PROCEEDINGS OF THE SCHOOL BOARD OF THE PARISH OF CONCORDIA, STATE OF LOUISIANA, TAKEN AT A REGULAR MEETING HELD ON TUESDAY, AUGUST 6, 1996.
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, August 6, 1996, at five-thirty (5:30) o'clock p.m. The meeting was called to order by the Honorable Ernest Lynn White, President, who declared that the Board, after prayer by Mr. Manson E. Nelson, Sr., and the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag, was ready for the transaction of business.
Members present were the Honorable Ernest Lynn White, Mr. Eddie L. Coleman, Sr., Mrs. Marie Cowan, Mr. Mike Grantham, Mr. Manson E. Nelson, Sr., Mr. Charles Partridge, Mr. Ricky Raven and Mr. Sam Williams, Jr. Mrs. Georgia Washington was absent.
President White introduced new Board member Ricky Raven, Ward 4A. Mr. Norman Magee administered the oath of office. Mr. Raven commented that he intended to serve for the good of the children of the parish.
Superintendent Lee recognized Mrs. Linda Foster and her daughter Holly, who participated in the Louisiana PreTeen Recognition and Scholarship Program. Mrs. Foster stated that Holly had scored in the top 35, and she briefly reviewed the requirements of the program. She also expressed her appreciation to Superintendent Lee for his interest and support. Superintendent Lee presented Holly a certificate in honor of her accomplishments.
Dr. Mary Eidt, Supervisor of Staff Development and Administrative Services, recognized the following teachers who won competitive grants for the 1996-97 school year:
Erma Davis VJH 8(g) $62,483
Pamela Hilton VJH EDCORE $ 1,000
Fran Nolan VUE EDCORE $ 1,000
Patricia Profice VJH EDCORE $ 1,000
Annette Smith FKC EDCORE $ 8,492
Dr. Eidt also reported on the following 8(g) block grants:
Preschool Early Childhood VLE $36,510
Saturday Suspension FUE, FJH, FHS,
MHS, RES, VUE,
VJH, VHS $11,093
Project SACC RES $22,361
Superior Textbooks Libraries $11,873
Starting Points Preschool FKC $39,087
It was moved by Mr. Coleman, seconded by Mr. Partridge and carried unanimously to approve minutes of July 16, 1996.
Mrs. Marie Cowan, Finance Committee chairperson, stated that the committee had reviewed invoices for July. It was moved by Mr. Partridge, seconded by Mr. Coleman and carried unanimously to approve invoices in the amount of $1,549,475.33.
It was moved by Mr. Partridge, seconded by Mr. Williams and carried unanimously to accept the Financial Report for July.
The following bids for an agricultural/grazing lease of Section 6, T7N, R9E were opened:
Paul Nettles $1,000 per year
Dale Vestal $ 350 per year
It was moved by Mr. Partridge, seconded by Mr. Raven and carried unanimously to accept the bid from Paul Nettles for $1000 per year for three years.
It was moved by Mr. Coleman, seconded by Mr. Raven and carried unanimously to approve the following resolution:
Be it resolved, that the Concordia Parish School Board does hereby request and authorize the State Mineral Board to advertise for a mineral lease on its portion of Section 16, T2N, R7E.
It was moved by Mr. Partridge, seconded by Mr. Williams and carried unanimously to open bids for propane for MHS. The following bids were received:
Ferrellgas .65 per gallon
1603 North 4th Street
Ferriday, LA 71334
Herring Gas Company .61 per gallon
P. O. Box 1050
Ferriday, LA 71334
It was moved by Mr. Coleman, seconded by Mr. Partridge and carried unanimously to accept the low bid from Herring Gas.
Superintendent Lee commented that a survey of the stadium lights at FHS and VHS had revealed that the light poles are in critical condition at FHS and poor condition at VHS. Mr. H. L. Irvin, Supervisor of Supportive Services, also commented on the condition of the poles and provided an overview of types of lighting methods which could be used. Superintendent Lee recommended that the Board advertise for bids on replacing the stadium lights at both schools and if completing both would not be economically feasible, to replace the ones at FHS this year and at VHS next year. Following additional discussion, it was moved by Mr. Nelson, seconded by Mr. Raven and carried unanimously to advertise for bids for replacing the lighting systems at both FHS and VHS with the understanding that if it is not feasible to replace both this year, FHS would be completed this year and VHS next year.
Superintendent Lee recommended that the Board purchase two new activity buses using the same specifications as previously used. Following discussion of disposal of the old buses by auction, it was moved by Mr. Coleman, seconded by Mr. Williams and carried unanimously to advertise for bids as recommended by the Superintendent.
Mrs. Washington arrived at 6:22 p.m.
Dr. Pete Peterman, Assistant Superintendent, stated that the parish wide coordination of textbooks is nearly completed. He presented a proposal for the purchase of science textbooks which were recently adopted at the recommendation of the Science Committee at a cost of $119,000. He stated that the textbook coordination is being completed entirely through local funds, made available by the public through the one-cent sales tax approved in October 1993. It was moved by Mr. Nelson, seconded by Mr. Partridge and carried unanimously to approve the purchase of science textbooks.
Superintendent Lee recommended that the Board approve the $100 per teacher classroom allotment for the fourth year. He pointed out that this expenditure is also made possible through the 1993 sales tax approval and that it allows teachers to purchase needed classroom materials without having to spend their own money. It was moved by Mr. Nelson, seconded by Mr. Coleman and carried unanimously to approve the $100 classroom allotment.
It was moved by Mr. Partridge, seconded by Mr. Nelson and carried unanimously to approve athletic allotments at the same level as last year:
$9,000 FHS and VHS
$6,000 MHS
$2,000 FJH and VJH
It was moved by Mr. Partridge, seconded by Mr. Coleman and carried to change "advertise" to "open" on agenda items I and J and open bids for fiscal agent and pest services.
Mr. Tom O'Neal, Director of Business Affairs, opened a joint bid for fiscal agent from Concordia Bank and Trust and Louisiana Central Bank at 75% and 25% respectively. Mr. O'Neal recommended that the Board approve the bid. It was moved by Mr. Coleman, seconded by Mr. Raven and carried unanimously to accept the joint bid.
Only one bid was received for pest services in the home economics departments. Bug Busters Pest Control of Ferriday bid $150 each for a total of $750. It was moved by Mr. Partridge, seconded by Mr. Williams and carried unanimously to accept the bid from Bug Busters.
It was moved by Mr. Partridge and seconded by Mr. Nelson to approve all personnel items. Superintendent Lee commented that the individuals being recommended for termination had been afforded due process under CPSB policy GCN. It was carried unanimously to approve the following personnel changes:
Recommended for Tenure
Yvonne Chatman Certificate # B077051 FJH
Johnnie Clay Certificate # A025288 FJH
Resignations
Adele Hazlip, Speech Therapist, FEC, effective 5/27/96
Walter Newbill, SFS Technician, FJH, effective 5/27/96
Donna Smith, School Nurse, FEC, effective 7/31/96
Princess White, Sp. Ed. Teacher, FLE, effective 5/27/96
Terminations
Cedric Morgan, Sp. Ed. Teacher Assistant, FHS, effective 7/30/96
Marvin Warner, Janitor, VHS, effective 7/16/96
Return From Sabbatical
Bettye Huhn, Teacher, VUE, effective 8/19/96
Ardis K. Lindley, Librarian, VLE, effective 8/19/96
Retirement
Gloria J. Neal, Sweeper, FLE, effective 7/22/96
Military Leave
Howard Jackson, Principal, FJH, effective 7/29/96-8/9/96
It was moved by Mr. Partridge, seconded by Mr. Williams and carried unanimously to adjourn at 6:33 p.m.
James E. Lee, Superintendent Ernest Lynn White, President