PROCEEDINGS OF THE SCHOOL BOARD OF THE PARISH OF CONCORDIA, STATE OF LOUISIANA, TAKEN AT A COMMITTEE MEETING HELD ON TUESDAY, OCTOBER 17, 1995.

The School Board of the Parish of Concordia, State of Louisiana, met as a committee at the Concordia Parish School Board Office, in Vidalia, Louisiana, on Tuesday, October 17, 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 discussion.

Members present were the Honorable Manson E. Nelson, Sr., Mr. Arthur A. Arnold, Mr. Eddie L. Coleman, Sr., Mrs. Marie Cowan, Mr. Mike Grantham, Mr. Charles Partridge, Mrs. Georgia Washington, Mr. Lynn White, and Mr. Sam Williams, Jr.

Members absent:          None

Superintendent Lee announced that Ms. Linda Spinks, first grade teacher at MHS, had been chosen as a finalist in the Teacher of the Year competition.  Ms. Spinks was presented a plaque.

Mr. O'Neal presented the Financial Report, which was accepted without discussion.

Mr. John Pullen, who was on the agenda to speak, stated that he would yield his time to the employee organizations.

Mrs. Sharon Smith, president of Concordia Association of Educators, presented a petition signed by employees and four proposals:

                        1.         That the School Board immediately adopt a restructuring of the General Administrative Staff of the school system so that Concordia will spend no more than the average spent by other Louisiana public school systems in the same revenue capacity quintile for this budget category.

                        2.         That the School Board immediately adopt a policy providing for reduction in the number of non-instructional staff utilizing only attrition, until the number of non-instructional employees is reduced to the average of other Louisiana public school systems in the same revenue capacity quintile.

                        3.         That all savings from the above proposals be utilized for (1) increasing the salaries of school employees in a ratio of 2:1 for certified positions in relation to non-certified positions. Such raises would be given as percentage increases on total salary with a maximum so that no employee could receive more than the maximum dollar amount received by the highest paid nine month teacher;  (2) that up to 20% of such savings would be utilized for the purchase of modern teaching materials according to priorities established by a representative group of teachers.

                        4.         That the Board approve an immediate 5% raise for all non-central office employees with a maximum set so that no employee may receive a dollar amount greater than that received by the highest paid nine month teacher.

Mr. Harry Creighton, president of Concordia Federation of Teachers, presented a six-point proposal to the Board requesting:

                        1.         Dismantling and restructuring of the administrative organizational structure.

                        2.         Pay raises which reward seniority, degrees and experience.

                        3.         Premium allowances on health insurance for all active employees

                        4.         Health insurance for all retirees.

                        5.         A revised principal/assistant principal salary index

                        6.         An accurate and detailed accounting of sales tax revenues

Rev. Robert Lee, Jr., who was on the agenda to address the Board, asked to speak at another time.

Superintendent Lee informed the Board that he would meet with Mr. Creighton and Mrs. Smith to determine what agreement could be worked out.  He cautioned the Board to be certain that whatever action they take in response to the proposals is legal.

Dr. Pete Peterman, Assistant Superintendent, presented a curriculum update.  He stated that our student enrollment is up.  He provided the Board with an overview of current programs ongoing in the schools and a summary of the allotments which are being provided annually, including the $10 per pupil allotment, which had been approved specifically to lower the cost to parents at the beginning of the school year.  Superintendent Lee briefly reviewed the allotments provided the schools over the past two years and pointed out that the new sales tax had provided the funds for these increases. 

Dr. Peterman summarized the cost of materials and supplies provided to schools, an amount which has increased steadily since the 1991-92 school year.  He also reported that in the second phase of purchasing new desks, 740 students would receive new desks this school year as part of a $120,000 project to provide new desks in all schools over a three-year period.

Mr. Fred T. Butcher, Director of Academic Affairs, provided the Board information on a proposal of offering driver's education during the second semester at Vidalia High School.  He presented a plan which has been discussed with Mr. Howard Duck, principal of VHS.

Mr. Butcher referred to allegations of a $30,000 liability at FHS and explained that while he was principal, his normal routine was to purchase athletic equipment in the spring to be prepared for the beginning of football season in August.  Arrangements were made with businesses to defer payment until gate receipts were collected to pay the bills in the fall.  Mr. Carey Cook, president of the Ferriday High School Athletic Association confirmed that this has been the procedure for several years without incident and that the process has continued under the new administration at FHS. 

The meeting was adjourned at 6:55 p.m.

____________________________                                        ______________________________

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