PROCEEDINGS OF THE SCHOOL BOARD OF THE PARISH OF CONCORDIA, STATE OF LOUISIANA, TAKEN AT A REGULAR MEETING HELD ON TUESDAY, APRIL 13, 2004.
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, April 13, 2004, at five-thirty (5:30) o'clock p.m. The meeting was called to order by Ernest Lynn White, 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, Ms. Mary Campbell, Mr. Raymond Riley, Mr. Ricky Raven, Mr Darrell Crofford, Mr. Gary Parnham, Ms. Martha Rabb and Mr. Jimmy Wilkinson. Member absent was Rev. Johnnie Brown.
It was moved by Mr. Raven, seconded by Mr. Crofford and carried unanimously to approve the minutes of the March 9, 2004, Regular Meeting.
It was moved by Mr. Crofford, seconded by Mr. Riley and carried unanimously to approve invoices for the month of March in the amount of $2,551,695.
The Board recognized the following students:
School Site Student of the Year
12th Grade Ferriday High School Whitney Rayelle Henderson
Vidalia High School William Fredrick Marsalis, Jr.
8th Grade Ferriday Junior High School Saleun Fletcher
Vidalia Junior High School Hunter Lee Davis
5th Grade Ferriday Upper Elementary Bria NoJuan Harris
Parish Level Student of the Year
12th Grade Vidalia High School William Fredrick Marsalis, Jr.
8th Grade Vidalia Junior High School Hunter Lee Davis
5th Grade Ferriday Upper Elementary Bria NoJuan Harris
The Board recognized Concordia Bank and Trust Company for being selected as Distinguished Partners in Education. Mr. Pat Biglane accepted the award for the bank.
The following schools received the Attendance Award for the month of February:
Ferriday Lower 3rd Place
Vidalia Upper 2nd Place
Ferriday Upper 2nd Place
Ridgecrest Elementary 1st Place
The following schools received the Attendance Award for the month of March:
Ferriday Lower 3rd Place
Ferriday Upper 2nd Place
Ridgecrest Elementary 1st Place
The following students were recognized for having participated in a social justice issue:
Ferriday Upper Vidalia Junior High Ferriday Junior
Marques Lewis Tyrrence Wallace Markus Ray
Laterrius Curry Chris LaPrairie Jeremy Williams
Derrick Powell Daniel Farmer David Green
Terrance Harrell Anthony Litt Starlin Hawkins
Antonio Quinn Andrew Brown
Jerimy Wilson Dexter Morace
Jeremy Keys Tommy Duck
Marterian Myles
Herman Bloodsaw
Alfred Brown
Dashon Griggs
Klint Leonard
Cordale Jerrerson
Damion Hollins
Ms. Barbara Crum, Teacher, Vidalia High School, introduced Jason Bocato who was recognized for having placed 1st in the Full Service Restaurant Management division at the Louisiana State DECA Career Development Conference.
The Board recognized William Fredrick Marsalis, Jr., a senior from Vidalia High School for being selected as Super Teen for the South Central Region by Next Step magazine.
It was moved by Mr. Crofford, seconded by Mr. Raven and carried unanimously to enter into Executive Session at 5:58 p.m.
It was moved by Mr. Crofford, seconded by Mr. Riley and carried to return from Executive Session at 7:57 p.m.
It was recommended that the Board accept the Superintendent's letter of recommendation pursuant to the grievance. It was moved by Mr. Crofford, seconded by Ms. Rabb and carried unanimously to accept the Superintendent's recommendation pursuant to the grievance.
It was moved by Mr. Crofford, and seconded by Ms. Rabb to transfer Dr. Henry Murphy, Principal, Vidalia Junior High School, to the Alternative Center Mr. Crofford amended the motion to add the appointment of Ms. Whest Shirley to the position of principal of Vidalia Junior High School for the remainder of the 2003-04 school year.
There were questions concerning the purpose of the transfer. Jon Guice, Attorney for the Board, cautioned the Board concerning the discussion of personnel issues. There were comments from citizens concerning the transfer. Ms. Josephine Webster presented the Board with a petition from concerned residents. Ms. Webster requested that the Board read the petition and consider the request.
Mr. Raymond Riley stated that the decision was not in order with Board Policy. He stated that it was not the right decision and he did not agree.
Roll call vote was as follows:
Rev. Johnnie Brown Absent
Mrs. Mary Campbell NO
Mr. Darrell Crofford YES
Mr. Gary Parnham YES
Mrs. Martha Rabb YES
Mr. Ricky Raven YES
Mr. Raymond Riley, Sr. NO
Mr. Jimmy Wilkinson YES
Mr. Ernest Lynn White YES
Ms. Nancy Anders and Ms. Cindy Smith made a presentation on the Reading First Grant. Mr. Huhn, Director of Federal Programs, explained that this is a federal program and would be funded under Title I laws and regulations. The program would function under the Federal Programs office and under the nucleus of the reading program of the individual schools. Title I allocations to schools would not be affected by this grant and the majority of the funds would be spent in professional development.
Mr. O'Neal reviewed the disposition of the lease with Board members. It was moved by Mr. Raven, seconded by Mr. Wilkinson and carried unanimously to offer the lease to the holder, Mr. Scott, on a year to year basis. Should Mr. Scott not want the lease, it is to be advertised.
The following resolution was read into the minutes:
Resolution
WHEREAS, the Concordia Parish School Board has been notified that the employer's cost of Teachers Retirement will increase from 13.8% to 17.3% effective July 1, 2004, and
WHEREAS, the Concordia Parish School Board has been notified that the employer's cost of Louisiana School Employees Retirement will increase from 8.5% to 18.8% effective July 1, 2004, and
WHEREAS, the state is responsible for any unfunded accrued liability, and
WHEREAS, the local school systems cannot pay this increased cost as well as other mandated unfunded costs, and
WHEREAS, the state and not parish school systems benefited in reduced retirement rates the past several years, and
WHEREAS, group medical insurance cost continues to increase for both those school systems in the state insurance plan and those not in the state plan, and
WHEREAS, the state requires employers to pay 75% of the current and increased costs, and
WHEREAS, all school boards in the state are affected by this increased cost, now
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that on behalf of the Concordia Parish School Board and all school boards, that LSBA be directed to take legal action against the state and also file a petition with the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education asking the state to accept responsibility for these increased costs for which no funding has been provided.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be sent to Office of the
Governor of the State of Louisiana, the members of the State Board of Elementary and
Secondary Education, the Office of the State Superintendent, members of the State
Legislature, the Louisiana School Boards Association, and the Louisiana school systems.
•••
It was moved by Mr. Parnham, seconded by Mr. Crofford and carried unanimously to adopt the resolution.
Ms. Dorothy Parker and Ms. Patty Bellis presented the results of the committee which was established to address the school uniform policy. Ms. Parker explained that the only proposed change for the policy would be for the 2005-06 school year. Ms. Parker informed the Baord that the committee proposed a standard navy uniform jacket.
There was extended discussion concerning the students not abiding by the policy, fund raisers involving not wearing uniforms, current student fads, sizes, vendors and enforcement by administrators. It was suggested that the issue be looked into and brought back to the Board.
It was moved by Mr. Wilkinson, seconded by Mr. Crofford and carried unanimously to approve moving the 8th grade back to Ridgecrest School pending approval of the Justice Department.
It was moved by Mr. Raven, seconded by Mr. Crofford to approve summer school along with the increase to $250 for drivers education.
It was moved by Mr. Raven, seconded by Mr. Parnham and carried unanimously to approve the distribution of the state funded pay adjustment of $250.
It was moved by Mr. Raven, seconded by Mr. Wilkinson and carried to approve the first reading of the following policies:
JGCE, Child Abuse
JJ, Employment of Students
GBN, Separation of Professional Staff Members
DFI, Lease of School Lands
GAK, Personnel Records
GBRK, Annual Leave
CN, Administrative Records
ECF, Equipment Maintenance
GBA, Contracts and Compensation
GCD, Administration of Medication
JS, Student Fees, Fines and Charges
GBRJ, Substitutes
IDE, Co-Curricular and Extracurricular Activities
JCDB, Student Dress Code
II, Testing Program
ED, Student Transportation Management
It was moved by Ms. Campbell, seconded by Mr. Crofford and carried unanimously to approve the following addendum to the agenda:
VII ITEMS FOR DISCUSSION AND APPROPRIATE ACTION
Recommendation for Custodian - VUES
Permission to Place Portable Building
Approval of Job Descriptions
Reading First Content Leader
District Data/Statistical Coordinator
District Reading First Coordinator
Reading First Intervention Teacher
Superintendent Laster recommended Mr. Leonard Turner as custodian of Vidalia Upper Elementary School. It was moved by Mr. Crofford, seconded by Mr. Raven and carried to approve the superintendent's recommendation.
The Board heard a request to place a portable building on school property located at Vidalia Lower Elementary school. The building would be located next to the baseball field and would be used to house equipment. It was moved by Mr. Parnham, seconded by Mr. Crofford and carried to approve the placement of the portable building.
It was moved by Mr. Raven, seconded by Mr. Crofford and carried unanimously to approve the following job descriptions pending approval and funding of the Reading First grant.
Reading First Content Leader
District Data/Statistical Coordinator
District Reading First Coordinator
Reading First Intervention Teacher
It was moved by Ms. Campbell, seconded by Ms. Rabb and carried unanimously to approve the following personnel items in global:
Resignations
Reneice Jackson, Teacher, Ferriday High/Vidalia High, effective May 26, 2004
Josephine Cottingham, Teacher, Ferriday Lower Elementary, effective May 26, 2004
Diane Costantini, Part-time Teacher, Vidalia High School, effective May 26, 2004
Georgia Ward, Teacher, Ferriday Lower, effective May 26, 2004
Jackie Jackson, 2 ½ hour Sweeper, Ridgecrest Elementary School, effective March 19, 2004
Retirement:
Patricia I. Jones, Teacher, Ferriday High School, effective May 26, 2004
Stella Book, School Food Technician, Monterey High School, effective May 26, 2004
Nancy King, Teacher, Vidalia Upper, effective June 29, 2004 * (Change of date as approved last month)
Sabbatical:
James Freeman, Teacher, Ferriday High School, medical leave, Semester 1, 2004-2005 school year
Sherry Barfield, Teacher, Vidalia Jr. High, return from sabbatical leave, effective beginning of 2004-2005 school year
Extended Sick Leave:
Gay Cross, Teacher, Vidalia Lower Elementary, effective February 23, 2004 through April 26, 2004
Geneva Hall, Head Custodian, Ferriday Junior High,effective March 29, 2004 through May 28, 2004
Appointments:
Aleta Schexnayder, Ph.D., Teacher, Ferriday Lower Elementary, effective August 11, 2004
Kristen Brown, Vidalia Lower Elementary, Teacher, effective August 11, 2004
Ruby West, Teacher, Ferriday High School, effective February 24, 2004 for the remainder of the 2004 school year
Johnnie Clay, Ferriday High School, Teacher, effective 2004-2005 school year only
Erma Davis, Ferriday High School, Teacher, effective 2004-2005 school year only
Superintendent Laster informed the Board of the monitoring report for the week of testing.
Superintendent Laster requested that the Board consider moving the July Board meeting to a date later in the month in order to have all personnel in place.
It was moved by Mr. Raven, seconded by Mr. Wilkinson and carried to adjourn at 9:30 p.m.
_________________________ ________________________
Kerry Laster, Ph.D., Superintendent Ernest Lynn White, Board President