MINUTES OF THE

ORLEANS PARISH SCHOOL BOARD

BOARD BUSINESS MEETING

2401 WESTBEND PARKWAY

NEW ORLEANS, LA 70114

JANUARY 20, 2022

 

1.1 Call to Order – Roll Call

The Orleans Parish School Board Business Meeting was called to order at 5:30pm by Board President Ethan Ashley. The following board members were present: Ethan Ashley, Nolan Marshall, Jr., Katherine Baudouin, John A. Brown, Sr., Olin G. Parker, Dr. Jancarlos (J.C.) Wagner Romero, and Carlos Luis Zervigon. Superintendent Dr. Henderson Lewis, Jr. and Board Counsel Ashley Heilprin were also present.

 

-Interpretation services were acknowledged.

 

1.2 Pledge of Allegiance

The Pledge of Allegiance was led by President Ashley.

 

1.3 Adoption of the Agenda

Motion to adopt the board meeting agenda as modified below:

·         Item 4.1 – Election of School Board Officers, moved to before adoption of minutes

·         Item 4.4 – Approval of Louisiana State Contract Purchase of Furniture, Fixtures and Equipment for Frederick Douglass Building, was not included on the consent agenda due to the recommended action at Tuesday’s Committee of the Whole meeting did not list the vendor’s name.

·         Item 4.5 – Donation from New Orleans Community Support Foundation and Cooperative Endeavor Agreement; was changed to 4.5 – Grant from New Orleans Community Support Foundation and the recommended action to; Recommended Action: It is recommended that the Orleans Parish School Board accepts the grant in an amount up to $140,000.00 from the New Orleans Community Support Foundation (NOCSF), to fund independent consultants selected by OPSB to support its Superintendent Search, and authorizes the Board President to execute the grant agreement to be provided by NOCSF.

 

Motion by Mr. Marshall, second by Ms. Baudouin

 

Board Comment:

President Ashley expressed gratitude for partnership with the New Orleans City Council.

 

ACTION ITEMS

 

4.1 Election of School Board Officers

Recommended action – Pursuant to OPSB Policy BBA “At its first meeting in January of each year the School Board shall elect one of its members to serve as President and one to serve as Vice-President, in separate ballots, for a term of one (1) year, beginning in January.  The President and Vice-President shall receive the votes of a majority of the full membership of the School Board, four (4) votes, before being declared elected.  Each officer may hold office for no longer than two (2) consecutive terms.”

 

Nominations for Olin Parker, for President of the Orleans Parish School Board

Motion by Mr. Ashley, second Mr. Marshall

·         Final resolution: Motion passes

·         Yeas: Mr. Ashley, Mr. Marshall, Ms. Baudouin, Mr. Brown, Mr. Parker, Dr. Wagner Romero, Mr. Zervigon

·         Nays: None

·         Absent: None

 

Motion to close nominations to proceed with voting.

Motion by Ms. Baudouin, second by Mr. Ashley

·         Final resolution: Motion passes

·         Yeas: Mr. Ashley, Mr. Marshall, Ms. Baudouin, Mr. Brown, Mr. Parker, Dr. Wagner Romero, Mr. Zervigon

·         Nays: None

·         Absent: None

 

Board Counsel read votes cast by each board members. Mr. Parker was unanimously elected President of the Orleans Parish School Board. 

 

Nominations for Dr. Jancarlos Wagner Romero, for Vice President of the Orleans Parish School Board

Motion by Mr. Zervigon, second by Mr. Marshall

·         Final resolution: Motion passes

·         Yeas: Mr. Ashley, Mr. Marshall, Ms. Baudouin, Mr. Brown, Mr. Parker, Dr. Wagner Romero, Mr. Zervigon

·         Nays: None

·         Absent: None

 

Motion to close nominations to proceed with voting.

Motion by Mr. Ashley, second by Mr. Parker

·         Final resolution: Motion passes

·         Yeas: Mr. Ashley, Mr. Marshall, Ms. Baudouin, Mr. Brown, Mr. Parker, Dr. Wagner Romero, Mr. Zervigon

·         Nays: None

·         Absent: None

 

Board Counsel read votes cast by each board members. Dr. Wagner Romero was unanimously elected Vice President of the Orleans Parish School Board.

 

Board Comment:

The newly elected Board Officers share a moment of acknowledgement for their selections as OPSB President and Vice President.

 

CONSIDERATION OF THE MINUTES

 

2.1 Adoption of the Minutes

Motion by Mr. Ashley, second by Ms. Baudouin to adopt the minutes of the December 2, 2021, Special Board Business Meeting and the December 16, 2021, Board Business Meeting as printed (waiving the reading).

 

SUPERINTENDENT’S AGENDA

 

3.1 Superintendent’s Remarks

Dr. Lewis’ remarks included updates related to COVID-19, including the vaccination requirement for students 5 and older. The final recommendation for the District Level Funding Allocation effective July 2022 was presented as follows:

For 2022 – 2023 DLFA (payments made July 2022 – June 2023)

•       Seek SWNP support for funding gaps for specialized programs, including Travis Hill, Center for Resilience, and the final committed CENF specialized program.

•       If funding gaps remain, make a one-time distribution from the DLFA to close the gap. All other dollars will be otherwise distributed via the DLFA according to the current formula.

•       Treat the HB393 sales tax funds remaining after SFPP and SWNP obligations like other dollars in DLFA, which means they will be differentiated.

•       Differentiate the distribution of Deferred Revenues made after July 2022 like other local revenues.

•       No category or weight adjustments are recommended for 2022 – 2023

For 2023 – 2024 DLFA (payments made July 2023 – June 2024)

•       Seek SWNP support for funding gaps for Travis Hill and Center for Resilience.

•       Treat the HB393 sales tax funds remaining after SFPP and SWNP obligations like other dollars in DLFA, which means they will be differentiated.

•       Differentiate the distribution of Deferred Revenues made after July 2022 like other local revenues

•       No category or weight adjustments are recommended for 2023 – 2024.

Additionally, Dr. Lewis announced a similar process to begin for the Schools Facility Preservation Program.  Shawon Bernard, President of the Lower 9th Ward Voter’s Coalition, presented on the initiative. Finally, a video recognizing NOLA-PS Employee Years of Service honorees was shared.

 

ACTION ITEMS

 

4.2 Resolution 01-22 Authorizing the Board President and Vice President as Signatories

Recommended Action: It is recommended that the Orleans Parish School Board adopt Resolution 01-22, authorizing 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.

 

Motion by Mr. Ashely, second by Mr. Marshall, waiving the reading of the resolution

 

4.3 Resolution 02-22 re: High School Voter Registration

Recommended Action: It is recommended that the Orleans Parish School Board adopt Resolution 02-22 encouraging schools under the jurisdiction of the Orleans Parish School Board to make voter registration and voter education opportunities available to students.

 

Motion by Dr. Wagner Romero, second by Mr. Ashley, waiving the reading of the resolution

 

Public Comment:

·         Shawon Bernard, a representative from Lower 9th Ward Voter’s Coalition, expressed support for this item and encouraged the Board to support this initiative annually.

 

4.4 Approval of Louisiana State Contract Purchase of Furniture, Fixtures and Equipment for Frederick Douglass Building Recommended Action: It is recommended that the Orleans Parish School Board approves the purchase of furniture, fixtures and equipment for the Frederick Douglass building from The Louisiana State approved contract vendor, Louisiana Office Products, in the amount of $251,121.

 

Motion by Mr. Brown, second by Ms. Baudouin

 

4.5 Grant from New Orleans Community Support Foundation

Recommended Action: It is recommended that the Orleans Parish School Board accepts the grant in an amount up to $140,000.00 from the New Orleans Community Support Foundation (NOCSF), to fund independent consultants selected by OPSB to support its Superintendent Search and authorizes the Board President to execute the grant agreement to be provided by NOCSF.

 

Motion by Mr. Zervigon, second by Mr. Marshall

 

CONSENT AGENDA

 

5. Consent Agenda

Recommended Action: It is recommended that the Orleans Parish School Board move to approve Consent Agenda Items 5.1 through 5.5 as presented in globo.

 

5.1 Amendment to OPSB Policy GAMFD, Mandatory COVID-19 Vaccination

5.2 Ratification of Servepro Commercial Emergency Work Authorization for Medard Nelson Climate Control

5.3 Amended and Restated Cooperative Endeavor Agreement with 9th Ward Stadium, Inc.

5.4 Firstline Schools Relinquishment of Charter for Firstline Live Oak Charter School

5.5 IDEA Public Schools Relinquishment of Charter for IDEA Oscar Dunn

 

Motion by Ms. Baudouin, second by Mr. Marshall

 

ADJOURNMENT

 

6.1 Adjourn Meeting

Motion by Mr. Marshall, second by Mr. Ashley to adjourn the meeting.

 

Meeting Adjourned at 6:21 pm.