PROCEEDINGS OF THE SCHOOL BOARD OF THE PARISH OF CONCORDIA, STATE OF LOUISIANA, TAKEN AT A REGULAR MEETING HELD ON TUESDAY, JULY 10, 2001.
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, July 10, 2001, 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 Dr. Lester Peterman and the Pledge, that the Board was ready for the transaction of business.
Members present were Mr. Mike Grantham, Mr. Darrell Crofford, Mr. Don Joseph, Ms. Martha Rabb, Mr. Raymond Riley, Mr. Ricky Raven and Ms. Mary Campbell.
Member absent was Mr. Lynn White.
Superintendent Peterman and the Board recognized the retirees for the 2000-2001school year. Each retiree was presented a plaque.
It was moved by Mr. Crofford, seconded by Mr. Raven and carried unanimously to approve the minutes of June 12, 2001.
It was moved by Mr. Crofford, seconded by Mr. Riley and carried unanimously to approve invoices for the month of May in the amount of $2,062,731.
It was moved by Mr. Riley, 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. Raven and carried unanimously to return to Regular Session at 5:55 p.m.
Superintendent Peterman requested that the Board add an item to the agenda concerning a resolution to retain council to join into a lawsuit filed by the state. Dr. Peterman read the Resolution into the minutes as follows:
RESOLUTION
WHEREAS, Article VIII, Sec. 13 (B) of the Louisiana Constitution provides that the State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education (BESE) shall annually develop a formula to determine the cost of a minimum foundation program (MFP) of education in all public elementary and secondary schools and requires the Louisiana Legislature to annually appropriate funds sufficient to fully fund the cost to the state of such a program, and
WHEREAS, State Superintendent of Education Cecil Picard has notified the State of Louisiana through the Commissioner of Administration that an additional appropriation of SEVENTEEN MILLION TWO HUNDRED TEN THOUSAND SIX HUNDRED DOLLARS ($17,210,600,00) necessary to fully fund the MFP for fiscal year 2000-2001, and
WHEREAS, Because of this failure on the part of the State of Louisiana, the State Superintendent of Education has been required to reduce the amount of MFP funds flowing to fifty (55) school districts in Louisiana by amounts totaling SEVENTEEN MILLION TWO HUNDRED TEN THOUSAND SIX HUNDRED DOLLARS ($17,210,600.00), and
WHEREAS, Those funds are vitally important for continuation of educational services to students and, in many instances, have already been budgeted and/or expended by school districts, and
WHEREAS, The issue of whether the State of Louisiana through the Commissioner of Administration can unilaterally reduce the level of funding provided by the state to the school districts through application of the MFP is one of importance to all public school systems in Louisiana, and
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT DULY RESOLVED by the Concordia Parish School Board in regular session duly convened that:
1. The Concordia Parish School Board authorizes the special counsel listed below to name it as a party plaintiff in any litigation which may need to be filed against the State of Louisiana, Governor Mike Foster, Commissioner of Administration Mark Drennen or any other agency or individual with regard to the failure of the state to appropriate the SEVENTEEN MILLION TWO HUNDRED TEN THOUSAND SIX HUNDRED DOLLARS ($17,210,600.00) referenced above.
2. Subject to the approval of the Attorney General for the State of Louisiana, the Concordia Parish School Board employs and retains Mr. Frank Endom, Jr. of the Law Firm of Polack, Rosenberg, Endom, and Ries, L.L.P. and Mr. Fred Sutherland of the Law Firm of Beard and Sutherland to serve as special counsel to represent it and other school systems throughout the State of Louisiana in such litigation. The School Board agrees to reimburse such counsel in accordance with the rate structure approved by the Attorney General for special counsel with the understanding that such fees and any expenses of litigation will be equitably assessed and paid pursuant to a formula to be agreed upon by all of the school systems participating in such litigation.
It was moved by Mr. Crofford, seconded by Mr. Raven and carried to accept the Resolution.
It was moved by Mr. Crofford, seconded by Mr. Joseph and carried unanimously to accept the low bid for the Vidalia Upper Elementary School roofing project and have Mr. Joe Brocato draw specifications for Ferriday Lower Elementary School.
It was moved by Mr. Crofford, seconded by Mr. Joseph and carried to approve the first reading of Policy II - Testing Program.
It was moved by Mr. Crofford, seconded by Mr. Riley and carried unanimously to approve the second reading of Policy JDF - Discipline of Students with Disabilities.
Mr. Fred T. Butcher, Director of Academics, provided an update on the Ferriday High School Principal Search Committee. Mr. Butcher advised the Board that the composition of the committee had been decided upon. The committee will meet in late August and come back to the Board with a recommendation.
Rev. Johnnie Brown arrived at 6:05 p.m.
It was moved by Mr. Crofford, seconded by Mr. Raven and carried to allow Dr. Peterman to discuss the formulation of a lease with the owner of the building formally used as the Louisiana Business College.
Superintendent Peterman read the following Resolution into the minutes:
RESOLUTION
Whereas, improvement of student academic achievement and a decrease in the drop-out rate are needs which will be met with major changes in classroom instruction; and
Whereas, in order to increase student learning and improve student test scores, teachers must do a superior job using a variety of instructional methods; and
Whereas, teachers need intense professional development to effectively utilize existing technology and improve instructional skills on all academic areas; and
Whereas, providing well-trained teachers who posses the knowledge and skills needed to utilize technology and effective instructional methods will reform classroom instruction; and
Whereas, the Rapides Foundation Education Initiative will provide the funding for professional development;
Therefore Be It Resolved, that the Concordia Parish School Board authorizes the execution of contracts with the Rapides Foundation Education Initiative.
It was moved by Ms. Campbell, seconded by Rev. Brown and carried unanimously to approve the Rapides Foundation Education Initiative Resolution.
Superintendent Peterman informed the Board of the one-time state supplement for support personnel in the amount of $328.78. He requested that the Board consider raising the amount to $350. It was moved by Mr. Riley, seconded by Ms. Rabb and carried unanimously to approve the one-time supplement for support personnel in the amount of $350 for full-time and $175 for part-time support staff members.
It was moved by Mr. Crofford, seconded by Mr. Raven and carried to grant the request to appear for Ms. Sue A. Easterling.
Mr. Crofford declared a five minute recess at 6:10 p.m.
The Board reconvened at 6:12 p.m.
After conferring with Dr. Peterman, Ms. Easterling informed the Board that she preferred to be heard in Executive Session.
It was moved by Mr. Crofford, seconded by Rev. Brown and carried unanimously to enter Executive Session at 6:13 p.m.
It was moved by Mr. Crofford, seconded by Rev. Brown and carried unanimously to return to regular session at 6:34 p.m.
It was moved by Mr. Crofford, seconded by Rev. Brown and carried to add the following items to the Personnel section of the agenda.
Appointments
Mary Rawles, Teacher, FLES, effective August 16, 2001
Sonya Caviness, Teacher, VLES, effective August 16, 2001
It was moved by Ms. Campbell, seconded by Mr. Raven and carried unanimously to approve the personnel items en globo.
Personnel
Retirements
Sherry Byrnes, Sales Tax Clerk, CPSB, effective June 29, 2001
Transfers
Dianne Shannon, 6 hr. Janitor/2 hr. SFS, VHS to 6 hr. Janitor, VHS, effective August 20, 2001
Request for Sabbatical Leave
Katharine Calhoun, Teacher, VUES, effective first semester 2001-2002 school year
Appointments*
Sandra Dunn, Teacher, VLES, effective August 16, 2001
Lisa Griggs, 2.5 hr. Sweeper, RES, effective August 20, 2001
Penny Craft, Teacher, FLES, effective August 16, 2001
*All certified personnel appointments are effective August 16, 2001, pending decision of State on Mandatory Professional Development Days
It was moved by Mr. Joseph, seconded by Mr. Raven and carried to adjourn at 6:38 p.m.
___________________________________ _____________________________
Lester L. "Pete" Peterman, Superintendent Mike Grantham, President