PROCEEDINGS OF THE SCHOOL BOARD OF THE PARISH OF CONCORDIA, STATE OF LOUISIANA, TAKEN AT A SPECIAL MEETING HELD ON THURSDAY, JANUARY 25, 2024
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, January 25, 2024, at 6:00 p.m. The meeting was called to order by Mrs. Lisette Forman, president. After prayer and the Pledge, Mrs. Forman 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. Lisette Forman, Mr. Matt Taunton, Mrs. Angela Hayes, Mrs. Vanessa Houck and Mr. Fred Butcher.
Mr. Tom O’Neal presented the recommendation for bids for the windows project in the Ferriday schools through ESSER funding. He stated that we received two bids, Glass Builders, Inc., and Hope Enterprises. The low bid was Glass Builders, Inc., however, they did not satisfy the required bidding requirements. They have not provided a valid license number for the State of Louisiana where the project is located as well as other discrepancies on the bid forms. The next lowest bidder was Hope Enterprises with a bid of $1.2 million. O’Neal recommended awarding the project to Hope Enterprises. Due to the base bid price being over the previously discussed budget, it was recommended not to award any of the alternate project scopes of work. It was moved by Mr. Butcher, seconded by Mr. Wilson and unanimously carried to approve the base scope bid without the alternate project scopes of work, which included Ferriday Lower Elementary and Vidalia Lower Elementary, and to award the project to Hope Enterprises.
It was moved by Mr. Carson, seconded by Mr. Taunton, and unanimously carried to switch Items B and C in the order they would be presented.
Superintendent Bachus went over the latest information on the Southern Design building. She as not signed a contract for the building. We did get the building appraised, and she requested as a next step to have the building inspected. She has talked with Mr. Greg Bunch, who is a home inspector and a business inspector. Bunch could schedule an inspection for February 15, 2024. It was moved by Mr. Taunton and seconded by Mr. Wilson to give the superintendent and her staff the authority to enter into an agreement to lease/purchase the Southern Design building pending an inspection. Mr. Taunton then rescinded his motion and Mr. Wilson withdrew his second. It was moved by Mr. Taunton, seconded by Mr. Wilson, and carried to rent the Southern Design building on a month-to-month basis on a lease to purchase agreement. Mr. Taunton amended his motion to allow the superintendent, the finance department and the board attorneys the authority to negotiate a lease for the board to review at the next meeting. The motion carried on a 7-2 vote with Mr. Butcher and Mr. Carson voting no.
Superintendent Bachus reported on a second property that would be feasible for the central office staff to use as temporary office space while we decide on the Southern Design building. This property is located behind the public library in Vidalia. There are 10 offices in this property and rent would be $1,600 a month. Some renovations are needed so it might be a month before we could move in.
After further discussion, it was moved by Mr. Marsalis, seconded by Mr. Butcher, and unanimously carried that the board would table Items B and C with the inspection of the Southern Design building to be scheduled and a decision will be made concerning the two buildings at the February meeting.
Mr. Wilson introduced the Monterey High School drainage situation. Bids were received from Bryant Hammett & Associates and Womack and Sons Construction to correct the drainage problem. Although, Bryant Hammett & Associates’ bid was only an best guess estimate as they are engineers, not contractors. It was moved by Mr. Carson, seconded by Mrs. Houck and unanimously carried to request a hard bid from Bryant Hammett & Associates to be able to correctly compare the bids.
It was moved by Mr. Marsalis, Sr., seconded by Mrs. Parker and unanimously carried to enter into executive session to discuss the following items:
To discuss its current central office lease and legal Issues in accordance with La. R.S. 42:17(A)(10) and La. Code of Evidence Article 506.
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 6:40 PM.
It was moved by Mr. Marsalis, seconded by Mrs. Parker and unanimously carried to return to regular session. The time was 8:25 PM.
There being no further business it was moved by Mr. Marsalis, seconded by Mrs. Hayes and unanimously carried to adjourn. The time was 8:26 PM.