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This report is created by Ken Ducote and Rose Drill-Peterson on behalf of the Eastbank Collaborative of Charter Schools
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The Orleans Parish School Board held a Public Hearing for the FY 2014 Proposed Consolidated Budget on Tuesday, August 20, 2013, in the Auditorium of McDonogh 35 High School. After the Hearing, OPSB held its regular monthly Business Meeting, in the same location.
The agenda and backup documentation for the Budget Public Hearing can be read here. The complete FY 2014 Proposed Consolidated Budget can be accessed here.
The agenda and backup documentation for the Business Meeting can be read here. OPSBrief has highlighted below the items covered at the meeting. Videos of OPSB meetings are now posted here a few days after meetings are held.
On Thursday, August 22, 2013, the Board will conduct a Surplus Property Auction at 10:00 a.m. from its Timbers III Office Building, 3520 General DeGaulle Drive. Information on the auction can be accessed here. By OPSB policy, revenue generated from surplus property sales must be deposited into the Capital Budget for allocation to acquire real estate and/or for other capital projects.
***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***
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Presentation
- Financial administrators presented and explained PowerPoint slides on the proposed FY 2014 Consolidated Budget
- General Fund has projected increase of $1.4 million for FY 2014, mostly due to increase in property taxes
- Last year had apparent spike from Super Bowl events in sales taxes
- MFP tentatively projected to rise by $553 per student to $8938
- Employee fringe benefits costs rising due to TRSL retirement rate increase for employers
- Areas of further study regarding OPSB expenses for report to Board in October 2013
- Variation in per pupil spending across direct run schools
- Which system-wide expenses are actually costs for direct run and charter school services
- Higher total per pupil spending of OPSB direct run and central office versus OPSB and RSD charters
Public Comments
- Representative of Bureau of Governmental Research (BGR)
- Representative of Louisiana Association of Public Charter Schools
- Concerned that OPSB appeared to have too many administrators
- Requested more per-student information
- Representative from New Orleans College Preparatory Academies
- Believed that OPSB was top heavy with too many administrators
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Presentations
Recognized contributions to public school students
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Proclamation honoring the late Superintendent Dr. Everett Williams
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Recognition of Eddie Robinson Award received by Athletic Director Ronald Gearing
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Introduction of McDonogh 35 HS's new Principal Gerald DeBose
Reports
Received and discussed reports with no action taken until later in meeting
- Superintendent search firm selection process
- Proposals received - 11
- Proposals after deleting ones not meeting minimum expected standards - 7
- Proposals still active following "short-list" - 6
- Next meeting of evaluation committee is 9/5/2013, after which recommendation to OPSB of final 3 firms
- Board Committee reports - from respective chairpersons of month's activities
- Accountability Committee
- Property Committee
- Legal and Legislative Committee
- Policy Committee
- Budget and Finance Committee
Action Items
Reviewed recommendations from staff and Committees and approved items as indicated
- Child Nutrition Program purchasing bids - Canned goods and staples
- Various vendors - $623,201 - DBE = 23.66 %
- Child Nutrition Program purchasing bids - Frozen foods, juices and vegetables
- Various vendors - $475,045 - DBE = 67.32 %
- Child Nutrition Program purchasing bids - Paper products
- Various vendors - $251,699 - DBE = 22.8 %
- Approval of FY 2014 Consolidated Budget
- Adopted Resolution 25-13 and the proposed budget as presented
- Administration to present report on additional information requested at October 2013 Board Meeting
- Parameter terms for leveraged financing
- Adopted Resolution 23-13
- Terms requested by State Bond Commission
- Related to extra funding for Schools Facility Master Plan for Orleans Parish
- Request for Louisiana School Boards Association (LSBA) amicus brief in OPSB litigation with OIG
- Adopted Resolution 24-13 by a 4-3 majority
- LSBA representative spoke in support of the resolution
- Louisiana Association of Public Charter Schools representative opposed the resolution
- General Counsel stated that that OIG could get all financial records as they are public records, but student and employee records are largely confidential
- Counsel also stated that OPSB was subject to the jurisdiction of State Legislative Auditor and IG, not the City's OIG
- Medical plan third party administrator renewal
- Approved Blue Cross Blue Shield of Louisiana - 12 months - $351,919
- Medical plan stop-loss insurance renewal
- Approved Houston Casualty Company - 12 months - $235,000
- McDonogh 7 modular buildings
- Approved Tri-State Consortium - $268,000
- Einstein modular buildings
- Approved Tri-State Consortium - $600,000
- Third party contracts - non-public schools - Titles I
- Approved Catapult Learning - $4,700,079
- Approved Non-Public Educational Services - $416,416
- Approved Sylvan Learning Center - $20,746
- Third party contracts - non-public schools - Titles II
- Approved Catapult Learning - $1,465,907
- Approved Non-Public Educational Services - $36,875
- Achieve 3000 Kidbiz & Teenbiz online reading program renewal
- Approved for 2013-14 - $225,725
- Blackboard academic portal renewal
- Approved for 2013-14 - $140,200
- Audubon Extension roof
- Approved - Alternative Source, Inc. - $136,200
- Single-event suspensions of no-alcohol policy
- Approved Easton Jazz Legends Concert
- Approved Lusher Celebration of the Arts
- Non-binding purchase agreement for Easton HS campus expansion
- Approved - vacant square in 3100 block of Canal Street adjacent to Easton HS
- Needed to provide more land for land-locked campus
- Available at lower cost while vacant
- Evaluation team for Superintendent search firm selection
- Approved reducing membership to the seven members appointed by Board members
- Academic calendar revision
- Approved proposed revision
- Provides more staff development for teachers and more instructional time for students
- Pupil Progression Plan revision
- Approved two proposed changes
- Commemoration of 50th anniversary of 1963 March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom
- Approved Resolution 26-13
- Schools are encouraged to find ways to commemorate the event
Executive Session / Litigation Matters
Recessed Public Session to discuss items in confidential Executive Session, after which reconvened Public Session and took action as indicated
- One case of an employee claim
- Approved settlement recommendation
- A worker's compensation claim
- Approved settlement recommendation
- Litigation with City Office of Inspector General
- Confirmed by a 5-1 majority vote the authority of General Counsel to direct Outside Counsel to file Motion to Quash Subpoena Duces Tecum
- Insurance litigation
- Reported only receiving a status report
- Return of schools litigation with State
- Contractor demand on McMain Gym project
- Reported receiving a status report and discussing strategy
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This service is made possible by a Community IMPACT 2012 Grant from the Greater New Orleans Foundation and funding from the
Robert Reily Family Trust and the Smith/Cooper Foundation
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