PROCEEDINGS OF THE SCHOOL BOARD OF THE PARISH OF CONCORDIA, STATE OF LOUISIANA, TAKEN AT A REGULAR MEETING HELD ON TUESDAY, JANUARY 3, 1995.

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, January 3, 1995, at five-thirty (5:30) o'clock p.m.  The meeting was called to order by the Honorable James E. Lee, Superintendent, who declared that the Board, after prayer by Rev. Robert Lee, Jr., and the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag, was ready for the transaction of business.

Members present were Mr. Arthur A. Arnold, Mr. Eddie L. Coleman, Sr., Mrs. Marie Cowan, Mr. Jerry C. King, Mr. Manson E. Nelson, Sr., Mr. Charles Partridge, Mr. Lynn White, and Mr. Sam Williams, Jr.

Members absent:          Mrs. Georgia Washington

Superintendent Lee informed the audience that because the 1994 president and vice-president of the Board are not returning this year he would preside until a new Board president was elected.

Superintendent Lee recognized Mr. Clyde Ray Webber, Jr. who administered the oath of office to the newly elected and re-elected Board members who were present.

Before opening the floor for nominations for president, Superintendent Lee suggested that the vice-president sit immediately to the left of the president, with other members arranged alphabetically around the table.  He then opened the floor for nomination for president.  It was moved by Mr. Coleman, seconded by Mr. Williams to nominate Mrs. Cowan.  Mr. King offered an amendment to the motion, seconded by Mr. Arnold, to nominate Mr. Partridge.  Superintendent Lee called for a vote on the amendment first, and on a voice vote, the Chair ruled that the motion failed.  Mr. Arnold called for a roll call vote, with the following result:

YES:                Mr. Arnold, Mr. King, Mr. Partridge

NO:                 Mr. Coleman, Mrs. Cowan, Mr. Nelson, Mr. White, Mr. Williams

Superintendent Lee called for a vote on the motion to elect Mrs. Cowan president.  The Chair ruled that the motion passed.  Mr. Partridge requested a roll call vote with the following result:

YES:                Mr. Coleman, Mrs. Cowan, Mr. White, Mr. Williams

NO:                 Mr. Arnold, Mr. King, Mr. Nelson, Mr. Partridge

Superintendent Lee stated that he could not break the tie and would have to refer the matter to Mr. Richard Alwood, the Parliamentarian.  Mr. Arnold stated that since Superintendent Lee had told them it required five votes to pass, another nomination was called for.  Mr. Coleman asked if he could nominate Mrs. Cowan again.  This question was referred to the Mr. Alwood. 

Mrs. Washington arrived at 5:43 p.m.

Mr. Arnold asked by what authority Mr. Alwood was serving as Parliamentarian. Superintendent Lee responded that the previous Board had appointed him.  Following lengthy discussion, Superintendent Lee announced that the floor was again open for nomination for president.  Mr. King nominated Mr. Nelson, and the motion was seconded by Mr. Arnold.

On a voice vote, the Chair ruled that Mr. Nelson had been elected president.  Mr. Nelson took the president's chair.

President Nelson stated that the floor was now open for nominations for vice-president.  Mr. Coleman nominated Mrs. Cowan and Mr. Williams seconded the nomination.  Mr. Arnold amended the motion by nominating Mr. White, and the amendment was seconded by Mr. King and Mr. Partridge.  President Nelson called for a roll call vote on the amendment to elect Mr. White vice-president with the following result:

YES:                Mr. Arnold, Mr. King, Mr. Nelson, Mr. Partridge, Mr. White

NO:                 Mr. Coleman, Mrs. Cowan, Mrs. Washington, Mr. Williams

Superintendent Lee recommended that the remaining Board members be seated alphabetically around the table for logistical purpose in handing out materials and holding roll call votes.  It was moved by Mr. Coleman and seconded by Mrs. Washington to accept the Superintendent's recommendation. Mr. King stated that since the matter was not on the agenda, it could not be acted on.  The question was referred to the Parliamentarian, who ruled that the president had the authority to decide whether or not the matter would be acted on.  President Nelson ruled that the question would be brought up at a later time and that the motion would be considered null and void.

Superintendent Lee stated that the first Board meeting in January is considered Family Night at the Board with special recognition being given to family members of the Board.  Each Board member recognized his family members, with pictures being made of each family group.

It was moved by Mr. Partridge, seconded by Mrs. Cowan and carried unanimously to approve minutes of the December 6, 1994, meeting.

Mrs. Gloria Dangerfield, Assistant Director of Business Affairs, presented invoices and answered questions.  It was moved by Mr. Partridge, seconded by Mr. Arnold and carried unanimously to approve invoices in the amount of $1,575,248.66.

Superintendent Lee presented a list of proposed dates for Board meetings in 1995.  It was moved by Mrs. Cowan and Mr. Arnold, seconded by Mr. Williams and carried unanimously to approve the following dates for 1995 Board meetings:

                                                         1995 Schedule of Meetings

January 3, 1995                        Regular Meeting

January 17, 1995                      Special/Committee Meeting

February 7, 1995                     Regular Meeting

February 21, 1995                   Special/Committee Meeting

March 7, 1995                         Regular Meeting

March 21, 1995                       Special/Committee Meeting

April 4, 1995                            Regular Meeting

May 2, 1995                            Regular Meeting

May 16, 1995                          Special/Committee Meeting

June 6, 1995                            Regular Meeting

June 20, 1995                          Special/Committee Meeting

July 18, 1995                           Regular Meeting

August 1, 1995                        Regular Meeting

August 15, 1995                      Special/Committee Meeting

September 19, 1995                Regular Meeting

October 3, 1995                      Regular Meeting

October 17, 1995                    Special/Committee Meeting

November 7, 1995                  Regular Meeting

December 5, 1995                  Regular Meeting

Superintendent Lee suggested that the Board set a special meeting to discuss Board members' compensation and expenses if they wished to consider changing the amount currently being paid.  It was moved by Mr. Arnold, seconded by Mr. Coleman and carried to set a special meeting for January 24, 1995, at 5:30 p.m., to discuss compensation and expenses for Board members.

It was moved by Mr. Partridge, seconded by Mrs. Washington and carried unanimously to open bids for activity busses.  The bids received were as follows:

    NAME                                                                                                         AMOUNT

Following discussion, it was moved by Mrs. Cowan, seconded by Mr. Coleman, and carried unanimously to take the bids under advisement, omitting those which do not meet specifications.

President Nelson appointed Mr. Partridge, who had volunteered, to the DFSCA Advisory Board.

Superintendent Lee requested that the Board draft a resolution to request an attorney general's opinion on the distribution of sales tax collected on the hydroelectric plant to employees who retired during or at the end of the 1988-89 school year. Following lengthy discussion, it was moved by Mrs. Washington and seconded by Mr. Coleman to draft a question requesting an attorney general's opinion regarding the distribution of hydroelectric sales tax to employees who retired during or at the end of the 1988-89 school year.  Following discussion, Mr. Arnold agreed not to participate in a vote on this issue since he is on the list of persons affected by this question.  On a roll call vote, the result was as follows:

YES:                Mr. Coleman, Mrs. Cowan, Mr. Nelson, Mrs. Washington, Mr. White, Mr. Williams

NO:                 Mr. King, Mr. Partridge

PASS:  Mr. Arnold

It was moved by Mrs. Cowan, seconded by Mrs. Washington and carried unanimously to approve a first reading of policies GBI, IDBB, JBE, JCAB, JCDAE,JDE, and KM.  These policy changes are required as a result of state legislation in 1994.

It was moved by Mr. Partridge, seconded by Mrs. Cowan and carried unanimously to approve School Nurse Day on January 25, 1995, as proclaimed by Governor Edwin Edwards.

Mr. King left the meeting at 6:48 p.m.

Superintendent Lee recommended that the Board approve the Adopt-A-Child program proposed by the Eliza Pillars Registered Nurses' Association (EPRNA).  One child from Concordia Parish Schools would be chosen to participate with the approval of the parent or guardian.  Following discussion, it was moved by Mr. Arnold and seconded by Mr. Partridge to congratulate EPRNA on their program but to inform them that CPSB would not participate because of possible litigation.  The motion failed on a voice vote, with only Mr. Arnold and Mr. Partridge voting yes.  It was moved by Mr. Williams and seconded by Mr. Coleman to participate in the EPRNA program and try to help at least one child.  On a roll call vote, the results were as follows:

YES:                Mr. Coleman, Mrs. Cowan, Mr. Nelson, Mrs. Washington, Mr. White, Mr. Williams

NO:                 Mr. Partridge

PASS:  Mr. Arnold

ABSENT:        Mr. King

Mr. Tom O'Neal, Director of Business Affairs, presented a request by Mr. Coy Rodgers to be released from the remaining four years of his five year lease on Section 16, T1N R8E.  Mr. O'Neal described the parcel of land and recommended to the Board that Mr. Rodgers be allowed to transfer the lease to Mr. Joshua Scott under the same terms as the original lease.  Following discussion, it was moved by Mr. Williams and seconded by Mr. Coleman to approve the transfer of Mr. Rodgers' lease to Mr. Scott.  On a roll call vote, the results were as follows:

YES:                Mr. Coleman, Mrs. Cowan, Mrs. Washington, Mr. White, Mr. Williams

NO:                 Mr. Arnold, Mr. Nelson, Mr. Partridge

ABSENT:        Mr. King

Dr. Pete Peterman, Supervisor of Curriculum and Instruction, discussed the process for the superintendent's evaluation for 1994.  He requested that the evaluation be completed by April 15, 1995, to meet guidelines under the Professional Personnel Evaluation Program.  President Nelson stated that he would be in charge of the process as he was last year.  It was moved by Mr. Partridge, seconded by Mr. Arnold and carried to follow the same procedure for the evaluation process as was used last year.

At 7:10 p.m., it was moved by Mr. White, seconded by Mr. Williams and carried 7-1, with Mr. Partridge voting no, to go into Executive Session to discuss pending litigation and personnel matters.

It was moved by Mr. Coleman, seconded by Mrs. Washington and carried unanimously to return to Open Session at 7:50 p.m.  President Nelson reported that while in Executive Session, the Board had discussed pending litigation and personnel matters, with one item requiring action.  It was moved by Mr. Partridge to direct the Board attorney, Mr. Norman Magee, to continue the litigation process as instructed during Executive Session.  The motion was seconded by Mrs. Washington and Mrs. Cowan and carried unanimously.

It was moved by Mr. Williams, seconded by Mr. Coleman carried 7-1, with Mr. Arnold voting no, to approve the personnel items en globo.

Resignation

Doris Bell, Teacher Aide, Sp. Ed., VLE, effective 1/3/95

Retirements

Dora Freeman, Secretary/Bookkeeper, Chapter 1, effective 1/16/95

Retta Poole, Bookkeeper, Central Office, effective 12/30/94

Appointments

Lenise Smith, Teacher Aide, Chapter, VLE, effective 1/3/95

Glynda M. Wallace, SFS Technician, VHS, 7.0 hrs, effective 1/3/95

Transfers

Nancy Hudnall, Teacher Aide, Sp. Ed., VHS to Central Office, Insurance,

                       effective 12/19/94

Rhonda Lewis, Teacher Aide, FHS, to Central Office, Sales Tax, effective

           12/19/94

Debra Minor, Teacher Aide, Chapter 1, VLE, to Teacher Aide, FHS,

                         effective 1/19/94

Melva Roberts, Secretary/Bookkeeper, Sales Tax, to Bookkeeper, Central

    Office, effective 12/19/94

President Nelson recognized Mr. Williams for an announcement.  Mr. Williams informed the audience that the newly funded Enterprise Zone will need the cooperation and input of all citizens in reaching the objectives of the proposal.  As chairman of the Advisory Council for the enterprise Zone, he encouraged all citizens to take an active role in carrying out this project.

It was moved by Mr. Arnold, seconded by Mr. Partridge and carried to adjourn at 8:05 p.m.

______________________________                                ________________________________

James E. Lee, Superintendent                                               Manson E. Nelson, Sr., President