PROCEEDINGS OF THE SCHOOL BOARD OF THE PARISH OF CONCORDIA, STATE OF LOUISIANA, TAKEN AT A REGULAR MEETING HELD ON TUESDAY, MARCH 12, 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, March 12, 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 Rev. Brown 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.
Superintendent Peterman presented the Citizenship Awards as follows:
Ferriday Upper Elementary 3rd Grade Britney Banks
Vidalia Upper Elementary 3rd Grade Courtney Pritchard
Monterey High School 3rd Grade Anna Cross
Ridgecrest School 3rd Grade Kylea Drane
Superintendent Peterman recognized the students who were chosen for parishwide Student of the Year. They were as follows:
Jacqueline Cooper 12th Grade Ferriday High School
Lindsey Strebeck 12th Grade Monterey High School
Shannon Seals 12th Grade Vidalia High School
Jamie McFarland 8th Grade Ferriday Junior High School
Mark Welch 8th Grade Vidalia Junior High School
Dillon Green 5th Grade Monterey School
Mr. Howard Jackson, Supervisor of Child Welfare and Attendance, presented the Attendance Awards as follows:
Month of January
1st Place Ferriday Upper Elementary 96.1%
2nd Place Ridgecrest School 96.0%
3rd Place Vidalia Lower Elementary 95.6%
Month of February
1st Place Ridgecrest School 95.4%
2nd Place Ferriday Upper Elementary 95.3%
3rd Place Monterey High School 95.3%
Superintendent Peterman recommended that the Board move Agenda Item IV after Agenda Item VI. It was moved by Mr. White, seconded by Mr. Joseph and carried to accept the recommendation.
It was moved by Mr. Crofford, seconded by Mr. Joseph and carried to approve Minutes of February 5, 2002, February 19, 2002, Public Hearing, and February 19, 2002, Special Session.
Ms. Dangerfield, Assistant Director of Business Affairs, presented the financial report for the month of February. It was moved by Mr. Crofford, seconded by Mr. Raven and carried to approve invoices in the amount of $2,521,740 for the month of February.
It was moved by Mr. White, seconded by Mr. Joseph and carried to move Item A after the Executive Session.
It was moved by Mr. Riley, seconded by Rev. Brown to raise Board member's compensation and expenses to $550 for regular members and $650 for president. Mr. Riley stated that Rev. Brown had requested that the Board raise the salary and that the Board should support this request. There was lengthy discussion concerning compensation and expenses. The motion failed on a roll call vote as follows:
Rev. Brown Yes
Ms. Campbell No
Mr. Crofford No
Mr. Joseph No
Ms. Rabb Abstain
Mr. Raven No
Mr. Riley No
Mr. White No
Mr. Grantham No
It was moved by Mr. Crofford, seconded by Mr. Raven for Board Member's compensation and expenses to remain as is. The motion passes 7-2 with Mr. Riley and Rev. Brown voting no.
Mr. James Cockerham appeared before the Board representing the Concordia Parish Bus Operators. Mr. Cockerham requested that the Board agree to compensate School Bus Operators all money due since 1986. There was lengthy discussion concerning the payment of funds.
Superintendent Peterman reminded the organization that every effort was being made to compute the discrepencies between the two schedules. He once again requested that the drivers be patient due to the fact that fifteen (15) years of records were being reviewed.
Mr. Herbert Dixon, Union Representative, requested that the Board pass a Resolution in order to keep down the uproar of the drivers. Mr. Dixon explained that this would show that a positive step had been taken. No resolution was presented by Mr. Dixon for approval.
It was moved by Rev. Brown, seconded by Ms. Rabb that relative to Act 497 concerning the operational expense of Bus Drivers, that after computations are in that this Board adhere to the payment of those bus drivers, current and retired, what is legally due. The motion carried 7-2 with Mr. Crofford and Mr. Joseph voting no.
Mr. Gordon Atwell, Louisiana Governor's Program on Abstinence, appeared before the Board to discuss the Abstinence Program in Concordia Parish. No action was taken.
Superintendent Peterman requested permission to review the Expulsion policy to remove ambiguious language and establish discipline procedures. It was moved by Mr. Raven, seconded by Mr. Joseph to review the policy.
It was moved by Mr. Raven, seconded by Ms. Rabb and carried to approve the following Resolution:
RESOLUTION
of Concordia Parish School Board
Regarding Employment of Special Counsel
WHEREAS, Louisiana Revised Statutes 342:263 authorizes the retention of special counsel by any school board upon a statement of reasons why such counsel is necessary and upon the approval by the Attorney General; and
WHEREAS, the Concordia Parish School Board, its superintendent of schools and its staff are in need of special counsel with experience, training, and expertise in school law issues including, but not limited to , Special Education, Section 504, Office of Civil Rights (OCR), school personnel matters and general school board policy matters and for services for review of documents with preparation of opinions involving finance arrangements such as the Qualified Zone Academy Bond Program Loan (QZAB), which all related matters involving compliance with the federal and state laws and regulations, including special education, due process hearings and the handling of administrative hearings and litigation in state and federal courts; and
WHEREAS, through its representation of the Louisiana School Boards Association and various school boards throughout the State of Louisiana, the law firm of Hammonds & Sills of Baton Rouge, Louisiana with a branch office in Monroe, Louisiana has special experience, training and expertise in those issues of school law.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT DULY RESOLVED BY THE Concordia Parish School Board in regular session duly convened:
Section I - This School Board does hereby ratify and continue the employment of the firm of Hammonds & Sills as special counsel with training, experience and expertise in school law issues including, but not limited to, Special Education, Section 504, Office of Civil Rights (OCR), school personnel matters and general school board policy matters and as counsel involving finance programs and involving compliance with the federal and state laws and regulations, including due process hearings and the handling of administrative hearings and litigation with respect thereto for the purpose of advising, consulting with, and representing this School Board, and individual members, superintendent of schools, and administrative staff in connection with such legal matters involving the school system.
Section II - Said law firm shall be paid for their services at hourly rates equal to the maximum hourly fee schedule for special counsel published by the attorney General of the State of Louisiana and reimbursed for out-of-pocket expenses including travel, court reporter fees and court costs.
Section III - Said law firm shall keep itemized time records for presentation to the Superintendent with respect to services rendered at said hourly rates, and the Superintendent is hereby authorized and directed to pay same and out-of-pocket expenses upon submission and receipt thereof.
Section IV - This employment shall be effective August 1, 2001.
It was moved by Mr. White, seconded by Ms. Rabb and carried unanimously to approve advertising for bids on three portable buildings.
Mr. Butcher, Director of Academic Affairs, explained to the Board the need to attract quality teachers for LEAP remediation summer school. Mr. Butcher recommended that teacher salary for LEAP Remediation summer school be increased from $20/hour to $25/hour and teacher assistants salary be increased from $7.50/hour to $10/hour. He explained that neither Driver's Education nor grant areas would be included. It was moved by Mr. Raven, seconded by Mr. Crofford and carried with Rev. Brown abstaining to approve the recommendation.
It was moved by Mr. Crofford, seconded by Mr. Raven and carried to approve a draft copy of the 2002-03 school calendar.
It was moved by Mr. Crofford, seconded by Mr. White and carried to grant the superintendent authority to issue teacher contracts in critical shortage areas.
It was moved by Mr. Crofford, seconded by Mr. Raven and carried unanimously to enter into Executive Session at 6:45 p.m.
It was moved by Mr. Crofford, seconded by Mr. Raven and carried unanimously to return to regular session at 7:15 p.m.
Superintendent Peterman made the following recommendation:
LaDonnie Bowman, Librarian, Ferriday High School, to be suspended without pay for a period of six weeks.
Bobbie Carr, Teacher Assistant, Ferriday High School, to be suspended without pay for a period of three weeks.
It was moved by Mr. Crofford, seconded by Mr. Raven to accept the Superintendent's recommendation.
Superintendent Peterman announced that the Honors' Banquet would be held on the 4th Thursday in April.
It was moved by Mr. Joseph, seconded by Mr. Crofford and carried to adjourn at 7:20 p.m..
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Lester L. "Pete" Peterman, Superintendent Mike Grantham, President