PROCEEDINGS OF THE SCHOOL BOARD OF THE PARISH OF CONCORDIA, STATE OF LOUISIANA, TAKEN AT A REGULAR MEETING HELD ON TUESDAY, JUNE 13, 2006

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, June 13, 2006, 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. Raymond Riley, Sr., Mr. Jerry Roberts, Mr. Ernest Lynn White, and Mr. Jimmy Wilkinson.  Ms. Melanie Watson arrived at 5:45 P.M.  Member absent was Mr. Ricky Raven.

Ms. Jana Lincecum, assistant principal, Vidalia High School, was presented with the Taylor & Sons Insurance Employee of the Month award.

Superintendent Laster recognized the State Literary Rally Winners as follows:

Monterey High School

Garrett Lipsey - 2^nd Place, Geometry

Chelsea Crum - 2^nd  Place, Human Development and Family Relationships

Daisy Evans - 3^rd Place, Advanced Math II

Kaslynn Hughes - Excellent, Girls Low Voice Solo

Vidalia High School

Hunter Mophett - 1^st Place, Business Computer Applications

Linus Ahn - 1^st Place, Advanced Math II

Ferriday High School

Christy Johnson - 4^th Place, Computer Science

Superintendent Laster presented the school attendance awards as follows:

6^th Grading Period                                 School Year

1^st Place - Vidalia High School              1^st Place - Ferriday Upper Elementary

2^nd Place - Vidalia Junior High              2^nd Place - Ferriday Lower Elementary

3^rd Place - Monterey School                 3^rd Place - Monterey School

Superintendent Laster recognized the winners of the Louisiana School Boards' Association Art Contest winners for Concordia Parish.  They were as follows:

Amanda Moreno, Ridgecrest Elementary School, grade 8

Ricardo Bates, Ferriday High School, grade 11

Superintendent Laster recognized the ALS Essay Contest winners as follows:

1^st Place - Jeffery Spann, 5^th grade, Monterey School

2^nd Place - Drew Lipsey, 5^th grade, Monterey School

3^rd Place - McKenzie Owen, 5^th grade Monterey School

It was moved by Mr. Roberts, seconded by Mr. Parnham to approve the minutes of May 9, 2006, with a correction to reflect a 6 to 3 vote on the issue concerning the superintendent's recommendation for administrative changes.  The motion should read as follows:

It was moved by Mr. Riley, and seconded by Ms. Campbell not to accept the Superintendent's recommendation.  The motion failed 6 to 3 with Ms. Campbell, Mr. Riley, Ms. Watson voting in favor of the motion.

It was moved by Mr. Parnham, seconded by Mr. Wilkinson and carried unanimously to approve the invoices and financial report in the amount of $3,191,443.

A single bid from Fruhauf was opened for Band Uniforms for Vidalia High School.  It was moved by Mr. Riley, seconded by Mr. Roberts and carried unanimously to take the bid under advisement and to allow the band director to award the bid through Mr. O'Neal. 

Mr. Robert Smith and Mr. Greg Walter, Durham School Services representatives, made a presentation to the Board concerning student transportation. 

Mr. James Cockerham, school bus driver,  addressed the Board concerning opposition to the Durham proposal.

It was moved by Mr. Wilkinson, seconded by Mr. Riley to enter into a contract with Durham School Services for student transportation.  The motion passed 6 to 2 on a roll call vote as follows:

Ms. Mary Campbell                  NO

Mr. Gary Parnham                    YES

Ms. Martha Rabb                     NO

Mr. Ricky Raven                      ABSENT

Mr. Raymond Riley, Sr.            YES

Mr. Jerry Roberts                     YES

Ms. Melanie Watson                YES

Mr. Jimmy Wilkinson                YES

Mr. Ernest Lynn White              YES

Mr. O'Neal provided a report on the Vidalia High School Athletic Building.  It was reported that all previous bids came in over budget.  A meeting was held and the building drawings had been reviewed and revised.  It was recommended that the Board reject the old bids on the Athletic Building and readvertise for the building.  It was moved by Mr. Riley, seconded by Ms. Rabb and carried unanimously to accept the recommendation.

Ms. Rabb stepped out of the Board Room.

The board was provided a basic price for air conditioned activity buses as per request by Ms. Rabb. 

It was moved by Mr. Riley, seconded by Mr. Wilkinson and carried to approve the first reading on all policies and to suspend the second reading for policy JCDAE - Electronic Communication Devices.

It was moved by Mr. Parnham, seconded by Mr. Roberts and carried to collect taxes and issue permits and license for the town of Harrisonburg. 

It was moved by Mr. Parnham, seconded by Mr. Roberts and carried to enter into executive session at 6:55 P.M.

Ms. Rabb returned to the Board Room.

It was moved by Mr. Riley, seconded by Ms. Watson and carried unanimously to return to regular session at 7:25 P.M.

It was moved by Ms. Campbell, seconded by Ms. Rabb and carried unanimously to approve all personnel items as follows after withdrawing Mr. James Cockerham's retirement.

Resignations

Belinda Baroni, librarian, Vidalia Upper, effective May 26, 2006

Judy Bishop, teacher, Vidalia Upper, effective May 26, 2006

Nickie Estes, teacher, Ridgecrest School, effective May 26, 2006

Mary Floyd, first grade teacher, Ferriday Lower, effective May 26, 2006

Rebecca Jones, special education teacher, Ferriday Jr. High, effective May 26, 2006

Shamekia Isaac, teacher, Ferriday Jr. High, effective May 26, 2006

Brad Lipsey, interim principal, Ridgecrest School, effective May 29, 2006

Marvin Richardson, teacher, Ferriday Junior High, effective May 26, 2006

Suzanne Rogers, teacher, Ridgecrest School, effective May 26, 2006

Suzanne Vegas, special education teacher, Vidalia Jr. High, effective May 26, 2006

Diane Wood, first grade teacher, Ferriday Lower, effective May 26, 2006

Stephanie Harper, data entry clerk, effective June 9, 2006

Tracie Skipper, paraprofessional, Ridgecrest, effective May 26, 2006

Retirements

Carl Dangerfield, band director Ferriday Junior High, effective June 30, 2006

Charles Johnson, bus driver, effective May 29, 2006

Leaves

Lucia Gauthier, teacher, Ferriday Upper, extended medical leave, effective Februray 16, 2006 - May 26, 2006

Judy Burkley, teacher, Vidalia Lower, sabbatical leave, 2006-07 school year

Appointments

Penelope Bourgeois, teacher Ridgecrest School, effective August 8, 2006

Margaret Carter, first grade teacher, Ferriday Lower, effective August 8, 2006

Rosetta Fleming, first grade teacher, Ferriday Lower, effective August 8, 2006

Debbie Hill, teacher, Ferriday Upper, effective August 8, 2006

Barbie Mason, second grade teacher, Vidalia Lower, effective August 8, 2006

Errol Perez, science teacher, Vidalia High School, effective August 8, 2006

Gloria Perez, kindergarten teacher, Vidalia Lower, effective August 8, 2006

Cecilia Stevens, English teacher, Monterey High, effective, August 8, 2006

Gail Vess, science teacher, Ferriday High, effective August 8, 2006

Anise Garnier, social studies teacher, Ferriday High, effective August 8, 2006

Amanda Strickland, math teacher, Ferriday High, effective August 8, 2006

Judy Germany, data entry clerk for the Revenue Division, effective June 26, 2006

Non-Renewal of Contract

Gwendolyn Robinson, special education teacher, Ferriday High, effective May 26, 2006

Mary Scott, family and consumer science teacher, Ferriday High, effective May 26, 2006

Transfers

Claudia White, family and consumer science teacher, Ferriday Junior High to Ferriday High effective August 8, 2006

Betty Wilson, business teacher, 2/7 day Concordia Education Center to Monterey all day, effective May 26, 2006

Brenda Carter, school secretary, Ferriday High School to Vidalia High School, clerical assistant, effective July 26, 2006

Linda Hawkins, school secretary, Concordia Education Center to Central Office, secretary, effective July 26, 2006

Cotrina Johnson, school secretary, Ferriday Upper Elementary to Concordia Education Center, effective July 26, 2006

There was a discussion concerning placement of teachers and other staff members, staffing of Ferriday schools, and recruitment of teachers by principals.

Ms. Campbell left the Board Room at 7:30 P.M. and returned at 7:33 P.M.

Superintendent Laster announced that there would be a special called meeting of the Board on Thursday, June 22, 2006 for the purpose of approving the Consolidated Budget Revision and approval of personnel.

It was moved by Mr. Riley, seconded by Mr. Roberts and carried to adjourn at 7:35 P.M.

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