURANCE AND EVERYTHING ELSE BACK LIKE THEY USED TO DO.

THANK YOU, MR. WARREN.

AND I REMEMBER THOSE DAYS AND MOST PEOPLE DON'T HAVE GOOD OLD DAY.

MOST PEOPLE DON'T REMEMBER THAT BECAUSE YOU SAW ME A LOT.

I DID ALL HIGH SCHOOLS HAD HOMES WHERE THE CUSTODIAN LIVED BECAUSE I WAS ROOM OUT OF NOT ONLY FOR MY SON, REAL MOTHER, BUT PARENTS THAT DIDN'T COME TO THE SCHOOL TO SEE ABOUT THEIR CHILDREN.

I WAS THERE ON MY BED AS WELL.

AND DISCUSSED THE AMOUNT OF MONEY AND OTHER INFORMATION REGARDING THE SUPERINTENDENT SEARCH, WHERE IS LEGAL.

HAVE A BLESSED SAYING NO OTHER COMMENTS FROM THE AUDIENCE.

WE DO HAVE COMMENTS ONLINE.

THIS IS FROM ANNA MARIE BLANK.

WE NEED TO PAUSE THIS POLICY REVISION AND WE NEED TO PAUSE A SUPERINTENDENT SEARCH.

THE PUBLIC WOULD HAVE NORMALLY SEEN THIS ITEM ON A COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE MEETING TWO WEEKS PRIOR TO THIS GENERAL MEETING THAT DID NOT HAPPEN DUE TO THE EXTENUATING CIRCUMSTANCES OF THAT WITH THE COVID-19 BAND, DAMMIT THIS ITEMS. AND ALL OF THE ITEMS IN THIS AGENDA SHOULD HAVE BEEN POSTED TWO WEEKS AGO.

IF WE WAIVED THIS POLICY, WE WILL BE SETTING A PRECEDENT FOR CHANGING THE RULES AT THE LAST MINUTE, UH, FROM STORM MATTHEWS.

HOW CAN WE BE LOOKING AT REMOVING SEVEN OF THE MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS? ALSO THE SELECTION OF SUPERINTENDENT IS TONIGHT SHOULDN'T HAVE THIS BEEN DONE PREVIOUSLY IT'S NEEDED.

THESE REMOVALS SEEM TO BE THE VERY ITEMS. MIKE POLITO WAS DEMANDING IN HIS UNETHICAL CORRESPONDENCE WITH THE MEMBERS OF THIS VERY BOARD.

THERE IS AN ACTION IN A LAWSUIT CURRENTLY AGAINST THE BOARD FOR VIOLATION OF ETHICS REGARDING THESE EMAILS, DISCUSSING THESE ITEMS FROM JASMINE POGUE.

WE BELIEVE WE NEED TO PAUSE THIS SEARCH AND SEEK OUT MORE FEEDBACK FROM THE PUBLIC.

THE FACT THAT THE SCHOOL SYSTEM WAS ABLE TO SOLICIT 10,000 RESPONSES IN THE LAST FEW DAYS ARE A BACK TO SCHOOL SURVEY, BUT COULD NOT GET MORE THAN A FEW HUNDRED SURVEYS ON THE SUPERINTENDENT.

SEARCH TELLS ME THAT THE PUBLIC SCHOOL BOARD DID NOT CARE TO ENGAGE THE PUBLIC.

DURING A POLICY REVISION ALSO SHOWS THAT THE SCHOOL BOARD DID NOT DO HIS DUE DILIGENCE IN THE BEGINNING, AND THEN ENACTED A POLICY THEY WEREN'T PLANNING TO UPHOLD.

EVEN TODAY, THIS MEETING SHOULD BE SHOWN ON THE GOVERNMENT CHANNELS OF AT AND T AND COX SERVICES AND THEY ARE NOT.

AND AT THE LAST MINUTE, THIS MEETING WAS NOT BROADCAST ON TV.

THIS LACK OF ACCESS IS APPALLING EXTEND SUPERINTENDENT DRAKE'S CONTRACT AND PAUSE THE SEARCH FROM CO HONDA QUARTERLY.

WHY DID EBR PUBLIC SCHOOLS WAIT UNTIL THE FINAL HOUR TO WANT TO CHANGE, TO CHANGE THE QUALIFICATIONS? ARE YOU DOING THIS IN AN EFFORT TO CHOOSE ONE OF THE CANDIDATES, WHICH WE ALL KNOW ARE NOT QUALIFIED? SHOULDN'T AVR PUBLIC SCHOOL BOARD KNOW WHAT THE LAW REQUIRES IN LOUISIANA AT THAT MOMENT, AT WHAT MOMENT DID THE EBR SCHOOL BOARD REALIZED THAT THEY SHOULD CONSULT WITH THEIR LEGAL DEPARTMENT? WHEN MR. DRAKE INFORMED EVERYONE OF HIS RESIGNATION, THIS BOARD WITH, WITH A FIRM, WENT ON RETREAT

[04:05:01]

WE CHOSE A FIRM ELIMINATED PERFECT CANDIDATES AND HAVE THE FINAL TWO CANDIDATES.

AND NOW YOU WANT TO CHANGE THE RULES IN THE FINAL HOUR.

THIS IS ABSOLUTELY UNACCEPTABLE FOR THIS BOARD AND THE LEGAL DEPARTMENT LEGAL SHOULD HAVE BEEN CONSULTED AT ALL TIMES.

I INQUIRED ABOUT THE BOARD'S ETHICAL VIOLATIONS AND ALL OF THE TIMES THE FIVE BOARD MEMBERS EMAILED MEMBERS OF BRAC.

I DO NOT HAVE MY ALLOTTED TIMEFRAME TO SPEAK AND STRONGLY OPPOSE.

SEAN D PLEASE EXPLAIN WHY SUPERINTENDENT DOESN'T HAVE TO HAVE EXPERIENCE IN THE SCHOOL SETTING.

SHOULDN'T THE SUPERINTENDENT, SHOULDN'T THE DISTRICT'S HIGHEST INSTRUCTIONAL LEADER HAVE EXPERIENCED BEING AN ACTUAL INSTRUCTIONAL LEADER IN A CLASSROOM OR SCHOOL SETTING, ANNA MARIE BLANK, WHICH IS A SECOND COMMENT, WHICH I AM GOING TO ALLOW.

AND NOW I'VE LOST IT.

UM, I'M SORRY.

HERE WE GO.

UM, PROGRESSIVE SOCIAL NETWORK IS ASKING THE BOARD TO PAUSE A SURGE OF THE NEXT SUPERINTENDENT.

YOU'RE CHANGING THE POLICY, WHICH SHOWS YOU DID NOT ADEQUATELY PREPARE FOR THE SEARCH.

YOU HAD A YEAR AND A HALF TO CHANGE THIS.

JUST LOOK AT HOW LONG IT TOOK THE BOARD TO TAKE YOUR NEXT INITIAL ACTION.

WARREN DRAKE ANNOUNCED HIS RETIREMENT DECEMBER, 2018, FIVE MONTHS PASS EIGHT MEETINGS FOR COMMITTEE, THE WHOLE MEETINGS FOR REGULAR BOARD MEETINGS.

AND YOU DIDN'T CHANGE THIS POLICY IN MAY, 2019.

THE BOARD FINALLY DISCUSSED A REQUEST FOR QUOTE FOR THE SUPERINTENDENT SEARCH FORM JUST AS A SCHOOL ENDED IN SUMMER.

VACATION BEGAN.

YOU DIDN'T CHANGE THIS POLICY QUICK ASIDE WHERE YOU'RE CONCERNED THAT THE VIDEO FOR THIS MAY, 2019 ITEM IS NOT AVAILABLE IN THE ARCHIVES ONLINE.

IT JUMPS FROM G TO H ONE EFFECTIVELY SKIPPING THE SUPERINTENDENT SEARCH ITEM BACK TO THE ISSUE.

FIVE MORE MONTHS PASSED BEFORE THE ITEM WAS AGAIN RAISED IN 2019, OCTOBER, 2019.

YOU'VE HAD 1.5 YEARS TO FIX THIS, CHANGING THIS AT THE LAST MINUTE IS RECKLESS.

ARE THERE ANY OTHER COMMENTS FROM THE AUDIENCE HERE PRESENT? SEE NONE BACK TO THE BOARD.

I DON'T HAVE MY SCREEN UP.

I APOLOGIZE, MR. ALANA'S.

I MEAN, I KNOW I'M SORRY.

IT'S CLEAR, MR. DOTA.

IT'S CLEAR.

SAYING NO COMMENTS FROM THE BOARD.

MADAM SECRETARY, PLEASE VOTE.

YES, IT IS NOT SHOWING UP ON OUR SCREENS YET.

CHECK THAT NOW.

IT IS MY BAD.

I DON'T CARE.

I'M SORRY, 13, I'M SORRY.

NEXT IS ITEM 12 CONSIDERATION OF REQUEST TO ADOPT A RESOLUTION.

[Item G13]

CONSIDERATION REQUESTED, ADOPTED A RESOLUTION TO START THE PROCESS OF RENAMING LEE HIGH SCHOOL.

MR. LANDIS, WOULD YOU LIKE TO INTRODUCE YOUR RESOLUTION? YES.

SUPERINTENDENT APPROVED THE FORMATION OF A SCHOOL RENAMING COMMITTEE.

PRESIDENT.

GO THERE.

RESOLUTION TO RENAME LEHIGH SCHOOL SUBMITTED JUNE 15TH, 2020 20.

WHEREAS A FORMAL REQUEST HAS BEEN SUBMITTED TO THE EAST BEVERAGE PARIS SCHOOL BOARD, JUNE 9TH, 2020 TO RENAME LEE, SORRY, LEE HIGH SCHOOL, FORMERLY KNOWN AS ROBERT E. LEE HIGH SCHOOL WITH THE SUPPORT OF COMMUNITY STAKEHOLDERS, TEACHERS AND STUDENTS.

WHEREAS EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH SCHOOL SYSTEM IS COMMITTED TO OPERATING SCHOOLS FREE OF OPPRESSIVE, RACIALLY OFFENSIVE, CULTURALLY INSENSITIVE NAMES AND SYMBOLS THAT ADVERSELY AFFECT SCHOOL, CULTURE AND CLIMATE.

WHEREAS IT IS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE EAST BEVERAGE PAIR OF SCHOOL BOARD UNDER THERE ON THE DEED, DIRECT SUPERVISION OF THE SUPERINTENDENT TO CORRECT MODIFY AND OR RECTIFY ANY SUCH DISCRIMINATORY MATTERS, WHICH VIOLATES STUDENT'S RIGHTS.

WHEREAS EAST BEARISH PAIR OF SCHOOL BOARD IS PREPARED TO COMMENCE THE RENAMING PROCESS OF LEE HIGH SCHOOL UPON THE MAJORITY VOTE OF THE BOARD BY REQUESTING THE APPROVAL OF THE SUPERINTENDENT TO ALLOW A FORMATION OF A NAMING COMMITTEE.

NOW, THEREFORE IT BE RESOLVED BY THE EAST BEVERAGE PARISH SCHOOL BOARD IN REGULAR SESSION.

DULY CONVENED THAT THE SUPERINTENDENT IS THE RECORD TO PURSUE AND COMPLETE THE FOLLOWING ACTIONS BY THURSDAY, BY THURSDAY, JULY 16TH, 2021

[04:10:01]

HEY, THE COMMITTEE SHOULD BE COMPRISED OF, BUT IT'S NOT LIMITED TO AT A MINIMUM.

THE FOLLOWING REPRESENTATIVES, TWO MEMBERS OF THE STUDENT BODY, TWO MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE, I'M SORRY, COMMUNITY IN WHICH THE SCHOOL IS LOCATED.

TWO EMPLOYEES OF EAST BEVERAGE PARISH SCHOOL SYSTEM.

AS WELL AS TO SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS, SECTION TWO, THE COMMITTEE SHALL BE GRANTED THREE WEEKS FROM THE TIME OF APPROVAL TO MEET AND DISCUSS ALL MATTERS.

REGARDING SCHOOL NAME CHANGES A B COMMITTEE WILL BE ALLOWED TO SUBMIT THREE NAMES TO THE SUPERINTENDENT TO PRE, TO BE PRESENTED AT THE FOLLOWING PUBLIC MEETING.

THURSDAY, JULY 9TH, 2020 COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE HAS MORE THAN THREE NAMES, THREE NAMES.

THE COMMITTEE SHALL NARROW THE LIST TO THREE NAMES TO THREE NAMES BEFORE CONSIDERATION IS MADE THREE.

ONCE THE LIST IS SUBMITTED, THE SUPERINTENDENT SHALL MAKE A RECOMMENDATION TO THE SCHOOL BOARD AT THE FOLLOWING PUBLIC MEETING FOR APPROVAL THURSDAY, JULY 16TH, 2020 REGULAR BOARD MEETING FOR UP UPON APPROVAL OF THE NEW SCHOOL NAME.

IT SHALL BE REQUESTED BY THE EAST BEVERAGE PARISH SCHOOL BOARD THAT THE PROCESS OF REMOVAL OF ALL SIGNAGE AND SCHOOL PARAPHERNALIA LOCATED ON THE SET SCHOOL CAMPUS BEARING THE NAME LEE HIGH SCHOOL BEGIN EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT THE SUPERINTENDENT ALONG WITH THE SCHOOL NAMING COMMITTEE PROVIDE A FULL UPDATE ON PROGRESS REGARDING THE MATTER TO THE JULY COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE MEETING AND EVIDENCE OF ITS COMPLETION TO THE JULY REGULAR BOARD MEETING.

SORRY, AND I'LL DO SOME MOVE.

I APOLOGIZE.

THANK YOU, MR. HOWARD, THE FLOOR IS OPEN FOR DISCUSSION.

UH, MS. , I THINK YOU HAVE THE NEXT REQUEST TO SPEAK.

WE CAN NO LONGER AFFORD TO DELAY AND DENIAL RESOLUTION TO A COMMUNITY THAT HAS BEEN FOR FAR TOO LONG.

IF THIS BOARD DOES NOT MIND, AS WELL AS THE COMMUNITY, AS A WHOLE, CAUSE A FEW THINGS THAT I WANT TO SAY ON THIS ITEM TONIGHT IN 1957, THEN EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH SCHOOL BOARD ALLOCATED TWO POINT $3 MILLION TO BUILD A NEW SCHOOL, WHICH WAS VOTED TO BE CALLED SOUTH DOWNS HIGH SCHOOL A YEAR LATER IN 1958, EUGENE DAVIS SENIOR, AN AFRICAN AMERICAN MAN FILED A LAWSUIT AGAINST THAT BOARD, WHICH BEGAN THE LONGEST SERVING DESEGREGATION ORDER IN THE COUNTRY.

AS A RESULT IN MAY OF 1958, THE NAME WAS CHANGED TO ROBERT E. LEE HIGH SCHOOL.

AND HERE WE ARE TONIGHT, OUR SCHOOL BOARD HAS THE POWER TO CHANGE THE TRAJECTORY OF OUR FUTURE BY F BY MOVING FORWARD FROM OUR DIVIDED PASS TONIGHT, OUR ENTIRE PARISH IS WATCHING AS THEY EXPECT OUR ELECTED LEADERS TO DO THE RIGHT THING BY OUR STUDENTS.

DURING THIS PAST WEEK, ONE OF MY FELLOW BOARD COLLEAGUES, MISS SUGGESTED THAT WE RESEARCH ROBERT E. LEE TO GET A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF THE LEGACY THAT HE LEFT BEHIND TONIGHT.

I WANT TO BRIEFLY PRESENT THOSE FINDINGS AS SUGGESTED DURING THE YEAR 1857, ROBERT E. LEE OWNED 189 SLAVES THAT WERE FORCED TO WORK ON HIS PLANTATION IN ARLINGTON VIRGINIA.

YET HIS NAME HANGS OVER OUR SCHOOL UNDER THE DEMAND OF HIS LATE FATHER LAW'S WHEEL, WHICH PROVIDED HE FREE ALL SLAVES.

AT THE FIVE YEARS, LEE TRIED MULTIPLE TIMES TO RESIST AND KEEP THE SLAVES UNDER HIS CONTROL.

YET HIS NAME HANGS OVER OUR SCHOOL.

ACCORDING TO ONE HISTORIAN, LEE WAS KNOWN TO USE VIOLENCE, TYPICAL OF THE INSTITUTION OF SLAVERY, WHERE SLAVES TRY TO ESCAPE HIS DISCIPLINE WHILE BEING RECAPTURED AND BEATEN OR LEAST ARTISTS GET HIS NAME HAYES FROM OUR SCHOOL.

LEE DIDN'T FREE SLAVES UNTIL THREE DAYS BEFORE ABRAHAM LINCOLN'S EMANCIPATION PROCLAMATION WAS ARCTIC.

GET HIS NAME HANES FROM OUR SCHOOL.

LEE WAS ORDERED TO COMMAND UNION FORCES IN 1861, BUT INSTEAD CHOSE TO COMMIT A TREASONOUS ACT BY DEFLECTING FROM THOSE ORDERS TO BECOME THE GENERAL OF THE CONFEDERATE ARMY, WHICH PROMOTED THE INSTITUTION OF SLAVERY AGAINST PEOPLE OF COLOR.

YET HIS NAME STILL HANGS FROM OUR SCHOOL AS THOUGH HE IS SOMEWHAT TO BE HONORED AND REVERED ACROSS OUR COMMUNITY, OUR CITY AND OUR PARISH.

LET ME BE ABUNDANTLY CLEAR TONIGHT.

IT IS TIME TO CHANGE THAT NAME.

WE ARE HERE IN COLLECTIVE CONSCIOUS TO RECTIFY A 75 YEAR WRONG.

[04:15:01]

BEEN PLAINLY ANY BUILDING THAT THIS ELECTED BODY CHOOSES TO NAME AND HONOR OF OUR COMMUNITY'S HISTORY SHOULD AT A MINIMUM BE REFLECTIVE OF THE HUMAN DIGNITY OF ALL HIS PEOPLE.

BEFORE WE CAN BEGIN TO HEAL.

WE MUST FIRST BEGIN TO CORRECT THE MISTAKES OF THOSE THAT CAME BEFORE US TONIGHT.

WE HAVE BOTH A DUTY AND A RESPONSIBILITY TO DISBAND A LEGACY OF RACISM, HATRED, AND IGNORANCE.

I ASKED THAT IN FULL CONSENSUS OF OUR SCHOOL BOARD, THAT THIS RESOLUTION TO CHANGE THE NAME OF LEE HIGH SCHOOL PASS WITHOUT OPPOSITION, I WILL LEAVE YOU ALL WITH THIS.

IF SOMEONE KIDNAPPED YOUR CHILD AND SOLD THEM, WHERE WOULD YOU WANT US TO PUT THE STATUE OF THAT PERSON? THANK YOU.

THANK YOU, MR. LANDIS, MS. COLLINS, I WOULD JUST LIKE TO BRIEFLY ADD THERE ROBERT E. LEE HIMSELF, OPPOSED CONFEDERATE MONUMENTS.

I RAN ACROSS A WHILE BACK AND I PULLED IT UP.

SO I WANT TO BE ABLE TO QUOTE HIS WORDS.

I THINK AT WISER, THE RETIRED MILITARY LEADER WROTE ABOUT A PROPOSED GETTYSBURG MEMORIAL IN 1869, NOT TO KEEP OPEN THE SOURCE OF WAR, BUT TO FOLLOW THE EXAMPLES OF THOSE NATIONS, WHO ENDEAVORED TO OBLITERATE THE MARKS OF CIVIL STRIFE TO COMMIT TO OBLIVION THE FEELINGS OF IT, THE FEELINGS ENGENDERED.

HE UNDERSTOOD EXACTLY WHAT A MONUMENT TO HIMSELF OR ANYTHING OF THE CONFEDERACY MEANT.

UNLIKE WHAT SOME PEOPLE PURPORT HE HIMSELF UNDERSTOOD IT.

IT WAS AGAINST IT.

BOARD MEMBER COLLEGE, MR. UH, BOARD MEMBER, VICE PRESIDENT HOWARD.

SO FIRST OF ALL, I WANT TO THANK YOU UP ON LENNOX FOR INTRODUCING THIS, THIS, THIS RESOLUTION.

I MEAN, I THINK IT'S, IT'S COMMON SENSE.

UM, I JUST, JUST WANT TO LIFT UP THAT WE HAD 400 YEARS OF CYBER, 50 PLUS YEARS OF JIM CROW AND SEGREGATION, AND WE ARE RACIALLY DIVIDED IN THIS COUNTRY BECAUSE AMERICA HAS NOT SAT DOWN FOR A MOMENT TO LISTEN.

THE ONLY WAY WE TRULY HEAL IS BY HAVING UNCOMFORTABLE CONVERSATIONS, THE TRUE MEASURES OF A MAN IS NOT WHERE HE STANDS IN MOMENTS OF COMFORT, BUT WHERE HE STANDS IN MOMENTS OF UNCONFIDENT CONTROVERSY, TRUE GROWTH ONLY OCCURS IN MOMENTS WHEN WE ARE UNCOMFORTABLE.

IT IS TIME THAT AS A SCHOOL DISTRICT, WE SEND A SIGNAL, A SIGNAL THAT SYMBOLS OF OPPRESSION, HONORING HISTORY THAT IS NOT INCLUSIVE IN TONE, DEAF RESPONSES HAVE NO PLACE IN BATON ROUGE OR THE WORLD AND BATON.

AND MORE SPECIFICALLY THE SCHOOL SYSTEM.

THAT'S A PROUD BLACK MAN AS A PROUD BOARD MEMBER OF THIS BOARD AND THE PUBLIC SERVICE COMMUNITY.

HOW 100% SUPPORT THIS NAME CHANGE.

I JUST THINK THAT IT'S TIME FOR US TO BE ABUNDANTLY CLEAR ABOUT THE MESSAGE THAT WE WANT TO SEND THROUGH THIS DISTRICT.

WE TALK ABOUT, YOU KNOW, THIS, THIS WHOLE NOTION OF ALL, BUT ALL HAS TO BE INCLUSIVE.

AND IT IT'S, IT'S AN UNFORTUNATE THAT WE ARE SENDING KIDS TO A SCHOOL THAT REPRESENTS SUCH BRUTALLY, UM, MURDEROUS TIMES FOR BLACK PEOPLE.

AND IF WE REALLY WANT TO TRULY HEAL AS A COUNTRY, WE HAVE TO HAVE TO HAVE TO, UM, UNDERSTAND WHAT THESE SYMBOLS REPRESENT.

AND I JUST THINK, AND, YOU KNOW, WITH ALL DUE RESPECT AND A MENORAH, I JUST THINK THAT IT'S UNFORTUNATE THAT THE COMMENTS THAT YOU MADE WERE JUST EXTREMELY TONE DEAF TO OUR COLLECTIVE COMMUNITY, EXTREMELY TONE, DEAF TO THE STUDENTS OF OUR, UM, OUR DISTRICT.

AND I WOULD BE REMISS IF I DID NOT STAND UP AND STAND AGAINST THAT.

UM, AND THOSE COMMENTS, AND I UNDERSTAND WHERE YOU WERE COMING FROM AND RECOGNIZING HISTORY, BUT IT'S JUST WRONG.

IT WAS TOTALLY WRONG.

THIS MAN WAS A MURDERER.

HE WAS A RACIST AND HE WAS A BIGOT.

SO I JUST THINK THAT IF WE HAVE TO GET UNCOMFORTABLE AND HAVE THESE CONVERSATIONS FROM COLLEAGUE TO COLLEAGUE, IT'S TIME THAT WE DO IT.

UM, AND THEN WE IT'S TIME THAT WE START THE HEALING PROCESS AND WE CAN BE, WE CAN BE THE HEALING PROCESS FOR THE CITY.

WE CAN BE THE HEALING PROCESS FOR THIS COUNTRY, BUT IT'S GOING TO TAKE EACH AND EVERY ONE OF US, UM, GETTING UNCOMFORTABLE OR BECOMING UNCOMFORTABLE IN CONVERSATION.

AND I CAN STAND FOR A LOT OF THINGS, BUT RACISM IS ONE OF THAT ROLLED OUT AND I WILL NEVER STAND FOR.

SO WE JUST HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE THESE UNCOMFORTABLE CONVERSATIONS AND HEAL THIS COUNTRY AND HEAL THIS NATION.

THANK YOU, MR. HOWARD, ANY OTHER THINGS, COMMENTS FROM ANY OTHER BOARD MEMBERS AT THIS TIME I'LL CALL ON MYSELF.

AND I WOULD LIKE TO INTRODUCE IF YOU WOULD MIND PASSING THIS DOWN.

I LIKE TO INTRODUCE A SUBSTITUTE MOTION.

AND I ASSUME I HAVE TO READ THE ENTIRE MOTION, EVEN THINGS THAT DON'T CHANGE.

FORMERLY KNOWN AS ROBERT D. LEE HIGH SCHOOL WITH THE, SOME MORE SUPPORT OF COMMUNITY SHAREHOLDERS, TEACHERS AND STUDENTS.

SO SUBSTITUTE MOTION RESOLUTIONS ARE RENAME LEE HIGH SCHOOL, JUNE 15TH, 2020, OR AS A FORMER REQUEST HAS BEEN SUBMITTED TO EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH SCHOOL BOARD, JUNE NINE, 2020 TO RENAME LEE MAGNET HIGH SCHOOL,

[04:20:01]

WHEREAS EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM IS COMMITTED TO OPERATING SCHOOLS FREE OF OPPRESSION, RACIALLY OFFENSIVE, CULTURALLY INSENSITIVE NAMES AND SYMBOLS THAT ADVERSELY AFFECT SCHOOL, CULTURE AND CLIMATE, OR AS IT IS THEIR RESPONSIBILITY EAST BANNERS PAIR SCHOOL BOARD UNDER THE DIRECT SUPERVISION OF THE SUPERINTENDENT TO CORRECT MODIFY AND ARE RECTIFY ANY SUCH DISCRIMINATORY MATTERS, WHICH VIOLATE STUDENT RIGHTS OR AS EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH SCHOOL BOARD IS PREPARED TO COMMENCE THE RENAMING PROCESS OF LEADING MAGNET HIGH SCHOOL.

UPON MAJORITY VOTE OF THE BOARD BY REQUESTING THE APPROVAL OF THE SUPERINTENDENT TO ALLOW THE FORMATION OF A RENAMING COMMITTEE.

NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED BY THE EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH SCHOOL BOARD IN REGULAR SESSION, DULY CONVENED THAT THE SUPERINTENDENT IS DIRECTED TO PURSUE AND COMPLETE THE FOLLOWING ACTIONS BY THURSDAY, JULY 16TH, 2021 SUPERINTENDENT TO APPROVE FORMATION OF A SCHOOL RENAMING COMMITTEE, A COMMITTEE SHALL BE COMPRISED OF, BUT NOT LIMITED TO AT A MINIMUM, THE FOLLOWING REPRESENTATIVES TO MEMBERS OF THE STUDENT BODY, TO MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY, WHICH THE SCHOOL IS LOCATED.

TWO EMPLOYEES OF THE EDRP SCHOOL SYSTEM AND ONE SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER APPOINTED BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE SCHOOL BOARD.

THE COMMITTEE SHALL HOLD A NUMBER TWO COMMITTEE SHALL HOLD A MINIMUM OF TWO PUBLIC MEETINGS WITH PROPER PUBLIC NOTICE AND DISCUSS ALL MATTERS REGARDING SCHOOL NAME CHANGES SUB A SUB BULLET.

THE COMMITTEE WILL SUBMIT UP TO THREE NAMES TO THE SUPERINTENDENT.

SECOND SUB BULLET.

IN THE EVENT, THE COMMITTEE HAS MORE THAN THREE NAMES.

THE COMMITTEE SHALL NARROW THE LIST TO THREE NAMES WITHOUT ASSIGNMENT OF PRIORITY.

ONCE THE LIST IS SUBMITTED, THE SUPERINTENDENT SHALL THEN MAKE A RECOMMENDATION TO THE SCHOOL BOARD AT THE FOLLOWING PUBLIC MEETING FOR APPROVAL, SEPTEMBER 20, 20, REGULAR BOARD MEETING UPON APPROVAL OF THE NEW SCHOOL SCHOOL NAME.

IT SHALL BE REQUESTED BY THE EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH SCHOOL BOARD, THAT THE PROCESS FOR REMOVAL OF ALL SIGNAGE AND SCHOOL PARAPHERNALIA LOCATED ON THE SET SCHOOL CAMPUS BEARING THE NAME LEE HIGH SCHOOL BEGAN EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY IN ORDER, AND THEN FIVE IN ORDER TO ENSURE A PROMPT COMPLETION OF THE NAME CHANGE BY THE EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH SCHOOL BOARD.

THE SUPERINTENDENT WILL DIRECT THAT THE 2020, 2021 GENERAL FUND BUDGET INCLUDE A LINE ITEM FOR THE AMOUNT OF $200,000 TO PAY FOR THE COST OF THE NAME CHANGE.

SHOULD IT BE APPROVED SIX? THE SUPERINTENDENT WILL DIRECT THAT AN ESTIMATE OF THE TOTAL COST OF THE NAME CHANGE ALONG WITH A DETAILED BUDGET AND PROJECT TIMELINE, BE PRESENTED TO THE EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH SCHOOL BOARD AT THE OCTOBER, 2020 REGULAR BOARD MEETING HIGHLIGHTING ANY ITEMS THAT MAY NOT BE COMPLETE BY APRIL 30, 2021, EITHER DUE TO TIMING OR FINANCIAL RESOURCE AVAILABILITY.

THESE ITEMS ARE TO BE UPDATED AT THE MARCH, 2021 REGULAR BOARD MEETING SEVEN IN ORDER TO FOCUS AS MUCH OF THE GENERAL FUND RESOURCES TO DIRECT STUDENT EDUCATION, THE SUPERINTENDENT WILL DIRECT THE PRINCIPAL TO SET UP A FUND, TO RECEIVE CONTRIBUTIONS FROM THE PUBLIC TO OFFSET THE COST OF THE NAME CHANGE.

ANY FUNDS RECEIVED WILL BE USED TO COVER FAR COST ABOVE THE $200,000 GENERAL FUND APPROPRIATION ARE TO REDUCE THE AMOUNT OF GENERAL FUND RESOURCES EXPENDED ON THE NAME, CHANGE.

WHICHEVER IS APPROPRIATE.

THE INDIVIDUALS GROUP OR ACCOMPANY SOURCES OF THE CONTRIBUTIONS WILL BE REPORTED TO THESE BATON ROUGE PARISH SCHOOL BOARD AT ITS OCTOBER, 2020 REGULAR BOARD MEETING AND AT THE MARCH, 2021 REGULAR BOARD MEETING FOR PUBLIC RECOGNITION.

AND THANKS BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT THE SUPERINTENDENT ALONG WITH THE SCHOOL RENAMING COMMITTEE PROVIDE A FULL UPDATE ON PROGRESS REGARDING THIS MATTER TO THE JULY, 2020 COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE AND THE AUGUST, 2020 COMMITTEE, THE WHOLE MEETING CERTIFY I CERTIFY THE FOREGOING RESOLUTION WAS ADOPTED BY THE EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH SCHOOL BOARD, AND A REGULAR SESSION DULY CONVENED ON JUNE 18TH, THE SAME AS NOT BEEN RESCINDED OR REPEALED.

SO I, SO MOVE.

DO I HAVE A SECOND, MR. BELEW SECONDS? UH, I'D LIKE TO EXPLAIN A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHY I AM DOING THIS.

UH, I HAVE NO PROBLEM WITH CHANGING THE NAME OF LEE HIGH SCHOOL.

I THINK IT'S TIME TO DO IT.

IT'S IN MY DISTRICT AND I FULLY AND COMPLETELY SUPPORT IT.

BUT I DO THINK WHEN WE DO SOMETHING AS IMPORTANT AND MORE OR LESS PERMANENT, THAT WE SHOULD ALLOW TIME FOR PUBLIC INPUT AS TO WHAT THAT NEW NAME SHOULD BE.

THE POLICY CALLS

[04:25:01]

FOR A COMMITTEE TO BE SET UP.

AND THE POLICY CALLS FOR THE SOUP THAT THE SCHOOL BOARD PRESIDENT TO APPOINT THAT PERSON POLICY ALSO CALLS FOR THE COMMITTEE MEETING TO HAVE A PUBLIC MEETING AND A PUBLIC MEANING MEANS DULY POSTED.

I SUGGEST WE NEED TWO PUBLIC MEETINGS, ONE TO ACCEPT NAMES FROM THE PUBLIC AS TO WHAT WE SHOULD BE CONSIDERING.

AND THEN A SECOND PUBLIC MEETING TO CONSIDER ALL THOSE ITEMS AND NARROW IT DOWN TO THREE.

UH, DURING THIS PROCESS FOR SUPERINTENDENT, I HAVE HAD MANY PEOPLE COMPLAINED TO ME THAT WE HAVE NOT BEEN PUBLIC ENOUGH.

I'VE EVEN HAD A CITY COUNCIL WOMAN SAY THAT WE DID NOT HAVE FIDELITY IN OUR PUBLIC MEETINGS BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T MEAN ANYTHING.

AND I TAKE THAT TO HEART.

I REALLY THINK THAT TRYING TO DO A HURRY UP JOB ON SELECTING A NAME, UH, DURING THIS PERIOD WHERE IT'S IN THE MIDDLE OF SUMMER WITH A MAJOR HOLIDAY IN IT, WHERE WE DON'T GET TRUE PUBLIC INPUT AS TO WHAT THE NAME SHOULD BE.

IT'S SOMETHING I JUST DON'T THINK IS CORRECT.

UH, ANOTHER PART OF THIS MOTION TALKS ABOUT THE COST.

UH, IF THERE IS SUBSTANTIAL COSTS IN THIS, IT GOES WAY BEYOND JUST SIGNS.

IT GOES TO UNIFORMS AND CHEERLEADER OUTFITS AND ON AND ON AND ON THAT COSTS MONEY TO DO THIS.

AND THESE ARE THE THINGS WE NEED TO DO.

AND BY PUTTING THIS INTO THE GENERAL FUND, IT ALLOWS AND MAKE SURE THAT THAT ACTIVITY HAPPENS QUICKLY.

AND IT'S NOT A HANDICAP BY THE AVAILABILITY OF FUNDS, BUT ALSO AT LARGE THE COMMUNITY AS TO WHAT THE ACTUAL COST IS.

AND I DON'T WANT THIS CHANGE.

THE, OUR STUDENTS SHOULD NOT PAY THE BURDEN OF THIS COST CHANGE.

WE NEED TO REACH OUT TO THE COMMUNITY AND GET THE FUNDS TO HELP DO THIS.

SO AGAIN, I WANT TO REITERATE, I AM NOT STANDING IN ANY WAY, SHAPE OR FORM IN THE NAME OF CHANGING THE NAME OF THE SCHOOL.

ALL I ASK IS THAT WE DO A BETTER JOB OF INCLUDING THE PUBLIC, BECAUSE MANY OF THE PUBLIC NEVER SAW THIS MOTION OR ANYTHING UNTIL A FEW DAYS AGO.

AND SOME OF THEM PROBABLY HAVEN'T SEEN IT.

NOW.

I THINK WE NEED TO DO A MUCH BETTER JOB OF INVOLVING THE PUBLIC AS TO THE SELECTION OF WHAT THE NAME WILL BE.

AND I FIRMLY COMMIT THAT WE SHOULD TODAY ENACT A MOTION TO REMOVE THE NAME OF LEHIGH.

BUT I THINK WE NEED TO PAUSE AND TAKE A LITTLE TIME AND GET MORE PUBLIC SUPPORT AND BROADER PUBLIC INPUT FOR THE SELECTION OF WHAT THAT NAME WILL BE.

SO I'VE MADE THE MOTION IT'S BEEN SECONDED.

SO, UH, NEXT I THINK IT'S, UH, MR. LANDIS, THANK YOU, PRESIDENT, GO THERE.

I'M GOING TO IMPLORE YOU TO PULL YOUR SUBSTITUTE MOTION TONIGHT.

I WANT YOU TO THINK ABOUT WHAT YOU'RE ASKING THE STUDENTS AROUND OUR PARENTS OF STUDENTS THAT ATTEND THAT SCHOOL, A PARISH AND A DISTRICT THAT IS 81% AFRICAN AMERICAN STUDENTS.

YOU'RE TELLING THEM THAT WE'RE GOING TO SEND YOU BACK TO SCHOOL INSIDE OF AN OPPRESSIVE BUILDING WITH A PERSON'S NAME THAT IS GOING TO FURTHER OPPRESS YOU, A PERSON THAT HAS SCORNED YOUR HISTORY.

IF YOU WERE ASKING OUR STUDENTS.

SO IF YOU WERE ASKING OUR BOARD, I WANT YOU TO JUST TO TAKE A LOOK AND PUT YOURSELF IN OUR SHOES.

PEOPLE THAT LOOK LIKE MYSELF.

IF YOU WERE ASKING OUR BOARD TO CHANGE THE NAME OF A SCHOOL NAMED AFTER A BLACK MAN THAT INSTITUTED A SOUL THAT PUSHED AND PROMOTED THE INSTITUTION OF SLAVERY AGAINST WHITE PEOPLE, THIS WOULD NOT BE A CONVERSATION.

IN FACT, I'M WILLING TO BET THAT THAT NAME WOULDN'T EVEN BEEN ON THAT SCHOOL FOR 75 YEARS.

I'M GETTING EMOTIONAL ABOUT THIS BECAUSE THIS AFFECTS ME, NOT JUST ME, BUT EVERY SINGLE STUDENT INSIDE OF THIS SYSTEM THAT HAS TO DEAL WITH THIS AND HAS TO LEARN THEIR HISTORY AND LEARNED THAT OUR BOARD IS NOT GOING TO ACT WITH A SENSE OF URGENCY.

YOU SAID WE DIDN'T HAVE ENOUGH TIME.

YOU SAID THAT SHE'D BE MORE PUBLIC MEETINGS INSIDE OF THIS RESOLUTION.

THAT'S SPECIFICALLY SPELLED OUT TO PUBLIC MEETINGS THAT ARE ALREADY HAVE NOTICED.

ONE IS THE COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE IN JULY.

THE NEXT ONE IS THE REGULAR BOARD MEETING IN JULY.

YOU SAID THAT THE PRESIDENT SHOULD HAVE THE OPTION OF SELECTING THE SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER THAT SERVES ON THE BOARD.

EVERY SINGLE THING ABOUT THE FORMATION OF THIS RESOLUTION SPEAKS AND HONORS OUR POLICY.

YOU STILL HAVE THE OPTION OF SELECTING THAT BOARD MEMBER, BUT IT ALSO GIVES US THE OPTION TO ADD ANOTHER BOARD MEMBER TO THAT COMMITTEE, TO TELL OUR STUDENTS, YOU HAVE TO WAIT A YEAR AFTER WE ADDRESSED.

THIS IS TOTALLY UNACCEPTABLE.

IT IS UNACCEPTABLE.

YOU SAY THAT YOU'RE NOT GOING TO STAND IN THE WAY I IMPLORE YOU RIGHT NOW.

DON'T STAND IN THE WAY DON'T STAND IN THE WAY OF PROGRESS.

DON'T STAND IN THE WAY OF US TRYING TO CHANGE OUR PATHS.

BY MOVING FORWARD WITH OUR HISTORY, OUR FUTURE DO WHAT IS RIGHT.

I'M ASKING

[04:30:01]

YOU TO DO WHAT IS INSIDE OF YOUR HEART, BECAUSE I KNOW THAT YOU ARE NOT SEEING YOUR STUDENTS OR EVEN YOUR OWN CHILDREN TO A SCHOOL THAT IS NAMED AFTER SOMEBODY THAT PROMOTED THE INSTITUTION OF KILLING PEOPLE THAT LOOK LIKE THEM.

YOU WANT IT, THE HISTORY YOU GOT, THE HISTORY YOU WANT, THE SUPPORT, THE SUPPORT IS THERE.

IN FACT, WE DON'T EVEN HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT THE SIGNAGE FOR THE EXTERIOR PART OF THE SCHOOL.

OUR COMMUNITY HAS COME TOGETHER AND SAID THEY WILL PAY FOR IT.

WHAT IS THE HOLD UP? NOW? YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT OUR STUDENTS AND UNIFORMS. OKAY? LET THE STUDENTS WEAR THEIR UNIFORMS, BUT CHANGE THE NAME.

PLEASE DO NOT COMPLICATE THIS PROCESS BY ADDING MORE CONFLICT TO THIS.

WE HAVE WAITED FOR FAR TOO LONG.

MR. HOPPER SPOKE ON IT 400 YEARS.

HOW LONG AGO? HOW MUCH LONGER DO YOU WANT US TO WAIT? WHEN ARE YOU GOING TO LISTEN TO THE COMMUNITY'S VOICE? IT'S NOT JUST BLACK PEOPLE THAT SPEAK IT ON THIS MATTER.

IF YOU LOOK INSIDE OF YOUR EMAILS, YOU WILL SEE THAT IT IS TEACHERS, EDUCATORS.

IT IS PRINCIPALS.

IT IS ADMINISTRATION.

IT IS COMMUNITY STAKEHOLDERS.

IT IS ELECTED OFFICIALS FROM ALL ACROSS THIS COUNTRY.

IN FACT, I RECEIVED AN EMAIL FOR SOMEBODY ALL THE WAY IN PORTUGAL, IN EUROPE THAT EMPLOYED THIS BOARD TO CHANGE THE NAME.

THE WORLD IS WATCHING.

WE ARE THE CAPITOL CITY.

WE ARE THE CAPITAL DISTRICT IN THE STATE OF LOUISIANA.

WHAT TYPE OF MESSAGE ARE WE SENDING? AND WE'RE SETTING THE STANDARD FOR THE REST OF THE STATE.

WE'RE GOING TO SIT ON OUR HANDS, EVERY GOING TO FORCE OUR KIDS TO GO TO THIS SCHOOL AGAIN, THAT'S NOT PROGRESS.

NO, THAT'S NOT PROGRESS.

WE'RE BETTER THAN THAT.

WE ARE BETTER THAN THIS.

DO WHAT IS RIGHT? I'M ASKING YOU TO PLEASE PULL THE SUBSTITUTE MOTION.

DO WHAT IS IN YOUR HEART.

DO WHAT YOU KNOW IS RIGHT TONIGHT.

I'M EMPLOYING EVERY SINGLE BOARD MEMBER IN THE COMMUNITY THAT SHOWED UP TONIGHT.

WHEN YOU GET ON THAT MIC, YOU LET IT BE KNOWN THAT WE WANT THE NAME CHANGE IMMEDIATELY.

OUR STUDENTS DESERVE BETTER.

THAT'S WHY WE WERE ELECTED ON THIS BOARD.

I'M NOT SAYING THIS TO TRY TO BE BOASTFUL.

I'M NOT SAYING THIS TO GET ATTENTION, BECAUSE THIS IS NOT A ONE PERSON EFFORT.

THIS HAS BEEN OUR ENTIRE COMMUNITY THAT HAS COME TOGETHER AND SAID, THIS IS WRONG.

PLEASE DO WHAT IS RIGHT.

THE SAD PART IS I SHOULDN'T HAVE TO BEG US TO MAKE SURE THAT WE VOTE ON SOMETHING THAT IS RIGHT FOR OUR STUDENTS.

BUT THE FACT IS I HAVE TO BAKE TONIGHT.

SO I'M TELLING YOU DO WHAT IS RIGHT, PLEASE FOR THE SANITY OF OUR CITY, FOR THE BETTERMENT OF OUR SCHOOLS.

BUT MOST IMPORTANTLY, FOR THE STUDENTS AND THE FUTURE GENERATIONS THAT HAVE TO COME INSIDE ABOUT DISTRICT, LET THEM KNOW.

THEY, WHEN THEY CAME TO US WITH A CONCERN, WE SHOWED THEM HOW MUCH WE CARED BY ACTING IMMEDIATELY.

THANK YOU, MS. COLLINS.

I CAN'T, UM, YEAH, I CAN'T SUPPORT THE SUBSTITUTE.

I APPRECIATE, I MEAN, IT'S, IT'S A WIN BECAUSE FINALLY THE NAME WILL BE CHANGED.

AND I, I WAS FORWARD WHEN IT CAME UP A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO.

UM, BUT I CAN'T, AND I APPRECIATE THAT YOU PUTTING THE MONEY INTO IT.

UM, BUT IF YOU GO ALL THE WAY TO SEPTIC, LIKE I CAN EVEN SEE A COUPLE OF WEEKS ON THE LOGIC OF MAKING SURE, YOU KNOW, PUBLIC INPUT, ET CETERA, BUT TO GO ALL THE WAY TO SEPTEMBER, I MEAN, THEY'LL BE IN SCHOOL BY THEN.

IT'S JUST, I AS IS NO NOTHING.

THERE'S NO WAY TO WORK WITH THAT.

I MEAN, IF SOME ARE NOW, LET THEM GET THE NEW UNIFORMS AND EVERYTHING IN PLACE, EVEN IF THE SIGNAGE TAKES A WHILE BECAUSE OF COST AND MATERIAL AND CONSTRUCTION SCHEDULING AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE.

UM, BUT THAT, UM, I'M JUST NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO SUPPORT THAT.

I'M GOING TO HAVE TO AGREE WITH MY COLLEAGUE MOVING FORWARD IMMEDIATELY.

UM, THAT'S IT.

THANK YOU, MR. LANA, DID YOU PUT UP AGAIN? YES.

AS I SAID BEFORE, THE SUBSTITUTE MOTION, I ABSOLUTELY CAN'T SUPPORT, BUT I AM WILLING TO ENTERTAIN A FRIENDLY AMENDMENT ON PERTINENT POLICY ISSUES, BUT BEFORE I AGREED TO DO SO, I WOULD LIKE TO, UH, I LIKE TO ASK UP ON OUR SCHOOL BOARD ATTORNEY

[04:35:01]

TO PLEASE LET US KNOW IF THERE ARE ANY PERTINENT ISSUES OR POLICY CONCERNS THAT, THAT YOU SEE LEGALLY THAT NEEDS TO BE CHANGED.

I'LL SPEAK BRIEFLY TO THAT.

UM, AND WE SPOKE MISCELLANEOUS NOW BEFORE THIS MEETING AND ALSO MR. GO.

AND SO THE ISSUES I SEE THAT WILL BE RESOLVED IF WE MAKE THE CHANGES, UH, TO ALIGN WITH POLICY OF PRIMARILY UNDER SECTIONS ONE AND TWO, UM, REQUIRING, UH, THAT THERE'D BE A BOARD MEMBER APPOINTED BY THE PRESIDENT OF SCHOOL BOARD THAT'S NECESSARY.

THAT'S A POLICY REQUIREMENT.

UM, THE FACT THAT THAT NEEDS TO BE AT LEAST ONE PUBLIC MEETING.

UM, IT DOES SPEAK TO AT LEAST ONE PUBLIC MEETING IN THE POLICY.

SO THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDED SOMEWHERE.

I BELIEVE THE AMENDMENT ADDS TO.

UM, AND THE FACT THAT, UH, THE COMMITTEE HAS TO SUBMIT UP TO THREE NAMES.

THERE HAS TO BE A MINIMUM OF THREE NAMES.

SO THAT CHANGES IS REASONABLE.

UM, I DO WANT TO SAY THAT IF THE COMMITTEE COMES UP WITH MORE THAN THREE NAMES, THE POLICY REQUIRES THEM TO LIMIT IT TO THREE AND THEN PRIORITIZE THOSE THREE.

OTHERWISE, UH, THOSE NAMES WOULD BE SUBMITTED WITH NO PROBLEM, NO PRIORITY.

AND AGAIN, THAT CHANGE I BELIEVE IS IN MR. GOLDIE'S AMENDMENT.

SO EVERYTHING ON THE SECTIONS, ONE AND TWO, UM, EVERY CHANGE RECOMMENDED ON SECTIONS ONE AND TWO WILL ALIGN US WITH POLICY.

THE OTHER CHANGES ARE A MATTER OF CHOICE.

SO BOARD MEMBERS CAN MAKE THE DECISION TO MAKE THOSE CHANGES, INCLUDING THE TIMELINE.

I WOULD ONLY ADVISE TO MAKE THAT ANY TIMELINE YOU SUGGESTED OR THAT YOU DESIGN ALLOW FOR PUBLIC MEETINGS.

I WOULD RECOMMEND MR. LANDIS, THAT THE PUBLIC MEETINGS WOULD BE SEPARATE FROM THE COMMITTEE, THE WHOLE MEETINGS AND THE REGULAR BOARD MEETINGS, BECAUSE THIS MAY TAKE SOME TIME AND IT MAY REQUIRE A SIGNIFICANT INPUT FROM THE COMMUNITY.

AND SOMETIMES WE GET RUSHED IN THESE MEETINGS, AND EVEN NOW WE'RE HERE UNTIL 10 O'CLOCK.

SO I WOULD, I WOULD SUGGEST TO YOU THAT, UH, NOT TO UTILIZE THOSE TWO MEETINGS AS THE REQUIRED MEETINGS TO HOLD SEPARATE MEETINGS, TO ALLOW THE COMMUNITY ADEQUATE INPUT, ALL OF THE CHANGES WOULD BE OPTIONAL BASED ON WHAT YOU WERE TO DECIDE.

I'M WILLING TO ENTERTAIN A FRIENDLY AMENDMENT.

FOUR, I'M SORRY.

MR. LANDIS SUBSTITUTE MOTION IS ON THE FLOOR.

SO I JUST WANTED TO, UM, TALK, UH, SPEAK BRIEFLY ABOUT THE, UM, THE CONCERNS OF, UH, OF OUR UNIFORMS AND ALL OF THAT.

FIRST OF ALL, STUDENTS AT LEE HIGH SCHOOL DON'T WEAR UNIFORMS. SO LIKE ATHLETIC UNIFORMS AND ALL THE THINGS LIKE VENDORS ARE UP ALL OVER THE WORLD TRYING TO TRY TO GET A BEAT.

SO I JUST DON'T WANT US TO LIKE STALL FOR THE SAKE OF SAYING, OH, WE NEED THIS.

AND I UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU'RE SAYING, MS. COLLINS AND OTHER PEOPLE SAYING LIKE, WE, WE KNOW THAT THERE'S GOING TO HAVE TO BE SOME CHANGES, BUT THE SIGNAL THAT WE NEED TO SEND TO OUR COMMUNITY IMMEDIATELY IS THAT WE WILL NOT STAND FOR BIGOTRY.

WE WILL NOT STAND FOR RACISM AND WE WILL NOT STAND PISSY SYSTEMS AND SYMBOLS OF OPPRESSION UNTIL I UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT, MS. WITH THE, WITH THE FINANCIAL BEARING AND ALL THAT.

BUT WE HAVE TO SEND THAT SIGNAL RIGHT NOW, RIGHT THIS MINUTE THAT WE WILL NOT STAND FOR THESE THINGS THAT WE'RE SAYING.

UM, ROBERT E. LEE REPRESENTS, WELL, WE ALL KNOW HE REPRESENTS.

AND SO LIKE, LIKE MR. ELENA'S HAS ALREADY SAID, THERE HAS BEEN COMMUNITY SUPPORT FROM ALL OVER THE NATION.

WE'VE EVEN GOT PHILANTHROPIC DOLLARS.

UM, YOU KNOW, THAT WILL GO TO THIS CAUSE SO WE HAVE TO DO THIS NOW THERE'S NO NEED TO WAIT.

WE'VE BEEN WAITING TOO LONG.

WE HAVE SO MANY BRIGHT STUDENTS IN THOSE BUILDINGS AND IT'S JUST, IT'S JUST TIME.

AND, AND WE CONTINUE TO STALL ON THESE TYPES OF ISSUES, BUT WE GOTTA GET OUT, MAKE OURSELVES REALLY UNCOMFORTABLE.

AS I SAID EARLIER, AND DO WHAT'S RIGHT.

DO THE RIGHT THING.

I JUST EMPLOYED THIS BOY TO DO THE RIGHT THING AND I DO THE RIGHT THING TOMORROW.

DO THE RIGHT THING TONIGHT IMMEDIATELY.

RIGHT NOW, THE TIME IS NOW CHANGE CAN HAPPEN TODAY.

WOULD BE AS INSENSITIVE AND SAY SOME INACCURATE THINGS ABOUT HISTORY THAT WOULD JUST FAN A FLAME, YOU KNOW? UM, I'M SORRY FOR THAT.

A BOARD MEMBER WHERE JACKSON, THANK YOU, MR. GOLDIE.

UM, I HATE THAT WE HAVE TO ADDRESS THIS TONIGHT AGAIN, YOU KNOW, WE TRIED TO RESOLVE THIS, UH, A COUPLE OF THREE, MAYBE FOUR YEARS AGO AND, UM, THE IT FAILED AND OUR EXCUSE THEN WAS THAT, YOU KNOW, WE WERE GOING TO HAVE TO CHANGE.

UM, THE KIDS HAD BOUGHT UNIFORMS, YOU KNOW, THAT, THAT THOSE KINDS OF COSTS.

UM, AND I DON'T KNOW IF Y'ALL REMEMBER THIS.

UH, I, I REMEMBER DISTINCTLY AS PEOPLE WERE WALKING OUT THE DOOR, BUT THEN THE, THEN PRESIDENT REMINDED EVERYBODY THAT THIS COULD COME BACK TO THE BOARD AND THAT WE EXPECTED IT TO COME BACK.

I'M SURPRISED THAT IT'S, IT'S BEEN THIS LONG, BUT THIS IS A HARD, UGLY TOPIC THAT NOBODY WANTS TO TALK ABOUT.

SO IT'S A LOT EASIER TO JUST KICK IT DOWN THE ROAD AND SAY, OH, WE'LL, WE'LL TALK ABOUT IT LATER.

YOU KNOW? WELL, THE THINGS THAT ARE HAPPENING IN OUR SOCIETY RIGHT NOW, WE'RE PUSHING THIS FORWARD ANYWAY.

AND THEN IT WAS DISTURBING THAT A FELLOW BOARD MEMBER

[04:40:01]

UH, AND THIS HAS PUSHED US.

THIS HAS PUSHED THIS WHOLE TOPIC IN THE FOREFRONT WHEN WE HAVE SOMETHING EXTREMELY IMPORTANT ON THE AGENDA THAT WE DON'T WANT TO GET DISTRACTED ON, BUT UNFORTUNATELY WE ARE, WE HAVE TO HANDLE THIS.

WE HAVE TO, WE HAVE TO TALK ABOUT THIS BECAUSE YOU KNOW, IT'S NOT JUST PEOPLE RIGHT HERE ON THE BOARD OR IN BATON ROUGE, BUT IT'S ALL OVER THE COUNTRY.

IT'S ALL OVER THE WORLD.

AND WE'RE PUSHED NOW TO DEAL WITH THIS.

IT'S VERY UNFORTUNATE THAT WE HAVE TO DEAL WITH IT NOW.

UM, AND I'M, I'M DISTURBED THAT THIS RESOLUTION WAS BROUGHT TO THE, NOT TO THE BOARD, BUT TO, UH, TO THE SUPERINTENDENT AND LEADERSHIP.

AND IF THERE WERE, IF THERE WAS ANYTHING IN IT THAT WAS NOT QUITE RIGHT, ACCORDING TO POLICY, IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN HANDLED BEFORE TODAY.

IT'S DISTURBING THAT WE HAVE TO TAKE OUR TIME NOW AND TRY TO WORDSMITH SOMETHING WHEN JUST SOME SIMPLE COMMUNICATION AHEAD OF TIME COULD HAVE HELPED ALL OF THIS.

AND WE WOULDN'T BE DOING THIS NOW, AS, AS FAR AS, UH, UM, ROBERT E. LEE, IT WAS THE SPIRIT IN WHICH THE SCHOOL WAS NAMED.

THAT IS MOST DISTURBING TO ME.

WE KNOW AROUND WHAT TIME THAT WAS, WHAT WAS GOING ON IN THE CIVIL RIGHTS, WITHIN CIVIL RIGHTS.

AND IT WAS BASICALLY DONE TO JUST BE A SLAP IN THE FACE.

AND, YOU KNOW, IT'S BEEN, I DON'T KNOW HOW LONG YOU SAID 75.

I DON'T KNOW.

IT'S BEEN 75 YEARS, BUT, UH, IF IT WAS 59, I CAN TELL YOU, BY MY AGE, THAT'S ABOUT 61 YEARS, YOU KNOW, THAT'S A LONG TIME.

AND, UM, IT'S JUST WAY TOO LONG THAT SCHOOL WAS GOING TO BE NAMED AFTER THE NEIGHBORHOOD AT THAT TIME, UH, SOUTH DOWNS, HIGH SCHOOL.

AND THEN, YOU KNOW, THAT GOT TAKEN OFF THE TABLE COMPLETELY.

AND, UM, WE WERE STRAPPED WITH, UH, ROBERT E. LEE.

AND IT WAS OUR BOARD THAT DID THAT, UM, LONG TIME AGO, BUT, YOU KNOW, HISTORY IS UGLY AND THIS IS NOT JUST, THIS IS NOT ABOUT SLAVERY, YOU KNOW, BECAUSE IF YOU LOOK AT SLAVERY, YOU KNOW, WE WOULD BE CHANGING ALL KINDS OF STUFF, ALL KINDS OF THINGS WOULD BE CHANGING.

UM, BUT THIS IS ABOUT SOMEBODY WHO WAS A CONFEDERATE GENERAL.

HE WAS ON THE, THE WRONG SIDE, THE LOSING SIDE OF A WAR.

THANK GOD.

CAUSE YOU KNOW, WHAT WOULD WE BE RIGHT NOW? YOU KNOW? UH, SO YOU KNOW, WHERE ON EARTH, OTHER THAN AROUND TOPICS LIKE THIS, DO WE CELEBRATE LOSERS NOWHERE, BUT YOU KNOW, WE BUILT MONUMENTS, NOT JUST HERE, BUT ALL ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

THIS HAPPENED, YOU KNOW, LONG AFTER THE WAR WAS OVER.

SO THIS WAS NOT ABOUT HAILING THE SPOILS OF WAR.

THIS WAS ABOUT SOMETHING VERY PERSONAL AND, UM, VERY HURTFUL TO A WHOLE RACE OF PEOPLE WHO HAD ALREADY SUFFERED HUNDREDS OF YEARS OF OPPRESSION AND JIM CROW AFTER THAT, AND STILL TO THIS DAY, WE HAVE PAIN STILL TO THIS DAY, WE HAVE PAIN.

UM, I WOULD, I WOULD SUGGEST THAT IF THERE'S ANYTHING IN THE ORIGINAL, UH, THE ORIGINAL RESOLUTION THAT IS, THAT GOES AGAINST THE GRAIN OF OUR POLICY, THAT WE WOULD FIX THAT.

AND IF WE NEED A LITTLE BIT MORE TIME, MAYBE, BUT I CAN'T SEE US DRAGGING THIS OUT, KICKING THIS CAN DOWN INTO THE FALL, INTO THE SPRING, YOU KNOW, THAT, YOU KNOW, THAT'S JUST TOTALLY UNACCEPTABLE.

UM, THAT'S LIKE, YOU KNOW, THAT'S ALMOST ADDING INSULT TO INJURY.

UH, YOU KNOW, IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE NEED TO TAKE CARE OF IT NOW IT'S AN URGENT MATTER.

AND IT'S NOT JUST BECAUSE OF BOARD MEMBERS FEELING THE URGENCY.

YOU KNOW, WE'RE, WE'RE KIND OF PUSHED TO DO THIS.

AND, UM, IT'S NOT JUST HERE IN BATON ROUGE.

IT'S, IT'S, IT'S LONG, LONG, LONG OVERDUE.

AND I'M SORRY ABOUT THE CIRCUMSTANCES THAT WE HAVE TO BRING IT FORWARD,

[04:45:01]

BUT IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE, WE, WE, WE HAVE TO TAKE CARE OF AND THE SOONER THE BETTER.

AND, UM, I MEAN THAT TIMELINE IS A LITTLE TIGHT, BUT WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT THE 4TH OF JULY BEING ON A SATURDAY, IT'S NOT GOING TO DISTURB TOO MUCH OF THE WEEKDAY OR THE, THE HOLIDAY, BECAUSE IF SOMEBODY IS DOING SOMETHING ON THE FOURTH, IT'S NOT GOING TO BE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE WEEK.

AT LEAST IT'LL BE ON A SATURDAY.

SO IT WON'T TAKE THAT MUCH TIME AWAY FROM THE ORIGINAL TIMELINE.

BUT, UM, YOU KNOW, I COULD, I COULD UNDERSTAND STRETCHING IT OUT A LITTLE BIT FARTHER, YOU KNOW, TO THE END OF THE MONTH, GIVE YOU, YOU KNOW, WE GOT FOUR WEEKS NOW YOU GO TO THE END OF THE MONTH, YOU GOT FIVE OR SIX.

UH, BUT I REALLY CAN'T SEE US PUSHING THIS ALL THE WAY DOWN.

LET'S JUST GET IT OVER WITH, DO IT, UM, TAKE CARE OF, OF, UH, OF IT AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE AND WHATEVER WE NEED TO DO ABOUT THE UNIFORMS. WE'LL, WE'LL HANDLE THAT, UH, WHEN WE GET TO IT.

THANK YOU, MISS WHERE'S JACKSON.

UH, IF MY THING IS RIGHT, MS. COLLINS, ARE YOU BACK? ? I'M SORRY, SIR.

WE GONNA FOLLOW OUR POLICY AND WE FINISHED THE BOARD FIRST.

MS. COLLINS, DO YOU HAVE, OKAY.

AND IN THE INTEREST OF TIME, I CAN, UH, I HAD WANTED TO CLARIFY ONE OF MY COMMENTS, BUT IT'S NOT IT'S IT'S MINUS IT'S NOT NECESSARY.

THAT'S APPROXIMATELY EIGHT WEEKS.

UH, THERE ARE NO OTHER ONES ON THE BOARD, SO I WILL SAY SOMETHING.

I JUST WANT TO MAKE IT VERY, VERY CLEAR.

I FULLY SUPPORT CHANGING THE NAME.

I AM NOT STANDING IN THE WAY OF THAT AT ALL.

IT NEEDS TO BE CHANGED AND I WILL FULLY SUPPORT THAT CHANGE.

WHAT I HAVE PROPOSED IS A DELAY OF EIGHT WEEKS TO ALLOW US TIME TO FULLY VET WHAT THE NEW NAME IS GOING TO BE.

THIS HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH CHANGING THE NAME TONIGHT.

WE WILL PASS A RESOLUTION THAT REQUIRES THE NAME TO BE CHANGED.

AND SO ALL I'M TRYING TO DO IS GIVE THE PUBLIC TIME TO COMMENT AND HAVE INPUT AND COMMUNITY INPUT.

WHAT YOU ALWAYS GET HIT UPON THAT WE DON'T DO ENOUGH TO SELECT WHAT THE NEW NAME WILL BE.

THAT IS NOT DONE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE SUMMER, WHERE PEOPLE COULD NOT HAVE INPUT INTO WHAT THAT NAME IS.

SO THIS ONLY DELAYS THE TIMETABLE VERSUS WHAT IS PROPOSED BY EIGHT WEEKS.

IT'S NOT A YEAR.

IT'S NOT ANYTHING ELSE LIKE THAT.

AND IT ALSO PROVIDES TO HAVE MONEY IN THE BUDGET TO EFFECT THOSE CHANGES, THEIR ORIGINAL MOTION CALL FOR THE RECOMMENDATION TO BE MADE BY JULY 16TH.

THIS MOTION CALLS WERE TO BE MADE AT SEPTEMBER REGULAR BOARD MEETING.

SO IT'S NOT A HUGE DELAY.

IT'S NOT A YEAR BY ANY STRETCH OF THE IMAGINATION.

AND AS FAR AS HER REPRESENTATION ON THE COMMITTEE, ALL OF THESE NUMBERS THAT ARE ON THE COMMITTEE ARE MINIMUMS. SO THERE'S ALWAYS THE POSSIBILITY AND OPTION OF RAISING THAT NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO ARE ON THE COMMITTEE.

SO I WILL STAND WITH MY EMOTION BECAUSE I THINK IT PROVIDES A MUCH BETTER INPUT FOR THE COMMUNITY SO THAT THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY CAN BE HEARD ON WHAT THE NEW NAME SHOULD BE.

THEN THE OLD NAME WILL BE GOING AWAY, BYPASSING THIS RESOLUTION.

MY MOTION ONLY TALKS ABOUT WHAT THE NEW NAME WILL BE AND HOW TO GO ABOUT SELECTING THAT NEW NAME.

SO WITH THAT, ARE THERE ANY OTHER COMMENTS FROM THE BOARD WE'LL NOW GO TO THE AUDIENCE IN ANY OF THE AUDIENCE HERE PRESENT WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK TO THIS THING? MA'AM I PROMISE MR. SUPERINTENDENT, WARREN DRAKES AND SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS.

THIS IS MY LAST TIME TONIGHT.

WHAT IS THE NAME NOW? EARLY HIGH SCHOOL.

LEE MAGNET HIGH.

WHAT IS IT? LEE MAGNET HIGH.

HOW MANY STUDENTS? A THOUSAND ROUGHLY? THEY WERE SUPPOSEDLY 1500.

IT'S IT'S GETTING UP TO THAT NUMBER 1500 CHILDREN.

AND IF IT DIDN'T HOUSE 1500 CHILDREN, THE OTHER REGULAR CHILDREN FROM THE NEIGHBORHOOD VALID PROGUARD THEIR LAND AND MAYFAIR COULD GO THERE.

LIKE THEY USED TO.

TO USE THE WORD OR OPPRESSION RACISM IN A D DEROGATORY THING.

THAT'S ANOTHER SUBJECT FOR ANOTHER BOOK, BUT IT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE 1500.

AND IF IT'S NOT 1500, I, AND I, IT, IT, IT CAUSES INTO JUSTIN AND ME TO COME TO A SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER.

THE LAST TWO BOARD MEETING.

LAST TIME I WAS HERE WAS WITH ONE OF MY GRANDSON WHO WAS MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENT OF THE YEAR.

AND HE'S OUTSIDE WAITING FOR ME NOW.

UM, THE MEETINGS IT WAS DURING THE DAY, SO IT WAS MUCH BETTER, BUT IT'S DISGUSTING

[04:50:01]

THAT'S DISRESPECT FOR TWO, MR. SUPERINTENDENT, WARREN DRAKE, AND OTHER SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS HERE, AND AUDIENCE THAT'S HERE.

UH, RACISM, BLACK MA BLACK WHITE ISSUES, BLACK, WHITE, UH, AFRICAN AMERICAN.

WHEN WE, FIRST OF ALL, I DIDN'T THINK I INTRODUCED MYSELF PROPERLY.

I AM MINISTER SHIRLEY HAMPTON, BOWMAN DO POS THEN MINISTER FOR THE SICK AND THE SHUT IN FOR NURSING HOMES IN HOSPITAL FOR ALMOST 20 YEARS.

BUT IT'S SICKENING.

AND IT CALLS INTO JUSTIN AND WE SHOULD KNOW BETTER.

AND WE KNOW WHEN WE LEARN, WE DO BETTER AND WE LEARN BETTER.

WE DO BETTER, MAN, IN ORDER TO DO THAT, WE HAVE TO KNOW WHO WE ARE AND WHOSE WE ARE.

AND IT'S DISRESPECTFUL TO CONTINUE TO USE THE WORD RACISM OR OPPRESSION AND ALL THE OTHER WORDS THAT NEED TO NOT BE IN THE SCHOOL BOARD MEETING, WASTING TIME.

AND MR. SUPERINTENDENT OR WARREN'S RATE, THE SCHOOL'S NAME WAS CHANGED UNDER THE LEADERSHIP OF MY DYSLEXIC SON, GRAND JOSEPH DUPONT DYSLEXIC FROM, OKAY.

WESTDALE ELEMENTARY BECAUSE OF THE FIVE OH FOUR FIVE, WHAT IS FIVE OH FOUR.

AND HE WAS ALLOWED TO, STUDENTS WERE ALLOWED TO READ TO HIM AND KINDERGARTEN FIRST AND SECOND AND THIRD GRADE.

AND HE EXPLAINED IT AND THE TEACHERS MA'AM.

WE HAVE A LONG AGENDA.

THAT'S THE TIME LIMIT.

OH, THAT'S A TIME LIMIT.

BUT ANYWAY, THE NAME OF THE SCHOOL IS ROBERT E. LEE PATRIOT'S HIGH SCHOOL.

AND THAT NAME WAS CHANGED IN 2004 AND FIVE.

AND THE STUDENT BODY WITH MY SON BEING A STUDENT IN 2000, I GRADUATED IN 2000.

THE ROBERT EATALY HAS THE LEE HIGH SCHOOL, THE LEE HIGH SCHOOL PATRIOTS.

THAT'S THE NAME OF THE SCHOOL.

HI, MY NAME.

GOTCHA.

HI, MY NAME IS DEVINE JONES BOARD MEMBER OF SLICE, BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY, AN ELEMENTARY SPECIAL EDUCATION TEACHER IN ASCENSION PARISH.

I SAY THAT TO SAY THAT JUST LIKE OTHER MORE NUMBERS I'VE ALREADY MENTIONED, IT IS NOT JUST THE STUDENTS AND FAMILIES HERE.

MY STUDENTS COULD COME HERE.

THEY COULD TRANSFER HERE.

WHAT I WANT YOU TO KNOW IS KNOWING THERE ARE CRUCIAL PASSIONATE ITEMS ON THIS AGENDA.

I AM DISAPPOINTED THAT YOU WOULD STOP IT WITH ITEMS THAT ARE NOT AS PERTINENT AND COULD BE ADDRESSED AT A LATER DATE.

IT IS AFTER 10:00 PM, MR. GOLDIE AND OTHER BOARD MEMBERS.

YOU SPEAK OF BUILDING AND RESTORING TRUST WITH THE COMMUNITY.

YET YOU WANT TO EXTEND THE 75 YEARS OF THIS NAME WITH MENISCAL BANTER.

COME ON.

THERE IS NO MORE STALLING.

GET IT DONE TONIGHT.

DOESN'T HAVE A COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT.

NEXT GOOD EVENING.

MY NAME IS CANDACE DAMON AND I AM.

I'M A MEMBER OF SLICE.

I HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THE FACT THAT THIS BOARD IS ACTING LIKE THE, UM, EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH SCHOOL SYSTEM.

YOU GUYS CAN GET TOGETHER, PUT OUT A SURVEY.

YOU CAN PUT TOGETHER A MEETING.

YOU CAN ADVERTISE, YOU HAVE EMAILS AND CONTACT INFORMATION FOR EVERY SINGLE PARENT IN THIS DISTRICT FOR EVERY SINGLE SCHOOL, FOR EVERY SINGLE STUDENT, FOR FAMILIES AND FOR COMMUNITY MEMBERS, COMMUNITY MEMBERS HAVE ALREADY BEEN EXPRESSING A LOT OF CONCERN OVER THIS ISSUE.

THERE'S A LOT OF INFORMATION.

THERE'S A LOT OF FOLKS WHO ARE ALREADY FIRED UP TO GET THIS WORK DONE.

IF SAY, WE NEED PUBLIC MEETINGS, CALL A PUBLIC MEETING.

IF YOU'LL CALL A PUBLIC MEETING NEXT WEDNESDAY, WE'LL BE THERE.

IF YOU SAY, OKAY, WE WANT TO CHANGE.

THE NAME WILL BE THERE.

IT AIN'T GONNA TAKE TIL SEPTEMBER.

IT'S NOT GONNA TAKE TIL NOVEMBER.

IT'S NOT GONNA TAKE TIL MARCH.

YOU CAN GET IT DONE.

YOU HAVE THE RESOURCES TO GET IT DONE.

IT DOESN'T SAY I NEED TO HAVE COMMUNITY INPUT.

DOESN'T MEAN THAT I HAVE TO DELAY EVERYTHING.

IT MEANS I HAVE TO ACT WITH A SENSE OF URGENCY TO MAKE SURE THAT I AM INFORMING THE PUBLIC.

AND THEN ONCE I'M INFORMING THE PUBLIC, I'M TELLING THE BUSINESS WHERE I NEED YOU TO BE, THIS IS WHAT I NEED YOU TO SEND.

I HAVE A VARIETY OF APPARATUSES FOR YOU TO SUBMIT NEW NAMES.

YOU CAN SUBMIT IT VIA MAIL.

YOU CAN SUBMIT IT VIA EMAIL.

YOU CAN SUBMIT IT VIA SURVEY.

YOU CAN CALL US AT THIS NUMBER.

YOU CAN GET ALL THESE THINGS DONE.

YOU CAN HAVE PEOPLE COLLECTING THIS INFORMATION.

IT DOESN'T TAKE A LONG TIME.

IT JUST MEANS YOU HAVE TO PLAN AND PREPARE WHAT YOU ARE SAYING TO YOUR STUDENTS IS THAT I WANT TO TAKE MY PRECIOUS TIME BECAUSE IT DOESN'T MATTER AS MUCH TO ME BECAUSE I WAS NOT THE LIFE THAT WAS IMPACTED.

BUT WHAT WE HAVE TO UNDERSTAND IS BLACK STUDENTS, WHITE STUDENTS, BROWN STUDENTS ALL NEED TO UNDERSTAND THAT WE ARE, WE NEED TO BE AN ANTI RACIST SCHOOL SYSTEM AND BEING AN ANTI-RACIST SCHOOL SYSTEM MEANS THAT WE HAVE TO ACT WITH URGENCY TO DENOUNCE

[04:55:02]

ANYTHING, ANY SYMBOL THAT HONORS A RACIST INSTITUTION.

WE HAVE TO DO THAT.

AND WE HAVE TO ACT FAST.

WE HAVE TO SAY, WE CANNOT WAIT BECAUSE ANYTIME LEADERS SAY WE HAVE TO WAIT AND WAIT AND WAIT.

IT DELAYS PROGRESS.

AND WHAT YOU'RE SAYING, BY BEING ABLE TO DO SOMETHING AS SIMPLE AS THIS IS THAT WHEN IT COMES TO A SYSTEMS LEVEL CHANGE, WHEN IT COMES TO EQUITABLE DISTRIBUTION OF RESOURCES.

WE TO KEEP MAKING YOU WAIT FOR EVERY LITTLE THING.

WE COULDN'T EVEN CHANGE A SYMBOL THIS QUICK.

SO OF COURSE WE CAN'T CHANGE SOMETHING ELSE.

DO BETTER.

BE BETTER.

YOU HAVE THE RESOURCES, USE THEM.

YOUR COMMUNITY IS HERE SAYING, YES, USE US.

WE ARE READY TO GET THIS DONE, WORK WITH THEM.

I WAS PRESIDENT OF THE LOUISIANA ASSOCIATION OF EDUCATORS WITH ANITA GUSTUS EAST VETERANS, PARENTS ASSOCIATION OF EDUCATORS, UH, PRESIDENT.

WE ISSUED A JOINT STATEMENT TO, UM, REMEMBER LANTIS.

AND WE ALSO WANT TO READ IT INTO RECORD SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS OF THE EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH SCHOOL SYSTEM, BLACK LIVES MATTER WORDS MATTER BUT ABOUT, BUT ABOVE ALL ELSE, I'LL SHOW THAN MATTER.

IF WE FORCE OUR BLACK STUDENTS TO ATTEND SCHOOLS THAT ARE NAMED AFTER INDIVIDUALS WHO WERE KNOWN TO SUPPRESS THEIR ANCESTORS, WE SEND A MESSAGE TO THEM THAT THE TREMENDOUS WRONGS COMMITTED BY SUCH INDIVIDUALS ARE OVERLOOKED.

THIS INNOCENCE IMPLIES THAT RACISM IS OKAY AS A TEACHER AND A CAREGIVER TO A BLACK TEENAGER.

I AM DISAPPOINTED THAT WE EVEN HAVE TO HAVE THIS DISCUSSION.

THE NAMES OF OUR SCHOOLS SHOULD MEMORIALIZE TRAILBLAZERS LEADERS, THAT OUR CHILDREN CAN BE PROUD OF ROLE MODELS THAT INSPIRE THEM TO BE BOLD, COMPASSIONATE, AND KIND SHOULD BE UPLIFTED.

IT IS CRITICAL THAT CHILDREN EXPERIENCE DIVERSE THOUGHT WHEN THEY ARE AT SCHOOL, NOT BE EXPOSED TO RACIST, RACIST UNDERTONES, THE EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH ASSOCIATION OF EDUCATORS AND THE LOUISIANA ASSOCIATION OF EDUCATORS FULLY SUPPORT THE PUSH TO CHANGE THE NAME OF LEE HIGH SCHOOL, BECAUSE DOING SO WOULD BRING OUR COMMUNITY ONE STEP CLOSER TO UNIFYING OUR COMMUNITY.

LET US BE THE ONES TO SET A POSITIVE EXAMPLE FOR THE CHILDREN IN THIS PARISH AND SHOW THEM THAT.

AND COMING TOGETHER, WE ARE A FORCE WITH WHICH TO BE RECKONED, RESPECTFULLY SUBMITTED ANITA AUGUSTUS, EAST BEN RICH PARENTS ASSOCIATION OF EDUCATORS, PRESIDENT DR.

TIA T MILLS, LOUISIANA ASSOCIATION OF EDUCATORS, PRESIDENT.

AND JUST SO, UM, WE MAKE THINGS CLEAR.

ALSO, WE WANT THIS TO MOVE, UM, IMMEDIATELY.

I STILL HAVE A MINUTE AND 18 SECONDS.

WHEN I CAME TO THIS MEETING TONIGHT, I NEVER THOUGHT THAT I WILL BE SO EMOTIONAL, BUT I WANT YOU TO HEAR ME.

MA'AM MAMA.

NO, YOU LISTEN.

LISTEN, LISTEN.

BECAUSE WHEN GEORGE FLORIDA WAS ON THE GROUND, HIS WORDS WERE TO HIS MOTHER SAYING AS SLAVES WHO ARE SEPARATED, THEIR WORDS WORKED TO THEIR MOTHER.

WE CAN NOT CONTINUE EVERY BLACK MOTHER IN THIS BUILDING HEARS GEORGE FLAW, EVERY BLACK MOTHER.

AND I NEED YOU TO HEAR THAT TONIGHT.

WE HEAR HIM AGAIN TONIGHT.

WE CRY.

AND WE AGAIN, WHY? BECAUSE IT BROUGHT BACK UP WHAT HAPPENED TO MOTHERS WHOSE BABIES WAS SNATCHED AWAY FROM THEM FOR NO REASON AND NO COST.

SO TONIGHT REDEEM THE TIME, REDEEM THE TIME.

AIN'T YOUR MAMA DIGGING THE TIME UNCLE BEN'S REDEEMED THE TIME REDEEM THE TIME.

ASKING YOU FOR YEARS LATER TO DO THE RIGHT THING, BUT NOT ONLY YOU, MR. DRAKE, I'M GONNA MAKE AN APPEAL TO YOU AS THE SUPERINTENDENT.

MA'AM GOOD EVENING AGAIN.

CLEVE DUNN JR.

FIRST.

I WANT TO THANK MR. LANDIS FOR HAVING THE COURAGE TO BRING THIS ITEM.

I WANT TO THANK HIS COLLEAGUES FOR THE KIND WORDS OF SUPPORT AND NOT ONLY YOUR COLLEAGUES HERE, UH, YOUR COLLEAGUES, THE PEOPLE WHO SERVED ON HIS BODY BEFORE THAT SUPPORTED THIS ITEM FOUR YEARS AGO, WHEN IT WAS BROUGHT FOUR YEARS AGO, BEFORE THE STUDENTS ENTERED THE NEW LOCATION, WE WERE HERE HAVING THE SAME CONVERSATION, ASKING YOU TO CHANGE IT THEN.

SO YOU WON'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT UNIFORMS AND ADDITIONAL SIGNAGE AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE, BUT TO KICK THE CAN DOWN THE ROAD, MS. DYSON, MR. TADEMAN, MS. BERNARD, MR. BALLOU, WE'RE HERE BECAUSE OF YOU.

THIS HAPPENED ON YOUR WATCH.

YOU DIDN'T TAKE CARE OF BUSINESS FOUR YEARS AGO, AND YET WE'RE HERE AGAIN.

SO WE'RE ASKING YOU FOUR YEARS LATER TO MAKE THE CHANGE.

WE'RE

[05:00:01]

I DON'T WANT YOU TO JUST SIT THERE WITH YOUR HANDS FOLDED, GET IN THIS DISCUSSION LEAD AND PULL YOUR BODY.

AS YOU'VE DONE IN THE PAST WITH OTHER ISSUES TO SUPPORT THIS INITIATIVE AT YOUR REQUEST.

WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU.

NOT ONLY DO WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU, WE WANT IT TO HAPPEN.

NOW WE WANT YOU TO COMMIT THAT THIS WILL HAPPEN BEFORE YOU LEAVE.

DON'T PASS THIS ON TO YOUR SUCCESSOR.

THEY SHOULDN'T HAVE TO INHERIT THIS.

THIS SHOULD HAPPEN BEFORE YOU LEAVE.

MAKE THAT COMMITMENT.

COUPLE OF MORE THINGS, MR. BELL, MR. GOLD DAY, I CAN'T BLAME YOU FOR WHAT HAPPENED BEFORE YOU WASN'T HERE, BUT YOU'RE HERE NOW.

HOW DARE YOU TRY TO HIJACK THIS ITEM? WHEN THIS BROTHER AFTER THE ITEM? NO, SIR.

WE WILL NOT ALLOW THAT THIS IS GOING TO BE MR. LANDIS ITEM.

AND MAYBE POLICY SAYS THAT YOU MAKE A RECOMMENDATION, BUT I ENCOURAGED MR. DRAKE AND THIS BODY TO MAKE SURE THE RECOMMENDATION IS MR. LANDIS, WHO SERVES ON THAT COMMITTEE BECAUSE HE BROUGHT THE ITEM.

NOBODY ELSE WILL BE ACCEPTED.

HE BROUGHT THE ITEM HE SHOULD SERVE.

AND FINALLY, FOR THE STUDENTS WHO HAVE A DIPLOMA WITH THE NAME, LEHIGH ON IT, MR. DRAKE, I WANT YOU TO COMMIT THAT THEY WILL HAVE AN OPTION.

THOSE WHO WANT TO, TO GET A DIPLOMA WITH WHATEVER THIS NEW NAME IS GOING TO BE ON IT.

SO WE ASKING YOU AND MR. DRAKE, I'VE WORKED WITH YOU PERSONALLY ON SEVERAL ISSUES.

I KNOW YOU'RE A GOOD MAN, BUT I WANT YOU TO DISPLAY SOME LEADERSHIP HERE.

AS YOU HAVE IN THE PAST, TAKE THE LEAD ON THIS ISSUE, DO THE RIGHT THING, SEND THE RIGHT SIGNAL, GO OUT THE DOOR, RIGHT? DO NOT LEAVE THIS COMMUNITY DIVIDED.

I'M A JARED LOVER.

I'M REPRESENTING THE BATON ROUGE BRANCH OF THE NAACP.

I JUST WANT TO READ A STATEMENT.

THE NAMING OF SCHOOLS AFTER CONFEDERATE HEROES IS ROOTED IN HISTORY.

THE HISTORY OF INTIMIDATION, DEGRADATION, AND RACISM AGAINST BLACK PEOPLE IN AMERICA.

IT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT LEE HIGH SCHOOL WASN'T OPENED UNTIL SEPTEMBER, 1959 AT A TIME WHEN A GROWING NUMBER OF SCHOOLS AROUND THE COUNTRY WERE BEING NAMED AFTER CONFEDERATE FIGURES, AS A RESULT OF THE BACKLASH AGAINST THE BROWN VS BOARD OF EDUCATION RULING AND THE CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT, THE MOVEMENT TO MOVE FORWARD.

WE MUST HONESTLY ACKNOWLEDGE THE FAILINGS OF THE PAST AND LISTEN TO THOSE WHO FEEL MARGINALIZED.

WE AGREE WITH THE COMMUNITY THAT THE TIME FOR CHANGING THE SCHOOL'S NAME AS WELL OVERDUE AND THE SUMMER OF 2016, THE SCHOOL BOARD HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO RESPOND TO COMMUNITY CONCERNS AND RENAME THE SCHOOL, BUT STOPPED SHORT OF TOTALLY ABANDONING LEE.

AND WE SUPPORT THE BOARD AND ADOPTING A NAME OR REPRESENTATIVE OF THE PASSION, UNITY AND LOVE OF BATON ROUGE.

UH, WE ALSO COME IN SCHOOL, BOARD MEMBER DANGEROUS LANA'S UH, FOR DRAFTING THE RESOLUTION TO CHANGE THE SCHOOL'S NAME.

AND FOUR YEARS AGO, WE CAME DOWN HERE.

NEXT.

SO I HAD INTENDED TO GET UP HERE AND TALK ABOUT HOW RACIST ROBERT LEE WAS, BUT I'M GONNA TALK ABOUT YOU OF SITTING OVER THERE SHOPPING WHILE WE TALKING ABOUT ROBERT E. LEE.

THIS IS A PICTURE OF YOU SHOPPING WHILE WE'RE TALKING ABOUT RACISM AND HISTORY IN THIS COUNTRY, ONLY WHITE MEMBERS OF THIS BOARD GOT UP WHILE WE WERE UP HERE TALKING TO CAUSE YOU DON'T GIVE A DAMN AND IT'S CLEAR, BUT I'M GONNA TELL YOU WHAT THE SLAVES MY ANCESTORS SAID ABOUT ROBERT E. LEE, SINCE YOU DON'T KNOW HISTORY, SISTER, LET ME TELL YOU THAT.

THEY SAID WHEN HE GOT THE PLANTATION, AFTER HE GOT OFF THE FIELD WITH 27,000 PEOPLE DIED AT GETTYSBURG TINY, ROBERT E. LEE WAS A BRUTAL SLAVE MASTER.

NOT ONLY DID WHEN HE WALKED THE SLAVES, HE SAID, LAY IT ON HIM HALL.

AFTER HE SAID, LAY IT ON HIM HARD.

HE SAID, PUT BRIAN ON A SORTA BURNER.

THAT'S WHAT ROBERT LEE DID.

AND YOU SET YOUR ARROGANT SELF IN HERE AND SIT ON THEIR SHOPPING WHILE THE PAIN AND THE HURT OF THE PEOPLE OF THIS COMMUNITY IS ON DISPLAY.

BUT YOU DON'T GIVE A DAMN AND YOU SHOULD RESIGN.

YOU SHOULD HAVE RESIGNED TWO YEARS AGO WHEN YOU TOOK THE WHITE MAN IN HIS HOUSE, YOU SHOULD HAVE RESIGNED TWO WEEKS AGO.

WHEN YOU GOT ON TV AND SAID FOOLISHNESS, AND YOU SHOULD WALK OUT OF HERE AND RESIGN AND NEVER COME BACK.

CAUSE YOU ARE THE EXAMPLE OF RACISM IN THIS COMMUNITY.

YOU ARE HORRIBLE NOT TO THE REST OF THE BOARD.

YOU HAVE AN OBLIGATION TO THE PEOPLE OF THIS COMMUNITY.

AND 81% OF THEM ARE BLACK.

AND DO YOU NEED A KLAN RALLY OUTSIDE MR. GOLDADE BEFORE YOU END IT, BECAUSE HOLDING IT UP MEANS THAT YOU'VE PUT THAT BUILDING IN JEOPARDY.

YOU DO, SIR, BECAUSE ALL OVER THE COUNTRY, THEY BURN THIS STUFF DOWN AT BLACK FOLKS IN THIS CITY HAVE STILL WITH PROTESTERS.

I AIN'T SEEN YOU ELECTED OFFICIALS OUT THERE WITH THEM, MAKING SURE THAT NOTHING GOES SOUTH IN BATON ROUGE.

IT'S BEEN FOLKS IN THIS COMMUNITY WHO GIVE A DAMN, NOT JUST WHEN IT'S COMFORTABLE, BUT EVERY TIME

[05:05:01]

MR. DRAKE, THEY SAY YOU A GOOD MAN.

BE A GOOD MAN.

BLACK FOLKS SAY YOU A GOOD MAN.

WHITE FOLKS SAY YOU A GOOD MAN.

YOUR LEGACY IS ATTACHED TO TONIGHT, BROTHER, YOUR LEGACY.

NOW LET ME SAY TO THE BLACK MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, IT'S THE MOST SOLIDARITY I'VE SEEN OUT OF Y'ALL IN FAITH.

LET'S KEEP IT AT LET'S STAND ON THIS MOVING FORWARD.

CAUSE WE DON'T NEED TO APOLOGIZE FOR CONNIE.

EVELYN, YOU SHOWED YOU WHO SHE WAS WHEN SHE WAS SITTING NEXT TO YOU WHILE YOU WERE TALKING SHOPPING.

YOU DON'T NEED ANOTHER EXAMPLE.

NOW, WHEN DO WE, AS BATON ROUGE, STOP BEING IN 1856.

IF YOU WANT TO NAME THE BUILDING AFTER SOMEBODY, HOW ABOUT PBS PITCH BACK THE FIRST BLACK GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF LOUISIANA, WHEN HE WAS GOVERNOR DURING RECONSTRUCTION, YOU WANT ANOTHER NAME? I ASKED THE DUNN, WHO WAS THE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF LOUISIANA IN THE 1860S THAT GAVE THE RIGHT FOR DERRIUS LANDIS AND DON COLLINS AND EVELYN WHERE JACKSON AND TREADMILL I WENT TO GET HERE.

YOU WANT TO NAME IT AFTER SOMEBODY FROM RECONSTRUCTED NAMED AFTER THE PEOPLE WHO FOUGHT FOR APPALACHIAN OF SILLY, IF YOU WANT TO NAME IT AFTER SOMEBODY OUT OF THE RIGHT PEOPLE, THE PEOPLE WHO ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF HISTORY, BUT IT'S YOUR ANCESTOR THAT THE SCHOOL IS NAMED AFTER.

SO YOU'RE HOLDING ON TO YOUR HERITAGE, BUT WE BUILT THIS JOINT FOR FREE AND WE'VE DONE BEGGING YOU TO DO WHAT'S RIGHT.

NEXT BRAD GARDEN, COMMUNITY MEMBER.

I WOULD JUST ASK ONE SIMPLE QUESTION.

IS THERE ANYTHING THAT BLACK PEOPLE IN THIS COUNTRY CAN ASK FOR AND TAKES PRIORITY AND IT GETS ANSWERED AND RESPECTED TODAY? ANYTHING THAT WE ASKED FOR ANYTHING THAT WE ASKED FOR AND LOOK FOR IN PARTNERSHIP AND SUPPORT FROM OUR WHITE CITIZENS IN THIS COUNTRY, THE ANSWER IS NOT TODAY.

MAYBE TOMORROW, MAYBE NEXT MONTH, THIS ENTIRE BOARD HAD AN OPPORTUNITY.

IT HAD OVER A WEEK TO CONTACT MR. LANDIS, FIND SOME SOLIDARITY IN THIS AND GET THIS DONE TONIGHT.

THIS IS WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT.

WHEN WE SPEAK OF SYSTEMATIC RACISM EVERYWHERE WE LOOK THERE ARE SYMBOLS OF RACISM AT WORK AT HOME AT TELEVISION TONIGHT, THE BOARD MISSED US A STRONG OPPORTUNITY TO LEAD FOR A CHANGE.

WHEN WE SAY WE NEED COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT, THE COMMUNITY HAD TO DRAG THE BOARD AND BEG THE BOARD TO GET COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT IN A SUPERINTENDENT SEARCH.

SO WE KNOW THAT IT IS NOT ALWAYS IMPORTANT THAT THE BOARD VOTE WITH THE WILL OF THE COMMUNITY.

MIGHT I ADD THE WILL OF THE COMMUNITY I THINK IS WITH US ON THIS ISSUE.

ALSO, LET ME JUST SAY THIS.

AND I SPEAK FOR OUR YOUNG PEOPLE AGES 18 TO 25 THAT ARE OUT THERE IN THE STREETS AND PROTESTS.

AND ON OUR BEHALF, WE WONDER WHY THEY ARE THE FACING PROPERTY.

WE WONDER WHY THEY ARE TAGGED THINGS DOWN.

YOU GUYS HAD THE CHANCE TO DO IT OF YOUR OWN FREE WILL TONIGHT.

NO QUESTIONS ASKED, BUT WHEN THEY TAKE MATTERS INTO THEIR OWN HANDS, YOU'RE GOING TO LOOK AT THEM IN A COMPLETELY DIFFERENT LIGHT, BUT I SUPPORT THEM.

THANK YOU NEXT.

AGAINST FREEDOMS OF BLACK AMERICANS IN A DISTRICT THAT PREDOMINANCE ARE BLACK AND BROWN CHILDREN.

HELLO.

MY NAME IS ERIC BROWN.

UH, I'M AN ORGANIZER WITH STANFORD CHILDREN.

UH, I HAVE FIVE KIDS IN THE SCHOOL SYSTEM.

UM, I'M A COACH AT A STROMAL HIGH SCHOOL AND UH, JUST TOUCH TO THE HEART FOR ME BECAUSE, UM, I GRADUATED FROM A STREAMER 32 YEARS AGO AND IT WAS TWO SCHOOLS WE KIND OF FEAR TO GO TO.

AND THAT WAS DEMO SPRINGS, HIGH SCHOOL IN LEE HIGH.

AND UM, AND SO WHEN I, WHEN I HEAR US TALK ABOUT LIKE, WHAT'S GOING ON NOW, GUESS WHAT? I MEAN? THE WAY I FEEL THEN IT'S THE SAME WAY I FEEL RIGHT NOW.

AND UH, IT REALLY BOTHERS ME.

YOU KNOW, I NORMALLY DON'T GET UP AND SAY STUFF, YOU KNOW, BUT THIS BOTHERS ME BECAUSE IT JUST FEELS LIKE WE'RE GOING BACKWARDS AND, UH, IT CAN BE, IT CAN BE, UM, I KNOW LIKE THE BOARD HAS CHANGED, SO THAT'S, THAT'S GOOD.

I BELIEVE NOT.

AND I WANT TO, I WANT TO COMMEND EVERYBODY ON THIS BOARD BECAUSE WE'RE DIFFERENT NOW.

WE ARE DIFFERENT.

AND UH, I WANT BATHROOMS TO BE INNOVATIVE, INNOVATIVE, MEAN DIFFERENT, STOPPED DOING THE SAME THING OVER AND OVER AGAIN.

I MEAN, WE HAVE TO CHANGE.

WE REALLY DO.

I WANT TO READ SOMETHING RIGHT FAST, UM, BAKER, WHO I'M REPRESENTING, I'M REPRESENTING PARENTS, COMMUNITY LEADERS, FAITH LEADERS, FAMILIES ACROSS BEDROOMS AND ALL REQUESTS TODAY.

THE SYMPHONY CHANGED THE NAME OF LEAD MAGNET HIGH SCHOOL, LESS THAN A WEEK AGO, WE LAUNCHED A PETITION REQUESTING THE NAME CHANGE WITHIN 72 HOURS.

OVER 300 PEOPLE SIGNED THE PETITION AND SEVERAL COMMUNITY PARTNERS, INCLUDING THE EDUCATION TRUST DIFFER SLICE UNITED FAITH LEADERS AND BREAD.

IT IS PAST TIME THAT WE CHANGED THE NAME OF LEHIGH SCHOOL.

DO YOU MEAN THE HIGH SCHOOL WAS NAMED FOR A SLAVE OWNER COMPETITOR GENERAL WHO FOUGHT

[05:10:01]

WE CAN'T CONTINUE TO ALLOW CHILDREN TO ATTEND A SCHOOL NAMED AFTER A MAN WHO FOUGHT TO OPPRESS PEOPLE WHO LOOK LIKE ME.

THIS BOY HAS OPPORTUNITY.

THIS WAY HAS THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF HISTORY BY RENAMING THE SCHOOL AT WHICH CURRENT AND FUTURE GENERATION OF OUR KIDS WILL ATTEND AND FULFILL THE BOUNDLESS POTENTIAL.

I'M ASKING YOU TO TAKE ANY STAND FOR OUR STUDENTS TODAY.

CHANGE THE NAME, PLEASE.

IT'S CONFEDERATE COLONEL.

NEXT GENOMIC LOUGHLIN.

UM, FIRST THING Y'ALL NEED TO START LISTENING TO BLACK PEOPLE STRAIGHT UP.

Y'ALL NEED TO START LISTENING TO BLACK PEOPLE.

I GOT A COUPLE OF WORDS I'M GONNA JUST READ TO YOU.

UM, BUT IF WE TELL YOU SOMETHING'S RACIST, IT'S RACIST.

IF WE TELL YOU THAT THE TIME IS NOW, THE TIME IS NOW THAT MAN TELLS YOU THE TIME IS NOW.

THE TIME IS NOW.

I'M A COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT SPECIALIST.

SO CLEARLY I APPRECIATE INPUT FROM THE COMMUNITY.

BUT AGAIN, THE TIME IS NOW.

WE AIN'T GOT TIME TO WAIT FOUR YEARS AGO.

I STILL, BEFORE YOU, AND I RECALL FOR YOU, MY EXPERIENCES AS A STUDENT AT ROBERT E. LEE HIGH SCHOOL, I MADE A LOT OF FRIENDS.

I ENJOYED MY TIME, BUT THE PART THAT WAS MOST FRUSTRATING WAS REMINDED THAT, THAT MY HUMANITY AS A STUDENT WAS NOT VALUED.

I STARTED MY EDUCATION IN TENNESSEE AT COLONIAL MIDDLE SCHOOL.

THAT SCHOOL'S MASCOT WAS THE KERNELS.

WE CHANGED THAT WHEN I WAS IN SEVENTH GRADE, I MOVED ON TO OVERTON HIGH SCHOOL THAT, THAT, UH, THAT MASCOT WAS THE REBELS.

WE CHANGED THAT.

AND THEN I CAME DOWN TO BATON ROUGE, LOUISIANA, AND I LANDED ON GUARD HERE IN A SUBDIVISION NAMED HERMITAGE WHERE EVERY SINGLE STREET IS NAMED AFTER CONFEDERATE GENERALS.

I STAYED ON GENERAL BUREAU GUARD AND I ENDED UP AT ROBERT E. LEE HIGH SCHOOL, HOME OF THE FIGHTING REBELS AND LEHIGH, HONG IMAGES OF THE CONFEDERACY, CONFEDERATE COLORS GROUPS CALLED CONFEDERATES.

THE WEBER LOSE DAYS OF DIXIE AND MORE REBEL FLAGS THAT I COULD EVER SEE IN MY LIFETIME.

I WAS MADE TO BITE MY TONGUE UNTIL I COULDN'T ANYMORE.

AS A STUDENT, I TRIED TO ADDRESS THIS NAMES WERE TOSSED AROUND A SCHOOLWIDE REFEREE.

REFERENDUM WAS HELD AND UNFORTUNATELY NOTHING HAPPENED.

THEN THE TIME IS NOW FOUR YEARS AGO, WHEN THIS ISSUE WAS BROUGHT UP BEFORE YOU, MY SON WAS SET TO START HIS HIGH SCHOOL CAREER AT LEE HIGH SCHOOL, HE JUST GRADUATED FROM MCKINLEY HIGH SCHOOL.

LAST FRIDAY.

THE TIME IS NOW AT FOUR YEARS AGO, MY DAUGHTER, I'M SORRY, FOUR YEARS LATER, MY DAUGHTER IS AN INCOMING FRESHMEN AT LEE HIGH SCHOOL.

SIMILARLY, WE'RE IN THE SAME MOVEMENT.

BLACK LIVES MATTER MOVEMENT, BLACK FOLKS STANDING UP ASKING YOU TO LISTEN TO US.

BUT FOR SOME REASON THAT'S FALLEN ON DEAF EARS.

IT SHOULDN'T TAKE HEADLINES.

IT SHOULDN'T TAKE BLACK BODIES LAYING IN THE STREETS FOR SOME OF Y'ALL TO ALL OF A SUDDEN REALIZE THAT THE TIME IS NOW TO CHANGE THE DAMN NAME.

AND SO HERE I AM, AGAIN, FOUR YEARS LATER, AS I GRADUATE AS AN ALUMNI, AS A PARENT, AS A CURRENT MEMBER OF THE PARENT FACULTY CLUB, AS A CITIZEN, AS A BLACK MAN, DISAPPOINTED THAT THE CITY THAT YOU GUYS STILL CONTINUE TO TELL US THAT YOU CONTINUE TO CLAIM TO OFFENSIVE IMAGERY ALL WHILE OTHER CITIES AROUND THE COUNTRY WORK TO UNDO THIS AND TAKE THEM ALL DOWN.

I'M GONNA KEEP TALKING.

I SAY, LET'S UNDO THIS INJUSTICE, SARAH.

AND I HEAR IT.

LET ME TALK THOUGH.

YOU HAD YOUR TIME.

LET ME TALK.

I LIVE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD.

I LIVE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND I'M WILLING TO SIT ON THE BOARD IF ASKED TO, BUT WHAT WE NOT GOING TO DO IS TELL BLACK PEOPLE THAT WE'RE GOING TO KICK THE CAN DOWN THE ROAD.

I ASK THAT YOU DO WHAT'S RIGHT.

PULL THE AMENDMENT MOVE.

LET'S MOVE FORWARD.

IF MR. GOLD DAY WON'T DO IT.

THEN I ASKED THE REST OF YOU TO PUT IT ON YOUR CONSCIENCE.

WOW.

AND VOTE.

UH, MR. ATLANTA'S, UH, AMENDMENT IN FAVOR.

I'M GONNA LEAVE YOU LIKE I STARTED, I'M GONNA TELL Y'ALL Y'ALL NEED TO START LISTENING TO PEOPLE OR ELSE MAYBE YOUR ADDRESS IS GOING TO BE THE NEXT PLACE WHERE PROTESTERS END UP ON YOUR FRONT DOOR.

TO HISTORIANS AND EDUCATORS, THAT MANY CHILDREN IN A US EDUCATION SYSTEM ARE NOT TAUGHT ABOUT MAJOR BLACK HISTORICAL EVENTS, SUCH AS THE TULSA RACE MASSACRE ARCHEL TEAM, BUT WE'RE TAUGHT WE'RE TEACHING THE KIDS OR HAVE TAUGHT THE KIDS ABOUT SO MANY OTHER THINGS.

NEXT.

HELLO.

HOW ARE YOU DOING? UM, NAME IS ARTHUR .

UM, MY, UM, SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS.

HE'S ABSENT RIGHT NOW.

UM, UNFORTUNATELY, UM, I ACTUALLY HAD THE PLEASURE TO TALK TO HIM ABOUT FIVE YEARS AGO.

UM, BEFORE THE SCHOOL ACTUALLY WAS FINISHED BUILDING, IT WAS PUT IN PROCESS.

I TRIED TO TELL HER ABOUT, YOU KNOW, HAVING

[05:15:01]

IT CHANGED.

I CALLED HER ON THE PHONE, CALLED HER OUT ON HOME AND INSTEAD, ALL I HEARD WAS A COMPROMISE.

AND THE THING THAT I CAN'T UNDERSTAND ABOUT THE COMPROMISE IS THAT IF SOMETHING IS RIGHT, YOU DON'T HAVE TO CHANGE IT.

SO IF YOU'RE GOING THROUGH AND YOU'RE TAKING A NAME, THAT'S ROBERT E. LEE HIGH SCHOOL, AND YOU JUST DROP IT DOWN TO ROBBERY, YOU KNOW, THE ROBERT E PART, I TELLS YOU THAT YOU UNDERSTAND THAT THERE'S WRONG IN THERE SOMEWHERE, BUT YOU CONTINUE THROUGH ANYWAY, MYSELF, I'M HERE JUST TO EDUCATE OR ENLIGHTEN.

WE'LL LOOK, UM, GO THROUGH THESE COMMENTS THAT SHE WENT THROUGH LAST WEEK.

UM, SHE ACTUALLY SAID, I HOPE THEY WOULD LEARN A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT GENERAL LEAGUE BECAUSE GENERALLY INHERITED A LARGE PLANTATION.

HE WAS TASKED TO JOB OF DOING SOMETHING WITH THOSE PEOPLE WHO LIVED IN BONDAGE TO THAT PLANTATION, THE SLAVES AND FREEDOM.

UM, THAT IS ABSOLUTELY INCORRECT.

I WISH HE WAS HERE TO KNOW THAT SO I CAN TELL HER.

UM, BUT THAT IS NOTHING BUT THE UNITED DAUGHTER COMPETITOR SEE INFORMATION THAT THEY HAVE PASSED FOR DECADES TO THE STUDENTS TO TRY AND LET THEM KNOW THAT THIS IS SOMETHING TO BE GLORIFIED.

THIS IS ABSOLUTELY INCORRECT.

UM, ONE OF THE THINGS I CAN SAY ABOUT ROBBERY LEE, HE LEFT TO TRY AND GO FIGHT IN THE WAR, THE WAR THAT TRIED TO PUT, UH, PEOPLE OR CONTINUING PEOPLE INTO BONDAGE WHILE HE LEFT HIS HOME IN ORLEANS, THE ARLINGTON HOUSE AT THE TIME, WHICH IS NOW ARLINGTON NATIONAL CEMETERY.

HE LEFT HIS WIFE THERE.

WHEN HE LEFT HIS WIFE THERE, SHE HEARD ABOUT UNION UNION, ARMY SOLDIERS COMING THERE.

AND BEFORE THEY GOT THERE, SHE FLED INSTEAD, SHE ACTUALLY TOOK THE KEYS TO THE HOUSE AND LEFT IT WHERE HER PERSONAL SLAVE, WHICH IS NAME SOLUNA.

NORA IS GREAT.

SHE LEFT THE KEYS THERE.

AND THEN NEXT THING YOU KNOW, IT WAS A UNION ARMY THAT CAME THROUGH AT LEAST TAKE OVER THAT PARTICULAR PLANTATION, WHICH IS NOW TO SUSTAIN IT.

THEY PUT POLYS ON THAT GROUND, WHICH NOW WE KNOW WHERE WE GLORIFY AS BEING A PLACE FOR FALLING DOWN.

UM, HE STOOD UP FOR THE CONFEDERACY, NO WAY YOU CAN GET AROUND THAT.

AND, UH, GO TO MARCH 21ST OF 1861, THERE WAS A CONFEDERATE VICE PRESIDENT OF ALEXANDER HTTPS.

AND HE HAD SOMETHING KNOWN AS CORNERSTONE SPEECH.

AND IN THAT CORNERSTONE SPEECH, HE SAID OUR NEW GOVERNMENT FOUNDATIONS ARE LAID AT CORNERSTONES REST UPON THE GREAT TRUTH THAT THE NEGRO IS NOT EQUAL TO THE WHITE MAN, THAT SLAVERY SUBORDINATION TO THE SUPERIOR, RACIST, NATURAL AND NATURAL CONDITION.

HE ALSO WENT FURTHER AND SAID THE NORTH ASSUME THAT THE NEGRO IS EQUAL.

AND HENCE THE CONCLUDE THAT HE IS ENTITLED TO EQUAL PRIVILEGES RIGHTS WITH THE RIGHT NOW.

SO WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO IS CONTINUE TO ALLOW THIS CONFEDERACY NARRATIVE TO COME PLAY OUT AND BE GLORIFIED.

WHEN IT SHOULDN'T BE, WE ARE SISTER CITIES TO NEW ORLEANS.

NEW ORLEANS ACTUALLY TOOK DOWN ROBERT E. LEE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL BACK IN 1994.

IT'S 26 YEARS AGO.

AND NOW WE'RE STILL TRYING TO HOLD ON TO IT AND NOTHING'S BEEN DONE YET.

BUT I'LL HEAR BACK ABOUT, I'LL TELL YOU RIGHT NOW THAT I WAS ABLE TO SIT THERE AND WATCH WHILE PEOPLE WERE GOING THROUGH TRYING TO EXPRESS THEMSELVES, YOU AND OTHERS, INCLUDING WHILE SHE WAS DOING THAT.

SHE WAS SITTING THERE LOOKING AT BEIGE AND RED DRESSES.

SO THAT'S WHY SHE'S GONE RIGHT NOW.

AND LOOK, WE HAVE A LONG AGENDA TONIGHT.

SO WHEN THE TIME GOES OFF, PLEASE RESPECT IT.

UM, MY NAME IS DR.

VICKY TOLERBER AUGUST.

AT FIRST, I WAS NOT GOING TO GET UP AND SPEAK, BUT I WANTED TO, UM, PARTICULARLY WHEN YOU MENTIONED ABOUT THE COST OF UNIFORMS, BEING A FOSTER PARENT, KIDS COME TO ME AT TIMES AND THEY DON'T HAVE THE APPROPRIATE UNIFORMS FOR A PARTICULAR SCHOOL.

THEY'RE ALLOWED TO GO TO SCHOOL IN THOSE UNIFORMS. SO THAT'S NOT AN ISSUE.

AND I UNDERSTAND ABOUT ATHLETICS AND THE BAN AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE, BUT WE SHOULD NOT DO THIS PARTICULAR TASK AT HAND TO A DEBATE ABOUT THE COST OF UNIFORMS. WE SHOULD NOT.

THAT SHOULD NOT BE AN ISSUE, BUT I'M AN EDUCATOR VETERAN EDUCATOR, FORMER HISTORY TEACHER.

AND THIS IS WHAT PROPELLED ME TO COME IN SPEAK BEFORE YOU, THIS IS THE ALERT THAT I JUST GOT ON MY PHONE FROM JOE TANK TO THE TOSA MASSACRE.

WHAT ISN'T TAUGHT IN CLASSROOMS HAS A PROFOUND IMPACT ON THE EVE OF JOAN TINK.

EDUCATORS SAY THE HISTORY OF SYSTEMIC RACISM IN THIS COUNTRY AND THE CONTRIBUTIONS OF BLACK PEOPLE HAVE BEEN ERASED.

THERE SEEMS TO BE ACCORDING

[05:20:01]

YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT ROBERT E. LEE, AND YOU WANT TO DELAY CHANGING THE NAME.

AND I'M TALKING TO YOU, MR. GOLDIE, BECAUSE YOU SEEM SO PASSIONATE ABOUT THIS.

AND LIKE EVERYBODY ELSE IS SAYING IT'S BECAUSE IT'S OUR ANCESTORS, NOT MINE.

IF THERE WAS A SCHOOL WITH THE NAME OF MALCOLM X ON THE BUILDING, WOULD YOU WANT YOUR KIDS TO GO THERE? BECAUSE HE SAID TO STAND UP FOR YOURSELF BY ANY MEANS NECESSARY.

AND I THINK THAT'S WHAT A LOT OF BLACK PEOPLE ARE OUT HERE DOING.

WE'RE STANDING UP NOW BY ANY MEANS NECESSARY.

SO WE CAN GET YOU TO UNDERSTAND AS EDUCATORS.

WE ALL UNDERSTAND THAT ALL LIVES MATTER.

WE'VE GOT THAT, BUT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT BLACK LIVES AND SENDING BLACK KIDS INTO A SCHOOL WITH A CONFEDERATE NAME, TAKING ROBERT AND E OFF DOES NOT MINIMIZE THE FACT THAT IT'S STILL A ROBERT E. LEE HIGH SCHOOL JUST AS MR. BROWN STATED I'M FROM A STROMA.

SO I KNOW ABOUT NOT GOING TO DENHAM SPRINGS AFTER SIX O'CLOCK.

I KNOW ABOUT HAVING TO PLAY LEHIGH.

I MARCHED IN THE BAND AT THE STRONG BEHIND.

I KNOW ABOUT ALL OF THOSE THINGS, BUT THE NAME MEANS SOMETHING AND IT DOESN'T TAKE A LOT TO GET RID OF IT.

IF ELLIS, YOU CAN GO AHEAD AND MOVE WITH TAKING DOWN MIDDLETOWN LIBRARY, THE NAME, WHY CAN'T EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH DO THE SAME WITH ROBERT LEE HIGH.

I JUST DON'T GET IT.

AND I WANT YOU TO UNDERSTAND THAT WE ARE PASSIONATE AS BLACKS WE ARE.

AND JUST AS THEY STATED, MR. DRAKE, THIS IS ON YOUR WATCH AND THE FORD THAT WAS HERE FOUR YEARS AGO, YOU NEED TO THINK ABOUT IT.

WE NEED TO HOLD YOU ALL ACCOUNTABLE AS WELL.

TO COLLEGE OR TAKE COLLEGE AND TAKE IT DOWN THE BRIGHT SIDE BECAUSE LEE DRIVE GOTTA GO.

MA'AM NEXT.

SURE.

GOOD NIGHT, EVERYONE.

MY NAME IS DEVIN, RIGHT? I AM A 10 YEAR EDUCATOR.

I PASTOR IN THIS COMMUNITY.

I'M ALSO A MEMBER OF THE SOUTH LOUISIANA COALITION FOR EDUCATION AS WE COME TONIGHT.

UM, MISS WHERE JACKSON, WHO IS MY, UH, WELL, AS SHE SAID, REPRESENTATIVE OF THE PEOPLE, NOT NECESSARILY OUR HIGH SCHOOL AND DISTRICT FIVE, I WATCHED HER IN JANUARY PLEAD WITH THIS BOARD ABOUT THE INSENSITIVE TONE OF SAYING, UH, THAT YOU WOULD ADOPT A RESOLUTION THAT ALL SCHOOL BOARDS MATTER OR THAT SCHOOL BOARDS MATTER.

AND YOU VOTED TO ADOPT IT ANYWAY, WHEN SHE TRIED TO SPEAK AND SAY, HEY, THIS IS ALARMING TO A LARGE GROUP OF US, RIGHT AFTER THAT MOTION, YOU ALL ADOPTED THE MOTION, WHICH IS ON YOUR RECORD TO RECOGNIZE BLACK HISTORY MONTH.

I SAID, THEN THAT IT WAS INSENSITIVE FOR YOU TO TAKE THE MOTION, TO RECOGNIZE BLACK HISTORY MONTH WHEN YOUR ACTIONS DID NOT DO IT IN THE PREVIOUS MOTION AND HEARING HER.

AND YET AGAIN, I BELIEVE MOST OF YOU, LET ME NOT SAY MOSES.

I DON'T BELIEVE THAT EVERYBODY GETS IT.

WHEN MR. GOTAY SAID, IT'S ONLY EIGHT WEEKS.

TOMORROW'S JUNE TEAM.

WE WE'RE CELEBRATING AND UNDERSTANDING THAT ON JANUARY 1ST OF 1863, WE WERE SUPPOSEDLY FREE, BUT IT TOOK A LITTLE TIME FOR US TO FIGURE OUT THAT WE WERE FREE.

HOW DARE YOU TONIGHT? SAY IT'S ONLY EIGHT WEEKS.

THAT IS INSENSITIVE.

MS. BERNARD IS GONE.

AND IT'S QUITE INTERESTING TO ME THAT SHE'S GONE BECAUSE THAT IS THE PLIGHT OF PRIVILEGE.

THAT WHEN YOU FEEL UNCOMFORTABLE IN A SITUATION, YOU CAN JUST WALK OUT.

WE ARE NOT BEING A POSITION OF JUST BEING ABLE TO WALK OUT BECAUSE IT IS SOMETHING THAT IS UNCOMFORTABLE.

AND SO I BELIEVE THAT THE MOTION CERTAINLY OUGHT TO BE ARE YOUR RESOLUTION A AMENDMENT OUGHT TO BE TAKEN AWAY THAT WE OUGHT TO GO THROUGH WITH WHAT HAS BEEN STAYED AND LAID OUT FOR US.

AND THEN I ALSO JUST WANT TO ADD A BIT, ALTHOUGH I'M PRIMARILY A MATH TEACHER AT A BIT OF, OF CONTEXT TO THIS, WE'VE GOT TO UNDERSTAND THAT THE MASCOT AT LEE IS THE PATRIOTS, BUT NO ONE WHO TAUGHT ME ANYTHING ABOUT US HISTORY WOULD CONSIDER ROBERT LEE, A PATRIOT OF THIS COUNTRY.

IT'S NOT THERE.

SO THEY OUGHT TO BE SOME RECHANGING ALL THE WAY THROUGH.

AND WHEN WE'RE FINISHED HERE, WE'RE GOING TO OUR METRO COUNCIL AND SAY, LOOK, EITHER YOU NEED TO TAKE A BRIGHT SIDE AND BRING IT UP

[05:25:01]

ALSO THERE OUGHT TO BE A CLEAR UNDERSTANDING THAT IT IS NOT OKAY FOR US TO EXEMPT THINGS, MOVE BEYOND THEM, JUST BECAUSE WE FEEL A CERTAIN WAY AND NOT LISTENING AT LARGE.

THIS WILL FALL NOT ON YOU, MR. DRAKE, SOLELY ALL OF YOU TONIGHT.

YOU'RE WELCOME.

NEXT, NEXT, GOOD EVENING, EVERYONE.

MY NAME IS MARIA HARMON.

I'M REPPING SPEAKING FOR MY ORGANIZATION.

STEP UP LOUISIANA.

ON BEHALF OF MY PARENTS, I BET AN ORANGE PARENT UNIONS COMPLETELY SUPPORT THE NAME, CHANGE BUBBLY HIGH.

MANY OF OUR PARENTS WANT TO PARENTS, INCLUDING WHO HAD CHILDREN AT LEHIGH.

UM, THEY REALLY WANT TO SEE A NAME THAT IS REVERED, THAT, UM, REALLY SPEAKS TO THE AFRICAN AMERICAN LEADERSHIP HERE IN THE CITY AND FIGHTING FOR CIVIL RIGHTS.

AND MANY OF US WOULD LIKE TO ENCOURAGE HER THAT HER NAME'S SADIE, ROBERT'S JOSEPH TO BE CONSIDERED.

UM, IT'S JUST A SUGGESTION, BUT WE WOULD DEFINITELY WANT IT TO MAKE THAT KNOWN ON RECORD.

NEXT AGAIN.

ANOTHER MOMENT I DIDN'T INTEND TO COME UP AND SPEAK, BUT, UH, I FEEL COMPELLED AT THIS MOMENT, MR. GODIN, I HAVE TO SAY I'M DISAPPOINTED THAT THERE WAS A VERY SPECIFIC PLEA FOR A CHANGE.

AND INSTEAD OF TALKING TO THE PERSON WHO MADE THAT PLEA AND SAYING, WELL, I THINK MAYBE WE SHOULD HAVE MORE PUBLIC TIME OR WHATEVER THAT Y'ALL WORKED IT UP BEFOREHAND, BUT IT REALLY CAME OFF AS USURPING THIS PERSON'S OKAY.

STATEMENT OF WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE.

AND IT CAME FROM WE'RE IN A TIME RIGHT NOW WHERE WHITE FOLKS NEED TO TAKE A BACK SEAT SOMETIMES.

AND IF YOU SAW SOMETHING THAT YOU FELT LIKE, YOU KNOW, I HEAR WHAT YOU'RE SAYING ABOUT TIME AND WE'RE MAKING A BIG FUSS ABOUT NOT HAVING ENOUGH TIME TO TALK ABOUT SUPERINTENDENT.

SO I UNDERSTAND WHERE YOU'RE COMING FROM WITH THAT.

THAT WAS A CONVERSATION TO HAVE WITH THE PERSON, WITH THE CONCERN.

AND THAT'S SOMETHING I FEEL COMPELLED TO SAY TO ALL THE WHITE PEOPLE, LISTENING, WHEREVER.

SOMETIMES YOU GOT TO TAKE A BACK SEAT AND LET OTHER PEOPLE DRIVE THE CAR.

AND THIS IS AN INSTANCE OF THAT.

SO I HOPE THIS CAN BE A LEARNING EXPERIENCE FOR THOSE OF US WHO NEED TO LEARN A LITTLE BIT ABOUT HOW TO HAVE RELATIONS WITH OTHER RACES.

THAT'S ALL I HAD TO SAY.

ARE THERE ANY OTHER IN-PERSON COMMENTS? ARE YOU COMING UP TO SPEAK? THAT'S HARD.

I KNOW Y'ALL MET THIS LONG LORD HAVE MERCY, BUT I'M GLAD TO BE HERE.

UM, I, I JUST WANNA, I JUST WANT TO MAKE A COMMENT, UM, BECAUSE I WANTED, I WANTED TO MAKE A COMMENT AND ALSO JUST A POINT OF CLARIFICATION, BECAUSE AS I'VE HEARD EVERYONE SPEAK, I HAVEN'T HEARD ANYONE UP HERE SAY THAT THEY DON'T WANT THE SCHOOL RENAMED, AS I APPRECIATE EVERYBODY HAS AGREED THAT THEY WANT THE SCORRE NAMED.

UM, AND THAT I, AS I APPRECIATE IT, IT'S THE TIMEFRAME AND THE KIDS ARE GOING BACK TO SCHOOL.

SUPPOSEDLY IN AUGUST, THERE WAS SOMEONE THAT SAID SEPTEMBER, BUT WE WERE BACK THERE HAVING A CONVERSATION.

AND, UM, I, MY QUESTION IS YOU HAVE ANOTHER MEETING IN JULY, IS THAT CORRECT? YOUR TWO MORE MAIN IS IN JULY.

SO IT'S IN, AND I'LL GO BACK TO MY PREVIOUS REQUESTS ABOUT MCKINLEY.

YOU KNOW, BATON ROUGE HAS HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO RESPOND TO THINGS IN A VERY, VERY DIFFERENT WAY THAN A LOT OF CITIES ACROSS THIS COUNTRY.

AND PART OF THAT IS BECAUSE WE'VE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY REALISTICALLY, SINCE 2016, THEY'LL COME TO THE TABLE, HAVE CONVERSATIONS, HAVE DIALOGUE, BE TRANSPARENT, AND BE REAL WITH ONE ANOTHER AND ALLOW EACH OTHER OPPORTUNITY TO HEAR.

AND NOT JUST HERE, BUT HERE WITH RESPECT, YOU DON'T HAVE TO LIKE ME, BUT AT LEAST RESPECT ME.

AND SO AT THE END OF THE DAY, I'M JUST ASKING AGAIN SO THAT WE CAN RE MAINTAIN AND CONTINUING THE VEIN THAT WE'VE MOVED FORWARD TO PLEASE, TO PLEASE CONSIDER BEING ABLE TO COME, COME TOGETHER.

I DON'T WANT TO USE THE WORD COMPROMISES.

THAT'S ALMOST LIKE A CUSS WORD, BUT COME TOGETHER AT LEAST AND SAY, NOT SEPTEMBER BECAUSE THE BABIES WILL BE BACK IN SCHOOL.

BUT IF YOU DO HAVE A MEETING IN JULY AT MINIMUM, ALLOW FOR THAT OPPORTUNITY TO BE HELD, Y'ALL AGREE TONIGHT THAT THE NAME CHANGES AND THEN DON'T, DON'T BELABOR IT UNTIL JULY.

I MEAN, TILL SEPTEMBER ALLOW FOR THAT TO HAPPEN SOONER THAN LATER, I APPRECIATE THE TIME.

AND THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH.

WOW.

OH, I THOUGHT YOU WERE CUTTING UP.

I DIDN'T REALIZE YOU WERE COMING TO THE CAMERA.

READ COMMENTS FROM THE INTERNET.

NO OTHER, UH, COMMENTS FROM THE AUDIENCE.

I WILL

[05:30:01]

I'M GOING TO REFRESH HERE REAL QUICK.

SO THIS IS FROM AARON RALSTON.

THE RESOLUTION IS A STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.

PLEASE CONSIDER FORMING A COMMITTEE TO EXAMINE ALL THE NAMES OF BUILDINGS IN THE DISTRICT.

LEE IS NOT THE ONLY WHITE SUPREMACIST ON THE NAME OF BUILDINGS IN EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH.

THERE MAY BE COST TO NAME CHANGES, BUT THE COST TO LEAVING THE NAMES THERE IS FOR A GREATER TAKE A STAND AGAINST WHITE SUPREMACY TODAY, UH, FROM TAYLOR MASON IN ALL FAIRNESS OF THE NAME OF LEHIGH IS UP FOR CHANGE DUE TO THE IMAGE OF ROBERT LEE.

THEN THE SAME SHOULD BE DONE FOR ALL SCHOOLS.

FOR EXAMPLE, MCKINLEY HIGH SCHOOL, WHICH IS NAMED FOR PRESIDENT WILLIAM MCKINLEY, A HIGH PRIORITY DURING MCKINLEY'S PRESIDENCY WAS FULL UNIFICATION OF THE WHITE SOUTH, BOTH PSYCHOLOGICALLY AND PATRIOTICALLY BACK INTO THE UNITED STATES.

THIS INITIATIVE CONFLICTED WITH THE CIVIL RIGHTS OF BLACKS, WHICH WERE BEING INCREASINGLY RESTRICTED IN THE SOUTH.

SO IF WE'RE GOING BY IMAGES, THEN MCKINLEY SHOULD DEFINITELY BE CONSIDERED FOR A NAME CHANGE.

IF WE CHANGE ONE CHANGED THEM ALL.

UH, MR. THOMAS, I THINK THE NAME SHOULD BE THE BARACK OBAMA HIGH SCHOOL FROM FDA AND K.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT EXACTLY IS THAT A NAME OR INITIALS? WHY DO WE HAVE TO REMOVE HISTORY? DO YOU EVEN TEACH HISTORY IN YOUR SCHOOLS ANYMORE? OR DO YOU TEACH THAT PART OF HISTORY THAT YOUR CHILDREN WON'T BE UPSET ABOUT? THAT PART OF HISTORY WON'T HURT THEIR FEELINGS, THAT PART OF HISTORY THAT SHOWS WHITE PEOPLE AS MEAN AND HATEFUL, THAT PART OF HISTORY JUST SHOWS WHITE PEOPLE IS RACIST AND BIGOTED.

YOU DON'T HAVE THE RIGHT TO REMOVE HISTORY, LEARN FROM MISTAKES OF THE PAST, AND THEY DON'T GET REPEATED.

UH, FROM KAYLA.

THE NAME COULD BE CHANGED TO STANLEY BRUCE LEE, SPIKE LEE, OR ANOTHER FAMOUS LEAP FROM SHARON OFFERED.

I GRADUATED FROM ROBERT LEE HIGH SCHOOL IN 1976 YEARS AGO.

I FELT THE NAME SHOULDN'T BE RENAMED DUE TO THE IL BACKGROUND OF IT.

I DON'T THINK IT'S RIGHT TO PRAY SUCH A PERSON WHO HELPED SLAVES AND DIDN'T WANT TO END SLAVERY.

THE HISTORY OF ANY SLAVE OWNERS SHOULD NOT BE GLORIFIED.

AN HONOR, THEREFORE SUGGESTS THE SCHOOLS SHOULD BE RENAMED SOUTHBOUND HIGH SCHOOL, APRIL MCGEE.

I THINK RENAMING LEHIGH TO SADIE, JOSEPH ROBERTS HIGH SCHOOL WOULD BE SUCH A FITTING HONOR FOR THE IMPACT SHE HAD IN HER COMMUNITY.

MARK SNYDER, EUGENE DANIEL HIGH SCHOOL.

HE'S A LEGEND.

JEFFERSON, JEFFERSON, DAVID MAGNET, GET A JOB.

CURRENT STUDENTS, STONEWELL JACKSON, STONEWALL JACKSON, MAGNET.

GIARETTA COREY.

I FEEL ABR.

SHE CHANGED THE NAME OF LEE HIGH SCHOOL.

UH, I FEEL, UH, ANOTHER ONE SUGGESTS LIBERTY HIGH FEELS A NAME THAT WILL INSPIRE DIVERSE AUDIENCE.

I ALSO HOPE IT WILL RING THE BELL OF FOLKS THROUGH THE HALLS FROM JIM, JARED DINA, WITH MY SUGGESTION, YOU SHOULD BE ABLE TO LEAVE THE SCHOOL SIGN.

LEHIGH ALONE.

ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS PUT SPIKE IN THE HERO OF LEE.

I AM NOT A RACIST.

I HAVE MORE FRIENDS, BLACK FRIENDS THAN WHITE.

I'M JUST SICK OF ALL THE COWARDS, CATERING TO GROUPS.

AND I WILL REFRAIN FROM READING THE REST.

UM, I ACTUALLY HAVE TWO QUESTIONS AND THIS IS FROM NATHAN BARRY.

NUMBER ONE IS THE NAME OF THE SCHOOL CHANGE WHERE THERE'LL BE A PLAN TO CHANGE THE NAME OF THE STREET ALSO WHERE THERE IS THERE A REASON WHY THERE ISN'T A SCHOOL IN EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH NAMED AFTER A BLACK PERSON, LOUIS DAVID SIMPSON AS A 1965 GRADUATE OF ROBERT LEE HIGH.

I STRONGLY SUPPORT THE NAME.

THERE'S MOVED TO RENAME LEHIGH.

WHEN PLANS WERE MADE FOR THE SCHOOL IN 1957, THE ORIGINAL NAME WAS SOUTH DOWNS, JUNIOR SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL.

I SUSPECT OPPOSITION TO INTEGRATION AT A TIME WAS INVOLVED IN A SWITCHED THE NAME SCHOOL AFTER A CONFEDERATE GENERAL.

SO IN THAT CONTEXT, THE NAME MINE ONLY HONORS THE MEMORY OF A CIVIL CHIEF MILITARY OFFICER IN A WAR TO DEFEND SLAVERY, BUT IS ALSO ASSOCIATED WITH CONTINUED JIM CROW, OPPRESSION OF AFRICAN AMERICANS.

IN 2016, I WROTE TO SUPPORT THE NAME CHANGED A TOTALLY NEW SCHOOL WAS BUILT ON THE SITE.

THE NAME SHOULD HAVE BEEN CHANGED, THEN CHANGE IT NOW, UH, FROM RONNIE SPAN, SPAIN, UH, I VOTE TO KEEP THE NAME OF LEE HIGH SCHOOL CLASS OF 67.

GREAT MEMORIES OF A BETTER TIME FROM DALE.

HOW HAROLD HAROLD HOME.

I'M JUST THINKING LSU MAGNET.

COULD YOU HAVE L IN THE PLACE ALREADY? COULD YOU JUST SPACE? HE WOULD SU AFTER ALL THE SCHOOLS CLOSE TO LSU, ANOTHER NAME SUGGESTION IS YOU ENTERTAINED MAGNET HIGH THAT WILL COVER EACH AND EVERY RACE, CREED, AND NATIONALITY, MARK SMITH.

ARE YOU GOING TO RENAME THE STREET TO

[05:35:01]

WHEN WILL HISTORY COMPLETELY BE REMOVED WHEN IT IS, IT WILL REPEAT ITSELF ITSELF.

NONE OF US WERE SLAVES OR SLAVE OWNERS.

THEY'RE MORE THAN THING, IMPORTANT THINGS TO SPEND TIME AND MONEY ON LIKE BEING A DAD TO YOUR CHILDREN, TEACHING KIDS LEADERSHIP, GEORGE LEIBLEIN.

I AM NOT CENSORING ANY OF THESE.

I'M JUST READING THEM AS THEY COME.

GEORGE LOBLAW.

I GRADUATED FROM ROBERT AND LEE IN 1971.

I WASN'T A GREAT STUDENT AND I CAN CONFESS THAT GOING TO SCHOOL.

WASN'T ON MY LIST OF FAVORITE THINGS TO DO.

HOWEVER, THOSE WOULD HAVE SOME BEST YEARS OF MY LIFE.

I TRULY HATE TO SEE THIS HAPPEN.

HAS THE TIME COME TO THIS WHERE EVERY VESTED OR SOUTHERN HISTORY IS SOLELY BEING EXPUNGED.

ROBERT LEE WAS A GREAT SOUTHERN GENTLEMAN AND ARGUABLY THE MOST SKILLED GENERAL TO TAKE THE FIELD.

OF COURSE YOU MIGHT EXPECT SUCH PRAISE COMING FROM A SOUTHERN.

I AM A WRITER AND AMAZON TOUR HISTORIAN.

HOW DO YOU COMPARE THE FACT THAT GERMANY HAS LAWS IN PLACE THAT REQUIRE RESTORATION AND PRESERVATION OF ALL SURVIVING STRUCTURES OF THE THIRD REICH, BUT WE CAN NOT WAIT TO TEAR DOWN EVERY REMAINDER OF THE SOUTHERN WAR OF INDEPENDENCE.

I WONDER WHAT THE NEW NAME WILL BE AND I'M TO SKIP THE REST.

KIMBERLY FRANCE, PERHAPS IT'S TIME TO CONSIDER THE NAME OF A CIVIL RIGHTS LEADER IN THE NAME OF A FEMALE LAURIE JONES.

I'M A 1982 GRADUATE.

ROBERT LEE HIGH.

I HATED THE NAME THEN, AND I CAN'T BELIEVE IT.

HASN'T BEEN COMPLETELY CHANGED.

DO IT NOW, JOHN LEE, ARE WE GOING TO HAVE TO RENAME THE HOLY DRY AND I'LL STOP AT THAT, UH, DAIRY GEORGIA QUARTER.

I'M A NEWLY GRADUATE OF LEHIGH MAGNET HIGH.

THE NAME OF OUR SCHOOL HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH OUR ACADEMICS OR THE FACT THAT WE'RE RANKED NUMBER EIGHT IN THE STATE.

STUDENTS ARE WHAT MAKE THE SCHOOL.

IF THE STUDENTS WANT TO RENAME OUR SCHOOL, THEY NEED TO ADD MAGNET TO THE TITLE AND REFER TO US AS LEE MAGNET HIGH SCHOOL, EVEN THOUGH ROBERT E. LEE WAS A MEMBER OF THE CONFEDERACY AND PRO SLAVES.

THAT IS NOT WHAT OUR SCHOOL IS ABOUT.

WE CAN'T CHANGE HISTORY.

WE CAN MAKE A BETTER FUTURE.

LET'S NOT FORGET THAT LEE IS ON LEE DRIVE.

TERROR IS OFF OF TERRA BOULEVARD AND MCKINLEY'S ON MCKINLEY STREET AND BATON ROUGE HIGHS IN BATON ROUGE.

THE STUDENTS AND FACULTY NEVER COMPLAINED ABOUT THE NAME OF OUR SCHOOL.

SO WHY SHOULD OUTSIDERS HAVE THE NEED TO HAVE A PROBLEM WITH IT? I'M JUST PROUD THAT I GRADUATED FROM LEE.

THAT DOESN'T MEAN I SUPPORT ROBERT LEE AS A PERSON REMOVING HIS NAME, COMPLETELY REMOVES A PIECE OF HISTORY, DAIRY CARTER TO FINISH OFF MY STATEMENT BEING PART OF THE FIRST FOUR YEARS.

FIRST FOUR YEAR CLASS, WE KNEW LEE.

WE HAVE SEEN THE MOST CHANGED.

WE'RE CHANGING THE NAME OF OUR SCHOOL MEAN THAT THE LEE MAGNET, HIGH LADY PATRIOTS BASKETBALL TEAM WHO ARE TWO TIMES STATE CHAMPIONS DON'T EXIST ANYMORE.

DOES IT MEAN THAT WE HAVE TO COMPLETELY CHANGE OUR GYM? BECAUSE LEE PATRIOTS IS GREAT TO THE FLOOR WITH EBR.

HAVING A MAJOR BUDGET CUTS AS A SCHOOL BOARD REALLY WANT TO PAY FOR ALL THE ALTERATIONS THAT WILL HAVE TO BE DONE FOR MY SCHOOL.

I DO NOT WANT MY DIPLOMA TO SAY ONE THING.

THEN THE SCHOOL TO SAY ANOTHER DON'T CHANGE THE NAME BECAUSE OF THE HISTORY, BECAUSE BEHIND IT, BECAUSE EDUCATION THAT I GOT IS ALL THAT MATTERS.

JERILYN SPOONER.

I HAVE TWO NAMES, TWO IDEAS FOR NAMES.

ONE IS THE NAME AND AFTER OUR 44TH PRESIDENT PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA AND THE SECOND IS TO NAME IT.

AFTER THE LATE SANDY ROBBINS, JOSEPH FROM COLLEEN KISSELL, PLEASE, PLEASE CHANGE THE NAME OF THE SCHOOL.

ALMOST ANYTHING WOULD BE BETTER THAN LEE BATON ROUGE.

SCHOOLS NEED TO BE A WELCOME ENVIRONMENT FOR STUDENTS AND NAMING BUILDING AFTER CONFEDERATE SLAVE OWNERS IS NOT WELCOMING BY ANY MEANS MILTON AND ERICA HAMMER.

FIRST, WE MUST REGRET FOR NOT COMMUNICATING OUT OF STATES ABOUT THE NAME OF LEE.

HI TO OUR SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS.

WE, WHEN WE ALL, WHEN WE ALL AS INFORMED CITIZENS DISAGREE SOMETHING WITH SOMETHING THAT WE SEE HAPPENING, OUR LOCAL GOVERNMENT, WE MUST PERSISTENTLY ENGAGE OUR ELECTED OFFICIALS ABOUT, ABOUT IT.

OTHERWISE IT WOULD THINK THAT MOST PEOPLE DON'T CARE EITHER WAY.

WE MUST BE THE SQUEAKING WHEELS TO ADVANCE CHANGE.

IT SHOULD BE REQUIRED.

MONTHLY ACTIVITY FOR STUDENTS TO COMMUNICATE TO OFFICIALS WITH DECISION MAKING POWER BEYOND THEIR SCHOOL ADMINISTRATORS, ABOUT ISSUES THEY FEEL PASSIONATE ABOUT IN THIS WAY.

EBR PUBLIC SCHOOLS WOULD PRODUCE ENGAGED AND EMPOWERED CITIZENS.

IN REGARD TO NAMING LEHIGH.

WE'VE HEARD THE DIPLOMATIC PLEA OF LESS CHEESE, SOMETHING GENERIC THAT WON'T COST CONTENTION, BUT HISTORY IS CONTENTIOUS.

WHITEWASHING HISTORY IS OUTDATED, BIASED AND HISTORICAL.

WHY KIDS WANT TO BE WELL INFORMED OF THE TRUTHFUL HISTORY OF THEIR COMPANY AND WORLD NOT KEPT SHELTERED AND UNINFORMED TO THE DESPERATE EXPERIENCES OF PEOPLE, GROUPS THAT WE CALL AMERICA AND LOUISIANA HOME.

AS WE ARE THROUGHOUT LOUISIANA, PUBLIC EDUCATION, HIGH SCHOOL KIDS CAN HANDLE CONTENTIOUS ISSUES IN HISTORY, EVEN IF THEY EVEN CRAVE IT.

WE HAVE SOME LEHIGH RENAMING SUGGESTIONS

[05:40:01]

TO REMEDY THIS LONGSTANDING MISAPPROPRIATION OF HARSH HISTORICAL FIGURES AND THEIR IMPACT ON SOCIETY FOR HOW MANY YEARS WAS ROBERT E. LEE HONORED IN A WAY THAT WAS UNFIT FOR TREASONOUS GENERAL FIGHTING TO KEEP HUMANS IN CHANGE.

SUBJECTS SAID JUNCTION TOO LONG.

LET'S COMMIT AT LEAST TO NAME THAT LONG, HONORING HIS OPPOSITE.

A WOMAN OF PEACE AND DIGNITY.

SAVE IT.

SADIE ROBERTS, JOSEPH BATON ROUGE, AFRICAN AMERICAN MUSEUM, FOUNDER AND COMMUNITY ACTIVISTS, HAITI, THOMAS MAGGIE TURNSTILE.

I NAS BARRANCO AND OLIVIA ALGIERS.

FIRST BLACK HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATES LOUISIANA 1916, BATON ROUGE COLORED HIGH SCHOOL.

NOW MCKINLEY HIGH, MARY BRISCOE AND SANDRA AND JONES SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY STUDENTS JAILED IN BATON ROUGE FOR LUNCH COUNTER.

SIT IN CLAUDETTE COLVIN.

A 15 YEAR OLD GIRL ARRESTED AT 1955 FOR NOT GIVING UP HER SEAT TO A WHITE MAN.

AND MY GUMTREE NINE MONTHS BEFORE ROSA PARKS AND THE BUS BOYCOTT FROM ERICA HAMMER.

AGAIN, SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS OUGHT NOT TO BE MAKING RACIST COMMENTS.

I'VE SUCH A MULTIPLE SCHOOL BOARD MEETINGS THIS YEAR.

IF YOU'RE UNAWARE OF WHAT I'M REFERRING TO, YOUR IGNORANCE IS DAMAGING TO THE PUBLIC TRUST AND YOUR ABILITY TO ADEQUATELY SERVE THEM, SEEK TO EDUCATE YOURSELF SAFE ABOUT RACE IS NOT POLITICAL OUT OF RESPECT.

AND MAJORITY OF THE FAMILIES YOU SERVE.

AUGUSTA M JACKSON.

I'M OKAY WITH THE PROPOSED CHANGE.

ALTHOUGH I FELT DROPPING LEE WAS SUFFICIENT EARNEST, UH, FROM RONALD WYNDHAM, ERNEST MORRELL, ONE OF THE FIRST, ONE OF THE FIRST BLACK LAW STUDENTS AT LSU TO MAYOR OF NEW ORLEANS MARTIN LUTHER KING HONORING THIS COMPANY COUNTRY'S GREATEST CIVIL RIGHTS LEADER, KALA STEMPEL FIRST AFRICAN AMERICAN BASKETBALL PLAYER AT LSU.

UH, NO NAME AND SOMEONE PUTS NO NAME.

I'M NOT GONNA READ IT.

UH, STEVEN, IF LEE HIGH SCHOOL IS UP FOR DISCUSSION FOR RENAMING, THERE ARE OTHER SCHOOLS AND MASCOTS AND THE SCHOOL DISTRICT, WHICH LOOKED TO BE OFFENSIVE TO SOMEONE ARE CREATING.

ARE WE CREATING A SPACE THAT EVERYONE IS WELCOME? THE USE OF A PERSON'S NAME WILL ALWAYS CREATE SOME TYPE OF OFFENSES ARE TO SOMEONE.

THE MASCOT IS PORTRAYING WITH PEOPLE WHERE THE MASCOT BUCCANEER IS A PART, WHICH WAS A LABEL FOR PEOPLE WHO DID BAD THINGS FROM ALEX.

OUR SCHOOL IS BASED UPON THE PRINCIPLE THAT YOUNG PEOPLE SHOULD BE A CRIP WITH THE TOOLS NECESSARY TO LEARN AND GROW, TO BECOME BETTER ADJUSTED INDIVIDUALS WHO CAN AND WILL SEEK OUT INFORMATION, GROW AND PROSPER, TAKE RISKS, AND DEVELOP A SENSE OF UNITY, ET CETERA.

NONE OF THAT IS POSSIBLE WITHOUT FIRST ESTABLISHING AN ENVIRONMENT, A SAFE, SECURE, AND POSITIVE SCHOOL SHOULD BE A SAFE PLACE, A SAFE PLACE, AND NOT CONTINUALLY REMIND ITS YOUNG LEARNERS THAT THEY ARE CONSIDERED.

OTHER A SAFE PLACE IS NOT NAMED AFTER A MAN WHO LED A FOUNDATION THAT UPHELD THE OPPRESSION OF PEOPLE.

A SAFE PLACE DOES NOT COMMAND OUR POLL.

THE LEADER OF OUR GROUP, WHO FUNDAMENTAL IDEOLOGY WAS ROOTED IN RACIAL PREJUDICE BIGOTRY AND SAY SLAVERY, BLACK AND BROWN PERSON SHOULD NOT BE MADE TO BEAR THE NAME FOR THE SAKE OF TRADITION OR OPPOSE A MAJORITY'S COMFORT.

IF THE KIDS DID NOT DO THEIR BEST IN SCHOOL SHIT, AND THE KIDS DO THE BEST FOR THE KIDS.

SHOULDN'T THE SCHOOL DID THE BEST FOR THE KIDS.

LET YOUR SCHOOLS TAKE PRIDE IN A NAME THEY CAN BE PROUD OF FROM KATIE.

MCGREAL CHANGED.

THE NAME THIS SHOULD HAVE BEEN DONE IN 2016 IS EMBARRASSING.

WE HAVE A GREAT SCHOOL WITH GREAT TEACHERS, GREAT TEACHER THAT TEACHES GREAT STUDENTS THAT CHOOSES TO HONOR A RACIST LEGACY.

OUR BLACK STUDENTS DESERVE BETTER.

I WOULD LOVE TO HEAR JUST LEE STUDENTS INPUT FROM .

IF LEE HIGH SCHOOL TO RENAME, I THINK A PERSON'S NAME SHOULD NOT BE USED INSTEAD OF A NAME FOR INSTEAD A NAME FOR A LOUISIANA SYMBOL OR A WELL KNOWN FEATURE OF THE STATE LIKE AZALEA, MAGNOLIA, ET CETERA.

THEN NO ETHNIC GROUP WOULD BE OFFENDED FROM ALAN BENWAH IN FAVOR OF RENAMING.

LEHIGH'S A NAME FOR A LOUISIANA SYMBOL OR A WELL KNOWN FEATURE OF THE STATE LIKE AZALEA, MAGNOLIA, ET CETERA.

THEN NO ETHIC GROUP WOULD BE OFFENDED FROM ALAN BENWAH IN FAVOR OF RENAMING LEE HIGH SCHOOL, BUT NOT ERASING HISTORY.

IT'S TAKEN AWAY HONOR FROM ONE PERSON.

AND GIVEN IT TO SOMEONE WHO IS MORE DESERVING, JUNE CONTI IT IS A STAIN ON EAST BATON ROUGE SYSTEM.

THAT CHARACTER THAT WE STILL HAVE SCHOOLS NAMED AFTER CONFEDERATE SOLDIERS ASSEMBLE OF RACISM AND BIGOTRY.

WE DON'T SEE SCHOOLS NAMED AFTER NAZIS IN GERMANY, AND WE DON'T SEE MEMORIALS TO WHITE SUPREMACISTS HERE.

WE'RE GLORIFYING.

A SLAVE OWNER WAS SENDS A MESSAGE TO BLACK STUDENTS.

SOME OF THEM, THEY SEND US FROM THOSE SLAVES THAT WE DON'T CARE ABOUT THEM CHANGING LI NA HIGH'S NAME WOULD NOT ERASE HISTORY OR A LEGACY OF SCHOLARSHIP.

INSTEAD.

IT MEANS THAT WE'RE NO LONGER HONORING RIGHT SUPREMACY BECAUSE THAT ALL THAT IS ALL THE CONFEDERACY WAS WHITE SUPREMACY,

[05:45:01]

CLAIMING HUMAN BEINGS AT PRYOR AS PROPERTY AROUND THE COUNTRY, PEOPLE ARE REMOVING CONFEDERATE STATUES AND CHANGING NAMES OF SCHOOLS BECAUSE THEY RECOGNIZE THAT GLORIFYING RACISM IN THE NAME OF PRESERVING HISTORY, HARM STUDENTS, EAST BATON ROUGE NEEDS TO BE ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF HISTORY FOR ONCE.

WE DO NOT WANT TO LOOK BACK 20 YEARS AND BE EMBARRASSED BY OUR LACK OF ACTION FROM SIERRA HEART, AFRICAN AMERICAN STUDENTS MAKE UP 81% OF THE TOTAL POPULATION OF THE EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH SCHOOL SYSTEM.

SINCE 2016, 19 AFRICAN AMERICAN CHILDREN AND FAMILIES HAVE FACED BIGOTRY, OPPRESSION AND EXCLUSION FROM EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES IN THE U S TO THIS DAY, STUDENTS, FAMILIES, AND COMMUNITY PARTNERS WORK TO DISMANTLE OPPRESSIVE EDUCATION SYSTEMS AND FIGHT FOR EDUCATIONAL EQUITY BARRED, AND FROM THE EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM.

NOW 13 YEARS AFTER THE CLOSING OF THE LONGEST DESEGREGATION ORDER IN THE HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES AND FOUR YEARS AFTER REMOVAL OF THE ROBERT LEE SCHOOL NAME, BATON RACE, CHILDREN ARE STILL SUBJECT SUBJECTED TO THE BIGOTRY THAT CALLED FOR SEGREGATION TO EXIST IN THE FIRST PLACE.

ROBERT LEE'S LEGACY OF HATRED AND BIGOTRY TOWARD PEOPLE WHO LOOK LIKE THE MAJORITY OF THE STUDENTS YOU WERE ELECTED TO SERVE IS NOT ONE THAT SHOULD BE HONORED, CHANGED THE NAME OF THE SCHOOL.

OUR STUDENTS DESERVE BETTER.

I'LL LET YOU READ A FEW.

ALL RIGHT, MOVING ON, DR.

JAMES VINNY I'LL CHANGE THE NAME.

WE'LL LEAVE.

HIGH SCHOOL SEEMS LIKE A PROPER ACTION.

I BELIEVE THAT THIS RESOLUTION IS PREMATURE RATHER THAN HAVING CONTINUOUS DISCUSSIONS ABOUT ONE SCHOOL NAME AT A TIME, THE BULLSHIT REVISES POLICY TO DETERMINE THE PROPER FORMAT FOR A SCHOOL NAME.

SHOULD IT EVER INCLUDE THE NAME OF A PERSON, WHETHER LIVING OR DECEASED SHOULD MULTIPLE WORDS BE ALLOWED? WHAT ABOUT INITIALS OR PUNCTUATION? WHAT ABOUT THE WORD DEEM? WHAT DOES IS THE WORD MAGNET ISN'T INCLUDED? DO WE HAVE SENIOR HIGH SCHOOLS OR SIMPLY HIGH SCHOOLS? WHAT, ONCE THOSE BASIC GUIDELINES ARE DETERMINED, THE BOARD CAN ORGANIZE A PROCESS TO QUICKLY FIX THE SCHOOLS NAMES THAT DON'T CONFIRM TO THE NEW SYSTEM AND IT WON'T, AND IT WILL BE APPROPRIATE TO CONSIDER REMOVING THE WORD LEAP FROM HIGH SCHOOL AND REPLACING IT WITH A DIFFERENT WORD.

JENNIFER CARVILLE PROGRESSIVE SOCIAL NETWORK, I THINK WILL BE BENEFICIAL TO ADD TWO ALUMNI FROM LEHIGH TO THE RENAMING COMMITTEE.

I WOULD LIKE TO THINK THAT ALTHOUGH ALUMNI WILL FEEL NO STARS, DICK TIES TO THE NAME, LEE, THEY COULD BE THE, SEE THE IMPORTANCE OF RENAMING THE SCHOOL AND WOULD ALSO WANT IT.

WASN'T THE NEW NAME? JASMINE POLK.

I'M IN FAVOR OF RENAMING LEE HIGH SCHOOL.

IT IS WHAT IT IS.

IT IS TIME.

WE STOP HOLDING ON TO NAMES OF PEOPLE WHO WOULD, WHO WOULD HAVE ENSLAVED.

THE STUDENTS ATTEND THE SCHOOLS AT THE TIME.

WHAT ARE WE TELLING OUR CHILDREN WHEN THEY HAVE TO ATTEND SCHOOLS, NAME OUT THE ENSLAVERS? I DO NOT APPRECIATE SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS SUPPORTING THE NAMES OF ENSLAVERS ON OUR BUILDINGS AND REQUEST THAT ALL SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS, NAMELY OUR WHITE SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS WHO ARE IGNORANT OF THE HISTORY.

TAKE THE TIME TO LEARN ABOUT ROBERT E. LEE.

CHARLIE STEVENS.

THE SCHOOL SYSTEM TRIED TO RENAME LEVI ALMOST FIVE YEARS AGO WHEN I WAS A FRESHMAN THERE WE HAD WHY'S IT WIDESPREAD SUPPORT THEN AND THERE STILL WISE WIDESPREAD, EXCUSE ME.

SUPPORT FOR THIS ACTION.

THE BOARD HAS JUST NOT BEEN WILLING TO LISTEN TO THOSE CONCERNS.

SOMETHING THAT I KNOW ALL TOO WELL ABOUT THIS BOY, THE REFUSAL TO LISTEN TO STUDENT CONCERNS, SHARON EVANS, CONSIDERATION TO NAME LEHIGH SCHOOL.

FRANKIE FRANK COULD BE MILLIKAN HIGH SCHOOL DELAYED.

MR. MILLIKEN WAS INSTRUMENTAL IN THE INITIAL DESEGREGATION SUIT, EXCUSE ME, AND STOMPS FIGHTER OF EQUITABLE OPPORTUNITIES FOR ALL THE CHILDREN OF EAST BATON ROUGE, PRAYER SCHOOLS, TONY, A COMMUNITY MEMBER.

LEAVE THE NAME ALONE.

QUIT ERASING HISTORY.

WE'RE A MEMBER WE SHOULD LEARN FROM HISTORY SO THAT WE WERE NOT ON THE PATH TO REPEAT IT.

DARLENE R LEE HIGH SCHOOL'S NAME SHOULD BE CHANGED AS IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN IN 2016, ABBREVIATED AS IT MAY BE.

IT IS STILL ROBERT E. LEE CHILDREN'S SHOULD BE PROUD OF THE SCHOOL THAT THEY ATTEND.

AND THE NAME SHOULD NOT BE SHAMEFUL.

OR IF IT'S, IF LET'S THINK ABOUT THIS, IF A TEAM WON A CHAMPIONSHIP, WOULD YOU NOT GIVE THE TROPHY TO THE LOSER? THE CONFEDERACY LOST THE WAR.

WHY ARE WE CONTINUING TO GLORIFY THE LOSER? IT SHOULD NOT BE A MATTER OF IF WE SHOULD CHANGE THE NAME, IT SHOULD BE WHAT WE SHOULD CHANGE IT TO.

SO THAT POINT I WOULD LIKE TO OFFER TO RENAME.

LEHIGH MAY JIMERSON HIGH SCHOOL, MASON C JEMISON HIGH SCHOOL.

THIS NAME REFLECTS HIS SIM COMPONENT AND IS ONE OF OUR STUDENTS CAN BE PROUD OF DESTINY COOPER.

WE MUST CHANGE THE NAME OF LEAF HIGH SCHOOL.

WE CANNOT BELIEVE THAT WE SERVE OUR CHILDREN BY 11, ALLOWING A SCHOOL IN OUR DISTRICT TO BEAR THE NAME OF A CONFEDERATE GENERAL.

I URGE THE BOARD TO SHOW OUR CHILDREN THAT WE WILL CHOOSE TO BE AN ANTI-RACIST SCHOOL SYSTEM.

WE'LL SHOW JENKINS AS AN AFRICAN AMERICAN WOMAN.

IT IS A SLAP IN THE FACE TO SEE THE LAME LEE HIGH SCHOOL IS STILL THERE.

THE CHILDREN OF COLOR HAVE NO IDEA WHAT ROBERT LEE HAD DONE IN HISTORY.

I FIND THAT UPSETTING THAT HISTORY IS BEING NOT BEING TAUGHT, TELLING THE TRUTH.

I'M AN ENGLISH TEACHER, AND I TRY MY BEST TO EXPOSE MY CHILDREN TO THINGS THAT, THAT, THAT, THAT THINGS THEY DON'T PEOPLE KEEP TALKING ABOUT.

IT'S OUR CULTURE.

SO ARE YOU OKAY WITH LIFESTYLE, KEEPING BLACKS AND BONDAGE TO SAVE MONEY IN YOUR POCKETS? THAT IS PRECISELY WHAT ROBERT LEE DID, AND IT IS NOT IN IT'S TIME TO CHANGE THE NAME.

OUR KIDS DESERVE BETTER THAN THAT.

IT IS MIND

[05:50:01]

BOGGLING BECAUSE MOST OF THE DEMOGRAPHIC OR PEOPLE OF COLOR, WE HAVE TO START CONSIDERING OUR CHILDREN OF COLOR.

ONE DECISIONS OF EDUCATION IS CONCERNED.

MARCY FRAZIER, ALL STUDENTS DESERVE TO ATTEND A SCHOOL THAT IS REPRESENTATIVE OF THEIR COMMUNITY.

CHANGE THE NAME, OUR KIDS FOR FAR TOO LONG HAVE HAD AND JUSTICE OF INTENDED SCHOOLS NAMED AFTER SOMEONE THAT FOUGHT TO KEEP THEM ENSLAVED.

OUR STUDENTS, THAT COMMUNITY DESERVE, DESERVE, EXCUSE ME, IS THERE A BETTER, PLEASE VOTE TO CHANGE THE NAME OF LEHIGH SCHOOL TO BE MORE INCLUSIVE OF ALL STUDENTS, JULISSA JONES, MR. ATLANTA'S.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR COURAGE FOR HAVING THE COURAGE TO BRING THIS ISSUE TO LIGHT.

OUR SCHOOLS ARE NOT WHAT THEY WERE 40 YEARS AGO.

OUR SCHOOL SHOULD REFLECT WHAT OUR COMMUNITY AND STUDENTS THEY SERVE.

LOOK LIKE NOW OUR CHILDREN SHOULD NOT BE SUBJECTED TO ATTEND A SCHOOL NAMED AFTER A SLAVE OWNER WHO DID NOT EVEN VIEW THEIR RACE AS A HUMAN BEING.

THIS IS CHANGING ALL AROUND THE WORLD.

I WOULD HATE TO SEE BATON ROUGE ON THE WRONG SIDE OF HISTORY.

TIFFANY, TO REMAIN THE CHANGE IS OVERDUE.

WHAT MAKES ROBERT ELEY SO SIGNIFICANT THAT HE IS THE ONLY PERSON WITH THIS SCHOOL NAMED AFTER HIM IN EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH.

THE DISTRICT IS MAJORITY MINORITY.

AND YET WE HAVE ONE OF THE HIGHEST ESTEEM SCHOOLS ARE DOING WITH HIS NAME.

THE CHAIN NEEDS TO HAPPEN ASAP.

LESLIE JENKINS.

THE PROBLEM WITH THIS BOARD IS THAT EVERYTHING IS ALWAYS PUSHED BACK.

HOPING THAT WE FORGET WE WILL NOT THE CHANGE THE NAME.

NOW THERE IS NO NEED TO PUSH IT UP BACK TO ANY OTHER BOARD MEETING VOTE.

NOW, LINCOLN JAMES, WE CAN'T SEND OUT A GOOGLE FORM.

WE CAN SEND OUT A GOOGLE FORM FOR NAMES, CHANGE THE NAME.

NOW THAT'S RIDICULOUS.

YVETTE PAIN.

I'M BEYOND DISAPPOINTED AT THE WHITE BOARD MEMBERS, THE WHITE MEMBERS OF THE SCHOOL BOARD, NOT ONE MEMBER OTHER THAN MR. GIRL, THEY WILL.

THEY TRUMP TRUMP UP RE RESOLUTION, NO DOUBT CRAFTED BY YOU COWARDS.

SAY IT SILENTLY.

BY DURING DISCUSSION OF THIS ITEM, THIS BOY REPRESENTS A MORE THAN 80% BLACK DISTRICTS.

YOUR SILENCE IS COMPLICIT IN YOUR ACTIONS ARE EQUIVALENT TO MODERN DAY SLAVERY OF OUR CHILDREN.

BY ALLOWED THEM TO ATTEND A SCHOOL WITH THE NAME OF A MAN WHO ENSLAVED ABUSED AND MURDERED PEOPLE WHO LOOK LIKE THEM.

SHAME ON YOU ALL PAGE.

THE NAME OF LEE IS HOPEFUL TO HIS STUDENTS.

THOSE STUDENTS WHO HAVE ALLEGED ALREADY GRADUATED, WE'LL HAVE TO LOOK AT THE NAME ON THEIR DIPLOMAS.

DON'T STAND IN THE WAY OF PROGRESS.

CARSON GUILBEAU.

WE ARE TALKING ABOUT CHANGING THE NAME OF A SCHOOL, BUT WE'RE ALLOWING POOR LEADERS TO SEND OUR STUDENTS INTO THE COMMUNITY.

YOU'RE PREPARED TARA HIGHS AT THE TOP OF MY LIST, DR.

MARY LEECH, THERE IS NO REASON TO DELAY THE NAME.

EXCUSE ME.

THERE IS NO REASON TO DELAY RENAME AND ROBERT E. LEE HIGH SCHOOL.

THIS TIME IS UPON US TO DO WHAT IS MORALLY RIGHT? DANIELLE BROWN, MR. , IF YOU AGREE WITH THE NAME OF LEHIGH SHOULD BE A CHANGE, THEN WHY ARE YOU NOW, THEN WHY ARE YOU NOW ONLY ENGAGING IN A CONVERSATION TO RENAME THE SCHOOL? AFTER MORE THAN TWO YEARS AS THE SCHOOL DISTRICTS, AS THE SCHOOL DISTRICTS REPRESENTATIVE DARLENE ARE, SIR, YOU HAVE BEEN APPOINTED BY THE PUBLIC TO MAKE THE DECISIONS ON THEIR BEHALF.

WE DO NOT NEED TO WAIT ANY LONGER.

HANNAH MRL, SOLE PARENT, AND GO TO HIS DISTRICT.

MY HUSBAND AND I PARTICIPATED WHEN THE FIRST NAME CHANGE OCCURRED A FEW YEARS AGO, WE PLEAD IT MADE PUBLIC COMMENTS TO OUR SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS TO GET RID OF THIS NAME, THE INTERNAL STAKEHOLDERS OF OUR SYSTEM OVERWHELMINGLY SUPPORT THIS.

DO WHAT IS RIGHT FOR THE CURRENT STUDENTS IN OUR SYSTEMS. DON'T WORRY ABOUT PEOPLE WHO TAKE EVERY OPPORTUNITIES, THE BAG OFF OUR DIFFERENT DISTRICT, EVERY CHANCE THEY GET DO WHAT IS RIGHT NOW, MEGAN, MATT, WITH ALL DUE RESPECT, MR. PRESIDENT, YOU HAD NO PROBLEM NAMING THESE SUPERINTENDENT CHOICES THROUGH WITHOUT PUBLIC INPUT, BUT SUDDENLY WHEN IT IS TIME TO DO A NAME CHANGE, YOU WANT MONTHS OF PUBLIC INPUT.

MR. ATLANTA'S WAS THE BOARD MEMBER WHO WAS BRAVE ENOUGH TO FINALLY GET THIS DONE.

MS. BERNARD WAS WILLING TO GO ON TV AND MAKE TONE DEAF AT BEST BLATANTLY RACIST COMMENTS AT WORST, YOU WERE WILLING TO HAVE PUBLIC FACEBOOK DEBATES WITH BLACK MEN ON THE BOARD TO THE VAN, THESE STATEMENTS, BUT YOU ARE UNWILLING TO SUPPORT THIS WELL THOUGHT OUT POLICY AS IT IS.

THE PUBLIC HAS HAD SEVEN DECADES TO GIVE INPUT ON NAME CHANGE FOUR YEARS AGO, YOU HAD A CHANCE TO HEAR FROM THE PUBLIC AND YOU ONCE AGAIN, CHOSE WHITE SUPREMACY BY KEEPING THE LEE NAME, YOU HAVE RECEIVED A FLOOD OF EMAILS.

YOU KNOW WHAT WE WANT? WE'LL MOVE THE SUBSTITUTE MOTION AND SUPPORT MR. LANDIS.

THAT WILL BE THE FIRST STEP.

IF YOU'RE SERIOUS ABOUT HEALING, BOTH HAVE WAITED LONG ENOUGH.

DO WHAT IS RIGHT.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.

HANNAH.

BRICHMAN TAKE DOWN THE SIGN IN THE MORNING, THE SILENCE AND POSTURE FROM OUR WHITE BOARD MEMBERS ON SUCH IMPORTANT ISSUE SPEAKS VOLUMES.

JASMINE.

I DID NOT USE MY FULL TIME.

I TEND NOT USE MY FULL TIME.

CONSIDER THIS AS AN AMENDMENT TO MY ORIGINAL COMMENT.

THE FACT THAT NONE OF THE WHITE SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS HAVE SAID ANYTHING.

IT'S APPALLING.

THE FACT THAT MS. BERNARD IS NOT EVEN ENGAGED IN THE CONVERSATION IS APPALLING THE FACT THAT HER LAPTOP SHOWS HER POSSIBLY SHOPPING THOUGH.

THIS CONVERSATION IS APPALLING MS. BERNARD HSA RESIGNED AND RACIST NAME ON THIS SCHOOL SHOULD BE CHANGED.

IMMEDIATELY.

STOP THE STALLING TACTICS.

CHANGE THE NAME, TAKE DOWN A RACIST NAME.

SIGN THIS WEEK.

DARLENE ARE MR. BALLOU.

YOU HAVE BEEN ELECTED BY THE PEOPLE IN YOUR DISTRICT TO MAKE DECISIONS IN THEIR ABSENCE.

IF YOU WANT TO, YOU CAN.

THIS IS THE RIGHT THING TO DO.

THIS IS THE RIGHT TIME TO DO IT.

OUR NATION, OUR COUNTRY, OUR STATE, AND OUR CITY NEEDS TO MOVE IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION RIGHT NOW.

TONIGHT, THIS MOMENT.

THANK YOU, JESSICA.

MOLLY SHOW THE COMMUNITY A SENSE OF URGENCY.

NOW IS THE TIME FROM A COMMITTEE, A HOLD, A PUBLIC MEETING,

[05:55:01]

VOTE ON THE NAME, CHANGE AND CHANGE THE SINUS.

WE CAN BE PATIENT.

WE GET NEW UNIFORMS, ORDERING NEW PROMOTIONAL MATERIALS, ET CETERA, ET CETERA.

STAND UP FOR WHAT'S RIGHT.

CUANDO CORLEY.

EXACTLY.

ONE YEAR AGO, I STOOD BEFORE YOU ARE RENAMING POKE POKE ELEMENTARY OPTIMIST EVA GUARD.

AT THAT TIME, I SPOKE ABOUT CHANGING NAME OF LEAVE HIGH SCHOOL AND THE OPPRESSION THAT COMES ALONG WITH IT.

MR. GO DAY.

HAVE YOU EVER BEEN HUNG FROM A TREE? MS. BERNARD, HAVE YOUR CHILDREN EVER BEEN RIPPED AWAY FROM YOU? AND SO MS. DYSON, HAVE YOU EVER BEEN STRIPPED NAKED OR BRUTALLY RAPED? JUST BECAUSE MR. BLUE, HAVE YOU EVER HAD TO PICK COTTON? MRS. HOFFMAN, HAVE YOU BEEN PUT ON EXHIBIT TO BE SO OUR EXAM, OUR ANCESTORS NEVER RECEIVED A HALT BEFORE ANY AND DURING ALL OF THESE BEFORE WE MENTIONED, WE SHOULDN'T RECEIVE A HALT.

NOW, AS EASILY AS AFRICAN AMERICAN ANCESTORS WERE EXECUTED, ISN'T EASILY.

YOU SHOULD EXECUTE.

THE CHANGE.

CHANGE IS NOT ALWAYS COMFORTABLE, BUT SOMETIMES VERY NECESSARY.

ACCORDING TO THE BIBLE, WHAT DO YOU DO? WHAT YOU DO FOR CHRIST WILL LAST AS CHILDREN OF GOD.

I ASKED YOU FOR YOU TO STOP CRUCIFYING THE CHILDREN AND DO WHAT JESUS WOULD DO.

JESUS WOULD SHOW COMPASSION AND LOVE.

WHEN WILL YOU CHANGE THE NAME? WHAT ABOUT THE CHILDREN? DANNY BROWN, BOARDMAN, BARNARD.

I HEARD YOU PURSUE THE MEDIA WITH MRSA MISINFORMATION TO DEFEND ROBERT LEE.

AND NOW I'LL WATCH YOU TAP AND TYPE AWAY AT YOUR LAPTOP INSTEAD OF ACTIVELY LISTENING TO YOUR FELLOW BOARD MEMBERS WHO ARE EXPRESSING THEIR PERSONAL PAIN AND FRUSTRATION AND THAT OF THEIR CONSTITUENTS.

I IMPLORE YOU TO PLEASE SUSPEND YOUR PRIVILEGE AND GIVE YOUR COLLEAGUES THE COURTESY OF YOUR INTENTION AND RESPONSE TO YOUR INFLAMMATORY COMMENTS.

RONNIE V IT DOES NOT TAKE EIGHT WEEKS TO SELECT A NAME FOR A SCHOOL.

IF NOTHING IS WRONG WITH HANDLING ISSUE, IMMEDIATELY PULL THE SUBSTITUTE MOTION.

PETER GAVIN SAYS, I AM IN FAVOR OF RENAMING.

THE HIGH SCHOOL.

PLEASE STRONGLY CONSIDER THE PLEA.

THANK YOU, JASMINE POPE ONE LAST AMENDMENT.

WE DO NOT NEED A WEEKS.

THIS PUBLIC IS ENGAGED AND I GUARANTEE YOU YOU'LL GET RESPONSES IMMEDIATELY ON THIS MANNER.

I FIND IT HYPOCRITICAL THAT YOU WANT PUBLIC INPUT AND SOMETHING THAT ALREADY HAD LOTS OF PUBLIC INPUT, BUT YOU DON'T WANT PUBLIC INPUT ON THE NEXT SUPERINTENDENT NEXT SUPERINTENDENT.

AND IT AN ANIMAL.

REBLLING THE SUBSTITUTE MOTION.

WHITEWASHES THE ACTIONS, YOUR FELLOW BOARD OF YOUR FELLOW BOARD MEMBERS.

THIS NAME CHAIN NEEDS TO HAPPEN QUICK.

BOLD ACTION.

DON'T MAKE A HALF STEP ON THE DISTRICT ISSUE.

MR. GODA, THINK ABOUT THE FACT THAT YOU'LL NEED TO MICRO MANAGE AND CONTROL THE PROCESS.

FOLLOW THE LEADER OF THE BLACK PEOPLE WHO ARE AFFECTED BY THIS AND TELLING YOU HOW TO FIX IT.

PULL YOUR SUBSTANCE EMOTION AND FOLLOW THEM.

TAKE A FULL STEP FORWARD.

AND WE'RE PAST THE ORIGINAL MOTION.

DAVID RAMSEY.

I DON'T ALWAYS AGREE WITH MR ATLANTA'S, BUT THE NAME CHANGE SHOULD BE DONE AS CHIEF JUSTICE.

EARL WARREN STATED IN BROWN VS.

BOARD OF EDUCATION WITH ALL DELIBERATE SPEED, WILLIAM MINSON.

I MISSED THAT.

THIS IS GONNA BE MY LAST ONE.

MR. GODIN, WHAT ARE YOU DOING? THIS IS THE ADDRESS MOTION.

WE DRAW YOUR SUBSTANCE TO MOTION.

WE DO NOT NEED TO PUBLIC COMMENTS.

THERE WILL BE NO, THERE WILL NOT BE A NAME SUGGESTED IN THE SECOND PUBLIC COMMENT.

THAT IS SO PERFECT TO EVERYONE GRATEFUL.

THERE WERE TWO, INSTEAD OF ONE TODAY, THE LATEST DECISION TO PASS THE START OF THE SCHOOL YEAR AND REQUIRED BLACK STUDENTS TO ATTEND A SCHOOL NAMED FOR A MAN WHO FOUGHT TO ENSLAVE THEIR ANCESTORS WORSE THAN OFFENSIVE.

STUDENTS WILL TALK ABOUT IT AND THEY WILL FEEL DEMORALIZED.

DELAYING THE NAME CHANGE TO ALLOW IT TO BE THE SUBJECT OF HALLWAY DISCUSSION IS TO BULLY AND DEMORALIZED.

AS SOON AS YOU HAVE BEEN ELECTED TO SERVE, I HOPE THAT IT, I HOPE THE PERSON IN PUBLIC COMMENTS HAVE IMPRESSED ON YOU.

THE IMPORTANCE AND URGENCY IN THIS MATTER, MAKE YOU MIKE, YOU ARE MY REP.

AS YOUR CONSTITUENTS.

I AM ASKING YOU TO WITHDRAW THE SUBSTITUTE MOTION AND LET DAD DRESS A MAN.

HIS EMOTION, AS HE HAS ALREADY EXPRESSED A WILLINGNESS TO DO, PLEASE, IT IS THE DECENT THING TO DO.

THIS IS MIKE CAVILL.

I'M A WHITE MAN WHO GRADUATED FROM ROBERT LEE IN 1986.

I DID NOT MAKE MYSELF AWARE OF THE SCHOOL NAMED HISTORY WHILE I WAS THERE, BUT WE CALL THE MASCOT, REBELS AND CONFEDERATE FLAGS BEHIND BEING UBIQUITOUS.

I AM NOW AWARE THAT THIS SCHOOL, MY SCHOOL SHOULD BE RE RENAMED.

NOW, NOT LATER, I GREW UP THINKING NOTHING WITH THE REBELS AND THE CONFEDERACY BECAUSE I WAS, IT WAS SO EMBEDDED IN OUR CULTURE AND SEPARATION AND SEGREGATION IN BATON ROUGE.

I'M STILL PROUD OF MY PUBLIC EDUCATION IN EBR, BY ASSET BOARD TO ACT ON MRS. LANA'S PROPOSAL TO CHANGE THE NAME SO THAT OTHER WHITE CHILDREN WILL NOT GROW UP, THINKING NOTHING WRONG WITH CELEBRATING THE CONFEDERACY.

AND WHAT'S WHAT IT STOOD FOR.

PLEASE CHANGE THE NAME OF MY HIGH SCHOOL.

SO NOW WE GO BACK TO THE BOARD COMMENTS AND I HAVE MY NAME FIRST, YOUR FACE.

MMM, BRITTANY CONNIE, BERNARD LEE.

WELL, KYLIE BERNARD LEAVING THE MEETING WAS UNPROFESSIONAL AND DISRESPECTFUL TO YOUR CONSTITUENTS.

PRESIDENT GO DAY.

EVERYTHING CAN BE COMPLETED IN A FOUR WEEK TIMEFRAME.

YOU JUST VOTED TO MAKE ADJUSTMENTS TO A $15 MILLION GRANT.

IN TWO WEEKS, LET'S GET THIS DONE.

BLACK LIVES MATTER, PERFORM A COMMITTEE AS A WHOLE TO DECREASE TIME OF THIS MEETING AND FOCUS ON THE MAIN IMPORTANT AGENDA ITEMS. UH, THAT IS THE LAST OF THE PUBLIC COMMENTS.

UH,

[06:00:01]

NO, I'M FIRST REFRESHED, REFRESH THE PUBLIC COMMENTS.

I DON'T KNOW WHERE WE ARE.

OH, WAIT, THE WRONG, WRONG TOPIC.

UM, THIS IS FROM ZUORA, THIS AND FROM NOW ON, WE'RE GOING TO NEED TO MAKE IT A RE A REQUIREMENT THAT PEOPLE NEED TO GIVE THEIR FULL NAME, UH, WHEN THEY PUT IN COMMENTS.

CAUSE WE REQUIRE THAT FROM PEOPLE WHO ARE HERE IN PERSON, I'M AGAIN GOING TO CONTINUE WITH THAT, BUT WE NEED TO MAKE A NOTE FOR THE FUTURE THAT WE NEED TO DO THAT.

UH, ZUORA, THIS WOMAN, CONNIE IS A PERFECT EXAMPLE OF ID GAF AND THE MISUSE OF PUBLIC OFFICE AND HER ABILITY TO LEAVE A MEETING WHEN CALLED OUT.

THIS IS PRIVILEGED.

IT'S EASY TO RUN WHEN THINGS GET HEATED AND UNCOMFORTABLE IS UNACCEPTABLE.

MR. GOODAY SUBSTITUTE MOTION, PERFECT EXAMPLE WITH PRIVILEGE AND WANTING TO SUPPORT, BUT NOT FULLY UNDERSTANDING OR TRYING TO UNDERSTAND WHY BLACK LIVES MATTER AND MAKING THE AGENDA ABOUT HIM INSTEAD OF LETTING MR. LANDIS LEE LEAD IS DISRESPECTFUL.

IF NOT NOW, WHEN HOW MANY KNEES, HOW, HOW MANY KNEES ON BLACK PEOPLE'S NECKS THAT YOU NEED BEFORE YOU GET IT? LISA PATTERSON CHANGED IN NINNY LEAKS, HIGH SCHOOL, NEIL BEAR.

I'D LIKE TO THANK THE SCHOOL BOARD FOR TAKING ON THIS ISSUE TONIGHT.

IT WOULD BE EASILY AND COWARDLY TO PUNT DOWN THE ROAD.

LIZ SMITH RENAMING THE SCHOOL WAS THE RIGHT THING TO DO.

INCLUSIVE COMMITTEE START WITH INCLUSIVE SCHOOLS IN WHICH EVERY STUDENT IS WELCOMED TO AN ENVIRONMENT CONDUCIVE TO LEARNING AND SCHOOL NAMED IN THE HONOR OF A HISTORICAL FIGURE.

HIS ACTIONS STARTED TO PRESERVE AND PERPETUATE SUBJUGATION OF BLACK AMERICANS HAS NO PLACE IN AN EXCLUSIVE INCLUSIVE COMMUNITY.

THE BATON ROUGE AREA CHAMBER STANDS IN FAVOR OF WRITING THIS HISTORICAL WRONG AND URGES EBR TO TAKE ACTION, VIVIAN, YOU DON'T NEED UNTIL SEPTEMBER FOR PUBLIC FEEDBACK.

YOU'VE GOTTEN ENOUGH COMMENTS FOR TONIGHT NAME AND AFTER SADIE AND ORDER NEW SIGNS TOMORROW, DOMINIC XEON, TO SUGGEST THAT COST IS A REASON TO DELAY OR REFUSE A NAME CHANGE IS ABSOLUTELY RIDICULOUS.

I'M MORE THAN SURE THE FUNDS COULD BE RAISED IF NEEDED.

THE FIRST TWO ITEMS ON THE AGENDA WERE THE NAME OF SCHOOL, GYM, AND A COURTYARD AFTER AMAZING AND HONORABLE MAN, YOU ALL VOTED UNANIMOUSLY.

HOW HAS THE SAME MEETING DO YOU THINK IS OKAY TO DELAY OR DENY THIS CHANGE? JENNIFER HARDING, THIS IS AN EMBARRASSMENT.

THIS SHOULDN'T BE THAT HARD.

IT'S EXHAUSTING WATCHING THIS BODY IGNORE THE WILL OF THE PEOPLE OVER AND OVER AGAIN.

THERE'S NO EXCUSE TO DRAG, NO EXCUSE TO DRAG A FEW DAYS TO CHANGE YOUR NAME.

THE NAME IS NOW PAGE.

DO YOU KNOW THAT SADIE HAWKINS ROBERT'S GRANDSON JUST GRADUATED FROM LEE.

WOULDN'T BE PERFECT FOR HIS MOTHER'S GRANDMOTHER'S LEGEND TO CARRY ON IN WRITING ON HIS DIPLOMA.

KATIE, CAN WE HAVE A MOTION TO FOREGO HEARING? ALL COMMENTS ON THIS MATTER IS OBVIOUS THAT THE PROPOSAL TO CHANGE, THE NAME IS GOING TO PASS.

CAN WE MOVE ON TO DISCUSSION AT THE NEW SUPERINTENDENT, KIM JOHNSON REMOVED RACE AND COME TO A COMMON GROUND, LAKESHORE HIGH OR EAST LAKESHORE HIGH SCHOOL OF EXCELLENCE.

SOUNDS NICE.

YOU GET THE JESS, SOMETHING ON THOSE LINES WOULD SUFFICE.

SO NOW THAT CLOSES THAT PUBLIC COMMENT.

UH, I I'M THE FIRST ON THE THING TO REQUEST TO SPEAK.

UH, I WANT TO BE CLEAR WHEN I MADE MY SUBSTITUTE MOTION, I FULLY SUPPORTED CHANGING THE NAME AND I ALSO DID NOT RAISE COSTS AS AN ISSUE.

I IN FACT, INJECTED GENERAL FUND MONEY TO THE PROJECT TO MAKE SURE IT COULD BE DONE.

AND I WANT TO MAKE SURE EVERYONE IS CLEAR AND UNDERSTANDS THAT I WAS NOT USING COST AS ANY KIND OF AN ISSUE.

I STILL THINK IT'D BE BETTER TO HAVE MORE TIME TO HAVE PUBLIC INPUT.

YOU SEEN ALREADY THE LIST OF NAMES THAT HAVE COME OUT.

AND I THINK HAVING A LITTLE BIT OF TIME TO SIT AND REFLECT ON SUCH A CHANGE IS GOING TO BE FOR HISTORY, UH, WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE.

BUT I ALSO HAVE HEARD EVERYONE HERE SPEAK TONIGHT.

AND IF YOU THINK EIGHT WEEKS, IS THAT IMPORTANT, UH, TO MAKE THIS CHANGE, I WILL WITHDRAW MY SUBSTITUTE MOTION.

[06:05:01]

NO, I HAVE TO HAVE YOUR AGREEMENT FROM THE SECOND.

NO, MR. .

NOW MR. GO DAY.

I THINK, UH, I THINK YOU MADE A VERY THOUGHTFUL, UH, SUBSTITUTE MOTION AND I SEE NOTHING WRONG WITH, I UNDERSTAND PEOPLE'S EAGERNESS.

I UNDERSTAND MR. LANDIS IS EAGERNESS, BUT I WISH HE WOULD HAVE, UH, I WISH HE WOULD'VE PROPOSED THIS RESOLUTION AT ANY TIME DURING THE 18 MONTHS, SHE'S BEEN ON THE BOARD BEFORE A NIGHT WHEN WE'RE VOTING ON A NEW SUPERINTENDENT.

I JUST THINK IT'S DISTRACTED.

UM, UM, I'M WILLING TO SUPPORT IT.

I THINK IT'S A REASONABLE, UH, MOTION.

I DON'T SEE ANY REASON THEN I CAN'T WITHDRAW IT, BUT I WILL VOTE AGAINST IT.

AND IN FAVOR OF MR. LANDIS, HIS MOTION.

ALRIGHT, WELL I'LL, I'LL WITHDRAW THEN.

SO THE MOTION IS WITHDRAWN AND WE MOVE NOW TO THE MOTION AS WRITTEN BY MR. LANTIS, MR. LANA.

SO WOULD YOU ACCEPT FRIENDLY AMENDMENTS CORRECTING THE, OH, I'M SORRY.

THAT IS RIGHT.

WE HAVE A BUNCH OF PEOPLE IN THE QUEUE, MY MISTAKE.

SO LET'S SEE.

WHEN SOMEONE TELLS ME WHO'S NEXT.

IS THIS ATLANTA MR. LANDIS? THANK YOU.

SO FIRST I WANT TO ADDRESS SOMETHING THAT ONE OF MY COLLEAGUES JUST BROUGHT UP.

HE SAID IT I'VE BEEN ON THIS BOARD FOR 18 MONTHS AND I COULD HAVE BROUGHT THIS ISSUE UP AT ANY TIME OR YOU WISH I WOULD HAVE, THIS IS THE PROBLEM WITH W WITH SITUATIONS LIKE THIS.

WHEN I WAS ELECTED ON THIS BOARD, ONE OF THE FIRST THINGS THAT I WANTED TO DO WAS CHANGE THE NAME, BUT YOU KNOW WHAT I WAS TOLD, I WAS TOLD TO WAIT, WAIT, WE'LL GET ALONG.

WE'LL WE'LL GET ALONG.

WE ALL WILL GET TO IT WHEN WE GET TO IT, LET'S WAIT UNTIL AFTER THE SUPERINTENDENT, UH, SEARCH, JUST CONTINUE TO WAIT, KICK THE CAN DOWN THE ROAD WHILE OUR STUDENTS ATTENDED SCHOOL.

BUT YOU KNOW WHAT, FOR THAT, I APOLOGIZE.

AND I'LL TELL YOU THIS TONIGHT, COMMUNITY.

I WILL NEVER, I WILL NEVER AGAIN, WAIT ON AN ISSUE THAT AFFECTS EVERYBODY AROUND THIS PARISH.

IT WILL NEVER HAPPEN AGAIN.

YOU HAVE MY WORD, MY SWORN WORDS TONIGHT, THAT IT WILL NEVER TAKE PLACE AGAIN, BECAUSE YOU KNOW WHAT KEEPS RINGING THROUGH MY MIND, WHAT KEEPS RINGING THROUGH MY MIND IS THAT CHILD WHO LEFT A COMMENT AND SAID, IT'S OKAY TO GO TO A SCHOOL WITH A PRESS OF SYMBOLS.

AND THAT IS THE ISSUE.

WHAT CAN BE MORE DEGRADING THEN A CHILD OR A STUDENT OF COLOR, ATTENDING A SCHOOL WITH THOSE TYPES OF SYMBOLS AND THINK THAT IT IS OKAY.

WE ARE DESENSITIZING OUR CHILDREN BY ALLOWING THEM TO BE INSIDE OF SCHOOL BUILDINGS THAT LOOK LIKE THOSE.

THAT SOUND LIKE THOSE.

THAT'S THE VERY REASON WHY WE SHOULD HAVE A SENSE OF URGENCY TO CHANGE THIS TONIGHT.

I'M GOING TO JUST LET THAT SIT ON.

YOU GUYS, MINE.

HEY LADIES, TOO.

OR YOU DO WHAT IS RIGHT? DO IT TONIGHT.

ARE YOU DONE? I'LL LET YOU KNOW WHAT I'M DONE.

PRISON AND GO THERE.

NO OFFENSE, MAN.

I WAS JUST TRYING TO FIGURE OUT IF YOUR BRAKES WERE MEANT YOU WERE DONE, SORRY.

I'M TAKING BREAKS.

CAUSE IT'S TAKEN ME SOME TIME TO REALLY CONCEPTUALIZE WHAT IS HAPPENING HERE TONIGHT.

WE HAVE LITERALLY HAD PEOPLE IN HERE WAITING FOR TWO HOURS, TALKING ABOUT SOMETHING THAT WE ALREADY KNOW WHAT WE SHOULD DO.

TWO HOURS TALKING ABOUT LEE HIGH SCHOOL, TWO HOURS.

ARE WE GOING TO BE HERE? ANOTHER TWO HOURS DISCUSSING THE SUPERINTENDENT, COME ON BOARD.

LET'S DO WHAT IS RIGHT? YOU HAVE THE POWER TO CHANGE THIS.

THEY HAD THE POWER TO CHANGE IT THEN.

AND GUESS WHAT? THEY CHANGED IT TO ROB LEE.

SO LET'S FIX IT TONIGHT.

I'M DONE.

THANK YOU, MS. DYSON.

I WAS, UM, ALREADY SKIPPED.

SO, UH, I'LL PUT MY NAME BACK IN THE KEY.

WHO IS THAT? YOU WERE NEXT.

[06:10:05]

OH, I I'M SORRY.

I MIGHT BE, I MIGHT BE ON A WRONG PLATE.

ISN'T IT? IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN MR LANDIS, MR. .

MS. DIASON MR. BLUE.

I HAVE MR. ATLANTIS THAN ME AND I WENT AND THEN THE SKIES MS. DYSON WAS NEXT.

AGAIN, I'M BACK IN THE QUEUE.

I WAS BEFORE MR. BUILDING.

YOU ARE, I'M GOING TO MISS THE BALLOON NEXT ALRIGHT.

MR. BALLOU ONLY SPOKE ABOUT THE SECOND TO REDRAW A SECOND FOR MY MOTION.

THAT WAS ALL IT'S.

YES, PLEASE.

MS. MS. DYSON, DO YOU HAVE A COMMENT? I DO.

SO BEFORE THIS, ALL OF THE COMMENTS THAT HAVE BEEN MADE, WE HAD SOME THOUGHTS ABOUT FIGURING OUT HOW TO COME TOGETHER ON SOME OF THIS.

THERE ARE SOME, I THINK SOME, FIRST OF ALL, THERE'S SOME ISSUES WITH THE ORIGINAL RESOLUTION, NOT ALIGNING WITH OUR POLICY, SO I'M NOT WANTING TO CHANGE POLICY TONIGHT.

SO I THINK I JUST WOULD LIKE TO ASK AGAIN I'M I WAS UNDER THE UNDERSTANDING THAT IS THAT THE, UM, FRONT ONE AND TWO AND EVERYTHING BETWEEN THEM NEEDS TO STAY WITH THE CHANGES IN ORDER TO ALIGN WITH OUR POLICY.

YES MA'AM.

I BELIEVE MR. LANDIS HAS INDICATED THAT HE IS WILLING TO ACCEPT THOSE AMENDMENTS TO ALIGN THE RESOLUTION WITH POLICY CORRECTNESS.

SOLANAS CORRECT.

SO, UM, THERE'S NO MOTION ON THE FLOOR FOR THAT RIGHT NOW, JUST TO BE CLEAR.

UM, SO, SO, AND THEN I UNDERSTOOD THAT THERE WAS, UM, I THINK HE SAID THERE'S ALREADY PHILANTHROPY DOLLARS TO DO IT WITH AND CAUSE THIS IS THE GYM FLOOR TOO.

AND I JUST DON'T WANT TO THINK THAT WE'VE MISSED THINKING ABOUT DIFFERENT THINGS, BUT, UM, SO THAT WAS SO MAYBE THERE'S NO NEED FOR, UM, YEAH.

NUMBER FIVE OR NUMBER SEVEN.

AND THEN IT'S JUST A MATTER OF HOW LONG WILL IT REALLY, YOU KNOW, TAKE US TO DO THIS.

EFFICIENTLY, BUT NOT DELAY.

SO MR. LANICE WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS THERE? UM, I'M SORRY, IT'S NOT TURN ON THE FLOOR.

WE'LL COME BACK.

WE'LL COME BACK TO YOU AND YOU CAN MAKE AN AMENDMENT TO DO YOUR THING, MS. BERNARD.

UM, I WAS ONLY GOING TO ASK THAT WE INCORPORATE THE POLICY INTO MR. ALANIS'S MOTION, WHICH I THINK STRIKES IT'S.

ARE THEY IDENTICAL MR. GODOY? YEAH.

WELL, LET'S LET THE WORDING LET, LET OUR GENERAL COUNSEL SUGGEST THE WORDING CHANGE THAT WHEN IT COMES TIME TO MAKE THE AMENDMENT.

AND I WANT TO GIVE, SINCE I, I WANT TO GIVE MR. ATLANTIS THE RIGHT TO PROPOSE THE AMENDMENT AS HE SEES FIT A CAN OF FISH.

BUDGET AND PROJECT TIMELINE BE PRESENTED TO THE EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH SCHOOL BOARD AT THE OCTOBER, 2020 REGULAR BOARD MEETING HIGHLIGHTING ANY ITEMS THAT MAY NOT BE COMPLETE BY APRIL 30TH, 2021, EITHER DUE TO TIMING OR FINANCIAL RESOURCE AVAILABILITY.

SO, UM, I, I THINK IF THEY'RE IDENTICAL THAT ALL WE HAVE TO DO IS STRIKE FOUR THROUGH SEVEN, UNLESS MR. ATLANTIS WOULD BE WILLING TWO INCLUDE SIX, UM, SIX IS THE SUPERINTENDENT WILL DIRECT THAT AN ESTIMATE OF TOTAL COST OF THE NAME CHANGE ALONG WITH A DETAILED

[06:15:01]

AND THEN IS THERE, IS THERE ANY ISSUE WITH ITEM SEVEN IN ORDER TO FOCUS AS MUCH OF THE GENERAL FUND RESOURCES, BUT THEN IT, IT TALKS ABOUT PUBLIC RECOGNITION OF THE INDIVIDUALS AT THE MARCH, OCTOBER 20TH AND MARCH 21ST OF COURSE, WE DON'T REALLY HAVE TO PUT DATES IN THERE BECAUSE IT MIGHT BE A DIFFERENT DATE WHEN WE MADE THOSE RECOGNITIONS.

I DON'T, I DON'T KNOW, BUT, UM, WOULD SOME OF THOSE THINGS ALSO BE INCLUDED IN YOUR MOTION? SO I THINK PRESIDENT GOTA HAS ALREADY SAID THAT HE IS GOING TO VOTE AGAINST THIS MOTION.

SO ANYTHING THAT YOU SEE IN FRONT OF YOU RIGHT NOW? WELL, IT'S ALREADY BEEN MOVED.

SO ANYTHING YOU SEE IN FRONT OF YOU RIGHT NOW IS NOT WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT.

AND FOR THE RECORD, I ALSO WANT TO SPECIFY SOMETHING.

IT'S NOT THAT THE LANGUAGE THAT IS CURRENTLY INSIDE OF THIS, UH, RESOLUTION, UH, DOES NOT ALIGN WITH POLICY, BUT THE ACTUAL LANGUAGE OF THAT EXIT TO CHANGE IS GOING TO MAKE IT MORE COHESIVE.

THAT IS ALL.

AND I SAID ALREADY THAT I AM WILLING TO ACCEPT AMENDMENTS TO, UH, ONE AND TWO.

IT'S ALREADY BEEN SPECIFIED BY A BOARD ATTORNEY SAYING THAT THAT WILL MAKE THIS POLICY MORE COHESIVE.

I AGREED TO IT.

THANK YOU, MR. BALLOU, YOU WERE NEXT ON THE LIST? UM, NO, I ALREADY SPOKE.

UH, MR. TATLIN, THANK YOU.

UM, I JUST WANNA, I THINK THE RESOLUTION'S GONNA PASS UNANIMOUSLY OR CLOSE TO UNANIMOUSLY.

I DO.

YOU NEED ME TO OFFER THAT AS A FRIENDLY AMENDMENT? SO I WOULD LIKE TO OFFER THE FRIENDLY AMENDMENT, THE LANGUAGE THAT, UM, MR. SHAMBLIN, UH, HAS PUT TOGETHER TO PUT, IF, IF BOTH, IF BOTH THE AUTHOR AND THE SECOND DEGREE, UH, TO PUT THE RESOLUTION IN THE FORM, UM, THAT COMPLIES WITH POLICY OR MAKES IT MORE COHESIVE OR WHATEVER IT IS SO THAT WE CAN, UH, SO THAT WE CAN MOVE ALONG AND VOTE ON THIS.

SO IF YOU ACCEPT THAT, I'LL OFFER IT AS A FRIENDLY AMENDMENT, RIGHT? YES.

SO NOW WE HAVE THE FRIENDLY AMENDMENT TO YOUR MOTION.

UH, AND YOU KNOW, BEFORE I GO TO SUPERINTENDENT DRAKE, I REALLY DID NOT INTEND TO IGNITE A CONTROVERSY HERE.

I WAS REALLY TRYING TO DO A BETTER JOB AND TO HAVE MORE PUBLIC INPUT INTO THAT AND NOTHING ELSE, NOTHING MORE, BUT I DO HEAR WHAT EVERYONE'S SAYING.

SO I'M AGREEING TO IT, UH, SUPERINTENDENT, THANK YOU, PRESIDENT, GO DAY.

THE BIBLE SAYS THERE'S A TIME FOR EVERYTHING AND THERE'S, THIS IS THE TIME TO CHANGE THE NAME OF LEE HIGH SCHOOL.

WHEN I GOT THE RESOLUTION LETTER BEFORE THE RESOLUTION WAS EVEN WRITTEN, I GOT A LETTER FROM, FROM A MR. LANDIS, AND I AGREED WITH IT THEN, AND I AGREE WITH IT.

NOW, I'M GOING TO TELL YOU, I'M A HISTORY TEACHER.

I KNOW A LOT OF THIS HISTORY AND, AND EVEN THE LANGUAGE IN THAT RESOLUTION DOESN'T BOTHER ME BECAUSE THOSE ARE DETAILS.

I UNDERSTAND THE INTENT AND THAT'S WHAT WE'RE REALLY TALKING ABOUT HERE.

WE'RE TALKING ABOUT AN INTENT AND THE WAY PEOPLE FEEL IT'S TIME TO DO IT AND IT'S TIME TO DO IT RIGHT NOW.

AND EVEN THE WORDING IN THERE THAT SUGGESTS A TIMEFRAME OF JULY 16TH.

WE CAN DO THAT.

THAT CAN BE DONE.

WE'VE DONE IT BEFORE AND WE CAN DO IT AGAIN AND IT'S TIME TO DO IT.

IT'S TIME TO DO IT RIGHT NOW.

IF NOT NOW, WHEN WE NEED TO GET IT DONE.

ARE THERE ANY OTHER COMMENTS FROM ANY OTHER BOARD MEMBERS SEEING NONE? SO THE, THE MOTION THAT IS ACTIVE ON THE FLOOR THAT WE WILL BE VOTING ON IS THE ORIGINAL MOTION AMENDED BY GENERAL CONSOLE TO MATCH BOARD POLICY ON ITEMS ONE AND TWO.

SO I KNOW THAT MR. MADE THE MOTION AND MR. HOWARD, SECOND, MR. LANA'S ACCEPTED IT.

DOES MR. HOWARD ACCEPTED, RIGHT? I ACCEPT.

AND I ALSO WANT TO USE A POINT OF PERSON TO PUT YOUR SACS OR A ROLL CALL VOTE AS WE TAKE THIS VOTE.

SO GENERAL CONSOLE.

DO WE NEED ANY FURTHER DEFINITION OF THE WORDS OR YOU CAN HANDLE IT FROM HERE.

I CAN HANDLE IT FROM HERE.

MADAM SECRETARY, WOULD YOU PLEASE, DO YOU WANT TO HEAR IT? HASN'T HOW WE HAVE IT WRITTEN.

WE MIGHT GET OUT OF HERE BEFORE THREE.

SO, UH,

[06:20:01]

OH YEAH.

YOU'VE ALREADY HAVE IT WRITTEN.

OKAY, PLEASE.

THIS IS A FRIENDLY AMENDMENT TO THE MOTION TO ADOPT THE RESOLUTION, TO START THE PROCESS OF RENAMING THE HIGH SCHOOL WITH AMENDED LANGUAGE, TO HEAR THE POLICY.

OKAY, GO AHEAD.

I JUST WANT TO UPLIFT THAT IF WE CAN HAVE A ROLL CALL VOTE, PLEASE.

YES, WE WILL SEEING NO OTHER COMMENTS.

MADAM SECRETARY, WOULD YOU PLEASE CONDUCT A ROLL CALL? VOTE DISTRICT ONE.

DISTRICT TWO.

MR. LANDIS, ABSOLUTELY.

DISTRICT THREE.

VICE-PRESIDENT HOWARD.

YES, THE ITEM CARRIES.

NEXT ITEM ON THE AGENDA IS ITEM 15, 14, THE SCHOOL BOARD CALENDAR CONSIDERATION OF A REQUEST FOR THE APPROVAL OF THE EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH SCHOOL BOARD MEETING SCHEDULED FOR THE 20, 20, 20, 21 SCHOOL YEAR.

[Item G14]

DO I HAVE A MOTION? MR. TATLIN? YOU'LL HAVE A SECOND.

MS. SQUARED.

JACKSON, ARE THERE ANY COMMENTS FROM ANYONE ON THE BOARD? I THINK THERE ARE ONLY MINOR CHANGES TO THE REGULAR CALENDAR AROUND HOLIDAYS.

SAY NINE BACK TO THE BOW, BACK TO THE AUDIENCE, CIGNA AND BACK TO THE BOARD.

MADAM SECRETARY.

OH, COMMENTS ONLINE.

SORRY.

UH, ONE WE HAVE, UH, SINCE THERE'S ACTIVE COMMUNITY SURVEY, STILL BEING PUT OUT BY THE DISTRICT.

HOW CAN WE EVEN EXPECT TO BE PREPARED BY AUGUST 6TH? IF WE STILL DO NOT UNDERSTAND THE NEEDS AND DESIRES OF THE COMMUNITY? UH, THIS ITEM IS ONLY FOR THE SCHOOL BOARD MEETINGS, NOT FOR THE SCHOOL CALENDAR.

SO, UH, WE'LL MOVE WITH THAT.

UM, SO BACK TO THE BOARD, ANY COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS? CIGNA AND MADAM SECRETARY, PLEASE VOTE.

DO YOU WANT TO MAKE A VERBAL VOTE? YES.

SHARPER.

DO WE HAVE A VOTE YET? MA'AM MOTION ITEM.

GARRISON.

THE MOTION CARRIES.

[Item G15]

UH, NEXT WE GO TO THE SUPERINTENDENT CONTRACT, EXTENSION CONSIDERATION OF REQUEST EXTENDED MAN, THE EMPLOYMENT CONTRACT OF THE SUPERINTENDENT FOR 30 DAYS TO END ON JULY 31, 2020.

DO I HAVE A MOTION, MR. TATLIN? DO I HAVE A SECOND? MS. BERNARD?

[06:25:09]

ARE THERE ANY COMMENTS REGARDING THIS ITEM FOR THE BOARD? YES.

SEEING NONE.

WE WILL GO TO THE AUDIENCE.

DO WE HAVE ANY OF THE IN-PERSON AUDIENCE? MY NAME IS JAMES FINNEY.

I WOULD SUGGEST YOU MOVE THIS TO THE END OF THE AGENDA.

JUST IN CASE YOU DON'T HIRE A SUPERINTENDENT TONIGHT AND WE NEED MR. DRAKE TO STICK AROUND A LITTLE LONGER.

ANY OTHER COMMENTS FROM THE IN PERSON AUDIENCE? I WILL READ COMMENTS FROM THE, UH, INTERNET, UH, FROM LAPORSHA AT KACHINA AKON.

NO-SHOW I DO NOT THINK WE SHOULD EXTEND THE SUPERINTENDENT CONTRACT.

WE WILL NOW HAVE SOMEONE IN THE SEAT.

LET'S PLACE OUR NEW SUPERINTENDENT THERE SO SHE CAN GET THE BALL ROLLING FOR THE 2021 SCHOOL YEAR.

WE DON'T NEED A NEW SUPERINTENDENT IN AUGUST.

WE NEED SOMEONE NOW FROM MARIA HARMON, PLEASE CONSIDER THE EXTENDING THE CONTRACT OR SUPERINTENDENT DRAKE.

WE NEED TO START THE SUPERINTENDENT SEARCH OVER THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY HAS COMPLETELY USURPED THE DEMANDS OF PARENTS, STUDENTS, AND TEACHERS TO SEE THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY HAVE SO MUCH INFLUENCE OVER THE EBR SCHOOL BOARD IS APPALLING AND HEARTBREAKING.

WE ALL SEE THE EMAILS BETWEEN FIVE SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS AND MIKE POLITO.

THE UNETHICAL CORRESPONDENCE WAS VERY DISTURBING BECAUSE IT EXPOSED THE LEVEL OF INFERIOR INFLUENCE AND SUPERIORITY OF THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY HOLDS OVER PARENTS, TEACHERS, STUDENTS, AND GRASSROOTS COMMUNITY.

OUR CHILDREN OFF OUR CHILDREN DESERVE A LEADER THAT HAS EXPERIENCED TEACHING IN AVR SCHOOLS AND WORKING AS AN ADMINISTRATOR FOR THE EBR DISTRICT.

OUR PARENTS WANT AN ADAM SMITH.

HE IS THE MOST QUALIFIED IT'S INFARCTION AND HE DIDN'T MAKE THE FINAL TWO.

THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY HAD GREAT INFLUENCE IN DETERMINING WHO THE FINAL TWO CANDIDATES ARE, IS UNFAIR HOW THIS PROCESS MANIFESTED.

AND WE NEED TO START OVER FROM DAVID LOCKHART.

THE BOARD DOESN'T WORK FOR THE CITIZENS OF EBR, BUT FOR BRAC AND IT'S APPALLING FOR QUARTERLY.

WE WOULD LOVE FOR MR. DRAKE'S CONTRACT.

YOU'VE EXTENDED 30 DAYS OR LONGER IF MR. DRAKE IS NOT WILLING TO STAY BEYOND 30 DAYS AND OUR SCHOOL SYSTEMS, YOU CONSIDER AN INTERRUPT.

NEITHER OF THE TWO CANDIDATES ARE KNOWLEDGEABLE REGARDING FEDERAL AND STATE LAWS PERTAINING TO CHILDREN WITH DISABILITIES ARE QUALIFIED TO BE SUPERINTENDENT KNOWLEDGE OF LOUISIANA'S LAWS AND CONSTITUTION AND KNOWLEDGE OF SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITY SCHOOLS, KNOWLEDGE OF CULTURALLY RELEVANT CURRICULUM, KNOWLEDGE OF HIPAA CERTIFIED AND ADVERSE CHILDHOOD EXPERIENCES AND TRAUMA INFORMED BEST PRACTICES.

KEEPING MR. DRAKE FOR 30 DAYS ALONG THERE WOULD BE A START AND CORRECTING YOUR UNETHICAL AND ILLEGAL PRACTICES.

WE WILL ALSO SAVE YOU SOME HEARTACHE.

I STRONGLY AGREE AND REFUSE MY ALLOTTED TIMEFRAME TO SPEAK.

MARY LEECH, I SUBMITTED AN EMAIL TO ALL BOARD MEMBERS YESTERDAY REGARDING THE SUPERINTENDENT CANDIDATES FOR THE POSITION.

THERE ARE TWO VIABLE CANDIDATES MUST ASSUME ARE READY TO TAKE THE POSITION EFFECTIVE JULY ONE 2020 THAT SAID AN EXTENSION IS NOT WARRANTED.

BOARD MEMBERS MUST EXECUTE THEIR RESPONSIBILITIES TO DISTRICT EMPLOYEES, STUDENTS IN THE COMMUNITY.

I RESPECTFULLY SUGGEST THAT THE MOTION TO EXTEND MR. DRAKE'S CONTRACT WILL BE DENIED AND A VOTE ON THE NEXT AGENDA ITEM FOR THE SUPERINTENDENT IS VOTED ON TONIGHT.

UH, THAT IS ALL OF PUBLIC COMMENTS I HAVE.

I WILL REFRESH AND NOTHING ELSE SHOWED UP.

UH, SO BACK TO THE BOARD, ANY ADDITIONAL COMMENTS FROM THE BOARD? THIS WORD, JACKSON, I'M SORRY, CHRIS JACKSON.

I HAVE A QUESTION ABOUT POLICY AS FAR AS, UM, WHAT IS OUR PLAN? IF OUR SUPERINTENDENT IS ILL OR CANNOT, UM, WORK IN THE CAPACITY AS SUPERINTENDENT FOR A COUPLE OF WEEKS.

DO YOU KNOW MR. MR. SHAMBLIN? WANT TO MAKE SURE I UNDERSTAND YOUR QUESTION? IF YOUR QUESTION IS WHAT HAPPENS IF THE SUPERINTENDENT IS INCAPACITATED? YEAH.

IN A NORMAL SITUATION, WHEN WE HAVE A SUPERINTENDENT IN PLACE AND, AND HE, SOMEONE ELSE HAS TO, UH, SIT IN THIS PLACE, UM, GENERALLY, MAYBE POSSIBLY A STAFF PERSON WOULD STEP IN A SECOND OR THIRD, UM, ASSOCIATE SUPERINTENDENT, ASSISTANT SUPERINTENDENT TEMPORARILY.

IT MIGHT BE ONE OPTION OR THE BOARD HAS THE OPTION OF APPOINTING SOMEONE TEMPORARILY AS WELL.

THE INTERIM INTERIM WOULD, WOULD BE IN PLACE.

VOTE ON THIS AND THEN MOVE FORWARD FROM THERE? YEAH, I'M NOT, I DON'T KNOW IF I FOLLOW YOUR QUESTIONING.

WOULD THE BOARD HAVE TO VOTE ON AN INTERIM IN THIS KIND OF SITUATION OR WOULD WE JUST

[06:30:01]

UM, IF YOU'RE ASKING ME WHETHER A SUPERINTENDENT HAS TO BE APPOINTED BY THE BOARD, A SUPERINTENDENT SHOULD BE, IF YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT THE PLACEMENT OF A SUPERINTENDENT, WHETHER IT BE INTERIM OR PERMANENT BY POLICY, I WOULD RECOMMEND THAT'D BE A BOARD APPOINTMENT.

UM, IF IT'S A, IF IT'S SOMEONE WHO'S, IF THE SUPERINTENDENT FALLS ILL AND HE'S OUT FOR SEVERAL WEEKS, HE CAN ASK THEM WHEN TO STEP INTO HIS, HIS, UH, HIS ROLE FOR THAT PERIOD OF TIME.

AND IN THIS CASE, IF, WHEN WE, UM, APPOINT A NEW SUPERINTENDENT, LET'S SAY THAT PERSON CAN'T BE HERE THE FIRST WEEK OR THE FIRST FEW DAYS OF THE MONTH, UM, IN THAT KIND OF SITUATION, WOULD WE HAVE TO APPOINT SOMEONE TO, TO BE HERE IN THAT PLACE? OR I WOULD RECOMMEND IF THIS, IF THE SUPERINTENDENT RETIRES AND LEAVES HIS POST, THAT THE BOARD SHOULD DO SOMETHING IN TERMS OF PLACING SOMEONE IN THAT POSITION BY BOARD ACTION.

THAT'S MY RECOMMENDATION THAT WILL KEEP US IN COMPLIANCE WITH BECOMING IN COMPLIANCE WITH POLICY.

SO AN ASSOCIATE SUPERINTENDENT COULD, UM, PICK UP THE SLACK, SO TO SPEAK POTENTIALLY.

I AGREE.

WE'VE DONE THIS BEFORE YOU, AND I MEAN, A BUNCH OF US HAVE WHEN DILWORTH LEFT EARLY, WE HAD TO APPOINT ONE.

UM, THERE'S BEEN SITUATIONS WHERE SOMEBODY COULDN'T SERVE AND THAT THEY APPOINTED SOMEONE, BUT YOU, YOU, I BELIEVE YOU HAVE TO HAVE A SUPERINTENDENT.

AND SO IT WOULDN'T BE AUTOMATIC.

LIKE IT WOULD BE WITH THE GOVERNOR AND LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR.

WE WOULD HAVE TO MAKE THAT DECISION.

IT, THAT SOMEONE WOULD BE THE LIEUTENANT.

I MEAN, LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR.

WE WOULD HAVE TO DECIDE WHO'S THE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR.

IT'S LATE.

BUT YEAH.

SO I, AND, AND, AND IF WE WERE TO CALL SOMEONE A SUPERINTENDENT, WHETHER REGULAR OR INTERIM, IT TAKES BOARD ACTION.

I THOUGHT SO.

THANK YOU, MR. JACKSON, ARE THERE ANY OTHER COMMENTS FROM THE BOARD ON THIS ITEM? THANK YOU FOR STICKING WITH US.

IT'S BEEN A LONG NIGHT.

GET THERE.

NO OTHER COMMENTS.

MADAM SECRETARY, PLEASE VOTE.

[Items G16 & I]

UH, THE NEXT ITEM WAS A B DISCUSSION CONSIDERATION CANDIDATES OR SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS AND RELATED MATTERS.

UH, THE PROCESS WE WILL GO THROUGH IS WE WILL HAVE DISCUSSION BY THE BOARD, UH, AND THEN GO TO THE AUDIENCE AND THEN DISCUSSION BY THE BOARD, FOLLOWED BY A ROLL CALL, VOTE BY DISTRICT.

UH, SHOULD ANYONE ON THE BOARD REQUEST AN EXECUTIVE SESSION THEN, UH, THAT CAN BE TAKEN UP AT THE TIME THAT ANYONE WOULD REQUEST IT.

SO WITH THAT, I WILL OPEN THE FLOOR FOR BOARD MEMBER COMMENTS.

AND IF MY SCREEN IS RIGHT, NO ONE HAS A COMMENT YET TO PUT ON, BUT, UH, ANY BOARD MEMBERS WHICH TO SPEAK, SEE NONE.

WE WILL GO TO THE AUDIENCE, UH, WITH ANYONE IN THE AUDIENCE, LIKE TO SPEAK ON THE SELECTION OF THE SUPERINTENDENT.

MR. FINNEY, ARE YOU COMING TO THE MIC? OKAY.

AND BECAUSE I'M SPEAKING IN PERSON, HE MAY FEEL WELCOMED TO SKIP MY COMMENT WHEN IT COMES UP IN THE QUEUE.

YOU'RE WELCOME.

SO I WOULD LIKE TO ADDRESS THIS IN PARTICULAR TO MY SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER, MS. COLLINS.

I'M VERY DISAPPOINTED IN THIS ENTIRE PROCESS.

END UP WITH THE CANDIDATE FROM TENNESSEE, DR.

WITH ALL THE SITTING SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENTS IN THE WORLD, IN THE COUNTRY, IN THE STATE FOR YOUR TWO FINALISTS TO BOTH BE PEOPLE WHO ARE TAINTED WITH JOHN WHITES CHIEFS FOR CHANGE, BY ACCEPTING THE DESCRIPTION OF BEING FUTURE CHIEFS.

I THINK WE REALLY NEED TO START THE PROCESS OVER, BUT IN PARTICULAR, I WOULD HOPE YOU DON'T GO THROUGH A NATIONAL SEARCH AND THEN

[06:35:01]

TOWNS, WHO IS NOT FULLY QUALIFIED TO HANDLE ALL THE RESPONSIBILITIES OF A SUPERINTENDENT AS DEFINED BY THE STATE OF LOUISIANA.

IF YOU WERE TO SELECT HER, YOU WOULD STILL HAVE TO SELECT A CHIEF ACADEMIC OFFICER ABLE TO DO ALL THE ACADEMIC ROLES.

SO I WOULD HOPE FIRST THEY WOULD NOT VOTE FOR EITHER CANDIDATE, BUT IF YOU VOTE FOR ONE OF THE CANDIDATES, PLEASE DON'T VOTE FOR THE ONE THAT CAN'T TAKE THE ENTIRE SUPERINTENDENCY UNDER HER, UNDER HER AUTHORITY.

AND I UNDERSTAND THAT IT WOULD HAVE MADE A LOT OF SENSE TO HIRE A PERSON OF COLOR IN A DISTRICT THAT IS HEAVILY MINORITY.

YOU HAD AN EXCELLENT OPPORTUNITY TO, TO, UM, ADVANCE INTERNAL CANDIDATES THAT WERE WELL-QUALIFIED.

THEY WEREN'T SELECTED AS FINALISTS.

SO I THINK YOU HAVE TO LOOK AT THE SUCCESS OF MINORITY AND ECONOMICALLY DISADVANTAGED STUDENTS IN HAMILTON COUNTY, TENNESSEE, AND REALIZE THAT HAMILTON COUNTY TENNESSEE SHOULD PROBABLY BE RATING OUR SENIOR ADMINISTRATION FOR EXPERTISE BECAUSE THIS DISTRICT DOES A BETTER JOB WITH POOR KIDS AND KIDS OF COLOR THAN HAMILTON COUNTY.

SO I IMPLORE YOU TO START THE PROCESS OVER, BUT IF YOU DON'T, PLEASE DON'T SELECT DR.

TOWNS.

MY NAME IS JENNIFER CARLYLE FOR THE THIRD TIME THIS EVENING, I'M ACTUALLY GONNA SAY WHAT I CAME HERE TO SAY.

AND I'M ONLY GOING TO SAY TWO PARAGRAPHS INSTEAD OF FIVE, BECAUSE I'M TIRED.

AND SO ARE YOU, UM, I'M A MEMBER OF THE PROGRESSIVE SOCIAL NETWORK.

I'M ON THE EDUCATION COMMITTEE.

AND AS PART OF THAT COMMITTEE, I WAS INVITED TO JOIN IN THE EDUCATION GROUP CONVERSATIONS WITH THE CANDIDATES.

UM, I AM SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF MYSELF AND NOT BEHALF OF THE GROUP, BECAUSE AS A GROUP, WE COULD NOT DECIDE, UH, WE DID NOT HAVE A CONSENSUS.

SO I KNOW THIS LOOKS AT ME A DIFFICULT CONVERSATION AND A DIFFICULT CHOICE.

UM, BUT AFTER LISTENING TO THE VIDEO INTERVIEWS, I'M READING THE BACKGROUND INFORMATION AND INTERACTING WITH THE TWO CANDIDATES IN PERSON.

I WOULD LIKE TO SUGGEST THAT MS. BROWN, UH, BE CONSIDERED, UM, I FELT LIKE SHE WAS A GOOD FIT FOR US.

UM, BECAUSE EVERY TIME A SCENARIO CAME UP, SHE WAS ABLE TO DRAW UPON A SPECIFIC EXPERIENCE OF HOW SHE HANDLED A SIMILAR SITUATION IN THE PAST.

UM, SHE HAS HAD SO MANY DIFFERENT LEVELS OF SCHOOL ADMINISTRATION EXPERIENCE, AND AS CONVERSATIONS HAPPEN, SHE WAS ABLE TO QUICKLY DRAW ON IDEAS, UM, WHICH I THINK COMING TO A NEW SITUATION, SHE'S GOING TO NEED TO BE ABLE TO MOVE QUICK QUICKLY.

AND I THINK, UH, THE THEORETICAL KNOWLEDGE IS GOOD, BUT EXPERIENCE IS BETTER IN THIS CASE.

TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU REPRESENT ME IN OUR DISTRICT AND VOTE.

MY NAME IS ROBIN CLARK AND I'M A TEACHER IN OUR PARISH.

I'M A PARENT OF A STUDENT WHO RECENTLY GRADUATED FROM LEE MAGNET AND I AM IN KIND OF A NODS DISTRICT.

SO YOU REPRESENT ME WHEN YOU VOTE.

AND I TRUST THAT YOU WILL DO THE RIGHT THING BY SELECTING DR.

TOWNS, DR.

TOWNS HAS AN EXEMPLARY RECORD.

SHE IS NOT ONLY TALENTED.

SHE IS PROFICIENT.

SHE IS A PARTNER OF THE COMMUNITY.

SHE'S SEASONED.

SHE IS HER ACADEMIC RECORD IS ALMOST SPOTLESS.

I DON'T THINK ONE OF US IN HERE COULD SAY WE MADE ALMOST STRAIGHT A'S IN COLLEGE, BUT SHE DID.

SHE HAD A MAGNIFICENT INTERVIEW.

SHE FINISHED THE INTERVIEW.

SHE ANSWERED EVERY QUESTION.

SHE STAYED ON TASK.

SHE STAYED ON TIME.

MS. BROWN MAY HAVE HER QUALITIES.

HOWEVER, YOU HAVE TO BE A PERSON TO DO EVERY TASK IN A TIMELY MANNER.

YOU DON'T NECESSARILY HAVE TO HAVE THE EXPERIENCE, BUT YOU NEED THE TALENT.

SHE OFFERS A PLATFORM AND A PERFORMANCE RECORD THAT IS EXEMPLARY, AND YOU WOULD BE REMISS IN ALLOWING A CANDIDATE OF HER CALIBER TO WALK.

SO I SPEAK SPECIFICALLY TO MISS CONNIE BERNARD, WHEN YOU GOT UP AND LEFT, I GOT UP AND CANE.

SO I WOULD LIKE

[06:40:01]

YES, FOR DR.

TOWNS, A DOCTOR SHE'S BEEN AT IT A MINUTE.

SO WHEN YOU HAVE SOMEONE LIKE THAT, WHO COMES TO US AND IS WILLING TO GIVE YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE AMONG US.

YOU'RE ALREADY ONE OF US.

IF YOU'RE WILLING TO PUT TIME ON TASK, YOU'VE ALL INTERVIEWED HER.

YOU'VE ALL, ALL MET WITH HER IN YOUR OWN WAYS.

GIVE HER AN OPPORTUNITY OPPORTUNITY TO TAKE THE BANNER AND RIGHT, RAISE IT HIGH, GIVE HER AN OPPORTUNITY TO PUT HER TALENT TO THE TASK BECAUSE WE'RE GOING TO HOLD HER FEET TO THE FIRE.

THIS COMMUNITY IS CHARGED AND I CHARGE YOU MS. BERNARD, MY DISTRICT SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER TO VOTE FOR DR.

TOWNS AND NO OTHER DO NOT WALK AWAY FROM THAT.

THANK YOU KINDLY.

OTHER COMMENTS FROM THE AUDIENCE AGAIN, DEVIN, RIGHT? UH, AND I'M A PART OF THE SOUTH LOUISIANA COALITION FOR EDUCATION.

I'M GOING TO SPEAK BRIEFLY ON THAT AND THEN SPEAK PERSONALLY.

UH, SO ONE SLICE HAS BEEN A PART OF THE CONVERSATION, UM, REALLY FROM THE ONSET OF THIS, TRYING TO MAKE SURE THAT THE COMMUNITY VOICE WAS HEARD AND NOT ONLY HEARD, BUT AMPLIFIED AND ALL OF THIS WE'VE CALLED, UH, ON, ON THE BOARD TO DO MORE, TO EXHAUST INDIVIDUALLY, EVERY OPPORTUNITY AND, UH, APPARATUS THAT YOU HAD TO BE ABLE TO GET, UM, INPUT FROM THE COMMUNITY.

SO IN SOME WAYS, THOSE THINGS THAT ADVANCE IN SOME WAYS, THOSE THINGS FELL SHORT.

UH, AND YET WE ARE HERE.

AND SO SLICE WANTS TO MAKE SURE JUST LIKE WE DID FROM THE BEGINNING, UH, THAT THERE IS AN EQUITY MINDED SUPERINTENDENT THAT THERE'S SOMEONE WHO REALLY REALIZES THAT EQUITABLE OPPORTUNITIES AND OUTCOMES FOR ALL OF OUR CHILDREN SHOULD EXIST.

AND TO BE AT THE FOREFRONT OF EVERYTHING THAT WE SPEAK ON, UH, FOR THE REMAINING TWO MINUTES, THEN I'LL SPEAK JUST AS DEVIN, UH, TO TAKE AWAY SLICE INDEMNIFY THEM FROM ANYTHING THAT MAY COME OUT OF MY MOUTH.

NEXT I'M RARELY, UH, I HAVE A PROBLEM WITH, WITH HOW A LOT OF THINGS HAVE BEEN SPUN RECENTLY IN TERMS OF TRYING TO NAVIGATE TOWARD ONE PERSON OR ANOTHER.

UH, WE HEARD, UM, BY S UH, VICE PRESIDENT, UH, TELL US ABOUT, UH, THE ADVOCATE AND THEIR ISSUES, RIGHT? IN TERMS OF BEING BIASED AND NOT ALWAYS REPORTING UP FAIRLY, YOU HEARD, UM, FROM WBR Z, YOU SAW HER IN WFP AND THE ADVOCATE PUT OUT A VERY, UH, I BELIEVE ONE SIDED, UH, ARTICLE AND, AND KIND OF REPRESENTATION OF WHAT SHOULD BE HAD OF WHAT THESE, UH, CANDIDATES HAVE AS QUALIFICATIONS.

AND SO I'LL ONLY BRING YOU BACK JUST FOR A LITTLE WHILE, UH, TO SOMEWHERE AROUND 1976, WHERE AT THE TIME RONALD REAGAN DECIDED AS HE WANTED TO RUN FOR THE REPUBLICAN SEAT TOWARD THE PRESIDENCY, INVENTED THIS THOUGHT OF A WELFARE QUEEN, THIS THOUGHT A DOG WHISTLE POLITICS, WHERE YOU DON'T HAVE TO SAY A THING TO STILL SAY YOUR THING.

AND SO IT WAS VERY POINTED AND VERY CLEAR THAT BY BRINGING UP CERTAIN, UH, LACKLUSTER QUALITIES OF ONE CANDIDATE, AS OPPOSED TO AN OTHER OF WHAT THE ADVOCATE AND OTHERS SEEM TO BE TRYING TO DO.

AND I WOULD JUST HOPE THAT THIS BOARD AS REPRESENTATIVES, NOT A, ANY SPECIAL INTEREST GROUP, BUT OF THE PEOPLE THAT YOU WOULD BE VERY CLEAR TONIGHT ABOUT STANDING INDEPENDENTLY OF THOSE OTHER THINGS AND MAKING SURE THAT YOU VOTE AS A REPRESENTATIVE OF THOSE IN YOUR DISTRICT, BUT THEN IN THE DISTRICT AT LARGE, NOT TALKING ABOUT RACE, QUALITY AND EXCELLENCE THAT WE NEED.

PROCESS CAN BE FOLLOWED AND A BETTER SEARCH PROCESS CAN BE FOLLOWED.

IS THERE ANYONE ELSE IN THE AUDIENCE THAT WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK BEFORE I MOVED TO THE ONLINE COMMENTS? OKAY.

I WILL NOW GO TO THE ONLINE, UH, PORTION.

UM, THIS IS FROM ANNA FOGEL.

I HAVE SENT YOU THE EXTENSIVE RESEARCH DONE BY COMMUNITY ADVOCATES.

EVEN AFTER ALL WE HAVE GATHERED COMMUNITY ADVOCATES CAN NOT COME TO CONSENSUS ON A CANDIDATE, ALTHOUGH BOTH ARE HIGHLY QUALIFIED, NEITHER IS A RIGHT FIT FOR OUR DISTRICTS.

I URGE YOU IN SUPPORT OF OUR EDUCATOR EDUCATORS.

YOU PUT PAUSE TO THIS PROCESS IN FAVOR OF ALLOWING MR. DRAKE TO CONTINUE SERVING UNTIL A MORE TRANSPARENT

[06:45:01]

NEITHER CANDIDATE HAS THE SUPPORT OF THEIR MOST IMPORTANT STAKEHOLDERS, UH, EDUCATORS AND PARENTS.

UM, THE NEXT COMMENT FROM DARIA CARTER RELATES TO LEE DRIVE, WHICH I READ EARLIER, UH, ELIZABETH BECKAM, DR.

NIKIA TOWNS IS THE MORE QUALIFIED CANDIDATE FOR THIS POSITION BASED ON HIS CREDENZA ON THE CREDENTIALS AND BACKGROUND THAT HAVE FOUND ONLINE, THE PERCEPTION IS THAT LESLIE BROWN HAS TIES TO THE AREA THAT COULD INFLUENCE THE SELECTION PROCESS.

I HOPE THAT LOCAL POLITICS DID NOT PLAY TWO LARGER ROLE IN THE SELECTION OF THE BEST CANDIDATE, ERICA HAMMER.

I SINCERELY HOPE THAT EACH OF YOU HAVE TAKEN THE OPPORTUNITY TO READ ALL OF THE PUBLIC COMMENTS THAT WERE SUBMITTED ON THE SUPERINTENDENT SURVEY, SO THAT YOU CAN TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION ALL OF YOUR CONSTITUENTS CONCERNS BEFORE THIS IMPORTANT FINAL VOTE FOR OUR DISTRICTS LEADER IS VERY IMPORTANT FOR THE PREFERENCES OF PARENTS, TEACHERS, AND STUDENTS TO BE HEARD BEFORE MAKING SUCH IMPACTFUL DECISIONS FOR MRS. SANS.

I AM AN EMPLOYEE OF THE EBR SCHOOL SYSTEM.

I WOULD LIKE TO COMMEND THE BOARD FOR BEING SO DILIGENT AND THIS SELECTION PROCESS DR.

TOWNS AND MRS. BROWN ARE BOTH STRONG CANDIDATES.

I AM CONFIDENT THAT EITHER WILL SERVE OUR DISTRICT WELL AS NEW SUPERINTENDENT WITH THIS BEING SAID, MRS. BROWN HAS ACTUAL CLASSROOM EXPERIENCE, WHICH LEADS ME TO BELIEVE THAT SHE MIGHT HAVE A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF THE CHALLENGES THAT EDUCATORS ACTUALLY FACE FOR THIS REASON.

I ENCOURAGE YOU TO PLEASE GIVE HER YOUR FULLEST CONSIDERATION FOR THIS POSITION.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME FROM JEANNE CONTI.

THE SOUTH LOUISIANA COALITION FOR EDUCATION HAS AND WILL CONTINUE TO ADVOCATE FOR COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT, ENGAGEMENT, AND THE NEED FOR AN EQUITY MINDED SUPERINTENDENT.

WE ALSO URGE THE BOARD TO SELECT A LEADER WHO WILL TREAT EDUCATORS AS EXPERTS, AS WELL AS SOMEONE WHO RECOGNIZES THE URGENT NEED TO IMPROVE OUR FAILING SCHOOLS.

WE NEED SOMEONE WHO WE ACT WITH INTENTION HAS EXPERIENCED IN TURNAROUND SCHOOLS AND SOMEONE WHO HAS AN ACTIONABLE PLAN TO UPLIFT OUR MOST VULNERABLE STUDENTS.

PLEASE KEEP THESE THOUGHTS IN MIND, AS YOU SELECT THE NEXT SUPERINTENDENT FROM THE FINAL TWO CANDIDATES FROM CANDACE DAMON ABR COMMUNITY STAKEHOLDERS HAVE REQUESTED THE NEXT ABR SUPERINTENDENT TO PRIORITIZE EQUITY RECOGNIZES THE URGENT NEED FOR TRANSFORMATION TREATS ON THE GROUND.

EDUCATORS AS EXPERTS BUILD COALITION AND VALUE STAKEHOLDER VOICE.

THE BOARD MUST BE SURE TO SELECT A CANDIDATE THAT HAS OFFERED PLANS TO PROVIDE EQUITABLE DISTRIBUTION OF RESOURCES, CREATE HOE APPARATUS, CREATE APPARATUSES FOR STUDENTS, EDUCATORS, AND FAMILIES, AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO CONTRIBUTE TO DECISION MAKING DECISION IN POLICYMAKING AND WHO WILL ALLOCATE RESOURCES TO ADDRESS THE NEEDS OF THE WHOLE CHILD TO IMPROVE OUTCOMES FOR STUDENTS AND FAMILIES.

WE CAN NOT AFFORD TO MISS OUT ON A DYNAMIC LEADER THAT WILL PROVIDE MORE THAN LIP SERVICE TO THESE TOPICS.

EBR DESERVES A PROVEN LEADER WHO WE'RE WORKING HAND IN HAND WITH THE STAKEHOLDERS OF ALL BACKGROUNDS TO DELIVER ON PRIORITIES LISTED AND PROVIDE THE BEST EXPERIENCE FOR ALL STUDENTS, FAMILIES, EDUCATORS, STAFF, LEADERS, AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS, AND ABR MAKE YOUR DECISION WITH THESE PRIORITIES IN MIND FROM CASEY STONE.

I SUGGEST DR.

TOWNS WOULD BE SELECTED AS THE NEXT SUPERINTENDENT AT EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH PUBLIC SCHOOLS FROM LAPORSHA ATKINS.

I CAN SAY THIS THE FIRST TIME I CAN NOSHA I AM ASKING THE BOARD TO PLEASE MAKE A WISE DECISION TO SELECTING OUR NEXT SUPERINTENDENT, DR.

TOWNS.

SHE COMES WITH A TON OF KNOWLEDGE THAT WILL HELP ALL STUDENTS AND NOT JUST ONE SIDE OF TOWN.

WE ARE IN THE NEED OF CHANGE AND SEES OUR CHANGE.

SHE UNDERSTANDS ALL CHILDREN AND THE NEEDS OF ALL CHILDREN, EBR NEEDS CHANGE AND A CHANGE IN A GOOD WAY.

EDUCATION IN BUSINESS WISE, I LOOK FORWARD TO MY STUDENTS' FUTURE.

TOWNS, I WILL NOW BE EXCITED TO SAY FROM DOMINICK DALLAS, I WOULD LIKE TO TAKE THE TIME TO ADDRESS LISA LESLIE BROWN'S COMMENT IN THE REGARDING OF RENAMING LEHIGH AS A FUTURE SUPERINTENDENT, SHE TOOK A BACK SEAT APPROACH IN RESPONDING.

I DO NOT UNDERSTAND HER RESPONSE.

YES IS AN ISSUE THAT SHOULD BE ADDRESSED WITH THE SCHOOL BOARD.

HOWEVER, IT IS ALSO VERY MUCH A COMMUNITY CITYWIDE AND NATIONAL ISSUE.

SHE SHOULD HAVE BEEN BOLD AND CONFRONTED THE ISSUE OF SYSTEMIC RACE RACISM.

INSTANTLY.

WE NEED A SUPERINTENDENT THAT IS COMFORTABLE WITH ADDRESSING ISSUE HEADS ON BECAUSE NOW IS NOT THE TIME TO BE SHY ABOUT RACISM AND HIS DEEP ROOTS.

FOR THIS REASON, THE KIA BROWN SHOULD BE CONSIDERED TO SUPPORT.

YOU COULD CONSIDER TO SUPPORT THE BR SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENT.

SINCE MR. FINNEY SPOKE, I WILL SKIP HIS ONE, A D

[06:50:01]

C JACKSON.

I WRITE TO YOU AS A PARISH RESONANT MOTHER OF TWO EBR STUDENTS, EDUCATOR AND TRAIN LITERACY LITERACY SPECIALISTS.

AS YOU ALL COME CLOSER TO DETERMINING THE NEXT SCHOOL SUPER DISTRICT SUPERINTENDENT, I WOULD LIKE TO OFFER WHAT I BELIEVE A CRITICAL POINT OF DISTINCTION AMONG CANDIDATES SIGNS OF READING VERSUS BALANCED LITERACY, OR THESE WORDS MAY SEEM LIKE IDEOLOGIES AND PHILOSOPHIES INTO THE READING WARS.

THEY ACTUALLY HOLD SIGNIFICANT IMPLICATIONS IN OUR DISTRICT.

CURRENTLY OUR CEDARS ARE RECEIVING FOUNTAS AND PINELL AS THE BALANCED LITERACY INTERVENTION.

THIS IS AND CONTINUES TO BE PROBLEMATIC FOR OUR STUDENTS IS DETRIMENTAL.

FOR MANY REASONS, NOTED IN INDIVIDUAL EMAILS SENT TO EACH BOARD MEMBER TO THE CONTRARY, THE SCIENCE OF BREEDING IS NOT A CURRICULUM, BUT A TEACHING METHOD AND APPROACH.

WE MUST EQUIP OUR TEACHERS WITH THE KNOWLEDGE TO TEACH STUDENTS IN THE MANNER IN WHICH THEY LEARN TO READ BASED UPON BRAIN RESEARCH.

PLEASE CONSIDER PLEASE CAREFULLY CONSIDER YOUR APPOINTMENT.

THANK YOU, DEANDRE FULLER AS AN EDUCATOR, I BELIEVE DR.

TOWNS IS THE BEST CANDIDATE TO LEAD EBR PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

TOWNS TOOK TIME TO LEARN THE PROS AND CONS OF SCHOOL SYSTEM AND DEVELOP A STRATEGIC AND INTENTIONAL PLAN TO HELP DRIVE STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT FROM CHELSEA.

I BELIEVE THIS COMMUNITY SHOULD TAKE A HARD LOOK AT BOARD MEMBERS SITTING FOR THEM AND THEIR WILLINGNESS TO LOWER STANDARDS, WHICH MANY FEEL ARE NECESSARY TO HOLD A POSITION OF SUPERINTENDENT IS MY REQUEST THAT THE SELECTION PROCESS BE TERMINATED AND PUBLIC INPUT ALLOWED ON THE SELECTION CRITERIA FOR SUPERINTENDENT CANDIDATES AT THIS TIME IN INTERIM SHOULD BE APPOINTED, WHICH SHOULD BE, WHICH SHOULD BE EITHER THE TWO ASSOCIATE SUPERINTENDENTS.

THIS BOARD HAS FAILED OUR COMMUNITY AND IT'S TIME THAT THIS COMMUNITY STANDS UP AND DEMANDS BETTER.

AND THIS BOARD, WHILE THEY CURRENTLY ARE SERVING, WHILE THEY'RE CURRENTLY SERVING DO WHAT IS BEST FOR THE INTEREST OF THE COMMUNITY, NOT SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS AND PICK A CANDIDATE THAT MEETS QUALIFICATIONS, WHICH ARE NECESSARY, WE CAN DO BETTER AND WE SHOULD DO BETTER.

MARY LEECH, I HOPE.

AND NOW EACH OF YOU HAVE HAD TIME TO READ MY EMAIL ON TWO FINALISTS FOR SUPERINTENDENT.

IT IS CRITICAL MOVING FORWARD THAT THE NEW SUPERINTENDENT HAVE EXPERIENCED IN BOTH THE EDUCATIONAL AND PUBLIC EBR NEEDS A SUPERINTENDENT WITH A KEEN BUSINESS SENSE, AS WELL AS EXECUTIVE EDUCATION EXPERIENCE.

I SUBMIT THE BOARD COLLECTIVELY VOTE TONIGHT FOR DR.

TOWNS AS A NEW SUPERINTENDENT OF EAST BATTERY'S PUBLIC SCHOOLS, WITH OUR EXPERIENCE AND KNOWLEDGE OF BBR PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM AND THE COMMUNITY EBR WE'LL SEE PROGRESS.

UH, THE NEXT ONE RELATES TO LEHIGH, WHICH I READ EARLIER, LAVERNE BELL, GIVE THEM BOTH THE JOB WE NEED.

ALL THE HELP WE CAN GET.

DURING THESE TIMES, OUR CHILDREN'S EDUCATION AND HIGHER LEARNING BE SAFE.

GABRIELLE NORTHERN I SUPPORT DR.

TOWN'S BID FOR SUPERINTENDENT OF EAST BATON ROUGE, PAIR SYSTEMS, ABR, STUDENT DEMOGRAPHICS REFLECT THAT MORE THAN 80% OF THE PARISH OF BLACK.

THESE STUDENTS DESERVE A SUPERINTENDENT WHO IS REPRESENTATIVE EXPERIENCE AND READY TO COME IN AND MAKE THE KINDS OF CHANGES THAT OUR STUDENTS DESERVE TO SEE SELECTING DR.

TOWN SENDS A STRONG MESSAGE THAT THE EBR SCHOOL BOARD IS INCLUSIVE AND READY TO MOVE IN A FRESH DIRECTION.

SUSAN, OVER 80% OF THIS MEETING HAS BEEN ABOUT RACE.

I IMPLORE THE BOARD NOT TO MAKE THE DECISION FOR SUPERINTENDENT BASED ON RACE OR FEAR INSTEAD, CHOOSE THE CANDIDATE WHO IS MOST QUALIFIED.

MS. LESLIE BROWN, SHE'S AN EDUCATOR.

SHE HAS HAD BOOTS ON THE GROUND AND SHE ASKS THE EXPERIENCE NECESSARY TO LEAD OUR SCHOOL.

VITAL TO THAT REALITY IS THE SCHOOL BOARD'S JOB TO ENGAGE WITH THE COMMUNITY, ENSURE THAT ALL VOICES ARE HEARD.

TOWNS DOES NOT JAMES SMITH TO THE BOARD.

IT IS HARD TO UNDERSTAND HOW WE CONSISTENTLY OVERLOOK QUALIFIED APPLICANTS THAT HAVE SHOWN A COMMITMENT TO EAST BATON ROUGE, PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

MR. DRAKE WAS A FORMER TEACHER AND ADMINISTRATOR OF EBR AND WAS ACCEPTABLE SURROUNDING PARISHES, WESTBOUND RANGE, ASCENSION LIVINGSTON BAKERS, ZACHARY SELECT LOCALS.

BUT WE CONTINUE TO GO OUT OF STATE.

EVEN OUR BESSIE BOARD RECENTLY SELECTED A LOUISIANA MADE WITH A RECORD OR SERVICE.

WHAT MESSAGE ARE WE SENDING TO OUR STUDENTS AND EMPLOYEES? YOU ARE WORTHY OF OUR EDUCATION, BUT NOT WORTHY TO LEAD OUR DISTRICT.

JENNIFER HARDEN, MRS. DR.

TOWNS AND MRS. BROWN.

AFTER SEEING THIS MEETING, YOU NOW HAVE A MUST FULLER UNDERSTANDING OF THE DEEP INSTITUTIONAL DYSFUNCTION IN THE SCHOOL DISTRICT.

SIMPLE THINGS LIKE REPLACING WHITE SUPREMACY ARE ALMOST INSURMOUNTABLE.

ARE YOU SURE YOU'RE UP FOR THE CHALLENGE AND I'M REFRESHING AND LET ME GET, MAKE SURE I'M ON THE RIGHT TOPIC.

[06:55:09]

WHERE DID I LEFT OUT? OKAY.

BRITTANY KELLY DO NOT FOCUS.

DO NOT FORGET TO FOCUS ON THE BEST INTEREST OF OUR STUDENTS.

WE SAY NO TO CHARTERS.

A NOTE TO INDIVIDUALS THAT DON'T HAVE THE STUDENTS' BEST INTERESTS IN MIND, EXCUSE ME, EVERYONE AWAKE.

OUR SCHOOL DISTRICT NEEDS STRONG LEADERSHIP.

WE LOST DR.

TAMALE TO DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION.

SHE MUST BE REPLACED IN A SCHOOL DISTRICT TO KEEP CURRICULUM PROGRESSING AND EPR PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

DON'T BE SURPRISED IF MR. SMITH LISA DISTRICTS IN WARREN DRAKE WILL BE MISSED.

HE PLAYS SOME STRONG LEADERS AS ASSISTANT SUPERINTENDENTS.

HIS LEADERSHIP WITH GODLY PRINCIPLES HAS SHOWN, BEEN SHOWN IN HIS LONGEVITY AND EDUCATION.

THANK YOU, WARREN DRAKE, KERRY, DELLA WHOSAY.

THANK YOU, MR. DRAG, FOR YOUR SUPPORT AND EFFORTS ON BEHALF OF ALL STUDENTS AND PARENTS AND EBR, YOUR LEADERSHIP AND ABILITY TO MANAGE SUCH A DIVERSE GROUP HAS BEEN NOTHING SHORT OF A MIRACLE.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE AND THE BEST IN ALL OF YOUR ENDEAVORS.

UH, I'M TRYING TO SEE IF MS. BLANKET ALREADY HAD A COMMENT.

I DON'T THINK SO.

UM, SO MISS ANNA MARIE BLANK, I'M ASKING YOU TO PAUSE THE SEARCH AND ACTUALLY PRETENDED FOR THE EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH SCHOOL BOARD AS PARENT OF FOUR KIDS IN THE SCHOOL SYSTEM, I'D LIKE TO SEE MORE INTENTIONAL INCLUSION EFFORTS DURING THE PROCESS, THE PUBLIC WAS ASSURED THAT WE WOULD BE INVOLVED, BUT THE SURVEY CONDUCTED DURING THE PANDEMIC ASKING RELEVANT QUESTIONS THAT HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH CANDIDATE INTERVIEWS.

THEN THE PUBLIC ANSWERS WERE NOT EVEN DELIVERED TO SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS.

THE TOWN HALL ON JUNE 10TH WAS MERELY A PANEL DISCUSSION.

THE PUBLIC WAS NOT ALLOWED TO ASK QUESTIONS AS THEY WOULD IN A REAL TOWN HALL SETTING.

HE SEEMED TO BE MORE ANSWERED TO LISTENING TO MEMBERS OF THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY VIA PRIVATE EMAILS AND LISTENING CONSTITUENTS WITH CHILDREN, ACTUALLY IN THE SCHOOLS, PAUSES SEARCH, EXTEND RACE CONTRACT AND OR APPOINT ADAM SMITH AS INTERIM SUPERINTENDENT, LISA PATTERSON, DR.

TOWN'S DESERVES THE POSITION.

SHE IS SECOND IN LINE IN TENNESSEE, LOOKS LIKE A MAJORITY OF THE STUDENTS AND HAS A STRONG EDUCATIONAL AND FINANCIAL BACKGROUND.

THE ONLY REASON PEOPLE WANT MRS. BROWN IS BECAUSE SHE'S FROM HERE CALLING KISSELL.

CAN YOU PLEASE ORDER FOOD FOR THE MEMBERS OF THE AUDIENCE THEY STAY FOR THE TIRE TO HIT NEEDED.

THEY ARE THE TRUE HEROES OF THE SEARCH.

I AGREE, ACTUALLY I THINK MRS. TOWNS IS THE MORE LOGICAL LOGICAL CHOICES AT THE TIME, BUT THE PROCESS HAS BEEN A LOGISTICAL NIGHTMARE AND WE SHOULD HAVE PROBABLY HAD DIFFERENT CANDIDATES AS THE FINAL TWO AND FUTURE SUPERINTENDENT SEARCHES THAT NEEDS TO BE MORE TRANSPARENCY ENGAGEMENT WITH THE PUBLIC.

NOT EVERY ONE HAS TIME TO WATCH SEVEN HOURS OF INTERVIEWS IN BETWEEN THESE MEETINGS.

WE ALSO NEED TO ENSURE THAT CLASS TIME AS TEACHERS IS REQUIRED TO EVEN APPLY FOR THE POSITION.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.

MIRANDA JORDAN, I BELIEVE DR.

TOWNS IS MOST QUALIFIED CANDIDATE OR RESONANT SPEAKS HER RESUME SPEAKS FOR HER, AND SHE CAN BRING CHANGE TO OUR COMMUNITY.

NOT ONLY BRING CHANGE, BUT AN EXAMPLE TO ALL OF OUR BLACK CHILDREN, WHICH MAKE UP THE MAJORITY OF OUR PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM, JALEESA JONES, AFTER BEING INVITED TO HAVE CONVERSATIONS LAST WEEK, BOTH WITH BOTH MRS. LESLIE BROWN AND DR.

NIKIA TOWNS.

I CAN TELL YOU FROM MY EXPERIENCE AND FROM HEARING OTHERS DESIRED THE DIRECTION OF THIS SCHOOL DISTRICT, DR.

NIKIA TOWNS IS THE CORRECT CHOICE AS A BOARD MEMBER.

YOU KNOW, I HAVE A CRUCIAL ROLE AS A BOARD MEMBER.

I KNOW YOU HAVE A CRUCIAL ROLE TO PLAY IN THE DECISION, AND I'M HOPING THAT THE DECISION IS MADE BASED UPON THE NEEDS OF OUR STUDENTS.

WE NEED SOMEONE WITH VISION, SOMEONE WHO IS EXPERIENCED IN MULTIPLE FACETS TO FACILITATE THE CHANGE THAT IS NEEDED.

SOMEONE WHO UNDERSTANDS THE PLIGHT OF THE BLACK STUDENT, SOMEONE WHO CAN EMPATHIZE WITH OUR STUDENTS BASED ON THEIR PERSONAL EXPERIENCES.

AND LASTLY, SOMEONE WHO IS YOUNG ENOUGH TO STICK AROUND FOR THE LONG HAUL TO ENSURE THIS DISTRICT MOVES FORWARD.

MRS. BROWN HAS NEVER WORKED WITH BLACK CHILDREN OR BLACK PEOPLE.

AND THAT MAKES A HUGE DIFFERENCE IN OUR SCHOOLS.

OUR ACADEMIC RECORD AND OUR BUSINESS MINDSET IS WHAT OUR CHILDREN DESERVE.

WE SHOULD BE HONORED TO HAVE HER HANNAH BERKMAN.

MR. GAUDETTE EMAILED ONE OF OUR MEMBERS.

EBR SCHOOL BOARD HAS ALLOWED FOR A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF PUBLIC INPUT INTO THE PROCESS.

YOU MAY HAVE CREATED SPACE FOR PUBLIC INPUT, BUT DID YOU NOT SEEK TO INFORM THE COMMUNITY? SO WE COULD FILL THAT SPACE WITH OUR VOICES.

IT TAKES TIME TO ENGAGE THE PUBLIC.

YOU HAD 10 MONTHS TO BUILD PUBLIC KNOWLEDGE ON THE IMPORTANCE OF THE NEXT SUPERINTENDENT.

YOU SAID THE RESTORATION VIOLENT, VIBRANT PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM IS VERY IMPORTANT TO THE FUTURE OF BATON ROUGE.

IF YOU TRULY BELIEVE THAT, THEN AN ENGAGE INFORMED PUBLIC IS

[07:00:01]

THAT IS NOT WHAT HAPPENED IN THIS SEARCH.

WE ASK THAT YOU PAUSE THE SEARCH, JUST CHELSEA JACKSON.

THE COMMUNITY DOES NOT NEED A PERSON WHO HAS NOT HAD TEACHING EXPERIENCE TO UNDERSTAND THE FRUSTRATIONS OF PRINCIPALS, TEACHERS, STUDENTS, AND COMMUNITY.

TOWNS HAS NOT QUALIFIED AND DECIDED TONIGHT TO LOWER THE BAR TO SELECT A PARTICULAR CANDIDATE IS A DISSERVICE TO THE COMMUNITY AND AN ABUSIVE POWER BY THE BOARD.

LAUREN D AS AN ELEMENTARY TEACHER AND EBR WHEN SELECTING A SUPERINTENDENT, HOW CAN THE BOARD SELECT SOMEONE WHO HAS NEVER TAUGHT IN A CLASSROOM, ESPECIALLY WHEN THERE ARE SO MANY UNKNOWNS WITH THE START OF THE SCHOOL YEAR INVOLVING IMPLEMENTATION OF GUIDELINES TO PROTECT FACULTY AND STUDENTS IN THE CLASSROOM.

I COULD NOT SUPPORT A CANDIDATE WHO HAS NEVER TAUGHT IN A CLASSROOM FROM KOHANA CORLEY.

NEITHER OF THESE TWO CANDIDATES ARE QUALIFIED FOR THESE POSITIONS.

LET ME EXPLAIN.

NEITHER HAS THE EXPERTISE OR THE EXPERIENCE.

SECONDLY, MRS. BROWN IS CURRENTLY PART OF THE LAWSUIT WITH THE MAJORITY, MAJORITY STONE MASSACRE FIGHTING THE 17 FAMILIES WHO LOST LOVED ONES FOR A MASSACRE AND A SCHOOL SYSTEM THAT FAILED TO PRESENT IT.

MRS. TOWNS WOULD COST YOU EMPLOYEES.

HER TWITTER RANTS WOULD HAVE YOU WITH EMPTY CLASSROOMS. BOTH CANDIDATES ARE NOT WANTED BY THEIR CURRENT EMPLOYER.

CURRENTLY BOTH SCHOOL DISTRICTS AND COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS HAVE AND CONTINUE TO LAUGH AT US OR ALIGNING BOTH OF THEM TO BE OUR FINAL TEAM.

HIRING DR.

TOWNS REQUIRE US TO HIRE A CEO, WHICH WE CAN'T AFFORD.

I SAID ALL OF THIS TO SAY, NEITHER CANDIDATE IS HEALTHY OR BENEFICIAL FOR EBR PUBLIC SCHOOLS, ESPECIALLY THE CHILDREN, OUR CHILDREN NEED AND REQUIRE A REAL EDUCATOR WITH REAL CLASSROOM EXPERIENCE TO SHAPE AND LEAD THEM PLEASE FOR MY CHILD AND ALL THE CHILDREN WITH DISABILITIES RESTART THE SEARCH.

ALSO, I DID NOT HAVE MY ALLOTTED TIME.

DAVID LOCKHART, PLEASE SCRAP HIS SEARCH AND START OVER WITH A LOCAL CANDIDATE AND NOT LISTEN TO BRAC ON THIS ISSUE.

LESLIE JENKINS, DR.

NIKIA TOWNS WAS THE RIGHT CHOICE FOR BLACK STUDENTS IN THIS BLACK DISTRICT.

I PLEADED THE BOARD IS ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF HISTORY.

AND FOR ONCE CROSS RACIAL LINES TO CHOOSE A LEADER THAT IS RIGHT FOR THEM.

NO, SHE HAS NOT BEEN IN THE CLASSROOM AND SHE'S TUTORED IN HIGH SCHOOLS ON THE WEEKEND, HELPING KIDS WHO FAILED STATE TESTING AND EVEN STARTED HER OWN TUTORING PROGRAM AFTER SCHOOL FOR STUDENTS WHO ARE WORKING IN THE BUSINESS WORLD.

SO SHE HAS BEEN WITH CHILDREN.

SHE HAS HELPED IN WAYS THAT OTHERS WOULD NOT.

AND WE SHOULD BE HONORED THAT SHE WOULD COME TO THIS DISTRICT.

CHOOSE DR.

TOWNS, MRS. BROWN, DOES IT COME CLOSE TO HER QUALIFICATIONS? AND I CAN'T HELP, BUT THINK THAT HER DAD'S TIES TO BATON ROUGE OR WHY SHE'S EVEN RUNNING WITH SOMEONE 10 TIMES GREATER THAN HER.

THE ONLY REASON WE'RE HAVING THIS DISCUSSION IS BECAUSE SHE'S BLACK, MRS. BROWN TAUGHT 30 YEARS AGO AND HAS NOT EVER WORKED WITH CHILDREN OF COLOR.

LET'S MAKE HISTORY.

TOWNS IS THE RIGHT CHOICE.

DO YOU THINK THAT FOR ONE LINE, I'M SORRY.

I APOLOGIZE IF THEY COULD NOT HEAR LAUREN JUSTICE.

I AM HERE IN SPIRIT AT ALMOST MIDNIGHT WITH MY TWO EBR STUDENTS, AKA MY CHILDREN.

WE SUPPORT DR.

TOWNS AS A PARENT.

I PREFER HER.

AND AS AN EDUCATOR IN THIS DISTRICT, WE NEED DR.

TOWNS AS A DISTRICT THAT IS DIVERSE.

IT IS TIME THAT WE NOW RECOGNIZE THE NEED OF A STRONG LEADER THAT REPRESENTS THE COMMUNITY THAT WE SERVE.

TOWNS IS CURRENTLY THE BEST CHOICE DESPITE NOT HAVING EXPERIENCE IN THE CLASSROOM.

HER EXPERIENCE IN EDUCATION IS MORE IMPRESSIVE THAN SOMEONE WHO WAS IN A CLASSROOM 30 YEARS AGO.

THAT IS TOO MUCH TIME AWAY FROM THE EVOLVING CHANGES IN THE CLASSROOM.

I BEGGED MY BOARD MEMBERS AND COWORKERS TO PLEASE MAKE THE RIGHT CHOICE TO MOVE OUR DISTRICT FURTHER.

REMEMBER WE LIVE BY OUR MOTTO ONE TEAM, ONE MISSION FROM JAYLEN BROWN.

WHEN CHOOSING FOR A NEW SUPERINTENDENT, WE HAVE TO LOOK AT A LOT OF THINGS, THEIR TIME, THEIR DEDICATION, AND WHAT THEY WANT AS A STUDENT IN EBR.

I PERSONALLY THINK DR.

TOWNS WOULD BE GREAT FIT BECAUSE OF HER BACKGROUND AND RECORD.

SHE'S VERY TALENTED AND KNOWS THE DEFINITION OF EQUITY.

AS A STUDENT IN EAST BATON ROUGE, PARISH, PUBLIC SCHOOLS, PLEASE CHOOSE WISELY.

ALMOST DONE FILLING A PORSCHE EKONOS SHOW.

I'VE GOT IT RIGHT.

THE COMMUNITY ASKS FROM THE START TO START OVER.

WHEN MR. COLE WASN'T SELECTED FROM A WRONG COUNT AND THE BOARD DIDN'T DO ANYTHING, IT WOULD BE A SHAME TO WAIT UNTIL THE LAST MINUTE TO REDO EVERYTHING.

NOW LET'S STICK WITH THE TWO THAT WE HAVE AND GET THIS OVER WITH SELECT DR.

TOWNS TONIGHT FROM JENNIFER BOUDREAU.

I THINK IT SHOULD BE ACKNOWLEDGED THAT PRESIDENT GODIN HAS TIES TO THE FAMILY OF MRS.

[07:05:01]

BROWN.

FROM DR.

MARY LEECH, PRESIDENT MARK BALLOU AND AVR SCHOOL MEMBERS.

MY NAME IS DR.

MARY ALEISHA I'M CITIZEN OF EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH.

AND I'M ALSO AN ESS EDUCATOR IN AVR PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

I AM RIDING THE EBR SCHOOL BOARD AS A CITIZEN.

I HAVE WATCHED THE VIRTUAL ENTITIES FOR ALL CANDIDATES.

I'VE READ THE PRESENTATIONS AND OBSERVED THE INTERVIEWS OF THE FINAL TWO CANDIDATES.

I THINK BOTH CANDIDATES PRESENTED WELL.

IT IS EVIDENT THAT THEY DID TO DO THE DILIGENCE AND RESEARCHING THE EBR SCHOOL DISTRICT AND THE COMMUNITY AS A FORMER EXECUTIVE WITH THE FORTUNE 500 CORPORATION BEFORE MY CAREER CHANGED TO EDUCATION, I HAVE FORMIDABLE EXPERIENCE IN GREAT LEADERSHIP AND TOP EXELON MANAGEMENT.

I UNDERSTAND WHAT IT MEANS AS WELL.

WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE TO GO FROM GOOD TO GREAT AS MEMBERS OF THE GOVERNING BODY.

YOUR DECISION YOU'RE CHARGED WITH MAKING TODAY, TOMORROW WILL HAVE FAR REACHING IMPACTS ON THE FUTURE OF VBR SCHOOL DISTRICT.

ALONG WITH THE COMMUNITY, SIR, YOUR VOTE FOR THE BEST CANDIDATE MUST BE CONSIDERED WITHOUT PERSONAL PREFERENCE OR BIAS, BUT WE'RE FORETHOUGHT TO THE FUTURE.

THEREFORE, BASED ON OUR PLATFORM, ENVISIONED DR.

TOWNS, IT'S THE CANDIDATE WHO MADE A STRONG VIVID IMPRESSION TO LEAD THE DISTRICT AND STAKEHOLDERS.

OUR EXPERIENCE AS AN EXECUTIVE IN BOTH THE PRIVATE AND EDUCATIONAL SECTORS ARE EXACTLY WHAT IS NEEDED FOR OUR STUDENTS IN THE COMMUNITY.

I IMPLORE EACH EBR MEMBER TO VOTE FOR DR.

TOWNS AS THE NEXT SUPERINTENDENT OF EBR PARISH SCHOOL DISTRICT.

I THINK THIS DECISION WILL BE ON.

WE WILL BE ON TRAJECTORY OF EBR PUBLIC SCHOOL HISTORY.

THE DISTRICT NEEDS UNEQUIVOCAL LEADERSHIP, A PERSON WHO IS READY TO MANAGE AND MAKE DIFFICULT DECISIONS IN WHICH A PERSON RESPECTS HIS DECISION MAKING PROCESS.

ALL OF HER CURRICULUM THEORIES WITH REAL WORLD ACTIONS.

TOWNS CLEARLY PRESENTED HERSELF AS A LEADER WHO EMBRACES THE DOCUMENTED STRATEGIES OF MOVING AN ORGANIZATION FROM GOOD TO GREAT.

PLEASE DO NOT LET THE CURRENT DISPUTE ABOVE BOARD MEMBERS SWAY YOUR DECISION FROM WHAT IS BEST FOR THE STUDENTS IN THE COMMUNITY.

YOUR VOTE FOR TOWNS, DR.

TOWNS IS A VOTE FOR EDUCATIONAL PROGRESS AND SUCCESS AND A VOTE FOR THE GREATER GOOD OF THE COMMUNITY.

UH, JAMES DAMON JUST SAYS TOWNSON, I GUESS THAT MEANS DOCTOR ELLS.

UH, I WILL REFRESH ONE MORE TIME AND A FEW MORE HAVE COME IN.

IF YOU BEAR WITH ME, I'M FROM CAITLIN, JOSHUA, THE CHILDREN ARE B.

I'M NOT GOING TO REFRESH AGAIN WITH THE CHILDREN OF EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH DESERVE MORE, START TO SURGE OVER AND LET'S DO THE RIGHT THING.

THERE'S NO NEED TO SETTLE OR REST OF PROCESS.

I KNOW YOU ALL ARE UNIMPRESSED THAT THE PROCESS WAS THOROUGH AND THAT WE'RE PLENTY OPPORTUNITIES FOR ENGAGEMENT, BUT DUE TO COVID-19, THE TRANSPARENCY SEES LESS THAN ELECTED LATER, WHO WILL REPRESENT OUR STUDENTS, SERVE ALL OUR NEEDS.

AND THAT IS ACTUALLY QUALIFIED FOR THE POSITION.

OH, SHIKA, MARS.

AS AN EBR EDUCATOR, I IMPLORE YOU SELECT THE RIGHT CANDIDATE.

SOMEBODY WHO WOULD TAKE IN CONSIDERATION ALL OUR THOUGHTS AND FEELINGS, AS WELL AS THE BEST ENTRANCE OF ALL STUDENTS, PLEASE KNOW THAT AS WE ENDURE THE REALITY OF THE PANDEMIC, KEEP IN MIND THAT WE NEED SOMEONE WHO IS QUALIFIED TO LEAD OUR SCHOOL DISTRICT IN AN INAPPROPRIATE DIRECTION TO ADDRESS THE EDUCATION OF OUR STUDENTS.

I CHALLENGE ALL MEMBERS OF THE BOARD TO THINK OF THE PEOPLE YOU ARE REPRESENTING WITHIN YOUR DISTRICT, ESPECIALLY THE KIDS.

THANK YOU FOR MISS ANGELIE.

I I'M SORRY.

RGL BRADFORD.

THE ENTIRE PROCESS HAS BEEN EXCLUSIONARY AND OPPRESSIVE.

FOCUSING ON A NAME CHANGE AND HAVING MEETINGS DURING A PANDEMIC IS NO LESS UNETHICAL AND PERFORMATIVE.

WE NEED AN ACTUAL EQUITABLE LEADERS WHO DON'T JUST UTILIZE THE BUTTER'S WORDS, BUT CAN LITERALLY CARE ABOUT THE FUTURE OF TRADITIONAL SCHOOLS.

NO, TO BOTH WOMAN START WOMEN START OVER COMPLETELY.

THE CONCENTRIC CIRCLES OF CONFUSION BEING GENERATED BY ALL LEVELS OF GOVERNMENT IS UPSETTING.

GET MONEY OUT OF POLITICS.

AND OUT OF DECIDING THE FUTURE OF OUR KIDS, WE DON'T NEED TO TOKENIZE WOMEN OR BLACK FOLKS WHO CHECK OFF A BOX, FIND QUALIFIED PEOPLE THAT CARE.

THAT'S WHAT MATTERS FROM ASHLEY.

CASEY.

MY BIGGEST CONCERN IS HAVING A SUPERINTENDENT WHO CAN GIVE PROFESSIONAL LICENSED EDUCATORS, CONFIDENCE GOING INTO THE UNPRECEDENT SHIFTS THAT WE FACE WITH THE COVID-19 CHANGES.

I WAS IMPRESSED BY BOTH CANDIDATES, BUT I FEEL MUCH MORE CONFIDENT STARTING THE YEAR WITH THE SUPERINTENDENT WHO HAS WALKED IN OUR SHOES AND SPENT YEARS IN THE CLASSROOM.

MRS. BROWN HAS BEEN A TEACHER AND A PRINCIPAL, AS WELL AS AN ADMINISTRATOR.

SHE KNOWS HOW SCHOOLS ACTUALLY WORK AND CAN DRAW ON THIS EXPERIENCE WITH THE SHIFTS THAT WE SEE IN COVID-19 DR.

COUNS APPEARS TO BE A GOOD LEADER FOR THE BUSINESS SIDE OF EDUCATION, JUST AS SHE WAS AT WELLS FARGO IN THE BUSINESS OF BANKING, BUT SHE HAS NEVER BEEN IN A CLASSROOM WITH A GROUP OF STUDENTS, CHALLENGING

[07:10:01]

TEACHERS ARE LIKELY TO LOSE QUICKLY WHEN SHE TELLS US WHAT TO DO IN THE CLASSROOM AND THE COVID-19 WORLD.

AT MOMENT, WE NEED A PROFESSIONAL EDUCATOR, PLEASE SUPPORT MRS. BROWN.

UH, AND THAT WAS THE END OF THE, AND I LOST THE TAB FOR THE, UH, FOR THE COMMENTS.

UH, I, I HAVE LOST THE TAB FOR THE COMMENTS.

IT WENT AWAY FROM MY COMPUTER.

WAS THAT IT? SO WE WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC COMMENT PORTION AND NOW WE WILL GO BACK TO THE BOARD AND LET ME GET THE LIST BACK UP, MR. LANA'S.

MR. LANDIS.

LET'S TALK ABOUT QUALIFICATIONS.

SO THANK YOU, PRESIDENT.

GO THERE.

I'LL TRY TO BE AS EXPEDIENTLY AS POSSIBLE ON THIS PARTICULAR MATTER.

UH, I THINK THAT FROM EVERYTHING THAT WE HEARD, THE CONSENSUS AROUND, WHO WE SHOULD ELECT IT'S OUT THERE, WE KNOW IT.

I THINK THE GENERAL PUBLIC HAS A CONCERN AROUND, UH, THE TEACHING ABILITY OR THE LACK THEREOF THAT DR.

TOWNS HAS.

AND I JUST WANT TO REMIND US OF SOMETHING TONIGHT WHEN I WAS IN HIGH SCHOOL, THAT WAS A LADY BY THE NAME OF MS. CHARLOTTE PLANT SEED.

SHE WAS THE CHIEF ACADEMIC I'M SORRY, CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER OF EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH SCHOOLS.

SHE HAD NEVER SERVED A DAY INSIDE OF OUR CLASSROOMS, BUT MS. PLUS SEED DID SOME AMAZING THINGS WHEN SHE BECAME THE SUPERINTENDENT OF EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH SCHOOLS.

BUT IN FACT, LET'S DIVE INTO THEM.

THIS IS FROM THE TWO TO FIVE, UH, TWO TO FIVE MAGAZINE BACK IN DATED, BACK IN 2005 FOR CHARLOTTE PLASSEY THINGS THAT EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH SCHOOL SYSTEM HAVE GONE FROM BAD TO WORSE, BUT 2007 WILL PUT MORE PRESSURE ON HER THAT SHE, UH, MORE PERSON HEARD THAN EVER TO PRODUCE RESULTS FOR A STRUGGLING SCHOOL SYSTEM.

YOU SEE IT WAS ALREADY SET UP AND DESIGNED AND THOUGHT THAT SHE WAS NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO CONCEDE BECAUSE SHE DID NOT HAVE PROPER QUALIFICATIONS, BUT LET'S CONTINUE HURRICANES KATRINA AND RITA SENT A WAVE OF NEW STUDENTS INTO THE SYSTEM TEMPORARILY STEMMING A SPIRAL IN ENROLLMENT DECLINE WITH ZACHARY AND NOW CENTRAL PEELING OFF TO FORM THEIR OWN SYSTEMS AND SURVIVING COURT CHALLENGES, GIVING OTHER COMMUNITIES IDEAS OF SUCCEEDING THEMSELVES.

PLANT SEED FACES, RUNNING A SYSTEM THAT IS NOW 85% BLACK.

YOU SEE, THEY JUST KEPT PILING ON MORE AND MORE CHALLENGES AND BARRIERS FOR HER BECAUSE THEY SAID THAT SHE DID NOT HAVE THE QUALITIES AND QUALIFICATIONS TO MOVE THE SYSTEM FORWARD, BUT LET'S CONTINUE.

THIS IS A CRITICAL YEAR FOR PLANT SEED AND THE SYSTEM ITSELF, YOU SEE, THIS IS THE MOST IMPORTANT PART PRIOR TO MS. PLESSY TAKEN OVER.

THAT WAS A BUDGET STARFALL BY 2007, THAT WAS A 57 POINT $5 MILLION SURPLUS IN THIS SYSTEM.

THIS WAS ONE OF THE HEIGHT, THE HEIGHTENED MOMENTS OF OUR SYSTEM, BY GOING WITH SOMEBODY AND TAKING A CHANCE TO MISS CLASS SEAT, SOMEONE WHO HAD NEVER HAD CLASSROOM EXPERIENCE.

NOW I SAY ALL OF THAT TONIGHT TO SAY, WE TALKED A LOT ABOUT RACE.

SO, YOU KNOW WHAT? LET'S JUST MOVE THAT TO THE SIDE.

LET'S TALK ABOUT EVERYTHING THAT WE TALKED ABOUT ON THIS BOARD FOR THE PAST YEAR.

IN FACT, LET'S GO ALL THE WAY BACK TWO YEARS WHEN I WAS FIRST ELECTED, I CAN REMEMBER SPECIFIC CONVERSATIONS THAT WE HAD ABOUT THE THINGS THAT WE WON'T FIRE SYSTEM AND THE TYPES OF PEOPLE THAT WE WANT TO SERVE HERE.

THE CONSENSUS HAS SPOKEN.

EVERY SINGLE EMAIL THAT WE HAVE RECEIVED FOR THE MOST PART HAS BEEN IN SUPPORT OF A CANDIDATE.

AND WE KNOW WHO THAT CANDIDATE IS.

I'M NOT ASKING ANYONE TO DO SOMETHING THAT THEY DO NOT WANT TO DO.

I'M JUST ASKING YOU TO DO THE RIGHT THING AS RIGHT BY STUDENTS.

THEY SAID THE SAME THING ABOUT ANOTHER PERSON AS SHE PROVED THEM WRONG BECAUSE SHE WENT WITH HER HEART.

SHE WENT WITH HER GUT AND SHE DID WHAT WAS RIGHT BY STUDENTS.

I'M ONLY ASKING TONIGHT THAT WE GET AWAY FROM WHAT HAPPENED WITH THE LEHIGH SITUATION.

DON'T USE THAT TO INVIGORATE OR INFURIATE YOURSELF BEFORE WE VOTE TONIGHT.

PLEASE DON'T CARRY THAT ON YOUR CONSCIOUS, BECAUSE WE TALKING ABOUT SOUTHERN DIFFERENT.

NOW WE TALKING ABOUT THE FUTURE OF OUR KIDS, THE FUTURE OF OUR TEACHERS, AND MORE IMPORTANTLY, MOST IMPORTANTLY, THE FUTURE OF OUR SYSTEM.

I ONLY EXITED OUR BOARD MEMBERS, USED THEIR VOTES THE RIGHT WAY, AND I WILL SAY I WILL BE SUPPORTING DR.

TOWNS.

[07:15:01]

THANK YOU, MR. CATLIN.

I, UM, I'D NEVER HAD A CHANCE TO WORK WITH CHARLOTTE PLESSY, BUT WE TRIED TO HIRE HER WHEN DILWORTH LEFT AND WE COULDN'T GET HER TO COME CAUSE SHE DID AN AMAZING JOB WHEN SHE WAS SUPERINTENDENT AND WE REALLY WANTED HER TO COME IN AND HELP US BRIDGE THAT GAP, UM, TO THE NEXT, UH, TWO, WE GOT THE NEXT SUPERINTENDENT IN AND WE WERE DISAPPOINTED WHEN SHE DIDN'T COME IN, BUT I GUESS MY COMMENTS WERE THIS.

I, I ACTUALLY THINK WE HAVE TWO FANTASTIC CANDIDATES.

UM, AND I JUST WANT TO SAY THAT REGARDLESS OF WHO WINS, WHO WHOEVER GETS THEM, WHOEVER IS ELECTED BECAUSE WE ELECT A SUPERINTENDENT I'M, I'M READY TO GET BACK TO THE WORK OF, OF STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT.

UH, WORKING WITH STUDENTS, WORKING ON ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE, TURNING AROUND SCHOOLS, I'M READY FOR ALL OF THAT.

SO WHOEVER WINS, WHETHER I'M ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE VOTE OR THE WRONG SIDE OF THE VOTE, I PLAN TO MAKE THAT FIRST CALL AND SAY, I'M HERE TO WORK WITH YOU AND I'LL DO ANYTHING I CAN I'LL I'LL SHARE WITH YOU ANY SKILL SET.

I HAVE, I BRING YOU TO THE CAPITOL AND INTRODUCE YOU TO ALL THE LEGISLATORS THAT I KNOW THE CHAIRMAN OF IT, EDUCATION COMMITTEES.

I'LL BRING THEM TO BUSINESSES THAT I KNOW.

SO WHOEVER WINS, WHOEVER GETS ELECTED TONIGHT.

AND I KNOW, LET'S SEE, WHAT TIME IS IT WHERE THEY ARE? IT'S LIKE ONE 17 IN THE MORNING AND YOU KNOW, THEY'RE WATCHING, RIGHT.

UH, BUT I'M JUST, AND SO I'M TELLING YOU IF OUT THERE IN THE STRATOSPHERE, WHEREVER YOU ARE, UH, BOTH, UH, DR.

TOWNS AND, UM, AND, AND MS. BROWN, UH, I STAND READY TO WORK WITH WHOEVER GETS ELECTED TO THE NEXT SUPERINTENDENT BECAUSE WE HAVE A LOT OF WORK TO DO, AND I WANT TO GET TO THE WORK OF EDUCATING CHILDREN AND PROVIDING EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR STUDENTS AND THEIR FAMILIES.

AND SO THAT'S ALL I HAVE TO SAY.

THANK YOU, MR. PRESIDENT.

UH, VICE PRESIDENT HOWARD.

GOOD DAY.

UM, AND, AND I SHARE THE SAME SENTIMENTS AS A BOARD MEMBERS HAD MEANT.

UM, I JUST WANT TO THANK THE BOARD, THE MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY WHO HAVE TAKEN PART IN THIS PROCESS, UM, AS A NEW BOARD MEMBER, THIS IS MY FIRST SUPERINTENDENT SELECTION PROCESS AND, AND, AND MAN, IT WAS A LOT.

SO, UM, THANK YOU GUYS FOR INDULGING US.

THANK YOU FOR THE LEARNING CURVE.

THANK YOU FOR THE COMMUNITY STAKEHOLDERS FROM ALL FACETS OF THIS COMMUNITY WHO EMPLOYED TO, UH, TO TALK ABOUT THE DESIRES AND NEEDS FOR THIS CONVERSATION.

UM, AND THE NEXT LEADER OF OUR DISTRICT.

AND WHAT I JUST WANT TO IMPLORE TO THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY IS THAT THIS IS ONLY THE BEGINNING OF THE FIGHT AS WE SELECT A NEW SUPERINTENDENT.

UH, WE HAVE TO, LIKE, WE TELL EVERYBODY TO HOLD US ACCOUNTABLE, HOLD THE NEW, THE NEW LEADER ACCOUNTABLE.

UM, BUT WE HAVE A LOT OF WORK TO DO TO ENSURE THAT, UM, EDUCATION IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR SUCCESS SPECIFICALLY FOR KIDS AS A, AS A SON OF A SINGLE MOTHER, UM, WHO HAD TO STOP AND SACRIFICE SO MUCH FOR ME, EDUCATION LITERALLY SAVED MY LIFE.

SO WE HAVE TO GET BACK INTO THE BUSINESS OF LETTING EDUCATION SAVE THE LIVES OF OUR STUDENTS.

SPECIFICALLY, STUDENTS WHO HAVE BEEN TRADITIONALLY MARGINALIZED, BUT JUST MAKING SURE THAT EDUCATION IS THE GATEWAY TO OPPORTUNITY AND SUCCESS IN THIS COMMUNITY.

AND WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO DO THAT BY SELECTING A LEADER.

UM, I'VE BEEN CLEAR FROM THE BEGINNING OF THAT.

I BELIEVE THAT DR.

TOWNS IS THAT PERSON.

UM, I BELIEVE THAT SHE CAN TAKE US TO THE NEXT TO THE NEXT LEVEL, BUT IN THE EVENT THAT SHE'S NOT, UM, I, I PLEDGED TO WORK WITH MS. BROWN, UM, TO, TO MAKE SURE THAT WE GET THOSE THINGS DONE.

SO AGAIN, THANK YOU GUYS FOR INDULGING US IN THIS PROCESS AND I LOOK FORWARD TO WELCOMING OUR NEXT LEADER, UM, HERE VERY SOON.

ARE THERE ANY OTHER COMMENTS FROM THE BOARD BEFORE WE VOTE ON MY COUNT, MISS WHERE'S JACKSON? NO, I SAW YOUR HAND.

REGARD TO THE, UH, QUALITY OF BOTH OF THE CANDIDATES.

UM, THIS PROCESS HAS BEEN VERY ENLIGHTENING, UM, AND, UH, AT TIMES VERY EXHAUSTING.

UM, I SAT THROUGH HOURS AND HOURS OF, UH, THE INTERVIEWS ON TAPE AND THEN TALK TO ALL THE CANDIDATES.

UH, ANOTHER HOUR AFTER WE HAD THE INTERVIEWS, UH, ON ONLINE, THEN WE DID THE, UM, CONVERSATIONS LAST WEEK WHERE WE INVITED PEOPLE FROM DIFFERENT GROUPS AND, UH, HAD EIGHT PEOPLE, NINE PEOPLE INVOLVED IN THAT AND SPENT TIME WITH THEM PICKING THEIR BRAINS AND GETTING, GETTING THEIR FEEDBACK FROM THEIR EXPERIENCE WITH BOTH CANDIDATES AND, UM, YOU KNOW, TO TRY TO JUST REMAIN, UM, UNBIASED AND, YOU KNOW, WITH, WITHOUT, YOU KNOW, TRYING TO PUSH ANYBODY.

AND, UH, BUT THERE WAS A RESOUNDING, UH, VOICE FOR DR.

TOWNS THROUGHOUT THAT WHOLE EXPERIENCE LAST WEEK.

AND THEN, UM, THIS WEEK WE'VE BEEN BOMBARDED WITH EMAILS, UM, THAT COULD SPEAK MUCH BETTER THAN ANY OF US HERE CAN, UM, WITH

[07:20:01]

AND, UM, BUT, YOU KNOW, ALTHOUGH EVERYBODY THAT I GOT AN EMAIL FROM SPOKE VERY HIGHLY OF BOTH CANDIDATES AND SAID, YOU KNOW, WHICHEVER CANDIDATE WE CHOOSE THE DISTRICT WILL BE IN VERY, VERY GOOD HANDS.

UM, BUT THE MAJORITY OF THEM SPOKE MORE FOR DR.

TOWNS BEING IN THAT SEAT.

AND, UM, LOOKING AT HER QUALIFICATIONS, YOU KNOW, THE DOCTORATE IN EDUCATION FROM VANDERBILT AND HER MBA FROM, UH, DUKE, UM, UH, JUST, YOU KNOW, THOSE THINGS, UM, WERE IMPRESSIVE, UH, FOR ME IN HER PROVEN TRACK RECORD AND RAISING THE BAR IN, UM, SCHOOLS THAT HAVE NOT BEEN VERY SUCCESSFUL.

UM, SHE ACTUALLY TAUGHT ON THE UNIVERSITY LEVEL WHERE SHE TAUGHT TEACHERS HOW TO BRING THEIR STUDENTS UP.

AND, UM, I THOUGHT THAT WAS A TREMENDOUS THING.

I KNOW PEOPLE HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT HER LACK OF EXPERIENCE IN K-12 EDUCATION, BUT, UM, YOU KNOW, THE, I THINK THE ONLY THING THAT SHE DID IN K-12 WAS, UM, A SATURDAY SCHOOL.

UM, BUT IT, UM, I'M REALLY IMPRESSED WITH THE ABILITY TO TEACH ON THE COLLEGE LEVEL AND TO BE ABLE TO TEACH TEACHERS.

SO THAT WAS EXTREMELY IMPRESSIVE.

AND, AND THEN TO HAVE THAT, SHE SERVES NOW AS THE CHIEF ACCOUNTABILITY OFFICER AND, UM, I'M SORRY, CHIEF OF STAFF, SHE'S WORKED AS A CHIEF ACCOUNTABILITY OFFICER AND ASSISTANT COMMISSIONER AND, YOU KNOW, ON THE STATE LEVEL, ON THE LOCAL LEVEL.

AND THEN THAT DEEP FINANCE EXPERIENCE IS, UM, SOMETHING THAT THIS DISTRICT CAN, CAN REALLY, REALLY USE.

UM, WE HAVE A LOT TO DO, YOU KNOW, WE'VE, WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO BALANCE OUR BUDGET IN THE LAST COUPLE OF, UM, LAST YEAR, AND THEN AGAIN THIS YEAR, BUT I'M, I'M VERY IMPRESSED WITH THE VERSATILITY OF THIS PARTICULAR CANDIDATE.

AND I BELIEVE THAT HER EXPERIENCE BOTH IN, UM, FINANCE AND, UM, FORTUNE 500 COMPANIES AND IN RAISING THE BAR FOR STUDENTS AND JUST MOVING SO MANY STUDENTS FORWARD IS, UM, THE REASON THAT I WOULD DEFINITELY SUPPORT, UH, DR.

TOWNS DONE.

UH, WE HAVE A PROCESS IN WHICH WE CAN ADD AN ITEM TO THE AGENDA.

ANY OTHER COMMENTS FROM THE BOARD? YEAH, IF I MAY, UH, AGAIN, WE'LL JUST LIKE TO CALL FOR A ROLL CALL VOTE.

ABSOLUTELY.

THAT WAS ALWAYS INTENDED.

UM, I WILL MAKE ONE LAST COMMENT BEFORE WE GO.

I KNOW IT'S GETTING VERY LATE.

I HAVE ONE HEARING AID THAT'S RUN OUT OF BATTERY AND THE OTHER ONE'S ABOUT READY TO RUN OUT OF BATTERY AND MY VOICE IS ALMOST GONE.

UM, I JUST WANT TO THANK THE COMMUNITY.

UH, I REALLY DO BELIEVE THAT WAS A LOT OF COMMUNITY INPUT AND A LOT OF INTEREST.

A LOT OF PEOPLE, PEOPLE SPENT A LOT OF TIME, UH, IN RESEARCHING THIS AND GIVING US FEEDBACK.

AND I REALLY WANT TO COMMEND MY FELLOW BOARD MEMBERS.

I HAVE SPOKEN EXTENSIVELY WITH JUST ABOUT ALL OF THEM AND ABOUT THE DIFFERENT THOUGHTS AND PEOPLE HAVE TAKEN THE TIME TO REALLY LOOK AND REALLY HAVE WELL FOUNDED DECISIONS ON, UH, WHICH, UH, WELL FOUNDED FACTS AND WELL FOUNDED BELIEFS UPON WHICH THEY'RE MAKING THEIR DECISION, WHATEVER THEIR DECISION MAY BE.

AND SO I WANT TO COMMEND ALL OF YOU.

IT'S BEEN A LONG NIGHT, IT'S BEEN A LONG TIME AND A LONG PROCESS, BUT I JUST WANT TO TELL YOU, OUR BOARD MEMBERS HAVE PUT IN THE WORK TO REALLY TRY TO REACH THE BEST DECISION FOR THIS.

SO WITHOUT FURTHER, DID MADAM SECRETARY, WOULD YOU PLEASE CONDUCT A ROLL CALL, VOTE DISTRICT ONE, MR. BLUE, UH, DR.

TOWNS DISTRICT TWO, MR. LANA'S DISTRICT THREE, MR. HOWARD TOWNS DISTRICT FOUR, MS. COLLINS, LESLIE BROWN DISTRICT FIVE, MS. WARD JACKSON, DR.

TOWNS DISTRICT SIX, MS. DIEZ, MS. BROWN DISTRICT SEVEN.

MR. MS. BROWN DISTRICT EIGHT, MS. BERNARD, MR. BROWN DISTRICT NINE, MR. TATLIN, JUST FINE.

SO THE VOTE IS FIVE TO FOUR FOR MR. BROWN.

UM, THERE IS A PROCESS WE'RE NOT ADJOURNED.

[07:25:04]

AND I'D LIKE TO ADD THIS ITEM TO THE AGENDA.

THE MEMBERS OF THE EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH SCHOOL BOARD WOULD LIKE TO CONGRATULATE MRS. LESLIE BROWN OR HER APPOINTMENT AS THE INCOMING SUPERINTENDENT FOR THE EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH SCHOOL SYSTEM, AND PLEDGE OUR FULL SUPPORT TO WORK WITH HER FOR THE BETTERMENT OF THE EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES.

AFFORDED OUR STUDENTS CONTINUED IMPROVEMENT OF THE WORKING ENVIRONMENT FOR OUR EMPLOYEES AND TO ENHANCE THE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT WITH OUR CITIZENS.

WE WOULD ALSO LIKE TO THANK DR.

NIKIA TOWNES FOR HER WILLINGNESS TO PARTICIPATE IN OUR SELECTION PROCESS.

AND ALTHOUGH NOT SELECTED TO ACKNOWLEDGE HER OUTSTANDING ABILITIES AND TO WISH HER WELL IN ALL FUTURE ENDEAVORS.

UH, THIS REQUIRES A UNANIMOUS CENTER OF THE BOARD TO PUT ON THE AGENDA.

AND I NOW ASKED FOR THAT UNANIMOUS CONSENT.

WELL, MR. GOLDEN, I THINK NO, I'M JUST PLACING IT ON THE AGENDA THAT I NOT DO IT PROPERLY.

YOU HAVE TO YEAH.

THE PROPER WAY TO DO THIS AS A MOTION TO SUSPEND THE RULES AND ADD THE, I, SORRY, I'D MAKE A MOTION TO SUSPEND THE RULES AND ADD THE ITEM I JUST READ.

RIGHT.

AND THEN IT WOULD NEED THE UNANIMOUS APPROVAL OF THE PRESENT SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS.

IS THERE ANY OBJECTION SEEING NONE, TECHNICALLY YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO PROVIDE PUBLIC COMMENT ON ANY ITEM THAT ANY VOTE THAT'S TAKEN.

IS THERE A PUBLIC COMMENT ON THE ITEM THAT I JUST READ? YEAH.

NO, SIR.

IT'S TIME FOR PUBLIC COMMENT.

YES, SIR.

ON THE ITEM, THE ITEM IS TO SUSPEND TO THIS RESOLUTION.

DOM, YOU VOTED AGAINST A BLACK WOMAN AT NIGHT, SIR, YOU DON'T GET TO DICTATE VIEWPOINT DISCRIMINATION IS WHAT YOU'RE DOING.

LOOK IT UP.

DON, A SCHOOL DISTRICT HAS 81% BLACK AS A BLACK WOMAN.

YOU JUST VOTED AGAINST A BLACK WOMAN WITH A PHD.

YOU FAILED US TONIGHT.

AND I WANT TO TELL YOU IN THE PUBLIC, IN FRONT OF EVERYBODY ELSE, YOU FAILED US ALL THAT WE DID TO STAND UP FOR BLACK PEOPLE AT NIGHT.

AND YOU SIDED WITH THE PEOPLE WHO TOOK TWO HOURS TO GIVE US SOMETHING THAT TOOK 75 YEARS, AND THEY'VE BEEN RUNNING AROUND HERE CELEBRATING IT, AND YOU HELPED THEM WITH THEIR ADJOURN.

MOVE TO ADJOURN.

WE WILL NOT HAVE THE, A MOTION.