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Board approves grants and multiple contracts, hears online criticism of Edgewood Group contract
Summary
The committee voted to accept two grants and approved professional-services contracts for Edgewood Group LLC ($210,000), ACT Education Corporation ($129,913.30) and Public Consulting Group (not to exceed $150,000). An online commenter criticized the Edgewood contract; several board members voiced support for the vendor.
The East Baton Rouge Parish School System Committee of the Whole on Sept. 4 approved a pair of grants and three professional services contracts after public comment and board discussion.
The board accepted a $10,539 Deborah Rochelle Foundation grant to fund three teacher site projects and approved an LCSS school safety grant and cooperative endeavor agreement for $350,000 to install a visitor management system, two-way radios, door alarms, wayfinding signage, fencing, gates and cameras at seven sites. "I do not think I have any public comments on this item," the chair said before a motion to approve by Board Member Martin, seconded by Board Member Russ; the motion carried.
The committee also approved a professional-services contract with Edgewood Group LLC in the amount of $210,000 to collaborate with district staff on strategic goals, dashboards and decision-support tools (funding source: general fund). The Edgewood item drew an online public comment from Amanda Hebert, who urged the board to "vote no on wasteful spending" and called the deliverables "fluff." Board members publicly defended the contract; Board Member Lanus and Board President Stewart described prior work with the contractor and expressed support. The motion to approve Edgewood was made, seconded and the motion carried.
Two additional professional services items were approved: - A $129,913.30 contract with ACT Education Corporation to provide a system of student assessments to measure career skills for designated label schools (funding source: redesign). District staff said the platform will be available to all students in identified intervention-labeled high schools (Pre-ACT for 10th grade and ACT access for 11th26ndash;12th), plus access to the ACT WorkKeys platform and professional development for CTE and lead work-keys teachers. - A contract with Public Consulting Group LLC, not to exceed $150,000, to conduct a districtwide special-education review and provide implementation support aligned with state monitoring. Multiple board members expressed support for beginning a broad review of special education services; the motion carried.
Board members asked for more supporting information to be included with contract materials in future packet documents. Several votes were recorded as "motion carries" without an on-the-record tally in the meeting audio; the Public Consulting Group approval was later confirmed with eight "yes" votes on the record.
