PROCEEDINGS OF THE SCHOOL BOARD OF THE PARISH OF CONCORDIA, STATE OF LOUISIANA, TAKEN AT A REGULAR MEETING HELD ON TUESDAY, JANUARY 8, 2002.
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, January 8, 2002, 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 Superintendent Lester 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 and Ms. Mary Campbell.
Member absent was Mr. Ricky Raven.
Superintendent Peterman requested that the Special Recognitions and Executive Session be moved to the top of the agenda. It was moved by Rev. Brown, seconded by Mr. White and carried unanimously to move the Special Recognitions and Executive Session to the top of the agenda.
Superintendent Peterman presented the Citizenship Awards as follows:
Ferriday Junior High School 6th Grade Krystal Birdon
Vidalia Junior High School 6th Grade Britni Nations
7th Grade Aubrie LaSoyne
8th Grade Mark Welch
Monterey High School 6th Grade Billy Metcalf
Ridgecrest School 6th Grade Toni Lee Johnson
Superintendent Peterman recognized the winners of the Louisiana School Board Association art competition. The winners were as follows:
1st Place K-4 Chris LaPrairie 4th Grade Vidalia Upper Elementary
1st Place 5-8 Cassius Clay 5th Grade Vidalia Upper Elementary
It was moved by Mr. Crofford, seconded by Mr. Joseph and carried unanimously to enter Executive Session at 6:40 p.m.
It was moved by Mr. Crofford, seconded by Mr. White and carried unanimously to return to Regular Session at 6:55 p.m.
The 2002 officers were elected as follows:
Mr. Crofford nominated Mr. Mike Grantham as president. Mr. Grantham was elected president by a 5-2 vote with Ms. Rabb and Mr. Riley voting no, Mr. Raven being absent and Mr. Grantham abstaining. The roll call vote was as follows:
Rev. Johnnie Brown Yes
Ms. Mary Campbell Yes
Mr. Darrell Crofford Yes
Mr. Don Joseph Yes
Ms. Martha Rabb No
Mr. Ricky Raven Absent
Mr. Raymond Riley No
Mr. Ernest Lynn White Yes
Mr. Mike Grantham Abstain
Ms. Campbell nominated Mr. Raymond Riley as vice president with Ms. Rabb seconding the nomination. Mr. Riley was elected vice president by a 6-2 vote with Mr. Crofford and Mr. Joseph voting no.
Mr. Grantham announced that the committee appointments would be made at the next meeting. Mr. Grantham asked that any committee member who would like to request a change in committee assignment to please do so prior to the next meeting.
It was moved by Mr. Riley, seconded by Mr. Crofford and carried unanimously to approve the minutes of the regular meeting of December 11, 2001.
It was moved by Mr. Riley, seconded by Mr. Crofford and carried unanimously to approve invoices in the amount of $3,225,565.
It was moved by Mr. Crofford, seconded by Mr. Riley and carried to request a ruling from the board attorney concerning compensation and expenses for board members.
It was recommended that the Board meet the second Tuesday of each month. Rev. Brown stated that it was policy that the Board hold regular meetings on the first Tuesday of each month and in order to meet on the second Tuesday, policy must be changed. There was general discussion among board members concerning the meeting date. It was moved by Mr. Crofford, seconded by Mr. Joseph and carried unanimously to set the February Board meeting for the first Tuesday in February.
Ms. Georgia Washington presented an overview of the Healthy Babies Concordia Program to the Board. Ms. Washington requested that the Board approve for Healthy Babies personnel to go into the schools to talk to students who make a request for the services of the program. It was moved by Rev. Brown, seconded by Mr. White and carried unanimously to approve for Healthy Babies Concordia personnel to go into the schools to talk to students who make a request for the services.
Ms. Melanie Melville provided the Board with a brief overview of Health Management Concepts' role in the collection of Medicade funds for Special Education services provided to students. It was moved by Rev. Brown, seconded by Mr. Crofford and carried unanimously to approve for Superintendent Peterman to have the authority to enter into a contract with Health Management Concepts.
It was moved by Rev. Brown, seconded by Mr. Crofford and carried unanimously to approve the issuance of the 13th check on January 11, 2002, as follows:
For employees hired prior to October 1, 2001
Full time certified employees $400
Part-time certified employees $200
Full time support employees $200
Part-time support employees $100
It was moved by Mr. Crofford, seconded by Ms. Campbell and carried unanimously to approve a special education teaching position at the Alternative School.
It was moved by Mr. White, seconded by Mr. Joseph and carried unanimously to approve the following addendum to the agenda:
Addendum to Agenda
VI ITEMS FOR DISCUSSION AND APPROPRIATE ACTION
A. Change Order
B. Approval of Attorney for QZAB Loan
C. Approval of Policies
Policy DJED - Bids and Quotations - Second Reading
Policy GBRK - Annual Leave - Second Reading
Policy II - Testing Program - Second Reading
Policy GAE - Complaints and Grievances - Second Reading
It was moved by Rev. Brown, seconded by Mr. White and carried unanimously to allow Superintendent Peterman to issue a change order for construction work, not to exceed $15,000.
It was moved by Mr. Crofford, seconded by Ms. Campbell and carried unanimously to approve for Mr. O'Neal to hire the law firm of Hammonds and Sills for the QZAB loan.
It was moved by Mr. Joseph, seconded by Rev. Brown and carried unanimously to approve the second reading of the following policies:
Policy DJED - Bids and Quotations - Second Reading
Policy GBRK - Annual Leave - Second Reading
Policy II - Testing Program - Second Reading
Policy GAE - Complaints and Grievances - Second Reading
It was moved by Ms. Campbell, seconded by Rev. Brown and carried unanimously to approve all personnel items as follows.
Resignation
Gail Wade, Teacher, Ferriday Upper Elementary, effective January 14, 2002
Appointment
Roy Rushing, Teacher, Vidalia High School, effective January 15, 2002
Shaneka Smalls, Teacher, Ferriday High School, effective January 7, 2002
Extended Leave
Ginger McNeeley, Teacher, Vidalia Upper Elementary, effective January 15 through February 12, 2002
Sherry Barfield, Teacher, Vidalia Junior High, change of effective date from December 4, 2001, through January 15, 2002, to effective date December 4, 2001, through January 4, 2002.
It was moved by Rev. Brown, seconded by Mr. Joseph and carried to adjourn at 6:45 p.m.
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Lester L. "Pete" Peterman, Superintendent Mike Grantham, President