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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 a meeting of its Property Committee on Thursday, August 13, 2015, in the OPSB Timbers Park Office Building, 3520 General DeGaulle Drive. Other Committees have not yet scheduled any other monthly meetings but may do so either Monday the 17th or Tuesday 18th.

Committees typically review and discuss items prior to their presentation to the full Board and review the progress of the implementation of items previously approved by the full Board.

The next Board Business Meeting is scheduled for August 18 at 5:00 p.m. in the Mack Spears Auditorium of the McDonogh 35 High School, 1331 Kerlerec Street.

The OPSBrief has summarized the meeting agenda below. The full agenda and back-up documentation can be read here.


Property Committee
  • Cancellation of scheduled surplus property auction
    • Staff recommended deferring the planned August 20th surplus property auction for 6 to 8 months pending an evaluation of future needs
    • Committee approved by a 2-1 vote a motion to forward the Administration's recommendation to the full Board with a favorable report
      • Dissenting member wanted to cancel the auction of only two of the properties so that more capital funds could be generated
    • CFO reported that the expenses for maintaining vacant properties are paid from the revenues received for sales and that the account is being depleted quickly
    • Five persons spoke in favor of postponing the auction of the Jones ES and McDonogh 19/Armstrong ES to allow communities a chance to develop plans for reuse of the schools
      • Cited legacy of Seventh Ward community leaders 100 years ago who raised the funds for the purchase of the land upon which Jones ES was built
      • Reviewed the role of McDonogh 19 in the desegregation of NOPS in 1960 
  • Integrated Pest Management Plan
    • Agreed to support proposal of Rand Gulf States Policy Institute to seek EPA grant funds to evauate OPSB's Integrated Pest Management Plans
    • Forwarded to full Board with a recommendation to approve
  • Proposed renaming of Alfred P. Lawless HS
    • Heard and discussed request of Friends of King School District from group's attorney
    • Directed Administration to develop recommendation for Board's consideration
    • New school is under construction at former Lawless site
    • Charter proposed renaming as Dr. Martin L. King HS
    • Would name library in honor of Rev. Lawless to commemorate his contributions to city
    • Representative of Beecher Memorial Church, which was founded by Rev. Lawless, outlined his contributions
    • Board member suggested having some type of Hall of Fame to memorialize historic contributors to the district, especially from educators whose names no longer appear on school buildings
  • Capital Projects Report - August 2015
    • Received and discussed report from staff
    • Audubon - Broadway Renovation - should open August 19
    • Moton ES - New School - contractor challenges - will open mid-year
    • Lake Forest ES - New School - on schedule for October 26 opening
    • McDonogh 35 HS - New School - occupancy for first day of school but gym and auditorium will still be under construction
    • McMain - New Gym - new contractor on schedule to finish in February
    • Lusher HS Refurbishment - ahead of schedule
    • Lusher ES Stabilization - contractor problems being resolved - opening of school potentially a few days late 
  • Vacant property status report
    • Received and discussed report from CFO
    • Report showed itemized costs of maintaining vacant properties
    • Board member proposed that the former Augustine MS be considered for renovation as the new Bio-Medical District HS 
  • Process for sale of vacant property to charters
    • Board asked about financing maintenance and new construction by charters
    • CEO of N.O. College Prep suggested that the charter would ask the legislature to change Act 543 of 2014 (School Facilities Preservation Program) to allow it to use funds currently limited to capital maintenance for new construction instead
  • McMain Secondary School
    • Roof Replacement
      • Bids are in for the consideration of the Budget and Finance Committee
    • Maintenance Upgrades
      • Bids are in for the consideration of the Budget and Finance Committee
  • Karr HS - New School
    • Construction Management at Risk Services
      • Recommendation is ready for the consideration of the Budget and Finance Committee
    • Architect contract Amendment #2
      • Recommendation is ready for the consideration of the Budget and Finance Committee
  • CEA/Short Term Lease Agreement for use of vacant facilities
    • Received staff report of two proposals to use OPSB sites that will be vacant shortly
      • Sites are Dibert ES and McDonogh 35 after existing programs vacate them
      • Would be via short-term lease or Cooperative Endeavor Agreement
      • Firstline Charter Association wants swing space during Clark HS renovations
      • Roots of Music wants a short-term use 

***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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