PROCEEDINGS OF THE SCHOOL BOARD OF THE PARISH OF CONCORDIA, STATE OF LOUISIANA, TAKEN AT A REGULAR MEETING HELD ON TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 14, 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, November 14, 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. Jerry Roberts, Mr. Ricky Raven, Mr. Ernest Lynn White, and  Ms. Melanie Watson.

Members absent were Mr. Jimmy Wilkinson and Mr. Raymond Riley, Sr.

Superintendent Laster recognized the following students for having been named Sidney Murray Citizenship winners:

Ridgecrest School                                Vidalia Junior High School

6^th Grade - Andrew Jones                  6^th Grade - Nathaniel Smith

7^th Grade - James McFarland           7^th Grade - Paul Cangemi

8^th Grade - J. D. Hollowell                  8^th Grade - Callie Dallalio

Ferriday Junior High School                    Monterey School

6^th Grade - Jarvis Brooks                  6^th Grade - Bailey New

7^th Grade - Nyles Walker                  7^th Grade - Kristian Williams

8^th Grade - Kaitlyn Fletcher              8^th Grade - Jacob Barr

Ms. Dorothy Marsalis, Curriculum Coordinator, Ferriday Junior High School, was recognized as the Taylor and Sons Employee of the Month.

Ms. Linda Williams, teacher, Ferriday Lower Elementary School,  was recognized as having won Regional Teacher of the Year.

Ms. Dorothy Ulmer, teacher, Vidalia High School and Ms. Carolyn Huffman, teacher, Vidalia High School were recognized for having received a Bell South Mini Grant.

It was moved by Mr. Raven, seconded by Mr. Roberts and carried unanimously to approve the minutes of October 10, 2006.

Ms. Kimmie Wike, Bookkeeper, presented the financial report.  It was moved by Mr. Parnham, seconded by Mr. Raven and carried unanimously to approve invoices in the amount of $4,801,108.

It was moved by Mr. Parnham, seconded by Ms. Rabb and carried unanimously to approve revised substitute teacher rates effective for the December pay period as follows:

High School - 59 College Hours                      $38.00

60 College Hours or More                                $50.00

Degree                                                                   $54.00

Certified (Louisiana)                                          $60.00

Certified (Louisiana) with 20 or more consecutive days in certified position - Daily Rate of Pay

It was moved by Mr. Raven, seconded by Mr. Roberts to approve the first reading of all revised policies.

There was general discussion concerning Policy GBD - Employment of Personnel.

It was moved by Ms. Rabb, seconded by Ms. Campbell and carried unanimously to offer a substitute motion to approve the first reading of all policies excluding GBD - Employment of Personnel.

BH - School Board Ethics

EB - Building and Grounds Management      

GAME - Employee Tobacco Use       

GBE - Assignment

GBKA - Reduction in Force/ReAssignment

GBRA - Employee Conduct

GBRH - Professional Leave

JDD - Suspension

JGC - Student Health Services

It was moved by Mr. Roberts, seconded by Mr. Raven and carried unanimously to approve the second reading of the following policies.

ED - Student Transportation Management 

GRR - Substitutes for Support Personnel

It was moved by Mr. Parnham, seconded by Mr. Roberts and carried 6 to 1 with Ms. Campbell voting no, to accept the Superintendent's recommendation to appoint Whest Shirley as Principal, Vidalia Junior High School.

It was moved by Mr. Raven, seconded by Ms. Rabb and carried unanimously to accept the Superintendent's recommendation to appoint Christine Washington as Administrative Assistant, Vidalia Junior High School for the remainder of the school year.

It was moved by Mr. Raven, seconded by Ms. Rabb and carried unanimously to approve the request for sabbatical leave for Ms. Loretta Blankenstein to be effective the second semester of the 2006-07 school year and the first semester of the 2007-08 school year.

It was moved by Mr. Raven, seconded by Mr. Parnham and carried unanimously to appoint Ms. Sheila Alwood as interim principal for the duration of Ms. Blankenstein's sabbatical leave.

Mr. Rick Brown, principal, Vidalia High School appeared before the Board to request permission to place a plaque on the Science/Library building in memory of Mr. Kenneth Hathaway.  It was moved by Mr. Parnham, seconded by Ms. Rabb and carried unanimously to approve the request.

Mr. Clarence Skipper appeared before the Board representing the School Bus Operators.  Mr. Skipper addressed the Board concerning Durham representatives performing the route audits on contracted driver's buses. 

It was agreed that the situation would be reviewed and a meeting scheduled for the following day.

It was moved by Mr. Parnham, seconded by Mr. Roberts and carried to add an item to the agenda concerning a change in the meeting date.

It was discussed to change the meeting to Thursday, December 14, 2006.  It was brought to the

Board's attention that three bids were already out advertising the meeting date as December 12, 2006.  It was generally agreed not to change the date of the meeting.

It was moved by Ms. Campbell, seconded by Ms. Rabb and carried unanimously to approve the following personnel items in global.

Resignations

Alane Campbell, teacher, Ridgecrest School, effective October 27, 2006

Arthur Washington, teacher, Ferriday Upper, effective October 31, 2006

Medical Leave

Teneeshia Barber, special education teacher, Ferriday Jr. High, extended medical leave, effective October 11, 2006- December 22, 2006

Kylie Trisler, adaptive physical education teacher, Ferriday High School, extended medical leave, effective October 26, 2006-November 17, 2006

Debra Wilkinson, educational strategist, Special Populations, extended medical leave, effective November 1, 2006

Ruth Walker, special education teacher, return from extended medical leave, effective   November 8, 2006

Appointments

Natalie Dunn, teacher, Ridgecrest School, effective December 18, 2006

Jessica Ganey, teacher, Vidalia Upper Elementary, effective November 27, 2006

It was moved by Mr. Parnham, seconded by Mr. Raven and carried unanimously to adjourn at 6:30 P.M.

___________________________           _______________________

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