The OPSBrief

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In This Issue
Accountability Committee
Property Committee
Budget & Finance Committee

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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, May 10, 2012, Committee Meetings of the Orleans Parish School Board. 

OPSB will hold a Public Hearing to consider a roll-forward of its 2013 Millage Rates at 4 p.m. Tuesday, May 15, 2012, in the Auditorium of McDonogh #35 High School, 1331 Kerlerec Street. After the Public Hearing, the Board will hold its monthly Business Meeting.


***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***
ACCOUNTABILITY COMMITTEE

Agenda and back-up materials for the items below can be found here

 

Action Items

Reviewed and discussed Administration's recommendations and forwarded the items to the full Board with recommendations for approval 

  

Textbook Adoptions for 2012-2013 - Music and English as a Second Language (ESL)

  • Forwarded to full Board for final approval 

Calendar for 2012-2013

  • Subject to revisions in forthcoming budget process and review of Central Office holidays

System Technology Plan: 2012 - 2015 

  • Priorities shifting from acquisition of technology to professional development and leadership in use of technology

Discussion/Information Items

Received and discussed information from the Administration

 

Encore Academy

  • Will open in 2012 - 2013 co-located with Crocker ES in new building
  • Has available seats for elementary students next year
  • More information can be found here, http://www.encorelearning.org/  

Transfer of Schools Committee 

  • Working on process for eligible RSD schools to return to OPSB
  • Considering how Type 5 RSD schools might retain LEA status when returning to OPSB

Request for Applications (RFA) for New Charter Schools

  • RFA for new Type 1 charters goes out May 18
  • RFA for Type 3 conversions will go out later

Blending if ADEP HS and McDonogh #35 HS 

  • Budgets would be blended
  • Each would probably retain individual school codes and school performance scores
  • Only one set of school rules and uniforms would apply to both
  • Students would be able to cross-register for certain courses for efficiency
  • Alumni President of McDonogh #35 pledged assistance in making school success

Presentations

Received information from Administration

 

District Student of the Year Finalist

  • To be announced at Board meeting May 15

District / Regional Teacher of the Year Finalist

  • To be announced at Board meeting May 15

Architecture, Construction & Engineering (ACE) Mentorship Program

  • Three ADEP HS students won $ 1000 scholarships: Kimberly Franklin, Victoria Holmes, and Dwayne Lawrence

Report

Received information from Administration

 

Academic Programs 

  • Comprehensive presentation of various programs and initiatives in curriculum and instruction
  • College and Career Readiness
    • Accelerated Student Achievement Pathway
    • Connections (Dropout Prevention)
    • Louisiana Seat Time Waiver
    • Credit Recovery
    • Distance Education
    • Dual and Concurrent Enrollment
    • Bard Early College
  • Academic Affairs
    • Arts in Education
    • Early Childhood Programs
    • Home Instruction for Parents of Pre-school Youngsters (HIPPY)
    • Common Core State Standards
    • Family and Community Engagement
PROPERTY COMMITTEE

Agenda and back-up materials for the items below can be found here

 

Discussion/Information Items

Received and discussed reports from Administration; for action taken, see Budget and Finance Committee Meeting below

 

Appraisals of Surplus Property

  • Extension of contract with Thoreen Advisory Group

Franklin HS Renovations and Repairs

  • Lowest bidder withdrew and General Counsel recommends awarding to second lowest bidder

Reports

Received and discussed reports from Administration; no action taken

 

Property Report 

  • Received May 2012 Report on care of idle and vacant OPSB properties

Capital Projects Report

  • Audubon (Broadway) Traffic Study - Completion due May 29th
  • Audubon (Broadway) Renovations - Contractor will get Notice to Proceed by end of May
  • Harte New School - New bids due July 22 and Contractor should get Notice to Proceed by end of August
  • McDonogh #35 New School - Site Remediation - construction started
  • McDonogh #35 New School - 5th Community Meeting is May 23 and 100% Construction Documents due June 16
  • Lake Forest New School - Demolition of GSS Academy - Contract with Chenevert Architects signed for specs
  • Lake Forest New School - Design contract with Imre Hegedus signed and 1st Community Meeting is May 29th 
  • North Kenilworth ES New School - 50% Design Development plans in and Construction will start November for opening June 2014
  • Karr HS New School - Architect contract signed
  • McMain HS Renovations - 50% Construction Documents in and project bids June
LEGAL AND LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEE

Received and considered a recommendation for the Administration and took action as indicated; agenda and handouts can be read here

 

Action Item

Forwarded recommendation of the Administration to the full Board with the Committee's recommendation for approval

 

Letter of Reasonable Assurance of Employment to Academic Year Employees

  • Routine annual letter to academic-year employees expected to be employed for next school session so as to exempt them from receiving unemployment benefits during the summer
POLICY COMMITTEE

Agenda and back-up materials for the items below can be found here

 

Policy Amendments - Second Reading

Forwarded to the full Board with the Committee's recommendation for approval

 

Policy E522 - Computer and Internet Use for Employees (amendment)

  • Adds controls on cyber-bullying, frivolous or non-educational use, and social networks
  • E-rate regulations will now require annual training of staff and students on appropriate and safe use of the internet

Policy I809 - Computer Access and Use for Students (amendment)

  • Adds controls on cyber-bullying and related improper use
  • E-rate regulations will now require annual training of staff and students on appropriate and safe use of the internet

Policy Amendments - First Reading

Discussed potential amendments to existing policies

 

Policy E530 - Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) Program (amendments)

  • Adds more detail on how to accomplish original intent of policy
  • More tweaking will be done in consultation with OPSB Special and General Counsel

Policy B213 - Minutes of the Board Meetings (amendments)

  • Discussed feasibility of adding archiving of videos of Board meetings to NOPS website
  • Website currently has live streaming of Board meetings and archiving of recent programming here

Discussion/Information Item

 

Policy A121 - School District Organization (current policy)

  • Item was deleted from the agenda at the beginning of the meeting
BUDGET & FINANCE COMMITTEE

Agenda and back-up materials for the items below can be found here

 

Reports 

Received and discussed report from Administration 

 

Monthly Financial Report, April 30, 2012 

  • Ad valorem taxes to date exceed budget by $2 million
  • Otherwise, revenues and expenditures are consistent with budget 
Action Items - Finance

Reviewed recommendations and forwarded to full Board with recommendations for approval


Capital Projects Budget Amendment 

  • Additional $1,573,537 for McMain HS Renovation to add Life Safety Code egress upgrades to project scope

New Market Tax Credit Consultants  

  • Enhanced Capital Advisors, LLC

Creation of "Deputy Superintendent for Charter Schools"/Appointment/Salary  

  • Reclassifies incumbent Executive Director to Deputy Superintendent
Action Items - Purchasing

Received and reviewed Administration's recommendations and forwarded to full Board Consent Agenda with recommendations for approval

 

Apple iPad2 Computers & Accessories for Various Schools for Exceptional Children's Services

  • Apple Inc. - State contract - $109,540.90

Renewal of Application Service Provider for Oracle 11i Business Suite

  • 41 months for $197,006.75

Third Party Contractor, Title I Services for Non-Public Schools

 

Third Party Contractor, Title II Services for Non-Public Schools

  • Catapult Learning LLC and Non-Public Educational Services, Inc. - 2 years - $2,768,790.00

Amend Third Party Contract to Provide Title I Supplemental Educational Services for Eligible Students Enrolled in Private Schools

  • Catapult Learning LLC ($5,362,973.83 amended total) and Non-Public Educational Services, Inc. ($349,653.59 amended total)

Amend Third Party Contract to Provide Title II Supplemental Educational Services for Eligible Students Enrolled in Private Schools

  • Catapult Learning LLC ($ 1,688.034.09 amended total) and Non-Public Educational Services, Inc. ($42,459.39 amended total)

Renovations and Repairs to Benjamin Franklin Senior High School

  • Pete Vicari General Contractor LLC - $898,800.00 - out of 13 bidders

Renewal of MAI Real Estate Appraisal Services

  • Thoreen Advisory Group LLC - $115,000 - 25 appraisals at average cost of $4600 each
Discussion Item

Received and discussed information from Administration


Millage Roll Forward

  • Subject of Public Hearing on May 15 at 4 p.m. in the McDonogh #35 Auditorium
  • Current estimate is 1.71 mills available for roll forward
  • Would bring in approximately $4.0 to $4.9 million in additional property tax revenues depending on collection rates, collection fees and final tax assessments
  • Equivalent of $100 per student across OPSB & RSD, direct-run & charters
  • Most of the extra millage comes from Purposes A through D, originally passed by voters in 1988 and last renewed in 2008
    • Dedicated millages to specific purposes
    • Dollars allocated to public schools would be reduced if included in voucher calculations
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