Executive Session, Work Session, Community Input Session & Business Meeting

Why: Approval of the corrective action plan in accordance with the provisions of Senate Bill 68.

Why: Payment of $22.5 million in accordance with the provisions of the Final Approval of the Settlement Agreement and Order.

Why: Assignment of $45 million for future settlement funding payments, due October 12, 2023, and October 6, 2024.

Why: Each year, the DeKalb County School District (“District”) purchases various insurance policies. The District’s insurance broker assists with the purchase of these policies. The areas of insurance include, but are not limited to, excess workers’ compensation, property, fine arts, government crime, student blanket professional liability, leased warehouses, and leased parking lots. These insurance policies protect the District against economic loss and fall into three major categories: 1) premium for property insurance; 2) insurance premiums under $100,000; and 3) insurance premiums over $100,000.

The Board approved the insurance specifications for the District’s property and casualty insurance needs in June of 2016. Since 2017, the District has engaged the services of an insurance broker to provide consultation services regarding complex insurance matters. The benefits of an insurance broker include the discussion of possible risks facing the District, the impact of those risks on the District’s resources, and implementation of various control measures to minimize damages. Epic served as the District’s insurance broker from March of 2017 until June of 2022. The District’s agreement with Epic ended on June 12, 2022.

At its business meeting on May 9, 2022, the DeKalb County Board of Education (“Board”) approved an Insurance Producer Services for Property and Casualty Insurance Agreement with Arthur J. Gallagher Risk Management Services, Inc. (“Gallagher”), for an annual fee not to exceed $140,000.00, plus additional compensation at a fifteen percent maximum commission level on any new insurance policies not currently purchased by the District. After that approval, the District entered into an Insurance Producer Services Agreement for Property and Casualty Insurance Services with Gallagher. For several reasons, the District has provided Gallagher with notice of termination of its agreement. These reasons include, but are not limited to, a possible lack of future access to the District’s current property insurance program held with Alliant Property Insurance Program (“APIP”). The Board approved the renewal of its property insurance program with APIP at its June 6, 2022, meeting. This policy is in place so that the District has cyber insurance coverage and insurance to protect its physical assets, buildings, property, buses, equipment, and fine arts. The District wishes to continue utilizing the APIP program.

The District’s contract with Gallagher provided that the District can terminate the agreement at any time, for any reason, with thirty business days’ notice to Gallagher. The contract termination notice is effective within thirty business days of the receipt of the termination. Gallagher will be terminated as of August 29, 2022. Therefore, the District must continue with Epic, a qualified insurance broker dedicated to servicing all the District’s insurance needs. This includes, but is not limited to, helping with the District’s annual insurance renewal procedures for its insurance policies as well as providing guidance when losses occur, and when claims must be filed. Epic’s services will begin on August 30, 2022.

Why: The contract renewal with Brentwood will enable the DeKalb County School District (“District”) to continue the efficient provision of adjuster services for new and longstanding workers’ compensation claims.

Why: Public school districts require sound legal advice on various issues. Therefore, it is prudent for the Board of Education to engage with the law firm they determine to best represent its interests. Renewal of the Swift Currie contract will enable the District to continue the efficient provision of legal services for workers’ compensation and general liability matters.

Why: According to Board Policy IFA-Instructional Media, the District must provide access to instructional resources including, but not limited to, textbooks and supplementary materials. The Board policy on Instructional Media requires the presentation of recommendations for the adoption and purchase of instructional resources to the Board of Education. It is also necessary to purchase supplemental resources and previously adopted textbooks and/or instructional resources needed to accommodate growth and/or replenish inventory due to lost or damaged materials in preparation for the 2022-2023 school year.

Why: Metro East GLRS (MEGLRS) provides direct support to six area school systems: DeKalb, Buford City, Decatur City, Fulton, Gwinnett, and Rockdale Counties. In these systems, Metro East GLRS provides support for parents of students with disabilities, teachers of students with disabilities, as well as students with disabilities. Metro East GLRS also provides in-kind ancillary services for the remainder of the Metro area: Cobb County Schools, Atlanta Public Schools, Clayton County Schools, Marietta City Schools, Douglas County Schools, and Forsyth County Schools. Metro East GLRS works directly with the Directors and Executive Directors of Special Education to design and implement the Statewide Systemic Improvement Plan (SSIP), Coordinated Early Intervening Services (CEIS) and Corrective Action Plans (CAP). These services are in the form of planning, professional learning, seminars, coaching, and mentoring. In addition, Metro East GLRS maintains and operates the Materials Production Center (MPC) and Resource Library located in the DeKalb County Administrative and Instructional Complex (AIC).

Why: The Carl Perkins Federal Grant funds assist in developing strategies that will improve student academic achievement and career readiness. These strategies also impact each schools' College and Career Readiness Performance Index (CCRPI) scores. These funds will enhance and create multiple pathways to success for students by providing the following instructional strategies:
Academic and Technical Skills Integration - The integration of rigorous and challenging academic and CTAE curriculum units will be developed for teacher use. These units will be produced by business/industry, teachers, and postsecondary staff during work sessions throughout the school year.
Project-Based Learning - Provide professional learning for teachers and counselors to develop project-based learning activities. Resources will be designed to create opportunities for students to investigate meaningful real-world projects that promote critical thinking.
Student Leadership Development - The development of positive qualities and leadership is vital in career success. Career and Technical Student Organizations (CTSOs) such as Distributive Education Club of America (DECA), Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA), Family, Career and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA), Future Farmers of America (FFA), Health Occupations Students of America (HOSA), Technology Student Association (TSA), Career and Technical Instruction (CTI) and SkillsUSA are designed to enhance CTAE pathways at middle and high schools by providing career and leadership development through peer interactions, adult mentoring, and competitions based on knowledge and skills learned in the classroom.
Industry Credentialing - CTAE pathways are designed to meet the needs of business and industry by providing students the opportunity to receive industry-recognized certifications. Students demonstrate mastery of standards and proficiency by taking an industry certification assessment. Some certifications/licenses available to high school students are: A+, Net +, National Automotive Technicians Education Foundation - NATEF (Automotive Service), Certified Nursing Assistant - CNA (Healthcare Science), Computer-Aided Design - AutoCAD (Engineering), and Junior Culinarian (Culinary Arts), to name a few.
Entrepreneurship - Entrepreneurship involves teaching students how to start a new business and the associated risks. Entrepreneurship plays a vital role in today's society. The entrepreneur is often the source of innovation, providing the marketplace with new and improved products and services. The successful entrepreneur who can start and grow a business also contributes to the overall growth and welfare of the economy.
Work-Based Learning (WBL) - WBL provides students the opportunity to start preparing for a career while still in high school. In some cases, students can learn from skilled professionals, increase future employability, strengthen academic skills, and experience the connection between education and real-life work skills.
Soft Skills Development - The CTAE Department uses the Georgia Best Business Ethics Student Training Program. The training, modeled after the business world where their employers assess employees' performance and teach ten areas of ethics and soft skills. This type of assessment and classroom setting allows for leadership development, critical and creative thinking, decision-making, problem-solving, teamwork, and work-based learning. Guest speakers from the business community, mock job interviews, and resume tips are strategies used in soft skills and ethics training.
Career Pathway Completion - Career pathway completers are students that complete three courses in the same pathway. Pathway courses prepare students to take industry credentialing assessments after completing the third course.
Teacher Professional Development - Teacher workshops are provided to CTAE and academic teachers to provide an updated curriculum and keep career pathway instruction current with employment trends and teaching strategies.
Business Advisory Committees - Business and industry can be involved in local schools by providing input to pathway instruction and student career preparation.

Grant funds allow the district to support career pathway implementation to prepare students for college and careers.

Why: College Board owns and delivers its national standardized tests to students. College Board’s Early Participation Program is an initiative to support the involvement of all students in the college-going process at an earlier age while there is still time to inform instruction and learning, and increase students’ readiness for college expectations. College Board supports this initiative by providing clients with access to additional savings when clients pay to engage at least one entire grade of students in taking the PSAT 8/9® exam. Shifting this financial obligation from the student to DCSD provides greater access for students to the PSAT 8/9 assessment and provides students early entry on the road to college.

College Board offers several assessments in the SAT suite: SAT, PSAT/NMSQT, PSAT 10, and PSAT 8/9. Each assessment is designed to prepare students for their progress through high school and preparedness for post secondary education.

The PSAT 8/9 is the first test in the SAT Suite of Assessments. It sets a readiness baseline, allowing students and teachers to pinpoint areas for focused practice as students progress through high school.

The PSAT 8/9 is offered to all 8th grade students registered in a DeKalb County school. For SY 22-23, the PSAT 8/9 will be administered on Thursday, October 13, 2022, in a one-day test administration.

The PSAT NMSQT is offered to all 9-12 grade students on Wednesday, October 12, 2022. However, the Ga DOE only covers the cost of 10th grade students. School leaders and parent guardians are responsible for any 9th, 11th, and 12th grade students participating in the PSAT NMSQT test administration.

Why: The purpose of this purchase is to replace damaged cameras and support adds, moves, and changes.

Why: The renewal of Bid# 21-530R is needed to ensure the Athletic Department’s access to the contracted catalog discounts which will continue to allow for the timely and cost-effective purchase of athletic equipment and uniforms during the 2022 - 2023 School Year.

Why: This request is a contract extension for MSC Industrial Supply Co. to provide efficient service and quality performance while reducing costs. This request extends the agreement for an additional year through September 30, 2023.

Why: This request is a contract extension for MSC Industrial Supply Co., to provide materials for the Facilities Department to achieve the goal of efficient service and quality performance while reducing costs. This request extends the agreement for an additional year through September 30, 2023.

Why: This request is a contract extension for Best Plumbing Specialties, Inc., Marks Plumbing Parts and MSC Industrial Supply Co., to provide efficient service and quality performance while reducing costs. This request extends the agreement for an additional year through September 30, 2023.

Why: This request is for a contract for Cliff's Fire Extinguisher Co., Inc., to perform fire alarm monitoring services for all DeKalb County School District schools and facilities. This request provides an agreement on a month-to-month basis, retroactive to August 1, 2022, while the district updates its fire monitoring equipment and starts procurement for a vendor to perform monitoring services on an annual basis.

Board Policy DJE requires that "Purchases or contracts with a total estimated cost of $100,000.00 or more shall be awarded through a written competitive sealed bid process to the lowest responsible, responsive bidder, or through a competitive request for proposal process where the offer deemed to be the most advantageous to the district may be selected. The decision whether to use a competitive sealed bid or a competitive request for proposal shall be made by the Superintendent or the Superintendent’s authorized designee, based on sound business judgment and the best interest of the district. ​

Use of the competitive selection measures not required when the purchase or contract is necessitated by an emergency, defined as any situation that threatens to jeopardize the health, welfare or safety of students, staff, the district or the public or the loss of an essential District service.

Why: These E-SPLOST V projects are complete or no longer necessary. Moving all remaining funds from these projects to E-SPLOST V program Contingency will allow these funds to be used by other E-SPLOST V projects to cover increased costs due to cost escalation or increased scope of work.

Why: This will allow for the DeKalb County School District to collect reimbursement funds for these capital improvement projects in the amount of $16,861,594 as allowable under the State Capital Outlay program.

Why: The E-SPLOST VI program will allow the District to continue to address major capital needs such as constructing new schools, major facility renovations, and the purchase of capital equipment such as busses and new technology. The initial E-SPLOST VI project list is required to begin work on E-SPLOST VI projects.

Why: Since 1997, the DCSD has utilized Education Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax (E-SPLOST) funds as the primary funding source for its capital improvement programs. On May 24, 2022, the DeKalb County voters approved the district’s sixth E-SPLOST program (2022-2027). The E-SPLOST VI project listing and associated cash flow sequencing which will include a full list of projects, budgets and anticipated start and finish dates is still being developed.

Over the years, the district has utilized a Program Manager (PM) and Supplemental Project Management Firms to support the management of the E-SPLOST capital improvement programs. The current, existing Program Management Services Agreement will expire September 30, 2022. The new PM Service Agreement will be for an initial one-year term with four (4) one-year options to renew subject to Board approval on a year-to-year basis. The services requested included program management services for multiple site modifications, renovations, additions, and new construction projects throughout the district.

The district will hold all design and construction contracts. The PM will be an integral member of the capital improvement team, and therefore all full-time staff members of the PM will operate under the Design and Construction Department located at the Sam A. Moss Service Center in Tucker, Georgia.

This contract will provide the services of a Program Manager to act on the district’s behalf for the delivery of the E-SPLOST VI Capital Improvement Program and the completion of the remaining E-SPLOST V projects. Additional details related to the scope of work for this project can be found on the district’s solicitation website at http://www.dekalbschoolsga.Ionwave.net.

Why: The purpose of this agenda item is to accept a donation totaling $37,754.00 for decorative window mini blinds from the Sagamore Hills Elementary School Foundation to Sagamore Hills Elementary School.

Why: Title 20 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated was amended in Article 1 of Chapter 1 by adding a new Code section about divisive concepts. “Divisive Concepts” means any of the following concepts, including views espousing the following:

a. One race is superior to another race;
b. The United States of America is fundamentally racist;
c. An individual, by virtue of his or her race, is inherently or consciously racist or oppressive toward individuals of other races;
d. An individual should be discriminated against or receive adverse treatment solely or partly because of his or her race;
e. An individual’s moral character is inherently determined by his or her race;
f. An individual, solely by virtue of his or her race, bears individual responsibility for actions committed in the past by other individuals of the same race;
g. An individual, solely by virtue of his or her race, should feel anguish, guilt or any other form of psychological distress;
h. Performance-based advancement or the recognition and appreciation of character traits such as hard work ethic are racist or have been advocated for by individuals of a particular race to oppress individuals of another race; or
i. Any other form of race scapegoating or race stereotyping.