PROCEEDINGS OF THE SCHOOL BOARD OF THE PARISH OF CONCORDIA, STATE OF LOUISIANA, TAKEN AT A REGULAR MEETING HELD ON TUESDAY, MARCH 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, March 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 Dr. Pete Peterman, 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. Ricky Raven and Mr. Sam Williams, Jr. Absent were Mr. Manson E. Nelson, Sr., Mr. Charles Partridge, and Mrs. Georgia Washington.

Superintendent recognized the Concordia Parish Students of the Year and the school winners.  Each student was presented a certificate.  The following students were selected:

            School Winners:           Grade 5            Hannah Campbell, MHS

                                                Grade 8            Jacqueline Cooper, FJH

                                                Grade 8            Lindsey Strebeck, MHS

            School and Parish

            Winners:                       Grade 5            Brittney Scott, FUE

                                                Grade 8            Shannan Seals, VJH

                                                Grade 12          Kristie Hamilton, MHS

Mrs. Washington arrived at 5:36 p.m.

Dr. Pete Peterman, Assistant Superintendent, presented Louisiana Hydroelectric Sidney A. Murray Citizenship Awards to the following third grade students:

            Summer Wiley, MHS

            Hannah Chelette, RES

            Courtney Danielle Wyles, VLE

            Mistie Lambert, FLE

Superintendent Lee introduced Barbara Crum, VHS DECA sponsor, who reported on her students' participation at the state DECA conference.  She recognized Jason McClure, who was re-elected Central Area DECA Vice-President, and Ann Davidson, who was elected State Reporter.  She also recognized the following VHS students who placed or were finalists in the following competitions:

            Full Service Restaurant Management                 2nd Place         Sarah Mayfield

                                                                                    3rd Place          Justin Barlow

                                                                                    Finalist              Christen Boles

            Vehicles and Petroleum                                    2nd Place         Joey Reid

            Food Marketing                                               6th Place          Jason McClure

                                                                                    Finalist              Laci Dobson

            Marketing Management                                    Finalist              Sabrina Patrick

Mr. Nelson arrived at 5: 40 p.m.

It was moved by Mr. Coleman, seconded by Mr. Williams and carried to approve minutes of January 27, 1998, and February 3, 1998.

Mrs. Gloria Dangerfield, Assistant Director of Business Affairs, presented invoices for February and the February Financial Report.  It was moved by Mr. Coleman, seconded by Mrs. Cowan and carried to approve the payment of invoices in the amount of $1,842,618.

It was moved by Mrs. Cowan, seconded by Mr. Coleman and carried 7-1, with Mr. Grantham voting no, to go into Executive Session at 5:50 p.m. to discuss pending litigation.

It was moved by Mr. Williams, seconded by Mr. Raven and carried unanimously to return to Open Session at 6:45 p.m.  President White announced that while in Executive Session the Board had discussed pending litigation which required action.  It was moved by Mr. Nelson, seconded by Mr. Coleman and carried unanimously to authorize Mr. Norman Magee, school board attorney, to proceed in Case Number 34,471 as discussed in Executive Session.

Superintendent Lee recommended that the Board approve the second reading of revised Policy JBCC, with an effective date at the beginning of the 1998-99 school year.  It was moved by Mrs. Washington, seconded by Mrs. Cowan and carried 7-1, with Mr. Nelson voting no, to approve the recommendation.

It was moved by Mrs. Washington, seconded by Mr. Coleman and carried to approve the Summer Food Program to be implemented at VJH and FUE, with a satellite site at Clayton.

Dr. Pete Peterman reviewed a proposal for a one-year agreement to join a School Food Service Purchasing Cooperative to decrease costs by purchasing in bulk.  Following discussion, it was moved by Mr. Coleman, seconded by Mrs. Washington and carried unanimously to approve the one-year agreement.

Mr. Tom O'Neal, Director of Business Affairs presented information on mineral leases on Section 7, T8N, R10E and Section 64, T2N, R8E.  It was moved by Mr. Williams, seconded by Mr. Coleman and carried to allow the State Mineral Board to advertise for a mineral lease on Section 7, T8N, R10E.

It was moved by Mrs. Cowan, seconded by Mr. Williams and carried unanimously to approve the re-assignment of mineral rights on Section 64, T2N, R8E.

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

Retirement

            Hilda Cowan, School Bus Operator, FKC, effective 6/15/98

Appointment

            Sontra Davenport, Teacher Assistant, Alt. Sch. Effective 12/16/97

Superintendent Lee announced that the National School Boards Association Conference is scheduled in New Orleans on April 4-7, 1998.  Members planning to attend stated that they would return in time for the next regular meeting scheduled for April 7, 1998.

Superintendent Lee announced that the Board had fulfilled the requirements of Act 478 at the February 3, 1998, meeting.  However, because of questions he had received, he would like to make the following comments:

• Act 478 is another attack on public education.
   

• The instructional administrators analyze student achievement data each year and develop strategies for school improvement.
   

• The rating of the lowest 20% achieving schools is based on the results of the 1996-97 Louisiana criterion-referenced tests for our students only, as reported in the draft copy of the Louisiana Progress Profile.  Although FLE is one of the schools named in the lowest 20%, 81% of FLE students passed the language arts portion of the LEAP and 76% passed the mathematics portion.  At FHS, 76% passed the written composition portion of the GEE and 86% passed the social studies portion.
   

• Our students are not being compared to national averages, rather we are talking about the lowest 20% of the 11 schools in Concordia Parish.  
   

• If we make this same report next year, these may or may not be the schools reported.  In fact, in 1996, FLE received statewide recognition for scholastic growth on LEAP.
   

• In my opinion, what this law is going to do is promote an unhealthy competition among and between principals and teachers throughout the state.
   

• We have complied with the mandate of Act 478, and we have met the timelines established by BESE.
   

It was moved by Mr. Coleman, seconded by Mr. Williams and carried to adjourn at 7:05 p.m.

__________________________                               __________________________

James E. Lee, Superintendent                                       Ernest Lynn White, President