LINCOLN PARISH SCHOOL BOARD

Ruston, Louisiana

 REGULAR SESSION

       Thursday, October 17, 2002   12:30 p.m.

Because Superintendent Gerald Cobb was attending an out-of-state conference on Wednesday, October 16, 2002, the Lincoln Parish School Board met in Regular Session on Thursday, October 17, 2002 at 12:30 p.m. at Hillcrest Elementary School.  Members present were President Rob Shadoin, Mr. Billy Abrahm, Mr. Otha Anders, Dr. Marty Beasley, Ms. Lisa Best, Mr. Curtis Dowling, Ms. Mattie Harrison, Mr. Jim Kessler, Mr. George Mack, Ms. Jo Tatum, and Mr. David Wright

Mr. Joe Mitcham was absent.

Prior to the business meeting, board members enjoyed a delicious lunch in the school cafeteria.

President Shadoin called the meeting to order, Ms. Tatum gave the invocation, and Mr. Shadoin led in the Pledge of Allegiance to the American flag.  He also welcomed guests and central office staff members to the meeting.

Upon a motion by Mr. Mitcham, seconded by Mr. Abrahm, the Board unanimously voted to adopt the agenda as printed.

Hillcrest Elementary School Principal Patrice Hay welcomed everyone to the wonderful school with well-behaved children and wonderful parents and volunteers.  She mentioned that the room they were using for the meeting was previously a multi purpose room which was renovated the summer before last into a very roomy library.   Also new at Hillcrest is a 30-station computer lab which all students visit each week.  Board members were given a verbal invitation to walk around the school at the conclusion of the meeting and to return to the school at any time in the future.

Making her annual request for permission to apply for Impact Aid funding was Barbara Kirkland, Supervisor of Federal Programs.  The parish receives approximately $5,000 in aid to be placed in the general fund to be used to defray extra costs incurred as a result of about 300 federally-connected children living in the system, she noted.

Upon a motion by Ms. Tatum, seconded by Ms. Best, the Board unanimously voted to grant permission to apply for Impact Aid funding for 2002-2003.

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.-2. and 7.; Transportation Supervisor, James Payton, presented 3.-4.; and Charles Owens, Director of Auxiliary Services, presented 5.-6.:

1.   Resignation of Jackey Loran, special education aide at Cypress Springs, effective September 20, 2002.

2.      Employment of the following:

Kevin Herren, special education teacher at Simsboro, effective September 16, 2002 replacing Cindy Huckaby who was granted a sabbatical leave.

LaTisha Guillory, junior high teacher at Secondary Alternative School, effective September 27, 2002 replacing Doug Stewart who retired.

Ivory Bass, special education aide at Ruston Junior High, effective September 9, 2002 replacing Johnise Brantley who transferred into a teaching position.

Sara Moore, special education aide at Ruston High, effective September 23, 2002 replacing Jackey Loran who resigned.

3.      Resignation of Tonique Andrews as bus driver in the Ruston area effective September 19, 2002.

4.      Employment of James Grant as bus driver in the Ruston area effective October 18, 2002 replacing Toniqua Andrews who resigned.

5.      Transfer of Danny Willis, effective September 1, 2002, from Choudrant High into a new maintenance position at Choudrant Elementary.

6.      Employment of the following November 1, 2002 unless otherwise specified:

Jerry Touchstone, maintenance at Choudrant High School, effective September 9, 2002 replacing Danny Willis who transferred.

Philip McClain, maintenance at the Central Office in a new position.

Johnathon Miller, maintenance at the Central Office in a new position.

Loretta Ford, maintenance at Ruston High, replacing Yvonne Dice who resigned.           

Jettie McClain, maintenance at Ruston High, replacing Larry Wright who resigned.

Betty Gant, maintenance at Ruston High, replacing Lonnie Davis who resigned.

Angela Hall, maintenance at Simsboro, replacing Leon Davis who resigned.

7.      Employment of Debra Finch, effective October 1, 2002, as school food service technician at Ruston High in a new position.

Upon a motion by Mr. Kessler, seconded by Mr. Mack, the Board unanimously voted to approve the personnel requests and recommendations.

A financial report for the month ending July 31, 2002 was presented by Ms. Juanita Duke, Business Manager.  She indicated that there was no unusual activity during the month.  The general fund balance has jumped up as it always does in July because new, nine, ten, or eleven month employees' salaries are not being paid yet.  Basically there were only normal, minor expenditures.

Our policy company, Forethought Consulting, has recommended changes in the location and coding of some or our policies for better usability, according to Dr. Cobb.  He proposed that five policies' location and coding be changed, but no wording.  The suggested policies to be changed were: GAMA, Employee Tobacco Use; GAMD, Alcohol and Drug-Free Workplace; GAME, Employee Drug and Alcohol Testing; GAMFA, AIDS; and GBR, Staff Rights and Responsibilities.  Since changes are recommended at one meeting and adopted at a subsequent meeting, formal action was planned for the November meeting.

Mr. Owens reported that the old chiller, which was installed at Ruston High in 1965, with a life expectancy of 20 year, has become very costly to operate.  He believes that considering the age of the chiller, its inefficiency, and the diminishing supply of the coolant agent that is used, it would be advantageous to replace it.  It is conceivable that the new chiller could be paid with savings generated by the Energy Management Program.  The Louisiana Department  of Natural Resources is offering interest free loans; therefore, he asked for permission to pursue a loan for approximately $400,000 for 13-14 years in order to purchase a new chiller.

Upon a motion by Mr. Abrahm, seconded by Ms. Best, the Board unanimously voted to grant the administration permission to pursue a loan for a new chiller at Ruston High School as well as to separate the gym's and the cafeteria's air from the main unit.

In a Report of the Superintendent, he said that:

1.      Board members had probably read news articles where we collectively won the first round in the tobacco settlement money law suit which could mean $189,571 for Lincoln Parish.  In his opinion, this decision will definitely be appealed to the Supreme Court.

2.      He had just returned from a No Child Left Behind meeting in Dallas, with many states represented, and he does not think that Louisiana's #3 in-the-nation accountability plan is going to meet the new federal standards. He mentioned several possible changes to be effected by 2005 even though Louisiana is so far ahead of most states. "Still, we are going to make it work.  But, many changes are coming."

After brief comments, the meeting was adjourned at 1:00 p.m.

________________________                    _______________________________

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