Concordia Parish School Board

Educational Policy Committee Meeting Summary

May 12, 2025

9:30 am

Date: May 12, 2025
Time: 9:30 a.m.
Attendees: Superintendent Toyua Bachus, Dorothy Parker, William Marsalis, Rhonda Moore

Key Discussion Points

DOJ and Board Representation

·         Superintendent Bachus apologized for missing recent board member meetings due to medical issues 

·         She provided an update on meetings with the Assistant Attorney General, DOJ representatives, and district counsel to prepare a declaration on behalf of the board. Key highlights of the declaration include:

o    The district’s decision to continue funding the Freshman Academy despite the end of grant support.

o    Demonstrated academic progress as evidence of the program’s effectiveness.

Freshman Academy and Academic Progress

·         English I test scores from the Freshman Academy showed significant growth:

o    13% Unsatisfactory

o    31% Approaching Basic

o    39% Basic

o    14% Mastery

o    1% Advanced

·         Algebra I scores also improved with higher mastery rates and fewer students scoring in the unsatisfactory category.

Recruitment and Retention

·         The district has allocated $40,000 in federal funds to support recruitment and retention efforts.

·         The Minority-to-Majority (M-to-M) transfer application is now digitized to streamline access.

·         The district has also begun a common course selection process across all schools and hosted spring parent informational meetings.

Facilities and Maintenance

·         Recent maintenance completed includes:

o    Installation of new soap dispensers

o    Repainting of urinals

o    Replacement of floor tiles at Ferriday High, Ferriday Upper, and Ferriday Lower

·  Additional projects include:

o    Repainting of the sensory room at Ferriday Lower

o    Installation of water stations in the gym

o    Installation of two playgrounds (one complete, the second scheduled for Summer 2025)

Athletic Facilities Upgrades

·         Superintendent Bachus proposed upgrades to the Ferriday High gym and VHS and weight room:

o    Rubber-coated flooring

o    New benches

o    Repainting of locker and weight rooms for consistency across high schools

o    These improvements aim to create safe and modern athletic training environments.

-end-

Concordia Parish School Board

Finance Committee Meeting

(held at Sales Tax Office)

May 12, 2025

3:30 pm

**Attendees:** Tom O'Neal, Patricia Sessions, Fred Butcher, Toyua Bachus  

1.   Reviewed the financial statements for the month of April.

2.   Briefly discussed the audit process. 

3.   Provided updates on budget revisions. 

4.   Shared information about the increase in the Workers' Compensation rebate for this year and highlighted the efforts of Mrs. Cothern. 

5.   Discussed the bid for the FHS project.

6.   Reviewed the impact of the four-day work week on the business department. 

7.   Discussed the results of the End-of-Course (EOC) assessments that have been released, noting that we are still awaiting additional results.  

Concordia Parish School Board

Building & Grounds Committee Meeting

May 12, 2025

5:00 pm

Persons in attendance: Mrs. Bachus & Mr. Carson 

- Update on the roofing include VUE being completed 

-Shared that the lease on the building that is being used by Central Office is expiring.

 -Discussed football field maintenance need:

● Fields need to be watered at 5am MWF

● Fields need to be cut no later than May 20th before Mr. Art returns

 -Shared recent test scores 

-The Superintendent shared the up-to-date cost for track (stand alone) for district and possible location.

-Reviewed Agenda & Superintendent shared other committee notes.