PROCEEDINGS OF THE SCHOOL BOARD OF THE PARISH OF CONCORDIA, STATE OF LOUISIANA, TAKEN AT A REGULAR MEETING HELD ON THURSDAY, JULY 14, 2022

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, July 14, 2022, 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.

Board members present were Mr. Warren Enterkin, Mrs. Dorothy Parker, Dr. Raymond Riley, Mr. Derrick Carson, Mr. Nicky Pere, Ms. Angela Hayes, Mrs. Lisette Forman, Mr. Ricky Raven, and Mr. Fred Butcher.  There were no absences.

Mike Elliott with Homeland Safety Systems, Inc., presented his company’s proposal for security systems for all schools in the district.

Committee reports were presented.  (see attached) 

It was moved by Dr. Riley, seconded by Mrs. Parker, and unanimously carried to approve the minutes of the Regular Meeting held on May 19, 2022, and also the minutes of the Emergency Meeting held June 27, 2022.

Mr. Tom O’Neal gave the financial report in the absence of Mr. Fred Marsalis.  It was moved by Dr. Riley, seconded by Mrs. Parker and unanimously carried to approve invoices in the amount of $8,597,073 for the month of June 2022.  

Mrs. Rhonda Moore presented the personnel report.  The report was available in the board members’ binders. 

Concordia Parish School Board

Regular Board Meeting

Personnel Announcements

July 11, 2022

Appointments:

Morgan Pecanty, Teacher, Monterey High School, effective August 1, 2022.

Shekeidra Sanders, Teacher, Ferriday Upper Elementary, effective August 1, 2022.

Zakeedra McKeel, Teacher, Ferriday Upper Elementary, effective August 1, 2022.

Zelda Argue, Teacher, Ferriday Junior High, effective August 1, 2022.

Victoria Wilson, Teacher, Ferriday Upper Elementary, effective August 1, 2022.

Doris Malone, Teacher, Ferriday Junior High School, effective August 1, 2022.

Mary Jill Spillers, Teacher, Ferriday Junior High School, effective August 1, 2022.

Devante Scott, Teacher, Ferriday Junior High School, effective August 1, 2022.

Christy Becnel, Teacher, Ferriday Junior High /Vidalia Junior High, effective August 1, 2022.

Yasmin White, Teacher, Ferriday Junior High, effective August 1, 2022.

Janice Dillon, Teacher, Ferriday High School, effective August 1, 2022.

Stephanie Johnson, Teacher, Ferriday High School, effective August 1, 2022.

Betty Wilson, Teacher, Ferriday High School, effective August 1, 2022.

Madison Johnston, Teacher, CPAMST, effective August 1, 2022.

Jalen Russ, Teacher, Vidalia Junior High, effective August 1, 2022.

David Turner, Teacher, Vidalia Junior High, effective August 1, 2022.

Pamela Atkins, Paraprofessional, Ferriday High School, effective August 2, 2022.

Kaitlyn Fletcher, Teacher, Ferriday High School, effective August 1, 2022.

Audrey Davis, Teacher, Ferriday High School, effective August 1, 2022.

Jenna Williams, Paraprofessional, Vidalia Lower Elementary, effective August 2, 2022.

Rashaunda Scott, Paraprofessional, Vidalia Lower Elementary, effective August 2, 2022.

Retirements:

Kimmie Wike, Secretary/Bookkeeper, Central Administration, effective August 1, 2022.

Dena Hale, Principal, Monterey High School, effective August 3, 2022.

Martha Jo Greer, Secretary, Ferriday Upper Elementary, effective June 3, 2022.

Robin Mophett, Teacher, Vidalia Lower Elementary, effective August 1, 2022.

Resignations:

Jacquita Williams, Teacher, Ferriday Junior High School, effective August 1, 2022.

Jessica Franklin, Secretary/Bookkeeper, Sales Tax Division, effective June 30, 2022.

Kenneth Lloyd, 12 month Custodian, Ferriday High School, effective May 27, 2022.

Belinda Freeman, Teacher, Vidalia Junior High, effective July 15, 2022.

Ko’Terrica Spurs, Paraprofessional, Ferriday Junior High, effective July 29, 2022.

Crenisha Hayes, Teacher, Vidalia High School, effective August 1, 2022.

Kyla Williams, Teacher, Ferriday Junior High, effective July 31, 2022.

Janice Sanders, Teacher, Monterey High School, effective July 31, 2022.

Stephanie Blount, Paraprofessional, Monterey High School, effective July 31, 2022.

Tanya Anderson, Teacher, Vidalia Upper Elementary, effective August 1, 2022.

Rachel Wiley, Teacher, Vidalia High School, effective August 1, 2022.

Jackie Mardis, School Counselor, Vidalia High School, effective July 18, 2022.

Transfers:

Paula Fuqua, School Counselor, Monterey High School to Testing Coordinator, Central Administration effective July 11, 2022.

Amber Passman, Assistant Principal, Vidalia Upper Elementary to Academic Supervisor, Central Administration effective July 11, 2022.

Lashinda Nix, Paraprofessional, CPAMST, to Teacher, Ferriday Lower Elementary, effective August 1, 2022.

Keesa McGruder, Paraprofessional, Vidalia Lower Elementary, to Teacher, Ferriday Lower Elementary, effective August 1, 2022.

Iyna Barnes, Teacher, Ferriday Junior High, to Teacher/Administrative Intern Ferriday High School effective August 1, 2022.

Janice Fletcher, Teacher, Ferriday Lower Elementary, to Teacher, Vidalia Lower Elementary, effective August 1, 2022.

Eliza Boleware, Teacher, Ferriday Upper Elementary, to Literacy Coach, Ferriday Junior High/Vidalia Junior High effective August 1, 2022.

Allison Case, Literacy Coach, Ferriday Upper Elementary, to

Jasmine Upchurch, Teacher, Ferriday Junior High to Teacher, Ferriday High School, effective August 1, 2022.

Ashton Rymer, Teacher, Vidalia Junior High, to Teacher/Administrative Intern, Ferriday High School, effective August 1, 2022.

Brittany Cormier, Paraprofessional, Vidalia Lower Elementary, to Teacher, Vidalia Lower Elementary effective August 1, 2022.

Lenora Thompson, Teacher, Ferriday High School Freshman Academy, to Teacher, Vidalia High School, effective August 1, 2022.

Karen Linton, Teacher, Ferriday High School, to Teacher, Vidalia High School, effective August 1, 2022.

Najee Herrington, Teacher, Ferriday Upper Elementary, to Assistant Principal, Ferriday Upper Elementary, effective July 18, 2022.

Karen Walker, Teacher, Vidalia Lower Elementary to Literacy Coach, Vidalia Lower Elementary, effective August 1, 2022.

Courtney Green, JAG Specialist, Ferriday Junior High, to Teacher, Ferriday Junior High, effective August 1, 2022.

Mr. O’Neal presented the sealed bids for the copy paper and janitorial supplies as follows: 

Mr. O’Neal requested that the bids be taken under advisement.  It was moved by Dr. Riley, seconded by Mrs. Parker, and unanimously carried to take the bids under advisement.

It was moved by Mrs. Parker, seconded by Mr. Carson and unanimously carried to have the superintendent meet with Mr. Fred Worthy with Merit Health to find out what can be provided and how we can expand it in the athletic training contract.

Superintendent Bachus asked to table Item E from the agenda and she will bring back the teacher incentives next month with a better plan.  It was moved by Mrs. Forman, seconded by Mr. Raven and unanimously carried to table Item E.

After hearing from Superintendent Bachus regarding pay raises for support personnel, there was discussion by the board members.  It was moved by Mrs. Parker, seconded by Mrs. Forman and unanimously carried to approve the three parts of the plan with a start date of August 1, 2022:

(a)        Cost of living increases in the amount of 2% are to be granted to employees exceeding the maximum level of 25 years’ experience as reflected by their respective pay scales.  Adjustments are to be made on a 3-year cycle, are to be calculated only on the base salary and are to be granted upon an employee receiving a satisfactory evaluation,

(b)        Pay raise of 3% of base pay for support personnel,

(c)        Part-time people, who have no fringe benefits but are certified teachers, will have a pay raise from $25/hour to $30/hour.  Our $20/hour people, who are degreed personnel who may not be certified, we will increase to $25/hour.  Our $10/hour interventionists increase to $13/hour.  Our $12/hour interventionists increase to $15/hour.

After discussion regarding the update to the principals’ contracts, it was moved by Mr. Carson, seconded by Dr. Riley and unanimously carried to approve the updates to the contracts as recommended by the school board attorneys.

Superintendent Bachus explained that the district has a plan for virtual learning in case the governor puts us back to Phase 1 or Phase 2, but she requested that we do not offer virtual learning for 2022-23.  We already have a homebound plan established for children who are ill.  Mr. Carson noted that the virtual learning program was for a limited time, only for last year, so there was nothing to vote on.

Superintendent Bachus welcomed the parents who were in attendance and noted that there were 58 parents who attended the Discipline Policy meeting on Monday.  Superintendent Bachus noted that the current discipline policy has been in effect since 1999 and several parts of this policy are outdated and some parts are now illegal.  We started this policy by reviewing our current policy and our attorneys came out and gave us updates on discipline.  The biggest changes were cell phones and fighting.  It was moved by Mr. Carson, seconded by Mrs. Forman and unanimously carried to approve the disciplinary policy subject to the typographical change needed in Section 16b.

Mrs. Parker requested that a feasibility study be done on the infrastructure of all schools in Concordia Parish to update our schools or possibly build new schools.  In the discussion, Mr. Butcher recommended starting out with a survey at the school level and also hiring someone with the expertise to handle this type of study.  This would include sending out RFPs and involving them in the study beginning with the survey.  It was moved by Mrs. Parker, seconded by Mr. Raven and carried unanimously to form a core committee to send out RFPs and to select a committee to carry out this study and that the final committee is made up of representatives of all stakeholders.

Superintendent Bachus made the following announcements:

• Thank you to everyone who came tonight, and thank you for attending the Discipline Policy meeting Monday.  We had 25 teachers and 58 parents at that meeting.  In addition to that, yesterday we had 66 people come to the substitute teacher meeting.  I invited all of the parents and substitute applicants to the meeting tonight so we can get to know our constituents better.  At the substitute teacher meeting, over half of them were new to the school system.  We actually had to send some of those home who have been working for us previously because there was no room for them to sit.  We did not anticipate that level of desire and interest.  We will have them fill out a survey after their first day to let us know how it went because we don’t want them to sub one day, we want them to keep working for us.
  
  

• If you see Ms. Jasmine Schiele Emory, please tell her, “Job well done!”  She is at the national JAG Convention in Las Vegas, NV where yesterday she was recognized and received a monetary award for her work with the JAG program at Ferriday High School. We are super proud of her and her hard work.
  
  

• We’ve received a check from Apell for $1,000 for Vidalia Junior High School to be spent on teachers, and they also sent another check for $1,000 for our Back to School Extravaganza coming up on August 2, which I’m inviting you all to attend as well.  Let’s give them a round of applause for their generosity to our schools.  Our theme for this school year is “Refreshed, Renewed, and Rejuvenated,” and each school has designed a T-shirt logo and will be wearing those shirts.  There is a T-shirt designed for school board members, so I invite you all to come and wear your T-shirt.

It was moved by Mrs. Parker, seconded by Mr. Carson and unanimously carried to go into Executive Session.  The time was 7:30 PM.

At 7:36 PM it was moved by Mrs. Parker, seconded by Mr. Raven and unanimously carried to come back into regular session.

It was moved by Mr. Carson, seconded by Ms. Hayes and unanimously carried to adjourn at 7:38 PM.