PROCEEDINGS OF THE SCHOOL BOARD OF THE PARISH OF CONCORDIA, STATE OF LOUISIANA, TAKEN AT A REGULAR MEETING HELD ON TUESDAY, MARCH 4, 1997.
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, March 4, 1997, 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, Mrs. Georgia Washington and Mr. Sam Williams, Jr.
Dr. Pete Peterman, Assistant Superintendent, presented the Louisiana Hydroelectric Sidney A. Murray Citizenship Awards to the following third graders:
Daisy Evans Monterey High School
Cedric Green Ferriday Lower Elementary
Jamie Holzhauer Ridgecrest Elementary
Lissa Grantham Vidalia Lower Elementary
Superintendent James E. Lee presented Concordia Parish Student of the Year awards to the following students:
5th grade MHS Adam Philley
8th grade MHS Monique Brallier
11th grade MIHS Tracy Flaherty
Also recognized were FJH and VJH 8th grade Students of the Year: Sarah Frances Denny (FJH) and Brendy Ellis (VJH).
Superintendent Lee presented a certificate from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools to Vidalia Junior High School in recognition of their successful completion of the ten-year study.
Mrs. Gloria Dangerfield, Assistant Director of Business Affairs, presented invoices and the Financial Report for February. It was moved by Mr. Partridge, seconded by Mrs. Cowan and carried 8-1, with Mr. Grantham voting no, to approve invoices in the amount of $1,825,944.70.
It was moved by Mrs. Washington, seconded by Mr. Partridge and carried unanimously to revise the agenda by adding one item, deleting one item and taking item VI.C. out of order.
Mr. Fred T. Butcher, Director of Academic Affairs, presented a proposal for the expansion of the Adult Education Program for the purpose of providing services at the Concordia Parish
Correctional Facility. The expansion will be funded through a grant. Concordia Parish Sheriff Randy Maxwell addressed the Board requesting that they approve the program. It was moved by Mr. Nelson, seconded by Mr. Coleman and carried unanimously to approve the expansion of the Adult Education Program as proposed.
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 6:05 p.m. to discuss personnel matters.
It was moved by Mr. Nelson, seconded by Mrs. Cowan and carried unanimously to return to Open Session at 6:50 p.m. President White reported that the Board had discussed personnel matters which required no action.
Superintendent Lee recommended that the Board approve the continuation of the 13th check paid to all employees in January through the year 2000, which is the year the additional one-cent sales tax expires. It was moved by Mr. Coleman, seconded by Mr. Williams and carried unanimously to continue issuing a 13th check to all employees in the amounts of $400 for certified personnel, $200 for support personnel, and $100 for part-time personnel through January 2000.
It was moved by Mr. Partridge, seconded by Mr. Raven and carried unanimously to proclaim April as Child Search Month.
It was moved by Mr. Coleman, seconded by Mr. Raven and carried unanimously to approve the Summer Food Program for 1997. The program will operate at VJH and FUE with meals satellited to Clayton.
It was moved by Mr. Partridge, seconded by Mr. Coleman and carried unanimously to approve the following resolution:
WHEREAS, Governor Mike Foster has proposed an ambitious program for educational reform which will be presented to the Louisiana Legislature during the 1997 Legislative Session: and
WHEREAS, education in Louisiana has languished near or at the bottom of the rankings for public school systems across our nation, in part, because of a lack of funding from the state level; and,
WHEREAS, in order to address the issues of low pay, aging facilities and other problems facing the local school boards of Louisiana, additional monies must be dedicated to the school systems in our state; and,
WHEREAS, Governor Foster has proposed to expand the state investment in education by dedicating a large portion of the one-cent state sales tax due to expire this year if renewed by the Legislature; now,
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Concordia Parish School Board does hereby declare its support for the renewal of the one-cent state sales tax, if the proceeds are dedicated to funding the education of our children; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT copies of this resolution be forwarded to the Governor, the State Superintendent of Education, and the members of the Concordia Parish Legislative delegation.
Mr. Arthur A. Arnold appeared on behalf of the Concordia Federation of Teachers/School Employees. He requested that the Board support the CFT/SE in its efforts to gain a state pay increase for teachers and school employees. He also stated that the CFT/SE had other concerns, which he enumerated.
It was moved by Mr. Partridge, seconded by Mr. Raven and carried unanimously to approve personnel items as follow:
Extended Sick Leaves
Billie Ann Foster, Teacher, VHS, effective 2/5/97-5/30/97
Pamela Hilton, Teacher, VJH, effective 2/19/97-5/30/97
Maternity Leaves
Ranessa B. Crockett, Teacher Assistant, FKC, effective 5/9/97-5/30/97
Lucia C. Prince, Teacher, FLE, effective 4/28/97-5/30/97
Resignations
Ralph Cook, Sp. Ed. Teacher Assistant, FUE, effective 2/3/97
Pearlie Wills, School Bus Operator, effective 2/18/97
Termination
Eddie Carter, Janitor, FHS, effective 2/5/97
Retirement
Sarah E. Sandiford, Teacher, MHS, effective 5/30/97
Appointments
Jessie Hewing, SFS Technician, VLE, effective 3/5/97
Joe White, Jr., Sp. Ed. Teacher Assistant, FUE, effective 2/3/97
It was moved by Mr. Partridge, seconded by Mrs. Cowan and carried to adjourn at 7:28 p.m.
__________________________ __________________________
James E. Lee, Superintendent Ernest L. White, President