MINUTES OF THE
ORLEANS PARISH SCHOOL BOARD
BOARD BUSINESS MEETING
2401 WESTBEND PARKWAY
NEW ORLEANS, LA 70114
MARCH 21, 2019
1.1 Call to Order – Roll Call
The Orleans Parish School Board Business Meeting was called to order at 5:32 pm by Board President John A. Brown Sr. The following board members were present: Ethan Ashley, John A. Brown Sr., Leslie Ellison, Ben Kleban, Woody Koppel, Nolan Marshall Jr., Sarah Newell Usdin. Superintendent Dr. Henderson Lewis Jr. and Board Counsel Sharonda Williams were also present.
1.2 Pledge of Allegiance
The pledge was led by the first place winners of the Inaugural Camellia Art Competition.
The George Washington Carver Singing Rams performed a selection.
Dr. Lewis acknowledged the choir and commended the great work happening at the school.
1.3 Adoption of the Agenda
Motion to adopt the board meeting agenda as provided.
· Motion by Woody Koppel, second by Sarah Newell Usdin (waiving the reading)
· Final resolution: Motion passes
· Yeas: Ethan Ashley, John A. Brown Sr., Leslie Ellison, Ben Kleban, Woody Koppel, Nolan Marshall Jr., Sarah Newell Usdin
· Nays: none
CONSIDERATION OF MINUTES
2.1 Adoption of Minutes
Move that the Orleans Parish School board adopts the minutes of the February 21, 2019 Board Business Meeting as provided waiving the reading of the minutes.
· Motion by Woody Koppel, second by Sarah Newell Usdin (waiving the reading)
· Final Resolution: Motion passes
· Yeas: Ethan Ashley, John A. Brown Sr., Leslie Ellison, Ben Kleban, Woody Koppel, Nolan Marshall Jr., Sarah Newell Usdin
· Nays: none
SUPERINTENDENT’S AGENDA
3.1 Camellia Club of New Orleans Inaugural Art Competition
Dr. Lewis introduced the President of the Camellia Club, John Grimm, to present the awards to the first place winners.
Dr. Lewis thanked the members of the Camellia Club and congratulated the first place winners.
3.2 Charter Board Governance Working Group Recommendations: Resolution 18-18
Dr. Kelli Peterson, Senior Equity and Compliance Officer, and Dr. Erich Caulfield, President of the Caulfield Consulting Group, presented on the recommendations by the Charter Board Governance Working Group. Dr. Peterson acknowledged the following members of the working group:
· Dr. Kenneth Ducote, Greater New Orleans Collaborative of Charter Schools
· Mr. Brian Egana, former board chair of FirstLine Charter Schools
· Ms. Kate Mehok, CEO of Crescent City Schools and representing the School Leader Forum
· Ms. Caroline Roemer, Executive Director of Louisiana Association of Public Charter Schools
· Angele DeLarge, Director of External Affairs for Louisiana Association of Public
Charter Schools
Mr. Ashley thanked the members of the working groups for their efforts and collaboration. Dr. Lewis thanked the working groups for their recommendations.
Dr. Lewis announced that March is Social Worker Month, and acknowledged the social workers in New Orleans Public Schools. Dr. Lewis recognized Ms. Angela Wiggins, Executive Director of Child Welfare and Attendance, who was awarded Social Worker of the Year from the Louisiana Chapter of the National Association of Social Workers.
Dr. Lewis thanked the members of the board, Board President Brown, Board Vice President Leslie Ellison, Legal/Legislative Committee Chair Ethan Ashley, school leaders, and community stakeholders for their feedback in the district’s legislative agenda.
Dr. Lewis provided additional information on the district’s legislative agenda.
Mr. Brown acknowledged Ms. Angela Wiggins and the work of the Youth Opportunity Center.
ACTION ITEMS
4.1 2019 OPSB Legislative Agenda
It is recommended that the Orleans Parish School Board adopt the 2019 OPSB Legislative Agenda, and authorize the Superintendent to direct the district’s legislative activities in accordance with the adopted agenda.
Ethan Ashley offered a substitute motion to adopt items one through nine and amend #10 of the 2019 OPSB legislative agenda as follows: “Update the School Facility Preservation Fund legislation to allow for unexpected revenues of approximately $10 million to go to the following: per pupil funding, specialized programming, and system-wide needs. Additionally, update the preservation fund legislation to distribute facility funds more equitably and to include a capital improvement fund to support more flexible facility spending, inclusive of construction, and authorize the Superintendent to direct those legislative activities in accordance with the adopted agenda.”
· Motion by Ethan Ashley, second by Leslie Ellison
· Final Resolution: Motion passes
· Yeas: Ethan Ashley, John A. Brown Sr., Leslie Ellison, Ben Kleban, Woody Koppel, Nolan Marshall Jr., Sarah Newell Usdin
· Nays: none
Public Comment
· Representative from the School Leader Forum expressed support for specialized programming and increased per pupil funding, and expressed concern regarding the implementation of district-wide initiatives.
· Representative from GNO Collaborative expressed support for priorities one through nine and offered no position on priority ten.
· Community member expressed concern about the proposed change in SFPF legislation.
· Representative from LAPCS waived comment.
· Representative from LAPCS offered no position on the legislative agenda.
· Community member expressed concern with the legislative agenda.
· Community member expressed concern with the citywide charter model.
· Community member expressed concern with public speaking guidelines.
4.2 Negotiation with HANO for land abutting Booker T. Washington Property
It is recommended that the Orleans Parish School Board authorize the OPSB administration to confect an agreement with the Housing Authority of New Orleans (HANO) to procure land directly abutting Booker T. Washington High School from HANO for a price that does not exceed the appraised value, as authorized by La. R.S. 41:905.
Eric Seling, Chief Operating Officer, offered clarifications about the action item.
During public comment, Mr. Ashley followed up with a member of the Touro-Bouligny Neighborhood association.
After public comment, Mr. Kleban expressed his wholehearted support for the Superintendent’s recommendation to move the item forward, and emphasized the importance of additional green space at the Booker T. Washington campus.
Ms. Newell Usdin asked whether a building swap would happen while schools and children occupy the building, and asked when Audubon Charter will vacate the McDonogh 7 building.
Dr. Lewis confirmed that the Audubon will vacate the McDonogh 7 building after the 2020-2021 school year and explained the process for declaring buildings as surplus. Dr. Lewis confirmed that the administration would not force a school to move mid-year for this purpose.
· Motion by Ben Kleban, second by Ethan Ashley (waiving the reading)
· Final Resolution: Motion passes
· Yeas: Ethan Ashley, John A. Brown Sr., Leslie Ellison, Ben Kleban, Woody Koppel, Nolan Marshall Jr., Sarah Newell Usdin
· Nays: none
Public Comment
· Representative from the Touro-Bouligny Neighborhood Association inquired about potential alternative methods to acquire the Booker T. Washington land.
· Representative from the Touro-Bouligny Neighborhood Association asked clarifying questions about the recommended action and right of first refusal.
· Representative from the Booker T. Washington Alumni Association emphasized the importance of additional green space at the Booker T. Washington campus.
· Representative from the Touro-Bouligny Neighborhood Association urged the board to find a charter operator to move in to the McDonogh 7 building.
· Representative from the Touro-Bouligny Neighborhood Association asked for clarification on the potential swap between HANO and OPSB.
· Comment waived/no response
· Representative from the Touro-Bouligny Neighborhood Association urged the board maintain the McDonogh 7 building as a school.
· Representative from the Touro-Bouligny Neighborhood Association asked the board to maintain the McDonogh 7 building as a school.
· Representative from the Touro-Bouligny Neighborhood Association asked clarifying questions about the procedure for land swap between HANO and OPSB.
· Representative from the Booker T. Washington Alumni Association emphasized the importance of additional green space at the Booker T. Washington campus.
· Community member expressed concern with any potential changes for Booker T. Washington and McDonogh 7.
4.3 Thompson Commissioning contract for New Orleans Charter Science and Math High School New Building
It is recommended that the Orleans Parish School Board authorize the General Counsel to prepare a contract with Thompson Building Energy Systems for Commissioning Services at the new campus of the New Orleans Charter Mathematics and Science High School.
· Motion by Sarah Newell Usdin, second by Woody Koppel (waiving the reading)
· Final Resolution: Motion passes
· Yeas: Ethan Ashley, John A. Brown Sr., Leslie Ellison, Ben Kleban, Woody Koppel, Nolan Marshall Jr., Sarah Newell Usdin
· Nays: none
Public Comment
· Community member expressed concern with charter model.
4.4 Request for Independent Local Educational Agency (LEA) Status- Living School
It is recommended that the Orleans Parish School Board approve the request from Living School, Inc. to allow Living School to operate as its own Local Educational Agency, effective July 1, 2019.
· Motion by Leslie Ellison, second by Woody Koppel (waiving the reading)
· Final Resolution: Motion passes
· Yeas: Ethan Ashley, John A. Brown Sr., Leslie Ellison, Ben Kleban, Woody Koppel, Nolan Marshall Jr., Sarah Newell Usdin
· Nays: none
4.5 Request for Independent Local Educational Agency (LEA) Status- IDEA Public Schools
It is recommended that the Orleans Parish School Board approve the request from IDEA Public Schools to operate as its own Local Educational Agency, effective July 1, 2019.
· Motion by Woody Koppel, second by Leslie Ellison (waiving the reading)
· Final Resolution: Motion passes
· Yeas: Ethan Ashley, John A. Brown Sr., Leslie Ellison, Ben Kleban, Woody Koppel, Nolan Marshall Jr., Sarah Newell Usdin
· Nays: none
Public Comment
· Community member inquired about the location of recently approved charters.
4.6 Request for Local Educational Agency (LEA) Status- Opportunities Academy
It is recommended that the Orleans Parish School Board approve the request from Collegiate Academies to allow Opportunities Academy to operate as its own Local Educational Agency, effective July 1, 2019.
· Motion by Woody Koppel, second by Sarah Newell Usdin (waiving the reading)
· Final Resolution: Motion passes
· Yeas: Ethan Ashley, John A. Brown Sr., Leslie Ellison, Ben Kleban, Woody Koppel, Nolan Marshall Jr., Sarah Newell Usdin
· Nays: none
4.7 Request for Local Educational Agency (LEA) Status- McDonogh 35
It is recommended that the Orleans Parish School Board approve the request from InspireNOLA to allow McDonogh 35 to operate as its own Local Educational Agency, effective July 1, 2019.
· Motion by Ethan Ashley, second by Woody Koppel (waiving the reading)
· Final Resolution: Motion passes
· Yeas: Ethan Ashley, John A. Brown Sr., Leslie Ellison, Ben Kleban, Woody Koppel, Nolan Marshall Jr., Sarah Newell Usdin
· Nays: none
Public Comment
· Community member expressed support for the proposed LEA status of McDonogh 35
· Community member expressed concern with the citywide portfolio model.
4.8 Donation of Improvements at Hynes Elementary
It is recommended that the Orleans Parish School Board accept the donation of fencing at the Hynes Elementary property.
· Motion by Sarah Newell Usdin, second by Woody Koppel (waiving the reading)
· Final Resolution: Motion passes
· Yeas: Ethan Ashley, John A. Brown Sr., Leslie Ellison, Ben Kleban, Woody Koppel, Nolan Marshall Jr., Sarah Newell Usdin
· Nays: none
Mr. Brown asked for a motion to move to Executive Session at 7:06pm.
· Motion by Woody Koppel, second by Nolan Marshall Jr.
· Final Resolution: Motion passes
· Yeas: Ethan Ashley, John A. Brown Sr., Leslie Ellison, Ben Kleban, Woody Koppel, Nolan Marshall Jr., Sarah Newell Usdin
· Nays: none
EXECUTIVE SESSION
Reconvened from Executive Session at 7:17pm. The following board members were present: Ethan Ashley, John A. Brown Sr., Leslie Ellison, Ben Kleban, Woody Koppel, Nolan Marshall Jr., Sarah Newell Usdin. Superintendent Dr. Henderson Lewis Jr. and Board Counsel Sharonda Williams were also present.
5.1 Donna Fortner v. Orleans Parish School Board, HGI Claim No. 1.27027.55; Worker’s Compensation – Settlement Recommendation
It is recommended that the Orleans Parish School Board approves settlement of this matter as recommended by General Counsel.
· Motion by Woody Koppel, second by Ethan Ashley (waiving the reading)
· Final Resolution: Motion passes
· Yeas: Ethan Ashley, John A. Brown Sr., Leslie Ellison, Ben Kleban, Woody Koppel, Nolan Marshall Jr., Sarah Newell Usdin
· Nays: none
5.2 Terry Petit, et al v. Orleans Parish School Board, CDC No. 1994-07003; Personal Injury Litigation – Status Report
It is recommended that the Orleans Parish School Board approves the recommendation of legal counsel regarding next steps in this matter.
· Motion by Woody Koppel, second by Nolan Marshall Jr. (waiving the reading)
· Final Resolution: Motion passes
· Yeas: Ethan Ashley, John A. Brown Sr., Leslie Ellison, Ben Kleban, Woody Koppel, Nolan Marshall Jr., Sarah Newell Usdin
· Nays: none
5.3 Hamp’s Construction, LLC v. Orleans Parish School Board, Orleans Parish Civil District Court No. 2012-10546; Construction Litigation
It is recommended that the Orleans Parish School Board approves the recommendation of legal counsel regarding next steps in this matter.
· Motion by Woody Koppel, second by Nolan Marshall Jr. (waiving the reading)
· Final Resolution: Motion passes
· Yeas: Ethan Ashley, John A. Brown Sr., Leslie Ellison, Ben Kleban, Woody Koppel, Nolan Marshall Jr., Sarah Newell Usdin
· Nays: none
ADJOURNMENT
6.1 Adjourn Meeting
· Motion by Nolan Marshall Jr., second by Leslie Ellison
Meeting Adjourned at 7:19pm.