MINUTES OF THE

ORLEANS PARISH SCHOOL BOARD

COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE MEETING

2401 WESTBEND PARKWAY

NEW ORLEANS, LA 70114

OCTOBER 17, 2023

 

1.1 Call to Order – Roll Call

The Orleans Parish School Board Committee of the Whole Meeting was called to order at 1:03pm by President Olin G. Parker. The following board members were present: Olin G. Parker, Carlos Luis Zervigon, Dr. Donaldo Batiste, Katherine Baudouin, Leila Jacobs Eames, and Nolan Marshall, Jr. Ethan Ashley was 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 President Parker.

 

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 amended removing Action Item 5.6 SECOND READING: Amendment to OPSB Policy BCAD, Teleconference/Remote Participation in School Board Meetings from the Policy section; deferred until next month.

 

Motion by Ms. Baudouin, seconded by Ms. Eames

·         Final resolution: Motion passes

·         Yeas: Mr. Parker, Mr. Zervigon, Dr. Batiste, Ms. Baudouin, Ms. Eames, Mr. Marshall

·         Nays: None

·         Absent: Mr. Ashley

·         Abstain: None

 

CONSIDERATION OF THE MINUTES

 

2.1 Adoption of the Minutes

Motion by Dr. Batiste, second by Mr. Parker to adopt the minutes of the September 19, 2023 Committee of the Whole Meeting as presented. (waiving the reading)

·         Final resolution: Motion passes

·         Yeas: Mr. Parker, Mr. Zervigon, Dr. Batiste, Ms. Baudouin, Ms. Eames, Mr. Marshall

·         Nays: None

·         Absent: Mr. Ashley

·         Abstain: None

 

ACCOUNTABILITY AND CHARTERS

 

3.1 Schools Update

Ms. Eames acknowledged  Dr. Kelli Jordan, chief school support and improvement officer, for this month’s schools update which featured school highlights.

 

Ms. Eames welcomed Akeem Langham, school leader, Livington Collegiate Academy, for the Schools At Work presentation.

                                                                                                                         

Board Comment:

·         A discussion ensued regarding the school leadership and progress of the school, as well as the culture among educators, choir and band personnel.

 

-Dr. Williams invited further exploration regarding JAG, Jobs for American Graduates, and inquired about CTE participation and AP courses that are offered.

 

3.2 Portfolio and Accountability Updates

Paige Jackson, executive director of accountability, and Anne-Lise McCarver, director of portfolio innovation, presented accountability updates: Notices of Noncompliance, Renewals and Extensions, Policy HB,  and the Request for Application process.  

 

Board Comment:

·         Clarity provided regarding the time limit for presentations during the comprehensive evaluation public hearing, community participation in the comprehensive evaluation community meetings, as well as the number of charter applications received and whether any applicants do not currently operate schools within the district.  

 

3.3 Portrait of a Graduate Update

Dr. Fateama Fulmore, deputy superintendent, presented the Portrait of a Graduate Update recognizing students who embodied Portrait of a Graduate attributes.

 

Board Comment:

·         Clarification provided regarding Portrait of a Graduate monthly recognitions, celebrations, and planning for an annual culminating event, as well as how students’ names can be submitted for recognition.

 

COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE

 

4.1 2024 Board Meeting Calendar

Recommended Action: It is recommended that the Orleans Parish School Board adopt the proposed board meeting calendar for the 2024 calendar year.

 

Motion by Mr. Zervigon, second by Ms. Eames

·         Final resolution: Motion passes

·         Yeas: Mr. Parker, Mr. Zervigon, Dr. Batiste, Ms. Baudouin, Ms. Eames, Mr. Marshall

·         Nays: None

·         Absent: Mr. Ashley

·         Abstain: None

 

POLICY

 

5.1 Notice of Intent to Amend OPSB Policy FJ, Orleans Parish School Facility Preservation Program

 

5.2 Notice of Intent to Amend OPSB Policy HA, School Board Chartering Authority

 

5.3 FIRST READING: Amendment to Policy HAA, Charter School Operating Agreement

 

5.4 FIRST READING: Amendment to Policy BD, School Board Policy

 

5.5 FIRST READING: Amendment to OPSB Policy HB, Oversight and Evaluation of Charter Schools

 

5.7 SECOND READING: Amendment to OPSB Policy EBBB, School and Student Safety

Recommended Action: It is recommended that the Orleans Parish School Board approves the amendment to Policy EBBB, School and Student Safety.

 

Motion by Mr. Parker, second by Ms. Eames

·         Final resolution: Motion passes

·         Yeas: Mr. Parker, Mr. Zervigon, Dr. Batiste, Ms. Baudouin, Ms. Eames, Mr. Marshall

·         Nays: None

·         Absent: Mr. Ashley

·         Abstain: None

 

5.8 SECOND READING: New OPSB Policy EDCA, Carpool and Bus Line Safety

Recommended Action: It is recommended that the Orleans Parish School Board approves new Policy EDCA, Carpool and Bus Line Safety.

 

Motion by Mr. Zervigon, second by Ms. Eames

·         Final resolution: Motion passes

·         Yeas: Mr. Parker, Mr. Zervigon, Dr. Batiste, Ms. Baudouin, Ms. Eames, Mr. Marshall

·         Nays: None

·         Absent: Mr. Ashley

·         Abstain: None

 

5.9 SECOND READING: New OPSB Policy IDCJ, Continuous Learning

Recommended Action: It is recommended that the Orleans Parish School Board approves new Policy IDCJ, Continuous Learning.

 

Motion by Dr. Batiste, second by Mr. Parker

·         Final resolution: Motion passes

·         Yeas: Mr. Parker, Mr. Zervigon, Dr. Batiste, Ms. Baudouin, Ms. Eames, Mr. Marshall

·         Nays: None

·         Absent: Mr. Ashley

·         Abstain: None

 

5.10 SECOND READING: Amendment to OPSB Policy JB, Attendance

Recommended Action: It is recommended that the Orleans Parish School Board approves the amendment to Policy JB, Attendance.

 

Motion by Mr. Zervigon, second by Dr. Batiste

·         Final resolution: Motion passes

·         Yeas: Mr. Parker, Mr. Zervigon, Dr. Batiste, Ms. Baudouin, Ms. Eames, Mr. Marshall

·         Nays: None

·         Absent: Mr. Ashley

·         Abstain: None

 

5.11 SECOND READING: Amendment to OPSB Policy JBD, Student Absences and Excuses

Recommended Action: It is recommended that the Orleans Parish School Board approves the amendment to Policy JBD, Student Absences and Excuses.

 

Motion by Dr. Batiste, second by Mr. Parker

·         Final resolution: Motion passes

·         Yeas: Mr. Parker, Mr. Zervigon, Dr. Batiste, Ms. Baudouin, Ms. Eames, Mr. Marshall

·         Nays: None

·         Absent: Mr. Ashley

·         Abstain: None

BUDGET AND FINANCE

 

8.1 Monthly Finance Report

Nyesha Veal, comptroller, presented the monthly finance update, including August 2023 financials and Audit Update.

 

Board Comment:

·         Clarification provided with regard to the timely submission of the audit.  

 

6.2 Resolution 19-23 re: FY 2022-2023 Louisiana Compliance Questionnaire

Recommended Action: It is recommended that the OPSB approve Resolution 19-23 approving the FY 2022-2023 Louisiana Compliance Questionnaire as part of the State Legislative Auditor’s requirement for completion of audits, authorizing the Board President to execute any and all relevant documents, and authorizing the administration to submit the Questionnaire as required by the Legislative Auditor.

 

Motion by Ms. Eames, second by Ms. Baudouin

·         Final resolution: Motion passes

·         Yeas: Mr. Parker, Mr. Zervigon, Dr. Batiste, Ms. Baudouin, Ms. Eames, Mr. Marshall

·         Nays: None

·         Absent: Mr. Ashley

·         Abstain: None

 

6.3 Resolution 20-23 Authorizing the Issuance of Revenue Anticipation Note, Series 2023

Recommended Action: It is recommended that the Orleans Parish School Board approves the resolution authorizing the issuance of Revenue Anticipation Note, Series 2023, of the Orleans Parish School Board, State of Louisiana in a principal amount not to exceed $75,000,000.

 

Motion by Dr. Batiste, second by Mr. Zervigon

 

6.4 Request to Award Invitation to Bid No. ITB 23-FAC-0029 for Chiller & Fire Alarm Replacements at Frederick A. Douglass High School

Recommended Action: It is recommended that the Orleans Parish School Board accepts the bid from Arc Mechanical Contractors, Inc. for the Chiller & Fire Alarm Replacements at Frederick A. Douglass High School in the amount of $614,000.00; and authorizes the General Counsel to prepare a contract for signatures of the Board President and the contractor.

 

Motion by Dr. Batiste, second by Ms. Baudouin

·         Final resolution: Motion passes

·         Yeas: Mr. Parker, Mr. Zervigon, Dr. Batiste, Ms. Baudouin, Ms. Eames, Mr. Marshall

·         Nays: None

·         Absent: Mr. Ashley

·         Abstain: None

 

PUBLIC COMMENT:

·         Dr. Ken Ducote, executive director, Greater New Orleans Collaborative of Charter Schools, spoke in support of the passage of the millage and its implications for school facility projects, thanked the public, and commended the board and administration for their leadership and stewardship.

 

 BOARD COMMENT

·         Vice President Zervigon acknowledged NOLA-PS administration and the board’s governance referencing the millage passage and management of the school facility preservation funds.

 

6.5 Request to Award Invitation to Bid No. ITB No. 23-FAC-0034 Mechanical Replacements and Improvements at Sarah T. Reed High School

Recommended Action:It is recommended that the Orleans Parish School Board accepts the bid from Arc Mechanical Contractors, Inc. in the amount of $454,800.00 bid for the Mechanical Replacements and Improvements at Sarah T. Reed High School; and authorizes General Counsel to prepare a contract for signatures of the Board President and the Contractor.

 

Motion by Ms. Eames, second by Ms. Baudouin

·         Final resolution: Motion passes

·         Yeas: Mr. Parker, Mr. Zervigon, Dr. Batiste, Ms. Baudouin, Ms. Eames, Mr. Marshall

·         Nays: None

·         Absent: Mr. Ashley

·         Abstain: None

 

6.6 Request to Award Invitation to Bid No. ITB 24-FAC-0026 for Boiler Replacements and Improvements at Live Oak School

Recommended Action: It is recommended that the Orleans Parish School Board accepts the bid from Arc Mechanical Contractors, Inc. in the amount of $299,900.00 for the Boiler Replacements and Improvements at Live Oak School; and authorizes General Counsel to prepare a contract for signatures of the Board President and the Contractor.

 

Motion by Mr. Zervigon, second by Ms. Baudouin

·         Final resolution: Motion passes

·         Yeas: Mr. Parker, Mr. Zervigon, Dr. Batiste, Ms. Baudouin, Ms. Eames, Mr. Marshall

·         Nays: None

·         Absent: Mr. Ashley

·         Abstain: None

 

6.7 Request to Approve Contract with Linfield, Hunter & Junius, Inc. for Design Services at Live Oak School

Recommended Action: It is recommended that the Orleans Parish School Board approves the Contract between OPSB and Linfield, Hunter, & Junius, Inc. to provide design services for the Partial Roof Replacement and Mechanical Improvements to include chiller and new air handlers to provide air condition to areas of the first floor and floor repairs on the first floor at Live Oak School in the amount of $271,742.00; and authorizes General Counsel to prepare a contract for signatures of the Board President and the Design Professional.

 

Motion by Ms. Baudouin, second by Mr. Zervigon

 

6.8 Request to Approve Fourth Amendment to Speech Therapy Services Contract with Hubbard & Tennyson, LLC

Recommended Action: It is recommended that the Orleans Parish School Board approves a Fourth Amendment to the contract with Hubbard & Tennyson, LLC for speech therapy services to extend the contract for a sixty-day period, from November 1, 2023 to December 31, 2023 at no additional cost; and authorizes the General Counsel to prepare the contact amendment for signature of the Board President and Contractor.

 

Motion by Dr. Batiste, second by Ms. Eames

 

6.9 Request to Approve Change Order Number One (CO-01) with Gibbs Construction for Building Repairs from Moisture Infiltration at Elijah Brimmer Jr. School

It is recommended that the Orleans Parish School Board approves Change Order Number One (CO-01) in the amount of $165,400.00 with Gibbs Construction for Building Repairs from Moisture Intrusion at Elijah Brimmer, Jr. School; and authorizes General Counsel to prepare a change order for signatures of the Board President and the Contractor.

 

Motion by Mr. Zervigon, second by Ms. Eames

 

6.10 Request to Approve the Purchase of a 3D Virtual Dissection Table and Equipment from Anatomage Company for the New Orleans Science and Math High School

Recommended Action: It is recommended that the Orleans Parish School Board approves the purchase for a 3D Virtual Dissection Table, Anatomage Training Resources, Anatomage Equipment, and Warranty from the Anatomage Company for the New Orleans Science and Math High School for a total not to exceed $105,590.00 and to be funded by the Capital Outlay funding for the purchase of equipment at 2011 Bienville Street, New Orleans, LA 70112, to be funded by the State of Louisiana Capital Outlay Grant awarded to the Foundation for Science and Mathematics, Inc.

 

Motion by Mr. Zervigon, second by Ms. Baudouin

 

BOARD COMMENT:

President Parker acknowledged the state legislature for funding provided via the Capital Outlay Grant for this item.

 

6.11 Request to Approve Louisiana State Contract Purchase of Equipment for New Orleans Science and Math High School

Recommended Action: It is recommended that the Orleans Parish School Board approves the Louisiana State Contract purchase of Equipment for the New Orleans Science and Math High School from Convergint Technologies, LLC in an amount not to exceed $171,039.61, to be funded by the State of Louisiana Capital Outlay Grant awarded to the Foundation for Science and Mathematics, Inc.

 

Motion by Ms. Eames, second by Dr. Batiste

 

6.12 Request to Approve SOW 3, Amendment No. 2 to Contract with Carahsoft for Integration and Improvement Services for Enrollment Portal

Recommended Action: It is recommended that the Orleans Parish School Board approves Amendment No. 2 in the amount of $86,294.00 with Carahsoft for integration and improvement services to the Open Enrollment Process for the current Family Portal.

 

Motion by Mr. Zervigon, second by Ms. Baudouin

 

6.13 Request to Approve Louisiana State Contract Purchase for Signature Success Plan from Carahsoft Technology Corporation

Recommended Action: It is recommended that the Orleans Parish School Board approves the purchase of the Signature Success Plan from the Louisiana state-approved vendor, Carahsoft in the amount of $196,774.19.

 

Motion by Mr. Zervigon, second by Ms. Baudouin

 

6.14 Request to Approve Amendment No. 3 to Contract with Concordia Architects for Design Services for Auditorium Refurbishments at Eleanor McMain School

Recommended Action: It is recommended that the Orleans Parish School Board approves the third amendment to the contract with Concordia Architects for Design Services for Auditorium Refurbishments at Eleanor McMain School in the amount of $27,424.00.

 

Motion by Mr. Zervigon, second by Ms. Baudouin

 

6.15 Request to Award Invitation to Bid No. 24-CN-0003 for Fresh, Processed and Pre-Cut Produce

Recommended Action: It is recommended that the Orleans Parish School Board accepts the FY 2024, Second Quarter bid for: Fresh, Processed and Pre-Cut Produce, from Capital City Produce, LLC, in the initial amount of $64,724.00, and not to exceed a total of $250,000.00, for all four (4) quarters.

 

Motion by Ms. Baudouin, second by Mr. Zervigon

 

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

Recommended Action: It is recommended that the Orleans Parish School Board approves the purchase of textbooks for the 2023–2024 school year for forty-eight (48) Orleans Parish non-public schools in the amount of $416,404.00 through Louisiana State approved contract vendors and The Interlocal Purchasing System (TIPS) cooperative contract vendors.

 

Motion by Dr. Batiste, second by Ms. Baudouin

 

6.17 Request to Approve First Amendment to Contracts with Third Party Contractors for Title IV Services to Non-Public Schools

Recommended Action: It is recommended that Orleans Parish School Board approves the First Amendment in the amount of $ 67,471.95 with Third Party Contractors for Title IV Services for Non-Public Schools (Catapult Learning, LLC, Cusanza Enterprises II, LLC d/b/a Sylvan Learning Center, and Learn - It Systems, LLC) and authorizes the General Counsel to prepare the contract amendment for signature of the Board President and Contractor.

 

Motion by Dr. Batiste, second by Ms. Baudouin

 

PROPERTY

 

-Ms. Baudoin exercised a point of personal privilege to extend congratulations to NOLA-PS administrative staff, in particular operations and communications personnel, for efforts related to the millage passage and expressed gratitude to those who supported the effort: Dr. Williams, the board, Ms. Eames, for participation by Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, as well as elected officials.

 

 -President Parker echoed the sentiments of Ms. Baudouin.

 

Don LeDuff, chief operations officer, provided the following updates: Capital Projects Updates: Planned, Unplanned, and Emergency;  Surplus Property Strategy Update; Saltwater Intrusion Update.

 

Board Comment:

·                     Clarity provided regarding the Surplus Property Strategy RFP process.

·                     Ms. Eames suggested the creation of a handbook reflecting mitigation efforts related to Saltwater Intrusion.

·                     Clarification provided with regard to the construction of a pipeline by the Army Corps of Engineers and New Orleans Sewerage & Water Board to address Saltwater Intrusion.

 

EXECUTIVE SESSION

 

Motion by Mr. Marshall, second by Ms. Baudouin to move to executive session at 2:51pm.

 

 

Reconvened from Executive Session at 3:14pm. The following board members were present: Olin G. Parker, Carlos Luis Zervigon, Dr. Donaldo Batiste, Katherine Baudouin, Leila Jacobs Eames, and Nolan Marshall, Jr. Ethan Ashley was absent. Superintendent Dr. Avis Williams and Board Counsel Ashley Heilprin were also present.

 

EXECUTIVE SESSION

 

8.1 In re: Encore Learning, Inc., United States Bankruptcy Court, EDLA, Case No. 2023-11043

 

Discussion.

 

ADJOURNMENT

 

9.1 Adjourn Meeting

Motion by Mr. Marshall, second by Ms. Baudouin  to adjourn the meeting.

 

Meeting Adjourned at 3:15pm.