PROCEEDINGS OF THE SCHOOL BOARD OF THE PARISH OF CONCORDIA, STATE OF LOUISIANA, TAKEN AT A REGULAR MEETING HELD ON TUESDAY, OCTOBER 14, 2003.
The School Board of the Parish of Concordia, State of Louisiana, met in a regular session at the Concordia Parish School Board office in Vidalia, Louisiana, on Tuesday, October 14, 2003, at five-thirty (5:30) o'clock p.m. The meeting was called to order by Raymond Riley, Vice President, who after prayer and the Pledge, declared that the Board was ready for the transaction of business.
Members present were Mr. Ernest Lynn White, Rev. Johnnie Brown, Ms. Mary Campbell, Mr. Darrell Crofford, Mr. Don Joseph, Ms. Martha Rabb, Mr. Raymond Riley, and Mr. Jimmy Wilkinson.
Absent member was Mr. Ricky Raven.
Mr. Butcher announced the Citizenship Awards for the parish as follows:
Ferriday High Vidalia High Monterey High
9th Grade Dra 'Carl Walker Vintrice Albert Heather Guillot
10th Grade Jessica Johnson Kimberly Yearby Matthew Shively
11th Grade Monica Gorham Ken Johnson Heather Robertson
Chelsey Knapp
12th Grade Whitney Henderson Nathan Ledford John Woodruff
Fredrick Marsalis
Mr. Butcher announced the recipients of the School Attendance Awards.
Ms. Gloria Dangerfield, Assistant Director of Business Affairs, reviewed the financial report. It was moved by Mr. Crofford, seconded by Rev. Brown and carried unanimously to approve invoices for the month of September in the amount of $2,387,505.
It was moved by Rev. Brown, seconded by Mr. Crofford and carried unanimously to move the Executive Session up on the agenda and to remove the item listed as legal issues.
It was moved by Rev. Brown, seconded by Mr. Crofford and carried unanimously to enter into Executive Session to receive parent concern pursuant to LSA42:6.1, at 5:45 p.m.
It was moved by Mr. Joseph, seconded by Mr. Crofford and carried unanimously to return to regular session at 7:25 p.m.
It was moved by Mr. Crofford, seconded by Mr. Joseph and carried unanimously to add an item to the agenda concerning advertising for a maintenance specialist position.
It was moved by Ms. Rabb, seconded by Mr. Joseph and carried to conduct a special meeting on Monday, October 20, 2003, and Tuesday, October 21, 2003, at 5:30 p.m. in order to discuss applications and interview applicants for the position of Superintendent of Schools.
Mr. Fred T. Butcher, Interim Superintendent, recommended that a committee be appointed to study the request of School Bus Operators concerning additional operational expense. The committee would be composed of the following:
Mr. H. L. Irvin, Supervisor of Maintenance and Transportation
Mr. Tom O'Neal, Director of Business Affairs
Mr. Jimmy Wilkinson, Building & Grounds Committee Representative
Mr. Don Joseph, Building and Grounds Committee Representative
Two representatives from the School Bus Operators Association
The committee would meet to gather and share information and study the validity of the request. Within forty to sixty days, the findings of the committee would be reported to the Board for a determination. It was moved by Mr. Joseph, seconded by Mr. Crofford and carried unanimously to approve the recommendation.
It was moved by Mr. Riley, seconded by Mr. Crofford and carried unanimously to approve the procedure for removal of students from campuses by law enforcement personnel.
It was moved by Rev. Brown, seconded by Ms. Campbell and Mr. Joseph to approve the job descriptions for the following:
Maintenance Specialist
Adaptive Physical Education Teacher
Highly Skilled Educator/Curriculum Coordinator
It was moved by Ms. Rabb, seconded by Ms. Campbell and carried unanimously to advertise for the position of Maintenance Specialist for a period of fourteen days.
Mr. Butcher informed the Board that the Pupil Progression Plan had been publicly reviewed and the group had been asked if any changes were recommended. No changes were recommended. It was moved by Mr. Joseph, seconded by Mr. Crofford and carried unanimously to approve the Pupil Progression Plan for Concordia Parish.
It was moved by Mr. Joseph, seconded by Rev. Brown and carried unanimously to approve the first reading of the following policies:
BBBE - Board Member Compensation and Expenses
BH - School Board Ethics
CEA - Superintendent Qualifications
DJED - Bids and Quotations
GBRHA - Sabbatical Leave
JCDAB - Dangerous Weapons
JCDAE - Electronic Telecommunication Devices
JD - Discipline
JDD - Suspension
JDE - Expulsion
JGC - Student Health Services
Mr. James Cockerham, School Bus Operator, informed the Board that his request to appear had been covered in a previous item. Mr. Cockerham was informed to contact Mr. Irvin and Mr. Butcher with the names of members to represent the school bus operators.
It was moved by Rev. Brown, seconded by Mr. Riley and carried unanimously to approve the addition of the addendum items to the agenda as follows:
Resolution - School Bus Safety Week
Approval of System Compliance Statement for Annual Audit Review
It was moved by Mr. Joseph, seconded by Mr. Crofford to accept the following proclamation which was read into the minutes by Lynda Cantu, Secretary to Superintendent/Personnel Coordinator.
Proclamation
Whereas, all parish and city school systems provide free transportation for more than 500,000 students each school day; and
Whereas, the citizens of this state recognize the efforts and dedication of the thousands of administrators, teachers, school bus drivers, and other employees, who make these school systems operational on a daily basis; and
Whereas, all officials of public and non-public schools strive for efficient and safe transportation of all students; and
Whereas, the State of Louisiana, the State Department of Education, and the Office of School and Community Support recognize the commendable efforts displayed by all involved in the school transportation program.
Now, therefore, I, M. J. "Mike" Foster, Jr., Governor of the State of Louisiana, do hereby proclaim the week of October 19-25, 2003, as
School Bus Safety Week
in the State of Louisiana, and I encourage all school districts to plan and develop activities to recognize all personnel involved in the daily task of safely transporting our students to and from their respective schools.
It was moved by Rev. Brown, seconded by Mr. Crofford and carried unanimously to approve the System Compliance Statement for Annual Audit Review.
It was moved by Ms. Campbell, seconded by Ms. Rabb and carried unanimously to approve the personnel items in global.
Leave Without Pay
Wendy Maples, School Food Service Technician, effective September 18, 2003 for the remainder of the 2003-04 school year
Family and Medical Leave
J.C. Myrick, Teacher, Vidalia High School, effective September 15, 2003 through January 5, 2004
Military Leave
Wilton Nolan, School Psychologist, effective September 26, 2003
Retirement
Nila Mount, School Food Service Manager, Monterey, effective November 20, 2003
Resignation
Sandra Cubie, Teacher, Ferriday Upper Elementary, effective August 14, 2003
Transfer
Velma Fortune, Janitor, from Ferriday Kindergarten Center to Central Administrative Office, 5 hours/Vidalia Upper Elementary 2.5 hours, effective September 30, 2003
Appointments
Kenneth Lloyd , 11 month Janitor, Ferriday Upper Elementary, effective October 15, 2003
George Jolla III, 10 month Janitor, Ferriday High, effective, October 15, 2003
Mr. Fred T. Butcher announced to the Board that a later dismissal time would be established for the Christmas Holidays in order to make-up time used for the early dismissal for memorial services for Dr. Lester L. "Pete" Peterman, former Superintendent.
It was moved by Mr. Joseph, seconded by Mr. Crofford and carried to adjourn at 7:45 p.m.
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Fred T. Butcher, Interim Superintendent Ernest Lynn White, Board President