LINCOLN PARISH SCHOOL BOARD

Ruston, Louisiana

REGULAR SESSION

  Tuesday, April 2, 2002   6:00 p.m.

The Lincoln Parish School Board met in Regular Session on Tuesday, April 2, 2002 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,  Mr. Otha Anders, 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.

Dr. Marty Beasley and Mr. David Wright were absent.

President Shadoin called the meeting to order and the invocation was given by Mr. Dowling.  Mr. Shadoin led in the Pledge of Allegiance to the American flag and welcomed special guests. 

Upon a motion by Mr. Anders, seconded by Ms. Tatum, the Board unanimously voted to adopt the agenda with one modification and an addendum of New Business.

Upon a motion by Mr. Mitcham, seconded by Mr. Mack, the Board unanimously voted to approve the minutes of the Regular Sessions held on February 20 and March 5 and the Special Session on March 4, 2002 as distributed.

Mr. Shadoin recognized Legislative Auditor, Dr. Daniel Kyle, who was present and offered congratulations to the business department, administration, and the Lincoln Parish School Board for attaining a perfect audit with no findings.  He also noted that the parish is ahead of the curve and has faced a major challenge with the adoption of a new reporting model, Governmental Accounting Standards Board Statement 34 (GASB 34).  Dr. Kyle introduced his Investigative Audit Chief, Daryl Purpera, who accompanied him in his capacity as a pilot.  He thanked the Board again for the pleasure of attending the meeting and being able to share positive news.

Mr. Shadoin called on Mr. Tim Green, C.P.A., who thanked the Board for the invitation to the meeting and announced that the Lincoln Parish School Board continues to do a good job managing money.  He also had words of praise for the administration, the business department, and the Board for excellent auditing practices and financial reporting.  Mr. Green also mentioned the fact that the business department implemented GASB 34 prior to 02-03 as required.  He then asked the auditor in charge of the Lincoln Parish School Board, Regina Mekus, to give more details.

Ms. Mekus called attention to a Comprehensive Annual Financial Report which deals primarily with financial numbers involved in school board operations and a Single Audit Report which deals more with federal programs.  She quickly reviewed both reports and ended her Independent Auditor's report with the statement that she is very pleased with the Parish's accounting practices and therefore; issued a perfect, unqualified report for the first audit under GASB 34.  In her opinion, the administration, business department and more specifically the Business Manager, Juanita Duke, are doing a very good job.

Supervisor of Title I, Willie Washington, told the Board that the LEA Consolidated Application for Federal Programs will ensure high standards for all students; align the efforts of states, local education agencies, and schools; promote school wide reform; provide staff development opportunities; coordinate school services with health and social service programs; afford parents opportunities to participate in the education of their children; improve accountability; and provide greater decision making authority and flexibility to schools and teachers.  He voiced his annual request for permission to submit an application for the grant.

After brief questions, upon a motion by Ms. Tatum, seconded by Ms. Best, the Board unanimously voted to grant permission to submit an application for the grant, "LEA Consolidated Application for Federal Programs" No Child Left Behind Act of 2001.

Charles Owens, Director of Auxiliary Services, summarized his annual request for permission to advertise for bids for materials and supplies for the 02-03 school year.

Upon a motion by Mr. Mitcham, seconded by Mr. Dowling, the Board unanimously voted to grant permission to advertise for bids for duplicating paper, duplicating fluid, thermal masters, toilet tissue and paper towels, dust mops, and gasoline and diesel for 02-03.

Chairman of the Board's Curriculum Committee, Ms. Harrison, reported that at the Board's request, the Committee met on March 19, 2002 to discuss the Governor's Program on Abstinence.  She shared the Committee's unanimous recommendation to establish a one year pilot Lincoln Parish Abstinence Program at the junior high schools with the following guidelines: 1)The Governor's Abstinence Program curricula be adopted and used in the program.  2) All 7^th grade students will have the opportunity to receive 12 hours of instruction in the above curricula during the first semester of the 02-03 school year.  Parents/Guardians of these students will be afforded the option of not having their student participate in the program.  3) Each junior high principal will decide whether to use volunteer certified staff members or volunteer retired teachers to teach the curricula.  4) These certified staff members and/or retired teachers will attend a one day training session.  5) Jennifer Hamm, Director of Life Choices, will either train the certified staff members and/or retired teachers or recommend a qualified individual to do the training.  6) Abstinence Clubs may be formed at the public high schools by following the same rules and regulations as any other club.  Ms. Harrison asked for a motion regarding the recommendation.

Ms. Tatum made a motion to accept the Curriculum Committee's recommendation which was to accept the administration's recommendation to begin the one year pilot Governor's Program on Abstinence in the fall using the guidelines specified above.  The motion was seconded by Mr. Kessler.  Mr. Anders requested that the words, and/or in service, be added at the end of #4 making that sentence read: These certified staff members and/or retired teachers will attend a one day training session and/or in service.   This suggestion was agreed upon by Ms. Tatum and Mr. Kessler.  The Board unanimously voted for the amended motion. 

The Board served as a Committee of the Whole and the following Personnel Committee agenda items were considered after Assistant Superintendent Ronnie Suggs presented both of them:

1.    Retirement of the following effective May 24, 2002 unless otherwise specified:

Reta Jo Carter, elementary teacher at Glen View.

Elementary teacher at Hico, Mary Cooper.

Susan Green, elementary teacher at I. A. Lewis.

Counselor at Ruston Junior High, Glenda Howard, effective June 10, 2002.

2.         Resignation of Tracy Bennett, pre kindergarten teacher at Lincoln Center, effective March 24, 2002.

Upon a motion by Mr. Anders, seconded by Mr. Dowling, the Board unanimously voted to approve the personnel items.

Juanita Duke explained that 1967 and 1979 sales tax collections for the month of March 2002 were $387,396 which was up $91,094 over the same month last year.  Collections in the 1993 and 2000 sales tax funds also showed an increase of $54,656 compared to March 2001, with $232,437 being collected.  She said a lot of construction is going on in the parish.  These are 30.74% increases comparing month to month and overall for the year, accumulations were up 16.43% over those of last year.  Audit recoveries in the amount of $1,730 were received for the month.  These year to date collections are 40.40% below those from this month last year.

After calling the Board's attention to the shaded row on the February 2002 financial statement, Ms. Duke related that the general fund has a very healthy fund balance but reminded the Board that payment of accrued summer salaries is to be made after June 30, 2002.  Increased fund balances were noted because of property tax collections during the month.  District maintenance and operation balances were decreased because utilities are now being paid out of these funds.  There were no major activities to report.  Health insurance, however, has been demanding this month and last and, as anticipated, a little extra money was put into that account.

The Superintendent's Advisory Council met on March 12 for the purpose of reviewing two proposed 02-03 school calendars, Dr. Cobb communicated.  Not much flexibility is possible in our calendars because of state mandated testing dates and makeup dates.  The main difference in the calendars was midterm: Option 1 closely resembled the 01-02 calendar and had December 20 for the end of the first semester.  Option 2 had midterm after Christmas - on January 17.  Schools' faculty and staff, bus drivers, central office, food service, special education, and Title I personnel were polled and an overwhelming majoring, 91.5%, preferred Option 1.  Dr. Cobb requested approval of the proposed Option 1 calendar.

Upon a motion by Mr. Abrahm, seconded by Ms. Tatum, the Board unanimously voted to adopt the proposed Option 1 calendar for the 02-03 school year as follows:

                                                     Lincoln Parish School Calendar

                                                                        2002-2003

Instructional In Service Day                                            August 12, 2002

All Staff Workday                                                          August 13, 2002

Labor Day Holiday                                                        September 2, 2002

Thanksgiving Holiday                                                    November 25-29, 2002

End of First Semester                                                  December 20, 2002

Christmas/New Year Holidays                                       Dec. 23-Jan. 3, 2003

Martin Luther King/Great Americans' Day                      January 20, 2003

Spring                                                                        March 24-28, 2003

Easter Holiday                                                            April 18-21, 2003

Last Day of School for Students                                   May 23, 2003

Instructional Staff Workday (½ day)                              May 26, 2003

Mr. Owens said that schools could not continue to exist without the hard work of the support staff:  secretaries, bus drivers, bus aides, cafeteria workers, custodial and maintenance staff, and teacher aides.  Their jobs being a vital part of the overall education of each child in Lincoln Parish, he recommended that the Board adopt a resolution declaring a Support Personnel Week.

Upon a motion by Mr. Mitcham, seconded by Ms. Best, the Board unanimously voted to adopt the following:

                                                                 RESOLUTION

That the Lincoln Parish School Board designates the week of April 22-26, 2002 as Support Personnel Week in Lincoln Parish and copies of this Resolution be sent to all of the schools in the parish, and made a part of the official minutes of the Lincoln Parish School Board.              

According to Dr. Cobb, Simsboro and Ruston High Schools are both in need of pullout bleachers.  Simsboro's are 37 years old and Ruston High's are 34 years old.  Both have been repaired several times in the past and sections at both schools are now inoperable.  In his opinion, it would be more cost effective and in order to meet current safety codes, bids should be sought to replace both sets of bleachers.  He estimated that the total cost for the project would be $70,000 and indicated that the monies would be taken from the 2000 ad valorem fund.  He asked for permission to advertise for bids.

Upon a motion by Mr. Abrahm, seconded by Mr. Dowling, the Board unanimously voted to grant permission to advertise for bids for the replacement of the pullout bleachers at Simsboro and Ruston High School.

President Shadoin reminded the Board that the NSBA Conference in New Orleans is imminent and reported that Dr. Beasley is at home recuperating from surgery.

In a Report of the Superintendent, Dr. Cobb mentioned that:

U. S. Senator Mary Landrieu will be visiting Ruston Elementary on Thursday, April 4, from 9:00-10:00 a.m. and the Board is invited.

There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 6:56 p.m.

_______________________                    _____________________________

Gerald W. Cobb, Secretary                     Robert E. Shadoin, President