Report from September 20 OPSB Business Meeting

Received information and took action on Superintendent's recommendations as needed

Perfect Attendance Car Giveaway

Received information from Troy Duhon of Premier Automotive, sponsor
For more information, see www.premierstayinschool.org
Seniors with perfect attendance have chance to win 2011 Scion xB
A $500 scholarship offered to senior who successfully designs color scheme for the car
Sixth year of program to encourage students to stay in school and graduate
Superintendent reported that perfect attendance has risen from 14 students to 64 students
Graduation rate for 9-to-12 cohort is now 90%
Graduation rate among seniors is now 95%

Human Resources/Personnel

Approved Superintendent's recommendations for appointments of a graduation coach and two Title I coordinators
Did not approve Superintendent's recommendation for a new assistant principal but referred it back to Administration for further review
Approved Superintendent's recommendations for routine personnel items on position assignments, resignations, retirements, leaves, returns from leave, etc.
Board members asked questions with respect to administrative procedures for selection of certified and classified personnel

Administration currently advertises vacancies on www.nops.k12.la.us, Times-Picayune and www.nolalive.com for at least two weeks
Longer ad periods and out-of-town publications are used when higher-level positions are being filled
Cable TV education access channel will be used in the future to publicize vacancies
Policies and procedures will be re-examined with goal of always seeking the best candidates available

Committee Reports and Recommendations

Received reports and approved items as indicated

Committee Reports

Budget Committee announced that OPSB had approved FY 2012 Consolidated Budget at its special meeting of 9/15/2011

In response to Policy Committee report, Administration announced that the position of administrator for new SDBE program will soon be advertised

Action Items/Resolutions

Took action as indicated on recommendations from Superintendent

To be used by teachers working with certain student exceptionalities in both direct-run and charter schools

Approved the execution of a non-binding letter of intent to investigate feasibility of acquiring 10 Acres at Opelousas and Atlantic for an elementary school in the Master Plan
Approved the execution of a purchase agreement for the 8.77 Acres Algiers Place site as a location for an elementary school in the Master Plan
Rescinded Resolution 20-11 and approved Resolution 22-11 to change the size of the Taxable Refunding of the 1995-B Bonds from $13.7 million to $14.3 million

CFO reported this was a strategy to free funds within existing revenues to allow the budgeting of more Master Plan projects

Executive Session

Recessed into Executive Session to discuss litigation and personnel matters and take action thereafter in open public session as indicated

Litigation with State officials over Charter School Authorization

Litigation with an employee over a Worker's Compensation issue

Litigation with State officials over Return of Schools