PROCEEDINGS OF THE SCHOOL BOARD OF THE PARISH OF CONCORDIA, STATE OF LOUISIANA, TAKEN AT THE REGULAR MEETING HELD ON TUESDAY, MARCH 8, 2005.

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 8, 2005, 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 Ms. Mary Campbell, Mr. Raymond Riley, Mr. Jerry Roberts, Mr. Gary Parnham, Ms. Martha Rabb, Ms. Melanie Watson, Mr. Ernest Lynn White, Mr. Ricky Raven and Mr. Jimmy Wilkinson.

Superintendent Laster presented the attendance awards as follows: First Place - Vidalia Upper Elementary, Second Place - Ridgecrest School, Third Place - Vidalia Lower Elementary.

Superintendent Laster presented the Student of the Year Awards as follows:

School Level Winners                                                                                         Parish Level Winners

Monica Cherelle Gorham, 12^th  grade, Ferriday High                                      Monica Cherelle Gorham

Dwanda Monique Carter, 8^th grade, Ferriday Junior High                             Dwanda Monique Carter

Chelsea Leanne Warren, 8^th grade, Vidalia Junior High                                 Ellen Camille Bairnsfather

Austin Lance Lipsey, 8^th grade, Monterey School

Ellen Camille Bairnsfather, 5^th grade, Monterey School

Niles Walker, 5^th grade, Ferriday Upper

Superintendent Laster recognized Vidalia High School for being one of eight schools targeted by the State for High School Redesign.

Ms. Ann Sandidge, Personnel Coordinator, informed the Board of the Statewide personnel conference hosted by Concordia Parish March 2-4.  Ms. Sandidge informed the Board that the Ferriday Lower Honor Choir performed for the group.  As a result, the Choir has been invited to perform for the BESE meeting.

Ms. Cindy Smith, Reading First Coordinator, provided an update on the Reading First Program in Concordia Parish.  Ms. Smith announced that the program is having success in every area and in every grade.

It was moved by Mr. Raven, seconded by Mr. Riley and carried unanimously to approve the minutes of the regular meeting of February 8, 2005.

Ms. Dangerfield presented the financial report.  It was moved by Mr. Roberts, seconded by Mr. Riley and carried unanimously to approve invoices for the month of February in the amount of $2,635,941.

It was moved by Mr. Raven, seconded by Mr. Roberts and carried unanimously to enter into Executive Session at 6:00 p.m.

It was moved by Mr. Raven, seconded by Mr. Riley and carried unanimously to return to Regular session at 7:10 p.m.

Mr. Lynn White, Board President, announced that the Board had discussed personnel matters and no action was required.

It was moved by Ms. Watson, seconded by Mr. Raven and carried unanimously to table Item A.  Consider Purchase of Software until the next meeting of the Board.

Mr. Parnham suggested that the item be postponed for two months in order to gain more knowledge of the software.  There was general discussion concerning the software.  It was suggested that the software company do a special presentation for the Board prior to the meeting.

It was moved by Mr. Roberts, seconded by Mr. Parnham and carried unanimously to table Item B - Consider Alternative Center Position.  It was suggested that the superintendent work on a compromise suitable to both sides.

It was moved by Ms. Rabb, seconded by Mr. Wilkinson and carried 7-2 with Ms. Campbell and Mr. Riley voting no, to approve the revised Administrative Return to Employment Post Retirement Policy and to suspend the policy requiring a second reading in order for the policy to go into effect immediately.  The policy was read into the minutes by Superintendent Laster as follows:

Any employee who formally and officially retires from an administrative or supervisory position shall not be considered for any administrative or supervisory position with the Concordia Parish School Board including the position which he/she held at the time or date of retirement.

Mr. Butcher reviewed the 2005-2006 school calendar with Board members.  It was moved by Mr. Raven, seconded by Mr. Parnham and carried to approve the 2005-2006 school calendar.

It was moved by Mr. Riley, seconded by Mr. Raven and carried unanimously to add the addendum to the agenda as follows:

E.         Review Policy ED - Student Transportation Management

F.         Review Guidelines for Activity and Field Trips

Mr. Irvin discussed the reason for the proposed revisions to the policy.  It was moved by Mr. Riley seconded by Mr. Roberts and carried unanimously to accept the changes in the policy and the guidelines and to suspend the policy requiring a second reading in order for the policy to go into effect immediately.

The following statement would be added to Policy ED - Student Transportation Management under the section titled Use of Parish Owned Buses.

The maximum time that a contract driver will be allowed to utilize a board owned bus will be 10 (ten) working days.

It was moved by Ms. Campbell, seconded by Ms. Rabb and carried to approve the following personnel item.

Resignation

Jessie Hewing, School Food Service Technician, VLES, effective February 25, 2005.

It was moved by Mr. Riley, seconded by Mr. Raven and carried unanimously to adjourn at 7:35 p.m.

_____________________                     ____________________

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