The OPSBrief

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


 
There were no regular Orleans Parish School Board or Committee meetings scheduled for July 2015. Other Summer 2015 activities are summarized by OPSBrief below. 

  

Surplus Property Auction - August 2015

  

OPSB will hold a Surplus Property Auction at its Timbers Office Building, 3520 General de Gaulle Drive on  August 20, 2015, at 11:00 a.m.; registration will begin at 10 a.m.

  

By Board policy, the proceeds of surplus property sales are dedicated for the OPSB Capital Budget to be used to acquire new school sites and other school building improvements.

  

The properties available for sale, with open house dates and starting bids, are as follows:

  

  • Israel M Augustine Middle School - 425 S. Broad St.- Open House: July 29, 2015 / 10a-12p ($3,600,000)
  • Louis D. Armstrong Elementary School- 5909 St. Claude Ave.- Open House: July 29, 2015/ 2p-4p ($270,000)
  • Henderson Elementary School- 1912 LB Landry Ave.- Open House: July 30, 2015/ 10a-12p ($475,000)
  • Valena C. Jones Elementary School- 1901 N. Galvez St.- Open House: July 30, 2015/ 2p-4p ($1,350,000)
  • Vacant Land- 3929 Erato St.- Formerly Chester Elementary School ($690,000)
  • Vacant Land- 1339 Forstall St.- Formerly Thomas Edison Elementary School ($160,000)
  • Vacant Land- 2401 St. Maurice Ave.- Formerly Joseph A. Hardin Elementary School ($290,000)
  • Vacant Land- 2201 Dubreuil St.- Formerly Noble Special School ($90,000)
  • Vacant Land- 2800 General Meyer Ave- Behind O. Perry Walker High School ($870,000)
More details can be found here.

Board Policy Manual Review - On-Going 

 

OPSB is undergoing a comprehensive review of its Policy Manual to identify those policies requiring revision and/or updating. New policies will be proposed in areas where no policy currently exists, existing policies will be updated, a new codification system will be in place, and the new comprehensive policy manual is expected to be easier to use. Some of the changes will reflect a major restructuring of the administration of the school district and its schools and charters. 

Exiting School Board policies have been renumbered and rearranged. They can be accessed and reviewed here.
 
Comments from staff, parents and the public on existing and proposed policies are invited and may be entered on-line here.

Board Meetings - June 16, 2015

 

OPSB held a Public Hearing on Policies and its monthly Board Business Meeting on Tuesday, June 16, 2015, in the Mack Spears Auditorium of the McDonogh 35 High School, 1331 Kerlerec Street.

Videos of meetings are archived here.

 

OPSBrief has summarized below the agendas of the two events. Full posted agendas and back-up data can be accessed by clicking on the title of each respective meeting.

Public Hearing - June 16, 2015
Offered the public an opportunity to comment on proposed policy changes, deferring a vote until the Board Business Meeting
  •  In Globo Revisions to OPSB Policy Section G (Personnel)
    • A representative of Justice & Beyond requested more time for getting input from employees and the public before adopting the policies
 
 Superintendent's Agenda
Received reports from Administration with no action required at this time
  • Superintendent's report
    • Policy revisions
      • Public can comment on-line here and locate hours and locations of face-to-face office hours for discussion of policies
    • Reorganization to be presented at September OPSB meeting
      • Cabinet chiefs are being selected via advertising in June
    • Summer programs
      • 1100 students participating in academic and enrichment activities
 
Presentations
Heard presentations with no action needed 
  • Xavier Education Delegation Trip to China
    • Xavier's Confucius Institute is a joint program between Xavier University of LA , China's Hanban/Confucius Institute, and Hebei University of China
    • Delegation of nine local school leaders from both network and charter schools
    • Acted as ambassadors between schools of US and China
  • School construction and related moves
    • Start dates for network and charter schools have been posted here
    • McDonogh 35 HS start date will be adjusted for later opening due to construction delay
  • Delegation from Justice & Beyond
    • Concerned about statements made to the Legislature that OPSB was not ready to take RSD schools back
    • Opposed to the lay-offs of any OPSB staff, including central office staff
    • Criticized post-Katrina changes in general
       
Committee Reports
Received reports from Committee Chairpersons on June activities and recommendations  
  • Accountability Committee
  • Property Committee
  • Legal and Legislative Committee
  • Policy Committee
  • Budget and Finance Committee

 

Purchasing Action Items
Awarded contracts based upon public bid and/or State contract results  
  • Canned goods and staples
    • Various specified vendors - $ 908,657
  • Frozen foods, juices, and vegetables
    • Various specified vendors - $ 394,770
  • Meat, seafood and poultry
    • Various specified vendors - $ 664,358
  • LAN electronics and servers for Audubon ES
    • Transformyx, Inc. - $ 130,461
  • LAN electronics and servers for Bethune ES, McDonogh 35 HS, and McMain HS 
    • Transformyx, Inc. - $ 498,899
  • Classroom furniture for Moton ES and Lake Forest ES
    • Virgo, Inc. - $ 400,000
  • Office furniture for Moton ES and Lake Forest ES
    • HON Company - $ 300,000
  • LAN electronics and server for Moton ES and Lake Forest ES
    • Transformyx, Inc. - $ 330,000
 
Action Items
Reviewed staff recommendations and took actions as indicated
  • Revised OPSB Policy Section G - Personnel
    • Approved the revised policies
  • Casualty insurance renewal package
    • Approved the proposed package
  • Notice for Public Hearing
    • To set millage rates and roll-over
    • Approved publication of the public notice
  • Assignment of State Historic Tax Credits
    • Approved the technical action related to generating via leverage additional funds for the School Facilities Master Plan for Orleans Parish
  • Cooperative Endeavor Agreement - Lake Forest Charter
    • Regarding charter's redevelopment of rear part of campus
    • Approved the CEA
  • Amendment # 9 - Designer services for Audubon - Broadway Renovation
    • Approved the contract amendment related to architectural fees
  • Surplus Property
    • OPSB sale of former Henderson ES to Algiers Charter School Association
    • This item was withdrawn by the Administration prior to adoption of the agenda
  •  Disciplinary Hearing Officers and procedures
    • Approved using BESE's designated hearing officers that are located in the Metro New Orleans area
    • This related to the newer procedures for disciplining tenured teachers and administrators
  • 2015-2016 Pupil Progression Plan
    • Approved the Pupil Progression Plan for 2015-2016

Executive Session
The Executive Session was cancelled because there were no new matters since the Board members had discussed the cases in Executive Session at the Committee Meetings - the items were thus considered in Open Session  
  • A personal injury case
    • Approved the proposed settlement recommended by the General Counsel
  • Two worker's compensation cases
    • Approved the proposed settlements recommended by the General Counsel

***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***
 
This service is made possible by support from the Louisiana Association of Public Charter Schools and funding from the
Robert Reily Family Trust