LINCOLN PARISH SCHOOL BOARD
Ruston, Louisiana
REGULAR SESSION
Wednesday, March 19, 2003 12:30 p.m.
The Lincoln Parish School Board met in Regular Session on Wednesday, March 19, 2003 at 12:30 p.m. at I. A. Lewis. 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.
Prior to the business meeting, board members enjoyed a delicious lunch in the school cafeteria.
President Shadoin called the meeting to order and the invocation was given by Ms. Best. Mr. Shadoin led the Board in the Pledge of Allegiance to the American flag and welcomed guests to the meeting.
Upon a motion by Mr. Dowling, seconded by Mr. Anders, the Board unanimously voted to adopt the agenda as printed.
Principal of I. A. Lewis, Mary Null, welcomed the guests to the school. She said that she is very proud of the school and mentioned several specific reasons and wonderful programs that are in place. I. A. Lewis is a good place to be was a DAT comment which she felt was very fitting. In closing, Mrs. Null issued an invitation to tour the school at the close of the meeting and to return to I. A. Lewis at any time.
In keeping with desires made known at recent reapportionment meetings, Board Attorney, Andy Shealy, asked the Board to pass a motion to redesignate former wards to election districts numbering one through twelve. He introduced Dennis Woodward, the new parish engineer, who produced the individual maps of the districts that were distributed.
Upon a motion by Ms. Tatum, seconded by Mr. Anders, the Board unanimously voted to re designate former wards to election districts one through twelve.
Since the advent of the No Child Left Behind legislation, the state and federal agencies have revised the national and state technology goals and objectives for universities and for K-12 school districts, according to Debbie Sandidge, Technology Coordinator. The district technology plans for these agencies must adhere closely to the national and state goals and objectives and must include strategies, time lines, and evaluation methods for reaching them; therefore, the district plan has been rewritten to meet the new requirements and to match the new format. This newly revised plan was reviewed by a committee composed of teachers, administrators, supervisors, parents, and local business leaders. She asked for permission to submit the revised technology plan.
After questions and comments, upon a motion by Dr. Beasley, seconded by Mr. Kessler, the Board unanimously voted to grant permission to submit the revised technology plan to the Louisiana Center for Educational Technology.
Members who attended the recent Louisiana School Boards Association conference in Monroe made brief comments about the conference. It was the consensus of opinion that the conference was very enjoyable, educational, and beneficial.
The Board served as a Committee of the Whole and the following Personnel Committee agenda items were considered after Assistant Superintendent, Ronnie Suggs, presented 1.-4. and Supervisor of Transportation, James Payton, presented 5.:
1) Sabbatical medical leave request from Kim Billberry, math teacher at Ruston Junior High, effective March 27, 2003 and for the remainder of the 02-03 school year.
2) Retirement of the following administrators effective July 1, 2003:
Ronnie Suggs, assistant superintendent.
Ronald Crawford, principal at Choudrant High School.
3) Resignation of Debbie Pyles, Interpreter at Simsboro High, effective February 21, 2003.
4) Employment of Jane Thorson as Interpreter at Simsboro High effective February 24, 2003 replacing Debbie Pyles who resigned.
5) Retirement effective May 23, 2003 of Alan Hartwell, bus driver in the Dubach/Hico area.
Upon a motion by Mr. Kessler, seconded by Mr. Mack, the Board unanimously voted to approve the personnel request and recommendations.
Superintendent Gerald Cobb indicated that the superintendent-elect, Dr. Charles Scriber, decided to return Ronnie Suggs' position of Assistant Superintendent to that of Director of Curriculum and Instruction. Since the Board accepted Ronnie Suggs' letter of retirement, Dr. Cobb proposed to schedule the application process for the Director of Curriculum and Instruction position on March 20 through April 10, 2003. After sending advertisements to school systems and newspapers across North Louisiana, interviews would be held on April 14-16, 2003 with a recommendation to fill the position to be presented to the Board at its May 6, 2003 meeting. He asked for approval of these plans.
Dr. Cobb asked Dr. Scriber if he had any comments he would like to make. Dr. Scriber said that he has re organizational plans which would work better with a Director of Curriculum and Instruction rather than an Assistant Superintendent.
Upon a motion by Mr. Dowling, seconded by Ms. Harrison, the Board unanimously voted to approve the advertisement and interview process for a Director of Curriculum and Instruction as suggested by Dr. Gerald Cobb.
Mr. Suggs reminded the Board of the formation and work of a school uniform committee back in 99-00. He read the recommendation of that committee comprised of parents, faculty, and staff which was:
No further action be taken regarding a parish wide mandatory school uniform policy. Schools should continue to monitor and amend student dress codes as needed. Any school interested in pursuing school uniforms should be allowed to go through the proper procedure: Step 1 - Get permission from the Superintendent and present a plan of action. Step 2 - Secure a large majority of parental support, consider faculty and staff support, form a school site committee to establish uniform guidelines. Step 3 - Appear before the Lincoln Parish School Board to obtain permission for school uniforms.
He said that at the beginning for the 02-03 school year principals from Hico, Dubach, and Simsboro had questions regarding the process of requiring school uniforms to be worn by the students. After the steps were explained to them and after following said steps, they were in attendance at the meeting to request permission to institute a school uniform policy for the 03-04 school year at each of the schools.
Hico Elementary Principal, James Pilgreen; Dubach High Principal, Tony Guirlando; and Simsboro School Principal, Tim Nutt; all provided background and discussed steps taken at their schools which led to their presence at the meeting. Each took surveys of parental interest in students wearing uniforms and the results of those returned were as follows:
Hico 85% for 13% against 2% undecided
Dubach 81% for 15% against 4% undecided
Simsboro 75% for 19% against 6 % undecided
They named local businesses who had been contacted and pledged to keep the uniforms in stock. In closing the principals shared steps which had been and would be taken to insure that all students would be financially able to purchase uniforms or have them purchased for them by groups and organizations.
After brief questions by Board members, and several comments from a parent, upon a motion by Mr. Kessler, seconded by Mr. Dowling, the Board unanimously voted to accept the principals' recommendation to require school uniforms to be worn at Hico Elementary, Dubach High, and Simsboro School beginning with the 03-04 school year.
Mr. Mitcham called attention to a Lincoln Parish Sales and Use Tax Resolution opposing state government collection of local sales and use taxes. He asked for approval of the resolution.
Upon a motion by Mr. Abrahm, seconded by Ms. Tatum, the Board unanimously voted to adopt the Resolution opposing state collection of local sales and use tax.
President Shadoin called attention to a notice of a joint Public Hearing between the Lincoln Parish Policy Jury and School Board regarding reapportionment of the election districts on Monday, March 24, 2003, at 10:00 a.m. in the Police Jury Meeting Room.
After brief comments, the meeting adjourned at 1:53 p.m.
________________________ ______________________________
Gerald W. Cobb, Secretary Robert E. Shadoin, President