LINCOLN PARISH SCHOOL BOARD
Ruston, Louisiana
REGULAR SESSION
Tuesday, November 6, 2001 6:00 p.m.
The Lincoln Parish School Board met in Regular Session on Tuesday, November 6, 2001 at 6:00 p.m. at the Lincoln Parish School Board, 410 South Farmerville Street, Ruston, Louisiana. 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, Ms. Jo Tatum, and Mr. David Wright.
Mr. Robert Shadoin was absent.
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 the official staff, special guests, and members of the media.
Upon a motion by Mr. Anders, seconded by Dr. Beasley, the Board unanimously voted to adopt the agenda with an addendum adding: Presentation of School Performance Scores.
Upon a motion by Mr. Mack, seconded by Ms. Tatum, the Board unanimously voted to approve the minutes of the Regular Sessions held on October 2 and October 17, 2001 as distributed.
Wynn Lawrence, Regional Manager with Bell South, announced that his company distributed $50,000 statewide as mini grants. He was very pleased to announce that nine of those selected were in his twelve parish area and two were from Lincoln Parish. He congratulated Earlene Jackson, Choudrant High School, and Linda Wallace, Glen View Elementary School, and presented $500 to each of them as their Bell South Mini Grant.
”It’s always a pleasure to have one of our schools recognized on the state level,” Superintendent Gerald Cobb said. He informed the Board that Ruston Elementary School was being recognized by the Professional Development Council of Louisiana for being one of the top twelve schools in the state to consistently score high on standardized tests through professional development while working with at risk students. He presented a plaque to the principal of the school, Eric Carter, in recognition of a job well done.
Dr. Cobb indicated that School Performance Scores were released earlier in the day and that he was very pleased with the results. He asked Assistant Superintendent, Ronnie Suggs, to give an explanation. Mr. Suggs said he had an excellent report to share which included regular ed, 504, special ed, and at risk students and their achievement and growth. Regarding Growth Labels, Lincoln Parish had three schools with Exemplary Academic Growth, three schools with Recognized Academic Growth, three schools with Minimal Academic Growth, one school with No Label Assigned, and one school showing No Growth. No Lincoln Parish school will go into Corrective Actions because of failure to meet their Growth Target or for declining and falling below the state average. However, six of the eleven schools are eligible for monetary rewards because they made or exceeded their Target. Performance Labels for 2001 for the eight elementary schools in the parish were derived by averaging 2000 and 2001 LEAP scores with science and social studies and other factors. Lincoln Parish has one school with a School Performance Label of Academic Achievement, six schools which are Academically Above the State Average, and one school scoring Academically Below the State Average. He closed by saying that school report cards are in and will be given to principals tomorrow and will go home with students soon.
The Board was very pleased with the School Performance Score results. Mr. Wright commended Superintendent Cobb for his leadership with his staff and these kind of results which prove that Lincoln Parish is one of the best in the state.
Title I requested permission to borrow $210,000 from the Lincoln Parish School Board in order to upgrade software and hardware at five Title I schools, according to Willie Washington, Title I Supervisor. The money would be paid back over a three year period with the initial payment coming from 2001 carryover to 2002 funds. After that, beginning with the 02-03 school year, each school would pay their share from the school’s Title I allocation. Mr. Washington said all of the schools use the computer assisted instruction as part of their instructional strategies to bring about student achievement and school improvement. The new upgraded software would be in line with the IOWA and LEAP tests and will address the State’s content standards, whereas, the software currently in place does not. The five schools involved in this upgrade would be Cypress Springs, Simsboro, Ruston Elementary, Alma J. Brown, and Hico Elementary.
Upon a motion by Mr. Kessler, seconded by Dr. Beasley, the Board unanimously voted to grant permission to loan $210,000 to Title I for the purpose of upgrading five computer labs with the understanding that the money is to be repaid over a three year period (36 months).
The Board served as a Committee of the Whole and the following Personnel Committee agenda items were discussed after Ronnie Suggs presented items 1.-4., Brenda Theodos, Supervisor of School Food Service, presented 5.-6., and Charles Owens, Director of Auxiliary Services, presented item 7.:
1. Retirement of the following:
Judy McCready, English teacher at Ruston High, effective January 7, 2002.
Marie Hicks, special education aide at Ruston High, effective October 16, 2001.
Fran Camp, personnel secretary at the central office, effective February 15, 2002.
2. Resignation of Julie Jones, elementary teacher at Simsboro, effective November 9, 2001.
3. Sabbatical leave request for the second semester of 01-02 from Lisa Price, teacher at Choudrant Elementary, effective January 7, 2002.
4. Employment of the following:
Piper Garbarino, English teacher at Ruston High, effective January 7, 2002, and replacing Judy McCready who retired.
Stephanie Maupin, teacher at Simsboro, effective November 26, 2001, and replacing Julie Jones who resigned.
Evelyn Levingston, teacher aide at Ruston High, effective November 1, 2001, and replacing Marie Hicks who retired.
5. Resignation of Tammy Russell, school food service 4 hour technician at Alternative School, effective October 31, 2001.
6. Employment of Lisa Younse as school food service technician at Ruston Elementary effective November 1, 2001 replacing Mary Holcomb who resigned.
7. Employment of James Wimberly as custodian at Ruston Junior High effective October 6, 2001 replacing Gregory Dade who resigned.
Upon a motion by Dr. Beasley, seconded by Mr. Abrahm, the Board unanimously voted to approve the personnel recommendations.
Dr. Beasley, Chairman of the Personnel Committee, reported on a Committee meeting held on Monday, October 29, 2001. Most of the other committee members made comments and a couple of changes were made to the minutes of the meeting. Although the Committee had no recommendations to present to that Board, there were some items that still need resolution, in Dr. Beasley’s opinion; therefore, she wants to meet again on the 14th of November. President Wright requested that she talk with him about another meeting and an agenda.
Business Manager, Juanita Duke, told the Board that $354,963 was collected in the 1967 and 1979 sales tax fund and $212,977 in the 1993 and 2000 funds for the month ending October 2001. These collections were up approximately 2.37% compared to collections the same month last year. Year-to-date collections are 11.05% above this date and time last year. Recovered by audits was $18,321.
Financial reports for the months ending July and August 2001 were presented by Ms. Duke. After calling attention to the shaded line at the bottom which shows balances, she indicated that the general fund had grown during the month of August but would drop in September when new salaries begin to be paid. Sales tax funds are also building in anticipation of payment of salary supplement checks. She briefly commented on all balances.
Ronnie Suggs reminded the Board that copies of schools’ crisis management plans were distributed at the October meeting in accordance with Act 313. After initial approval by the Board, he indicated that only new plans or plan changes would be brought back to the Board. He requested approval of the plans for 01-02.
Upon a motion by Mr. Kessler, seconded by Dr. Beasley, the Board unanimously voted to approve the schools’ crisis management response plans as submitted.
Due to an increase in 2000 sales tax collections in the first few months of 01-02, Ms. Duke proposed that an increased payment be distributed for the December 1st salary supplement: $1,350 for certified employees and $675 for non certified employees. This would be $150/$75 over the amount distributed last December. She reiterated that the amount of these checks is based on actual collections, and there is no guarantee that the same amounts will be paid next year at this time.
Upon a motion by Mr. Abrahm, seconded by Mr. Kessler, the Board unanimously voted to approve the disbursement of $1,350 for certified and $675 for non certified employees in a December 1 salary supplement check.
The third installment of policy revisions, additions, and a deletion as mandated by the 2001 Regular Session of the Louisiana Legislature were presented by Superintendent Cobb. Those policies with proposed changes were: Administrative Records (CN), Personnel Records (GAK), Contracts and Compensation (GBA), Employment of Personnel (GBD), Curriculum (ID), Administration of Medication (JGCD), Student Records (JR), and Student Fees, Fines, and Charges (JS). New policies recommended for insertion into the manual were: Buildings and Grounds Management (EB), and Equipment Maintenance (ECF). Two old policies were combined which made Student Records (JR-R) obsolete; therefore, it was recommended for deletion. These were given to Board members to study until the next meeting when a vote will be taken.
Act 56 of the Louisiana Legislature amended an earlier statute and has mandated that all accumulated annual leave time by twelve month employees must be paid in full at termination of employment or upon entering the DROP program. Superintendent Cobb said unless the Board establishes a policy regarding maximum number of days allowed for accumulation, the Board will have an unsound fiscal responsibility that will burden the Board for years to come. He suggested that twelve employees hired after January 1, 2002 be allowed to accumulate a maximum of twenty-five days of annual leave. This is consistent with the state and local maximum of twenty-five days allowed for the payment of accumulated sick leave. Additionally, accumulated annual leave days above twenty-five may be used in lieu of sick leave in cases of illness as verified by two physicians who may be designated by the Board if it so chooses. He asked the Board to consider amending the annual leave policy (GBRK) to limit the number of annual leave days to be accumulated with approval of the revised policy to be on the agenda of the December 4, 2001 meeting.
In a report of the Superintendent, Dr. Cobb indicated that:
1. The Academic Awards Banquet is scheduled for Monday, November 12, at 7:00 p.m. at the Louisiana Tech Student Center.
2. Juanita Duke and Danny Bell have collected about $3,500 to help fund the Academic Awards Program.
3. In response to Mr. Abrahm’s request at the previous meeting for a report from the energy conservation company, their representative indicated that they preferred to wait six months after the start of the program. He plans to be in attendance at a Board meeting after that time lapse to deliver a report in person.
Following other brief comments, the meeting adjourned at 7:50 p.m.
_______________________________ __________________________
Gerald W. Cobb, Secretary David Wright, President