PROCEEDINGS OF THE SCHOOL BOARD OF THE PARISH OF CONCORDIA,

STATE OF LOUISIANA, TAKEN AT A REGULAR MEETING HELD ON TUESDAY,

OCTOBER 6, 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, October 6, 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, Mr. Manson E. Nelson, Sr., Mr. Charles Partridge, Mr. Ricky Raven and Mr. Sam Williams, Jr. Absent was Mrs. Georgia Washington.

Dr. Pete Peterman, Assistant Superintendent, recognized Concordia Parish Middle School Teacher of the Year Robert Whestly Shirley, teacher at VJH.  Mr. Shirley was presented a certificate and will receive $100 and an additional personal leave day.

Mr. Ralph Laukhuff, Executive Director of Louisiana Hydroelectric, recognized the Sidney A. Murray Citizenship winners for September.  They were:

            Vidalia High School               12th grade        Julius Montrell Turner

                                                            11th grade        Dennis Rae Whitley

            Ferriday High School              12th grade        Jennifer Javalen Bell

                                                             11th grade        Kryshawn Bell

            Monterey High School           12th grade        Abigail Morris

                                                             11th grade        Shannon Philley

Mrs. Washington arrived at 5:35 p.m.

Superintendent Lee recognized Mr. Joe Bairnsfather of the Louisiana Cooperative Extension 4-H office, who recognized the following 4-H state winners:

            First Place                                            Good Provider Winners

            Steven Knapp - Machines                    Jennifer Crum

            Brandi Lipsey - Insects                        Audra Kemp

            Abigail Morris - Leadership                 April Woodruff

            Tom Tiffee - 7th Grade Overall

                                    Record Project

On behalf of 4-H, April Woodruff read a statement thanking Board members and administrators for their support of 4-H and presented 4-H seat cushions to each member.

It was moved by Mr. Coleman, seconded by Mr. Williams and carried unanimously to approve minutes of the September 15, 1998, meeting.

Mrs. Gloria Dangerfield, Assistant Director of Business Affairs, presented invoices and the Financial Report for September, She pointed out that the expenditures included investments in the amount of 2,906,842.  It was moved by Mr. Nelson, seconded by Mr. Coleman and carried unanimously to approve the payment of invoices in the amount of $5,074,399, including investments.

It was moved by Mr. Coleman, seconded by Mrs. Cowan and carried 7-2: with Mr. Grantham and Mr. Partridge voting no, to go into Executive Session at 5:51 p.m. to discuss a grievance and personnel matters.

It was moved by Mrs. Cowan, seconded by Mrs. Washington and carried unanimously to return to Open Session at 6:42 p.m. President White stated that a grievance was discussed and that action would be taken later as listed on the agenda.  He stated that the personnel matters which were discussed did not require action.

Superintendent Lee read a proclamation for ChildNet/Search Awareness Month.  Concordia Parish Schools will recognize ChildNet/Search Awareness Month during the month of October.  It was moved by Mr. Partridge, seconded by Mr. Williams and carried unanimously to approve the proclamation.

Superintendent Lee read a proclamation naming October 23-31 Red Ribbon Week in Concordia Parish Schools.  It was moved by Mr. Partridge, seconded by Mr. Williams and carried to approve the proclamation.

It was moved by Mr. Coleman, seconded by Mr. Williams, and carried unanimously to approve the recommendations of the Grievance Committee in the matter of the grievance brought by the parents of a student.

It was moved by Mrs. Washington, seconded by Mr. Partridge and carried unanimously to accept the grant and fiscal agency responsibility for the U. S. Department of Education Technology Innovation Challenge Grant America 2000: Making Inroads to the Backroads to be implemented 1998-2003 in Concordia, Catahoula, Franklin, Morehouse and Tensas Parish School Systems.

It was moved by Mr. Williams, seconded by Mr. Raven and carried unanimously to approve the 2nd reading of the following policies and policy revisions: AE, AF, BBBC, BCBI, BH, CE, DFE, DFL, DJED, ED, EE, GAMG, GBD, GBRA, GBRJ, GCD, IF, IDFA, IHA, JBC, JGC.

Superintendent Lee announced the ParentFest to be held on November 7, 1998, at 9-00 a.m. at FHS.  He also reminded Board members that the grievance discussed earlier required complete confidentiality to protect all involved.

Mr. Williams asked if the general election which was to be held on November 3, 1998, would interfere with the Board meeting also scheduled for that day.  After discussion, it was moved by Mr. Partridge and seconded by Mr. Grantham to add to the agenda an item to move the date of the November Board meeting to the following Tuesday.  The motion failed on a vote of 2-7, with Mr. Grantham and Mr. Partridge voting yes.

It was moved by Mr. Partridge, seconded by Mr. Williams and carried to adjourn at 6:59 p.m.

__________________________                                            __________________________

James E. Lee, Superintendent                                                    Ernest Lynn White, President