VIDALIA, La. &045; Repeated visits and a steady slot on the Concordia Parish School Board’s agenda may have finally paid off for the districts bus drivers.

A discussion dating back to last September came to a conclusion both sides said they were happy with Tuesday night, but not without lengthy discussion and clarification.

Bus driver James Cockerham approached the board to ask them to take back a decision made at last month’s meeting that gave the drivers a 13 percent occupational allowance due to high gas prices and other expenses. Cockerham, who left the May meeting happy with the 13 percent, said Tuesday that neither he nor the board had all the facts.

&uot;When payroll checks came out at the end of May we perceived something to be wrong,&uot; Cockerham said. &uot;We were expecting X number of dollars.&uot;

Cockerham said his check included $9 in addition to his normal salary.

&uot;The 13 percent didn’t amount to anything,&uot; Cockerham said. &uot;It amounted to chicken feed.&uot;

Because the 13 percent was based on the month of May, the drivers were only paid for 18 days. Since the drivers expected more money in order to do summer repairs and upkeep, Cockerham asked the board to find a way to make the 13 percent retroactive, including more months and generating more money.

All board members agreed that the amount received was not fair and Superintendent Kerry Laster made a recommendation to make the 13 percent operational allowance retroactive to Dec. 1, her first day on the job. Laster asked the business department to make sure the money was available in the budget, and the board approved the recommendation.

The board also passed a recommendation to pay bus drivers $1.50 per mile plus $8.33 per hour for field trips, including football game trips.

The board also approved the 2004-2005 school uniform policy. Changes to the policy include allowing students to wear jackets in the building and the addition of an optional school spirit jacket for purchase. Other regulations forbid sagging pants or shorts and clothing that is too large or too small. School administrators are responsible for rule enforcement.