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July 28 2026 OPSB Property Committee Meeting — Transcript

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0:04Okay. I am calling to order the Owens
0:06Parish School Board Property Committee
0:08meeting for July 28th, 2026. The time is
0:11now 3:32. May I have a roll call.
0:15>> Miss Emmes,
0:17>> Mr. Parker,
0:18>> present.
0:19>> Miss Baldwin,
0:20>> present.
0:21>> Miss Bureau,
0:22>> present.
0:23>> Miss Griffin,
0:24>> here.
0:24>> Mr. Marshall,
0:26>> Mr. Zervagon,
0:27>> here.
0:28>> Also present, Dr. Fatima Fulmore,
0:30superintendent and Ashley Halprin, board
0:32council. We have a quorum.
0:37>> Thank you. Um, I'm going to start
0:39reading the rules for public comment.
0:42Anyone wishing to speak with regard to
0:43items on the agenda should fill out a
0:45public comment card and submit it to
0:47board secretary. Cards will be received
0:50up to one half hour after the meeting
0:51begins.
0:54Each person shall be permitted to speak
0:56up to two minutes as established by the
0:58chairperson. I will recognize the
1:00speaker and give the speaker permission
1:01to proceed. The speaker shall state
1:03their name and address for the board
1:05records. To be clear, board council will
1:07do that. Those who have group concern
1:09are encouraged to select a spokesperson
1:10from the group to address the concern.
1:12Speakers are expected to be as concise
1:14as possible and to present their
1:15questions and comments in objective
1:17manner in accordance with good taste and
1:19decorum and without reference to or
1:21insinuations against the board. its
1:23members or school system employees.
1:25Disruptions or disorderly conduct at
1:28committee meeting will constitute
1:30grounds for the presiding officer to ask
1:31security personnel to remove the
1:34offender. I'm going to give it over to
1:36board counsel to take us through the
1:37adoption of the agenda.
1:41Do we have any additions, deletions, or
1:44modifications on today's agenda?
1:46>> We do not.
1:47>> Okay. Hearing none, may I have a motion
1:48to adopt the agenda as provided?
1:50>> So moved.
1:51>> Second. It's been moved by Miss Griffin,
1:53second by Mr. Zervagon. All those in
1:54favor?
1:56>> Any opposed?
1:58Okay, let's move on to the adoption of
2:00the minutes. This I will turn over to
2:01board councel.
2:03>> It is recommended that the committee
2:05adopt the minutes of the June 2nd, 2026
2:08property committee meeting. We have a
2:10motion to adopt the minutes as
2:12presented.
2:15>> It's been moved by President Emmes and
2:18seconded by Mr. Marshall. All those in
2:20favor? I.
2:22>> Any opposed? Okay, the minutes have been
2:24adopted. Thank you.
2:26>> Thank you. We're going to move on to our
2:27presentation and I will um recognize Mr.
2:29Don Lee to take us through the capital
2:32projects and facilities update.
2:36>> Thank you, property chair uh Baldwin.
2:39Good afternoon, uh board members, um
2:42superintendent Dr. Fulmore and Ashley
2:45Hellprin, board counsel. Uh we'll go
2:48through our July capital projects and
2:50facilities updates.
2:53Some photo photo highlights here. Uh we
2:56are in the middle of the uh renovation
3:00process for the cottage at the Justice
3:03Rivas Ortique uh school. Uh new outdoor
3:07turf is being laid at Tubman and the
3:11chillers have arrived at uh Dr. Ever
3:14Williams, uh, which houses the Willows
3:16Uptown.
3:18>> Mr. Leuff, is that sod or artificial
3:21turf?
3:22>> Artificial turf.
3:23>> Is that our best? Is that our practice
3:25now? Are we using artificial turf
3:27instead of sod?
3:29>> Last few years, I have had anybody ask
3:31for some.
3:32>> Okay.
3:34>> Okay. These are all plain surfaces and
3:36it just makes them
3:40>> understood. I just uh they were going to
3:41put turf in a neighbor in my
3:43neighborhood park and the neighborhood
3:44went wild about it because of heat
3:46concerns and
3:48>> microplastics and all the things that
3:49come along with artificial turf. Have we
3:51done any research on the benefit
3:53costbenefit analysis for our kids
3:55playing on this turf?
3:57>> I don't think we've we've we've not done
3:59any. It's just been standard practice
4:01the the past couple of years.
4:02>> And just Mr. Holmes, would you come to
4:05the mic, please? The other the other
4:07thing that I just want to point out,
4:08these play surfaces aren't the same
4:10level of turf that a football field
4:12stadium would be. So those stadiums have
4:14pelletized rubber in them. So if you've
4:17ever watched like in, you know, 4K
4:19>> when the Eagles tackle somebody to the
4:21ground, Jaylen Carter just got his
4:22extension,
4:23>> there's this splash of black, whatever,
4:26>> you guys might be okay this year.
4:29>> But uh so that's really the issue,
4:32right? So these they're they're not
4:33tracking materials into the school,
4:35things like that. In athletic
4:36facilities, you'll see a little run of
4:38like little rubber balls everywhere that
4:39the that people go and stuff like that.
4:41From a heat sink standpoint, I don't
4:43think that this is significant enough
4:44for us to spend a lot of time worried
4:45about it. But microplastics are one of
4:47those things that there's just not
4:48enough research on it right now. We're
4:50we're spending a lot of time having
4:52conversations about heat load on these
4:53spaces. So I have not authorized any
4:56non-standard colors, for example. So a
4:58football field in May where I used to
5:00hold graduation once upon a time in
5:02Houston would routinely be about 135
5:04degrees at midday. So that's my bigger
5:07concern about that that whatever. So
5:09like we're looking at some colors on the
5:11night towards stadium and right away the
5:12conversation was going to be about all
5:14right are you going to is you going to
5:16get like a first degree burn if you you
5:18land in this spot or something. Do you
5:19know what I mean? And so far all these
5:20are these are standard green colors
5:22which has the best heat shedding load.
5:24It also retains its color the longest
5:26which is important to us. Um, and it's
5:28it's just these spots like Tubman, they
5:31don't have large athletic fields. So
5:33they when they lose a space to be able
5:35to play on because it rains really heavy
5:36and it doesn't drain for three or four
5:38days because of the neighborhood, it's,
5:40you know, the counterbalance to that is
5:41to try and create more more area. They
5:43actually have one more space on the
5:45property they'd like us to do the same
5:46with. But conversely, at height, which
5:48is, you know, again, the same
5:49organization, they have a very large
5:51grass plane area, and we're looking at
5:53improving drainage there. So it's not
5:55the default thing. It's just whatever
5:57makes sense in in the the moment.
5:59>> I appreciate hearing all of that thought
6:01process. I really do. Thanks.
6:03>> Thanks, John.
6:08>> Uh just some some capital uh program
6:12updates, uh our project managing,
6:14billing, and the close out of the fiscal
6:17year 23 project list. Uh I cannot stress
6:21enough how big of a deal this is for us.
6:25Um, and I'll provide some updates here,
6:27but I just want to before we get into
6:28it, uh, I want to thank the voters of
6:32Orleans Parish for passing this
6:34millillage back in 2023. Uh, because
6:37without this millillage passing, we
6:39would not be able to continue uh the the
6:42amount of projects and the amount of
6:44money that is spent on um restoring or
6:48maintaining uh highquality facilities
6:50for our students. So, thank you.
6:54Uh, for fiscal 26, our project
6:56management fees billing uh is complete.
6:59Our PM activities generated just over $4
7:02million in revenue for the school
7:04facilities office. Uh, this billing
7:07process uh followed the financial
7:09closings of projects which were already
7:11substantially closed. uh the financial
7:14close finalized budget project budgets
7:17and those updated figures are reported
7:19in the red lines in the various slides
7:21to come. Uh originally in April 24 our
7:25fiscal 23 project list was uh listed as
7:2917 projects uh with a total amount of
7:32$45,2101.
7:36Uh final closeout for those projects
7:38were 15. uh two projects were dropped
7:41off for a total of 37,799,712.
7:46Uh the two projects that were removed
7:48were uh Ortique and James J. Skellyy
7:52Wright. Um they were removed um and that
7:55added well removing them to uh later
7:59times. Um it reduced the figure by two
8:03over $2 million. Uh, two projects,
8:06Katherine Johnson and the PI facility in
8:09the French Quarters were redesigned,
8:10reducing the cost by $4 million, a
8:13little bit over 4 million, 4,227,
8:16uh,791.
8:18Two projects ended up higher than the
8:21projected budget, increasing that cost
8:24by only 145,623.
8:28And then the remaining 11 projects uh
8:30came in under projected bud budget uh
8:34decreasing the cost by 1,262,646.
8:42>> Amazing work.
8:46>> A few capital project updates here for
8:49Marian Abramson in New Orleans East. The
8:52domestic hot water system replacement is
8:54completed. Uh again at Abramson the
8:57building improvements for the annex are
8:59completed for uh Enrique Alvarez
9:02security and fire alarm systems have
9:04been moved to a fisc year 26 project
9:06list and for the Dr. Milton Becknell
9:10facility which currently houses uh the
9:12Livingston campus. Uh the flooring
9:15replacement has been completed for
9:17Warren Eastston Foundation project has
9:19been moved to FI27 a project for a
9:22summer 2027 execution. John F. Kennedy
9:25playground additions are uh in
9:28construction for Martin Luther King Jr.
9:31uh school. The window replacement has
9:33been moved to in design for Thood
9:35Marshall. Flooring and door hardware
9:37improvements have been moved to in
9:39design. And for Madar Nelson, which
9:42houses the lower school of Espironza,
9:44the chiller replacements are currently
9:46in construction. For Harry Tubman, uh
9:49the sewer line replacement has been
9:51moved to Biz and Awards. Chiller
9:53replacements uh are in construction for
9:57Voris Jackson Waters, which houses Baby
10:00Ben Uptown. Uh the interior improvements
10:02are in construction for Carter G.
10:04Woodson uh Kip Central City Academy uh
10:08the chiller compressor replacement has
10:10been completed and for Mary Keller
10:13Zervagon which houses ought to uptown
10:15the chiller compressor replacements are
10:17in construction right now.
10:23Again just want to point out this is our
10:24FY23 capital projects list. Uh this will
10:28be the last time we show this project
10:31list because all of our projects have
10:33been completed on this list. We will
10:35archive this so if we need to go back,
10:36but we will not present this to the
10:38board after the day. Um and just want to
10:41express our appreciation for the capital
10:44improvements team and the facilities
10:45team to help us get this uh this list
10:48completed. So, more to come
10:53for our uh school facilities um FY24
10:57list. Uh we have 16 uh projects. We have
11:00five that are in construction and 11
11:02that have been completed.
11:05And again this is just the indication
11:07that uh the projects have been completed
11:10showing the red highlights
11:14for FY25 14 projects various um parts of
11:20the design process uh totaling of
11:245,24,841.
11:31>> Miss Griffin
11:32>> just have a quick just a clarification.
11:34I know that you just said that if it was
11:36completed, it's in red. I want to
11:37verify. So, are we saying that McKenna
11:39is completed and we just didn't change
11:41it over because it says in construction
11:42here? And are we saying is Joseph Craig,
11:45is it completed or is it in something
11:48else? Because that one's not read.
11:49>> Is it to change in the
11:52>> Yes, ma'am. Just as real quick, the way
11:54that I do this is every time I know that
11:56the numbers change the budget, we update
11:58it. So, so if you think about it, we
12:00have a budget in pre-esign, we have a
12:02budget in design, a budget when we go
12:03out to bid, a budget once we get the
12:05bids back, a budget when we start
12:07construction, every time we have a
12:08change order. So, a red indicates that
12:10there's been a change, but there the
12:12large number of reds this time is
12:14because of the financial close. And just
12:16to be clear, and Donna talked about
12:18this, when we substantially close
12:20something, we report it to you as
12:21complete, but we're still on the back
12:23end fighting about punch lists and other
12:25kinds of things. So, we financially
12:27closed it as well. And in the financial
12:29close, we certify to my friends in
12:32finance that I won't be showing up with
12:33another bill and saying, "Oh, by the
12:35way, um so so the the large number
12:38anytime something changes from last
12:40month, I try to put it in red just to
12:41draw your attention to it." But when
12:43those when the project is in status,
12:45like it's in bids and awards or
12:46something, that means as it's moving
12:48through the process, it's being updated.
12:51that report that we put together for the
12:5223 list. I went back to my very first
12:55report and took the numbers from there
12:57and said this is how it's changed since
12:59I started to do a year a list summary
13:02and when 24 closes we'll do the same
13:04thing for you.
13:04>> Thank you. I appreciate it.
13:11Moving over to FY26,
13:13uh, 23 projects, various stages for a
13:16total of 23,170,72.
13:24Again, those updates um, indicated in
13:27red.
13:31This is a list for our FY27
13:33um, projects. Uh as Miss Phil mentioned
13:36in the finance presentation, uh these
13:40are the projects that we have coming up
13:41for this upcoming uh fiscal year and um
13:46the finance information that was
13:48provided in order to uh allow these
13:50projects to take place.
13:52>> Uh excuse me,
13:54>> President Emmes.
13:54>> Yes. I just want to say, Mr. enough. Um,
13:57when you go across the United States and
13:59you look at schools and you see how well
14:02maintained they are and how beautiful
14:05the campuses are
14:07>> and you know, let's say 20 years ago, 25
14:10years ago, I couldn't say that for my
14:12city,
14:13>> but today I can say and I give kudos to
14:16you and your team because our buildings,
14:19I'm not ashamed for people to come now
14:22and visit our campuses and see the
14:25beautiful buildings our babies are in.
14:28Yes, ma'am. And and it, you know,
14:30Katrina was bad, but in a way it helped
14:32us to get where we are today. And I, you
14:35know, I'm I'm very proud that your
14:37team's continuing to pour in because if
14:40we neglect one thing in a building, it's
14:42just like a house. It will go down so
14:44fast that you you know, the the the
14:47repairs will escalate and then it's
14:49totally out of control. So, I really
14:52want to applaud you guys for that. I
14:54just wish and hope that we get more
14:56schools like we we're doing this um
14:59Carva um uh stadium out in that area.
15:03More high schools get nice fields in
15:06their high schools as well because you
15:09could stay at home and practice and you
15:11know in a nice facility but you all are
15:13doing a fantastic job.
15:15>> Thank you Miss Emmes and yes deferred
15:17maintenance is not our friend.
15:21continue the FY27 uh capital projects uh
15:25phase 2 uh projects listed here all in
15:28pre-esign
15:31other current capital projects um that
15:33were not necessarily planned for in the
15:36beginning but are necessary to continue
15:38that not having deferred maintenance
15:45and just page two of those those
15:47projects
15:51Uh, as Miss Emmes mentioned, the ninth
15:53war stadium, uh, we wanted to provide an
15:56update for the, um, for the stadium. Um,
16:01and despite, you know, a few weather
16:03delays, the project remains largely
16:05scheduled for uh, focusing on uh,
16:09scheduled by not not focusing on
16:11non-weather impact work uh, like
16:14concrete demolition. So, we're doing
16:15some other things in order to stay on
16:17task so that we can continue for our uh
16:20completion of this project. Uh the
16:22stadium operators uh RFQ um which may
16:27change into an RFP. It does remain
16:29outstanding. We're going to work very
16:31very closely with our procurement team
16:33and finance to get this out. We've put
16:36this out a couple of times. Um but it is
16:38very imperative that we get this sooner
16:40than later. So, we're going to continue
16:42to push this forward. Uh as soon as the
16:45testing process uh procurement is
16:48completed, we can get the final permits
16:50from the city uh and proceed with the
16:52next phase of construction and then
16:55final markups to the field as John
16:56mentioned uh earlier which will
16:58incorporate uh sewn in mark uh markings
17:01for both football and soccer are
17:03undergoing review and will be shared at
17:06the next board meeting. Any questions,
17:09comments around Night Stadium?
17:11>> Mr. Parker? Uh I have a few questions
17:13about the whole presentation. Uh Mr.
17:15Luduff, um the first is on the June
17:19capital projects update. Um
17:23you mentioned a playground at Kennedy.
17:26>> Yes.
17:27>> Our high school.
17:28>> Our high school.
17:29>> Can you elaborate on that
17:30>> playground?
17:33>> We have uh there there's a space in in
17:36the back we have to continue to update.
17:39Uh it's it's it's play it's not
17:41necessarily playground equipment, but
17:44it's considered playground for the
17:46purposes of um recreational
17:50slides and swings, but it is a
17:51recreation area.
17:52>> That is correct.
17:53>> Not that I'm opposed. I think I think
17:55our kids would enjoy
17:55>> slides and slides and swings would not
17:57be appropriate at at the high school.
17:59>> Thank you. Um the other thing is on the
18:03you know your comment about the approval
18:05of the millages. I would love for our
18:08and all of the great work that's been
18:10done since then.
18:11>> I would love at some point for us to put
18:13together some sort of like your tax
18:15dollars at work
18:17>> uh publication just so people know you
18:20voted for this. Look at all the
18:22wonderful things that have happened
18:24since then. The the number of things
18:26that have come in under budget, the the
18:28amount of you know, you mentioned $4
18:30million in reductions. Like that is
18:32something that taxpayers I think would
18:33be very interested to know. And frankly,
18:36as we will need to move forward with
18:38another millillage within the next two
18:40years, they should know that we're
18:42handling their money uh in a way that is
18:45fiscally responsible and leading to good
18:47outcomes for kids.
18:48>> Absolutely.
18:48>> At some point, I would just love, you
18:50know, for people should know that this
18:52good work is happening with their tax
18:54dollars.
18:54>> Absolutely.
18:54>> And pictures of the building, pictures
18:57of the exterior, the interior. So that
19:00Yeah. Yeah. Yes.
19:02>> Similarly, I think Dr. Fulmore, this
19:04connects to a comment I made during the
19:06charter accountability uh meeting, but
19:09just as I think you should have license
19:11to take action related to enrollment or
19:14anything else with a facility that will
19:16likely be part of an optimization plan,
19:18I think you should feel the same license
19:22in any facilities upgrades that need to
19:25be done for a facility that we should
19:26probably take offline. Now, obviously,
19:28we'll still need to do some maintenance
19:30to make sure that, you know, buildings
19:32are inhabitable and we're able to resell
19:34them and everything, but if there's a
19:35project that is not critical and that
19:38money could be sent somewhere else
19:39rather than, you know, throwing money
19:42after a school that's not going to be in
19:44operation, like I think we should we
19:46should consider that in our projects
19:48moving forward.
19:49>> And then lastly,
19:51um
19:53the just on the stadium, just to echo
19:56your comments, Mr. Absolutely. We would
19:58love to see that RFQ, RFP, RF, whatever,
20:01doesn't matter. We just we need to get
20:03that out there for the stadium operator
20:05as soon as we can.
20:06>> Yes, sir.
20:08>> Oh, and on the lines for the stadium, um
20:12I'm glad to hear that there's football
20:13and soccer. I also know that the LHSAA
20:17is moving forward with girls flag
20:18football as a sport. I don't know if
20:20there are different dimensions for that,
20:22but if there are, we should incorporate
20:24that as well. Any
20:27Miss Griffin?
20:28>> Nothing.
20:29>> Oh, I'm sorry, Dr. Fulmore.
20:31>> And so I I I love some of the
20:34suggestions. We actually, you know, in
20:36advance of, you know, millages that are
20:39upcoming. We actually have a strategy
20:42meeting tomorrow and I'm going to with
20:45our consultant and I'm going to lift up
20:48um this notion of your tax dollars at
20:52work in a different you know in a
20:53different an expanded way from how we're
20:55thinking about the millillage campaign
20:57because I I like the idea of telling um
21:00a longitudinal story um about how we've
21:04been good stewards of the dollars and so
21:06I think um we've made some notes on that
21:09because those are really good ideas to
21:11bring to that meeting tomorrow.
21:14>> Miss um I'm sorry, Miss Griffin and then
21:16Miss Bureau.
21:16>> Thank you so much. And so, Don, um and
21:18echoing some of what um Mr. Parker said,
21:22I do have a question or should I say
21:23just really looking forward going
21:25forward as we do the night ward stadium,
21:27can we get similar time dates and all of
21:29those things of when and how and so
21:32that's what that's that. The other
21:34thing, I know you haven't talked about
21:35it yet, but I'll go ahead and take my
21:36little time right now so I can get it in
21:38terms of the vacant properties. Um, I
21:39wanted to know, it's the same thing that
21:41I was getting ready to ask for both. And
21:42I understand that you do a great
21:44detailed um process in terms of where we
21:46are and all of those things, but I'd
21:48like to see if we can get a dashboard
21:49that's similar that says something like
21:51uh you know the vacant properties, the
21:53number of them, you know, um what's the,
21:55you know, how often are we going to go
21:56visit them, you know, how often, you
21:58know, how many vandal you how many
22:01security breaches or vandalism that has
22:03happened per month, you know, um if
22:05there been any arrests. I'd like to see
22:06any of those things that are going on
22:08because that's also something of which
22:09that we need to be paying attention to
22:10as um you know we are looking to sell
22:13and uh you know repurpose properties and
22:15then my last thing that I had was
22:18another um getting like another
22:20dashboard in the beginning that says our
22:22active projects what's been completed
22:24this month so that way we can get the
22:26celebration of the successes right then
22:27and there like just right on there we
22:29have 90 product we have 90 active
22:31projects that's going on for the month
22:33of June we had 10 that was completed you
22:36know what I mean? And then I had which
22:37ones were on schedule and then which
22:39ones are behind because also I think
22:40that that's important as well. So that
22:42way we can ask those questions which
22:44ones are on budget. I also talked about
22:45you know of course me and you and the
22:47change orders. I'm not necessarily a fan
22:48of them not all the time but if you can
22:51tell us like right in the beginning
22:52where's the change orders and what's
22:53going on with that as well. And then
22:55anything else that we need to be
22:57anything we need to be u mindful of
22:59going forward for the next month. Like
23:01so when you're getting ready to present
23:02to us realizing that you may have uh uh
23:05something's getting ready to happen, I'd
23:06like to know what we need to be prepared
23:08for so that way we can go ahead and be
23:09prepared.
23:12>> Uh yes, Dr. Fulmore.
23:14>> So uh two things. What we what we can
23:16commit to because we we do like the idea
23:20of more um timely uh data. We can commit
23:24to the internal reporting to the board
23:27right now. But we have one dashboard
23:30designer that is uh heavily on
23:34accountability and enrollment. So I just
23:36want to just set that realistically. But
23:38I think it's um something that will be
23:41good to have to put in the the queue for
23:43consideration for development but
23:45staffing uh capacity and design. Um but
23:48we can commit to um the information
23:51that's readily available and make more
23:54frequent updates to the the board on
23:56that so that we are transparent and we
23:58can share that. But dashboard design
24:01could be a little bit, you know, longer
24:03before we get there. But I do like the
24:05idea of adding that to our more visible
24:08reporting.
24:09>> No problem. That's fair. I don't have a
24:11challenge with that.
24:12>> Miss Bureau, I'm very excited that we're
24:14getting on to the RFQ for the Ninth Word
24:16Stadium. Um, and I wanted to say that I
24:19I'm was really heartbroken to have
24:21missed the groundbreaking. Um, but it
24:22did fall on my son's birthday, so that
24:24is meaningful to me. Um, and I wanted to
24:28bring it to the community's attention
24:29that there is a brick campaign. If you
24:31go to 9inthwardstadium.com,
24:34you can buy a brick uh 4x8 brick for
24:36$169.50 and that will uh help with the
24:39stadium costs and the the second phase
24:41of development.
24:44>> Thank you very much, Miss Bau.
24:47Okay, we're going to we're going to move
24:48on.
24:49>> Okay.
24:52>> Uh transition over to our operations and
24:55facility updates. Uh as um board member
24:59Griffin uh kind of gave the segue into
25:01our vacant properties and we can provide
25:04uh you know some some more of that
25:06information uh that is being requested.
25:09Um so so we are seeing an increase in
25:12our vacant property activity over the
25:14summer months. Uh typically this is a
25:16time when we do because there uh is the
25:19consideration that we are on summer
25:21break uh and schools are not necessarily
25:24occupied. Uh but for our vacant
25:26properties uh we're seeing increased
25:28activities. Uh so for our our
25:31bi-weekly checks that we um perform on
25:35vacant properties, our security and
25:37facilities team go out together in order
25:39to make sure that things are button up
25:42if there are any vandalism or any
25:44breakins. Uh we try to make those
25:46repairs as soon as possible. So those
25:48bike checks are on a rolling basis
25:51because we don't want to become
25:52predictable and people see on Tuesdays
25:54we're going to visit this school. So, we
25:56try to make sure that we we uh we switch
25:58it up so folks aren't um waiting on us
26:01to leave or waiting on us to come. Um
26:03and so we're transitioning now our newly
26:06returned sites, uh adding them to our
26:08inspection schedules, adding them to
26:10those vacant property lists, uh and
26:12including the uh requirements uh for
26:15maintenance that that need to be done uh
26:17for those properties. So, uh get that
26:19information to you uh as as best we can.
26:22Uh but I just wanted to give you an
26:23update on that's that's something that
26:25we are actively uh participating in
26:27making sure that those properties are
26:29secured.
26:32Uh want to highlight our 2026 school
26:35operations seminar. This is our second
26:36annual seminar uh that the operations
26:39and facilities department hosted. Uh the
26:42seminar was uh provided to schools and
26:45network operations staff with updates on
26:48district processes, operational
26:50requirements, uh emergency preparedness,
26:52and best practices. Uh just a few
26:55highlights here. The sessions included
26:56capital planning, facilities, asset
26:58management, operations, risk management,
27:01uh community hurricane preparedness,
27:03weather forecasting, and hurricane
27:04training. uh participation highlights.
27:07We had 44 registered, 40 uh attendees
27:11for a 91% attendance rate. And this is
27:14from school operations managers all the
27:17way up to uh network uh chief operations
27:20officer. So a good mix. Uh our hurricane
27:23preparedness, we had 87% of our charter
27:26management organizations participate. Uh
27:28a stat that board member Parker always
27:31loves to see. Uh some featured
27:34highlights. Uh we did have a few special
27:36guests that were supposed to attend. Uh
27:38one of our guests from the uh operations
27:42uh command center for the city uh could
27:45not make it because we were in the
27:47middle of tropical storm Bertha uh and
27:50her activity during this time. But we
27:53did have a great uh special guest in Fox
27:558 meteorologist Nandra Norwood who came
27:58and uh provided much needed and great
28:02information as far as it relates to
28:04hurricanes and hurricane seasons. Uh we
28:07had some interactive learning as well as
28:09uh the assessment launch for hurricane
28:12preparedness. This is in response to
28:14what we received from feedback from last
28:16year where we allow schools who have
28:19been uh in their positions or in their
28:22schools for a number of years that they
28:24can test out of having to go through the
28:26hurricane preparedness training.
28:29>> Um Miss I'm sorry. Uh do President
28:34I thought I was getting a doctorate
28:36there for a minute.
28:39Uh Mr. Duff. Um, I'm going to ask this
28:43of all staff members when they put on
28:45seminars or workshops. I think I talked
28:48about a little bit with K Dr. Jordan
28:51when she came up, but could you make
28:53certain you do like an exit evaluation
28:57of your session and if you can include
29:00for us some of the comments? I want the
29:02negative and the positive because the
29:04way we get better is getting feedback
29:06from the participants who participate in
29:09anything that we do. So that would be
29:11good just to hear you know what you
29:13poured into them but did they get that
29:16out of themselves. So, and it's not just
29:20for you, it's for everybody.
29:21>> Always preempting me, Miss Emmes. You
29:24know, my next slide will discuss
29:29seminar impact and next steps uh survey
29:32engagement. Uh we had 20 survey uh
29:36respondents thus far. The survey uh
29:39response is still open. So, we are going
29:40to close that soon. And as as we get
29:43those responses, we will share that out
29:45with a board update to make sure that
29:47you are aware of where we are. But just
29:49some overall satisfaction, we had 89% of
29:52our respondents that rated the seminar a
29:55four or a five out of five. Uh looking
29:58ahead, we will increase our
30:00participation among CMOs in schools that
30:03were not represented this year. Uh and
30:05then some feedback highlights. uh want
30:08to focus on the positives but we are
30:10capturing the negatives as well. Uh
30:12continued incorporating external guests
30:15speakers and practical training
30:17sessions. So uh having guest speakers
30:20was a a big highlight this year and we
30:21will continue to try to bring in folks
30:23that will help us uh be better at our
30:26work. Good job.
30:32>> Um, and then uh finally want to get into
30:37uh a little bit of background
30:39information uh because after this
30:41presentation there is an action item uh
30:44on the agenda for property around the
30:47renaming of the Dr. Milton J. Becknell
30:51facility. Um, and so just want to give
30:55you a sense of so this item is being
30:58presented in accordance with the Orleans
30:59Paris School Board Policy FDC uh
31:02regarding the naming and renaming of
31:05facilities. On March 18th of 2026,
31:08Collegiate Academy submitted a request
31:10to rename the Dr. Milton J. Becknell
31:13facility uh as Sarah T. Reed. Uh
31:16following the receipt of the request,
31:18the district initiated the facility
31:20renaming process which were is a
31:22requirement under policy FDC. The public
31:25input period was conducted from May 18th
31:28through July 1st of 2026
31:31and it included public notice through
31:34district communication channels and an
31:35online form for community feedback and
31:38name submissions.
31:40The district also conducted two public
31:42meetings, one virtual, one in person, to
31:45receive additional community input
31:47regarding the proposal.
31:50During the public solicitation period,
31:52uh there was only one name received, uh
31:54Sarah Tao Reed, uh and no other other
31:58alternative naming proposals were
32:00submitted. Uh public public comment
32:03received through the meeting included
32:05both support for and opposition of the
32:08proposal. Uh the supportive comments
32:10focused on preserving the legacy and
32:14historical significance of Sarah Charles
32:16Reid. Uh comments opposition comments in
32:19opposition focused primarily on Dr.
32:22Milton J. Becknell's educational
32:24contributions, concerns regarding the
32:26removal of a previously approved honor
32:29and concerns related to the
32:30implementation of the 2021 naming
32:33action. Uh the administration reviewed
32:35the proposals, community feedback, and
32:38the requirements established by policy
32:40FDC and determined that the request is
32:43eligible for consideration under this
32:46policy.
32:48Any questions?
32:49>> Comment
32:50>> comments.
32:51>> I've received numerous calls.
32:53>> Um this is just about the let's let's
32:56keep maybe we should move our keep our
32:58conversation at the action item.
33:01>> Um unless it's about this particular
33:04like the process right that's on this
33:06slide and then because I want to have
33:08our a robust conversation
33:11um at the action item
33:13>> because we will have heard public
33:14comment and everything
33:15>> and I just want to remind uh the board
33:18that this is specific to the renaming of
33:21the facility uh collegiate has already
33:24indicated that the name of the program
33:27will change from Edward Livingston to
33:30Sarah T Reed this is in order to support
33:33uh those efforts in the having the
33:36facility name Sarah T. Reed so that they
33:39can access um you know certain financial
33:43um in through their school facilities
33:45account in order to support the renaming
33:47of the facility as to not cause
33:50confusion because currently the facility
33:53is named Dr. Milton J. Beck I'm sorry
33:56Dr. Milton J. back now. Uh but all of
33:59the signage on the campus is saying
34:02Livingstonmies.
34:05>> Okay. Um on the process, Miss Griffin,
34:09>> I know that you said it, but tell me
34:11what happened during the public uh input
34:13period from May 18th through July 1.
34:15Tell me what did we do? What did we do?
34:17So we sent out the the ability to just
34:20giving up the the information that is
34:23the required by the policy which just
34:25says we have a period where if there is
34:28any submission for renaming of the
34:31facility we have that open period to
34:33allow those names to be submitted uh for
34:36consideration.
34:37>> Okay. And so can you tell me about how
34:40many people that responded to the to
34:42this period? And you said that the only
34:44name that was given was Sarah Tiri,
34:46right?
34:47>> Correct.
34:47>> Can you tell me and can you tell me some
34:49of the other oppositions? I know that
34:50you said that there was the there was
34:52already an issue with um the well the
34:54name was already something else and so
34:55there was some concern there. Is there
34:57any way that we might be able to take a
34:59look at some of those things as well?
35:00So, we can pull what um information from
35:04the the clicks or the internet clicks,
35:06but there was no other submission that
35:08was provided as far as an alternative
35:10name to uh this facility outside of
35:13Sarah T. Reed.
35:14>> And so there So, are we taking names?
35:16Did we take a name or we just let
35:18somebody just randomly give input? I'm
35:20just I'm just trying to understand what
35:22happened.
35:22>> Yeah. So, so during that process, if you
35:24had a consideration of another name, you
35:27were supposed to submit the information
35:29on uh just background information, why
35:31it was important, why this person should
35:33be named after um or have their name
35:36located on a facility. So, it's a it's
35:38the the instructions were included in
35:40the submission of um the open period
35:44that gives if you are considering to add
35:47an additional name, this is the this is
35:49the process that's that's required of
35:50it. And then my last question, where do
35:52so where do we have this publicized? So
35:54where if someone would know that if they
35:55wanted to, you know, get involved in
35:57this conversation, how could they get
35:58how would they do it?
35:59>> Website, all of our social media
36:01channels uh as well as we sent out the
36:03email blast through um our uh charter
36:08school newsletter.
36:09>> Thank you.
36:10>> Yes.
36:11>> Okay, let's move on to the action item.
36:14So let's
36:14>> see, this is the end of the
36:15presentation. I just wanted to give
36:16background information so that you you
36:18guys understood what the vote um was
36:20coming up for.
36:21>> Great. Thank you so much, Mr. Leuff. Um
36:24let's move on to action items. Action
36:26item 4.1.
36:28Dr. Milton Becknell facility renaming
36:30recommendation.
36:32It is recommended that the Orleans
36:34Parish School Board approve the
36:36superintendent's recommendation to
36:38rename the Dr. Milton J. Becknell
36:40facility located at 7301 Dwire Road, New
36:44Orleans, Louisiana, 70126 to the Sarah
36:47T. Reed facility. May I have a motion to
36:49move item 4.1 to the full board.
36:54So moved.
36:59We have to we have to have a motion on
37:01the floor. So I need a second and we
37:03need to have public comments and then we
37:05can amend the motion.
37:07>> So I need a second.
37:08>> Second. Okay, it's been moved by me and
37:11seconded by Miss Bureau. Um, are there
37:13any public comments?
37:15>> Yes. Um, there are two public comment
37:17cards. The first of which is from
37:19Gregory Lee and the second is from
37:23Salvador Becknell. If you would please
37:25come to the podium um, and state your
37:28name and address for the board records.
37:34>> Good afternoon. I'm Gregory Lee Jr.
37:371850 Harbor Drive, Unit 306, Slide,
37:39Louisiana. Thank you for having me here.
37:42Uh, good afternoon. Sorry, I'm going to
37:45read this. Good afternoon, board
37:46members, president, uh, superintendent,
37:50and members of the community. My name is
37:51Gregory Lee Jr., and I have the
37:53privilege and honor to be the president
37:54of the Sarah T. Reed Alumni Association.
37:57I stand before you today before four
38:00thousands of alumni who are asking for
38:02one simple thing, consistency. We
38:05respectfully ask that the facility at
38:067301 Dwire Boulevard be named Sarah Reed
38:09High School. This request is about more
38:11than the name of a building. Is about
38:13preserving a legacy, honoring
38:15generations of graduates, and creating a
38:17consistent identity for current and
38:19future students and the New Orleans East
38:21community. Our alumni association is
38:23investing in the future of this school
38:24and this community. We're expanding
38:26scholarship op opportunities, mentoring
38:29students, supporting athletic and
38:31academic programs, hosting community
38:33events, and building partnerships that
38:35will benefit the campus for years to
38:37come. Every one of these efforts is
38:39strengthened when they are united under
38:41one recognized identity, Sarah T. Reed
38:43High School. But before I close, I want
38:46this is not about diminishing anyone's
38:48legacy. In fact, we all stand we stand
38:51here on the shoulders of remarkable
38:52educators and visionary leaders who
38:54devoted their lives to the children of
38:55New Orleans. We stand on the shoulders
38:57of Dr. Milton J. Becknell, whose
38:58commitment to public education helped
39:00shape generations of students. We stand
39:02on the shoulders of Sarah T. Reed, whose
39:04lifelong dedication to education,
39:06opening doors of opportunity for young
39:08people and advocated for educators. And
39:10we stand on the shoulders of our beloved
39:12principal, the late Dr. Clive Coleman
39:14whose leadership, compassion, and
39:16unraving belief in his students inspired
39:18many of us who proudly call ourselves
39:21Olympians. These legacies are not in
39:23competition with one another. Together,
39:25they are the rich educational history of
39:27our community. We honor all of them
39:30today. However, we just ask for
39:31consistency.
39:33Thank you for um your consideration uh
39:36for our request. Thank you.
39:40Our second comment card is from
39:43Salvatore Becknell.
39:48>> My name is Salvat. Let's see here. This
39:50Yeah. All right. My name is Salvatore
39:54Becknell and um I live at 5000 Woodland
39:59Drive, New Orleans, Louisiana. And I am
40:03the only son of Dr. Milton J. Becknell.
40:05And I'd like to thank the school board
40:08for this opportunity to speak on my
40:09father's behalf and ask that you let his
40:11name remain on the Livingston facility.
40:16Um this is not being done in the vacuum.
40:19Uh this is not a zero someum endeavor.
40:23There will be uh a winner and a loser
40:27based on your decision. And the winner
40:30is potentially Sarah T. Reed. The big
40:33loser will be my father, Dr. Milton J.
40:36Beck.nau. Now, I have some brief
40:39comments here I'd like to make. First,
40:41we live in a day and age when the moral
40:43compass of most people is really broken.
40:47Uh, and this phenomena is not restricted
40:48to ethnicity or social status, income or
40:51gender. Uh these days people will do
40:54things that they really believe are are
40:57right and correct, but then if the same
41:01thing were done to them, they'd realize,
41:03oh no, this is wrong. For instance, if
41:07this current presidential administration
41:10were to bring all of you to Washington
41:13DC and publicly give you a great honor,
41:16which according to their own criteria,
41:18you had earned and deserved. But then
41:21five years later, the same
41:22administration took from you the very
41:25honor that they had previously given
41:27you. What would you think about the
41:29character and the integrity of that
41:31administration? Would you say that the
41:33administration had done something right
41:35and good or would you consider their
41:37actions disgraceful?
41:40Uh would you have would you believe that
41:44the administration had discredited
41:46itself by taking away from you what it
41:49had previously given you? Would there be
41:51anything good or praiseworthy that you
41:54could say about an administration that
41:57stripped you of an honor it had
41:58previously determined that you had
42:01earned because in the eyes and opinions
42:04of students and citizens and virtually
42:07all cover.
42:07>> Thank you Mr. Becknell. Your time is
42:09lapsed.
42:10>> Um, it's up.
42:13Okay.
42:14Thank you.
42:16>> Thank you.
42:19Um, okay.
42:19>> Please vote on there. No further public
42:21comment card.
42:22>> Thank you. Board comments. Mi uh,
42:25President Emmes.
42:26>> Okay. I've been trying to do this for
42:28the last 15 minutes. Thank both of you
42:30for your comments that you made today.
42:32And I heard Mr.
42:35uh the president of the the the alumni
42:38association say um how it would benefit
42:42the community to have it named Sarah T.
42:44Reed. And I think I heard Mr. Becknell
42:47say that we're going to have a winner
42:49and a loser with this. And I want
42:52winners on both sides. I've had numerous
42:55calls about this, emails, text messages,
42:58everything. And I would like to offer an
43:02amendment to this. If we could name the
43:05school Sarah T Reed at the Becknell
43:08facility. To me, everybody wins the
43:12Becknell family because a board way
43:14before us named that school Becknell.
43:16We, this board didn't have anything to
43:18do with that. But I would like to see a
43:21win-win situation here that the family
43:24gets their part, but the Sarah T. Reed
43:26get their part. Sarah T. is a very
43:29strong alumni and they are very actively
43:32engaged in the community and we want you
43:35to be comfortable at the old Livingston
43:37site but we don't want to give I don't
43:40want to give disrespect. I'm just one
43:42person saying this so it doesn't mean
43:43it's going to fly but I feel for both of
43:46you and I want both of you to be
43:48winners. Miss Alpurn.
43:50>> Um, yes. In response to the comment or
43:54the the proposal uh proposed amendment
43:58referred to by President Emmes, I just
44:00want to clarify that um the board is
44:04looking at facility naming, not school
44:07program name. So, the name of the school
44:09program is within the discretion of the
44:13CMO who has named the school CRT Reed
44:16High School. and I might not have that
44:18exactly correct, charter high school.
44:20Um, and this board, uh, as you
44:24mentioned, previously named that
44:27facility the Dr. Milton J. Becknell
44:31facility. So, your suggestion of um, an
44:36amendment is actually what the status
44:39quo is. So, that would be Oh, I'm sorry.
44:41Did I not
44:42>> I think she wants the facility to be
44:44called Sarah T. Reed at Milton J. back
44:46now.
44:47>> Okay. So, I'm perhaps misunderstood that
44:50you want the name of the program in the
44:54facility name.
44:58>> This whole issue of a name I thought on
45:02a building was the big issue here. Now,
45:05if that's not the big issue, I can't
45:07come here and tell the school what kind
45:08of program to have in the school.
45:10They're going to have the students for
45:12Sarah T. Reed in the school. collegiate
45:14will decide with the curriculum how they
45:16going to run the school. This is all
45:18about keeping Mr. Becknell's name on I
45:21thought or taking Mr. Beck Dr. Becknell
45:24I'm so sorry Dr. Becknell's name off and
45:27I'm simply asking for a compromise. Can
45:30we name the school Sarah T Reed at Dr.
45:33Milton Becknell facility? I think that's
45:38perhaps where I just am trying to I I
45:42know it's like a real fine line, but the
45:45school name as in the school program
45:47that is operated by the CMO is Sarah T.
45:51Reed. If they want to refer to their
45:54school as Sarah T Reed High School at
45:58whatever the facility name is, then that
46:00is within their autonomy as a CMO. This
46:03board has the authority
46:05um
46:07>> the so so this board has the authority
46:12to name the facility. I think the
46:15question about what do the signs say is
46:19uh perhaps something that Mr. Lee can
46:21provide clarity on. I know that across
46:24our district we do have other schools
46:28where the name of the facility and the
46:30name of the school is different. So
46:33maybe Mr. Lev can provide clarity on
46:35that.
46:44>> Is this not allowed? I'm just trying to
46:47see.
46:49We followed the the process in having a
46:53a request was made to have the name
46:55changed. As far as allowment with the
46:57board on making amendments, I can't I
47:01can't speak to
47:01>> my my question then is we have authority
47:04to make amendments
47:07>> Kathy.
47:08>> So, so yet so
47:10>> Yes. Well, if not, why are you bringing
47:12it to us? If we can't, if I can see
47:15something as a board member that I might
47:17not like or that I think would be
47:19better, why can't why you bringing it to
47:22us then just go ahead and name the
47:25school?
47:25>> My understanding
47:27is that there's been a request,
47:31>> correct,
47:32>> to change the name of the building from
47:34Dr. Milton J. Becknell to SRT Reed. So
47:38that would be changing the name of the
47:39facility. This board does have the
47:42authority to determine what is the name
47:44of the facility. I think the question of
47:48what goes on the sign that's on the side
47:50of the street is a separate question
47:52that perhaps um the operations team and
47:56the lessors or sorry less tenants deal
48:00with.
48:01>> Let me recognize Mr. Sheragon and then
48:03Mr. Marshall and then Miss Griffin.
48:06>> Right. Um, as we going to find our
48:08footprint shrinking, we're going to be
48:09losing names. Uh, I would ask, not
48:12rhetorically, seriously, is there a
48:14problem with putting a pair of names on
48:17a building? I, for one, don't see a
48:19problem with putting a pair of names on
48:21a building that if we call it the Sarah
48:23T. Reed, dodbecknell
48:25building, I am comfortable with that and
48:28that that could sit president, which we
48:29may want to then continue doing as we
48:32move forward. Does the building really
48:34have to have only one person's name on
48:35it? I don't think so. So I would then
48:38make a motion now or at the appropriate
48:40time that we have the Sarah T Reed Dr.
48:44Becknell building milit Dr. Bill Gnel
48:48that would be the name of the facility
48:50that we put them both on together
48:52>> Mr. Marshall
48:56>> or do we want to consider that a motion?
48:58>> You know the uh
49:01the uh
49:04this is
49:06confusing to the public. It was
49:07confusing to the public when we went
49:09through this whole process of ch taking
49:12the slave owners name slave owners names
49:15off of the buildings and then people
49:17say, "Well, what's the school's name?
49:20What's the they got confused about the
49:23naming of the school and the naming of
49:25the building or the naming of the site?"
49:28The school is Sarah Reed High School. It
49:33will be Sarah T Reed High School. It
49:36will always be referred to as Sarah T
49:38Reed High School the same way as Ben
49:42Franklin High School, the Willow High
49:44School, and all of these other high
49:47schools where we changed the name, but
49:49they are all
49:51Ben Franklin at the Katherine Johnson
49:54building. It's the Willow School at the
49:59Elijah Brimma building. is brickalized
50:02at the
50:04the Willard building. That's the norm
50:09now. Okay. And with Sarah Reed, I'm I'm
50:14sure you all didn't understand that
50:16whole process that we went through with
50:18historians and community members and all
50:21when we bestowed these honors,
50:25honoring those people, Katherine Johnson
50:28and Elijah Brimmer and all of those
50:30people on these buildings that would
50:32took a great deal of work and effort and
50:35that's what we did. the right thing. The
50:37right thing is both of you be winners.
50:41And and it's just ironic how we're doing
50:44this today when we passed a resolution
50:47to honor black educators
50:50a whole week. We It's Black Education
50:53Week. We did that this morning. We
50:55passed that resolution.
50:58And here we're talking about
51:01taking the honor away from a black
51:04educator that we deemed
51:07appropriate for that building. We
51:10shouldn't do that. And it would be
51:12setting a terrible precedent.
51:15So what what's next? Changing the name
51:17of the the the Katherine Johnson
51:19building or the Elijah Brimma building?
51:21It's it's like Trump coming in to
51:23putting the name on the Kennedy Center.
51:27You don't do that. You don't do that.
51:30What what happens in the future is when
51:32a kid walks in that building and he
51:34wants to understand I'm Sarah. I'm for
51:37Sarah T. Reed. And to give you a little
51:40history,
51:41I opened Reed with Dr. Foster who helped
51:45design the logo and all of that for
51:48Sarah T Reed. Okay. So, I I I know the
51:52history of Reed and everything and you
51:53will be honored. Everybody will refer to
51:55you as the Sarat Reed High School. Same
51:58with Ben Franklin High School or Willow
52:00High School and everything else. It's
52:03not taking one thing away from you all
52:05to honor Dr. Becknell as well. When they
52:09ask why is the building named Dr.
52:11Becknell, you'll be proudly to be able
52:14to say because it's honored a great
52:16black educator. Okay. So, that's a
52:19learning experience for the kids. Miss
52:22Griffin,
52:22>> it doesn't take anything away from you,
52:25>> Miss Griffin.
52:27>> Thank you. I I had questions around. So,
52:29I want to get I understand that we're
52:32possibly taking away a name and adding a
52:35new name, but I I want to go to why why
52:39do why did we decide that right now
52:41today that we wanted to do this? I know
52:42that we I've heard from the alumni, but
52:44I want to hear why is this being
52:46recommended today?
52:49This is being recommended because of the
52:51request that was re received by the
52:52superintendent from collegiate. I just
52:55to give a little context and background
52:57information when we uh went through the
53:00namechanging process uh a couple of
53:02years ago and allowed the names of
53:05certain individuals to be taken off, new
53:08individuals would be put on. It was
53:10still slated that the board did not have
53:12a dedicated budget in order to make all
53:15of the name changes complete. We had a
53:18test of five schools that we changed the
53:21names on the actual physical facilities.
53:24And so when the question does come up
53:26when Dr. Beckno family is asking the
53:28question, well, they never received
53:30anything that was in support of having
53:33his name placed on the facility. There
53:36was no dedicated funding or budget in
53:38order to do so.
53:40>> So let me next question is just in
53:43reference to so just so I'm clear. So
53:45even and I'll just ask if um even if the
53:49building is still named Dr. Milton J.
53:52Becknell,
53:54what is the it's the pleasure of whoever
53:56is um in the building on what they
53:57actually put on the building. Correct.
54:01>> No, that's why the name change is is
54:04significant to do. So they can't change
54:06if they wanted to currently if they
54:08wanted to change the name to Dr. um to
54:12put Dr. Becknail on the facility, they
54:15have the ability to do so. They can't
54:17put Sarah T. Reed on the facility
54:19because the name of the school is Dr.
54:22Milton J. Becknell.
54:23>> Well, I Well, I think I'm I'm I'm
54:25confused because I thought you said that
54:26they had Livingston.
54:27>> Livingston is currently showing on all
54:30of the the surface of the campus. So,
54:33Livingston was completed before the name
54:36change when we did when the board
54:38approved the names of the new
54:40individuals to put on the facility. So I
54:42I'mma go back again. So me tell me
54:44again. Okay. So what I'm hearing is is
54:46that the name of the building currently
54:47is Dr. Milton J. Becknell. Right.
54:50>> Correct.
54:50>> Okay. What I'm also hearing is is that
54:53we never changed the name on the
54:54building to Dr. Milton J. Becknell.
54:56Correct.
54:56>> Correct.
54:57>> And the building is listed currently as
54:59Livingston Collegic. That's what it says
55:02on the signage. The signage.
55:03>> That's what it says. Correct.
55:04>> And so
55:05>> I want to understand how. So you're
55:08saying because we didn't have funding,
55:09we didn't change it. So
55:11>> that is correct.
55:12>> And so so okay so the we didn't have any
55:15funding so we didn't change so we didn't
55:17change the signage. Okay. And so but we
55:21allowed even though the building was
55:23named Dr. Milton J. Becknell we allowed
55:25it to still be named on the outside um
55:29you know Livingston Collegic Academy
55:31>> that took place before the name change
55:33of Dr. Becknell. So Livingston was
55:35already established on the building. We
55:38then removed Livingston because of his
55:41confederate ties to the building, but we
55:44didn't necess the the building was
55:45completed and then the name changes came
55:48in afterwards. So it was already
55:50Livingston before we changed it to Dr.
55:52>> Becknell. So let me also ask one more
55:55question and I think I got it. So we we
55:57all decided whoever served on the board,
55:59we decided that we would begin to start
56:01renaming buildings.
56:02>> Correct.
56:02>> We never put aside no money to be able
56:04to rename the buildings.
56:05>> That is correct. And so at this point we
56:08are now so it it's never been so it's
56:10been named that but we've never used
56:12that name.
56:13>> That is correct.
56:14>> Okay. Thank you.
56:19>> Correct.
56:20>> And on their facil on their school
56:21facility account
56:23>> the school facility account tied to
56:25>> is is tied to
56:27>> the building the Beckno building.
56:29>> Yes. But the it is but the the the issue
56:33is now with the change in the name of
56:35the program. It is to not cause the
56:38confusion of having Livingston already
56:40put and then putting Dr. Becknell and
56:43bringing Sarah T Reed as a program into
56:46the facility.
56:47>> Mr. Parker,
56:48>> thank you so much. Um
56:50I um I was the chair of the facilities
56:54renaming commission back in 2021. Uh, so
56:58I remember a lot of the conversations
56:59that went into the selection of names
57:03for these facilities. I remember many
57:06people talking very favorably about Dr.
57:08Becknell and his contributions to the
57:11city. And to your point, Mr. Marshall, I
57:13think it would be disingenuous and
57:16perhaps hypocritical to in the same week
57:18declare Black Education History Week and
57:21remove Dr. Becknell's name from from a
57:24facility. Um,
57:27that being said, I think I also want to
57:30acknowledge the work that the alumni
57:34group has put into has poured into the
57:36school and the work that Collegiate is
57:38doing to ensure that the name of Sarah
57:40T. Reed lives on. I think that's
57:42critically important and I'm glad that
57:43we will still have Olympians and we will
57:45still have the sounds of dynamite and
57:47all of these things. But I don't
57:51to to echo what you were saying, Mr.
57:53Marshall. M Mr. Marshall,
57:56it would be consistent to have multiple
58:00names. I off the off the top of my head,
58:04I can name six high schools that are in
58:07that are called one thing and are in a
58:09building that is named something else.
58:11That's not that doesn't even include our
58:13elementary and middle schools. And
58:16everybody knows who Ben Franklin is.
58:19Everybody knows who Willow is. Everybody
58:22knows who Sophie B. is everybody knows
58:25who Morris Jeff is. All of those schools
58:28are in buildings that are not named
58:32the same thing as what's on the football
58:33uniform or on the basketball uniform or
58:35whatever. Um,
58:38and I don't think that the need for
58:40consistency between what's on the band
58:44uniform and what's on the front of the
58:45building outweighs the contributions of
58:49Dr. Becknell to our system. And so I
58:52don't want to erase that. Um
58:56I also have some questions for you, Mr.
58:59Lidduff. I suppose if this name if this
59:01name change were to go through, what
59:03would we call the current Reed facility
59:06>> as we've done in the past? Old Sarat
59:09Reed.
59:09>> Okay. Um so I don't know that we need to
59:13put both names on the building. I am
59:15fine with rejecting this. Personally,
59:18I'm fine with rejecting this
59:21recommendation and then moving forward
59:25calling the pro asking collegiate or
59:27whomever to call the program Sarah T.
59:30Reed at the Dr. Milton J. Becknell
59:33campus. I'm fine with rejecting it and
59:36calling it that or adding both names,
59:39whatever. But I'm not okay with removing
59:41Dr. Becknell's name.
59:42>> Dr. Fulmore.
59:45>> I was just wanted to ask the question uh
59:48for the record. Is there any ties to the
59:52facility
59:54name and access to facility funds, not
59:59just for the purposes of putting a new
1:00:03name on the building? Um was that
1:00:07something that came into question?
1:00:09access to the facility
1:00:13funds for to support the consolidation
1:00:16optimization or is this merely about
1:00:20funds to put a name the name on the
1:00:23building? So, the school facility
1:00:27account funds are um directed by the
1:00:30program. And so, this is and I'm
1:00:33assuming, and I don't want to speak for
1:00:34for Collegiate, but I'm assuming to
1:00:36create some of the um the ability to not
1:00:40have as much confusion. But in its
1:00:42current state, and we've explained this
1:00:44to them, if you were to change the name
1:00:47from Livingston to a different name on
1:00:50the facility, it is what the board has
1:00:53approved, which is currently Dr. Milton
1:00:55J. Beck. Now, so you cannot put Sarah T.
1:00:58Reed to help with uh any of the uh new
1:01:03marketing or promotion that Sarah T Reed
1:01:05is currently at this facility.
1:01:07Everything would have to say Dr. Milton
1:01:10J. Becknail currently as it states
1:01:12>> and it cannot and it cannot be the
1:01:15reverse and say Sarah T. Reed act
1:01:18>> that that is why we brought the board
1:01:21the board action item to you because we
1:01:24did receive and this is strictly the
1:01:26administration following policy when a
1:01:28request is received we go through our
1:01:30process. This is the result of said
1:01:32process.
1:01:33>> Okay. So it can say Sarah T Reed at
1:01:36Milton Becknell
1:01:39>> because I want Sarah T Reed to keep
1:01:41their name, but I want Mr. Dr. Becknell
1:01:43to keep his as well.
1:01:44>> Both of them.
1:01:45>> I I I'm not saying it has to go on the
1:01:48building. First of all, they never put
1:01:49Dr. Becknell's name on the building as
1:01:51it is. The name on the building is
1:01:52Livingston and it's been that for
1:01:54whatever number of years Dr. Becknell
1:01:56was supposed to go up. As you said, I
1:01:58think you say it's like $15,000. I don't
1:02:01even know how much it is to put it up
1:02:03there, but they would have to go on some
1:02:05kind of campaign trail if they wanted to
1:02:07get money that we don't have earmarked
1:02:10to put names on buildings because I'm
1:02:12not advocating for us to come up with
1:02:14more money. I would like it. They have
1:02:16banners you can buy and and and Colleia
1:02:20know how to do all of that. And you have
1:02:21the banner out there in front of the
1:02:23school that says Sarah T. Reed at Dr.
1:02:26Milton Becknell. Why is this such a big
1:02:30problem? Can't we just solve this and
1:02:33try to make this thing easy for the
1:02:35community, for us, for the alumni, for
1:02:37the Becknow family?
1:02:39>> I I think that Mr. Zergon, you had made
1:02:42a motion.
1:02:43>> I can make I can make it a formal motion
1:02:45and I would make it that uh that we have
1:02:47both names on the facility. I think it's
1:02:50important in terms of guaranteeing the
1:02:52durability of the Sarah T. Reed name. It
1:02:54would then show up on all of the Google
1:02:57maps, at least it ought to, as the Reed
1:02:59Becknell building. It would be in all of
1:03:01our facilities lists as to what the name
1:03:03of the building is. And eventually we
1:03:05get we get that put on the on all of our
1:03:08buildings citywide, the names that we've
1:03:10changed. So, um I understand the
1:03:12uncomfortableness of the Reed community
1:03:15and that it's not on a building. It's
1:03:16just kind of floating out there as a
1:03:17program which could end if we
1:03:20consolidate or have a have an issue. So
1:03:22I I would support that we call it the
1:03:24Reed Becknell building, but you know, in
1:03:27the entirety of both names, I would make
1:03:28that motion. I would hope for a second.
1:03:30>> So is that an amendment to the motion
1:03:32currently on the floor
1:03:33>> or is it a substitute?
1:03:35>> It sounds like sounds like Mr. Zervagon
1:03:38was trying to amend the motion on the
1:03:40floor. And just for clarity purposes of
1:03:43what the name would be, are you talking
1:03:46about Sarah T. Reed hyphen Dr. Milton J.
1:03:50Becknell building? Yes.
1:03:52>> Okay. So, there's been a motion, sorry,
1:03:55an amendment offered by Mr. Zervagon,
1:03:58which I believe was seconded by Miss
1:04:00Viro. Okay. Um, board comment. Oh,
1:04:05>> I I would just recommend if we're going
1:04:07to move forward with this, which I'll
1:04:09I'm fine with and can support, I would
1:04:11just recommend that we
1:04:15uh we don't name it from the deis. We
1:04:18talk to Mr. Luff and the other people
1:04:20who have been involved in it to come up
1:04:22with a name that works for signage and
1:04:25all the parties involved. I think
1:04:28and and would be consistent with other
1:04:30naming conventions that we have in the
1:04:33district. So that rather than calling it
1:04:36readnell or readnell
1:04:41or what
1:04:42>> becell- read. Yeah. I think I I think we
1:04:45should just come up with I think we
1:04:47should ask the administration to come up
1:04:49with a name that honors both uh entities
1:04:55rather than naming it ourselves from the
1:04:57deis.
1:04:57>> Mr. Marshall,
1:04:59>> uh
1:05:01I'm I'm going to ask Collegiate to
1:05:03withdraw the request
1:05:05and that's that's what that's what I'm
1:05:07going to ask and I'm going to ask the
1:05:08alumni association to go away. This is
1:05:11this is getting to me as a word that was
1:05:14written for me early lunacy.
1:05:18When we talk about this building is
1:05:20going to be now Reed
1:05:22Begnell building then what? So so far in
1:05:25the future that we get somebody else
1:05:26that wants to add a name and have some
1:05:28influence. We name another building dot
1:05:31dot dot or we can name it the the the
1:05:35Trump Kennedy Center. And then when
1:05:37another president come in and there's uh
1:05:40this Johnson this and that what are we
1:05:43doing?
1:05:44>> I mean
1:05:46we you don't we don't do that miss
1:05:49>> the building has a name
1:05:50>> question
1:05:51>> when you when you
1:05:52>> I was going to ask if anybody that
1:05:54hasn't spoken had anything to say before
1:05:55we called the question.
1:05:58>> Dr. Fulmore
1:06:01>> quickly. I just want to make sure that
1:06:04if if this is the the will going forward
1:06:07that we have to adjust policy that
1:06:10allows for this process to occur so that
1:06:14if we're worried about it, you know,
1:06:16from future references that the policy
1:06:19still allows for this process um to
1:06:23occur.
1:06:25>> Okay. For the facility renaming process.
1:06:27Okay. Let's call the question. We have a
1:06:30motion and a second. We have an amended
1:06:32motion on the floor.
1:06:33>> Is that legal?
1:06:33>> The amendment first.
1:06:35>> We have an amended motion on the floor
1:06:37and a second. So, let's call that
1:06:39question.
1:06:39>> So, the amendment that the board is that
1:06:43has that the board has before it is to
1:06:47um let me see.
1:06:50It is recommended that the Orleans
1:06:52Parish School Board um rename the Dr.
1:06:56Milton J. Vaccell facility located at
1:06:597031 Dwire Road, New Orleans, Louisiana.
1:07:02>> Point of order.
1:07:02>> 70126
1:07:04to the Sarah T. Reed hyphen Dr. Milton
1:07:09J. Becknell facility.
1:07:12>> Point of order,
1:07:13>> Mr. Marshall.
1:07:14>> Point of order. What Dr. Fulmore just
1:07:17said is the policy doesn't allow us to
1:07:21name
1:07:23the to to change the name of a building
1:07:26from the de without going through the
1:07:28process. The action item is that went
1:07:32through the process was to name it Sarah
1:07:36T Reed.
1:07:38>> So we're not following policy. If we
1:07:41name it Reed
1:07:44Begnail, we are ch we are adopting a
1:07:46completely different name than the name
1:07:49that would went through the process.
1:07:51>> I don't believe that we can do that
1:07:53without
1:07:56>> leaving the polic.
1:08:00>> Okay. Um so Miss
1:08:02>> Halpern, are you re are you re reviewing
1:08:05the policy, Miss Halpern? vote on the
1:08:07>> or
1:08:09the policy that uh was being referenced
1:08:12relative to facility renaming. If the
1:08:14board could just give me just a second
1:08:16to check that.
1:08:18>> Thank you.
1:08:49So, uh, um, the pertinent part of policy
1:08:54FDC
1:08:56states, "Namnaming or renaming requests
1:08:58must be submitted in writing to the
1:09:00superintendent. A committee must solicit
1:09:02input for at least 45 days, hold at
1:09:06least two public meetings, and forward
1:09:08up to three names to the superintendent
1:09:10who recommends a name for board
1:09:12approval. And so I think
1:09:15um not to speak for Dr. Fulmore and Mr.
1:09:18Marshall, but I think the notion of
1:09:22proposing a combined name from the deis
1:09:25um circumvents the
1:09:28opportunity for for community input for
1:09:3245 days with two public meetings um that
1:09:35is outlined in the policy. The board
1:09:37could wave the requirements of policy
1:09:40FDC if it wishes to with a twothirds
1:09:44vote.
1:09:49Okay. So, just as a point of
1:09:52clarification, there was an amendment um
1:09:56that had been moved and seconded. I
1:09:59would suggest that that amendment
1:10:01include uh the waiver of policy FDC so
1:10:06that we can
1:10:07>> Yes. Who offered the amendment? I would
1:10:09like to adjust it that we wave policy in
1:10:11order to name it. Then the rest of my
1:10:14amendment remains the same.
1:10:17Okay. And the same second from Miss
1:10:20Viro.
1:10:22>> Okay. Um Okay. No, let me pass it back
1:10:26to you, Chair Baldwin.
1:10:27>> Uh well, we've called the question. So,
1:10:29all in favor of the amended of the
1:10:31amendment to the motion
1:10:34>> and waiver of the polic
1:10:35>> and waiver of policy FDC.
1:10:37>> Yes.
1:10:41>> All those in favor?
1:10:43>> I.
1:10:44All those opposed?
1:10:46>> No.
1:10:50>> Can we have a roll call?
1:10:51>> I think we need a roll call. I only
1:10:52heard six votes.
1:10:55>> Miss Emmes?
1:10:56>> Yes.
1:10:56>> Mr. Parker?
1:10:57>> No.
1:10:59>> Miss Baldwin?
1:11:00>> Yes.
1:11:01>> Miss Bau?
1:11:02>> Yes.
1:11:04>> Miss Griffin?
1:11:05>> No.
1:11:06>> Mr. Marshall?
1:11:09>> Mr. Zervagon?
1:11:10>> Yes.
1:11:12That's four yes and three no
1:11:16>> that fails to wave the policy,
1:11:18>> right?
1:11:19>> Yes. So, so you need a twothirds vote in
1:11:22order to wave the policy. Um, and you do
1:11:25not have 2/3. Therefore, your
1:11:28um amendment that has been offered
1:11:30fails.
1:11:33>> Correct.
1:11:34>> Okay. So, now we are going to vote on
1:11:36the original motion which is to which is
1:11:39the recommendation to rename the Dr.
1:11:41Milton J. Becknell facility
1:11:44to the Sarah T. Reed facility.
1:11:47All in favor?
1:11:51Any opposed?
1:11:53>> Opposed.
1:11:55>> Um, okay. That ma failed to pass then.
1:12:00Okay.
1:12:02I think that's the end of this.
1:12:04>> Just for clarity. Sorry, Miss Griffin,
1:12:07you had a question. Okay. Um,
1:12:10>> so I think it was unanimously against
1:12:13the action item, but if you need a roll
1:12:16call. Okay.
1:12:18>> So the building
1:12:19>> action item 4.1 has failed.
1:12:22>> So it'll stay.
1:12:23>> So the the name will continue this
1:12:25building will be continued to be named
1:12:27the Dr. J Milton J. back now facility
1:12:31>> and the program name is still
1:12:36high school
1:12:37>> is up to collegiate.
1:12:39>> Um, okay. There are no further items on
1:12:41this agenda. Ma'am,
1:12:42>> for the record, I'm a I'm a yes because
1:12:43they did follow the policy. Um, you
1:12:45know, I I wanted to split the difference
1:12:47and have both names, but since that
1:12:48didn't pass, I I would be a yes because
1:12:51they did follow the policy.
1:12:52>> Sorry, Miss Bureau. Just for the record,
1:12:55I I thought that it was unanimous
1:12:57against the action item. Did you vote
1:12:59yes?
1:13:00>> I would say yes. Yeah.
1:13:01>> Okay. So, can we get a roll call on that
1:13:03just to make the record clear?
1:13:05>> It's for the second one, right?
1:13:07>> This is for the original motion.
1:13:09>> The original.
1:13:10>> Yes. So, if you need me to read it again
1:13:13>> to rename it to Sarah T. Reed.
1:13:15>> Correct.
1:13:16>> Miss Emmes.
1:13:17>> Yes.
1:13:18>> Mr. Parker?
1:13:19>> No.
1:13:21>> Miss Baldwin?
1:13:23>> Wait. Miss, you sure you didn't change
1:13:24your vote?
1:13:25>> Said no. You didn't want it to be named.
1:13:26Uh, so if you vote yes, then that means
1:13:28that you want it to be changed to
1:13:30>> I I gave my proposal which failed.
1:13:34>> And so I'm not going to fight because
1:13:40>> the roll call is not intended to change
1:13:42the vote. It is to clarify for the
1:13:44record what each person's vote was when
1:13:47there was a voice vote. and and and if
1:13:50if if I couldn't get an agreement to
1:13:53keep both names, then I am voting
1:13:56>> if I couldn't get um an agreement to
1:13:59name put both keep both names so it
1:14:02would be a win-win then I'm going to say
1:14:04I would vote to to make
1:14:06>> to remove Dr. Becknel
1:14:08>> and make it Sarah T re and that's not
1:14:11what I wanted. I said I made that
1:14:14crystal clear. Okay, Miss um Parker
1:14:17Hill, if you could with the roll call.
1:14:20>> You want me to start over or continue
1:14:23on?
1:14:24>> Okay, Miss Baldwin.
1:14:30>> Uh no,
1:14:32>> Miss Bau.
1:14:34>> Yes. Um but as I said with caveat, you
1:14:38>> Miss Griffin,
1:14:40>> no.
1:14:41>> Mr. Marshall,
1:14:42>> no.
1:14:43>> Mr. deserve a gone.
1:14:44>> No,
1:14:46>> that's five nos and two yes.
1:14:49>> Okay. So, action item 4.1 fails. So, the
1:14:54um facility will continue to be named
1:14:56the Dr. Milton J. Becknell facility and
1:15:00the school um named by Collegiate which
1:15:03is within their authority is the CRT
1:15:07Reed I might not have it exactly
1:15:09correct. CRT Reed High School.
1:15:13>> Okay. There are no further items on the
1:15:14agenda. May I have a motion to adjurnn?
1:15:16>> So move.
1:15:17>> It's been moved by U. Mr. Marshall,
1:15:19second by Miss Griffin. All in favor? I.
1:15:21Any opposed? Okay. The time is now 4:47.
1:15:25This meeting is adjourned.
1:16:44The building
1:16:54is

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