PROCEEDINGS OF THE SCHOOL BOARD OF THE PARISH OF CONCORDIA, STATE OF LOUISIANA, TAKEN AT A REGULAR MEETING HELD ON THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 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, November 13, 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. Daryle Price, Ms. Martha Rabb, Mr. Ricky Raven, Mr. Raymond Riley, Sr., Mr. Gary Parnham, Sr., Mr. Fred T. Butcher, Ms. Mary Campbell, Ms. Deanie Roberts and Ms. Darlene Baker.
Taylor and Sons Insurance recognized Ms. Myra Boyte, teacher, Ferriday Upper Elementary, as Employee of the Month.
The Board recognized Mr. Wilton Nolan for having received the Louisiana Psychologist of the Year Award.
Vidalia High School student, Matthew Couie, was presented with a Meritorious Action Award for his actions following the recent bus accident.
The following students were recognized as winners of the Sydney A. Murray Citizenship Award:
Grade 6 Grade 7 Grade 8
Ferriday Junior Tony Bethley Sankari Washington Jada Morrison
Vidalia Junior Kenzie Kunkle Jerrica Johnson Kayleigh Jowers
Ridgecrest Finola Reed Cailyn Glenn Ethan Prince
Monterey Carli Scott Shelly Russell Kristin Russell
Committee reports were presented by the chairperson of each committee.
It was moved by Mr. Butcher, seconded by Ms. Rabb and carried unanimously to approve the minutes of October 9, 2008.
It was moved by Mr. Riley, seconded by Ms. Baker and carried unanimously to approve invoices for the month of October in the amount of $5,107,132.
It was moved by Mr. Butcher, seconded by Ms. Rabb and carried unanimously to move item H. Open Bus Bids to Item B.
Bids were opened and read as follows:
1979 Chevrolet C70 Raymond Matthews $1,200.00
8 cylinder 2.5 ton van
John Deere 2030 Tractor Chris Allen 750.00
Mike Brown 898.00
1991 Dodge Shadow 4 door Velma Fortune 200.00
1985 Ford R10 Ranger No bid
1995 Ford Taurus 4 door Amy Fletcher 500.00
Sam Matson 977.00
Chris Allen 1,000.00
Henry Lewis, Jr. 1,200.00
1995 International Mike Brown 261.00
66 passenger school bus
1997 Dodge 8 Cylinder Van No bid
1999 Dodge Ram Linda Hawkins 300.00
1500 8 cylinder truck
1993 Dodge Caravan Mini-Van No bid
John Deere Bush Hog Raymond Matthews 25.00
John Deere Lawnmower Delnora Cook 25.00
It was moved by Mr. Butcher, seconded by Mr. Raven and carried unanimously to accept all bids with the exception of the 1999 Dodge Ram 1500 8 cylinder truck. This bid did not meet the base bid.
Bus Bids were opened as follows
Five (5) each - 2008-09 Conventional Model Seventy-one (71) passenger School Buses
Ross Bus Sales, Alexandria, LA $74,643.99 each
Kent Mitchell Bus Sales, Hammond, LA $74,237.00 each
It was moved by Mr. Butcher, seconded by Mr. Riley to award the bid to the lowest bidder after review and if all specifications are met.
It was moved by Mr. Riley, seconded by Ms. Baker and carried unanimously to extend the Surface Lease for section 16, TN7, R8E, for five years with the option to renegotiate after three (3) years.
It was moved by Ms. Rabb, seconded by Mr. Riley and carried unanimously to assign the mineral lease on Section 64, T2N R8E to Axis On-Shore.
It was moved by Mr. Raven, seconded by Mr. Riley and carried unanimously to allow the superintendent to award the bid for the cafeteria equipment.
It was moved by Mr. Raven, seconded by Ms. Baker to accept the superintendent’s recommendation of Ms. Wanda Adams for the position of Supervisor of School Food Service.
It was moved by Mr. Butcher, seconded by Mr. Raven and carried unanimously to pay the 13th check in January with a $600 across the board increase for full time employees and $300 for part time employees.
It was moved by Mr. Butcher, seconded by Ms. Rabb to amend the motion to read: to pay the 13th check in January with a $600 across the board increase for full time employees and $300 for part time employees for this year only and to review next year.
Superintendent Blankenstein presented the Superintendent’s Goals as follows:
To improve student achievement at all schools
Identifying areas of academic strengths and weaknesses at each school through the analysis of data collected for observations of parish-wide assessment teams
Increasing math and ELA performance in grades 3, 4, 5 and 8 by providing rigorous parish-wide assessments periodically to guide and assist instruction
Evaluating all school academic programs to determine effectiveness
Formalizing and implementing a Professional Development Plan for the parish based on a review of student data and input from administrators and teachers. (Currently, the focus is on vocabulary and writing, with an emphasis on rigor in assessment.)
Evidence of attainment of goal:
School Performance Scores (SPS) will increase at all schools.
No schools will be labeled School in Decline.
The number of schools labeled Exemplary Academic Growth will increase.
To improve classroom management to facilitate more effective use of instructional time
Establishing parish-wide consequences for specific behavior offences, including tardies
Implementing completely the school-wide Positive Behavior Support (PBS) programs in the schools.
Creating a district-wide Dropout Prevention Team to aid in decreasing the drop-out rate in the schools.
Evidence of attainment of goal:
The number of tardies for class at all schools will decrease.
Records of schools’ use of specific consequences for specific behavior offences and PBS program will be reviewed.
The drop-out rate in the schools will decrease and minutes of Dropout Prevention Team’s meetings will be reviewed.
It was moved by Mr. Raven, seconded by Ms. Rabb and carried unanimously to enter into Executive Session at 7:15 P.M.
It was moved by Mr. Raven, seconded by Ms. Baker, to return to regular session at 7:38 P.M.
It was moved by Ms. Campbell, seconded by Mr. Raven and carried unanimously to approve all personnel items in global.
Resignations:
Debbie Bairnsfather, Child Nutrition Program Supervisor, effective November 5, 2008
Kim Cowan, bus driver, effective October 24, 2008
Retirement:
Neeva Sibley, principal, Monterey High School, effective January 8, 2009
Leaves:
Teneeshia Barber, teacher, Ferriday Jr. High School, sabbatical leave for professional improvement, effective January 5, 2008-May 22, 2009
Amanda Wilson, teacher, Vidalia Lower, maternity leave, effective October 27, 2008-January 30, 2009
Jennifer Smith, teacher, Vidalia Lower, extended medical leave, effective January 5, 2009-February 13, 2009, upon exhaustion of accumulated sick leave
Noelanne Bennett-Kimball, teacher, Ridgecrest School, family medical leave, effective December 4, 2008-December 19, 2008
Amy Goodman Prather, paraprofessional, Vidalia Upper Elementary, maternity leave, effective December 1, 2008-February 6, 2009
Amy Mayse, paraprofessional, Ferriday Jr. High, maternity/medical leave, effective October 21, 2008
Nancy Philley, secretary, Monterey High School, family medical leave, effective November 10, 2008-December 19, 2008
Appointments:
Kimelar Skipper, paraprofessional, Ferriday High School, effective November 10, 2008
Lydia Evans, paraprofessional, Ferriday Jr. High, effective November 21, 2008
Rescind Action:
Christy Welch, paraprofessional, Vidalia Jr. High
It was moved by Mr. Butcher, seconded by Ms. Rabb and carried unanimously to adjourn at 7:45 P.M.
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Gary Parnham, Board President
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Loretta Blankenstein, Superintendent