A public hearing was held to receive public comments on the following policy proposals:

• D422 - Records Retention (amendment to current policy)
• D428 - Purchasing (amendment to current policy)
• D429 - Bids and Quotations (amendment to current policy)
• B216 - Administrative Regulations and Procedures (amendment to current policy)
• E529 - Professional Services Procurement (repeal of current policy) 

No speakers signed up to comment on any of the policies. The proposals were forwarded to the full Board.

Superintendent's Agenda

Africa Reconnect

Received a report from representatives of Africa Reconnect on a possible partnership with the local schools

To review a copy of the presentation, click here. For more information, visit their website at www.africareconnect.org.

COMSTAT Report

Deferred

Special Education Revisited 

Received a report from the Superintendent

Superintendent discussed a recent report on special education from LDOE. He said that caution should be taken in reviewing reports because correct data presented in different ways could imply different conclusions. He cited an example of discussing averages, which can be calculated as a median with one conclusion or calculated as a mean with a different conclusion.

Monthly Financial Report, March 30,2011

Received the report previous discussed in committee

Routine Personnel Actions

Approved

Committee Reports

Received Committee Reports from the Chairpersons of the Accountability, Budget and Finance, Legal and Legislative, Policy, and Property Committees

Action Items / Resolutions

Approved all 16 items and resolutions

The following Action Items and Resolutions were approved by the Board: 

• Dissemination of a letter of reasonable assurance of employment to each employee covered under R.S. 23:1600
• State Legislative Agenda
• Supports HB368 to allow OPSB to sell properties to other governmental agencies at appraised value directly
• Supports HB78 and related SB clarifying language around definitions of academic and financial crisis and establishes parameters for removal from financial crisis
• Supports SB248 clarifying process for return of schools no longer academically unacceptable
• Would like to amend R.S. 17:3982 to allow for recovery from charters the cost of OPSB's property and flood insurance
• Would like to amend Act 35 to give Local District right of first refusal on assignment of RSD facilities
• Seeks Attorney General's opinion regarding roll forward millage for 2010 tax year
• Passed Resolution 10-11 providing for OPSB to cooperate with HANO in expropriating the following vacant and land-banked schools from OPSB at fair market value: Augustine, Bell and Mondy
• Passed Resolution 08-11 to provide Amendment #3 for General Fund Budget to increase Revenues by $470,233 and to increase Expenditures by $600,491
• Accepted six Special Revenue Grants
• Renewed contract for risk management services and property insurance for which staff reported a net savings of $140,000 for the year
• Accepted the donation of salad bars to various direct-run and charter schools from the Let's Move Salad Bars to Schools grant
• Passed Resolution 09-11 to apply to the State Bond Commission to extend the maturity of the Community Disaster Loan to 10 years
• Approved 2011-12 At-A-Glance Calendar
• Approved D422 - Records Retention (amendment to current policy)
• Approved D428 - Purchasing (amendment to current policy)
• Approved D429 - Bids and Quotations (amendment to current policy)
• Approved B216 - Administrative Regulations and Procedures (amendment to current policy)
• Approved E529 - Professional Services Procurement (repeal of current policy) 
• Seeks an opinion from Attorney General on local revenue sharing between OPSB and RSD

Executive Session

Recessed into Executive Session to discuss litigation and personnel matters

Agenda included:

1. Litigation with Lexington Insurance Co., 
2. Litigation with State over governance issues,
3. A personal injury case, and
4. A request for Waiver of Conflict from outside counsel.