PROCEEDINGS OF THE SCHOOL BOARD OF THE PARISH OF CONCORDIA, STATE OF LOUISIANA, TAKEN AT A REGULAR MEETING HELD ON THURSDAY, JANUARY 14, 2021

 

 

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, and via Zoom Teleconference, on Thursday, January 14, 2021, 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, Mr. Fred Butcher, Mr. Derrick Carson, Dr. Raymond Riley, Mr. John Bostic, Ms. Angela Hayes, Mrs. Lisette Forman, and Mr. Ricky Raven.

 

It was moved by Mrs. Forman, seconded by Mrs. Parker and carried that the officers for calendar year 2021 remain the same as that of the previous year, Mr. Butcher, President, and Mr. Bostic, Vice President

 

Mr. Tom O’Neal gave an update on the Monterey High School Gymnasium Project.  Further discussion on this item was moved to Item VII. J to Appropriate Action.

 

Committee Reports were presented.  (see attached)

 

It was moved by Mrs. Parker, seconded by Mr. Bostic and carried to approve the minutes of December 10, 2020.

 

It was moved by Dr. Riley, seconded by Mr. Bostic and carried to approve invoices in the amount of $5,572,648 for the month of December.

 

Discussion of Advertising of Superintendent Position was moved up to Item VII. A.  It was moved by Dr. Riley, seconded by Mr. Bostic and carried to call a Special Meeting for the purpose of discussing the job description, salary schedule, and dates for advertisement for the position of Superintendent.  Referenced meeting is scheduled for January 28, 2021, at 6:00 o’clock p.m.  Mr. Raven voted No on this item.

 

Due to a personal emergency, Dr. Riley departed the meeting at 6:30 p.m.

 

After discussion concerning an insurance premium supplement for contract bus drivers, it was requested that Mr. O’Neal review a future requirement that all such drivers carry a minimum of $1,000,000 liability coverage on their respective buses.  This review is to also include the overall cost of such a requirement.

 

Mr. Shirley presented a COVID-19 policy concerning additional days.  The contract states that the Concordia Parish School Board will provide up to 10 days of paid sick leave time to employees who have not used their 10 days of COVID-19 leave time from December 31, 2020, to May 31, 2021.  After discussion, it was moved by Mr. Bostic, seconded by Mr. Carson and carried to accept the Superintendent’s recommendation and to extend the contract to June 30, 2021.

 

It was moved by Mr. Enterkin, seconded by Mr. Raven and carried that the Board Member’s Compensation remain the same.

 

It was moved by Mrs. Parker, seconded by Mr. Bostic and carried to replace the roof of the dressing room facility located under the Ferriday High School stadium.  Mr. O’Neal was asked to obtain a cost estimate for replacement of the current fixtures, installation of A/C units and for the installation of a heat barrier system to protect the building.

 

It was moved by Mrs. Forman, seconded by Mrs. Parker and carried to upgrade the current parking lot and to build a new parking lot in front of Concordia Parish Academy for an estimated cost of $195,000.00.

 

Mr. O’Neal presented the Proposals received for two Caching Servers.  It was moved by Mr. Raven, seconded by Mrs. Forman and carried to accept the low bid of Waypoint, a division of Dell, in the amount of $23,938.18

 

It was moved by Mrs. Parker, seconded by Mr. Bostic and carried to approve an Inter-governmental agreement with the LaSalle Parish Police Jury, authorizing the Concordia Parish School Board Sales Tax Division to collect their Sales Taxes.

 

It was moved by Mr. Raven, seconded by Mr. Bostic and carried to approve a change order in the construction of the Monterey High School Gymnasium.  The net cost of this change is to be $56,002 and will cover water line installation, electrical service delivery issues in the parking lot, and overall foundation sub-grade concerns.

 

Board President Mr. Butcher asked if anyone wanted to make any adjustments or changes to the Board Committees.  There were no changes or adjustments to the Board Committee Members.

 

Educational/Personnel Policy               Finance                                             Buildings and Grounds

Mr. Ricky Raven, Chairperson               Mr. Fred Butcher, Chairperson            Dr. Raymond Riley, Chairperson

Mrs. Dorothy Parker                             Mr. Warren Enterkin                          Mr. John Bostic

Ms. Angela Hayes                                Mrs. Lisette Forman                         Mr. Derrick Carson

 

There was no Executive Session.

 

The following Personnel Announcements were made:

 

Concordia Parish School Board

Regular Board Meeting

Personnel Announcements

January 14, 2021

Return from Leave:

 

Tiffany Sanders, Teacher, Ferriday Upper Elementary, return from extended medical leave, effective January 4, 2021.

 

Novella Turner, SFS Technician, Ferriday Lower Elementary School, return from Family Medical Leave, effective January 4, 2021.

 

Dinah Smith, SFS Technician, CPAMST, return from Family Medical Leave, effective January 4, 2021.

 

Leaves:

 

Molly Butler, Teacher, Monterey High School, maternity leave / extended medical for maternity upon exhaustion of accumulated sick leave days, effective January 25, 2021 through April 6, 2021.

 

Michelle Bethea, Director of Child Nutrition, Central Administration, Family Medical Leave, effective January 4, 2021 through January 29, 2021.

 

Resignations:

 

Esther Smith, School Secretary, Concordia Education Center, effective January 29, 2021.

 

The following Announcements were made by Superintendent Shirley:

 

1.     Update on Vaccine for Concordia Parish Employees. We will be conducting a survey next week to see who wants the vaccine.

2.     Update on COVID-19 cases in the Parish – our numbers are stable.

3.     Central Office and all the schools will be closed Monday, January 18, in observance of Martin Luther King, Jr.’s birthday.

4.     If you will be attending the LSBA Conference in Shreveport, on March 7-9, please let Ms. Gail know.

5.     Board Member Lisette Forman’s birthday is January 30.

 

It was moved by Mrs. Parker, seconded by Mrs. Forman and carried to adjourn at 7:13 p.m.

 

 

Concordia Parish School Board Committee Reports

 

Educational/Personnel Policy Committee

January 11, 2021

 

I.       ACTION ON ITEMS INVOLVING SPENDING OF MONEY

 

1.0     

 

II.      ITEMS DISCUSSED

 

2.0      Personnel

 

2.1      COVID-19 sick days

 

2.2      When to close a school down during COVID-19??

 

2.3      Bus Drivers

 

2.4      Superintendent Advertisement

 

2.5      Superintendent Qualifications

 

2.6      Superintendent Hiring Procedure

 

 

Concordia Parish School Board Committee Reports

 

Finance Committee

January 11, 2021

 

I.       ACTION ON ITEMS INVOLVING SPENDING OF MONEY

 

1.0      FHS roof under bleachers

 

1.1      Parking at CPA

 

II.  ITEMS DISCUSSED

 

2.0      Personnel

 

2.1      COVID-19 sick days

 

2.2      When to close schools down – (%) due to COVID-19

 

2.3      Superintendent - discussion of advertisement, qualifications, hiring procedure

 

2.4      Mary Huhn-paraprofessional proposal extra duties

 

2.5      Weather situation for Tuesday, January 12th

 

2.6      Financial Statements

 

2.7      2019-2020 Audit

 

2.8      Project updates-MHS foundation issues

 

2.9      Caching/testing server

 

 

Concordia Parish School Board Committee Reports

 

Buildings and Grounds Committee

January 11, 2021

 

I.         ACTION ON ITEMS INVOLVING SPENDING OF MONEY

 

1.0     

 

II.        ITEMS DISCUSSED

 

2.0      Work orders

 

2.1      Michael Norris presentation

 

2.2      COVID-19 sick days extended

 

2.3      When to close schools due to COVID-19

 

2.4      Superintendent advertisement

          

2.5      FLE gas project

          

2.6      Entergy lighting project updated

          

2.7      FHS water leak at FHS parking lot

          

2.8      Keys for all schools