LINCOLN PARISH SCHOOL BOARD
Ruston, Louisiana
REGULAR SESSION
Tuesday, January 7, 2003 6:00 p.m.
The Lincoln Parish School Board met in Regular Session on Tuesday, January 8, 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 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, Mr. Joe Mitcham, Ms. Jo Tatum, and Mr. David Wright (arrived after the meeting began).
No board member was absent.
Mr. Shadoin called the meeting to order. Mr. Anders gave the invocation and Mr. Shadoin led in the Pledge of Allegiance to the American flag.
Upon a motion by Mr. Anders, seconded by Ms. Tatum, the Board unanimously voted to adopt the agenda as printed.
Upon a motion by Dr. Beasley, seconded by Mr. Dowling, the Board unanimously voted to approve the minutes of the Regular Session held on December 3, 2002 as distributed.
Election of officers for 2003 was next on the agenda and the floor was opened for nominations.
Mr. Mitcham moved to retain officers presently serving and Ms. Tatum seconded the motion as did several other board members. By voice vote, the Board unanimously voted that Rob Shadoin would continue as President and Otha Anders as Vice President for the 2003 calendar year.
Both Mr. Shadoin and Mr. Anders thanked the Board for the honor of serving as officers and for their confidence.
The Board served as a Committee of the Whole and the following Personnel Committee agenda items were considered after Ronnie Suggs, Assistant Superintendent, presented item 1.-3. and James Payton, Transportation Supervisor, presented 4. and 5.:
1. Resignation of the following effective January 6, 2003:
March Houston, teacher at Hillcrest Elementary.
Robin Burcham, teacher at Choudrant Elementary
2. Medical sabbatical for the second semester of 02-03, effective January 6, 2003, for Augustine Moore, teacher at Choudrant Elementary.
3. Employment of the following effective January 6, 2003:
Tracie Stroud, librarian at Glen View, replacing Susan Feduccia who was granted a sabbatical.
Elizabeth White, teacher at Choudrant Elementary, replacing Robin Burcham who resigned.
Dani Thompson, teacher at Hillcrest Elementary, replacing Marcy Houston who resigned.
Kay Huffman, coordinating teacher at Hillcrest, replacing Marcia DeMoss who retired. Ms. Huffman was already employed as a 4th grade teacher at Hillcrest.
Reatha Nelson, teacher at Lincoln Center, replacing Yolanda Dade who has taken extended sick leave.
Pamela Kelley, teacher at Hillcrest, replacing Kay Huffman who transferred from 4th grade there to coordinating teacher.
Mr. Wright arrived for the meeting.
4. Resignation of Alechia Thompson, bus driver in the Ruston area, effective December 9, 2002.
5. Employment of James Bonner, bus driver in the Ruston area, effective November 8, 2002 replacing Alechia Thompson who resigned.
Upon a motion by Ms. Tatum, seconded by Mr. Kessler, the Board unanimously voted to accept the administration's personnel recommendations.
Juanita Duke, Business Manager, reported that November 2002 sales tax collections which were received by December 31, 2002 were down 12.17% compared to the same month last year. She noted that this decrease is the second largest in a row following a 15% decrease last month. Total year-to-date collections were down 7.41%. Collected in the '67 and '79 fund was $301,410 and $180,846 was generated in both of the '93 and '00 funds. Ms. Duke indicated that the sales tax situation will be closely monitored as the fiscal year ends. Revenue recovered by audits in the month of December was $17,240 or 170% over December 2001.
The month of October 2002 was a break-even month as far as finances were concerned with no unusual expenditures reported, according to Ms. Duke. The October financial report did not reflect the payment of 2000 sales tax fund salary supplements which will be shown on the next financial report, November 2002. She called attention to the usual transfer from the general fund to the 5 mill maintenance fund in order to pay expenses incurred maintaining the facilities until the end of the calendar year when property tax collections will be received.
Ms. Duke also presented a self-insured health and dental benefits program report for the period ending October 2002. Monthly collections in the health program were up slightly from September to $389,429. Total monies paid for claims was $52,916 resulting in a $63,487 loss in the health insurance program for the month of October. Total contributions collected for the plan year are $4,853,151 and total costs equal $4,617,200 resulting in a $224,508 balance in the cash fund to date. Dental plan costs for the month of October 2002 decreased from the previous month and were $34,048, with administration paying $859 and claims totaling $33,189. Monthly collections were $32,523 which resulted in a $1,525 loss in the program for the month of October. Total dental costs paid year-to-date are $383,248, collections total $315,423, resulting in a $67,826 loss.
At the December meeting of the Board, Special Education Supervisor Gloria Roebuck presented a revised Homebound Instruction policy (IDDC). She asked the for approval of the revised policy.
Upon a motion by Ms. Best, seconded by Dr. Beasley, the Board unanimously voted to approve the revised Homebound Instruction policy (IDDC).
Superintendent Cobb also presented policies at the December meeting for the Board's perusal, a new Home Study Program policy (IDCH) and a revised Adult Education policy (IDG). He recommended approval of those policies for insertion into the Lincoln Parish School Board policy manual.
Upon a motion by Mr. Wright, seconded by Ms. Harrison, the Board unanimously voted to approve revisions to the Adult Education policy (IDG) and the addition of a new Home Study Program policy (IDCH).
At this point in the meeting President Shadoin recognized Superintendent Cobb who read a memo giving notice of his intent to retire as superintendent effective June 30, 2003. After 43 years in education, with the last 15 spent as superintendent, he believes the time has come for a change. He publically thanked the numerous teachers, administrators, support staff, parents, and others who have contributed to the success of the system during his administration. Dr. Cobb closed by wishing the Board and School System every success in the future and urged them to call on him after his retirement if he could ever be of service.
Following attempts to dissuade Superintendent Cobb from his decision and many expressions of thanks and appreciation for the excellent job he has done, upon a motion by Mr. Mitcham, seconded by Mr. Mack, the Board regretfully, unanimously voted to accept Dr. Gerald Cobb's letter of intent to retire as superintendent effective June 30, 2003.
A time line and suggested procedure to be used to fill the vacancy in the office of the superintendent were presented by President Shadoin. He indicated that consultation with the other members of the Board's Executive Committee resulted in the recommendation of the following time line: application period from January 8 through February 7, 2003; application review, selection of candidates to be interviewed, interview of applicants, and selection of a candidate for negotiations and finalization from February 10 through 21, 2003; and the formal selection of a superintendent at the March 4, 2003 Regular Session of the board. Minimum requirements include completed certification for superintendent in accordance with the LA State Department of Education Bulletin 746, which were provided. They also suggested that a Special Called Session be held on February 11, 2003 for screening of the applicants and selection of candidates to be scheduled for interviews. The interviews will be conducted in Executive Session and the applicant receiving the majority vote of the total membership of the Board will be the candidate selected for negotiations with the Executive Committee and formal recommendation to the board. A beginning salary of $75,000 plus $5,000 car allowance was proposed along with a starting date of July 1, 2003 and a two year contract. A sample application for the position was also included for examination.
Following a lengthy period of questions and comments, upon a motion by Mr. Kessler, seconded by Mr. Abrahm, the Board unanimously voted to approve the time lines and procedures as presented with the understanding that these could be modified as needed as the Board progresses through the superintendent selection process.
Mr. Shadoin called attention to the 2003 committee assignment preference forms included in packets and asked for those to be given to Becky Gemelli at the close of the meeting.
In a Report of the Superintendent, Dr. Cobb said:
1. LSBA convention information was included in packets.
2. The federal government has finalized their No Child Left Behind program which consists of more than 350 pages. Although Lincoln Parish only receives 12% of its funding from the feds, he says that within 5 years they have the potential of telling the parish how to completely run their business. He suggested that more money should be provided by them in order to hire more certified teachers as they so desire.
3. Resolutions to be considered at the LSBA convention, including Lincoln Parish's own regarding health care, were placed in portfolios.
4. An opportunity for Board training at LA Tech was also included in portfolios.
5. Parental concerns are flowing upward from elementary and high school levels to the college level as mentioned in a newspaper article he provided.
There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 6:59 p.m.
___________________________________ _____________________________
Gerald W. Cobb, Secretary Rob Shadoin, President