PROCEEDINGS OF THE SCHOOL BOARD OF THE PARISH OF CONCORDIA, STATE OF LOUISIANA, TAKEN AT A MEETING HELD ON TUESDAY, OCTOBER 7, 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, October 7, 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 students:
Monterey High School 12th grade Kristie Hamilton
11th grade Lauren Blount
Ferriday High School 12th grade Sterry Leonard
11th grade Charles Allen, Jr.
Vidalia High School 12th grade Seth Greer
11th grade Carmen Wilson
Mrs. Patricia Bellis, Coordinator of Grants and Public Information, announced the following teacher mini-grant awards:
Macon Ridge Teacher Minigrants - $750
Patricia Brown VUE "Innovative Science"
Betty Cade Alternative School "Self-Directed Learning in
Alternative Education"
Phyllis Cage VLE "Reading Toward Excellence"
Gigi Campbell MHS "Seeking New Avenues in Learning"
Debra Harris RES "The Experiment Express: A
Portable Science Center"
Darla Johnston VUE "The Power of a Dream"
Doris Polk FUE "Language and Reading across the
Curriculum through Technology"
Ann Sandidge MHS "WOLF PACK - TV"
Irene Young VLE "Critter Bags"
LEARN Teacher Grants - $1000
Phyllis Cage VLE "Discovering Our World"
Irene Young VLE "Critter Bags II"
It was moved by Mr. Coleman, seconded by Mr. Partridge and carried unanimously to take the proclamations immediately after the special recognitions.
Mrs. Debbie Bairnsfather of the Louisiana Cooperative Extension thanked the Board for their support of the 4-H program in the schools. Posters from the recent 4-H contest were displayed, and 4-H students presented mugs to the Board members and administrators. Students present were Jessica Brown, VHS; Maurice Gipson, FHS; Steven Knapp, VHS; Audra Kemp, MHS; Lipsey, MHS; Abigail Morris, MHS; and April Woodruff, MHS.
Superintendent Lee read a proclamation naming October 5-11, 4-H Club Week in Concordia Parish Schools. It was moved by Mr. Nelson, seconded by Mr. Williams and carried unanimously to approve the proclamation.
Superintendent Lee recommended that the Board approve a resolution proclaiming October as "Child Search Month." It was moved by Mr. Partridge, seconded by Mrs. Washington and carried unanimously to approve the resolution.
Superintendent Lee presented a resolution proclaiming October 26-31, 1997, "Red Ribbon Week" in Concordia Parish Schools. It was moved by Mr. Partridge, seconded by Mrs. Cowan and carried unanimously to approve the resolution.
Mr. Grantham requested that a correction be made to the minutes to add, "Mr. Grantham asked that question number one include the date when the Board approved the parking lot and the count of the vote." It was moved by Mr. Partridge, seconded by Mrs. Cowan and carried to approve the minutes of September 16, 1997, with corrections.
It was moved by Mr. Partridge, seconded by Mr. Nelson and carried unanimously to approve payment of invoices in the amount of $1,924,574.
It was moved by Mr. Coleman, seconded by Mrs. Cowan and carried to go into Executive Session at 6:06 p.m. to discuss pending litigation and personnel matters.
It was moved by Mr. Nelson, seconded by Mr. Coleman and carried to return to Open Session at 7:05 p.m. President White announced that while in Executive Session, the Board discussed personnel matters which required no action and pending litigation. It was moved by Mr. Nelson, seconded by Mrs. Washington and carried unanimously to authorize continued defense of case #31,746 of the 7th Judicial District Court.
Superintendent Lee informed the Board that he had been handed a letter by a student pertaining to the Dress Code Policy JCDB, which was on the agenda for the second reading. It was moved by Mr. Partridge, seconded by Mr. Raven and carried unanimously to hear the letter. Superintendent Lee read the letter which opposed the adoption of mandatory school uniforms for students.
It was moved by Mrs. Washington, seconded by Mr. Coleman and carried unanimously to approve the second reading of Policies JCDB Dress Code, GAK Personnel Records, and IFGA Internet Acceptable Use Policy.
It was moved by Mrs. Washington, seconded by Mrs. Cowan and carried unanimously to approve millages at the following rates:
Constitutional 03.10 Mills
Additional support for maintaining and operating parish schools 24.58 Mills
It was moved by Mr. Coleman, seconded by Mr. Williams and carried, with Mr. Partridge abstaining, to approve revised salary schedules for teacher assistants, school secretaries, school food service technicians, twelve month clerical personnel, data processing and specialized sales tax personnel to be effective November 1, 1997.
Mr. Grantham stated that he had requested that building and grounds be placed on the agenda to provide an opportunity for questions or comments about the responses to the questions asked by Mr. Partridge at the last meeting. There being no other questions, Mr. Grantham asked when the Central Office parking lot was voted on and what the Vote Count was. Superintendent Lee stated that the parking lot had not been brought to the Board, but that the cost was below the bid law requirement and that the Board had been apprised of the parking lot plans and development on thirteen separate occasions. Superintendent Lee distributed Policy EB, which he stated provided the authority for this and other projects. There was lengthy discussion of the wording of the policy and the authority provided the superintendent's office by policy.
Superintendent Lee stated that he had met with the past and present leadership of the organization which had negotiated a 1995 agreement calling for the reduction of one Title I position by attrition to request that the issue be reconsidered because of changes in the Title I program. Title I supervisors are more actively involved in schoolwide projects and more students and teachers are now involved than in 1995. Therefore, he recommended that the 1995 agreement be amended to exclude Part I Item 3 which states: The Title I supervisory staff will be reduced by one position through attrition. It was moved by Mr. Nelson, seconded by Mr. Coleman and carried 6-3, with Mr. Grantham, Mr. Partridge, and Mr. Raven voting no, to add the amendment of the 1995 agreement to the agenda. Following additional discussion and a statement by Sharon Smith, past president of CAE, it was moved by Mr. Nelson, seconded by Mr. Coleman and carried 7-2 on a roll call vote as follows to amend the 1995 agreement as recommended:
YEAS: Mr. Coleman, Mrs. Cowan, Mr. Nelson, Mr. Raven, Mrs. Washington, Mr. White, and Mr. Williams
NAYS: Mr. Grantham, Mr. Partridge
It was moved by Mr. Coleman to approve personnel items en globo if there were no questions. There was additional discussion of the Title I program and Mr. Huhn commented on schoolwide projects.
It was moved by Mr. Partridge and seconded by Mr. Grantham not to accept the appointments as listed on the agenda. The motion failed, 2-7, with Mr. Coleman, Mrs. Cowan, Mr. Nelson, Mr. Raven, Mrs. Washington, Mr. White, and Mr. Williams voting no.
It was moved by Mrs. Washington, seconded by Mr. Williams and carried 7-2, with Mr. Partridge and Mr. Grantham voting no, to approve personnel items en globo as follows:
Appointments
Richard Alwood, Title I Resource Supervisor, TBA
Jeannette Bullock, SFS Technician, MHS, effective 8/18/97
Roy Gulledge, Janitor, VHS, effective 9/12/97
Tangela Jefferson, 2.5 Hr. Sweeper, MHS effective 8/18/97
Anthony Moore, Assistant Principal, FJH, effective 9/17/97
Extended Sick Leave
Alicia Armstrong, Secretary/Bookkeeper, CO, effective. 9/22/97-10/21/97
Sheila Paul, Teacher Assistant, MHS, effective 10/l/97-5/27/98
Return from Extended Sick Leave
Ginger McNeely, Teacher, FKC, effective 10/l/97
Retirement
Linda McCann, SFS Technician, VHS, effective 8/15/97
It was moved by Mr. Partridge, seconded by Mrs. Washington and carried to adjourn at 8:15 p.m.
__________________________ __________________________
James E. Lee, Superintendent Ernest Lynn White, President