LINCOLN PARISH SCHOOL BOARD
Ruston, Louisiana
REGULAR SESSION
Tuesday, May 7, 2002 6:00 p.m.
The Lincoln Parish School Board met in Regular Session on Tuesday, May 7, 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. Otha Anders, Ms. Lisa Best, Mr. Curtis Dowling, Ms. Mattie Harrison, Mr. Jim Kessler, Mr. George Mack, Mr. Joe Mitcham (arrived after the meeting began), Mr. Rob Shadoin, Ms. Jo Tatum, and Mr. David Wright (arrived after the meeting began).
Mr. Billy Abrahm and Dr. Marty Beasley were absent.
President Rob Shadoin called the meeting to order. The invocation was given by Mr. Mack. Mr. Shadoin led in the Pledge of Allegiance to the American flag and welcomed guests.
Upon a motion by Mr. Anders, seconded by Mr. Dowling, the Board unanimously voted to adopt the agenda as printed.
Upon a motion by Ms. Tatum, seconded by Ms. Harrison, the Board decided by acclamation to approve the minutes of the Regular Sessions held on April 2 and April 17, 2002 as distributed.
Special Education Supervisor, Gloria Roebuck, indicated that her Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) application has a two-fold purpose which is to develop and implement assurances and procedures that specify the provision of a free appropriate public education to all students with disabilities residing in the jurisdiction of the Lincoln Parish School Board and to provide the State Department of Education with the procedures that the Louisiana Education Agency (LEA) will implement to qualify for the federal funds under IDEA. She presented her annual request for permission to apply for these funds.
David Wright arrived at the meeting during Ms. Roebuck's explanation.
After brief questions and answers, upon a motion by Mr. Kessler, seconded by Ms. Best, the Board unanimously voted to grant approval of the Louisiana Educational Agency Application for IDEA Flow-Through Funds for FY2003; thus allowing the Lincoln Parish Special Education Department to submit an application to the State Department of Education, Division of Special Populations.
Joe Mitcham entered the meeting.
Upon a motion by Mr. Wright, seconded by Mr. Dowling, the Board unanimously voted to grant permission to send Letters of Continued Employment to employees as mandated by Act 745 of the 1977 Legislature. This request is made each year by Ronnie Suggs, Assistant Superintendent.
The Board served as a Committee of the Whole and the following Personnel Committee agenda items were considered after being presented by Mr. Suggs:
1. The first personnel item to be considered was the naming of a principal for Dubach High School because of Helen Hall's retirement. Mr. Suggs presented background information on the selection process. He reported that he chaired a selection committee comprised of Patrice Hay, Barbara Kirkland, Clifton Lewis, Charles Owens, and Dr. Charles Scriber who interviewed five qualified applicants on April 22, 2002 and unanimously recommended Tony Guirlando to Dr. Gerald Cobb for the position. Mr. Guirlando was the third highest scoring applicant for the job, preceded by Joanne Hood and Earlene Jackson. It was Dr. Cobb's recommendation to the Board that Mr. Guirlando be named principal of Dubach High School.
Upon a motion by Mr. Wright, seconded by Mr. Anders, the Board unanimously voted to accept the administration's recommendation of Tony Guirlando for the position of principal of Dubach High School effective July 1, 2002.
2. Filling the vacancy in the Simsboro High School principal slot created by Judy Mabry's upcoming retirement was the next personnel agenda item. Mr. Suggs reiterated the process used and said that he was also chairman of this selection committee made up of Danny Bell, David Ferguson, Patrice Hay, Mary Null, and Charles Owens. After interviewing five qualified applicants, the three highest scoring applicants were Joanne Hood, Tim Nutt, and Kenny Henderson. It was the unanimous recommendation of the interview committee to transfer SHS Assistant Principal Tim Nutt into the position. Superintendent Cobb agreed with the committee's recommendation and presented Mr. Nutt's name to the Board.
Upon a motion by Mr. Dowling, seconded by Mr. Mitcham, the Board unanimously voted to accept the administration's recommendation of Tim Nutt for principal at Simsboro High School effective July 1, 2002.
Mr. Shadoin and Mr. Anders thanked the committees for their diligence and professionalism.
3. Leave without pay request for the second semester of 02-03 school year, effective January 6, 2003, from Wyndi Best, elementary teacher at Glen View.
4. Resignation effective May 24, 2002 of Michael Dvorak, science teacher at Ruston Junior High.
5. Retirement, effective May 24, 2002 of the following teachers:
Louise Adams - elementary at Hillcrest
Marilyn Hyams - math at Choudrant High
Upon a motion by Ms. Tatum, seconded by Mr. Kessler, the Board unanimously voted to accept the personnel recommendations as shown above.
Juanita Duke reported that April 2002 collections were up 11.14% and year-to-date collections were up almost 15.85% over the same month last year. Collections in the 1967 and 1979 fund were $394,761 and $236,856 was collected in the 1993 and 2000 funds. Ms. Duke predicted that July 1 salary supplements would be increased because of a very good sales tax year. Audit recoveries for the month totaled $11,351 which was a 190.60% increase from the same month last year.
Ms. Duke called attention to the fund balances on the March 2002 financial statement. She noted no unusual activity during the month in any of the funds. Sales tax fund balances have grown during the year in anticipation of salary supplement payments at the end of the fiscal year. She commented that a significant increase was detected in contributions to the health insurance fund. She was not concerned but stated that she would monitor the situation from this point forward.
Lincoln Parish received its first District Accountability Report Card on Thursday, May 2, 2002 according to Dr. Cobb. Although there are several parts to the report, the three main parts dealt with a District Performance Score, District Responsibility Index, and Poverty and Performance Report. Lincoln Parish's District Performance Score was 88.3 with the state average being 80.8, which ranked Lincoln 20th out of 66 systems. Lincoln ranked 40th on the District Responsibility Index primarily because of school improvement scores. When systems start with high initial scores they have a more difficult time making large measures of school improvement as opposed to those which initially scored low. On the Poverty and Performance Report, Lincoln ranked 23rd in poverty but ranked 20th in performance. Superintendent Cobb said that these reports are confusing and perplexing to those in education and to the public and he predicted that the next accountability reports which will be released in 2004 will be more important than these initial ones. In fact several superintendents and educators are questioning the validity of the District Responsibility Index to a District's Performance Score.
Revised computer use policies which were introduced at the previous board meeting were recommended for approval by Ronnie Suggs. They were: Acceptable Use Policy for School Computer Systems and the Internet - Faculty and Staff Use (EFA) and Acceptable Use Policy for School Computer Systems and the Internet - Student Use (IFBGA).
Upon a motion by Mr. Anders, seconded by Mr. Mack, the Board unanimously voted to approve the revisions to policies: Acceptable Use Policy for School Computer Systems and the Internet - Faculty and Staff Use (EFA) and Acceptable Use Policy for School Computer Systems and the Internet - Student Use (IFBGA).
Bid opening was held on May 7, 2002 for the purchase of the following items for the 02-03 school year: copy paper, paper towels and toilet tissue, and gasoline and diesel. Mr. Owens recommended that the Board accept the lowest bids meeting specifications as indicated.
Upon a motion by Mr. Kessler, seconded by Mr. Dowling, the Board unanimously voted to accept the lowest bids meeting specifications for the purchase of materials and supplies for the 02-03 school year as shown below:
Company Submitting Bid Gasoline & Diesel
E. Lee Young Unleaded Regular Cost + .059 gallon
Unleaded Plus Cost + .059 gallon
Unleaded Premium Cost + .059 gallon
On Road Diesel Cost + .059 gallon
Off Road Diesel Cost + .11 gallon
XPEDX 250 Cases Toilet Tissue
Price Per Case: $25.74
Total for 250 Cases: $6,435.00
Dixie Paper Co 450 Cases Paper Towels
Price Per Case: $9.89
Total for 450 Cases: $4,450.50
UNISOURCE 2,800 Cases Copy Paper
Price Per Unit: $19.30
Total for 2,800 Cases: $54,040.00
Mr. Shadoin called attention to information included in packets and said that Mr. Abrahm's wife was in the hospital and that Mr. Kessler had been involved in an automobile accident. He also mentioned that he appreciated the Board's support during the recent death of his dad. In closing he asked Board members to see him about a Secretary's Day gift.
In the report of the Superintendent, Dr. Cobb said that he was very pleased with the passage of both of the millage renewals the previous Saturday.
After brief comments, the meeting was adjourned by acclamation at 6:54 p.m.
_______________________ ____________________________
Gerald W. Cobb, Secretary Robert E. Shadoin, President