PROCEEDINGS OF THE SCHOOL BOARD OF THE PARISH OF CONCORDIA, STATE OF LOUISIANA, TAKEN AT A REGULAR  MEETING HELD ON TUESDAY, JUNE 8, 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, June 8, 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.  Jerry Roberts, Mr. Gary Parnham, Ms. Martha Rabb, Ms. Melanie Watson and Mr. Jimmy Wilkinson.

It was moved by Mr. Raven, seconded by Ms. Watson and carried unanimously to approve the minutes of the May 11, 2004, Regular Meeting.

It was moved by Mr. Riley, seconded by Mr. Raven and carried unanimously to approve invoices for the month of April in the amount of $2,965,503.

It was moved by Mr. Raven, seconded by Mr. Roberts and carried unanimously to approve an addendum to the agenda as follows:

Superintendent Laster presented the attendance awards as follows:

Month of May

1^st Place           Ridgecrest School

2^nd Place          Monterey High

3^rd Place           Ferriday Lower Elementary

3^rd Place           Ferriday Upper Elementary

Overall Winners

1^st Place           Ridgecrest School

2^nd Place          Vidalia Upper

2^nd Place          Ferriday Upper

3^rd Place           Ferriday Lower Elementary

Ms. Beverly Winston presented the winners of the State Literary Rally to the Superintendent and Board for recognition.  The winners were as follows:

Adam Philley  -             Boys' Low Voice Solo - Superior

Interpretive Reading - Superior

Advanced Math II - First Place

Ryan Perkins -              Boys High Voice Solo - Superior

Physics - Fifth Place

Samantha Baker -         Girls' High Voice Solo - Superior

Jared Price -                 Algebra - Fifth Place

Samantha Nations -      Free Enterprise - Fifth Place

April Frith -                  Human Development and Family Relationships - Fourth Place

Heather Peavy -           Geometry - Third Place

James Blount - Environmental Science - Third Place

Mr. Joe Brocato, Architect, opened the bids for the Vidalia Lower Elementary First Grade Wing.  The bids were as follows:

Mr. Tom O'Neal, Director of Business Affairs, requested that the Board take the bids under advisement in order to allow for an opportunity to review.  It was moved by Mr. Wilkinson, seconded by Mr. Raven and carried unanimously to approve the recommendation to take the bids under advisement.

It was moved by Mr. Wilkinson, seconded by Mr. Roberts and carried unanimously to schedule a Special Meeting on Thursday, June 29, 2004, at 5:30 p.m. for the purpose of review and approval of the revised budget.

It was moved by Ms. Campbell, seconded by Mr. Raven and carried unanimously to approve a change in the July, 2004 Board Meeting date from July 22, to July 8, 2004.

Ms. Dorothy Parker, Chairman, School Uniform Committee, reviewed the changes in the school uniform policy.  It was requested that principals take into consideration that uniforms may not be reordered by the vendors after the beginning of schools.  Therefore, principals should use good judgement regarding student uniforms.  It was moved by Mr. Parnham, seconded by Mr. Raven and carried to approve the 2004-05 school uniform policy.

Mr. Julius Huhn, Federal Programs Director, presented the Federal Programs Consolidated Application.  Mr. Huhn informed the Board that federal dollars could not take the place of state or local funds.  He provided an overall review of the application .

Board members expressed concerns over the limited amount of time allowed for review of the application. 

It was moved by Mr. Raven, seconded by Mr. Parnham and carried 8 to 1 with Mr. Riley voting no, to approve the Federal Programs Consolidated Application.

It was moved by Mr. Riley, seconded by and carried unanimously to approve the Resolution for the Rapides Foundation Grant for Vidalia High School.

It was moved by Mr. Raven, seconded by Mr. Roberts and carried unanimously to approve to advertise for bids for 2004-05 custodial supplies.

Mr. James Cockerham, spokesperson, School Bus Operators, informed the Board that the contract drivers had outlined what they expected to be paid for activity and field trips.  Mr. Cockerham informed the Board that the drivers stood behind the requested amount of $8.33 per hour from the time the bus is picked up until the bus is returned.

Superintendent Laster read guidelines for Activity and Field Trips as follows:

It was moved by Ms. Rabb, seconded by Mr. Wilkinson to adopt the guidelines. 

There was discussion to amend the guidelines.  Ms. Rabb withdrew the motion.

It was moved by Ms. Rabb, seconded by Mr. Roberts and carried unanimously on a roll call vote to approve the guidelines with the following corrections.

Item (2) should read:

The driver will be paid $8.33 per hour.  The bus driver and the activity/field trip sponsor will document the exact time.

Roll call vote was as follows:

Mrs. Mary Campbell                YES

Mr. Gary Parnham                    YES

Mrs. Martha Rabb                    YES

Mr. Ricky Raven                      YES

Mr. Raymond Riley, Sr.            YES

Mr. Jerry Roberts                     YES

Ms. Melanie Watson                YES

Mr. Jimmy Wilkinson                YES

Mr. Ernest Lynn White              YES

The Board discussed the School Bus Operator's operational allowance.  The following statement was read by Superintendent Laster:

For the fiscal year 2004-05, as part of the budget process, a review and inclusion of the operational allowance for bus drivers will be done.  The factors of fifteen (15) and seventeen (17) percent at $1.50 per gallon based on the Louisiana AAA gas prices will be considered within budget constraints.  Calculations will be reviewed on a six month basis.  This increase will be implemented for the beginning of the 2004-05 contract year.  This item will be voted on as part of the 2004-05 fiscal year budget.

Superintendent Laster informed the School Bus Operators and the Board that should the state give the local systems relief on amount of contributions to the retirement system, her recommendation will be 17%.

Ms. Rabb stated that she wanted the 17% and wanted it effective July 1, 2004.

Mr. Cockerham informed the Board that he felt that the Board's vote in May was with best intentions for the drivers, however, the drivers anticipated a different number of dollars.  He informed the Board that the drivers only received the 13% increase for eighteen days in May.  He asked that the Board rescind the vote taken in May and make the 13% retroactive to help the drivers.

Ms. Dangerfield explained that the drivers' contracts were based on a set number of days.  The amount earned over the one hundred eighty (180) days was divided over the year  There was only eighteen (18) days remaining in the contract year.

Superintendent Laster recommended that the 13% be made retroactive to December 1, 2003, when she took office as superintendent.  It was moved by Mr. Raven, seconded by Mr. Roberts and carried unanimously on a roll call vote that the 13% increase be paid retroactive to December 1, 2003 when Dr. Laster took office.  The business department is to be certain the money is avialable.  The decision will be voted on at the special meeting set for June 29, 2004.  The roll call vote was as follows:

Mrs. Mary Campbell                YES

Mr. Gary Parnham                    YES

Mrs. Martha Rabb                    YES

Mr. Ricky Raven                      YES

Mr. Raymond Riley, Sr.            YES

Mr. Jerry Roberts                     YES

Ms. Melanie Watson                YES

Mr. Jimmy Wilkinson                YES

Mr. Ernest Lynn White YES

It was moved by Ms. Rabb, seconded by Mr. Raven and carried unanimously to strike  "factors of fifteen (15)" from the Superintendent's recommendation for Operational Allowance so that the recommendation reads, "The factor of  seventeen (17) percent at $1.50 per gallon based on the Louisiana AAA gas prices will be considered within budget constraints."

It was moved by Mr. Raven, seconded by Ms. Rabb and carried unanimously to approve the superintendent's recommendation for the following position:

Insurance Clerk - Ms. Theresa Hancock

It was moved by Mr. Raven, seconded by Mr. Roberts and carried unanimously to approve the superintendent's recommendation for the following position:

Sales Tax Clerk - Ms. Yvonne Blackmon

There was discussion concerning the appointment of a music teacher for Vidalia Lower Elementary School.  Mr. Huhn pointed out that the music teacher at Ferriday Lower Elementary was currently being paid with Title I funds.  This came about as a recommendation from the Distinguished Educator.  He explained that this could not continue if the General Fund paid for music teachers.

Ms. Ann Sandidge, Personnel Coordinator, requested that this appointment be brought back at the July meeting.

It was moved by Ms. Campbell, seconded by Mr. Raven and carried unanimously to approve the personnel recommendations in global with the exception of Christie Berkley, teacher, music, Vidalia Lower Elementary.

Personnel Items were as follows:

Resignations

Sue Ann Easterling, adapted physical education teacher, effective May 27, 2004

Terri Mount, teacher, Monterey High School, effective May 27, 2004

Penny Craft, teacher, Ferriday Lower Elementary, effective May 27, 2004

Rosemary Watkins, 6^th grade teacher, Ferriday Junior High, effective May 27, 2004

Brenda Carter, secretary, Ferriday High School, effective July 28, 2004

Retirements

Stella Book, school food technician, Monterey High School, effective August 29, 2004 (converting sick leave from August 10, 2004-August 27, 2004 - asking for approval of adjusted retirement date)

Larnell Lewis, school bus driver, effective May 27, 2004

Carole Webber, Pre-K teacher, Ferriday Lower, effective May 27, 2004

Lloyd Paul, guidance counselor, Vidalia High School, effective September 20, 2004 (converting sick leave from July 28, 2004 through September 17, 2004)

Appointments:

Anne Martin, itinerant speech pathologist, Special Populations, effective August 11, 2004

Carolyn Huffman, itinerant gifted/talented teacher, Special Populations, effective August 11, 2004

Suzanne Rogers, elementary teacher, Ridgecrest Elementary, effective August 11, 2004

Liz Walker, teacher, Vidalia Lower, effective August 11, 2004

Leslie Harrell, English teacher, Vidalia High School, effective August 11, 2004

Laurel Crouch, elementary teacher, Monterey High School, effective August 11, 2004

Rebecca Crane, math/science teacher, Vidalia High School, effective August 11, 2004

Keithca Callihan, elementary teacher, Ferriday Upper Elementary, effective August 11, 2004

Rachea Bailey, elementary teacher, Ferriday Upper Elementary, effective August 11, 2004

Sheila Alwood, administrative assistant Ferriday Lower, to assistant principal Ferriday Lower, effective July 28, 2004

Derrick White, administrative assistant Ferriday Jr. High, to assistant principal, Ferriday Jr. High, effective July 28, 2004

Michelle Bethea, administrative assistant Ferriday High, to assistant principal, Ferriday High, effective July 14, 2004

Jana Lincecum, administrative assistant Vidalia High, to assistant principal, Vidalia High, effective July 14, 2004

Whest Shirley, administrative assistant Vidalia Jr. High, to assistant principal, Vidalia Jr. High, effective July 28, 2004

Reading First Appointments:

Ridgecrest Content Leader: Anna Bruce

Interventionist: Noelanne Bennett

Vidalia Lower Content Leaders: Una Knapp, Sheila Lanius

Interventionists: Jill Britt, Ellen Yates

Vidalia Upper Content Leader: Sylvia Laird

Interventionist: Christine Roberts

Effective employment dates for Reading First employees:

District Coordinator, 12 month employee, effective July 2, 2004

Part-time District Data Analyst, 10.5 month employee, effective July 21, 2004-June 16, 2005

Content Leaders, 10 month employees, effective July 28, 2004-June 9, 2005

All Interventionists, 9 month employees, effective August 11, 2004

Transfers:

Julia Walker, 6^th grade teacher, Vidalia Jr. High, to kindergarten teacher, Vidalia Lower, effective August 11, 2004

Wanda Sue Calkins, special education, Ferriday Lower to Monterey High School, effective August 11, 2004

Lee Edna Bacon, math teacher, Vidalia High School to Ferriday High School as science teacher, effective August 11, 2004

Resignations:

LaTora Corner,  band director,Vidalia High, effective June 10, 2004

Susan Arbuckle, English teacher, Vidalia High, effective May 27, 2004

Wendy Maples, child nutrition tech, Ferriday Jr. High, effective May 27, 2004

Appointments:

Sarah Simpson, teacher, Vidalia Lower, effective August 11, 2004

Mary (Mel) Reid, teacher, Vidalia Lower, effective August 11, 2004

Christie Berkley, teacher(music) Vidalia Lower, effective August 11, 2004

Reading First- Noelanne Bennett- Ridgecrest-Part-time interventionist

ITEMS TO BE REMOVED

Appointments

Leslie Harrrell, English teacher, Vidalia High School

Rachea Bailey, teacher, Ferriday Upper Elementary

Superintendent Laster informed the Board that those Administrative Assistants being promoted to Assistant Principal could have changes in assignments.

It was moved by Mr. Wilkinson, seconded by Mr. Raven and carried unanimously to enter into Executive Session at 7:30 p.m.

It was moved by Mr. Riley, seconded by Mr. Wilkinson and carried unanimously to return to Regular Session at 8:15 p.m.

It was moved by Mr. Riley, seconded by Mr. Parnham and carried to adjourn at 8:16 p.m.

_________________________         ________________________

Kerry Laster, Ph.D., Superintendent    Ernest Lynn White, Board President