PROCEEDINGS OF THE SCHOOL BOARD OF THE PARISH OF CONCORDIA, STATE OF LOUISIANA, TAKEN AT THE REGULAR MEETING HELD ON THURSDAY, JULY 7, 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 Thursday, July 7, 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. Gary Parnham, Ms. Martha Rabb, Mr. Ricky Raven, Mr. Raymond Riley, Sr., Mr. Jerry Roberts, Ms. Melanie Watson, Mr. Ernest Lynn White, and Mr. Jimmy Wilkinson.
It was moved by Mr. Raven, seconded by Mr. Parnham and carried unanimously to approve the minutes of the regular meeting of Tuesday, June 14, 2005.
It was moved by Mr. Riley, seconded by Mr. Parnham and carried unanimously to approve the invoices and financial report for the month of June in the amount of $3,088,526.00.
It was moved by Mr. Parnham, seconded by Mr. Roberts and carried unanimously to enter into Executive Session at 6:34 p.m.
It was moved by Mr. Raven, seconded by Mr. Roberts and carried unanimously to return to Regular Session at 7:30 p.m.
Superintendent Kerry Laster recommended the termination of Justin Conner, a non-tenured bus driver.
It was moved by Mr. Riley, seconded by Ms. Campbell not to accept the superintendent's recommendation. The motion failed 6 to 3 with Mr. Parnham, Ms. Rabb, Mr. Raven, Mr. Roberts, Mr. Wilkinson and Mr. White opposing the motion.
Mr. James Cockerham addressed the Board concerning a bus situation which needed to be addressed. Mr. Cockerham advised the Board that the safety of children was being compromised by allowing a driver to violate the laws of the state and the policies of the school system. Mr. Cockerham urged the board to make the right choice.
It was moved by Mr. Roberts, seconded by Ms Rabb and carried 6 to 3 with Mr. Riley, Ms. Watson and Ms. Campbell voting no, to approve the superintendent's recommendation .
Bids for custodial supplies for the 2005-06 school year were as follows:
Big M. Supply $51,711.12
Longs Preferred Products $45,172.36
It was moved by Mr. Wilkinson, seconded by Mr. Parnham and carried unanimously to accept the lowest bid by Longs Preferred Products.
Mr. Joe Brocato, architect, advised the Board that one of the contractors who had placed a bid for the Re-wiring of schools was not an eligible bidder.
Bids for the electrical upgrade were as follows:
Central Electric Co. of Alex. $294,300 126 days
Gunn Electric 556,000 395 days
BM Electric 494,576 120 days
Twin City Electric 344,500 430 days
J.S. Rugg Construction 288,492 90 days (not eligible)
It was moved by Mr. Wilkinson, seconded by Mr. Roberts that they accept the bid of $294,300 from Central Electric of Alexandria noting that the bid was the second lowest bid, but the lowest bid from an eligible bidder.
It was moved by Mr. Wilkinson, seconded by Mr. Parnham and carried to grant permission to advertise for Vidalia High School Additions and Renovations.
It was moved by Mr. Raven, seconded by Mr. Roberts and carried unanimously to schedule a special meeting on July 28, at 5:30, specifically for personnel issues.
Ms. Campbell requested that two names be removed from the personnel section of the agenda as follows:
Nobelle Bishop, special education teacher, effective August 8, 2005
Alicia Griffith, teacher, Ferriday Upper, effective August 8, 2005
It was moved by Ms. Campbell, seconded by Ms. Rabb and carried unanimoulsy to approve all remaining personnel items in global as follows:
Resignations
Vounzell Murphy, teacher, Ferriday Jr. High, effective May 31, 2005
Margaret Barnes, teacher, Ferriday Lower, effective May 31, 2005
Leave
Sarah Bowman, librarian, Ferriday Upper, extended medical leave upon exhaustion of sick leave for the remainder of the 2005-06 school year
Diana Thornhill, consumer science teacher, Monterey High, extended medical leave September 12, 2005 for the remainder of the first semester 2005-06 school year
Patricia Profice, social studies teacher, Vidalia Jr. High, medical sabbatical leave, effective 2005-06 school year
Appointments
Diane Wood, teacher, Ferriday Lower, effective August 8, 2005
Cecilia Stevens, English teacher, Monterey High, effective August 8, 2005 for the 2005-06 school year
Shamekia Isaac, sixth grade English teacher, Ferriday Jr. High, effective August 8, 2005
Amanda Wilson, teacher, Vidalia Lower, effective August 8, 2005
Nickie Estes, teacher, Ridgecrest Elementary, effective August 8, 2005
Jennifer Brinegar, teacher, Ridgecrest Elementary, effective August 8, 2004
Misty Waltman, 5 hr. sweeper, 10 month, Monterey High School, effective July 26, 2005
Darlene Smith, Child Nutrition Program Manager, Vidalia Junior High, effective July 1, 2005
LaNita Smith, 7.0 hr. technician, Vidalia Upper, effective August 11, 2005
Dorothy Poole, technician, Ferriday Jr. High, 4.0 hr. to 7.0 hr, effective August 11, 2005
Tangela Bowman, technician, Monterey High School, 5.0 hr. to 7 hr., effective August 11, 2005
Linda Dobson, technician Vidalia Upper, 5.0 hr. to 7.0 hr., effective August 11, 2005
Margaret Matthews Walker, technician, Vidalia Jr. High, 5.0 hr to 7.0 hr., effective August 11, 2005
Villa Mae Taylor, technician, Vidalia High School, 4.5 hr. to 7.0 hr., effective August 11, 2005
Transfers
Becky Stephenson, special education, Ferriday Education Center to Monterey High School, effective August 8, 2004
Robert Taylor, social studies teacher, Monterey High School to Vidalia Jr. High, effective August 8, 2005
Superintendent Laster announced that she would be requesting a change in the school calendar to include an early dismissal date for September 30. This request would be made in the August meeting.
Mr. Fred T. Butcher, Director of Academic Affairs provided the Board with an update on the Science/Library renovation project.
There was a brief discussion concerning the penalty for not finishing the job on time.
Superintendent Laster advised the Board that the office had been contacted by the Office of Emergency Preparedness concerning the possibility of using schools as evacuation sites for the hurricane. Dr. Laster announced that all departments had been notified of the possibility of the schools being opened as shelters should the need arise.
It was moved by Mr. Riley, seconded by Ms. Rabb and carried to adjourn at 7:55 p.m.
__________________________ _________________________
Kerry Laster, Ph.D., Superintendent Ernest Lynn White, President