PROCEEDINGS OF THE SCHOOL BOARD OF THE PARISH OF CONCORDIA, STATE OF LOUISIANA, TAKEN AT A REGULAR MEETING HELD ON TUESDAY, DECEMBER 2, 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, December 2, 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. Eddie L. Coleman, 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. Charles Partridge, Mr. Ricky Raven, Mrs. Georgia Washington and Mr. Sam Williams, Jr. Absent was Mr. Manson E. Nelson, Sr.

 

Dr. Pete Peterman, on behalf of Mr. Ralph E. Laukhuff, presented the Louisiana Hydroelectric Sidney A. Murray Citizenship Awards to the following students:

 

            MHS    7th grade          Rachel Britt

                        8th grade          Lindsey Strebeck

            FJH      7th grade          Jakora Martin

                        8th grade          Willie Lee Martin, Jr.

            VJH     7th grade          Jaci DeWeese

                        8th grade          Aleshia Dennis

            RES     7th grade          Pamela Sullivan

 

It was moved by Mr. Partridge, seconded by Mr. Williams and carried unanimously to approve minutes of November 4, 1997.

 

After discussion, it was moved by Mr. Partridge, seconded by Mr. Coleman and carried unanimously to approve payment of invoices for November in the amount of $1,721,851.48.

 

Mr. Norman Magee, Concordia Parish School Board attorney, issued his interpretation of the attorney general's opinions as follows:

 

Concordia Parish School Board

Post Office Box 950

Vidalia, LA 71373

 

RE:       Concordia Parish School Board

Request for Interpretation of                          December 2, 1997

Attorney General Opinions

Provisional Custody by Mandate

 

Gentlemen:

 

Per your request, I have examined the Attorney General's opinions #97-306 and 307 concerning the acceptance and attendance of Mississippi children to public schools in Concordia Parish, Louisiana.

 

            Based upon said examination, the opinions clearly establish that the policy of the Concordia Parish School Board in the use of a Provisional Custody by Mandate pursuant to LRS 9:951 et seq. for Mississippi children to attend Concordia Parish public schools and obtain an education in Louisiana is clearly authorized by law and perfectly legal, provided there is no violation of any pending federal desegregation court order.  Further, in the administration of the policy of Provisional Custody by Mandate, the opinions endorse LSA-RS 17:104.1 which grants the School Board the power and authority to prescribe rules and regulations pertaining to the assignment, transfer and continuance of pupils among and within the public schools within its jurisdiction, including but not limited to the determination of student residency and school transportation purposes.

 

            In connection with the implementation of the policy of Provisional Custody by Mandate, however, the question arises as to whether Mississippi children have to physically reside with his or her tutor by Mandate within Concordia Parish while attending our public schools.  This question was not clearly answered by the opinions nor is it directly addressed by statute.  In closely scrutinizing the language of the opinions, the writer on two separate occasions referred to Mississippi children "living" or "residing" within Concordia Parish when addressing other issues.  Consequently, although this question was not clearly answered directly in the opinions, I feel that the negative implication of the language in said opinions implies that the Mississippi children should be required to reside with his or her tutor by Mandate in Concordia Parish while attending our public schools.

 

If you have any questions or comments, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Cordially,

/s/ Norman Magee

Mr. Nelson arrived at 5:45 p.m. during the reading of Mr. Magee's interpretation.

 

Following discussion and comments from members of the audience, it was moved by Mr. Partridge, seconded by Mr. Coleman and carried unanimously:

 

            *to receive the interpretation,

*          to revise the policy regarding Provisional Custody by Mandate by incorporating *          a residency requirement; and

*          to present a draft of the revised policy at the February school board meeting,

 

Ms. Leinda Peterman, Executive Assistant/Personnel Director, presented the preliminary results of the security measures survey.  The items on the survey were: Item 1 - 2-way communications in classrooms; Item 2 - walkie talkies or other form of communication between the principal and the office; Item 3 - hand held metal detectors; Item 4 - security cameras; and Item 5 - other.

 

Parents' Survey

 

            Ranking                        Item 1*            Item 2*            Item 3*            Item 4*

            1                                  754                  452                  357                  544

            2                                  121                  181                  86                   133

            3                                  91                   158                  117                  112

            4                                  46                   119                  167                  71

            5                                  117                  212                  190                  130

            X (Do Not Want)          76                   115                  233                  186

 

*Totals under each column do not equal 100% because of discrepancies in completing the form.

 

Principals' Survey

 

            Ranking            Item 1  Item 2  Item 3  Item 4  Item 5

            1                      9                      0                      0                      0                      1

            2                      0                      9                      0                      0                      2

            3                      0                      2                      1                      4                      0

            4                      1                      0                      5                      2                      1

            5                      1                      0                      1                      1                      1

            X                     0                      0                      3                      4                      1

 

It was moved by Mr. Partridge, seconded by Mrs. Washington and carried unanimously to approve the following meeting dates for 1998:

 

January 6, 1998 - Regular Meeting

February 3, 1998 - Regular Meeting

March 3, 1998 - Regular Meeting

April 7, 1998 - Regular Meeting

May 5, 1998 - Regular Meeting

June 2. 1998 - Regular Meeting

July 21, 1998 - Regular Meeting

August 4, 1998 - Regular Meeting

August 25, 1998 - Public Hearing for FY99 Budget

  and Special Meeting

September 15, 1998 - Regular Meeting

October 6, 1998 - Regular Meeting

November 3, 1998 - Regular Meeting

December 8, 1998 - Regular Meeting

 

It was moved by Mr. Partridge, seconded by Mr. Raven and carried unanimously to approve the first reading of revised policies JD, JDD, JDE, and JDF.

 

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

 

Resignation

 

            Lois Jackson, Teacher Assistant, FHS, effective 12/5/97

 

Maternity Leave

 

            Glynda Wallace, SFS Technician, VHS, effective 12/1/97-2/2/98

 

Extended Sick Leave

 

Phyllis Falkenheiner, Teacher,  RES, effective 11/5/97-12/12/97

Ginger McNeely, Teacher, FKC, effective 11/12/97-1/12/98

Gloria Nix, Cleaner, FHS, effective 10/7/97-5/27/99

Leigh Webber, Teacher, FKC, effective 11/13/97-1/12/98

 

Appointments

 

Loyce Hale Breland, SFS Technician, VHS, effective 12/5/97

Sue Cockerham, School Bus Operator, effective 12/5/97

Darrell Green, Custodian, FUE, effective 12/5/97

Willie Mae McCoy, Teacher Assistant, FHS, effective 12/5/97

Mary Tennessee, 2.5 hr. Sweeper, FLE, effective 12/5/97

 

Mr. Richard Alwood announced that the Christmas display was provided by FKC, and he recognized Mrs. Loretta Peterman, principal, who commented on the work done by students, teacher, and parents.

 

Mr. Partridge requested that an item be added to each agenda to provide time for announcements.

 

The meeting was adjourned at 6:08 p.m.

__________________________                                            __________________________

James E. Lee, Superintendent                                                   Ernest Lynn White, President