LINCOLN PARISH SCHOOL BOARD
Ruston, Louisiana
SPECIAL CALLED SESSION
Monday, March 4, 2002 12:00 p.m.
The Lincoln Parish School Board met in Special Called Session on Monday, March 4, 2002 at 12:00 p.m. in the Title I Conference Room. Members present were Mr. Billy Abrahm, Mr. Otha Anders, Dr. Marty Beasley, 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.
Ms. Lisa Best was absent.
President Shadoin called the meeting to order and the invocation was given by Mr. Anders.
Mr. Shadoin led the Board in the Pledge of Allegiance to the American flag.
Upon a motion by Ms. Tatum, seconded by Ms. Harrison, the Board unanimously voted to adopt the agenda as printed.
Mr. Shadoin and Superintendent Gerald Cobb welcomed members of the media to the meeting and recognized special guests in attendance. Representatives from Union and Ouachita Parish School Boards; Board of Elementary and Secondary Education (BESE) Member, Dr. James Stafford; state Senator Bill Jones; and state Representatives Rodney Alexander and Rick Gallot were in attendance.
The reinstatement of Minimum Foundation Program (MFP) monies as the different entities work together for the good of the nonvoter, the children, was the purpose of the special called meeting of the Board, according to President Shadoin.
Dr. Cobb also expressed his appreciation for the guests' attendance and called attention to a Resolution that BESE approved last week. The resolution is seeking to restore the funding through a budget amendment or a supplemental appropriation bill. The Louisiana School Boards Association approved the same resolution on Thursday, February 28. Dr. Cobb provided a brief explanation of the recent one-time only reduction of MFP funds for sixteen parishes totaling $11.3 million. As he had told the Board previously, the one-time proposed decrease for Lincoln Parish was projected to be $323,665 at the beginning of the year. He recently received the preliminary final budget letter which had been approved by the State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education (BESE) for distribution of the 01-02 MFP funds. The parish's one-time reduction in funding had grown to $1,467,542. He told Dr. Stafford and the legislators that the Lincoln Parish School Board is looking for a partnership and ways to assist the legislature and BESE.
Senator Bill Jones explained the different funding levels in the MFP and also the legislators and BESE's responsibilities with regards to the MFP. In order to give politically-popular $2,060 across-the-board teacher pay raises last year, a good thing, the legislature and BESE did it in a bad way. While there was nothing wrong with the MFP formula, BESE went outside the formula to find the pay raise money. If they had not, Lincoln Parish would not be losing $1.4 million. Although he voted against it, he was over ruled. He reiterated what Board members already know, the legislature can only accept or reject proposals from BESE. They cannot amend them. "That's how we got where we are today," he said.
This action involved monies which were taken from sixteen school districts who had raised their local wealth in anticipation of receiving reward money from the state. Beginning with "What we can to about it," he outlined actions he had already taken and those he has planned including an 11:00 a.m. meeting the next day with the Governor's staff requesting that the reinstatement of the monies be included in the Governor's supplemental appropriation bill. If they don't agree to that, he will introduce a supplemental appropriations bill in the legislature. He feels that the bill would have a better chance for legislative approval if it comes from the Governor. BESE is in the process of returning approximately $11 million to the state and this would restore about 90% of the reduction to the sixteen parishes. He urged the Board and administration to contact the other fifteen parishes involved in the reduction of funds and get them to contact their legislators and BESE members. Although he has never known it to be done, he feels that with the magnitude of the harm and with the extra money available, if enough legislators get behind the bill, it is possible to have the MFP funds returned.
BESE vice-president, Dr. Jim Stafford, communicated that the problem being discussed was not the legislators' fault. He said he was in attendance at this Special Called Session of the Lincoln Parish School Board to help come up with a remedy to the problem. Prior to BESE's submission of the MFP formula to the legislature, in order to fund teacher pay raises, talks were held between the Governor's people, top Senate and Representative officials, and members of BESE members. Estimates were that six systems would have reduced MFP funds and the total needed was projected to be $4 million. Obviously these estimates were erroneous because sixteen systems were impacted for a total of $11 million. He had requested that a resolution be drawn up to restore the monies and BESE approved the resolution. Dr. Stafford went to the LSBA convention where the resolution was unanimously approved by the LSBA. He also mentioned other efforts and contacts he has made. Although the reductions are not fair or right, he predicts that it won't be easy to change. "We violated our own formula." He suggested that the sixteen affected parishes get united and approach their legislators, the Governor, the Division of Administration, and the Governor's Executive Assistant. He closed by saying that he believes the funds can be restored and that it's worth the effort to attempt the undertaking.
Next to take the floor was Representative Rodney Alexander, who represents a small portion of Lincoln Parish. Although he was not in attendance to blame anyone, he believes that a change must be made. Because the legislature voted to give teachers a pay raise, Lincoln Parish should not have been penalized $1.4 million. After fifteen years in the legislature, he has discovered that most teachers do not even know the name of their BESE member yet BESE is responsible for submitting the MFP to the legislature and should be held accountable. He pledged his willingness to work and do what is necessary to make sure that teachers are adequately paid.
The last to come before the Board was Representative Rick Gallot, a father of two Lincoln Parish students and a tax payer in this parish. He is also concerned about what went wrong during the session. As a relatively new member of the House, he often spoke with Superintendent Cobb regarding education issues. A good plan to restore the MFP funds has been suggested, in his opinion, and he credited Senator Jones for coming up with the concept and having the vision to pursue it in a supplemental appropriations bill that they will attempt to get in during the upcoming Regular Session of the Legislature. He also believes the problem can be solved but wants to be sure the school system does not find itself in the same situation in the future.
Most of the Board and Superintendent Cobb had questions of the guests or comments to make. The candid, harmonious discussion lasted approximately thirty minutes.
During the conversation, it was noted that the Governor has formed a Finance Commission to look at the complicated MFP formula. Both Dr. James Stafford and Senator Bill Jones are members of the Commission. They have already met three or four times according to Dr. Stafford and may have a good, solid recommendation in approximately one to one and one-half years.
In closing, Dr. Stafford suggested that the Board appoint one person to spearhead and coordinate the effort and work with legislators from the other fifteen parishes.
Mr. Shadoin again thanked the guests for their attendance, help with the money problem, and urged them to ask if the Board could ever be of help.
After brief comments, upon a motion by Mr. Mitcham, seconded by Mr. Dowling, and by a unanimous vote, the meeting adjourned at 1:36 p.m.
______________________________ ______________________________
Gerald W. Cobb, Secretary Robert E. Shadoin, President