PROCEEDINGS OF THE PARISH SCHOOL BOARD OF THE PARISH OF CONCORDIA, STATE OF LOUISIANA TAKEN AT A REGULAR MEETING HELD ON TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 17, 1991

The Parish School Board of the Parish of Concordia, State of Louisiana, met in special session at the Concordia Parish School Board Office in Vidalia, Louisiana on Tuesday, September 17, 1991, at five-thirty (5:30) o'clock p.m.

Members present were Honorable J. W. Calhoun, President;  Mrs. Marie Cowan; Mr. Jerry King;  Mr. Manson Nelson; Mr. Charles Partridge; and  Mr. Walter Stampley.

Members absent were Mr. Johnnie Brown, Mrs. Polly Miley, and Mrs. Georgia Washington,

The Parish School Board of the Parish of Concordia was duly convened by Honorable J. W. Calhoun, President, who declared that the Board was ready for the transaction of business.

The meeting was opened with prayer led by Manson Nelson.

The Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag was recited.

Johnnie Brown arrived at five thirty-four (5:34) o'clock p.m.

It was moved by  Charles  Partridge, seconded by Manson Nelson and carried to approve the minutes of the August 13th and 20th meetings.

Dennis Cowart, Business Manager, reviewed the financial report.

Tom O'Neal, Sales Tax Director, gave a brief review on the status of the Sales Tax Fund.

Upon the recommendation of Superintendent Chelette, it was moved by Manson Nelson, seconded by Walter Stampley to set the millage at 25.00 mills for the election on November 16, 1991.  A roll call vote was taken with the results as follows: 

YEAS:  J. W. Calhoun, Marie Cowan, Jerry King, Manson Nelson, Charles Partridge, Walter Stampley, and Georgia Washington.  NAYS:   Johnnie Brown.  The motion carried.

Johnnie Brown moved that the at cost price of school lunches be set at $2.30.  The motion was seconded by Jerry King and carried.

James E. Lee, Curriculum and Instruction Supervisor gave an overview of the new guidelines in the vocational education program.

It was moved by Johnnie Brown, seconded by Walter Stampley and carried to approve a $25.00 per student allotment for vocational education students.

It was moved by Mr. Partridge, seconded by Jerry King and carried to have the Support Service Supervisor make arrangements to have the home economics departments sprayed for pest control each month. 

Charles Partridge asked the superintendent if the kindergarten through third grades meet the requirements of the state that classes have a twenty students to one teacher ration.  Superintendent Chelette indicated that the ratio was meet on a  parish wide basis.

Charles Partridge inquired if the reduction in staff had been completed for the 1991-92 school year.  Superintendent Chelette indicated that to the best of his knowledge the staffing had been completed.

Charles Partridge requested that the records be checked to see if there has been a limit set as to the amount of money that students/parents should have to pay out-of-pocket for the school year.

It was moved by Jerry King, seconded by Charles Partridge and carried to advertise the Monterey Food Plant for lease.  Opposed:  Johnnie Brown.

It was moved by Johnnie Brown, seconded by Manson Nelson to go into executive session to discuss personnel matters.  Opposed:  Jerry King, Charles Partridge, and J. W. Calhoun.  The motion carried.

The board went into executive session at three minutes after seven (7:03) o'clock p.m.

The board returned from executive session at seven fifty-five (7:55) o'clock p.m.

It was moved by Johnnie Brown, seconded by Jerry King that the board return to open session.  The motion carried.  J. W. Calhoun stated that  the board had discussed the superintendent's contract and that the matter would be tabled until later in the meeting.

                                                                              TRANSFERS

It was moved by Charles Partridge, seconded by Jerry King and carried to approve the transfer of the following teachers from Ferriday Upper Elementary to Ferriday Junior High pending written approval from the justice department:

           Mildred Dunham                       Betty Signust

           Earnestine Watts                       Bobbie Hinson

           Jerry Cook                                 Sherry White

           Karen Lancaster                        Beatrice Hunter

School Food Service Technicians to Ferriday Junior High

Mary Rachal, 7.0 hour technician, effective 9/9/91

Walter Newbill, Jr. , 7.0 hour technician, effective 9/9/91

Jessie Lewis,  special education teacher, from Ferriday Junior High to Ferriday High School, effective 9/18/91.

LuRuth L. Davis,  special education teacher, from Ferriday Junior High to Vidalia High School, effective 9/18/91.

Debra Pinkney, paraprofessional, from Ferriday Junior to Ferriday High, effective 9/18/91.

Geneva Caston, paraprofessional, from Ferriday Junior to Ferriday High, effective 9/18.91

                                                                          APPOINTMENTS

It was moved by Johnnie Brown, seconded by Jerry King and carried to approve the appointment of Valarie Luss, part-time (2 1/2 hour) sweeper at Monterey High School, effective 9/18/91.

Johnnie Brown requested that the Support Supervisor develop a criteria as for the need, or lack of need, for part-time  maintenance/custodial employees in the system.

It was moved by Johnnie Brown, seconded by Walter Stampley and carried to appoint Donna Morace, school food service technician, 7.0 hours, Vidalia Lower Elementary, effective 9/9/91

                                                                           RESIGNATIONS

It was moved by Walter Stampley, seconded by Johnnie Brown and carried to approve  resignations

Brenda Ford, school food service technician, effective May 24, 1991 and

Olin Blackwood, special education, effective September 16, 1991.

Mrs. Doretha Woodfork, Special Education Supervisor, updated the board on an accident that occurred at Ferriday Lower Elementary School.  Woodfork indicated that arrangements had been made that two employees would be in the classroom at all times.

It was moved by Walter Stampley, seconded by Jerry King and carried to approve the request of Kaaren Clifton, teacher, Ridgecrest Elementary School, for a leave of absence without pay from October 3rd to October 25th.

After a lengthy discussion it was moved by Johnnie Brown, seconded by Jerry King and carried to request that a representative of the Town of Clayton be present at the next regular meeting, October 15, 1991, to discuss the board's concerns relative to the condition of the school building at Clayton.

It was moved by Charles Partridge, seconded by Jerry King and carried to ask the board's legal counsel to check into the legality of the Town of Clayton purchasing the school building.

Ferrellgas was awarded the low fixed bid of 55.5 cents per gallon for butane at Monterey High School.  The motion was made by Walter Stampley, seconded by Johnnie Brown and carried.  Opposed:  Charles Partridge, felt the price was too high.

Johnnie Brown indicated to board members that he felt that they all needed to get out and visit in the schools.  He thanked the superintendent for the information which was presented relative to visitors on school campuses.

A representative from the Monterey High School drill team, Katie Paul, appeared before the board to request financial assistance for the officers of the drill team to attend and participate in the Thanksgiving Macy's Day Parade.  It was moved by Charles Partridge, seconded by Marie Cowan and carried to grant the students a total of $1500.00.  It was the consensus of the board that no other request would be granted until a policy had been adopted by the board which stipulated what type of request would be honored.

Jerry King stated that he felt the wording of the motion made at the September 10, 1991, meeting asking for an investigation was stated so that it might limit the investigation.  He made a motion to correct the motion to read "allow school attorney, Mr. Magee, with assistance of Mr. Irvin to investigate any and all activities in conjunction with the work performed at Ferriday High School in conjunction with the storm damage in May".  The motion was seconded by Manson Nelson.  The motion carried.  Opposed by Johnnie Brown and Georgia Washington.

It was moved by Johnnie Brown, seconded by Walter Stampley and carried to go into executive session.  Opposed Jerry King and Charles Partridge.  The board went into executive session at nine (9:00) o'clock p.m. to discuss personnel matters.

It was moved by Manson Nelson, seconded by Jerry King, and carried to go back into open session.  The board went into open session at nine-fifty (9:50) o'clock p.m.

Superintendent Chelette apprised the board of his intent to retire effective January 1, 1992.  Chelette requested that the board incorporate his $200.00 local travel expense into his salary beginning with the September payroll.  The motion was made by Charles Partridge, seconded by Manson Nelson to accept Superintendent Chelette's retirement date of January 1, 1992 and that his $200.00 dollar local travel shall be incorporated into his salary effective with the September payroll.  A roll call vote was taken with results as follows:  YEAS:  Johnnie Brown, J. W. Calhoun, Marie Cowan, Jerry King, Polly Miley, Manson Nelson, Charles Partridge, Walter Stampley and Georgia Washington.

It was moved by Charles Partridge, seconded by Walter Stampley and carried that the meeting be adjourned. 

The meeting was adjourned at nine-fifty-two (9:52) o'clock p.m.

 __________________________                                          _____________________

Gene Chelette, Secretary/Treasurer                                       J. W. Calhoun, President

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