PROCEEDINGS OF THE SCHOOL BOARD OF THE PARISH OF CONCORDIA, STATE OF LOUISIANA, TAKEN AT A PUBLIC HEARING HELD ON THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 2024

The School Board of the Parish of Concordia, State of Louisiana, met in a Public Hearing Session at the Vidalia City Hall meeting room in Vidalia, Louisiana, on Thursday, September 12, 2024, at 6:00 o’clock p.m.  The meeting was called to order by Board Vice-President Fred Butcher who, after prayer and the Pledge, declared that the Board was ready for the transaction of business.  Mr. Butcher asked for a moment of silence in remembrance of those who died on 9/11/01.

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

Mr. Tom O’Neal, Business Director, opened the public hearing by giving the Board Members and members of the General Public a brief overview of the consolidated budget for fiscal year 2024-2025.  Board members were given copies of the consolidated budget.  He indicated that the primary reason for the hearing was to allow members of the general public to have input and comments concerning the budget.

There was a question from the public.  Mr. James Lee asked for clarification, and Mr. O’Neal stated that he misspoke and corrected the information.  With no further questions, it was moved by Mr. Marsalis, seconded by Mr. Wilson and unanimously carried to close the hearing at 6:14 P.M.

PROCEEDINGS OF THE SCHOOL BOARD OF THE PARISH OF CONCORDIA, STATE OF LOUISIANA, TAKEN AT A REGULAR MEETING HELD ON THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 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, September 12, 2024, at 6:15 p.m. following the close of the public hearing for the 2024-25 budget.  The meeting was called to order by Vice-President Butcher.  Since the roll call, prayer and pledge were given at the beginning of the public hearing, Vice-President Butcher declared that the Board was ready for the transaction of business.

Superintendent Bachus gave the ESSER report in Keith Bridgham’s absence.  His report was available in the board members’ folders.  Field Reports for Ferriday Upper Elementary School and Ferriday High School were also available in the folders.  Superintendent Bachus noted that there were pictures as well in the folders.

The recognition of the cheerleaders was postponed until the October regular meeting.

Mr. Carson moved to add the following item to the agenda under Section VI.  Items for Discussion and Appropriate Action:  Item I.  Consider Final Budgetary Amount for Ferriday Project Cost.  It was seconded by Mrs. Parker.  A roll call vote was taken.

            Mrs. Parker – Yea

            Mr. Marsalis, Sr. – Yea

            Mr. Carson – Yea

            Mrs. Hayes – Yea

            Mr. Wilson – Yea

            Mr. Taunton – Yea

            Mr. Butcher – Yea

The motion passed unanimously with 7 yeas, 0 nays, and 2 absent. 

The committee reports were presented.  Mrs. Parker gave the Educational Policy Committee Report.  Mr. Butcher gave the Finance Committee Report.  Mr. Carson gave the Building and Grounds Committee Report.

Mr. Butcher questioned when the stipend issued by the state would be paid.  Mr. Marsalis, Jr., replied that the state has not issued the funds yet so we are waiting for receipt of those funds to issue the stipends.  He estimated that we might receive the funds by the end of the month and be able to issue the stipends in October.  Mr. Butcher noted that the delay was from the state issuing the funds, not anything the school board had done.

It was moved by Mr. Marsalis, Sr., seconded by Mrs. Angela Hayes, and unanimously carried to approve the minutes of the Regular Meeting held on August 8, 2024.

Mr. Fred Marsalis, Jr., gave the financial report.  It was moved by Mr. Taunton, seconded by Mr. Wilson and unanimously carried to approve invoices in the amount of $4,242,599 for the month of August 2024.

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

Concordia Parish School Board

Educational Policy Personnel Announcements

Regular Board Meeting

September 12, 2024

Leaves:

Sarah Aldridge, Teacher, Vidalia Junior High School, maternity leave / /FMLA leave, effective July 29, 2024 through November 15, 2024.

Madison Batey, Teacher, Concordia Parish Academy of MST, maternity leave / /extended medical leave, effective August 20, 2024 through November 6, 2024.

Morgan Geoghegan , Teacher, Vidalia Upper Elementary School, maternity leave, effective September 3, 2024 through October 14,  2024.

Jasmine Emery, JAG Teacher, Ferriday High School, returned from FMLA, effective September 3, 2024.

Laurel Crouch, Teacher, Monterey High School, returned from extended medical leave / FMLA, effective September 3, 2024.

Sheila Counsel, Teacher, Ferriday Upper Elementary School, returned from FMLA, effective September 9, 2024.

Appointments:

Misty Thomas, Paraprofessional, Concordia Education Center, effective August 26, 2024.

Margaret Moore, Teacher, Ferriday Lower Elementary School, effective September 9, 2024.

Laura Smith, Teacher, Vidalia Upper Elementary School, effective September 16, 2024.

Elizabeth Hall, Paraprofessional, Vidalia High School, effective September 2, 2024.

Latora Corner, Interim Band Director/ Teacher, VHS / VJHS, effective September 16, 2024.

Retirements:

Dinah Smith, SFS Technician, Ferriday Lower Elementary School, effective July 29, 2024.

Delores Henderson, SFS Technician, Ferriday High School, effective August 5, 2024.

Transfers

Keesa McGruder, Paraprofessional, Concordia Education Center, to Teacher, Vidalia Junior High School, effective August 12, 2024.

Resignations:

Robbie Wallace, Teacher, Vidalia High School, effective September 3, 2024.

Makayla Knox, Teacher, Vidalia Upper Elementary School, effective September 13, 2024.

It was moved by Mr. Wilson, seconded by Mrs. Parker and unanimously carried to adopt the consolidated budget for the 2024-25 fiscal year presented by Mr. O’Neal during the public hearing.

Mr. Wilson stated that he was asked about the sick leave policy for the 4-day work week.  He said that some of the teachers don’t think it is fair to be docked 1 ¼ days during the 4-day work week when their school days were only extended by 15 minutes.  Superintendent Bachus said the sick leave policy was put into place in 2002 when the school board started having 4-day work weeks during the summer, and that’s how it was calculated.  She stated that this was explained during the town hall meetings before the 4-day work week was voted on.  It was moved by Mr. Wilson to change the sick leave policy.  The motion failed for lack of a second.

The travel credit card policy was presented for a 1^st reading/review.  It was moved by Mr. Marsalis, Sr., seconded by Mrs. Hayes and unanimously carried to let the superintendent and her staff review the credit card policy and bring back a recommendation next month.

There was some discussion on the Employee Expense Reimbursement Agreement.  In this agreement the school board reimburses teachers to become certified.  However, Superintendent Bachus recommended that if a teacher leaves the school district employment less than two years after becoming certified, that teacher will reimburse the school board the cost paid on the teacher’s behalf.  It was moved by Mr. Carson, seconded by Mrs. Parker, and unanimously carried to table the item in order to do more research.

It was moved by Mrs. Parker, seconded by Mrs. Hayes and unanimously carried to adopt the policies listed on the agenda for a second reading:  EB-24, GAMA-24, IDCH-24, IDE-24, IDFA-24, JBE-24, JCDAA-24, JCDAE-24, JD-24, JDD-24, JDE-24, and JGCE-24.

There was discussion of the next item on the agenda of additional policies to be considered for a 1^st reading.  No motion was required.  Those policies included ABCB-24, BBBC-24, BCBB-24, GBA-24, GBRIB-24, GBRIBB-24, JDA-24, JGC-24, JGCB-24, JGCD-24, and JGCFA-24.

It was moved by Mr. Taunton, seconded by Mrs. Hayes and unanimously carried to table the next item, “Consider Records Retention Schedule.”

Mr. Carson asked Brant Jones with Bryant Hammett & Associates to address the item added to the agenda, “Consider Final Budgetary Amount for Ferriday High School Cost.”  He explained that they had been asked to get pricing on five different areas:

·         Relocate the power lines in front of the high school – Entergy will do that work - $440,000

·         Repair and relocate water lines located underneath school front parking lot - $165,000

·         Resurface school’s front parking lot - $415,000

·         Resurface bus parking area in rear of school - $280,000

·         Address drainage issue in the rear of the school building in the general area of Arkansas Avenue and Third Street $63,000.

The engineering estimated cost of these repairs are to be $1,363,000.

All improvements including these projects and the architects’ plans/project would be $5.5 million.  It was moved by Mr. Carson and seconded by Mrs. Parker to find alternative sources and renovate Ferriday High School for $5.5 million over a two-year period or three years.  A roll call vote was requested.

The vote was as follows:

            Mrs. Dorothy Parker            Yea

            Mr. Fred Marsalis, Sr.          Yes

            Mr. Derrick Carson              Yea

            Mrs. Angela Hayes              Yea

            Mr. Wayne Wilson               Nay

            Mr. Matt Taunton                 Yea

            Mr. Fred Butcher                  Yea

The motion carried, 6 yeas, 1 nay, and 2 absent.

It was moved by Mr. Carson, seconded by Mrs. Parker and unanimously carried to swap Item VII. Executive Session, and Item VIII. Announcements.

Superintendent’s Announcements:

·         Superintendent Bachus explained the New York City Merit Trip coming up in the spring.

·         The School Calendar of Events was in the board members’ FYI packets last week.

·         The Bishop Cade Ferriday High School Gymnasium Naming Ceremony will be held Saturday, September 28, 2024, at 1:00.

It was moved by Mrs. Parker, seconded by Mr. Marsalis, Sr., and unanimously carried that during executive session the board consider 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. Marsalis, Sr., and unanimously carried for the board to return to regular session at 8:20 PM. 

Mr. Butcher reported that the item listed as the reason for executive session was discussed.

There being no further business, it was moved by Mr. Carson, seconded by Mr. Taunton and unanimously carried to adjourn at 8:30 PM.