PROCEEDINGS OF THE SCHOOL BOARD OF THE PARISH OF CONCORDIA, STATE OF LOUISIANA, TAKEN AT A REGULAR MEETING HELD ON THURSDAY, MAY 20, 2010
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, May 20, 2010, 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. Darlene Baker, Mr. Gary Parnham, Sr., Mr. Ricky Raven, Ms. Mary Campbell, Ms. Martha Rabb, Mr. Raymond Riley, Mr. Fred T. Butcher and Ms. Deanie Roberts.
Member absent was Mr. Daryle Price.
Superintendent Blankenstein presented the awards to the 2010 Literary Rally Winners.
Committee reports were presented by each committee chairperson.
It was moved by Mr. Riley, seconded by Mr. Butcher and carried unanimously to approve the minutes of April 8, 2010.
It was moved by Mr. Butcher, seconded by Mr. Raven and carried unanimously to approve invoices in the amount of $3,540,462.
It was moved by Mr. Raven, seconded by Ms. Rabb and carried unanimously to approve the attached resolution providing for canvassing the returns and declaring the result of the special election held in the Parish of Concordia, State of Louisiana, on Saturday, May 1, 2010, to authorize the levy of a sales and use tax therein. Roll call vote was as follows:
Ms. Darlene Baker Yes
Mr. Fred T Butcher Yes
Ms. Mary Campbell Yes
Mr. Daryle Price Absent
Ms. Martha Rabb Yes
Mr. Ricky Raven Yes
Mr. Raymond Riley Yes
Ms. Deanie Roberts Yes
Mr. Gary Parnham Yes
It was moved by Ms. Baker, seconded by Ms. Roberts to renew the Durham School Services Contract. Motion failed on a tie roll call vote as follows:
Ms. Darlene Baker Yes
Mr. Fred T Butcher Yes
Ms. Mary Campbell No
Mr. Daryle Price Absent
Ms. Martha Rabb No
Mr. Ricky Raven No
Mr. Raymond Riley No
Ms. Deanie Roberts Yes
Mr. Gary Parnham Yes
It was moved by Mr. Riley, seconded by Ms. Rabb and carried unanimously to support a resolution of support for the LSU AgCenter funding as follows:
To support funding of the LSU AgCenter at the 2008-09 level.
WHEREAS, Concordia Parish is a rural, primarily agriculture based community with 42% of the total acreage of the parish planted in row crops alone, making agricultural research developed through the Cooperative Extension Service a vital part of the economic development of parish, and;
WHEREAS, the LSU AgCenter strives to enhance the quality of life for the residents of the parish by providing critical information on nutrition, healthy lifestyles, financial management, and childhood development, along with research based information to farmers and ranchers on pest management, crop production, and cattle management, and;
WHEREAS, the LSU AgCenter strives build community leaders and good citizens through a very successful 4-H youth development program which reaches many of our parish children. Through hands-on activities children gain skills enabling them to become positive, capable, productive members of the community.
NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, the Concordia Parish School Board supports full funding of the LSU AgCenter at the 2008 funding level of state appropriations.
Mr. Craig Jackson appeared before the Board to propose a Charter School in the Concordia Parish area.
It was moved by Mr. Raven to partner with the Delta Charter Group and explore opportunities with the Charter School System. The motion died for lack of a second.
Superintendent Blankenstein explained to Mr. Jackson that the parish would like the opportunity to follow the state guidelines and have an independent reader review the application along with requesting a financial impact study from the state prior to making a decision on partnering with the group.
It was moved by Ms. Campbell, seconded by Mr. Butcher and carried to approve all personnel in global with the exception of the following item.
Termination:
Phaedra Burns, paraprofessional, Ferriday Lower Elementary, effective May 21, 2010
PERSONNEL
Resignations:
Vickie Benefield, special education teacher, Ferriday High School, effective May 21, 2010
Jenny Duke, teacher, Ridgecrest School, effective may 21, 2010
Leslie Hurst, science teacher, Vidalia High School, effective May 21, 2010
Mariana Talpau Joos, French teacher, Ferriday Upper and Ferriday Jr. High, effective May 21, 2010
Olga Purvis, Spanish teacher, Vidalia High School, effective May 21, 2010
Randy Milligan, 8 hr. 10 mo. Janitor, Ferriday High School, effective May 7, 2010
Leaves:
Janice Sanders, teacher, Vidalia Lower Elementary, extended medical leave, effective April 26-May 21, 2010
Margaret Matthews, school food technician, Vidalia Jr. High, extended medical leave, effective upon exhaustion of accumulated sick leave
Kelli Campbell, maternity leave, school food technician, effective May 5, 2010
Luberta Ellis, extended medical leave, 2.5 hour sweeper, Vidalia Lower Elementary, effective April 22, 22010-May 21, 2010
Amy Dewitt, child nutrition secretary, Central Office, extended medical leave, upon exhaustion of accumulated sick leave, effective May 21, 2010
Retirements:
Cynthia Smith, Guidance Counselor, Vidalia High School, effective June 4, 2010
Appointments:
Julia Walker, Assistant Principal, Vidalia Upper Elementary, effective May 21, 2010
Patrick Wells, Social Studies teacher, Monterey High School, effective August 9, 2010
Dawn Bergeron Farmer, teacher, Vidalia Jr. High, effective August 9, 2010
Bridget Seals, teacher, Ridgecrest School, effective August 9, 2010
It was moved by Ms. Campbell, seconded by Ms. Rabb to reject the superintendent’s recommendation on the following item:
Termination:
Phaedra Burns, paraprofessional, Ferriday Lower Elementary, effective May 21, 2010
The motion failed on a tie roll call vote as follows:
Ms. Darlene Baker No
Mr. Fred T Butcher Yes
Ms. Mary Campbell Yes
Mr. Daryle Price Absent
Ms. Martha Rabb Yes
Mr. Ricky Raven No
Mr. Raymond Riley Yes
Ms. Deanie Roberts No
Mr. Gary Parnham No
It was moved by Mr. Riley, seconded by Ms. Rabb to adjourn at 7:27 P.M.