LINCOLN PARISH SCHOOL BOARD
Ruston, Louisiana
REGULAR SESSION
Tuesday, August 7, 2001 6:00 p.m.
The Lincoln Parish School Board met in Regular Session on Tuesday, August 7, 2001, 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 (arrived after the meeting began), Mr. Otha Anders, Dr. Marty Beasley, Ms. Lisa Best, Mr. Curtis Dowling, Ms. Mattie Harrison, Mr. Jim Kessler, Mr. George Mack, Mr. Joe Mitcham, Ms. Jo Tatum, and Mr. David Wright,
Mr. Rob Shadoin was absent.
President David Wright called the meeting to order and Mr. Anders gave the invocation. Mr. Wright led in the Pledge of Allegiance to the American flag and welcomed special guests, members of the press, and members of the official staff.
Upon a motion by Mr. Anders, seconded by Mr. Mitcham, the Board unanimously voted to adopt the agenda with an addendum containing a Request.
Upon a motion by Mr. Mack, seconded by Mr. Mitcham, the Board unanimously voted to approve the minutes of the Regular Session held on July 10, 2001 as printed.
Because Senator Bill Jones had a commitment in Monroe, discussion regarding the Early Childhood Development Program was moved up on the agenda. He informed the Board that the 2001 Legislature, under his leadership, passed a bill providing voluntary pre-kindergarten classes to four-year-olds not currently enrolled in publically funded classes. Since the program was not funded statewide, systems wishing to participate must file an Intent to Apply form by August 10. Filing an Intent to Apply does not commit the system to participation in the program, but would allow time until the October application deadline to study the issue. Those who are chosen to participate will be paid $5,000 per child and their pilot program will run from January through May 2002. He gave his perspective and insight on Superintendent Gerald Cobb’s issues, listed in background information given to the Board, and urged the Board to apply for a slot in the new four-year-old program.
Billy Abrahm entered the meeting as Senator Jones was speaking.
Senator Bill Jones left the meeting.
Superintendent Cobb summarized problems which he feels would prevent Lincoln Parish from applying for the piloting implementation phase of the program. Those concerns were as follows:
1. The legislation indicates that this school day program must be of a duration of ten (10) hours. This was to include before and after school care for those families that needed such services. This would mean that the doors would need to open at 7:00 a.m. and close at 5:00 p.m. of some combination therein. Principals would need to be paid additional wages to be at their school/schools at these times to be with the teachers/aides. Legislation indicates that a ”waiver” may be requested if no parent wishes to take advantage of the before or after school care.
2. The legislation indicates that the district must provide transportation to those students that enroll. Would our buses have to run double/triple routes? Would pick-up times be prior to 6:00 a.m. and delivery be after 6:00 p.m.? Would we be able to secure bus drivers for the extra routes? What would the transportation expenses be?
3. No allocation has been made for capital outlay to provide the space necessary for additional classrooms. Currently there is no available classroom space in any of our schools.
4. What effect will this program have on our public relations with Headstart, church preschool, and other privately-owned day cares?
5. In the past we have not had fully enrolled preschool classes in the programs now offered in Lincoln Parish. No one has been denied access to publicly funded pre-K programs in Lincoln Parish.
6. The legislation indicates that this program must be made available to all four-year-olds in the district. Those who qualified for free and reduced lunch would be eligible to attend free of charges; those who did not meet this qualification would be required to pay tuition at an amount determined by the district that would cover the cost to provide the student such a program. This is discriminatory. How are you going to tell some parents that they must pay to attend while others attend free of charge? Is this equitable to our other pre-K programs that are offered through our school district or Headstart? We do not believe that it is.
Superintendent Cobb said Lincoln Parish already has a preschool program with empty slots each year. If a quality program can’t be provided on available funds, he feels that the new program should not be started. He did offer an amendment to his original recommendation, to wait another year prior to consideration of participation in the Early Childhood Development Program. The amendment was to file the Intent to Apply by August 10, 2001, have a supervisor attend the August 10 Intent to File workshop, and then bring the issue back to the Board to determine the Board’s wishes.
A brief period of comments and questions ensued. While it was obvious that the administration and the Board were both very supportive of an early childhood program, both had concerns as well as questions which had no answers.
Nevertheless, upon a motion by Mr. Anders, seconded by Dr. Beasley, the Board unanimously voted to file an Intent to Apply for the Early Childhood Development Program, attend the August 10, 2001 Intent to File workshop, and bring the issue back to the Board.
Randy Moore, previous Secondary Supervisor, reminded the Board that each year the system must submit a revised copy of the Pupil Progression Plan (PPP) to the State Department of Education for their approval. The PPP is based on regulations from the state and local policies having to do with promotion and retention. The changes to be considered were: 1) Eighth grade students scoring at the Unsatisfactory level in English/language arts OR mathematics, but not both, on LEAP 21 would be eligible for the transition program. 2) There would be a one year retention limit for eighth grade students who score at the Unsatisfactory level in both English/language arts AND mathematics on LEAP 21. 3) Students who have reached the age of 16 and have scored at the Unsatisfactory level on LEAP 21 or any component of the Graduate Exit Exam would be eligible to participate in the PreGED/Skills Option Program. He asked for approval of the revisions.
After questions, mainly concerning the new Pre-GED/Skills Option Program, upon a motion by Ms. Tatum, seconded by Ms. Harrison, the Board unanimously voted to approve the revisions to the Lincoln Parish Pupil Progression Plan.
Because the contract for a state and local library book vendor has expired, according to Howard Whitlock, Secondary Supervisor, a contract for their purchase for the 01-02 fiscal year will need to be awarded. He presented this biennial request for permission to advertise for bids to purchase library books with an option for renewal for the 02-03 fiscal year.
Upon a motion by Dr. Beasley, seconded by Mr. Kessler, the Board unanimously voted to grant permission to advertise for bids in order to purchase library books with state and local funds for the 01-02 fiscal year with an option for renewal for the 02-03 fiscal year.
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.-8., Transportation Supervisor James Payton presented 9., and Director of Auxiliary Service Charles Owens presented 10.-11.:
1. Mr. Suggs gave a brief report on professional personnel staff hiring for 01-02. 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 '01 were presented along with number of personnel recommendations made to the Board in each of those years. He mentioned a slight decrease in the overall number of applicants and a slightly larger number of vacancies this year compared to last year. Eighty-four applicants were interviewed in '01 to fill fifty-three vacancies, in '00 eighty-seven applicants filled forty-seven slots, and thirty-one vacancies were filled in '93 from one hundred and thirty-eight applicants. He said the parish is fully staffed at this point.
2. Emergency sabbatical request for the 1st semester of 01-02, effective August 13, 2001, for Sharon Bentley, elementary teacher at I. A. Lewis.
3. Leave without pay request for a two year period, 01-02 and 02-03, effective August 13, 2001, for Donna Doss, math teacher at Dubach High, who was chosen to serve as a Distinguished Educator by the State Department of Education.
4. Rescission of sabbatical leave which was to begin August 13, 2001, for Pam Willis, special education teacher, at Ruston Elementary.
5. Retirement of the following teachers:
Marilyn Mayfield, elementary at I. A. Lewis, effective December 21, 2001.
Robert Parrott, special education at Ruston High School, effective August 2, 2001.
6. Resignation of the following:
Angela Jones, teacher aide at Choudrant High, effective August 2, 2001.
Kerri Whitson, speech therapist at Glen View Elementary, effective July 25, 2001.
Karla Ward, computer proctor at Hillcrest Elementary, effective July 6, 2001.
Letitia Freeman, prekindergarten at Lincoln Center, effective July 11, 2001.
Mandy Dugdale, teacher at Ruston Elementary, effective July 1, 2001.
Sherri Robken, band at Ruston High, effective July 23, 2001.
Barry Mitchell, science/coach at Ruston Junior High, effective July 16, 2001.
Cedric Secoundiata, social studies at Secondary Alternative, effective July 31, 2001.
Christie Cook, elementary teacher at Simsboro, effective August 6, 2001.
Judy Hart, special education at Simsboro, effective July 2, 2001.
Amy McIntyre, elementary teacher at Simsboro, effective July 10, 2001.
Glenda Dangerfield, itinerant art teacher, effective July 24, 2001.
7. Points of Reference (Transfers) effective August 13, 2001 unless otherwise specified:
Laundi Williams from Hillcrest Elementary to a new special education teaching slot at Cypress Springs Elementary.
Carla Chrisman from Cypress Springs Elementary to computer proctor at Hillcrest Elementary replacing Karla Ward who resigned.
Pam Willis from Ruston Elementary to a new special education position at Hillcrest Elementary.
Gwen Flanagan from Cypress Springs Elementary to a new computer proctor slot at Lincoln Center.
Debbie Hollimon from Dubach High to language arts at Ruston High replacing Consuella Lockhart who resigned.
Doug Stewart from Ruston High to a new pre-GED position at Secondary Alternative effective August 6, 2001.
Debbie Cloud from I. A. Lewis to a new, itinerant, inclusion strategist slot.
8. Employment of the following persons effective August 13, 2001 unless otherwise noted:
Carol Chrisman as kindergarten at Choudrant Elementary replacing Lisa Skains who was granted a sabbatical.
Jacqueline Loran as special education aide at Cypress Springs Elementary effective August 14, 2001, replacing Corey Howard who resigned.
Faye Thompson as special education aide at Cypress Springs Elementary effective August 14, 2001, replacing Angela Jones who resigned.
Pamela Adams as special education at Dubach High replacing Shannon Lee who transferred.
Donna Aulds as language arts at Dubach High replacing Debbie Hollimon who transferred.
Tanya Carney as kindergarten at Hico Elementary replacing Ellen Murphy who retired.
Colleen Cox as teacher at I. A. Lewis replacing Sharon Bentley who requested a sabbatical leave.
Teresa Culpepper as kindergarten at Lincoln Center replacing Tish Freeman who resigned.
Ja’nea Heath as teacher at Lincoln Center replacing Eva Williams who resigned.
Lynette McGee as teacher at Ruston Elementary replacing Mandy Dugdale who resigned.
Sue Ferguson as science at Ruston High replacing Doug Stewart who transferred.
Elizabeth Landry as band at Ruston High replacing Sherri Robken who resigned.
Vicki Malone as special education at Ruston High replacing Robert Parrott who retired.
Shirley Boyd as special education at Ruston Junior High replacing Mable Harris who retired.
Johnise Brantley as special education aide at Ruston Junior High effective August 14, 2001 replacing Dana Boockoff who transferred.
Bob Garrett as science/coach at Ruston Junior High replacing Barry Mitchell who resigned.
Gloria Miller as special education at Ruston Junior High in a new position.
Armanda Mitchell as special education aide at Ruston Junior High effective August 14, 2001 replacing Carla Chrisman who transferred.
Chris Harding as social studies at Secondary Alternative replacing Cedric Secoundiata who resigned.
Shannon Brewster as special education at Simsboro replacing Christie Cook who resigned.
Nancy Grant as teacher at Simsboro replacing Amy McIntyre who resigned.
Jimmy Martin as special education at Simsboro replacing Judy Hart who resigned.
Maribeth Sherman as special education at Simsboro because of a position shift.
Ginger Schanks as itinerant speech therapist replacing Kerri Whitson who resigned.
Betty Sheeler as itinerant speech therapist replacing Nora Buentello who was granted leave without pay.
Jessica Sims as itinerant art replacing Glenda Dangerfield who resigned.
9. Employment of the following bus drivers effective August 14, 2001:
Joe Gaido in the Choudrant area replacing Bobby Dade who resigned.
Louise Hudson in the Ruston area replacing Shirley Dring who resigned.
Artie Runyon in the Ruston area replacing Riley Torbor who retired.
10. Employment of Antoine Landry effective July 16, 2001 as carpenter working out of the central office in a new position.
11. Resignation of Howard Perry, Jr. effective October 27, 2000 as custodian at Ruston High.
Mr. Owens also presented black/white percentages of employed maids and janitors, bus drivers, school clerical, and central office clerical employees
Upon a motion by Mr. Kessler, seconded by Mr. Abrahm, 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, 2001 were down 2.32% compared to the same month last year. Collections in the ’67 and ’79 fund were $365,862, and $219,517 was collected in both the ’93 and ’00 sales tax funds. Audit recoveries for the first month of the '01 fiscal year were $6,709 which was up 132% compared to July 2000.
After presenting a revised Testing Program policy at the July meeting, Superintendent Gerald Cobb asked if there were questions about the revised policy.
Hearing none, upon a motion by Mr. Anders, seconded by Ms. Best, the Board unanimously voted to approve the revisions to policy II, Testing Program.
In a Report of the Superintendent, Dr. Cobb related that a Finance Committee Meeting has been scheduled at 5:45 p.m. prior to the next Board meeting, September 4, 2001, in order to consider a revised budget.
After brief comments, the meeting adjourned at 7:46 p.m.
_________________________ _______________________________
Gerald W. Cobb, Secretary David Wright, President