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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 two School Board Meetings on Tuesday, December 16, 2014, in the Mack Spears Auditorium of the McDonogh 35 High School, 1331 Kerlerec Street, as follows:
- Special Board Meeting to interview a candidate for Superintendent of Schools
- Monthly Board Business Meeting
The posted agendas and back-up documentation for the meetings can be read by clicking on the meeting titles below. Videos of OPSB meetings are posted on its website, www.opsb.us.
***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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REPORT FROM DECEMBER 16 OPSB MEETINGS
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Recessed into Executive Session on a personnel matter with no action taken at this time
- Executive Session to interview Dr. Henderson Lewis
Presentations
Recognized individual accomplishments and received information without taking action
- Diane Hampton Retirement Recognition
- Central Office employee recognized for 35 years of service
- Myron Solomon - McDonogh 35 HS - Krewe of Muses Cup Design Contest Winner
- Student in the gifted and talented program
- School's Art Department received $ 1000 for art supplies due to student's winning submission
- John McDonogh HS Ad Hoc Committee Update
- Received a report from McDonogh Steering Committee representative
- Expressed community concern about its treatment at BESE Committee of the Whole (COW) Meeting
- Some Board Members questioned appropriateness of BESE COW voting to issue a Request for Applications for a new operator for the school when the item was not on BESE's published agenda and the Orleans BESE Member was not present
Committee Reports
Acknowledged written reports in the agenda without discussing
- Accountability Committee
- Property Committee
- Legal and Legislative Committee
- Policy Committee
- Budget and Finance Committee
Action Items - Purchasing
Approved the Consent Agenda Items as recommended by the Administration
- Lusher ES (Willow St. Campus) Stabilization Project
- Architecture and engineering fees increase
- Meyer Engineers, LTD - + $368,153 for design of previously approved scope and budget increase
- Custodial, Janitorial, and Maintenance Repair Services Contract
- Empire Janitorial Sales & Service, LLC - $3,286,662.48 - by competitively advertised Request for Proposals
- Three year contract with option to renew for two additional one-year terms
Action Items
Reviewed and discussed Administration's recommendations and took action as indicated
- Resolution 35-14 - Municipalities Continuing Disclosure Cooperative Initiative of the Securities and Exchange Commission
- Adopted the resolution unanimously
- Resolution 23-14 - General Fund FY 2014 Budget Amendment # 2
- Adopted the resolution unanimously
- Acceptance of Close-Up Foundation Grant - McDonogh 35 HS
- Accepted the award of $50,000 grant for the Model Citizen Mentoring Program
- Ruby Bridges Foundation - Cooperative Endeavor Agreement with OPSB, RSD, and Crescent City Schools
- Approved the agreement for the monument to honor the power of children to influence social justice and change
- Disclosure - OPSBrief author Ken Ducote represented the Ruby Bridges Foundation on this matter
- Policy A128 - Charter Extension & Renewal - replacement of current policy
- Approved the policy with amendments on a 6-1 vote
- Concerns expressed about amendments made so late in process without recycling policy through review process
- Three citizens working on the John McDonogh issue used this agenda item to speak against the RSD's actions on that school
- Policy A129 - Charter Monitoring, Intervention, and Closure - new policy
- Approved the policy with amendments on a 6-0 vote with one abstention
- 2015 Calendar of Board Business and Board Committee Meetings
- Approved the calendar as shown on the first column of the handout with the understanding that it will probably be amended at the January Business meeting
- January Meetings will be as follows: Committee Meetings on January 15 and Business Meeting on January 20
- Extension of HANO Cooperative Endeavor Agreement - surplus property
- Deferred due to need to clarify new legal issues
- Capital Projects Budget Amendments for FY 2015 - pending February 2015 Capital Budget "true up"
- #1 - Resolution 34-14 - Demolition of Jo Ellen Smith Hospital Site for new Karr HS
- Adopted the resolution on a 6-1 vote
- Increases the budget from $3 million by $5 million for a new budget of $8 million
- Staff explained the reasons for the increase based upon environmental issues on the site
- One speaker asked the Board to remember the needs of McMain HS when allocated capital funds
- Board promised to discuss the itemized needs of, and the schedule for work at, McMain during the next Property Committee Meeting
- #2 - Resolution 36-14 - New Karr HS at Jo Ellen Smith Site
- Adopted the resolution unanimously
- Increases the budget from $ 41,945,934 by $ 6,725,000 to $ 48,670,934
- #3 - Resolution 37-14 - New Bio-Med District HS - for N.O. Math and Science HS
- Adopted the resolution on a 6-1 vote
- Established the budget for the new school in Master Plan at $35 million
- A representative of N.O. Math and Science HS spoke in support of the resolution
- Two speakers from the public reminded the Board about McMain's needs and protested RSD's actions on John McDonogh HS
- FY 2015 Allocation of Unpaid Settlement and Judgments
- Approved the recommendation of the Superintendent not to budget any funds for settlements and judgments while the staff closes out the General Fund budget to determine if any funds can be made available to so amend the budget
- Donation from N.O. Jazz & Heritage Festival Foundation
- Accepted the donation of $2000
- Donation from AASA and Children's Defense Fund
- Accepted the donation of $5000 to use to enroll eligible students in health care
- Resolution 38-14 - OPSB School Canvas - declaration of millage election results
- Adopted the resolution unanimously
- Funds the School Facilities Preservation Program as current bond debt is phased out
- A representative of the Eastbank Collaborative of Charter Schools complimented the Board and administration for its financial stewardship that allowed the pay-out of long-outstanding debt, thanked the Board for giving the voters a chance to vote on the millage proposition, and promised to work with the School District on ensuring the success of the program
- Disclosure - OPSBrief author Ken Ducote represented the Collaborative on this issue
- One person took advantage of the agenda item to criticize the RSD
Executive Session
Recessed into Executive Session to discuss litigation and personnel matters
- Potential litigation regarding contractor delay claims on new Moton ES
- Potential litigation with RSD over RFA for new charters to replace closed schools
- Injunction litigation pending
- A worker's compensation case
- A personal injury case
- Superintendent candidates competence
Reconvene from Executive Session
Reconvened in Open Session and took action as indicated
- Potential litigation regarding contractor delay claims on new Moton ES
- Deferred to January Board Meeting
- Potential litigation with RSD over RFA for new charters to replace closed schools
- Approved by a vote of 6-0 with one abstention
- Initiates litigation or request for AG's opinion challenging the RSD's issuance of RFAs for new charters to replace closed schools
- Injunction litigation pending
- Approved settlement of special needs case
- A worker's compensation case
- A personal injury case
- Action on Superintendent's Search
- Voted to continue consideration of two candidates
- Dr. Debbra Lindo
- Dr. Henderson Lewis
- Will require the candidates to submit work product and meet with the community before final selection
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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
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