October 2, 2001

PROCEEDINGS OF THE SCHOOL BOARD OF THE PARISH OF CONCORDIA, STATE OF LOUISIANA, TAKEN AT A REGULAR MEETING HELD ON TUESDAY, OCTOBER 2, 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, October 2, 2001, at five-thirty (5:30) o'clock p.m. The meeting was called to order by the Honorable Mike Grantham, President, who after prayer by Dr. Peterman and the Pledge, declared 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. Lynn White, Rev. Johnnie Brown, Mr. Ricky Raven and Ms. Mary Campbell.

The Citizenship Awards for the month of September were presented by Superintendent Peterman. They were as follows:

Ferriday High School Grade 12 Adelice Smith

Grade 11 Sharina Mays

Vidalia High School Grade 12 Steven Knapp

Grade 11 Deanna Hancock

Monterey High School Grade 12 Candace Enterkin

Grade 11 Heather Evans

Mr. Howard Jackson, Supervisor of Child Welfare and Attendance, presented the school attendance awards for the month of August. They were as follows:

First Place Ridgecrest School 98.6%

Second Place Monterey School 98.4%

Second Place Ferriday Upper 98.4%

Third Place Vidalia High 98.2%

Mr. Jackson also presented the awards for overall attendance for the 2000-2001 school year. Overall attendance award winners were presented with a certificate along with an allottment. The winners were as follows:

First Place Ridgecrest School 96%

Second Place Monterey High 94.5%

Third Place Ferriday Lower 93.9%

Superintendent Peterman presented the Teacher of the Year Awards. He informed the Board that the winners would receive a check along with an additional day of leave time. The winners were as follows:

Elementary Level Mary Boyette Ferriday Lower Elementary School

Middle School Level Dorothy Sutton Vidalia Junior High School

It was moved by Mr. Crofford, seconded by Ms. Campbell and approved unanimously to enter into Executive Session at 5:45 p.m.

It was moved by Mr. Crofford, seconded by Mr. Raven and approved unanimously to return to Regular Session at 6:40 p.m.

Ms. Rabb left the meeting at 6:40 p.m.

It was moved by Mr. Crofford, seconded by Ms. Campbell and carried to approve the minutes of September 11, 2001, Public Hearing and September 11, 2001, Regular Meeting.

Ms. Gloria Dangerfield, Assistant Director of Business Affairs, presented the financial report to the Board. It was moved by Mr. Riley, seconded by Mr. Crofford and carried unanimously to approve invoices for the month of September in the amount of $2,595,715.

Dr. Peterman requested that the Board extend the Band Director's contract to ten (10) months. It was moved by Rev. Brown, seconded by Mr. Raven and carried unanimously to approve extending the Band Director's contract to ten (10) months.

Mr. O'Neal provided the Board with an explaination of the purpose of the Compliance Statement. It was moved by Mr. Crofford, seconded by Mr. Joseph and carried unanimously to approve the Compliance Statement.

It was moved by Mr. Crofford, seconded by Mr. White and carried unanimously to approve the Proclamation by Governor Mike Foster proclaiming the month of October 2001, as Childnet/Child Search Awareness Month in the state of Louisiana.

It was moved by Mr. Crofford, seconded by Mr. Joseph and carried unanimously to approve the first reading of Policy JCDB - Dress Code and Policy EBDA - Energy Conservation Management.

It was moved by Mr. White and seconded by Rev. Brown to approve the second reading of the remaining policies. Mr. Riley stated that he had a problem with Policy JBCB - Admission of Non-resident Students. Mr. White withdrew the motion.

It was moved by Mr. White, seconded by Rev. Brown and carried unanimously to approve the second reading of Policy AE - School Year, AF - School Day, GBRIB - Sick Leave and JBA - Compulsory School Attendance Age.

It was moved by Mr. Riley, seconded by Rev. Brown and carried unanimously to table the second reading of Policy JBCB - Admission of Non-resident Students, pending a review of the policy consultants.

Mr. Clarence Hymon, Director of Safe and Drug Free Schools, presented the Board with an overview of the newly developed Crisis Management Plan. He informed the Board that each school system must have a plan in place no later than January 1, 2002. It was moved by Mr. White, seconded by Mr. Raven and carried unanimously to adopt the Concordia Parish School System Crisis Management Plan.

Superintendent Peterman reviewed the recommendations for substitute teacher qualifications. It was moved by Mr. Crofford, seconded by Mr. Raven and carried to approve the following recommendations:

1. Possess a high school diploma or GED diploma

2. Provide documentation of 18 hours of the successful completion of course work from an accredited college or university. This requirement may be waived under the following conditions provided all other requirements have been met.

A. The Site Administrator is unable to secure a substitute teacher from the approved substitute teacher list. (Emergency Temporary Assignment)

B. The substitute teacher is recommended by a Site Administrator as having proven job skills which relate to the area of assignment

3. Successfully complete a minimum of four (4) hours of substitute teacher professional development provided by the Concordia Parish School System

4. Provide three local character references

5. Maintain a continuous record of satisfactory job performance during substitute teaching assignments

6. Submit to a criminal background check

Superintendent Peterman reviewed the transfer policy for teachers. Superintendent Peterman recommended the following admendments to Policy GBM - Transfer.

1. Amend language in the first sentence of the second paragraph (changes shown in bold print) to read:

Employees who voluntarily request a transfer to another school or position shall submit a written request to the immediate supervisor and Superintendent.

2. Add the following language under Item 3 of the section titled Transfer Procedures (changes shown in bold print):

Item 3 If the transfer request is made by a teacher or other employee, the teacher or other employee shall provide the rationale and both principals must be in agreement in order to effect the transfer after the following factors have been considered:

A. Agreement of release by principal where the employee is assigned

B. Agreement of acceptance by the principal receiving the transfer

C. Certification of the requesting employee

D. Years of service fo the requesting employee

E. Years of service at the site where the employee is assigned

F. Residence of the requesting employee

G. Previous transfers by employee

a. By employee request

b. By system request

H. Evaluation history of the requesting employee's job performance

It was moved by Mr. Crofford, seconded by Mr. Joseph and carried unanimously to approve the Superintendent's recommendation.

Superintendent Peterman discussed a Community Mentor Program with Board Members. He explained that the program would use peer and adult mentors to provide extra support in addressing the student's education needs. He explained that through this program, caring adults will become a vital resource for helping students become successful in their educational endeavors. Superintendent Peterman requested that the Board grant permission for him to begin working on the program. It was moved by Mr. Crofford, seconded by Mr. Raven and carried to approve the Community Mentor Program.

It was moved by Mr. White, seconded by Mr. Joseph and carried unanimously to approve a change order for Ferriday Lower Elementary School classroom construction in the amount of $2,950.

Superintendent Peterman reported on the Minimum Foundation Program. No action was required.

It was moved by Mr. Crofford, seconded by Mr. Riley and carried 7 to 1 with Mr. Raven voting no, to accept the low bid for Child Care Provider. Roll Call Vote was as follows:

Rev. Johnnie Brown Yes

Ms. Mary Campbell Yes

Mr. Darrell Crofford Yes

Mr. Donald Joseph Yes

Ms. Martha Rabb Absent

Mr. Ricky Raven No

Mr. Raymond Riley, Sr. Yes

Mr. Ernest Lynn White Yes

Mr. Mike Grantham Yes

It was moved by Mr. Crofford, seconded by Mr. Joseph and carried to approve the addition of the addendum to the personnel section.

It was moved by Ms. Campbell, seconded by Mr. Raven and carried unanimously to approve all personnel items.

Retirements

Charles Ferguson, Maintenance, CPSB, effective September 28, 2001

Resignations

Joyce Russ, Teacher, VUES, effective September 28, 2001

Reginald Wilson, Janitor, Ferriday Junior High, effective September 28, 2001

Extended Sick

Patsy Smith, Auditor, Sales Tax, effective August 1, 2001, through August 31, 2001

Catrina Warner-Chatman, Teacher, Ferriday Junior High School, effective October 1, 2001 through November 2, 2001

Military Leave

Wilton Nolan, School Psychologist, FEC, effective September 28, 2001

Appointments

Judy Johnson, Teacher, RES, effective August 16, 2001

Walter Johnson, Jr., Asst. Coach (only), FHS, effective 2001-2002 school year only

Richard Butler, Teacher, VUES, effective October 1, 2001

Edward Bruster, Teacher, FHS, to Teacher, Alternative Center, effective October 4, 2001

William Dodson, 2.5 hour sweeper, Vidalia Upper Elementary, effective September 18, 2001

It was moved by Mr. Riley, seconded by Mr. Crofford and carried to adjourn at 7:10 p.m.

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Lester L. "Pete" Peterman, Superintendent Mike Grantham, President