PROCEEDINGS OF THE SCHOOL BOARD OF THE PARISH OF CONCORDIA, STATE OF LOUISIANA, TAKEN AT A REGULAR MEETING HELD ON TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 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, September 10, 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.

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

Mr. Ricky Raven was absent.

Superintendent Lee announced that, immediately prior to the meeting, the Board had completed a ninety minute inservice session led by Louisiana School Boards Association Executive Director James Soileau and his staff.

It was moved by Mr. Partridge, seconded by Mr. Williams, and carried unanimously to approve minutes of August 6 and August 27, 1996.

Mrs. Gloria Dangerfield, Assistant Director of Business Affairs, present invoices and the Financial Statement for August.  It was moved by Mr. Partridge, seconded by Mrs. Cowan and carried 7-1, with Mr. Grantham voting no, to approve invoices for August in the amount of $1,491,569.43.

It was moved by Mrs. Cowan, seconded by Mr. Nelson and carried unanimously to add the opening of bids for activity buses to the agenda.  It was moved by Mr. Partridge, seconded by Mr. Nelson and carried unanimously to open the bids.  The following bids were received:

Superintendent Lee recommended that the Building and Grounds Committee and other appropriate personnel review the bids.  It was moved by Mrs. Cowan, seconded by Mr. Williams, and carried unanimously to refer the bids to the Building and Grounds Committee and to bring a recommendation back to the Board. 

President White appointed Mr. Raven to the Personnel Committee.

Superintendent Lee stated that the bus driver contract was first developed and approved by Concordia Parish School Board in 1988 and that bus drivers signed contracts during that year.  However, when a new superintendent came into office in 1989, the contracts were not issued again.  Upon learning that the contracts were Board policy, Superintendent Lee had the original contract updated to bring it into compliance with current laws and to add the School Board as a co-insurer.  It was moved by Mrs. Washington, seconded by Mr. Nelson and carried 7-1, with Mr. Grantham voting no, to approve the revised contract with the addendum that the Board will pay the additional cost, if any, for adding Concordia Parish School Board as a co-insured to the drivers' policies.

Superintendent Lee stated that as a result of  the increase in minimum wage, the substitute teacher's pay scale had to be revised with effective dates of October 1, 1996, for the first increment and September 1, 1997, for the second increment.  It was moved by Mr. Williams, seconded by Mr. Coleman and carried unanimously to approve the substitute pay schedule with the addition of the words "per day".

Mr. H. L. Irvin, Supervisor of Supportive Services, provided an update on the summer maintenance program.  He stated that in addition to the regular maintenance requirements, the maintenance crew had also addressed a lengthy list of requirements by the state fire marshal and painted two schools inside and out.  He pointed out that the summer maintenance program not only improved the school plants, but also provided eleven summer jobs.  Mr. Williams stated that Mr. Irvin and his crew were to be commended for the work they had done on the roofs at all of the school sites.  In addition to reporting on summer maintenance, Mr. Irvin informed the Board that preparatory work had begun on the Florida Street gym for the emergency roof repair.

Mr. Tom O'Neal, Director of Business Affairs, requested that the Board approve the millages for 1996-97.  Millages requested are lower than the previous year.  It was moved by Mr. Partridge, seconded by Mr. Coleman and carried 7-0 on a roll call vote to approve millages of 24.58 (operational) and 3.10 (constitutional) as follows:

            YEAS:             Mr. Coleman, Mrs. Cowan, Mr. Grantham, Mr. Nelson, Mr. Partridge, Mrs. Washington, Mr. White,  Mr. Williams

            NAYS: None

            ABSENT:        Ricky Raven

Dr. Peterman presented information on instructional allotments.  It was moved by Mr. Coleman, seconded by Mr. Partridge, and carried unanimously to approve the continuation of instructional allotments.

Dr. Peterman presented the vocational allotments of $25 per student.  He stated that the Carl Perkins technology funding would go to VHS this year.  It was moved by Mr. Partridge, seconded by Mr. Williams and Mr. Coleman and carried unanimously to approve the vocational allotments.

Mr. Coleman stated that he had received numerous calls from parents concerning the amount they were having to spend on supplies and fees for the beginning of school.  Following lengthy

discussion, Superintendent Lee stated that he had met with principals and asked them to provide a list of costs per student per grade.  He suggested that a committee be appointed to meet with administrators to address parents' concerns and to discuss possible modifications of supply and fee lists.  Mr. Coleman agreed and suggested that parents be included.  Superintendent Lee recommended that two meetings be held, one with administrators and one with parents and administrators.  President White appointed Mr. Coleman, Mrs. Cowan, Mr. Nelson and Mr. Williams, with Mr. Coleman as chairperson.

Superintendent Lee informed the Board that Mr. Grantham had requested an update on litigation the Board is currently involved in.  Therefore, he asked Mr. Magee to be present to provide the requested information.  It was moved by Mrs. Cowan, seconded by Mr. Williams and carried 6-2, with Mr. Grantham and Mr. Partridge voting no, to go into Executive Session at 6:35 p.m. to receive an update on current litigation.

It was moved by Mr. Partridge, seconded by Mr. Nelson and carried unanimously to return to Open Session at 7:07 p.m.  President White stated that while in Executive Session the Board had heard an update from Mr. Magee and discussed current litigation.

It was moved by Mr. Coleman, seconded by Mr. Nelson and carried unanimously to add the appointment of Marie Potts, Assistant Principal, FJH, to the agenda.

It was moved by Mr. Partridge, seconded by Mr. Nelson and Mr. Coleman and carried unanimously to approve all personnel items as follows:

                        Resignation

                                    Patricia Brown, 2.5 hr. Sweeper, VUE, effective 5/10/96

                        Extended Sick Leave

                                    Martha Rabb, Teacher, FLE, effective 8/20/96-10/25/96

                        Added Hours

                                    Sherry Hueing, SFS Technician, VLE, 3.0 hours, effective 9/11/96

                        Appointments

                                    Beverly S. Adams, Teacher Assistant, FHS, effective 8/14/96

                                    Lubertha Bell, SFS Technician, VJH, effective 9/11/96

                                    Tina Glasper, SFS Technician, FJH, effective 9/11/96

                                    Marie Potts, Assistant Principal, FJH, effective 9/3/96

                                    Emmanuel Robertson, Janitor, VHS, effective 9/11/96

                                    Angela Smith, 2.5 hr. Sweeper, VUE, effective 9/11/96

It was moved by Mr. Partridge, seconded by Mr. Williams and carried unanimously to adjourn at 7:10 p.m.

___________________________                              _____________________________

James E. Lee, Superintendent                                       Ernest Lynn White, President