PROCEEDINGS OF THE SCHOOL BOARD OF THE PARISH OF CONCORDIA, STATE OF LOUISIANA, TAKEN AT A REGULAR MEETING HELD ON TUESDAY, JUNE 10, 2003.

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, June 10, 2003, at five-thirty  (5:30) o’clock p.m.  The meeting was called to order by Raymond Riley, Acting President, who after prayer by Rev. Johnnie 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, Mr. Ricky Raven, Rev. Johnnie Brown,  and Ms. Mary Campbell.

Ms. Beverly Winston, Teacher, Monterey High School, recognized the State Literary Rally winners as follows:

            Leslee Woodruff           5th Place                      Spanish I

            Alisa Wiley                   4th Place                      Introduction to Business

            Ryan Perkins                2nd Place                     Advanced Mathematics II

                                                Superior                       Original Oratory

            Brett McGee                2nd Place                     Environmental Science

            Katie Pennington          3rd Place                      Food and Nutrition

            Gary Domangue           3rd Place                      Agricultural Science III

            Adam Philley                5th Place                      Algebra II

                                                Superior                       Interpretive Reading

                                                Superior                       Boys’ Low Voice Solo

            Samantha Baker           Superior                       Girls’ High Voice Solo

It was moved by Rev. Brown, seconded by Mr. Raven and carried to add an Executive Session to the Agenda  following the financial report and approval of minutes.  The purpose of the Executive Session was to discuss personnel matters. 

It was moved by Mr. Crofford, seconded by Mr. Raven and carried to approve the minutes of May 13, 2003.

Ms. Gloria Dangerfield, Assistant Director of Business Affairs, reviewed the financial report and presented  to the Board invoices in the amount of $2,213,687.  It was moved by Mr. Crofford, seconded by Mr. Joseph and carried to approve invoices for the month of May in the amount of $2,213,687.

It was moved by Rev. Brown, seconded by Mr. Crofford and carried to enter into Executive Session to discuss personnel at 5:35 p.m.  (RS 42:6.1A1)

It was moved by Rev. Brown, seconded by Ms. Rabb and carried to return to Regular Session at 6:00 p.m.

It was moved by Mr. Crofford, seconded by Mr. Raven to accept the resignation of Mr. Mike Grantham, Board President, District 4B, as received by Mr. Fox McKeithen, Secretary of State, as follows:

Monday, June 02, 2003

Louisiana Secretary of State Office

Attn.  Mr. Fox McKeithen - Secretary of State

P. O. Box 94125

Baton Rouge, LA 70804

RE:Concordia Parish School Board

Dear Mr. McKeithen:

It is with deep regret that I write this letter regarding the decision rendered as to my current residence in Concordia Parish.  After several months of debating my legal district status at my current residence, the Concordia Parish Office of the District Attorney has concluded that I am in fact residing outside of my district.  Please be aware that it was not my intention to move outside of my district, but in fact researched the matter to great length prior to the purchase of the property and the actual construction of the residence.  I, along with others, were misled by the current district map that was believed to have been accurate as noted in Office of the District Attorney’s letter dated May 27, 2003, and that my surrounding neighbors voter registration cards clearly state Ward 4-D.  I was later informed that they are voting in Ward 3-B.

As mentioned above the District Attorney’s Office has concluded regardless of the misleading information that I do reside outside of the district that I was elected School Board Member.  Please accept this as my (Mike Grantham) resignation as Concordia Parish School Board Member District 4-B and also as President of the Concordia Parish School Board effective June 2, 2003.

It has been an honor and privilege to serve the constituents of Ward 4-B and also all of Concordia Parish as a member of the Concordia Parish School Board and as its President.

(Signed) Mike Grantham, Concordia Parish School Board Member

STATE OF LOUISIANA

PARISH OF CONCORDIA

Subscribed and sworn to before me this 3rd day of June, 2003

                                                                        (Signed) Thomas H. O’Neal, Notary Public

My Commission Expires: Death

(Seal)

cc:        Mr. Ronnie McMillin - Concordia Parish Office of the District Attorney

            Dr. Lester Peterman - Concordia Parish Superintendent of Schools

            Mr. Phillip A. Letard, Sr. - Attorney at Law

            Mr. Jon Guice - Hammonds and Sills

(Stamped)

RECEIVED

COMMISSIONS DEPT.

JUNE 05, 2003

W.FOX MCKEITHEN

SECRETARY OF STATE

It was moved by Mr. Raven, seconded by Mr. Joseph and Ms. Rabb to appoint Mr. Jimmy Wilkinson to fill the District 4B Board Seat vacated by Mr. Mike Grantham.  The motion was carried 6-2 with Ms. Campbell and Rev. Brown voting no.

Mr. Crofford nominated Mr. Lynn White to fill the vacated president position.  Nomination was seconded by Ms. Rabb and Mr. Joseph. 

At this time it was noted that Mr. Wilkinson must be sworn in prior to being able to cast a vote on the Board. 

Mr. Bob Hammonds, Attorney for the Board, was consulted on the legal procedure for electing the president.  He advised the Board that in order to avoid the situation whereby any member is forced to vote first, Mr. Hammonds suggested that the Board use ballots.  Members were instructed to write the name of the nominee on the top of the card and sign their name to the bottom of the ballot.  Mr. Hammonds also noted that he had only heard one nominee.

Mr. Riley asked if there were any more nominees.  Ms. Campbell nominated Mr. Raymond Riley.  The nomination was seconded by Rev. Brown.

The vote was by ballot.  Ballots were collected and read by Ms. Lynda Cantu, Secretary to Superintendent.  Mr. White was elected to fill the position of President, Concordia Parish School Board. The votes were as follows:

            Raymond T. Riley         Raymond Riley

            Lynn White                   Martha Rabb

            Lynn White                   Don Joseph

            Lynn White                   Darrell Crofford

            Ernest Lynn White        Ernest Lynn White

            Raymond Riley             Rev. Johnnie Brown

            Raymond Riley             Mary H. Campbell

            Lynn White                   Ricky Raven

Mr. Thomas H. O’Neal, Director of Business Affairs, reviewed the consolidated budget with Board Members.  It was moved by Mr. Crofford, seconded by Rev. Brown and carried to approve the Budget Resolution as follows:

RESOLUTION ADOPTING AN OPERATING BUDGET

OF REVENUES AND EXPENDITURES FOR FISCAL YEAR BEGINNING

JULY 1, 2002, AND ENDING JUNE 30, 2003

            BE IT RESOLVED, by the CONCORDIA PARISH SCHOOL BOARD, in regular session on June 10, 2003, that:

            SECTION #1 - the attached estimate of revenues and expenditures, for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2003, be adopted to serve as an operating budget of revenues and expenditures for the Concordia Parish School Board.

            SECTION #2 - The amounts available for expenditure are only to the extent of those included within this adopted operating budget for fiscal year ending June 30, 2003.

            PASSED AND ADOPTED at Vidalia, Louisiana on this tenth day of June, 2003.

Ms. Mary Tarver, Supervisor of Special Education, reviewed the IDEA Application with Board Members.  Ms. Tarver provided handouts for members which outlined growth rate, dropout rate and diploma rates.  It was moved by Mr. Crofford, seconded by Mr. Joseph and carried to approve the IDEA budget application.

Mr. Julius Huhn, Director of Federal Programs, reviewed the Consolidated Federal Programs Application with Board Members.  Mr. Huhn explained that the budget was fully applied toprogram activities and that no schools were expected to go into corrective action.  He also advised that there were no personnel changes.  It was moved by Mr. Joseph, seconded by Mr. Crofford and carried to approve the Consolidated Federal Programs Budget application.

It was requested that all budget applications be sent to Board Members as quickly as possible in order to give them an opportunity to review the applications.

It was moved by Mr. Raven, seconded by Mr. Crofford and carried to approve the second reading of Policy GBD - Employment of Personnel.

It was moved by Mr. Joseph, seconded by Mr. Crofford and carried to approve to advertise for bids for Exterminating Services for FY 2003-04 for School Food Service.

It was moved by Mr. Crofford, seconded by Mr. Raven and carried to approve a change in Job Title from Curriculum Coordinator to Highly Skilled Educator/Curriculum Coordinator.

Ms. Mary Campbell read the recommendations for administrative appointments as follows:

Principals

            Ferriday High School-Ms. Debra Harris

            Vidalia Junior High School-Dr. Henry Murphy

Administrative Assistants

            Ferriday High School-Ms. Michelle Bethea

            Vidalia Junior High School-Mr. Whest Shirley

            Ferriday Lower Elementary-Ms. Sheila Alwood

            Vidalia High School-Ms. Jana Lincecum

            Ferriday Junior High -Mr. Derrick White

Administrative Assistant appointments are to be one year only. 

It was moved by Mr. Riley, seconded by Mr. Crofford and carried to approve the recommendations for administrative appointments.

Mr. Fred T. Butcher reviewed the regular summer school program.  The Board then recognized Ms. Cindy Dillon who suggested ways of providing parents with information on summer school. Ms. Dillon was advised that the Board would look into every means of offering a regular summer school program to students.

Rev. Brown suggested the possibility of beginning a “Back to School” parade.  This would be a joint effort of all communities and held on a rotating basis.

Ms. Patricia Metcalfe appeared before the Board to discuss the method of passing out LEAP scores.  Ms. Metcalfe suggested that the Board adopt a policy for the distribution of scores. 

It was moved by Mr. Crofford, seconded by Rev. Brown and carried to add the following addendum to the personnel section of the agenda.

Resignations

Leroy Green, Janitor, Ferriday High School, effective June 3, 2003

Yvonne Chatman, Teacher/Coach, Ferriday Junior High School, effective June 5, 2003

Appointments

Lorraine Bickham, Teacher, Ferriday Junior High School, effective August 15, 2003

Ms. Mary Campbell recommended to the Board that all personnel items be approved in global.  It was moved by Rev. Brown, seconded by Ms. Rabb and carried to approve all personnel items as follows:

Transfer

            Ashley Avery, Teacher, RES, to Teacher, MHS, effective June 5, 2003

Resignations

            Judy Johnson, Teacher, RES, effective May 28, 2003

            James Woodward, Teacher, MHS, effective May 28, 2003

Sabbatical Leave

            Sherry Barfield, Teacher, VJHS, effective 2003-04 school year

            Family and Medical Leave

            Rebecca McKeel Brown, Teacher Assistant, FJHS, effective 4/1/03 - 5/28/03

Appointments

Stacy Strong, Teacher, Vidalia Junior High School, effective June 5, 2003

Raymond Campbell, Janitor, Ferriday Upper Elementary School, effective June 11, 2003

It was moved by Mr. Crofford, seconded by Mr. Joseph and carried to adjourn at 7:00 p.m.

___________________________________              ____________________________

Lester L. Peterman, Superintendent                               Lynn White, President