MINUTES OF THE
ORLEANS PARISH SCHOOL BOARD
PUBLIC HEARING: MILLAGE ROLL FORWARD
2401 WESTBEND PARKWAY
NEW ORLEANS, LA 70114
NOVEMBER 19, 2019
1.1 Call to Order – Roll Call
The Orleans Parish School Board Special Board Business Meeting was called to order at 3:05 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.
-Interpretation services were acknowledged.
1.2 Pledge of Allegiance
The pledge was led by the Board President, John A. Brown, Sr.
1.3 Adoption of the Agenda
Motion to adopt the board meeting agenda as provided.
· Motion by Ms. Newell Usdin, second by Mr. Koppel (waiving the reading)
· Final resolution: Motion passes
· Yeas: Mr. Ashley, Mr. Brown, Ms. Ellison, Mr. Kleban, Mr. Koppel, Mr. Marshall, Ms. Newell Usdin
· Nays: None
· Absent: None
PURPOSE OF THE HEARING
2.1 Purpose of the Hearing and Public Participation Guidelines
Board Counsel provided the purpose and rules of the public hearing.
PRESENTATIONS
3.1 Millage Roll Forward Presentation
Taxable assessed value, as determined by the Assessor, increased by 13.8%, from $3.9 billion to $4.4 billion. The Louisiana Constitution mandates the adjustment of ad valorem taxes, also known as property taxes, either upward or downward depending on property values. In addition, the state's Minimum Foundation Program (MFP), a complex four-tiered formula that equitably allocates funding for K-12 public education across all public schools in the state, includes a measurement of each school district to generate local revenues. When taxable assessed value increases, a district is viewed as more able to support education locally and the MFP formula increases the responsibility for costs over to the district, resulting in a smaller state allocation. The Louisiana Department of Education has estimated that the state allocation will decrease by $9.1 million due to this increase in taxable assessed value.
Administration is recommending a full roll forward of all millage rates for 2020, which would result in additional revenues of $15.1 million for public education in New Orleans, an average of $325 additional funds per student.
Ms. Newell Usdin asked what percentage of the funding will go to the district and what percentage of the funds will go to the schools. NOLA-PS staff responded 98% of the funding will go to the schools while 2% will be allocated to the district to fund operations at the school board.
PUBLIC COMMENT
4.1 Public Comment
· Mr. McNeely from InspireNOLA schools expressed support of a full roll forward.
· Patricia Perkins from Morris Jeff Community School expressed support of a full roll forward. Ms. Perkins plans to use the additional funding to pay for staff and professional development opportunities.
· Latoya Brown from Audubon Schools and GNOCCS expressed support of a full roll forward.
· Patrick Widhalm from Benjamin Franklin High School expressed support of a full roll forward.
· Kenya Johnson, a student from the Net, expressed support of a full roll forward.
· Elizabeth Osburg from the Net expressed support for a full roll forward.
· Athena Marks, a student from the Net expressed support for a full roll forward.
· Shantel St. Martin Williams from KIPP Booker T. Washington High School expressed support for a full roll forward.
· Kevin George from New Beginnings School Foundation expressed support for a full roll forward. Special Education, Juvenile Justice, and mental health are some of the issues that Mr. George plans to address.
· Robert Edgecombe from Success at Thurgood Marshall expressed support for a full roll forward. Mr. Edgecombe indicated that his school would use the funding to provide additional resources to English Language Learners, professional development and a Social Emotional Coordinator.
· Claudia Barker from Firstline Schools expressed support for a full roll forward. Firstline will raise teacher salaries and provide students with additional supports and resources.
· Josh Densen from Bricolage expressed support for a full roll forward.
· Kate Mehok from Crescent City Schools expressed support for a full roll forward.
· Noel Resnick from Morris Jeff Community School expressed support for a full roll forward.
· Brittany Smith from Hynes UNO expressed support for a full roll forward.
· Charmaine Davis from Lusher Charter School expressed support for a full roll forward.
· Emily Wolfe from Mayor’s Office of Youth and Families expressed concern about the need to increase early childhood access funding.
· Mary Ellis King from Choice Foundation expressed support for a full roll forward.
· Joy Mitchell, a parent from Audubon Gentilly, expressed support for a full roll forward.
· Kiril Johnson from ARISE Schools expressed support for a full roll forward.
· Krista Patrick-Brown expressed support for a full roll forward.
· Allison Lee, a student from Benjamin Franklin High School, expressed support for a full roll forward.
· David LaViscount from Audubon Gentilly expressed support for a full roll forward.
· Holly Reid from New Schools for New Orleans expressed support for a full roll forward.
· Lisa Williamson from Elan Academy expressed a full roll forward.
· Joey LaRoche from KIPP New Orleans Schools expressed a full roll forward.
· Vincent Rosmeier from the Cowen Institute expressed support for a full roll forward.
· Heather Johnson, a parent from John F. Kennedy High School, expressed support for a full roll forward. More foreign language, more AP classes, language support, high quality training for teachers are items needed at the school.
· Tanya Bryant from RENEW Schools expressed support for a full roll forward.
· Frank Israel from Lusher expressed support for a full roll forward.
BOARD COMMENT
5.1 Board Comment
· Mr. Kleban thanked everyone for attending and speaking on this issue and as a former school leader is in full support of the millage roll forward. Mr. Kleban mentioned that there are other constituents who have questions about where the funding will be utilized and requested that the group of school leaders provide a report for the community once the funds have been allocated to show the public how those funds have been actualized to assist in building the long term confidence in NOLA Public Schools long term.
· Mr. Marshall tasked the District Administration with developing the report on what the funding will be used for. Dr. Lewis clarified that the Finance Department currently monitors how the funds are currently spent on the students in New Orleans.
· Ms. Newell Usdin supports Mr. Marshall’s notion to report on the funding uses in the future and is in full support of the roll forward.
ADJOURNMENT
4.1 Adjourn Meeting
Motion to adjourn the Public Hearing.
· Motion by Ms. Newell Usdin, second by Mr. Ashley.
· Final resolution: Motion passes
· Yeas: Mr. Ashley, Mr. Brown, Ms. Ellison, Mr. Kleban, Mr. Koppel, Mr. Marshall, Ms. Newell Usdin
· Nays: None
· Absent: None
Meeting Adjourned at 4:13pm.