July 21, 1998

PROCEEDINGS OF THE SCHOOL BOARD OF THE PARISH OF CONCORDIA, STATE OF LOUISIANA, TAKEN AT A REGULAR MEETING HELD ON TUESDAY, JULY 21, 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, July 21, 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 Mrs. Marie Cowan, 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, Mrs. Georgia Washington and Mr. Sam Williams, Jr. Absent were Mr. Manson E. Nelson, Sr., and Mr. Charles Partridge.

It was moved by Mr. Coleman, seconded by Mr. Williams and carried unanimously to approve minutes of the June 2 and June 30, 1998, meetings.

Mrs. Gloria Dangerfield, Assistant Director of Business Affairs presented invoices and the Financial Report for June 1998. There was discussion of the General Fund balance and General Fund investments. Mrs. Dangerfield explained specific expenditures, including payments of engineer's fees from the Coregis Loss Fund for rebuilding FJH and the costs for repair and upkeep of buildings which includes the costs for summer maintenance and painting. It was moved by Mrs. Cowan, seconded by Mr. Coleman and carried to approve the payment of invoices in the amount of $1,826,453.

It was moved by Mr. Coleman, seconded by Mr. Williams and carried 6-1, with Mr. Grantham voting no, to go into Executive Session at 5:42 p.m. to discuss personnel matters,

It was moved by Mr. Coleman, seconded by Mr. Williams and carried unanimously to return to Open Session at 6:59 p.m. President White announced that while in Executive Session the Board had discussed personnel matters. Superintendent Lee announced that the investigation of several employees in the matter of the Test Erasure Analysis Report received from the Louisiana Department of Education has been completed. He state that he would schedule due process hearings for the individuals involved and make recommendations at the August 4, 1998, Board meeting.

Superintendent Lee made the following recommendation: After a due process hearing held on Tuesday, May 19, 1998, I recommend that a tenure hearing be held for Carolyn Gousset, teacher at Ferriday Upper Elementary, for an alleged violation of the Firearm Free Zone at FUE, on May 12, 1998. Furthermore, I am also recommending that Ms. Gousset be suspended without pay, effective August 13, 1998, pending the resolution of this matter. It was moved by Mr. Coleman, seconded by Mrs. Washington and carried 5-2, with Mr. Grantham and Mr. Raven voting no, to approve the recommendations. Mr. Norman Magee, attorney for the Board, stated that Mrs. Gousset would be provided notice of the date of the hearing as required by law.

It was moved by Mr. Williams, seconded by Mr. Raven and carried unanimously to approve the addition of the following statement to the school bus operator contract effective 1998-99: M. All contract school bus operators are responsible for securing a certified substitute school bus driver whenever they are unable to run their routes.

Following discussion of the successful work of the roofing crew over the past three years, Superintendent Lee recommended that the two positions on the roofing crew be made a permanent part of the maintenance crew. It was moved by Mr. Coleman, seconded by Mr. Raven and carried unanimously to approve the recommendation.

Dr. Pete Peterman, Assistant Superintendent, presented proposed revisions to the 1998-99 school calendar as a result of laws enacted by the 1998 Legislature. It was moved by Mrs. Washington, seconded by Mr. Raven and carried unanimously to approve the following revised calendar:

CONCORDIA PARISH SCHOOLS

1998-99 SCHOOL CALENDAR

GRADING PERIODS

FIRST SEMESTER Monday, August 17, 1998 - Monday, January 11, 1999

1st 6 Weeks Monday, August 17, 1998 - Monday, September 28, 1998

2nd 6 Weeks Tuesday, September 29, 1998 - Monday, November 9, 1998

3rd 6 Weeks Tuesday, November 10, 1998 - Monday, January 11, 1999

SECOND SEMESTER Tuesday, January 12. 1999 - Thursday, May 27, 1999

4th 6 Weeks Tuesday, January 12, 1999 - Friday, February 26, 1999

5th 6 Weeks Monday, March 1, 1999 - Thursday, April 15, 1999

6th 6 Weeks Friday, April 16, 1999 - Wednesday, May 26, 1999

SCHOOL HOLIDAYS

Labor Day September 7, 1998

Employees' Conventions November 23, 24,25,1998

Thanksgiving Holidays November 26,27,1998

Christmas Holidays December 21, 1998 - January 1, 1999, inclusive

Martin Luther King's Day January 18, 1999

Mardi Gras February 15, 16, 1999

Easter & Spring Holidays March 29 - April 2, 1999

TESTING DATES

LEAP & Iowa Test of Basic Skills March 22-26, 1999

GEE & 9th Grade NRT April 12 - 16,1999

STAFF DEVELOPMENT

August 13 - 14, 1998

OTHER IMPORTANT DATES

Early Dismissal (1:00 p.m.) August 17, 1998

ParentFest November 7, 1998

ITBS Pretest December 7-9, 1998

Early Dismissal (1:00 p.m.) December 18, 1998

Parent Conference Day January 22, 1999

Honors' Banquet April 15, 1999

Preschool Round-up May 7, 1999

Senior Exams May 10 - 14, 1999

Graduation May 20, 21, 1999

Final Exams Begin May 21, 1999

Final Exams and Early

Dismissal (1:00 p.m.) May 24, 25, 26, 1999

Teacher Workday & Report

Cards Issued (2:00 p.m.) May 27, 1999

Mr. H. L. Irvin, Supervisor of Supportive Services, provided an update on the School Safety and Security Project. He reported that 2-way radios would be provided for all schools by the time school opens, allowing the principal, assistant principal and duty teachers to be in touch with the school office and the Central Office as necessary. He stated that the intercom systems in classrooms are being upgraded and new wiring has been installed to accommodate new two-way intercom systems. The cost is expected to be approximately $11,000 per school. In addition, principals are developing a Strategic Safety Plan for crisis situations.

It was moved by Mrs. Cowan, seconded by Mr. Williams and carried unanimously to open bids for bread, milk, and exterminating services in school cafeterias.

The following bids were opened for milk:

Borden's. Inc. Composite (1/2 pint Whole Homogenized Milk, 1% Lowfat, $ .1588

P. 0. Box 1831 1% Lowfat Chocolate Milk, Skim Milk)

Monroe, LA 71301

Juice - 100% pure from concentrate, 4 oz. Paper container,

70/4 oz price per case

Apple $9.10 Cs

Orange $9.75 Cs

Grape $9.80 Cs

Orange-Pineapple $9.80 Cs

Foremost Dairies, Inc. Composite (1/2 pint Whole Homogenized Milk. 1% Lowfat, $.1889

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

Shreveport, LA 71163 Juice - 100% pure from concentrate - 4 oz. Paper container, $.15

70/4 oz price per case per unit

The following bids were opened for bread:

Cotton Brothers Baking Sliced White Enriched Bread, 24 oz. $1.05

P.O. Box 540 Sliced Whole Wheat Bread, 16 oz. $1.10

3400 MacArthur Drive Hot Dog Buns, 12 package $1.15

Alexandria, LA 71301 Cafe Buns/Hamburger Buns, 25 pkg. $1.93

French Bread, Fully Cooked, 16 oz. $1.05

Bagel. 6 ct./1 oz., (Plain, Cinnamon, Raisin, Whole $1.58

Wheat, Blueberry)

Mr. Larry Brock Sliced White Enriched Bread, 24 oz. $ .92

Flowers Baking Co. Inc. Sliced Whole Wheat Bread, 20 oz. $1.19

P. 0. Box 3637 Hot Dog Buns, 12 package $1.00

Baton Rouge, LA 70821 Cafe Buns/Hamburger Buns, 30 pkg. $1.90

French Bread. Fully Cooked, 16 oz. $1.45

Bagel, 6 ct./1 oz., (Plain, Cinnamon, Raisin, Whole $1.59

Wheat, Blueberry)

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

basis:

B & B Pest Control, Inc. $250.00

Bug Buster $400.00

Dr. Bug, Inc. $300.00

Northeast Pest Control $300.00

Old South Pest Control no bid

Redd Pest Control $480.00

It was moved by Mr. Coleman, seconded by Mr. Raven and carried unanimously to award the milk bid to Borden's, the exterminating services bid to B & B Pest Control and to take the bids for bread under advisement to be awarded at the next meeting.

Mr. Fred T. Butcher, Director of Academics, presented the annual revisions for the Pupil Progression Plan. He stated that administrators had met to review the plan and to suggest revisions. There was discussion of specific items. It was moved by Mr. Williams, seconded by Mr. Coleman and carried unanimously to approve the Pupil Progression Plan for 1998-99.

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

Teachers Recommended for Tenure, 1998-99

Linda Alexander, FJH Nancy Anders, FHS

Sue Calkins, FHS Gertrude Carter, FUE

Jackie Coco, FLE Jane Dodd, FLE

Carol Johnson, FLE Gary P. Parnham, Jr., VHS

Sherrie Scott, FLE Sandra Scruggs, FHS

Whest Shirley, VJH Sharon Smith, FJH

Jodee Trant, MHS Julia Walker, VJH

Ellen Yates, VLE

Resignations

Danielle Fontenot, Teacher, RES, effective 5/28/98

Carol McCray, Teacher, FJH, effective 5/28/98

Leigh Webber, Teacher, FKC, 5/28/98

Robin White, Teacher, FJH, 5/28/98

Retirement

Susan Hammett, Teacher, VLE, effective 6/11/98

Leaves

Military

Wilton W. Nolan, School Psychologist, FEC, eff. 8/17/98-8/27/98 and 8/31/98-9/2/98

Sabbatical

Annie Bates, Teacher, FUE, effective 8/13/98-1/11/99

Medical

Jan Armstrong, Secretary/Bookkeeper, eff 7/6/98-1/6/99

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

Transfers

From To

Effective 7/22/98

Stephen Bush Custodian, RES Custodian, VLE

Ferman Washington Janitor, FHS Maintenance, CO

Effective 8/3/98

Jo Matson Sch. Sec., RES Sch. Sec., FKC

Effective 8/13/98

Lisa Abron Teacher, FJH Teacher/Coach,FHS

Gay Cross Teacher, FKC Teacher, FUE

Bobbie Hinson Teacher, FJH Teacher, FLE

Sally Lanehart Teacher, FLE Teacher, FKC

Joan McFarland Teacher/Coach, FHS Teacher, Alt. Sch

Karen Nelson Sp. Ed. Teacher, MHS Sp. Ed. Teacher, FLE

Cathy Smith Teacher, FJH Teacher, FKC

Vickie Smith Teacher, VJH Teacher, FUE

Ava Stewart Sp. Ed. Teacher, FHS Sp. Ed. Teacher, FLE

Augustine Thomas Sp. Ed. Teacher, VUE Sp. Ed. Teacher, FJH

Effective 8/17/98

Bobbie Carr Tchr. Asst., VUE Tchr. Asst., FHS

Willie Mae McCoy Tchr. Asst., FHS Tchr. Asst., VUE

Joe K. Webber Maintenance, CO School Bus Operator

Appointments

Nancy Philley, School Secretary, MHS, effective 8/3/98

Lora Renfro, Teacher, VLE, effective 8/13/98

Clarence W. Skipper, School Bus Operator, effective 8/17/98

Tatia Webber, Teacher, FJH, effective 8/13/98

Suzanne Wiles, Teacher, FUE, effective 8/13/98

It was moved by Mr. Williams, seconded by Mr. Raven and carried unanimously to adjourn at 7:55 p.m.

__________________________ __________________________

James E. Lee, Superintendent Ernest Lynn White, President