Redesign Schools Louisiana
Minutes
ReDesign Schools Louisiana Regular Board Meeting
Date and Time
Thursday December 3, 2020 at 5:30 PM
Location
Via Zoom
Directors Present
A. McGaha (remote), G. Pope (remote), P. Baldwin (remote)
Directors Absent
J. Miller, M. Mullen, N. Gillam, R. Orso
Directors who left before the meeting adjourned
P. Baldwin
Guests Present
A. Beck (remote), Ashley Eason (remote), C. Knotts (remote), Ivionne Divinity (remote), Kathryn Rice (remote), M. McNamara (remote), T. Rivera (remote)
I. Opening Items
A.
Call the Meeting to Order
G. Pope called a meeting of the board of directors of Redesign Schools Louisiana to order on Thursday Dec 3, 2020 at 5:31 PM.
B.
Record Attendance and Guests
II. COMMUNICATION
A.
Public comment on agenda items
There was no public comment on agenda items.
B.
Public comment on non-agenda items
There was no public comment on non-agenda items.
C.
Motion to approve the minutes from the November 19, 2020 Board Meeting
P. Baldwin made a motion to approve the minutes from ReDesign Schools Louisiana Regular Board Meeting on 11-19-20.
A. McGaha seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.
| Roll Call | |
|---|---|
| M. Mullen |
Absent
|
| A. McGaha |
Aye
|
| P. Baldwin |
Aye
|
| G. Pope |
Aye
|
| R. Orso |
Absent
|
| N. Gillam |
Absent
|
| J. Miller |
Absent
|
III. Items Scheduled for Action
A.
Motion to approve the RSL Student- Parent Handbook for the 2020-2021 academic year
At this time, A. Beck briefed the board on the changes and revisions to the RSL 2020-2021 Student-Parent handbook. A second approval of the parent-student handbook needed to occur due to lack of items, and the unpolished nature of the handbook; superintendent took on the project at the request of LDOE; although this falls under management.
A. McGaha made a motion to approve the RSL Student-Parent Handbook for the 2020-2021 academic year.
P. Baldwin seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.
| Roll Call | |
|---|---|
| G. Pope |
Aye
|
| R. Orso |
Absent
|
| A. McGaha |
Aye
|
| J. Miller |
Absent
|
| N. Gillam |
Absent
|
| P. Baldwin |
Aye
|
| M. Mullen |
Absent
|
B.
Motion to approve the 2019-2020 Future Leader Stipends for Principals and Associate Superintendent of Special Programs and RSL Perfect Attendance Incentive
At this time, A. Beck advised the board that the incentives/stipends were discussed in the last year, 2019-2020. A. McGaha inquired as to the accruing and having knowledge of the stipends in question, and I. Divinity advised that the incentives are always based on the budget, and RSL did not accrue because, at the end of the 2019 academic year, RSL was not in the position to add anything to the budget.
A discussion regarding stipends and clarification of such not included in the current budget ensued.
A. McGaha inquired about the dollar amount attached to the stipends; A.Beck advised that she would get the dollar amount and provide it to the Board.
G.Pope inquired if this item should be approved by the Board since the formula for stipends was approved in the past. I. Divinity advised that the formula was approved, and every year the stipend dollar amount is provided to the Board to ensure it is budgeted. RSL is not obligated to pay stipends if the budget doesn't permit.
I. Divinity advised that the teacher-student leadership program had a grant program specifically designed to assist the future leader program, and it ended in 2019. There were no funds for this specific program.
At this time, M.McNamara gave the Board context of the program and disclosed that she was one of the four to receive a stipend. A. Beck advised that she would not include herself in the group of staff that would receive the stipends; I. Divinity advised that the superintendent would not be eligible for this particular stipend because the stipend is for staff who is training for a higher position, and technically, the superintendent position is the highest.
I. Divinity additionally advised that she was unaware that RSL staff were still committed to this program. If stipends are to be processed, she would need auditable documentation with leader signatures of the duties rendered.
A. Beck advised the board that stipends were in the 2019-2020 budget and that I. Divinity would need documentation for auditing purposes. I. Divinity advised that it was included in the amended budget in May.
C. Knotts advised the board that he agreed that the reason that the stipends were not out was due to lack of receipt of proof needed from principals.
Finally, M. McNamara added this was a management issue
The action item was not voted upon due to no quorum
A discussion regarding stipends and clarification of such not included in the current budget ensued.
A. McGaha inquired about the dollar amount attached to the stipends; A.Beck advised that she would get the dollar amount and provide it to the Board.
G.Pope inquired if this item should be approved by the Board since the formula for stipends was approved in the past. I. Divinity advised that the formula was approved, and every year the stipend dollar amount is provided to the Board to ensure it is budgeted. RSL is not obligated to pay stipends if the budget doesn't permit.
I. Divinity advised that the teacher-student leadership program had a grant program specifically designed to assist the future leader program, and it ended in 2019. There were no funds for this specific program.
At this time, M.McNamara gave the Board context of the program and disclosed that she was one of the four to receive a stipend. A. Beck advised that she would not include herself in the group of staff that would receive the stipends; I. Divinity advised that the superintendent would not be eligible for this particular stipend because the stipend is for staff who is training for a higher position, and technically, the superintendent position is the highest.
I. Divinity additionally advised that she was unaware that RSL staff were still committed to this program. If stipends are to be processed, she would need auditable documentation with leader signatures of the duties rendered.
A. Beck advised the board that stipends were in the 2019-2020 budget and that I. Divinity would need documentation for auditing purposes. I. Divinity advised that it was included in the amended budget in May.
C. Knotts advised the board that he agreed that the reason that the stipends were not out was due to lack of receipt of proof needed from principals.
Finally, M. McNamara added this was a management issue
The action item was not voted upon due to no quorum
P. Baldwin left.
IV. Closing Items
A.
Next Regular Board Meeting: Tuesday, January 26th, 2020 at 5:30 pm Location: TBD
B.
Adjourn Meeting
There being no further business to be transacted, and upon motion duly made, seconded and approved, the meeting was adjourned at 6:31 PM.
Respectfully Submitted,
T. Rivera
Please note: the adjournemnt was not voted upon due to no quorum.