LINCOLN PARISH SCHOOL BOARD
Ruston, Louisiana
REGULAR SESSION
Tuesday, June 4, 2002 6:15 p.m.
The Lincoln Parish School Board met in Regular Session on Tuesday, June 4, 2002 at 6:15 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, Ms. Jo Tatum, and Mr. David Wright.
Dr. Marty Beasley was absent.
Prior to the meeting, 01-02 retirees of the Lincoln Parish School System were honored with a reception in the lobby of the School Board.
President Rob Shadoin called the meeting to order and Mr. Wright gave the invocation. Mr. Shadoin led in the Pledge of Allegiance to the American flag and welcomed special guests and members of the press and of the official staff.
Upon a motion by Mr. Anders, seconded by Mr. Dowling, the Board unanimously voted to adopt the agenda with an addendum adding one item of Unfinished Business.
Upon a motion by Ms. Tatum, seconded by Mr. Kessler, the Board unanimously voted to approve the minutes of the Regular Session held on May 7, 2002 as distributed.
At this point in the meeting, the retirees honored with an earlier reception were presented with small gifts and certificates of appreciation for a total of 644 years of faithful and dedicated service to the parish. Retirees were as follows:
NAME SCHOOL YRS. IN LINCOLN TOTAL YEARS
Helen Hall Dubach High (Principal) 32 32
Judy Mabry Simsboro (Principal) 27 32.5
Louise Adams Hillcrest Elem. (Teacher) 9 33
Virginia Cook Ruston High (Teacher) 26 26
Mary Cooper Hico Elementary (Teacher) 16 27
Susan Green I. A. Lewis (Teacher) 22 30
Glenda Howard Ruston Jr. High (Teacher) 23 35
Marilyn Hyams Choudrant High (Teacher) 19 22
Faye Kavanaugh Ruston Elementary (Coord.Teacher) 15 33
Marilyn Mayfield I. A. Lewis (Teacher) 17.5 32.5
Sheila McBride Glen View (Teacher) 19 19.5
Rachel McCallister Lincoln Center (Teacher) 20 37
Judy McCready Ruston High (Teacher) 24.5 37.5
Gloria Moore Grambling Middle (Teacher) 20 33
Ellen Murphy Hico Elementary (Teacher) 20 28
Robert Parrott Ruston High (Teacher) 27 27
Ruth Potts Ruston High (Teacher) 24.5 25
Barbara Torbor Ruston High (Testing Coordinator) 30 35
Nancy Wallace Lincoln Center (Behavioral Intervent.) 20 27.5
Vicki Warner A. E. Phillips (Teacher) 32 38
Fran Camp Central Office (Secretary) 20 20
Marie Hicks Ruston High (Teacher Aide) 25 25
Ethel Moore Lincoln Center (Teacher Aide) 16 16
James Fowler Bus Driver 29 29
Charles Jenkins Bus Driver 12 12
Herbert Lyons Bus Driver 33 33
Joan Moore I. A. Lewis (School Food) 27 27
Willie Mae Pruitt Grambling High (School Food) 28 28
Beatrice Woods Hillcrest Elem. (School Food) 10 10
Superintendent Gerald Cobb and President Shadoin wished the retirees well and offered congratulations on their retirement.
The Outstanding School Support Employee Awards Program provides an opportunity to honor an outstanding employee in the elementary, middle, and high school/central office levels who support and provide leadership in the operation of non instructional activities within the school system, Director of Auxiliary Services, Charles Owens, explained. He reviewed the selection procedure and with Dr. Cobb's help, presented plaques to the following in order to recognize their contributions to the Lincoln Parish School System:
Arlene Torbor Elementary Maid at Ruston Elementary
Carolyn Smith Junior High Paraprofessional at Alternative School
Willie Patton High School/Central Office Janitor at Ruston High
Assistant Principal at Choudrant High School, Doug Postel, introduced each member of the Choudrant High School, Class B state champion baseball team. They had a record of 27-5 for the season, 8-0 in district play, and finished the season with 20 consecutive wins. He introduced head coach, Tony Antley, who said the team was glad to represent Choudrant High School and Lincoln Parish. Superintendent Cobb presented a plaque on behalf of the Board and himself, to Coach Antley in recognition of coaching the team to the Class B, state baseball championship. President Shadoin expressed the Board's pride in the team and coach.
The Board served as a Committee of the Whole and the following Personnel Committee agenda items were considered after Ronnie Suggs, Assistant Superintendent, presented 1.-3.; James Payton, Supervisor of Transportation, presented 4.-6.; and Brenda Theodos, School Food Service Supervisor, presented 7.:
1. Leave requests from the following:
Eldonta Osborne, administrative assistant/teacher at Ruston Junior High, effective May 24, 2002 for leave without pay for the 02-03 school year.
Alisa Antley, elementary teacher at I. A. Lewis, effective January 6, 2003 for a medical sabbatical for the second semester of the 02-03 school year.
He said these meet both local and state guidelines for leave.
2. Resignation, effective May 24, 2002, of the following:
Trudy Ireland, elementary teacher at I. A. Lewis.
Elishondra Davis, math teacher at Dubach High.
Wendy DelRio, elementary teacher at Cypress Springs.
Sherri Ferrel, science teacher at Simsboro High.
Lynette McGee, teacher at Ruston Elementary.
Summer Baucum, teacher at Ruston Elementary.
Jennifer Colvin, social studies teacher at Simsboro High.
3. Retirement of Sheila McBride, teacher at Glen View, effective May 25, 2002.
4. Resignation of the following bus drivers:
Deana Norris, effective May 24, 2002, who drives in the Ruston area.
James Smith, effective May 2, 2002, who drives in the Ruston area.
5. Retirement of James Fowler, bus driver in the Ruston area, effective May 24, 2002.
6. Employment of the following bus drivers effective August 14, 2002:
David Buckley for the Ruston area replacing Herbert Lyons who retired.
Larry Waldron for the Ruston area replacing James Fowler who retired.
Toniqua Andrews for the Ruston area replacing James Smith who resigned.
Jeff White for the Ruston area replacing Deana Norris who resigned.
7. Retirement of the following school food service employees:
Willie Mae Pruitt, technician at Grambling High, effective May 24, 2002.
Joan Moore, manager at I. A. Lewis, effective May 31, 2002.
Upon a motion by Mr. Dowling, seconded by Mr. Abrahm, the Board unanimously voted to accept the above recommendations as presented.
In Juanita Duke's absence, Dr. Cobb presented a sales tax report for the month ending May 2002. Compared to the same month last year, collections were up 14.85% and overall collections for the year were up 15.76%. Collections in both the 1993 and the 2000 sales tax funds were $208,991, and 1967 and 1979 collections were $348,320. Although audit recoveries for the month totaled $9,128, year to date collections were almost 20% below last year's numbers.
Bids for the purchase of four new conventional school buses from Kent Mitchell Bus Sales, Scott Truck & Tractor, and Ross Bus Sales were opened in the board room on May 20, 2002 by James Payton. He recommended that the Board accept the lowest bid which fully met specifications, Kent Mitchell Bus Sales, for the purchase.
Upon a motion by Mr. Kessler, seconded by Mr. Mack, the Board unanimously voted to accept the bid from Kent Mitchell Bus Sales for $47,272 each for the purchase of four new conventional buses.
In order to comply with the Louisiana Election Code, Superintendent Cobb presented a resolution canvassing the returns of the May 4, 2002 Ruston School District millage renewal (980 Yes and 129 No). He asked for Board adoption.
Upon a motion by Mr. Abrahm, seconded by Ms. Tatum, the Board unanimously voted by roll call to adopt the Resolution canvassing the election returns for the millage renewal election for Ruston School District No. 1 on May 4, 2002.
Dr. Cobb also asked for adoption of a similar resolution canvassing the election returns of the May 4, 2002 Consolidated School District No. 1 parish-wide millage renewal (1,384 Yes and 231 No).
Upon a motion by Mr. Wright, seconded by Ms. Best, the Board unanimously voted by roll call to adopt the Resolution canvassing the election returns for the parish-wide millage renewal election for the Consolidated School District No. 1 on May 4, 2002.
One bid was received for the repair ($42,405) and one bid was received for the replacement ($92,961) of pullout bleachers at Simsboro and Ruston High Schools, according to Superintendent Gerald Cobb. After careful consideration and evaluation of both bids in terms of cost, compliance with applicable Life Safety Codes, loss of seating, and project guarantees, he recommended that the Board accept the bid to purchase new bleachers for the schools.
Upon a motion by Mr. Dowling, seconded by Mr. Anders, the Board unanimously voted to accept the bid from Insight, Inc. as specified for a total cost of $92,961 to purchase new motorized bleacher systems for Simsboro and Ruston High School.
For a number of years the Lincoln Parish School Board has employed the services of Forethought Consulting, Inc. for the purpose of maintaining the Lincoln Parish policy manual's accuracy while at the same time keeping it as current as possible. Board mandates, selected state and federal court cases, pertinent legislation, and attorney general's opinions are reviewed to determine their effects on our policy manual. Dr. Cobb said this is becoming more important each year and is an effective, valuable service. Renewal of the Policy Updating Service for July 2002 to June 2003 is $2,250 which is $150 more than the previous year. In April 1996 the Board also voted to subscribe to their computer-assisted Policy Service (CAPS) which has cross-referenced and linked the policy manual, Louisiana statues, BESE bulletins, and minutes. These are updated by computer disk periodically. Cost for the CAPS semiannual updating service for the fiscal year is $850 which is the same as last couple of years. He recommended renewal of the contract with Forethought for both of these services.
Upon a motion by Mr. Kessler, seconded by Ms. Harrison, the Board unanimously voted to approve the renewal of a 12-month contract with Forethought Consulting, Inc. beginning July 2002 and ending June 2003 at a cost of $3,100 for the policy manual and CAPS updating services.
Mr. Mitcham, one of the board's representatives on the Lincoln Parish Sales and Use Tax Commission, presented the Commission's proposed 2002-2003 budget which was $7,300 more than the previous years. He requested approval from the Board of the $186,300 budget.
Upon a motion by Mr. Kessler, seconded by Mr. Abrahm, the Board unanimously voted to approve the 2002-2003 Sales and Use Tax Commission budget.
Mr. Mitcham also called that Board's attention to two resolutions the Sales and Use Tax Commission has passed concerning exclusions to the collection of local sales and use taxes. He asked for Board approval of the resolutions.
Upon a motion by Mr. Anders, seconded by Mr. Abrahm, the Board unanimously voted to approve: 1) a resolution requesting the Lincoln Parish legislative delegation to oppose Senate Bill No. 84 by Senator Ellington excluding from local sales and use tax the purchase, sale, lease, or rental of wireless telephone equipment and 2) a resolution requesting the Lincoln Parish legislative delegation to oppose House Bill No. 117 by Representative Walsworth excluding from local sales and use tax repairs to certain tangible personal property to be exported out of this state.
As a result of increased sales tax collections during the year, Dr. Cobb recommended that July salary supplement checks be paid to employees as follows: $3,282 to certified and $1,641 to support employees. These figures are total increases of $832 for certified and $416 for support employees over last year's July payment. He requested the Board's approval of the payment amounts and reminded Board members that the checks are based on actual collections, and there is no guarantee that the same amounts will be paid next year.
Upon a motion by Ms. Tatum, seconded by Ms. Harrison, the Board unanimously voted to approve the payment of the salary supplement checks for July 1, 2002 of $3,282 for certified staff and $1,641 for support staff.
In accordance with state law, a solicitation for proposals was sent to the two newspapers in Lincoln Parish to name an official journal for the upcoming year. The Ruston Daily Leader offered $4.50 per legal square with a .50 reduction if submitted on disk or e-mail. The Morning Paper proposed $4.80 per square with a .50 reduction for the first 100 words if submitted on floppy disk or e-mail. President Shadoin asked for the Board's preference.
Upon a motion by Mr. Abrahm, seconded by Mr. Dowling, the Board unanimously voted to name The Ruston Daily Leader as the official journal for fiscal year 02-03.
After brief comments and questions from Board members, the meeting was adjourned at 7:27 p.m.
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Gerald W. Cobb, Secretary Robert E. Shadoin, President