PROCEEDINGS OF THE SCHOOL BOARD OF THE PARISH OF CONCORDIA, STATE OF LOUISIANA, TAKEN AT A REGULAR MEETING HELD ON THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2020

 

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, February 13, 2020, at 6:00 o’clock p.m.  The meeting was called to order by Mr. Fred Butcher 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, Dr. Raymond Riley, Mr. Derrick Carson, Mr. Fred Butcher, Mr. John Bostic, Ms. Angela Hayes, Mrs. Lisette Forman, and Mr. Ricky Raven.

 

The Board recognized the following students receiving the Sidney A. Murray, Jr., Citizenship Award in Grades 3-5:

                                    Grade 3                              Grade 4                       Grade 5

CPA                             Kathryn Porter                    Tucker Bryan              Oreonna Bates

Ferriday Upper              Jordan Bacon                     Zaleiiya Acker             Dylan Fitt

Monterey High              Ainslee Simmons                Jessa Whittington        Hannah Book

Vidalia Upper                Rylee Wallace                    Laylah Burr                 Vihaan Patel

 

The Board recognized the following 2020 Students of the Year:

 

                 5th Grade       Cameron Yearby - CPA

                 8th Grade       Caroline Rout - CPA
12th Grade     John-Garrett Patrick - CPA

 

The Board recognized the following 2020 Teachers of the Year:

 

Samantha Fielder              Elementary School Division                (Vidalia Lower Elementary)

Iyna Barnes                      Middle School Division                       (Ferriday Junior High)

Doris Hamilton                  High School Division  (Monterey High)

 

The Board recognized the following 2020 Principals of the Year:

 

Sandra Burton                   Elementary School Division  (Ferriday Lower Elementary)

Bernie Cooley                   Secondary Division                            (Vidalia High)

 

Mr. Tom O’Neal discussed the progress of the Monterey High School Gymnasium.  He stated that the Architect for this project will be at the March 12, 2020, board meeting for a review.

 

Committee reports were presented.

 

President Butcher asked if any board member would like to serve on a different committee.  With no member requesting to change, the current committee members will remain the same for calendar year 2020.  Mr. Butcher stated that the Committee Members should elect a Chairperson at their next committee meeting on March 9, 2020.

 

It was moved by Mr. Carson, seconded by Dr. Riley and carried to approve the minutes of the Regular meeting held on January 9, 2020.

 

It was moved by Mr. Raven, seconded by Dr. Riley and carried to approve invoices in the amount of $6,200,800 for the month of January.

 

It was moved by Dr. Riley, seconded by Mrs. Parker and carried to approve the Second Reading of the following policies:

 

                    DFD Tax and Bond Elections and Sales

                    GAEAA Sexual Harassment

                    GBN Dismissal of Employees

                    GBRL Holidays

 

It was moved by Dr. Riley, seconded by Mr. Bostic and carried to add Vidalia Upper Elementary to the list of Air Conditioning Projects for the gyms.  Mr. O’Neal gave an update on the Air Conditioning Projects for the gyms at Ferriday High, Ferriday Upper Elementary, Vidalia High, Vidalia Junior High, and Vidalia Upper Elementary.  He stated that we hope to receive bids for the April 9 meeting.

 

Mr. O’Neal updated the Board on the Ferriday Junior High Parking Lot and the CPA Breezeway.

 

Mr. O’Neal presented the Board with a list of the current Capital Outlay Projects.

 

Mr. Carson stated that because we are having problems recruiting and retaining substitute teachers, we need to devise a plan to possibly attract more substitute teachers.  It was moved by Mr. Carson, seconded by Dr. Riley and carried to ask the Superintendent and his leadership team to devise a uniform plan by May 1, 2020, that would attract more substitute teachers.

 

Ms. Michelle Bethea, School Food Service Director, stated that it was hard to find substitute cafeteria workers due to paying them minimum wage.  A motion was made by Dr. Riley, seconded by Mr. Carson and carried to allow Ms. Bethea to review different salary schedules for substitute cafeteria workers for future compensation changes.

 

Mr. Carson discussed the possibility of changing to a four-day work week for the schools and the district personnel.  It was moved by Mr. Carson, seconded by Dr. Riley and carried to authorize the Superintendent and staff to gather information needed to review for possible implementation of a 4-day work week.

 

Mr. Carson discussed the possibility of changing to a bi-monthly payroll.  It was moved by Mr. Carson, seconded by Mr. Bostic and carried to allow the Superintendent and staff to gather information needed to review the possibility of changing to a bi-monthly payroll.

 

It was moved by Dr. Riley, seconded by Mr. Bostic and carried to allow the Principal to elect one custodian from their school to be appointed as a 12-month custodian and to forward such name to the Superintendent.  Mr. Enterkin voted Nay.

 

Dr. Riley presented a letter he received from LaSalle Community Action Association, Inc.  Concordia Head Start requesting to use the Ferriday Junior High Gymnasium for a Black History Program on February 21, 2020, and a Transition Program on June 25, 2020.  It was moved by Dr. Riley, seconded by Mrs. Forman and carried to allow Concordia Head Start to use the FJH gym if they purchase insurance for both occasions.

 

It was moved by Mrs. Forman, seconded by Mr. Bostic and carried to rescind the motion at the January 9, 2020, board meeting concerning Board Member Compensation increase.

 

It was moved by Mrs. Forman, seconded by Dr. Riley and carried to increase Board Member Compensation by $150.00 per month effective this current month of February.

 

Roll Call Vote:       Mr. Warren Enterkin - Yea

                             Mrs. Dorothy Parker - Yea

                             Dr. Raymond Riley - Yea

                             Mr. Derrick Carson - Yea

                             Mr. Fred Butcher - Yea

                             Mr. John Bostic - Nay

                             Ms. Angela Hayes - Yea

                             Mrs. Lisette Forman - Yea

                             Mr. Ricky Raven - Nay

 

Mrs. Rhonda Moore presented the following Personnel Announcements:

 

Concordia Parish School Board

Personnel Announcements

February 13, 2020

 

 

Leaves:

Josephine Willett, Teacher, Vidalia Lower Elementary School, extended medical leave upon exhaustion of accumulated sick leave, effective December 2, 2019 through January 30, 2020.

 

Josephine Willett, Teacher, Vidalia Lower Elementary School, return from extended medical leave, effective February 3, 2020.

 

Ravilia Hayes, Teacher, Ferriday Junior High School, maternity leave, effective January 3, 2020 through March 6, 2020.

 

Jessica Carter, Assistant Principal, Vidalia High School, return from maternity/extended medical leave for maternity, effective February 3, 2020.

 

Appointments:

Nicholas Kennedy, Teacher, Concordia Education Center, effective January 9, 2020 for the remainder of the 2019-20 school year.

 

Mr. Butcher set the following day and time to have all agenda items turned in to the Superintendent’s Office: 

 

Wednesday prior to the board meeting at 12:00 noon.

 

Mr. Carson stated that Mr. Butcher received a Public Comment Card for the Board Meeting.  It was moved by Mr. Carson, seconded by Mr. Bostic and carried to add this item to the Agenda.  Mr. Butcher allowed Ms. Shana Skipper 5 minutes to speak to the Board.  Ms. Skipper asked what plan does the Board have in place for bullying.  Mr. Butcher asked Ms. Skipper to write her questions down and send them to Mr. Shirley.  Mr. Shirley will have Dr. Brenda Moore to respond those questions.

 

It was moved by Dr. Riley, seconded by Mr. Carson and carried to enter into executive session at 7:30 p.m. to discuss allegation and investigation of alleged misconduct Pursuant to LARS 42:17A(4).

 

It was moved by Dr. Riley, seconded by Mr. Carson and carried to come out of executive session at 7:42 p.m.

 

The following Announcements were made by Mr. Shirley:

 

Saturday, May 9, 2020, is our tax renewal election.

LSBA convention is February 16, 17, & 18.

On February 20, our special education department, along with several area businesses, will host the second annual “Brightest Stars Ball” at the VCCC.

Schools will be dismissed on Friday, February 21, at 12:30, for the Mardi Gras Holiday. Schools will be out the following Monday and Tuesday. (However the central office and all 12 month employees will work.)

Last year we had all 6 of our high school basketball teams make the playoffs; and, we will know next week about their standings again for this year.

Birthdays: none for February

 

It was moved by Dr. Riley, seconded by Mr. Raven and carried to adjourn at 7:45 p.m.