PROCEEDINGS OF THE SCHOOL BOARD OF THE PARISH OF CONCORDIA, STATE OF LOUISIANA, TAKEN AT A REGULAR MEETING HELD ON THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 2023

 

 

The School Board of the Parish of Concordia, State of Louisiana, met in Regular Session at the Vidalia City Hall Meeting Room in Vidalia, Louisiana, on Thursday, February 9, 2023, at 6:00 p.m.  The meeting was called to order by Mr. Fred Butcher.  Mr. Butcher, after prayer and the Pledge, declared that the Board was ready for the transaction of business.

 

Board members present were Mr. Wayne Wilson, Mrs. Dorothy Parker, Mr. Fred Marsalis, Mr. Derrick Carson, Ms. Angela Hayes, Mrs. Lisette Forman, Mrs. Vanessa Houck, Mr. Matt Taunton, and Mr. Fred Butcher.

 

The board members then heard from three teachers who are participating in the New Teacher Experience program, Audrey Davis, Shekeidra Sanders, and Jalen Russ.

 

The board recognized Adaija Harris from Vidalia Junior High School as Concordia Parish Middle School Student of the Year.  

 

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

 

                                          3rd Grade                        4th Grade                             5th Grade

CPA                                  Ransom Archer                Caleb Cosper                      Brylie Jefferson

Ferriday Upper Elem.          Ethan Wallace                  Shatara Hawkins                 Zebari Sephes

Monterey High                    Lily Passman                   Brann Wilson                      Emalyn Hestle

Vidalia Upper Elem.            Scarlet Kifer                     Jessie Banks                       Serinity Augustine

 

It was moved by Mrs. Forman, seconded by Mr. Wilson and unanimously carried to move Shandra Collins to executive session.  On Ms. Collins’ attorney introducing herself, Mr. Butcher declined to meet with them because the school board’s attorney was not present.

 

Marco Gonzalez gave an update on the ESSER renovations including plans to add HVACs and windows at Concordia Education Center, Ferriday Lower Elementary, and Ferriday High School. 

 

It was moved by Mrs. Parker, seconded by Mr. Wilson and unanimously carried to authorize Mr. Gonzalez and the Volkert Firm to move ahead and get the last set of drawings to replace the HVACs and windows at Ferriday Lower Elementary, Ferriday High School and Concordia Education Center and once they are approved by him and his firm, put them out for bids. 

 

Gonzalez asked for a special Buildings & Grounds Committee meeting on February 23rd at 5:00 to meet with Waycaster on the ESSER project, the HVACs and windows at the Vidalia High School and the Monterey schools.  This will be with Waycaster and his engineers. 

 

At the request of Mr. Carson, Gonzalez gave an update on the resurfacing of the Vidalia High School and Ferriday High School football fields, which is listed as Item VII. (E).  Gonzalez noted that he, Mr. Carson and a local engineer from Natchez walked both football fields in the rain a few weeks ago, which was good because they could see the drainage issues.  Time is running short to have the fields ready for next season.  He also met with Bryant Hammett, a local civil engineer, to see if he wanted to bid on the projects.  Gonzalez suggested there be a meeting to discuss the football fields.  Mr. Butcher suggested a special Building & Grounds Committee meeting at 3:00 PM on the 23rd prior to the ESSER committee meeting.

 

The Committee Reports were presented.  (See attachment)

 

It was moved by Mrs. Parker, seconded by Mr. Marsalis, and unanimously carried to approve the minutes of the January 12, 2023, meeting.

 

It was moved by Mr. Taunton, seconded by Mrs. Parker, and unanimously carried to approve the invoices in the amount of $5,570,636 for the month of January 2023.

 

Mrs. Rhonda Moore, Director of Human Resources, presented the personnel report.  The report was available in the board members’ binders.  There were no questions concerning the report.

 

Mr. Tom O’Neal gave an update on the central office building.  There is an increase of $3,000 from one contractor, and O’Neal is waiting to hear from the second contractor.  He needs approval to accept the bids with the increase in cost.  It was moved by Mrs. Forman, seconded by Ms. Hayes and unanimously carried to move forward on the renovation of the central office.

 

Mr. O’Neal presented the newspaper and online ad and the Request for Proposal (RFP) for bus transportation for the next school year.  It was moved by Mr. Carson, seconded by Mrs. Forman and unanimously carried to approve the RFP with the addition that the buses are rotated out of service according to the industry standard.

 

It was moved by Mrs. Parker, seconded by Mr. Wilson, and carried to ask our attorneys to look into the situation of instructional supervisors’ pay and make a recommendation to the board on the best way to resolve the situation.  Mr. Carson and Mr. Marsalis abstained.

 

The update on the football fields was discussed earlier in the meeting when Marco Gonzalez gave his updates.

 

Mr. Carson asked that Item VII. (F) Update on Roof Project of Ferriday Lower Elementary and the Monterey Schools be tabled until the next meeting.

 

Mr. Carson asked to remove Item VII. (G) CPA Walls and Doors and talk about it at the retreat.

 

Superintendent Bachus told board members she would send possible dates out to reschedule the retreat and to schedule a budget meeting prior to the retreat.

 

Mr. Butcher noted that Item VII. (I) was covered in the committee reports.

 

Superintendent Bachus read the Resolution for School Board Members’ Training Hours.  Mr. Butcher commended those school board members who exceeded the required hours of training.

 

Superintendent Bachus presented the first reading of policies GBRID – Military Leave, and LEH – Patriotic Organizations.  The second reading will be voted on at the next meeting.

 

It was moved by Mrs. Forman, seconded by Mr. Taunton and unanimously carried to change the March board meeting from Thursday, March 9, to Thursday, March 16, and the March committee meetings from Monday, March 6, to Monday, March 13, due to the board members attending the LSBA Annual Convention that week.

 

Superintendent Bachus informed the board members that the Pupil Progression Plan Addendum has been updated to reflect that all 3rd and 4th grade students who score below grade level on the end of the year assessment must receive 30 hours of summer literacy intervention or they will be retained.

 

There was no executive session.

 

There being no further business, it was moved by Mrs. Parker, seconded by Ms. Hayes and unanimously carried to adjourn at 6:57 PM.