Voices for International Business and Education
Minutes
Special Board Meeting
Date and Time
Wednesday March 20, 2024 at 5:30 PM
Location
2733 Esplanade Ave, NO LA
Directors Present
B. Holloway, C. Jones, C. Lacoste, Jr., C. Robinson, G. Espinoza, K. Dwyer, L. Arellano-Rivera, P. Manson, S. Olivier, T. Winfield
Directors Absent
C. Peterson
Ex Officio Members Present
A. Berger
Non Voting Members Present
A. Berger
Guests Present
D. Lewis, F. McKenna, Frangy Pozo, J. Carreno, Jerry Hellman, Landen Bencaz, Maria Helmcke, Morgan Rea, R. Smith
I. Opening Items
A.
Call the Meeting to Order
B.
Record Attendance and Guests
C.
Mission/Vision
II. Executive Session
A.
Opening Comments
- Karen Dwyer shared the agenda and how executive session will work.
- The board will vote to go into executive session. Once the board has voted, public comment will be allowed for 1 minute only related to the vote.
- Bert Halloway interjected that being the subject of the vote he is allowed to speak openly in public without going into executive session according to the state law.
- Karen Dwyer explained that the law pertains to personnel and Bert is not an employee of the school.
- As such the board will continue to vote to move to executive session.
B.
Executive Session
Jeremy Hellman from AFT- would like to see what Mr. Holloway has to said. The executive session is about him and he is open to sharing in public.
| Roll Call | |
|---|---|
| P. Manson |
Aye
|
| C. Lacoste, Jr. |
Aye
|
| T. Winfield |
Aye
|
| L. Arellano-Rivera |
Aye
|
| C. Jones |
Aye
|
| B. Holloway |
No
|
| C. Peterson |
Absent
|
| K. Dwyer |
Aye
|
| G. Espinoza |
Aye
|
| C. Robinson |
Aye
|
| S. Olivier |
Aye
|
C.
Return to regular meeting
Back in regular meeting
III. Termination of Board Member
A.
Vote on Termination of Board Member
Jerry Helman - Teacher's union
Strongly opposed to the removal of Bert Hallway
Bencaz - Teacher: Mr. Halloway has shown support for students and teachers at the school. Offered financial support with time and energy to give to chess club.
Antoine Johnson- opposes. He's committed and wants to help the students and the school to thrive. People need to voice their opinions. If they don't things don't get done.
Morgan Rea- Bert has been a great supporter of educators. Been instrumental in organizing parent involvement which are important in improving the school. Committed in making headway in strategic development.
Bert Halloway requested to add to the motion - the purpose of the termination of membership solely because his son was removed from the school.
Amend the motion that removal is contingent on the fact that he is no longer a parent liaison here at International High School of New Orleans.
Bert Halloway - understands that there is no second to the motion. He believes that the board has already decided. Feels that he is viewed as a liability and not an asset. Having to bring support to the school community is seen as a liability. Believes it's wrong for him to be removed because his son is no longer here. Other board members do not have
Says IHSNO will be sorry. Has two appointments scheduled tomorrow with the media. Bert says he will make sure everything is public. Says he will make sure all concerns are made public. Says he is on a mission. Will officially form friends of IHSNO. He has already started it. Says he already has members - previous students, teachers, etc. Get ready. He has a lot of good things to share and is looking forward to doing it.
Calls Charles out for not being here. Is only here for one board meeting.
Says he's obligated to the mission and it's disappointing. Will take Tonya's advice and will take it from there.
Hopes IHSNO will listen to teachers and students.
IV. Closing Items
A.
Public Comment
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