PROCEEDINGS OF THE SCHOOL BOARD OF THE PARISH OF CONCORDIA, STATE OF LOUISIANA, TAKEN AT A REGULAR MEETING HELD ON THURSDAY, JANUARY 10, 2008

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, January 10, 2008, 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, Mr. Daryle Price, Ms. Martha Rabb, Mr. Raymond Riley, Sr., Mr. Gary Parnham, Sr., Ms. Darlene Baker, Mr. Ricky Raven, and Ms. Deanie Roberts.  Member absent was Ms. Mary Campbell.

It was moved by Mr. Butcher, seconded by Ms. Rabb and carried unanimously for the officers of the Board to remain the same with Mr. Gary Parnham as president and Mr. Raymond Riley as vice-president.

Mr. Parnham asked if any members wanted to change committees.  Ms. Martha Rabb requested to change to the Building and Grounds committee with Mr. Parnham taking her place on the Personnel Committee.  Mr. Daryle Price also requested to move to the Building and Grounds Committee with Ms. Roberts taking his place on the Finance Committee.

Each committee chairperson provided a committee report to the Board.

Ms. Ann Sandidge, Personnel Coordinator 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 Lower                        Ferriday Lower                                     Ridgecrest                               Monterey

Jason Stanley - PK               Tyrell Barnes - PK                               Hariklia Dodge - 1^st               Dillon Wright - PK

Landon Nunez - PK             Dondarais Boxley - K                          McKenzie Davis - 2^nd           Tailor Ferrell - K

Ryleigh Probst - K               Diamond Johnson - 1^st                                                                         Chad Nations - 1st

Jesse Guillory - 1^st               Drianna Smith - 2^nd                                                                               Katlynn Wickliffe - 2^nd        

J’Zandre Hudson - 2^nd             

Ms. Rhonda Moore, teacher, Ferriday High School, was recognized for having achieved National Board Certification.

Ms. Dana Williams, teacher, Vidalia Junior High School, was recognized for having been awarded a Quality in Science and Mathematics Grant in the amount of $750.  Ms. Williams informed the board that this money was to be used to purchase scientific calculators for the students.

It was moved by Mr. Riley, seconded by Mr. Raven and carried unanimously to approve the Minutes of December 13, 2007.

It was moved by Ms. Baker, seconded by Mr. Riley and carried to approve invoices and financial report for the month of November in the amount of $3,488,345.

It was moved by Mr. Riley, and seconded by Ms. Rabb to raise the Board Member’s salary to the state average of $650 per month.  The motion failed on a roll call vote of 5 to 3 as follows:

Ms. Baker        NO

Mr. Butcher      YES
Ms. Campbell   ABSENT

Mr. Price          YES
Ms. Rabb         YES
Mr. Raven        NO

Mr. Riley          YES

Ms. Roberts     YES

Mr. Parnham    NO

Mr. Butcher requested that the Board consider three additional meetings per year for academic purposes.  He suggested that principals come before the Board to discuss the academic plan for their individual school.

The 2008 Board Meeting dates were set as follows:

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

Policy GBA - Contracts 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. Rabb, seconded by Mr. Butcher and carried unanimously to call a Special Meeting on Monday, January 28, 2008, at 5:30 P.M. for the purpose of interviewing candidates for the position of Superintendent of Schools.

It was moved by Mr. Butcher, seconded by Ms. Rabb and carried unanimously to call a Special Meeting on Thursday, January 31, 2008, at 6:00 P.M. for the purpose of appointing a Superintendent of Schools.

It was moved by Mr. Butcher, seconded by Ms. Rabb to approve the distribution of the 13^th payroll check to all employees hired prior to October 1, 2007, on the second Friday of the month.  Certified full-time employees are to receive $550, part time certified personnel are to receive $275, full time non-certified personnel are to receive $350 and part time non-certified personnel are to receive $175.

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

Resignations:

Alissa Coldiron, teacher, Ridgecrest School, effective December 31, 2007

Leave: 

Betty Green, food service technician, Ferriday High School, un-paid leave effective December 18, 2007-February 8, 2008

Kimberly Burkley, speech pathologist, Vidalia Lower, maternity leave, effective April 7, 2008-May 23, 2008

Racheal Sutherland, teacher, Vidalia Lower, maternity leave, effective March 11, 2008- May 23, 2008

Retirement:

Steve Cross, Central Office Maintenance, effective January 4, 2008

Appointments:

Mary Floyd, teacher, Ferriday Lower, effective January 7, 2008 for the remainder of the school year only

Mariah Cooper, part-time teacher, Ridgecrest School to full-time teacher, effective January 7, 2008, for the remainder of the 2007-08 school year only

Sheila Alwood, assistant principal, Ferriday Lower, to acting principal, Ferriday Lower, for the interim period while Ms. Blankenstein serves as acting superintendent, effective November 13, 2007

Bobbie Hinson, administrative trainee, Ferriday Lower, to administrative intern, Ferriday Lower, effective January 7, 2008

Lisa Cater, administrative trainee, Ferriday Lower, to administrative intern, Ferriday Lower, effective January 7, 2008

Jeffrey Odom, administrative designee, Monterey High School, to administrative trainee, Monterey High School, effective January 7, 2008

Joyce Ivory, administrative designee, Ferriday High School, to administrative trainee, Ferriday High School, effective January 7, 2008

Mr. Raven requested that the Board consider lifting the freeze on hiring in order to advertise for the position of Supervisor of School Food Service.

It was moved by Mr. Raven, seconded by Ms. Rabb and carried unanimously to add an item to the agenda to advertise for the position of Supervisor of School Food Service.

It was moved by Mr. Raven, seconded by Mr. Butcher and carried unanimously to advertise for the vacant position of Supervisor of School Food Service.

It was moved by Mr. Butcher, seconded by Ms Rabb to adjourn at 6:40 P.M.

_________________________________          ________________________

Loretta Blankenstein, Acting Superintendent          Gary Parnham, Board President