PROCEEDINGS OF THE SCHOOL BOARD OF THE PARISH OF CONCORDIA, STATE OF LOUISIANA, TAKEN AT A REGULAR MEETING HELD ON TUESDAY, DECEMBER 3, 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, December 3, 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 Superintendent James E. Lee, 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, Mrs. Georgia Washington and Mr. Sam Williams, Jr.
No members were absent.
Mrs. Patricia Bellis, Coordinator of Grants and Public Information, introduced Mr. Sylvan Gremillion of the Louisiana Hydroelectric Partnership, who presented the Sidney A. Murray Citizenship Awards to the following students:
MHS 7th grade Jamie Wylie
8th grade Audra Kemp
FJHS 7th grade Shunzeric Danell Payne
8th grade Kausha Na'Quaun Bass
VJHS 7th grade Shannon Raeshal Seals
8th grade Natalie Sharon McGraw
RES 7th grade Adelice Smith
It was moved by Mr. Coleman, seconded by Mrs. Cowan and carried unanimously to approve minutes of November 19, 1996.
Mrs. Gloria Dangerfield, Assistant Director of Business Affairs, presented the invoices and Financial Report for November. Superintendent Lee noted that the expenditures included the final payment on the $750,000 loan taken out by the Board in 1992. The loan is being paid off six years ahead of schedule. It was moved by Mr. Partridge, seconded by Mr. Williams, and carried 8-1, with Mr. Grantham voting no, to approve the payment of invoices in the amount of $1,339,012.40.
Dr. Pete Peterman, Assistant Superintendent, presented a curriculum update which included an overview of grant monies used to provide technology-rich classrooms, a new computer lab at FHS, kindergarten materials, assertive discipline materials, Plato learning materials, expenses for teachers to attend conferences, and expenses and stipends for teacher workshops. He also reported that a curriculum design committee is working on new curriculum standards.
Superintendent Lee informed the Board that the additions to policy GAE had been made as requested at the last meeting. He recommended that the Board approve the second reading of policy GAE as revised. It was moved by Mr. Partridge, seconded by Mr. Coleman and carried unanimously to approve the second reading of policy GAE as revised.
Superintendent Lee stated that retiree health insurance benefits had been cut in 1992 as part of a system cost-cutting action to end deficit spending. He recommended that Board restore these benefits. It was moved by Mr. Partridge, seconded by Mrs. Washington and carried unanimously to restore retiree health insurance benefits to the 1992 level, effective January 1, 1997.
Dr. Peterman presented job descriptions for Project Curriculum Specialist and Project Technology Specialist, temporary positions required by the recently awarded Challenge Grant. It was moved by Mr. Coleman and Mr. Nelson, seconded by Mrs. Washington and carried unanimously to approve the job descriptions.
Mr. Grantham asked that the Board reconsider school uniforms. He stated that he feels the public may have changed their minds and he suggested that Board members get feedback from their constituents. Superintendent Lee distributed Concordia Parish School System Goals, which the Board approved in 1993 and which included school uniforms. He stated that in 1994 the Board had approved uniforms as the official school attire. Mr. Partridge commented that it would increase safety on school campuses. Mr. Grantham suggested that uniforms be started with the lower grades and phased in. Following additional discussion, it was moved by Mr. Nelson, seconded by Mr. Raven and Mr. Grantham and carried unanimously to survey parents to determine whether they would support school uniforms.
It was moved by Mr. Partridge, seconded by Mrs. Washington and carried unanimously to approve the following calendar of meetings for 1997:
January 7, 1997 Regular Meeting
February 4, 1997 Regular Meeting
March 4, 1997 Regular Meeting
April 2, 1997 Regular Meeting
May 6, 1997 Regular Meeting
June 3, 1997 Regular Meeting
July 15, 1997 Regular Meeting
August 5, 1997 Regular Meeting
August 26, 1997 Public Hearing on Budget FY98
Special Meeting
September 16, 1996 Regular Meeting
October 7, 1997 Regular Meeting
November 4, 1997 Regular Meeting
December 2, 1997 Regular Meeting
It was moved by Mr. Coleman, seconded by Mrs. Cowan and carried 7-2, with Mr. Grantham and Mr. Partridge voting no, to go into Executive Session at 6:18 p.m. to discuss personnel.
It was moved by Mr. Nelson, seconded by Mr. Coleman and Mr. Williams to return to Open Session at 7:21 p.m. President White stated that while in Executive Session, the Board had discussed a personnel matter which required action. Superintendent Lee made the following recommendation:
Based on findings of a due process hearing in connection with Mr. Howard Duck, Principal at VHS, it was my findings that his actions of October 25, 1996, constituted insubordination and willful neglect of duty. Accordingly, I am recommending to the Board that you suspend him for a period of eight (8) days without pay, commencing on Wednesday, December 4, 1996, and extending through Friday, December 13, 1996. I further recommend that five (5) days of said suspension, December 9 through December 13, 1996, be forgiven pending the receipt by my office of the following not later than Friday, December 6, 1996 at 12:00 noon, to wit: (1) a letter from Mr. Duck stating his acceptance and understanding of the terms of the suspension without pay and (2) the development of a plan which describes (a) how students will make up the time they missed as a result of the early dismissal on October 25, 1996, (b) how he will handle similar situations in the future, and (c) how he will improve the lines of communication between him and the superintendent's office.
It was moved by Mrs. Washington, seconded by Mr. Coleman and carried on a roll call vote as follows to approve the recommendation:
YES: Mr. Coleman, Mrs. Cowan, Mr. Nelson, Mrs. Washington, Mr. White and Mr. Williams
NO: Mr. Grantham, Mr. Partridge, Mr. Raven
It was moved by Mr. Partridge, seconded by Mr. Coleman and carried unanimously to approve the following personnel items:
Resignations
Deborah Bairnsfather, Teacher, MHS, effective 12/2/96
Lisa Finley, Teacher Assistant, RES, effective 11/20/96
Extended Sick Leave
Robert Davis, School Bus Operator, effective 11/21/96-5/30/97
Appointments
Christine Washington, Sp. Ed. Teacher, FLE, effective 11/5/96
Bridget Willson, Teacher, MHS, effective 12/2/96
It was moved by Mr. Williams, seconded by Mrs. Washington and carried to adjourn at 7:25 p.m.
_____________________________ ___________________________
James E. Lee, Superintendent Ernest Lynn White, President