PROCEEDINGS OF THE SCHOOL BOARD OF THE PARISH OF CONCORDIA, STATE OF LOUISIANA, TAKEN AT A REGULAR MEETING HELD ON TUESDAY, APRIL 4, 2000
The School Board of the Parish of Concordia, State of Louisiana, met in regular session at the Concordia Parish School Board Office, in Vidalia, Louisiana, on Tuesday, April 4, 2000, at five-thirty (5:30) o’clock p.m. The meeting was called to order by the Honorable Mike Grantham, President, who declared after prayer by Superintendent Peterman and the Pledge, that the Board was ready for the transaction of business.
Members present were the Honorable Mike Grantham, Mr. Darrell Crofford, Mr. Don Joseph, Mrs. Mary Campbell, Mr. Lynn White, Mr. Warren Brown, Rev. Johnnie Brown and Mrs. Martha Rabb.
Member absent was Mr. Ricky Raven.
Superintendent Peterman presented the Citizenship Award winners for March 2000. They were as follows:
Ferriday Lower Elementary 1st Grade T’Keyah Fletcher
2nd Grade Gemini Dobson
Vidalia Lower Elementary 1st Grade Luke Michael Martin
2nd Grade Arthur Lewis
Monterey School 1st Grade Ashley Forman
2nd Grade Lauren New
Ridgecrest School 1st Grade Howard Smith
2nd Grade Brittany Scott
It was moved by Mr. Crofford, seconded by Mr. Brown and carried unanimously to approve the minutes of March 7, 2000, and March 23, 2000.
It was moved by Mr. Crofford, seconded by Mrs. Campbell and carried unanimously to approve the financial statement for the month of March in the amount of $2,212,228.
It was moved by Mrs. Rabb, seconded by Mr. Crofford and carried unanimously to enter into Executive Session at 5:45 p.m.
It was moved by Mr. Crofford, seconded by Mr. Brown and carried unanimously to return to regular session at 6:15 p.m.
It was moved by Mr. Joseph, seconded by Mrs. Rabb and carried unanimously to authorize Mr. Norman Magee, Board Attorney, to compromise and settle all claims of James E. Lee, and to handle all things in connection therewith and to issue a check in the amount of $15,000 for that purpose.
Mr. Julius Huhn, Federal Programs Director, reviewed the 2000-2001 Consolidated Application. Mr. Huhn answered questions concerning audit procedures, 4-year-old programs, and parental involvement. It was moved by Mr. Crofford, seconded by Mrs. Rabb and carried unanimously to approve the 2000-2001 Consolidated Application.
Mr. Clarence Hymon, Drug Free Schools Supervisor, reported that, after a review of the bids, the lowest bid was submitted by Workforce Consultants. Mr. Hymon explained that this agency would take care of everything that is required in the policy.
It was moved by Mr. White, seconded by Mr. Joseph and carried 7-1, with Mr. Warren Brown voting no, to approve Workforce Consultants as the drug testing agency and to authorize Workforce Consultants to handle the notifications.
Superintendent Peterman reviewed the Sponsorship of School Food Service Program for Children. Superintendent Peterman explained the site change for summer school. It was moved by Mr. Crofford, seconded by Mr. Joseph and carried to approve the Sponsorship of School Food Service Program.
It was moved by Mrs. Rabb, seconded by Mr. Crofford and carried unanimously, to approve the revised teacher application.
It was moved by Mrs. Rabb, seconded by Mr. Joseph and carried to approve the Teacher Assistant Evaluation to become effective for the 2000-2001 school year.
It was moved by Mr. Crofford, seconded by Mr. White and carried unanimously that a Facilities Evaluation be conducted.
Superintendent Peterman reviewed with the Board the problems with the Ferriday High School Gymnasium. He explained that games were currently played in the Florida Street Gym due to the lack of seating space at the FHS gym. Superintendent Peterman also reviewed problems associated with the Florida Street gym.
It was moved by Rev. Johnnie Brown, seconded by Mrs. Campbell and carried unanimously to contact Mr. Joe Brocato for the cost of a feasibility study to have the Ferriday High School gymnasium ready for play next school year.
Mr. Vernon Mulder, Parent, addressed the Board concerning establishing an extra curricular participation policy whereby cheerleaders would be required to meet the same academic requirements as other athletes.
The following is how the Vidalia High School Cheerleader handbook reads on “GRADES:”
As stated in the “Priorities,” a cheerleader’s first responsibility is to herself–which means her education.
A person who tries out for cheerleader must have a 1.5 grade point average (4 point system) at mid-semester with no “F” in the semester grade. Also, those who make the squad must have a 1.5 grade average with no “F” for final grade.
Once a cheerleader is off the squad because of grades, they may not be reinstated. In such a situation, the quickest this person could hope to be back on the squad is to win a spot on the next year’s squad.
The recommendation from Mr. Mulder is as follows:
As stated in the section on “Priorities’, a cheerleaders first responsibility is to herself - which means her education.
A student who wished to try out for cheerleader must maintain a 1.5 total GPA (using the 4.0 GPA system) or better for the school year. Any student who has not maintained a total GPA of 1.5 or above on final grades for the year may not try out for the next school year’s cheerleading squad.
Any student’s total GPA that falls below 1.5 during the school year shall be dismissed from the squad and is ineligible to be reinstated for the said year.
Mr. Butcher, Director of Academic Affairs, explained that the Board had no policy on extra curricular activities. The cheerleader handbook is a local school policy.
Mr. Rick Brown, Principal, VHS, reminded the group that the handbook had been signed indicating knowledge of eligibility rules.
It was moved by Mrs. Campbell, seconded by Warren Brown and carried unanimously to allow the curriculum committee to review the current policy and recommend a parish wide policy dealing with extra curricular participation. This is to be reported on at the May meeting of the Board.
Mrs. Debra Probst, Parent, and Ms. Lisa Hutchins, Parent, addressed the Board. Mrs. Probst explained the purpose of Parents for Educational Justice and read their mission statement as follows:
Parents for Educational Justice are dedicated to ensuring real school reform and accountability that begins from the top down and does not penalize children for the failing of adult educators and policymakers. We are committed to helping our children rise to any standards demanded of them, provided that these criteria are implemented properly. Our goal is to make sure that Louisiana’s public schools have the proper financing, resources, teacher training, and reduced classrooms necessary for educational success.
President Grantham explained that the School Board must enforce both the policies of the Board and the laws of the State. Mr. Grantham stated that the Board applauded the group’s efforts, but did not want to send the wrong message to school system personnel or parents.
Mrs. Probst praised the efforts of the teachers and administrators of the school system in preparing the students for the LEAP test.
Mr. Warren Brown called on Mr. Rick Brown, Principal, VHS, concerning the cancellation of the Vidalia High School Prom. Mr. Rick Brown explained that the prom had not been scheduled this year due to students’ not dancing correctly at previous dances. Mr. Rick Brown explained that he had offered to have a banquet at the Eola Hotel for students in lieu of a prom.
It was moved by Mr. Warren Brown, seconded by Rev. Brown to have a prom at Vidalia High School. Roll call vote was as follows:
Rev. Johnnie Brown YES
Mr. Warren Brown YES
Mrs. Mary Campbell YES
Mr. Darrell Crofford NO
Mr. Don Joseph NO
Mrs. Martha Rabb NO
Mr. Ricky Raven ABSENT
Mr. Lynn White NO
Mr. Mike Grantham NO
The motion failed 5-3 with Rev. Brown, Mr. Warren Brown and Mrs. Mary Campbell voting yes.
Mr. Crofford asked that the finance and personnel committees review the coaching supplements and the number of games played.
Rev. Brown asked that the item concerning lifetime activity passes for Board Members be withdrawn from the agenda.
It was moved by Mr. Joseph, seconded by Mr. White and carried unanimously to add the following Resolution to the agenda.
RESOLUTION
To provide for support of full funding of the minimum foundation formula developed by the School Finance Commission and adopted by the State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education.
WHEREAS, the Constitution of Louisiana requires the State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education annually to develop and adopt a formula which shall be used to determine the cost of a minimum foundation program of education in all public elementary and secondary schools as well as to equitably allocate the funds to parish and city school systems; and
WHEREAS, inadequate teacher pay is costing our public school systems our most experienced teachers who each year choose to retire or move to neighboring states because there is no financial incentive for them to remain in the teaching profession in Louisiana, and
WHEREAS, inadequate teacher pay is causing our public school systems to lose good young people who aspire to become educators because of the financial pay scales in this state forcing school systems to hire non-certified teachers, and
WHEREAS, mandates for the State’s new Accountability System require systems to provide remediation and summer school for students scoring below a certain level on the LEAP test, and
WHEREAS, the state funding provided for Accountability provides only a portion of the funding for these services, and minimum foundation funds will be necessary to provide these services, and
WHEREAS, local school systems cannot of themselves supplement the pay of its teachers according to their worth and/or to make that pay at least competitive with the Southern region, and
WHEREAS, the Honorable Governor Murphy “Mike” Foster, Jr., has numerous times stated his commitment to raising the salaries of teachers to the Southern Region average,
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that Concordia Parish School Board urges and requests the Louisiana Legislature and the Governor to fully fund the minimum foundation program recommended by the School Finance Commission for 2000-2001, and to ensure that these new monies be unrestricted so that the school system can meet the requirements of Accountability and the specific needs of the school system, and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that Concordia Parish School Board urges and requests Legislators, State Superintendent of Education Cecil Picard, and school boards throughout this State, to join with us to make the goals of this Resolution a reality.
It was moved by Mr. Joseph, seconded by Mr. White and carried unanimously to approve the Resolution.
It was moved by Mr. Joseph, seconded by Mr. White and carried unanimously to add to the agenda a request to appear by the president of the Concordia Federation of Teachers.
Ms. Wilma McKeever, President, Concordia Federation of Teachers, appeared before the Board to request that the Board approve a day off for teachers on May 3, 2000. The purpose of this day would be to attend a rally in Baton Rouge. Ms. McKeever explained to the Board that she was just notified of the rally.
It was moved by Ms. Rabb, seconded by Mr. Crofford to have Superintendent Peterman and Ms. McKeever work out a plan by which a representative group of teachers could attend the rally without dismissing school.
There was a general discussion concerning the dismissal of school on this day. Ms. McKeever made note of the possibility of teachers taking leave time to attend the Rally. Mr. Grantham explained that while the Board wanted to be fair, they must also be cautious of dismissing school. Ms. McKeever informed the Board that she could not control what other people do.
The motion was withdrawn.
It was moved by Mr. White, seconded by Mrs. Rabb and carried unanimously to extend the appointment of Mrs. Dorothy Parker, Interim Principal, FJHS, through the end of the 1999-2000 school year.
It was moved by Mrs. Campbell, seconded by Mrs. Rabb and carried unanimously to remove Mrs. Daisy Williams from the Personnel section of the agenda and approve all other personnel items.
Resignations
Becky Braley, Teacher, FLES, effective May 23, 2000
Patricia Doughty, Teacher Assistant, VLES, effective May 23, 2000
Retirements
Tressie Thomas, Teacher, FJHS, effective May 24, 2000
Diane Costantini, Teacher, VHS, effective May 24, 2000
Willie M. Bacon, Teacher, VHS, effective May 23, 2000
Wilma F. McKeever, Teacher, FLES, effective May 23, 2000
Pauline Matthews, Janitor, FJHS, effective May 31, 2000
Charles Matthews, Teacher, VLES, effective May 31, 2000
Bunny Barlow, Teacher, VLES, effective May 23, 2000
Karen Parnham, Teacher, VLES, effective May 23, 2000
Barbara Crenshaw, Teacher, VJHS, effective May 26, 2000
Jolene Finlay, Teacher, MHS, effective May 23, 2000
Gordan Finlay, Asst. Principal, MHS, effective June 30, 2000
Melvin Demby, Custodian, VJHS, effective June 30, 2000
It was moved by Mr. Joseph, seconded by Mrs. Rabb and carried to adjourn at 8:49 p.m.
_________________________ ________________________
Lester L. Peterman, Superintendent Mike Grantham, President