LINCOLN PARISH SCHOOL BOARD

Ruston, Louisiana

REGULAR SESSION

Tuesday, January 4, 2000   6:00 p.m.

The Lincoln Parish School Board met in Regular Session on Tuesday, January 4, 2000, at 6:00 p.m. in the Board Room of the Lincoln Parish School Board Office, 410 South Farmerville Street, Ruston, Louisiana.  Members present were Mr. David Wright, Mr. Billy Abrahm, Mr. Otha Anders, Ms. Priscilla Barfield, Dr. Marty Beasley, Mr. Curtis Dowling, Ms. Mattie Harrison, Mr. Jim Kessler, Mr. George Mack, Mr. Joe Mitcham, Mr. Rob Shadoin, and Mr. Allen Tuten.

No one was absent.

President Wright called the meeting to order, gave the invocation, and led in the Pledge of Allegiance to the American flag.

Upon a motion by Mr. Anders, seconded by Mr. Mitcham, the Board unanimously voted to adopt the agenda as printed.

Upon a motion by Dr. Beasley, seconded by Mr. Mitcham, the Board unanimously voted to approve the minutes of the Regular Session held on December 7, 1999 as distributed.

Election of officers for 2000 was the next agenda item to be considered and the floor was opened for nominations for board president.

Mr. Anders nominated Mr. Wright to serve as president and Dr. Beasley seconded the motion.  Mr. Tuten moved that nominations cease.  By acclamation, Mr. Wright was chosen to begin his seventh consecutive term as president of the Lincoln Parish School Board.

The floor was opened for nominations for the office of vice-president for 2000.

Mr. Mack nominated Mr. Shadoin to serve as vice-president and Mr. Tuten seconded the motion.  Mr. Abrahm moved that nominations cease and Ms. Barfield seconded that motion.  By a unanimous voice vote, Mr. Shadoin was elected to serve as vice-president for 2000.

Mr. Wright expressed his appreciation to the Board and pledged to continue to do his best. Mr. Shadoin said he will also serve to the best of his ability.

The Board served as a Committee of the Whole and the following Personnel Committee agenda items were discussed after Ronnie Suggs, Assistant Superintendent, presented item #1 and Howard Whitlock, Transportation Supervisor, presented #2:

1.   Employment of the following:

Janet Allen, effective January 18, 2000, as teacher at Glen View replacing Kaye Rabb who was granted a sabbatical.

Effective January 18, 2000, Donna Knowles as kindergarten teacher at Ruston Elementary replacing Kelly Caldwell who was granted a sabbatical.

John Small, effective December 9, 1999, as ROTC instructor at Ruston High School replacing Charles Mathis who resigned.

2.   Resignation of Ruston bus driver, Don Williamson, effective December 8, 1999.

Upon a motion by Mr. Mitcham, seconded by Mr. Abrahm, the Board unanimously voted to approve the recommendations/requests.

Juanita Duke, Business Manager, reported that December 31, 1999 sales tax collections were down 12.98% compared to the same month last year.  She believes that the decrease is primarily because an automobile sales tax check was not received.  Two auto sales checks should be received next month.  Total year-to-date collections are down 6.53%.  Collected in the '67 and '79 fund was $240,182 and $144,109 was generated in the '93 fund.  A large audit recovery of $53,730 was received during the month of December.  She reiterated that the audit monies are not listed as revenue in budget preparation.   

According to Charles Owens, Director of Auxiliary Services, emergency repair work was done on about one third of Hico Elementary's roof as a result of a severe ice storm in December, 1998.  The remaining portion of the roof leaks after every rain, he reported, and efforts to patch the leaks have proved unsuccessful.  To effectively stop the leaks on this portion of the roof would require replacement.  Costs are not expected to exceed $35,000. He recommended that the Board grant permission to advertise for the roof repair.

Upon a motion by Mr. Kessler, seconded by Ms. Barfield, the Board unanimously voted to grant permission to advertise for bids on replacement of the unrepaired sections of the roof at Hico Elementary School.

Superintendent Gerald Cobb said that actions of the 1999 Session of the Louisiana Legislature continue to require changes to the parish's policies.  He proposed the addition of one new policy, Recruitment of Superintendent, CEC; the deletion of School Bus Conduct, JCDAD-R; and revisions to School Board Ethics, BH; Purchasing, DJE; Bids & Quotations, DJED; Personnel Records, GAK; Student Alcohol & Drug Use, JCDAC; Alcohol, Drug & Substance Abuse Education Program, IDBB; and Summer Session, IDCA.

This information was presented for the Board to peruse until the next Regular Meeting.                    

In a Report of the Superintendent, Dr. Cobb said:

1.   Committee Assignment Preference forms for 2000 were included in packets and should be completed and returned.

2.   Absentee voting on the January 15 sales tax/millage proposals is taking place this week.

3.   The next meeting of the Board is scheduled for Wednesday, January 19, at noon at Choudrant High School.

After brief comments, the meeting was adjourned at 6:28 p.m.

__________________________                                      _____________________

Gerald W. Cobb, Secretary                                                David Wright, President