PROCEEDINGS OF THE SCHOOL BOARD OF THE PARISH OF CONCORDIA, STATE OF LOUISIANA, TAKEN AT A REGULAR MEETING HELD ON TUESDAY, JUNE 7, 1994.
The School Board of the Parish of Concordia, State of Louisiana, met in regular session at the Concordia Parish School Board Office, in Vidalia, Louisiana, on Tuesday, June 7, 1994, 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 by Mr. Jerry King, and the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag, was ready for the transaction of business.
Members present were the Honorable J. W. Calhoun, Mrs. Marie Cowan, Mr. Jerry King, Mrs. Polly Miley, Mr. Charles Partridge, and Mr. Walter Stampley.
Members absent were Rev. Johnnie Brown, Mr. Manson Nelson, and Mrs. Georgia Washington
Special recognition was given to the valedictorians and salutatorians of the three high schools. Dr. Pete Peterman, Supervisor of Curriculum and Instruction, and Superintendent Lee commended the students for their hard work. A framed certificate was presented to each of the following:
FHS
Jeannie Crnkovic, Valedictorian
Rachall Smith, Salutatorian
MHS
James Edward Boyd, Valedictorian
Brandi Burley, Co-Salutatorian
Sandi Burley, Co-Salutatorian
VHS
Natasha Brown, Co-Valedictorian
Carmen Gremillion, Co-Valedictorian
Charlyn Partridge, Salutatorian
Mrs. Georgia Washington arrived at 5:35 p.m.
Mrs. Gloria Dangerfield, Assistant Director of Business Affairs, presented invoices and answered questions. It was moved by Mr. Partridge, seconded by Mrs. Miley and carried to approve invoices in the amount of $1,401,113.36.
It was moved by Mrs. Miley, seconded by Mrs. Cowan and carried to approve minutes of the May 3 and May 17, 1994, meetings.
It was moved by Mrs. Miley, seconded by Mrs. Washington and carried to go into Executive Session at 6:55 p.m. to discuss potential litigation and personnel. Mr. King and Mr. Partridge voted no.
Rev. Brown arrived during Executive Session.
Mrs. Cowan made a motion to return to Open Session at 7:40 p.m. The motion was seconded by Mrs. Washington and carried. Superintendent Lee reported that Board action was necessary in regard to the items discussed. In the first item, Superintendent Lee recommended that the Board agree to authorize to pay the medical expenses for an accident at Ridgecrest Elementary School. It was moved by Mr. King, seconded by Mr. Partridge and carried to approve the Superintendent's recommendation.
Superintendent Lee reported that two personnel items requiring Board action were also discussed in Executive Session. It was moved by Mrs. Miley, seconded by Mr. King and carried to suspend James Cockerham, school bus operator, for two days without pay for neglect of duty, the two days being May 25 and May 26, 1994.
It was moved by Mrs. Washington, seconded by Mrs. Miley and carried to suspend Murlene Whittington, school bus operator, for two days without pay for insubordination, the two days being May 25 and May 26, 1994.
Mrs. Miley made a motion to upgrade through the Chapter 1 program for the 1994-95 school year. The motion was seconded by Mrs. Washington and carried.
Superintendent Lee distributed the specifications for the company car which he recommended for purchase to replace the 1974 Ford sold last year. The new car would be used by the superintendent and administrative staff. It was moved by Mr. Partridge, seconded by Mrs. Washington and carried to approve the purchase of a company car on state contract.
It was moved by Mrs. Washington, seconded by Mr. King and carried to add two workers to the maintenance crew.
Superintendent reviewed the budget for the Clayton School project. The budget was discussed at the committee meeting in May. It was moved by Mrs. Miley, seconded by Rev. Brown and Mrs. Washington to approve the budget for $149,594, which includes the amount to be paid by LaSalle Community Action.
Mr. Nelson had been scheduled to read a statement regarding the Superintendent's evaluation. In his absence, it was moved by Mr. Partridge, seconded by Rev. Brown and carried to have Dr. Peterman read the statement which follows:
Concordia Parish School Board, under the guidelines of Bulletin 1525, has completed the evaluation of Superintendent James Lee for the 1993-94 school year. Each Board member completed an observation of the Superintendent's performance, and a composite observation was developed from the individual observation forms. The observation was discussed with the Superintendent during an observation post-conference.
Following the completion of the observation process, the Concordia Parish School Board developed an evaluation of the Superintendent's job performance, and a post-evaluation conference was held with the Superintendent to discuss the final evaluation document.
In its evaluation, the Board has found Superintendent Lee to be satisfactory in his performance of all areas of his job performance and noted that his state and local leadership efforts have contributed toward the achievement of our systemwide goals.
The Superintendent was commended for his performance in the areas of business and fiscal responsibility, community-public relations, curriculum and instructional management and for his moral leadership.
The Board recommended that the Superintendent continue to provide opportunities for professional staff development and to begin a long-range budget plan to provide for repair and replacement of facilities and equipment. In addition, it is recommended that the Superintendent continue to be accessible to the public and to employees, as appropriate.
The final part of the evaluation is an assessment of the Superintendent's Professional Growth Plan. The Board has judged progress toward the completion of his objectives to be satisfactory.
It was moved by Mr. Partridge, seconded by Rev. Brown and carried unanimously to approve the Superintendent's evaluation for the 1993-94 school year.
Superintendent Lee expressed his appreciation for the opportunity to be evaluated through a process which gives him a clear understanding of what the Board expects of him. He briefly stated ways he intended to carry out their recommendations and thanked them for participating in the process.
Superintendent Lee recommended that the Board approve the application for the Special Education program for the upcoming school year. It was moved by Rev. Brown, seconded by Mrs. Washington and carried to approve the application.
Dr. Pete Peterman, Supervisor of Curriculum and Instruction, presented a proposed revision of Policy IDBA "Sex Education". Dr. Peterman recommended the insertion of the following sentence after the second sentence in the second paragraph: "In such cases, the teacher may substitute other appropriate instructional activities in place of the sex education instruction."
Mr. H. L. Irvin, Supervisor of Supportive Services, requested permission to advertise for bids for the air conditioning of the Clayton School Building. The cost of the air conditioning will be paid by LaSalle Community Action; however, as the owner of the building, the School Board is the body who must advertise for the bids. It was moved by Mr. Partridge, seconded by Mr. King and carried to advertise for bids for this project.
Since a representative of Honeywell, Inc., was not present, there was no action or discussion on that agenda item.
Dr. Peterman presented a revision of the job description for principals. The state has identified Proficiences of Effective Principals, which are now required to be part of the local job description for principals. It was moved by Mrs. Miley, seconded by Mr. Partridge and carried to approve the revised document.
Dr. Peterman presented a 3-year plan of replacing existing student desks and installing new student desks at all parish schools. He requested that the Board approve a first-year budget of $40,000 for the implementation of this plan. It was moved by Mr. Partridge, seconded by Mrs. Miley and carried to approve the $40,000 expenditure for the first year.
Dr. Peterman discussed proposed amendments to the Professional Personnel Evaluation Program and answered questions. It was moved by Mr. Partridge, seconded by Mr. King and carried to approve the amendments as presented.
Mr. Irvin discussed the need for immediate attention to the roof at VHS and requested permission to advertise for bids for the entire VHS roof, excluding the gymnasium which was previously re-roofed. It was moved by Mr. Partridge, seconded by Rev. Brown, and carried to advertise for bids as requested.
It was moved by Mr. Partridge, seconded by Mr. King and carried to advertise for the position of custodian at RES.
Mr. King discussed problems with the driver's education program being offered this summer. He requested that the Board consider some method of serving those students who turn 15 during June and according to summer school guidelines previously established by the Board are not eligible to participate in the driver's education program. Superintendent Lee pointed out that the exclusion of these students is the result of an oversight when the policy was set; however, he stressed that it is his obligation to carry out the policies as they are set by the Board. Following general discussion of the policy, it was suggested by Mr. King that the Board approve a second class. Several parents who were present were recognized to ask questions or make comments.
It was moved by Mr. Partridge, seconded by Mr. King to allow students who will be 15 by the time they are scheduled to drive to enroll in the current class and to allow a second class if numbers are sufficient. Following lengthy discussion, a substitute motion was offered by Mr. Partridge to allow students who will be 15 by the time they are scheduled to drive to make up the class time they have missed and to participate in the current driver's education class. A voice vote was inconclusive and a roll call vote was taken as follows:
YEAS: Mr. Calhoun, Mr. King, Mr Partridge, Mr. Stampley
NAYS: Rev. Brown, Mr. Cowan, Mrs. Washington, Mrs. Miley
As a result of the 4-4 tie vote, the motion failed. Mr. King made a motion to have a second driver's education class for those who will be 15 by the time they are scheduled to drive with no minimum number of students. The motion was seconded by Rev. Brown and carried.
Superintendent Lee requested that the Board add two resolutions to the agenda at the request of Buddy Spillers. It was moved by Mrs. Miley, seconded by Mr. Partridge and carried to approve the addendum. Superintendent Lee explained Mr. Spillers request of a resolution in support of the Macon Ridge Economic Development Empowerment Zone application. Information regarding the application was distributed. It was moved by Mr. Partridge, seconded by Rev. Brown and carried to endorse a resolution in support of the Macon Ridge Economic Development Empowerment Zone application.
Superintendent Lee recommended that the Board endorse a resolution giving Macon Ridge Economic Development, Inc., permission to use the old Clayton gymnasium as the office for the region if the Empowerment Zone application is approved. It was moved by Mrs. Miley, seconded by Rev. Brown and carried to endorse a resolution for this purpose.
It was moved by Mr. Partridge, seconded by Mr. King and carried to approve tenure for the following teachers:
Certificate School
Julia Avery C132808 MHS
Nan Mount C002871 MHS
It was moved by Mrs. Cowan, seconded by Rev. Brown and carried to approved retirement for the following personnel:
Marilyn Campbell, Teacher, MHS, effective 5/27/94
Lollie Hammett, Teacher, FLE, effective 5/27/94
Annie Henderson, Janitor, FJH, effective 6/10/94
Eula Joseph, Janitor, FJH, effective 6/10/94
Christine Kelly, SFS Manager, FHS, effective 5/27/94
Marion Melancon, SFS Manager, FKC, effective 5/27/94
Hilda Payne, SFS Technician, FHS, effective 5/27/94
Hazel Smith, SFS Manager, FLE, effective 5/27/94
Minnie Dell Tiffee, Bus Driver, MHS, effective 5/27/94
It was moved by Rev. Brown, seconded by Mrs. Miley and Mrs. Cowan and carried to accept the following resignations:
Donald Carter, Janitor, FUE, effective 5/16/94
Josefina Garcia, Teacher's Aide, FHS, effective 5/27/94
Annette Owens, Teacher, RES, effective 5/27/94
Bettye Sigust, Teacher, FJH, effective 5/27/94
Carla Smith, Teacher's Aide, RES, effective 5/27/94
It was moved by Mr. Partridge, seconded by Mr. King and carried to approve the return from sabbatical leave for Shirley Herring Smith, Teacher, VUE, effective 8/17/94.
It was moved by Mr. Partridge, seconded by Mr. King and Mrs. Cowan to approve sabbatical leave for rest and recuperation for the following:
Susan Hammett, Teacher VLE, effective 8/17/94 - 5/26/95
Henry Sugg, Principal. VHS, effective 7/20/94 - 1/12/95
It was moved by Mr. Partridge, seconded by Rev. Brown, and carried to approve the transfer of Richard Alwood, Principal, FLE, to Principal, FKC, effective 7/20/94.
It was moved by Mr. King, seconded by Mr. Partridge and carried to approve the transfer of Jimmye Campbell, Principal, FKC, to Principal, FLE, effective 7/20/94.
It was moved by Mr. Partridge, seconded by Mrs. Miley and carried to approve the transfer of Howard Duck, Assistant Principal, VHS, to Principal, VHS, effective 7/20/94 - 1/12/95 only.
It was moved by Mrs. Washington and seconded by Mrs. Miley to approve the transfer of Arijo Ray Green, Assistant Principal, FJH, to Assistant Principal, VHS, effective 7/20/94 - 1/12/95 only. A roll call vote was taken at the request of Mr. Stampley with the following result:
YEAS: Rev. Brown, Mr. Calhoun, Mrs. Cowan, Mr. King, Mrs. Miley, Mrs. Washington
NAYS: Mr. Partridge, Mr. Stampley
The meeting was adjourned at 7:55 p.m.
______________________________ ______________________________
James E. Lee, Superintendent J. W. Calhoun, President