[00:00:05]
GOOD EVENING AND WELCOME TO THE REGULAR BOARD MEETING OF THE EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH SCHOOL BOARD NOTICE
[A. Notice and Instructions]
AND INSTRUCTIONS.NOTICE THE PUBLIC WILL BE ALLOWED TO ATTEND AT A REDUCED RATE OF 50% CAPACITY OF THE PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT CENTER MEETING ROOM SPACE.
ONCE THE CAPACITY HAS BEEN REACHED ADMISSION INTO THE MEETING SPACE WILL BE CLOSED.
ALL AUDIENCE MEMBERS WILL BE REQUIRED TO WEAR A MASK AT ALL TIMES MAY ASK WILL BE AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST.
ALL AUDIENCE MEMBERS WILL ALSO UNDERGO TEMPERATURE SCREENINGS BEFORE ENTERING THE MEETING ROOM.
THE REGULAR MEETING SCHEDULE FOR OCTOBER 15TH, 2020 AT 5:00 PM WILL BE STREAMED LIVE VIA MICROSOFT TEAMS EVENTS.
A LINK TO WATCH THE MEETING CAN BE FOUND ON BOARD DOCS LOCATED ON THE SCHOOL BOARDS WEBSITE, EBR SCHOOLS DOT R BACKSLASH ABOUT BACKSLASH.
A PERIOD FOR WRITTEN PUBLIC COMMENT WILL BE PROVIDED BEFORE THE MEETING, AS WELL AS BEFORE EACH ACTION IS TAKEN BY THE BOARD ON AN ACTION ITEM, INDIVIDUALS WISHING TO MAKE A PUBLIC COMMENT ABOUT ANY OF THE POSTS THAT ACTION ITEMS WILL NEED TO CLICK ON THE AGENDA ITEM AND BOARD DOCS AND SUBMIT VIA THE HIGHLIGHTED PUBLIC COMMENT HYPERLINK ON THE AGENDA ITEMS DETAILS UPON CLOSING OF THE COMMENTS, THE BOARD PRESIDENT WILL READ INTO THE RECORD THAT PUBLIC COMMENTS THAT HAVE BEEN SUBMITTED.
[B. Meeting Opening]
TO ORDER AND THE INVOCATION WILL BE LED BY A SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER, CONNIE BERNARD, AND THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE LED BY CANET CADET COMMAND SERGEANT MAJOR CHEYENNE MILLER OF NORTHEAST HIGH SCHOOL ACCOMPANIED BY LIEUTENANT COLONEL RETIRED SHIRLEY'S ARMY INSTRUCTOR.BOW YOUR HEADS, HEAVENLY FATHER, SHOW US HOW TO LISTEN WITH OPEN AND HUMBLE HEARTS, ESPECIALLY TO PEOPLE DIFFERENT FROM US, TEACH US TO FOCUS LESS ON GETTING OUR WAY AND MORE ON LOVING OUR NEIGHBORS, ESPECIALLY THE MOST VULNERABLE AMONG US.
LORD, GIVE US THE STRENGTH TO BE HUMBLED, SOFT HEARTED, AND WILLING TO LISTEN TO EVERY VOICE.
WE THANK YOU THAT WE HAVE SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS WHO BELIEVE YOUR TRUTH.
REMIND US TO SEEK YOUR GUIDANCE.
AS WE MAKE DECISIONS THAT AFFECT OUR CHILDREN, STAFF AND COMMUNITY, SEND US GODLY WISDOM AND GOOD COUNSELORS AND GIVE US APPLICANTS FOR THE JOB OF SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS.
THAT'S DRIVE TO PUT CHILDREN FIRST IN EVERY DECISION.
GOOD EVENING BOARD PRESIDENT, MR.
I AM LIEUTENANT RETURN, RETIRED LIEUTENANT COLONEL RETIRED, SHIRLEY SUTTON, SENIOR INSTRUCTOR AT NORTHEAST HIGH SCHOOL.
THIS IS WHERE I HAVE THE PLEASURE OF SERVING UNDER THE MOST AWESOME VIKING IN CHARGE, MR. BRANDON LEAVITT TINO.
IT IS MY DISTINCT PLEASURE TO INTRODUCE ONE OF OUR PROGRAMS TOP SECOND YEAR CADETS.
SHE IS THE DAUGHTER OF MR. CARL AND HOLLY MILLER OF PROD LOUISIANA.
SHE IS THE FOURTH CHILD OF EIGHT CHILDREN, ALL FOUR HIGH SCHOOL ATTENDEES.
OUR GRADUATES HAVE BEEN DISTINGUISHED JRTC MEMBERS AND DERA TC.
SHE IS THE COMMANDER OF THE COLOR GUARD TEAM MEMBER OF THE HONOR GUARD TEAM AND THE CADET FITNESS CHALLENGE TEAM.
HER GOAL IS TO BECOME THE DARE TC BATTALION COMMANDER AND MAINTAIN HONOR ROLL THROUGHOUT HER REMAINING YEARS IN HIGH SCHOOL.
HER FAVORITE LEADERSHIP PRINCIPLE IS KNOW YOURSELF AND SEEK SELF-IMPROVEMENT MANY WILL DESCRIBE HER AS AN OPEN NOTEBOOK, CONSTANTLY ASSESSING HER STRENGTHS AND CHALLENGES AND ASKING FOR FEEDBACK IN ORDER TO IMPROVE HER FUTURE PLANS ARE TO ATTEND LSU AND MAJOR IN VETERINARY SCIENCE.
BUT FOR NOW SHE'S SIMPLY DETERMINED TO DO HER VERY BEST AND OPEN AS MANY DOORS AS POSSIBLE.
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, IT IS WITH GREAT PRIDE AND RESPECT THAT I INTRODUCE OUR LEADING TOP TWO YEAR CADET CADET COMMAND, SERGEANT MAJOR CHEYENNE MILLER.
[00:05:02]
I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS ONE NATION UNDER GOD WITH THE VISUAL AND THE ROUTINE AND DUST FALL PRESENT YOU WITH THE SUPERINTENDENTS METAL.MADAM SECRETARY, WOULD YOU PLEASE CONDUCT THE ROLL CALL DISTRICT SEVEN PRESIDENT GO DAY HERE, DISTRICT THREE.
VICE-PRESIDENT HOWARD PRESENT DISTRICT ONE.
MR. ATLANTIS DISTRICT FOUR, MS. COLLINS DISTRICT FIVE, MS. WORD JACKSON DISTRICT SIX, MS. DYSON DISTRICT EIGHT, MS. BERNARD PRESENT DISTRICT NINE.
[C. Minutes]
ON THE AGENDA IS THE APPROVAL OF THE SCHOOL BOARD MINUTES FROM THE SEPTEMBER 17TH REGULAR BOARD MEETING AND THE OCTOBER 1ST, 2020 COMMITTEE, THE WHOLE MEETING AS PUBLISHED IN THE OFFICIAL JOURNAL.DO I HAVE A MOTION MOTION BY MS. DYSON SAGGING IT BY MR. BALLOU.
IS THERE, ARE THERE ANY COMMENTS SAYING NONE FROM THE BOARD? ARE THERE ANY COMMENTS FROM THE AUDIENCE THAT ARE PRESENT SEEING NONE? WE DO HAVE ONE ONLINE COMMENT FROM DR.
AND THE COMMENT IS ON THE LAST ITEM BEFORE GERMAN ON OCTOBER 1ST COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE MEETING, THE MINUTES REPORT, THAT EMOTION IS APPROVAL OF THE RECOMMENDATION AND TO PROVIDE FOR RELATED MATTERS.
THAT SOUNDS LIKE A DESCRIPTION OF AN AGENDA ITEM, WHICH IN WHICH RELATED MATTERS MIGHT BE DISCUSSED BEFORE THE FINAL ACTION IS TAKEN.
IT DOES NOT SOUND LIKE A CLEARLY STATED MOTION FROM WHICH A READER COULD UNDERSTAND WHAT THE RELATED MATTERS WERE APPROVED.
ARE THERE ANY OTHER COMMENTS FROM ANY OTHER SOURCES, MR. GAUDETTE CAN YOU GIVE ME WHO MADE THE MOTION AND WHO SECONDS? MA'AM I CANNOT HEAR YOU.
THE MOTION WHO FIRST AND SECOND DYSON MADE THE MOTION AND MR. BELLEW DID THE SECOND, ANY OTHER COMMENTS OR ANY OTHER BOARD MEMBERS SIG NONE.
MADAM SECRETARY, WOULD WE PLEASE VOTE PLEASE VOTE.
WE'RE WAITING ON MS. DYSON, THE MOTION CARRIES.
I AM HAVING TROUBLE GETTING ON THE TEAMS. WE'LL CONTINUE.
I WILL TRY TO WORK THROUGH THAT.
[D1. Resolution: I CARE]
RESOLUTION ON EYE CARE CONSIDERATION OF REQUESTED ADOPTED RESOLUTION PROCLAIMING OCTOBER.I CARE, RED RIBBON MONTH AND OCTOBER 23RD THROUGH 31ST, 2020 S NATIONAL RED RIBBON WEEK.
IT'S HARD TO SAY, MR. HOWARD, THANK YOU PRESIDENT DAY, THE PROCLAMATION READS, WHEREAS WE ARE COMMITTED TO EDUCATION AND THE NURTURING OF FULL POTENTIAL FOR ALL.
AND WHEREAS THE EASTBOUND IN HIS PRIOR SCHOOL SYSTEM BELIEVES IN THE STRIVES AND STRIVES FOR HEALTHY, SAFE, AND DRUG FREE SCHOOL ENVIRONMENTS.
AND WHEREAS THE CITIZENS OF EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH ARE ENCOURAGED TO JOIN THE REST OF OUR NATION.
AS WE REMEMBER, AND HONOR NATIONAL AND LOCAL HEROES WHO HAVE LOST THEIR LIVES IN THE FIGHT AGAINST SUBSTANCE ABUSE.
WHEREAS AS THE CITIZENS OF EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH, WE JOINED WITH TEACHERS, PARENTS, ADMINISTRATORS, AND PARISH OFFICIALS, AND ENCOURAGING ALL CHILDREN TO BECOME PRODUCTIVE INDIVIDUALS AND TO MAINTAIN HEALTHY LIFESTYLES.
[00:10:01]
NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THE EAST NEWS ROUGE SCHOOL.BOY THAT'S HEREBY PROCLAIM THE MONTH OF OCTOBER, 2020 AS I CARE RIBBON RED RIBBON MONTH IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE NATIONAL RED RIBBON WEEK, OCTOBER 23RD THROUGH THE 31ST OF 2020, THEREFORE BE RESOLVED FURTHER RESOLVED THAT THE EASTBOUND CHARTER SCHOOL BOARD ENCOURAGES ALL SCHOOLS TO PLAN AND DEVELOP ACTIVITIES TO PROMOTE HEALTHY AND SAFE AND DRUG FREE LIFESTYLES.
MS. ERIN, WOULD YOU LIKE TO SAY A FEW WORDS? YOU SHOULDN'T MOVE SO MOVE, SORRY.
I HAVE A SECOND TO THAT MOTION.
SECOND BY MR. BERNARD, THE EYE CARE PROGRAM HAS SERVED THE EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH SCHOOLS AND COMMUNITIES OVER 40 YEARS.
THIS YEAR HAS BEEN A VERY DIFFICULT ONE.
AS WE HAVE ENCOUNTERED SO MUCH IN DEALING WITH STUDENTS, STAFF AND EVEN OURSELVES, WE HAVE LEARNED THAT, UM, WE HAVE LEARNED THAT PREVENTION EDUCATION IS STILL RELEVANT AND ESSENTIAL TO THE ACADEMIC, UM, TO THE STUDENTS' ACADEMIC SUCCESS AND PERSONAL SUCCESS.
WE HAVE ALSO LEARNED THAT SUCCESS IS CENTERED AROUND BALANCE HAPPINESS, MINDFULNESS, FAMILY, AND CONSISTENT SUPPORT.
AS WE CELEBRATE THIS YEAR, OUR THEME IS BE HAPPY.
WE WANT TO THANK YOU PRESIDENT, GO DAY, UH, VICE PRESIDENT HOWARD AND THE BOARD, UM, FOR ALWAYS RECOGNIZING EYE CARE AND SUPPORTING US, UM, AND OUR MISSION IN EMPOWERING STUDENTS, EDUCATING OUR COMMUNITY AND ADVOCATING FOR PREVENTION.
WE APPRECIATE THE WORK THAT YOU GUYS ARE DOING NEXT ON THE LIST IS ITEM E ONE MONTHLY FINANCIAL REPORT.
I'M SORRY, WE HAVEN'T VOTED MY BAD.
ARE THERE ANY COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS FROM THE BOARD ON THE EYECARE RESOLUTION? I WOULD ONLY LIKE TO SAY, I GREATLY APPRECIATE ALL THE WORK THAT YOU DO, PARTICULARLY IN THIS TIME OF THE PANDEMIC, WHERE IT'S A BIG PSYCHOLOGICAL AND EMOTIONAL STRAIN ON ALL OF OUR FAMILIES AND ALL OF OUR STUDENTS AND ALL OF OUR STAFF AND ALL OF OUR FACULTY.
WE REALLY APPRECIATE THE WORK THAT YOU FOLKS ARE DOING AND, UH, YOU HAVE OUR BEST WISHES AND OUR HOPES THAT YOU CAN CONTINUE.
SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THAT WORK.
ARE THERE ANY COMMENTS FROM THE AUDIENCE SEEING NONE BACK TO THE BOARD, MR. GOTO? THERE'S ONE ON LAW.
THERE IS ONE ONLINE APOLOGIZE HERE.
THIS IS FROM MISS ALICIA SMITH.
PLEASE RECONSIDER RED RIBBON WEEK.
DOES NOTHING TO PREVENT DRUG USE, WHICH DESTROYS MANY FROM OUR COMMUNITIES.
RED RIBBON WEEK IS AN ARTIFACT FROM THE WAR ON DRUGS.
AND EVEN THERE HAS LEFT, JUST SAY NO BEHIND SINGING SONGS, DOING COLORING SHEETS AND WEARING CRAZY SNUCK SOCKS DO NOT PREVENT DRUG USE EBR AND EYE CARE NEED TO BECOME PROACTIVE AND FINDING CURRENT RESEARCH BASED PRACTICES TO ADDRESS VERY, REALLY PROBLEMS, WHICH DEVASTATE OUR COMMUNITY.
ARE THERE ANY OTHER COMMENTS FROM THE AUDIENCE SEEING NONE BACK TO THE BOARD, SEEING NONE, MADAM SECRETARY, PLEASE VOTE THE MOTION CARRIES.
[E1. Monthly Financial Report]
ONLY THE MONTHLY FINANCIAL REPORT.ARE THERE ANY COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS ON THE MONTHLY FINANCIAL REPORT FROM THE BOARD SEEING NONE, ANY COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS FROM THE AUDIENCE? SEEING NONE BACK TO THE BOARD, SAY NONE.
MADAM SECRETARY, OH, WE DON'T MISS AN INFORMATION.
[E2. Personnel Changes]
CHANGES FROM THE HR DEPARTMENT.ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS AND COMMENTS FROM THE BOARD ON THE PERSONNEL CHANGES REPORT SEEING NONE THAT REPORT IS ACCEPTED.
[F1. Update from Superintendent]
IS AN UPDATE FROM THE SUPERINTENDENT DESIGNEE, MR. ADAM SMITH.[00:15:01]
VERY IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR OUR PARENTS.OUR MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS WERE RETURNED FACE TO FACE INSTRUCTION MONDAY, OCTOBER 19TH.
THIS IS THE LAST PHASE OF OUR STUDENTS RETURNING TO RECEIVE IN-PERSON INSTRUCTION.
JUST REMIND THE PARENTS WHO STILL HAVE THE OPTION TO CHOOSE, TO CHOOSE A HUNDRED PERCENT VIRTUAL INSTRUCTION, BUT IT'S FACE TO FACE INSTRUCTION FOR OUR MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOL.
STUDENTS WILL BE FIVE DAYS A WEEK STARTING MONDAY, OCTOBER 19TH.
ALSO, I'M EXCITED TO ANNOUNCE THAT OUR DISTRICT HAS BEEN GRANTED $10,000 FOR OUR CHILD NUTRITION, FOND FORD FROM DAIRY MAX AND THE NEW ORLEANS SAINTS.
ON OCTOBER 27TH, WE WILL HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO MEET CAM JORDAN DEFENSIVE, BEING OF NEW ORLEANS SAINTS, NORMALLY TO CELEBRATE CHILD NUTRITION ALONG WITH OUR ATHLETIC DIRECTOR WITH PT SCHOOL OR THE SAINTS THEME, PET RALEIGH DUE TO THE CURRENT PENN DIMMITT, WE'RE UNABLE TO DO THIS AND WE WILL CELEBRATE VIRTUALLY THE PRESS WILL SCOTLANDVILLE HIGH SCHOOL.
ALONG WITH THREE STUDENTS WILL HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK TO CAM JORDAN AND A COUPLE OF, AND ASKS A COUPLE OF SCRIPTED QUESTIONS.
THE SANKS PLAN TO SEND TEE SHIRTS AND FOOTBALL TO THE PRINCIPALS AND STUDENTS DAIRY MAX PARTNERS WITH NFL SUPERSTARS TO SERVE AS A HEALTHY ROLE MODEL, ENCOURAGING STUDENTS TO LEARN MORE ABOUT A BALANCED NUTRITION AND PHYSICAL ACTIVITY.
ALSO, I WOULD LIKE TO CONGRATULATE MS. MARGARET ROCK READ TEACHER AT WILDWOOD ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.
SHE WAS A RECIPIENT OF A, OF THE 220 2020.
SHE ALL REGION LAP CHALLENGE AWARD MRS. RODRIGUEZ RECEIVED $5,000 OF CLASSROOM MATERIALS FROM CAROLINE BIOLOGICALS SUPPLY COMPANY, AS WELL AS ADDITIONAL SCIENCE MATERIALS AND SUPPLIES.
IN ADDITION TO THE MATERIALS, SHE WOULD ALSO RECEIVE SUPPORT FROM MINE FROM THE NATIONAL SCIENCE TEACHING ASSOCIATION, THROUGH THE PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT VIA COHORT LIKE-MINDED EDUCATORS LIKE OURSELVES CONGRATULATION, MRS. ROCKERY.
NEXT I WOULD LIKE TO, UH, ON BEHALF OF OUR HR DEPARTMENT, PINK FOR PURPOSE, OCTOBER IS BREAST CANCER AWARENESS MONTH IN COLLABORATION WITH WOMEN'S HOSPITAL, THE OFFICE OF HUMAN RESOURCES, INVITE EMPLOYEES TO PARTICIPATE IN SEVERAL ACTIVITIES TO POINT TO PROMOTE BREAST CANCER AWARENESS AND THE IMPORTANCE OF EARLY DETECTION.
PLEASE VISIT OUR WEBSITE FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE LISTED ACTIVITIES.
MR. GO, IF YOU WOULD INDULGE ME, I HAVE A FIVE MINUTE VIDEO.
USUALLY OCTOBER, WE PRESENT THE NATIONAL MERIT SCHOLARS DUE TO THE COVID-19 RESTRICTION.
WE TO ADJUST OUR RECOGNITION, MRS
THESE HIGH SCHOOL SENIORS HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO CONTINUE IN THE COMPETITION FOR 7,500 NATIONAL SCHOLARSHIPS WORTH MORE THAN $31 BILLION THAT WILL BE OFFERED NEXT SPRING TODAY, WE'RE HERE TO HONOR OUR NATIONAL MERIT SEMI-FINALIST AND NATIONAL MERIT COMMENDED STUDENTS FROM BATON ROUGE, MAGNET AND LIBERTY MAGNET, HIGH SCHOOLS.
WE ARE PROUD TO HAVE REPRESENTATION FROM TWO OF OUR DISTRICT HIGH SCHOOLS IN THIS PROGRAM, AND LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUED EXPANSION ACROSS OTHER DISTRICT SCHOOLS.
TODAY WE RECOGNIZE NOT ONLY OUR STUDENTS FOR THIS ACHIEVEMENT, BUT THEIR PARENTS, FAMILIES, TEACHERS, AND COUNTLESS OTHERS WHO HAVE SUPPORTED THEM ALONG THE WAY.
INTRODUCING THE 2020 NATIONAL MERIT SEMIFINALISTS
[00:20:46]
I WOULD JUST ASK THAT ON BEHALF OF STAFF HERE AT EBR, WE ASK THAT OUR COMMUNITY AT LARGE KEEP, UH, THE DEALIO FAMILY AND IT THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS, VINCE DALIO, WHO WAS OUR HEAD OF SECURITY PASSED AWAY LAST FRIDAY FROM A LONG BATTLE WITH CANCER.
AND WE JUST WANT YOU GUYS TO KEEP THE DEALIO FAMILY AND YOUR THOUGHTS IN PRAYER, AND THAT CLOSES OUT THE SUPERINTENDENTS REPORT.
AND I WANT TO ADD MY CONGRATULATIONS TO THE NATIONAL MERIT SEMIFINALISTS AS AN OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT, AND WE APPLAUD ALL OF YOUR EFFORTS AND HARD WORK TO ME TO GET THAT HONOR.
UM, I TOO WANT TO CONGRATULATE ALL OF THESE NATIONAL MERIT SCHOLARS AND I'M HOPEFUL THAT AT SOME POINT WE'LL BE ABLE TO HOLD A MEETING WHERE WE CAN RECOGNIZE THEM IN PERSON.
UM, THEY ARE SO ACCOMPLISHED AND WE JUST COULDN'T BE MORE PROUD.
NEXT, WE WILL GO TO REPORTS FROM THE BOARD APPOINTEES TO COMMITTEES AND AGENCIES.
DO ANY BOARD MEMBERS WISH TO MAKE A REPORT FROM ANY AGENCY? THEY SIT ON SAYING NONE.
[H. Consent Agenda]
AGENDA.THE FOLLOWING ITEMS ARE CONSIDERED TO BE ROUTINE AND WILL BE ENACTED WITH ONE MOTION.
THERE WILL BE NO SEPARATE DISCUSSION OF ITEMS UNLESS A BOARD MEMBER.
SO REQUESTS IN WHICH EVENT, THE ITEM WILL BE REMOVED FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA AND CONSIDERED AN ITEM AS, AS AN ITEM ON THE REGULAR AGENDA FOR A SEPARATE VOTE PROCEEDING.
[00:25:01]
AGENDA TO PROFESSIONAL SERVICES CONTRACTS, CONSIDERATION OF OUR REQUEST FOR THE APPROVAL OF THE PROFESSIONAL SERVICES CONTRACTS BETWEEN THE EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH SCHOOL BOARD, AND THE FOLLOWING A, THE ACHIEVEMENT NETWORK IN THE AMOUNT OF $125,000 TO PROVIDE PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND SUPPORT FUNDING SOURCE SCHOOL REDESIGN BE SAVVIS LEARNING COMPANY, LLC, AND THE AMOUNT OF $19,950 TO PROVIDE PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND SUPPORT FUNDING SOURCE SCHOOL REDESIGN.SEE THE WRITING REVOLUTION IN THE AMOUNT OF $114,884 TO PROVIDE PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND SUPPORT FUNDING SOURCE SCHOOL REDESIGN D THE WRITING REVOLUTION IN THE AMOUNT OF $93,648 TO PROVIDE PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND SUPPORT FUNDING SOURCE TITLE TWO E PRESENCE LEARNING INCORPORATED IN A AMOUNT OF $70,000 TO PROVIDE ONLINE TELETHERAPY AND TELE ASSESSMENT TRAINING SESSIONS FOR EMPLOYEES OF EXCEPTIONAL STUDENT SERVICES, FUNDING SOURCE CARES ACT STRONG START AF HUMANITIES AMPED IN THE AMOUNT OF $33,200 OVER A TWO YEAR PERIOD, $16,600 PER YEAR PER THE 21ST CENTURY COMMUNITY LEARNING CENTER GRANT FOR MCKINLEY HIGH SCHOOL FUNDING SOURCE 21ST CENTURY GRANT G LOUISIANA WORKFORCE COMMISSION TO PROVIDE FOR OUR JAG LA SPECIALISTS AT GLEN OAKS, HIGH MCKINLEY, HIGH TARA HIGH AND GLEN OAKS, MIDDLE FUNDING SOURCE LOUISIANA WORKFORCE COMMISSION ITEM THREE, MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING FAMILY ENGAGEMENT LAB CONSIDERATION OF REQUEST FOR THE APPROVAL OF A MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING BETWEEN THE EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH SCHOOL BOARD AND FAMILY ENGAGEMENT LAB TO PROVIDE WEB BASED FAMILY ENGAGEMENT SERVICES, FUNDING SOURCE, LOUISIANA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION FOR REVISED 2019 2020 HIGH SCHOOL SUMMER HIGH SCHOOL, SUMMER SCHOOL BUDGET CONSIDERATION OF REQUEST FOR THE APPROVAL OF THE REVISED 2019 2020 HIGH SCHOOL, SUMMER BUDGET FIVE CONSTRUCTION OF LA BELLE AIR BUILDING ADDITION, CONSIDERATION OF A REQUEST FOR THE AUTHORIZATION OF STAFF TO ADVERTISE EXCEPT THE LOW BIDS MEETING SPECIFICATIONS AND MAKE THE AWARD OF A CONTRACT FOR CONSTRUCTION OF LABELLE L ELEMENTARY SCHOOL BUILDING ADDITION ARE REJECT ANY AND ALL BIDS FOR JUST CAUSE IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LOUISIANA PUBLIC BID LAW, LOUISIANA REVISED STATUTES, TITLE 38 CHAPTER 10 FUNDING SOURCE PHASE FOUR TAX PLAN PROPOSITION ONE SIX CONSIDERATION OF A REQUEST FOR THE APPROVAL OF THE RECOMMENDATION FROM GWEN SHAMBLIN, GENERAL CONSOLE EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH SCHOOL BOARD IN THE MATTER OF TRINA C KING VERSUS THE EAST PAT ROUGE PARISH SCHOOL BOARD DOCKET NUMBER SIX SEVEN FOUR ONE SEVEN SIX, SECTION 26 19TH JUDICIAL DISTRICT COURT, PARISH OF EAST BATON ROUGE, STATE OF LOUISIANA, AND TO PROVIDE FOR RELATED MATTERS.
THAT IS THE END OF THE CONSENT AGENDA.
DO I HAVE A MOTION MOTION BY MR. HOWARD? SECOND BY MS. BERNARD, ARE THERE ANY ITEMS OR DISCUSSIONS FROM THE BOARD? SEE, NONE I WILL GO WITH I'M SORRY.
WE CANNOT HEAR YOU VERY CLEARLY.
ITEM NUMBER TWO, THE FOOD ITEM NUMBER TWO.
NUMBER TWO, THE WHOLE THING OR A SPECIFIC PART OF IT.
[00:30:01]
THE WHOLE THING.YOU HAVE TO PULL THE WHOLE THING.
UM, I'M GOING TO GO AHEAD AND SAY IT'S OKAY TO PULL A CENSUS.
IF IT'S ONE CONTRACT, WOULDN'T PULL THAT ONE CONTRACT, THE ACHIEVEMENT NETWORK.
BOY, THE BOARD SECRETARY IS GOING TO NEED A SECOND.
ARE THERE ANY OTHER ITEMS YOU'D WISHED TO PULL UNDER THAT AGENDA ITEM? THE BOY'S SECRETARY SAYS IN THE INTEREST OF TIME, IT WOULD BE EASIER TO PULL THE ENTIRE ITEM.
SO IT SHOULDN'T HAVE TO REDESIGN IF IT'S JUST ONE CONTRACT WE'RE DISCUSSING, WE CAN PUT THEM ALL BACK ON AFTER.
ARE THERE ANY OTHER COMMENTS FROM ANY OTHER BOARD MEMBERS GOING TO THE AUDIENCE? I SEE NO COMMENTS ONLINE RELATED TO THE CONSENT AGENDA.
AH, THERE IS A COMMENT ONLINE.
I THINK IT'S REAL SAD THAT THE BOARD PLAYS POLITICS WITH STUDENTS TO APPROVE
AND I SEE NO OTHER COMMENTS, ANY OTHER COMMENTS FROM THE BOARD ON THE CONSENT AGENDA ITEM EXCEPT ITEM TWO, IF I MIGHT.
JUST TO ADDRESS THAT, UH, PUBLIC COMMENT, UM, THE BELFAIR SITUATION IS NOT COMPLETELY OUT OF THE WAY, UM, AS IT RELATES TO COMING BACK TO THE BOARD.
SO THERE IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO RECONSIDER THE AGENDA ITEMS TO JUST TO LET THE PUBLIC KNOW THAT WE ARE GOING TO HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO RECONSIDER SO THAT WE CAN GET THAT CONSTRUCTION MOVING.
ANY OTHER COMMENTS FROM ANY OTHER BOARD? MADAM SECRETARY, WOULD YOU PLEASE CONDUCT A VOTE, PLEASE VOTE THE MOTION THEATERS.
[2. Professional Services Contracts]
TWO.DO I NEED, I GUESS I NEED TO REREAD THE ITEM PROFESSIONAL SERVICES CONTRACTS CONSIDERATION OF REQUESTS FOR THE APPROVAL OF THE PROFESSIONAL SERVICES CONTRACT BETWEEN THE EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH SCHOOL BOARD AND THE FOLLOWING A, THE ACHIEVEMENT NETWORK IN THE AMOUNT OF $125,000 TO PROVIDE PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND SUPPORT FUNDING SOURCE SCHOOL REDESIGN BE SAVAS LEARNING COMPANY, LLC IN THE AMOUNT OF $19,950 TO PROVIDE PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND SUPPORT FUNDING SOURCE SCHOOL REDESIGN.
SEE THE WRITING REVOLUTION IN THE AMOUNT OF $114,884 TO PROVIDE PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND SUPPORT FUNDING SOURCE SCHOOL REDESIGN D THE WRITING REVOLUTION IN THE AMOUNT OF $93,648 TO PROVIDE PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND SUPPORT FUNDING SOURCE TITLE TWO E PRESENCE LEARNING INCORPORATED IN THE AMOUNT OF $70,000 TO PROVIDE ONLINE TELETHERAPY AND TELL ASSESSMENT TRAINING SESSIONS FOR EMPLOYEES OF EXCEPTIONAL STUDENT SERVICES, FUNDING SOURCE CARES ACT STRONG START AF HUMANITIES ANT IN THE AMOUNT OF $33,200 OVER A TWO YEAR PERIOD, $16,600 PER YEAR PER THE 21ST CENTURY COMMUNITY LEARNING CENTER GRANT FOR MCKINLEY HIGH SCHOOL G LOUISIANA WORKFORCE COMMISSION TO PROVIDE A JAG DASH L A SPECIALIST AT GLEN OAKS, HIGH MCKINLEY, HIGH TARA HIGH, AND GLEN OAKS, MIDDLE FUNDING SOURCE LOUISIANA WORKFORCE COMMISSION.
DO I HAVE A MOTION? I MOVE APPROVAL TO B THROUGH G.
[00:35:03]
OKAY.OR FOR CONVERSELY I'M OVER APPROVAL BAY BECAUSE I THINK MS. COLLINS NEEDS TO TAKE THEM SEPARATELY.
AND I THINK WE, I DON'T KNOW, HOW'S THE BEST WAY TO DO THIS.
UH, I THINK WE, I THINK START OFF MR. MR. SHAMBLIN, AND I NEED YOUR HELP FIRST AND THEN TO A MOTION IS TO APPROVE TO A BY MS. BERNARD SECOND BY MR. BALLOU.
I NEED TO TALK TO THE BOARD SECRETARY.
LET'S MAKE SURE THE SYSTEM IS SET PROPERLY.
MAY WE BEGIN WITH DISCUSSION? YES.
SO WE'RE NOW ON SECTION ITEM, NUMBER TWO G TO H TO THE ACHIEVEMENT NETWORK COMMENTS FROM THE BOARD MS. COLLINS.
UH, LAST IN BOARD MEETING, UM, I HAD ASKED TO HAVE JUST A BASIC, UH, POINT OF REFERENCE IS ONE THING TO TALK ABOUT WHAT WORK, UM, UH, A UNIT OF, UH, ALL GROUP OF SCHOOLS IS DOING IN A LARGER DISTRICT.
UM, BUT I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT AS A POINT OF REFERENCE TO UNDERSTAND, UH, WHAT'S GOING ON IN THE SAME DISTRICT IN COMPARISON.
AND I HAD ASKED FOR THAT INFORMATION TO BE MADE AVAILABLE.
I THINK THAT WAS AN EMAIL THAT WAS, I THINK, RESPONDED TO YOUR QUESTION, MS. COLLINS ABOUT A INDEPENDENT REVIEW OF THE SCHOOLS THAT ARE IN THE INNOVATIVE MACK NETWORK, DOING A COMPARISON OF WHAT OTHER SCHOOLS, SIMILAR SCHOOLS WITH SAME DEMOGRAPHICS AND PERFORMANCE.
AND WE'RE CURRENTLY WORKING ON THAT.
MR. NICK, UH, YOU CAN STEP FORWARD WITH THIS PARTICULAR ITEM.
THE CONTRACT, UM, THE AID THAT IS A PARTNER THAT WORKS WITH HAS BEEN WORKING WITH THOSE SCHOOLS FOR THE PAST YEAR.
AND THEIR SCOPE OF WORK IS PRIMARILY AROUND CURRICULUM, UH, ASSESSMENT ITEMS THAT A BASE, AND THEY DO PLC PLANNING AROUND UNPACKING STANDARDS FOR TEACHERS.
AND SO THEY WORKED LAST YEAR WITH THE INNOVATIVE NETWORK.
THEY ALSO, APART OF THE COMPETITIVE SIDE OF IT AS THE GRANT, WHEN WE WROTE, UH, UH, FOR THE ZONE, UH, THESE WAS ONE OF THE PARTNERS THAT WAS ON THE LIST STATE APPROVED LIST FROM THE EL DOE THAT THE ZONE COULD PARTNER WITH.
AND THAT'S WHY THE FUNDING SOURCES ARE REDESIGNED BONDS TO ADD TO THAT AS WELL.
ONE CONSIDERATION IS, UM, I KNOW THERE WAS A REQUEST FOR THAT INDEPENDENT REVIEW, SO I'VE WORKED WITH MISS.
SO KOSKY AND THE REST OF THE LEADERSHIP TEAM TO MAKE A PROPOSAL FOR THAT.
UH, IN ADDITION, UH, WE'RE PLANNING TO DO, WE WOULD LIKE TO DO DURING THE COW AND OVERALL DATA REVIEW.
NORMALLY THAT'S WHEN WE GET STATE DATA DROPPED AND THAT WOULD BE OUR SPS TIMELINES.
SO WHAT WE WOULD LIKE TO DO IS TAKE ALL THE DATA THAT WE DO HAVE, CAUSE WE'LL HAVE PIECES OF THAT.
AND THEN WE'LL ALSO HAVE ANY ADDITIONAL DATA LIKE THIS THAT WE'D LIKE TO PACKAGE IN ONE PRESENTATION DURING THE NOVEMBER MEETING OF THE COW, WE CAN SEND A COMPARISON BEFORE THAT, OF THIS.
HOWEVER, JUST REMEMBER NOTE, THIS WILL BE TWO YEAR OLD DATA BECAUSE WE WON'T HAVE ANY DATA FROM LAST YEAR.
SO REALLY WE'RE LOOKING REALLY FAR BEHIND.
IF WE WAIT UNTIL NOVEMBER, WE CAN COLLECT ALL THE DATA.
FOR EXAMPLE, ACT AP THE STUFF THAT JUST DROPPED IN THE LAST DAY OR TWO.
WE CAN PACKAGE TO HAVE A MORE FAIR COMPARISON.
I WOULD LIKE TO A, B AND C THEN, UM, DEFER UNTIL THE NEXT MEETING.
SO WE CAN HAVE CURRENT DATA SO THAT I, I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE CURRENT DATA AND, AND A BASELINE COMPARISON OF WHAT'S GOING ON WITHIN THE DISTRICT AS IT RELATES TO OUR SPECIAL PROJECT.
UH, I JUST THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO HAVE THAT UNDERSTANDING.
UM, AND SO NOBODY PICKED UP THAT MOTION RIGHT, RIGHT NOW.
AND THE ONLY THING I WOULD CAUTION IS WHERE THOSE TEAMS ARE NEEDING TO WORK IN THE SCHOOLS.
NOW, JUST SOMETHING TO CONSIDER.
THAT'S WHY I WANTED THE INFORMATION NOW, SO I CAN MAKE A DECISION AND THEN MAYBE I'LL BE OVERJOYED NEXT, NEXT MEETING.
[00:40:01]
AND, OH, GREAT.AND, BUT IF I'M AT OVERJOYED A MEETING, THEN HOW I FEEL ABOUT SPENDING $200,000 TO CONTINUE, UM, I'M DISAPPOINTED.
UM, THEN MAYBE I COULDN'T EVEN GET A SNAPSHOT AND, AND MAYBE SOME GUIDANCE BASED ON THE SNAPSHOT AND, AND WHATEVER HOPES CAN OR CANNOT BE HAD, UH, INCLUDING THE NEW DATA.
IS THERE A PARTICULAR DEADLINE ATTACHED TO THESE THREE THINGS? A, B AND C, UM, WOULD HAVE TO DEFER TO TITLE ONE FOR THAT? I'M NOT SURE AS IT RELATES TO ITEM ONE, AS MR. NIKKEI STATED IT'S THE PROVIDING OF SERVICES TO THOSE SCHOOLS.
NOW, ITEM B AND C ARE NOT DIRECTLY RELATED TO THE INNOVATIVE NETWORK, UH, ITEM C I MEAN, B IS RELATED TO PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT AROUND, UM, MY PERSPECTIVE, UH, WELL WORKBOOKS CURRICULUM THAT WE HAVE WITH SCHOOLS.
THAT'S NOT INSIDE OF THE INNOVATIVE NETWORK AND ITEM C THE WRITING REVOLUTION CONTRACT, IT'S BEING FUNDED BY TWO DIFFERENT FUNDING SOURCES.
BUT AS FOR PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT AROUND WRITING FOR ALL SCHOOLS, WE HAVE ONE FUNDING SOURCE THAT'S COMING FROM THE REDESIGN GRANT.
AND THEN WE HAVE ANOTHER FUNDING SOURCE COMING FROM RATHER CURRICULA TITLE ONE.
SO THE SCHOOL REDESIGN GRANT FUNDING DOES NET, THEY EXPANDED JUST FROM, IT IS NOT RESTRICTED TO THE INNOVATION NETWORK.
WELL, I, I WOULD PREFER ON ITEM EIGHT TO HAVE SOME COMPARATIVE DATA, TO MAKE AN INFORMED DECISION ON IT.
UM, MS. COLLINS, ARE YOU MAKING A SUBSTITUTE MOTION? CAUSE THE MOTION RIGHT NOW IS TO APPROVE ITEM.
A EMOTIONAL I THOUGHT WAS FOR ALL OF TWO.
SHOULD WE PULL IT ALL OF TWO OFF THE CONSENT? WE PULLED ALL OF TWO, BUT THE MOTION IS TO APPROVE TO A MOTION.
THE MOTION ON THE FLOOR RIGHT NOW IS TO MOVE ITEM, TO APPROVE ITEM TWO A.
SO WOULD YOU LIKE TO MAKE A SEPARATE CHEEK MOTION AND I JUST VOTE AGAINST THE CURRENT MODEL.
ARE THERE ANY OTHER COMMENTS FROM THE BOARD ON ITEM TWO EIGHT? WE HAVE NO COMMENTS ON THE ONLINE NETWORK AND I SEE NO COMMENTS FROM THE AUDIENCE BACK TO THE BOARD.
I HAVE NO COMMENTS FROM THE BOARD.
MADAM SECRETARY, WOULD YOU? I'M SORRY.
SO MS. BERNARD MADE THAT MOTION FOR TWO EIGHT.
MS. BERNARD MADE THE MOTION TO APPROVE ITEM TWO A SECOND BY MR. BELLEW.
PLEASE VOTE THE MOTION CARRIES.
NOW, MAY I HAVE A MOTION CONCERNING ITEMS? B THREE G SO APPROVAL OF ITEMS B THROUGH G BY MR. I'M SORRY.
ITEM TWO B THROUGH ITEM TWO G YOU SAGGING IT.
SO THE MOTION IS TO APPROVE ITEMS TO A G AND H TWO B THROUGH G.
THE MOTION IS MADE BY MRS. BERNARD SAGGING IT BY MRS. COLLINS.
[00:45:01]
OR COMMENTS FROM THE BOARD SEEING NONE.WE GO TO THE AUDIENCE SEEING NONE IN PERSON AND I SEE I'M REFRESHING RIGHT NOW.
I SEE NOTHING ONLINE, BACK TO THE BOARD.
ANY COMMENTS FROM THE BOARD MS. WHERE JACKSON, I JUST WANTED TO STATE THAT IS, WELL, MY GOAL.
I REALLY APPRECIATE, UH, HAVING SOME, UM, EXTRA ATTENTION PLACED ON A WRITING ACROSS THE DISTRICT.
I THINK IT'S EXTREMELY IMPORTANT.
UH, OUR KIDS ARE STRUGGLING WITH READING AND UNDERSTOOD THAT THERE'S A DISCONNECT IN THE AREA OF WRITING, WHICH IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT.
SO, UM, I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU.
ANY OTHER COMMENTS FROM ANY OTHER BOARD MEMBERS? HAVE I BEEN TO THE AUDIENCE? I'LL GO AGAIN TO THE AUDIENCE JUST TO MAKE SURE SEEING NONE IN THE AUDIENCE AND SEEING NONE ONLINE, BACK TO THE BOARD, SEEING NONE.
[I1. Litigation]
WE GO TO SECTION I NEW BUSINESS FIRST IS LITIGATION CONSIDERATION OF REQUEST FOR THE APPROVAL OF THE RECOMMENDATION FROM GWEN SHAMBLIN, GENERAL CONSOLE EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH SCHOOL BOARD IN THE MANNER OF LINDA VESSEL VERSUS EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH SCHOOL BOARD AT TOWEL DOCKET NUMBER 19 DASH ZERO SEVEN ZERO ZERO ONE.DISTRICT ZERO FIVE OFFICE OF WORKERS' COMPENSATION AND TO PROVIDE FOR RELATED MATTERS, MOVED BY MR. TAXMAN SECOND BY MS. JACKSON.
ARE THERE ANY COMMENTS FROM THE BOARD SEEING NONE, ANY COMMENTS FROM THE AUDIENCE? GOOD EVENING.
I'M CONCERNED ABOUT THE WAY THE MOTION APPEARS TO READ BECAUSE THE AGENDA ITEM SAYS ACCEPTING THE RECOMMENDATION, ET CETERA, AND THEN, AND RELATED MATTERS.
THAT WOULD SUGGEST SOMETHING AS FAR MORE WIDE OPEN AND VAGUE THAN JUST ACCEPTING THE RECOMMENDATION OF THE GENERAL COUNSEL.
AND THAT'S A PERSISTENT PROBLEM WITH AGENDA ITEMS BEING PRESENTED AS AGENDA ITEMS AND MOTIONS BEING MADE BY SOMEBODY SAYING SO MOVE.
AND IT'S NEVER CLEAR WHAT EXACTLY, AND IT NEEDS TO BE CLEAR EXACTLY WHAT YOU'RE VOTING ON.
SO I WOULD STRONGLY SUGGEST BEFORE YOU VOTE, YOU STRIKE THE AND RELATED MATTERS FROM THE MOTION OR THE MOTION MAKES NO SENSE.
I WILL MAKE ONE COMMENT ON THIS ITEM IS THAT I THINK IT'S ENTIRELY APPROPRIATE TO HAVE THAT LANGUAGE BECAUSE IN A LEGAL MANNER, THERE ARE DOCUMENTS THAT NEED TO BE SIGNED AND OTHER ACTIONS THAT NEED TO BE TAKEN THAT WE DO NOT WANT TO BE PASSING A MOTION FOR EACH OF THOSE INDIVIDUAL ITEMS. WE'RE PROVING THE CONCEPT OF THE SETTLEMENT AND THE DOLLAR AMOUNT OF THE SETTLEMENT AND LEAVING IT TO TRUST OUR LEGAL CONSOLE, TO EXECUTE THAT CONCEPT IN THE PROPER LEGAL MANNER, UH, WITH ALL THE PROPER LEGAL SIGNATURES AND THINGS THAT NEED TO ACCOMPLISH.
ARE THERE ANY OTHER COMMENTS FROM THE BOARD, MR. TATLIN? YOU COVERED IT.
SEEING NO OTHER COMMENTS FROM THE BOARD, MADAM SECRETARY, PLEASE VOTE THE MOTION CARRIES.
[I2. Superintendent Resignation]
[00:50:01]
NEXT ITEM IS ITEM I TO CONSIDERATION OF REQUEST TO ACCEPT THE RESIGNATION AND THE APPROVAL OF THE RESIGNATION AGREEMENT OF WITH MRS. LESLIE BROWN OR THE, DO I HAVE A MOTION BY MR. BALLOU A SECOND? I HAVE A SECOND BY MR. LANDIS.ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS AND COMMENTS FROM THE BOARD SEEING NONE, ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS FROM THE AUDIENCE AND, AND HERE, MADAM SECRETARY, THERE ARE SOME COMMENTS.
IS IT UNDER THE WRONG ITEM ITEM? I TOO.
UH, FIRST THIS IS UNDER ITEM I TWO FROM THE, UH, INTERNET.
UH, THIS IS FOR MATT SIRAJ, STRONGLY SUPPORT SEARCH RESOLUTION AS A WRITTEN PROVEN LEADERSHIP NEEDED NOW FOR STRONG PROSPECTS, SMITH, TAMALE TOWNS, AND TUCK STRONGLY OBJECT TO STARTING OVER WITH SEARCH, REDUCING OR EXPANDING THE FIELD OF FOR PROSPECTS, COMMENTS, DECISIVE ACTION SERVES CHILDREN BEST.
THERE'S NO RISKS EXCEPT THE RESULTS OF THE PREVIOUS SEARCH.
THERE IS NO RISK TO ENGAGE THE FOUR REMAINING PROSPECTS.
THERE'S NO RISK TO CONFIRM THE SELECTION CRITERIA NEXT IS FROM ARCHER.
HERBERT, NOT A BEAR, BUT HERBERT GOD BLESSED MRS. BROWN AND HER POOR FAMILY WITH ALL DUE RESPECT TO THE PRIVACY OF THE FORMER SUPERINTENDENT, THE PEOPLE TO KNOW AND DESERVE TO KNOW IF THE DETERIORATION IS COVID-19 RELATED.
THIS WAS OPPORTUNITY TO MODEL AN APPROPRIATE RESPONSE WHEN LEADERSHIP FALLS ILL, BUT INSTEAD PRIVACY WAS OFFERED WITH NO ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF THE ONGOING PANDEMIC.
EVEN IF IT'S NOT COVID RELATED, A SIMPLE STATEMENT GOES A LONG WAY.
HOW DO STAFF CONTINUE TO WORK IN SCHOOLS WHEN THEY CAN'T BE SURE IF THEIR LEADERS WILL EVEN ACKNOWLEDGE THE PANDEMIC? THE MESSAGING WAS PATERNALISTIC AND ACTING LIKE THE STAFF SHOULD JUST CHIN UP, MIND THEIR BUSINESS AND KEEP WORKING IS AN INSULT.
AND YET ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF WHITE SUPREMACY WITHIN THE SYSTEM, THANK YOU TO ALL THE TEACHERS, STAFF, AND FAMILIES WHO CHOOSE TO GET TESTED BECAUSE THEY CARE ABOUT OUR COMMUNITY.
THE NEXT SUPERINTENDENT CONTRACT NEEDS TO INCLUDE PUBLIC DISCLOSURE OF ANY ALL COVID TESTING AND RELATED ILLNESSES.
GOD BLESS US EACH AND EVERYONE FROM JASMINE POGUE, JUST TO COMMENT, TO SHARE MY WARM WISHES FOR THE GOOD HEALTH OF MRS. BROWN.
I APPRECIATE HER ALWAYS BEING OPEN TO HAVING A DISCUSSION WITH ME AND MY ORGANIZATION AND HER ENTHUSIASM AND BECOMING EBR SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENT, PLEASE SHARE MY REGARDS WITH HER.
AND NEXT IS FROM JONATHAN, WHICH IS UNRELATED TO THIS.
WHAT IS THE, BUT I'M GOING TO READ IT.
WHAT IS THE UPDATE ON PRINCIPLE, ROB? HOW WITH LIBERTY AND WHAT IS BEING DONE ABOUT THE PETITION THAT HAS OVER 500 SIGNATURES? UM, THAT IS THE END OF THE COMMENTS ON ITEM.
I TOO, ARE THERE ANY OTHER COMMENTS FROM THE AUDIENCE OR THE BOARD? I'M A REFRESH ONE MORE TIME SEEING NONE.
THE MOTION CARRIES MOTION CARRIES.
[I3. Resolution: Superintendent Search]
THREE RESOLUTION REGARDING THE SUPERINTENDENT SEARCH.MR. LANDIS, THANK YOU RESOLUTION TO FEEL EASTBOUND ROUGE PARISH SCHOOL SYSTEM, SUPERINTENDENT VACANCY, WHEREAS EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH SCHOOL SYSTEM HAS AN IMMEDIATE SUPERINTENDENT VACANCY DUE TO THE RESIGNATION AND DEPARTURE OF MR. LESLIE BROWN.
WHEREAS EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH SCHOOL BOARD HAS AN OBLIGATION OR DUTY TO HIS FAMILIES, EMPLOYEES, STUDENTS, AND TAXPAYERS, TO FEEL THE SUPERINTENDENT VACANCY IN A TIMELY MATTER, NEVER FIX URGENT RESPONSIVENESS, WHEREAS HE'S BEARISH PARISH SCHOOL SYSTEM UNDER THE GOVERNING AUTHORITY OF THE EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH SCHOOL BOARD VOTED FOR AND APPROVED A SUPERINTENDENT SEARCH PROCESS TO BE CONDUCTED BY JG CONSULTANTS AT THE COST OF $25,000.
[00:55:02]
WHEREAS DURING THE SUPERINTENDENT SEARCH PROCESS, JG CONSULTANTS, I D IDENTIFIED SEVERAL CANDIDATES AT THE REQUEST OF THE EAST MEMBERS' PARISH SCHOOL BOARD TO BE VETTED AND INTERVIEWED.NOW, THEREFORE IT BE RESOLVED BY THE EASTBOUND RIDGE PARISH SCHOOL BOARD IN REGULAR SESSION.
DULY CONVENED THAT JG CONSULTANTS IS DIRECTED TO PURSUE AND COMPLETE THE FOLLOWING ACTIONS.
ONE INVITE THE TOP FOUR CANDIDATES FROM THE RE FROM THE PREVIOUS EAST ROUGE PARISH SCHOOL SYSTEM, SUPERINTENDENT SEARCH PROCESS TO BE RECONSIDERED FOR THE ROLE WHO ARE AS FOLLOWED A ADAM SMITH, THE CONTAINER TAMALE C T NIKIA TOWNS, D MARSHALL TUCK TO PROVIDE 30 DAY NOTICE PRIOR TO FULFILLING THE VACANCY, INFORMING THE PUBLIC OF THE SUPERINTENDENT SELECTION PROCESS THREE REOPEN ALL CANDIDATE PORTALS, ONLINE INTERVIEWS AND COMMUNITY SURVEYS THAT INCLUDE PUBLIC FEEDBACK PERTAINING TO THE SUPERINTENDENT SEARCH PROCESS INVOLVING ALL SAID, CANDIDATES OF FOUR AUTHORIZED STAFF TO ADVERTISE FOR THE POSITION OF SUPERINTENDENT AND COMPLIANCE WITH THE LAW FIVE, THE SUPERINTENDENT SELECTION PROCESS BE COMPLETED AT THE, AT A MEETING OF THE BOARD, FOLLOWING ALL ADVERTISING AND, AND TIME DEAD DELAY REQUIREMENTS.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED AT JG CONSULTANTS, ALONG WITH THE EAST MEMBERS PAIR OF SCHOOL BOARD PROVIDE A FULL UPDATE ON PROGRESS REGARDING THIS MATTER AT THE NOVEMBER COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE MEETING AND EVIDENCE OF HIS COMPLETION AT THE NOVEMBER REGULAR BOARD MEETING ARE SO MOVE.
IS THERE A SECOND? IS THERE A SECOND TO THE MOTION? THE MOTION DIES FOR LACK OF A SEC.
WHERE JACKSON WILL YOU SECOND? OKAY.
SAY THAT IT'S BEEN MOVED BY MR. ATLANTIS AND SAGGING IT BY MISS WHERE JACKSON, ARE THERE ANY COMMENTS FROM THE BOARD MR. HOWARD? DO YOU WISH TO COME? OH, OKAY.
MR. HOWARD, IT HADN'T POPPED UP ON MY SCREEN YET.
UM, SO YEAH, I JUST WANT TO MAKE A FEW COMMENTS.
THANK YOU FOR THE, UM, THE, THE RESOLUTION MR. ELENA'S AND HOPING THAT WE GET TO, UM, A SPACE WHERE WE CAN FIND A PERMANENT LEADER FOR OUR DISTRICT.
UM, SO I THINK WE WENT THROUGH A VERY TRANSPARENT AND ROBUST PROCESS TO GET TO THE FINALISTS.
UM, THAT PROCESS INCLUDED COMMUNITY MEETINGS, TOWN HALLS, AND ACCESS TO APPLICATIONS AND ON, UH, ON DEMAND INTERVIEWS DOING OUR FINAL ROUND OF INTERVIEWS.
MANY OF YOU STATED THE DESIRE TO HIRE BOTH OF OUR FINALISTS.
HOWEVER, WE WERE ONLY ALLOWED TO HIRE ONE AND A VERY TIGHT RACE OF A FIVE TO FOUR VOTE.
MRS. BROWN WAS ELECTED AS OUR SUPERINTENDENT.
IT IS UNFORTUNATE THAT WE FIND OURSELVES IN THE SITUATION THAT WE ARE WITH WHAT HAPPENED WITH THE EMERGENCY MEDICAL LEAVE, MS. BROWN.
BUT I BELIEVE THAT WE ARE DOING OURSELVES, OUR COMMUNITY AND OUR STUDENTS A DISSERVICE BY NOT AT LEAST CONSIDERING OUR SOLE FINALIST AS A STANDALONE CANDIDATE TO REPLACE OUR OUTGOING SUPERINTENDENT.
AS A BOARD, WE HAVE THE OBLIGATION TO ENSURE QUALITY EFFECTIVE LEADERSHIP IS IN PLACE TO LEAD OUR SYSTEM.
AS A SOCIETY, WE ARE BATTLING DUAL PANDEMICS COVID-19 HAS TAKEN OVER 200,000 AMERICAN LIVES.
RACIAL HONOREES IS DRIVING OUR NATION FURTHER APART.
MANY OF YOU WATCHED THE NBA FINALS LAST WEEK AND WASHINGTON ON THINKABLE AS LEBRON JAMES COMPLETED THE THINKABLE OF LEADING HIS THIRD NBA FRANCHISE TO THE PROMISED LAND.
IF FOR ANY REASON, THE LAKERS HAVE TO FORFEIT THEIR CHAMPIONSHIP, WOULD THE LEAD CALL EVERY SINGLE TEAM THAT WAS IN THE BUBBLE OR WHAT THEY CALL THE OTHER FINALISTS WHO COMPETED IN THE CHAMPIONSHIP? THE APPLE, THE ANSWER IS SIMPLE.
AT THIS TIME, I WOULD LIKE TO INTRODUCE A FRIENDLY AMENDMENT TO THIS MOTION OR THIS RESOLUTION THAT WE, AS A BOARD CONSIDER APPROVAL OF DOCUMENT, THE TIA TOWNS AS A SOLE FINALIST FOR THE POSITION OF SUPERINTENDENT.
I'VE HAD A CONVERSATION WITH THE BOARD ATTORNEY AND THIS GOES INTO OUR LEGAL MATTERS.
SO MA'AM SECRETARY, DID YOU GET THE SUBSTITUTE MOTION? AND IS THERE A SECOND TO THE SUBSTITUTE MOTION? ALL WASN'T IT, IT WAS A FRIENDLY AMENDMENT TO THE ORIGINAL MOTION AND A FRIENDLY AMENDMENT.
DO YOU ACCEPT THE FRIENDLY AMENDMENT AS THE AUTHOR OF THAT RESTLESS AND MS. WHERE JACKSON DO YOU ACCEPT? SO THE FRIENDLY AMENDMENT IS ACCEPTED, BUT WE NEED THE WORDING.
THE FRIENDLY AMENDMENT STATES THAT WE WOULD CONSIDER AS A SOLE FINALIST FOR THE POSITION OF SUPERINTENDENT OURSELF REMAINING FINALISTS, WHICH IS DR.
[01:00:06]
VICE-PRESIDENT HOW, WHEN PRESIDENT GO THERE, I DO WANT TO CLARIFY THAT THE LAW DOES REQUIRE PRIOR TO APPOINTING A PERMANENT SUPERINTENDENT, THAT THE BOARD ADVERTISE THE POSITION, UH, PUT THE PUBLIC ON NOTICE AND ALSO RECEIVE APPLICATIONS FOR ADDITIONAL APPLICANTS.AND THAT'S A REQUIREMENT OF THE LAW.
SO THE RESOLUTION AS WRITTEN DOES HAVE TO ALLOW THAT.
AND I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT'S CLEAR TO ALL BOARD MEMBERS WHO VOTED.
SO THAT, THAT IS, THAT IS MY UNDERSTANDING.
MY ONLY, UM, REALLY AMENDMENT TO THE RESIGNATION OR THE RESOLUTION IS THAT WE NOT ALL FOUR CANDIDATES ARE NOT CONSIDERED, ARE CONSIDERING THE SOLE FINALIST.
UM, AND THOSE THINGS STILL ARE IN LINE WITH APPLICATIONS BEING OPENED, AS WELL AS ADVERTISEMENT.
ALL THE OTHER THINGS THAT ARE RELATED TO LEGAL MATTERS.
SO WE HAVE THE AMENDMENT, THE FRIENDLY AMENDMENT TO THE RESOLUTION IS NOW ON THE TABLE.
ARE THERE ANY OTHER REQUESTS TO SPEAK MR. LANTIS? OR WAS THAT A PRIOR REQUEST YOU HAD ON THE BOARD? UH, NOPE.
WOULD YOU LIKE TO SPEAK NOW? THAT WAS A PRIOR REQUEST.
UH, AND, UH, SPEAKING, UH, THAT WAS A STUDENT THAT SENT ME AN EMAIL AND IT REALLY TOUCHED MY HEART.
AND I REALLY WANT TO READ THIS EMAIL TONIGHT.
HER NAME IS MS. SYDNEY JOHNSON BROWN, AND SHE'S A SENIOR AT BATON ROUGE HIGH SCHOOL.
AND SHE SAID, MY NAME IS MS. CINDY JOHNSON BROWN.
I'M A SENIOR AT BEVERIDGE HIGH SCHOOL.
I'M A RESIDENT IN THE SEVEN ZERO 805 ZIP CODE COMING UP IN THIS AREA.
WE DIDN'T HAVE A MIDDLE SCHOOL NOR HIGH SCHOOL.
I HAD TO GO TO SCHOOL OUTSIDE OF MY DISTRICT.
YOU GET TO A POINT THAT YOU GET USED TO NOT HAVING AS MUCH IN 78 OH FIVE, BUT I SHOULDN'T HAVE TO GET, GET USED TO NOT HAVING A GREAT SUPERINTENDENT IN EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH.
CAN WE GET THIS RIGHT AND SELECT THE SUPERINTENDENT NOW AND NOT WASTE TIME TO MS. SYDNEY JOHNSON BROWN.
AND IT'S THE REASON WHY I UNDERSTAND THAT THERE MAY BE SOME THAT WANT TO COMPLETE AN ENTIRELY NEW SEARCH, BUT THESE ARE MY CONCERNS.
ONE THAT SEARCH WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO EFFECTIVELY TAKE PLACE UNTIL JANUARY OR SPRING 2021, BECAUSE YOU STILL HAVE THE THANKSGIVING BREAK THAT'S COMING UP NEXT MONTH.
AND YOU ALSO HAVE THE CHRISTMAS BREAK THAT'S COMING UP.
THAT'S THREE WEEKS THAT WE LOSE ALMOST A MONTH, THAT WE WILL LOSE TO THE TIMELINESS OF ALL OF THIS.
IT'LL TAKE US AT LEAST SIX MONTHS TO EFFECTIVELY CONDUCT A SEARCH, NOT INCLUDING ANOTHER MONTH TO NEGOTIATE THE NEXT SUPERINTENDENT'S CONTRACT.
THAT'S SEVEN MONTHS THAT WE LOSE DUE TO THE TIME CONSTRAINTS.
IT WILL BE NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE FOR US TO CREATE A STRATEGIC PLAN BECAUSE I WAS SCHOOL BOARD ELECTIONS WILL TAKE PLACE IN 2022, THE COMMUNITY AS A WHOLE SUPPORTS, SELECTING A SUPERINTENDENT FROM THE LAST SUIT SEARCH BY SELECTING FROM THE TOP FOUR CANDIDATES.
AND I JUST REALLY WANT US TO THINK ABOUT THIS WITH COVID-19 PANDEMIC HAPPENING, TEACHER WALKOUTS, TAKEN PLACE, SCHOOL CLOSURES DUE TO THOSE WALKOUTS TAKING PLACE, AND THIS UNCERTAINTY AROUND SCHOOLS BEING CLEANED, UH, INSIDE OF OUR SCHOOL BUILDINGS.
WE NEED LEADERSHIP NOW, NO MATTER WHO IT IS OFF THAT LIST, I'M WILLING TO PUT ASIDE ALL PETTY DIFFERENCES TO SEE THAT WE SELECT SOMEBODY SO THAT OUR SYSTEM CAN MOVE FORWARD.
AND I WOULD ONLY ASK THAT ALL OF OUR BOARD MEMBERS TONIGHT STRONGLY CONSIDER SELECTING SOMEONE.
THANK YOU, MR. LANDIS, MS. MR. HOWARD.
MS. COLLINS, I JUST WOULD LIKE TO REQUEST A ROLL CALL, BUT THANK YOU.
ARE THERE ANY OTHER COMMENTS FROM THE BOARD MS. WARE JACKSON? THANK YOU, PRESIDENT.
UH, WE HAD A LONG AND THOROUGH SEARCH.
WE HAD, UH, LOTS OF INPUT FROM THE COMMUNITY FROM OUR BOARD AND, UM, WE HAD TWO FINALISTS AND I CONSTANTLY HEARD PEOPLE SAY WHEN WE HAD THOSE LARGER COMMUNITY MEETINGS AT THE TECH PARK WHERE EVERY BOARD MEMBER HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO ASK AT LEAST EIGHT PEOPLE TO ATTEND.
AND, UM, I SPOKE WITH A LOT OF PEOPLE THERE, INCLUDING OF COURSE I KEPT IN CLOSE CONTACT WITH THE, THE 10 THAT I GOT IN THERE AND HAD THEM ALL GIVE ME FEEDBACK.
AND EVERY ONE OF THEM TOLD ME THAT THEY FELT
[01:05:01]
VERY CONFIDENT IN THE TWO CANDIDATES THAT WE HAD BROUGHT FORTH AS THE FINALIST AND THAT OUR DISTRICT WOULD BE IN GREAT HANDS WITH EITHER ONE OF THOSE CANDIDATES.SO, ALTHOUGH MY, AT THE TIME WENT TOWARDS DR.
TOWNS WHEN MRS. BROWN WAS CHOSEN.
I TOOK COMFORT IN THAT, KNOWING THAT THE COMMUNITY WAS IN SUPPORT OF BOTH OF THOSE CANDIDATES, WE HAD, UM, BOARD MEMBERS WHO SAID THE SAME THINGS ABOUT, YOU KNOW, WE WISH WE COULD HIRE BOTH OF THEM.
AND, UH, HERE WE ARE NOW IN A SITUATION WHERE WE ACTUALLY WOULD BE, UM, HIRING BOTH OF THEM, UNFORTUNATELY.
UM, BUT YOU KNOW, WE CAN'T, WE CAN'T PREDICT WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN.
YOU KNOW, I FEEL HORRIBLE ABOUT, UM, NOT BEING ABLE TO MOVE FORWARD WITH MRS. BROWN.
UH, I WAS IN FULL SUPPORT OF HER AND, UM, REALLY APPRECIATED WHAT SHE WAS GOING TO BRING TO THE DISTRICT.
AND NOW WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO JUST GO TO THE SECOND CHOICE.
AND, YOU KNOW, IT'S NOT LIKE, YOU KNOW, IT WAS A UNANIMOUS DECISION AROUND MRS. BROWN.
SO I WOULD ENCOURAGE US TO SIMPLY GO TO OUR, UM, NUMBER TWO CANDIDATE AND, UM, MOVE HER INTO THIS POSITION BECAUSE TIME IS OF THE ESSENCE.
THERE IS SO MUCH AT STAKE, YOU KNOW, THE HOLIDAYS ARE AMONG US JUST ABOUT WHEN YOU TURN AROUND, IT'S GOING TO BE THANKSGIVING AND CHRISTMAS.
AND, UH, I THINK IT WOULD SEND A REALLY GOOD MESSAGE.
YOU KNOW, I'VE GOTTEN TONS OF CALLS AND EMAILS AND TEXT MESSAGES ENCOURAGING US TO, UH, TO DO JUST THAT.
SO I WOULD HOPE THAT WE WOULD BE ABLE TO DO THAT AND, UM, AND, AND QUICKLY FILL THAT POSITION AND, UH, AND MOVE FORWARD.
AND IF YOU LOOK AT WHAT'S HAPPENING IN THE DISTRICT WHERE SHE IS, I THINK IT WOULD GIVE YOU CONFIDENCE AROUND WHAT'S HAPPENING WITH THE, WITH COVID AND WITH DISTANCE LEARNING AND, UM, AND THE HYBRID AS WELL.
SO I JUST ENCOURAGE THE BOARD TO, UH, SUPPORT THAT MOTION.
THANK YOU, MS. SQUARED, JACKSON, MR. LANA, SHE WISHES TO SPEAK AGAIN.
AND I JUST WANT TO JUST REITERATE JUST A FEW THINGS FROM MY COLLEAGUE, MS. JACKSON, A ONE WE DON'T LOSE WITH THIS SELECTION.
THE NUMBER ONE SCHOOL DISTRICT IN TENNESSEE, WHICH IS JUST CAME OUT ABOUT TWO WEEKS AGO IS HAMILTON COUNTY.
THAT'S THE SAME DISTRICT THAT DR.
TOWNS IS A PART OF THAT IS THE TYPE OF LEADERSHIP THAT WE NEED TO LEAD OUR SCHOOL DISTRICT TO MOVE US FORWARD.
AND I WOULD ONLY HOPE THAT TONIGHT WHEN WE GET READY TO VOTE, WE'RE NOT VOTING WITH OUR PERSONAL CONVICTIONS, BUT WE VOTING ON THE CONVICTIONS OF OUR RESIDENTS, OUR TAXPAYERS, BUT MOST IMPORTANTLY, OUR STUDENTS, BECAUSE THEY ARE THE ONES THAT NEED THIS THE MOST.
THANK YOU, MR. LANDIS, MS. COLLINS, JUST ONE SMALL COMMENT THAT I'M SURE ALL MY COLLEAGUES, BUT ESPECIALLY SPEAKING FOR MYSELF, EVERY SINGLE VOTE YES.
SO WHEN I SAY I VOTE MY CARDS, I AM VOTING MY CONSTITUENTS AS WELL.
THANK YOU, MS. COLLINS, ANY OTHER COMMENTS FROM THE BOARD AT THIS TIME, SEEING NONE NEXT, WE WILL GO TO THE AUDIENCE OR IS THERE ANYONE IN THE AUDIENCE IN PERSON THAT WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK? AND I WILL BEGIN READING THE ONLINE COMMENTS WHILE PEOPLE ARE COMING UP.
IF SOMEONE COMING UP, THANK YOU.
I HAVE, I'M A PARENT WITH TWO KIDS IN EAST BATON ROUGE, PARISH, PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
I THOUGHT THAT THESE REMARKS WOULD BE MORE RELEVANT TO THE ITEM ABOUT A SUPERINTENDENT SEARCH BAR, BUT BECAUSE THE RESOLUTION CONTAINS LANGUAGE AUTHORIZING YOU TO HIRE JG CONSULTANTS.
I KNOW THAT THE FRIENDLY AMENDMENT SEEMS TO HAVE ALTERED THAT SOMEWHAT, BUT I STILL WANT TO, IN AN ABUNDANCE OF CAUTION, MAKE SURE THAT I ASK THAT YOU NOT HIRE A SEARCH FIRM AND THAT YOU CERTAINLY NOT HIRE JG CONSULTANTS.
IT CEO IDENTIFIES HIMSELF AS A, UM, EDUCATION REFORMER.
AND FOR THOSE WHO HAVEN'T BEEN FOLLOWING EDUCATION, ADVOCACY ISSUES, REFORMERS GENERALLY, UM, PROMOTE THE PRIVATIZATION OF OUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
[01:10:01]
WILL OF THE STAKEHOLDERS, THE IMMEDIATE STAKEHOLDERS, PARENTS AND TEACHERS.AND SO I DON'T THINK THEY, THEY WILL PRODUCE A SHORT LIST THAT EMBRACES OUR VALUES OR TAKES OUR CONCERN TO HEART.
SO I'M NOT SURE WHERE THAT STANDS WITH THIS FAMILIAR AMENDMENT, BUT I WANTED TO MAKE SURE I MADE THAT POINT.
THANK YOU, MS. NAMAN, ARE THERE ANY OTHER IN-PERSON COMMENTS? DR.
JACQUELYN MANS MUCH HAS BEEN SAID THAT I COULD AGREE WITH MUCH HAS BEEN SAID THAT I TAKE EXCEPTION WITH, OR PERHAPS MY PERSPECTIVE IS A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT.
I'M NOT CONVINCED THAT IT WAS A REALLY A FAIR OPEN PROCESS THAT INVOLVED THE COMMUNITY FOR ONE, BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY FOR ME, EVEN THEN.
AND NOW I DID NOT BELIEVE THAT WE SHOULD HAVE BEEN MOVING FORWARD WITH A SEARCH GIVEN THE PANDEMIC AND THE FACT THAT WE WERE TRYING TO END SCHOOL AT THE SAME TIME, WE WERE TRYING TO START SCHOOL AS AN EDUCATOR, AS A FORMER BOARD MEMBER.
I UNDERSTAND THAT THESE PROCESSES BOTH TO END THE SCHOOL YEAR AND TO START A SCHOOL YEAR REQUIRES A GREAT DEAL OF ATTENTION BY ALL INVOLVED, PARTICULARLY OUR LEADERSHIP TEAM AND OUR STAFF.
SO I THOUGHT THEN THAT THERE SHOULD HAVE BEEN A DELAY.
AND I THINK NOW THERE SHOULD BE A DELAY.
WE DESERVE THE BEST SUPERINTENDENT THAT WE CAN POSSIBLY FIND.
I HAVE CONCERNS WITH THE SEARCH FIRM, WHETHER OR NOT THEY WERE AS OBJECTIVE AS THEY COULD POSSIBLY BE.
AND I WON'T USE UP ALL OF MY TIME DEALING WITH THAT, BUT THAT CONCERN STILL IS PRESENT FOR ME.
I DON'T BELIEVE THAT WE HAD THE BEST CANDIDATES THAT WE COULD HAVE POSSIBLY FOUND.
AND I WOULD HOPE THAT WE WOULD GIVE OURSELVES AN HONEST OPPORTUNITY TO FIND THE BEST THAT WE COULD.
I WILL ALSO LIKE TO SAY THAT WE NEED STABILITY AND WE NEED STABILITY RIGHT NOW.
SOMEONE WHO IS FAMILIAR WITH OUR DISTRICT, OUR COMMUNITY, AND OUR SCHOOL DISTRICT FAMILY, ONE WHO IS RESPECTED AND ACCEPTED IN BOTH ARENAS, THE COMMUNITY AND THE SCHOOL DISTRICT.
THIS IS NOT THE TIME FOR US TO EXPERIMENT.
AND FOR STABILITY, IF YOU'RE TRULY INTERESTED IN SELECTING ONE OF THE FOUR CANDIDATES, THEN I WOULD BE THE PERSON WHO IS MOST FAMILIAR WITH THIS DISTRICT, ALL READY.
SO I WOULD ASK THAT YOU WOULD GIVE THAT CONSIDERATION.
I THINK TO BRING ANYONE IN KNEW THERE WAS A LEARNING CURVE.
I HAVE BEEN IN AN EXECUTIVE LEADERSHIP POSITION AND A LEARNING CURVE TAKES TIME, TIME TO LEARN THE DISTRICT AND TIME TO LEARN THE COMMUNITY.
WE DON'T HAVE THAT KIND OF TIME TODAY, BUT FOR THOSE OF YOU THAT ARE PROMOTING A SEARCH, THEN I WOULD SAY, DELAY YOUR SEARCH UNTIL WE HAVE TIME.
NEXT GOOD AFTERNOON, BOY MEMBERS.
I'M A STANFORD CHILDREN MEMBER AND I REPRESENT DOZENS OF MY PEERS, THE STUDENTS OF EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH.
I'M A SENIOR AT D A SHERMA HIGH SCHOOL.
I LOVE MY DISTRICT AND MY SCHOOL THIS YEAR HAS ALREADY THROWN US A CURVE BALL WITH THE SEVERE VIRAL IS STILL IN PLAY.
CORONAVIRUS HAS TAKEN ME TO A PLACE I NEVER IMAGINED.
I, ONE OF THE MANY VIRTUAL STUDENTS WHO HAVE PREEXISTING HEALTH LINE CONDITIONS, I HAVE ASTHMA AND MY HEALTH MATTERS.
AND SO DOES THE HEALTH OF SAFETY OF MY PEERS AND OUR TEACHERS.
UNFORTUNATELY WITH OUR FORMER SUPERINTENDENT, MS. LESLIE BROWN, LEAVING STUDENTS ARE NOW AT A DISADVANTAGE.
WE NEED A HEAD ON HANDS-ON ACTION ORIENTED, SUPPORTIVE SUPERINTENDENT TO LEAD ME, MY PEERS AND OUR TEACHERS.
WE'RE NOT INTERESTED IN DOING THINGS THE WAY THAT WE'VE ALWAYS DONE THEM.
WE NEED A STRONG, SMART, INNOCENT BEETHOVEN LEADER.
OUR DISTRICT DESERVES A SUPERINTENDENT.
NOW WE NEED TO MOVE SWIFTLY AND EFFICIENTLY AND MAKE THE RIGHT CHOICE.
IT'S MOVING UP TOWARDS A BRIGHTER AND BETTER FUTURE, AND WE DESERVE BETTER THAN THE SAME OLD LEADERSHIP STYLE THAT HAS UNDER DESERVED TOO MANY COMMUNITIES FOR TOO LONG.
[01:15:01]
HAVE BEEN THROUGH A LOT OF THE PAST FEW YEARS, AND WE'RE NOW IN THE MIDST OF THE PANDEMIC WITH CERTAIN RULES AND NEW MAKINGS, WE NEED A LEADER, A GREAT ONE.WE ASKED THE SCHOOL BOARD AND ITS MEMBERS TO ACT QUICKLY AND TRANSPARENTLY TO HIRE A TOP TALENT LEADER FOR OUR STUDENTS AND OUR EDUCATORS.
AND I JUST WANT YOU GUYS TO REALLY JUST TAKE THE TIME TO PICK THE RIGHT SUPERINTENDENT, BECAUSE THIS IS MY SENIOR YEAR AND IT REALLY MATTERS.
AND MY OTHER FOLLOW PEERS AND SIBLINGS THAT ARE COMING UP, THEY HAVE A CHOICE AND THEY MATTER TOO.
I'M A MOTHER OF THREE, AND I REPRESENT HUNDREDS OF PARENTS AS MEMBERS OF STANFORD, CHILDREN, LOUISIANA, MORE THAN 50 PARENTS HAVE SIGNED ON TO AN OPEN LETTER, URGING YOU ALL TO QUICKLY AND EFFICIENTLY, NAMELY TOP DOWN THE SUPERINTENDENT TO LEAD THIS DISTRICT, OUR TEACHERS, AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, OUR KIDS, THEY NEED STRONG LEADERSHIP.
NOW MORE THAN EVER, WE CAN'T SELL IT FOR THE SAME, UM, UNDESERVED IKEA'S FOR FAR TOO LONG, THE BOY RAN HIS SEARCH AND CHOSE THE BEST CANDIDATE.
THAT MEANS THERE'S NO ONE OUT THERE THAT'S BETTER THAN WHAT YOU SELECTED.
AS I FINALLY, THE STATISTICS STATES THAT IF MY BLACK SON IS NOT SUCCEEDING BY THIRD GRADE, HE BE LEFT BEHIND.
WELL, MY SON IS IN A THIRD GRADE BEING FAILED BY A SCHOOL BOARD WHO CAN'T SEEM TO COME TOGETHER AS ONE.
AND SHE CHOOSE A STRONG, PASSIONATE, EFFICIENT, COMPETENT CULTURALLY LEADER.
I DO MY PART AS THE PARENTS SO THAT HE WON'T BE A STATISTIC.
PLEASE DON'T FAIL MY CHILDREN AND DO A LONG SEARCH.
YOUR SEARCH IS ALREADY AVAILABLE.
2020 HAS BEEN A DIFFICULT YEAR, NOT JUST FOR EBR, BUT FOR OUR COUNTRY AND THE WHOLE WORLD A YEAR.
LIKE THIS CALL FOR STRONG LEADERSHIP FOR OUR STUDENTS AND FAMILIES.
WE'RE LIVING THROUGH A PANDEMIC AND UNPRECEDENTED HURRICANE SEASON AND FAMILIES ARE STILL TRYING TO NAVIGATE VIRTUAL AND HYBRID LEARNING AFTER MISSING MORE THAN MONTHS OF LEARNING LAST YEAR.
THANKS TO YOUR HARD WORK ON THE RECENT SUPERINTENDENT.
SEARCH, MISS LEFTY BROWN AND EXTREMELY TALENTED LEADER WITH A WEALTH OF EXPERIENCE STOOD, READY TO LEAD OUR SCHOOL SYSTEM TO POSITIVE CHANGE.
SUPERINTENDENT BROWN CAME TO EBR WITH THE VISION TO MOVE OUR STUDENTS AND OUR SCHOOLS FORWARD.
HER UNEXPECTED RESIGNATION HAS SHOCKED US, AND WE CONTINUE TO PRAY FOR SUPERINTENDENT BROWN AND HER FAMILY AT THIS TIME.
IT IS, I HOPE THAT THIS BOARD WILL ACT QUICKLY TRANSPARENTLY AND EFFICIENTLY TO FIND A HIGHER PERMANENT HIGH-QUALITY EQUAL TO AND STUDENT SENATE STUDENT CENTERED LIAM, WITH THE PROOF OF RECORD OF LEADING TRANSFORMATION TO CHANGE THEIR RESULTS AND IMPROVE OUTCOMES FOR ALL STUDENTS, PARTICULARLY THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN HISTORICALLY UNDESERVED IN OUR CITY, WE WILL NOT TAKE ANYTHING LESS THAN THE TALENT EXPERIENCED SOMEONE LIKE MRS. LEE BROWN.
EARLIER THIS YEAR, YOU WORK HARD TO ENSURE THOUGHTFUL THROUGH HER AND TRANSPARENT SEARCH FOR A SUPERINTENDENT EARLIER THIS YEAR THAT PROVIDED MULTIPLE OPPORTUNITIES FOR COMMUNITY'S ENGAGEMENT.
THAT LED TO AN EXTENDED LIST OF CANDIDATES WHO WERE MORE THAN CAPABLE OF LEADING THE HEART AND GOOD WORK THAT NEEDS TO BE DONE WHILE WE'RE NOT AT A PLACE WE DESIRE.
NOW, THE PROCESS IMPLEMENTED EARLIER THIS YEAR HAS SET UP AND MOVE SWIFTLY NOW TO A NAMING HIGH QUALITY PERMANENT LEADER WHO IS READY TO STEP RIGHT IN AND CONTINUE THE VISION FOR OUR FUTURE EBR STUDENTS.
MA'AM NEXT GOOD EVENING TO PRESIDENT GO DOWN VICE PRESIDENT.
HOW THE REST OF THE BOARD, UH, TO ECHO THE SENTIMENTS THAT, UH, I'M SORRY, LET ME PAUSE AND SAY I'M DEVIN, RIGHT.
UH, I REPRESENT THE SOUTH LOUISIANA COALITION FOR EDUCATION.
WE'VE STOOD UP MULTIPLE TIMES BEFORE THE BOARD IN MIDST OF THE SEARCH PROCESS.
BEYOND THAT I'M ALSO A 2006 GRADUATE FROM BANNERS, MAGNET, HIGH SCHOOL.
I'M A RESIDENT STILL OF, UH, EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH, 24 18 TENNESSEE STREET, WHERE MS. WHERE JACKSON, UH, AND ALSO MR. GADAMER, UH, REPRESENT PORTIONS OF THAT DISTRICT.
UH, AND AS A TENURE EDUCATOR, I WANT TO BE VERY CLEAR THAT EVERYONE SHOULD BE ABLE TO AGREE THAT WE NEED A FULL TIME TALENTED EQUITY MINDED DISTRICT LEADER, UH, TO HELP US THROUGH WHAT WE ALL RECOGNIZE WILL BE.
UH, WHAT IS THE ONE, ONE OF THE MOST CHALLENGING SCHOOL YEARS IN A GENERATION? WHAT I WANT TO, WHAT I WANT TO MAKE SURE THOUGH, THAT WE'RE CLEAR ABOUT, UH, IS THAT REGARDLESS OF OUR PERSONAL FEELINGS ABOUT THE LAST SEARCH, IT IS CERTAIN THAT WE CANNOT WAIT, UH, TO ALLOW THIS PROCESS TO BE LINGER OR TO LINGER ANY LONGER OUR STUDENTS
[01:20:01]
DESERVE AND CERTAINLY HAVE BEEN DEMANDING MORE.AND I THINK YOU ALL UNDERSTAND THAT I THINK YOU, THAT SENSE OF URGENCY, BUT I DO WANT TO REMIND YOU THAT IF WE WERE TO TAKE THIS IN AN EXTENDED FORM TO BEGIN ALL THE WAY OVER, IT'S BEEN SINCE DECEMBER OF 2018, THAT WARREN DRAKE TOLD US THAT HE WOULD BE LEAVING.
WE MUST BE VERY CLEAR THAT ANY EXTENSION OF TIME IS DETRIMENTAL TO THE WORK THAT NEEDS TO HAPPEN.
EVERY EDUCATOR UNDERSTANDS, UH, WHAT WE CALL THE SUMMER SLIDE, WHERE OUR KIDS ARE LOSING THEIR POTENTIAL, THEIR MOMENTUM IN THOSE 10 WEEKS, BETWEEN THE END OF ONE YEAR, BEGINNING OF THE NEXT, OUR KIDS WERE OUT FROM, UH, THE MIDDLE OF MARCH AND SOME NOT RETURNING UNTIL FULLY THIS COMING WEEK.
ALSO BEING MINDFUL THAT IN 2020 THERE WILL BE ELECTION.
AND SO WE'RE NOT CERTAIN THAT POLITICS WILL NOT PLAY A FURTHER ROLE IN CHOOSING THE RIGHT LEADER BECAUSE THE BOARD IS THINKING ABOUT HOW THEY SHALL BE REELECTED.
UH, AND SO THAT'S SOMETHING THAT NOT A LOT OF PEOPLE WANT TO TALK ABOUT, BUT IT'S VERY CLEAR TO SO MANY OF US, AND I WANT YOU ALL TO JUST REALLY OWN UP TO THAT, MAKING SURE THAT THE WORK IS DONE NOW AND NOT EXTENDED.
WE DON'T KNOW WHAT THAT WOULD LOOK LIKE ON THE OTHER END OF THIS.
AND SO WE BELIEVE THAT YOU'RE COMPETENT THAT YOU WILL MAKE THE RIGHT DECISION.
YOU'LL DO WHAT'S IN THE BEST INTEREST OF OUR CHILDREN, OR WE WANT TO CONSTANTLY ADMONISH YOU TO DO THAT BECAUSE THE PUBLIC IS WATCHING.
NEXT, MR. GORDY, MR. HOWARD SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS.
I REPRESENTED A GROUP OF 207 FAITH LEADERS GROUP IS CALLED UNITED FAITH LEADERS, PASTOR CEO, BUSINESS OWNERS, AND CONCERNED, CONCERNED PARENTS IN THE COMMUNITY THREE YEARS AGO.
THIS MONTH, HOW WAS ASKED TO ADVOCATE FOR QUALITY EDUCATION IN THE STATE OF LOUISIANA WITH A FOCUS RIGHT HERE IN EBR.
WHEN I ACCEPTED THAT POSITION, I WAS TOLD THAT I WOULDN'T BE ATTENDING THE SCHOOL BOARD MEETINGS MEETINGS THAT WILL BE LED BY LEADERS WHO HOLD THE FUTURE OF ALL THE CHILDREN IN THEIR HAND.
I EMPHASIZE LEADERS BECAUSE THE WORD LEADERSHIP LITERALLY MEANS THAT THE LEADER IS CONCERNED ABOUT THOSE ON A SHIP.
THERE ARE THREE OBSERVATIONS THAT I MADE IN THE THREE YEARS THAT I'VE BEEN ATTENDING THESE MEETINGS.
ONE DOES A GREAT DEAL OF TIME SPENT CELEBRATING THE HEALTHY PART OF THE SCHOOL SYSTEM.
AND VERY LITTLE TIME IS SPENT AT THE VERY END ON ADDRESSING THE UNHEALTHY PARTS OF THE SCHOOL SYSTEM.
NUMBER TWO, UNDER THE DISGUISE OF FIGHTING FOR OUR CHILDREN, YOU SPEND 80% OF YOUR TIME FIGHTING ONE ANOTHER.
EITHER YOU'RE FIGHTING EACH OTHER, OR YOU'RE FIGHTING FOR ONE ANOTHER BASED ON ANY POLITICAL OR PERSONAL ASPIRATION BY DEFINITION, IF YOU WERE FIGHTING FOR OUR CHILDREN BY EXCUSE ME, BY DEFINITION, IF YOU WERE FIGHTING FOR OUR CHILDREN, YOU WOULD BE FIGHTING TOGETHER AND NOT ONE ANOTHER, JUST AN OBSERVATION.
I HAVE LEARNED THAT WHAT WE SEE AT THIS MIC, IT APPEARS TO BE VERY LITTLE ON YOUR RADAR BECAUSE IT, IT SEEMS THAT YOUR MIND IS ALREADY MADE UP.
BUT WHAT I MAXINE IS THAT YOU GIVE US THAT YOU GIVE OUR CHILDREN AND UPGRADE.
EVERYONE KNOWS WHAT UPGRADE IS.
AS WE UPGRADE OUR COMPUTERS, WE UPGRADE AND UPGRADE PROTECTS US FROM VIRUSES OF AN OLD OPERATING SYSTEM.
IT DOESN'T MAKE ANY SENSE TO GET A 20, 21 IPHONE USING AN OPERATING SYSTEM FOR 2010.
THAT'S A FAILURE WAITING TO HAPPEN.
MANY OF YOUR COLLEAGUES HAVE ALREADY SPOKEN ABOUT THINGS THAT WE'VE ALREADY PUT IN MOTION AND UPGRADE AND UPGRADE NOT ONLY PROTECTS YOU FROM VIRUSES AND UPGRADE PROVIDES A BETTER FUTURE FOR THE DEVICE AND I WILL CASE FOR OUR CHILDREN.
SO I'M SIMPLY HERE TO ASK THAT YOU STOP FIGHTING ONE ANOTHER AND START FIGHTING FOR OUR CHILDREN.
[01:25:01]
YOU.AND WHY I'LL TALK TO YOU TONIGHT.
I WANT SOME OF YOU WHO CAN THINK FURTHER BACK THAN OTHERS TO THINK ABOUT ALL OF THE GENIUS PEOPLE.
WE ARE WORK FOR THE EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH SCHOOL SYSTEM, AND THAT HAVE LEFT AND GONE TO OTHER SCHOOL DISTRICTS AND USED WHAT THEY LEARNED HERE TO BETTER OTHER SCHOOL DISTRICTS.
AS A BOARD, YOU'VE BEEN ISSUED THE TASK OF MAKING A DECISION ABOUT WHO WILL REPRESENT THIS DISTRICT AS OUR NEXT SUPERINTENDENT IN AN INTERIM OR PERMANENT POSITION.
UNFORTUNATELY, WE JUST SPENT THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS ON A SEARCH THAT LED US TO SOMEONE WHO FOR WHATEVER REASON WAS UNABLE TO FULFILL HER DUTIES.
NOW LESS THAN THREE MONTHS LATER, WE'RE LOOKING AGAIN FOR SOMEONE TO LEAD THIS DISTRICT THIS TIME, IN MY OPINION, WE CAN'T AFFORD TO SPEND ONE DIME.
SEEING THAT WE LOST $9 MILLION IN PROPERTY TAX MONEY, AND GOD KNOWS HOW MUCH MONEY WE'RE GOING TO LOSE IN THE SALES TAX COLLECTION.
SO I'M HERE TO ASK THAT YOU STOP LOOKING FOR WHAT IS RIGHT BEFORE YOUR FACE.
WE ALREADY HAVE SOMEONE WHO HAS THE NECESSARY EDUCATION, A BACHELOR OF ARTS DEGREE IN ELEMENTARY ED, A MASTER'S AND IN ADMINISTRATION AND SUPERVISION, SOMEONE WHO IS ALREADY CERTIFIED IN SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENT, AND MUCH MORE CURRENTLY THIS INDIVIDUAL HAS ADMINISTRATIVE EXPERIENCE BECAUSE HE'S THE ASSOCIATE SUPERINTENDENT OF ACADEMIC PROGRAMS AND MANY OTHER QUALITIES, JUST TO NAME A FEW.
BUT FOR ME, WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE QUALIFICATIONS FOR A PERSON WHO YOU WANT TO SERVE AS YOUR SUPERINTENDENT, THE NUMBER ONE THING THAT STANDS OUT FOR ME IS LOYALTY IN THIS, TO THIS DISTRICT, ALWAYS PUTTING CHILDREN FIRST, ALWAYS WILLING TO STEP UP AND HELP WITHOUT THE RECOGNITION BEING POSITIVE AND HELPFUL WHEN ASKED FOR HELP A GREAT LISTENER, MAKING SURE THAT THE DISTRICT IS VIEWED IN A POSITIVE LIGHT, NOT JUST BY ITS EMPLOYEES, BUT BY THE COMMUNITY FOR ME.
WHAT MORE COULD YOU WANT IN A CANDIDATE FOR ME? I FEEL WE SHOULD STOP LOOKING AND SELECT OUR VERY OWN HOMEGROWN CANDIDATE FOR ME.
MA'AM NEXT? LIKE YOUR BOARD MEMBERS? MY NAME IS MATT DIAZ.
I'M A PARENT OF FOUR KIDS, TWO IN THE EBR SCHOOL SYSTEM.
AND WITH THE NEXT FEW MONTHS, IT'LL BE ALL FOUR OF THEM.
UM, I HAPPENED TO ATTEND EBR SCHOOLS AND THE TERM WALLED THE EIGHTIES.
AND IN THAT TIME, MY, UH, HAD THE PLEASURE OF ATTENDING FOUR DIFFERENT ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS.
UM, ONE OF THE THINGS I'VE TRIED TO DO AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE IS ADVOCATE FOR STABILITY FOR MY KIDS, SO THEY DON'T HAVE TO DO WITH WHAT I HAD TO GO THROUGH.
UM, I'D LIKE TO REMIND THE BOARD THAT IN 2012, WE, UH, WE CONDUCTED A NATIONAL SEARCH FOR A HOT SHOT SUPERINTENDENT.
UH, SOMEBODY'S FAVORITE BY THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY.
SOMEBODY'S FAVORITE BY THE REFORM CROWD.
AND WE WERE ASSURED WE HAD THAT GUY AND WE ENDED UP WITH A GENTLEMAN WHO ENDED UP CLOSING A NUMBER OF SCHOOL PROGRAMS, UH, OPENING UP A WHOLE BUNCH OF OTHER NEW ONES, PLAYED MUSICAL CHAIRS WITH VARIOUS, UH, VARIOUS PRINCIPALSHIPS ENDED UP WITH A HOSTILE RELATIONSHIP WITH THE BOARD, ENDED UP HOSTILE RELATIONSHIP WITH PARENTS, ENDED UP WITH HOSTILE, THE VERY SCHOOL AND COMMUNITY GROUPS.
HE THREATENED VIOLENCE, UH, FOR VARIOUS, UH, TO, TO VARIOUS BOARD MEMBERS AND SPEAKERS AT THESE MEETINGS.
HE WAS EVENTUALLY CHARGED WITH ASSAULT, NOT HERE.
AND HE WAS ALSO SUBJECT OF A QUARTER MILLION DOLLAR LAWSUIT.
NOW I'M NOT SAYING THAT YOUR SUPERINTENDENT PICK, UH, YOUR, YOUR HOT SHOT FROM OUT OF TOWN WILL BE THAT THEY'LL TELL YOU WHO IT WON'T BE.
I HAVE ABSOLUTE CONFIDENCE THAT MR. ADAM SMITH WILL NEVER BRING THAT KIND OF INFAMY UPON THIS BODY.
UH, HE WAS A CLASSROOM TEACHER, AN AP, A PRINCIPAL, A DIRECTOR HE'S GOT PLENTY OF EXPERIENCE IN THIS SCHOOL SYSTEM IS CALM.
I'VE WORKED WITH THEM A NUMBER OF TIMES FOR MY KID'S SCHOOL ISSUES.
AND HE'S ALWAYS BEEN EAGER TO UNDERSTAND, UM, WITH THAT SAID, UH, I I'VE ALWAYS FELT VERY STRONGLY ABOUT MR. SMITH AS A CANDIDATE AND LOOKING FORWARD, IT LOOKS LIKE WE'VE GOT FOR BETTER OR WORSE, A SET OF LONG EMERGENCIES LOOMING.
WE'VE GOT PENDING BUDGET CRISES.
[01:30:01]
WE'VE GOT THE LONG EMERGENCY, THE CORONAVIRUS.GEORGE FIGHT, WHICH DOESN'T APPEAR TO BE WRAPPING UP ANYTIME SOON.
AND WE'VE GOT A DRAMATIC INCREASE IN HIGH RISK POPULATIONS HERE AND HE'S VR.
SO I SAY AGAIN NOW WAS NOT THE TIME TO DO A NATIONAL SEARCH OR TO GO RECRUIT A HOT SHOT OUT OF TOWNER.
WHAT WE NEED RIGHT NOW IS STABILITY AND OUR KIDS AND OUR COMMUNITY NEEDED.
I'M NOT EVEN TRYING TO BE FUNNY.
I'M ONE OF THE COFOUNDERS AND CO-DIRECTORS AND STEP UP LOUISIANA.
WE'RE A GRASSROOTS COMMUNITY ORGANIZATION HERE IN BATON ROUGE, REPRESENTING PARENTS.
WE HAVE A PARENT UNION AND I'M SPEAKING ON THEIR BEHALF.
UM, I'M UP HERE TO REALLY JUST SPEAK ON CONCERN ABOUT THE OVERALL SEARCH TO BEGIN WITH.
WE FILED AN ETHICS COMPLAINT WITH THE NAACP AND THE TEACHER'S UNION DVR PARENTS ASSOCIATION OF EDUCATORS.
WE ALSO FILED A LAWSUIT ON THE FINDINGS OF COMPROMISED METHODS OF CONVERSATION BETWEEN SCHOOL, BOARD MEMBERS AND PEOPLE OF THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY.
WE FOUND THAT TO BE, UM, A CORRUPT WAY OF HIJACKING THE SEARCH IN THE SENSE WITH THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY.
AND FOR SOME REASON, Y'ALL HAVE NOT BEEN SERVED YET.
UM, JUDGE CLARK IN THE 19 JDC HAS FILED A HEARING ON OCTOBER 19TH.
SO IT'S PUBLIC RECORD Y'ALL CAN SEE THAT.
UM, SO THIS SEARCH OVERALL SHOULD BE RESTARTED, BUT I REALLY FOUND IT UNFORTUNATE TO FIND WHERE THE SEARCH ENDED, BECAUSE YOU KNOW, WE DID A NATIONAL SEARCH AND WHAT YOU'RE ABOUT TO FIND, YOU KNOW, THE AIR REFORMING NETWORK IS VERY WIDE AND BE ACROSS THE NATION.
WE HAD TWO PEOPLE THAT WENT THROUGH CHIEFS FOR CHANGE, AND ANOTHER CANDIDATE ALSO WENT TO A FURTHER SCENE GOING THROUGH THE BROAD ACADEMY.
THIS IS AN ENGINE PIPELINE FOR SCHOOL LEADERS THAT WANT TO PRIVATIZE SCHOOL DISTRICTS PRIOR TO COMING TO BATON ROUGE, I CAME FROM NEW ORLEANS WHERE THEY WERE IN THE SAME POSITION OF GETTING A NEW, A NEW LEADER WHO WASN'T FROM THE AREA AND JUST TO COME IN AND COMPLETELY PRIVATIZED SCHOOL DISTRICT WHERE ARLENE'S PRAYER SCHOOL BOARD DOES NOT EVEN MANAGE THEIR SCHOOL TRANSPORTATION ANYMORE.
CONTRACTS, CONTRACTS, CONTRACTS AT CHILDREN ARE NOT FOR SALE PERIOD.
SO PLEASE LET'S GO FOR A LEADER THAT'S FROM HERE.
THAT'S NOT GOING TO SELL OUR CHILDREN OUT.
EVERY TIME WE DEAL WITH AN ISSUE, WE'RE CALLING ADAM AND HE'S HANDLING IT EVERY TIME AND EVERY TIME NO DISTRICT.
AND WE CALL PARENTS GET DISRESPECTED IN AN IEP MEETING BECAUSE PATRICE HUDSON TO LEAD THIS BED DEPARTMENT IN THIS SCHOOL DISTRICT.
SO THIS IS A HOT MESS IN THIS SCHOOL DISTRICT.
SO I THINK WE NEED TO LOOK WITHIN, TO REALLY FIND THE LEADERSHIP THAT CAN REALLY TAKE US WHEN WE NEED A DOG, BECAUSE ANYBODY OUTSIDE DON'T KNOW WHAT THEY'RE WALKING INTO.
AND IT'S A LOT OF MISSTEPS THAT CAN HAPPEN AND OUR CHILDREN DON'T HAVE TIME FOR THAT.
PARENTS DON'T HAVE TIME FOR IT.
MA'AM NEXT? DOES SOMEONE HAVE A PHONE THAT THEY NEED TO SILENCE PLEASE? OH, HI.
I AM PRESIDENT OF THE EASTBOUND RIDGE PARISH ASSOCIATION OF EDUCATORS.
AND I SPEAK BEFORE YOU AGAIN, THIS, I REPRESENT A HUNDRED APPROXIMATELY 1200 MEMBERS.
AS YOU KNOW, THIS HAS BEEN A TRYING TIME FOR US FROM MARCH UNTIL NOW.
WE'VE HAD CHALLENGES UPON CHALLENGES WITH SCHOOL SAFETY, WITH SANITATION, WITH CLEANLINESS.
AND WHAT I'M GOING TO SAY IS THAT EVERY TIME I'VE HAD A CONCERN, I HAVE BEEN ABLE TO CALL MR. SMITH EVERY SINGLE TIME.
HE HAS HEARD THE VOICES OF EDUCATORS AND PARENTS ALIKE.
HE HAS BEEN FAITHFUL TO THIS DISTRICT.
AND I WOULD LIKE TO SAY THAT IF I'VE BEEN FAITHFUL TO AN ORGANIZATION, THAT THAT ORGANIZATION WILL BE FAITHFUL TO ME.
[01:35:01]
THAT THEY'VE HAD CHALLENGES AND THEY'VE BEEN ABLE TO CONTACT HIM.HE'S BEEN A VOICE IN THE WILDERNESS.
HE'S BEEN A VOICE IN THE VALLEY.
HE'S BEEN A VOICE ON THE MOUNTAINTOP AND THIS DISTRICT DESERVES TO PUT OUR CHILDREN.
WE DESERVE TO HAVE SOMEONE WHO'S ALREADY BEEN IN THE TRENCHES.
WHO'S ALREADY WORKING ON THE BEHALF OF THIS DISTRICT WAS ALREADY WORKING ON BEHALF OF OUR CHILDREN AND ARE ALREADY WORKING ON BEHALF OF THE CITY.
WE DESERVE SOMEONE THAT IS GOING TO BE ON THE FOREFRONT.
NOT ONLY AS EDUCATORS, NOT ONLY AS PEOPLE WHO IN THE, IN THE DISTRICT AND PEOPLE WHO ARE LOOKING TO MOVE INTO THE DISTRICT, WE DIDN'T DESERVE A LEADER WHO IS GOING TO STAND UP FOR WHAT IS RIGHT, WHO IS GOING TO NOT ONLY TAKE THE, THE BRET AND THE BULLETS THAT ARE BEING HANDED HIS WAY, BUT STAND UP WITH DIGNITY.
WE DON'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT SCANDALS GOING ON.
WE CAN BE STEADFAST AND KNOW THAT MR. SMITH HAS BEEN FAITHFUL.
YOU'VE ALREADY MADE UP YOUR BIAS WHAT YOU'RE GOING TO DO.
BUT I'M TELLING YOU, NOW THAT I SPEAK FOR EDUCATORS, PARENTS, AND STUDENTS, PARENTS WHO HAVE CALLED ME AND SAID, THANK YOU FOR STANDING UP FOR OUR CHILDREN.
I SAY THE HARD THINGS, BECAUSE IT'S IMPORTANT TO SPEAK FOR CHILDREN THAT CAN NOT SPEAK FOR THEMSELVES.
AND I HAVE AGREED WITH YOU ON SOMETHINGS AND I WILL CONTINUE TO AGREE ON WHAT'S RIGHT, BUT WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO CONTINUE TO MOVE THIS DISTRICT FORWARD.
AND WE HAVE SOMEONE WHO HAS BEEN FAITHFUL AND HE WILL CONTINUE TO BE FAITHFUL, WHO HAS THE KNOWLEDGE TO BRING OUR DISTRICT FORWARD.
MA'AM NEXT? HELLO AGAIN, IT'S JAMES SPINNY AGAIN.
UM, AS WITH MANY OF MY COLLEAGUES IN THE AUDIENCE, I WOULD SUPPORT MR. SMITH BEING THE PERMANENT SUPERINTENDENT OF THIS SYSTEM.
HOWEVER, I'M NOT SURE YOU CAN LEGALLY DO THAT AT THIS POINT, WHETHER MS. BROWN WAS SUPERINTENDENT FOR TWO MONTHS OR TWO DECADES, SHE WAS THE ELECTED SUPERINTENDENT.
WE COULD QUESTION WHETHER THE PROCESS THAT LED TO HER SELECTION AND ELECTION AND SIGNING INTO A CONTRACT WAS DONE PROPERLY OR NOT.
BUT THE FACT IS YOU HAVE A VACANCY AND WHAT YOU HAVE ON THE TABLE TO CONSIDER IS NOT A SEARCH, BUT A FAKE SEARCH THAT IS JUST IN A HORRIBLE CONCEPT TO SAY, YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE A SEARCH AND YOU'VE ALREADY IDENTIFIED THE WINNER OF THAT SEARCH GUARANTEES.
PEOPLE WON'T WASTE THEIR TIME.
SO IF YOU ARE GOING TO HAVE A SEARCH, HAVE A SEARCH, FIND A QUALIFIED SEARCH FIRM, CONSIDER THE $25,000.
YOU ALREADY SPENT MONEY WASTED.
FIND SOMEBODY THAT CAN ACTUALLY RECRUIT QUALIFIED CANDIDATES AND MAKE IT VERY CLEAR.
WHETHER YOU'RE WILLING TO CONSIDER UNQUALIFIED FOLKS TO MANAGE THE BUSINESS SIDE AS WOULD BE THE CASE WITH DR.
BECAUSE IF YOU DO THAT, IF I HAD KNOWN THAT WAS THE IDEA I WOULD HAVE AGAIN, APPLIED LIKE I DID WHEN YOU HIRED MR. DRAKE AND DR.
SO IF YOU'RE GOING TO CONDUCT A SEARCH, CONDUCT A SEARCH, IF YOU THINK YOU CAN LEGALLY APPOINT ONE OF THE LAST FINALISTS APPOINTED MR. SMITH, DR.
TOWNS CAN NOT LEGALLY BE THE SUPERINTENDENT OF THE LOUISIANA SCHOOL SYSTEM, BECAUSE SHE DOESN'T HAVE THE TEACHING CREDENTIALS.
YOU WOULD IMMEDIATELY HAVE TO START A SEARCH FOR A DEPUTY SUPERINTENDENT OR ASSOCIATE SUPERINTENDENT OR CHIEF ACADEMIC OFFICER.
AND SO YOU'RE JUST RIGHT BACK WITH THE SEARCH THAT PEOPLE DON'T WANT.
SO IF YOU CAN APPOINT MR. SMITH AS THE PERMANENT SUPERINTENDENT, BY ALL MEANS, THAT'S THE APPROPRIATE THING.
YOU SHOULD HAVE SELECTED HIM SEVERAL MONTHS AGO, BUT YOU DIDN'T.
SO YOU HAVE A VACANCY, SO PLEASE QUIT BREAKING THE LAW.
IF YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE A SEARCH, HAVE A LEGITIMATE SEARCH AND ACCEPT MY APPLICATION.
MY NAME IS BELINDA DAVIS AND I AM THE MOTHER AND OR GUARDIAN OF THREE CHILDREN IN THE EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM, AND THE MOTHER OF ONE OF YOUR RECENT GRADUATES.
UM, AND AS THE PRESIDENT OF ONE COMMUNITY, ONE SCHOOL DISTRICT OVER THE PAST DECADE, I'VE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO GET TO KNOW MR. SMITH.
UM, AND THAT HAS PRIMARILY BECOME
[01:40:01]
BECAUSE WHEN PARENTS HAVE ENCOUNTERED DIFFICULTIES NAVIGATING OUR SCHOOL SYSTEM, THEY HAVE COME TO ME, ASKING ME FOR ADVICE TO HOW TO GET THEIR ISSUES RESOLVED AND WITHOUT FAIL.MR. SMITH HAS BEEN MY GO TO MAN.
I HAVE BEEN ABLE TO GO TO HIM FOR COMPETENT, STEADY LEADERSHIP AND ADVICE FOR PARENTS ABOUT HOW TO NAVIGATE INSIDE OUR PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM.
I HAVE ADVOCATED WITH HIM AT THE LEGISLATURE, FOR OUR DISTRICT.
I HAVE GROWN TO APPRECIATE SO MUCH HIS STEADY, CALM, DEMEANOR, AND HIS LEADERSHIP.
HE IS VERY, VERY, UM, PRONE TO CELEBRATE THE PEOPLE AROUND HIM AND THE PEOPLE THAT WORK UNDER HIM WITHOUT TOOTING HIS OWN HORN HORN, WHICH IS WHY SO MANY PEOPLE DON'T APPRECIATE ALL OF THE HARD WORK IN ALL OF THE THINGS THAT HE DOES FOR OUR DISTRICT.
AND SPEAKING AS A, I'M A MEMBER OF THE LOUISIANA BOARD OF ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY EDUCATION WHO JUST NAVIGATED A SEARCH FOR OUR OWN STATE SUPERINTENDENT.
I KNOW THAT THIS IS A DIFFICULT TASK.
AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WAS PARAMOUNT IN MY CONSIDERATION OF WHO WAS GOING TO LEAD OUR STATE WHEN IT CAME TO EDUCATION WAS MAKING SURE THAT WE HAD SOMEONE WHO UNDERSTOOD OUR STATE, WHO UNDERSTOOD THE PROBLEMS THAT OUR STATE WAS FACING AND WAS GOING TO BE ABLE TO HIT THE GROUND RUNNING.
AND SO, AS A PARENT, THAT'S WHAT I WANT IN MY OWN DISTRICT.
I WANT YOU TO CHOOSE SOMEONE WHO KNOWS OUR DISTRICT IN AND OUT, WHO KNOWS OUR STRENGTHS, WHO KNOWS OUR WEAKNESSES AND IS EQUIPPED TO COME IN AND HELP WRITE OUR SHIP.
AND I THINK THAT YOU HAVE THAT IN ADAM SMITH, HE IS IN MY OPINION, GREATLY UNDERAPPRECIATED, AND YOU SHOULD LOOK SERIOUSLY, SERIOUSLY AT HIM AND ALL OF THE WONDERFUL QUALITIES THAT HE COULD BRING TO THIS JOB.
AND I WILL ALSO SAY THAT ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I SAID AS A MEMBER OF BESSIE WAS THAT I WAS UNWILLING TO VOTE FOR A STATE SUPERINTENDENT THAT REQUIRED A WAIVER.
AND SO YOU NEED TO THINK CAREFULLY ABOUT WHAT YOU'RE ASKING OF THE STATE AND YOUR PARENTS TO ACCEPT A SUPERINTENDENT WHO IS NOT QUALIFIED UNDER LOUISIANA LAW TO LEAVE YOUR DISTRICT WITHOUT A WAIVER.
AND I THINK THAT THAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT AND I HOPE YOU'LL THINK CAREFULLY ABOUT WHAT YOU'RE DOING WITH THIS MOTION TO LIMIT THIS SEARCH TO ONE CANDIDATE.
UM, FIRST MY TIME SUPPOSED TO BE FIVE MINUTES AND YOU HAVE IT AT THREE, NO, AS BEFORE IN THE AGENCY.
SO I WOULD LIKE TO FIRST START OFF BY SAYING, I GREATLY APPRECIATE THAT MR. ADAM SMITH IS SITTING WHERE HE'S SUPPOSED TO BE SEATED EVERY DAY.
AND IT'S RIGHT THERE WHERE THE SUPERINTENDENT IS SUPPOSED TO SIT, SEE FOR SOME REASON OR ANOTHER, YOU WANTED MY CHILD TO BE SILENCED WHEN HE CAME IN HERE WITH HIS GAME, BUT YOU FORGOT THAT HE IS AN ESL STUDENT AND UNDER IDA EACH AND EVERY LAST ONE OF YOU CAN BE SUED AND WILL BE SUED.
SAY MR. SMITH HAS BEEN THE ONLY REASON THAT EACH AND EVERY LAST ONE OF YOU HAVE NOT BEEN ON MY HIT LIST.
WHEN I SAY MY HIT LIST, I MEAN, GOING IN GOING BEFORE LOUISIANA 19TH JDC SEE EACH AND EVERY LAST ONE OF YOU FORGOT THAT WE'RE SUPPOSED TO BE ONE TEAM, ONE MISSION.
AND THAT ONE TEAM, ONE MISSION IS OPPOSED TO EDUCATE EVERY SINGLE CHILD REGARDLESS OF THEIR RACE OR THEIR DISABILITY.
AND FOR SOME REASON, UNFORTUNATELY, MR. MIKE DAY, AS THE PRESIDENT OF OUR SCHOOL BOARD, YOU SHOULD ACTUALLY BE LEADING.
WHY AREN'T YOU LEADING TO MAKE SURE THAT MY CHILD HAVE A VOICE? SEE, WE JUST RENAMED LEE HIGH SCHOOL LIBERTY, MEANING THAT LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL MEANS EVERY SINGLE PERSON IN HERE, EVERY CHILD THAT IS REPRESENTED IN THIS SCHOOL DISTRICT AND FOR SOME REASON OR ANOTHER, MY CHILD AND THE OTHER 4,000 PLUS CHILDREN THAT IS IN THIS ESS DEPARTMENT SEEM TO BE FORGOTTEN.
SO WHEN I ASKED MR. HOWARD, WHY ARE YOU ASKING FOR MISS TOWNS, MS. NIKIA TOWNS? THAT IS NOT EVEN HER REAL NAME IS TIFFANY WHEN YOU ASKED FOR HER TO BE THE ONLY PERSON, BUT SHE'S NOT EVEN HERE, SHE'S NOT HERE TO REPRESENT ME.
DO SHE KNOW THIS SCHOOL DISTRICT? DOES SHE KNOW ANY CHILD OUT OF THE 40, 43,000 PLUS THAT WE HAVE? DO SHE KNOW MR. SHAMBLIN PERSONALLY? DO SHE KNOW ANY OF US PERSONALLY, DOES SHE HAVE TO LEARN THIS CITY? THAT'S WHERE WE HAVE A PROBLEM, BUT WE HAVE A PERSON THAT IS LOYAL.
[01:45:01]
HAD HIS CHILDREN EDUCATED BY THE SCHOOL SYSTEM THAT WE CLAIM WE LOVE AND THAT WE TRUST.AND YET WE DON'T WANT TO KEEP HIM IN THAT SEAT.
SO I ASK EACH AND EVERY LAST ONE OF YOU TO THINK ABOUT HOW IDA SAYS THAT YOU ARE LIABLE FOR MY CHILD, FOR HIS INDIVIDUALIZED EDUCATION PLAN AND PART OF HIS INDIVIDUALIZED EDUCATION PLAN SAYS THAT HE'S SUPPOSED TO HAVE A SEAT AT THE TABLE AND BE REPRESENTED.
HIS PARENT IS SUPPOSED TO HAVE A SEAT AT THE TABLE AND BE REPRESENTED.
DO I NEED TO NAME ANY OTHER FEDERAL LAWS THAT MR. SHAMBLIN HIMSELF CAN TELL YOU THAT I CAN QUOTE, YOU HAVE TO ALLOW OUR CHILDREN TO BE REPRESENTED.
AND THE ONLY PERSON THAT HAS EVER APPLIED FOR THIS SUPERINTENDENT POSITION THAT CAN REPRESENT MY CHILD AND KEEP ME FROM OFF OF YOU IS MR. ADAM SMITH.
SO I THINK THAT YOU SHOULD TAKE THAT.
AND YOU HAVE A GREAT NIGHT AND IDA DRIVE ALL THE WAY FROM A DOCTOR'S APPOINTMENT TO MAKE SURE I TALK DIRECTLY TO YOU SO THAT YOU DID NOT MESS UP MY NAME, PRONUNCIATION.
IT IS KURANDA CORLEY, AND A PROUD PARENT OF A CHILD IN THE ESS DEPARTMENT THAT MR. SMITH MAKES SURE CAN ACTUALLY GO BACK INTO THE BRICK AND MORTAR BUILDING DURING THIS PANDEMIC AND SAFELY, SAFELY GET AN EDUCATION.
SO WHEN WE ASKED FOR LEADERSHIP IS ONLY ONE PERSON THAT HAS PROVIDED THAT.
AND I THINK YOU SHOULD LOOK AT HIM AND YOU SHOULD NOT ONLY GIVE HIM, LET HIM TAKE A BOW, BUT YOU SHOULD ALWAYS ALLOW HIM TO HAVE THAT SEAT.
MA'AM NEXT? IS THERE ANYONE ELSE IN THE AUDIENCE WISHING TO SEEING NONE AT THIS TIME, I WILL GO TO THE INTERNET AND READ THE COMMENTS THAT ARE THERE.
THE FIRST ONE IT'S OUT OF PLACE, BUT I'M A READ IT ANYWAY.
AS FROM PAGE CALDWELL, I AGREE WITH THE WOMAN WHO STOOD UP AND SMOKED SPOKE.
WE DID NOT HAVE TIME FOR EXPERIMENTING OUR LEARNING CURVE.
WE NEED SOMEONE WHO IS NOT A STRANGER TO OUR DISTRICT.
I BELIEVE ADAM SMITH HAS THE INTEREST OF OUR COMMUNITY AND STUDENTS AT HEART.
I STRONGLY ENCOURAGE THAT THE BOARD CONSIDERS THE FOUR CANDIDATES, NOT JUST ONE FROM STORM MATTHEWS, THE RESOLUTION STATES TO INVITE THE TOP FOUR CANDIDATES FROM THE PREVIOUS ABR PUBLIC SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENT SEARCH PROCESS TO BE RECONSIDERED FOR THE ROW WHO ARE AS FOLLOWS ADAM SMITH.
WHEN TINA TAMALE, T NIKIA TOWNS AND MARSHALL TUCK.
HOWEVER, MARSHALL TUCK WAS NOT ONE OF THE FOUR FINALISTS AND THEREFORE SHOULD NOT BE INCLUDED IN THIS RESOLUTION FROM JASMINE POGUE.
I'M GONNA READ IT AGAIN, JUST TO MAKE SURE WE'RE CLEAR, JUST TO COMMENT, TO SHARE MY WARM WISHES FOR THE GOOD HEALTH OF MRS. BROWN.
I APPRECIATE HER ALWAYS BEING OPEN TO HAVING A DISCUSSION WITH ME AND MY ORGANIZATION AND HER ENTHUSIASM AND BECOMING EBR SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENT, PLEASE SHARE WITH HER, MY REGARDS FROM JENNIFER HARDING AS THIS BODY GOES THROUGH THE STEPS OF SELECTING A PERMANENT REPLACEMENT FOR SUPERINTENDENT.
I ASKED THAT THE MEMBERS COMMIT TO ENSURING THAT THE PROCESS IS MORE TRANSPARENT THAN THE ORIGINAL SEARCH WAS.
I HAVE HEARD TROUBLING CHATTER THAT SOME MEMBERS DON'T THINK IT IS NECESSARY TO ALLOW THE PUBLIC, TO EXPRESS THEMSELVES VIA PUBLIC COMMENT.
WHEN IT'S TIME FOR THE DECISION TO BE MADE.
I REALIZED THAT THE LAST MEETING WAS LONG STEVEN AND A LITTLE HEATED, BUT I THINK THAT WE'RE ALL BETTER SERVED WHEN THE PUBLIC PARTICIPATION IS NOT STIFLED FROM NITA REELS.
ARE WE GOING TO PAY A CONSULTANT FIRM AGAIN? UH, AND AGAIN, THIS WAS FROM NITA WILL SAYS, DR.
TOWN SAID SHE WOULD COME BACK TO THE DISTRICT WILL THOMAS, WHAT IS A GALAXY OF SCHOOL? BOARD MEMBERS OPENLY CAMPAIGNING FOR SUPERINTENDENT CANDIDATES THAT SAID, LET'S GET SOMEONE WHO KNOWS THE DISTRICT AND SOMEONE WHO IS FAMILIAR WITH THE JOB.
SOMEONE WHO IS TRUSTED WITH HALF THE JOB ALREADY, LET'S GET ADAM SMITH, JUSTIN BROWN.
WE SHOULD BRING NIKIA TOWNS IN AS THE SCHOOL YEAR IS GOING VERY FAST.
SHE SHALL BE BROUGHT IN LESLIE CHILD, CHILD, DAWN.
TOWNS AND WOULD HAVE NEVER CHOSEN BROWN, BOTH FAVORITE CHARTERS.
SO STOP USING THAT EXCUSE, EXCUSE, PLEASE ACTUALLY VOTE FOR US.
WE ELECTED YOU NOT THE PEOPLE PAYING YOU JODI HERRERA.
THE BOARD NEEDS TO KEEP IN MIND THAT THE NEXT LEADER NEEDS TO WIN OVER THE CENTRAL OFFICE AND ALL THE TEACHERS AND STAFF JUST PICKING SOMEONE Y'ALL THINK IS GOOD, MEANS NOTHING.
CENTRAL OFFICE WILL NOT JUST FALL IN LINE BECAUSE YOU SAY SO WE ALL KNOW BEST OF LUCK.
TOWNS IS THE ABSOLUTE BEST CHOICE.
[01:50:01]
WHAT AFRICAN AMERICAN STUDENTS NEED AND SOMEONE WHO IS WILLING TO MAKE TOUGH DECISIONS AND PUT IN THE WORK.TOWNS HAS THE BACKGROUND, EDUCATION, BUSINESS MINDSET, AND MORAL DECENCY THAT EBR NEEDS, ESPECIALLY NOW WITH SUCH AN INCOMPETENT EXECUTIVE TEAM, DISCOURAGED TEACHERS AND STRUGGLING STUDENTS CHOOSE SOMEONE WHO WILL TAKE ACTION.
SOMEONE WHO WILL CLEAN UP THIS SICK AND SOMEONE WHO'S NOT AFRAID TO THANK YOU, MR. HIRED FOR YOUR MOTION.
DAVID NELSON SEEMS LIKE WE SHOULDN'T SPEND MONEY AND TIME.
WE DON'T HAVE, WHY NOT GIVE THE JOB TO SOMEONE WITH THE YEARS THEY'VE EXPERIENCED IN THE DISTRICT? WHY NOT PUT ADAM SMITH IN THE POSITION? HE IS MORE THAN PREPARED FOR, FROM HANNAH BERKMAN.
AT THIS POINT, IT MAKES MOST SENSE NOT TO BRING AN OUTSIDER IN MR. SMITH KNOWS OUR KIDS, OUR SCHOOLS, AND OUR COMMUNITY.
HE KNOWS THE CHALLENGES THAT ARE UNIQUE TO OUR SCHOOLS.
ADDITIONALLY HAS EXPERIENCED AS A K-12 EDUCATOR.
SOMETHING THAT SHOULD BE A PRIORITY WHEN LOOKING FOR A SUPERINTENDENT IN A ROOM OR NOT THEODORE SMITH, THERE'S NO NEED TO HIRE A FIRM TO START A NEW SEARCH.
THERE ARE PLENTY OF QUALIFIED CANDIDATES THAT WERE VETTED AS PART OF THE ORIGINAL PROCESS.
STARTING A NEW SEARCH WOULD BE WASTEFUL USE OF TAXPAYER DOLLARS AND PORTRAY A LACK OF CARS BY THE BOARD TO MAKE A CONFIDENT DECISION, DO THE RIGHT THING, AND SIMPLY PICK UP THE PHONE AND CONTACT THE LEADERS THAT HAVE BEEN PREVIOUSLY VETTED AND ARE WILLING TO ACCEPT THIS POSITION, DO THE RIGHT THINGS FOR EBR.
STUDENTS ARE VACATE YOUR BOARD SEAT.
JENNIFER HARDY, SINCE THESE CHANGE, SINCE THINGS CHANGE UNEXPECTEDLY.
AFTER I SUBMITTED MY INITIAL COMMENT, I AM SUBMITTING AN ADDITIONAL COMMENT COVID-19 PANDEMIC HAS ALREADY HAS MADE AN RA CHALLENGING YEAR OF LEADERSHIP.
TRANSITION MORE DIFFICULT WITH PARENTS AND TEACHERS AND SCHOOL STAFF NEED MORE THAN ANYTHING.
RIGHT NOW IS A SENSE OF STABILITY AND CONTINUITY ASSOCIATE SUPERINTENDENT.
ADAM SMITH HAS A PROVEN TRACK RECORD AND THE LEADERSHIP SKILLSET THAT INSPIRES TRUST, HE WILL BE READY TO JUMP INTO THE ROLE OF SUPERINTENDENT ON DAY ONE WITH NO LEARNING CURVE TO SLOW HIM DOWN AS A PARENT OF AN EBR STUDENT.
AND AS A COMMUNITY ADVOCATE, I FEEL CONFIDENT THAT MR. SMITH IS THE RIGHT PERSON TO USHER THROUGH THIS PANDEMIC AND LEAD OUR SYSTEM FOR IT.
I URGE YOU TO CONSIDER THAT MR. SMITH WAS ONLY ONE OF THE FOUR FINALISTS OF THE JG SEARCH THAT HAS ALREADY PROVEN HIS DEDICATION TO THE DISTRICT AND READY TO START WITHOUT DISRUPTION.
PLEASE APPOINT MR. ADAM SMITH AS A PERMANENT SUPERINTENDENT FROM JAYDEN LAN.
AND WHEN THEY GO IN, NOW, WE NEED TO BRING IN MS. NIKIA TOWNS AS SHE WAS A GREAT CHOICE FOR OUR DISTRICT.
I AGREE WITH MR. LANIS AND HOWARD, THAT WE NEED TO ACT QUICKLY AS THE SCHOOL YEARS MOVING FAST AS A 12TH GRADER AT THE MCKINLEY HIGH, WE TRUST YOU ALL AND WE TRUST YOU.
WE'LL LISTEN TO OUR EXPLANATIONS LIKE MR. LANA SAID, IT WILL TAKE UP TO SEVEN MONTHS FOR Y'ALL TO BRING IN A NEW SUPERINTENDENT.
SO WHY NOT BRING IN MRS TOWNS? SHE WOULD BE A GREAT LEADER IN OUR DISTRICT.
STOP BRINGING IN POLITICS AND THINK ABOUT US STUDENTS AND TEACHERS.
AND GOOD NIGHT FROM NILE PATEL.
LAST MONTH HAS BEEN AN EXTREMELY DIFFICULT FOR ME.
I HAVE PURPOSELY FOCUSED ON MY FAMILY DURING THESE HARD TIMES.
HOWEVER, AFTER LEARNING THE NEWS OF DR BROWN'S ILLNESS, I WAS DEEPLY SAD.
AND AGAIN, I AM NOTHING WITHOUT MY EDUCATION, AND I OWE EVERYTHING TO MY TEACHERS, WHICH IS WHY I WHOLEHEARTEDLY ADVOCATE FOR A GREAT EDUCATION FOR EVERY CHILD, SOMETHING MY FATHER AND GRANDFATHER BESTOWED UPON ME.
SO IN THEIR MEMORY, I'M SPEAKING UP TO PLAY WITH OUR SCHOOL BOARD TO WORK QUICKLY, TO NAME A TRUE AND EXPERIENCED LEADER, NOT FOR ANY OTHER REASON, ENTITY OR PERSONAL BELIEF, EXCEPT FOR OUR STUDENTS.
WE HAVE SPENT COUNTLESS MONTHS AND RESOURCES THIS YEAR TO FIND TOP CANDIDATES TO LEAD OUR SYSTEM WITH THESE UNFORTUNATE CIRCUMSTANCES AND UNIQUE TIME HOURS THAT WE DO NOT SPEND ANY MORE TIME WITHOUT A BOLD AND INNOVATIVE SUPERINTENDENT IN EBR.
I SINCERELY ASK BOARD MEMBERS TO INVITE FINALISTS THAT WERE CHOSEN LESS THAN A MONTH AGO TO VERY RECONSIDERED AND PERMANENTLY FEEL THE ROW ASAP.
UH, FROM JASMINE POPE, I WAS GOING TO RESERVE COMMENT ON CHOOSING A SUPERINTENDENT, BUT THAT HAS CHANGED NOW DUE TO THE FRIENDLY AMENDMENT.
I SUPPORT MR. SMITH AS OUR NEXT SUPERINTENDENT, AS HE HAS BEEN A WONDERFUL ADDITION TO OUR STRESSFUL SCHOOL SYSTEM.
PLEASE REMEMBER TO SHOW STUDENTS THAT LOYALTY HARD WORK AND KIND SPIRIT CAN WIN OUT.
I AM WILLING TO WORK WITH ANY SUPERINTENDENT JOYFULLY.
I WILL BE PLEASED ALONG TO WORK ALONGSIDE MR. SMITH TO BETTER OUR SCHOOLS.
UH, ALL THIS IS FROM CHARLES HEINZ.
ALL OF THESE PEOPLE ARE ASKING FOR ADAM SMITH WHEN ADAM HAS BEEN PART OF A FAILING LEADERSHIP TEAM IN EBR SCHOOLS, THINK ABOUT IT.
WHAT HAS HE DONE? WHAT HAS HE DONE THAT HAS BEEN IMPACTFUL FOR OUR SCHOOLS? ASK THE TEACHERS, PRINCIPALS, AND DISTRICT TEAM.
[01:55:01]
IS NOT BEING PUSHED BY THOSE WHO HAVE WORKED WITH HIM.WE NEED NEW LEADERSHIP AND ADAM'S NOT AN OPTION.
THE SYSTEM IS BROKEN AND HE IS A PART OF THAT SYSTEM FROM CAMILLE CONAWAY.
GIVEN THE DIFFICULTIES OF THIS YEAR IS CRITICALLY IMPORTANT FOR THE SCHOOL BOARD TO IMMEDIATELY HIRE ANOTHER SUPERINTENDENT.
A SECOND SEARCH JUST FOR A FEW MONTHS AFTER OUR LENGTHY SEARCH IS SIMPLY UNNECESSARY AND A SERIOUS DISSERVICE AND STUDENTS, TEACHERS, EMPLOYERS, AND TAXPAYERS AND SCHOOL DISTRICT, TOP CANDIDATES SHOULD REMAIN THE TOP CANDIDATES.
TOWNS IN PARTICULAR WAS NEARLY HIRED A FEW MONTHS AGO.
I URGE THE SCHOOL BOARD TO EXTEND AN OFFER TO DR.
TOWNS URGENTLY ARE AT A MINIMUM.
RE-INTERVIEW THE FOUR FINALISTS AND MAKE A NEW SELECTION WITH ALL DUE SPEED NO LATER THAN NOVEMBER.
THERE'S ABSOLUTELY NO, ABSOLUTELY NO JUSTIFICATION FOR AN INTERIM APPOINTMENT.
AS SEARCH PROCESS ARE EXPANDING ADDITIONAL FUNDS AND ARE AN OUTSIDE FIRM.
WHEN VETTED CANDIDATES ARE ALREADY AVAILABLE, THIS HAS BEEN TUMULTUOUS AT BEST AND CHAOTIC AND HARMFUL TO OUR STUDENTS.
AT WORSE, WE NEED STRONG DEMONSTRATED DISTRICT LEADERSHIP URGENTLY.
PLEASE ACCURATE THIS IN MIND TONIGHT FROM JOY PHILLIPS AS A PARENT AND SATISFY SADDENS ME TO KNOW THAT OUR TIME WITH LESLIE BROWN HAS BEEN CUT SHORT, MRS. BROWN WAS AN OUTSTANDING LEADER TO BE PLACED AS SUPERINTENDENT.
IT IS MY HOPE THAT THIS BOARD WILL ACT TOGETHER QUICKLY, TRANSPARENTLY AND EFFICIENTLY TO HIRE A PERMANENT HIGH QUALITY EQUITY AND STUDENT CENTER LEADER, SUCH AS LESLIE BROWN FROM LOUIS DAVIS WITH SUPERINTENDENT ROUND RESIGNING.
THE FIGHT MUST CONTINUE IS TO LOOK FOR A LEADER WHO WILL GO ABOVE EXPECTATION TO ENSURE THE UNDERSERVED STUDENTS AND FAMILIES WILL BE ADDRESSED ACCORDINGLY.
WE WILL NOT TAKE ANYTHING LESS THAN THE TALENT AND EXPERIENCE OF SOMEONE LIKE MRS. LESLIE BROWN FROM JOE TRUCK'S GLARE.
MY HEART GOES OUT TO LESLIE BROWN.
I REALLY LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING HER DEMONSTRATE HER LEADERSHIP.
NOW WE MUST WORK QUICKLY AND EVEN HARDER TO PUT A NEW PROVEN LEADER IN HER PLACE WHO WAS JUST AS OPTIMISTIC AS SHE WERE, WAS ABOUT THE FUTURE OF EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH FROM BRENDA CHRISTOPHER.
IT IS IMPORTANT THAT THE BOARD MOVED QUICKLY TO FILL THE SEAT OF THE SUPERINTENDENT WITH A HIGH QUALITY PROVEN EQUITY AND STUDENT SENATE LEADER.
OUR DISTRICT STUDENTS AND EMPLOYEES NEED LEADERSHIP.
NOW MORE THAN EVER FROM ELAINE WALKER, I FEEL THAT IT IS OF UTMOST IMPORTANCE.
THE BOARD ACT QUICKLY TO REPLACE MRS. BROWN WITH A PROVEN LEADER WITH TOP TALENT AND EXPERIENCE AND TURNING LOW PERFORMING SCHOOLS.
WE NEED A LEADER WHO HAS A PROVEN TRACK RECORD OF SUCCESS, AND WE CAN'T SETTLE FOR THE SAME OLD TYPE OF LEADERSHIP THAT HAS FAILED OUR GAIL JONES.
WE NEED OUR, THE BOARD LEADERS.
SHE CONTINUED TO WORK AND PUT IN PLACE A SUPERINTENDENT WITH THE SAME VIC FIGHT VIGOR AND LEADERSHIP IS MRS. LESLIE BROWN.
I HOPE THAT THE BOARD CAN COME TOGETHER QUICKLY AND AGREE ON A HIGH QUALITY PLATE REPLACEMENT.
WE NEED LEADERSHIP FROM LINDA, ELENA EDWARDS.
THE STUDENTS OF EAST BATON ROUGE DESERVE EFFECTIVE AND EFFICIENT LEADERSHIP.
NOW PLEASE COME TOGETHER AND MOVE QUICKLY TO APPOINT THE BEST PERSON FOR SUPERINTENDENT.
OUR DISTRICT NEEDS SOMEONE THAT IS TALENTED, EXPERIENCED, AND HAS A VISION THAT EVERY STUDENT DESERVES A HIGH QUALITY EDUCATION AND DO THE HARD WORK TO GET IT DONE FROM CLARA ROADS, GLOBAL PANDEMIC ECONOMIC RECESSION.
THESE TRAGEDIES ARE FUNDAMENTALLY IMPACTING OUR COMMUNITY.
YES, BUT THESE TRAGEDIES ARE DISPROPORTIONATELY RAKING HABIT ON THE FAMILIES AND CHILDREN.
YOU REPRESENT FAMILIES OF HISTORICALLY MARGINALIZED AND CHILDREN BORN INTO TOUGH SITUATIONS, MAKE INFINITELY MORE DIFFICULT BY THE LOSS OF HOSPITALIZATION OF LOVED ONES, DESTRUCTION OF COMMUNITY AT THE HANDS OF DISEASE AND INCOME LOSS, THE CHILDREN AND EDUCATORS IN THE SCHOOL DISTRICT NEED A PERMANENT LEADER AND THEY DESERVE TO HAVE ONE NOW BECAUSE THESE CRISES ARE HAPPENING NOW, DIFFICULT DECISIONS MUST BE MADE.
NOW THIS COMMUNITY IS STRONGEST WHEN IT UNITES AROUND A COMMON GOAL OF ACTING IN THE BEST INTERESTS OF CHILDREN, OUR COMMUNITY IS ALREADY EXP THEY'RE EXPERIENCING UPHEAVAL.
WHY COMPOUNDED BY NAMING AN INTERIM SUPERINTENDENT? JUST TO REPEAT THE EXPENSIVE TIME CONSUMING SEARCH PROCESS JUST COMPLETED.
I IMPLORE YOU TO SELECT ONE OF THE HIGH QUALITY FINALISTS FROM THE PREVIOUS SEARCH FROM CAMILLA GEISSMAN.
I ENCOURAGED THE BOARD TO ATTEMPT TO EXPEDITE THE SEARCH FOR A NEW SUPERINTENDENT BY GAUGING INTERESTS WITH THE CANDIDATES FROM THE MOST RECENT SEARCH.
IT IS IMPORTANT TO MOVE THROUGH THIS PROCESS AS EXPEDITIOUSLY AS POSSIBLE.
I WILL REFRESH THE LIST ONE MORE TIME, MR. GODIN.
FRESH GO BACK UP TO THE ONE ABOVE THERE'S THREE.
AFTER THAT LAST ONE YOU READ, I BELIEVE.
ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT CHARLES HINES?
[02:00:01]
OKAY.SO THIS IS FROM CHARLES HEINZ.
ALL OF THESE PEOPLE ASKING FOR ADAM SMITH.
UH, DEANDRE FULLER AS AN EMPLOYEE OF EBR.
I BELIEVE ADAM SMITH IS QUALIFIED TO BECOME THE NEXT SUPERINTENDENT VBR.
HE IS ALWAYS IN SCHOOLS, INTERACTING WITH STUDENTS, FACULTY, AND STAFF.
IN FACT, HE WAS AT MY SCHOOL TODAY PROVIDING MEANINGFUL AND ACTIONABLE FEEDBACK FROM ANNA MARIE BLANK.
PLEASE DON'T INVALIDATE THE SELECTION PROCESS BY LIMITING CHOICES, STOP PLAYING POLITICS.
REMEMBER THAT OUR DISTRICT HAS ALREADY EXPERIENCED EXTREME OF PEOPLE CAUSED BY THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC, WHICH WAS THEN EXCAVATED, EXACERBATED.
BY CHANGING SUPERINTENDENTS AS A SCHOOL YEAR BEGAN WITH AN OUT OF TOWN CANDIDATE WHO HAD A LOT TO LEARN.
THEN JUST AS WE WERE CATCHING OUR STRIDE WITH HYBRID AND VIRTUAL, WE FIND OURSELVES DESTABILIZED BY MRS. BROWN AT RESIGNATION.
WE NEED STABILITY DURING THIS TIME.
AND I BELIEVE THAT ADAM SMITH CAN PROVIDE THAT STABILITY.
HE'S A FAMILIAR PRESENCE FOR OUR EMPLOYEES, AND HE HAS A HISTORY OF IMPROVEMENT SCHOOLS WITH OUR, WITHIN OUR UNIQUE DISTRICT IS ALREADY INVESTED IN OUR COMMUNITY AND HIS TENURE WITHIN THE EBR SYSTEM GIVES HIM THE DIRECT INSTITUTIONAL KNOWLEDGE NEEDED TO HIT THE GROUND RUNNING IN THIS POSITION.
PLEASE SELECT ADAM SMITH AS SUPERINTENDENT FROM LA PORTIA OR CASINO.
DON COLLINS, PLEASE STOP SAYING, YOU'RE VOTING WITH YOUR GUT.
YOU'RE VOTING FOR POLITICAL GAIN.
ADAM SMITH SHOULD HAVE BEEN IN THE SEAT FROM START.
PLEASE KEEP POLITICS AND RACE OUT OF THE SEARCH.
ARE THERE ANY OTHER RULE REFRESH ONE MORE TIME AND I DO NOT SEE ANY MORE COMMENTS.
ARE THERE ANY OTHER COMMENTS FROM THE AUDIENCE IN PERSON SIG? NONE.
WE WILL GO BACK TO THE COMMENT BOARD AND THE ONLY PERSON UP ON THE LIST RIGHT NOW IS MR. LANICE HOURS AT MY COMMENT FOR AFTER THE VOTE.
I WANT TO SAY OUT OF ALL THAT.
ARE THERE ANY OTHER COMMENTS, MADAM SECRETARY, WOULD YOU PLEASE HAVE YOU FIGURED OUT IF YOU CAN PUT THE MOTION UP ON THE BOARD SO WE CAN CLEARLY SEE THE AMENDED MOTION? OKAY.
UH, I'M REALLY JUST INTERESTED IN WHAT IS THE EXACT VERBIAGE OF THE FRIENDLY AMENDMENT FRIENDLY AMENDMENT TO CONSIDER THE APPROVAL OF A RESOLUTION TO ADVERTISE FOR AND SELECT A SUPERINTENDENT AND CONSIDER THE SOLE FINALIST DR.
T NIKIA TOWNS FOR THE POSITION OF SUPERINTEN.
SO THAT IS THE MOTION THAT WE ARE GETTING READY TO VOTE ON IT, AND IT HAS BEEN REQUESTED FOR A ROLL CALL VOTE.
ANY OTHER COMMENTS BEFORE WE COMMENCE WITH THE VOTE? SEEING NONE? MADAM SECRETARY, WOULD YOU PLEASE CONDUCT A VOTE DISTRICT ONE? MR. BLUE, NO DISTRICT TWO.
MR. LANDIS DISTRICT THREE, VICE PRESIDENT HOWARD.
MS. DYSON, NO DISTRICT SEVEN PRESIDENT GO TO NO DISTRICT EIGHT.
MS. BERNARD, NO DISTRICT NINE.
NO, THE MOTION FAILS THE MOTION.
SO NOW WE MOVE TO THE NEXT ITEM ON THE AGENDA ITEM.
UH, LET'S SEE, WHERE ARE WE? ITEM
[I4. Advertising for Superintendent Position]
FOUR.I, FOR CONSIDERATION OF REQUESTS FOR THE AUTHORIZATION TO ADVERTISE WITH THE POSITION OF SUPERINTENDENT.
DO I HAVE A MOTION MOVED BY TATLIN? DO I HAVE A SECOND BY MR. BALLOU? HOLD ON ONE SECOND, MR. FOR MOVING FORWARD.
THAT WAS A FRIENDLY AMENDMENT.
IF I'M GOING TO, I'M GOING TO ACTUALLY SUGGEST, I THINK WE GO BACK TO THE ORIGINAL MOTION ON THE FLOOR.
IS THAT CORRECT? IT WAS A FRIENDLY AMENDMENT EXCEPT YEAH.
[02:05:02]
IF IT WAS A SUBSTITUTE MOTION.BUT IT'S A FRIENDLY AMENDMENT.
NOW YOU AMENDED THE ORIGINAL MOTION THAT THAT'S MY, THAT'S HIS BOARD MEMBERS OF HIS OPINION PER ROBERT SHREWS.
IT WAS ACCEPTED BY BOTH THE MAKER OF THE MOTION AND THE SECOND END OF THE MOTION.
SO IT BECAME A FRIENDLY AMENDMENT.
I MEAN, IT BECAME THE RESOLUTION.
SO MR. LANDIS ASKED FOR SOME CLARIFICATION.
SO TO EXPLAIN, HAD THAT BEEN A SUBSTITUTE MOTION AND SUBSTITUTE MOTION FAILED, WE WOULD HAVE RETURNED TO THE ORIGINAL MOTION BECAUSE IT WAS A FRIENDLY AMENDMENT AND ACCEPTED BY THE ORIGINAL MAKER, THE ENTIRE MOTION FAILS.
WHAT'D YOU LIKE TO CHALLENGE THAT MR. LANICE OR? OKAY, THANK YOU.
UH, SO WE HAVE A MOTION TO AUTHORIZE THE ADVERTISEMENT OF THE POSITION OF SUPERINTENDENT MADE BY MR. TAPPIN.
AND MR. BELLEW, ARE THERE ANY COMMENTS FROM THE BOARD ON THE MOTION TO ADVERTISE WHICH MR. SHAMBLIN, IF I AM CORRECT, THAT IS A LEGAL REQUIREMENT TO OPEN THE, UH, THE OPENNESS POSITION OF SUPERINTEN.
WE HAVE A RESIGNATION OF THE ORIGINAL SELECTION.
WE'RE NOW IN A POSITION WHERE THE BOARD WOULD NEED TO APPOINT A PERMANENT SUPERINTENDENT.
AND THE STATUTE CLEARLY REQUIRES TO BE ADVERTISING SPECIFICALLY TWICE IN THE OFFICIAL JOURNAL ONE WEEK APART.
AND SO AS IF THE BOARD AUTHORIZES THAT TONIGHT, WE'LL BEGIN THAT PROCESS TOMORROW.
AND SO TO BE CLEAR FOR EVERYONE LISTENING AND EVERYONE IN THE AUDIENCE, THE LAW CLEARLY STATES THAT WE HAVE TO ADVERTISE TWICE AT LEAST ONE WEEK APART IN THE OFFICIAL DOCUMENT.
AND THEN WAIT 30 DAYS AFTER THE LAST ADVERTISING IN ORDER TO BE ABLE TO TAKE ACTION ON PERMANENTLY SELECTING A SUPERINTENDENT.
JUST TO BE CLEAR, ANY, SO ANY COMMENTS FROM THE BOARD, I SEE NO ONE ON THE LIST.
IS THERE ANYONE MS. DYSON, YOU REQUEST TO SPEAK? OKAY.
QUESTION, UM, FOR LEGAL COUNSEL.
SO WE HAVE THE, UM, ADVERTISEMENT ALREADY WRITTEN AND UM, SO IS THERE ANYTHING THAT, UM, WILL HAMPER OUR ABILITY TO GET THAT PROCESS STARTED TOMORROW AND BE IN MONDAY'S UH, SATURDAY, SUNDAY OR MONDAYS PAPER? YEAH.
GENERALLY BASED ON EXPERIENCE.
AND I CAN LET STAFF WHO HANDLE IT, ADVERTISEMENT SPEAK SPECIFICALLY TO THAT, BUT GENERALLY IT TAKES TWO DAYS FROM THE TIME OF OUR REQUEST FOR SOMETHING THAT ACTUALLY APPEARED IN THE PAPER.
IT'S OUR HOPE THAT WE CAN EXPEDITE THE PROCESS.
THAT MONDAY WOULD BE THE SOONEST, BUT WE CAN'T PROMISE THAT.
AND SO I WOULD SAY TUESDAY AT THE LATEST YES MA'AM.
SAY NO OTHER COMMENTS FROM THE BOARD.
WE'LL TAKE COMMENTS FROM THE AUDIENCE RELATED TO THE ADVERTISING REQUIREMENT.
I WOULD HOPE THAT AS YOU'RE ADVERTISING FOR THE POSITION, THE ADVERTISEMENT IS VERY CLEAR AS TO WHETHER YOU ARE SEEKING SOMEONE WHO IS QUALIFIED TO BE SUPERINTENDENT OF A SCHOOL DISTRICT IN LOUISIANA WITHOUT A WAIVER BEING REQUIRED.
OR IF YOU'RE WILLING TO CONSIDER CANDIDATES WHO ARE WELL QUALIFIED OTHERWISE, BUT LACK THAT IMPORTANT CREDENTIAL BECAUSE THAT GREATLY AFFECTS WHO YOU CAN SELECT AT THE END OF THE PROCESS WITHOUT A LEGAL CHALLENGE.
AND IT ALSO GREATLY AFFECTS THE CANDIDATES THAT ARE LIKELY TO RESPOND TO THAT ADVERTISEMENT.
I'M ASSASSINATING YOUR NAME LIKE YOU DO MINE.
I KNOW I'M GONNA RECLAIM MY TIME THOUGH, SINCE SHE STARTED TALKING, UM, I WOULD REALLY LIKE FOR US TO HAVE A REAL TRUE CLARIFICATION ON THE ACTUAL CONTRACT THAT WE DID WITH JG CONSULTANTS FROM IT.
CAUSE IF MY MEMORY SERVES ME, CORRECT, JG CONSULTANTS WERE CHOSEN BECAUSE THEY, IF OUR SUPERINTENDENT DID NOT STAY FOR ANY REASON WHATSOEVER, THAT THEY WOULD ACTUALLY DO THE SEARCH AGAIN FOR FREE.
SO WE SHOULD NOT ACTUALLY HAVE TO PAY IT ALL.
AND X AND X AND OUR ATTORNEY TO SEE HOW THAT, UM, WHEN THAT, UM, THAT ADVERTISEMENT WOULD BE SUBMITTED.
THAT'S ACTUALLY JG CONSULTANT'S RESPONSIBILITY.
SO I JUST ASKED THAT WE ACTUALLY REVISIT THAT CONTRACT.
UM, ALSO, AND WHEN WE REVISIT THAT CONTRACT, WE ALSO NEED TO REVISIT HOW WE ACTUALLY CHANGE THE QUALIFICATIONS
[02:10:01]
FOR OUR SUPERINTENDENT ON THE VERY NIGHT THAT IT WAS VOTED FOR THE CANDIDATE.UM, WE CHANGED THAT SO THAT WE CAN MAKE IT SO THAT ONE PERSON, HE, TIFFANY NIKIA TOWNS EDWARDS, COULD BE CHOSEN TO BE THE CANDIDATE.
AND SHE WAS NOT BECAUSE SHE DID NOT MEET THE QUALIFICATIONS, WEB THE WEB.
SO IF WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO VIOLATE THE LAW, THEN WE NEED TO VIOLATE THE LAW FOR WHAT IS RIGHT FOR OUR CHILDREN.
AND UNFORTUNATELY THAT HAS NOT BEEN THE CASE.
SO I'M ASKING THAT WE ACTUALLY ASK OUR LEGAL CONSULTANT, MR. SHAMBLIN, IF HE ACTUALLY CLARIFY FOR ME RIGHT NOW, WHILE I'M STILL STANDING HERE AND I'M GONNA RECLAIM MY TIME AND X DATE TO PAUSE IT SO THAT HE CAN ACTUALLY SPEAK ON THAT MATTER, WHICH IS DO DI DOES JJ IS JG CONSULTANT RESPONSIBLE FOR THE ADVERTISING AND FOR THE INTERVIEWING PROCESS, AGAIN, FOR OUR CANDIDATES, FOR OUR SUPERINTENDENT, SUPERINTENDENT CANDIDATE SEARCH.
AND I WOULD, I WOULD LIKE TO YIELD TO HIM, BUT I AM STOPPING MY TIME.
WELL, IF HE'S NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO ANSWER IT, THEN I DO ASK THAT YOU ACTUALLY POST THAT FOR EVERYONE AND THEIR MOTHER TO BE ABLE TO SEE I WON'T STEVIE WONDER TO BE ABLE TO SEE THAT I WON'T HELEN KELLER TO BE ABLE TO READ IT.
AND I WON'T WRITE CHARLES TO READ IT FROM HIS GRAVE SITE SO THAT WE CAN ACTUALLY SEE THAT WHAT WE'RE SUPPOSED TO HAVE IS JG CONSULTANTS DO THEIR JOB.
AND SO IT IS NOT EBR SCHOOL SYSTEM'S RESPONSIBILITY, BUT WE ARE SUPPOSED TO BE HERE TO VOTE FOR AN INTERIM.
AND AGAIN, LIKE I TOLD YOU BEFORE, I WANT MY INTERIM TO BE MR. ADAM SMITH, BECAUSE MR. ADAM SMITH HAS SPOKEN FOR ALL CHILDREN, NOT JUST ONE, NOT JUST SOME AND, AND SPEAKING, CONSIDERING THAT SOUTH DONALD'S PRE K AND KINDERGARTEN, WHICH IS 95, 95% CHILDREN WITH DISABILITIES IN YOUR SCHOOL DISTRICT.
MR. MIKE
SO I'M JUST ASKING FOR WHAT ANY PERSON WOULD ASK FOR.
AND AGAIN, WHEN I SAID THAT Y'ALL WERE ON MY HIT LIST, THAT IS MY IDA INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES EDUCATION ACT HIT LIST.
I DON'T WANT NOBODY TO THINK THAT I'M TRYING TO ASSASSINATE YOU, BUT THAT I JUST ONLY WANT Y'ALL TO KNOW THAT I WAS ASKING NATE YOU IN A COURT OF LAW.
THE QUESTION OF THE JG CONSULTING CONTRACT WILL BE ADDRESSED IN THE NEXT ITEM.
JACQUELYN MILLS TO ASK THAT YOU CONSIDER A DIFFERENT CONSULTING FIRM.
IF YOU REALLY NEED TO GO WITH A CONSULTING FIRM.
I REALLY DO THINK THAT WITH TIME OF THE ESSENCE, THIS IS PROBABLY SOMETHING THAT YOU COULD DO, BUT ESTABLISHING A COMMITTEE OF THE BOARD, INCLUSIVE OF MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY.
MA'AM I HAVE LOST MY COMMENTS.
MA'AM ARE THERE ANY OTHER COMMENTS FROM THE AUDIENCE? GIVE ME JUST ONE SECOND, PLEASE.
AND I WILL READ THE COMMENTS FROM THE, FROM THE OFF THE INTERNET.
UM, SO WE HAVE ONE COMMENT, UH, FROM CHRIS CRYSTALYN LYLES, PLEASE CONSIDER EXTENDING AN INVITATION TO DR.
CONCERNING ASSUMPTION OF LEADERSHIP IS EAST BATON ROUGE SUPERINTENDENT.
OUR COMMUNITIES ARE IN DESPERATE NEED OF A PERMANENT LEADERSHIP COMPRISED OF THE DETERMINATION AND FOCUS THAT DR.
NIKIA TOWN POSSESSIONS, PLEASE STRONGLY CONSIDER AVOIDING THE LENGTHY PROCESS OR RELIVING THE SUPERINTENDENT PROCESS.
AS THERE ARE BETTER ACTS AS THERE ARE ACTIONS, BETTER DESERVING OF LEADERSHIP ATTENTION.
I AM ASKING THE BOARD TO MAKE THIS CONSIDERATION BASED ON THE NEEDS OF THE CONSTITUENTS, DEPENDING ON SUCCESSFUL DELIVERY OF QUALITY EDUCATION TO CHILDREN IN OUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
AND FROM JASMINE POKE AND SOMEONE ANSWER, IF WE'RE STARTING OVER COMPLETELY, THAT'LL BE ADDRESSED IN THE NEXT ITEM.
UM, SO WITH THAT, UH, BACK TO THE, I HAVE TO PULL UP MY LIST HERE AGAIN.
I'M SORRY, I'M BEING COMPUTER CHALLENGED.
MY QUESTION IS FOR A BOARD ATTORNEY, GIVEN THE PENDING A LAWSUIT, IS IT POSSIBLE FOR JG AT THIS POINT TO MOVE FORWARD IN CONDUCTING ANY TYPE OF SEARCH FOR US? BECAUSE THAT LAWSUIT IS STILL PENDING AT THIS TIME.
AND I ASSUME YOU'RE REFERRING TO THE OPEN MEETINGS SUIT, OR WHAT, WHAT LAWSUIT ARE YOU REFERRING? THIS IS THE LAWSUIT THAT THEY HAVE A STEP UP AND NAACP FILED AGAINST SCHOOL SYSTEM INVOLVING THE TRANSPARENCY OF THE LAST SEARCH.
IN MY OPINION, THERE'S NOTHING THAT STOPS US FROM MOVING AHEAD WITH A NECESSARY
[02:15:01]
SEARCH LITIGATION'S DOES NOT IMPEDE THAT.THANK YOU, MR. SHAMBLIN, YOU WERE NEXT ON THE REQUEST TO SPEAK.
ARE THERE ANY OTHER COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS FROM THE BOARD AND MADAM SECRETARY? DID I CATCH ALL OF THE COMMENTS ON THE INTERNET? I THINK I HAVE.
ARE THERE ANY OTHER COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS FROM THE BOARD SEEING NONE.
MADAM SECRETARY, WOULD YOU PLEASE CONDUCT A VOTE, PLEASE VOTE THE MOTION CARRIES.
NEXT WE MOVE TO ITEM I FIVE CONSIDERATION OF REQUEST.
SOMEONE'S COMMENT DID NOT GET READ.
I, UH, I DON'T MIND READING IT.
I'M TRYING TO BEND OVER BACKWARDS TO MAKE SURE WE CATCH EVERYONE.
ASHLEY SCOTT, ASHLEY SUIT SUIT.
ASHLEY RODRIG ACTUALLY HIRE
ASHLEY CASEY SAID, WHO ARE YOU LOOKING AT? YEAH, THAT'S UNDER ITEM I SIX.
[I5. Superintendent Search Firm]
ITEM FIVE IS AUTHOR REQUESTS, CONSIDERATION REQUESTS AUTHORIZED J D CONSULTING TO CONDUCT A SEARCH FOR SUPERINTENDENT.DO I HAVE A MOTION MOVED BY MR. BALLOU SECOND BY MR. TATLIN AND I WILL, UH, WE DO HAVE, UH, MR.
MS. JONES, IS THAT ABLE TO PULL THAT UP? CAUSE HE DID NOT CALL IN.
UM, IN THAT CASE, THERE HAVE BEEN MANY QUESTIONS ABOUT THIS.
I WAS GONNA READ IN SOME INFORMATION, UH, FROM HIM AS SOON AS I CAN GET TO MY EMAIL.
MR. SHAMBLIN, DO YOU HAVE, IS HIS LETTER DESCRIBING HIS SERVICES HANDY? GIVE ME THEN JUST A SECOND.
SO I WILL READ THIS LETTER FROM JG CONSULTING ON BEHALF OF JGS CONSULTING, I WOULD LIKE TO EXPRESS MY SINCERE SYMPATHY FOR THE BROWN FAMILY.
OUR THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS ARE LIFTED FOR THE BROWN FAMILY AND THOSE IMPACTED BY HER RECENT HOSPITALIZATION, HER LEGACY SERVING AS SUPERINTENDENT OF EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH SCHOOL SYSTEM LEFT A SIGNIFICANT IMPRINT ACROSS THE DISTRICT AND COMMUNITY IN A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME, JG CONSULTANT WELCOMES THE OPPORTUNITY TO CARRY ON SUPERINTENDENTS BROWN LEGACY BY CONDUCTING YOUR FORMAL EXECUTIVE SEARCH TO RECRUIT A SUCCESSOR, TO SERVE AS OUR SOUP AS SUPERINTENDENT, OUR SERVICE TO THE EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH SCHOOL SYSTEM WILL BE AT NO COST TO THE DISTRICT AND TAXPAYERS AT THE COMMUNITY.
WE SUBMIT TWO SCENARIOS FOR THE SCHOOL BOARD'S CONSIDERATION A AT THREE MONTH EXECUTIVE SEARCH ADVERTISE THE PREEXISTING JOB PROFILE DEVELOPED BY BOARD AND COMMUNITY DURING OCTOBER AND NOVEMBER, RECRUIT SCREEN AND VET APPLICANTS, INCLUDING A NEW SET OF ON DEMAND.
INTERVIEW QUESTIONS, OCTOBER, NOVEMBER, SCHEDULE APPLICANT INTERVIEWS ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD AND COMMUNITY LATE NOVEMBER, EARLY DECEMBER NAME A LONE FINALIST BY DECEMBER 31ST, 2020, THE ALTERNATIVE WOULD BE A FIVE MONTH SEARCH
[02:20:01]
AND IT'S BASICALLY THE SAME THING, BUT THE KIM IN ENTITIES AND COMMUNITY INPUT WOULD BE IN JAN MID TO LATE JANUARY AND NAME ALONE FINALIST BY NOVEMBER 21ST, A JG CONSULTING WILL SERVE AS A DEDICATED PARTNER TO THE SCHOOL BOARD AND WORK DILIGENTLY TO RECRUIT THE NEXT SUPERINTENDENT WITHOUT COMPROMISING THE QUALITY OF SERVICE, REGARDLESS OF THE OPTION SELECTED FROM THE TWO SUGGESTED SCENARIOS, THE GLOBAL PANDEMIC, NOR THE TIMEFRAME WILL IMPEDE OUR COLLECTIVE EFFORTS TO RECRUIT QUALIFIED CANDIDATES, TO SERVE AS A SUPERINTENDENT.SO I THINK THAT ANSWERED SOME OF THE QUESTIONS THAT CAME UP FROM THE AUDIENCE.
UM, MR. GARA AND, UM, ONE OF HIS, UH, TEAM MATES, UM, HAVE BEEN ON TEAMS THE WHOLE TIME.
MAYBE THERE'S SOMETHING ELSE THEY NEED TO DO, BUT THEY'VE BEEN, UH, ON THE MEETING ON TEAMS, RIGHT.
SO, UM, TO REPEAT SOME OF WHAT WAS JUST SAID AS A REPLY IS THAT, UM, IF YOU'RE LISTENING, UM, YOU NEED TO GO ON AS A PRESENTER AND NOT JUST AN ATTENDEE AND THAT IS WHY YOU ARE NOT ABLE TO SPEAK RIGHT NOW, MR. KARA.
SO HAS THAT BEEN CORRECT? CALL MRS. JONES, THE NUMBER THAT'S IN YOUR EMAIL, YOU CAN ALSO CALL IN.
YOU CAN CALL IN WITH THE NUMBER FROM YOUR EMAIL.
WHY DON'T WE, UH, BEGIN THE, UH, PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD? UH, OUR, SHOULD WE WAIT? I'M SORRY.
UM, I GUESS I WANT A LITTLE CLARITY CAUSE I'M LOOKING AT THE BACKUP, I GUESS.
UM, SO WE'RE HAVING, HE'S OFFERING TWO OPTIONS ON TIMEFRAME.
ARE WE VOTING ON THAT TIMEFRAME TONIGHT? UH, WE CAN AMEND THE RESOLUTION TO SAY WE WANT THE THREE MONTH TIMEFRAME AND WE WANT THE FIVE MONTH TIMEFRAME.
THE, THE, WHICH MONTH I WOULD SAY THAT AGAIN, THERE'S A THREE MONTH TIMEFRAME.
A NUMBER ONE IS A THREE MONTH TIMEFRAME.
THE NAME OF FINALISTS BY DECEMBER 31ST.
AND THERE'S A FIVE MONTH TO NAME A FINALIST BY EARLY FEBRUARY.
SO I GUESS MY QUESTION IS IF WE DON'T CLARIFY THAT IN THE MOTION, WHO MAKES THAT DECISION? I AGREE.
SO WOULD YOU LIKE TO CLARIFY THAT IN EMOTION, YOU, YOU ARE THE SECOND AND SO IF YOU'D LIKE TO MAKE IT WELL, WHO MADE IT, WHO MADE THE MOTION? HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT THAT MISBELIEF? I I'D LIKE TO SEE IT, UH, UH, IF HE THINKS HE CAN MAKE A REASONABLE SEARCH AND, AND, UH, IT WON'T IMPEDE THE ABILITY TO FIND THE BEST CANDIDATES.
UM, I THINK THE SOONER THE BETTER.
SO, UM, I DON'T KNOW THAT WE HAVE TO CHOOSE ONE OF THE OPTIONS.
UM, BUT WE PROBABLY, I MEAN, WE'VE GOT, WE'VE GOT TO HAVE SOME SORT OF TIMELINE.
SO I THINK, UH, I WOULD GO WITH THAT OPTION A AND CERTAINLY KNOWING THE, THE, UH, HOLIDAYS ARE COMING UP.
IF, IF SOMEHOW THAT, UH, CAUSES A PROBLEM, WE CAN AMEND IT LATER.
BUT I WOULD PROPOSE THAT WE SELECT, UM, THE, UH, THE FIRST OPTION, WHICH WAS CHOOSING A SUPERINTENDENT BY DECEMBER 31ST.
SO YOU'RE YOU WANT TO, DO YOU WANT TO AMEND YOUR MOTION? YES.
SO THE AMENDMENT WOULD BE TO, I FORGOT WHAT THE EXACT AMENDMENT WAS, BUT TO ACCEPT THE PRESENTATION THEY PRESENTED IN A LETTER TO, I WOULD SAY TO FULFILL OPTION A, TO THE BEST OF EVERYONE'S ABILITY.
CAN WE HIT THAT AGAIN? WE'LL LET HIM READ IT.
THE CURRENT, THE CURRENT MOTION READS CONSIDERATION OF A REQUEST TO AUTHORIZE JG CONSULTING, TO CONDUCT A SEARCH OF SUPERINTENDENT.
UM, IF THAT'S THE ITEM, THE MOTION, WOULD YOU HAVE THOUGHT MOTION? OKAY.
SO IT WOULD BE A MOTION TO AUTHORIZE JG CONSULTING TO CONDUCT A SEARCH FOR SUPERINTENDENT WITHIN
[02:25:01]
THREE MONTHS.SO I MIGHT KIND OF, CAUSE IT WAS YOUR QUESTION.
I MIGHT STILL HAVE THE FLOOR KIND OF, I'M GOING TO TRY TO REACH OUT FOR IT.
UM, AND I JUST, YOU KNOW, I'M HAVING A CONVERSATION WITH MARK.
WE COULD HAVE A SIDEBAR, BUT I, I WOULD PREFER HIM A DELIBERATE SEARCH AS OPPOSED, JUST STRETCHING IT OUT.
AND SO I WORRY A LITTLE BIT ABOUT SAYING THREE MONTHS, BUT IT, BUT YOU KNOW, AS SOON AS PRACTICAL YEAH.
AS SOON AS PRACTICAL, I THINK WE'RE REALLY LOOKING FOR SOMEBODY WHO IS TRYING TO, WE DO THAT.
AND SOME ADDITIONAL INFORMATION FOR THE BOARD, LOOKING AT THE AGENDA ITEMS, THERE IS A CONSIDERATION TO APPOINT AN INTERIM.
IF THAT HAPPENS, THE LAW DOES ALLOW YOU THE ROOM APPOINTMENT OF UP TO SIX MONTHS BEFORE PERMANENT APPOINTMENT OF A SUPERINTENDENT HAS TO BE MADE.
THAT IS ONLY, THAT'S ONLY A CONSIDERATION I'M GIVING YOU AS YOU TALKED THROUGH THE MOTION.
SO THE AMENDED MOTION WOULD BE AS SOON AS PRACTICAL AND MR. SIMPLE WAS, THAT IS WHAT YOU'RE CONSIDERING.
AS SOON AS PRACTICAL, CAN HE SPEAK? HELLO, MR. GAR, YOU NEED TO UNMUTE, SIR.
I FEEL LIKE I'M TALKING TO THE INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION.
AS A POINT OF CLARITY FOR MYSELF, DOES THAT MEAN THAT, UM, IS THE NATURE OF THIS MOTION? THAT THERE WILL BE A DEFINITE DECISION BY THREE MONTHS? YES.
MS. COLLINS HAS THE FLOOR RIGHT NOW, MR. GUERRA.
UM, MY CONCERN I ACTUALLY, AND IS PRACTICAL IS THE CURRENT WORDING.
SO FOR THE SEARCH TO CONTINUE, BUT DOES THAT DICTATE THAT BY DECEMBER 31ST OR WHAT, WHATEVER THAT THREE MONTH DATE WOULD BE THAT A DECISION MUST BE MADE ON A, ON A, ON A DIFFERENT PERSON OR, OKAY.
WELL, IF IT'S MID JANUARY, IT NECESSARILY AS PRACTICAL.
IT'S MID JANUARY, BUT WE'RE SAYING WE'RE PUTTING AN EMPHASIS ON DOING IT EXPEDITIOUSLY.
SOME I DO ADD, I HAVE CONCERN AROUND, UH, RUSHING THROUGH IT AND, AND COMING IN WITH A WHOLE NOTHER CHANGE, CONSIDERING ALL OF EVERY THING.
UM, THE DISTRICT HAS BEEN THROUGH FROM PANDEMIC TO THE LEARNING, THE WAY LEARNING HAS BEEN IMPACTED, ET CETERA.
AND THEN A LEADERSHIP CHANGE REAL QUICK IS CONCERNING TO ME.
BUT IF THE MOTION DOES NOT DICTATE THAT, BAM, WE SWITCHING GEARS AGAIN, THEN I'M OKAY WITH IT.
OKAY, MR. GUERRERA ARE YOU ON THE LINE?
I AM HERE, BUT I DON'T KNOW THAT YOU CAN HEAR IT.
WE CAN ANSWER WAIT, DUDE, TO GET FROM, EXCEPT THAT YOU CAN SPEAK NOW, SIR.
YOU NEED TO TURN THE VOLUME UP.
UM, I DON'T KNOW THAT YOU CAN HEAR ME.
UM, SO IT SOUNDS VERY GOOD THROUGH THE MICROPHONE
[02:30:01]
ON MY LAPTOP.I DON'T KNOW IF, WHAT I'M SAYING IS LEGIBLE TO SAY, TH THIS IS NOT WORKING.
WE'RE GONNA JUST HAVE TO PUNT AND, AND MOVE FORWARD.
WE CAN HEAR WE'RE BEING FOILED BY TECHNOLOGY.
IS IT THE WILL OF THE BOARD TO TRY TO CONTINUE TO MAKE CONTACT OR JUST GO FORWARD? YEAH, I MEAN, COULD YOU KNOW, I HATE TO BE, UH, OLD SCHOOL, BUT COULD WE JUST CALL THEM ON A CELL PHONE AND PUT IT AT THE MICROPHONE IN REAL TIME YOU ASKED MS. JONES, COULD WE JUST CALL ON THE CELL PHONE AND PUT THEM, THANK YOU.
HOW ABOUT A 10 CANON ASTRAY? THE EXTRA MICROPHONE.
SO MY SPEAKING PERIOD TIN CAN, I THINK I HEARD MR.
UH, BUT ANYWAY, UM, IT'S GOOD TO SEE EVERYBODY VIRTUALLY, I CAN SEE YOU ON YOUTUBE.
I ATTEMPTED TO JOIN TEAMS AS WELL AS MY COLLEAGUE.
UM, MR. FRALEY, BUT IN A QUICK RECAP, UH, WHAT WAS STATED IN THE LETTER THAT I SUBMITTED TO THE BOARD FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION THIS EVENING? ISN'T THE TRUE.
UM, SO IF YOU WEREN'T TO TAKE INTO ACCOUNT OF FULL LENGTHY SEARCH UNDER OUR, UNDER OUR PROCESS, UH, THE PROCESS WOULD GENERALLY TAKE FIVE MONTHS.
UM, AND SO IN THIS CASE, SINCE WE'VE ALREADY CONDUCTED THE COMMUNITY STAKEHOLDER MEETINGS, THE STAFF MEETINGS, THE STUDENT MEETINGS, UH, WE WOULDN'T HAVE TO DO THAT AGAIN SINCE WE JUST RECENTLY CONCLUDED THOSE MEETINGS.
SO THAT WOULD LEAD US THROUGH, LEAVE US WITH THREE FULL MONTHS TO CONCLUDE THE SERVE.
SO IF IT'S THE ROLE OF THE BOARD TO NAME A LONE FINALIST PRIOR TO THE NEW SCHOOL YEAR, EXCUSE ME, THE NEW CALENDAR YEAR BY DECEMBER 31ST, WE CAN CERTAINLY DO THAT WITHOUT COMPROMISING QUALITY OF THE SEARCH.
SO I THINK THAT'S ALL I WANT TO SAY IN TERMS OF OPTION A VERSUS OPTION B.
UM, BUT AS ALWAYS, WE REPRESENT THE WILL OF THE BOARD.
SO IF IT'S THE WILL OF THE BOARD TO EXTEND THE EXECUTIVE SEARCH BEYOND JANUARY 1ST THROUGH FEBRUARY, AS INDICATED IN OPTION B, WE COULD CERTAINLY DO THAT AS WELL.
AND MR. GUERRERA, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU WERE BEING ABLE TO LISTEN, BUT WE HAVE AMENDED THE MOTION TO SAY WE WILL CONDUCT THE SEARCH AS EXPEDITIOUSLY AS POSSIBLE.
I THINK IT'S THE WORDS WE USE.
AND SO WE'RE NOT PUTTING A TIMEFRAME ON IT, BUT WE'RE DEFINITELY MOVING TOWARD THE OPTION ONE AS QUICKLY AS WE CAN WITHOUT LOCKING IN THE DATE.
I WAS ONLY ABLE, ONLY ABLE TO CATCH PART OF THAT ON, SORRY.
I HATE TO HAVE YOU REPEAT YOURSELF.
YOU REPEAT WHAT YOU JUST SAID, WE HAVE AMENDED IT.
WHY DON'T YOU JUST TELL THEM WE'VE AMENDED THE POACHING.
SO WE'VE AMENDED THE MOTION TO SAY A FRIENDLY AMENDMENT TO AUTHORIZED J D CONSULTING TO CONDUCT THE SEARCH FOR THE SUPERINTENDENT AS SOON AS PRACTICAL.
SO WE CAN BE NIMBLE AND AGILE IN THIS.
SO AS SOON AS PRACTICAL, I THINK COULD BE INTERPRETED IN A NUMBER OF WAYS.
SO IF IT NEEDS TO BE, UM, A LATER DATE PILE MEANS WE CAN DO THAT IF IT'S SOONER, RATHER THAN LATER, THAT WE'LL ALIGN OUR TIMETABLE TO THE WILL OF THE BOARD.
UM, ARE THERE, I LOST THE THREAD OF THE THING.
I DO NOT SEE ANY COMMENTS FOR SOLANA.
[02:35:01]
IT WAS YOU UP NEXT? YES.MR. LANDIS, I JUST WANT TO SAY FOR THE RECORD, I THINK THE CONSENSUS OF EVERYBODY THAT CAME TO THE MIC TONIGHT WAS THAT THE TRANSPARENCY OF THE LAST SEARCH WAS NOT DONE IN FULL AND NOT WAS NOT DONE IN A WAY WHERE THE COMMUNITY FELT LIKE THEIR VOICES ARE FULLY HEARD.
SO I DON'T NOT THINK THAT WE SHOULD RUSH A SEARCH IF WE ARE GOING TO GO THROUGH WITH IT, ESPECIALLY WITH THE LANGUAGE FOR THE NEXT ITEM, READING THAT WE GIVE THE NEXT SUPER OR THE INTERIM SUPERINTENDENT SIX MONTHS.
I THINK THAT WE NEED TO GO AHEAD AND LET THE FULL PROCESS TAKE PLACE.
SO EVERYBODY HAS A VOICE AND A SEAT AT THE TABLE TO TALK ABOUT HOW THEY FEEL ABOUT OUR NEXT SUPERINTENDENT AND WHO THAT PERSON SHOULD BE BY CUTTING THEIR VOICES OUT.
I CAN PROMISE YOU, WE ARE SETTING OURSELVES UP FOR FAILURE AND THEY WILL MAKE SURE THAT THEIR VOICES ARE HEARD DURING THAT TIRE PROCESS.
I JUST ALSO WANT TO SAY FOR THE RECORD, THAT AGAIN, NEXT MONTH WE HAVE A WEEK OFF IN DECEMBER, WE HAVE TWO WEEKS OFF.
THAT'S ALMOST A MONTH THAT WE WERE GOING TO LOSE IN THAT PROCESS.
SO AGAIN, WE NEED TO GO WITH THE FULL THING RATHER THAN TRYING TO CUT A SHORT, THANK YOU.
ARE THERE ANY OTHER COMMENTS FROM THE BOARD? I DID NOT SEE ANYONE ON THE SCHEDULE.
I DON'T WANT ANYTHING TO BE MISCONSTRUED ABOUT THE MOTION AND IT'S ON THE SECOND ON IT, BUT I, I'M NOT SUGGESTING.
AND I AGREE WITH MY COLLEAGUE, MR. LANICE, I DON'T WANT TO RUSH IT, BUT I JUST DON'T WANT TO DELAY IT.
I WANT TO MAKE SURE WE GET THE INPUT THAT WE NEED.
I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE GET THE REVIEW THAT WE NEED.
I JUST, WITH THE VERY THING THAT MR HAS TALKED ABOUT WITH THE HOLIDAYS, I THINK IT'S GOING TO CREATE GREAT CHALLENGES FOR US ANYWAY, BETWEEN THANKSGIVING, BETWEEN CHRISTMAS.
UM, AND THEN REALLY FRANKLY, EVERYTHING SHUTS DOWN.
SO I AM BY NO MEANS SUGGESTING BY MY MOTION.
AND I DON'T THINK MR. BALLOU IS EITHER THAT WE RUSHED THE PROJECT.
WE JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE DELIBERATE ABOUT IT.
ANY OTHER BOARD COMMENTS SEEING NONE? WE WILL GO TO THE AUDIENCE COMMENTS FROM THE AUDIENCE, EVERYONE SIERRA HART, EIGHTH GRADE LOUISIANA HISTORY TEACHER AND DIRECTOR OF ORGANIZING AND STRATEGY FOR THE SOUTH LOUISIANA COALITION FOR EDUCATION ALSO KNOWN AS SLICE.
I LIKE TO ECHO MR. ATLANTA'S HIS COMMENTS CONCERNING THE TIMEFRAME SPECIFICALLY MIRRORING WHAT, UM, MR. GREG HAS SAID CONCERNING THE SEARCH THAT THEY WOULD UTILIZE THE SAME COMMUNITY INPUT AS BEFORE.
SO THE WHOLE ENTIRE PROCESS WOULDN'T HAVE TO BE REPEATED.
LET'S PUT A POINT OF CLARIFICATION FOR THAT.
WE CAN'T UTILIZE THE SAME SURVEY DATA OR COMMUNITY INPUT FROM MONTHS AGO.
THERE ARE SO MANY THINGS THAT HAVE CHANGED IN THAT TIME PERIOD, WHETHER IT'S COVID RACE RELATIONS AMONGST ALL THE OTHER ISSUES THAT THE BOARD HAS CONSISTENTLY, UM, DEALT WITH AS WELL AS THE FACT THAT STUDENTS WILL JUST BE RETURNING TO SCHOOL NEXT WEEK, COMBINED WITH THANKSGIVING BREAK, WINTER BREAK, REALLY GETTING COMMUNITY INPUT.
IT IS VITAL THAT THIS PROCESS IS DONE, RIGHT? AND IT WILL BE A DISSERVICE TO STUDENTS.
IF YOU ARE NOT GOING TO CONSIDER THE POOL OF APPLICANTS THAT WAS ALREADY IN PLACE, AND YOU'RE GOING TO REDO THE PROCESS, THEN REDO IT IN A WAY WHERE THE COMMUNITY CAN ACTUALLY BE INVOLVED, ESPECIALLY KNOWING THAT WE ARE STILL DEALING WITH BECOMING ACCLIMATED, TO BEING AT A PANDEMIC, AS WELL AS TRYING TO GET AS MUCH COMMUNITY INPUT AS POSSIBLE.
NOT ONLY OF WHOEVER COMES INTO THIS POSITION, BUT FOR THE SUCCESS OF THIS BOARD, THAT COMMUNITY INPUT IS YOUR NUMBER ONE PRIORITY, BECAUSE THAT IS HOW YOU TRULY UNDERSTAND WHAT OUR STUDENTS NEED AND RUSHING THIS PROCESS FOR.
UM, WHATEVER GAME IS NOT GOING TO BE THE RESULT THAT WE NEED, ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU HAVE COMMUNITY MEMBERS WHO HAVE MADE IT CLEAR THAT WE HAVE A VESTED INTEREST AND UNDERSTANDING WHO OUR NEXT LEADERSHIP WILL BE, AS WELL AS HOW WE CAN INFORM THAT PROCESS.
SO PLEASE LET'S MAKE A CLARIFICATION POINT ON HOW COMMUNITY INPUT WILL BE RECEIVED AND THAT COMMUNICATION NEEDS TO BE TRANSPARENT IN WAYS THAT IT WAS NOT BEFORE.
AND I AM, AND AGAIN, I'M A LITTLE CONFUSED BECAUSE I THOUGHT THE FIRST RESOLUTION TO CONDUCT A SEARCH FAILED.
AND SO I DON'T UNDERSTAND THEN WHY YOU WOULD BE HIRING AFFIRM OR, OR, YOU KNOW, REENGAGING WITH THE FIRM TO THEN CONDUCT A SEARCH.
I WOULD THINK YOU WOULD JUST BE ADVERTISING AND THAT, THAT WOULD BE THE, THE GROUNDS OF IT.
BUT, UM, REGARDLESS OF THAT, I WOULD SAY THAT I AM SKEPTICAL OF RELYING ON A SEARCH FIRM.
I THINK IT ACTUALLY DIMINISHES THE SORT OF WILL OF THE PEOPLE YOU GUYS ARE THE ELECTED CONSTITUENTS,
[02:40:01]
THE ELECTED REPRESENTATIVES, AND IT IS YOUR JUDGMENT.AND WITH THE LAST SEARCH, WE COULD SEE THE WAY IN WHICH THE PROCESS APPEARED TO BE, UM, FOR LACK OF A BETTER WORD, GAMED TO RE, TO END UP WITH TWO CANDIDATES THAT WERE, UM, MAYBE TWO SIDES OF THE SAME COIN AND NOT REALLY REPRESENTATIVE OF THE WILL OF THE PEOPLE AND THE IMMEDIATE STAKEHOLDERS, PARENTS AND TEACHERS.
AND SO, UM, AND THEN ON TOP OF THAT WITH JG CONSULTING, AS I MENTIONED BEFORE, UH, THE, UH, CEO OF THAT FIRM HAS PUBLICLY DECLARED HIMSELF AN EDUCATION REFORMER.
HE HAS NO EDUCATION BACKGROUND, HE HAS AN MBA.
AND SO I THINK IT, UM, TAINTS THE PROCESS BY SUGGESTING THAT THE RESULTS OF HIS SEARCH FIRM ARE GOING TO BE PRIVILEGING THAT BUSINESS COMMUNITIES, UM, IDEAS FOR WHAT'S BEST FOR OUR PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM, WHICH IS NOT NECESSARILY IN LINE WITH PARENTS AND TEACHERS.
SO, UM, I HOPE YOU WILL NOT ACCEPT JGS PROPOSAL AND WE CAN THEN MOVE ON TO THE QUESTION AND AGAIN, THANK YOU.
THIS PROCESS HAS BEEN TAINTED FROM THE MOMENT THE RFP WENT OUT THROUGH THE PURCHASING DEPARTMENT.
IF YOU WANT TO CONDUCT A SEARCH, FIND A QUALIFIED SEARCH FIRM, AS NICE AS IT IS FOR POLITE LOUISIANA FOLKS TO BE GENTLE WITH THE INCOMPETENT MR. GREER DEMONSTRATED THIS EVENING THAT HE'S NOT QUALIFIED TO FIND THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE OF HALF A BILLION DOLLAR A YEAR FIRM FOR WHOM 40,000 KIDS, DEPENDING ON THEIR FUTURES APPOINTED INTERIM SUPERINTENDENT ON THE NEXT ITEM.
DON'T DON'T WASTE ANY MORE TIME, GOING DOWN THE ROAD WITH JG, IF YOU WANT A SEARCH FIRM, FIND A SEARCH FIRM, THAT'S QUALIFIED TO DO THIS WORK.
IF YOU WANT TO DO IT IN HOUSE, THAT'S FINE.
BUT THIS PROCESS HAS BEEN TAINTED EVER SINCE THAT RFP ONLY GOT THE TWO UNQUALIFIED RESPONSES.
THERE MUST BE SEARCH FIRMS IN THE WORLD, THE CONFINED QUALIFIED EDUCATIONAL LEADERS.
ARE THERE ANY OTHER, OH YES, SIR.
EVEN THEN AGAIN, I'M DEVIN, RIGHT.
UH, I SPEAK AT THIS TIME JUST AS A PERSONAL AND PRIVATE CITIZEN, I'M CONCERNED BECAUSE, UH, THERE WAS A RESOLUTION BEFORE THE BOARD, UH, THAT WOULD TAKE US OUT OF ALL OF THE BACK AND FORTH NOW CONCERNING THE TIMELINE, UH, TO BE ABLE TO LOOK AT THE POOL OF CANDIDATES THAT WERE ALREADY BROUGHT FORWARD, UH, AND BECAUSE OF SOME LOGISTICS THAT THAT PARTICULAR MOTION WAS NOT, UH, ABLE TO BE CARRIED FORWARD.
UH, BUT IT DOES BRING US EXACTLY TO THIS POINT THAT I THINK THOSE MEMBERS WHO BROUGHT THE RESOLUTION FORWARD, UH, WE'RE TRYING TO GET, UH, GET US PAST TO SAY THAT, UH, AS I APPRECIATE IT AND I CAN BE CORRECTED, CERTAINLY, BUT AS I APPRECIATE THE, UH, THE LAWS CONCERNING AN INTERIM SUPERINTENDENT, WE CAN'T APPOINT AN INTERIM SUPERINTENDENT FOR MORE THAN SIX MONTHS, UH, FROM, FROM MY UNDERSTANDING OF IT.
SO AS YOU'RE GOING TO, EVEN IF YOU GO THROUGH TONIGHT AND, AND APPOINT AN INTERIM SUPERINTENDENT, WE'RE IN A TIGHT SIX MONTH TIMELINE, SO THEN TO GO BACK AND SAY, WELL, LET'S MAKE SURE WE DO A FULL SEARCH AND MAKE SURE THAT IT IS LENGTHY MIXER OR NOT LENGTHY, BUT MAKE SURE THAT IT IS THOROUGH.
IF IT PUTS US BEYOND SIX MONTHS, THEN WE'VE GOT OTHER ISSUES THERE.
RIGHT? WE ALSO HAVE A BOARD MEMBER WHO'S CURRENTLY RUNNING FOR METRO COUNCIL.
I'M CONCERNED THAT IF SHE WINS, WHAT DOES THAT LOOK LIKE FOR THE BOARD, UH, IN A VOTING PROCESS, IF IT LEAVES YOU WITH EIGHT MEMBERS AND YOUR GRIDLOCK, WHAT DOES THAT MEAN FOR US? WHAT DOES THAT MEAN FOR THE CONSTITUENTS OF DISTRICT FOUR THAT MAY NOT HAVE REPRESENTATION THEN IN THAT VOTE? I THINK THAT ALL OF THOSE THINGS MUST BE CONSIDERED AND MAYBE YOU ALL SHOULD GO BACK.
I KNOW LINKEDIN MEETING, BUT MAYBE GO BACK TO CONSIDER WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE FOR A POOL OF APPLICANTS THAT AT ONE POINT YOU FELT WERE COMPETENT ENOUGH TO MAKE IT, UH, FROM THE INITIAL 20 OR SO THAT WERE THERE AND BROUGHT DOWN TO FOUR.
AND I DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU WOULD HAVE TO DO TO BE ABLE TO GET BACK TO THAT POINT.
BUT WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THIS TIMELINE, AGAIN, THERE ARE SO MANY OTHER MITIGATING FACTORS THAT ARE GOING TO PUSH THIS FURTHER, THAT YOU'LL HAVE TO CONSIDER THEN AND CROSSING BRIDGES WHEN WE GET THERE IS NOT FAIR TO EDUCATORS, TO PARENTS, TO STUDENTS.
[02:45:01]
BELIEVE THAT ANY OF YOU REALLY WANT TO GO THROUGH THE ENTIRE LENGTH OF THAT PROCESS AGAIN.SO WE JUST GOT TO DEAL WITH THAT.
I JUST WANTED TO BRING THAT UP.
SOMETIMES WE ALLOW COMMON SENSE TO BE FLEETING FOR WHATEVER REASON.
THANK YOU NEXT WHILE I'M NOT IN FAVOR OF USING JG CONSULTING, IF YOU'RE GOING TO DO A SEARCH AND IT WOULD APPEAR THAT IF WE'RE GOING TO DO THE SEARCH, IT MAY TAKE APPROXIMATELY SIX MONTHS THEN IN THE POSITION OF HAVING TO PLACE AN INTERIM BEFORE AND THEN HAVING TO CONDUCT A SEARCH, I SEARCH CAN BE ADEQUATELY DONE.
I WOULD SAY PROBABLY BETWEEN FOUR AND SIX MONTHS.
I WOULD RECOMMEND THAT SINCE YOU CANNOT HAVE AN INTERIM LONGER THAN SIX MONTHS, THAT PERHAPS THE MOTION SHOULD CONSIDER NOT TO EXCEED THE SIX MONTH PERIOD, UM, AS AN OPTION.
UM, ADDITIONALLY, I THINK IT IS CLEAR FROM THE COMMENTS THAT IF WE'RE NOT GOING TO NAME A SUPERINTENDENT TONIGHT, BECAUSE WE CANNOT, THEN PERHAPS WE SHOULD BE MOVING FORWARD WITH A SEARCH.
WE HAVE ALREADY CONCLUDED FROM THE COMMENTS THAT IT APPEARS THAT MORE FOLKS ARE IN FAVOR OR THEY SEARCH OPPOSED TO USING OR SELECTING FROM THE FOUR TOP CANDIDATES.
NEXT GREAT NIGHT FOR SOME REASON OR ANOTHER, WE JUST DON'T GET MY TIME.
BUT, UM, HOPEFULLY WE GONNA GET THIS SUPERINTENDENT, RIGHT.
UM, I'M COMING UP HERE BECAUSE WE HAVE FOUR CANDIDATES THAT WE HAD IN THE TOP FIVE.
ONE OF THEM IS OUR NUMBER TWO WITH LDL.
SO I'M QUITE SURE SHE DON'T WANT TO COME BACK.
YOU DIDN'T WANT HER, UM, THE, WE HAD TIFFANY NIKIA TOWNS, EDWARD TO HAVE LITIGATION AGAINST HER IN CHATTANOOGA.
I DON'T THINK WE WANT HER CONSIDERING THAT WE WOULD END UP SUING HER TO ME, FOR EXAMPLE.
UM, I DON'T THINK WE WANT MIKE POLLUTED CAUSE, UM, HE'S BEEN RAN OUT OF PLACES THAT HE'S BEEN, AND HE CATERS TO SPECIAL INTERESTS AND HE'S HAD LITIGATION TOO.
AND MARSHALL TUCK, THE LAST ONE WHO HAS, UH, WHO HAS DONE A LOT OF CIVIL RIGHTS VIOLATIONS.
AND IT WAS RAN OUT FROM THE LAST SCHOOL SYSTEM THAT HE DEALT WITH AS WELL.
HE SAID HE HAS PENDING LITIGATION.
SO I DON'T THINK THAT WE HAVE ANYONE UP THERE THAT WE COULD ACTUALLY CONSIDER OTHER THAN MR. SMITH.
HE'S THE ONLY ONE THAT IS FREE FROM LITIGATION.
THE REST OF Y'ALL NOT, HE IS, HE'S THE ONLY ONE THAT'S FREE FROM LITIGATION.
AND I'M SO HAPPY THAT, UM, THAT THE SIR, THE, UH, MR BEFORE ME ACTUALLY SPOKE ABOUT COMMON SENSE, IF WE'RE GOING TO USE COMMON SENSE, OR IF WE'RE GOING TO USE SOME PSYCHOLOGY, LIKE HOW, LIKE MANSLOW HIERARCHY OF NEEDS.
ONE OF THE THINGS WE NEED IS AIR AND WATER, BUT WE ALSO NEED GREAT LEADERSHIP.
AND I JUST DON'T SEE US CHOOSING THE ONES THAT I JUST SPOKE ABOUT THAT HAVE ALL THIS PENDING LITIGATION CAUSE THEIR FAILED LIP THEY'RE FAILED LEADERSHIP CAPABILITIES, BUT WE DO HAVE ONE THAT IS FREE FROM ALL OF THOSE BLEMISHES.
SO WHY WOULD WE KEEP TRYING TO GO A FAR AND A YONDER FOR SOMETHING THAT WE HAD ACTUALLY CAN USE COMMON SENSE.
SO I'M GOING TO ASK THIS BOARD OUT OF ALL OF Y'ALL THAT ARE SITTING UP HERE, HOW MANY OF Y'ALL ACTUALLY HAVE A CHILD IN THIS SCHOOL DISTRICT RAISE HAND, JUST ME UP AND GRANDCHILD.
HOW MANY MR. SMITH CHILDREN WERE EDUCATED IN THIS SCHOOL SYSTEM? THE ONE THAT HE'S UP HERE TRYING TO BE THE LEADER FOR WHY DO WE KEEP TRYING TO BASH OUR HEADS AGAINST THE WALL, BUT SOMETHING THAT MAKES SENSE, MS. DYSON DEAL WITH MENTAL HEALTH.
WHAT Y'ALL DOING IS NOTHING SHORT OF INSANITY.
Y'ALL NEED TO, WE'RE ASKING FOR STRAIGHT JACKETS NOW FOR OUR SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS, BECAUSE WE'RE NOT USING COMMON SENSE.
WE'RE NOT USING ANYTHING THAT WE'RE SUPPOSED TO BE EDUCATING AND TEACHING THESE CHILDREN TO DO.
SO I'M ASKING IF WE'RE GOING TO LEAD BY EXAMPLE, THEN WOULDN'T THE EXAMPLE BE TO HAVE THE ONE PERSON THAT IS BLEMISHED FREE THAT HAS CONTINUED TO LEAD OUR SCHOOL SYSTEM.
EVEN WITH OUR SUPERINTENDENT WHO GOT, YOU KNOW, LESLIE BROWN, YOU'RE A DEFINITELY IN MY PRAYERS IS, IS A DETERIORATING IN HEALTH, BUT THIS OR HERE IS HERE, HE'S DOING THE JOB.
SO WHY SHOULD WE CONTINUE TO PULL SOMEBODY FROM OUTSIDE OF OUR STATE? BECAUSE HISTORY HAS SHOWN US THAT EVERY SINGLE TIME WE GET SOMEONE THAT IS NOT WITHIN OUR SCHOOL DISTRICT, WE COME RIGHT BACK TO THIS SAME EXACT THING, THE SAME EXACT PROBLEM THAT WE HAVE RIGHT NOW.
SO I'M ASKING SINCE WE'RE ONE,
[02:50:01]
ONE SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER SHORT.NOW, CAN WE PLEASE GO AHEAD AND DO WHAT'S RIGHT FOR THE SAKE OF MY CHILD AND THE MORE THAN 4,000 CHILDREN IN OUR ESS DEPARTMENT THAT NEED REAL TRUE LEADERSHIP AND THE PERSON THAT'S GOING TO MAKE SURE THAT MS. ELIZABETH TAYLOR, CHATMAN AND PATRICE HUTSON NEVER DO ANY MORE WRONG TO OUR CHILDREN WITH DISABILITIES.
CAN WE PLEASE GO AHEAD AND LET HIM STAY IN THAT SEAT PERMANENTLY? AND YEAH, MY CLOCK, MY CLOCK STILL RUNNING, THEY SAY 55.
NO, THE RED COMES ON THAT'S WELL, Y'ALL GOTTA FIX Y'ALL CLOCK.
THAT'S NOT MY FAULT, BUT I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE YOU UNDERSTOOD THAT MR. GALL DAY, YOU KNOW, I COME TO YOUR HOUSE, ME AND MY CHILD, AND WE'LL SIT THERE AND DO VIRTUAL EDUCATION NEXT GOOD EVENING BOARD IS GOOD TO SEE MOSTLY ALL AGAIN.
UM, DAN HOSPITAL GOT COVID SO IT'S BEEN REAL FOR THE FAMILY.
SO I'VE SAID A LOT IT'S BEEN GOING ON, BUT I JUST WANTED TO ADD WITH THE SUPERINTENDENT SEARCH FIRM.
WHEN WE GO OUT THERE AND SEARCH, CAN WE GET A CANDIDATE THAT HAS SOME TEACHING EXPERIENCE? IT'S IMPORTANT TO UNDERSTAND WHAT A CLASSROOM IS.
IT'S GREAT TO BE A BUSINESS LEADER.
THERE'S NOTHING AGAINST BUSINESS.
UM, WHAT WE NEED TO SERVE THESE CHILDREN IS SOMEBODY THAT UNDERSTANDS WHAT IT'S LIKE IN A CLASSROOM.
WHEN YOU PUT SOMEBODY IN CHARGE OF A SCHOOL SYSTEM, OUR SIZE THAT DOESN'T KNOW WHAT A TEACHER IS THAT DOESN'T KNOW WHAT AN ADMINISTRATOR IS.
IT NEEDS TO BE IN OUR SEARCH CRITERIA.
A LOT OF ED, ED REFORMERS LOVE TO COME IN HERE AND SAY, LET'S GET SOMEBODY FROM THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY AND LET'S RUN IT LIKE A BUSINESS.
THIS IS HER EDUCATION AND HER FUTURE.
IT IS IMPORTANT TO ME AS A PARENT.
IT'S IMPORTANT TO ME AS AN EDUCATOR, MY WIFE IS A PARENT AND EDUCATOR.
WE BOTH IN YOUR SYSTEM, SEND OUR CHILD TO YOUR SYSTEM.
THAT AN EDUCATOR IS WHAT WE NEED IN THIS SYSTEM.
THEY UNDERSTAND WHAT GOES ON IN MY DAILY LIFE.
WHEN I GO INTO THAT CLASSROOM, THEY UNDERSTAND WHAT'S HAPPENING AT THE SCHOOL LEVEL.
AS AN ADMINISTRATOR, YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND THAT FULLY.
IF YOU COME IN WITH A BUSINESS DEGREE AND YOU SPEND A COUPLE YEARS AS A ASSISTANT SUPERINTENDENT, YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND THAT YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND ABOUT BUILDING THE RELATIONSHIPS.
THE FIRST YEAR AND SECOND YEAR I HAVE TEACHING.
I DON'T HAVE THE SAME RELATIONSHIPS.
YOU UNDERSTAND THAT? JUST LAST YEAR I TAUGHT SOMEBODY THAT I HAD TAUGHT HER SISTER AND COACHED HER BROTHER BEFORE THAT'S RELATIONSHIPS, TEACHERS AND ADMINISTRATORS AND PEOPLE WHO ARE IN EDUCATION.
THEY UNDERSTAND HOW IMPORTANT THAT IS.
SO WE NEED SOMEBODY WITH A REAL BACKGROUND IN EDUCATION, NOT, HEY, I CAME OVER AND I SPENT A COUPLE YEARS IN SOME TRAINING PROGRAM TO MAKE IT LOOK LIKE I'M IN EDUCATION.
ARE THERE ANY OTHER COMMENTS FROM THE IN PERSON, AUDIENCE SEEING NONE? I WILL GO TO THE, UH, INTERNET AND MADAM SECRETARY, PLEASE MAKE SURE I CATCH ALL OF THEM.
UH, THIS IS FROM FRANCIS NORMAN, MY NIECES AND NEPHEWS, AS WELL AS MANY OF MY FRIENDS WHO ARE EDUCATORS IN THE EDRP SCHOOL SYSTEM HAVE BEEN VERY UPSET AT THE LACK OF LEADERSHIP AVAILABLE DURING THIS MAJOR TRANSITIONARY PERIOD, ADAM SMITH HAS ALREADY BEEN DOING THE JOB OF INTERIM SUPERINTENDENT AS WELL AS BEING SUPPORTIVE AND UNDERSTANDING OF THE CONCERNS OF FACULTY, STAFF, AND PARENTS.
I URGE THE BOARD TO LISTEN TO THEIR CONSTITUENTS AND APPOINT SOMEONE WITH EXPERIENCE NECESSARY.
FOR THESE INTERESTING TIMES, WE LIVE IN FROM CASSANDRA BEVERLEY.
I AM A RETIRED EBR EDUCATOR WITH A GRANDSON AND AN EBR SCHOOL.
I'M ASKING THE BOARD TO GIVE SERIOUS CONSIDERATION TO MR. ADAM SMITH.
THE SUPERINTENDENT MR. SMITH HAS CLIMBED THE RANKS FROM LEADING FROM TEACHING STUDENT TEACHING TO INTERIM SUPERINTENDENT FOR TOO LONG.
WE HAVE HIRED OUTSIDERS AND MAY HAVE EXPERIENCED, BUT REALLY DON'T KNOW WHAT THE SYSTEM ENTAILS.
AND RIGHT NOW TIME IS NOT ON OUR SIDE.
WE HAVE QUALIFIED LEADERS RIGHT HERE AT HOME.
LET'S NOT WASTE ANYMORE TIME OR MONEY FROM STORM MATTHEWS.
I BELIEVE THAT THE PICTURES AND COMMENTS THAT HAVE SURFACED SINCE THE SEARCH ENDED PROOF, FURTHERMORE, THE ETHICS VIOLATION THAT TOOK PLACE DURING THE SEARCH FROM JASMINE POGUE.
I AGREE WITH MR. LANICE, THE PUBLIC WILL BE VERY UPSET IF WE RUSH THIS PROCESS.
IF THE INTERIM IS SIX MONTHS LESS THAN LET'S DO A FULL SIX MONTHS AND GET A FULL SEARCH, WE
[02:55:01]
NEED TO REDO COMMUNITY INPUT.SIERRA SAID, THINGS HAVE CHANGED SINCE LAST YEAR.
ARE THERE ANY OTHER COMMENTS YOU SEE? UH, OKAY.
UH, FROM NAO PATEL, JUST MOMENTS AGO, WE HEARD FROM BERT BOARD MEMBERS IN THE PUBLIC THAT WE SHOULD SWIFTLY NAME A PERMANENT SUPERINTENDENT.
NOW THE BOARD THINKS THEY CAN WAIT THREE, FIVE OR SIX MONTHS OR LONGER BEFORE NAMING A PERMANENT SUPERINTENDENT.
AS I MENTIONED BEFORE, I BELIEVE EVERY CHILD DESERVES A GREAT EDUCATION.
AND WITHOUT AN UNDERSTANDING BOLD, INNOVATIVE LEADER, WE'RE LEAVING OUR CHILDREN WITH THE EIGHT YEAR STATUS QUO.
THESE STUDENTS DESERVE OUR ATTENTION TODAY.
NOT IN THE FUTURE, IN MY OPINION IS UNACCEPTABLE.
GIVEN THIS CRISIS WE FACE RIGHT NOW, WE HAVE NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED SUBURB CANDIDATES THAT WERE JUST PRAISED BY THIS BOARD FOLKS AROUND THE COUNTRY.
WE WOULD LIKE TO HAVE THEM IN THEIR COMMUNITIES, BUT YET YOU BELIEVE THERE'S A HERO HIDING IN THE WINGS THAT WOULD MISSED JUST A COUPLE OF SHORT MONTHS AGO.
I DO NOT BELIEVE CONDUCTING THE SEARCH AT THIS TIME IS APPROPRIATE OR PRUDENT PARENTS AND TEACHERS ARE SUFFERING, BUT STUDENTS ARE THE VICTIM TONIGHT.
STUDENTS, STUDENTS, STUDENTS, LESLIE CHILD, LESLIE CIAO, THE WHITE BOARD MEMBERS JUST PROVED THAT THEY CARE MORE ABOUT RACE THAN ANYTHING ELSE.
THE COMMENT MADE THROUGHOUT DR.
TOWNS AND MRS. BROWN SEARCH WAS, I WISH WE COULD CHOOSE THEM BOTH.
AND YOU'RE GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY AND YOU DID NOT DO WHAT YOU SAID.
HOW DO YOU THINK THAT LOOKS AT OUR CHILDREN? IT LOOKS LIKE THESE WHITE BOARD MEMBERS LIE AND ONLY CARE ABOUT RACIAL LINES WHEN VOTING A SUPERINTENDENT DOES NOT NEED AN EDUCATOR'S BACKGROUND TO LEAD A DISTRICT.
THEY NEED A BACKGROUND TO LIVE, TO LEAD.
PLEASE READ THE BACKGROUND OF DR.
TOWNS AND I SEE NO OTHERS IS THAT MADAM SECRETARY, IS THAT ALL I'VE JUST REFRESHED.
I SEE NO MORE UNDER THE, OF LET'S SEE, ON THE LIST MS. COLLINS, OR IS THAT FROM THE PAST? IT WAS FROM ALMOST 20 MINUTES AGO.
SO IT MIGHT BE FROM THE PAST, OH, THAT WAS BEFORE YOU SPOKE SINCE THEN, IF IT'S FINE, WE WENT TO YOU BEFORE MR. GREER, BUT IF YOU HAVE MORE TO SAY, PLEASE FEEL FREE.
UM, I JUST DO WANT TO SAY THAT I, UH, SOME PEOPLE MAY REFERENCE TO SOME CONCERN ABOUT THIS PARTICULAR CONSULTING FIRM AND, UM, I DO SHARE THOSE SENTIMENTS.
UM, AND SO MY VOTE IS REFLECTIVE OF THAT CONCERN, NOT THE PROCESS GOING FORWARD ON THIS ITEM.
IT WAS, IT WAS TEAMS. THAT WAS AN ISSUE.
ARE THERE ANY OTHER COMMENTS FROM ANY OTHER BOARD MEMBERS? AND I DID GET A MESSAGE FROM MR. GUERRERA AND MS. JONES SAYING THAT IT WAS A TEAM ISSUE THAT THEY COULD NOT PULL IN AND IT WAS NOT A USER ERROR.
IT WAS A TEAM'S ISSUE, UH, CAUSE THEY KNOW HOW TO DO TEAM MEETINGS.
ARE THERE ANY OTHER COMMENTS FROM THE BOARD? MADAM SECRETARY HAS BEEN A LONG NIGHT AND A LONG LIST OF OUR COMMENTS.
SO COULD YOU JUST PLEASE REREAD THE MOTION, A FRIENDLY AMENDMENT TO AUTHORIZE JG CONSULTING, TO CONDUCT THE SEARCH FOR SUPERINTENDENT AS SOON AS PRACTICAL.
I JUST WANTED TO SAY THAT THE MOST IMPORTANT THING TO ME IS THAT WE CONDUCT A FAIR AND OPEN SEARCH AND I DON'T SEE THAT THERE WERE REALLY ANY PROBLEMS WITH THE PREVIOUS SEARCH.
WE DID CONDUCT ALL OF OUR MEETINGS VIRTUALLY WHEN COBRA CAME UP.
SO I'M IN SUPPORT OF THE MOTION.
ARE THERE ANY OTHER COMMENTS FROM ANY OTHER BOARD MEMBERS SEEING NONE? MADAM SECRETARY, PLEASE VOTE.
[03:00:02]
THE MOTION CARRIES.[I6. Appointment of an Interim Superintendent]
NOW WE MOVE ON TO ITEM I SIX CONSIDERATION OF REQUEST FOR THE APPROVAL OR THE APPOINTMENT OF AN INTERIM SUPERINTENDENT FOR MAXIMUM OF SIX MONTHS WITH SOMEONE LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION, THE FLOOR IS OPEN TO MAKE A MOTION, TO NOMINATE SOMEONE FOR INTERIM SUPERINTENDENT WITH SOMEONE LIKED TO MAKE A MOTION.MS. COLLINS, I WOULD LIKE TO NOMINATE ADAM SMITH.
SO WHAT IS, WHAT IS YOU WOULD LIKE TO MAKE THE MOTION TO APPOINT ADAM SMITH AS INTERIM SUPERINTENDENT FOR A PERIOD NOT TO EXCEED SIX MONTHS? YES.
THAT'S WHAT YOU'D LIKE TO SAY.
IS THERE A SECOND TO THAT MOTION A SECOND BY MR. HOWARD.
SO THE MOTION IS TO APPOINT MR. ADAM SMITH BY MS. COLLINS AND MR. HOWARD, MS. DYSON, YOU HAVE THE FLOOR.
UM, FIRST I'D LIKE TO SAY THAT, UM, I THINK WE WOULD BE REMISS AS WE'RE GOING THROUGH ALL OF THESE ITEMS TO NOT AS A BOARD, UM, SEND OUR, OUR, UM, PRAYERS UP FOR, UM, OUR PREVIOUS, MOST RECENT SUPERINTENDENT, LESLIE BROWN.
AND THAT, UM, AS YOU CAN TELL BY THE ITEMS TONIGHT, UM, YOU ARE GREATLY MISSED AND UM, WE JUST WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT.
AND, UM, ON, I ALSO WOULD LIKE TO TAKE THIS MOMENT TO EXPRESS MY DEEP RESPECT AND APPRECIATION TO OUR LEADERSHIP TEAM AND, UM, HOW YOU HAVE STEPPED UP DURING THIS CHALLENGING TIME AND, UH, DIVIDED, UM, RESPONSIBILITIES AND, UM, HOW MUCH THIS BOARD MEMBER APPRECIATES, HOW THAT HAS, UM, WORKED MOST EFFICIENTLY.
AND I REALLY, REALLY APPRECIATE EVERYONE FOR THAT.
AND I'D LIKE TO OFFER A SUBSTITUTE MOTION.
UM, AND THAT IS SHE, UM, SIMPLY REMAIN WITH LEADERSHIP AS IS AND DARING THIS SEARCH AND CONCENTRATE OUR FOCUS ON THE ULTIMATE GOAL OF HIRING OUR NEW SUPERINTENDENT.
UM, AND THEN I'D LIKE TO SAY THAT, YOU KNOW, IT'S, IT'S REALLY WORKED SO WELL AND I JUST COMMEND OUR TEAM AND I JUST DON'T SEE THAT WE GAIN ANYTHING BY CHANGING WHAT IS WORKING AND, AND IT'S NOT, I JUST THINK THAT THE LEAST DISRUPTION OR CHANGES RIGHT NOW THE BETTER.
AND I HOPE THAT EVERYONE UNDERSTANDS HOW MUCH WE APPRECIATE.
I JUST DON'T FEEL THAT IT'S IN ANYONE'S BEST INTEREST TO HAVE A CHANGE IN THAT, UH, STRUCTURE, REPORTING STRUCTURE, ALL OF THAT RIGHT NOW.
IT'S, IT'S, IT'S, IT'S ACTUALLY BEEN QUITE IMPRESSIVE TO SEE OUR TEAMS STEP UP.
SO TO BE, TO BE CLEAR, YOUR MOTION IS TO ALLOW TO, AND JUST TO REMAIN WITH LEADERSHIP AS IS AND CONCENTRATE OUR FOCUS ON THE ULTIMATE GOAL OF HIRING OUR NEW SUPERINTENDENT.
I, UM, I'LL BUT I'LL WAIT TILL WE GET THE MOTION STRAIGHT BEFORE I, BUT BEFORE WE CONSIDER THE SUBSTITUTE, I WANTED TO GET, UH, INPUT FROM COUNCIL ON ANY LEGAL CONSIDERATIONS.
WE DON'T HAVE A SECOND YET TO THE MOTION.
CAN YOU READ IT ONE MORE TIME? SURE.
AGAIN, THE SUBSTITUTE MOTION WOULD BE TO, FOR US TO REMAIN WITH THE LEADERSHIP AS IS CURRENTLY WITH, AND YOU COULD ADD WITH THE DIVIDED ROLES, UM, AND CONCENTRATE OUR FOCUS ON THE ULTIMATE GOAL OF HIRING OUR S OUR NEW SUPERINTENDENT AS, AND YOU CAN EVEN EX AS, AS EXPEDITIOUSLY AS POSSIBLE.
[03:05:21]
ARE YOU UP TO DATE WHY, WHILE YOU'RE GETTING THE EXACT WORDING, I HAVE A CALL FOR A SECOND.IS THERE A SECOND TO THE MOTION? I WILL SECOND THE MOTION.
SO THE MOTION ON THE FLOOR IS TO, WHILE SHE'S GETTING THE EXACT WORDING, THE MOTION CURRENTLY ON THE FLOOR IS TO NOT APPOINTED INTERIM AND REMAIN IN THE, IN THE, UH, LEADERSHIP STATUS THAT WE'RE IN, MS. COLLINS.
UM, BUT AT THIS THINK IT'S JUST BLATANTLY DISRESPECTFUL, UM, TO SAY THAT IT'S A GOOD IDEA TO PROCEED WITH TWO HEADS WHILE THERE HAS NOT BEEN DRAMA WHILE IT HAS BEEN GREAT TEAMWORK BETWEEN MR. SMITH AND MR. NICK CASE, YOU CAN'T KEEP GOING WITH TWO HEADS LIKE THIS FOR POTENTIALLY SIX MONTHS OFF, FOUR MONTHS OR THREE MONTHS.
THERE WILL BE A MOMENT WHERE IS GOING TO BE A NEED FOR AN ULTIMATE DECISION MAKER.
AND I DO NOT WANT TO SEE US GO THROUGH THE CHAOS OF WHAT IT WOULD LOOK LIKE SHOULD THAT MOMENT ARRIVES AND IT'S NOT NECESSARY, UM, TO DO SO.
THIS IS THE ADMIN, IT'S THIS NOT EVEN, UM, IT'S JUST NOT EVEN THE MOST EFFICIENT WAY FOR US TO SAY WE WANT TO MOVE FORWARD.
UM, AND I'LL, I'LL KEEP MY COMMENTS SIMPLE BECAUSE, AND, AND STOP AT THAT POINT, UH, BECAUSE, UH, MY TRUE FRUSTRATION IS LIKE THE SHOW IN I'M TRYING MY BEST.
FIRST I WANT TO SAY I HAVE A GRAVE AMOUNT OF RESPECT FOR BOTH MR. SMITH AND MR. NICK CASE, THE WAY YOU ALL HAVE SERVED DURING THIS ENTIRE PANDEMIC, OR SINCE THE SUPERINTENDENT HAD TO STEP DOWN, MY HAT GOES OFF TO YOU.
BUT WHAT I WILL SAY, AND WHAT I WILL PIGGYBACK ON IS THAT IT IS TIME TO SELECT SOMEONE TONIGHT, NOT TWO PEOPLE, BUT ONE, OUR DISTRICT NEEDS LEADERSHIP.
THAT'S NOT TAKING ANYONE IN AND PLACING THEM AND PUTTING THEM, OR GIVING THEM MORE AUTHORITY OVER THE OTHER.
BUT I THINK IT IS TIME THAT WE COME UP WITH A RIGHT SOLUTION TONIGHT, GIVE MR. SMITH AND THE OPPORTUNITY TO LEAD.
AND WHEN I GO ON DATING ALL THE WAY BACK TO THE SEARCH, SEVERAL MEMBERS CAME TO ME WHEN WE VOTED AND THE ONES THAT VOTED FOR MR. SMITH, THEY HAD NOTHING, BUT THE UTMOST THINGS TO SAY, GIVE HIM A SHOT, GIVE HIM AN OPPORTUNITY.
HE HAS DISPLAYED IT OVER 20 YEARS, WORKING IN THE SYSTEM, WORKING IN ALMOST EVERY SINGLE DEPARTMENT.
HE KNOWS THIS SYSTEM PROBABLY BETTER THAN ANYONE THAT WE KNOW.
GIVE HIM A SHOT TONIGHT, PLEASE.
THANK YOU, MR. BLUE, AND THEN MR. HOWARD, THEY'RE NOT IN THERE.
MY ONLY QUESTION, NOT JUST POINTED FROM COUNSEL, IF THERE'S ANY LEGAL CONSIDERATIONS, UH, THAT WOULD IMPACT OUR DECISION IN TERMS OF, UH, WHETHER THEY'RE OUR CURRENT, UH, STRUCTURE ALLOWS US TO MEET AT ALL LEGAL OBS OBLIGATIONS OR, OR THERE'S SOMETHING WE'RE NOT CONSIDERING.
UM, REVISED STATUTE, 1754, B M.
I'M GOING TO READ IT TO THE BOARD SO YOU CAN GUYS GET SOME CLARITY STATES.
THE BOARD MAY BY MAJORITY VOTE OF ITS MEMBERSHIP, SELECT A PERSON TO SERVE AS INTERIM SUPERINTENDENT IN THE EVENT OF THE DEATH
[03:10:01]
RESIGNATION OR TERMINATION, THE SUPERINTENDENT OR HIS, OR HIS BEING PLACED ON PAID ADMINISTRATIVE LEAVE.AND SO MY READ, MY STRICT READING OF THE STATUTE, UM, FOR THIS PURPOSE IS IT SHOULD BE ONE PERSON.
UM, AND IT DOES SAY I HERE MISS, UM, UH, MS. DYSON INDICATING IT SAYS MAY BY MAJORITY OF OWNERS OF ITS MEMBERSHIP.
AND AGAIN, MY READING OF MAY BASICALLY STATES THAT, AND AGAIN, THIS IS ALL ABOUT LEGAL INTERPRETATION AND YOU GUYS PAY ME TO INTERPRET, UM, THE, THE BOARD MAY APPOINTED INTERIM SUPERINTENDENT IN LIEU OF A PERMANENT APPOINTMENT.
SO THAT'S MY INTERPRETATION, BUT IT IS A PERSON TO SERVE AS INTERIM SUPERINTENDENT.
AND TO BE CLEAR, THE MOTION IS NOT SUGGESTING DUAL INTERIMS. THE MOTION IS SUGGESTING NO INTERIM AT THIS TIME.
HOWEVER, I'M JUST TRYING TO BE CLEAR.
THERE'S A NEED, THERE'S A NEED, HOWEVER, THAT IF YOU TAKE THIS ROUTE AND I HAVE TO SAY THIS, MR. GOLDIE IS LEGAL COUNSEL, THE DISTRICT HAS SOME NEEDS IN TERMS OF BANKING.
WE WILL HAVE TO TACKLE THAT IN ANOTHER MOTION.
ABSOLUTELY NO OTHER, WELL, I GUESS I'M JUST TO REPEAT WHAT I WAS ASKING, UH, IN TERMS OF AS, UM, TERMS AS A PRACTICAL MATTER AND YOU TALK ONE, ONE IS BANKING.
UH, ARE THERE ANY OTHER, UH, CONSIDERATIONS FROM A LEGAL STANDPOINT, WE HAVE TO CONSIDER WITH THE, ARE WE LIMITED, UH, WITH THE CURRENT STRUCTURE WE HAVE WHILE WE WOULD NEED TO ENTERTAIN A MOTION BY THE BOARD TO AUTHORIZE AN INDIVIDUAL, TO HANDLE SIGNATORY AUTHORITY WITH REGARD TO BANKING AND CONTRACTS.
I THINK THAT, THAT ANSWERS IT.
NEXT IS NOT SHOWING UP ON MY SCREEN, MR. HOWARD, UM, EXCUSE ME.
SOMETHING OFF EVERYONE ELSE HAS HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO TALK.
WE WILL VOTE ON IT WHEN IT'S TIME FOR US TO VOTE ON IT.
NOW YOU HAVE BEEN MAKING SILLY COMMENTS THIS ENTIRE NIGHT.
I WISH YOU WOULD JUST SHUT UP AND LET EVERYBODY RUN THE SERVER MAKING COMMENTS ALL NIGHT, AND YOU HAVE NOT SAID ONE WORD.
I JUST WANTED TO LIFT UP THE SAME THING THAT MY COLLEAGUE HAS STATED THAT WE NEED TO HAVE SOMEONE IN PLACE.
AND IN ORDER, I HAVE NOT SAID ONE WORD TO HER.
SHE HAS BEEN MAKING COMMENTS, RACIALLY CHARGED AND EVERYTHING ELSE THIS ENTIRE NIGHT, YOU HAVE, Y'ALL TALKED ABOUT THE CHINA VIRUS AND EVERYTHING ELSE.
I'M JUST TRYING TO TALK ABOUT THE COMMENT THAT I WANT IT TO MAKE COMMENT.
AND ALL I'M SAYING IS THAT I WANTED TO LIFT UP WHAT MS. MS. COLLINS JUST STATED THAT WE NEED A LEADER IN CHARGE TO MAKE DECISIONS.
WHY ANYONE ELSE SPOKE HAVE SIT HERE AND LISTEN.
NOW I'M SPEAKING AND SHE'S STILL SPEAKING.
AND YOU AS THE PRESIDENT HAVE NOT HAD APPOINTED AUDIT WITH HER.
ARE YOU DONE, SIR? THANK YOU, MS. DYSON.
UM, I JUST, AGAIN, WOULD LIKE TO, AND I'D LIKE TO POINT TO, YES, WE MAY.
AND IF WE DO IT'S FOR A MAXIMUM OF SIX MONTHS, BUT IT DOES NOT SAY THAT WE SHALL, AND I KNOW FOR, FROM A LONG TIME OF SERVICE AND A LONG TIME OF READING THESE CONTRACTS AND ALL OF THESE THINGS, THAT THERE IS A BIG DISTINCTION IN LEGAL TERMINOLOGY BETWEEN MAY AND CHOW.
AND I, I JUST FEEL LIKE WE'RE WORKING SO WELL.
UM, AND I HAVE FULL FAITH THAT WE WILL CONTINUE TO WORK WELL, AND I DON'T INTEND FOR THIS TO TAKE SIX MONTHS.
AND, UM, I, I JUST, I HAVE THAT MUCH FAITH IN OUR WHOLE TEAM AND HOW WELL THEY HAVE DONE TOGETHER.
AND I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERYONE UNDERSTANDS THAT IT IS NOT BECAUSE I DISRESPECT SOMEONE IT'S BECAUSE I RESPECT ALL OF THEM AND HOW GREAT OF A JOB THEY'RE
[03:15:14]
HANG UP OR THINGS THAT HAD HAPPENED IN THE DISTRICT TO GO TO ONE PERSON, WHETHER IT WAS WARREN DRAKE OR BERNARD TAYLOR OR JOHN DILWORTH OR WHOEVER IT WAS, UM, NEVER HAD A CHANCE, UM, YOU KNOW, TO REALLY WORK CLOSELY WITH MS. JACOBS.BUT I LIKE THAT SINGLE POINT OF CONTACT.
I LIKE THAT SINGLE POINT OF RESPONSIBILITY.
AND SO I, THAT IS WHY I SUPPORT AND LOOK, LET ME, LET ME BE CLEAR IF, IF I'M NOT ON THE WINNING SIDE, IT'S OKAY.
I'M, YOU KNOW, IF YOU WANT, WE CAN GO HAVE A COKE AFTER, UH, BUT THE REALITY OF IT IS, IS I DO LIKE THE STRUCTURE OF A SINGLE POINT OF CONTACT.
AND SO I SUPPORT THE UNDERLYING MOTION AND NOT THE SUBSTITUTE MOTION.
I'LL JUST SAY I HEARD A LOT OF THINGS.
AND AGAIN, BEFORE I SAY WHAT I'M ABOUT TO SAY, THIS HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH EITHER, UH, MRS. SMITH OR MR. KNEE CASE.
BUT TO SAY THAT EVERYTHING HAS BEEN GOING FINE, IT'S CLEARLY JUST NOT TRUE.
WE HAVE FIVE SCHOOLS JUST A WEEK AGO THAT HAD THE SHUT DOWN.
THAT NEEDS TO BE, UH, ONE PERSON THAT CAN POINT AND SAY HOW WE FIX THAT.
YOU CAN'T DO THAT WITH TWO PEOPLE TRYING TO DO THE RE THE ROLLOUT OR TRYING TO HAVE A DUAL ROLE.
WE HAVE PARENTS THAT ARE STEADILY SENDING US EMAILS, SAYING SCHOOLS ARE NOT BEING PROPERLY CLEANED.
YOU CAN'T FIX THAT PROBLEM WITH A DUAL ROLE.
YOU NEED ONE PERSON OR ONE POINT OF CONTACT, WHICH IS THE REASON WHY WE NEED TO MOVE FORWARD.
IF WE ALREADY KNOW, IT'S ONLY FOR, IT'S AN INTERIM POSITION, IT'S NOT PERMANENT.
IT'S INTERIM THAT WAY WE CAN MOVE FORWARD AND HAVE SOLID LEADERSHIP TO FIX AND TACKLE A LOT OF THE ISSUES THAT WE HAVE.
I HAVE MY NAME IN THE LIST NOW, AND I JUST WANT IT TO BE CLEAR ABOUT A COUPLE OF THINGS.
ONE, THE ONLY REASON I SECONDED THE MOTION WAS TO BE ABLE TO HAVE THE DISCUSSION ABOUT THE PROS AND CONS.
SECONDLY, I MEAN, ABSOLUTELY NO DISRESPECT TO MR. SMITH AND THIS, I HAVE ULTIMATE CONFIDENCE IN HIS ABILITY, BUT I DO HAVE A CONCERN IN THAT THE FACT THAT WE'VE JUST VOTED TO GO FOR A SEARCH AND MR. SMITH WAS ONE OF THE FINALISTS IN THAT SEARCH.
AND THERE'S A GREAT POSSIBILITY THAT HE WILL AGAIN, PUT HIS NAME INTO THAT.
AND HE COULD BE A VERY WELL QUALIFIED CANDIDATE.
WHAT I DO WORRY IN A GREAT DEAL THAT HAVING MR. SMITH AS INTERIM SUPERINTENDENT WILL IMPACT THE QUALITY OF THE OTHER CANDIDATES WE WILL GET, BECAUSE THEY WILL GET THE SENSE.
AND YOU'VE HEARD MANY PEOPLE COME UP IN HERE, SPEAK ABOUT HOW THEY WANT HIM AS SUPERINTENDENT, THAT THE SEARCH WILL BE A SHAM SEARCH, AND THAT WE WILL NOT GET THE QUALITY OF THE PEOPLE APPLYING TO THAT IN ORDER TO BE ABLE TO HAVE A TRUE SEARCH.
AND SO THAT IS MY ONLY CAUTION AND THIS, I HAVE ABSOLUTELY NOTHING AGAINST MR. SMITH AT ALL.
I HAVE FULL CONFIDENCE IN HIM.
MY CONCERN IS MORE ABOUT THE IMPACT ON THE SEARCH AND THE QUALITY OF THE CANDIDATES AND THE NUMBER OF CANDIDATES WE WILL GET, BECAUSE THEY'LL THINK, WELL, HE GOT VOTED AS AN INTERIM.
IT'S OBVIOUS HE'S GOING TO BE A CANDIDATE FOR THE FINALIST.
WHY BOTHER? BECAUSE AS SOON AS THEY PUT THE APPLICATION IN, IT BECOMES A PUBLIC RECORD.
THEIR CURRENT EMPLOYEE EMPLOYER KNOWS THAT THEY PUT IT IN.
SO I'M THINKING DOWN THE ROAD ON THIS AND THINKING ABOUT HOW DOES APPOINTING MR. SMITH AS AN INTERIM TONIGHT IMPACTS WHAT WE WILL IN OUR SEARCH PROCESS.
AND THAT IS THE ONLY REASON I, I SECOND IT THIS MOTION.
SO WE COULD TALK ABOUT IT AND UNDERSTAND THAT.
I MEAN, NO DISRESPECT TO MR. SMITHY.
AND I HAD A GREAT CONVERSATION TODAY, BUT THAT IS MY TRUE CONCERN.
ARE WE TARPLEY DOING THE SEARCH? AND I WANT TO SAY THAT IF MR. SMITH IS PUT IN AS INTERIM, I HAVE NO PROBLEM WITH THAT, BUT I WANT TO CLEARLY GO TO STATE ON THE RECORD THAT THAT IS AN INTERIM POSITION AND THAT I, FOR ONE, AS A BOARD MEMBER AND TOTALLY WIDE OPEN TO WHOEVER COMES UP WITHIN THE CANDIDATE POOL WITHIN OUR SEARCH, THAT IT IS NOT A CLOSED DEAL OR A DONE DEAL THAT WE WILL GO WITH MR. SMITH, JUST BECAUSE WE MADE HIM INTERIM.
AND AGAIN, THIS IS, I HAVE FULL CONFIDENCE IN MR. SMITH.
THIS IS NOTHING ABOUT MR. SMITH, BUT I DO WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE A VALID SEARCH THAT IS NOT SEARCH SHORT CIRCUITED BY AN IMPRESSION THAT THE FIX IS IN AND IT'S GOING TO BE MR. SMITH COMING NO MATTER WHAT.
SO THAT IS MY ONLY REASON TO CONSIDER THIS MOTION.
AND THE ONLY REASON I WANTED THE DISCUSSION ON THE THANK YOU MS. DYSON, UH, I JUST WANTED TO, UM,
[03:20:02]
REALLY ECHO ALL EVERY PART OF THAT, THAT MR.THAT IS THE ONLY REASON WHY, UH, I FEEL IT BEST FOR EVERYONE TO JUST REMAIN AS IS.
AND I THINK, UM, THAT I ALSO WANT TO POINT OUT THAT, YOU KNOW, DIFFERENCES OF OPINION UP HERE ON OUR BOARD ARE HEALTHY AND ALSO LISTENING TO OTHER BOARD MEMBERS, COMMENTS, AND FEELINGS, AND KEEPING AN OPEN MIND WHILE WE'RE TRYING TO MAKE OUR OWN DECISIONS, I THINK IS HEALTHY.
AND MAYBE SOMEONE BRINGS UP A POINT THAT I, OR YOU HAVEN'T CONSIDERED.
AND I THINK THAT'S HEALTHY DIALOGUE IF WE JUST KEEP IT HEALTHY.
AND, UM, YOU KNOW, I JUST THINK THAT THIS WHOLE, UM, PROCESS IS DIFFICULT AND I URGE US TO, UM, NOT, NOT BE SO, UH, DEFINITE ON OUR OPINIONS UNTIL WE LISTEN TO EACH OTHER AT THESE BOARD MEETINGS AND ON THESE DIFFICULT ITEMS. THANK YOU.
UH, WHO IS MR. BALLOU? UM, YOU KNOW, THE MORE I'VE LISTED, I THINK IT DOES MAKE SENSE TO HAVE ONE PERSON IN CHARGE, UH, FOR THE EASE OF, UM, OPERATIONS.
UH, IT, IT, I DON'T, I DON'T HAVE A SPECIFIC PERSON MIND DOESN'T MATTER, BUT IF OUR OPTION IS HAVING, NO ONE IS IN AN INTERIM OR, OR MR. SMITH IS IN THE ROOM, UM, THEN THAT'S THE, UM, OPTION WE TAKE, BUT UNLESS, UM, YOU'RE THE SUBSTITUTE MOTION, UH, WE CAN'T HAVE A SUBSTITUTE MOTION TO SUBSTITUTE.
UNLESS THE, UH, THEY'RE WILLING TO MS. DYSON'S WILLING TO MODIFY HER SUBSTITUTE MOTION.
UM, BUT IF, IF WHAT SHE REALLY WANTS IS NO INTERIM THAN, UH, UH, I THINK I'LL VOTE AGAINST THAT.
PLEASE EXPLAIN WHAT YOU'RE ASKING.
WHAT I WAS SAYING IS, UM, I THINK, UH, IT WOULD SERVE US BEST TO HAVE ONE PERSON IN CHARGE.
UM, BUT I THINK MR. GOATEE MADE, MADE A GOOD POINT IN TERMS OF THE, THE, HAVING A, A FINALIST.
UM, WE PUT IN ROMAN IN THE IMPRESSION THAT, UH, WOULD MEAN THAT WE'RE, YOU KNOW, THE FIX IS IN, UM, WHAT I'M SAYING IS THAT, UH, IF YOU HAVE ANOTHER OPTION IN TERMS OF A, UM, INTERIM, UH, ONE NOTE, IF YOU WERE WILLING TO MODIFY YOUR SUBSTITUTE MOTION, IF NOT, THAT'S, THAT'S FINE.
WE CAN, WE CAN VOTE AS A, AS THIS.
WHAT I THINK YOU'RE SAYING HERE, AND THAT IS THAT YOU WOULD SUGGEST THAT I NAME, I, MY SUBSTITUTE MOTION INCLUDES NAMING SOMEONE ELSE.
UM, MAYBE WHAT I COULD DO IS TO MAKE MY SUBSTITUTE MOTION, UH, TO MODIFY IT AND SAY THAT WE WOULD APPOINT ONE PERSON WHO WILL THEN NOT BE APPLYING FOR THE PERMANENT POSITION.
AND THEN WE TAKE THAT PROBLEM OF THE, THE APPEARANCE OF A RIGGED SEARCH OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT OFF THE TABLE.
UM, AND THEN WE DECIDE, HEY, THAT SOUNDS OVERLY COMPLICATED.
SO I'LL JUST, I'LL LEAVE IT ALONE.
I WOULDN'T ACCEPT THAT ANYWAY AS A SECOND.
SO SEEING NO OTHER REQUESTS TO SPEAK OR MADAM SECRETARY AM I MISSING SOMEONE MISS WHERE JACKSON, MISS, WHERE JACKSON, THANK YOU, MR. GOLDEN.
[03:25:01]
AND I APPRECIATE THE ELEPHANTS COMING OUT.THE ELEPHANT IN THE ROOM WITH IS ALL ABOUT, UM, HAVING SOMEONE THAT WILL, WILL APPLY.
AND, UM, BUT YOU KNOW, I'VE, I'VE TALKED ABOUT LEADERSHIP, YOU KNOW, IT NEEDED SOMEONE, UH, URGENTLY, YOU KNOW, WE NEED SOMEONE, UH, WHO IS THE GO TO PERSON, YOU KNOW, WE NEED, WE NEED A LEADER RIGHT NOW.
YOU KNOW, I WAS HOPING THAT WE COULD, WE COULD GET SOMEONE PERMANENT, A PERMANENT LEADER VERY QUICKLY, BUT, UM, THAT'S NOT THE CASE.
AND, UM, I KNOW THAT THERE ARE SOME PEOPLE THAT, YOU KNOW, HAVE, HAVE FEAR.
UM, BUT I'M, I'M PRETTY CONFIDENT THAT, UM, MR. SMITH WILL DO A VERY GOOD JOB AND HE'S ALWAYS BEEN FAIR.
AND NINE TIMES OUT OF 10, WHEN I CALLED THE SUPERINTENDENT ABOUT ANYTHING, ANY PARENT PROBLEM, GUESS WHO HE WAS LEADING ME TO, WE KNOW MR. SMITH.
SO, UM, I STAND BEHIND IT AND, UH, I SUPPORT, UM, THE ORIGINAL MOTION TO, UH, HAVE MR. SMITH AS INTERIM.
UM, I QUESTIONED THE LEGALITY OF REQUIRING THE PERSON WHO IS BEING APPOINTED AS INTERIM.
THERE WAS NOT, THAT WAS NOT MADE AS A SUBSTITUTE MOTION.
LIKE I JUST WANTED TO SAY THAT, ARE THERE ANY MORE COMMENTS MS. DYSON? SO, UM, I HAVE BEEN LISTENING TO MY COLLEAGUES AND I I'LL JUST, UM, REMOVE MY SUBSTITUTE MOTION IF THE SECOND IS GOOD WITH THAT.
AND I NOW HAVE THE FLOOR AND I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A SUBSTITUTE MOTION NOMINATING MR. WARREN DRAKE, TO BE INTERIM SUPERINTENDENT.
DO I HAVE A SECOND? SECOND IT BY MR. BALLOU.
AND I'D LIKE TO SAY, THE REASON I AM DOING THAT IS I'VE HEARD A LOT OF TALK ABOUT STABILITY.
A LOT OF TALK ABOUT SOMEONE WHO KNOWS A LOT TO TALK ABOUT SOMEONE WHO DOES NOT NEED TO LEARN THE DISTRICT, LEARN THE AREA, OR DO ANYTHING ELSE AND PROVIDE CONTINUITY AND NO CHANGES.
AND I THINK MR. DRAKE CAN BRING THAT.
AND I THINK WHAT MR. DRAKE, WE ALSO ALLEVIATE THE ISSUE, WHICH I SPOKE BEFORE ABOUT THE IMPACT ON THE POTENTIAL SEARCH, UH, BY HAVING AN INTERIM THAT IS PART OF THE SEARCH AND THE IMPACT OF QUALITY AND QUANTITY OF THE PEOPLE THAT WOULD APPLY FOR THE SEARCH.
AGAIN, I MEAN, ZERO DISRESPECT FOR MR. SMITH.
I THINK HE DOES AN EXCELLENT JOB AS WHAT HE DOES.
AND I'M TRYING TO LEAVE A CLEAR PATH OPEN FOR HIM TO BE ABLE TO APPLY FOR THE SUPERINTENDENT POSITION, BUT ALSO TO BE FAIR TO ALL OF THE STUDENTS IN THIS DISTRICT, THAT WE HAVE AN OPEN AND BALLOT SEARCH THAT WE OBTAIN ALL OF THE QUALITY CANDIDATES THAT WE CAN.
SO THAT IS MY REASON FOR MAKING THAT MOTION.
DID YOU SAY
COMMENTS, MR. LANICE ARE YEAH.
MR. LANA'S I'LL JUST SAY AGAIN, I HAVE A GREAT AMOUNT OF RESPECT FOR MR. DRAKE FOR THE YEARS HE HAS GIVEN HIS DISTRICT, BUT I WILL SAY THIS AT WHAT POINT DO WE LISTEN TO THE COMMUNITY? AT WHAT POINT DO WE LISTEN TO OUR TEACHERS? AT WHAT POINT DO WE LISTEN TO OUR STUDENTS? THEY COME IN HERE EVERY SINGLE MONTH, TWO TIMES A MONTH.
THEY TELL YOU HOW THEY FEEL YET, NOTHING CHANGES.
AND WE EXPECT THEM TO HAVE FULL FAITH AND BELIEF THAT WE ARE GOING TO DO THE BEST JOB THAT WE CAN FOR THEM.
WE WONDER WHY WE HAVE THE RIFT THAT WE HAVE ON OUR BOARD.
WE WONDER WHY WE GO THROUGH A LOT OF THE THINGS THAT WE GO THROUGH INTERNALLY.
AND IT'S BECAUSE WE DON'T LISTEN TO THE PEOPLE THAT MATTER THE MOST, THE PEOPLE WHO GIVE THEIR MOST PRECIOUS
[03:30:01]
INVESTMENT TO US TO TAKE CARE OF.THEY SAID WHO THEY WANT, BUT WE'RE GOING TO TELL THEM WHO WE'RE GOING TO GIVE THEM.
AND WE EXPECT THEM TO JUST BE OKAY WITH IT.
SAME THING WE'VE BEEN DOING FOR YEARS.
AS I SAID BEFORE, THIS IS CALLED INSANITY, DOING THE SAME THING OVER AND OVER AND OVER EXPECTING DIFFERENT RESULTS.
WHEN DOES IT CHANGE? BUT THEN YOU GET MAD AT PARENTS FOR TAKING THEIR KIDS OUT OF OUR SCHOOLS AND PUTTING THEM ELSEWHERE.
BUT THIS IS THE DIFFERENCE, THE SCHOOLS THAT THEY TAKE THEIR KIDS TO, THEY LISTEN, BUT WE ARE THE STEWARDS OF OUR DISTRICT.
AND WE DON'T LISTEN TO THE PEOPLE WHO ENTRUST US WITH THEIR KIDS WHO ENTRUST US WITH THEIR TAX DOLLARS.
AND WE EXPECT THINGS TO CHANGE.
I'LL JUST SAY, Y'ALL KEEP PRAYING COMMUNITY, KEEP FAITH, KEEP DOING WHAT YOU ARE DOING.
KEEP SPEAKING OUT, BECAUSE THAT'S THE ONLY WAY YOUR VOICES ARE GOING TO BE HEARD.
DON'T GIVE UP BECAUSE SOME OF US WILL NEVER GIVE UP ON YOU.
I PROMISE YOU NO OTHER MESS WHERE JACKSON, OH, MY APOLOGIES.
AND UM, YEAH, JACKSON, I'M SORRY.
UM, PARDON ME? I COULD NOT GET IN THE QUEUE.
I COULDN'T GET ON TEAMS, BUT, UM, UM, WISHING WE WERE, WE WERE IN EXECUTIVE SESSION CAUSE I TELL YOU EXACTLY WHAT I THOUGHT, BUT, UM, AGAIN, I'LL SAY WHAT I SAID BEFORE.
WHEN I ASKED MR. DRAKE ABOUT SOMETHING, HE SENDS ME THE AD ADAM SMITH.
UM, AND UH, I THINK THAT THAT SPEAKS A LOT FOR, UH, MR. SMITH AND HIS KNOWLEDGE OF THE DISTRICT.
AND I THINK HE'D DO WELL TO HOLD THE FORT DOWN.
I UNDERSTAND THE CONCERNS ABOUT HOW IT MAY SEEM TO, UM, UM, A PENDING CANDIDATE.
I UNDERSTAND THAT, YOU KNOW, I'M A LITTLE BIT TORN ABOUT THAT, YOU KNOW, BUT, UH, RIGHT NOW THE THING WE NEED TO FOCUS ON IS WHAT WE NEED RIGHT NOW IN THE DISTRICT.
AND, UM, I MEAN, IF WE CAN'T HAVE A PERMANENT SUPERINTENDENT, UH, I BELIEVE THAT WE NEED TO, UM, WE NEED TO APPOINT MR. SMITH.
UH, AND I'M GOING TO SAY THIS ANYWAY.
I HAVE VERY LITTLE CONFIDENCE IN MR. DRAKE.
WE'VE HAD MONTHS AND MONTHS OF TIME TO GET READY FOR THE SCHOOL YEAR TO GET A PLAN FOR COVID.
AND THE PLAN I SAW WAS NO PLAN AT ALL.
MS. MS. JACKSON, I'M GONNA HAVE TO JUMP IN AND CAUTION YOU.
UM, SOME OF THIS DISCUSSION MIGHT BE MORE APPROPRIATE FOR EXECUTIVE SESSION AS YOU'RE DISCUSSING A PERSON'S QUALIFICATIONS.
LET ME, YOU KNOW, SO I'LL, I'LL JUST STOP IT RIGHT THERE, BUT I WOULD NOT SUPPORT THAT.
IS THERE ANYONE ELSE WISHING TO SPEAK? AND I DO WANT TO ASSURE EVERYONE THAT THE REASON I PUT THAT MOTION UP IS TO GET ALL THE AVAILABLE OPTIONS ON THE TABLE SO THAT WE CAN HAVE A FULL AND FAIR AND OPEN DISCUSSION OF ALL OF THE OPTIONS.
I JUST WANTED TO ASK, I DID ANYONE ASK FOR THIS TO BE A ROLL CALL VOTE? ARE WE HAVING A ROLL CALL BOTTOM? THIS NO ONE HAS ASKED YET.
UM, SHOULDN'T IT BE A ROLL CALL VOTE IF YOU'D LIKE TO REQUEST ONE, IT'S FINE.
NOW WE WILL GO TO THE AUDIENCE AGAIN.
I'M REPRESENTING STEP UP LOUISIANA, ALONG WITH OUR PARTNERING ORGANIZATIONS, THESE BAND ROUGE PARISH ASSOCIATION OF EDUCATORS, THE PROGRESSIVE SOCIAL NETWORK OF BAND ROUGE AND THE BATON ROUGE NAACP CHAPTER MEMBERS OF THE BOARD AS MR. ADAM SMITH WAS OUR PREFERRED CHOICE FOR PERMANENT
[03:35:01]
SUPERINTENDENT.WHEN WE BEGAN THIS RG WAS ODYSSEY.
WE RESPECTFULLY REQUEST THAT HE BE APPOINTED INTERIM SUPERINTENDENT DURING SUCH A TIME OF UNCERTAINTY.
WE MUST HAVE SOMEONE THAT KNOWS OF ALL THE INTRICACIES OF OUR SCHOOL SYSTEM.
HAVING SERVED IN ALMOST EVERY CAPACITY WE OFFER DURING HIS 24 YEAR TENURE.
THERE IS A LITTLE DAY HE COULD BE FACED WITH THAT.
HE WOULD NOT BE PREPARED AND QUALIFIED TO LEAD US THROUGH THOUGH.
WE AS EDUCATORS NEVER SEEKING THE SPOTLIGHT, BUT RATHER SEEKING TO PLACE OUR STUDENTS AMONG THE STARS TO SHINE THE WAY WE AS EDUCATORS, COMMUNITY LEADERS AND PARENTS ALL KNOW THEY CAN.
HE DESERVES THIS POSITION IN WHICH HE CAN SHOWCASE HIS EXPERIENCE AND KNOWLEDGE.
HE IS A PROVEN AND VERSATILE EDUCATIONAL LEADER WITH QUALITY EXPERIENCES IN SUSTAINED ACADEMIC IMPROVEMENT ACHIEVED THROUGH BEST PRACTICES, DIVERSE EXPERIENCES, AND ORGANIZATIONAL AND INSTITUTIONAL MANAGEMENT AND EDUCATIONAL ADMINISTRATION, AND IS COMMITTED TO COLLABORATIVE DISTRICT WIDE CULTURE, WHICH IS WHY PEOPLE FROM ALL OVER THE PARISH, INCLUDING PARENTS, TEACHERS, SCHOOL LEADERSHIP IN CENTRAL OFFICE AND BOARD MEMBERS HAVE TURNED TO MR. SMITH FOR GUIDANCE DURING THESE VERY DIFFICULT TIMES, MR. SMITH IS BEYOND QUALIFIED TO PERFORM IN THIS CAPACITY AND HAS BEEN CONSISTENTLY RELIED UPON BY THE VERY MEMBERS OF THIS BOARD.
DURING THIS TRANSITION WITH BOTH THE PANDEMIC AND THE CHANGING OF SUPERINTENDENTS, HIS LEADERSHIP HAS BEEN AT THE FOREFRONT OF EVERY CHALLENGE.
THIS DISTRICT HAS FACED, INCLUDING STEPPING INTO CREATE A TASK FORCE FOR COVID-19 MOVING FORWARD.
WE BELIEVE HE HAS THE QUALIFICATIONS AND ABILITY TO HELP US HAVE A SUCCESSFUL SCHOOL YEAR WHILE WE ARE IN SEARCH OF A NEW SUPERINTENDENT.
MA'AM NEXT? MY NAME IS STORM MATTHEWS AND I AM HERE, UM, UNDER STEP UP THE ORGANIZATION.
UM, I CAME WITH SOME REMARKS ABOUT MR. ADAM SMITH.
UM, WHOM I KNOW IS A PARENT THROUGH ELEMENTARY IS A SPED PARENT BECAUSE I AM, YOU KNOW, NOT A CRAZY MAMA BEAR.
I AM A GRIZZLY WITH RABIES WHEN IT COMES TO MY SONS.
UM, I HAVE ALSO DONE SUMMER SCHOOL WITH MR. ADAM SMITH FOR 10 YEARS.
UM, AND IS A TEACHER FOR 15 YEARS.
HE HAS HAD TO GIVE ME, CAUSE I'M STILL ON MADNESS.
HE HAS HAD TO GIVE ME THAT LOOK A TIME OR TWO.
UM, SO I CAME HERE PREPARED TO DISCUSS ALL OF THAT AND HOW, UM, IMPORTANT HE IS TO THIS SCHOOL SYSTEM FOR TEACHERS, FOR PARENTS, FOR THE STUDENTS, UM, AND HOW NEEDED HE IS AND HOW TIRED WE ARE.
BUT YOU KNOW WHAT PRESIDENT GO DAY, YOUR, YOUR MOTION.
I HAVE TO CHANGE EVERYTHING THAT I CAME UP HERE TO SAY, AND YOU KNOW, IT'S FUNNY.
AND I HOPE MS. CRAWFORD IS ASLEEP BY NOW BECAUSE I PROMISED HER I WASN'T GOING TO COME.
BUT TODAY IS THE FIFTH ANNIVERSARY.
THE FIRST TIME I DIED, I HAVE HEART FAILURE.
I DON'T DO HUMANS RIGHT NOW, BUT I AM HERE BECAUSE IT IS THAT IMPORTANT TO ME BECAUSE THE CHILDREN OF THIS PARISH ARE THAT IMPORTANT TO ME THAT WE HAVE SOMEBODY IN PLACE LIKE MR. ADAM SMITH THAT CARES AND WILL FOLLOW THROUGH AND DO WHAT IS SUPPOSED TO BE DONE.
AND I HAVE TO BACKWARD MS. EVELYN, WHERE JACKSON JUST SAID THE WHOLE TIME THAT, UH, SHE CAN'T SAY IT, BUT I CAN, THE WHOLE TIME THAT DRAKE WAS LEAVING, HE WASN'T DOING ANYTHING.
MS. BROWN STARTED WORKING MONTHS BEFORE HER CONTRACT STARTED.
SHE CAME IN AND WAS WORKING FOR FREE, COMPLETELY FOR FREE LEARNING THE JOB, GETTING IN THERE WITH THE TASKFORCE AND WITH ADAM AND WITH MR. NIKKEI.
SO WITH EVERYBODY ELSE DRANK, WASN'T DOING IT.
THAT WAS SOMETHING WE ASKED WHAT THE ETHICS VIOLATION CAME UP AND HE DIDN'T WANT TO STAY.
WHY WOULD YOU MAKE THAT MOTION? THAT DOESN'T MAKE SENSE? THE MAY HAVE SITTING NEXT TO YOU FOR 24 YEARS.
HE DID HIS STUDENT TEACHING, TEACHING ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL PRINCIPAL.
HE HAS WORKED IN EVERY FACTION.
THERE IS NOTHING THAT MAN DOESN'T KNOW AND UNDERSTAND ABOUT THIS DISTRICT, UNLESS YOU JUST WANT THE DISTRICT, THAT FAMILY AND TURN IT ALL OVER TO CHARTERS.
NEXT ANGELA RIMS, BROWN PRESIDENT OF THE EAST BATON ROUGE FEDERATION OF TEACHERS.
EARLIER TONIGHT, I SHARED WITH YOU MY PREPARED CONCERNS ABOUT THE INTERIM AND PERMANENT POSITION FOR THE SUPERINTENDENT, FOR THE EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH SCHOOL SYSTEM.
I HAVE NOT ATTENDED A BOARD MEETING SINCE THE PANDEMIC
[03:40:01]
AND TONIGHT YOU GUYS REMINDED ME WHY I SHOULDN'T HAVE BEEN HERE.THE PEOPLE AT HOME THAT ARE WATCHING YOU GUYS, ALL LEADERS ARE SAYING, HOW ON EARTH DID THEY GET IN THEM POSITIONS? YOUR TRUE COLORS ARE COMING OUT TONIGHT.
DON'T TELL ME ABOUT, IT'S NOT A RACIAL THING BECAUSE WE SEE IT AND WE HEAR IT.
BUT YOU TO SIT THERE AND SAY, YOU HAVE THE BEST INTEREST OF OUR STUDENTS, I EMPLOYEES AND OUR DISTRICT.
WHEN YOU ACTUALLY DON'T, SOME OF YOU HAVE A HIDDEN AGENDA.
YOU WANT EBR TO FAIL SO THAT YOU CAN PUT CHARTERS IN PLACE.
THE DISCUSSION HAS GONE ON THROUGH THE COMMUNITY.
PEOPLE KNOW THIS, BUT YOU SIT IN THOSE SEATS AND YOU PRETEND, I DON'T KNOW HOW SOME OF YOU SLEEP AT NIGHT.
MR. SMITH HAS BEEN LOYAL TO THE SCHOOL DISTRICT YEAR AFTER YEAR AFTER YEAR.
AND IF WE WANT TO TALK ABOUT THE TEAM THAT HAS BEEN MAKING THINGS WORK, IT IS A THREESOME, MR. MCCANN, MR. KNEE CASE AND MR. SMITH.
BECAUSE EVERY TIME I HAD A ZOOM MEETING, THE THREE OF THEM WERE ALWAYS THERE.
IF I COULDN'T GET ONE, I GOT THE OTHER.
BUT EVEN THOUGH IT WAS THREE OF THEM WORKING TO COLLECTIVELY TOGETHER, YOU STILL HAVE ONE PERSON WHO STOOD OUT WHO YOU FEEL COMFORTABLE TALKING TO.
AND YOU WENT TO, THAT WAS MR. ADAM SMITH.
NOW FOR THE LIFE OF ME, I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY WE HAVE SPENT HOURS HERE TALKING ABOUT SOMETHING THAT FOR ANY FOURTH GRADER, THEY COULD HAVE DECIDED THIS AN HOUR AGO.
IF YOU HAVE ONE AND A PART, MR. ADAMS SMITH, NRL SUPERINTENDENT FOR THE EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH SCHOOL SYSTEM, YOU WILL NEED MY UNION AGAIN, MY 1200 PLUS MEMBERS, YOU NEEDED US.
WHEN THE LAST TAX PASSED, WE WERE THE REASON IT PASSED.
PLEASE DON'T MAKE ME RETHINK THAT.
THERE ARE AT THREE FULLY QUALIFIED CREDENTIALED POTENTIAL SUPERINTENDENTS PRESENT HERE TONIGHT.
AND NONE OF THEM HAVE THE LAST NAME OF DRAKE.
AND THE ONLY REASON I'VE HEARD, OFFERED TO SUGGEST THAT HE WOULD BE THE APPROPRIATE INTERIM SUPERINTENDENT IS THE FEAR THAT NOBODY WOULD WANT TO COMPETE AGAINST MR. SMITH.
SO I PROMISE IF JG INVITES ME TO APPLY, I WILL APPLY.
EVEN IF YOU APPOINT THE CORRECT PERSON AS INTERIM STUDENT, INTERIM SUPERINTENDENT, AND THAT WOULD BE MR. SMITH.
IT'S A RED HAIR AND EVEN THINK ABOUT APPOINTING, MR. GREG, AND FURTHERMORE, WHEN YOU ACCEPTED MS. BROWN'S RESIGNATION, WHAT SEEMS LIKE HOURS AGO? ANYBODY? HE, SHE DESIGNATED HALF HOUR.
YOU NEED TO APPOINT AN INTERIM SUPERINTENDENT TONIGHT OR JUST ALL RESIGNED.
NEXT THE OTHER MORNING, I WOKE UP AND I SAID TO MY HUSBAND, I'M TIRED OF FIGHTING THE SAME FIGHT, SINGING THE SAME SONG WE SHALL OVERCOME.
I HESITATED TO GET UP TO SPEAK TO THIS MOTION, BUT I COULDN'T HELP MYSELF.
SOMEONE MADE MENTION YOUR TRUE COLORS.
I WAS CONCERNED IN THE FIRST PROCESS THAT THE DECKS WERE ALREADY STACKED WITH SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS, NAMELY BUSINESS AND CHARTER SCHOOLS.
AND EVEN THEN IT WAS ANYBODY, BUT ADAM SMITH I'M CONCERNED TOO.
I'M CONCERNED THAT RACE IS LACED IN THE MOTIONS.
THE SECOND AND THIRD MOTIONS THAT WERE OFFERED TONIGHT, AND YOU CAN'T CONVINCE ME OTHERWISE, WE HAVE A MOTION TO CONSIDER SOMEONE WHO'S ALREADY ON THE JOB AND CAN START TONIGHT.
I WOULD ASK YOU TO LOOK BEYOND YOUR BIGOTRY AND DO THE RIGHT THING, BUT I RECOGNIZE THAT FOR SOME OF YOU, THAT'S IMPOSSIBLE BECAUSE PERSONALITIES ARE NOT LIKELY TO CHANGE.
[03:45:13]
GOOD EVENING, TONYA AND IRONMAN AND MR. SMITH, I'M SORRY.I MISSED THE OPPORTUNITY TO EXPRESS SUPPORT FOR YOUR PERMANENT, FOR BEING APPOINTED PERMANENT SUPERINTENDENT.
IN THE FIRST MEASURE I WOULD HAVE GOTTEN AND SPOKEN AT AT THE TIME TOO.
I THOUGHT IT WAS APPROPRIATE, BUT I STAND NOW TO YOUR APPOINTMENT AS INTERIM.
UM, I HAVE GREAT RESPECT FOR MR. DRAKE.
I THINK THAT IT'S VERY OFTEN, HE DOESN'T EVEN GET ENOUGH CREDIT, BUT AT THIS TIME I THINK MR. SMITH IS CERTAINLY, UH, CAPABLE AND THE BEST PERSON FOR THE JOB.
AND IF IN FACT, HIS APPOINTMENT AS INTERIM MEANS THAT HE IS EVEN MORE LIKELY TO GET THE PERMANENT POSITION.
THAT'S BECAUSE NOT, IT'S NOT BECAUSE IT WEAKENED THE SEARCH, BUT BECAUSE HE'S THE BEST CANDIDATE FOR THE PERMANENT POSITION, YOU CAN SEE THAT HE HAS THE SUPPORT OF THE IMMEDIATE STAKEHOLDERS, THE PEOPLE WITH THE KIDS IN THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS, AS WELL AS THE TEACHERS WHO WORK IN THOSE SCHOOLS.
UH, WE WILL SEE THAT HE IS APPOINTED THE INTERIM TONIGHT, AND I HOPE SIX MONTHS DOWN THE ROAD.
HE'S ALSO NAMED THE PERMANENT SUPERINTENDENT.
THANK YOU NEXT, UH, MUCH LATER, GOOD EVENING.
UM, I THINK, YOU KNOW, WHERE I STAND ON THIS ONE, I'VE ALWAYS SPOKE UP AS SOMEBODY WHO WANTS AN EDUCATOR IN THE ROLE OF LEADING EDUCATORS.
YOU'RE NOT GOING TO SIT THERE AND PUT ME ON THE BOARD OF A HOSPITAL.
I DON'T KNOW NOTHING ABOUT SURGERY OR BEING A DOCTOR.
SO WHY SHOULD I BE IN CHARGE OF IT? IT'S THAT SIMPLE.
AND I HOPE Y'ALL ARE RECORDING THIS BECAUSE I'M ACTUALLY FULL AND AGREEMENT WITH MR. LANDIS.
WE CAN DISAGREE ON MANY THINGS, BUT ON THIS ONE, I'M IN AGREEMENT WITH HIM.
AND WHEN WE'RE TOGETHER, I'M GOING TO LET THEM KNOW WHERE TOGETHER ON THIS ONE.
SO JUST LIKE YOU, MR. GAUDETTE MANY THINGS WE HAVE DISAGREED WITH IN THE PAST, BUT WE'VE HAD CONVERSATIONS ABOUT OUR ESL STUDENTS AND FOUND, I TEACH A LOT OF ESL STUDENTS AND I KNOW YOU HAVE A HEART FOR THE ESL STUDENTS.
SO EVEN THOUGH WE DISAGREE ON A LOT OF THINGS, WHEN WE'RE IN, WE'RE IN UNISON, I'M GOING TO TELL YOU THIS ONE, I'M IN AGREEMENT WITH YOU, MISS ATLANTA.
THE MEN SIT IN THERE 24 YEARS.
EVERY SINGLE THING YOU COULD DO IN THIS SCHOOL DISTRICT, HE'S DONE.
I'M AN EX PARATROOPER LOYALTY HONOR DUTY.
THEY ARE WHAT WE LIVED AND BLEED.
IT WAS, WE PUT OUR FRIENDS IN THE GROUND FOR HONOR IS SOMETHING REAL TO ME.
YOU CHOSE SOMEBODY ELSE ABOVE HIM.
AND HE STILL STAYED HERE LOYAL TO YOU AND OUR CHILDREN.
THAT SHOULD MEAN SOMETHING TO YOU.
AND IF I HAVE A MINUTE AND A HALF, I'M GOING TO SPEAK ON SOMETHING ABOUT THE DISTRICT.
ALL RIGHT, NOW WE ALL TALK ABOUT DOING SOMETHING FOR THE CHILDREN.
AND MAYBE YOU CAN CORRECT ME IF I'M A LITTLE WRONG.
IS IT 84% OF OUR STUDENTS ARE AFRICAN-AMERICAN OR MINORITY? 85, 83, 83%.
WHILE WE HAVE FIVE, FIVE WHITE REPUBLICANS IN A SCHOOL DISTRICT WHERE 83% ARE AFRICAN AMERICANS, IT'S THAT SIMPLE.
YOU REALLY WANT TO DO SOMETHING, VOTE YOURSELF TO REAPPORTION THE BOARD PROPERLY TO MIRROR THE DISTRICT THAT YOU REPRESENT.
THAT'S THE FIRST THING THAT YOU COULD DO.
THE SIMPLEST THING THAT YOU COULD DO TO SHOW REAL LEADERSHIP TO OUR COMMUNITY.
LOOK LIKE THE COMMUNITY THAT YOU SERVE.
IT'S THAT SIMPLE SECOND THING.
THIS MAN HAS PROVEN HIMSELF TIME AND TIME AND TIME AGAIN.
EVELYN TOLD YOU, WHEN YOU NEED SOMETHING FROM DRAKE, HE SENT YOU TO MR. SMITH THAT TELLS YOU WHO GETS THE JOB DONE.
THAT'S WHAT OUR CHILDREN NEED.
AND THEY DESERVE WE'RE GOING THROUGH A PANDEMIC.
SOMETHING THAT WE HAVE NEVER HAD TO DEAL WITH BEFORE WE NEED SOMEBODY THAT WILL BE ACCOUNTABLE.
AND THAT HAS PROVEN THEY CAN GET THE JOB DONE.
ANY OTHER CHOICE IS AGAINST WHAT'S BEST FOR MY CHILD, OUR CHILDREN, THE 160 TO SIT IN FRONT OF ME THIS YEAR AND OUR PROFESSION.
THIS IS MY FIRST TIME COMING TO A BOARD MEETING.
I CAME HERE TONIGHT TO TALK ABOUT TARA HIGH SCHOOL, BECAUSE I FEEL REALLY BAD FOR GOING THERE AND SEEING WHAT I SEE IT NEEDS TO BE MOVED FROM NUMBER 29, UP TO NUMBER ONE, WHERE YOU ALL HAVE THEM SCHEDULED FOR 20, 29.
I DO BELIEVE IT'S BEING RENOVATED.
[03:50:01]
BUT I'M GOING TO TABLE IT.AND I'M GOING TO TALK TO MR. SMITH LATER TOMORROW.
CAUSE I'M GOING TO FIND HIS PHONE NUMBER SINCE HE'S THE ONE THAT SEEMS TO BE DOING THINGS I'M APPALLED BECAUSE I FEEL LIKE I'M IN A FOURTH GRADE CLASS, YOU ALL NEED TO COME TOGETHER AND SEE WHAT'S GOOD FOR MY CHILD.
MAYBE YOU ALL DON'T HAVE CHILDREN THAT ARE IN THE EAST BATON ROUGE SCHOOL SYSTEM.
AND YOU SHOULDN'T BE ON THE BOARD IF YOU DON'T, BUT YOU NEED TO LOOK AT WHAT THEY NEED AND WHAT THEY NEED IS SOMEONE WHO'S.
THEY'RE GOING TO NEED SOMEBODY.
THAT'S GOING TO TAKE CARE OF THEM SO THAT THEY CAN GROW UP TO BE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES.
IF THAT'S WHERE THEY WANT TO BE.
EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH HAS BEEN GOING DOWN.
SOME OF US MIGHT NOT BE AFFORD TO EVER TO SEND THEM TO A PRIVATE SCHOOL LIKE YOU CAN'T.
YOU SHOULD LOOK AT EVERYTHING THAT WE ARE GOING THROUGH AND SEE THAT OUR KIDS NEED A LEADER.
IF MR. SMITH IS THE ONE THAT NEEDS TO BE HERE, PUT HIM THERE.
IF YOU ALL CAN'T AGREE ON SOMETHING.
AS SIMPLE AS THIS, YOU CAN'T AGREE ON ANYTHING ELSE.
STOP FIGHTING AMONGST YOURSELF AND BECOME A ONE GROUP.
THAT'S WHAT YOU'RE TELLING MY KIDS TO BE.
WHEN THEY'RE AT SCHOOL, WHEN SOMETHING GOES WRONG, YOU GO IN THERE AND SAY, THIS IS WHAT YOU NEED TO DO.
WELL, THIS IS WHAT YOU GUYS NEED TO DO.
YOU ALL NEED TO LEARN TO WORK TOGETHER.
AND THIS IS WHAT MY SON AND HIS FRIEND SAID THAT PLAY BASKET THAT PLAYED FOOTBALL.
THEY SAID WE ARE NOT BEING EDUCATED OR PREPARED FOR CONTESTS FAIRLY.
EVERY OTHER SCHOOL IN THE DISTRICT HAS THINGS THAT WE DO NOT HAVE THAT DESTROYS THE MORAL OF THE STUDENT MENTALLY AND PHYSICALLY KNOWING THAT THEY ARE BEING MISTREATED.
WHEN ATTENDING TARA HIGH SCHOOL, WE ARE BEING MISTREATED HERE TONIGHT.
NEXT ONE PHRASE COMES TO MIND.
ONE TEAM, ONE MISSION, ONE TEAM, ONE MISSION.
THAT'S WHAT YOU WANT US TO BE AS EDUCATORS, AS PARENTS AND AS COMMUNITY MEMBERS.
BUT WHY CAN'T I SAY THAT SCHOOL BOARD ONE TEAM, ONE MISSION.
WHY CAN'T WE WITH 83% OF THE STUDENTS THAT LOOK LIKE ME? WHY CAN'T WE SEE ONE TEAM, ONE MISSION? WHY IS IT THAT WE HAVE TO GET UP HERE AND BEG MASTER TO MAKE DECISIONS FOR OUR CHILDREN? AND IF 3% THAT LOOKED LIKE ME, AND YET YOU GET TO MAKE DECISIONS BASED UPON HOW YOU WERE ELECTED, BECAUSE YOU HAVE A MAJORITY AGAIN, BUT 83% OF THE CHILDREN.
LET'S TALK ABOUT THE EDUCATORS THAT LOOK LIKE ME.
LET'S TALK ABOUT THE EDUCATORS WHO ARE STRESSED TO THE MAX, DEALING WITH ONLINE LESSON PLANS AND THE GAMUT.
AND LET'S TALK ABOUT WHAT THEY DESIRE.
THEY DESIRE A LEADER WHO IS WILLING TO LEAD SOMEONE WHO HAS BEEN FAITHFUL TO THIS DISTRICT, BUT YOU'LL SIT THERE AND YOU MAKE DECISIONS CONTRARY TO WHAT WE HAVE ASKED YOU TO DO.
SO I GUESS WE'LL DO WHAT WE NORMALLY DO.
I GOT A LOT OF FIGHT LEFT IN ME BEFORE I RETIRED.
AND THEN WHEN I RETIRE, STILL GOT FIGHT LEFT IN ME.
CAUSE ONE THING I KNOW MY ANCESTORS KNEW HOW TO FIGHT.
SO YOU CAN SIT HERE AND MAKE DECISIONS THAT ARE CONTRARY TO WHAT WE HAVE REQUESTED OF YOU, BUT JUST KNOW THAT WE COME AND FIGHTING BECAUSE THERE IS A MAN THAT HAS TO SIT THERE AND HEAR YOU SAY TO HIM THAT HE, WHO HAS LED THIS DISTRICT, THAT HE HAS TO SIT THERE AND HEAR YOU SAY SOMETHING NEGATIVE ABOUT WHY HE CAN'T CONTINUE AND WHAT HE'S BEEN DOING.
AND YOU SIT THERE ON YOUR HIGH HORSES, ONE TEAM, ONE MISSION.
WE HAVE COME AND WE HAVE ASKED YOU WHAT TO DO.
WE BEGGED YOU, BUT YOU'LL SAY TO US ONE TEAM ONE MISSION.
WELL, WE DON'T GO TO SLEEP AT NIGHT.
THE NIGHT, I'M STILL UP THE SIDE OF MY THINGS TO DO, TO MAKE MY CLASSROOM EFFECTIVE.
IT'S THE LOVE OF MY CHILDREN TO HELP THEM TO UNDERSTAND THAT EVEN AT FOUR, THAT SHOULD HAVE A PURPOSE AND A PLAN, AND WE'RE HERE TO SUPPORT YOU.
WHAT I DID IS NOT AN EDUCATOR IN THIS DISTRICT WORKS FROM THE TIME THEY GET THE SCHOOL TO THE TIME THEY LEAVE.
EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THEM PUTS IN EXTRA MINUTES, EXTRA TIME AND EXTRA HOURS.
[03:55:01]
ONE TEAM, ONE MISSION.I JUST DIDN'T THINK IT WAS APPROPRIATE FOR THE CHILD TO BE IN HERE TO HEAR IT BECAUSE FOR SOME REASON OR ANOTHER, WE NEVER CONSIDER THE CHILDREN.
THE CHILDREN ARE SUPPOSED TO BE OUR FUTURE.
AND UNFORTUNATELY THAT'S NOT IMPORTANT ENOUGH FOR ME.
HIS DAD SAID TO STILL BE IN HER SEAT, BUT MY CHILD IS PART OF THAT FUTURE.
UH, CHILDREN ARE SUPPOSED TO BE A FUTURE EDUCATORS, FUTURE DOCTORS, OUR FUTURE LAWYERS, OUR FUTURE POLITICIANS.
THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO BE OUR FUTURE.
SO LIKE YOUR THRIVE SCHOOL, MR. MIKE, ALL DAY.
WHEN I THINK ABOUT THE FUTURE, IT'S SOMETIMES SEEMS TO GET A LITTLE BLURRY AND A LITTLE BLACK, BECAUSE RIGHT NOW, WHEN I LOOK AT WHAT THE FUTURE IS OF WHAT OUR SCHOOL BOARD IS DOING TO A MAN, A HUMAN BEING THAT HAS GIVEN SO MUCH OF HIS LIFE IN TIME, THAT IT DOESN'T SEEM TO BE TOO MUCH OF AN IMPORTANCE TO MISS THE BLUE OR MR. TEDMAN TO BE ABLE TO LOOK UP IN MY FACE.
WHEN I SAY THAT MY CHILD MATTERS, DOES YOUR CHILDREN MATTER? DOES YOUR GRANDCHILDREN MATTER? HOW IS THEIR FUTURE? DOES THEIR FUTURE LOOK CITED TO YOU? BECAUSE I THINK ABOUT WHAT THE CHILDREN WITH DISABILITIES, THE MANY OBSTACLES THAT THEY ARE FACED WITH EVERY SINGLE DAY OF THEIR LIFE.
AND IT HAS BEEN ONE INDIVIDUAL THAT'S SITTING UP THERE AT THAT TABLE NAMED MR. ADAM SMITH THAT HAS MADE SURE THAT MY CHILD HAS A FUTURE THAT IS BRIGHT.
A CHILD THAT WAS DEEMED NONVERBAL ACTUALLY WAS ABLE TO TELL ME MAMA, BECAUSE OF A MAN THAT'S SITTING UP THERE AT THEIR TABLE NAMED ADAM SMITH.
WHEN I THINK ABOUT MY CHILD, NOT BEING ABLE TO MAKE EYE CONTACT WITH OTHER PEOPLE, BUT BECAUSE OF THIS ONE INDIVIDUAL MAKING SURE THAT MY CHILD HAD EDUCATORS THAT ACTUALLY LOVE HIM.
THAT ACTUALLY SHOW HIM WHAT IS SUPPOSED TO BE ON AN EVERY SINGLE DAY BASIS, MADE A DIFFERENCE.
MY CHILD ACTUALLY HAVE ALL A'S IN ONE BEAT BECAUSE OF A MAN NAMED ADAM SMITH.
IT WASN'T BECAUSE OF GWEN SHAMBLIN.
IT WASN'T BECAUSE OF MY GARDEN.
IT WASN'T BECAUSE OF A FORMER SCHOOL.
SO SCHOOL BOARD, PRESIDENT, MR. TECH, IT WAS BECAUSE OF MR. ADAM SMITH.
WHEN I ASKED FOR Y'ALL TO KEEP MR. WARREN DRAKE, YOU SAID, NO, YOU WANT IT.
THAT SUPERINTENDENT SEARCH, EVEN THOUGH I PAY TEXAS IN MULTIPLE DISTRICTS AND ASKED FOR YOU TO KEEP HIM, YOU SAID NO, BUT THEN WHEN I CAME UP HERE, NOT X FOR YOU TO GIVE MR. ADAM SMITH AND DR.
QUENTINA TIMBOL AN OPPORTUNITY.
YOU LAUGHED IN MY FACE AS IF MY TAX DOLLARS DID NOT MATTER.
MY TAX DOLLARS MATTER IN EVERY DISTRICT THAT I PAID THEM EAT, WHETHER IT IS ME, MY SISTERS AND MY BROTHERS, MY MAMA, OR MY DADDY, MY AUNTS AND MY UNCLES, EVERY SINGLE ONE OF US PAY TEXAS THAT PECK MA THAT MAKES EIGHT IMPACT ON THIS SCHOOL SYSTEM, EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH SCHOOL SYSTEM, A SCHOOL SYSTEM THAT IS NOT THRIVING.
THAT IS NOT THRIVING BECAUSE WE HAVE NOT HAD GREAT REPRESENTATION, GREAT LEADERSHIP.
SO WHEN I ASKED ABOUT LEADERSHIP AT X ABOUT LEADERSHIP, THAT IS GOING TO BE LIBERATING.
ONE THAT HAS A STRATEGIC PLAN.
ONE THAT IS BOLD WHIP, A GOAL ONE THAT HAS A REAL, TRULY MISSION.
ONE THAT WHEN I WINDED UP EVERY TIME I WINDED UP, EVERY TIME I OPENED UP MY EYES AND WINDED UP, I THINK ABOUT MR. ADAM SMITH, MAKING A GREAT IMPACT IN MY CHILD'S LIFE.
AND JUST LIKE YOUR CHILDREN ARE DOCTORS.
I WANT MY CHILD TO BE ADOPTED.
SO I JUST ASKED THAT THIS BOARD DO WHAT'S RIGHT.
WE'RE SUPPOSED TO BE ELECTING AN INTERIM, ELECT HIM.
HE SITTING RIGHT THERE IN FRONT OF ME.
SO I THANK YOU MR. ADAM SMITH, BUT EVERYTHING THAT YOU DO FOR MY CHILD AND ALL OF THE OTHER CHILDREN IN OUR SCHOOL SYSTEM, WHETHER THIS SCHOOL BOARD TELL IT TO YOU IN YOUR FACE OR NOT.
AND I HOPE YOU'LL HEAR IT FROM MY HEART AND FROM MY MIND, BUT I APPRECIATE YOU MISS THE GOLDEN AGE FOR THAT TIME SO THAT I CAN TELL HIM THAT TO HIS FACE AND IN FRONT OF YOU AND ALL OF THE REST OF OUR LEADERS THAT ARE SUPPOSED TO DO WHAT'S RIGHT TO YOU.
SO PLEASE DO WHAT'S RIGHT BY MY SHOP.
DO BOTH I'M EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT OF EAST BATON ROUGE, FEDERATION OF TEACHERS AND
[04:00:01]
ATTACH ANY 11, ANY RETIRED TEACHER, I'LL BE 11 YEARS IN EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH.I DON'T, I CAN'T UNDERSTAND WHY YOU WILL CALL MR. DRAKE BACK AND LISTEN IN THE MIDDLE OF THE PANDEMIC.
YOU'RE ALREADY SEEING THAT WITH COUPLING FOR DOLLARS, THE TAX BASE IS GONE.
IF YOU READ THE PAY HIM AND HIS, I GUESS ONCE I, OUR MONEY, RATHER THAN PAYING A MAN THAT'S ALREADY DON'T PAY WELL.
AND WHEN I WAS WORKING, LIKE EVERYBODY THAT HAS COME UP HERE AND SAID, WHENEVER I NEEDED HELP, THAT'S THE PERSON THEY POINTED ME TO.
AND, BUT THE MAIN THING, REASON WHY I WASN'T GOING TO COME UP.
BUT WHEN YOU NAMED WARREN DRAKE, WHAT WOULD YOU NAME WANT TO DRAKE WHEN YOU GOT TO PAY HIM EXTRA MONEY? I MEAN, Y'ALL KNEW SOMEBODY AND WE DON'T KNOW ABOUT THE TAX BASE IS STILL THERE.
I THINK YOU ALL ARE TRYING TO LOOK AT WAYS TO SAVE MONEY.
WELL, YOU DON'T HAVE TO PAY OUT EXTRA MONEY AS OPPOSED TO, BUT I MEAN, FROM WHAT I'M HEARING IS LIKE, YOU WANT TO SQUANDER THE MAN AND A TWO YEAR OLD CAN MAKE THAT DECISION.
IF I GOT A MAN THAT I'M ALREADY PAYING, I'M GONNA NAME HIM AFTER HIM SUPERINTENDENT, AS OPPOSED TO SOMEBODY THAT'S NOT EVEN ON PAYROLL, THAT'S EXTRA MONEY.
SO ALL I CAN SAY IS DO THE RIGHT THING.
ARE THERE ANY OTHER COMMENTS FROM THE AUDIENCE? I WILL BEGIN READING THE COMMENTS FROM THE INTERNET.
UM, THIS IS WHERE MY GLASSES, UM, FROM ASHLEY SUIT, I AM WRITING AS AN EBR SCHOOL PARENT IN SUPPORT OF APPOINTING ANNA SMITH AS INTERIM SUPERINTENDENT FOR EBR SCHOOLS.
MY HUSBAND AND I HAVE A DAUGHTER AT THIRD GRADE IN MAYFAIR LAB SCHOOL.
AND WE WERE WHOSE HUGE SUPPORTERS, VBR PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
AND WE BELIEVE MR. SMITH IS THE RIGHT PERSON TO FILL THE VACANCY.
WE HOPE THAT WILL BE A SMOOTH TRANSITION.
ERIC JOHNSON, I SUPPORT ADAM SMITH TO BE INSTALLED A SUPERINTENDENT OF EBR SCHOOLS.
UH, NATALIE ROY, PLEASE SUPPORT MR. ADAM SMITH IS INTERIM SUPERINTENDENT.
MR. SMITH HAS DEMONSTRATED HIS LOYALTY AND CONCERN FOR THE DISTRICT.
WITH HIS DECADES OF SERVICE TO EBR SCHOOLS, HE'S EFFICIENT, KNOWLEDGEABLE AND DEDICATED.
I HAVE THE UTMOST CONFIDENCE IN HIS LEADERSHIP SKILLS, ASHLEY RODRICK.
I AM COMMENTING IN SUPPORT OF ADAM SMITH OR INTERIM SUPERINTENDENT OF EBR SCHOOLS.
I'M A PARENT OF A STUDENT IN EBR AND A TEACHER IN EBR.
AND I KNOW FIRSTHAND THAT MR. SMITH IS THE ONLY PERSON QUALIFIED TO BE NAMED INTERIM SUPERINTENDENT.
HE IS A CONSUMMATE PROFESSIONAL AND HAS SERVED THE STUDENTS AND TEACHERS THE VVR WELL DURING HIS TENURE IN OUR DISTRICT, MR. GODADDY, OFTEN WHY YOU SERVE ON THE BOARD DUE TO YOUR LACK OF EXPERIENCE IN AND CONCERN FOR PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
I HOPE YOU WILL STEP UP TODAY AND SHOW YOU HAVE MY CHILD AND ALL CHILDREN ATTENDING EBR SCHOOLS BEST INTERESTS AT HEART BY NAMING MR. ADAM SMITH AS INTERIM SUPERINTENDENT, MEGAN SHAHEEN, DEAN, NO NEEDS SPENDING MORE TIME OR MONEY ON ANOTHER SUPERINTENDENT.
SEARCH OUR TEACHERS, CHILDREN AND TEACHERS DON'T HAVE A MINUTE TO WASTE.
WE ALREADY HAVE THE RIGHT PERSON, ADAM SMITH.
WE NEED A SUPERINTENDENT WHO UNDERSTANDS OUR CHILDREN AND OUR SCHOOLS.
AND ADAM SMITH IS THE PERSON FOR THE JOB.
NOEL, ALISON THE APPOINTMENT OF ADAM SMITH AND ROLE OF INTERIM SUPERINTENDENT MUST BE A REFRESHING, REALLY EASY DECISION AND A YEAR FULL OF UNCERTAINTY AND QUESTIONS.
HE HAS DEMONSTRATED A RECORD OF EXCELLENCE WITHIN OUR SCHOOL DISTRICT AND IS COMMITTED TO THE CONTINUED GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT OF OUR STUDENTS IN SCHOOLS AS A PARENT OF FOUR CHILDREN IN EBR SCHOOLS, I REQUEST THAT YOU VOTE TO MAKE HIM INTERIM SUPERINTENDENT TONIGHT.
LAURA DUNN, MR. SMITH WAS THE FIRST PRINCIPAL I EVER HAD THE HONOR TO WORK UNDER, EVEN THOUGH I CAME TO OUR SCHOOL THE SAME YEAR AS HE DID, IT WAS SO CLEAR FROM THE FACULTY RESPONSE THAT HE WAS A TREMENDOUSLY POSITIVE LEADER FOR STUDENTS AND STAFF.
HE TAUGHT ME SO MANY INVALUABLE LESSONS AND I AM SO GRATEFUL THAT I GOT TO WORK WITH THEM, ESPECIALLY SO EARLY IN MY CAREER BECAUSE HE HELPED FRAME WHAT IT MEANS TO CULTIVATE A SAFE AND INVITING SCHOOL ENVIRONMENT.
HE ALSO PUSHED ME TO HOLD STUDENTS TO HIGHER BAR, SO THEY WOULD BE TRULY PREPARED TO THRIVE.
15 YEARS LATER, HE IS STILL ONE OF THE BEST ADMINISTRATORS I'VE EVER WORKED UNDER.
AND SINCE TEACHING IN THE CHARTER WORLD OF NEW ORLEANS FOR THE LAST 10 YEARS, I HAVE WORKED UNDER SO MANY DIFFERENT ADMINISTRATORS.
HERE'S A TYPE OF PERSON THAT INSPIRES THE BEST IN OTHERS, JESSICA STROKE.
I FULLY SUPPORT APPOINTING ADAM SMITH TO BECOME THE INTERIM SUPERINTENDENT AS A PARENT OF TWO CHILDREN AND AN EBR P S S I KNOW ADAM SMITH
[04:05:01]
WORKS TIRELESSLY FOR OUR DISTRICT.HE WILL BE ABLE TO PROVIDE EXCELLENT LEADERSHIP IN THIS TIME WHEN LEADERSHIP IS SO DESPERATELY NEEDED.
AMY DUNHAM APPOINT ADAM SMITH, ALISON POOR DUDE, AS A PARENT OF TWO EBR PUBLIC SCHOOL CHILDREN.
I WANT TO EXPRESS MY SUPPORT FOR ADAM SMITH TO SERVE AS INTERIM SUPERINTENDENT DURING THE SEARCH FOR A NEW PERMANENT SUPERINTENDENT.
MR. SMITH IS FAMILIAR WITH THE DISTRICT AND THIS WAS PROVEN VALUABLE DURING THE TRANSITION TIME.
OUR SCHOOL HAS ALREADY SEEN A DIFFICULT YEAR.
SO THE CONTINUITY MR. SMITH WILL OFFER IS IMPORTANT.
CLAIRE CASEY PITTMAN, I FULLY SUPPORT ADAM SMITH FOR THE APPOINTMENT AS INTERIM SUPERINTENDENT.
AND I HIGHLY RECOMMEND THE BOARD CONSIDER APPOINTING.
MR. SMITH IS A PERMANENT ABR P S S SUPERINTENDENT, MY FELLOW FLAME PARENTS, AND I HAVE WORKED FOR SEVERAL YEARS WITH MR. SMITH.
HE HAS ALWAYS MADE HIMSELF AVAILABLE TO LISTEN TO PARENTS CONCERNED ABOUT IMMERSION AND OUR GROWING PROGRAM.
HE HAS SHOWN A GENUINE INTEREST WITH EBRS UNIQUE IMMERSION PROGRAM AND HAS BEEN ONE OF OUR BIGGEST SUPPORTERS.
AGAIN, PLEASE CONSIDER APPOINTING MR. ADAMS SMITH'S AS INTERIM SUPERINTENDENT.
FURTHERMORE, PLEASE CONSIDER APPOINTMENT OF MR. SMITH AS OF EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH SCHOOL SYSTEM FROM HANNAH BERKMAN AS A FORMER TEACHER, AN EBR NARROWER PARENT OF SIX KIDS IN OUR SEWER SYSTEM.
I SUPPORT ADAM SMITH TO THE POSITION OF INTERIM SUPERINTENDENT.
I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO MEET PERSONALLY WITH MR. SMITH IN THE LAST FEW YEARS TO EXPRESS CONCERNS ABOUT ACADEMIC PROGRAM.
I FOUND HIM TO BE ATTENTIVE AND COMMITTED TO STUDENTS IN THE DISTRICT AND THE UNIQUE PROGRAMS YOU CAN'T FIND EASILY FINE IN PUBLIC OR PRIVATE SCHOOLS AND OUR DISTRICT OR STATE.
HE HAS NOT ONLY SERVICE IT AS ASSISTANT SUPERINTENDENT, BUT AS HISTORY AS A TEACHER IN OUR SCHOOLS DEMONSTRATES A COMMITMENT TO PUBLIC EDUCATION IN BATON ROUGE.
QUITE FRANKLY, WE WOULD BE BETTER SERVED AT THE OVERWHELMING VOICE OF OUR BOARD WAS ONE WAS THAT OF EDUCATORS AND PARENTS WITHIN OUR SYSTEM IS INTIMATELY AWARE OF THE CHALLENGES THAT OUR TEACHERS, PARENTS, AND STUDENTS AND OUR COMMUNITY FACES DO.
WHAT IS RIGHT FOR SCHOOLS, ESPECIALLY FOR THOSE THAT ARE OFTEN OVERLOOKED, OVERWHELMED, AND UNDER-RESOURCED TONYA NYMAN, PLEASE APPOINT MR. ADAM SMITH AS INTERIM SUPERINTENDENT OF EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH SCHOOL SYSTEM.
MR. SMITH HAS THE KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE OUR SCHOOL SYSTEM NEEDS, ESPECIALLY AT THIS TIME.
AND HE ASKED US SUPPORT OF THE IMMEDIATE STAKEHOLDERS, THE PARENTS WHO SEND THEIR CHILDREN TO EAST BATON ROUGE, PARISH, PUBLIC SCHOOLS, AND THE TEACHER WHO WORKED IN THOSE SCHOOLS AS A PARENT WITH TWO CHILDREN IN THE EBR PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM.
I WHOLEHEARTEDLY RECOMMEND ADAM SMITH FOR THIS APPOINTMENT, UH, FROM SERI PIAZZA, AS A PARENT WITH CHILDREN AT WESTDALE MIDDLE IN WESTDALE, HIGHEST ACADEMIC MAGNET.
I AM SUPPORTIVE ADAM SMITH AS INTERIM SUPERINTENDENT, JENNIFER CARR.
WHILE I HAD FOLLOWED THE SUPERINTENDENTS CLOSELY AND HAVE BEEN IN THE COMMUNITY INTERVIEWS WITH DR.
TOWNS AND MRS. BROWN, I AM VERY DISAPPOINTED THAT MR MRS. BROWN HAD TO RESIGN AS I LOOK FORWARD TO WHICH HE HAD TO BRING TO OUR DISTRICT.
WHEN IT COMES TO NAMING THE INTERIM SUPERINTENDENT, I APPOINT YOU TO, I URGE YOU TO APPOINT FROM WITHIN, AT THIS POINT IN SCHOOL YEAR, WE DO NOT NEED ANOTHER OUTSIDER WHO IS FAMILIAR WITH OUR SYSTEM TO COME IN AT MID YEAR AND MID PANDEMIC AS MR. SMITH, WHO WAS ONE OF THE FINALIST CANDIDATES FOR THE POSITION.
IT MAKES MOST SENSE TO APPOINT HIM.
I SEEM TO RECALL, MR. I WOULD SAY THAT THEY WERE SO CONFIDENT IN THEIR PROCESS THAT IF THEIR CANDIDATE DID NOT LAST A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF TIME, THEY WOULD REDO THE SEARCH AS DR.
TAMALE HAVE ACCEPTED NEW JOBS.
THEY'RE NOT LIKELY VIABLE CANDIDATES.
IT SEEMS LIKE THEY WOULD NEED TO REDO THE SEARCH FOR US IN A TIMELY MANNER.
JANE GOODMAN, MR. SMITH HELPED US SO MUCH WHEN OUR DAUGHTER, WHEN OUR DAUGHTER WAS IN SEVENTH GRADE AT GLASGOW MIDDLE IN 2012, WE WHOLEHEARTEDLY SUPPORT HIM AS OUR CHOICE FOR INTERIM SUPERINTENDENT IS OUT OF THE BOX ADVICE AND ACTION ENABLED HER TO ACHIEVE GOALS THAT OTHERWISE WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN POSSIBLE.
ANNA FOGEL, PLEASE APPOINT ADAM SMITH AS INTERIM SUPERINTENDENT.
I HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH YOU FOR A LONG TIME.
ADAM HAS BEEN A CONSISTENT AND WELL LIKE REPRESENTATIVE OF OUR DISTRICT, ALLOW HIM TO BRING SOME CIVILITY DURING THIS DIFFICULT TIME.
I BELIEVE HE WILL MAKE AN EXCELLENT PERMANENT SUPERINTENDENT, BUT FIRST THINGS FIRST, JUSTIN LAMON.
I WOULD LIKE TO GO ON RECORD AS SUPPORTING THE APPOINTMENT OF ADAM SMITH FOR SUPERINTENDENT, MR. SMITH, AS INTERIM SUPERINTENDENT, MR. SMITH HAS BEEN A TREMENDOUS ASSET FOR THE EBR PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM AND HAS BEEN EXTREMELY RESPONSIVE TO FACULTY AND PARENTS REQUESTS THROUGHOUT THE EVOLUTION OF THE BR FLAME SCHOOL JOURNEY THIS PAST YEAR.
I APPRECIATE YOUR SERVICE AND CONSIDERATION APPOINTING MR. SMITH AS INTERIM SUPERINTENDENT, JEANETTE, DEVIN.
I FULLY SUPPORT THE APPOINTMENT OF ADAM SMITH, INTERIM SUPERINTENDENT.
MR. SMITH HAS ALWAYS MADE HIMSELF AVAILABLE
[04:10:01]
TO LISTEN OR MEET WITH ME AND FELLOW FLAME MEMBERS ON ANY ISSUES WE HAVE.HE HAS SHOWN A GENUINE INSURANCE AND EYE IMMERSION PROGRAM AND HAS BEEN ONE OF OUR BIGGEST SUPPORTERS, CAREY LANDRY, THOMAS, I FULLY SUPPORT ADAM SMITH AS INTERIM SUPERINTENDENT, AND FRANKLY, AS PERMANENT SUPERINTENDENT, HE IS FULLY AWARE OF THE ISSUES OF THE DISTRICT AND IS THE BEST PERSON TO ADDRESS THEM.
I WOULD LIKE TO VOICE MY SUPPORT FOR ADAM SMITH AS INTERIM SUPERINTENDENT OF EBR SCHOOLS.
MR. SPENCE HAS BEEN A JOY TO WORK WITH AND IS ALWAYS OPEN TO SPEAK WITH ANYONE WHO HAS A CONCERN DURING THIS TIME OF UNCERTAINTY.
I BELIEVE MR. SMITH WILL BE A WELCOME BIT OF NORMALCY.
I URGE THE BOARD TO SUPPORT MR. SMITH AS EBR SCHOOLS, INTERIM SUPERINTENDENT, LEANNE LOCKRIDGE.
I AM THE PARENT OF TWO MIDDLE SCHOOLERS IN THE PARISH SCHOOL SYSTEM, GLASGOW, AND I STRONGLY ENCOURAGED THE APPOINTMENT OF AN INTERIM SUPERINTENDENT WITH THE LONGTERM BROAD RANGE EXPERIENCE IN EBR PUBLIC SCHOOLS AT MULTIPLE LEVELS.
AND I THINK THAT WILL ENABLE THE PERSON SERVING AT THIS DIFFICULT TIME AND IN A SHORT TERM POSITION, A BOAT HIT THE GROUND RUNNING AND CONNECT WELL WITH IMPORTANT INTERNAL AND EXTERNAL CONSTITUENCIES, EFFECTIVE LEADERSHIP OF THE DISTRICT DEMANDS THAT WE DEMANDS THAT WE NEED CONTINUITY.
I SEE FROM THE WEBSITE THAT THERE ARE TWO ASSOCIATE SUPERINTENDENTS AT THIS TIME, I PRESUME THESE ARE YOUR TWO TOP CANDIDATES FOR MATERIALS.
I FIND THEM ONLINE, INCLUDING MR. KNEE CASES, VITALY ON LINKEDIN AND MR. SMITH'S PUBLICLY AVAILABLE MATERIAL RESULTING FROM HIS APPLICATION.
FINALLY ESTABLISHED IN THE LAST SEARCH FOR SUPERINTENDENT.
I URGE YOU TO SELECT MR. SMITH.
HE HAS A LONGTERM TRACK RECORD IN EBR PUBLIC SCHOOLS, AS WELL AS THE RANGE OF ADMINISTRATIVE EXPERIENCES TO SERVE THE DISTRICT.
WELL, IN THE INTERIM ROLE, MARY JUNO, MR. SMITH AMPLIFIES EXEMPLIFIES PROFESSIONALISM.
HE HAD, HE IS KNOWLEDGEABLE ABOUT THE STATE AND LOCAL COOL POLICIES.
HE UNDERSTANDS OUR DIVERSE STUDENT POPULATION AND THEIR BROAD EDUCATIONAL NEEDS.
HE WORKS WELL WITH PARENTS, FACULTY, AND ADMINISTRATORS, TO SOLUTIONS, TO PROBLEMS AND CELEBRATE ALL THAT IS GOOD WITHIN OUR SYSTEM.
WE NEED ADAM SMITH AT THIS CHALLENGING TIME TO BRING STABILITY AND PRESENT A CLEAR VISION FOR THE FUTURE.
PAIGE CALDWELL, AS A TEACHER IN EBR, STRONGLY URGE THE BOARD TO APPOINTMENTS TO ADAM SMITH.
AS THE INTERIM SUPERINTENDENT COVID HAS THIS DUCK HAS DISRUPTED EVERY PART OF OUR EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM HERE.
IT IS CLEAR TO THOSE OF US IN THE CLASSROOMS THAT NEED, THERE HAS BEEN MINIMAL PLANNING TO PREPARE FOR THE RETURN TO SCHOOL.
IT FEELS AS THOUGH FOR TOO LONG, WE HAVEN'T HAD ANYONE ACTUALLY IN CHARGE.
WE NEED SOMEONE WHO IS FAMILIAR WITH EBR AS A DISTRICT.
NOW I BELIEVE THAT MR. SMITH IS ACTUALLY COMMITTED TO OUR KIDS, THEIR SAFETY, HEALTH, AND EDUCATION.
WE NEED THAT NOW MORE THAN EVER.
MR. HOWARD, CAN YOU PLEASE PREPARE TO TAKE OVER IN A MILL? NICOLE, DAN DURAN, I AM AN EBR RESONANT, AN ACTIVE MEMBER OF PSN AND A PROUD PARENT OF TWO YOUNG CHILDREN WHO ATTEND DEFROCK ELEMENTARY.
ADAM SMITH BRINGS EXPERIENCE AND LEADERSHIP SKILLS OF OUR DISTRICT NEEDS TO SUCCEED IN THE COMING MONTHS.
I HAVE PERSONALLY SPOKEN WITH MR. SMITH WHEN YOU REACHED OUT TO ME AFTER PREVIOUS EMAIL TO THE BOARD AND HIS KNOWLEDGE OF MY CHILDREN'S SCHOOL AND THE CHALLENGES THE DISTRICT FACED AND CONTINUE TO FACE THROUGH COVID IMPRESSED ME.
I HAVE SEEN SOME AMAZING PROGRESS IN THE COMMUNICATION FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER.
I RECEIVED OFFICIAL NOTIFICATION ROBOCALL TO THE SCHOOL ABOUT CLOSURES BEFORE RANDOMLY SEEING IT IN THE PAPER OR SHARED ON FACEBOOK, DO FROCK, EVEN HOSTED A VIRTUAL TOWN HALL MEETING AND PLANS TO MAKE IT A REGULAR EVENT.
MR. SMITH IS OUR CHARGE IS MY CHOICE TO LEAD US THROUGH THIS UNPRECEDENTED SCHOOL YEAR AS INTERIM SUPERINTENDENT, JOANNA HANES, PLEASE APPOINT MR. ADAM SMITH, INTERIM SUPERINTENDENT.
WE NEED INSTITUTIONAL CONTINUITY, STRONG LEADERSHIP AND ADMINISTRATIVE KNOWHOW.
ESPECIALLY THIS YEAR, MR. SMITH IS DEDICATED TO EBR SCHOOLS AND CAN GIVE OUR SYSTEM WHAT IT NEEDS.
FIRST, I WOULD LIKE TO SAY HOW SORRY I AM TO LEARN ABOUT MRS. BROWN ILLNESS AND SUBSEQUENT RESIGNATION.
WE NOW MUST PULL TOGETHER AND CALL OUR WONDERFUL LOCAL TALENT, STRENGTH AND EXPERIENCE TO GET US THROUGH THIS YEAR OF AGITATION, FEAR AND UNCERTAINTY.
I STRONGLY URGE THE APPOINTMENT OF ADAM SMITH AS INTERIM SUPERINTENDENT TO GUIDE US THROUGH THE YEAR WITH HIS BROAD KNOWLEDGE AND HAVE AN KNOWLEDGE OF AN EXPERIENCE IN THE AVR SCHOOL SYSTEM AND HIS COMPASSIONATE, STEADY LEADERSHIP.
I WOULD LIKE TO EXPRESS MY SINCERE PRAYERS FOR LESLIE BROWN AND HER FAMILY, AS THEY ARE ON A DIFFICULT JOURNEY, DEALING WITH OUR HEALTH.
IT HAS BEEN A YEAR FULL OF SUDDEN CHANGES FOR EVERYONE AND FOR THE SAKE OF CONTINUITY AND TO DECREASE
[04:15:01]
THE CHANCE OF FURTHER PEOPLE, I WOULD LIKE TO SUPPORT ADAM SMITH AND POSITION OF INTERIM SUPERINTENDENT FOR OUR DISTRICT.HE HAS THE KNOWLEDGE AND IN OUR DISTRICT THAT IS NEEDED TO PROVIDE CALM STEADINESS THAT WE NEED TO COUNTER DISTRESS WITH CHANGE.
WE HAVE EXPERIENCED THE, THE COVID-19 AND THE SUDDEN RESIGNATION OF LESLIE BROWN.
PLEASE SELECT ADAM SMITH TO BE OUR NEXT SUPERINTENDENT NITA REELS.
I THINK THE CORRECT PERSON FOR THE JOB IS SITTING RIGHT NEXT TO YOU, JONATHAN.
IT IS SAD THAT THE BOARD CHOSE LESLIE OVER NAMED NICAEA.
HOW DO WE KNOW Y'ALL NOT GOING TO DO THE SAME THING AGAIN? MURRAY LAWSON EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH SCHOOL SYSTEM SAID APPOINT ADAM SMITH AS INTERIM SUPERINTENDENT OF THE EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH SCHOOL SYSTEM EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY.
THE MAN IS LOYAL TO THIS DISTRICT AND YOU WANT TO VOTE PRO-CHARTER PEOPLE IN DEBRA WELLS.
PLEASE DID NOT PLAY ANY POLITICAL GAMES FOR YOUR OWN AGENDA.
PLEASE DO WHAT IS RIGHT FOR OUR DISTRICT.
ADAM SMITH IS MORE QUALIFIED FOR THE JOB.
PROPOSED FRIENDLY AMENDMENT IS NOT SO SNEAKY WAY OF PLAYING POLITICS, YOUR CONSTITUENCY, YOU AND WE'LL VOTE ACCORDINGLY WHEN THE TIME COMES AGAIN.
ASHLEY, CASEY, TELL ME WHEN YOU'RE READY, SIR.
CASEY, THIS HAS BEEN THE TOUGHEST YEAR EVER FOR TEACHERS AND STUDENTS BECAUSE OF THE PEDAL PEDAL PEDOLOGICAL CHALLENGES, PEDAGOGICAL CHALLENGES, EXCUSE ME.
THE LAST THING WE NEED IS BUREAUCRATIC, WHO HAS NEVER TAUGHT IN K THROUGH 12 CLASSROOM, GUIDING THE SHIP, ESPECIALLY ONE LIKE DR.
TOWNS WHO HAS NEVER BEEN IN BATON ROUGE.
WHEN WE HAVE AN INHOUSE SUPERINTENDENT WHO HAVE KNOWS THE CULTURE AND HAS BEEN AN EDUCATOR.
ADAM SMITH IS RESPECTED BY EDUCATORS AND HAS A PROVEN TRACK RECORD IN EBR FOR THE SAKE OF A SOLID SCHOOL YEAR, RESPECT FOR THE COMMUNITY AND THE THOUSANDS OF TEACHERS IN EBR.
LESLIE CHILD, THE WHITE BOARD MEMBERS JUST PROVE THAT THEIR CARE MORE ABOUT RACE THAN ANYTHING ELSE.
THE COMMENT MADE THROUGHOUT ABOUT DR.
TOWNS AND MRS. BROWN SEARCH WAS, I WISH WE COULD CHOOSE THEM BOTH.
AND YOU WERE GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY AND YOU DID NOT DO WHAT YOU SAY.
HOW DO YOU THINK THIS LOOKS TO OUR CHILDREN? IT LOOKS LIKE THESE WHITE BOARD MEMBERS LIE AND ONLY CARE ABOUT RACIAL LINES.
WHEN VOTING A SUPERINTENDENT DOES NOT NEED AN EDUCATOR'S BACKGROUND TO LEAD THE DISTRICT.
SO LEAD, PLEASE READ THE BACKGROUND OF DR.
TOWNS BEFORE YOU, UM, MAY COMMENTS THAT SHE'S NOT AN EDUCATOR.
JENNIFER HARTMAN, ADAM SMITH HAS A PROVEN TRACK RECORD OF LEADERSHIP SKILLSET AND DEMONSTRATED DEDICATION TO OUR SCHOOL SYSTEM.
HE HAS ALREADY HAS A FULL UNDERSTANDING OF CHALLENGES CURRENTLY FACING OUR DISTRICT DUE TO THE COLBERT PANDEMIC APPOINTED MRS. SMITH AS AN INTERIM WILL PROVIDE PARENTS, STUDENTS, AND STAFF WITH A STABILITY AND CONTINUITY.
THAT IS SO IMPORTANT DURING THESE TRYING TIMES, ESPECIALLY SINCE IT APPEARS THAT WE'RE COMPLETELY GOING BACK TO THE DRAWING BOARD WITH A NEW SEARCH FOR A PERMANENT REPLACEMENT, PLEASE DO THE RIGHT THING AND APPOINT MR. SMITH AS AN INTERIM SUPERINTENDENT, UM, GL YOU REALLY DO NOT WANT A BLACK SUPERINTENDENT.
YOU WANT TO KEEP IT AS IF INSTEAD OF HAVING A BLACK LEADER, I AM SURE BEING NEW CASE WAS UP FOR THIS FOR YOU WITH BOTH QUICKLY COMPLETELY UNBELIEVABLE.
YOU WERE THE ONLY MAIN PERSON SAYING YOU WOULD WANT BOTH TOWNS AND BROWN.
YOU QUICKLY VOTED AGAINST HOUSE TONIGHT.
ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF A WHITE WOMAN PLAYING NICE AND WINDING MASS, AND SHE'S TRULY A RACIST.
WE DO NOT NEED YOU, OUR KIDS, AND I NEED YOU AREA AND ST.
JULIAN TO A POINT AND ANSWER THEM IS A SLAP IN THE FACE TO MR. SMITH.
AND MS.
I AGREE WITH ALL THE PREVIOUS COMMENT AND JUST ADVOCATED FOR MR. SMITH, IF HE CANNOT AND WILL NOT BE THE NEXT SUPERINTENDENT, AT LEAST ALLOW MR. SMITH TO TAKE ON THE ROLE AS INTERIM.
HE HAS LED THIS DISTRICT WITHOUT THE TITLE ALREADY.
HE CONTINUES TO SHOW UP NO MATTER THE CIRCUMSTANCE AND ALL OF THE CANDIDATES IS STILL HERE.
CASSANDRA BEVERLEY, THERE IS NO NEED FOR TWO HEADS.
ARE YOU LOOKING AT THE EXPERIENCE OR PERHAPS SOMETHING ELSE? WHAT POSITION DOES MR. KEY KNEE CASE HOLE AND WHAT IS HIS EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUND? LESLIE JONES, YOU GUYS ARE HERE IN LIMBO ON ANOTHER WHITE PERSON WHO IS NOT HALF AS QUALIFIED AS THE BLACK PERSON NIKKEI'S DIDN'T EVEN APPLY.
HE'S NOT HAVING AS QUALIFIED AS SHAMEFUL THAT BLACK PEOPLE REALLY DO HAVE TO BE TWICE AS GOOD AND STILL PASSED UP.
JUST THE MESSAGE IS CLEAR TO THE COMMUNITY.
NEED A REAL TO ECHO MR. ATLANTA'S.
I THINK THAT THIS IS BEYOND A POINT TO DESTROY THE PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM BY ANY MEANS NECESSARY.
IF THAT MEANS PUSHING THE PARENTS AWAY, PUSHING THE STUDENTS AWAY OR PUSHING THE TEACHERS AWAY THROUGH IN SAN ANTONIO, CHAOS Y'ALL ARE DESTROYING OUR, THE ISSUE IS IT BY DESIGN AND LESLIE JONES, ADAM SMITH, BLACK MAN, THESE PEOPLE DO NOT APPRECIATE YOU.
PLEASE SEE HOW THEY ARE JUST RESPECTING YOU BY BRINGING TWO WHITE MEN WHO DID NOT EVEN ASK FOR THE JOB OR APPLY FOR THE JOB BEFORE YOU.
IF YOU'RE NOT APPOINTED, I STRONGLY ADVISE YOU TO TAKE YOUR TALENTS, DEDICATION, AND EXPERTISE ELSEWHERE.
THE PORSCHE ASK
HE DID THIS THE NIGHT OF THE DECISION.
WAIT, WAIT, WAIT, AND THEN WAIT FOR A DECISION GO.
THEY SHOWS NO LEADERSHIP IN HIS ROLE, A POINT SMITH AND THE MOVE ON TO THE NEXT ITEM.
STOP WAITING THE WAITING GAME AND TRYING TO PULL A RABBIT OUT THE HAT.
IF WE SEE SOMEONE THAT IS MORE QUALIFIED FOR THE POSITION THAN ADAM SMITH, BEING IN THE POSITION, SHOULDN'T EVEN MATTER THIS.
IF THIS ISN'T DIFFICULT, LET'S CALL A SPADE, A SPADE, GO DOWN.
DYSON ARE THE ONES BRINGING RACE INTO THE MATTER DONALD HODGES.
[04:20:01]
NEVER CITIZENS OF DISTANCE STRIPE.THIS IS SEVEN IN UNFORTUNATE CONSTITUENT OF MY GO DAY.
THIS IS A USUAL DUMPSTER FIRE.
WE IN EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH HAVE BECOME ACCUSTOMED TO THE SCHOOL.
IT STARTED WITH THE ORIGINAL SUPERINTENDENT SEARCH AND HAS CARED FOR US TONIGHT DURING THE DAY TO THE DETRIMENT OF OUR CHILDREN, YOU PREPARE, SERVE, AND I AM SITTING HERE WATCHING MRS. SMITH, ASHLEY WAYNA, MACEDONIA GLOBAL PANDEMIC, WHITE FIVE WHITE BOARD MEMBERS, AND MS. COLLINS, SPEAKING TO THE AIR, CARRYING THEIR VITAL LOAD THROUGH THE VIRAL LOAD THROUGH THIS BUILDING WITH OUR REGARDS TO ANYONE'S HEALTH SHAME ON YOU, ALL THE ONLY PERSON LEADING ON, ON DIETS RIGHT NOW ARE THE MEMBERS, A BOARD MEMBER, OTHER BOARD MEMBERS AND MRS. SMITH.
I WHOLEHEARTEDLY SUPPORT MR. SMITH, AND HE'S NOT ONLY THE MOST QUALIFIED PERSON FOR THE POSITION, BUT IT'S ALSO EXHIBITING LEADERSHIP IN THE PANDEMIC, IN THE FACE OF UMASS LIST.
JAYDEN LEE AND MR. BLUE, MR. GOLDIE, MS. UH, I GUESS IT'S MS. DYSON AND TINY, PLEASE STOP BEING RACIST FOR OUR STUDENTS.
IT SEEMS IF EVERYTHING WE WANT SOMEBODY, IF EVERY TIME WE WANT SOMEBODY IN THEIR BLACK, YOU WANT THE OPPOSITE AND THEN COME UP WITH EXCUSES.
AND BRENDA, BRITTANY DAVIS, WHY WOULD MR. SMITH'S POSITION IMPACT THE SEARCH WHEN IT IS WHEN IT DID NOT IMPACT THE LAST SEARCH AS ASSOCIATE SUPERINTENDENT, HE HAS MOST OF THE KNOWLEDGE CLASSIFIED INFORMATION AS SUPERINTENDENT, PAGE COWELL, AS AN EDUCATOR AND EVR, I CAN ATTEST TO MRS. JACKSON'S COMMENTS.
WE HAVE BEEN FACED WITH FELLOW LEADERSHIP AND STRIKE DECIDED TO RETIRE.
WE HAVE BEEN LED BY THE BLIND FOR SO LONG.
WE CAN NOT GET ANSWERS FROM IRON AND THEY DID NOT.
WE DO NOT FEEL LIKE WE'RE BEING LISTENED TO MRS. SMITH IS THE ONLY ONE WHO MADE THE EFFORT TO HEAR US.
I CAN NOT BELIEVE WE'RE LISTENING TO THIS ROCHELLE SCOTT.
AT THIS TIME, IT IS VERY DISHEARTENING TO SEE THE LACK OF UNITY AMONG OUR BOY.
YET YOU SUGGEST THAT YOU ARE SUGGESTING THAT WE GO ON WITHOUT TRUE LEADERSHIP.
MR. SMITH HAS SERVED DILIGENTLY FOR OUR DISTRICT DISTRICT AND THE LEADERSHIP CAPACITY AT THIS TIME, BACK AND FORTH AND SHOWING AND SHOWING OUR TEACHERS, STUDENTS, AND PARENTS THAT WE DON'T HAVE THEIR BEST INTERESTS IN MIND.
THE TEAM LEADERSHIP APPROACH HAS NEVER WORKED FOR THE DISTRICT BECAUSE IT DEFIES THE STATUS QUO.
I HAVE THE, WE DO NOT HAVE A TEAM THAT TRULY UNDERSTANDS INNOVATIVE PRACTICES.
NOW, WHILE THAT CAN BE DEVELOPED IN TIME, THIS IS NOT A TIME TO EXPERIMENT.
THEREFORE, AS A LEADER, I ASKED THAT YOU APPOINT MR. SMITH TO ENSURE THAT OUR DISTRICT HAS SOME FORM OF CONSISTENCY AND ACCOUNTABILITY FOR AT LEAST THE NEXT SIX MONTHS.
MR. SMITH IS CULTURALLY COMPETENT, ACADEMICALLY SOUND AND BUSINESS SAVVY.
THE CHOICE IS CLEAR, KEITH WILSON, SHAME ON SOME OF THE MEMBERS OF THE BOARD THAT HAVE DISRESPECTED ASSOCIATE SUPERINTENDENT, ADAM SMITH, BY ATTEMPTING TO BYPASS HIM FOR INTERIM SUPERINTENDENT.
MR. SMITH HAS BEEN A LOYAL, VERY EFFECTIVE LEADER IN THE SCHOOL SYSTEM.
AND BY RECOMMENDING BRINGING IT BACK A PAST SUPERINTENDENT IN LIEU OF ACCEPTING HIM AS AN INTERIM IS A DISGRACE AND A SLAP IN THE FACE OF A MAN WHO HAS GIVEN HIS SWEAT BLOOD IN KOREA TO THE STUDENTS AT EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH, SHAME ON MR. GOLDIE AND HIS CRONIES FOR ONCE AGAIN, PUTTING PERSONAL POLITICS OVER THE BEST INTEREST OF EVERY SINGLE CHILD IN THIS DISTRICT, YOU SHOULD BE ASHAMED.
AND I AWAIT COMPETENT CHALLENGES TO THE SCHOOL BOARD SEATS, JANE SMITH, WHITE BOARD MEMBERS, JUST ADMIT THAT YOU MET AHEAD OF THIS AND MEETING AND ALREADY ASKED WARREN DRAKE, IF HE WOULD ACCEPT THIS POSITION, IF HE VOTED TO A POOR HIM, YOU ARE CROOKS.
AND WOULD RATHER GO BACK TO THE TIME TO SEE A BLACK MAN SERVANT'S POSITION.
AND SO CONNIE, BUT NOR ARE YOU AN EMBARRASSMENTS OF THE COMMUNITY BY THE ASIAN COMMUNITY, DESERVING THE APOLOGY FOR YOUR REFERENCE TO COVID-19.
XENOPHOBIA SHOULD NOT BE SERVING BY CONNIE BY MIKE, BY MARK, BY MR. TAMMY, BY JILL AND BY TO USE TO DON BECAUSE YOU, WHILE WE'RE IN THIS POSITION AND I, JOHN WILLIAMS, SMITH ALLEN SMITH, YOU'RE A BETTER MAN THAN A LEADER THAN ME, BECAUSE I WOULD HAVE GOTTEN UP AND LEFT A LONG TIME AGO TO ENDURE THE DISRESPECT AND RACISM BEING SPEWED AT YOU TONIGHT, JUST KNOW THAT I SEE YOU ARE WORTHY.
YOU ARE A CHAMPION OF OUR CHILDREN, AND WE STAND WITH YOU, BUT NO ONE WILL BE MAD AT YOU PROTECTED YOUR OWN PEACE AND WALK OUT OF THIS.
PEOPLE ON THESE PEOPLE DELIBERATELY SETTING YOU UP FOR FAILURE AND EMBARRASSMENT AND MARINE BLANK.
WE DO NOT NEED MR. DRAKE TO COME BACK TO THE COMMENT I MADE EARLY IN SUPPORT OF MS. MRS. SMITH.
OUR SUPERINTENDENT GOES THROUGH TO HIS PLACEMENT AS INTERIM SUPERINTENDENT.
SO I'LL SAY AGAIN, MRS. SMITH'S TENURE WITH THE EBI NEWS EAST BATON ROUGE SCHOOL SYSTEM GIVES THE DIRECT INSTITUTIONAL KNOWLEDGE NEEDED TO HIT THE GROUND RUNNING IN THIS TEMPORARY POSITION.
WE NEED THE ABILITY DURING THIS TIME, HE KNOWS OUR DISTRICT.
OUR DISTRICT EMPLOYEES KNOW HIM, AND HE HAS A HISTORY OF IMPROVING SCHOOLS IN OUR DISTRICT.
IF THE OTHER CANDIDATES ARE SCARED OFF BY HIS POSITION AS INTERIM SUPE, THEN PERHAPS THEY AREN'T THE CALIBER PERSON WE NEED RUNNING OUR DISTRICT.
MISCELLANEA SAID THAT THE PARENTS TAKE THEIR KIDS TO SCHOOL.
TAKE THE KIDS, TAKE THEIR KIDS TO SCHOOLS THAT LISTEN.
STOP GIVING PARENTS OUR REASONS TO LEAVE.
LISTEN TO US, APPOINT ADAM SMITH, INTERIM SUPERINTENDENT.
HE HAS EXPERIENCED JUST GIVE HIM THE JOB.
LET MR. DRAKE HAVE HIS RETIREMENT AND GIVE HIM SMEARS A CHANCE TO DO THE JOB HE'S ALREADY APPLIED FOR.
CALL ME A IS A TRAVESTY OF PUBLIC REQUIRED EDUCATION.
THEY'RE NOT A SINGLE BOARD MEMBER HAS A CHILD.
AND THESE BATTERIES PRIOR SCHOOL SYSTEM, ADAM HAS WALKED THE WALK AND TALK THE TALK.
I AM A PROUD PRODUCT OF THE SPANISH PARISH PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM, AND EVEN PROUD OF HEARING OF THIS SCHOOL SYSTEM.
I HAVE LIVED HERE MY ENTIRE LIFE.
I HAVE SENT MY CHILDREN TO THE VERY SAME SCHOOL THAT I'VE BENEFITED FROM.
[04:25:01]
I DARE YOU TO LOOK AT ME IN THE FACE AND TELL ME I'M UNEDUCATED.THE ONLY CLEAR CHOICE FOR THIS DECISION TO BE INTERIM IS MR. ADAM SMITH.
HE'LL POINT HIM INTO HIM INTO CONDUCTING ROBUST NATIONAL AND LOCAL SOCIAL OTHER SUPERINTENDENT.
THANK YOU IN ADVANCE FOR APPOINTING, MR. ADAM SMITH, FRED HAMPTON Y'ALL ARE LUCKY.
MRS. SMITH IS WILLING TO TAKE THIS POSITION TO BE FAIR.
THE STUDENTS APPOINT THE STUDENTS, APPOINTED THIS BLACK MAN AND PAY HIM FOR THE JOB HE'S ALREADY DOING.
I LOVE TERRANCE AS AN EDUCATOR, I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO TAKE TWO YEARS TO RESTART SCHOOL SYSTEMS ALL OVER THE NATION.
THOSE THAT ARE FAILING INTERCEDING WITH EXCITEMENT.
I RETURNED BACK TO EBR TO SHARE MANY, MANY STRATEGIES SYSTEMS, INNOVATIVE IDEAS THAT COULD TAKE OUR CHILDREN UPWARD AND LEARNING OUR SYSTEM FOR, BUT HERE I AM SINGLE LISTENING TO THE SAME CONCERNS OF NOT PUTTING STUDENTS.
IF YOU ARE NOT LOYAL TO THE STUDENTS OF EBR, IT IS TIME TO STEP ASIDE.
ADAM IS A GREAT LEADER TO CONSIDER GAILING MACK.
I AM VERY WORRIED ABOUT THE EBR SCHOOL DISTRICT.
THIS WAS A VERY EASY AND SMART DECISION THAT HAS TURNED INTO A CIRCUS.
PLEASE CALL HER THE BOLT IN PLACE.
THE ADAMANT A SUPERINTENDENCY THE BOYS SHOULD CONSIDER TAKING THE TIME TO RETREAT WITH EACH OTHER TO PRIOR TO STANDING STARTING THE NEXT SUPERINTENDENT SEARCH.
WE NEED LEADERSHIP FOR THE DISTRICT WHO CAN WORK TOGETHER AND SUPPORT EACH OTHER, EVEN WHEN THERE'S THIS AGREEMENT.
AND THE LAST COMMENT FOR THE NIGHT, MR. MATTHEW EVANS, CHOOSE MR. ADAM SMITH.
HE SHOULD HAVE BEEN A FINALIST FOR THE ORIGINAL SITES THROUGH DECADES IN EBR.
WHAT MORE DO YOU NEED? HURRY UP.
UH THERE'S I SAY, WHERE DID YOU LEAVE OFF, SIR? MATTHEW EVANS WAS THE LAST COMMENT THAT I SAW.
JOSHUA WARREN, PLEASE APPOINT MR. SMITH.
I PERSONALLY STRIVED AS HIGH AS I DID IN THE EDUCATION ARENA BY SEEING SOMEONE WHO RESEMBLED MYSELF AND NOW THE STUDENTS OF THIS DISTRICT SHOULD HAVE THE SAME OPPORTUNITY.
NOT ONLY DOES HE KNOW THE DISTRICT, HE HAS THE NECESSARY SKILL SETS AND IN RELATIONSHIPS TO MOVE THE DISTRICT FORWARD.
LILY BLACK, THIS BOARD MEETING IS A HOT MESS.
YOU ALMOST WANT IT TO GO VIRAL AGAIN, HAVE YOU NO SHAME THAT THE NATION HAS LAUGHED AND SHOOK HIS HEAD AT THIS BOARD ALREADY FOR ITS INCOMPETENCE.
I HOPE THEY'RE PAYING YOU THE SAME AMOUNT AS THEY PAID MR. BROWN FOR DOING THIS JOB.
THAT IS THE LAST COMMENT I SEE.
AND THAT CLOSES THE COMMENTS FROM THE THERE'S.
ONE MORE WHERE FROM MISSY BETS, JILL IS RACIST AND YOU WIPED HER HAND OFF AFTER I SHAKED HER HAND.
THE LAW SAYS I HAVE TO READ ALL THE COMMENTS.
UM, WITH THAT WE CLOSE THE COMMENTS AND I HAVE LOST TRACK OF WHO IS NEXT UP ON THE REQUEST TO SPEAK.
I JUST WANTED TO SAY THANK YOU FOR EVERYONE WHO CAME TONIGHT TO SPEAK ON BEHALF OF MR. SMITH.
AND THAT I AGREE WITH 99% OF YOU.
SOME, SOME PEOPLE, I THINK WE'RE NOT AS MUCH IN FAVOR OF MR. SMITH AS I WAS, UM, WHEN THIS DILEMMA WAS PRESENTED TO THE BOARD THAT MRS. BROWN WAS RETIRING.
MY FIRST THOUGHT WAS, WE ABSOLUTELY NEED MR. SMITH TO TAKE TO STEP IN AND, AND TAKE OVER RIGHT NOW BECAUSE IT'S CRITICAL FOR OUR DISTRICT.
I WAS ELECTED TO REPRESENT MY CONSTITUENTS.
SOMETIMES I DON'T HEAR FROM MY CONSTITUENTS OR I DON'T HEAR FROM VERY MANY OF THEM.
SO I HEAR FROM MY ADOPTED CONSTITUENTS AND THEY ARE PARENTS WHO HAVE THEIR CHILDREN IN THE PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM WHO HAVE MY NUMBER.
AND SOME OF THEM ARE FACULTY MEMBERS.
SOME OF THEM ARE ADMINISTRATORS, AND THEY'RE ALL PEOPLE THAT I RESPECT DEEPLY AND CARE DEEPLY FOR.
UM, I, UM, SO MY STARTING POINT BEFORE I EVER GOT TO THE MEETING AND, AND I DON'T LIKE TO DECIDE BEFORE I COME TO THE MEETING OR MAKE A COMMITMENT BEFORE I COME TO THE MEETING, BECAUSE SOMETHING THAT SOMEONE SAYS IN THE AUDIENCE, OR ONE OF THE ONLINE COMMENTS OR SOMETHING THAT ONE OF MY COLLEAGUES SAYS MAY INFLUENCE ME
[04:30:01]
DIFFERENTLY.SO I WAS ALWAYS FOR MR. SMITH.
I ALSO PARTICULARLY APPRECIATED THE UNION REPRESENTATIVES, MS. ANGELA WILLIAMS AND MS. AUGUSTUS, MS. AUGUSTUS.
I REMEMBER GROWING UP IN MY MOM'S HOUSEHOLD THAT SHE HAD TO BE OUT THE DOOR VERY EARLY SOMETIMES BEFORE I DID TO GO TO SCHOOL BECAUSE SHE WAS A SCHOOLTEACHER AND SHE DIDN'T TEACH IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD.
SO SHE HAD TO BE AT SCHOOL ON TIME FOR EARLY DUTY SOMETIMES.
AND I REMEMBER THE LATE NIGHTS GRADING PAPERS.
I CAN REMEMBER AS EARLY AS FOURTH GRADE SPELLING PAPERS, MATH PAPERS, WHATEVER SHE ASKED US TO DO AND PUTTING UP BULLETIN BOARDS AND STAYING AT SCHOOL LATE.
SO THERE WERE LOTS OF LATE NIGHTS.
AND I VERY MUCH APPRECIATE EVERY SINGLE ONE OF YOU UNDERSTAND AND APPRECIATE THE EFFORTS THAT YOU GUYS HAD.
I DIDN'T APPRECIATE SOME OF THE ACCUSATIONS OF BIGOTRY AND RACISM FOR OUR BOARD MEMBERS, BECAUSE I WON'T OWN THAT.
I DO REALIZE AND RECOGNIZE THAT EVERYONE HAS PREJUDICES BECAUSE PREJUDICE MEANS PREJUDGED THAT YOU HAVE A PRECONCEIVED NOTION OR A PRECONCEIVED FEELING.
JUST LIKE I SAID, I DECIDED BEFORE THE MEETING, I HAD A PREJUDICE TOWARD MR. SMITH, A BIAS FOR MR. SMITH BECAUSE I WORK WITH HIM DAY IN AND DAY OUT.
I APPRECIATE ALL OF OUR STAFF, ALL OF OUR ADMINISTRATORS, AND THEY HAVE DONE A BRILLIANT JOB IN THE ABSENCE OF MS. BROWN.
AND THEY'VE ALL PULLED TOGETHER ON THE SAME TEAM, KIND OF LIKE A TEAM OF HORSES PULLING THE SLEIGH AT CHRISTMAS TIME.
UM, SO I JUST WANTED TO THANK EVERYONE FOR BEING HERE TONIGHT AND FOR YOUR INPUT BECAUSE I'M UNEQUIVOCALLY FOR MR. SMITH.
THANK YOU, MS. BERNARD, MR. LANDIS.
I'LL JUST SAY, I THINK IT'S INTERESTING.
WE WERE TALKING ABOUT PREJUDICE AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE.
AND WHEN WE HAVE A BOARD MEMBER THAT SAID BLACK LIVES, DON'T, IT'S NOT ABOUT BLACK LIVES.
IT'S ABOUT BLACK PEOPLE PROMOTING MARXISM.
THAT BOARD MEMBER STILL SITS ON HIS BOARD, BUT THAT'S FOR ANOTHER CONVERSATION.
I DO DISAGREE WITH THE NOTION THAT IF MR. SMITH IS NAMED OUR INTERIM SUPERINTENDENT IS GOING TO MAKE PEOPLE NOT WANT TO COME HERE.
IF YOU ARE THE BEST TALENT OR YOU FEEL LIKE YOU HAVE WHAT IT TAKES TO MOVE OUR SYSTEM FORWARD.
I THINK THOSE PEOPLE WILL COME, BUT OUT OF ALL, HONESTY, AFTER EVERYTHING THAT HAS TRANSPIRED TONIGHT, AFTER EVERYTHING THAT HAS BEEN DISCUSSED AND EVERYTHING THAT PEOPLE ARE SEEING, I THINK WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A DIFFICULT TIME FINDING THE BEST TALENT ANYWAY.
AND THE FACT THAT MR. SMITH IS STILL SITTING HERE AFTER ALL THE YEARS THAT HE'S PUT IN, AFTER EVERYTHING THAT HE'S HEARD TONIGHT AFTER EVERYTHING HAS BEEN SEEN.
THE FACT THAT HE'S STILL HERE SHOWS THIS COMMITTEE, BUT I WANT TO TELL YOU ABOUT SOMEBODY ELSE THAT STARTED OFF THE SAME WAY MS. CHARLOTTE PLANT SEED STARTED OUT.
SHE STARTED OFF AS AN INTERIM IN 2004, TOOK ON ONE OF THE TOUGHEST BUDGET CRISIS THAT EBR SCHOOL SYSTEM HAS EVER SEEN A $57.2 MILLION BUDGET DEFICIT TURN THE SYSTEM AROUND.
AND SHE WAS STILL TREATED AS THOUGH SHE DIDN'T MATTER.
AND SHE TALKED ABOUT IT AFTER SHE GOT OUT OF THE OFFICE.
THAT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT I WANT TO SEE HAPPENING WITH MR. SMITH.
AND I THINK THAT WE NEED TO MOVE FORWARD.
I THINK THE COMMUNITY HAS SAID ENOUGH.
I THINK SEVERAL BOARD MINUTES HAS SAID ENOUGH.
AND IF WE DO, WE HAVE, WE FEEL AS STRONGLY AS WE SAY, WE DO VOTE FOR HIM, DOUBLE DOWN, PUT YOUR MONEY WHERE YOUR MOUTH IS TONIGHT.
AND LET'S SHOW HIM HOW MUCH RESPECT WE HAVE FOR HIM ALL THE YEARS AND DEDICATION THAT HE'S GIVEN THIS SYSTEM.
BUT ON TOP OF THAT, I ALSO WANT TO BRING UP A COMMON PRACTICE.
HAS IT BEEN USED IN THE PAST? AND IT WAS A YEAR AND ONE DAY RULE.
AND I JUST WANTED TO EXPOUND ON THIS.
SO SOMEBODY COULD PLEASE EXPLAIN THIS TO ME, CAUSE IT'S COME TO MY ATTENTION THAT WE'VE USED THIS BEFORE IN THE PAST IS A COMMON PRACTICE.
AND WHAT IT MEANS IS THAT IF YOU EVER RETIRE, QUIT RESIGNED TO FIRE OVER FIRE.
YOU HAD TO WAIT ONE YEAR AND ONE DAY BEFORE YOU COULD REAPPLY.
SO IS THERE ANYONE THAT CAN EXPLAIN THIS? BECAUSE I KNOW SEVERAL TEACHERS THAT WENT THROUGH THE SAME PROCESS, THEY COULD NOT COME BACK AND REAPPLY FOR IT TO BE A PART OF OUR SCHOOL SYSTEM.
OUR PERSONNEL COULD NOT BE A PART OF OUR SCHOOL SYSTEM UNTIL ONE YEAR AND ONE DAY WENT BY.
AND ALL I'LL SAY IS IF THAT IS TRUE, OR IF IT WAS TRUE, LET'S PRACTICE WHAT WE PREACH.
IF YOU GOT TO DO IT FOR ONE PERSON, YOU CAN'T DO IT FOR NOTHING.
MS. DYSON YOU WAY, UH, I'M NEXT IN THE LIST AND
[04:35:01]
THERE'S NO ONE ELSE AFTER THIS.AND IN CASE YOU WANT TO DO IT, I I'D LIKE TO SAY A COUPLE OF THINGS CAUSE, UH, I'VE TAKEN SOME SLINGS AND ARROWS HERE THAT I THINK ARE TOTALLY INAPPROPRIATE.
UH, I AM DISAPPOINTED THAT WE AS A BODY AND WE AS A PUBLIC CAN NOT HAVE A DISCUSSION.
THE ONLY REASON I BROUGHT WE, WE CAME INTO THIS MEETING WITH THREE OPTIONS.
AND THE THREE OPTIONS THAT WE CAME INTO THIS MEETING WERE TO STAY WHERE WE ARE, KEEP STATUS QUO, MR. DRAKE HAD CALLED US AND OFFERED HIS HELP IF WE NEEDED IT.
AND THEN THE OPTION OF APPOINTING MR. SMITH, MY WHOLE PURPOSE IN BRINGING UP THE TWO OTHER TWO OTHER MOTIONS WAS TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE A DELIBERATIVE BODY AND THAT WE COULD DISCUSS IN A CIVIL MANNER, THE PROS AND CONS OF THESE.
AND THAT WAS MY ONLY INTENT IS TO BE ABLE TO DISCUSS IN A CIVIL MANNER, HOW THESE ACTIONS COULD PLAY OUT AND WHAT WERE THE RAMIFICATIONS OF THEM.
AND FOR THAT, WE'VE HAD SOME PEOPLE, THE AUDIENCE CALL US BIGOTS.
WE'VE HAD SOME PEOPLE THAT AUDIENCE CALL US CLOWNS AND THERE WAS NO EVER INTENTION OF DISRESPECTING MR. SMITH AND EVERYTHING THAT HE HAS DONE.
AND I'M JUST REALLY DISAPPOINTED THAT WE AS A COMMUNITY AND WE, AS A BOARD CAN NOT HAVE A DISCUSSION ABOUT ISSUES AND FACTS WITHOUT RESORTING TO CALLING PEOPLE NAMES.
IT REALLY SADDENS ME AS WE GO FORWARD IN THIS.
AND I HOPE THAT COMING INTO THE FUTURE AND COMING INTO THE SEARCH, THAT WE CAN DO A BETTER JOB AS A COMMUNITY AND AS A BOARD.
AND SO WITH THAT, I'LL CLOSE MY COMMENTS, SEEING NO OTHER COMMENTS ON THE BOARD.
MADAM SECRETARY, COULD YOU PLEASE CONDUCT A VOTE? AND FOR THOSE WHO HAVE FORGOTTEN, THIS IS A VOTE FOR MR. DRAKE AS INTERIM.
AND IT WAS YOUR QUEST AS FAR A ROLL CALL VOTE, CONNIE.
IT WAS A WHILE BACK DISTRICT ONE.
VICE-VERSA HOWARD, NO DISTRICT FOUR.
MS. WARD JACKSON, NO DISTRICT SIX.
MS. BERNARD, NO DISTRICT NINE, MR. TOTMAN.
NO, BUT I HAVE A POINT OF ORDER.
HE CANNOT VOTE AGAINST HIS MOTION.
CAN I ABSTAIN? I THINK YOU HAVE TO VOTE AFFIRMATIVELY FOR WITHDRAW.
IF THAT'S WHAT WE JUST ASKED THE NOTION OF OUR VOTE FOR, BECAUSE OF ROBERT'S RULE.
THANK YOU, MS. SCOTT, MS. BERNARD.
YEAH, I'M PRETTY SURE MOTION CARRIES THE MOTION FAILS.
SO NOW WE MOVE BACK TO THE ORIGINAL MOTION, WHICH IS THE APPOINT MR. SMITH AS INTERIM SUPERINTENDENT.
ARE THERE ANY COMMENTS FROM THE BOARD SEEING NONE? ARE THERE ANY ADDITIONAL COMMENTS FROM THE AUDIENCE, MATT DIAZ AGAIN, PLEASE DO THE RIGHT THING.
ANY OTHER COMMENTS FROM THE BOARD? FROM THE AUDIENCE? I JUST STRONGLY URGE EVERY SINGLE PERSON HERE AT THE BOARD TO ACTUALLY DO WHAT'S RIGHT AND AFFIRM AND APPOINT.
MR. ADAM SMITH IS IN A ROOM AND THEN EVENTUALLY MAKE HIM PERMANENTLY OUR SUPERINTENDENT.
THAT'S WHAT I THANK YOU SO MUCH.
THIS WOULD BE AN AWESOME OPPORTUNITY FOR A UNANIMOUS VOTE FROM THIS BODY.
THANK YOU, MR. FINNEY, TANYA AND I AM.
[04:40:01]
WANT TO REITERATE IT.THERE IS ONE MORE THAT CAME IN FROM THE INTERNET.
FROM GALEN, MAC ARGUER LYNN MAC CALL FOR THE VOTE.
THE BOARD IS MAKING THINGS WORTH.
BATON REISHI IS BEING LAUGHED AT BOARD TRAINING IS NEEDED FOR THIS BOARD.
HOW TO RUN AND MANAGE A PUBLIC MEETING.
ARE THERE ANY OTHER COMMENTS FROM THE AUDIENCE? ANY COMMENTS FROM THE BOARD? I'M NOT ON THE, ANY OTHER COMMENTS FROM THE BOARD SEEING NONE.
I WILL CALL FOR A ROLL CALL VOTE.
DISTRICT SEVEN PRESIDENT GO TO DISTRICT EIGHT AND HAS BEEN OUR DISTRICT NINE.
I WILL GIVE MR. SMITH THE FLOOR.
CAN YOU HEAR ME? THANK YOU, PRESIDENT.
I WOULD LIKE TO THANK THIS BOARD AND THE COMMUNITY FOR THEIR SUPPORT AND AS WELL AS THEIR COMMENTS, IT IS AN HONOR TO BE APPOINTED INTERIM SUPERINTENDENT FOR THIS DISTRICT.
AND TO REPRESENT THIS DISTRICT, I'M HUMBLED THAT YOU HAVE PLACED YOUR TRUST AND FAITH IN ME, THIS RESPONSIBILITY, I DO NOT TAKE LIGHTLY THE TEAM AND I, WE ARE COMMITTED TO SERVING STUDENTS OF OUR COMMUNITY.
AND I WANT TO ASSURE YOU THAT ANY SUCCESSES THAT I'VE HAD IN THIS DISTRICT, IT WAS BECAUSE OF A TEAM AND ANY FAILURES WAS BECAUSE OF MYSELF.
AND SO, AS WE CONTINUE TO PREPARE TO GET STUDENTS BACK IN OUR BUILDING SAFELY, I WANT TO SAY THAT I'M PROUD OF OUR TEACHERS, OUR UNION, OUR TEACHERS, OUR PRINCIPALS, AS WELL AS OUR STAFF AT LARGE, BECAUSE WHEN COVID HIT IN, THE DISTRICT WAS CLOSED IN MARCH 13TH.
THIS STAFF NEVER STOPPED WORKING OUR CAFETERIA WORKERS.
THEY WERE THE FIRST TO PUT, BE ON THE FRONT LINES, ENSURING THAT OUR STUDENTS WERE FED.
MANY OF OUR PRINCIPALS HADN'T TAKEN A VACATION THIS YEAR.
THEY HAD BEEN WORKING AROUND THE CLOCK.
SO I WANT TO COMMEND THEM FOR THEIR COMMITMENT TO THEIR, TO OUR STUDENTS.
AND I WANT TO THANK YOU GUYS FOR THIS APPOINTMENT FOR TONIGHT, NO MATTER HOW LONG IT IS, BUT I WANT TO SAY THAT THIS BOARD I'VE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO WORK WITH EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU.
AND I TRULY BELIEVE BASED OFF THE RELATIONSHIP AND THE WORK THAT WE'VE DONE TOGETHER, THAT EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU ARE COMMITTED TO ALL KIDS IN THIS DISTRICT.
NO MATTER IF IT'S A CONSTITUENT THAT'S IN MR. TAPP MINTS DISTRICT, OR MS. BERNARD, YOU GUYS ALWAYS PUT STUDENTS FIRST.
AND I JUST WANT TO SAY THAT FOR THE OVERALL COMMUNITY, BECAUSE I'VE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY IN MY TEAM TO WORK WITH EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU.
AND IT'S ALWAYS BEEN ABOUT STUDENTS FIRST AND THE CONSTITUENTS THAT AT LARGE.
NEXT WE'LL GO TO THE ORGANIZATIONAL ITEMS. MISS DYSON, MS. COLLINS.
MS. COLLINS, JUST THAT FINISH.
UM, UH, I WANT TO THANK MY COLLEAGUES ON THE BOARD FOR, UH, RECOGNIZE, RECOGNIZING WHAT I HAD LONG RECOGNIZED, UM, WITH MR. SMITH.
UM, WORKING WITH MY COLLEAGUES ON THE BOARD OVER THE YEARS OF SERVICE HERE, I, AS A BOARD MEMBER, I HAVE BEEN ABLE TO ACCOMPLISH SOMETHING, SOME SIGNIFICANT WINS FOR MY DISTRICT.
AND I WOULD BE REMISSED IF I WOULDN'T SAY THAT MUCH OF THAT HAS TO DO WITH THE KNOWLEDGE AND WISDOM OF MR. ADAM SMITH.
UH, MANY PEOPLE HAD MENTIONED THAT HE IS QUITE A HUMBLE MAN.
AND SO THEN IT OFTEN CALLS PEOPLE, UH, WITH, UH, IN, IN, IN BOARD LEADERSHIP, AS WELL AS SOME FOLKS IN GENERAL COMMUNITY TO NOT, UH, RECOGNIZE HOW STRONG OF A LEADER HE IS.
AND SO I'M PERSONALLY VERY DELIGHTED THAT MY FIRST CHOICE FROM, FROM THE BEGINNING IS AT LEAST, UH,
[04:45:01]
HAVING AN OPPORTUNITY TO SERVE IN THIS CAPACITY.AND I LOOK FORWARD TO US, UH, MOVING THE DISTRICT FORWARD AND, AND CARRYING ON THE BUSINESS OF THE DISTRICT WITH SOMEONE THAT OUR STAFF AND OUR PARENTS PLAYS.
THANK YOU, MS. COLLINS, WOULD YOU
[J1. Announcement of Meetings]
PLEASE READ YOUR ORGANIZATIONAL ANNOUNCEMENTS? YES.UM, OUR OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE MEETING TO BE HELD ON OCTOBER 19TH, 2020 AT 5:00 PM AT THE INSTRUCTIONAL RESOURCE CENTER, IRC SOME OR ALL BOARD MEMBERS MAY ATTEND COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE MEETING TO BE HELD ON NOVEMBER 5TH, 2020 AT 5:00 PM AT THE PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT CENTER, REGULAR BOARD MEETING TO BE HELD ON NOVEMBER 19TH, 2020 AT 5:00 PM AT THE PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT CENTER.
AND I MOVED TO ADJOURN MEETING IS ADJOURNED.