PROCEEDINGS OF THE SCHOOL BOARD OF THE PARISH OF CONCORDIA, STATE OF LOUISIANA, TAKEN AT A REGULAR MEETING HELD ON THURSDAY, APRIL 10, 2025
The School Board of the Parish of Concordia, State of Louisiana, met in Regular Session at the Media Center, 508 John Dale Dr, Ste B, Vidalia, Louisiana, on Thursday, April 10, 2025, at 6:00 p.m. The meeting was called to order by Lisette Forman, board president. After prayer and the Pledge, President Forman declared that the Board was ready for the transaction of business.
Board members present were Mrs. Dorothy Parker, Mr. Fred Marsalis, Mr. Derrick Carson, Mrs. Angela Hayes, Mr. Matt Taunton, and Mrs. Lisette Forman. Mr. Fred Butcher arrived at 6:03 PM, just after the roll call. Ms. Vanessa Houck arrived at 6:26 PM, during the discussion about the Update on FHS Renovations. Absent was Mr. Wayne Wilson.
In Superintendent Bachus’ absence, Ms. Lillian Franklin, the superintendent’s designee, recognized the Ferriday Upper Elementary Beta Club. She noted that the Beta Club was established at the school in 1990, and thanked the club’s sponsors and principal for carrying on the legacy of honoring our children and training them to compete academically. Ms. Shekeidra Sanders announced the names of the 25 members who attended the Louisiana Elementary Beta State Convention on February 17-18, 2025. The FUE Beta Club was awarded 4th Place for Large Group Performance. The club had two individual winners: Skylar Robinson was named Golden Ticket Premier Dancer, and Trinity Jefferson was named 4th Grade Language Arts Champion. Also at the convention, the sponsors of the FUE Beta Club were named National Educators Of Excellence: Jessica Harris-Hunt, Shelia Counsel, Bridggie Mays, and Shekeidra Sanders. Ms. Franklin presented a plaque to the group from the school board.
President Forman noted in the absence of Keith Bridgham with Volkert, Inc., that Mr. Tom O’Neal would present the ESSER update report. A copy of the report was included in the board members’ folders. He then presented the report to the public noting that the work was nearly complete.
The committee reports were presented. Mrs. Parker presented the Educational Policy report, noting that they did not meet, but the committee members received updates on personnel. Mrs. Forman presented the Financial report, and Mr. Carson presented the Buildings & Grounds report.
It was moved by Mr. Butcher, seconded by Mrs. Hayes and unanimously carried to approve the minutes of the Regular meeting on March 13, 2025.
Mrs. Patricia Sessions, Interim Executive Business Manager, gave the financial report. It was moved by Mr. Butcher, seconded by Mrs. Parker and unanimously carried to approve invoices in the amount of $5,177,123.51 for the month of March 2025.
Ms. Franklin presented the Personnel report in the absence of Mrs. Rhonda Moore, HR Director, and noted that the report was available in the board members’ folders.
Concordia Parish School Board
Educational Policy Committee Meeting
Committee Meeting - Personnel Announcements
April 10, 2025
Resignations:
Carl Thompson, III, General Maintenance, Central Administration, effective April 3, 2025.
Appointments/Transfers:
Brandy Andrews, Paraprofessional, Vidalia Upper Elementary School, to School Secretary, Vidalia Upper Elementary School, effective February 17, 2025.
Mr. Tom O’Neal presented information regarding the local ITEP Committee, stating that this committee is made up of a representative from the Sheriff’s Office, the School Board Office, and the Police Jury. The Tax Assessor’s Office is included on this committee, but as a non-voting member. The committee representatives do not have to be an elected official, they can be an employee. This committee will be the point of contact for the parish to communicate indirectly with the governor and to the Board of Commerce and Industry concerning any application for tax exemptions. O’Neal noted that if we had an economic development person in the parish, that person would sit on the committee as well. It was moved by Mr. Butcher, seconded by Mr. Carson and unanimously carried to appoint Tom O’Neal as the School Board’s representative to the local ITEP Committee.
Mr. O’Neal gave an update on the recent bid opening for the Ferriday High School renovation project. He indicated that because there were no timely bids submitted, that the project is currently being re-bid. The second bid opening is scheduled for May 6, 2025. It was moved by Mr. Butcher, seconded by Mr. Carson, and unanimously carried to allow the FHS Renovations Committee, after the bids have been opened and reviewed by our architect and staff, to make a tentative award. The board will review and ratify any such award at its May 15th meeting.
Mr. O’Neal then explained that the Right of Way requested from the school board in front of Ferriday High School for underground utilities was 10 feet, instead of 25 feet. The additional footage will be granted by the Department of Transportation, which also has a right-of-way there. It was moved by Mr. Butcher, seconded by Mrs. Parker and unanimously carried to approve the 10-foot right-of-way.
Mr. James Lee, former superintendent of Concordia Parish Schools, turned in a comment card in support of the 5-day school week to President Forman before the beginning of the meeting. She invited Mr. Lee to speak at this time. He began by saying he was speaking for the least ones, as referenced in Matthew 25, “in as much as you have done for the least of these….” Mr. Lee further explained that he meant those parents who were not there to speak for themselves, those who would ask for a return to the 5-day school week if they were attending this meeting. He stated that he strongly supported the 5-day school week, and that public education was about more than just academics. It was also about social issues, professional oversight, and nutrition for the children. A 4-day week takes away a day of those three things. It puts the parents in the position of having to provide some extra oversight, some child care, or even food that they really can’t afford at this time. He asked the board members think about the students who are the least ones; they need the 5-day school week. He reminded the board members that these children represent the majority of the students that this system provides education for, and asked the board members to take all of this into consideration before voting on the 2025-26 school calendar.
The next item was to vote on the 2025-26 school calendar. Mr. Butcher noted that Superintendent Bachus had stated in the February meeting that she could not recommend the 4-day school week because she felt that the students need a 5-day school week. Mr. Butcher said he thought the voting on the school calendar should be tabled until the superintendent was present. It was moved by Mr. Butcher and seconded by Mr. Marsalis, to table voting on the 2025-26 school calendar until the May meeting. A roll call vote was requested:
Mrs. Parker – yea
Mr. Marsalis – yea
Mrs. Houck – yea
Mr. Carson – yea
Mrs. Hayes – yea
Mr. Taunton – nay
Mr. Butcher – yea
Mrs. Forman – nay
The motion passed with 6 yeas, 2 nays, 1 absent, and 0 abstentions.
Announcements:
· There were no announcements.
Mr. Carson addressed President Forman, saying that the board had decided in January when approving the schedule of meetings that the April meeting would be held in Monterey. He noted that we all forgot about that change of venue and asked to schedule another meeting in Monterey. President Forman asked if Mr. Carson had another date in mind. Mr. Butcher suggested that Mr. Carson, Superintendent Bachus, and the MHS principal, Mrs. Doughty get together and decide on the best date to hold the meeting at that campus. President Forman agreed.
There was no executive session.
It was moved by Mr. Butcher, seconded by Mrs. Parker and unanimously carried to adjourn at 6:42 PM.