LINCOLN PARISH SCHOOL BOARD
Ruston, Louisiana
REGULAR SESSION
Tuesday, March 7, 2000 6:00 p.m.
The Lincoln Parish School Board met in Regular Session on Tuesday, March 7, 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. Billy Abrahm, Mr. Otha Anders, Dr. Marty Beasley, Mr. Curtis Dowling, Ms. Mattie Harrison, Mr. Jim Kessler, Mr. George Mack, Mr. Joe Mitcham (arrived after the meeting began), Mr. Rob Shadoin, and Mr. Allen Tuten.
Ms. Priscilla Barfield and Mr. David Wright were absent.
Vice President Shadoin called the meeting to order, gave the invocation, and led in the Pledge of Allegiance to the American flag.
Mr. Mitcham entered the meeting.
Adoption of the agenda as printed was the next agenda item. Mr. Anders requested that Mr. Bill Smith's name be added as he wanted to discuss the Ruston High School boys' basketball program. Mr. Mack seconded the motion. The Board voted 2 - 8 by poll vote on the motion.
Voting for the motion: Mr. Anders and Mr. Mack.
Voting against the motion: Dr. Beasley, Mr. Abrahm, Mr. Kessler, Ms. Harrison, Mr. Mitcham, Mr. Dowling, Mr. Tuten, and Mr. Shadoin.
Upon a motion by Mr. Anders, seconded by Mr. Dowling, the Board unanimously voted to adopt the agenda as printed.
Upon a motion by Mr. Mitcham, seconded by Mr. Abrahm, the Board unanimously voted to approve the minutes of the Regular Session held on February 1, 2000 as distributed.
Randy Moore, Secondary Supervisor, came before the Board and gave background information on the Student of the Year program. He said that each year the Lincoln Parish School System participates in the Student of the Year program. Students are selected from three divisions--elementary (grade 5), junior high (grade 8), and high school (grade 12). Parishwide winners, selected from each division, go on to compete at the regional level, and if successful there, at the state level. A representative from their home school introduced each of the parish winners and shared brief personal information about them. On behalf of the Lincoln Parish School Board, Superintendent Gerald Cobb presented the following parish winners with plaques:
Elementary - - - Bonnie Buckley of Cypress Springs
Junior High - - Kristi Crowder of Ruston Junior High
High School - - Hari Tunuguntla of Ruston High School
Superintendent Cobb congratulated the students and wished them much success in the future. Mr. Shadoin expressed the Board's thanks the students and their families for being a bright ray of sunshine for themselves and the Lincoln Parish School System. He urged them to keep up the good work they are doing.
Senator Bill Jones was to be introduced at this point in the meeting, but was unable to attend.
The state bid law requires that permission be granted to send out bids for all purchases made during a school year. School food service supervisor, Brenda Theodos, requested permission to advertise and accept the lowest bid on all purchases of food, paper and kitchen supplies, and equipment that meet specifications for the 00-01 school year.
Upon a motion by Mr. Kessler, seconded by Mr. Tuten, the Board unanimously voted to grant permission to: advertise for and accept the lowest bids for the Child Nutrition Program food, paper and kitchen supplies, and equipment for the 00-01 school year.
Business manager, Juanita Duke, reminded the Board that each year schools are allocated funds from the 1979 sales tax fund to purchase instructional supplies for art, music, science, P. E., and for magazines, newspapers, and library materials. These amounts are distributed on a per pupil basis through the Business Department. She asked for approval of the 00-01 allocations which are the same amounts used last year and are outlined below:
Art K-12 - $1.00 per student
Physical Education K-12 - $1.00 per student
Library Supplies K-5 - $ .50 per student
6-12 - $1.00 per student
Music K-5 - $ .50 per student
6-12 - $1.00 per student
Magazines & K-6 - $1.70 per student
Newspapers 7-12 - $2.00 per student
Science K-6 - $ .50 per student
7-8 - $2.00 per student
9-12 - $3.50 per student
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Assistant Superintendent, Ronnie Suggs, presented his annual request to send Letters of Intent to employees in order to begin plans for the 00-01 school year.
Upon a motion by Dr. Beasley, seconded by Mr. Mitcham, the Board unanimously voted to give permission to send the Letters of Intent.
In response to the Board's earlier request, a Uniform Study Committee was established and a parent survey was conducted. Chairman, Ronnie Suggs, presented the results of the survey which included an average of 17% of each schools' parents completing a survey, with 62% of those in favor of uniforms, and 37% against mandatory uniforms. Since the Committee felt that great parent support was the most important aspect of a successful mandatory uniform policy, they decided that no further action should be taken. Instead, schools should monitor and amend student dress codes as needed. They said that any school interested in pursuing school uniforms should be allowed to go through the following procedure: get permission from the Superintendent and present a plan of action, secure a large majority of parental support, consider faculty and staff support, form a school site committee to establish uniform guidelines, and appear before the Lincoln Parish School Board to obtain permission for school uniforms.
Upon a motion by Mr. Tuten, seconded by Mr. Anders, the Board unanimously voted to accept the Uniform Study Committee's recommendation as outlined above.
The Board served as a Committee of the Whole and the following Personnel Committee agenda items were discussed after Ronnie Suggs presented 1.-4. and Charles Owens, Director of Auxiliary Services, presented 5.-6.:
1. Leave without pay request effective August, 2000 from Cheryl Lamkin, P.E./coach at Choudrant High.
2. Retirement effective June 1, 2000 of the following Ruston Junior High School teachers:
Mymie Caldwell
Darene Larance
3. Resignation of Carla DiMento, teacher at Ruston Elementary, effective February 11, 2000.
4. Employment of the following:
Heather Fritz as special education teacher at Hico Elementary effective February 21, 2000 replacing Alexa Ginn who resigned.
Science teacher at Ruston High School, Jessica Wempe, effective February 21, 2000 replacing Tamara Lee who is on extended sick leave.
Eddie Allen as interim social services facilitator at Lincoln Center effective February 7, 2000 replacing Rickey Burton who was named interim principal.
5. Resignation effective March 1, 2000 of Salvin Albritton, bus driver in the Ruston district.
6. Employment effective March 1, 2000 of Aleshia Lewis as bus driver in the Ruston district replacing Salvin Albritton who resigned.
Upon a motion by Mr. Kessler, seconded by Mr. Mitcham, the Board unanimously voted to approve the personnel recommendations/requests.
All members who attended the recent Louisiana School Boards Association convention in New Orleans gave brief summaries of their thoughts and ideas regarding the technology, sexual harassment, school violence and safety, Senate and House Education Committee on Finance, teacher quality, school board ethics, redesign commission on secondary school character education, student testing, educational legislation committee sessions plus the general sessions. Although Governor Foster didn't attend, State Superintendent of Education, Cecil Picard, did. It was the consensus of opinion that the convention was very enjoyable, informative, and educational. They left with a more optimistic feeling after this convention than in the past.
Ms. Duke reported that 1967 and 1979 sales tax collections for the month of February, 2000 were $270,348 which is up $15,053 over the same month last year. Collections in the 1993 sales tax fund also showed an increase of $9,032 compared to last year, with $162,209 being collected. The is a 5.9% increase for the month, but the funds are down 1.6% for the year. Recovered by auditors during the same month was $1,924 which was a decrease from January, 2000.
Ms. Duke then called to Board's attention to the shaded line on the January, 2000 financial statement which showed fund balances. She said balances are up due taxes being collected during the month. Reimbursement has not been received from the state in the child nutrition fund so that fund is a little low. Sales tax collections continue to grow in anticipation of sales tax checks to be disbursed in July. Utilities have begun to again be paid out of the '93 ad valorem and Ruston, Simsboro, and Dubach district maintenance and operating funds.
An update on the phone system proposals for the eleven remaining schools approved at the December, 1999 meeting was given by Ms. Duke. Planning for the 00-01 E-Rate program was to begin and contracts were to be effective for a two year period. An advertisement was printed in the official journal and four vendors were contacted, but only one response was received. Turner Teleco submitted a proposal with a total cost of $320,425. With an estimated 69% E-Rate savings, cost to the Board over the two year period is only $96,569. The original district cost estimate was $106,920 per year. She recommended waiting to see if E-Rate funding is approved and what happens with the 00-01 budget. She explained that installation could begin as early as July 1, 2000 and would be done in the order of greatest need. No Board action was requested.
Results of a poll vote conducted February 22, 2000 were 11-0 to increase the prescription drug plan co-pays from $5 to $7 for generic and from $15 to $20 for brand name prescriptions effective March 1, 2000 according to Ms. Duke. The increase is needed, she explained, in order to keep the cost-sharing ratio at 30/70 between plan members and the Health Benefits Plan. An increase in drug costs and usage of prescribed drugs by plan members, and the lack of generic drugs available are factors which lead to a $135,531 increase in expenditures over 1998. The average number of prescriptions filled per member increased from 9.8 to 11.6. Only 36% of the prescriptions filled in 1999 were for generic drugs compared to 39% the previous year. The average cost per prescription in 1999 rose to $42 and prescription drug costs nationwide are projected to increase 15-20% annually over the next five years. She asked the Board to ratify the February 22 poll vote.
Upon a motion by Mr. Anders, seconded by Ms. Harrison, the Board unanimously voted to ratify the 11-0 vote taken on Tuesday, February 22, 2000 approving the increase in the prescription drug plan co-pays to $7 for generic and $20 for brand name prescriptions effective March 1, 2000. (David Wright was out of town and unavailable for the poll vote.)
In a Report of the Superintendent, Dr. Cobb mentioned that the next meeting would be held at noon at Cypress Springs Elementary on Wednesday, March 22.
After brief comments and questions, the meeting was adjourned at 7:26 p.m.
______________________________ ___________________________________
Gerald W. Cobb, Secretary David Wright, President