LINCOLN PARISH SCHOOL BOARD
Ruston, Louisiana
REGULAR SESSION
Tuesday, April 4, 2000 6:00 p.m.
The Lincoln Parish School Board met in Regular Session on Tuesday, April 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 and the invocation was given by Mr. Anders. Mr. Wright led in the Pledge of Allegiance to the American flag and expressed his gladness that he was feeling well enough after his recent surgery to attend the meeting. He also welcomed special guests, members of the press, and of the official staff.
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 Ms. Harrison, the Board unanimously voted to approve the minutes of the Regular Sessions held on March 7 and March 22, 2000 as distributed.
Secondary Supervisor, Randy Moore, was proud to announce that Lincoln Parish's high school Student of the Year, Hari Tunuguntla, was recently named the Region 1 high school Student of the Year. She will compete at the state level on April 26. Superintendent Gerald Cobb congratulated Hari and presented a plaque to her on behalf of the Board. She thanked the Board and her parents for their support. Mr. Wright also complimented her and wished her well.
Principal of Ruston High School, Dr. Charles Scriber, recognized senior Ifeyinwa Ifeanyi for being named a National Achievement Scholarship finalist. Dr. Cobb presented her with a plaque in recognition of her accomplishment.
Dr. Scriber also presented Keren Corley, Rebecca Cross, Kyle Guice, Laura Mitcham, Rachel Serio, and Paul Stellman who were recently recognized as recipients of the prestigious National Merit Finalist award. This recognition is awarded annually to only .5% of the seniors in the entire nation. He was proud to report that Ruston High School is the only public school north of Interstate 10 with this number of finalists. Superintendent Cobb presented plaques of appreciation to the students for this outstanding honor.
Mr. Wright congratulated all of the students and wished them success.
In the absence of Jay Ellington, Director of Ruston Parks and Recreation, Superintendent Cobb reported that the Ruston City Council approved RPAR's request to enter into these negotiations with the Lincoln Parish School Board regarding its use of the Greenwood School and grounds as a community recreation facility. He asked the Board's permission to enter into negotiations with RPAR concerning the proposal with results to be brought back to the Board.
Upon a motion by Mr. Anders, seconded by Ms. Barfield, the Board unanimously voted to allow the Superintendent to enter into negotiations with Ruston Parks and Recreation concerning its use of the Green School and grounds as a community recreation facility.
Administrative Supervisor of Title I, Willie Washington, told the Board that the LEA Consolidated Application for Federal Programs is designed to improve teaching and learning by encouraging greater cross-program coordination, planning and service delivery under the Improving America's Schools Act (IASA), and to enhance integration of programs under IASA, Goals 2000, the School-to-Work Opportunities Act, and with other educational activities carried out with state and local funds. He presented his annual request for permission to submit an application for the grant.
Upon a motion by Dr. Beasley, seconded by Mr. Kessler, the Board unanimously voted to grant permission to submit an application for grant--"LEA Consolidated Application for Federal Programs," Improving America's Schools Act of 1994.
Juanita Duke, Business Manager, informed members that for the second year Lincoln Parish has two newspapers that meet the qualifications to be named the Board's official journal. To be eligible a newspaper must have maintained a general paid circulation in the district for five consecutive years or have been in existence on May 11, 1970. She proposed that the Board request written proposals with specific terms and points to be addressed.
Upon a motion by Mr. Shadoin, seconded by Mr. Dowling, the Board unanimously voted to grant permission to request proposals for the official journal for fiscal year 00-01.
Charles Owens, Director of Auxiliary Services, presented his annual request for permission to advertise for bids for materials and supplies for the 00-01 school year.
Upon a motion by Mr. Tuten, seconded by Ms. Barfield, the Board unanimously voted to grant permission to advertise for bids for copy paper, duplicating fluid, thermal and spirit masters, toilet tissue and paper towels, and gasoline and diesel for 00-01.
The Board served as a Committee of the Whole and the following Personnel Committee agenda items were discussed after Assistant Superintendent Ronnie Suggs presented 1.-2. and Transportation Supervisor Howard Whitlock presented 3.:
1. Professional sabbatical leave request of Theresa Phillips, elementary teacher at Cypress Springs, for the 00-01 school year.
2. Retirement of the following:
Carolyn James, elementary teacher at Glen View, effective June 1, 2000.
Betty Pierce, teacher at Ruston Elementary, effective June 4, 2000.
3. Retirement of the following:
Charles "C.P." Jones, bus driver in the Ruston area, effective March 8, 2000.
Glenda Reed, bus driver in the Simsboro area, effective June 1, 2000.
Upon a motion by Mr. Abrahm, seconded by Mr. Kessler, the Board unanimously voted to approve the personnel items.
Juanita Duke reported that 1967 and 1979 sales tax collections for the month of March, 2000 were $314,874 which is up $39,850 over the same month last year. Collections in the 1993 sales tax fund also showed an increase of $23,910 compared to last year, with $188,924 being collected. This 14.49% increase compared to the same month last year is due primarily to construction and the previous month's car sales. The funds are .04% down compared to the total year to date collections at this point last year. Because of the increase in collections over the last three months, she projected that the amount of the July salary supplement checks will be the same as last year. Audit recoveries in the amount of $604 were received for the month.
Ms. Duke called the Board's attention to the shaded row on the February, 2000 financial statement. The parish received another pretty good ad valorem tax collection in February so fund balances are going up in the applicable funds and accumulating for the July 1 tax supplement checks. The 5 mill maintenance fund is low as it was at this time last year when a transfer was made. Utility costs are being paid out of the district maintenance and operation funds and will continue to be until they are depleted.
The Superintendent's Advisory Council met on March 15 for the purpose of reviewing the proposed 00-01 school calendar, Dr. Cobb communicated. Because of state mandated testing dates and makeup dates, flexibility in our calendars is no longer possible he expressed as he presented his single calendar option. One additional day of teacher inservice at the beginning of school, an election day holiday, and two half day teacher inservice days are the additions to last year's calendar. Dr. Cobb recommended the proposed calendar.
Upon a motion by Mr. Mack, seconded by Mr. Abrahm, the Board unanimously voted to adopt the proposed 00-01 school calendar as follows:
Lincoln Parish School Calendar
2000-2001
Teacher Inservice Day August 17, 2000
Teacher Inservice Day August 18, 2000
Labor Day Holiday September 4, 2000
Election Day November 7, 2000
Teacher Inservice 1/2 Day November 15, 2000
Thanksgiving Holiday November 20-24, 2000
Christmas/New Year Holidays Dec. 20-Jan. 2, 2000
End of First Semester January 12, 2001
Martin Luther King/Great Americans' Day January 15, 2001
Teacher Inservice Day January 16, 2001
Teacher Inservice 1/2 Day February 23, 2001
Spring Break March 26-30, 2001
Easter Holiday April 13 & 16, 2001
Last Day of School May 31, 2001
Mr. Owens said that schools could not continue to exist without the hard work of the support staff: secretaries, bus drivers, bus aides, cafeteria workers, custodial and maintenance staff, and teacher aides. Their jobs being a vital part of the overall education of each child in Lincoln Parish, he recommended that the Board adopt a resolution declaring a Support Personnel Week.
Upon a motion by Ms. Barfield, seconded by Mr. Dowling, the Board unanimously voted to adopt the following:
RESOLUTION
That the Lincoln Parish School Board designates the week of April 24-28, 2000 as Support Personnel Week in Lincoln Parish and copies of this Resolution be sent to all of the schools in the parish, and made a part of the official minutes of the Lincoln Parish School Board.
In a Report of the Superintendent, Dr. Cobb mentioned that:
1) The Parish has just received 65 computers from technology grant monies which will be distributed among K - 3 classrooms.
2) The DeSoto Parish superintendent is trying to pattern a sales tax presentation after Lincoln Parish's recent successful campaign.
After brief comments, the meeting was adjourned at 6:54 p.m.
______________________________________________________________
Gerald W. Cobb, Secretary David Wright, President