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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 its monthly Committee Meetings on Thursday, June 11, 2015, in the OPSB Timbers III Office Building, 3520 General DeGaulle Drive, Conference Room 4050.
Committees typically review and discuss items prior to consideration by the full Board at a subsequent Board Business Meeting. Committees also review the progress of the implementation of matters which the Board has previously approved.
The next scheduled Board Business Meeting will be held on Tuesday, June 16, 2015, beginning at 5:00 p.m. in the Mack Spears Auditorium, McDonogh 35 High School, 1331 Kerlerec Street. A Public Hearing on policy matters will be held at a time just prior to the Board Business Meeting. Specifics will follow in another OPSBrief before then.
OPSBrief has summarized the Committee Meeting activities below. Posted agendas and back-up documentation can be read by clicking on each respective meeting title.
In another important matter, OPSB has made the following announcement:
***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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JUNE 11 OPSB COMMITTEE MEETINGS
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Received reports and recommendations from staff and took action as indicated
- Lake Forest ES - Cooperative Agreement with charter
- Allows charter school to begin clearing and developing undeveloped portion of school campus, using its own funds, in anticipation of opening of new school
- Forwarded to full Board with recommendation to approve
- Audubon ES - Broadway Campus - Renovations
- Adjustment in architectural fees to monitor contractor correction of structural issues
- Blitch-Knevel + $ 473,349
- OPSB reserves its right to seek restitution for delay
- Forwarded to full Board with recommendation to approve
- Surplus Property - former Henderson ES
- Sale to Algiers Charter School Association (ACSA) per State law
- Law requires school boards to give charter schools first right of refusal to buy surplus property at price up to appraised value
- Appraisal = $ 450,000 / purchase offer = $ 250,000 or 53% of appraised value
- Forwarded to full Board with request for staff to negotiate further and consider a policy on sales to charters below appraisal
- ASCA CEO spoke in favor of sale and commented on deterioration of building and its wooden structural members
- CEO of New Orleans College Prep spoke in favor of the sale
- Sales to charter schools were more of a partnership than a sale to a developer
- Charters cannot sell such property without offering it back to School Board
- Two public speakers opposed or questioned sales to charter schools without public dialogue and acceptance
- Capital Projects status report
- Received and discussed the report with no action necessary
- Bethune ES (Bradley Campus) - ribbon-cutting ceremony August 25th
- Audubon ES (Broadway Campus) - ribbon-cutting ceremony August 17th
- Karr HS - procurement stage for completion November 2018
- Moton ES - to be relocated to Bethune ES pending completion of school
- Lake Forest ES - on -schedule for Fall 2015 move-in
- McDonogh 35 HS - will be ready in August 2015
- McMain HS Gym - new contractor has taken over for January 2016 completion
- McMain HS Roof - bids received and being reviewed
- McMain HS Repairs - out for bid now for bid opening July 8, 2015
- Lusher HS (Fortier Campus) Refurbishment - on schedule
- Lusher ES (Willow Campus) Refurbishment - on schedule
- Easton HS Refurbishment - on schedule
Received reports and recommendations from staff and took action as indicated
- Policies for First Reading
- First Reading = open for 30-day or more comment period
- Revisions to Sections A-C
- Section A = School District Organization
- Charter policies are now in Section H
- Section B = School Board Operations
- Section C = General School Administration
- Includes several new policies
- Board member continuing education
- Board member resignations
- Board relationship to the Superintendent
- Public participation at meetings
- Broadcasting and taping of meetings
- Replaces existing Policy A-126
- Described as a "work in progress" as stakeholders are sought for comments
- Comments can be made on-line here
- Comments can be made by attending Policy Office Open Hours
- Superintendent's Policy Forum/Working Session to be held in July TBA
- Policies for Second Reading
- Second Reading = receiving public comments prior to scheduled Public Hearing
- Revisions to Section G = Personnel
- Forwarded to full Board to conduct a Public Hearing with a few suggestions
- Personnel file clarifications
- One public speaker supported the clarifications, opposes quick in globo changes, and wants OPSB to hire an independent attorney to represent employees in grievances
Received reports and recommendations from staff and took action as indicated
- Disciplinary Hearing Officers and Procedures
- For holding hearings relative to discipline of tenured teachers and administrators
- Staff recommended that selection be made from BESE approved list of December 2014
- Selection would be from those in the Greater New Orleans area
- Forwarded to full Board with recommendation to approve
- Two workers' compensation cases
- Reconvened in Open Session
- Forwarded to full Board with recommendation to approve General Counsel's settlement recommendations
Received reports and recommendations from staff and took action as indicated
- 2015-2016 Pupil Progression Plan changes
- Forwarded to full Board with recommendation to approve
- Six main changes other than site-specific program issues
- Aligns with State Uniform Grading Scale
- First-time 4th graders placed in 5th grade
- Promotion process for special education
- State revised 9th grade transition policy
- Senior with failing grades being allowed to take comprehensive exams in failed subjects
- A parent requested better information being provided to the public
- Superintendent pledged improved parent engagement in the future
- Update on new, expanding and transitional schools
- Staff provided a report on school changes
- Cypress Academy opening at 4238 St. Charles Avenue
- Foundation Preparatory opening at 13435 Granville Street
- Wilson Charter under new operator (InspireNOLA) at 3617 General Pershing Street
- King Charter at 1617 Caffin Avenue
- Expanding and/or relocating
- Einstein Charter expanding to Reed at 5316 Michoud Boulevard
- Bricolage Academy K-2 at 3368 Esplanade Avenue and PK at 1678 North Broad Street
- Encore Academy at 2518 Arts Street
- Plessy Community School at 2021 Pauger Street
- Audubon Charter PK-3 at 428 Broadway Street
- Moton Charter at Bethune School pending completion of new building at 8550 Curran Boulevard
- 2014-2015 Graduation and Scholarship Report
- 1082 out of the 1130 seniors in OPSB network (formerly "direct-run") and charter schools graduated
- Scholarships and grants totaled $ 77.5 million
- Board requested more detailed information on scholarships for next year
Received reports and recommendations from staff and took action as indicated
- Casualty insurance renewal package
- Bids just received and tabulated
- Includes workers' compensation, commercial liability, umbrella liability, full terrorism, school leaders E&O, and pollution legal liability
- Notice for Public Hearing
- Regarding 2016 Millage and Roll Forward
- Forwarded to full Board with recommendation to approve
- Tuesday, November 17, 2015, at 4:00 p.m., in the OPSB Timbers III Office Building, 3520 General DeGaulle Drive, Conference Room 4050
- State Historic Tax Credits
- Received and allocated through OPSB's public benefit corporation, the Orleans Facility Foundation
- Forwarded to full Board with recommendation to approve
- Forwarded to full Board with recommendation to approve
- Various vendors by public bid = $ 908,657
- Frozen foods, juices and vegetables
- Forwarded to full Board with recommendation to approve
- Various vendors by public bid = $ 394,770
- Meat, seafood and poultry
- Forwarded to full Board with recommendation to approve
- Various vendors by public bid = $ 664,358
- LAN Electronics and Servers for Audubon ES - Broadway Campus
- Forwarded to full Board with recommendation to approve
- Transformyx, Inc. by State contract = $ 130,461
- LAN for Electronics and Servers for Bethune ES - Bradley Campus, McDonogh 35 HS and McMain HS
- Forwarded to full Board with recommendation to approve
- Transformyx, Inc. by State contract = $ 498,899
- Superintendent's Reorganization Plan
- Received status report from Superintendent [Devin - link to Attachment 1]
- Redefined central office role
- Phased approach - Phase 1
- Drive resources to schools
- New Leadership Team around four areas
- Address federal funding cuts
- Eliminate some, and add some, central office positions
- Comprehensive reorganization and budget to be presented in August
- April 2015 Financial Reports
- Revenues from property and sales taxes exceed earlier projections
- Update on Afton Partners review of budget procedures
- Report will be completed by end of June 2015
- Update on Louisiana Legislative Auditor's review of internal controls
- Field work done on payroll, HR, purchasing and accounts payable
- Report due by end of June 2015
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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
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