The OPSBrief

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In This Issue
OPSB Committee Meetings
Citywide Meeting
OPSB Special 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, October 13, 2011, OPSB Committee Meetings, joint RSD and OPSB presentation of amendments to the School Facilities Master Plan, and Special Meeting 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***
OPSB COMMITTEE MEETINGS
Policy, Legal and Legislative Committee Meeting
Received and discussed reports and draft policy amendments 

OPSB Policy Issues - 2nd Reading
  • J939 - Bullying, Intimidation, Harassment and Hazing (amendment to current policy)
    • Reviewed and discussed changes to definitions and the addition of protection for victims
    • Referred to Administration to incorporate new language and resubmit to OPSB
Information Item 
  • Human Resources
    • Received and discussed a report from the HR Director on hiring policies and procedures, with emphasis on professional personnel
Accountability Committee Meeting
Received and discussed reports

Reports
  • Received COMSTAT report from Superintendent
Information Items
  • Louis Armstrong Educational Foundation
    • $ 15,000 grant for music outreach program
  • Artists Corps New Orleans - National Performance Network
    • Will provide full-time music teacher shared by Bethune and Audubon 
  • FY 2011 Audits of Charter Schools
    • CFO reported that there were no "bad" findings
    • High School charters with small enrollments have lower funding levels and thus face challenges in funding lower pupil-teacher ratios and covering other expenses
    • Administration advises charters on improving audits and monitors correction of any needed corrective actions
Property and Budget & Finance Committee Meeting
Received and discussed reports
 
Reports 
  • Monthly Financial Report - 9/30/2011
    • Included an itemization of all vendor and charter payments exceeding $10,000 during FY 2010-2011
    • Report can be viewed here
  • Capital Projects Report - September 2011
    • Report can be viewed here 
    • Hynes - contractor turns over keys by 12/7 and move-in will be 12/19 - 12/24
    • Audubon Broadway moves into swing space at Gordon from 12/26 - 12/29 

Action Items

  • Capital Projects Budget Amendment # 1
    • Adds expenditure of $ 750,000 in FEMA funds for lease of temporary spaces
    • Adds expenditure of $ 3,251,744 for land acquisition
    • Increases expenditures for costs of surplus property sales by $ 500,000
    • Increases expenditures for costs of insurance settlement by $ 1,000,000
  • Millage Resolutions
    • CFO reported that OPSB had just received property assessment data and did not have enough time yet to analyze impact
    • Board needs to consider three resolutions at Tuesday's Business Meeting
      • Resolution 23-11 - Adopt Millage Rate
      • Resolution 24-11 - Increase Millage Rate
      • Resolution 25-11 - Designating the Millage Rate for General Obligation Bonds
    • Anticipate an announced public hearing for next week prior to OPSB meeting

Information Item 

  • 2011 Revisions to the School Facilities Master Plan for Orleans Parish
    • Deferred to Citywide Meeting to follow 
CITYWIDE MEETING

2011 Revisions to the School Facilities Master Plan for Orleans Parish

Received presentation from OPSB & RSD Superintendents and heard public comment

  • Presented the recommendations of the OPSB & RSD Superintendents on the proposal, which can be seen here
  • OPSBrief detailing the revisions can be seen here
  • New points made during presentation:
    • New Uptown swing space needed and will probably be established at Derham site
    • Renovations were added for some schools originally planned for landbanking in order to promote "portfolio diversity"
    • Further discussion will be held regarding the excess capacity of high school space on the Westbank projected by 2016
    • Strategic Plan for future of landbanked and surplus sites will be completed by early 2012
    • Accommodations will be sought for parents preferring schools within their neighborhoods
    • Goal is to finish projects by 2016 but some individual projects may be delayed by unexpected site conditions or by shortage of swing space
    • School faculties, parents and neighbors will be engaged in planning individual projects
    • RSD pledges to make assignments of schools by 12/31/2011 for those currently in temporary sites
  • Meeting was fairly well attended and about 16 persons made comments or asked questions
OPSB SPECIAL MEETING

Action Item

Took action as indicated

 

Resolution 26-11: 2011 Revisions to the School Facilities Master Plan for Orleans Parish (SFMPOP)

  • Included the followed components:
    • OPSB & RSD Superintendents' 2011 Revisions to the SFMPOP

    • Revised Master Plan Educational Program Requirements

    • Revised Master Plan Building Standards

  • OPSB approved the resolution with an amendment to prohibit RSD from assigning any of OPSB's buildings to Type 2 charters without OPSB's approval

  • Next step is BESE consideration on October 19

Announcement

OPSB will reconvene in a Board Business Meeting on Tuesday, October 18, 2011 at McDonogh #35 High School.

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