LINCOLN PARISH SCHOOL BOARD
Ruston, Louisiana
REGULAR SESSION
Tuesday, March 4, 2003 6:00 p.m.
The Lincoln Parish School Board met in Regular Session on Tuesday, March 4, 2003 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.
No board member was absent.
President Shadoin called the meeting to order and the invocation was given by Mr. Mitcham. Mr. Shadoin led in the Pledge of Allegiance to the American flag and welcomed guests to the meeting.
Upon a motion by Ms. Tatum, seconded by Dr. Beasley, the Board unanimously voted to adopt the agenda as amended adding two items of New Business.
Upon a motion by Mr. Anders, seconded by Mr. Abrahm, the Board unanimously voted to approve the minutes of the Regular Session held on February 11, 2003 and the Special Called Session held on February 17, 2003 as distributed.
Howard Whitlock, Secondary Supervisor, came before the Board and gave background information on the Student of the Year program. He said that each year the Lincoln Parish School System participates in the Student of the Year program. Students are selected from three divisions: elementary (grade 5), junior high (grade 8), and high school (grade 12). Parish wide winners, selected from each division, go on to compete at the regional level and if successful there, at the state level. Mr. Whitlock introduced each of the parish winners and shared brief personal information about them. On behalf of the Lincoln Parish School Board, Superintendent Gerald Cobb presented the following parish winners with plaques:
Elementary - Jacob Joyner of Hico Elementary
Junior High - Gavin McKinney or Ruston Junior High
High School - Meg Waters or Ruston High
Mr. Shadoin congratulated the students and wished them luck in the regional competition.
President Shadoin called on Mr. Tim Green, C.P.A., who announced that the Lincoln Parish School Board is doing good financially and has even improved over last year. He summarized the Comprehensive Annual Financial Report which deals primarily with financial numbers involved in school board operations. In his opinion, the administration, business department and more specifically the Business Manager, Juanita Duke, are doing a very good job. After stating that the parish was given a clean opinion, Mr. Green introduced Jarvis Osborne who was in charge of Lincoln Parish's audit. Mr. Osborne called attention to and briefly reviewed the Single Audit Report which deals primarily with federal programs. He said no reportable findings were noted and reiterated that Lincoln Parish was given an unqualified, clean opinion.
Mr. Shadoin indicated that School Food Service Supervisor Brenda Theodos was making her annual request for permission to send out bids for the 03-04 school year. He asked Board members what they wanted to do regarding her recommendation.
Upon a motion by Mr. Kessler, seconded by Mr. Mack, the Board unanimously voted to grant permission to advertise, bid, and accept the lowest bid on all purchases for food, paper and kitchen supplies, and equipment that meets specifications for the 03-04 school year.
A list of 7 vehicles which are no longer of any use was prepared by Transportation Supervisor, James Payton, and Director of Auxiliary Services, Charles Owens. The vehicles were: '72 Chevrolet 60 passenger bus, '85 Ford 60 passenger bus, '86 Chevrolet 60 passenger bus, '88 Chevrolet 60 passenger bus, '83 Chevrolet pick up, '85 Chevrolet Impala, and an '87 Dodge Dakota. Mr. Shadoin asked the Board what they would like to do about the vehicles.
Upon a motion by Mr. Dowling, seconded by Mr. Wright, the Board unanimously voted to declare all 7 vehicles as surplus and grant permission to dispose of them through the bid process.
The Board was reminded by Ms. Duke that each year schools are allocated funds from the 1979 sales tax fund to purchase instructional supplies for art, music, science, P. E., and for magazines, newspapers, and library materials. These amounts are distributed on a per pupil basis through the Business Department. Mr. Shadoin asked the Board's preference regarding the proposed 03-04 allocations which were the same amounts as the previous year. The distribution was as shown below:
Art K-12 - $1.00 per student
Physical Education K-12 - $1.00 per student
Library Supplies K-5 - $ .50 per student
6-12 - $1.00 per student
Music K-5 - $ .50 per student
6-12 - $1.00 per student
Magazines & K-6 - $2.20 per student
Newspapers 7-12 - $2.50 per student
Science K-6 - $ .75 per student
7-8 - $2.25 per student
9-12 - $3.75 per student
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Upon a motion by Ms. Tatum, seconded by Ms. Best, the Board unanimously voted to approve the allocations for 03-04 from 1979 sales taxes as outlined above.
Assistant Superintendent, Ronnie Suggs, submitted his annual request to send Letters of Intent to employees in order to begin plans for the 03-04 school year.
Upon a motion by Mr. Anders, seconded by Mr. Dowling, the Board unanimously voted to give permission to send the Letters of Intent.
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 Brenda Theodos presented 3.-4.:
1. Resignation of Shane Patrick, health/P.E./coach at Ruston High, effective February 28, 2003.
2. Employment of Ed Colvin, effective March 10, 2003 as health/P.E./coach at Ruston High replacing Shane Patrick who resigned.
3. Resignation of the following school food service technicians:
Junann Langley, Ruston High, effective January 31, 2003.
Theresa Gilbert, Cypress Springs, effective February 10, 2003.
4. Employment of Kaye Houck as school food service technician at Ruston High effective March 1, 2003 replacing Junann Langley who resigned.
Upon a motion by Dr. Beasley, seconded by Mr. Wright, the Board unanimously voted to approve the personnel recommendations.
Ms. Juanita Duke, Business Manager, reported that 1967 and 1979 sales tax collections for the month of February 2003 were $319,600 which was down $45,944 over the same month last year. Collections in the 1993 and 2000 sales tax funds also showed an decrease of $27,572 compared to last years, with $191,760 being collected. This was a 12.57% decrease for the month and the funds are down 7.49% for the year. She plans to monitor sales tax collections for the remainder of the year to determine salary supplement payments to be made to the staff on the first of July.
Ms. Duke called the Board's attention to the shaded line on the January 2003 financial statement. Fund balances are up in the general fund, 5 mill maintenance, 1993 and 2000 ad valorem funds, and district maintenance & operating funds because significant collections of 2002 property taxes were received in January. The majority of these payments will be received by May. She noted nothing of significance during the month except an increase in the operating and maintenance of plants and facilities due to increased activity in preparing our buildings to comply with insurance requirements. Additional costs will also be incurred for this purpose in February at which point they should decline.
Insurance benefits program report which covers a full twelve month plan year for the health and dental insurance program that ended December 31, 2002, was the next item on the agenda. Ms. Duke said that the total cost for the health insurance program this year was $5,476,000 which is an increase of $1,100,000 or 25.7% over last year's total cost of $4,355,000. Benefit changes which went into effect on January 1, 2003, should make a small impact in the first few months of the new calendar year in the plan; however, double digit increases are projected for health insurance. She will watch the costs closely and predicted that another $1,000,000 increase in the cost of health insurance. The dental insurance program is also experiencing increased costs during the same twelve month period. Total costs of $445,000 compared to $346,000 in the previous year or 28.6% increase overall. This is a little higher than the health insurance increase. She again reminded the Board that premiums were increased on January 1, 2003 to try to fight these increases. She indicated that the report would look a little different next month with the beginning of a new plan year.
After meeting with Dr. Charles Scriber and consultation with the Executive Committee, Mr. Shadoin said it is their recommendation that Dr. Charles Scriber be employed as Superintendent from July 1, 2003 for a two year term ending June 30, 2005 at a salary as advertised, $80,000, plus any benefits that he is currently being paid by the state of Louisiana. He receives supplements from the state that total about $5,000 and their recommendation further states that should any state pay terminate during his term, at that time that amount shall be paid by the Lincoln Parish School. This will ensure that Dr. Scriber does not receive a cut in pay during his two years. Although not part of the recommendation, Mr. Shadoin did note that the Board has the privilege to revisit his salary at any time during the two years.
Upon a motion by Dr. Beasley, seconded by Mr. Abrahm, the board unanimously voted to approve the appointment of Dr. Charles Scriber to the position of Superintendent with the terms mentioned above.
Dr. Scriber introduced his wife, Janice, and daughter, Mary Beth, to the Board and said it is an honor to be selected as Superintendent in Lincoln Parish. He pledged that he is honored to have been selected and will try his best to carry on the tradition that Dr. Cobb and the ones before him have set. He commended the Board on the method they took in selecting the Superintendent. He believes they sent a statement that their process is beyond reproach.
After submitting a revised Investment Policy to the Board at the February 11 meeting, Ms. Duke asked the Board to approve the changes.
After brief questions, upon a motion by Mr. Mitcham, seconded by Mr. Kessler, the Board unanimously voted to approve the revisions to the Investment policy (DFL).
The Town of Dubach previously leased the old Dubach High School baseball field and parking lot, according to Dr. Gerald Cobb. That agreement, effective July 4, 1990, was for a period of ten years. The Mayor of Dubach, Margaret Rogers, has written expressing her and the Dubach Town Council's desire to exercise their option to renew the lease; therefore, Assistant District Attorney Andy Shealy has prepared an Intergovernmental Cooperative Endeavor Agreement between the Board and the Town of Dubach granting them the right to use and occupy the same property they previously leased at a cost of $1.00 per annum. Dr. Cobb asked the Board to approve the Agreement.
Upon a motion by Ms. Tatum, seconded by Ms. Harrison, the Board unanimously voted to approve the Intergovernmental Endeavor Agreement between the Lincoln Parish School Board and the Town of Dubach granting them the right to use and occupy the old Dubach High School baseball field and parking lot for a period of ten years at a cost of $1.00 per annum.
Brighton Energy requested permission to transfer all or part of its interest in their lease on approximately 5 acres in the Hico-Dubach area which resulted in the drilling of the Ferguson 22-1 well. Superintendent Cobb expressed his opinion that is would be in the Board's best interest to approve the Resolution granting their request so the well can be kept productive so that the Board will continue to receive royalty payments from the sale of the minerals produced from the well.
Upon a motion by Mr. Mitcham, seconded by Mr. Abrahm, the Board unanimously voted to approve the Resolution assigning interest on the approximately 5 acres in the Hico-Dubach area to Black Hills Exploration and Production, Inc.
President Shadoin called the Board's attention to two items: Dr. Juanita Simmons' gracious letter thanking the Board for the opportunity to interview with them and also a Public Notice of a joint meeting between the Board and the Policy Jury on March 24, 2003 at 10:00 a.m. regarding reapportionment of the election districts.
In lieu of a Report of the Superintendent, Dr. Cobb offered his thanks to the Board for their fairness, openness, and thoroughness in the selection process for his replacement.
There being no further business to come before the Board, upon a motion by Mr. Mack, seconded by Mr. Kessler, the Board unanimously voted to adjourn at 6:46 p.m.
_________________________ _____________________________
Gerald W. Cobb, Secretary Robert E. Shadoin, President