LINCOLN PARISH SCHOOL BOARD

Ruston, Louisiana

REGULAR SESSION

Tuesday, August 1, 2000   6:00 p.m.

The Lincoln Parish School Board met in Regular Session on Tuesday, August 1, 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, Dr. Marty Beasley, Ms. Dinah Brazzel (arrived after the meeting began), Mr. Curtis Dowling, Ms. Mattie Harrison, Mr. Jim Kessler, Mr. George Mack, Mr. Joe Mitcham, Mr. Rob Shadoin, and Mr. Allen Tuten.

Mr. Otha Anders was absent.

President David Wright called the meeting to order and allowed a few moments of silent meditation in view of the recent news of the deaths of Representative Pinkie Wilkerson and former LPSB supervisor, Theresa Garner.  He led in the Pledge of Allegiance to the American flag and welcomed special guests, members of the media, and members of the official staff. 

Upon a motion by Mr. Mitcham, seconded by Dr. Beasley, the Board unanimously voted to adopt the agenda with an addendum containing single items of Unfinished Business and New Business and an addendum to the Personnel Committee agenda.

Upon a motion by Mr. Tuten, seconded by Mr. Abrahm, the Board unanimously voted to approve the minutes of the Regular Session held on July 11, 2000 as printed.

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.-5. and 12.-13., School Food Service Supervisor Brenda Theodos presented 6.-8. and 14., Transportation Supervisor Howard Whitlock presented 9.-10. and 15., and Director of Auxiliary Service Charles Owens presented 11.:

1.         Mr. Suggs gave a brief report on professional personnel staff hiring for 00-01.  He explained the step-by-step process followed for the last three to four years when a certified teacher applies for a job in Lincoln Parish.  Statistics regarding the number of applicants interviewed by the 5 Ruston principals and the Choudrant Elementary and Simsboro principals from '93 through '00 were presented along with number of personnel recommendations made to the Board in each of those years.  He mentioned a slight increase in the overall number of applicants and the smaller number of vacancies this year compared to last year.  Eighty-seven applicants were interviewed in '00 to fill forty-seven vacancies, in '99 seventy-four applicants filled sixty slots, and thirty-one vacancies were filled in '93 from one hundred and thirty-eight applicants.  He feels that the new sales tax made a great difference in the retention of teachers which means stability in the classrooms. 

Ms. Brazzel arrived during the beginning of Mr. Suggs' report.

2.         Resignation of the following teachers:

            Carla Evans,, kindergarten at Hillcrest, effective July 3, 2000.

            Tamara Lee, science at Ruston High, effective July 13, 2000.

            Cindy Putman, math at Simsboro High, effective July 27, 2000.

            Patricia Spione, special education at Simsboro High, effective July 24, 2000.

3.         Leave without pay requests for the 2000-2001 school year, effective August 17, 2000, for:

            Jennifer Russell, teacher at Hillcrest Elementary.

            Leann Patterson, teacher at Ruston Elementary.

4.         Points of Reference (Transfers) all effective August 17, 2000:

            Betty Hinton from Cypress Springs to computer proctor at Choudrant Elementary, replacing Brenda Rice who became librarian.

            Adam Tremblay from CODOFIL to French at Hillcrest.

            Bonnie Thomason from Simsboro High to itinerant K-3 resource, replacing Marita Crowder who resigned.

            Yolanda Dade from Secondary Alternative to elementary at Lincoln Center, replacing Arabrian Lewis who resigned.

5.         Employment of the following persons effective August 17, 2000 unless otherwise noted:

Kristie Carter as teacher at Choudrant Elementary, replacing Kelly Gunn who resigned.

Brenda Rise in a new librarian position at Choudrant Elementary.

Shannon Lee as special education/coach at Dubach High, replacing Earnestine Layton who transferred.

Marilyn Ferguson as assessment teacher with Pupil Appraisal, effective August 3, 2000, replacing Betty Wall who transferred.

Ellen Breed as special education at Ruston Elementary in a vacant slot.

Anthony Dade in a new special education/coach position at Ruston High.

Christy Sides in a new P.E./coach slot at Ruston High.

            Rochelle Foy as music teacher at Ruston Jr. High/I. A. Lewis replacing Colleen Bridges who transferred.

            Christie Cook as junior high teacher at Simsboro High replacing Katina Rhodes who resigned.

            Sue Donohue as math at Simsboro replacing Kevin Bethea who resigned.

            Linda Gipson as special education at Simsboro High replacing Patricia Spione who resigned.

6.         Resignation of Karen Otwell, effective July 11, 2000 as school food service clerk at Ruston Junior High.

7.         Points of Reference (Transfers) of the following school food service personnel:

            Mary Jo Torbor from Glen View to technician at I. A. Lewis effective January 31, 2000 replacing Barbara Hunter who resigned.

            Margie Pike from Hillcrest to technician at Glen View effective August 18, 2000 replacing Rosie Hargrove who retired.

            Janice Wilson from Glen View to clerk at I. A. Lewis effective August 4, 2000 replacing Charlesetta Young who retired.

            Sharon Younse from Choudrant to technician at Glen View effective August 18, 2000 replacing Janice Wilson who transferred.

            Sandra Hewitt from Cypress Springs to clerk at Grambling High effective August 4, 2000 replacing Teresa Anderson who resigned.

 8.        Employment of the following school food service personnel effective August 18, 2000 unless otherwise stated of:

            Mary Brazzel as technician at Glen View replacing Mary Jo Torbor who transferred.

            Linda LeBeouf as technician at Hillcrest replacing Margie Pike who transferred.

            Mary Holcombe as technician at Ruston Elementary replacing Angie Emanuel who resigned.

            Mary Boston as clerk at Ruston Junior High effective August 4, 2000 replacing Karen Otwell who resigned.

 9.        Resignation of Johnnie Brewster, bus driver in the Ruston district, effective July 17, 2000.

10.       Retirement of David Larance, bus driver in the Dubach district, effective August 15, 2000.

11.       Resignation of Lonnie Davis, custodian at Ruston High, effective June 7, 2000.

12.       Resignation of the following teachers:

            Rhonda Ferguson, language arts at Ruston Junior High, effective July 24, 2000.

            Adaryll Moore, elementary at Lincoln Center, effective July 28, 2000.

13.       Employment of Claire Post as teacher at Ruston Elementary effective August 17, 2000 replacing Leann Patterson who was granted a leave without pay.

14.       Retirement of Bernice Anderson, school food service technician at Ruston Elementary, effective July 28, 2000.

15.       Employment, effective August 18, 2000 of the following:

            Kim Adams, bus driver in the Ruston area, replacing Johnny Brewster who resigned.

            Patricia Van Osdell, bus driver in the Simsboro area, replacing Glenda Reed who retired.

After several questions, upon a motion by Dr. Beasley, seconded by Mr. Kessler, the Board unanimously voted to approve the personnel recommendations.

Ms. Juanita Duke, Business Manager, reported that sales tax collections for the month ending July 31, 2000 were up 9.18% compared to the same month last year.  Total monies were up in all categories and primarily in furniture sales.  She said that she should have good final figures closing out June, 2000 at the October board meeting.  Collections in the '67 and '79 funds were $374,630; $224,777 was the '93 sales tax total; and $224,606 was collected in the '00 sales tax fund.  Audit recoveries for the first month of the '00 fiscal year were $2,891 which is down 2.57% compared to July, 1999.      

According to Charles Owens, when the plans were drawn for the construction of two classroom buildings at the Secondary Alternative School, provisions to connect the two buildings with a covered walkway were not included.  Additionally, he said that modifications had to be made to the plumbing in order to provide rest room facilities in the teacher work area and child care center.  He presented a change order in the amount of $5,902 which reflected several adjustments including some deletions and substitutions of materials.  The new contract amount of $109,752 brings the total to only $1,150 over the original estimate.  He asked for the Board's approval of the change order.

Upon a motion by Mr. Mack, seconded by Mr. Tuten, the Board unanimously voted to approve the change order as presented by Mr. Owens increasing the contract sum for the construction at the Secondary Alternative School by $5,902.

Three persons interested in being named interim Board member for Mr. Tuten's Ward 1-C slot were in attendance and Mr. Wright recognized them at this point in the meeting.  Stephen Blucas, Jim Shrell, and Lisa Best introduced themselves and shared very brief personal information.  Mr. Wright thanked them for their attendance at the meeting.

In recognition of Mr. Tuten's twenty-seven and one half years of dedicated service to the Board, Danny Bell, Elementary Supervisor, read a Resolution honoring him and presented it for the Board's perusal.

Upon a motion by Dr. Beasley, seconded by Mr. Mack, the Board unanimously approved the Resolution expressing appreciation to Mr. Allen Tuten.

Mr. Tuten communicated his appreciation for the kind remarks.

The only remaining item of New Business was a Resolution prepared by President Wright concerning the late Mrs. Theresa Garner, former Supervisor of Instruction in Lincoln Parish.  He read the Resolution and asked for Board approval.

Upon a motion by Mr. Shadoin, seconded by Mr. Mitcham, the Board unanimously voted to approve the Resolution honoring the late Mrs. Theresa Garner.

In a Report of the Superintendent, Dr. Cobb related that Board members' portfolios contained:

1)         Opening of School Information from the Superintendent which is shared with all employees on the first day of school.

2)         A nepotism form which should be completed by the appropriate Board members for filing with the Board of Ethics within thirty days after the beginning of the 00-01 school year.

3)         Planning calendars donated by an insurance company.

4)         Times news article in the 8-1-00 edition about testing . . . "Cause this is what we are all about.  Lincoln Parish is very fortunate to have its personnel and parents," he said, and then he read the applicable portion of the article. 

After brief comments, the meeting adjourned at 6:58 p.m.

_______________________________              _______________________________

Gerald W. Cobb, Secretary                                     David Wright, President