LINCOLN PARISH SCHOOL BOARD

Ruston, Louisiana

REGULAR SESSION

Wednesday, October 17, 2001   12:30 p.m.

The Lincoln Parish School Board met in Regular Session on Wednesday, October 17, 2001 at 12:30 p.m. at Simsboro School.  Members present were 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.

Mr. David Wright was absent.

Prior to the business meeting, board members enjoyed a delicious lunch in the school cafeteria.

Vice President Shadoin called the meeting to order, Mr. Mack gave the invocation, and Mr. Shadoin led in the Pledge of Allegiance to the American flag.

Upon a motion by Mr. Mitcham, seconded by Mr. Abrahm, the Board unanimously voted to adopt the agenda as printed.

Simsboro School Principal Judy Mabry welcomed everyone to the kindergarten through 12th grade school whose mission statement is: All students dare to excel in academics.  She mentioned interesting facts about the school and students including the fact that in the Spring of 2000 every eighth grade student in the school passed the LEAP test. Mrs. Mabry thanked the Board for their help with several projects.  Board members were given an invitation to walk around the school at the conclusion of the meeting and to return to the school at anytime in the future.

Over the past two years the Hillcrest PTC has purchased in excess of 150 student desks, according to James Payton, Transportation Supervisor, who filled in for Charles Owens, Director of Auxiliary Services.  As a result of these purchases, approximately 125 desks are not needed at Hillcrest or any other parish school.  Mr. Payton shared Mr. Owens’ recommendation that the Board declare the desks as surplus and dispose of them through the bid process.

Upon a motion by Mr. Kessler, seconded by Ms. Best, the Board unanimously voted to declare the 125 desks at Hillcrest as surplus and granted permission to dispose of them through the bid process.

Again, Mr. Payton filled in for Mr. Owens, and provided a list of motor vehicles, including a van, Suburban, car, truck, tractor, and two buses, that are of no further use to the School Board.  He read Mr. Owens’ recommendations that these vehicles be declared surplus or junk and that permission be granted to dispose of them through the bid process with proceeds going back to the original funding source.

Upon a motion by Ms. Tatum seconded by Mr. Abrahm, the Board unanimously voted to declare the seven vehicles as surplus or junk and to dispose of them through the bid process with proceeds to be returned to the original funding source.

A financial report for the month ending July 31, 2001 was presented by Ms. Juanita Duke, Business Manager.  After calling attention to the shaded line at the bottom which shows balances, she indicated that the district maintenance and operating funds have very small balances; therefore, the utility bills will begin to be paid from the ’93 ad valorem tax fund.

Again, in lieu of Charles Owens, Mr. Payton reported that no bids were received on the purchase of the small frame house and mobile home on property in Simsboro which the Board recently acquired.  Mr. Owens suggested that the house and mobile home be declared as junk and disposed of by the Board.

Upon a motion by Mr. Abrahm, seconded by Mr. Dowling, the Board unanimously voted to declare as junk the small frame house and mobile home on the Board’s property in Simsboro and dispose of them.

Act 313 of the 2001 Legislature requires that a school crisis management plan be formulated by each public school and provides for the approval of these plans by local school boards by January 1, 2002, according to Assistant Superintendent, Ronnie Suggs.  He distributed copies of each school’s plan to Board members and announced that a vote would be taken at the November 6 meeting.

In a Report of the Superintendent, he reminded members to contact Becky Gemelli regarding plans for attendance at the November 12 Academic Awards Banquet and any travel plans for upcoming conferences.

After brief comments, the meeting was adjourned at 1:15 p.m.

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Gerald W. Cobb, Secretary                                     David Wright, President