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

 

Mrs. Lisette Forman was absent.

 

Superintendent Bachus announced that she got a phone call this morning from the State Superintendent, Cade Brumley, with great news, but he told her not to tell anyone the details until Monday morning when the press release would be published.  But, she was excited to say it was very good news for our district.  She could report that the performance scores of every school in the Concordia Parish School District increased in the 2022-23 school year.  Also, our district performance scores have surpassed pre-pandemic performance scores. 

 

Superintendent Bachus introduced the Concordia Parish Principal of the Year, Mrs. Elizabeth “Liz” Walker, principal at Vidalia Upper Elementary School.  Mrs. Walker was selected Principal of the Year based on applying the NIET components of an effective school to the principal who met most of those qualities. 

 

Ms. Paige Pirkey, Concordia Parish 4-H Coordinator from the LSU AgCenter, gave an update on the 4-H program and how it has expanded the categories offered.  There is something of interest for everyone.  Ms. Pirkey encouraged all students to get involved with 4-H.

 

Mrs. Houck recognized the recipients of the Sidney A. Murry Jr., Citizenship Awards for grades 6-8.

 

                                    Grade 6                                    Grade 7                                    Grade 8

CPA                             Kenyan King                            Kayleigh McGraw                      Tucker Bryan

Ferriday Jr High             Marion Harbor                          Kaniya Danby                           Mikel Thompson

Monterey High               Jolean Santiago                       Marlin Pecanty                          Emma Kate Cloessner  

Vidalia Jr High               Zachary Dooley                       Ciara Payne                              Lillie Seyfarth               

 

Mr. Tom O’Neal gave an update on the ESSER projects in the absence of Keith Bridgham with Volkert, Inc.  O’Neal said the contractors, two representatives of the architectural firm, three of our maintenance people, Mr. Henderson, the maintenance supervisor, and he met with Mrs. Liz Walker, principal of Vidalia Upper Elementary, yesterday.  The contractors are ready to work on the HVAC unit.  They will be in the schools this weekend doing surveys and Monday they will start work at Vidalia Upper Elementary.  O’Neal reported that the bids for the HVAC projects were a half million dollars over budget.  Mr. Carson said he wanted to go on record that we want this project done as soon as possible.  It was moved by Mr. Wilson to go ahead and approve the HVAC project.  There was no second, and the motion died for lack of a second.  It was moved by Mr. Carson to give Mrs. Bachus and her staff the authority to continue forward as planned with the idea of coming back to the board as soon as possible with a plan to finance the project as originally planned, and they come back to this board with the ideas and scenarios of how we can financially move forward as originally planned, seconded by Mr. Marsalis and unanimously carried. 

 

The committee reports were presented. 

 

It was moved by Mr. Marsalis, Sr., seconded by Mrs. Parker, and unanimously carried to approve the minutes of the Regular Meeting held on October 12, 2023.

 

Mr. Fred Marsalis, Jr., gave the financial report.  It was moved by Mr. Taunton, seconded by Mr. Carson and unanimously carried to approve invoices in the amount of $6,190,034 for the month of October 2023.

 

The personnel report was available in the board members’ binders.  

 

Concordia Parish School Board

Regular Board Meeting

Personnel Announcements

November 9, 2023

 

Leaves:

Lena Martin, Teacher, Vidalia Junior High School, maternity leave, effective November 13, 2023 through December 22, 2023.

 

Amanda Freeman, Teacher, Vidalia Lower Elementary School, maternity leave, effective October 30, 2023 through January 8, 2024.

 

Kelly Sharp, School Psychologist, Special Populations, maternity leave, effective November 13, 2023 through January 5, 2024.

 

Laurel Crouch, Teacher, Monterey High School, FMLA / extended medical leave, effective November 6, 2023 through December 22, 2023.

 

Tiffany Lillie, Paraprofessional, Concordia Education Center, FMLA, effective October 3, 2023 through November 10, 2023.

 

Resignations:

Josephine Willett, Teacher, Vidalia Lower Elementary School, effective August 7, 2023.

Joanna Bernard, Teacher, Vidalia Lower Elementary School, effective November 28, 2023.

Lashanti Martin, Paraprofessional, Ferriday Lower Elementary School, effective November 7, 2023.

Vernon Fowler, 12 Month Janitor, Monterey High School, effective November 6, 2023.

Tina Doss, SFS Technician, Ferriday High School, effective September 22, 2023.

 

Retirements:

Mary Katherine Smith, Bus Operator, Central Administration, effective October 2, 2023.

 

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

 

It was moved by Mr. Carson, seconded by Mr. Marsalis, Sr., and unanimously carried to table the setting of meeting dates for 2024 until next month.

 

Mr. Butcher requested that Item VI. D., “Acknowledge Compliance Officer,” be moved to after the executive session.

 

Mr. Carson introduced a discussion on the M3A contract, but no motion was needed. 

 

Mr. Carson introduced a discussion on purchasing two maintenance vehicles.  Mr. Carson noted that this matter was discussed in committee earlier in the year and not followed up on.  It was moved by Mr. Carson, seconded by Mrs. Parker and unanimously carried for Superintendent Bachus and her staff to get back to the board with prices on the vehicles since there is no state contract at this time.

 

Mr. Carson asked Mr. O’Neal to explain the purpose and benefits of the upcoming property tax renewal election.  He did so without asking people to vote for the renewal.

 

It was moved by Mr. Taunton, seconded by Mrs. Houck, and unanimously carried to approve the compliance statement.

 

Mr. Wilson introduced a discussion on a four-day work week for the school district.  It was moved by Mr. Wilson, seconded by Mr. Marsalis, Sr., to conduct a study, including a survey, on this matter.  Superintendent Bachus requested that this matter be delayed until the January meeting.  Mr. Wilson’s motion was withdrawn.

 

Mr. Butcher asked board members to send the superintendent’s evaluations to him by November 16th.

 

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

 

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 7:55 PM. 

 

Mr. Butcher reported that aforementioned litigation was discussed. 

 

There being no further business, it was moved by Mrs. Parker, seconded by Mr. Taunton and unanimously carried to adjourn at 7:58 PM.