VIDALIA, La. – Employees in the Concordia Parish School System will receive extra cash in their regular pay supplement this month.

Instead of $400, the Concordia Parish School Board voted Tuesday to pay all full-time employees $500. Part-time employees will receive $250 dollars instead of $200.

&uot;We give an additional $100 just to say thank you for their work,&uot; said Mike Grantham, President of the Concordia Parish School Board.

The school district funds the annual supplement of $400 for full-time employees and $200 for part-time employees through designated ad valorem tax revenues.

This is the second year the employees have received the supplement, and they will receive it for three more years, said Superintendent Dr. Lester &uot;Pete&uot; Peterman.

This is also the second year they have received the additional money with the supplement which the board must approve each year.

&uot;They really deserve it. Our employees really deserve it,&uot; Peterman said &uot;I think the board wants to do everything for them that they can.&uot;

The employees will receive the supplement on Dec 19.

In other business Tuesday, the board approved the selection of Derrick White as an administrative assistant for Ferriday High School.

White already has been performing this job in an unofficial capacity.

&uot;He’s worked out very well,&uot; Peterman said.

Tuesday’s approval from the board made the placement official and gives White more authority in the workplace.

The board also approved naming Whest Shirley as a temporary administrative assistant at Vidalia Junior High School for the next six weeks only without any change in salary.

The board also voted to hire Gladys Price as a school nurse. A previous motion to hire Brenda Temple as school nurse failed with a four to four vote.

Peterman said both candidates had the skills necessary for the position.

&uot;I am satisfied that both candidates are qualified to do the job,&uot; he said.

The board also approved the development of an alternative school program for third- to five-grade students and approved participation in an administrative outreach program to reach students eligible for Medicaid not receiving the benefits.

Board members also received an update on its energy saving plan. From June to October, officials estimated that the school district had saved about $30,000 in energy costs.