LINCOLN PARISH SCHOOL BOARD

Ruston, Louisiana

REGULAR SESSION

Tuesday, August 5, 2003   6:00 p.m.

The Lincoln Parish School Board met in Regular Session on Tuesday, August 5, 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 (arrived after the meeting began), Mr. Otha Anders, Mr. Don Beasley, Ms. Lisa Best, Mr. Curtis Dowling, Ms. Mattie Harrison, Mr. Jim Kessler, Mr. George Mack, Mr. Joe Mitcham (arrived after the meeting began), Ms. Jo Tatum, and Mr. David Wright.

No board members were absent.

President Rob Shadoin called the meeting to order and Mr. Dowling gave the invocation.  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 Ms. Best, seconded by Mr. Wright, the Board unanimously voted to approve the minutes of the Regular Session held on July 1, 2003 and the Special Called Session on July 17, 2003 as printed.

Eric Carter, Supervisor of Testing, Evaluation, and Curriculum, reminded the Board that each year the system must submit a revised copy of the Pupil Progression Plan (PPP) to the State Department of Education for their approval.  The PPP is based on regulations from the state and local policies having to do with promotion and retention.  The changes to be considered were:  1) Students taking the IOWA tests are not eligible for either a retest or the appeals process.  These students may be eligible for the policy override based upon a decision by the School Building Level Committee.  2) Remediation shall be provided to students who score at the Unsatisfactory level on LEAP for the 21st century science and social studies.  3) Beginning in the spring 2004, students must pass at the Basic achievement level in order to be eligible for promotion at it relates to grades four and eight.  He asked for approval of the revisions.

Mr. Mitcham entered the meeting during Mr. Carter’s explanation.

After brief questions, upon a motion by Mr. Kessler, seconded by Mr. Mack, the Board unanimously voted to approve the revisions to the 03-04 Lincoln Parish Pupil Progression Plan.

Mr. Abrahm entered the meeting immediately following the vote.

Juanita Duke, Business Manager, reminded Board members that each year schools are allocated funds from the 1979 sales tax fund for library supplement ($2.00), classroom supplies ($3.25), office supplies and equipment repair/purchase ($3.50), student services ($3.25), and debate and speech ($1.50).  These funds are distributed on a per pupil basis and sent directly to the schools to be disbursed by the principal.  Ms. Duke recommended sending the per pupil allotments shown above which are the same as last year’s amounts.  Also to be included in the checks is $100 per kindergarten teacher and monies for those schools which have a band.  The total to be disbursed to the schools would be $100,302.50 which is an $865 decrease because of fewer students.

Upon a motion by Ms. Tatum, seconded by Ms. Harrison, the Board unanimously voted to approve the annual school allocation of funds for 03-04 from the 1979 sales tax as outlined by Ms. Duke.

The Board served as a Committee of the Whole and the following Personnel Committee agenda items were considered after Director of Curriculum and Instruction Danny Bell presented #1. - #6., James Payton, Interim Maintenance Supervisor, presented#7., Transportation Supervisor Ronny Volentine presented #8. - #9., and Brenda Theodos, School Food Service Supervisor, presented #10 - #12.:

1.         Retirement of Randy Hay, P.E./Coach at Ruston Junior High, effective August 8, 2003.

2.         Resignation of the following:

Kathryn Davis, foreign language teacher at Dubach High, effective July 19, 2003.

            Elementary teacher at Glen View, Amy Green, effective July 30, 2003.

Laureen Mayfield, special education teacher at Cypress Springs, effective July 10, 2003.

Elementary teacher at Choudrant Elementary, Brandie Watson, effective July 1, 2003.

Kellye Ketchum, elementary teacher at Choudrant Elementary, effective July 7, 2003.

Elementary teacher at Lincoln Center, Teresa Culpepper, effective July 22, 2003.

Virginia Stringfellow, special education aide at Hico Elementary, effective July 16, 2003.

            Art teacher at Ruston High, Des’Tina Paige, effective July 24, 2003.

            John Small, JROTC instructor at Ruston High, effective July 5, 2003.

Administrative Assistant at Ruston Junior High, Eldonta’ Osborne, effective July 10, 2003.

Sean Hays, math teacher at Secondary Alternative School, effective July 18, 2003.

3.         Extended sick leave request from Jill Tatum, elementary teacher at Hillcrest, effective September 9, 2003 and for the first semester of 03-04.

4.         Leave without pay requests from the following:

Melissa Savage, math teacher at Simsboro, effective October 27, 2003 and for the remainder of the 1st semester of 03-04.

Elementary teacher at Choudrant Elementary, Kristy Carter, effective September 1, 2003 and for the remainder of the 03-04 school year.

5.         Points of Reference/Transfers of the following teachers effective August 11, 2003:

Denise Kimrey, from Cypress Springs to elementary at Choudrant Elementary, replacing Brandie Watson who resigned.

Cathey Kavanaugh, from I. A. Lewis to special education at Cypress Springs, replacing Laureen Mayfield who resigned.

Pat Edington, from Choudrant High to science at Ruston Junior High, replacing Randy Hay who retired.

Kevin Herren, from Ruston Elementary to special education at I. A. Lewis, replacing Cathey Kavanaugh who transferred.

6.         Employment of the following effective August 11, 2003 unless otherwise noted:

Kelly Jackson as elementary teacher at Choudrant Elementary replacing Kellye Ketchum who resigned.

Laura Jackson as math teacher at Choudrant High in a new position.

Gloria Riser as science teacher at Choudrant High replacing Pat Edington who transferred.

Becky Gillum as elementary teacher at Cypress Springs replacing Denise Kimrey who transferred.

Margaret Telford as librarian at Dubach High replacing Jennifer Canterbury who resigned.

Sharra Woods as special education aide at Dubach High replacing Arberia Simonton who retired.

Lisa Barr as elementary teacher at Glen View replacing Amy Green who resigned.

Sheree Ganey as elementary at Hillcrest replacing Jill Tatum who requested sick leave.

Herbert Perit as special education aide at Hico replacing Virginia Stringfellow who resigned.

Becky Brown as elementary teacher at I. A. Lewis replacing Sonja Walker who was promoted to principal of Ruston Elementary.

Shannon Walters as elementary teacher at Lincoln Center replacing Teresa Culpepper who resigned.

Sandy Singleton as special education teacher at Ruston Elementary replacing Kevin Herren who requested a transfer.

David Aguilar as P.E./coach at Ruston High replacing Lori May who resigned.

Christa Denney as business teacher at Ruston High replacing Carolyn Peace who was granted a sabbatical leave.

Teniesha Bean, English teacher at Ruston High, in a new position.

Melissa Kern as art teacher at Ruston High replacing Des’Tina Paige who resigned.

Leroy Brown as JROTC instructor at Ruston High effective July 29, 2003 replacing John Small who resigned.

Stanley House as JROTC instructor at Ruston High effective July 29, 2003 replacing Raymond Hunt who resigned.

Erica McIntyre as social studies teacher at Ruston Junior High replacing Lisa Lagatutta who was granted leave without pay for 03-04.

Bridget Simoneaux as gifted and talented teacher at Ruston Junior High replacing Gail Sullivan who retired.

Debbie Martin in a new math teacher position at Simsboro.

Dr. Earlo Anderson as math teacher at the Secondary Alternative School replacing Sean Hays who resigned.

7.         Employment of Olivia Gordon, effective July 28, 2003, as secretary at Ruston High replacing Ann Windsor who retired.

8.         Resignation of Gary Cathey as bus driver in the Simsboro area effective July 18, 2003.

9.         Employment of the Alvin Shaw, Jr. as bus driver in the Simsboro area effective August 11, 2003 replacing Gary Cathey who resigned.

10.       Resignation of the following school food service personnel:

            Lena Anderson, clerk at Alma J. Brown, effective July 25, 2003.

            Sheila Newton, technician at Choudrant, effective July 29, 2003.

11.       Points of Reference/Transfers of the following school food service personnel effective July 29, 2003:

Jennifer Alexander, from Ruston Elementary to clerk at Choudrant, replacing Paulette Davis who became manager.

Jennifer Hawkins, from Ruston High to clerk at Simsboro, replacing Rena Jones who resigned.

Debra Jordan, from Grambling to technician at Ruston Elementary, replacing Jennifer Alexander who transferred.

12.       Points of Reference from school food service effective July 29, 2003:

Annie Canty is moving from manager to manager/clerk at Alma J. Brown replacing Lena Anderson who resigned.

Paulette Davis is going from clerk to manager at Choudrant replacing Maribeth Pesnell who retired.

Upon a motion by Mr. Mitcham, seconded by Ms. Harrison, the Board unanimously voted to approve the personnel recommendations.

According to Mary Null, Elementary Supervisor, the LEAP 21 summer school program was offered at no cost to 91 fourth grade and 73 eighth grade students who scored at the Unsatisfactory level on the Spring 2003 LEAP 21 English/language arts and/or mathematics test.  In addition, 59 high school students who scored at the ”Unsatisfactory” level on the Spring 2003 GEE 21 also participated in summer school at Ruston Junior High School.  The program had a total of 27 instructional days with each instructional day beginning at 7:50 and ending at 11:55 for a minimum of 50 instructional hours per subject. Breakfast and transportation were also  provided at no cost to the students.  The results of the LEAP 21 and GEE 21 are scheduled to arrive on August 12 but will hopefully be available to the schools prior to that day as school begins the very next day. 

Ms. Juanita Duke reported that sales tax collections for the first month in the 03-04 fiscal year, July 2003, were up 6.86% compared to the same month last year and 9.35% year-to-date.  Collections in the ’67 and ’79 fund were $384,357, and $230,614 was collected in both the ’93 and ’00 sales tax funds.  Audit recoveries for July 2003 were $2,943 which was down 23.43% compared to July 2002.

While presenting the financial statement for the month ending May 31, 2003, Juanita Duke indicated that the only item of any significance to report was that the General Fund balance is dropping as usual and will continue to decline until January 2004 property tax collections.  Others funds are doing well.  Sales tax fund balances are large because payment of July sales tax supplement is reported in June and, therefore, will not show up until next month.  At that time, those balances will drop as well.  Utility costs continue to be paid out of the district maintenance and operation funds.

As of July 25, 2003, health insurance costs have again increased and total costs for the month were $468,486, Ms. Duke reported.  Overall though, costs were down about 2% for the first five months of the calendar year, compared to the fifth month of 2002.  In the dental program, costs have decreased for the first five months of this year compared to the fifth month last year - about 23.7%.  Total calendar year costs were $44,014.  She included a third page to give the Board a history of health/dental program combined average monthly costs.  They have increased from $308,634 for 12 months in 2000 to $516,668 for the first five months of 2003.  She is a little concerned because seven months remain in the year and there is much that is unknown at this time.

After presenting a revised Testing Program policy (II) at the July meeting, Superintendent Charles Scriber asked if there were questions about the proposed policy change.

After one question, upon a motion by Mr. Anders, seconded by Mr. Kessler, the Board unanimously voted to approve the revisions to the Testing Program policy (II).

Mr. Shadoin shared background information on the City of Ruston’s purchase of the Board’s old Greenwood school and property.  He then reminded the Board that Vice President of Ruston Parks and Recreation, David Lewis, had come before the Board at an earlier meeting requesting the Board’s forgiveness of the debt or donation of the property. Mr. Shadoin called on Assistant District Attorney Andy Shealy to present the Board with their options.  Mr. Shealy said that according to Louisiana law, the Lincoln Parish School Board cannot donate property or anything of value to third parties and if they did donate the property, it would be setting a precedent that the Board would not want to set.  He believes the Board has done everything possible to try to put the Greenwood School in a position where it could be converted to community use and shared instances of several concessions which had been made by the Board.  In his legal opinion, the best option available to the Board is to direct Mr. Lewis and Ruston Parks and Recreation to take their request to the City of Ruston as they are now the owners of the property.  He did mention that the Board might entertain the possibility of simply having the City of Ruston or Ruston Parks and Recreation pay the present value of the stream of income from the sale, in cash.  Anything short of that, he concluded, would run afoul of the Constitution.

After a brief discussion, it became clear that the consensus of opinion what that the Board had no action to take as it no longer owned the property, having sold it to the City of Ruston.

Mr. Shealy suggested that a letter be written to David Lewis indicating such and said he would be willing to do so. 

Upon a motion by Mr. Mack, seconded by Mr. Kessler, the Board unanimously voted to allow Mr. Shealy to prepare a letter to Mr. Lewis outlining the Board’s response to his request regarding the old Greenwood School and property.

In response to Mr. Shadoin’s request for an update on reapportionment, Mr. Shealy said despite the meetings held, attempts to include everyone in the process, and agreements among those involved, one or more parties have complained to the United States Justice Department.  This has slowed the process; therefore, he does not believe that Board member elections will be held in the latter part of the year.

Mr. Mitcham, one of the Board’s representatives on the Lincoln Parish Sales and Use Tax Commission, presented the Commission’s proposed 03-04 budget which was $6,050, less than 3% more than the previous years.  He requested approval from the Board of the $192,350 budget.

Upon a motion by Ms. Tatum, seconded by Ms. Harrison, the Board unanimously voted to approve the 03-04 Sales and Use Tax Commission budget.

The State Legislative Auditor’s office requires all Louisiana governmental units to complete a Systems Survey & Compliance Questionnaire and submit it to the independent auditors at the beginning of the financial and compliance audit, Ms. Duke informed the Board.  She recommended approval of the questionnaire.

Upon a motion by Mr. Wright, seconded by Mr. Anders, the Board unanimously voted to approve the Systems Survey & Compliance Questionnaire for fiscal year 02-03 as presented.

In a Report of the Superintendent, Dr. Scriber related that:

1.         Nepotism forms were placed in packets and should be completed by applicable Board members as soon as possible.

2.         A letter from Freddie Whitford, Executive Director of the Louisiana School Boards Association, regarding new school board member training was included for Board members’ information.

3.         An agenda for the opening of school, parish wide in-service on August 11, 2003 was also included and Board members were invited to attend.

After brief comments and observations, the meeting adjourned at 7:13 p.m.

_______________________________  _______________________________

Charles R. Scriber, Secretary              Robert E. Shadoin, President