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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 Orleans Parish School Board held a Public Hearing on a proposed amendment to a Board Policy on Tuesday, June 18, 2013, in the Auditorium of the McDonogh 35 High School. Following the Public Hearing, the Board held its regular monthly Business Meeting in the same location.

To read the agendas of the hearing and meeting, click on the event's title below. 

 

 

***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
Received a report from General Counsel on a proposed policy amendment and offered the public the opportunity to give comments, deferring action on the proposal until the Board Business Meeting 
  • Proposed amendments to Board Policy B210 - Board Meeting Procedures
    • Revises notice provisions to more closely mirror statutory requirements
    • No public comments were made
BUSINESS MEETING
Committee Reports
Received reports from Committee Chairpersons on activities over the past month
  • Accountability Committee
  • Property Committee
  • Legal and Legislative Committee
  • Policy Committee
  • Budget and Finance Committee
Consent Items
Received recommendations from Administration and Budget and Finance Committee and took action as indicated
  • Food service bids
    • Conditionally approved subject to research by General Counsel as to the legality of rejecting the bids and re-advertising with DBE goals added
    • Food Services Director cautioned that delays in ordering supplies could affect readiness for school opening 
      • Direct diversion (processing) of USDA commodity products
      • Canned goods and staples
      • Meat, seafood, and poultry
      • Milk
      • Frozen foods, juices and vegetables
      • Paper products
Action Items
Received recommendations from Administration and took action as indicated
  • Resolutions required for Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program
    • Approved four resolutions related to use of the Louisiana Disaster Recovery Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Program
      • Resolution 15-13: Residential Anti-Displacement Plan
      • Resolution 16-13: Residential Section 3 Plan
      • Resolution 17-13: Non-Discrimination on the Basis of Disability
      • Resolution 18-13: Section 504 Communications Guidelines
  • Capital Budget Amendment #4
    • Adopted Resolution 19-13 to make the following amendments
      • Add St. Julian Chiller - $30,000 - FEMA funds
      • Increase Audubon Renovation by $500,000 - FEMA funds
      • Add Timbers project - $980,000 - other funds
  • Resolution on Leverage Financing for McDonogh 35, McDonogh 42, and North Kenilworth Schools
    • Adopted Resolution 20-13 to allow for leveraged funds to increase Master Plan revenues
    • Four persons gave comments generally in favor of increasing DBE participation, especially in the McDonogh 35 New School 
  • McDonogh 35 Cooling Tower Replacement
    • Awarded contract based upon public bidding - GCA - $137,491
  • Auditing services contract selection
    • Approved LaPorte Sehrt Romig Hand as external auditors for FY 2012-2013
    • Includes one year with annual renewal possible up to four years
    • Estimated cost $120,000 annually
  • Intergovernmental Agreement with Vermilion Parish
    • Approved agreement to share resources among several school districts to promote Common Core achievement
  • Mr. Holland's Opus Foundation Grant
    • Approved agreement for grant - McMain music instruments
  • Authorization to seek Attorney General's (AG's) opinion regarding audit request from City Inspector General (IG)
    • Substitute motion to authorize staff to work out an arrangement with City IG failed
    • Approved seeking AG's opinion
    • Two major issues were presented as reasons AG's opinion was needed
      • Conflicts with constitutional provisions for Legislative Auditor to audit OPSB and that OPSB is an independent political subdivision of the State, not a City agency
      • Would require OPSB to release confidential records (students and employees) to a City agency in conflict with State and federal privacy laws
  • Assignment of Pre-K-8 North Kenilworth School to Robert Russa Moton Charter School
    • Approved the assignment, effective when new building is completed
    • In accordance with OPSB Policy F606 - Assignment of School Buildings
    • Six persons spoke in favor of the assignment
  • Closing out the OneApp process for the 2013/2014 school year
    • Approved Administration's proposal that students assigned to schools must register by July 8 or risk forfeiting their seats and authorize principals to fill seats so forfeited with students who previously applied but were not matched through the lottery
      • Proposal was opposed by representatives from RSD, Stand for Children and Black Alliance for Educational Options who expressed opinions that seats should be held for students assigned in OneApp even if they failed to register at designated times and/or that school administrators should have no discretion in admissions
      • Proposal was supported by 12 persons (school administrators, parents and others) who argued that school and student success was promoted by enrollment and program stability and/or that OneApp frequently denies parents their real choices
    • A motion to suspend OneApp requirements for new OPSB charters failed
  • Adoption of proposed amendments to Board Policy B210 (see Public Hearing)
    • Approved the proposed amendments
  • Process for Evaluation of Superintendent Search Firms
    • Approved process for evaluation of proposals submitted in response to current RFP (due July 31, 2013)
    • Evaluation Team will consist of Interim Superintendent, three Executive Cabinet designees, and one person selected by each Board member
    • Team nominees to be approved by Board at July OPSB Business Meeting
    • No team member shall be eligible to apply for the Superintendent's vacancy
  • Ethics Board Opinion
    • Authorized the General Counsel to seek an Ethics Board opinion regarding whether OPSB employees may serve as charter school board members
      • Question has arisen in recent charter applications
Executive Session
Recessed into Executive Session to discuss legal matters, after which the Board reconvened in Public Session and took the actions as indicated
    • Claim for reimbursement
      • Approved recommended settlement
    • City code enforcement relative to Timbers I and II buildings
      • Deleted from agenda
    • Employee litigation (Eddy Oliver Case)
      • Received status report
    • City Inspector General's demand to audit OPSB
      • Deleted as the matter was discussed as an Action Item
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