PROCEEDINGS OF THE SCHOOL BOARD OF THE PARISH OF CONCORDIA, STATE OF LOUISIANA, TAKEN AT A REGULAR MEETING HELD ON THURSDAY, JUNE 8, 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, June 8, 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, Sr., Mr. Derrick Carson, Mrs. Angela Hayes, Mrs. Vanessa Houck, and Mr. Fred Butcher.

 

Mrs. Lisette Forman and Mr. Matt Taunton were absent.

 

Mr. Bernie Cooley gave a presentation on our school safety plan.  He reported that the school district received a grant for almost a half-million dollars last Friday to make our schools safer.  Some of those safety features include adding cameras with two-way communication at the single point of entry at each school, real-time camera monitoring by the sheriff’s office, upgrading our present security camera systems and adding more cameras which is being funded by another grant, training for school staff, and forming a safety team which will include local law enforcement representatives.

 

Superintendent Bachus recognized students for Biliteracy Awards and Multilingual Diplomas:

 

Biliteracy Awards:

Concordia Parish Academy                    Ragde Torres, 10th Grade

Monterey High School                           Pablo Rivera, 11th Grade

Vidalia Junior High School                     Marlen Hernandez, 8th Grade

Vidalia High School                               Mayra Guillen-Ramos, 11th Grade

Vidalia High School                               Mariana Siles, 11th Grade

 

Multilingual Diplomas:

Concordia Parish Academy                    Christopher Ramos, 4th Grade

Vidalia Lower Elementary                       Wilmer Alvarado, 2nd Grade

Vidalia Lower Elementary                       Thao Ho, 2nd Grade

Vidalia Upper Elementary                       Mathias Chacon, 4th Grade

Vidalia Upper Elementary                       Carmen Escamilla-Perez, 4th

Vidalia Upper Elementary                       Thu Ho, 5th Grade

Vidalia Upper Elementary                       Evellyn Lara, 3rd Grade

Vidalia Junior High                                Justin Truong, 7th Grade

Vidalia High School                               Pratvi Patel, 12th Grade

 

Marco Gonzalez was not present so Superintendent Bachus read the report he emailed.  He expects to be able to put the windows and HVAC systems projects in Vidalia, Monterey, and Ferriday out for advertisement this month.  The final addendum on the football fields went out yesterday to prospective bidders and bids will be accepted next week.  Mr. Butcher stated it was the intention of the board to have a special called meeting to decide on the bids.

 

The committee reports were presented. 

 

It was moved by Mr. Carson and seconded by Mrs. Houck, to approve the minutes of the Regular Meeting held on May 18, 2023.  Mr. Marsalis noted that a correction was needed in the Personnel Announcements, that “Brenda Logan, Teacher, Vidalia High School, FMLA/ extended medical leave, effective March 27, 2023, through May 19, 2023,” should be Vidalia Junior High School.  The motion carried unanimously with that correction acknowledged.

 

Mr. Fred Marsalis, Jr., gave the financial report with invoices in the amount of $6,369,225 as information given only.  He explained that he had been absent from the Finance Committee meeting Monday so the report was not discussed nor signed off by the committee members.  Mr. Butcher noted that no vote was needed if the report was information only.

 

Superintendent Bachus asked that an item be added to the agenda, The matter to be discussed in executive session is the personnel issue and job description that the board had requested during last month’s meeting.  John Blanchard, the school board attorney present, also requested to add to the executive session to discuss strategy in litigation entitled Smith, et. at. v. Concordia Parish School Board, et. al., Civil Action No. 65-11577 on the docket of the United States District Court for the Western District of Louisiana.  It was moved by Mr. Carson and seconded by Mr. Marsalis, Sr., to add these items to the agenda for executive session.  Mr. Butcher requested a roll call vote.  Mr. Blanchard noted that the vote must be unanimous in order to add the items.

 

Mr. Wilson – yea

Mrs. Parker – yea

Mr. Marsalis, Sr. – yea

Mr. Carson – yea

Mrs. Hayes – yea

Mrs. Houck – yea

Mr. Butcher – yea

 

The vote was unanimous with 7 yeas, 0 nays, and 2 absences.

 

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

 

Concordia Parish School Board

Regular Meeting

Personnel Announcements

June 8, 2023

 

Leaves:

Jennifer Lancaster, Teacher, Vidalia Lower Elementary School, maternity leave, effective April 27, 2023 through May 19, 2023.

 

Appointments:

Sonya Woods, Teacher, Vidalia Lower Elementary School, effective August 7, 2023.

 

Keith Russ, Teacher, Concordia Parish Academy of MST, effective August 7, 2023.

 

Joshua West, Teacher/Head Football Coach, Vidalia High School, effective July 25, 2023.

 

Brian Cerniglia, Interim Technology Coordinator, Central Administration, effective July 13, 2023.

 

Resignations:

Lenora Thompson, Teacher, Vidalia High School, effective May 19, 2023.

 

Retirements:

Barbie Sanders, Teacher, Vidalia Lower Elementary School, effective August 5, 2023.

 

Mr. O’Neal gave an update on the central office.  He reported that we will have contractors in Central Office in the next two weeks.  Even so, we may not be in the building by the end of July.

 

Mr. O’Neal then presented the amended budget for 2022-23.  He noted there were several instances of variances just above the allowable 5% which have been addressed.  It was moved by Mrs. Parker, seconded by Mr. Marsalis, and unanimously carried to approve the budget revision recommended by Mr. O’Neal.

 

It was moved by Mrs. Parker, seconded by Mrs. Hayes, and unanimously carried to table the discussion on Principals Rubric until next month’s meeting.

 

It was moved by Mr. Carson, seconded by Mr. Marsalis and unanimously carried to approve the Concordia Sentinel as the Board’s official journal.

  

 It was moved by Mr. Carson, seconded by Mrs. Parker, and unanimously carried to approve a change in the Organizational Structure for evaluations whereby the Directors of Elementary and Secondary Education will handle some of the responsibilities of the Superintendent as far as sharing the principals’ evaluations.  The Elementary Director will handle 3-4 evaluations as will the Secondary Director, and the Superintendent will maintain the evaluations of all those performance scores.  The rationale is that evaluations are supposed to be used to help administrators in being better at their craft.  Also, Superintendent Bachus said she loves the opportunity to evaluate them all, and she wants to be sure the evaluation is done in a way as to be ongoing, that it’s not a one-time thing that we’re continuously bringing up to the table. This means to progress monitor, to examine as self-reflection, and, of course, to evaluate outcomes as they happen.  As you all are aware, all outcomes do not happen at the end of the year any more.  We have so many exams and things that we get data from throughout the year that having the divide and conquer approach will be very beneficial.  In fact, prior to the last administration, this was the concept of all prior superintendents.  The evaluation tool we would be using is actually in three phases:  The first phase looks at the prior year, except for first-year principals, which would be setting goals; the second phase would be a mid-year evaluation; and the third phase would be the end-of-year summative evaluation.  It’s all about being better – it’s a growth tool.    

 

It was moved by Mrs. Houck, seconded by Mr. Carson and unanimously carried to approve the 12-Month Employee Calendar.

 

Mr. Carson noted that the next item, Update on Resurfacing of the VHS and FHS football fields, was discussed earlier.

 

Mr. Carson reported on the upcoming painting projects at MHS and VHS.  It was moved by Mr. Carson, seconded by Mrs. Parker and unanimously approved to give Superintendent Bachus the authority to get the painting done at Vidalia High School and Monterey High School.

 

It was moved by Mr. Carson, seconded by Mrs. Houck and unanimously carried to enter into executive session at 6:52 PM to discuss a personnel matter and also to discuss strategy in litigation entitled Smith, et. at. v. Concordia Parish School Board, et. al., Civil Action No. 65-11577 on the docket of the United States District Court for the Western District of Louisiana.

 

It was moved by Mr. Marsalis, Sr., seconded by Mrs. Parker, and unanimously carried to return to regular session at 8:33 PM.  Mr. Butcher reported that a personnel matter and some legal issues were discussed.

 

There being no further business, it was moved by Mrs. Parker, seconded by Mrs. Hayes and unanimously carried to adjourn at 8:34 PM.