PROCEEDINGS OF THE SCHOOL BOARD OF THE PARISH OF CONCORDIA, STATE OF LOUISIANA, TAKEN AT A REGULAR MEETING HELD ON TUESDAY, APRIL 6, 1999
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, April 6, 1999, at five-thirty (5:30) o'clock p.m. The meeting was called to order by the Honorable Mike Grantham, President, who declared that the Board, after prayer by Rev. Johnnie Brown, and the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag, was ready for the transaction of business.
Members present were the Honorable Mike Grantham, Mr. Darrell Crofford, Mr. Eddie Coleman, Mr. Don Joseph, Mr. Ernest Lynn White, Mr. Ricky Raven, Rev. Johnnie Brown, Mrs. Mary Campbell and Mrs. Martha Rabb.
Dr. Pete Peterman, Assistant Superintendent, recognized the Sidney A. Murray Citizenship Award winners for March. They were:
Ridgecrest Elementary School 1st grade Lucinda Cephus
2nd grade Heath Higdon
Vidalia Lower Elementary 1st grade Ebony Banks
2nd grade Chelsea Warren
Ferriday Lower Elementary 1st grade Ashton Long
2nd grade Elliott Jefferson
Monterey School 1st grade Kelsey Mount
2nd grade Dillon Green
It was moved by Mr. Coleman, seconded by Mr. Crofford and carried to approve the minutes of March 2, 1999, and March 22, 1999.
It was moved by Mr. Crofford, seconded by Rev. Brown and carried to approve invoices in the amount of $2,355,081.00.
Rev. Brown requested that the Board be provided with financial statements from each school along with the regular financial statement each month.
Superintendent requested that the Board add two (2) personnel items to the agenda to be heard during the Executive Session.
It was moved by Mr. White, seconded by Rev. Brown and carried to add the items to the agenda.
It was moved by Mr. Crofford, seconded by Mr. Brown and carried to go into Executive Session at 5:55 p.m.
It was moved by Mr. White, seconded by Mrs. Rabb and carried to return to Regular Session at 8:47 p.m.
Mr. Grantham informed the group that 2 personnel items had been discussed during Executive Session. No action was taken on one of the items.
It was moved by Mrs. Rabb, seconded by Mr. Crofford and carried to add R. Davis to the agenda for extended sick leave from April 5, 1999, to May 27, 1999.
Mr. Grantham informed the group that there was a discussion of the Superintendent's contract.
It was moved by Mr. Crofford, seconded by Mrs. Rabb, not to offer a contract of any kind to Superintendent Lee. Mr. Grantham called for a roll call vote. The vote was as follows:
Rev. Johnnie Brown NO
Mrs. Mary Campbell NO
Mr. Eddie Coleman NO
Mr. Darrell Crofford YES
Mr. Donald Joseph YES
Mrs. Martha Rabb YES
Mr. Ricky Raven YES
Mr. Ernest Lynn White NO
Mr. Mike Grantham YES
The motion carried.
It was moved by Mr. Brown, seconded by Mr. Joseph and carried to sponsor the Summer Food Service Program for Children.
It was moved by Mr. Joseph, seconded by Mr. Coleman and carried to re-authorize for participation in the Child Nutrition Purchasing Cooperative.
There was no update on the Ferriday Junior High School Building Project. This update was postponed by the Finance Committee. A meeting was scheduled for all Committee Chairpersons to review the cafeteria renovation plans.
Mr. Coleman questioned the decision to delay the report as he expected the representatives to be at the Board meeting. Rev. Brown added that when the Board makes a decision that only the full Board should remove that item. Mr. White stated that the Buildings and Grounds Committee should have been involved in the decision. Mr. Crofford explained why the decision was made not to hear the report.
Bids were opened for Furniture as follows:
Central Office Supply $85,225.00
Highsmith Inc. Did not meet specifications
Kimbrell Office Supply Company Unable to bid
Missco Corporation $95,867.86
Bids were opened for Library Books as follows:
Follett Library Resources $56,972.88
Mr. Tom O'Neal, Director or Business Affairs, explained to the Board that both bids were to be turn-key jobs. He informed the Board that the Bids must be reviewed for composite numbers. Superintendent Lee recommended that the bids be sent to committee for awarding.
It was moved by Mr. Joseph, seconded by Mr. Raven and carried to recommend the bids to committee for review.
Superintendent Lee provided an explanation of the Minimum Foundation Program funding formula to the Board. He explained to the Board that the formula is not currently fully funded.
It was moved by Mr. Coleman, seconded by Mrs. Campbell and carried to approve a Resolution for full funding of the Minimum Foundation Program as follows:
RESOLUTION
To provide for support of full funding of the minimum foundation formula developed and adopted by the State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education and that the new funding be unrestricted, and to provide for support for funding for the K-3 Reading and Mathematics, Accountability, and Technology Initiatives in addition to full funding of the minimum foundation formula.
WHEREAS, Article VIII, Section 13(B) of the Constitution of Louisiana requires the State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education annually to develop and adopt a formula which shall be used to determine the cost of a minimum foundation program of education in all public elementary and secondary schools as well as to equitably allocate the funds to parish and city school systems; and
WHEREAS, the State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education adopted a formula for the 1999-2000 school year for full funding of the final year of a multi-year implementation of the minimum foundation program, and
WHEREAS, the Legislature and the Governor committed last year to the final payment for full funding of the formula in school year 1999-2000, and
WHEREAS, the formula is designed to provide local school systems with monies to pay for the cost of a minimum foundation, which includes numerous unfunded state and federal mandates, and
WHEREAS, new monies to the formula in the past three years have been dedicated by the state in part to teacher salaries, and
WHEREAS, additional state funding has been provided by the state for the K-3 Reading and Mathematics, Accountability, and Technology initiatives, and
WHEREAS, the K-3 Reading and Mathematics Initiative provides essential services to improve the reading and computing skills of students in kindergarten through third grade, including prevention and intervention, staff development, materials, and parent education, and
WHEREAS, the state's technology initiative provides for educators and students to have access to technologies that are effective in improving student achievement, and
WHEREAS, the State's new Accountability System provides for higher standards, rigorous tests, elimination of social promotion, remediation, school performance scores, school growth targets, and corrective actions, and
WHEREAS, mandates of the State's new Accountability System require systems to provide remediation and summer school for students scoring below a certain level on the state's new LEAP 21 test, and
WHEREAS, the state funding provided for Accountability provides only a portion of the funding for these services, and minimum foundation funds will be necessary to provide these services,
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that Concordia Parish School Board urges and requests the Louisiana Legislature and the Governor to fully fund the minimum foundation program for 1999-2000, and to ensure that these new monies be unrestricted so that the school system can meet the requirements of Accountability and the specific needs of the school system, and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that Concordia Parish School Board urges and requests that the Governor and Louisiana Legislature continue to support and fund the K-3 Reading and Mathematics, Accountability, and Technology Initiatives as provided in the Executive Budget.
It was moved by Mr. White, seconded by Mrs. Rabb and carried to approve a Resolution for the assignment of interest in a mineral lease as follows:
RESOLUTION
BE IT RESOLVED by the Concordia Parish School Board that KFG Petroleum, Inc. be allowed to assign its interest in that State Agency Lease Number 3673, Tract Number 7777, being all of its Working Interest, which is 75% of 100% Working Interest and that Guernsey Petroleum Corporation be allowed to assign all of its interest in that State Agency Lease Number 3673, Tract Number 7777, being all of its Working Interest, which is 25% of 100%. The property is located in Section 64, Township 2 North, Range 8 East, approximately 383.19 acres, being in Lower Sunk Lake Field.
BEFORE ME, personally came and appeared Mike Grantham, to me personally known being by me duly sworn, did depose and say that he is the President of the Concordia Parish School Board and that he executed the foregoing instrument on behalf of the Concordia Parish School Board, with full authority. That the above described assignment can be executed by KFG Petroleum, Inc. and Guernsey Petroleum Corporation in favor of JMR Oil, Inc.
The Board recognized Mrs. Carol A. Brown, representing Advocates for Change in Pupil Progression. Mrs. Brown called for an immediate change in the Pupil Progression Plan for Concordia Parish. Mrs. Brown pointed out how faulty math had resulted in penalizing students in Grade Point Averages and Class Ranking. Mrs. Brown provided the Board with information supporting her request. Mrs. Brown called for action on the Pupil Progression Plan prior to graduation.
Superintendent Lee informed Mrs. Brown and the Board that he did not hear anything with which he disagreed. After reviewing the calculation process, it was discovered a mistake had been made. In order for the Board to rectify the error, it would take 90 days.
Mr. Fred T. Butcher, Director of Academic Affairs, informed the group that class ranking does not affect scholarships. He also provided the Board with information on student ranking.
There was a general discussion on Honors courses and Grade Point Averages.
President Mike Grantham thanked Mrs. Brown for her concerns, but stated that nothing could be done at this point. Mr. Grantham stated that it takes the Board 90 days to change policy, and the Board is currently bound by the provisions of the Pupil Progression Plan.
It was moved by Mrs. Campbell, seconded by Mr. Raven and carried to approve a proclamation in support of Teacher Appreciation Week as follows:
PROCLAMATION
WHEREAS, the future of our communities, our state, and our nation rests in the hands of our teachers who are called upon to meet challenges daily in helping all students, regardless of ability level, to reach their full potential; and
WHEREAS, teachers play a crucial role in the development of our children, and the success of the educational process is dependent upon the classroom and the relationship which exists between the teacher and the student; and
WHEREAS, the economic and social well-being of our communities depends on the skills and knowledge teachers provide their students day in and day out, in spite of low pay and the ever-growing number of responsibilities they are asked to assume; and
WHEREAS, Concordia Parish School Board recognizes the vital contributions by teachers in Concordia Parish, who exhibit a high degree of expertise, knowledge, dedication and love for our children in our classrooms every day of the school year; now
THEREFORE, BE IT PROCLAIMED, that the week of May 2 through May 8, 1999, will be celebrated as Teacher Appreciation Week in the Concordia Parish School System, and the Concordia Parish School Board requests that parents and citizens join in expressing their appreciation for the contributions of our teachers.
It was moved by Mr. Joseph, seconded by Mr. White and carried to approve the second reading of Policy II - Testing Program.
It was moved by Rev. Brown, seconded by Mr. Raven and carried to approve the additional Summer Maintenance Workers.
Mr. Howard Jackson, Supervisor of Child Welfare and Attendance, provided the Board with an update on out-of-zone students. Mr. Jackson referred to the Concordia Parish School Board Policy Manual. Mr. Jackson informed the Board that once verification of residence is supplied, there is no policy in place for further investigation into actual residence. Mr. Jackson suggested the Board establish a policy for addressing this issue in the future.
Rev. Brown addressed the Board concerning an awards program for employees. It was moved by Mr. Brown, seconded by Mr. Raven and carried for the Personnel Committee to develop a formal plan for selecting an Employee of the Month.
Rev. Brown addressed the Board concerning payroll policy changes. Rev. Brown voiced concerns over cuts being made in employee checks of which the employee was not aware. Rev. Brown was informed that employees are notified when calculations are incorrect and adjustments must be made. Mrs. Dangerfield, Assistant Director of Business Affairs, informed Rev. Brown that in the previous month, a death in the family prevented these letters from being sent prior to the checks. Mr. Brown was assured that every effort is made to inform employees of payroll changes.
Rev. Brown raised questions concerning the Central Office Employee contracts. Superintendent Lee informed Mr. Brown that a copy of the contract would be included in the next Board FYI.
Rev. Brown addressed the Board concerning Curriculum Development for the 1999-2000 school year. Mr. Butcher, Director of Academic Affairs, informed the Board that the last two (2) years had been spent revising the curriculum. There was a general discussion concerning the curriculum development over the past year, with statements from Mr. Gary Parnham, Principal, and Mrs. Cindy Smith, Teacher. Mrs. Smith assured Rev. Brown that the parish had moved forward in the past year in the area of curriculum development.
It was moved by Mr. Raven, seconded by Mrs. Rabb to add Gracie Woods, Parent, to the agenda. The motion failed 4-5, with Mr. Raven, Mrs. Rabb, Mr. White and Mr. Joseph voting in favor of the motion.
It was noted by Board members that allowing Mrs. Woods to speak would be a violation of Board policy. Mrs. Woods was asked to follow the grievance procedure. If she was not satisfied with the results, the item would be placed on the agenda.
It was moved by Mr. White, seconded by Mr. Coleman and carried to approve all personnel items.
Superintendent Lee addressed the Board. He reviewed the Board decisions over the past months concerning the negotiation of his contract. The Board voted to re-negotiate the contract. To date, there have been no negotiations. He has been given no reason for the action, and he will request and insist on a reason from the Board. Superintendent Lee stated, that as a 31 year veteran of the Concordia Parish School System, he felt he deserved more respect from the Board as a whole. Superintendent Lee thanked the teachers, parents and administrators of the parish who have supported his administration. Superintendent Lee stated that he is leaving the system better than he found it. He stated the contract expires on June 30, 1999, and he plans to work until the last hour of the last day.
Motion to adjourn by Rev. Brown at 10:55 p.m.
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James E. Lee, Superintendent Mike Grantham, Board President