July 10, 1997

PROCEEDINGS OF THE SCHOOL BOARD OF THE PARISH OF CONCORDIA, STATE OF LOUISIANA, TAKEN AT A REGULAR MEETING HELD ON TUESDAY, JULY 10, 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, July 10, 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 Rev. Raymond Riley, 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, Mrs. Georgia Washington and Mr. Sam Williams, Jr. Absent was Mr. Ricky Raven.

Superintendent Lee recognized Grenisha Luff and Kyle Murray for participation in the "U Drink, U Drive, U Walk" Awareness Campaign.

It was moved by Mr. Coleman, seconded by Mr. Williams and carried unanimously to approve minutes of June 3 and June 17, 1997.

Mr. Raven arrived at 5:37 p.m.

Mrs. Gloria Dangerfield, Assistant Director of Business Affairs, distributed the Financial Report and presented invoices. She reviewed the expenditures and revenues and answered questions. It was moved by Mr. Partridge, seconded by Mrs. Cowan and carried 8-1, with Mr. Grantham voting no, to approve the payment of Invoices in the amount of $2,020,071.28.

It was moved by Mr. Partridge, seconded by Mrs. Washington and carried unanimously to open bids for milk, bread, and exterminating services. The following bid was opened for bread:

Cotton Brothers Baking Sliced White Enriched Bread, 24 oz. $1.10

P. O. Box 540 Sliced Whole Wheat Bread, 16 oz. $1.13

3400 MacArthur Drive Hot Dog Buns, 12 package $1.15

Alexandria, LA 71301 Cafe Buns/Hamburger Buns, 30 pkg. $1.93

French Bread, Fully Cooked, 16 oz. $1.05

Steak Hoagie Bun, 24 count no bid

Whole Wheat Hamburger Buns, 8 pkg. $1.27

It was moved by Mrs. Cowan, seconded by Mr. Raven and carried unanimously to take this bid under advisement pending a review by Ms. Evelyn Fairbanks, School Food Service Supervisor, and to bring the item back for approval at the next meeting.

The following bids were opened for milk:

Borden's, Inc. Composite (½ pint Whole Homogenized Milk, 1% Lowfat, $.1535

P.O. Box 1831 1% Lowfat Chocolate Milk, Skim Milk)

Monroe, LA 71301 Escalator/De-escalator price $.1408

Foremost Dairies Composite (½ pint Whole Homogenized Milk, 1% Lowfat, $.1463

P. 0. Box 1203 1% Lowfat Chocolate Milk, Skim Milk)

Shreveport, LA 71163

Dairy Fresh Composite (½ pint Whole Homogenized Milk, 1% Lowfat, $.1411

P. 0. Box 16209 1% Lowfat Chocolate Milk, Skim Milk)

Hattiesburg, MS 39404

It was moved by Mr. Nelson, seconded by Mr. Raven and carried unanimously to take the milk bids under advisement pending a review by Ms. Evelyn Fairbanks, School Food Service Supervisor, and to bring the item back for approval at the next meeting.

The following bids were opened for exterminating services per unit on a one-time guaranteed basis:

B & B Pest Control, Inc. $250.00

Dr. Bug, Inc. $360.00

Northeast Pest Control $300.00

Old South Pest Control $325.00

Redd Pest Control $500.00

It was moved by Mr, Coleman, seconded by Mr. Williams and carried unanimously to take the bids for exterminating services under advisement pending a review by Ms. Evelyn Fairbanks, School Food Service Supervisor, and to bring the item back for approval at the next meeting.

Mr. Fred T, Butcher, Director of Academic Affairs, presented proposed revisions of the Concordia Parish Pupil Progression Plan for 1997-98. He pointed out that once the plan is approved by the State Department of Education, the guidelines must be adhered to for one year. There was discussion of "graduation exercises" as defined in the plan to include baccalaureate and the graduation ceremony. Mr. Partridge objected to including baccalaureate as part of graduation exercises. It was moved by Mr. Williams, seconded Mr. Coleman and carried 8-1, with Mr. Partridge voting no, to accept the plan and forward it to the Louisiana Department of Education.

Mr. Nelson stated that he had looked into the possibility of offering junior high school girls' softball. He said that principals had informed him they would be in favor of this additional sport for junior high girls. Currently, basketball is the only sport for girls at this level. It was moved by Mr. Nelson, seconded by Mr. Partridge and carried unanimously to enact junior high softball for girls at all schools, including the provision of a coach.

Superintendent Lee requested permission to develop a policy for student uniforms to be optional attire at all parish schools during the 1997-98 school year and mandatory attire during the 1998-99 school year. It was moved by Mr. Coleman, seconded by Mrs. Cowan and carried unanimously to approve the request.

Mr. Raven asked for information on students from Natchez attending Concordia Parish Schools. Mr. Norman Magee, Concordia Parish School Board attorney, reviewed LRS 9:951 and stated that the statute is silent on whether out-of-state students are able to use the Provisional Custody by Mandate. He recommended that the Board request an opinion from the Attorney General for additional guidance in applying the statute. Following lengthy discussion, it was moved by Mr. Partridge, seconded by Mr. Grantham and carried to request an Attorney General's opinion regarding out-of-zone students and the legality of out-of-state students using the Provisional Custody by Mandate form.

It was moved by Mr. Nelson, seconded by Mr. Coleman and carried 8-1, with Mr. Grantham voting no, to advertise for bids for day care services for ETAP, the single parent program at FHS.

Mr. Grantham asked that the Board look at the possibility of running a fence down the side of VUE along the street on the levee side because of truck traffic during construction at the riverfront site. It was moved by Mr. Grantham and seconded by Mr. Partridge to put a fence up with a 16-foot access gate down Riverside with the fence turning toward town at the corner. Mr. H. L. Irvin, Supervisor of Supportive Services, stated that the narrow space between the building and the street might hinder evacuation of children and staff during an emergency and that the fence would block a fire hydrant at the front corner. Superintendent Lee requested that the issue be reviewed by the Building and Grounds Committee. It was moved by Mr. Grantham, seconded by Mr. Partridge and carried 8-1, with Mrs. Washington voting no, to withdraw his original motion and to make a motion to refer the issue to the Building and Grounds Committee.

It was moved by Mr. Partridge, seconded by Mr. Raven and carried unanimously to establish a fund for donations to offer a reward for persons responsible for the fire at FJH should arson be ruled as the cause. Superintendent Lee said that the Sheriffs Department had already established a fund and that any money raised would be added to that fund.

Mr. Tom O'Neal, Director of Business Affairs, provided a report on the investigation being carried out by the Fire Marshal. He stated that the insurance provider would also perform an investigation. He also stated that the asbestos abatement plan was being reviewed by the consultant. Mr. Irvin reported that the work on the first wing at FUE in preparation for FJH classes was 75% complete and that he expects to have the work completed in time for classes to start as scheduled. Dr. Pete Peterman, Assistant Superintendent, reported on progress in providing instructional equipment and supplies. Superintendent Lee stated that teachers who lost classrooms in the fire would receive extra classroom allotment money to replace the materials and supplies they lost. He reported that the school records had been saved. He commended the Maintenance Crew for the work they have done.

Superintendent Lee informed the Board that after completing extensive interviews with candidates for the assistant principal position at FHS, he recommended Paula Crawford. It was moved by Mr. Partridge, seconded by Mr. Nelson and carried unanimously to approve the appointment of Paula Crawford as Interim Assistant Principal at FHS, effective July 21, 1997.

It was moved by Mr. Partridge, seconded by Mr. Raven and carried unanimously to approve the following personnel items:

Retirement

Willie J. Watkins, Sr., Custodian, FUE, effective 8/12/97

Resignation

Jason Stanley, Janitor, VHS, effective 5/29/97

Transfer

Jennifer Hauer, Central Office Bookkeeper to Sales Tax Auditor, effective 7/l/97

Sabbatical Leave

Barbara Crenshaw, Teacher, VJH, effective 8/18/97-1/12/98

Appointments

Burl Burns, School Bus Operators, effective 8/18/97

Billy Joe Ratcliff, School Bus Operators, effective 8/18/97

Joseph K. Webber, Parish Maintenance Crew Worker, effective 7/14/97

Earl Williams, School Bus Operators, effective 8/18/97

Terrance Williams, School Bus Operators, effective 8/18/97

It was moved by Mr. Partridge, seconded by Mr. Williams and carried to adjourn at 7:00 p.m.

__________________________ __________________________

James E. Lee, Superintendent Ernest Lynn White, President