ORLEANS PARISH SCHOOL BOARD

BOARD BUSINESS MEETING

4000 Cadillac Street

New Orleans, Louisiana 70122

January 19, 2016

5:00 PM

The Orleans Parish School Board convened for a Board Business Meeting Tuesday, January 19, 2016, at 4000 Cadillac Street, New Orleans, LA.  Mr. Seth Bloom, Board President, called the meeting to order at 5:01 PM.

Board Roll Call:  Ms. Sarah Usdin, present; Mr. John A. Brown, Sr., present; Ms. Leslie Ellison, present; Mr. Seth Bloom, present; Mr. Woody Koppel, present; Mr. Nolan Marshall, Jr., present; Ms. Cynthia Cade; present, Dr. Henderson Lewis, Jr., Superintendent, present; Mr. Edward Morris, General Counsel. A quorum was established.

An audio recording of the meeting is available in the Board Office.

PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Stephanie Gills, Senior Class President and Student Ambassador at Edna Karr.

ADOPTION OF THE AGENDA

Additions/ Modifications/Deletions

Agenda items will be heard in the following order:  Item number Action Item No. 2, Action Item No. 3, and then Action Item No. 1.

Motion to amend the agenda to take up Action Item No. 2, Action Item No. 3, and then Action Item No. 1 was made by Woody Koppel, seconded by Leslie Ellison.  The motion passed with 7 Yeas and 0 Nays.

CONSIDERATION OF MINUTES

·        December 15, 2015 Regular Board Business Meeting

Motion to approve the minutes and waive the reading of the minutes was made by Woody Koppel; seconded by Sarah Usdin.  The motion passed with 7 Yeas and 0 Nays.

SUPERINTENDENT’S AGENDA

·    Superintendent’s Report, Dr. Henderson Lewis, Jr.

The following announcements were made by the Superintendent:

The Greater New Orleans Area American Heart Association Initiative to provide CPR kits to all public high schools in New Orleans.

With the kick off of the 2016 Mardi Gras Season the Superintendent wishes everyone a safe and enjoyable Mardi Gras and asked everyone to join him in supporting the students of Orleans Parish, club sponsors and chaperones with cheers as you see them along the parade routes.

Lake Forest Charter, known as the Beacon of the East, welcomed students to their New Facility located on Lake Forest Blvd.

Motion to accept and waive the reading of the Committee Reports was made by Nolan Marshall,

seconded by Woody Koppel.  The motion passed with 7 Yeas and 0 Nays.

COMMITTEE REPORTS

1)               Accountability Committee, Mr. Nolan Marshall, Chair

            The Accountability Committee met at 11:17 a.m. on January 14, 2016.

The committee discussed and received the following informational item(s):

·        2015-16 Type 5 Charter Transfer Process

·        2015 School Performance Scores and Letter Grade Update

2)         Policy Committee: Mrs. Sarah Usdin, Chair

            The Policy Committee met at 11:30 on January 14, 2016.

OPSB Policy for First Reading:

·                  First Reading of Revised OPSB Policy Section FHA (Final Acceptance)

·                  First Reading of OPSB New Policy FHAA (Liquidated Damages)

·                  First Reading of OPSB New Policy FJ, Orleans Parish School Facility Preservation Program

·                  First Reading of OPSB First Reading of Revised OPSB Policy Sections J, K and L 

Action Item(s) forwarded to the full Board for approval:

·                  Approval of Revised Second Reading of Revised OPSB Policy Sections

3)               Property Committee: Mr. Woody Koppel, Chair

           The Property Committee met at 11:41 p.m. on January 14, 2016.

The committee discussed and received the following informational item(s):

·     Capital Projects Report   

     Action Items(s) forwarded to the full Board for approval:

·     Approval of the guaranteed maximum price for Phase – I demolition of the Jo Ellen Smith Medical Center

4)         Budget and Finance Committee, Mr. Woody Koppel, Chair

            The Budget & Finance Committee met at 2:16 p.m. on January 14, 2016.

The committee discussed and received the following informational item(s):

·                  November 2015 Financial Statements   

Consent Agenda Item deferred:

·                  Bethune Refurbishment – Tureaud Refurbishment  

Motion to accept and waive the reading of the committee reports was made by Nolan Marshall and seconded by Woody Koppel.  The motion passed with 7 Yeas and 0 Nays.

PURCHASING ACTION ITEMS(S):

·                  Lease of 16 Section Land for Hunting Purposes

Exercise the Option to Amend Third Party Contracts to Provide Title II Supplemental Educational Services for Eligible Students Enrolled in Private Schools for the 2015‐2016 School Year                                                                                                  

ACTION ITEMS:

The Orleans Parish Board is asked to act upon the following action items:

Action Item No. 2:  Election of Board President and Vice President

Moved by Woody Koppel, seconded by Leslie Ellison that Mr. Bloom be nominated and continue to serve as Board President and Ms. Cade be nominated and continue to serve as Board Vice-President.  With no other nominations the motion passed with 7 Yeas and 0 Nays.

Action Item No. 3:  Resolution 01-16 authorizing the Board President and Vice President as signatories on behalf of the Board  

Recommendation:  That the Orleans Parish School Board adopts Resolution 01-16, which authorizes the Board President to sign contracts and other official documents on behalf of the Board and authorizing the Vice President to sign in the President’s absence.

Moved by Sarah Usdin; seconded by Woody Koppel that the Orleans Parish School Board adopts Resolution 01-16, National Wear Red Day February 26, 2016.  The following voice vote was held: 

The motion passed with 7 Yeas and 0 Nays.

Action Item No. 1:  approval of the guaranteed maximum price for Phase – I demolition of the Jo Ellen Smith Medical Center

Rationale: At its August 18, 2015 meeting the Orleans Parish School Board (Board) commissioned CORE Construction (CORE) as Construction Manager at Risk firm for the Edna Karr School New Construction Project, which is proposed to set on the former Jo Ellen Smith Medical Center site.  The Contract provides for CORE to submit this Phase – I GMP for demolition and abatement and site specific remediation of the Jo Ellen Smith Medical Center, in preparation for the new school.

The specific scope of work included in this Phase-I is as follows:

1.      Erection of perimeter fencing to secure the entire property,

2.      Building and site specific remediation, and

3.      Demolition of the hospital and medical office buildings.

4.       

Recommendation:  That the OPSB accept CORE Construction’s Guaranteed Maximum Price (GMP) of $3,245,970.00 (THREE MILLION TWO HUNDRED FORTY-FIVE THOUSAND NINE HUNDRED SEVENTY AND 00/100 DOLLARS) for the Phase – I Demolition.  This GMP includes a 10% Owner’s contingency.

Moved by Woody Koppel; seconded by Leslie Ellison that the Orleans Parish School Board accept CORE Construction’s Guaranteed Maximum Price (GMP) of $3,245,970.00 (THREE MILLION TWO HUNDRED FORTY-FIVE THOUSAND NINE HUNDRED SEVENTY AND 00/100 DOLLARS) for the Phase – I Demolition.  This GMP includes a 10% Owner’s contingency.  The motion passed with 7 Yeas and 0 Nays.

Action Item No. 4: Resolution 02-16 National Wear Red Day February 26, 2016

Rationale:  Currently it is established that over 43 million women are affected by cardiovascular diseases and 90 percent of women have one or more risk factors of heart disease or stroke, In recognition of these facts, almost a decade ago the American Heart Association (AHA) launched its “Go Red for Women” movement.  As part of this movement, the AHA has designated Friday, February 26, 2016 as National Wear Red Day.

Recommendation:  That the Orleans Parish School Board approve Resolution 02-16 declaring Friday, February 26, 2016 as Wear Red Day for Orleans Parish School Board schools and operations and in addition to encourage all public schools in Orleans Parish to support this initiative.

Moved by Sarah Usdin; seconded by Woody Koppel that the Orleans Parish School Boardapprove Resolution 02-16 declaring Friday, February 26, 2016 as Wear Red Day for Orleans Parish School Board schools and operations and in addition to encourage all public schools in Orleans Parish to support this initiative.  The following voice vote was held:

The motion passed with 7 Yeas and 0 Nays.

Action Item No. 5:  Approval of Amendment to Superintendent Employment Contract

Motion by Cynthia Cade; seconded by Woody Koppel that the Orleans Parish School Board defer this item until December 2016.  The motion passed with 7 Yeas and 0 Nays.

Action Item No. 6:   Second Reading of Revised OPSB Policy Sections

Rationale:  Section I, Instruction, been recoded and updated to align the policies therein with applicable state and federal laws and regulations.  Additionally, certain policy language was reorganized and relocated where appropriate.  New policies were added relative to: 1) kindergarten requirements, 2) college/university credit programs, 3) the provision of supplemental education services, 4) student driver education guidelines, 5) sports injury management and concussions, 6) scheduling of instruction to enhance instructional programs, 7) requirements for school volunteers, 8) guidelines for determining awards based on class rankings, 9) credit recovery requirements, and 10) student initiated prayer in schools.  Other modifications include updates to the alternative education placement requirement, the expansion of drug screening to include extracurricular activities other than sports.

Recommendation:  That the Orleans Parish School Board adopts the comprehensive revisions to OPSB Policy Sections I.

Motion by Woody Koppel, seconded by Sarah Usdinthat the Orleans Parish School Board adopts the comprehensive revisions to OPSB Policy Sections I.  The motion passed with 7 Yeas and 0 Nays.

Action Item No. 7:  Lease of 16 Section Land for Hunting Purposes 

Rationale:  On December 2, 2015 the OPSB Purchasing Department released Invitation to Bid (ITB) no. 16-0021 for the leasing for hunting purposes of Section Sixteen, Lake Catherine, Township 11 South, Range 15 East, Orleans Parish, Louisiana containing 640 acres, more or less. The ITB was advertised in the Times-Picayune and posted to the OPSB website.

Three (3) bids were received on January 5, 2016 at the OPSB office by the Purchasing Department.

The bids received are as follows:

Recommendation:  That the Orleans Parish School Board accepts the bid from Ross Mestayer in the amount of $7,525.00 per year; and authorize the OPSB General Counsel to prepare a 36 month lease for the period February 1, 2016 to January 31, 2019 for signatures of the Board President and the bidder.

Motion to accept the bid from Ross Mestayer in the amount of $7,525.00 per year; and authorize the OPSB General Counsel to prepare a 36 month lease for the period February 1, 2016 to January 31, 2019 for signatures of the Board President and the bidder was made by Woody Koppel and seconded by Sarah Usdin.  The motion passed with 7 Yeas and 0 Nays.

Action Item No. 8:  Exercise the Option to Amend Third Party Contracts to Provide Title II Supplemental Educational Services for Eligible Students Enrolled in Private Schools for the 2015‐2016 School Year 

Rationale: As mandated by the 2002 No Child Left Behind Act, the Orleans Parish School Board (OPSB) has provided, through a third party contractor, Title II educational services to eligible students enrolled in private schools.

A Request for Proposals (RFP) no. 12-0016 was prepared and released on March 12, 2012.  On May 15, 2012, the OPSB approved the selection of Catapult Learning and Non-Public Educational Services, Incorporated pending final approval of the 2012-2013 OPSB eGrant Application for Federal Funds.

The contracts with Catapult Learning and Non-Public Educational Services Incorporated are for two years with the option to renew for two (2) additional one (1) year periods.  The 2015-16 school year is the second year of the two (2) additional one (1) year period.   

In November 2015, the LDOE approved the 2015-2016 NCLB consolidated application which included carryover funds for non-public schools.  Eligible non-public schools have been approved in the amount of $1,032,633.60 and an administrative cost not to exceed 6% for Title II services.

Based on the above, OPSB administration requests approval to amend the existing Catapult Learning, LLC contract not to exceed $970,948.27 and Non-Public Educational Services contract not to exceed $33,265.17 to provide Title II professional development services to administrators and staff of nonpublic schools.

Recommendation:That the Orleans Parish School Board approves the option to amend the Third Party Contracts for Nonpublic Schools Title II Part A Services for the 2015-16 academic year.

Motion to approve the option to amend the Third Party Contracts for Nonpublic Schools Title II Part A Services for the 2015-16 academic year was made by Sarah Usdin and seconded by Woody Koppel.  The motion passed with 7 Yeas and 0 Nays.

ADJOURNMENT

Motion to adjourn was made by Sarah Usdin seconded by Woody Koppel.

Meeting Adjourned at 5:21 PM.