The OPSBrief

Brought to you by

 

 Quick Links

www.eastbankcollaborative.com 

www.lacharterschools.org 

 www.educatenow.net 

 www.coweninstitute.com 

www.louisianaschools.net 

www.charterdiscovery.com 

www.laschoolfinder.com  

www.nopg.org 

www.datacenterresearch.org

Support Us!

This report is created by Ken Ducote  on behalf of the Greater New Orleans Collaborative of Charter Schools 

The Orleans Parish School Board held its regular, monthly Business Meeting on Tuesday, May 17, 2016, at the new McDonogh 35 High School Auditorium, 4000 Cadillac Street.  
 
The posted agenda and related back-up documentation can be accessed here. A video of the meeting will be archived here.

OPSBrief has summarized the meeting's activities below and provided links to key back-up documents.
 
On a separate matter, OPSB released its periodic report on the progress of construction and DBE participation.
 
***This email is created by Ken Ducote on behalf of the Greater New Orleans Collaborative of Charter Schools and is not an official correspondence from the Orleans Parish School Board***
REPORT FROM MAY 17 OPSB MEETING 
Superintendent's Report
Received reports from the Administration with no action required
Consent Agenda Action Items
Approved the items as recommended by the Administration via public bids or proposals
  • THIRD PARTY CONTRACTOR, TITLE I SERVICES FOR NON-PUBLIC SCHOOLS
    • $ 3,916,854 - schools may choose from among 4 of the 5 vendors submitting proposals
  • THIRD PARTY CONTRACTOR, TITLE II SERVICES FOR NON-PUBLIC SCHOOLS
    • $ 686,418.37 - schools may choose from among the 3 vendors submitting proposals
  • PAPER PRODUCTS FOR FISCAL YEAR 2016-2017
    • Phasing out Styrofoam
  • MILK FOR FISCAL YEAR 2016-2017
    • $ 363,773.00 - Brown's Dairy
  • BREAD FOR FISCAL YEAR 2016-2017
    • $ 118,773.60 - divided among 3 vendors for different products
  • CANNED GOODS AND STAPLES FOR FISCAL YEAR 2016-2017
  • STUDENT TRANSPORTATION SERVICES
    • $ 4.2 million first year - 5 year contract of approximately $ 22 million depending on inflation
    • Only one bid received - equivalent of $ 327 per trip - Durham School Services
  • FROZEN FOODS, JUICES AND VEGETABLES FOR FISCAL YEAR 2016-2017
    • $ 557,441.50 divided between two vendors
  • MEAT, SEAFOOD AND POULTRY FOR FISCAL YEAR 2016-2017
    • $ 792,192.25 divided between two vendors
 
Action Items
Approved the items as recommended by the Administration
  • Action on new charter applications
      • Administration recommendation was to deny
      • Proposer spoke in favor of the application
    • JCFA
      • Administration recommendation was to approve one school now with 2nd subject to later evaluation
    • Elan Academy Charter School
      • Administration recommendation was to approve subject to proposer agreeing to serve up to 8th grade
      • One person spoke in favor of the application
    • Pathways in Education - New Orleans 
      • Administration recommendation was to deny
  • Modify Board Policy HD to Identify Responsibility for Routine Maintenance and Repair, Major Maintenance 
    • Reduces the threshold for major maintenance capital projects from $ 50,000 to $ 10,000 when needed for health and safety
      • Above threshold, OPSB would be responsible for the work rather than school operator
    • Executive Director of the Greater New Orleans Collaborative of Charter Schools spoke in favor of the change
      • Disclosure - Ken Ducote, author of OPSBriefs
      • Said the action was important because of the many older school buildings that were not replaced or renovated by the Master Plan and which must be kept open, healthy and safe when old but critical building components fail
      • Recommended that OPSB keep the process of spending the funds approved in the 2014 millage transparent to the public by maintaining and publicizing a complete listing of projects so funded, cumulative from the beginning of the program
  • Erate wiring project (Main distribution frame (MDF) to Intermediate distribution frame (IDF) 10Gb fiber upgrade)
    • $ 179,633.20 to increase bandwidth to handle new online state testing programs - Transformyx Technology
  • Juvenile Justice Education Program Operator
    • Operation of the Youth Study Center by the Center for Educational Excellence in Alternative Settings (CEEAS)
    • $ 1,250,000 for three years - by publicly solicited proposals with three applicants responding
    • Two persons spoke in favor of the proposal
 
This service is made possible by support from the Louisiana Association of Public Charter Schools and funding from the
Robert Reily Family Trust