If everyone could take his or her seat, we'll get started. Good afternoon, everyone, and welcome to Bessie. Uh, at this time, I will call our April Bessie meeting to order. And I do want to thank everyone for
bearing with us today. This is kind of a pilot, a one-day uh meeting to see how that works. I just want to make everyone aware that there may be times when we do have to have a two-day meeting. So, uh we we just were fixing a few glitches,
but overall, I want to thank uh Toris and our staff. I also want to uh thank Dr. Brumley and LDOE because they've been pulled in all types of different different directions today with with session going on. So we appreciate all
of you. Thank y'all for making it successful. We appreciate it. Can I get a roll call, please? >> Mr. Appel, Mr. Appel's present. Dr. Armstrong, Dr. Armstrong is present. Mr. Berkin,
>> Mr. Perkins, present. Mr. Cow, Mr. Cow is not present. Mr. Castile, Mr. Castile is present. Miss Shampon >> here. >> Miss Shan Pon is present. Dr. Clark. Dr. Clark is present. Mr. Harris >> here.
>> Mr. Harris is present. Miss Holloway. Miss Holloway is present. Miss Melanin. Miss Melan is present. Mr. Morris. Mr. Morris is not present. You have a quorum. >> Thank you. The invitation today will be provided by Mr. Caleb Moore. Can you
please stand and then remain standing for our pledge? >> Heavenly Father, we pray that you will give us your gift of knowledge that we might always make the best decisions for the good of all the school children in Louisiana. We pray that you will give us the wisdom to know and define our tasks,
the strength to build and refine our educational goals, the courage to persevere as necessary. We ask for your direction that we might make unselfish decisions for those we serve. We pray that all who are assembled here have a safe journey home. We thank you for all of your past and future blessings. Amen.
>> Amen. We will be led in the pledge of >> alleg allegiance by Miss Christy Aguulard nation. >> Miss Champine, I wanted to just mention that uh uh Mr. Moore. Caleb Moore just completed officer training school and uh
we're glad that he's back with the agency. >> He's uh he's been away for us uh from a few months going through training, but we're certainly uh we paused his position so he could come back to it. Uh and now he is lieutenant. Is that right? Or
>> second lieutenant. Okay. Very good. Thank >> Thank you for your service. We do appreciate it and all your hard work here. Next item, please. >> Next item on the agenda is item 2.1, approval of the agenda.
>> Can I get a motion, please? Mr. Harris, Miss uh Holloway, is there any objection? Seeing no objection, the motion passes. Next item, please. Next item on the on the agenda is item 3.1, approve of the
minutes from March 11, 2026. >> Can I get a motion to approve the board minutes of March 11th, 2026? Mr. Harris, Miss Melerin, is there any objections?
Seeing no objections, motion passes. Next item, please. >> Next item is item 4.1, report by the state superintendent of education. Can I get a motion, please? Miss Holloway, Dr. Clark.
Thank you. Is there any objection? >> Two two quick items for everyone. I wanted to call your attention to our annual teacher leader summit. Uh certainly hope that some of you can attend that event that will again be held in New Orleans beginning on I believe May the 26th. Uh the theme is
big ideas start here. We look forward to welcoming thousands of Louisiana educators to that event and we have done a really good job of making sure it's uh all really uh closely tied to our priorities. Also mark your calendar July 25th that will be our annual teacher
leader gayla uh that will be held at the National World War II center. Uh will be a spectacular event and I hope that you all can attend. And that concludes my report. >> Thank you Dr. Brumley. Next item please. Next item is item 5.1 reports from
members of Bessie's statutory and legislative task force council's appointees. >> Can I get a motion please? Miss Armstrong, Mr. Appel, is there any objection? >> That motion passes. Any comments or
updates from any members? You good? Okay. Thank you. Seeing none. >> I'm sorry, Madam Chairman. Just remind all that um next month's meeting will be the sir pursuit meeting. >> Yes, sir. Thank you.
Will we get a reminder on that? Thank you. >> Next item, please. >> Next item, board committee reports, item 6.1, school innovation and turnaround committee. Mr. Castile, >> on behalf of the school innovation and turnaround committee, I move to approve
motions one through three, noting that item three as notice of intent. >> Second, please. Mr. Harris, is there any objection? Seeing none, motion passes.
I do have uh two cards. Oh, it's next one. Okay, next item, please. >> Next item is academic goals and instructional improvement committee, item 6.2. >> Motion by Mr. Appel. On behalf of the academic goals and instructional
improvement committee, I move to approve motions 1 through 15, noting that items 10 through 14 or notices of intent and further noting that Mr. Castile has recused himself on item 3.1. >> Thank you. Can I get a second? Dr.
Clark, is there any objection? I do have two chords for uh comments. Mr. I'll call both up at the same time. Griffin H. Rivers and Fria Anderson Rivers.
>> You y'all can have a seat. >> Please state your name for the record. sit on this. >> Good afternoon. My name is Freya Anderson Rivers and I'm here to speak on instructional improvement.
It's not on the agenda, but it's for improvement of the Louisiana schools. Yes, ma'am. And we can only take up agenda uh discuss discussion of agenda items that are on the agenda. So, if that is not on the agenda,
>> still last month when this was taken up. >> Yes, ma'am. Well, last month would have been the time for you to >> Okay. Well, this is I'm asking your consideration please because this is a on a recent decision by the legislature
which you just heard from legislative policy >> on the ten commandments in every classroom >> and it's not religious instruction but rather it's the teaching of history. I do. If apologize is any commandment of
history and not religion, please cut it off. Then what is being children? >> We cannot therefore in >> Can I call up our attorney, please? >> Fully developed comprehensive moral and
ethical system. >> Yes, ma'am. We >> we cannot allow you to continue. Wait, put your mic on. >> D requires that prior to taking up an item on the agenda, the board allow
public comment on that item, but it is limited to the item and Bessie also has enacted rules and regulations regarding decorum for the meetings and disruptions. So, just a point of clarification. >> Thank you. We appreciate you. You're welcome.
Next item, please. >> Next item is item 6.3, Educator Effectiveness Committee. Dr. Clark. My mic is not on. On behalf of the Educator Effectiveness Committee, I move to approve motion 1 through 31.
Do I have a second? Mr. Burkin, is there any objection? Seeing no objection, motion passes. Next item, please. >> Item 6.1 6.4, Board Administration,
Education Finance Committee. Mr. Burkin. On behalf of the board, Administration and Education Finance Committee, I move motions 1 through 27 be accepted and that Mr. Castile and Dr. Clark have
recused themselves on items 4.2. >> Can I get a second, please? Mr. Paris. Is there any objections? Seeing none, motion passes. >> Next item, please. >> Next item is item 6.5, Legislative and
Governmental Affairs Committee. >> My uh motion on behalf of the Legislative and Governmental Affairs Committee, I move to approve motion one. >> Do I have a second, Miss Malerin? Is there any objection?
Seeing no objection, motion passes. That concludes the agenda. We are ajourned.