PROCEEDINGS OF THE SCHOOL BOARD OF THE PARISH OF CONCORDIA, STATE OF LOUISIANA, TAKEN AT A REGULAR MEETING HELD ON THURSDAY, JUNE 13, 2019
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, June 13, 2019, at 6:00 o’clock p.m. The meeting was called to order by Dr. Raymond Riley, who after prayer and the Pledge, declared that the Board was ready for the transaction of business.
Members present were Mr. Warren Enterkin, Mrs. Dorothy Parker, Mr. Fred Butcher, Mr. Derrick Carson, Mr. John Bostic, Ms. Angela Hayes, Mrs. Lisette Forman, Mr. Ricky Raven, and Dr. Raymond Riley.
It was moved by Mrs. Parker, seconded by Mr. Butcher and carried to add Syrah Technologies, LLC-ITEP “Acceptable Language” Resolution Revision to the Agenda.
Roll Call Vote: Mr. Warren Enterkin – Yea
Mrs. Dorothy Parker – Yea
Mr. Fred Butcher – Yea
Mr. Derrick Carson– Yea
Mr. John Bostic – Yea
Ms. Angela Hayes – Yea
Mrs. Lisette Forman – Yea
Mr. Ricky Raven – Yea
Dr. Raymond Riley – Yea
Committee Reports were presented. Mr. Butcher, Finance Committee, indicated that the committee had reviewed the financial statements for the previous month, discussed Consolidated Budget, software system training, CPA restrooms, and personnel. Mr. Raven, Educational/Personnel Policy Committee, indicated that the Superintendent gave an update on school staffing, they discussed CPA building, leaves, and possible hires. Dr. Riley, Buildings and Grounds Committee, indicated that the committee did not meet on Monday due to the Special Board Meeting. Dr. Riley stated that they may have to meet before the next month’s Committee Meeting to check on some maintenance issues that were requested.
It was moved by Mr. Butcher, seconded by Mr. Raven and carried to approve the minutes of the Regular Meeting held on May 9, 2019.
It was moved by Mr. Butcher, seconded by Mrs. Parker and carried to approve invoices in the amount of $4,724,792.00 for the month of May 2019.
After a brief discussion on the FY 2018-19 Consolidated Budget Revision, Mr. O’Neal stated that the overall projected budget variances as being .007% on revenues and .031% on disbursements. It was moved by Mr. Butcher, seconded by Mr. Bostic and carried to approve the FY 2018-19 Consolidated Budget Revision.
It was moved by Mr. Butcher, seconded by Mr. Carson and carried to approve the Concordia Sentinel as the Board’s official journal.
Dr. Riley recommended a salary increase of $1,500 for teachers and $1,000 for support personnel. It was moved by Mr. Raven, seconded by Mr. Bostic and carried to accept the recommendation of the employee raise. After a brief discussion, it was moved by Mr. Bostic, seconded by Mrs. Forman and carried to amend the above recommendation to state that they will refer the employee salary increase to the Finance Committee and present it to the July 11, 2019, Regular Board Meeting. It was moved by Mr. Bostic, seconded by Mrs. Forman and carried to accept the motion as amended.
It was moved by Mr. Enterkin, seconded by Mr. Bostic and carried to allow Mr. O’Neal to direct deposit checks for the retirees reimbursement.
After a brief discussion with Mrs. Heather Malone, Director Concordia Economic Development, and Mr. Paul Jahn, COO of Syrah Technologies, LLC, it was moved by Mr. Butcher, seconded by Mrs. Parker and carried to adopt the Syrah Technologies, LLC “Acceptable Language” Resolution Revision. This revised resolution will show the total payroll and that there will be 25 new jobs, with 15 of the 25 being filled with Louisiana residents.
RESOLUTION NO. 04-19-18-01-02
A RESOLUTION OF THE CONCORDIA PARISH SCHOOL BOARD APPROVING SYRAH TECHNOLOGIES, LLC FOR PARTICIPATION IN THE INDUSTRIAL TAX EXEMPTION PROGRAM AT 2001 D. A. BIGLANE ROAD, VIDALIA, LA
WHEREAS, Article 7, Section 21(F) of the Louisiana Constitution provides for the Board of Commerce and Industry (“BCI”), with the approval of the Governor, to approve contracts for the exemption of ad valorem taxes of a new manufacturing establishment or an addition to an existing manufacturing establishment, on such terms and conditions as the board, with the approval of the Governor, deems in the best interest of the state; and
WHEREAS, SYRAH TECHNOLOGIES, LLC has applied for an Industrial Tax Exemption (“ITE”) and seeks approval of the BCI and the Governor for a contract granting that exemption; and
WHEREAS, Governor Edwards, through Executive Order JBE 16-73, has set forth the conditions for his approval of ITE contracts, and affirmed that those conditions are in the best interest of the state of Louisiana; and
WHEREAS, Executive Order JBE 16-73 provides that ITE contracts should be premised upon job and payroll creation at new or expanded manufacturing plants or establishments, and that the percentage of exemption from ad valorem taxes, and length of the contract for such exemption, may vary depending upon the nature of the project and its economic development benefit in accordance with guidance received from the Secretary of Economic Development and concurred in by the appropriate parish and/or municipal council, school board, and sheriff; and
WHEREAS, Concordia Parish borders the Mississippi River in eastern central Louisiana and shares two river crossing bridges totaling a 1-mile distance from Natchez, MS, and
WHEREAS, Concordia Parish is part of the Natchez, MS – LA Micropolitan Statistical Area, and
WHEREAS, this Board recognizes that Concordia Parish’s workforce commuter patterns include neighboring counties in Mississippi and neighboring parish residents, and
WHEREAS, this Board recognizes a regional economic development approach, which includes, at times, partnering with neighboring parishes and Mississippi communities to attract new and expanding business opportunities, provides the greatest value and economic opportunity for Concordia Parish and its residents thereof,and
WHEREAS, this Board supports and appreciates the efforts of Governor John Bel Edwards to implement requirements for local input into the Louisiana Industrial Property Tax Exemption Program application approval process, and
WHEREAS, Executive Order JBE 16-73 mandates that each exemption contract approved by the Governor shall include as Exhibit “A” a Cooperative Endeavor Agreement for the ITE between the State of Louisiana, the Louisiana Department of Economic Development, and the applicant for the ITE contract, which provides for the creation or retention of jobs, and provides for the exercise of the option in the Louisiana Constitution for the term or percentage of the parish ad valorem tax exemption granted in the contract, and provides for the reduction or loss of the exemption based upon the applicant’s compliance with the contract.
WHEREAS, Executive Order JBE 16-73 further requires that this SCHOOL BOARD, together with the other required local governmental entities signify consent to the terms of the exemption by resolution and the sheriff of this parish shall signify consent to the terms of the exemption by letter. Executive Order JBE 16-73 further provides that the resolutions of approval and the sheriff’s approval shall be attached as Exhibit “B” to the ITE contract between the BCI and SYRAH TECHNOLOGIES, LLC; and
WHEREAS, SYRAH TECHNOLOGIES, LLC and the Louisiana Department of Economic Development have advised that certain terms and conditions forming Exhibit “A” to the Industrial Tax Exemption Contract pending approval before the Louisiana Board of Commerce and Industry have been reached and have conveyed the same to this SCHOOL BOARD, and thus this matter is now ready for a determination of approval of this SCHOOL BOARD as required by Executive Order JBE 16-73,
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, upon consideration of the foregoing and the public discussion held this day, that this SCHOOL BOARD approves the terms of the Industrial Tax Exemption contract based on the inclusion of the following terms and conditions into Exhibit “A” ( the Cooperative Endeavor Agreement between the State of Louisiana, the Louisiana Department of Economic Development, and SYRAH TECHNOLOGIES, LLC) to the Industrial Tax Exemption contract between the Board of Commerce and Industry and SYRAH TECHNOLOGIES, LLC with respect to its manufacturing plant located at 2001 D. A. Biglane Road, Vidalia, Concordia Parish, Louisiana:
____25_____ Total New Direct Permanent Jobs at the Manufacturing Establishment
____15_____ of the Total New Direct Permanent Jobs shall be filled by Louisiana residents
_$1,500,000 _Total Combined Annual Payroll for all New Direct Permanent Jobs
_5 Years __Term of Initial Exemption Contract
_100% __Percentage of Initial Exemption Contract
_3 Years __Term of Renewal Exemption Contract
_ 80% __Percentage of Renewal Exemption Contract
__90%____Threshold of Total New Direct Permanent Jobs at the Manufacturing Establishment that must be reported to LED for annual compliance
__90%____Threshold of Total New Direct Permanent Jobs at the Manufacturing Establishment to be filled by Louisiana residents that must be reported to LED for annual compliance
This SCHOOL BOARD further authorizes the Louisiana Department of Economic Development, on behalf of the Board of Commerce and Industry, to include this resolution in Exhibit “B” to the Industrial Tax Exemption Contract between the Board of Commerce and Industry and SYRAH TECHNOLOGIES, LLC.
THEREFORE, BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED by this SCHOOL BOARD that a copy of this resolution shall be forwarded to Board of Commerce and Industry and the Louisiana Department of Economic Development.
THE FORGOING RESOLUTION WAS READ, AND, AFTER PUBLIC DISCUSSION, THE ROLL WAS CALLED ON THE ADOPTION THEREOF AND RESULTED AS FOLLOWS:
YEAS: Warren Enterkin
Dorothy Parker
Fred Butcher
Derrick Carson
John Bostic
Angela Hayes
Lisette Forman
Ricky Raven
Raymond Riley
NAYS: None
ABSENT: None
ABSTAIN: None
AND the resolution was declared adopted on this June 13, 2019.
/s/ Raymond, Riley, Sr., President
Raymond Riley, Sr., President
Concordia Parish School Board
The following personnel announcements were made:
Concordia Parish School Board
Personnel Announcements
June 13, 2019
Leaves:
Kaitlyn Fletcher, SFS Technician, Vidalia Junior High School, maternity leave upon the exhaustion of accumulated sick leave, effective April 15, 2019 through May 23, 2019.
Judy Germany, Secretary/Bookkeeper, Sales Tax Division, leave of absence without pay, upon exhaustion of family medical leave, effective January 7, 2019 through September 30, 2019.
Resignations:
Michele Lamb, Teacher, Vidalia Lower Elementary School, effective August 5, 2019.
Megan Nations, Teacher, Ferriday Upper Elementary School, effective August 5, 2019.
Michelle Joseph, Teacher, CPAMST, effective August 5, 2019.
Kalynn Vegas, Teacher, CPAMST, effective August 5, 2019.
Sharon Hutchins, Teacher, Vidalia Lower Elementary School, effective August 5, 2019.
Felicia Samuel, Teacher, Vidalia High School, effective August 5, 2019.
LeAnn Williams, Teacher, Vidalia Upper Elementary School, effective August 5, 2019.
Faye Ainsworth, Teacher, Concordia Education Center, effective August 5, 2019.
Robin Edwards, Teacher, Vidalia Junior High School, effective August 5, 2019.
Transfers:
Randel Jackson, Teacher, Ferriday Junior High School, to Teacher, Ferriday Upper Elementary School, effective August 5, 2019.
Betsi McGraw, Teacher, Ferriday Lower Elementary School, to Teacher, Vidalia Lower Elementary School, effective August 5, 2019.
Appointments:
Jane Yon, Teacher, Vidalia Junior High School, effective August 5, 2019.
Connie Fleming, Teacher, Ferriday Lower Elementary School, effective August 5, 2019.
Gabrielle Lucien, Teacher, Ferriday Junior High School, effective August 5, 2019.
Matthew Thornton, Teacher, Ferriday High School, effective July 16, 2019.
Rio Caldwell, Teacher, Ferriday Lower Elementary School, effective August 5, 2019.
Jessica Guidry, Teacher, Ferriday High School, effective August 5, 2019.
Retirements:
Doris Diane Cater, 2.5 hour Sweeper, Ferriday Upper Elementary School, effective May 23, 2019.
Jennine Wilson, School Counselor, Vidalia High School, effective June 1, 2019.
Mr. Shirley made the following announcements:
Mr. Shirley will be attending a Superintendent’s meeting on June 19-21.
Southern Region Conference will be July 24-27.
Board Member Ricky Raven celebrated a birthday.
It was moved by Mr. Butcher, seconded by Mrs. Parker and carried to adjourn at 7:17 p.m.