The OPSBrief

Brought to you by

The ECCS 

 Quick Links

www.eastbankcollaborative.com 

www.lacharterschools.org

 www.educatenow.net

 www.coweninstitute.com

www.louisianaschools.net

www.charterdiscovery.com

www.laschoolfinder.com 

www.nopg.org

Support Us!

This report is created by Ken Ducote and Rose Drill-Peterson on behalf of the Eastbank Collaborative of Charter Schools 

 

The Orleans Parish School Board held its monthly Board Business Meeting on Tuesday, March 18, 2014, in the Auditorium of McDonogh 35 High School. The complete meeting agenda with back-up documentation can be read here. OPSBrief has summarized the meeting's activities below.

The OPSB also announced that it will hold two Special Board Business Meetings at its Timbers III Office Building at 3500 General DeGaulle Drive to interview candidates for Superintendent. Those meetings, which will consist mainly of Executive Sessions, are scheduled for March 19 and 20 respectively. The meeting for the 20th will also include an action item to dedicate the net proceeds of the McDonogh 11 expropriation litigation to capital projects
 
The meeting for the 19th is scheduled for 4:30 p.m. and the meeting time on the 20th is 4:00 p.m. The agendas can be read here.

 

***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***
REPORT FROM MARCH 18 OPSB BUSINESS MEETING
Superintendent's Agenda
Received and reviewed report from the Administration with no action needed 
  • January 2014 Financial Statements
    • Ad Valorem tax collections have significantly picked up since report date
    • Revenue Anticipation Note ($50,000,000) paid out in March 2014
    • General Fund revenues exceed expenditures by $ 1.2 million
      • All line items within budget
    • Debt Service payments due in 2014 are being paid on schedule 
Committee Reports 
Received reports from Committee Chairpersons and took action as indicated
  • Accountability Committee - did not meet this month
  • Property Committee
  • Legal and Legislative Committee
  • Policy Committee - did not meet this month
  • Budget and Finance Committee
    • Lock Replacement for Five School Sites
      • Franklin ES, Franklin ES Extension, Bethune ES, McMain HS, McDonogh 35 HS
      • Board approved award of contract to lowest responsive, responsible bidder
      • By public bid - Hamp's Construction, LLC - $112,265.80
Action Items 
Discussed recommendations from the Administration and took action as indicated
  • Extension of Jacobs/CSRS contract for March 2014
    • Extended Jacobs/CSRS contract until end of March 2014 for $ 222,000 pending RFP results
  • Program/Construction Management RFP Results and New Contract
    • Approved Jacobs/CSRS for new contract based upon RFP and selection process shown in back-up documentation
  • Board Committee Assignments for 2014
    • Restated that previous decision was to extend Committee Chairmanships for one month and place all Board members as members of each Committee
      • Some members have chosen not to serve on some Committees
    • Approved Board President's recommendations of Committee Chairpersons 
        • Accountability Committee - Leslie Ellison
        • Property Committee - Woody Koppel
        • Legal and Legislative Committee - Seth Bloom
        • Policy Committee - Sarah Usdin
        • Budget and Finance Committee - Leslie Ellison

  • Legislative Session Update

    • Approved recommended process for monitoring legislation and developing positions during 2014 Legislative Session 

  • Cooperative Endeavor Agreement (CEA) with Recovery School District (RSD)
    • Approved proposed agreement by a 5-2 vote
      • Two Board members expressed concerns over long-term costs and/or timing prior to superintendent selection
      • Another Board member expressed support for the CEA as a way of meeting the needs of the students with special needs
      • Received public comment on the proposed CEA
        • Statements of support from representatives of RSD and Louisiana Department of Education
        • Statements of support from representatives of  Citizens for One Greater New Orleans, Urban League of Greater New Orleans, Eastbank Collaborative of Charter Schools, New Schools for New Orleans, Bureau of Governmental Research, and Cowen Institute
        • Statements of support from Bethune ES, N.O. College Prep, Harte ES, Encore Academy, KIPP, and the Algiers Charter School Association
        • Statements of opposition from two citizens expressing concerns over RSD, the take-over of OPSB schools, and other related issues
    • CEA covers a comprehensive scope of issues to meet student needs and promote more efficient management
      • City-wide programs
        • Demographic changes
        • Common enrollment
        • Early childhood
        • At-risk students
          • Harrah's funding
          • Students with disabilities
          • Exceptional Needs Fund, including $ 5 million from OPSB's General Fund balance
          • Court-involved students
          • Student Hearing Office
        • Non-public schools
        • Other city-wide needs
      • Facilities
        • Building swaps
          • OPSB will receive new Bradley ES to use for Bethune ES
          • Old McDonogh 35 HS can be used by RSD as swing space after new McDonogh 35 opens
          • Pledge to meet and continually cooperate
        • Land Purchases - funded through sales of surplus real estate
          • OPSB to buy new Behrman ES site
          • OPSB will seek to expand B. T. Washington HS site
        • Surplus/Landbanked Property
          • Will work together to transfer to OPSB
        • Tax Credits
          • Will work together on tax credits
        • Finances
          • Joint accounts - common accounting system
            • Quicker availability of common funds
          • Qualified School Construction Bonds and Insurance proceeds
            • Cooperative working together to benefit both OPSB and RSD schools
  • Franklin ES Donation - Recycling Program
    • Approved a second grant of $500 from Phillips 66
  • Third Party Contracts for Title II Non-Public Schools
    • Approved amendment to Third Party Contract for federal funds to eligible non-public schools
      • Catapult Learning, LLC - $2,264,774
      • Non-public Educational Services - $56,541
  • Deferred Revenue Distribution
    • Approved recommended distribution plan
    • Check will be sent out within a week
  • E-Rate Service Providers
    • Approved the award of three-year contracts solicited via publicly advertised RFP
      • ATT&T - metro area network - $66,134
      • AT&T - primary rate digital and analog dial tone - $51,546
      • AT&T - internet access - $114,048
      • AT&T - long distance - $900
      • AT&T Mobility - cellular - $123,744
      • Blackboard - $94,000
      • Achieve 3000 - $233,828
      • SmartNet - $138,855
      • Elite - $26,000
  • Purchase of Property
    • Approved acquisition of 10-acre site at Opelousas and Atlantic
    • For new Behrman ES
    • Subject to resolution of restrictive covenants on title
 
This service is made possible by support from the Louisiana Association of Public Charter Schools and funding from the
Robert Reily Family Trust and the Smith/Cooper Foundation