LINCOLN PARISH SCHOOL BOARD
Ruston, Louisiana
REGULAR SESSION
Tuesday, December 4, 2001 6:00 p.m.
The Lincoln Parish School Board met in Regular Session on Tuesday, December 4, 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 (arrived after the meeting began), Ms. Lisa Best, Mr. Curtis Dowling, Ms. Mattie Harrison, Mr. Jim Kessler, Mr. George Mack, Mr. Joe Mitcham, Mr. Rob Shadoin, Ms. Jo Tatum, and Mr. David Wright.
No board member was absent.
President Wright called the meeting to order and the invocation was given by Mr. Abrahm. Mr. Wright led the Board in the Pledge of Allegiance to the American flag and welcomed special guests, members of the official staff, and media.
Upon a motion by Mr. Anders, seconded by Mr. Abrahm, the Board unanimously voted to adopt the agenda with an addendum adding an item of New Business: Energy Conservation Guidelines and Procedures.
Upon a motion by Mr. Mitcham, seconded by Ms. Tatum, the Board unanimously voted to approve the minutes of the Regular Session held on November 6, 2001 as distributed.
Dr. Beasley arrived at the meeting.
According to Elementary Supervisor, Danny Bell, as part of Louisiana's new accountability system, schools are now receiving School Performance Scores (SPS) based on several factors that include test scores, attendance, and dropout rates. Based on these SPS, Growth Targets, the amount of progress that a school must make every two years to reach the State's ten and twenty year goals, are established for each school. Beginning in the fall of 2001, every school in the State, except for high schools having grades 9-12 only, received a Growth Label based on their success in reaching their first accountability cycle's Growth Target. Three schools in Lincoln Parish received the label "Recognized Academic Growth" meaning that they met or exceeded their Growth Target by less than five points. However, four schools worked especially hard with new programs and strategies and as a result, exceeded their growth targets by five points or more. Superintendent Gerald Cobb presented these four schools: Dubach High, Grambling Middle, Hico Elementary, and Ruston Elementary with plaques in recognition of achieving the label "Exemplary Academic Growth."
Mr. Bell recognized businesses that donated $500 for the 2001 Academic Awards program and became Gold Club sponsors. Those present and accepting a plaque of appreciation from Dr. Cobb were: Monty Raley, Federal Home Products; Rick Kilpatrick, Office Depot; and Annette Cawthon, Wal-Mart. Gold sponsor not in attendance but recognized was The Clinton Agency.
The Board served as a Committee of the Whole and the following Personnel Committee agenda items were discussed after being presented by Assistant Superintendent, Ronnie Suggs:
1. Resignation of the following:
Angela McKaskle, elementary teacher at Cypress Springs, effective December 13, 2001.
Cheri Bernard, teacher at Glen View, effective December 21, 2001.
2. Employment of the following effective January 7, 2002:
Penny Boyd as elementary teacher at Glen View replacing Cheri Bernard who resigned.
Sheryl Durrett as personnel secretary at the central office replacing Fran Camp who is retiring.
Upon a motion by Mr. Kessler, seconded by Mr. Abrahm, the Board unanimously voted to approve the personnel requests/recommendation.
Dr. Beasley, Chairman of the Personnel Committee, shared two recommendations from their meeting on November 14, 2001.
The first concerned the preparation of a resolution of thanks to all those contributing to successful testing, student scores on tests, and school report card performance in the area of testing accountability as shown in recent staff and media recognitions for excellence and improvement by the state. Mr. Wright asked Dr. Beasley to prepare the resolution and bring it back before the Board.
She then shared a recommendation regarding implementation of a Teacher of the Year recognition program for "rookie" teachers. Since she had mentioned the concept to Secondary Supervisor Howard Whitlock immediately following the Personnel Committee meeting, she asked him to discuss the possibility. He said that new teachers are extremely busy with mountains of paperwork including that which is necessary for their certification. Asking thirteen principals if they would be in favor of the program, resulted in thirteen negative answers. Mr. Whitlock also talked to Mr. Bell to get his opinion and he agreed with Mr. Whitlock that while the idea had merit, he does not believe the time is right to implement the program in Lincoln Parish. Dr. Beasley said the idea would be dropped by the Board but that individual Board members could check with principals and encourage them to consider the possibility.
Juanita Duke, Business Manager, reported that November 2001 sales tax collections contained another big increase, 23.25%, compared to the same month last year. Sales tax collections equal 47.41% of 00-01 year-to-date totals at this time and 13.35% over year-to-date collections this month last year. She told the Board that $375,732 was collected in the '67 and '79 fund and $225,439 in the '93 and '00 funds. Salary supplement checks were distributed on November 30 with a small increase in the amount, $150 for certified personnel and $75 for non certified staff. No audit recoveries were received during the month of November but the parish is still up 20% over last year's audit collections.
A financial report for the month ending October 2001 was also presented by Ms. Duke. There was no unusual activity during the month and balances in most funds are quite good and healthy. She called attention to a couple of funds that have balances that are falling below desired levels which were five mill maintenance and the district m & o funds which are both common occurrences for this time in the year.
At the November 6, 2001 meeting of the Board, nine revised and two new policies were presented for scrutiny until the next meeting. One additional policy was suggested for deletion. Superintendent Gerald Cobb recommended approval of the policy changes.
Upon a motion by Ms. Tatum, seconded by Mr. Kessler, the Board unanimously voted to approve the revisions to policies: Annual Leave (GBRK); 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); the addition of two new policies: Buildings and Grounds Management (EB) and Equipment and Maintenance (ECF); and the deletion of Student Records (JR-R).
Following continued negotiations with the City of Ruston and Ruston Parks and Recreation (RPAR) concerning their purchase of the Greenwood School, Superintendent Cobb reported that both entities wanted to have an environmental study done on the school in order to determine the projected amount of money needed to get the facility up to code for occupancy and use. This would mean an expenditure of $1,860 on the part of the School Board, but, would be money well spent, in Dr. Cobb's opinion, if it would help to get the project moving and the facility in condition to serve the community again.
Upon a motion by Mr. Anders, seconded by Ms. Tatum, the Board unanimously voted to approve of sharing the cost of the environmental study of the Greenwood School in the amount of $1,860 with the information to revert back to the Lincoln Parish School Board if the City does not move on the matter.
The fourth and hopefully the last policy revisions resulting from Acts passed by the 2001 Louisiana Legislature was the next item of New Business, according to Dr. Gerald Cobb. He summarized proposed changes to Bids and Quotations (DJED) and Testing Program (II) and indicated that they would be considered for a vote at the next meeting of the Board.
Because January 1, 2002 is the time to renew the Board's self-insurance plan, Juanita Duke reviewed anticipated claim totals for 2001 which had been projected to increase 16% and changes which were implemented in January 2001. With these changes, only an increase in overall claims for 2001 of approximately $90,000 is estimated. In the year 2002 medical claims are projected to increase an estimated $675,000 or 15% nationally. This includes an estimated 24% increase in prescription drug costs and a 9% increase in dental claims. All of these increases, if realized by our plan, will require additional funding in the form of employer and employee premium increases and/or plan design changes, she reported. Ms. Duke felt that the best renewal option for reinsurance coverage presented by Benesys was for the board to again not to renew a policy on aggregate claims and to renew our single specific re-insurance with Pan American Life with an $80,000 limit per member. As a result of 2001 figures plus projections for the upcoming year, she enumerated the following recommendations for the renewal of the self-insured plan for the 2002 plan year: increase prescription drug co-pays from $7/$20/$35 to $8/$22/$37 and increase annual dental deductible from $50 to $75 with a 5% increase in dental premiums.
The School Board will provide funding for the additional health claims expense anticipated in 2002 without any increase in premium to employees due to a sufficient surplus from the prior year. She anticipated that an adjustment in employee premiums in 2003 would almost be certain in order to help fund future expected increases in health insurance costs, should the projected increases be realized in 2002.
Group basic and supplemental life insurance premiums will also rise this year according to Ms. Duke. This will include an increase in cost to the board of $0.10 for each $1,000 of coverage provided at no cost to the employees who have enrolled for the "basic" coverage of $2,000 and $0.05 per $1,000 for all employees and retirees who elected additional "supplemental" life coverage under the plan. The Board will also share this same $0.05 per $1,000 increase in cost for "supplemental" life coverage because the Board pays half of this premium. These increases, which she projects will cost $6,900 annually, are a result of increased claims being made on the board's group life insurance plan, Hartford, over the past year.
Upon a motion by Dr. Beasley, seconded by Mr. Mack, the Board unanimously voted to accept the renewal proposals from Pan American Life for specific claims reinsurance and Hartford for group life coverage effective January 1, 2002 and to authorize the increase in member prescription drug co-pays to $8/$22/$37 and dental deductible to $75 with a 5% increase in dental premiums, also to be effective January 1, 2002.
As a result of the Board's association with Energy Education, Inc., an energy management consulting firm, Charles Owens feels that is has become necessary for the district to adopt more comprehensive energy procedures and guidelines. He asked the Board to approve the draft of each which included lighting, heating, and cooling practices and areas of responsibility.
Upon a motion by Mr. Mack, seconded by Mr. Anders, the Board unanimously voted to adopt the draft of the Energy Conservation Guidelines and the Energy Management Conservation Procedures for implementation.
In the Report of the Superintendent, Dr. Cobb said that the following information had been inserted into Board members' portfolios:
1. LSBA convention material to be completed and returned to Becky.
2. Letter from the LSU Cooperative Extension Service to the Board expressing appreciation.
3. Letter from John Hays regarding a Personnel Committee meeting and Attorney Andy Shealy's response.
4. Invitation to Billy Abrahm's daughter's wedding on December 29, 2001.
5. LSBA car rental information.
Following brief comments and questions, the meeting was adjourned at 7:26 p.m.
_______________________________ _______________________________
Gerald W. Cobb, Secretary David Wright, President