PROCEEDINGS OF THE SCHOOL BOARD OF THE PARISH OF CONCORDIA, STATE OF LOUISIANA, TAKEN AT A REGULAR MEETING HELD ON TUESDAY, APRIL 1, 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, April 1, 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 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 and Mr. Sam Williams, Jr. Mrs. Georgia Washington was absent.

 

It was moved by Mr. Coleman, seconded by Mr. Nelson and carried unanimously to take an agenda item out of order and view modeling of student uniforms first.  Superintendent Lee announced that students would be modeling uniforms to give parents an opportunity to see the kinds of uniforms being considered for each attendance zone.  Principals explained the process for choosing particular styles and colors and introduced the student models.  Uniform company representatives were also present to answer questions.

 

Mrs. Beatrice Williams, acting Title I Co-Director, presented awards to five students who were named state first place winners in the Young Author's Contest:

 

            Lydia Bordelon RES

            John Bonnette Jr.          RES

            Paul Harrigill                 RES

            Elisha Piercefield           FJH

            Adelice Smith   RES

 

Dr. Pete Peterman, Assistant Superintendent, presented the Sidney A. Murray Citizenship Awards, which are sponsored by the Louisiana Hydroelectric Partnership, Inc., to the following first and second graders:

 

                        School                          Student                                    Grade

 

            Ferriday Lower Elementary                   LaDarrel Ray                   1

                                                                        Charles Cirilo                    2

 

            Monterey High School                          Billy Metcalf                      1

                                                                        Madison Beard                  2

 

            Ridgecrest Elementary                           Steven Fowler                  1

                                                                        Jared Price                        2

 

            Vidalia Lower Elementary                     Elizabeth Ann Clifton         1

                                                                        Wendy Nicole Millicks      2

 

Dr. Peterman presented a plaque to Mrs. Pat Washington, Director of the Concordia Parish Single Parent Program at FHS.  The program, in its third year of funding, was named the top program in the state by the Louisiana Department of Education Bureau of Vocational Education.  Mrs. Washington provided the Board members an overview of the program.

 

Superintendent Lee presented a certificate of special recognition awarded by the Southern

Association of Colleges and Schools to Eddie Washington, principal of Ferriday Upper Elementary.  FUE was recognized for the successful completion of its ten-year review.

 

It was moved by Mr. Coleman, seconded by Mrs. Cowan and carried unanimously to approve minutes of March 4, 1997.

 

Mrs. Gloria Dangerfield, Assistant Director of Business Affairs, presented invoices and the Financial Report for March.  It was moved by Mr. Partridge, seconded by Mr. Coleman and carried 7-1, with Mr. Grantham voting no, to approve invoices in the amount of $1,715,230.64.

 

It was moved by Mr. Coleman, seconded by Mrs. Cowan and carried 6-2, with Mr. Partridge and Mr. Grantham voting no, to go into Executive Session to discuss legal matters at 6:25 p.m.

 

Mrs. Washington arrived at 6:25 p.m.

 

It was moved by Mrs. Cowan, seconded by Mr. Williams and carried unanimously to return to Open Session at 6:55 p.m. President White announced that while in Executive Session, the Board had discussed legal matters which required no action at this time.

 

It was moved by Mr. Partridge, seconded by Mrs. Washington and carried unanimously to open bids for the special education bus.  Mr. Irvin opened and read the following bids:

 

            VENDOR                                                         NEW BUS                   USED BUS

 

            Louis Schwartz, Inc.                                         $46,806                       N/A

            908 Shrewsbury Road 

            Jefferson, LA 70121                 Alternate          $46,299

 

            Bruce Ross

            Ross Bus & Equipment                                     N/A                             $18,500

            Sales, Inc.

            2913 N. Bolton Avenue

            Alexandria, LA 71303

 

            Jerry Arnold                                                     $45,305                       N/A

            Timmons International Inc                                

            7605 Coliseum Blvd                 Alternate          $44,446

            Alexandria, LA 71303

 

It was moved by Mrs. Washington, seconded by Mr. Williams and carried unanimously to take the bids under advisement for a review of the bids and the specifications.

 

It was moved by Mr. Coleman, seconded by Mr. Raven and carried unanimously to approve the plan for summer school.

 

Dr. Peterman presented the proposed school calendar for 1997-98 and reviewed more stringent state guidelines for student attendance.  Following discussion, it was moved by Mr. Coleman, seconded by Mr. Raven and carried 8-1, with Mr. Partridge voting no, to approve the calendar as recommended.  The calendar is as follows:

 

GRADING PERIODS

 

FIRST SEMESTER                 Monday, August 18, 1997 - Monday, January 12, 1998

 

1st 6 Weeks                 Monday, August 18, 1997 - Monday, September 29, 1997

2nd 6 Weeks                Tuesday, September 30, 1997 - Monday, November 10, 1997

3rd 6 Weeks                Tuesday, November 11, 1997 -  Monday, January 12, 1998

 

SECOND SEMESTER            Tuesday, January 13, 1998 - Wednesday, May 27, 1998

 

4th 6 Weeks                 Tuesday, January 13, 1998 - Thursday, February 26, 1998

5th 6 Weeks                 Friday, February 27, 1998 - Wednesday, April 15, 1998

6th 6 Weeks                 Thursday, April 16, 1998 - Wednesday, May 27,1998

 

SCHOOL HOLIDAYS

 

            Labor Day                                September 1, 1997

            Employees' Conventions           November 24, 25, 26, 1997

            Thanksgiving Holidays               November 27, 28, 1997

            Christmas Holidays                   December 22, 1997 - January 2, 1998, inclusive

            Martin Luther King's Day          January 19, 1998

            Mardi Gras                               February 23, 24, 1998

            Spring Holidays                        March 19, 20, 1998

            Easter                                       April 10, 13, 1998

 

TESTING DATES

 

            LEAP                                                   April 1998

            California Achievement Test                  April 1998

 

STAFF DEVELOPMENT

 

Friday, November 14, 1997

 

OTHER IMPORTANT DATES

 

            Early Dismissal (1:00 p.m.)                   August 18, 1997

            Parent Conference Day                         January 23, 1998

            Preschool Round-up                             May 1, 1998

            Senior Exams                                       May 12, 13, 14, 15, 1998

            Graduation                                           May 21, 22, 1998

            Final Exams                                          May 22, 25, 1998

            Final Exams

              and Early Dismissal (1:00 p.m.)           May 26, 1998

            Report cards issued (2:00 p.m.)            May 27, 1998

 

It was moved by Mrs. Williams, seconded by Mrs. Cowan and carried unanimously to approve the Special Education Advisory Council for 1997-98 as follows:

 

            Bobbie N. Carr            Monica Carter              Eddie L. Coleman, Sr.

            Mary A. Davis              Sue Ann Easterling                    Ray King

            Patricia Metcalf            Dr. Lester Peterman                 Neeva Sibley

            Augustine Thomas

 

It was moved by Mr. Partridge and seconded by Mrs. Cowan to change the July meeting date to July 8, 1997, because of a conflict with the Southern Region School Board Convention meeting dates.  It was moved by Mr. Raven and seconded by Mr. Nelson to amend the motion to state that the meeting would be held on Thursday, July 10, 1997.  The amendment carried 7-2, with Mrs. Cowan and Mrs. Washington voting no.

 

It was moved by Mr. Nelson, seconded by Mrs. Washington and carried 8-1, with Mr. Grantham voting no, to approve a contract to collect sales taxes for Caldwell Parish.

 

It was moved by Mr. Partridge, seconded by Mr. Nelson and carried unanimously to approve the following proclamation:

 

                                                               PROCLAMATION

 

WHEREAS, the future of our communities, our state, and our nation rests in the hands of our teachers who are called upon to meet challenges daily in helping all students, regardless stability level, to reach their full potential; and

 

WHEREAS, teachers play a crucial role in the development of our children, and the success of the educational process is dependent upon the classroom and the relationship which exists between the teacher and the student; and

 

WHEREAS, the economic and social well-being of our communities depends on the skills and knowledge teachers provide their students day in and day out, in spite of low pay and the ever-growing number of responsibilities they are asked to assume; and

 

WHEREAS, Concordia Parish School Board recognizes the vital contributions by teachers in Concordia Parish, who exhibit a high degree of expertise, knowledge, dedication and love for our children in our classrooms every day of the school year; now

 

THEREFORE, BE IT PROCLAIMED, that the week of May 4 through May 10, 1997, will be celebrated as Teacher Appreciation Week in the Concordia Parish School System, and the Concordia Parish School Board requests that parents and citizens join in expressing their appreciation for the contributions of our teachers.

 

It was moved by Mr. Partridge, seconded by Mr. Raven and carried to provide teachers a free lunch any one day of their choice during Teacher Appreciation Week.

 

It was moved by Mr. Partridge, seconded by Mr. Coleman and carried unanimously to approve personnel items en globo:

 

Extended Sick Leave

 

            Annie Bates, Teacher, FUE, effective 3/4/97-4/15/97

 

Return from Sabbatical Leave

 

            Julius Hulin, Title I Director, CO, effective 6/2/97

 

            Retirements

 

            Betty J. Bairnsfather, School Secretary, MHS, effective 6/13/97

            Jack P. Bairnsfather, Principal, MHS, effective 6/30/97

            Barbara P. Enterkin, Teacher, FLE, effective 6/5/97

            Katie Ruth Moore, Sp. Ed. Teacher, VHS, effective 6/30/97

            Shirley Woodrum, SFS Technician, MHS, effective 7/31/97

 

It was moved by Mr. Partridge, seconded by Mr. Williams and carried to adjourn at 7:23 p.m.

__________________________                                 __________________________

James E. Lee, Superintendent                                         Ernest Lynn White, President