PROCEEDINGS OF THE SCHOOL BOARD OF THE PARISH OF CONCORDIA, STATE OF LOUISIANA, TAKEN AT A REGULAR MEETING HELD ON THURSDAY, OCTOBER 8, 2009   

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 8, 2009, 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, Ms. Mary Campbell, Ms. Darlene Baker, Mr. Fred T. Butcher, Ms. Martha Rabb, Mr. Gary Parnham, Sr., Mr. Raymond Riley, Mr. Ricky Raven, Ms. Deanie Roberts and Mr. Daryle Price. 

Dr. Paul Nelson presented the Citizenship Awards.

Mr. Joe Bairnsfather presented the 4-H Awards.

Committee reports were presented by Mr. Riley, Mr. Butcher and Ms. Campbell.

It was moved by Mr. Butcher, seconded by Mr. Raven and carried unanimously to approve the minutes of September 10, 2009.

It was moved by Mr. Riley, seconded by Ms. Baker and carried to approve the invoices and financial report for the month of September in the amount of $3,801,798.00.

It was moved by Ms. Rabb, seconded by Mr. Butcher and carried unanimously to move the Executive Session to the end of the agenda after item number VIII.

Ms. Huhn explained to the Board that special counsel was needed in order to assist a foreign teacher with a visa in order for her to remain in the country.  She stressed that this was a certified teacher.  It was moved by Ms. Rabb, seconded by Mr. Price and carried unanimously to approve the resolution for employment of special counsel. 

RESOLUTION OF CONCORDIA PARISH SCHOOL BOARD

REGARDING EMPLOYMENT OF SPECIAL COUNSEL

Whereas, Louisiana Revised Statutes 42:263 authorizes the retention of special counsel by any school board upon a statement of reasons why such counsel is necessary and upon the approval by the Attorney General; and

Whereas, the Concordia Parish School Board, is in need of special counsel with experience in immigration law; and

Whereas, David Ware of Metarie, Louisiana has handled immigration issues and possesses unique experience, training and expertise in those issues of the law; now therefore,

Be it Duly Resolved Section I - This school Board does hereby employ David Ware of Metairie, Louisiana as its legal advisor and counsel of record in the matter of a highly qualified teacher who is not yet a citizen, obtain legal citizenship in the United States in order that the Concordia Parish School District may retain this certified, highly qualified teacher.

Section II - Said attorney shall be paid for his services at hourly rates equal to the hourly fee schedule for special counsel published by the Attorney General of the State of Louisiana in effect at the time of the services and shall be reimbursed for out of pocket expenses for long distance telephone calls, document duplication, travel and other expenses as a result of the legal services to and for this School Board.

Section III - Said attorney shall keep itemized time records for presentation to the Board with respect to services rendered at said hourly rates and the expenses incurred, and the Board is hereby authorized and directed to pay same upon submission and receipt thereof.

It was moved by Mr. Riley, seconded by Mr. Raven that the Concordia Parish School Board not lease property for hunting purposes.  Motion passed six (6) to three (3) with Ms. Rabb, Mr. Price and Ms. Campbell voting against the motion.

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

Leave

Brooke Terry, teacher, Ferriday Lower, maternity leave, November 13, 2009-January 29, 2010

Tara Dale, teacher Ferriday Lower, return from extended medical leave, September 8, 2009

Christine Roberts, teacher, Vidalia Upper Elementary, extended medical leave upon exhaustion of accumulated sick leave, effective October 5, 2009

Transfer

Velma Fortune, 5 hr. Central Office maid, 2.5 hr. sweeper, Vidalia Upper, to full-time, 8 hour office maid at Central Office locations, school level maintenance, effective October 12, 2009

It was moved by Mr. Butcher, seconded by Ms. Rabb and carried unanimously to enter into Executive Session at 7:00 P.M.

It was moved by Mr. Riley, seconded by Mr. Raven and carried unanimously to return to regular session at 7:15 P.M.

It was moved by Mr. Butcher, seconded by Ms. Rabb and carried unanimously to approve a resolution for the Shaw School and property revert back to the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries.

BE IT RESOLVED, by the Concordia Parish School Board, while in Regular Session on October 8, 2009, that:

               WHEREAS, on November 7, 1939, Abner Maxwell donated a .25 acre as taken from the Grand Cut-Off Plantation to the Concordia Parish School Board for use as a site for school purposes; and

                WHEREAS, on March 1, 1950, Abner Maxwell clarified his previous donation by conditioning it upon the continued use of such property for school purposes; and in addition he extended the site in size to one (1) acre for erecting & maintaining a school also under the condition that such donation would become void and revocable if at any time the Board should discontinue use of said site for

its intended purposes; and

                WHEREAS, the Concordia Parish School Board consolidated the Shaw School District with the Vidalia District on May 5, 1966 and thereby discontinuing the usage of that facility for school and/or other purposes; and

                WHEREAS, on April 8, 1968, the co-owners sold the entire Grand Cut-Off Plantation to the Louisiana Wild Life & Fisheries Commission which has continuously and without interruption maintained possession to date; and

                WHEREAS, the records of the Concordia Parish Assessor list such school site as being in the facility inventory of the Concordia Parish School Board; and

                WHEREAS, the Louisiana Wild Life & Fisheries Commission has petitioned the Concordia Parish School Board to prove title and/or ownership of such site and support of the continued asset listing of such on the public records of the Concordia Parish Assessor.

NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Concordia Parish School Board takes no exception to the challenge as petitioned by the Louisiana Wild Life & Fisheries Commission, and hereby acknowledges that the Commission does maintain sole possession of the Grand Cut-Off Plantation, including referenced abandoned school site and does hereby relinquish any claim of a public asset on the records of the Concordia Parish Assessor.

WHEREUPON, this Resolution was declared adopted on this the 8th day of October, 2009.

Mr. Riley requested that all supervisors be present at Board meetings.

It was moved by Mr. Riley, seconded by Ms. Rabb and carried unanimously to adjourn at 7:15 P.M.