The Lincoln Parish School Board met in Regular Session on Tuesday, January 23, 2001 at 12:30 p.m. at Ruston Elementary School. Members present were Mr. David Wright, Mr. Billy Abrahm, Mr. Otha Anders, Dr. Marty Beasley, Ms. Lisa Best, Mr. Curtis Dowling, Ms. Mattie Harrison, Mr. Jim Kessler, Mr. George Mack, Mr. Joe Mitcham, Mr. Rob Shadoin, and Ms. Jo Tatum.
No one was absent.
Prior to the business meeting, board members enjoyed a delicious lunch in the school cafeteria.
President Wright called the meeting to order and the invocation was given by Mr. Mitcham. Mr. Wright led the Board in the Pledge of Allegiance to the American flag and welcomed members of the press, the official staff, and any other guests.
Upon a motion by Mr. Anders, seconded by Mr. Dowling, the Board unanimously voted to adopt the agenda as printed.
Principal of Ruston Elementary School, Eric Carter, welcomed the Board to the school which has a current enrollment of 462. He said he is proud of the programs in place including a new prekindergarten, several multisensory, and after school tutoring. He issued a standing invitation for visits to the school and classrooms at any time.
Superintendent Gerald Cobb and several supervisors provided concise explanations and proposed changes to sixteen resolutions submitted by other school systems which will be presented for adoption at the 2001 Louisiana School Boards Association Convention. They also expressed their opinions on how to vote on each of them.
President Wright said committee assignments for 2001 were made after board members' indicated their choices and he called attention to the list. Hearing no objections to the committees, he declared the assignments as set for 2001.
Following approval at the November 14, 2000 meeting, bids were sought to restore the lighting at the Choudrant High School baseball field, Dr. Cobb reported. Three bids were received and opened on January 8, 2001 and the results were as follows: Albritton Service Co. of Ruston - $16,500, Patton's Service Co., Inc. of Ruston - $26,589, and J. M. Contractor of Choudrant - $36,000. Superintendent Cobb recommended acceptance of the lowest bid, $16,500 from Albritton's.
Upon a motion by Mr. Kessler, seconded by Ms. Tatum, the Board unanimously voted to accept the $16,500 bid from Albritton Service Co. to restore the lighting at Choudrant High School's baseball field.
Mr. Wright announced that Dr. Gerald Cobb's current term as Superintendent expires June 30, 2001 while Board members serve until December 31, 2002. He spoke with several members of the Executive Committee and it was their desire that Dr. Cobb continue to serve for two additional years at his present salary. They agreed to handle the employee portion charged by the Teachers' Retirement System of Louisiana in order for him not to lose money by continuing to work after completion of DROP. Mr. Wright voiced the Executive Committee's recommendation to accept the proposal.
Upon a motion by Dr. Beasley, seconded by Mr. Anders, the Board unanimously voted to extend Superintendent Gerald Cobb's contract for two additional years (to June 30, 2003) and to pay the employee portion charged by the Teachers' Retirement System of Louisiana.
Dr. Cobb thanked the Board for the extension in order to remain part of a successful team effort of which the Board is a key.
There was no Report of the Superintendent, but Dr. Cobb did announce that he and Ms. Duke would demonstrate the financial presentation from the recent meeting with area Legislators at the next Board meeting, a new board picture would be taken at 5:45 p.m. prior to that meeting, and all LSBA convention registrations and plans have been made but information will be distributed at a meeting closer to the convention date.
After brief comments and observations, the meeting was adjourned at 1:45 p.m.
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Gerald W. Cobb, Secretary David Wright, President