PROCEEDINGS OF THE SCHOOL BOARD OF THE PARISH OF CONCORDIA, STATE OF LOUISIANA, TAKEN AT A REGULAR MEETING HELD ON THURSDAY, MAY 19, 2011

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 19, 2011, 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. Gary Parnham, Sr., Ms. Mary Campbell, Ms. Darlene Baker, Ms. Cheryl Probst, Mr. Charles Minor, Mr. Raymond Riley, and Mr. Fred T. Butcher.

Members absent were Ms. Martha Rabb and Mr. Daryl Price.

Vidalia Lower Elementary and Monterey School were recognized for having been chosen as Schools of Recognition for Academic Growth.

Committee reports were presented.

It was moved by Mr. Riley, seconded by Mr. Minor and carried unanimously that the minutes of April 14, 2011 be approved.

It was moved by Mr. Butcher, seconded by Ms. Campbell and carried unanimously to approve invoices in the amount of $3,237,495 for the month of April 2011.

Mr. Tom O’Neal presented the 2010-2011 Consolidated Budget Revision to the Board.  It was moved by Ms. Baker, seconded by Mr. Butcher and carried unanimously to approve the amended budget resolution as follows:

It was moved by  Ms. Probst, seconded by Ms. Baker and carried unanimously to allow LaSalle Community Action to be released from the lease for the Clayton School Building.

It was moved by Ms. Campbell, seconded by Mr. Minor and carried unanimously to grant permission for the Superintendent to create a committee to explore the establishment of a magnet school at the Ridgecrest School site.

It was moved by Ms. Baker, seconded by Mr. Butcher and carried to grant permission to engage outside counsel for the Concordia Parish Sales Tax Department for representation in a sales tax matter.

RESOLUTION OF THE 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 approval by the Attorney General; and

Whereas, the Concordia Parish School Board Sales Tax Division, is in need of special counsel with experience in tax law; and

Whereas, Robert R. Rainer and the firm of Rainer, Anding & McLindon possess the experience, training and expertise in such matter  and handles such complex issues for many other local taxing authorities; now therefore,

Be it Duly Resolved that this honorable School Board does hereby employ Rainer, Anding & McLindon of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, as legal advisor and counsel of record in the matter of Medco Health Solutions, Inc. and issues of other highly specialized tax matters, and

Said firm shall be paid for their services at an hourly rate 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 and its Tax Division.

Said firm 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. Butcher, seconded by Ms. Baker and carried unanimously to extend to the Superintendent a contract, to be the same as the previous contract, for the period of four years.  Mr. Parnham requested that the contract be ready for signatures at the next regular Board meeting.

Superintendent Loretta Blankenstein announced to the Board that Ms. Bobbie Hinson, Assistant Principal, Ferriday Lower Elementary School, had been recommended for the position of principal, Ferriday Lower Elementary School and requested that this be included in the personnel section of the agenda.

It was moved by Ms. Campbell, seconded by Ms. Baker and carried by six votes, with Mr. Riley abstaining from the vote to approve all personnel items in global.

Leaves:

Janice Sanders, teacher, Vidalia Lower, extended medical leave, effective May 5, 2011-May 18, 2011

Judy Germany, bookkeeper, Sales Tax, extended medical leave, effective February 16, 2011

Teressa Paul, paraprofessional, Monterey High School, extended medical leave, effective April 18, 2011-May 18, 2011

Resignations:

Annjeannette Wells, special education teacher, Ferriday Lower, effective May 18, 2011

Margaret Tomasso, speech pathologist, Ferriday Lower, effective May 18, 2011

Alesa Sims, paraprofessional, Monterey High, effective May 18, 2011

Tim Herndon, head baseball coach, Vidalia High School, effective May 18, 2011

James Shaidnagle, head girls basketball coach, Vidalia High School, effective May 18, 2011

Retirements:

Dorothy Bell, librarian, Ferriday Upper, effective May 24, 2011

Sharon Patrick, family and consumer science teacher, Vidalia High School, effective June 30, 2011

Myra Boyte, teacher, Ferriday Upper, effective May 19, 2011

Appointments:

Cassidy Riley, teacher, Ferriday Upper Elementary, effective August 9, 2011

Angela Cotten, Connections teacher, Vidalia Jr. High, effective August 9, 2011

Alisha Trisler, science teacher, Monterey High School, effective August 9, 2011

Cheryl Rankin, family and consumer science teacher, Vidalia High School, effective August 9, 2011

Roddy Chiasson, special education teacher, Ferriday High School, effective August 2, 2011

Transfers:

Jill Britt, teacher, Ridgecrest School, to teacher, Monterey High School, effective August 9, 2011

Diana Stanley, paraprofessional, Vidalia Upper Elementary to paraprofessional, Vidalia Jr. High, effective August 9, 2011

Summer School Appointments

                                                Test Coordinators

Principal                                  Cindy Smith(FUE)                   4th       B. Byrd (VJH)

Asst. Principal                         Joyce Ivory(FUE)                    8TH      D. Thomas (FJH

Asst. Principal                         Christine Washington(VJH)      GEE    P. Duncan(MHS)

Secretary                                 R. Bradford(FUE)

Office Asst.                            D. Thomas(FUE)

4th Grade Teachers

ELA                                        Math                                     Third Grade:   Sp. Education:

J. Reeves(FUE)                       S. Lanius(RES)                      M. Fleming (FUE)

J. Trant(MHS)                         S. Davis(FUE)                       S. Burton(FUE)          J. Aycock (VUE)

D. Johnson(FUE)                    T. Anderson(VUE)                 A. Poole(VUE)

H. Brallier(MHS)                    G. Carson(FUE)

A. Smith(MHS)                      M. Miller(FLE)

8th Grade Teachers

ELA                                        Math                                        Special Education      

L. Crump(FJH)                       C. Anderson(VLE)                 B. Parker(RES)

S. Cotton(VJH)                       J. Wilson(FJH)                        T. Barber(FJH)

E. Davis(FHS)                                    N. Sibley

D. Smith(VJH)                        M. Potts

Paraprofessionals

L. Smith(VUE)           T. Bell(VJH)            High School Credit Recovery Program

S. Williams(VLE)       S. Byrd(FHS)          L. McMurtry (VHS)               P. West (VHS)

                                                                 J. Beach (VHS)                       R. Gray (FJH

GEE Remediation

S. Scruggs       Social Studies

TBA                Math               

O. King           English           

R. Cavin          Science

Summer Food Program Appointments:

Ferriday Jr. High:                                Ferrriday Upper:                     Vidalia Jr. High:

Carla Washington                               Johnny Raymo                        Darlene Smith

Shameka Tucker                                  Cynthia Platt                           Margaret Matthews

Joyce Minor                                        Estelle Foster

Vanessa Barksdale

Summer Program Bus drivers

Kathy Smith      Annette Campbell     Essie Green     Bob Morales     Albert Hickombottom

It was moved by Mr. Butcher, seconded by Ms. Baker and carried unanimously to enter into Executive Session at 6:30 P.M.

It was moved by Mr. Riley, seconded by Ms. Campbell and carried unanimously to return from Executive Session at 7:22 P.M.

It was moved by Ms. Baker, seconded by Mr. Riley and carried unanimously to authorize the Board attorney to proceed as discussed in Executive Session concerning litigation strategy in that case styled ”r;Sarah L. Dennis, on Behalf of the Minor T.D. v Concordia Parish School Board” suit number 45196 on the records of the Seventh Judicial Court for the Parish of Concordia.

It was moved by Mr. Butcher, seconded by Mr. Riley and carried unanimously to reject the grievance brought forth by Shandra Collins on behalf of her minor child as it fails to qualify as a grievance under the Board Policy and the Board is without authority to act on the request.

It was moved by Mr. Butcher, seconded by Mr. Riley and carried unanimously to adjourn at 7:25 P.M.

___________________________________              _____________________________________

Loretta Blankenstein, Superintendent                                    Gary Parnham, Board President