The OPSBrief

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In This Issue
Public Hearing
Business Meeting

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www.eastbankcollaborative.com 

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This report is created by Ken Ducote and Rose Drill-Peterson on behalf of the Eastbank Collaborative of Charter Schools 

Greetings!


The following report is from the Thursday, September 15, 2011, Public Hearing, Special Board Meeting, and Committee Meetings of the Orleans Parish School Board. 

***This email is created by Ken Ducote and Rose Drill-Peterson on behalf of the Eastbank Collaborative of Charter Schools and is not an official correspondence from the Orleans Parish School Board***
PUBLIC HEARING
FY 2012  Consolidated Budget
Received and reviewed a presentation by the Administration and heard public questions and comments
  • Administration summarized proposed budget, available here 
  • Consolidated budget includes all funding sources:
    • OPSB General Fund
    • Charters General Fund
    • RSD Pass Through
    • Special Revenue Fund (mostly Federal)
    • Capital Fund (annual portion from FEMA)
    • Debt Service Fund
    • Enterprise Fund (Office Building)
  • Total expenditures for all funds are $302 million, of which, $225 million is operating budget
  • Administration reported the budget is based on 37,706 students total: 
    • OPSB direct-run student count: 3,020 
    • OPSB charter student count: 7,320
    • RSD total student count: 27,366
  • Administration reported proposed budget calculations are based upon current millage rates
  • MFP funds for OPSB, OPSB charters, and RSD are $8,197 per student
  • OPSB has RSD pass-through only for local taxes, the RSD receives the balance directly from the state
  • Administration will do further study on high transportation costs of $1,153 per student (2,913 students)
  • Special education costs of $4.9 million covered by only $1.2 million in MFP funding (2,964 students)
  • Special education costs per pupil vary by exceptionality and other special needs
  • Administration plans that future capital budgets will have more detail and better format
  • Detailed budget document incorporates OPSB charter budgets that were developed and adopted by each charter's governing board
SPECIAL BOARD MEETING

FY 2012 Consolidated Budget

Adopted FY 2012 Consolidated Budget

  • Approved Resolution 21-11, adopting the FY 2012 Consolidated Budget 
  • Acknowledged that the charter budgets included within the Consolidated Budget were actually developed and adopted by each charter's governing board
  • Complete document to be posted on OPSB website, www.nops.k12.la.us
LEGAL AND LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEE

Reports

Received reports from attorneys

 

Potential Impact of Draft City Zoning Ordinance on OPSB Schools

  • Received a report from Special Counsel William Aaron on the City's New Master Plan and the Draft Comprehensive Zoning Ordinance
    • Discussed possible connections with, and impacts on, the School Facilities Master Plan
    • School properties are mapped on City Master Plan website, http://www.nolamasterplan.org/
    • Board, Administration and counsel will monitor and follow-up 

Renaming School Sites

  • Received a report from Deputy General Counsel Kathy Moss on prior OPSB policy and procedures and on restrictions on naming public buildings under state law
    • Public buildings cannot be named for a living person

Executive Session

Cancelled due to lack of quorum

PROPERTY COMMITTEE

Discussion Items

 

FEMA Temporary Suspension of New Obligations from Prior Disasters

  • Jacobs/CSRS reported that OPSB & RSD projects were previously obligated and that no impact on our schools is anticipated
Update on Hot Meals at Benjamin Franklin Elementary Extension (former Ashe) 
  • Hot meals are now being served at the school
  • Meals are prepared in the main Franklin ES kitchen and brought to the Extension campus until the cafeteria renovations are completed
Letter of Intent to Purchase 10-acre Site Near Opelousas and Atlantic in Algiers 
  • Administration would like to study feasibility of constructing a new school there if it would be less expensive than renovating another school in Algiers
  • Site is bounded by Opelousas, Atlantic, Thayer, and Eliza
Purchase Agreement on Algiers Place Property 
  • A new elementary school in Master Plan lists site to be determined
  • This site is in area near student population without nearby school
  • Site is 8.77 Acres and bounded by Seine, Texas, Bender and Memorial Park
Reports
 
Superintendent's Capital Projects Report: August 2011 
  • Report will be posted here, replacing the July 2011 report
  • Administration is developing a move-in plan for the new Hynes
  • Newly initiated "stabilization" projects will start appearing on reports
  • Work is proceeding on revising the Master Plan Amendments
ACCOUNTABILITY COMMITTEE

Information Items 

 
Audubon Charter Louisiana Renaissance Grant Award
  • State grant of $47,341 in salary and benefits to hire a master teacher in the French Emersion Program
  • Will assist students who are struggling and will provide support for their regular teachers 
Student Code of Conduct Handbook
  • Received current year version of handbook
  • Covers behavior and dress code
  • Charters can use it or can adopt their own codes as long as they are in compliance with state law
POLICY COMMITTEE
OPSB Policy Issues - 1st Reading
 

 

J939 - Bullying, Intimidation, Harassment and Hazing (proposed amendment to current policy)

  • Proposes to amend existing policy by defining and prohibiting cyberbullying
  • Tracks latest state law
BUDGET & FINANCE COMMITTEE
Reports
 

Monthly Financial Report, August 31, 2011

  • Can be reviewed here

Action Items / Consent Items

Forwarded to full Board with recommendation for approval
 

Purchase of Apple Computers for Exceptional Children Services

  • Purchase of iPad 2 computers ($192,722) for use by special education teachers and speech pathologists in charter and direct-run schools
Approval to Execute Letter of Intent for 10-Acre Property near Opelousas and Atlantic
  • Discussed in Property Committee (see above)
Approval to Execute Purchase Agreement on Algiers Place property
  • Discussed in Property Committee (see above)
Benjamin Franklin Elementary School Extension Cafeteria Renovations
  • Lowest of 9 bidders was Crescent Commercial Construction, LLC, for $354,900.00
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