October 11, 2007

PROCEEDINGS OF THE SCHOOL BOARD OF THE PARISH OF CONCORDIA, STATE OF LOUISIANA, TAKEN AT A REGULAR MEETING HELD ON THURSDAY, OCTOBER 11, 2007

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, October 11, 2007, at four (6:00) o’clock P.M. The meeting was called to order by Mr. Gary Parnham, who after prayer and the Pledge, declared that the Board was ready for the transaction of business.

Members present were Ms. Darlene Baker, Mr. Fred T. Butcher, Ms. Mary Campbell, Mr. Daryle Price, Ms. Martha Rabb, Mr. Ricky Raven, Mr. Raymond Riley, Sr., Ms. Deanie Roberts, and Mr. Gary Parnham, Sr.

Mr. Joe Bairnsfather recognized those students who participated in the statewide 4-H competition.

Dr. Kerry Laster presented the Citizenship Awards for the month of October.

Mr. Wayne Ryan, Taylor & Sons Insurance, recognized Ms. Linda McMurtry, teacher, Vidalia High School, as the Concordia Parish School District Employee of the Month.

Chairpersons from the Personnel Committee, Finance Committee and Building & Grounds Committee provided reports to the Board.

It was moved by Mr. Butcher, seconded by Mr. Riley and carried unanimously to approve the minutes of the Regular Board Meeting held on September 13, 2007.

It was moved by Mr. Riley, seconded by Ms. Rabb and carried unanimously to approve invoices for the month of September 2007 in the amount of $3,821,128.

It was moved by Ms. Baker, seconded by Mr. Raven and carried to add an item to the agenda. It was moved by Ms. Baker and seconded by Mr. Raven to Rethink and Lift the Hiring Freeze for those Persons who are Employed Ten Months or Longer. The motion failed 6 to 3, with Mr. Raven, Ms. Baker and Ms. Roberts voting in favor of the motion.

Plans for the Superintendent vacancy was discussed by Board Members. Mr. Raven expressed that he did not want to go the interim route. Mr. Butcher expressed that he wanted to utilize a committee to establish the procedure, guidelines and timeline for the appointment of a new superintendent. Discussion centered around utilizing the Personnel Committee for this purpose.

It was moved by Mr. Butcher, seconded by Ms. Campbell and carried to authorize the Personnel Committee to do three things, set the criteria, establish procedures and return to the Board with guidelines for hiring a superintendent. The roll call vote was as follows:

Ms. Baker NO

Mr. Butcher YES

Ms. Campbell YES

Mr. Price YES

Ms. Rabb YES

Mr. Raven NO

Mr. Riley YES

Ms. Roberts NO

Mr. Parnham NO VOTE

It was moved by Mr. Butcher, and seconded by Ms. Rabb to suspend the policy for 120 days for this particular situation pertaining to extended employment for the position of Director of Federal Programs. The motion, requiring a 2/3 vote of the Board failed on a roll call vote as follows:

Ms. Baker NO

Mr. Butcher YES
Ms. Campbell YES

Mr. Price YES

Ms. Rabb YES

Mr. Raven NO

Mr. Riley NO

Ms. Roberts NO

Mr. Parnham YES

Mr. Julius Huhn addressed the Board concerning remaining in the position of Director of Federal Programs.

The Board discussed the Attorney General’s opinion concerning the repayment of funds by bus drivers. Questions and discussion centered around the first year of the audits.

Mr. Tom O’Neal, Director of Financial Affairs, offered that should the Board decide that funds were not owed for the first year covered by the audits, the Board should pass a Public Resolution stating the Board not address the first year. No action was taken.

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

Policy JDE - Expulsion

Policy JDD – Suspension

Policy DCI – Budgetary Items Transfer Authority

Policy DE – Debt Limitation

Policy DFBA – Student Membership for Minimum Foundation Program Funding

Policy IHAD – Parent Conferences

Policy JG – Student Welfare

Policy BBBE – Board Member Compensation and Expenses

Policy EE – Child Nutrition Program Management

Policy JBA – Compulsory School Attendance Ages

Policy EBD – Energy Conservation Management

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

Resignations

Richard Deere, teacher, Ridgecrest School, effective October 1, 2007

Barbara Fletcher, teacher, Ridgecrest School, effective September 26, 2007

Leave

Peggie Hickombottom, teacher, Ferriday Upper, extend approve sick leave from the approved date of October 1, 2007 to October 8, 2007

Sarah Atkins, teacher, Vidalia Lower, return from maternity leave, October 1, 2007

Sondra Brown Williams, paraprofessional, Vidalia Lower, maternity leave, effective October 29, 2007 through December 21, 2007

Wanda Sue Calkins, teacher, Monterey High School, extended medical leave, effective upon exhaustion of accumulated sick leave through November 12, 2007

Appointments

Joe Thomas, 2.5 hour sweeper, effective August 10, 2007

Announcements were made concerning the Girls Helping Girls program and the lifting of the injunction on Huntington School in Smith vs. Concordia Parish School Board.

It was moved by Mr. Raven, seconded by Ms. Rabb and carried unanimously to adjourn at 7:25 P.M.

_______________________________ ______________________________

Kerry Laster, Ph.D., Superintendent Gary Parnham, President