PROCEEDINGS OF THE SCHOOL BOARD OF THE PARISH OF CONCORDIA, STATE OF LOUISIANA, TAKEN AT A SPECIAL MEETING HELD ON THURSDAY, DECEMBER 13, 2007

 

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 Thursday, December 13, 2007, at six (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 Mr. Fred T. Butcher, Ms. Mary Campbell, Mr. Daryle Price, Ms. Martha Rabb, Mr. Raymond Riley, Sr., Mr. Gary Parnham, Sr., Ms. Darlene Baker, Mr. Ricky Raven, and Ms. Deanie Roberts.

 

Ms. Lynda Cantu, Secretary to the Superintendent was recognized as the Taylor and Sons Employee of the Month.

 

The following students were recognized as having received the Sidney Murray Hydroelectric Citizenship Award:

 

Vidalia Upper                        Ferriday Upper                                     Ridgecrest                             Monterey

Blake Bullock - 3rd                 Ty’Reik Hall - 3rd                              Tylin Crum - 3rd                     Kerstin Calhoun - 3rd

Kelsey Davis - 4th                 Makayla Milligan - 4th                     Janae Poole - 4th                    Dalton Campbell - 4th

Rio Caldwell - 5th                   Ja’Larrius Edwards - 5th                  Micah Riggs - 5th                  Kyle Lipsey - 5th

 

The following students were recognized as winners of the 2007 Concordia Parish School Board Christmas Card Art Contest Winners:

 

Leslie Brown - Eighth Grade, Vidalia Junior High - First Place

Corey Williams - Eighth Grade, Vidalia Junior High - First Place

Whestley Shirley - Sixth Grade, Vidalia Junior High - Second Place

Abby Chalmers - Sixth Grade, Vidalia Junior High - Second Place

Davey’ale Rowan - Eighth Grade, Vidalia Junior High - Third Place

Chaise Nations - Eighth Grade, Vidalia Junior High - Fourth Place

Cloi Cummings - Kindergarten, Ferriday Lower Elementary - Honorable Mention

 

The following students were recognized as winners of the National Conservation Poster Contest:

 

Harry Barber - Ferriday Lower Elementary School

Cloi Cummings - Ferriday Lower Elementary School

 

Committee reports were provided by the chairperson of each committee.  Mr. O’Neal, Business Director, provided the Board an update on the bathroom renovation project.

 

It was moved by Ms. Rabb, seconded by Mr. Butcher and carried unanimously to approve the minutes of the regular meeting of November 8, 2007 and the special meeting of November 12, 2007.

 

It was moved by Mr. Butcher, seconded by Ms. Baker and carried unanimously to approve the invoices and financial report for the month of November in the amount of $3,908,422.

 

It was moved by Mr. Raven, seconded by Ms. Campbell and carried unanimously to add the following addendum to the agenda:

 

VI        ITEMS FOR DISCUSSION AND APPROPRIATE ACTION

                H.           Receive Bids for Ferriday High School Athletic Building

                I.             Repairs on Concordia Education Center

 

VII       PERSONNEL

 

Retirement

Evelyn Fairbanks, School Food Service Supervisor, Central Administrative Office, effective January 1, 2007

 

It was moved by Mr. Riley, seconded by Mr. Price and carried unanimously to approve the first reading of the following policies:

 

Policy GBA - Contract and Compensation

Policy ED - Student Transportation Management

Policy EDAE - Student Transportation in Private Vehicles

Policy IDE - Co-curricular and Extra-curricular Activities

 

It was moved by Ms. Baker, seconded by Ms. Rabb and carried 8 to 1 with Mr. Butcher voting no, to approve the contract with Hammonds & Sills Law Firm establishing the firm as legal council for the Board.

 

It was requested by Mr. Riley to advertise in the local journal of the Board that along with regular agenda items, the Board will consider compensation and expense allowances for Board Members.

 

Mr. Butcher requested that the Board consider having an additional meeting after the end of each six weeks grading period and at the end of the school year.

 

The Board was provided an update on the Superintendent Search.

 

It was moved by Mr. Butcher, seconded by Ms. Rabb and carried unanimously to set the January 2008, meeting date for Thursday, January 10, 2008, at 6:00 P.M.

 

There was lengthy discussion concerning those bus drivers who did not sign promissory notes.  It was moved by Mr. Butcher, seconded by Ms. Baker and carried 7 to 2 with Ms. Campbell and Mr. Riley voting no to authorize the acting superintendent along with the attorney to contact the four drivers to seek binding arbitration within sixty (60) days, and for those drivers who do not agree to binding arbitration, to seek legal resolution.

 

It was moved by Ms. Campbell, seconded by Mr. Raven and carried unanimously to approve the superintendent’s recommendation for Mr. Charles Anderson to begin working at Vidalia Lower Elementary school for one-half day and then go to Ridgecrest School for one-half day as teacher/administrative assistant.

 

Bids for the Ferriday High School Field House were opened and read as follows:

                                                            Base Bid                      Alt. No. 1

Wilmar Construction                             $341,600                     $58,000

Petron, LLC                                         $348,080.77                $48,277.40

 

It was moved by Mr. Riley, seconded by Mr. Butcher and carried 8 to 1 with Ms. Baker voting no, to award the bid to the low bidder.

 

It was moved by Mr. Riley, seconded by Ms. Rabb and carried unanimously to move forward on the repair of Concordia Education Center.

 

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

 

Resignations:

Deadria P. Johnson, food service technician, Vidalia Lower, effective November 16, 2007

 

Leave: 

Wanda Calkins, teacher, Monterey High School, extended medical leave through December 5, 2007

Sandra Tiffee, librarian, Monterey High School, extended medical leave effective January 7, 2008-April 4, 2008

Latonya Butler, 2.5 hour sweeper, Ferriday Lower, maternity leave, effective November 16, 2007

Sondra Brown, paraprofessional, Vidalia Lower, return from maternity leave, December 3, 2007

 

Retirement:

Sherry Scott, teacher, Ferriday Lower, effective December 21, 2007

Bernadette Young, counselor, Monterey High School, effective January 7, 2008

Evelyn Fairbanks, School Food Service Supervisor, Central Administrative Office, effective January 1, 2007

 

Appointments:

Arlana Lee Davis, teacher, Ferriday Upper, effective January 7, 2008

Dorothy Houze, teacher, Ferriday Upper, effective December 14, 2007, for the remainder of the 2007-08 school year only

 

It was moved by Mr. Riley, seconded by Mr. Butcher and carried unanimously to adjourn at 7:48 P.M.

 

___________________________________              ____________________________________

Loretta Blankenstein, Acting Superintendent                  Gary Parnham, Board President