PROCEEDINGS OF THE SCHOOL BOARD OF THE PARISH OF CONCORDIA, STATE OF LOUISIANA, TAKEN AT A SPECIAL MEETING HELD ON TUESDAY, JUNE 20, 1995.
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, June 20, 1995, at five-thirty (5:30) o'clock p.m. The meeting was called to order by the Honorable Manson E. Nelson, Sr., President, who declared that the Board, after prayer by President Nelson, and the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag, was ready for the transaction of business.
Members present were the Honorable Manson E. Nelson, Sr., Mr. Eddie L. Coleman, Sr., Mrs. Marie Cowan, Mrs. Shirley Crnkovic, Mr. Charles Partridge, Mrs. Georgia Washington, and Mr. Lynn White.
Members absent: Mr. Arthur A. Arnold and Mr. Sam Williams, Jr.
Mr. Tom O'Neal, Director of Business Affairs, presented the Financial Report and answered questions.
Mr. O'Neal and Mrs. Gloria Dangerfield, Assistant Director of Business Affairs, presented information regarding the budget revision. Mr. O'Neal reported that the state is requiring the proposed state salary supplement for employees be reflected in the 1994-95 budget. Therefore, the revision has not been completed because the state has not yet computed the exact amount due each parish. Mr. O'Neal stated that he expected to receive the final figures by the end of the week. It was moved by Mr. Partridge, seconded by Mrs. Cowan and carried unanimously to set a special meeting on June 27, 1995, at 5:30 p.m. to discuss the budget revision.
Mrs. Dangerfield explained the process for distributing the one-time pay supplements and reported that the state has set July 14 as the date for distribution of funds to the locals for disbursement to employees.
Mr. Williams arrived at 5:45 p.m.
Superintendent Lee informed the Board that this year he will present his Annual Message in three parts as follows:
Part I Reflections with Emphasis on the Second Sales Tax Proposal
Part II Goals and Action Plan for the Next Four Years
Part III Implementation with Suggested Timelines
SUPERINTENDENT'S MESSAGE
Part I
June 30 means more than just the last day of the month to me. It also means the end of my 3 1/2 year contract with the Board; the end of the 1995 fiscal year; and, also, the end of the first full fiscal year of the most recent one-cent sales tax passed by the voters on October 16, 1993.
Our parish suffered a three-year deficit of $1,373,972.94. This brought about the need to significantly reduce spending or to seek additional revenues. We decided, with the help of our employees through an advisory committee to do both. An $840,000 cost-cutting proposal was presented to the Board and approval was granted for $717,000 in cuts which included a 20% sales tax supplement reduction for all employees.
Two attempts were made to pass a one-cent sales tax. On the first attempt in July 1992, the tax was defeated with a 32% favorable vote. The second attempt in October 1993 was successful with a 58% favorable vote. This was accomplished in large part because we had a plan and because of a concerted effort of a large cross section of supporters who formed CUBE (Citizens United for Better Education).
During the Sales Tax campaign, we made some specific promises to voters, and I would like to remind you what we said we would do with the proceeds from the second sales tax:
PROPOSED DISTRIBUTION OF 1.0 CENT SALES TAX
1. Instructional supplies and equipment $418,000 34.8%
2. General maintenance, repair, and renovation
of facilities and equipment $300,000 25.0%
3. Restoration of 20% salary supplement cuts
for all employees $262,000 21.8%
4. Retirees' health insurance benefits $105,000 8.8%
5. Continuation of locally funded step increases
for educational support personnel $ 70,000 6.0%
6. Employer's portion of retirement benefits
for active employees' supplements $ 43,000 3.6%
The Board can be proud that we have lived up to this commitment to the voters, and we have, in fact, spent the funds exactly as we promised.
I would like to review the partial list of Superintendent Goals which was established in 1992 and to make comments about our progress toward reaching those goals. No list of goals is ever complete, and we need to constantly update our goals as we begin to make progress and to become more aware of our needs. However, this is the list of goals which the Board approved in 1992 and which we told the public as part of our sales tax campaign that we would be working toward.
SUPERINTENDENT'S GOALS
1. Enhanced Classrooms to include computers and other electronic teaching tools, audiovisual equipment, reference materials, fully equipped labs for science, math and language in junior and senior high.
Current status: The classroom of the 21st century will look very different from what we are used to. Our students need experiences using technology as learning tools, and we are making every effort to provide those experiences. We now have up-to-date computer labs at every school with the exception of FKC, and we have begun an ambitious project of training each teacher to use networks as teaching tools. Funding has been provided by 8(g) block and competitive grants, a U. S. Office of Education technology grants, and a Louisiana Goals 2000 subgrant. We are continuing to agressively seek grant funds and recently submitted a $3.4 million grant to the U.S. Office of Education Interagency Task Force in cooperation with Catahoula and Tensas parishes. Our goal is to prepare each teacher, each child and each classroom for the 21st century and this will be an ongoing process.
2. Parishwide coordination of textbooks K-12
Current status: The Board spent $100,000 last year on K-5 language books, and Dr. Peterman has provided a number of updates on the ongoing process of coordinating our textbooks. We will present a capital outlay proposal in the instructional area to you next month which will hopefully complete this process.
3. Teachers' workroom at each school
Current status: This goal has been reached. Each school has a room set aside with duplicating machines, paper and other supplies to prepare their instructional materials.
4. Provide elementary teachers with at least a 30 minute planning period per day
Current status: Principals are now doing some very creative scheduling to accomplish this. Elementary teachers are with their students from the time they arrive at school in the morning until they leave in the afternoon. This is a very demanding job, and they need some time away from the students to plan, prepare materials, or meet with parents. The only way this can be fully accomplished is to provide art, music, physical education teachers in addition to our regular staff, and at the current time, we cannot afford this additional staff.
5. Two-way communication system between classroom and principal's office
Current status: This goal has not yet been met. We are going to be studying costs and other factors and start the implementation process as soon as funds are available.
6. Teacher's aide in every kindergarten class and schoolwide aides in grades 1-3.
Current status: We will fully accomplish this goal at the beginning of the upcoming school year. This is an expensive undertaking, but it is one of the promises we made to the public. I feel that the aides are making a difference. Attendance among kindergarten teachers has improved with this extra help, and our students are receiving the benefit of the attention of another adult in the classroom. We are in the process of carrying out staff development activities with our teacher's aides and preparing an evaluation instrument to ensure that their performance in the classroom meets the needs of children.
7. Buildings and grounds
Current status: You will hear a report tonight from a committee which met to discuss this problem. Since the sales tax was passed, we have spent more than $600,000 to replace and repair roofs. This is not an area that can be completed immediately. It is going to take time and money to carry out this goal. This will be an ongoing process, and as we promised the public, roofs and building maintaince will continue to be a priority.
8. Extended employment year for junior and senior high school librarians
Current status: This is a very worthy goal because it would allow our junior and senior high school students to have access to the school librarian all 36 weeks of the year, and especially during the week of final exams. As funds become available for additional time for librarians at each school, we will address this goal.
9. Assistant principals at elementary schools with 400 or more students
Current status: We will be completing this goal tonight. At the last meeting the Board approved assistant principals at FLE and VLE, and later tonight I will be asking the Board to advertise for applications for those positions.
10. Guidance counselors at all schools
Current status: Currently we are placing this on hold because we have discovered that we can't afford to provide assistant principals and guidance counselors. Principals will agree that a good assistant principal can provide counseling services for students, a guidance counselor cannot carry out the necessary administrative chores such as evaluating teachers and providing help with student discipline.
11. In-school detention centers at all junior and senior high schools
Current status: We are making significant progress in this area. Title I reauthorization will provide help with this project, and principals are very interested in making this effort successful in helping to lower the number of absences as a result of suspensions.
12. After-school tutorial programs for all junior and senior high schools
Current status: We offer homework hotlines at VJH, FUE, FJH, and FHS.
13. Parent Center in each school zone
Current status: We have a Parent Center in Ferriday and Vidalia.
14. Uniform dress code to be phased in over five years
Current status: The uniform dress code has not reached a high level of acceptance yet. However, I feel that the wearing of uniforms can be extremely useful maintaining a high level of security at the school, and I hope that parents and students who are already participating in the uniform program will continue and that the practice will spread.
In spite of the fact that we lost $663,000 from our MFP allocations over the past two fiscal years, we have accomplished quite a bit for our students as shown by the following list, which is only a partial listing:
K-5 Reading Series $ 100,000
Classroom Allotments $ 30,000
Guidance Counselors in Elementary Schools $ 105,316
Science and Social Studies Allotments $ 35,000
Teacher Assistants $ 256,080
Alternative School, Grades 6-12 $ 90,234
Saturday Suspension Program $ 7,500
Three New Activity Buses $ 149,000
New Student Desks $ 40,000
Athletic Allotments $ 27,000
TOTAL 839,896
This ends Part I. Remember: Together, we can make a difference in the lives of our students!
•••
Mr. Arnold arrived at 6:05 p.m.
Superintendent Lee read the minutes of the committee meeting held on June 19 to discuss roof repairs, including the committee's recommendation which was as follows: To contract with a crew, with the school system providing materials, to repair roof leaks on a per job basis rather than at an hourly rate. There was lengthy discussion regarding replacing as opposed to patching roofs and the source of funds for roof repairs. Superintendent Lee reported that the only source of funds available to replace roofs would be the Insurance Reserve Fund, especially since the state just last week notified the school system that $226,000 for retirees' insurance must be refunded. Mr. White requested that the Board accept the recommendation of the committee or offer another proposal. It was moved by Mr. Coleman, seconded by Mr. Williams and carried 7-2 on a roll call vote to approve the committee's recommendation as follows:
YES: Mr. Arnold, Mr. Coleman, Mrs. Crnkovic, Mr. Nelson, Mrs. Washington, Mr. White, Mr. Williams
NO: Mrs. Cowan, Mr. Partridge
It was moved by Mr. Partridge, seconded by Mr. Arnold, and carried unanimously to pay dues of $5000 to the Louisiana School Boards Association for 1995-96.
It was moved by Mr. Coleman, seconded by Mr. Partridge and carried unanimously to advertise for bids on a 1985 F150 Ford Truck with a hydraulic lift and a 1968 International tractor.
It was moved by Mr. Partridge, seconded by Mr. Williams and carried unanimously to authorize the collection of additional sales taxes for LaSalle Parish.
Superintendent Lee reported that no bids were received for an agricultural lease on Section 6, T7N R9E (Airport Road). It was moved by Mr. Arnold, seconded by Mr. Williams and carried 8-1, with Mr. Partridge voting no, to continue to accept bids until the next regular meeting.
It was moved by Mr. Partridge, seconded by Mr. Coleman and carried unanimously to advertise for applications for assistant principal at FLE and VLE.
It was moved by Mr. Partridge, seconded by Mr. Arnold and carried unanimously to approve the following resolution:
RESOLUTION
WHEREAS, the Concordia Parish School Board is charged with the care and safety of more than 500 students from pre-kindergarten through grade 12 who attend Monterey High School, located on State Highway 129, a thoroughfare which is heavily traveled by farm equipment during certain times of the year, as well as normal vehicle traffic; and,
WHEREAS, in order to protect the students during the early morning and afternoon hours when school is taking in and letting out, the Board has given due consideration to a number of methods to ensure greater student safety; now,
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Concordia Parish School Board hereby requests the Louisiana Department of Transportation to erect appropriate caution lights in the vicinity of Monterey High School to alert passersby of the presence of school children during certain hours of the day; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that a copy of this resolution be forwarded to the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development District Office.
•••
It was moved by Mrs. Cowan, seconded by Mr. Coleman and carried 8-1, with Mr. Partridge voting no, to go into Executive Session at 6:42 p.m. to discuss pending litigation and personnel.
It was moved by Mrs. Cowan, seconded by Mr. Williams and carried unanimously to return to Open Session at 7:20 p.m. President Nelson reported that while in Executive Session, the Board had discussed pending litigation and personnel matters.
It was moved by Mr. Partridge, seconded by Mr. Coleman and carried unanimously to approve the following personnel items:
Resignations
Margaret W. Hunter, Teacher's Assistant, Adult Ed, FHS,
effective 5/30/95
Sharon H. LaRavia, Librarian, FKC, effective 5/30/95
Pamela Weeks Morace, Teacher, VLE, effective 5/30/95
Retirements
Carolyn Smith, Secretary, VUE, effective 6/12/95
Sabbatical Leave
Elizabeth Crane, Teacher, MHS, 1995-96 (1 year)
Betty H. Huhn, Teacher, VUE, 1995-96 (1 year)
Lisa W. Johnson, Speech Therapist, FEC, 1995-96 (1 year)
Ardis Dee Lindley, Librarian, VLE, 1995-96 (1 year)
Military Leave
Howard L. Jackson, Principal, FJH, eff. 6/5-16/95 (10 days)
Wilton W. Nolan, Psychologist, FEC, eff. 5/19/95 (1 day)
Transfers
Linda Alexander, Sp. Ed. Teacher, FUE, to Reg. Ed., FJH,
effective 8/18/95
Jan Armstrong, Secretary/Bookkeeper, FHS, to Secretary/
Bookeeper, Media Center, effective 7/1/95
Tommy Jean Jones, Librarian, fulltime RES, to Librarian 3/5
RES and 2/5 FKC, effective 8/18/95
Una Knapp, Teacher, FLE, to VLE, eff. 8/18/95
Linda McCann, SFS Technician, VJH, to VHS, eff. 8/18/95
Cedric Morgan, Teacher's Assistant, VLE , to FHS, effective 8/18/95
Betty Minor, Sp. Ed. Teacher, FHS, to Reg. Ed. Teacher,
FHS, effective 8/18/95
Paul Nelson, Parttime Sp. Ed. Teacher, MHS, to Fulltime
Sp. Ed. Teacher, MHS, effective 8/18/95
Shirley C. Sashfras, Teacher, FLE to VUE, eff. 8/18/95
Gloria Faye Schiele, Alternative Center Teacher's Assistant,
FHS to Adult Education Aide, FHS, eff. 8/18/95
Phyllis Spillers, Teacher, VJH, to VUE, effective 8/18/95
Glenda Wallace, SFS Technician, VHS, to VJH, eff. 8/18/95
Clara Ware, Reg. Ed. Teacher, RES, to Sp. Ed. Teacher, FJH,
effective 8/18/95
Jennine Wilson, Teacher, FUE, to LaSIP Site Coordinator,
effective 8/18/95
Irene Young, Teacher, FLE, to VLE, effective 8/18/95
Appointments
Doris Bell, Teacher, RES, effective 8/18/95
Gertrude Carter, Sp. Ed. Teacher, FUE, effective 8/18/95
Jackie Lofton Coco, Teacher, FLE, effective 8/18/95
Carol Johnson, Teacher, FLE, effective 8/18/95
Bobby Madison, School Bus Operator, effective 8/18/95
Gloria Murphy, Sp. Ed. Teacher, MHS, effective 8/18/95
Sherry Finley Scott, Sp. Ed. Teacher, VLE, effective 8/18/95
Pam Smith, Teacher's Assistant, FLE, effective 8/18/95
Jodee Hill Trant, Teacher, MHS, effective 8/18/95
Wilbur Washington, School Bus Operator, effective 8/18/95
Donald Whittington, School Bus Operator, effective 8/18/95
Marjorie Williams, Teacher's Assistant, VLE, eff. 8/18/95
It was moved by Mrs. Washington, seconded by Mrs. Cowan and carried unanimously to set dates for advertising for assistant principal for FLE and VLE as June 23-July 7, 1995.
It was moved by Mr. Partridge, seconded by Mrs. Washington and carried unanimously to adjourn at 7:24 p.m.
______________________________ _________________________________
James E. Lee, Superintendent Manson E. Nelson, Sr., President