Provided the opportunity for the public to comment on proposed policies.
- Policy F602 - Change Orders
- Amendment to existing policy
- Would Include language changes to clarify conformance with State law
- Would tighten the internal controls and budgetary controls over change orders
- No public comments were offered on the proposal
Presentations and Discussion Items
Received and discussed information from the Administration with no action required at this time
- May 2014 Financial Statements (FY 2014 through May 31, 2014)
- Monthly statements will soon be posted on OPSB website, www.opsb.us
- Current deferred revenue balance = $7,778,383
- Plan being developed for distribution to schools
- General Fund revenues have exceeded expenditures by almost $2.5 million
- Harrah's Jazz Casino Fund Disbursement Update
- Results from City sharing with NOPS a portion of lease proceeds from the City-owned Rivergate site upon which Harrah's Casino was built
- January 2014 share = $4,000,000
- OPSB portion = $1,154,803
- Easton Chillers Replacement = $247,500
- McMain Emergency Repairs = $907,303
- RSD portion = $2,845,197
- June 2014 share = $4,000,000
- OPSB Portion = $1,154,802
- McMain Emergency Repairs = $1,154,802
- RSD share = $2,845,198
- 2015 and thereafter
- One-App Open Enrollment
- RSD representative apologized for recent problems associated with open enrollment (story here)
- Said caused by decision not to hold a third round for OneApp this year and by RSD under-estimating number of persons planning to enroll
- Said OneApp staff was unprepared for crowd
- OPSB members asked for Administration to develop a status report on OneApp
- Board members and public commentators expressed concerns in two tracks
- One concern - is OneApp working?
- Second concern - if OneApp applies to some schools, should it apply to all schools now and not when grandfathered charters renew?
- Superintendent Search Update
- Letter from OPSB Search consultant HYA was distributed
- Still recruiting new applicants
- Many applicants are wary of applying, given Louisiana's public disclosure of applicants
- Board planning to meet again with consultants soon
- Budget Timeline Update (FY2015)
- Budget timeline has been revised again
- Presentation of General Fund proposed budget - August 14, 2014
- Consolidated Budget available for public inspection - August 27, 2014
- Public Hearing on Consolidated Budget - September 11, 2014
- Board adoption of Consolidated Budget - September 11, 2014
- McDonogh 35 HS Update
- Construction completion at 50%
- DBE participation at 25%
- Karr HS Update
- Design-Build procurement expired without satisfactory contract from eligible contractor
- All proposals received were significantly over-budget
- State law allowed the project as a one-time pilot if contracted by July 10, 2014
- Several Board members want to explore the possibility of getting an extension to continue negotiations
- Administration plans to go back to Design-Bid-Build delivery system
- Ad Valorem Tax Levy for 2015
- Administration will bring recommendation to OPSB at August meeting regarding existing authorized millages
- Public Meeting to Call an Election regarding ad valorem taxes
- Tuesday, September 16, 2014
- McDonogh 35 HS Auditorium - 5:00 p.m.
- Relates to Act 543 of the 2014 Regular Session of the Louisiana Legislature
- Allows Orleans voters to re-establish existing debt service millage at current levels dedicated to preserving school buildings rather than letting it reduce to extinction as the debt is paid off
- More information will be forthcoming in OPSB Committee Meetings
- Priestley School Site
- Representative of P-Town Project addressed the Board
- Presented several personal observations about the future use of the Priestley site, school governance, Board meeting procedures and other issues
Committee Reports
Received reports from Committee Chairpersons on monthly activities
- Accountability Committee
- Property Committee
- Legal and Legislative Committee
- Policy Committee
- Budget and Finance Committee
- Several Board members requested Administration to plan to post video of Committee Meetings on OPSB website, www.opsb.us
Action Items
Received and discussed recommendations from the Administration and took action as indicated
- Lusher HS {Fortier} Modular Buildings - budget
- Approved Resolution 12-14 - $120,000 - add canopies now required by State Sanitation officials
- Wright HS Shoring Project - budget
- Approved Resolution 13-14 - $18,000 - adjust architectural fees
- McMain HS Repairs - budget
- Approved Resolution 14-14 - $1,154,802 - repairs per Harrah's funding application
- Master Plan Relocation Expense
- Approved amended Resolution 15-14 - Lusher $48,000 needed now
- Deferred others that are not needed yet
- Easton HS Campus Expansion - land purchase - budget
- Approved Resolution 16-14 - $1,900,000
- Charter operator to fund balance needed
- Moton ES (N. Kenilworth) - new school - delay claim settlement
- Approved settlement by a 5-1-1 vote conditioned upon contractor obtaining substantial completion by revised deadline
- $677,248.60 to settle with contractor for alleged owner-caused delays
- Considerable discussion about whether or not OPSB responsible
- OPSB 2015 Stipend and Supplemental Compensation Scales
- Approved
- Administration said these are the same rates as in recent years
- Tureaud ES Repairs - budget
- Approved Resolution 17-14 - $1,000,000 - code compliance upgrades
- Easton HS Stabilization Project
- Awarded contract by public bid - Tuna Construction - $2,407,000
- Bids were under budget
- Lusher HS (Fortier) Refurbishment Project
- Awarded contract by public bid - Core Construction Services - $14,552,000
- Bids were under budget
- Harte ES New School Technology FF&E
- Cisco system purchase by state contract - Transformyx - $228,578
- McDonogh HS - resolution to BESE and RSD for return of campus to OPSB
- Policy F602 - Change Orders - amendments to current policy
- A motion to adopt the policy revisions failed to generate the required votes to enact
- Board was evenly divided between for and against
- Five affirmative votes are needed for policy adoption and/or amendments
- Subject of earlier Public Hearing
- Would have Included language changes to clarify conformance with State law
- Would have tightened the internal controls and budgetary controls over change orders
- Special Counsel for construction litigation
- Approved Resolution 11-14 - Coats, Rose, Yale, Ryman & Lee, APC
- Vote was 5-2
- Type 1 Charter Applications
- OutLearn Charter School - denied
- Pathways in Education - Louisiana - denied
- Cypress Academy - approved
- Foundation Preparatory Charter - approved
- Concern expressed about charter's proximity to, and Administration's consultation with, Einstein Charter
- Einstein Charter Board member expressed several concerns
- Overall adequacy and allocation of English Language Learners funding across so many schools
- With vacancies at other nearby schools, whether or not neighborhood demographics supported another school
Executive Session
Discussed confidentially issues regarding current litigation with no action taken except in Open Session
- One case of construction litigation (regarding cancelled Karr HS Design-Build New School Project)
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