PROCEEDINGS OF THE SCHOOL BOARD OF THE PARISH OF CONCORDIA, STATE OF LOUISIANA, TAKEN AT A SPECIAL MEETING HELD ON TUESDAY, OCTOBER 19, 1993.
The 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, October 19, 1993, at five-thirty (5:30) o'clock p.m. The meeting was called to order by the Honorable J. W. Calhoun, President, who declared that the Board, after prayer led by Superintendent James E. Lee and the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag, was ready for the transaction of business.
Members present were Honorable J. W. Calhoun, Mrs. Marie Cowan, Mrs. Polly Miley, Mr. Manson Nelson, Mr. Walter Stampley and Mrs. Georgia Washington.
Members absent were Rev. Johnnie Brown, Mr. Jerry King, Mr. Charles Partridge.
Mrs. Gloria Dangerfield, Assistant Director of Business Affairs, presented the Financial Report and answered questions about the various funds.
Rev. Johnnie Brown arrived at 5:40.
Superintendent Lee handed out information about the sales tax election held on October 16, 1993, and reported that the official canvass of votes will be held at the first November Board meeting in accordance with the notice of election. He thanked the public for their support and informed the audience that no money would be received by the system until February 1994. However, priorities would be set and plans made to make the best possible use of the additional funds. Superintendent Lee pledged that all students would benefit equally from the tax regardless of where they live in the parish.
After Mr. Tom O'Neal, Director of Business Affairs, discussed the setting of millages to be levied on the 1993 tax roll, Superintendent Lee read the following resolution: On a motion by Mrs. Miley and second by Mr. Nelson, the resolution was approved by roll call vote.
RESOLUTION
BE IT RESOLVED, that the following millages are hereby levied on the 1993 tax roll on all property subject to taxation by the Concordia Parish School Board:
Maintenance & Operations 25.00 mills
Constitutional Tax 3.15 mills
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the proper administrative officials of the Parish of Concordia, State of Louisiana, be and they are hereby empowered, authorized, and directed to spread said taxes, as hereinabove set forth, upon the assessment roll of said Parish for the Year 1993, and to make the collection of the taxes imposed for and on behalf of the District, according to law, and that the tax herein levied shall become a permanent lien and privilege on all the property subject to taxation as herein set forth, and the collection thereof shall be enforceable in the manner provided by law.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the foregoing resolution was read in full, the roll was called on the adoption thereof, and the resolution was adopted by the following votes:
YEAS: Rev. Johnnie Brown
Mr. J. W. Calhoun
Mrs. Marie Cowan
Mrs. Polly Miley
Mr. Manson Nelson
Mr. Walter Stampley
Mrs. Georgia Washington
NAYS: None
ABSTAINED: None
ABSENT: Mr. Jerry King
Mr. Charles Partridge
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The Board discussed advertising for two leases on Section 16 T7N R8E, one agricultural and the other hunting. After considering the possibility of the Board becoming embroiled in disagreements between two lessees, it was decided that Mr. Calhoun, Mr. Nelson and Mr. O'Neal would meet with Mr. W. C. Falkenheiner, Board attorney, to discuss legal ramifications of advertising for two leases.
On a motion by Mr. Stampley and second by Mr. Nelson, the Board approved the following resolution with the understanding that the resolution would also apply to other roads needing repair as they are identified:
RESOLUTION
WHEREAS, Concordia Parish School System is located in a rural area where the majority of students live a distance from the school and must be transported by school bus; and
WHEREAS, Concordia Parish School Board has become concerned because the disrepair of state highways presents a grave danger to the children of the parish; and,
WHEREAS, Highway 131 from Vidalia, Louisiana, to Deer Park, Louisiana, is particularly in need of repair; and,
WHEREAS, bus drivers, having been entrusted with the care of our students, have requested that this Board take action in petitioning the Louisiana Department of Transportation for relief in regard to the condition of the state highways in general and of Highway 131 in particular; now,
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Concordia Parish School Board officially requests and entreats the Department of Transportation to take appropriate action with all deliberate speed to repair and maintain Highway 131 in a condition which will provide safe passage for the children who are transported over it by Concordia Parish school buses.
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Mr. H. L. Irvin, Supervisor of Supportive Services, provided the Board with information about video cameras and boxes for school buses. He reported that bus drivers had voted to buy and install the boxes and requested that the Board purchase 3 video cameras to be rotated among the buses. Superintendent Lee recommended that the Board purchase the 3 cameras for a total of $2,985 and 42 video boxes at $98 each, with the drivers' sharing equally in shipping, handling, and other costs related to purchasing the boxes and with the drivers' reimbursing the Board for the boxes through payroll deduction over 3 months. It was moved by Mr. Brown, seconded by Mrs. Cowan and carried to approve the superintendent's recommendation, with the condition that all legal requirements are met.
It was moved by Mr. Stampley, seconded by Mr. Nelson and carried to request an attorney general's opinion on the following question: May a school employee, as distinguished from certified personnel, use accumulated sick leave during the serious illness of a family member?
In response to questions about teachers' giving failing grades to students who have been suspended, Superintendent Lee provided the Board with a copy of page 39, standard 2.055.12, of School Policies and Standards in Bulletin 741, which reads:
Students missing school as a result of any suspension shall be counted as absent, shall be given failing grades for those days suspended, and shall not be given an opportunity to make up work.
It was agreed that the Board has no authority to make any changes in the policy; therefore, no action was taken, per Superintendent Lee's recommendation.
Because of increased enrollment of special education students, Superintendent Lee recommended the appointment of 2 additional special education aides. Their salaries will be reimbursed to the system during the next school year. It was moved by Mrs. Miley, seconded by Rev. Brown, and carried to approve the following:
Appointments:
Jeannie Wilson Blount, Sp. Ed. Aide, MHS, eff. 10/4/93
Deborah S. Hunt, Sp. Ed. Aide, FUE, eff. 10/4/93
It was moved by Rev. Brown, seconded by Mrs. Miley and carried to adjourn at 6:35 p.m.
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James E. Lee, Secretary J. W. Calhoun, President