PROCEEDINGS OF THE SCHOOL BOARD OF THE PARISH OF CONCORDIA, STATE OF LOUISIANA, TAKEN AT A REGULAR MEETING HELD ON TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 7, 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, November 7, 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 Rev. Kenneth Thornton, 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. 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

It was moved by Mr. White, seconded by Mr. Williams and carried unanimously to take agenda item V.E. out of order.  President Nelson recognized Mr. John Pullen, who read a prepared statement.  Mr. Coleman requested a point of order regarding the topic of Mr. Pullen's statement.  President Nelson stated that it would be taken under advisement and requested that Mr. Pullen proceed.  Mr. Coleman requested that the parliamentarian rule on the point of order.  Mr. Pullen continued his statement.  At the end of the time requested by Mr. Pullen, President Nelson ruled that his time had elapsed.

President Nelson recognized Mr. Charles Bell, who appeared on behalf of a group of citizens in support of Superintendent James E. Lee and the Concordia Parish School Board.  Mr. Bell presented petitions on which the citizens' group had collected over 2,500 signatures indicating their support.  President Nelson ruled that the petition be accepted.

It was moved by Mr. Partridge, seconded by Mr. Coleman and carried unanimously to approve minutes of meetings held on October 3 and 17, 1995.

It was moved by Mr. Partridge, seconded by Mr. Williams and carried 7-2, with Mr. Arnold and Mr. Grantham voting no, to approve invoices in the amount of $ 1,895,192.35.

Mr. Tom O'Neal, Director of Business Affairs, presented the Financial Report and reviewed the activity in each of the funds. 

It was moved by Mrs. Cowan, seconded by Mr. Partridge and carried unanimously to open bids for student desks.  The following bids and quotes were received:

                                                [        QUOTE  ]           [                  BID                  ]

It was moved by Mr. Coleman, seconded by Mrs. Washington and carried unanimously to accept the low bid pending review by the principals and faculty committees.

Superintendent Lee stated that he and the administrative staff have been studying salary schedules for more than a year to determine how CPSB employees rank with employees of other parish school systems.  Based on data received from around the state and from the Louisiana Department of Education, salary schedules for those employee groups which rank in the bottom half when compared with employee groups around the state were developed.  Superintendent Lee reviewed the meetings he had held since the previous board meeting with the presidents and other representatives of employee organizations and he presented the following proposal, which was negotiated during those meetings:

                                   I. Reducing the Administrative Staff and Redirecting Funds

1.         Salary supplements of the following positions will be frozen for personnel currently in the positions until such time that increases in the Schedule of Administrative Supplements exceed the current supplement level for these positions.

1. •  Assistant Superintendent

   •  Director of Academic Affairs

   •  Director of Federal Programs

   •  Director of Business Affairs

   •  Assistant Director of Business Affairs

   •  Executive Assistant/Personnel Director

2.         The Title I supervisory staff will be reduced by one position through attrition.

3.         One other supervisory position has already been eliminated on the organizational chart, and when the employee occupying that position retires or leaves, the position will not be filled. 

                                                                        II. Pay Raises

            All employees will receive a 5% sales tax supplement increase, effective December 1, 1995, with no employee receiving a dollar amount greater than that received by a nine-month teacher. The 5% sales tax supplement increase is in addition to the 13th check which has already been approved in the amount of $400 for certified employees, $200 for support staff personnel and $100 for part-time personnel.  The 13th check will be issued on the second Friday in January 1996, January 1997 and January 1998.

            In addition, the following are proposed to be effective December 1, 1995:

            1.         A revised salary schedule for school level maintenance personnel

            2.         A revised salary schedule for technical personnel.

            3.         A revised salary schedule for school bus operators

            4.         A $300 instructional supplement in 1995-96 and a $600 supplement in the 1996-97 school year for classroom teachers.  Teachers will determine the method and time of distribution this school year (1995-96).

            5.         A revised Schedule of Administrative Supplements

            6.         An adjustment to the salaries of cafeteria managers to reflect the additional time required to meet state and federal mandates.

                                                               III.  Sales Tax Revenues

Monthly financial statements will be distributed to building principals for review by employees upon request.

                                                              IV.  Continued Discussions

The following will be topics of continued discussions:

            1.         Health insurance benefits for active employees and retirees.

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

            3.         Revision of the pay scale for non-degree, non-instructional personnel, which shall be effective on a prospective basis only.

                                                                  V. Other Agreements

1.         All extended year employment positions will be advertised.

2.         The superintendent will hold informational meetings with principals once each six weeks.

3.         The superintendent will hold informational meetings once each semester with faculty/staff representatives and the presidents of the employee organizations.

4.         The superintendent or his designee will organize a steering committee to develop strategies to lobby the state for:

            A.        Full funding of the Minimum Foundation Program (MFP)

            B.         An increase in salaries and benefits for all employees.

                                                                                ●●●

Mr. Arnold distributed a salary index based on a beginning teacher's salary and presented a salary committee report.  The proposal he presented would rescind the 13th check due in January and add $600 to teacher's pay while affecting other employees at varying amounts based on the index.  There was lengthy discussion regarding the purpose of the committee.  It was agreed that the charge given the committee was to study a salary index only.

President Nelson recognized Mr. Howard Jackson, president of the newly-formed principals' organization.  Mr. Jackson stated that in regard to the two plans presented, the only concern of the principals was fair and equal treatment for all employees.  Mrs. Sharon Smith, president of the Concordia Association of Educators, stated that Superintendent Lee had bargained fairly and that her organization would go on record as supporting the superintendent's proposal with the understanding that the discussions would continue.  Mr. Harry Creighton, president of the Concordia Federation of Teachers and School Employees, stated that the Board had not addressed the matter of restructuring.  He further stated that the CFT would not support either proposal.

Following lengthy discussion regarding whether restructuring of the administrative staff could be done, Mr. Norman Magee, CPSB attorney, stated that he had made a thorough study of the contracts involved.  He stated his opinion that the only way to nullify the administrative contracts in question would be through a reduction in force, which would require certain conditions to be fulfilled.  Superintendent Lee stated that the presidents of both organizations had told him early in the negotiations that they did not wish anyone to lose a job, which would be required during a reduction in force.  Following additional comments, Mr. Arnold offered a motion to delay action on the proposals for one week.  The motion died for lack of a second.

Superintendent Lee stated that the Board members had been given the salary schedules he was proposing prior to the September 19, 1995, meeting and were familiar with all of them, as well as the anticipated cost. It was moved by Mrs. Washington and seconded by Mr. Williams to approve the proposals presented by the Superintendent.  The motion carried 5-3 on a roll call vote as follows:

                        YEAS:                         Mr. Coleman, Mrs. Cowan, Mrs. Washington, Mr. White,

                                                            Mr. Williams

                        NAYS:                         Mr. Arnold, Mr. Grantham, Mr. Partridge

                        NOT VOTING:           Mr. Nelson

Mr. Fred Butcher, Director of Academic Affairs, presented information about the driver's education class proposed for VHS during the second semester.  It was moved by Mr. Arnold, seconded by Mr. Partridge and carried unanimously to approve the driver's education class as recommended.

It was moved by Mr. Partridge, seconded by Mrs. Washington and carried to adjourn at 8:00 p.m.

____________________________                                                    ______________________________

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