PROCEEDINGS OF THE SCHOOL BOARD OF THE PARISH OF CONCORDIA, STATE OF LOUISIANA, TAKEN AT THE SPECIAL MEETING HELD ON TUESDAY, APRIL 12, 2005.
The School Board of the Parish of Concordia, State of Louisiana, met in Special Session at the Concordia Parish School Board office in Vidalia, Louisiana, on Tuesday, April 12, 2005, at three (3:00) 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, and Mr. Jimmy Wilkinson.
The Board came together in Special Session in order to gain information on software proposed for purchase. Information was provided by Software Services as well as staff members.
The meeting was adjourned at 5:10 p.m.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE SCHOOL BOARD OF THE PARISH OF CONCORDIA, STATE OF LOUISIANA, TAKEN AT THE REGULAR MEETING HELD ON TUESDAY, APRIL 12, 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, April 12, 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 recognized Vidalia High School for having received the BREAKING RANKS II - High School Redesign Grant.
Superintendent Laster recognized Krista Drew, Monterey High School Student, for having received the 2005 Louisiana Young Hero Award.
Superintendent Laster recognized Ms. Jasmine Schiele, paraprofessional, Ferriday High School, for having received the outstanding school support employee award.
Superintendent Laster presented the attendance awards as follows:
Ferriday Upper 1st place 95.9% attendance
Ridgecrest School 2nd place 94.8 % attendance
Ferriday Lower Elem. 3rd place 94.6% attendance
Monterey School 3rd place 94.6% attendance
It was moved by Mr. Riley, seconded by Mr. Roberts and carried unanimously to approve the minutes of March 8, 2005.
It was moved by Mr. Raven, seconded by Mr. Parnham and carried unanimously to approve a correction to the minutes of Regular Meeting June 8, 2004 and Special Meeting June 29, 2004. The corrected minutes should read as follows:
(Excerpt from minutes of Regular Meeting June 8, 2004)
Superintendent Laster recommended that the 13% (change to 17%) 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% (change to 17%) increase be paid retroactive to December 1, 2003 when Dr. Laster took office. The business department is to be certain the money is available. 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
(Excerpt from minutes of Special Meeting June 29, 2004)
It was moved by Mr. Raven, seconded by Mr. Roberts and carried unanimously to approve the retroactive payment of 13% (change to 17%) increase in operational expense to school bus operators back to December 1, 2003.
It was moved by Mr. Parnham, seconded by Mr. Riley and carried unanimously to approve invoices in the amount of $2,471,681 for the month of March.
It was moved by Mr. Riley, seconded by Mr. Roberts and carried unanimously to enter into Executive Session at 5:45 p.m.
It was moved by Mr. Wilkinson, seconded by Mr. Raven and carried unanimously to return to regular session at 5:58 p.m.
Mr. Lynn White announced that the Board had discussed pending litigation and that no action was necessary relative to the EEOC Claim discussed in Executive Session.
It was moved by Mr. White, seconded by Mr. Riley and carried to move item K - Discuss Lease held with Town of Ferriday.
Mr. Derrick Carson, Attorney, proposed that the Town of Ferriday take responsibility for the demolition of the Florida Street Building in lieu of the debt owed by the Town of Ferriday for the lease of the property.
It was moved by Mr. Riley, seconded by Mr. Roberts and carried 8 to 1 with Mr. Raven voting no, to add an item to the agenda to consider the Town of Ferriday's proposal in lieu of the debt owed.
It was moved by Mr. Riley, seconded by Mr. Wilkinson, and carried 8 to 1 with Mr. Raven voting no, to authorize the Superintendent to negotiate an agreement with the Town of Ferriday for the demolition of the Florida Street School as a part of the back lease owed on the building.
It was moved by Mr. Riley, seconded by Mr. Raven and carried unanimously to approve the Discipline Policy Committee as follows:
Kerry Laster, Superintendent
Evelyn Fairbanks, School Food Service Supervisor
Julius Huhn, Federal Programs Director
Howard Jackson, Child Welfare and Attendance Supervisor
C. L. Hymon, Safe and Drug Free Schools Supervisor
Patti Bellis, Educational Supervisor
H.L. Irvin, Maintenance/Trans. Supervisor
Mary Huhn, Special Populations Supervisor
Jerry Roberts, Board Member
Melanie Watson, Board Member
Students - To Be Announced
Parents - To Be Announced
President of School Bus Association
School Team Representatives
Mr. Ben Taunton, Agricultural Stabilization and Conservation Service, provided the Board with information concerning placing land in the Wetlands Reserve Program (WRP) and the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP).
It was moved by Mr. Riley, seconded by Ms. Rabb and carried 8-1 with Ms. Watson voting no, to place the acres that are eligible in CRP located in T1N, R8E.
It was moved by Mr. Riley, seconded by Mr. Roberts and carried unanimously to accept the low bid of Miqus Deloach of Pineville for the Ferriday Band Hall renovation project.
Superintendent Laster asked that the Board consider accepting the e-rate plan and to ratify the RFP included therein. She explained that the Board had not approved the e-rate plans in the past, but felt it was in the Board's best interest to do so. It was moved by Mr. Raven, seconded by Mr. Riley and carried with eight members voting to approve the e-rate plan. Mr. Parnham was not in the room at the time of the vote.
It was moved by Mr. Riley, seconded by Ms. Watson and carried 5 to 4 on a roll call vote to approve the Information system upgrade. The roll call was as follows:
Mrs. Mary Campbell NO
Mr. Gary Parnham NO
Mrs. Martha Rabb NO
Mr. Ricky Raven NO
Mr. Raymond Riley, Sr. YES
Mr. Jerry Roberts YES
Ms. Melanie Watson YES
Mr. Ernest Lynn White YES
Mr. Jimmy Wilkinson YES
It was moved by Mr. Raven, seconded by Mr. Roberts and carried with 8 votes to grant authority to reassign the Vidalia High School Athletic Building a Priority I. Ms. Rabb was out of the room when the vote was taken.
The Barron, Heinberg and Brocato organization gave a presentation on the Vidalia High School Library/Science project. It was moved by Mr. Riley, seconded by Mr. Parnham and carried unanimously to accept the proposal and advertise for bids.
Superintendent Laster requested that the Board consider moving the date for the July board meeting in order to allow staff members to attend a State Department of Education sponsored LEADS conference. It was moved by Mr. Riley, seconded by Mr.Raven andcarried unanimouslyto move the date of the July meeting to Thursday, July 7, 2005.
Mr. O'Neal, Director of Business Affairs, informed the Board of the increased cost of rehiring retired school system employees due to health insurance rates. It was pointed out that significantly higher rates are paid by the Board for a retired employee than is paid for an active employee. It was recommended that the Board pay the same rates for a retired employee as is paid for an active employee.
It was moved by Mr. Roberts, seconded by Mr. Riley and carried unanimously to table the issue.
It was moved by Mr. Riley, seconded by Mr. Raven and carried unanimously to approve the following resolution:
BE IT RESOLVED by the following:
Caldwell Parish School Board
Catahoula Parish School Board
Concordia Parish School Board
Franklin Parish School Board
Jackson Parish School Board
Lasalle Parish School Board
Madison Parish School Board
Morehouse Parish School Board
Ouachita Parish School Board
Richland Parish School Board
Tensas Parish School Board
Union Parish School Board
BE IT RESOLVED, pursuant to paragraph seven of the articles of agreement of Child Nutrition Purchasing Co-Operative, the Concordia Parish School Board does hereby consent to the East Carroll Parish School Board and Grant Parish School Board becoming members of the Child Nutrition Purchasing Cooperative.
It was moved by Ms. Campbell, seconded by Ms. Rabb and carried unanimously to approve the following personnel items in global:
Superintendent Laster announced to the Board that there were only two Concordia Parish students who did not meet the graduation requirements on the GEE-21 test. She also informed the Board that the students had re-taken the test in March and it is still possible to have a 100% pass rate.
It was moved by Mr. Riley, seconded by Mr. Roberts and Mr. Raven to adjourn at 7:25 p.m.
________________________ ________________________
Kerry Laster, Ph, D., Superintendent Ernest Lynn White, President