PROCEEDINGS OF THE SCHOOL BOARD OF THE PARISH OF CONCORDIA, STATE OF LOUISIANA, TAKEN AT A REGULAR MEETING HELD ON THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 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, February 11, 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, Dr. Raymond Riley, Mr. Derrick Carson, Mr. John Bostic, Ms. Angela Hayes, Mrs. Lisette Forman, Mr. Ricky Raven, and Mr. Fred Butcher.

Mr. O’Neal gave an update on the Monterey High School Gymnasium Project stating that the contractors were back on track following the sub surface issues.

Committee reports were presented.  (see attached)

It was moved by Mr. Raven, seconded by Mr. Bostic and carried to approve the minutes of the Regular meeting held on January 14, 2021, and also the minutes of the Special Meeting held on January 28, 2021, with the following necessary changes made, as stated by Mr. Carson, to the January 28, 2021, minutes: (Personnel Evaluation Program V.F.  Assures that Administrators and Principals provide complete, accurate, and reliable data and communication to the Board.)

It was moved by Dr. Riley, seconded by Mr. Carson and carried to approve invoices in the amount of $5,908,518 for the month of January.

After discussion of an insurance supplement for school bus drivers, it was moved by Dr. Riley, seconded by Mr. Enterkin and carried that the Concordia Parish School Board will pay the balance of the liability insurance funds up to one million dollars on the school bus insurance.  It was moved by Dr. Riley, seconded by Mr. Enterkin and carried to amend the motion to state that refund will come back to the Concordia Parish School Board.  Mr. Raven voted No.

After a brief discussion, it was moved by Mr. Bostic, seconded by Mrs. Parker and carried for there to be a reduction in the amount $1,000.00 per month for the remainder of the term that the LaSalle Community Action Association, Inc., Head Start pays to CPSB.  Mr. Carson and Ms. Hayes will abstain from any voting dealing with the LaSalle Community Action Association, Inc., Head Start due to a conflict of interest.

            Roll Call Vote:       Mr. Warren Enterkin - Yea

                                         Mrs. Dorothy Parker - Yea

                                         Mr. Fred Butcher - Yea

                                         Mr. Derrick Carson - abstain

                                         Mr. John Bostic - Yea

                                         Ms. Angela Hayes - abstain

                                         Mrs. Lisette Forman - Yea

                                         Mr. Ricky Raven - Yea

                                         Dr. Raymond Riley - Yea

Motion passed with 7 Yeas, 0 Nays, and 2 Abstains.

It was moved by Mr. Enterkin, seconded by Mr. Bostic and carried to approve an inter-governmental agreement for the collection of sales taxes for the Village of Grayson.

After discussion concerning school resource officers for each school, Mr. Butcher appointed a committee consisting of Mr. Carson as Chairperson, Mr. Bostic, and Mrs. Forman to come before the board in May with a new proposal to have one resource officer per school beginning with the 2020-2021 school year.

After discussion of the GPS Tracking System for school-owned vehicles, it was moved by Mr. Bostic, seconded by Mrs. Forman and carried to table further discussion until more information can be obtained.

Mr. Butcher asked that the Time Trust Attendance System for the CPSB staff members be placed on the agenda for the Regular Board Meeting on March 11, 2021.

Virtual/Hybrid student information was presented.

It was moved by Mrs. Parker, seconded by Mr. Carson and carried that the advertisement for the future superintendent of CPSB will begin next week with the first running beginning on February 17, 2021, with the Concordia Sentinel and with any other media.

It was moved by Mr. Carson, seconded by Mrs. Parker and carried to give Mr. Butcher and Mr. Shirley the authority to contact a law firm that is handling the “schools against vaping class action suit” and to enter into a law suit with that law firm.

It was moved by Dr. Riley, seconded by Mrs. Parker and carried to group Agenda Item I. Parish-Wide Needs Assessment and J. Strategic Plan for Expenditures of the ESSER II Funds together and to form a committee to make a group presentation on these items before we spend any money.  Mrs. Parker will be the Chairperson of this committee, with members Mr. Bostic and Mr. Enterkin.

It was moved by Dr. Riley, seconded by Mr. Bostic and carried to leave the current TIF Talent Pipeline Lead employee the same for the next two years, to be paid out of local funds.

There was no Executive Session.

Mrs. Rhonda Moore presented the following Personnel Announcements:

Concordia Parish School Board

Personnel Announcements

February 11, 2021

Leaves:

Lena Mallory Martin, Teacher, Vidalia Junior High, maternity leave/extended medical leave upon exhaustion of accumulated sick leave, effective February 1, 2021 through April 21, 2021.

Molly Butler, Teacher, Monterey High School, maternity leave/extended medical leave upon exhaustion of accumulated sick leave, effective January 15, 2021 through April 6, 2021.

Michelle Bethea, Director of Child Nutrition, Central Administration Office, Family Medical Leave, effective January 4, 2021 through February 26, 2021.

Sara Ernst, Teacher, Vidalia Upper Elementary, maternity leave/extended medical leave upon exhaustion of accumulated sick leave, effective January 29, 2021 through March 19, 2021.

Cynthia Chatman, Janitor, Ferriday Lower Elementary, Family Medical Leave/extended medical leave upon exhaustion of accumulated leave, effective January 13, 2021 through March 16, 2021.

Appointments:

Dara Probst Shirley, JAG Specialist, Vidalia High School, effective January 18, 2021.

Resignations:

Chelsea Clayton Bates, Teacher, Vidalia Lower Elementary, effective January 24, 2021.

Retirements:

Evelyn Geter, Teacher, Vidalia Upper Elementary, effective May 20, 2021.

Deborah Bairnsfather, Teacher, Monterey High School, effective February 19, 2021.

Nancy Anders, Principal, CPAMST, effective July 10, 2021.

Brenda Carter, Paraprofessional, Vidalia High School, effective March 29, 2021.

The following Announcements were made by Mr. Shirley:

1.   Update on Vaccine for Concordia Parish Employees. We did conduct a survey of all employees. Still no word of when our vaccines will be rolled out. We have been in contact with local pharmacies and Walmart. If our employees want to get on a waiting list for the vaccine; they may do so.

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

3.   All schools will be closed Monday and Tuesday for President’s Day and Mardi Gras. Central office will be open.

4.   We are keeping a close watch on the weather; freezing temperatures and rain are moving into our area sometime on Friday.

5.   LSBA conference will be in Shreveport on March 7-9; let Ms. Gail know if you will be attending.

6.   The state has pushed testing back to the end of April. April 30^th; which is a Friday - we may have hybrid attend on this day to complete testing. We will know more in the next few weeks.

It was moved by Dr. Riley, seconded by Mrs. Parker and carried to adjourn at 7:20 p.m.

Concordia Parish School Board Committee Reports

Educational/Personnel Policy Committee

February 8, 2021

I.          ACTION ON ITEMS INVOLVING SPENDING OF MONEY

1.0        Discussed LaSalle Community Lease

II.         ITEMS DISCUSSED

2.0        Personnel-leaves, hires, resignations

2.1        CPA Graduation-move to Friday at 5:00 p.m.

2.2        Vaccine-results from employees

2.3        Reviewed Agenda items

2.4        Upcoming possible bad weather

Concordia Parish School Board Committee Reports

Finance Committee

February 8, 2021

I.          ACTION ON ITEMS INVOLVING SPENDING OF MONEY

1.0        Vehicle repairs

1.1        GPS tracking devices for our fleet.  $5,000 up front-$440 a month – 31 vehicles

1.2        LaSalle Community Lease and Plumbing

II.  ITEMS DISCUSSED

2.0        Financial Statements for January 2021

2.1        Sales Tax Agreement

2.2        Project Update-lighting project in Ferriday

2.3        Bus drivers maintenance allowance/insurance

2.4        GPS for vehicles

2.5        CPA Graduation-move to Friday at 5:00 p.m.

2.6        Vaccine survey results

2.7        Review Agenda items

2.8        Possible bad weather this week

2.9        B & G last month (January) VHS/FHS fields discussion

Concordia Parish School Board Committee Reports

Buildings and Grounds Committee

February 8, 2021

I.          ACTION ON ITEMS INVOLVING SPENDING OF MONEY

1.0        GPS tracking system for vehicles

1.1        Maintenance vehicles (1995 van – 2003 car)

1.2        Mini Blinds at all schools may be a future project

1.3        Cafeteria duct work-very expensive

II.  ITEMS DISCUSSED

2.0        Work Orders

2.1        Vaccine survey results

2.2        Potential bad weather Friday

2.3        CPA Graduation possibly at 5:00 p.m.

2.4        VHS-FHS field/track proposals from January

2.5        Agenda Items

2.6        Project Updates-Ferriday lighting, FLE gas project

2.7        Bus Auctions