PROCEEDINGS OF THE SCHOOL BOARD OF THE PARISH OF CONCORDIA, STATE OF LOUISIANA, TAKEN AT A REGULAR MEETING HELD ON THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 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, on Thursday, November 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, Ms. Angela Hayes, Mrs. Lisette Forman, and Mr. Fred Butcher. Also present was Superintendent Toyua Watson. Mr. Raven joined the meeting at 6:32 PM. All board members were present as Mr. John Bostic resigned as of October 31, 2021.
Mr. Butcher asked to add an item to the agenda under Items for Discussion and Appropriate Action: to advertise for Requests for Qualifications (RFQ) for architectural and engineering design services. It was moved by Dr. Raymond Riley, seconded by Mrs. Dorothy Parker and unanimously carried to add said item to the agenda. It is Item G under Section VI. A roll call vote was taken.
Roll Call Vote:
Mr. Warren Enterkin – Yea
Mrs. Dorothy Parker – Yea
Dr. Raymond Riley – Yea
Mr. Derrick Carson – Yea
Ms. Angela Hayes – Yea
Mrs. Lisette Forman – Yea
Mr. Ricky Raven – Yea
Mr. Fred Butcher – Yea
Motion passed with 8 Yeas and 0 Nays.
Mr. Butcher requested that the Personnel Report be moved to Item A under Section VI. Items for Discussion and Appropriate Action and keep it there for future meetings.
The Board recognized the following students receiving the Sidney A. Murray, Jr., Citizenship Awards in grades 6-8.
Grade 6 Grade 7 Grade 8
Concordia Parish Academy Aline Ewing Keiley Hall Michael Anders
Ferriday Junior High Adena Shannon Zakee Muhammad Journey Clemons
Monterey School Jordan Pecanty Madeline Poole Braxton McClure
Vidalia Junior High Rebekah Messer Adaija Harris Layla Parker
Bob Bernard with Volkert, Inc., gave an update via Zoom on the MHS gymnasium construction project. The estimated completion date is April 30, 2022.
The board members then heard from three applicants for the vacated seat for District 5B in Monterey due to Mr. John Bostic’s resignation effective October 31, 2021. Nicky Pere’, Ralph Simmons, and Matt Taunton each gave a statement indicating their reasons for applying for the position. Board president Fred Butcher thanked the applicants for coming. He let them know the board would be voting to fill the seat later in the meeting.
Committee Reports were presented. (see attached)
It was moved by Mr. Raven, seconded by Dr. Riley and unanimously carried to approve the minutes of the Regular Meeting held on October 14, 2021.
It was moved by Mr. Enterkin, seconded by Mr. Raven and unanimously carried to approve invoices in the amount of $5,529,383 for the month of October.
Mr. Butcher asked for the personnel report. As Mrs. Moore was not present, Ms. Watson reported that there have been no changes since the report was given to the committee on Monday.
Concordia Parish School Board
Personnel Announcements
November 11, 2021
Retirements:
Deborah Byrnes, SFS Manager, Ferriday Lower Elementary School, effective October 27, 2021.
Resignations:
Lee Wooldridge, Teacher, Ferriday Junior High School, effective November 5, 2021.
Transfers:
Hatorri Brice, JAG Specialist, Concordia Education Center, to JAG Specialist, Vidalia Junior High School, effective November 1, 2021.
It was moved by Mr. Enterkin, seconded by Dr. Riley and unanimously carried to pass a resolution to fill the vacancy of District 5B, Monterey, and to call for a special election to be held with the primary election date set for March 26, 2022, and the general/runoff election date set for April 30, 2022, with qualifying dates set for January 26, 27, 28, 2022.
Mr. Butcher then asked the board members to vote on appointing an applicant to fill the seat of District 5B, Monterey. Mr. Nicky Pere’ received the majority of votes and was appointed to District 5B.
Mr. Tom O’Neal stated that Game Day Turf was discussed during the Finance Committee Meeting and to be clear about what the contract covered, he requested that the board vote on including the Monterey baseball and softball fields in addition to the football fields in Ferriday and Vidalia. It was moved by Dr. Riley, seconded by Mrs. Forman and unanimously carried to include the Monterey High School baseball and softball fields in the contract.
It was moved by Mr. Raven, seconded by Dr. Riley and unanimously carried to approve the employee payroll supplements for the next three years.
It was moved by Mr. Raven, seconded by Mr. Carson and unanimously carried to approve the following board meeting dates for 2022:
January 13, 2022
February 10, 2022
March 110, 2022
April 14, 2022
May 12, 2022
June 9, 2022
July 14, 2022
August 11, 2022
September 8, 2022
October 13, 2022
November 10, 2022
December 8, 2022.
After discussion on the responses of a survey of parents on the mask mandate for COVID, it was moved by Mrs. Forman and seconded by Mr. Raven to remove the mask mandate at all the schools. There was a roll call vote.
Roll Call Vote:
Mr. Warren Enterkin – Yea
Mrs. Dorothy Parker – Nay
Dr. Raymond Riley – Nay
Mr. Derrick Carson – Nay
Ms. Angela Hayes – Nay
Mrs. Lisette Forman – Yea
Mr. Ricky Raven – Yea
Mr. Fred Butcher – Abstain
Motion failed with 3 yeas, 4 nays, and 1 abstension.
Mr. Butcher asked if there were any more motions on this matter. It was moved by Mrs. Parker, seconded by Mr. Raven and passed that masks are not going to be required, but will be optional. Also, the results will be tracked to check that the numbers are not going up. If the numbers start going up, the issue will be visited again. Otherwise, the board will plan to look at the numbers at the February 10, 2022, meeting. There was a roll call vote:
Roll Call Vote:
Mr. Warren Enterkin – Yea
Mrs. Dorothy Parker – Yea
Dr. Raymond Riley – Nay
Mr. Derrick Carson – Yea
Ms. Angela Hayes – Nay
Mrs. Lisette Forman – Yea
Mr. Ricky Raven – Yea
Mr. Fred Butcher – Yea
Motion carried with 6 yeas and 2 nays.
Dr. Riley introduced a Cooperative Endeavor Agreement between the school board and the City of Vidalia. Ms. Watson asked to table this matter until the school board attorney could look over the agreement. It was moved by Dr. Riley, seconded by Mr. Raven and unanimously carried to table this matter until the school board attorney could approve it.
Mr. Butcher asked for a motion to send out Requests for Qualifications (RFQs) for architectural and engineering services. It was moved by Mr. Raven, seconded by Mr. Carson and unanimously carried to send out Requests for Qualifications (RFQs) for architectural and engineering services.
It was moved by Mrs. Parker, seconded by Mr. Raven and unanimously carried to go into Executive Session at 7:10 PM.
It was moved by Mrs. Parker, seconded by Mrs. Forman and unanimously carried to come back into Regular Session at 7:25 PM.
After discussion, it was moved by Dr. Riley, seconded by Mrs. Parker and unanimously carried to approve the salary adjustment for the temporary principal at FHS at the administrative rate of 75% of the administrative rate.
The following Announcements were made by Superintendent Watson:
(1) We have an election this Saturday on some constitutional amendments, and we encourage everyone to vote “No” on the first amendment.
(2) Everyone who is attending the 2021 Louisiana School Law Workshop will find your paperwork in an envelope at your place. You’ll need to present the Tax-Free Lodging Certificate at the front desk of the hotel and sign it.
It was moved by Mr. Raven, seconded by Mrs. Forman and carried to adjourn at 7:30 p.m.
Educational/Personnel Policy Committee
November 8, 2021
I. ACTION ON ITEMS INVOLVING SPENDING OF MONEY
1.0
II. ITEMS DISCUSSED
2.0 Resignations, Appointments, Requests for Leave/Returns from Leave, and Transfers
2.1 Updates Pertaining to Other Matters Concerning District Personnel Issues
2.2 COVID Policy/Mask Policy
2.3 FHS
2.4 Items Discussed in Other Committee Meetings
2.5 Regular Agenda Items
Concordia Parish School Board Committee Reports
Finance Committee
November 8, 2021
I. ACTION ON ITEMS INVOLVING SPENDING OF MONEY
1.0
II. ITEMS DISCUSSED
2.0 Reviewed Financial Statements for the month of October 2021
2.1 Reviewed Supplements & Football/Baseball/Softball Fields
2.2 Paving Projects
2.3 Discussed Game Day Turf
2.4 Board Member Vacancy
2.5 Supplements
2.6 Reviewed any Other Items That May Come Before This And/Or Other School Board
Committees
Concordia Parish School Board Committee Reports
Building and Grounds Committee
November 8, 2021
I. ACTION ON ITEMS INVOLVING SPENDING OF MONEY
1.0
II. ITEMS DISCUSSED
2.0 Work Orders
2.1 A/C Vents for District Cafeterias
2.2 ESSER Funding for Bottle Fillers
2.3 COVID and Mask Policy
2.4 Review of Items Discussed in Other Committee Meetings