Date: Monday, August 11, 2025
Time: 9:30 a.m.
Location: Supt. Bachus’ Office
Present: Dorothy Parker, William Marsalis, Angela Hayes, Rhonda Moore, Toyua Bachus
Presented by: Rhonda Moore
● Administrative Appointments:
○ Jamie Taunton – Principal, Vidalia Upper Elementary
○ Ravilia Hayes-Walker – Assistant Principal, Vidalia High School
○ Denise Credit – Assistant Principal, Ferriday Lower
● Central Office Appointment:
○ Katangelia Tenner – Secretary/Bookkeeper
● Teacher/Staff Appointments:
● Resignations.
● Retirements/Maternity Leaves
● Transfers/Promotions
● Uncertified teachers must complete 240 hours of tutoring and attempt certification testing to be eligible for bonuses.
● Acknowledgement of statewide and national teacher shortage challenges.
● Code of Conduct: Will be reviewed and updated over the next year, with a focus on consistent enforcement of GPA, cell phone, and drug testing policies.
● Instructional Materials Policy: Parents may request paper or online copies of instructional materials.
● Employee Dismissals: Second reading of recommendations completed.
● LSU Ag Cooperative Agreement: Renewal required every five years; supports 4H programs, camps, transportation needs and other things.
● Star Academy Addendum: added to the Pupil Progression Plan.
● Toyua Watson-Bachus:
1. Provide the full 4-page personnel announcement document to committee members (emailed on Monday).
2. Continue Code of Conduct and discipline policy review (Will keep you all abreast).
3. Seek board approval for LSU Ag Cooperative Agreement.
4. Publicly announce the 7th–8th Grade Star Academy program addendum.
Adjournment: Meeting concluded with no further business.
Concordia Parish School Board
Finance Committee
August 11, 2025
Present: Kaci Cothern, Patricia Session, Fred T. Butcher, Lisette Forman, Tom O’Neal, and Toyua Bachus
Discussed financial statement for this month (5,824,612.94)
Reviewed bid process for janitorial supplies and copy paper
K-12 Student Accident Insurance- Axis Insurance Company
Discussed Business Director getting board approval for unclaimed property (sales tax)
Discussed School Nurse pay and LPN pay difference. Approved the change when LPN becomes RN.
Discussed Addendum to Pupil Progression Plan
Gave update on Student Athletes Behavioral Plan
Concordia Parish School Board
August 11, 2025
5:00 p.m.
Committee Report:
Present: Derrick Carson, Wayne Wilson, Matt Taunton, Tom O’Neal, and Toyua Bachus
A. CMC - We recently had a presentation from the company, but at that time, we did not have all systems in place. The Superintendent and Maintenance Supervisor invited them for a Q&A session. We will conduct an in-house cost analysis to review our current spending on upkeep, including salaries, maintenance supplies, and outsourcing. We are seeking board approval for the company to conduct a walk-through of the remaining school facilities to provide an estimated price.
B. We reviewed the monthly work orders, discussing both completed items and those that are still open. Several administrators have expressed their excitement about the support they are receiving from the maintenance committee.
C. We briefly discussed the football field and decided to revisit the conversation once the soil samples arrive, which should be by the end of the week.
D. We also went over the agenda and other committee notes.
Concordia Parish School Board
Special Committee for FHS
Date: August 13, 2025
Time: 11:00 A.M.
Location: On Site – Ferriday High School
Project: Campus Renovation for Ferriday High School
Architect: M3A Architecture
Contractor: Mills Contracting
· Original Contract Amount: $2,203,000.00
· Approved Change Orders (PCO#1–PCO#5): $123,775.00
· Approved Change Orders (PCO#6, #8, #9, #10): $214,280.52
· Total Current Contract Amount: $2,357,280.00 (before today’s adjustments — “praise God”)
· Requested Additional Days: 60
· Original Completion Date: 10/24/2025
· Proposed Completion Date (with requests): 12/22/2025/ Note: We discussed that beginning in September, students will not be at school and thus can be a workday.
· Library/Elevator Corridor: Finishing and painting in progress.
· Pole Lighting: Ready for concrete pour next week. Need final location confirmation (note: private property instead of driveway).
· Administration:
o PCO#8 & PCO#10 pending.
o Asbestos abatement must be completed before construction can resume (clarification needed on type of disruption, estimated date, and budget impact).
· Softfill/Base Replacement:
o Pending partial PCO#10 approval. Discussed and decided to do the second part of PCO10 with another contractor.
· Main Entrance & Gymnasium Entrance:
o Pending PCO#10 approval.
o Steel submittals must be approved to obtain lead times.
o Check paver specifications.
· Elevator Shaft:
o Gas, sewer, and storm drainage located where elevator pit is positioned.
o Gas and sewer plan received; storm drainage pricing must be completed concurrently due to related concrete work.
· Elevator:
o Electrical and submittal requirements under review (note: three trades coming in — expect slower progress).
· Inspection & Testing:
o Section 01410a specifies that the owner will hire and pay for an independent testing laboratory (note: not to be covered by contractor).
· Elevator: Minimum of 16 weeks from date of site visit.
1. Confirm final pole lighting locations (private vs. driveway).
2. Provide asbestos abatement plan with disruption details, estimated date, and budget considerations.
3. Approve PCO#10 to proceed with base replacement, entrances, and steel submittals.
4. Finalize storm drainage pricing with related concrete work.
5. Clarify elevator electrical requirements and schedule coordination for multiple trades.
6. Arrange independent testing laboratory per specification requirements. We did review a quote and Hammonds and Sills Representative found it to be fair
Next Meeting:
September 10, 2025
11:00 A.M.