LINCOLN PARISH SCHOOL BOARD
Ruston, Louisiana
REGULAR SESSION
Tuesday, April 1, 2003 6:00 p.m.
The Lincoln Parish School Board met in Regular Session on Tuesday, April 1, 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 Mr. 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 gave the invocation. He led in the Pledge of Allegiance to the American flag and welcomed guests and central office employees to the meeting.
Upon a motion by Mr. Anders, seconded by Ms. Tatum, the Board unanimously voted to adopt the agenda as printed.
Upon a motion by Mr. Mitcham, seconded by Ms. Best, the Board unanimously voted to approve the minutes of the Regular Session held on March 4, 2003 as distributed.
Secondary Supervisor, Howard Whitlock, furnished background information on the National Board Certification program and introduced five Lincoln Parish teachers who have completed the certification requirements. In addition to a $5,000 per year monetary award from the State Department of Education, Superintendent Gerald Cobb presented plaques to four of the five who were in attendance in recognition of completing the program, thus making them become the best teacher they can be: Sue Barfield, Sheila Barber, Brenda Lofton, Libby Manning, and Dr. Carynn Wiggins. President Shadoin expressed the Board's congratulations and pride in the five National Board Certified teachers.
Gloria Roebuck, Special Education Supervisor, had the honor of introducing the first Louisiana Council for Exception Children Paraeducator of the Year, Paulette Miller, to the Board. She provided information on the program which selects outstanding special education paraeducators and also introduced Ms. Miller's principal, Patrice Hay of Hillcrest Elementary, and supervising teacher, Sheila Barber, who was also from Hillcrest. Dr. Cobb presented a plaque to Ms. Miller in recognition of being selected as the LA Paraeducator of the Year.
The LEA Consolidated Application for Federal Programs will ensure high standards for all students; align the efforts of states, local education agencies, and schools; promote school wide reform; provide staff development opportunities; coordinate school services with health and social service programs; afford parents opportunities to participate in the education of their children; improve accountability; and provide greater decision making authority and flexibility to schools and teachers according to Supervisor of Title I, Willie Washington. He voiced his annual request for permission to submit an application for the grant.
Upon a motion by Dr. Beasley, seconded by Mr. Kessler, the Board unanimously voted to grant permission to submit an application for the grant, "LEA Consolidated Application for Federal Programs" No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 for fiscal year 2004.
Charles Owens, Director of Auxiliary Services, verbalized his yearly appeal for permission to advertise for bids for materials and supplies for the 03-04 school year.
Upon a motion by Mr. Mack, seconded by Ms. Harrison, the Board unanimously voted to grant permission to advertise for bids for copy paper, duplicating fluid, thermal masters, toilet tissue, paper towels, dust mops, and gasoline and diesel for 03-04.
The Board served as a Committee of the Whole and the following Personnel Committee agenda items were considered after Assistant Superintendent, Ronnie Suggs, presented them:
1. Retirement of Gail Sullivan, itinerant gifted/talented teacher effective March 31, 2003.
2. Employment of Roderick Foppe, effective March 31, 2003 as PE/coach at Ruston High replacing Ritchie Sims who resigned.
3. Resignation of Rena Jones, school food service clerk at Simsboro, effective March 17, 2003.
4. Re-employment of Theresa Gilbert, effective April 1, 2003, in her previous position as school food service technician at Cypress Springs.
Upon a motion by Ms. Tatum, seconded by Mr. Abrahm, the Board unanimously voted to approve the personnel items.
Juanita Duke, Business Manager, explained that 1967 and 1979 sales tax collections for the month of March 2003 were $318,106 which was down $69,290 over the same month last year. Collections in the 1993 and 2000 sales tax funds also showed a decrease of $41,574 compared to March 2002, with $190,863 being collected. She said a lot of construction was going on in the parish this time last year. These are 17.89% decreases comparing month to month and overall for the year, accumulations are down 8.69% over those of last year. She repeated that if this downward sales tax trend continues, the board and administration will have to look at making a slight adjustment in the salary supplement paid to employees in July.
After calling the Board's attention to the shaded row on the February 2003 financial statement, Ms. Duke related that there was nothing significant to report. However, this was the second month of property tax collections. These collections increased fund balances in the general fund, five mill, and millage funds: the '93 and '00 ad valorem and district m & o funds. She noted that the January budget letter from the state was received in February which indicated that the parish would be seeing a decrease in MFP payments for the remainder of the year, totally approximately $200,000. These monies go into the general fund which will be watched closely.
The new plan year has begun for the health and dental programs and Mrs. Duke announced that the total health costs for the month of January are $642,796. Compared to the same month last year, this is an approximate 19.5% increase. The bar chart, showing three years worth of data, indicated that the program costs have nearly doubled in two years. She is cautiously watching the program and has been in touch with Benesys who indicated that next months February costs are down somewhat. More adjustments may have to be made at plan renewal time in the fall. Costs did go down some in the dental program, about 40% compared to the same month last year. Those costs for January were $35,285 compared to almost $60,000 last year at this time. She reminded the Board that premiums increased in the dental program began January 1, 2003. She inserted a final page in this month's report showing health/dental program combined average monthly costs by plan year. For the twelve-month period in 2000, average monthly cost was $308,632; 2001 was $398,668; and 2002 was $521,824. January 2003's $678,081 is the record highest actual monthly cost since the inception of the program. The health/dental programs have definitely seen dramatic increases in the past three years. According to information she receives, costs are going to continue to rise and this has caused a nationwide program. However, being self-funded, she says the plans will have to be monitored closely and necessary changes will be made in the future in order to preserve the plans.
The Superintendent's Advisory Council met on March 12 for the purpose of reviewing two proposed 03-04 school calendars, Dr. Cobb communicated. Not much flexibility is possible in our calendars because of state mandated testing dates and makeup dates. The main difference in the calendars was midterm: Option 1 closely resembled the 02-03 calendar and had December 19 for the end of the first semester. Option 2 had midterm after Christmas - on January 16. Schools' faculty and staff, bus drivers, central office, food service, special education, and Title I personnel were polled and an overwhelming majoring, 88%, preferred Option 1. Dr. Cobb requested approval of the proposed Option 1 calendar.
Upon a motion by Mr. Anders, seconded by Ms. Harrison, the Board unanimously voted to adopt the proposed Option 1 calendar for the 03-04 school year as follows:
Lincoln Parish School Calendar
2003-2004
Instructional Staff Workday August 11, 2003
All Staff Workday August 12, 2003
Labor Day Holiday September 1, 2003
Thanksgiving Holiday November 24-28, 2003
End of First Semester December 19, 2003
Christmas/New Year Holidays Dec. 22-Jan. 2, 2004
Martin Luther King/Great Americans' Day January 19, 2004
Spring March 29-April 2, 2004
Easter Holiday April 9 & 12, 2004
Last Day of School for Students May 21, 2004
Instructional Staff Workday (1/2 day) May 24, 2004
Because the Board, at an earlier meeting, accepted the intent to retire of Ronald Crawford, principal at Choudrant High, Superintendent Cobb proposed opening the application process for that position on Thursday, April 10, 2003. The application period would close at noon on Wednesday, April 30, and interviews would be scheduled during the week of May 12-16, 2003. A recommendation to fill the position would be presented to the Board at its June 3, 2003 meeting. The process would be implemented in accordance with the court order pertaining to the selection of administrative personnel.
Upon a motion by Ms. Best, seconded by Mr. Wright, the Board unanimously voted to approve the advertisement and interview schedule as presented for the Choudrant High School principal position as explained above.
Dr. Cobb also proposed to open the application process for the principalship of Ruston High School on Thursday, April 10, 2003, and to close the application period at noon on Wednesday, April 30, 2003. This vacancy was created when the Board named the current principal, Dr. Charles Scriber, as the person to fill the superintendent's slot effective July 1, 2003. Interviews for this position would be scheduled during the week of May 19-23, 2003 with a recommendation to fill the position to be presented to the Board at its June 3, 2003 meeting.
Upon a motion by Mr. Dowling, seconded by Mr. Mitcham, the Board unanimously voted to approve the Ruston High School principal advertisement and interview schedule as presented by Superintendent Cobb.
Mr. Owens said that schools could not continue to exist without the hard work of the support staff: secretaries, bus drivers, bus aides, cafeteria workers, custodial and maintenance staff, and teacher aides. Their jobs being a vital part of the overall education of each child in Lincoln Parish, he recommended that the Board adopt a resolution declaring a Support Personnel Week.
Upon a motion by Mr. Mitcham, seconded by Ms. Best, the Board unanimously voted to adopt the following:
RESOLUTION
That the Lincoln Parish School Board designates the week of April 21-25, 2003 as Support Personnel Week in Lincoln Parish and copies of this Resolution be sent to all of the schools in the parish, and made a part of the official minutes of the Lincoln Parish School Board.
With the passage of the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001, Dr. Cobb presented six new and two revised policies for the Board's information and consideration. The new ones were: Parental Rights/Student Rights of Privacy (IFDA), Limited English Proficiency Program (IDDH), Homeless Students (JBCBB), Language Minority Students (JQL), Student Organizations (JHC), and Relations with the Armed Forces/Military Agencies (LDDB), and the revised ones were: Student Records (JR) and School Admission (JBC). He said final action will be taken on the proposed policy changes at the May 6 meeting.
In a Report of the Superintendent, Dr. Cobb mentioned that:
A revised list of board members was included in portfolios with new district numbers instead of the previous ward numbers.
Mr. Mack suggested that the Board consider, at their next meeting, a Resolution opposing vouchers and another supporting the Head Start Program. He discussed his reasoning and asked for the items to be placed on the May 6 agenda. President Shadoin indicated that Resolutions would have to be prepared before their consideration could be placed on an agenda and indicated that they should talk after the meeting was adjourned.
President Shadoin told the Board that he plans to attend his first National School Boards Association Conference in San Francisco, California during the week and plans to report to the Board upon his return.
There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 7:00 p.m.
________________________ ______________________
Gerald W. Cobb, Secretary Robert E. Shadoin, President