MINUTES OF THE

ORLEANS PARISH SCHOOL BOARD

BOARD BUSINESS MEETING

2401 WESTBEND PARKWAY

NEW ORLEANS, LA 70114

APRIL 20, 2023

 

1.1 Call to Order – Roll Call

The Orleans Parish School Board Business Meeting was called to order at 5:32pm by Board President Olin G. Parker. The following board members were present: Olin G. Parker, Carlos Luis Zervigon, Ethan Ashley, Katherine Baudouin, and Nolan Marshall, Jr. Dr. Donaldo Batiste and Leila Jacobs Eames were absent. Superintendent Dr. Avis Williams and Board Counsel Ashley Heilprin were also present.

 

-Interpretation services were acknowledged.

 

1.2 Pledge of Allegiance

The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Ethan Ashley.  

 

1.3 Rules for Public Comment

Board Counsel provided a high-level overview of the OPSB guidelines for public comment/participation at OPSB Meetings.

 

1.4 Adoption of the Agenda

Motion to adopt the board meeting agenda as modified, removing from the Consent Agenda Item 5.1 Extension of KIPP New Orleans Schools’ Deadline to Open its Approved Charters and placing it as Action Item 7.4

Motion by Mr. Parker, second by Mr. Marshall

·        Yeas: Mr. Parker, Mr. Zervigon, Mr. Ashley, Ms. Baudouin, Mr. Marshall

 

CONSIDERATION OF THE MINUTES

 

2.1 Adoption of the Minutes

Motion by Mr. Ashley, second by Vice President Zervigon to adopt the minutes of the March 10, 2023 Special Board Business Meeting and the March 23, 2023 Board Business Meeting. (waiving the reading).

 

SUPERINTENDENT’S AGENDA

 

3.1 Superintendent's Remarks

Dr. Avis Williams acknowledged the following celebrations in April: Paraprofessional Day, National Assistant Principals Week; recognized the Teacher of the Year Semi-finalists: Ronnika Allen, Bricolage

Academy; Richard Martin, The Willow School; and Ryan Gilbert, Warren Easton. Travis Hill School and Sarah T. Reed Charter School were recognized as 2023 Winners of the Aspen Challenge.

 

The superintendent provided these updates: school visits; ribbon cuttings; and district collaboration site visit, as well as the convening of a Hispanic Town Hall, recognizing Tatiana Begault, deputy director for Democrats for Educational Reform (DFER), for her efforts. She further recognized the contributions of Ms. Tiffany Delcour, chief operations officer, during her tenure with NOLA-PS.

 

Board Comment:

·        Ms. Baudouin announced the receipt of a planning grant from Community Solar and referenced Ms. Delcour’s efforts in the grant process; she further referenced media coverage pertaining to four school buildings recognized for restoration and preservation by the Louisiana Landmarks Society.

·        Mr. Ashley also commended Ms. Delcour’s leadership shepherding the district through COVID, especially the initial stages of the pandemic.

·        Mr. Marshall echoed sentiments expressed by other board members and praised Ms. Delcour for her adeptness in the role of chief operations officer.

 

PRESENTATIONS

 

4.1 Association for Gifted and Talented Students in Louisiana Presentation

Dr. Julia Miller, with the Association for Gifted and Talented Students in Louisiana, provided a presentation on gifted and talented education.

 

Board Comment:

·         A robust discussion ensued regarding the necessity for gifted and talented programming at every school; collaboration and implications for charter schools as independent LEAs, including interface with the Louisiana Department of Education, as well as equity; enrichment, acceleration and differentiation.

·        Clarity was offered with regard to how schools and charter organizations might access available resources related to gifted and talented education.

·        Mr. Zervigon highlighted the distinction and exemptions between charter schools and other LEAs relative to IDEA and gifted and talented education, as well as the need to address special education delivery, including gifted and talented.

·        Mr. Marshall invited Dr. Miller’s participation in a focus group related to this issue.

·        Ms. Baudouin concurred that the Innovation & Stability Committee would be an appropriate forum for further discussions on gifted and talented education and presentation to the board.

 

Dr. Williams echoed the importance of equity within the context of gifted education and the need to address and support the potential of all scholars, not just those that are identified.

 

CONSENT AGENDA

 

Recommended Action: It is recommended that the Orleans Parish School Board move to approve Consent Agenda Items 5.2 through 5.12 as presented in globo.

 

5.2 Extension of FirstLine Schools’ Deadline to Open its Approved Charters

 

5.3 Extension of Crescent City Schools’ Deadline to Open its Approved Charter

 

5.4 Request to Award RFP No. 23-0052 Third Party Contractor, Title l Services Non-Public Schools

 

5.5 Request to Award RFP No. 0053 Third Party Contractor, Title ll Services Non-Public Schools

 

5.6 Request to Award RFP No. 23-0054 Third Party Contractor Title IV Services for Non-Public Schools

 

5.7 Direct Diversion of USDA Commodities for the 2023-2024 School Year for the Child Nutrition Program

 

5.8 Request to Approve Textbooks Purchases via State of Louisiana Contract and Interlocal Purchasing Cooperative System (TIPS)

 

5.9 Request to Award Invitation to Bid No. ITB23-FAC-0048 for Plumbing Repairs at Enrique Alferez

 

5.10 Request to Renew Grounds Keeping Services Contract with 4 A Era, LLC to provide Grounds Keeping Services

 

5.11 Cooperative Endeavor Agreement with Élan Academy, Inc.

 

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

Motion by Mr. Marshall, second by Mr. Zervigon

 

EXECUTIVE SESSION

 

Motion by Mr. Zervigon, second by Ms. Baudouin to move to executive

session at 6:41pm.

 

Reconvened from Executive Session at 8:41pm. The following board

members were present: Olin G. Parker, Carlos Luis Zervigon, Ethan Ashley, Katherine Baudouin, and Nolan Marshall, Jr. Dr. Donaldo Batiste and Leila Jacobs Eames were absent. Superintendent Dr. Avis Williams and Board Counsel Ashley Heilprin were also present.

 

EXECUTIVE SESSION

 

6.1 Discussion of the character, the professional competence, physical or mental health of a person - School Board Personnel

 

No action taken.

 

6.2 Prospective Litigation with Tax Paying Entities: 1) World War II Theatre, Inc. v. Norman White, Chief Financial Officer and Director of Finance, City of New Orleans; Erroll G. Williams, Assessor, Orleans Parish; and Lawrence E. Chehardy, Chairman, Louisiana Tax Commission; Board of Tax Appeals, State of Louisiana, Local Tax Division, Docket No. L01363; 2) Fillmore Parc Apartments II v. Norman White Chief Financial Officer and Director of Finance, City of New Orleans; Erroll G. Williams, Assessor, Orleans Parish; and Lawrence E. Chehardy, Chairman, Louisiana Tax Commission; Board of Tax Appeals, State of Louisiana, Local Tax Division, Docket No. L01364 consolidated with MFLC Partners, a Louisiana Partnership in Commendam v. Norman White Chief Financial Officer and Director of Finance, City of New Orleans; Erroll G. Williams, Assessor, Orleans Parish; and Lawrence E. Chehardy, Chairman, Louisiana Tax Commission; Board of Tax Appeals, State of Louisiana, Local Tax Division, Docket No. L01365; and 3) University of New Orleans Research and Technology Foundation, Inc. v. Norman White, Chief Financial Officer and Director of Finance, City of New Orleans; Erroll G. Williams, Assessor, Orleans Parish; and The Chairman, Louisiana Tax Commission, BTA Dkt. No. L01362, Louisiana Board of Tax Appeals

Recommended Action: It is recommended that the Orleans Parish School Board approves the course of action recommended by its legal counsel.

 

Motion by Mr. Ashley, second by Mr. Marshall

 

ACTION ITEMS

 

7.1 Superintendent's 2023-2024 Specific Performance Objectives

Recommended Action: It is recommended that the Orleans Parish School Board approves the Superintendent's 2023-2024 Specific Performance Objectives and authorizes the General Counsel to prepare the related contract amendment.

 

Motion by President Parker, second by Mr. Ashley to defer Action Item 7.1 until the May board meeting

 

7.2 Superintendent's FY 2022-2023 Evaluation Tools

Recommended Action: It is recommended that the Orleans Parish School Board suspends the deadline provided in Policy CBF, Evalutaion of the Superintendent, and approves the Superintendent's Evaluation Tools for FY 2022-2023.

 

Motion by Mr. Ashley, second by Ms. Baudouin

 

7.3 Superintendent's FY 2023-2024 Evaluation Tools

Recommended Action: It is recommended that the Orleans Parish School Board approves the Superintendent's Evaluation Tools for FY 2023-2024.

 

Motion by Mr. Zervigon, second by Mr. Ashley

 

7.4  Extension of KIPP New Orleans Schools’ Deadline to Open its Approved Charters

Recommended Action: It is recommended that the Orleans Parish School Board grant KIPP New Orleans Schools an extension to begin operations on three charters approved by the Orleans Parish School Board (one K-8 approved on November 15, 2018, one 9-12 approved on November 15, 2018, and one K-8 approved on June 6, 2018) to first serve students by the 2021-22 school year. The Orleans Parish School Board first granted an extension for these charters on June 11, 2020 to begin serving students by the 2022-2023 school years. On April 22, 2021 the School Board granted a second extension for these charters to begin serving students by the 2023-24 school year. If the Board grants this extension, it would allow the three charters to begin serving students by the start of the 2025-2026 school year.

 

Motion by Mr. Ashley, second by Ms. Baudouin

 

ANNOUNCEMENTS

 

8.1 Notice of Public Meeting to Call an Election

Notice is hereby given that the Orleans Parish School Board plans to consider a resolution ordering and calling an election to be held within the Parish of Orleans, to authorize the levy of an ad valorem tax, at the Orleans Parish School Board meeting on May 18, 2023 at 5:30 p.m. at the offices of the Orleans Parish School Board, 2401 Westbend Parkway, Rm. 1050, New Orleans, LA 70114.

 

ADJOURNMENT

 

9.1 Adjourn Meeting

Motion by Vice President Zervigon, second by Ms. Baudouin to adjourn the meeting.

 

Meeting Adjourned at 8:49pm.