PROCEEDINGS OF THE SCHOOL BOARD OF THE PARISH OF CONCORDIA, STATE OF LOUISIANA, TAKEN AT A REGULAR MEETING HELD ON THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 14, 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, November 14, 2024, at 6:00 p.m. The meeting was called to order by President Lisette Forman.  Following the roll call, prayer and pledge, President Forman declared that the Board was ready for the transaction of business.

Board members present were Mrs. Dorothy Parker, Mr. Fred Marsalis, Sr., Mr. Derrick Carson, Mrs. Angela Hayes, Mr. Wayne Wilson, Mr. Matt Taunton via Zoom, Fred Butcher and Mrs. Lisette Forman, president.  Mrs. Vanessa Houck arrived at 6:10 PM. 

Mr. Mark Vidrine, the Ag Science teacher from Vidalia High School, presented information about the Farm to School Program (F2S) which the district is partnering with through the LSU AgCenter.  This collaboration seeks to connect students with local farm fresh foods.  While all F2S programs are different in some way, they all have the same three elements:  Procurement, Education, and School Gardens. Our F2S team in Concordia Parish has been through training with LSU AgCenter, and our goal is to introduce students to new foods, increase school garden and cafeteria collaboration, and increase the use of local food procurement. This program has three benefits: Students learn about local agriculture and local foods, farmers gain new markets for their projects, and local economies grow stronger.

The team is working toward a set of initiatives: 

·         We are promoting F2S Harvest of the Month foods that showcase local commodities,

·         We will have taste tests for students hosted by the cafeteria managers.  FFA and 4-H students can help assist with these projects,

·         Tours of the cafeterias and school gardens will be available to the students, teachers and school clubs,

·         We will have activities for science classes that utilize the garden space,

At Vidalia High School we are implementing a composting program, cafeteria and school lunch scraps that will be of benefit to the garden.  Students will be able to volunteer to assist in regulating which waste can be safely composted.

·         We want to implement a Watch Me Grow program where high school students will partner with an elementary class.

·         In order to get parents involved, we plan to have a “Boots on the Ground” cooking competition for fathers and sons that showcase local commodities.

·         We will have a “Tea Time with Tee Tee” tea party for aunts and their nieces, and mothers and daughters.

These are just some of the initiatives that we came up with to begin the program.  As interest and participation grow, we expect to have a much richer program.  Superintendent Bachus thanked Mr. Vidrine for bringing this idea to our district and thanked the other members of the F2S team for their help.

Superintendent Bachus recognized the Vidalia High School Cheerleaders and presented a plaque to them honoring those chosen as All American Cheerleaders and the coach of the team, Tiffany Paul.  Mr. Fred Marsalis, Sr., said he wanted a letter from the school board to go to the school to become a part of the school’s archives acknowledging the team’s accomplishments and congratulating them.

Superintendent Bachus recognized the winners of the Anti-Bullying Essay Contest and presented them with a certificate:

            Elementary Winner – Addy Grace Betts, 4^th grade, CPA

            Elementary Honorable Mention – Macklyn Bates, 3^rd grade, FUE

            Elementary Honorable Mention – Scarlett Kifer, 5^th grade, VUE

Middle School Winner – Zoey Barnett, 8^th grade, VJH

            Middle School Honorable Mention – Ken’Zyrah Cauley,  6^th grade, FJH

            High School Winner – Noah J. Clark, 12^th grade, MHS

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

                                Grade 6                            Grade 7                              Grade 8     

Concordia

   Education Ctr                                                 Benton Swillie                                             

CPA                         Christopher Ramos            Destinee Davis                    Haven Pretty

Ferriday Jr. High        Kaely Ivy Thomas              Brendyn Mikale Gullage       Devari Dalen Drake Evans

Monterey High           Cam Wilson                      Liam Domangue                  Tucker Brown

Vidalia Jr. High          Emmorie Anne Deason       Robert Brantley Allen           Madison Danne Warren 

Keith Bridgham gave the ESSER report regarding the windows projects and the HVAC projects.  His report was available in the board members’ folders. 

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

It was moved by Mr. Butcher, seconded by Mr. Marsalis, Sr., and unanimously carried to approve the minutes of the Regular Meeting held on October 10, 2024, and the special meeting on October 30, 2024.

Mr. Tom O’Neal gave the financial report in the absence of Mr. Fred Marsalis, Jr.  It was moved by Mr. Butcher, seconded by Mr. Carson and unanimously carried to approve invoices in the amount of $5,610,539  for the month of October 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

November 14, 2024

Leaves:

Nathan Muguerza, Teacher, Vidalia High School, returned from FMLA, effective October 1, 2024.

Annette Smith, Teacher, Monterey High School, returned from FMLA, effective October 14, 2024.

Andrea Skipper, Paraprofessional, Ferriday Lower Elementary School, returned from FMLA, October 8, 2024.

Madison Batey, Teacher, CPA of MST, returned from maternity leave, effective November 6, 2024.

Morgan Geoghegan , Teacher, Vidalia Upper Elementary School, returned from maternity leave, effective October 14,  2024.

Teranie Williams, Teacher, Vidalia Junior High School, maternity leave, effective October 15, 2024 through November 29, 2024.

Damus Smith, Jr., Teacher, Vidalia High School, FMLA, effective November 8, 2024 through December 6, 2024.

Appointments:

Gabrielle Day, Teacher, Vidalia Junior High School, effective November 1, 2024.

Joann Ferguson, Paraprofessional, Vidalia Junior High School, effective November 12, 2024.

Carolyn Davis, Paraprofessional, Vidalia High School, effective November 6, 2024.

Resignations:

Sarah Aldridge, Teacher, Vidalia Junior High School, effective November 1, 2024.

Brenda Harris, Paraprofessional, Monterey High School, effective October 8, 2024.

Transfers:

Anna McCormick, Paraprofessional, Vidalia High School, to Associate Teacher, Vidalia High School, effective October 15, 2024.

Lacey Emfinger, Paraprofessional, Vidalia Junior High School, to Associate Teacher, Vidalia High School, effective November 6, 2024.

Nichelle Payne, School Counselor, Ferriday Junior High School, to Testing Coordinator, CPSB, effective November 12, 2024.

After a presentation by Mr. Hardy Andrews, who serves as bond counsel for Foley & Judell Law Firm, regarding the issuance of limited tax bonds, it was moved by Mr. Carson, seconded by Mrs. Parker and unanimously carried after a roll call vote to approve the resolution to apply to the state bond commission to issue bonds in an amount not to exceed $5,500,000 for the purpose of constructing, improving, and maintaining public schools and school related facilities, including equipment and furnishings and for paying the cost of issuance of the bonds.  This also includes site improvements and renovations to Ferriday High School.  The bonds will be repaid by a special tax of 13 mills which is currently in place.

Roll call vote: 

            Mrs. Parker – yes

            Mr. Marsalis, Sr. – yes

            Mrs. Houck – yes

            Mr. Carson – yes

            Mrs. Hayes – yes

            Mr. Wilson – yes

            Mr. Taunton – yes

            Mr. Butcher – yes

            Mrs. Forman – yes

Motion passed with 9 yeas, 0 nays, 0 abstentions, and 0 absent.

It was moved by Mr. Butcher, seconded by Mr. Carson and unanimously carried that Section VI, Item C “Consider Approval of Job Descriptions for Administrators, Supervisors, and Directors” would be tabled until the December meeting.

It was moved by Mr. Carson, seconded by Mr. Marsalis, Sr., and unanimously carried to approve the job description for the nurse coordinator.

Mr. Tom O’Neal presented the board members with the bids received for the cafeteria salad bars.  The bidders and bids per school were as follows:

It was moved by Mr. Marsalis, Sr., seconded by Mr. Butcher and unanimously carried to accept the lowest bid of $35,656.10 per school, with the total for six schools at $201,936.60, which was from HNR Supply (Singer H & R).

There was discussion on the electric buses which had previously been approved for the district to obtain.  Superintendent Bachus asked the board to hold off on proceeding with the purchase.  It was moved by Mr. Butcher, seconded by Mr. Marsalis, Sr., and unanimously carried to stop the process of obtaining the electric buses.

Mr. O’Neal asked if he could share some information on the buses that he’d learned.  At the request of the finance committee, Mr. O’Neal spoke with Ross Bus Sales in Alexandria. The best program he has been able to find is an annual cost of $25,800 per bus for a three-year program. That includes everything except the driver, fuel and insurance.  That averages a little over $2,000 a month, but if you total it out over a three-year period of time, O’Neal said he didn’t think we could buy a bus for that. Mr. Wilson asked to clarify the information, that it meant that every three years we could get new buses?  Mr. O’Neal confirmed that was the case.  It was the same thing we talked about with National Car Rental. We were looking at seven electric buses for recreational activities, and we have five diesel buses right now for recreational activities.  This program will take about six months to put into place.  President Forman said we will put this on the agenda for December.  Mr. Carson asked for a list to be compiled of all the vehicles we have to get rid of.

Superintendent’s Announcements:

·         Calendars from the schools.

·         Shared with the building and grounds committee, we’ve added eight new courses at our high schools.  One of the courses is an HVAC repair.

It was moved by Mrs. Parker, seconded by Mr. Wilson and unanimously carried to go into executive session. The time was 7:20 PM.

It was moved by Mrs. Parker, seconded by Mrs. Hayes, and unanimously carried for the board to return to regular session at 8:18 PM. 

There being no further business, it was moved by Mr. Marsalis, Sr., seconded by Mrs. Hayes and unanimously carried to adjourn at 8:19 PM.