PROCEEDINGS OF THE SCHOOL BOARD OF THE PARISH OF CONCORDIA, STATE OF LOUISIANA, TAKEN AT A REGULAR MEETING HELD ON THURSDAY, OCTOBER 12, 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, October 12, 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, Mr. Matt Taunton, Mrs. Angela Hayes, Mrs. Vanessa Houck, and Mr. Fred Butcher.

 

Mrs. Lisette Forman was absent.

 

Mr. Butcher asked for a board member to make a motion to add an item to the agenda for executive session, which will be Item VII. Executive Session, C.:

 

           Strategy session and/or action, as necessary, regarding litigation entitled Smith, et. al. 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., and seconded by Mrs. Houck to add Item C to the executive session.  Mr. Butcher then asked for a roll call vote to affirm the addition to the agenda. 

 

The vote was as follows:

 

            Mr. Wayne Wilson                     Yea

            Mrs. Dorothy Parker                  Yea

            Mr. Fred Marsalis, Sr.                Yea

            Mr. Derrick Carson                    Yea

            Mr. Matt Taunton                       Yea

            Mrs. Angela Hayes                    Yea

            Mrs. Vanessa Houck                 Yea

            Mr. Fred Butcher                       Yea

The vote was unanimous, 8 yeas, 0 nays, and no abstentions.

 

Mr. Carson presented certificates and gift bags to the students being recognized for their outstanding scores on the LEAP Assessment Tests. 

 

Henry Bonomo, CPA - 850 on English II LEAP

Lilly Passman, MHS - 850 ELA 3rd Grade LEAP

Champ Camp, MHS – 850 Math 4th Grade LEAP

Tommie Wagley, VHS – 850 English II LEAP

Colton Montpelier,VHS – 850 Algebra I LEAP.

 

Mrs. Parker recognized the recipients of the Sidney A. Murry Jr., Citizenship Awards for grades 9-12.

 

                                                    Grade 9                       Grade 10                     Grade 11                      Grade 12

 

Concordia Education Ctr                 Tkeara Rogers             DeNisha Mitchell          David Morace              Asha Armstead

CPA                                             Jai Upchurch               Mia Collins                  Kaedyn Byrd                Ja’Keria Griggs

Ferriday High                                Ar’Mani Franklin           Bertram Zang              Harmony Flemings        K’aliya Marton

Monterey High                              Samatha Burts             Marlee Avery               Levi Tisdale                  Audrey C. Duncan 

Vidalia High                                  Trinity Davis                Lili Jefferson               Tommie Wagley             Kabari Davis

 

Superintendent Bachus recognized the winners of the Anti-Bullying Essay Contest, and board members Marsalis, Sr., Taunton, and Wilson presented the winners with their certificates as well as prizes of $100 each.

 

Elementary School Winner – Emmory Strebeck

Middle School Winner – Madelayne Wagoner

High School Winner – Isabella Mize

 

Mr. Tom O’Neal gave an update on the ESSER projects.  He reported that on Sept 19, bids were received for the Ferriday area schools.  He also noted that as a result of a contractor’s failure to acknowledge having received bid addendums, that a bid protest had been filed.  He indicated that although had had discussed this issue with one of the systems attorneys, both of the two bids received were out of budget and should not be accepted.  This project was budgeted at $522,389.  The lowest bid came in at $1,599,000, which is in excess of our bid by over $1million.  Because they are clearly out of budget, at the proper time, we are going to ask you tonight to officially reject these bids, allow us to go back for a plans review and a re-advertisement.

 

O’Neal reported that the HVAC bids for the Ferriday area schools had also been received on October 10, and they, too, were out of budget.  The budget was $2,615,419, and the lowest bid was $3,172,000.  O’Neal said there seemed to be a lot of questions on the bid, with one being whether the cafeteria kitchens were included.  He noted that two of our schools have had recent installations, and we have the units in our warehouse for those remaining.  If these items were included and can be identified, then we need to delete them from the bid as the replacements should not be necessary.  The other area of concern would be the gymnasiums.  About two years ago we spent a lot of money putting air-conditioning in our gyms so we certainly don’t need to change those out.  We’re asking that you allow us to meet with the Superintendent, the maintenance staff, the consultant and engineers again to see if we can cut enough to bring this bid enough to bring this bid to a point of an award.

 

In referring again to the windows project O’Neal stated was that he wasn’t sure the windows being bid were what the board had requested.  We will take another look at that before the project is re-advertised.

 

It was moved by Mr. Marsalis, Sr., seconded by Mrs. Parker and unanimously carried to reject the bids on the Ferriday windows project because of a protest and because both bids are out of budget by approximately $1million.  Mr. Butcher stated that a special meeting would be called to approve the re-advertisement of the project after Superintendent Bachus, Mr. O’Neal, and Mr. Henderson get together with the contractors and confirm the information on the windows.

 

The committee reports were presented. 

 

Mrs. Parker reported that the Personnel/Education committee also talked about the VAM scores, which measure how well teacher grow individual students. 

 

Mr. Butcher reported that the Finance committee discussed the new accountability system Mr. Fred Marsalis, Jr., put into place for all the extracurricular activities around the parish, and that should track the revenue better.  Mr. Carson asked if the concession stands could be set up the same way so we can determine if they are selling out before half-time, do they need to purchase more inventory or just stock more in the concession stand before the games so they don’t run out. 

Mr. Marsalis, Jr. reported that there is a system in place for the concession stands as well.

 

Building and Grounds committee discussed the fencing project at Vidalia High School and the decision to remove it from the football field project as it could be handled at a lower cost.  Mr. Glenn Henderson, maintenance supervisor, was tasked with finding quotes on getting the project done.

 

It was moved by Mr. Marsalis, Sr., seconded by Mrs. Hayes, and unanimously carried to approve the minutes of the Special Meeting held on August 3, 2023.  It was then moved by Mrs. Parker, seconded by Mrs. Hayes and unanimously carried to approve the minutes of the Regular Meeting held on September 14, 2023.

 

Mr. Fred Marsalis, Jr., gave the financial report.  It was moved by Mr. Marsalis, Sr., seconded by Mrs. Hayes and unanimously carried to approve invoices in the amount of $6,430,584 for the month of September 2023.

 

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

October 12, 2023

 

Leaves:

Yolanda Williams, School Nurse, Special Populations, return from FMLA, effective October 2, 2023.

 

Darla Johnston, TIF Pipeline Lead, Central Administration, FMLA, effective October 12, 2023 through November 10, 2023.

 

Appointments:

Ja’Vareous Dunbar, 12 month Janitor, Ferriday Junior High School, effective September 29, 2023.

 

Latricia Hill, SFS Secretary/Bookkeeper, Central Administration, effective September 29, 2023.

 

Chryl Smith-Lee, School Secretary, Vidalia High School, effective September 29, 2023.

 

Billie Mattox, School Nurse (RN), Special Populations, effective September 18, 2023.

 

Samantha Harveston, Teacher, Concordia Parish Academy of MST, effective September 28, 2023.

 

Resignations:

Carl Ray Thompson, Jr., Custodian, Monterey High School, effective August 11, 2023.

 

Victoria Wilson, Paraprofessional, Ferriday Junior High School, effective October 4, 2023.

 

Jenna Williams, Paraprofessional, Vidalia Lower Elementary School, effective August 5, 2023.

 

Transfers:

Carlisha McKeel, Paraprofessional, Ferriday Junior High School, to Teacher, Vidalia Lower Elementary School, effective October 6, 2023.

 

It was moved by Mr. Wilson, seconded by Mrs. Parker and unanimously carried to approve the first reading of the following policies:  EBBB, EDCC, IDCJ, JB, JBD, JDA, and JGCD.

 

It was moved by Mrs. Houck, seconded by Mr. Wilson and unanimously carried to approve the recently granted state stipends to all full-time employees qualifying for such on October 20, 2023.  Those payments will be $2,000 for certified personnel and $1,000 for non-certified personnel.

 

After discussion of the Pupil Progression Plan and some changes being recommended, it was moved by Mrs. Parker, seconded by Mrs. Hayes and unanimously carried to approve the Pupil Progression Plan with all the changes discussed. 

 

After discussion of a Staff Mental Health Day, it was moved by Mr. Marsalis, Sr., seconded by Mr. Wilson and unanimously carried to approve a Staff Mental Health Day and authorizing Superintendent Bachus and her staff to choose a date for it.

 

Mr. Butcher explained that the superintendent’s evaluation needed to be done.  He gave out copies of the evaluation last month and asked if there were any changes, to write them down and send to Mrs. Cindy at the media center and she would get them to him.  He has not received anything so apparently nothing needs to be changed.  He noted that he had asked Superintendent Bachus to make a portfolio of things that have happened since her last evaluation so everyone will have the same information to consider.  The Superintendent said the portfolios were ready and could be picked up tomorrow from Mrs. Cindy at the media center.  Mr. Butcher asked that brown envelopes be provided addressed to him with postage so everyone can mail their evaluation to him.  He will assign a committee to go through the evaluations and rank the answers and bring it back to the superintendent.

 

It was moved by Mrs. Parker, seconded by Mrs. Houck and unanimously carried for the board to go into executive session to discuss the following matters:

 

A.      A student matter,

B.      The current central office lease and legal issues in accordance with La. R.S. 42:17(A)(10) and La. Code of Evidence Article 506, and

C.      A  strategy session and/or action, as necessary, regarding litigation entitled Smith, et. al.  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.

 

The time was 7:10 PM.

 

It was moved by Mrs. Parker, seconded by Mr. Taunton and unanimously carried for the board to return to regular session at 9:02 PM. 

 

Mr. Butcher reported that the three items listed as the reason for executive session were discussed. 

 

There being no further business, it was moved by Mrs. Parker, seconded by Mr. Taunton and unanimously carried to adjourn at 9:03 PM.