MINUTES OF THE

ORLEANS PARISH SCHOOL BOARD

BOARD BUSINESS MEETING

2401 WESTBEND PARKWAY

NEW ORLEANS, LA 70114

February 26, 2024

 

1.1 Call to Order – Roll Call

The Orleans Parish School Board Business Meeting was called to order by Board President Katherine Baudouin at 5:30pm. The following board members were present: Katherine Baudouin, Leila Jacobs Eames, Dr. Donaldo Batiste, Nolan Marshall, Jr.,  Olin G. Parker, and Carlos Luis Zervigon. Ethan Ashley was absent. Superintendent Dr. Avis Williams and Deputy General Counsel Candice Forest were also present.

 

-Interpretation services were acknowledged.

 

1.2 Pledge of Allegiance

The Pledge of Allegiance was led by President Baudouin.

 

1.3 Rules for Public Comment

Deputy General 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 provided by Mr. Parker, second by Vice President Eames.

 

CONSIDERATION OF THE MINUTES

 

2.1 Adoption of the Minutes

Motion by Dr. Batiste, second by Ms. Eames to adopt the minutes of the January 18, 2024 Public Hearing: Millage Roll Forward and January 18, 2024 Board Business Meeting. (waiving the reading)  

·         Final resolution: Motion passes

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

·         Nays: None

·         Absent: Mr. Ashley

·         Abstain: None

 

SUPERINTENDENT’S AGENDA

 

3.1 Superintendent's Remarks

Dr. Willliams began her remarks with a Mental Minute followed by a Years of Service Recognition for NOLA-PS staff celebrating employment milestones. She provided the following updates: Mardi Gras Safety Press Conference recap; Black History Month Quiz Bowl at Bethune Elementary, NOLA-PS Black History Month Events: High School Debate with the Arthur School and culminating event on February 29th including awarding the Equity Scholarship.

 

The superintendent commented on the City Council Community Development Committee Presentation, JOYful Educator Connection, including monthly professional development sessions. Dr. Williams acknowledged board member Carlos Zervigon as a Certified School Board Member; she provided a JAG (Jobs for America’s Graduates) Update, as well as noted the siting for Homer Plessy School at the McKenna facility and the Zero Hunger Challenge, identifying school participants.

 

BOARD COMMENT:

·         Mr. Zervigon acknowledged the siting of Homer Plessy at the McKenna School building and its continued use as a public facility.

 

CONSENT AGENDA

Recommended Action: It is recommended that the Orleans Parish School Board move to approve Consent Agenda Items 4.1 through 4.11 as presented in globo.

 

4.1 Amendment to OPSB Policy HA, School Board Chartering Authority

 

4.2 Request to Approve First Amendment to Contract with CSRS for Program Grants Management Services - Hurricane Katrina

 

4.3 Request to Ratify Fifth Amendment with Hubbard and Tennyson for Speech Therapy Services

 

4.4 Request to Award Invitation to Bid No. 23-FAC-0026 for Renovations at Leah Chase Building

 

4.5 Fourth Amendment to Third-Party Contracts to Provide Title I Supplemental Educational Services for Eligible Students in Non-Public Schools (RFP 20-0048)

 

4.6 Request to Award Request for Proposal No. 24-0051 for Gift Card and/or Voucher Services for School Uniforms

 

4.7 Fourth Amendment to Third-Party Contracts to Provide Title II Supplemental Educational Services for Eligible Students in Non-Public Schools (RFP 20-0049)

 

4.8 Amendment to Cooperative Endeavor Agreement with New Orleans Career Center

 

4.9 Revision to NOLA Public Schools Salary Schedule

 

4.10 Request to Award Request for Proposal No. 24-0044 for NOLA-PS Cares Consultant Services

 

4.11 OPSB Legislative Agenda - 2024 Regular Legislative Session

 

·         Motion by Ms. Eames, second by Dr. Batiste  

·         Final resolution: Motion passes

·         Nays: Mr. Marshall

·         Abstain: None

 

ACTION ITEMS

 

5.1 2024 Committee Appointments

Recommended Action: It is recommended that the Orleans Parish School Board approves the committee appointments as recommended by the Board President.

 

Motion by Vice President Eames, seconded by Dr. Batiste

·         Final resolution: Motion passes

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

·         Absent: Mr. Ashley

·         Abstain: None

 

5.2 Resolution 04-24 Orleans Parish School Board Member Training Requirements

Recommended Action: It is recommended that the Orleans Parish School Board approve Resolution 04-24, recording the completion of training and instruction by school board members for calendar year 2023.

 

Motion by President Baudouin, seconded by Mr. Parker

·         Final resolution: Motion passes

·         Results of Roll Call Vote:

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

·         Absent: Mr. Ashley

·         Abstain: None

 

5.3 Resolution 05-24 Canvass Resolution - Oct 2023

Recommended Action: It is recommended that the Orleans Parish School Board adopts Resolution 05-24 providing for canvassing the returns and declaring the result of the special election held in Parish of Orleans, State of Louisiana, on Saturday, October 14, 2023, to authorize the levy of special taxes therein.

 

Motion by Mr. Zervigon, seconded by Mr. Parker

·         Final resolution: Motion passes

·         Results of Roll Call Vote:

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

·         Absent: Mr. Ashley

·         Abstain: None

 

5.4 Resolution 06-24 Amendment No. 2 to FY 2024 General Fund Budget

Recommended Action: It is recommended that the Orleans Parish School Board (OPSB) approves the 2nd General Fund Budget Amendment for the FY23-24 fiscal year. This amendment incorporates additional revenues and transfers of $32,945,602 increasing the total General Fund Revenues to $58,058,317 and transfers to $16,000,000 and increases expenses $20,345,642 for total General Fund Expenses of 57,741,502.

 

Motion by Vice President Eames, seconded by President Baudouin

·         Final resolution: Motion passes

·         Results of Roll Call Vote:

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

·         Absent: Mr. Ashley

·         Abstain: None

 

5.5 Creation and Opening of a New School Commencing the 2024-2025 School Year

Recommended Action: That the Orleans Parish School Board authorize its Superintendent to create and establish a new school to be located at 2727 S. Carrollton Avenue, to operate as "The Leah Chase School", with a grade configuration of pre-k through 8, with slow growth, to commence operating at the start of the 2024-2025 school year with kindergarten through fifth grade.

 

Furthermore, the Board requests that the superintendent incorporate into the 5-Year Portfolio Plan or some other mechanism a blueprint for the operation of additional direct-run schools that offer high quality and unique programming.

 

Motion by Vice President Eames, second by Dr. Batiste

·         Final resolution: Motion passes

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

·         Absent: Mr. Ashley

·         Abstain: None

Mr. Marshall offered the following substitute motion amending Action Item 5.5: That the board directs the superintendent to operate the new Leah Chase School this year as a K-8th to accommodate all of the existing Lafayette students that want to attend the school and to amend Orleans Parish School Board Policy HE to allow Lafayette students to have both a priority in selecting a new school and a guaranteed seat until the end of March.

 

The substitute motion failed as no second was offered.

 

President Baudouin requested that public comments be limited to one minute per commenter and that comments be limited to 20 minutes.

 

PUBLIC COMMENT:

·         Dr. Levon LeBan expressed support for this item.

·         Janet Tobias expressed support for this item.

·         Alicia Plummer expressed support for this item, including comments on the meaning of community school.

·         Leon Shabazz expressed support for this item.

·         Ms. Connie LaCoeur expressed support for this item.

·         Albert Chewy Clark expressed support for this item.

·         Acquanette Barnes inquired about the implications of feeding public school students.

·         George Maudy expressed concern about the education of children and implications of educational programming.

·         Ms. Lauren Jewett expressed support for this item.

·         Melissa Francis expressed support for this item.

·         Shawon Bernard expressed support for this item, as well as the legacy of Leah Chase.

·         Dave Cash expressed support for this item.

·         Lois Adams expressed support for this item.

·         Bernadette Morris expressed support for this item.  

·         Rev. Willie Calhoun expressed support for this item.

 

BOARD COMMENT:

·         Mr. Parker extended well wishes to Dr. Shawon Bernard on the occasion of her birthday, as well as commended her efforts on behalf of students in the district. He further commented on the board’s commitment to providing the best for children regardless of what mechanism;  encouraged continued advocacy by the community; and  urged the board to maintain the same standards of accountability for the Leah Chase School and future district run schools as that for charter schools. He acknowledged the opportunity the board has for innovation in offering educational programming.

·         Vice President Eames thanked the community for its participation, as well as board members.   

 

5.6 Request to Suspend OPSB Policy HE, Enrollment, and to Bypass the Common Enrollment System

Recommended Action: It is recommended that the Orleans Parish School Board (1) suspend OPSB Policy HE to allow students currently enrolled in Lafayette Academy grades kindergarten through fourth grade and fifth graders who will be repeating fifth grade during the 2024-2025 school year to receive both closing school priority and guaranteed enrollment at the Leah Chase School, and (2) allow those students to bypass the common enrollment system such that they are able to receive a guaranteed seat at the Leah Chase School for the 2024-2025 school year and a seat at another school through the NCAP system's match process with closing school priority.

 

Motion by Dr. Batiste, second by Vice President Eames

 

Ms. Baudouin recognized Dr. Fateama Fulmore, deputy super-intendent, to provide clarification on the implications of the recommended action.

 

President Baudouin moved to amend the motion, second by Dr. Batiste

 

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

·         Nays: None

·         Abstain: Mr. Marshall

 

Board Counsel read Action Item 5.6 as amended: It is recommended that the Orleans Parish School Board suspend Policy HE to allow students currently enrolled in Lafayette Academy grades kindergarten through fourth grade and fifth graders who will be repeating fifth grade during the 2024-2025 school year to receive both closing school priority and guaranteed enrollment at the Leah Chase School.

 

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

·         Nays: None

·         Abstain: Mr. Marshall

 

BOARD COMMENT:

·         Ms. Eames expressed gratitude to the staff for their efforts and asked for the possibility of conducting a survey of families to determine the approximate number of students.

·         Mr. Marshall articulated the implications of the proposed policy for enrollment and the impact on families at other schools and Leah Chase, as well as suggested an earlier date for school preference selection.

·         Mr. Parker recognized the efforts of Vice President Eames, and  clarification was provided regarding the current enrollment at Lafayette School for K4 students in response to his inquiry, as well as clarity that the enrollment process cannot be opened for a select group of families.  

·         Clarity provided regarding enrollment for incoming kindergart- ners and the remaining 80 families who have not submitted during open enrollment in reply to an inquiry from President Baudouin.  

·         Clarification provided regarding approximate timeframe when actual enrollment for Leah Chase School will be known (by June 5th) in response to an inquiry from Mr. Zervigon.

·         Dr. Batiste acknowledged that current Lafayette School families will have a guaranteed seat at Leah Chase School should they wish to remain there, regardless of whether or not they have applied elsewhere.  

 

PUBLIC COMMENT:

·         Alicia Plummer provided comment on the implications of the One App.

·         Leon Shabazz provided comment on the charter school system and advocated for neighborhood schools run by OPSB.

·         Albert Chewy Clark provided comment on the enrollment process, as well as expressed a desire for his children to be enrolled in Leah Chase School. 

·         Acquanette Barnes provided comment on the enrollment process for families at Lafayette School.

·         George Maudy provided comment on the open enrollment process and implications for selective admission.

 

BOARD COMMENT:

·         Clarification provided that the offered amendment would all students who are currently at Lafayette to receive closing school priority during the main round and guaranteed enrollment at Leah Chase during open enrollment, in response to an inquiry from Mr. Parker.  

 

5.7 Subrecipient Agreement with City of New Orleans re: Jobs for America’s Graduates – Louisiana

Recommended Action: It is recommended that the Orleans Parish School Board approves the Subrecipient Agreement by and Between the City of New Orleans and Orleans Parish School Board Jobs for America’s Graduates – Louisiana for the purpose of American Rescue Plan (“ARP”) grant funding in the amount of $3,000,000.00 to support the implementation of the Jobs for American’s Graduates (JAG) Program.

 

Motion by Dr. Batiste, seconded by Ms. Eames

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

·         Nays: None

·         Abstain: None

 

BOARD COMMENT:

·         Vice President Eames noted her involvement with the JAG program at McDonogh 35.

·         Clarification provided about the number of school participants and selection, as well as grade level participation at middle and high schools, expenses covered, and relationship to career- related efforts throughout the district in response to inquiries from Mr. Parker. A discussion ensued with regard to indirect costs incurred by the district.   

·         Ms. Sunae Villavaso was recognized by board members Eames and Parker to provide context for the JAG program and interface and alignment between the city of New Orleans and the school system.

 

5.8 State of Louisiana Cooperative Endeavor Agreement re: Innovation & Stability Committee

Recommended Action: It is recommended that the Orleans Parish School Board approves the State of Louisiana Cooperative Endeavor Agreement (CEA), for the benefit of the Innovation & Stability Committee, which provides for a line-item appropriation to the Innovation and Stability Committee in the amount of $150,000.00 and authorizes its Board Counsel to prepare the CEA for signatures.

 

Motion by Mr. Marshall, second Mr. Zervigon

·         Yeas: Mr. Marshall, Mr. Zervigon

·         Nays: Ms. Baudouin, Ms. Eames, Dr. Batiste, Mr. Parker

·         Abstain: None

 

BOARD COMMENT:

·         A discussion ensued including receipt of funds from the state legislature, expenses identified and budgeted, state CEA template rather than actual CEA, and coordination with the district.

·         Dr. Williams was recognized for comments and expressed concern regarding the fit with the district’s strategic plan.  

·         Mr. Parker expressed concern regarding the procurement process used to determine costs identified and management of the operations manager and focus group manager.

·         A discussion ensued regarding whether the appropriation could be used in a manner other than that articulated in Action Item 5.8, as well as limitations on the board’s management and supervision of staff.

 

EXECUTIVE SESSION

 

Motion by Dr. Batiste, second by Mr. Parker to move to executive session at 7:34pm.

 

·         Final resolution: Motion passes

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

·         Nays: None

·         Absent: Mr. Ashley

·         Abstain: None

 

Reconvened from Executive Session at 8:59pm. The following board members were present: Katherine Baudouin, Leila Jacobs Eames, Dr. Donaldo Batiste, and Carlos Luis Zervigon. Ethan Ashley, Olin G. Parker, and Nolan Marshall, Jr., were absent. Superintendent Dr. Avis Williams and Board Counsel Ashley Heilprin were also present.

 

EXECUTIVE SESSION

 

6.1 Choice Foundation, et al. v. Law Industries, Inc., et al., CDC No. 2019-04385; Construction Litigation

Recommended Action: It is recommended that the Orleans Parish School Board approves partial settlement as recommended by its legal counsel.

 

Motion by Dr. Batiste, seconded by President Baudouin

 

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

·         Nays: None

·         Abstain: None

 

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

 

Discussion.

 

6.3 Orleans Parish School Board v. The City of New Orleans, et al., CDC No. 2019-05174; Summary Proceedings - Status Report

 

Discussion

 

ADJOURNMENT

 

7.1 Adjourn Meeting

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

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

·         Nays: None

·         Abstain: None

 

Meeting Adjourned at 9:01pm.