VIDALIA — Concordia Parish is one step closer to opening a magnet school as the school board approved to send its proposal to the U.S. Justice Department during its meeting Thursday.

A magnet school offers specialized courses and does not rely on school district lines, but rather can draw students from the entire parish.

The school will be a math, science and technology magnet school for grades kindergarten to fifth grade and would be placed in the current Ridgecrest School site.

During the meeting, Superintendent Loretta Blankenstein clarified to the board and public that Thursday’s approval was not a motion to shut down Ridgecrest School, but that it was only to send the proposal to the justice department.

“I have had some teachers who are concerned, but I like to keep the public and school personnel aware of everything we’re doing,” Blankenstein said. “We’re just trying to be transparent and make everyone aware of what we’re doing.”

The justice department must review the proposal and either approve, deny or request further information, Blankenstein said.

If the justice department approves the proposal, it will be brought back before the school board for another vote.

The board would vote whether to proceed with the magnet school and also the closing of Ridgecrest School, Blankenstein said.

“At that point…we would have discussion with the board and the public,” Blankenstein said.

Pending a decision from the school board, the proposal would go before a desegregation judge — because the parish is under a federal desegregation order — for a final vote.

Blankenstein said the judge reviews the proposal to ensure that no purposeful racial division is occurring within the future school.

Paul Nelson, director of academic programs, said the structure of the school, which will draw initial students from a lottery system and be a 50/50 racial makeup, is one of several things that makes him confident of an approval from the justice department.

“I’m glad we’re at this juncture of the game and happy we’re moving forward,” Nelson said.

Blankenstein said the ideal plan would be to have all matters approved and begin accepting applications to open the school by August.

A 2.5 GPA, clean discipline record, attendance records and parent participation would likely be required for students to remain at the school following the random lottery.

If the magnet school opens, students currently enrolled at Ridgecrest not drawn in the lottery will be sent to Vidalia, Ferriday or Monterey.

In other news from the school board meeting:

• Tom O’Neal, director of Business Affairs, presented a review of an audit report for the last fiscal year’s budget.

The general fund was listed at $20.4 million, which is an increase of $1.4 million from the previous year’s budget of $19.5 million.

“Its not too often that we pat ourselves on the back, but the public needs to be aware of what our responsibilities are and that we live up to those responsibilities the best we can,” O’Neal said. “At a time when people are getting laid off, we’ve buckled down and been able to stay on track.”

O’Neal gave the budget and audit a score of 97.7 percent.

• The board approved the following early dismissal days:

Jan. 18 — Monterey.

Jan. 27 — Ferriday and Ridgecrest Schools.

Jan. 31 — Vidalia Schools.

• The board reelected all officers for 2012, which included Gary Parnham as board president.

• The board voted to hold all 2012 board meetings on Thursdays.

• Blankenstein reminded the board and public that schools would be closed Monday in remembrance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day.