PROCEEDINGS OF THE SCHOOL BOARD OF THE PARISH OF CONCORDIA STATE OF LOUISIANA, TAKEN AT A REGULAR MEETING HELD ON TUESDAY, MAY 6, 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, May 6, 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 President White, 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. Manson E. Nelson, Sr., Mr. Charles Partridge, Mrs. Georgia Washington and Mr. Sam Williams, Jr. Mr. Mike Grantham and Mr. Ricky Raven were absent.
Mr. Raven arrived at 5:32 p.m.
Superintendent Lee announced that Louisiana Hydroelectric Partnership Inc. had been chosen as one of seven Distinguished Partners in Education by the Louisiana Department of Education for their partnership with Concordia Parish Schools. He introduced Mr. Ralph L. Laukhuff, Director, who presented citizenship awards to pre-kindergarten and kindergarten students.
Mr. Grantham arrived at 5:34 p.m.
The following students received Sidney A. Murray Citizenship Awards from Louisiana Hydroelectric.
FKC Pre-K Deonka Goffner
Kindergarten Kimberlee Lynette Poole
FLE Pre-K Robert Franklin
MHS Pre-K Nancy Ellard
Kindergarten Taylor Campbell
VLE Pre-School Christopher Fair
Pre-K Don Efren Lyons
Kindergarten Charles Jacob DeWeese
Superintendent Lee presented a certificate of achievement to April Woodruff, MHS student, for winning first place in the Louisiana FHS HERO/STAR event.
Dr. Pete Peterman, Assistant Superintendent, recognized the winners of the annual Middle School Quiz Bowl held at VJH on May 1, 1997:
6th Grade Winners VJH
7th Grade Winners MHS
8th Grade and Grand Champions FJH
Dr. Peterman also presented certificates to state Literary Rally Winners at MHS:
Josh Calkins - 1st place Algri-Science II
Sarah Paul - 4th grade Algebra II
Veronica Paul - 12 grade Superior Girl's Low Voice Solo
Trent Pugh - 2nd place World History
It was moved by Mrs. Cowan, seconded by Mr. Coleman and carried unanimously to approve minutes of April 1, 1997.
Mrs. Gloria Dangerfield, Assistant Director of Business Affairs, presented invoices and the Financial Report for April. It was moved by Mrs. Cowan, seconded by Mr. Coleman and carried 8-1, with Mr. Grantham voting no, to approve payment of invoices in the amount of $1,808,215.18.
It was moved by Mr. Coleman, seconded by Mrs. Cowan and carried 7-2, with Mr. Partridge and Mr. Grantham voting no, to go into Executive Session at 6:03 p.m to discuss personnel matters.
It was moved by Mr. Williams, seconded by Mrs. Cowan and carried unanimously to return to Open Session at 7:15 p.m. President White stated that while in Executive Session, the Board had discussed personnel matters with one requiring action. Superintendent Lee read the following recommendation: After a due process hearing conducted by the superintendent's designee, Dr. Pete Peterman, Assistant Superintendent, on charges brought against Mary Beard, teacher assistant at FHS, by the building principal and the findings therefrom, I am recommending that Mary Beard be suspended without pay, for the remainder of the 1996-97 school year, effective May 7, 1997. Prior to returning to work for the 1997-98 school year, said employee must participate in inservice training related to her job duties. It was moved by Mr. Partridge, seconded by Mr. Coleman and carried unanimously to approve the superintendent's recommendation.
President White also stated that while in Executive Session, the Board had heard from Darrell Crofford, Vidalia resident, regarding out-of-zone students and would take the matter under advisement.
No action was taken on changing the July meeting date. The date will remain as scheduled on Thursday, July 10, 1997.
It was moved by Mr. Coleman, seconded by Mr. Partridge and Mr. Williams and carried 8-1, with Mr. Raven voting no, to approve the FY98 Special Education Project Application.
It was moved by Mr. Partridge, seconded by Mr. Williams and carried unanimously to advertise for milk, bread and exterminating services for the cafeterias and the home economics departments for the 1997-98 school year.
It was moved by Mr. Partridge, seconded by Mr. Nelson and carried unanimously to approve the hiring of a seven-man summer maintenance crew.
It was moved by Mr. Partridge, seconded by Mr. Raven and carried unanimously to table action on the emblem for student uniforms.
It was moved by Mr. Partridge, seconded by Mr. Nelson and carried to approve the low bid from Timmons International for a new special education bus with delivery to be scheduled after July 1, 1997.
President White reported that the superintendent's evaluation for 1997-98 had been completed with an overall satisfactory rating and commendations.
It was moved by Mr. Partridge, seconded by Mr. Coleman and carried unanimously to approve the following personnel items:
Extended Sick Leave
LaDonnie K. Bowman, Teacher, FJH, effective 3/31/97-4/28/97
Sheila Paul, Teacher Assistant, MHS, effective 4/9/97-5/30/97
Leigh T. Webber, Teacher, FKC, effective 4/8/97-5/19/97
Maternity Leave
Lucia Prince, Teacher, FLE, effective 3/20/97-5/30/97
Kim Raley, SFS Manager, FKC, effective 3/19/97-5/7/97
Retirement
Mariah J. Cooper, Assistant Principal, FLE, effective 6/13/97
Ben Hunter, Supervisor of Child Welfare & Attendance, eff 6/30/97
Leroy Williams, School Bus Operator, effective 5/30/97
It was moved by Mr. Partridge, seconded by Mrs. Washington and carried unanimously to advertise the position of Supervisor of Child Welfare and Attendance.
Superintendent Lee announced the Teen Summit to be held in the Media Center on Wednesday, May 7, and DARE Day on May 9, 1997, at the new Correctional Facility.
Superintendent Lee presented the following proclamation in memory of Mrs. Edna Williams Coleman, wife of Board member Mr. Eddie L. Coleman, Sr.:
PROCLAMATION
WHEREAS, Mrs. Edna Marie Williams Coleman, former Concordia Parish teacher and wife of Concordia Parish School Board member Mr. Eddie L. Coleman, Sr., departed this life on Sunday, April 20, 1997, at the age of sixty-four years, two months, and twenty-three days; and,
WHEREAS, Mrs. Coleman served the children of the Concordia Parish School System from 1963 to 1990, touching the lives of hundreds of families and serving the school system well for twenty-seven school sessions; and,
WHEREAS, Mrs. Coleman was a devoted wife and mother to three sons, Roderick, Eddie Junior, and Raoul Coleman, each of whom will miss her love and attention greatly; and,
WHEREAS, the Concordia Parish School Board, both collectively and individually recognize and appreciate how deeply Mr. Coleman, family and friends must grieve for the loss of their loved one; now,
THEREFORE, the Board does proclaim that they hereby express their deep sorrow and regret for the loss of Mrs. Coleman and extend their condolences to Mr. Coleman, his sons, other family members and a host of friends, and, furthermore, that the original of this Proclamation be presented to the family in memory of Mrs. Coleman.
It was moved by Mr. Partridge, seconded by Mrs. Cowan and carried to adjourn at 7:30 p.m.
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James E. Lee, Superintendent Ernest Lynn White, President