PROCEEDINGS OF THE SCHOOL BOARD OF THE PARISH OF CONCORDIA, STATE OF LOUISIANA, TAKEN AT A REGULAR MEETING HELD ON TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 1998.
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, February 3, 1998, 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, and Mr. Manson E. Nelson, Sr.. Absent were Mr. Charles Partridge, Mr. Ricky Raven, Mrs. Georgia Washington, and Mr. Sam Williams, Jr.
Superintendent Lee presented plaques in appreciation for their years of service to the following retirees:
Lowery Herrington Title 1 Supervisor Central Office 33 years
Linda McCann School Food Service Technician VHS 12 years
Bertha M. Jackson Teacher FHS 17 years
Willie J. Watkins School Maintenance FUE 29 years
Willie J. Woods Teacher FUE 10 years
Mr. Williams arrived at 5:32 p.m. during the special recognitions.
Mr. Ralph J. Laukhuff presented the Louisiana Hydroelectric Sidney A. Murray Citizenship Awards to the following students:
Jessica Lee 4th grade MHS
Emily Collins 5th grade MHS
Portia Ja'Nel Matthews 4th grade FUE
Shontec Goodman 5th grade FUE
Will Hayes Merritt 4th grade VUE
Julie Rouchon 5th grade VUE
Joshua Chelette 4th grade RES
Stevie Wilson 5th grade RES
It was moved by Mr. Coleman, seconded by Mr. Williams and carried unanimously to approve the minutes of January 6, 1998.
Mrs. Washington arrived at 5:45 p.m.
Mrs. Gloria Dangerfield, Assistant Director of Business Affairs, presented invoices and the Financial Report for January 1998. She explained that the increase in expenditures was due to receipt of ad valorem taxes which were invested. The investment was recorded as an expenditure in the receiving fund. It was moved by Mr. Grantham, seconded by Mrs. Cowan and carried unanimously to approve the payment of invoices in the amount of $2,901,826.
Superintendent Lee presented the revisions to Policy JBCC "Student Assignments". It was moved by Mr. Coleman, seconded by Mr. Williams and Mrs. Cowan and carried unanimously to approve the first reading of the policy.
Superintendent Lee stated that item V.B. FEC/Florida Street Gym had been taken care of and no action was necessary.
Dr. Pete Peterman informed the Board that Act 478 of the 1997 Legislature required that school boards provide information concerning the lowest achieving schools in the district. The following information was provided in response to the requirements of Act 478:
The schools which are rated as the lowest 20% achieving schools in Concordia Parish are Ferriday Lower Elementary and Ferriday High School. This rating is based on results of the 1996-97 Louisiana criterion-referenced tests.
Assistance in meeting high standards set by the local and the state is being provided to all schools in the parish, and specifically to FLE and FHS. The following steps are being taken:
1. A Title 1 Resource Supervisor, the Director of Academic Affairs, and principals are assisting teachers to improve instruction and test-taking skills of students.
2. Inservice training is being provided teachers at the school level and at the parish level on methods to enhance teaching and to improve student achievement.
3. The system has purchased additional materials, equipment and software to improve instruction and opportunities for students to learn.
4. Test data have been analyzed to identify areas of weakness.
5. School improvement plans have been revised to remediate deficiencies.
6. After-school tutorial programs have been implemented.
These steps are in addition to other activities currently being implemented parishwide to improve teaching and learning at all schools.
Dr. Peterman announced that system's Technology Plan and Application for Classroom-Based and Technology Literacy Challenge Funds has been approved in the amount of $192,763 with commendations by the Governor's State Technology Advisory Committee.
Mrs. Gayle Carlock, teacher at FJH, provided information concerning her grant projects in computer literacy.
Mr. Tom O'Neal, Director of Business Affairs, provided an update on the insurance settlement for FJH. Mr. Joe Brocato, architect, presented a preliminary plan of the new building. He also provided an update on developing plans for kitchen exhaust systems.
Superintendent Lee stated that he had asked the junior high principals to inform the Board of their progress on offering junior high school girls' softball. Mr. Fred Marsalis, principal of VJH, and Mr. John Bostic, principal of FJH, stated that they had not been able to locate teams or to establish a schedule. Following lengthy discussion, it was decided that the schools would proceed with establishing a schedule and implementing softball this spring.
It was moved by Mr. Coleman, seconded by Mr. Grantham and carried unanimously to approve the following personnel items:
Resignation
Tyberia F. Bell, Teacher Assistant, VLE, effective 1/9/98
J. W. Jackson, Data Processing Programmer, CO, effective 2/27/98
Chrisandra J. Lee, Title 1 Parent Coordinator, FKC, eff. 1/30/98
Extended Sick Leave
Phyllis Falkenheiner, Teacher, RES, effective 12/15/97-3/31/98
Debra Minor, Teacher Assistant, FHS, effective 12/5/97-5/28/98
Susan Randall, Teacher, VUE, effective 1/23/98-3/3098
Sabbatical Leave
Ginger McNeely, Teacher, FKC, effective 1/13/98-5/28/98
Appointment
Wanda Gaye Cross, Teacher, FKC, effective 1/13/98
Dianna Perkins, Sp. Ed. Teacher, MHS, effective 1/20/98
It was moved by Mr. Coleman, seconded by Mr. Williams and carried to adjourn at 6:37 p.m.
__________________________ __________________________
James E. Lee, Superintendent Ernest Lynn White, President