LINCOLN PARISH SCHOOL BOARD
Ruston, Louisiana
REGULAR SESSION
Wednesday, March 22, 2000 12:30 p.m.
The Lincoln Parish School Board met in Regular Session on Wednesday, March 22, 2000 at 12:30 p.m. at Cypress Springs Elementary School. Members present were Mr. Billy Abrahm, Mr. Otha Anders, Ms. Priscilla Barfield, Dr. Marty Beasley, Mr. Curtis Dowling, Ms. Mattie Harrison, Mr. Jim Kessler, Mr. George Mack (arrived after the meeting began), Mr. Joe Mitcham, and Mr. Rob Shadoin.
Absent were Mr. Allen Tuten and Mr. David Wright.
Prior to the business meeting, board members enjoyed a delicious lunch in the school cafeteria.
Vice President Shadoin called the meeting to order and the invocation was given by Ms. Barfield. Mr. Shadoin led the Board in the Pledge of Allegiance to the American flag.
Upon a motion by Mr. Anders, seconded by Mr. Kessler, the Board unanimously voted to adopt the agenda as printed.
Mr. Mack entered the meeting.
Senator Bill Jones was to speak to the Board but was in Baton Rouge for the Special Called Session of the Louisiana Legislature.
Principal of Cypress Springs, David Rogers, welcomed the Board to the school and said a real stressful week of LEAP and Iowa testing had just been completed. His students and teachers worked hard to get ready for the tests. He commended his test coordinator, Bettye Anders, and concluded with an invitation to Board members to visit the school at any time.
According to Charles Owens, Director of Auxiliary Services, although four bids were opened on March 13 for the construction of classroom buildings at Secondary Alternative School, one was over the budget and not in compliance with specifications and the other three did not meet bidder qualifications. He asked that all bids be rejected and he be given permission to re-advertise the project.
Upon a motion by Mr. Mack, seconded by Mr. Mitcham, the Board unanimously voted to grant permission to reject all bids received for the construction of classroom buildings at Secondary Alternative School and re-advertise the project.
In response to Superintendent Gerald Cobb's request that he mentioned at the earlier March board meeting, Howard Whitlock, Transportation Supervisor, shared information regarding the rising cost of fuel. He said that the $ .33 average increase since January has really created a hardship for contract bus drivers who pay their own fuel costs. These drivers are paid a base salary plus an operational fee based on the number of miles traveled on the route. He proposed a 5% increase in total operational pay effective March 1, 2000 for the remaining 58 days in the 99-00 school session. Since each contract driver's pay is determined by the length of their route, the amount of this 5% increase would be different for each of the 14 drivers, however the approximate total cost to the Board would be $2,239. He initially suggested that the checks by distributed on July 1, 2000. Board members seemed to prefer that checks be paid sooner as increased costs are hurting the drivers now, so he said checks could go out in the next couple of weeks. The administration will look at fuel costs again during the summer of 2000 in order to determine if adjustments would need to be made for the 00-01 school year.
Upon a motion by Dr. Beasley, seconded by Ms. Barfield, the Board unanimously voted to grant a 5% increase in total operational pay for contract bus drivers for the remaining 58 days of the 99-00 school session and that this adjustment would be paid as soon as possible.
The maintenance department has one mowing tractor which was purchased in 1989 according to Charles Owens. He requested permission to advertise for a new mowing tractor which he estimated will cost $13,000.
Upon a motion by Mr. Kessler, seconded by Mr. Dowling, the Board unanimously voted to grant permission to advertise for a new mowing tractor for the maintenance department.
For the Report of the Superintendent, Dr. Cobb shared information about the LEAP 21 test booklet which was missing from Simsboro for a short period of time. He went through the step-by-step procedure which had been followed by the administration culminating in the matter being turned over to the Lincoln Parish Sheriff's Department. Sheriff Wayne Houck made a statement earlier Wednesday, March 22, which Dr. Cobb distributed. After an ongoing internal investigation, their employee who was determined to have been engaged in misconduct involving the obtaining and possession of the LEAP test during said employee's work, tendered a resignation on March 21, 2000. The resignation was accepted and the matter has been referred by them to the Office of the District Attorney.
After brief comments and questions, upon a motion by Mr. Kessler, seconded by Mr. Dowling, the Board unanimously voted to adjourn at 1:08 p.m.
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Gerald W. Cobb, Secretary David Wright, President