LINCOLN PARISH SCHOOL BOARD

Ruston, Louisiana

REGULAR SESSION

Tuesday, November 4, 2003   6:00 p.m.

The Lincoln Parish School Board met in Regular Session on Tuesday, November 4, 2003 at 6:00 p.m. at the Lincoln Parish School Board, 410 South Farmerville Street, Ruston, Louisiana.  Members present were President Rob Shadoin, Mr. Billy Abrahm, Mr. Otha Anders, Mr. Don 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 member was absent.

President Shadoin called the meeting to order.  The invocation was given by Mr. Kessler and Superintendent Charles Scriber led in the Pledge of Allegiance to the American flag.

Upon a motion by Ms. Tatum, seconded by Mr. Anders, the Board unanimously voted to adopt the agenda with an addendum adding one item of Unfinished Business: Bids received in order to purchase a new route van.

Upon a motion by Mr. Wright, seconded by Mr. Kessler, the Board unanimously voted to approve the minutes of the Regular Sessions held on October 7 and October 22, 2003 as distributed.

The Board served as a Committee of the Whole and the following Personnel Committee agenda items were considered after Danny Bell, Director of Curriculum and Instruction, presented 1.-5.; Transportation Supervisor, Ronny Volentine, presented 6.; and Charles Owens, Director of Auxiliary Services, presented 7.:

1.         Resignation of Juanita Duke, central office business manager, effective November 30, 2003.

2.         Resignation of Pam Mathis, teacher at Ruston Elementary, effective November 1, 2003.

3.         Medical leave sabbatical for the second semester of 03-04, effective January 5, 2004, for Jill Tatum, teacher at Hillcrest Elementary.

4.         Rescission of sabbatical effective October 30, 2003 for Beverly Canterbury, elementary teacher at Simsboro School.

5.         Employment of Jada Walsworth as teacher at Ruston Elementary effective November 3, 2003 replacing Pam Mathis who resigned.

6.         Retirement of bus driver in the Ruston area, Fred Pee, effective December 19, 2003.

7.         Employment of the following maintenance employees effective November 1, 2003:

            Jimmy Perry, custodian at Hillcrest, replacing Isiah Jones who resigned.

Bobby Nelson, custodian at Ruston High, replacing Larry Wright who resigned.

Tamekia Jenkins, custodian at Secondary Alternative School, replacing Sharon Samuel who resigned.

Kenneth Rabon, custodian at Ruston Elementary, replacing Steve Rhone who resigned.

            Rhonda Sampson in a new custodial position at Ruston High.

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

Business Manager, Juanita Duke, told the Board that sales tax collections for the month ending October 31, 2003 were up 7.82% compared to the same month last year and 6.29% over year-to-date collections this month last year.  In the 1967 and 1979 sales tax fund $409,872 was collected and $245,923 was also collected in the 1993 and 2000 funds.

Only one bid was received for the purchase of a new route van, according to Mr. Owens.  He recommended that the Board accept that bid, $20,864 from Hopkins Chevrolet-Pontiac-Cadillac, Inc., in order to purchase the van.

Upon a motion by Mr. Anders, seconded by Ms. Best, the Board unanimously voted to accept the lowest bid meeting specifications for the purchase of a new route van, $20,864 from Hopkins Chevrolet-Pontiac-Cadillac, Inc.

Dr. Scriber announced that Dean Dick of Dean Dick Engineering, Inc. has volunteered to write a grant to refurbish the baseball park at the old Dubach High School location and to upgrade the softball park at the current Dubach High School location.  Mr. Dick indicated that the grant, through Baseball Tomorrow Fund, is a joint initiative between Major League Baseball and the Major League Baseball Players’ Association. 

Upon a motion by Ms. Tatum, seconded by Mr. Dowling, the Board unanimously voted to allow Mr. Dean Dick to apply for the grant through the Baseball Tomorrow Fund.

The Sales and Use Tax Commission unanimously voted at its 10-28-03 special meeting to tentatively approve a Fourth Amendment to Cooperative Endeavor Agreement contingent upon approval by all agencies which comprise the Commission, reported Joe Mitcham.  He called attention to the Agreement which basically allows the Village of Choudrant to join the Commission.

Jerry Moore, Sales and Use Tax Commission Administrator, was in attendance and available to help answer questions.

After a couple of questions, upon a motion by Mr. Kessler, seconded by Mr. Abrahm, the Board unanimously voted by roll call to approve the Fourth Amendment to Cooperative Endeavor Agreement and authorize the president of the Board to execute the Agreement on the Board’s behalf.

Superintendent Scriber mentioned that the Bobby James Gym, built by the Louisiana Federation in the 50's, sits on Lincoln Parish School Board property and a small piece of the Foundation’s property.  They want to donate the property to the Board so that the entire gym will be on the Board’s property.  Attorney Bill Carter prepared a Boundary Agreement which had been reviewed and approved by the Board’s attorney, Andy Shealy. The superintendent asked for board approval of the Agreement.

Upon a motion by Mr. Mitcham, seconded by Mr. Dowling, the Board unanimously voted by roll call to approve the Boundary Agreement and authorize the president of the Board to execute the same on the Board’s behalf.

Even though sales tax collections have increased slightly this year, Ms. Duke proposed that payment in the same amount provided last year be distributed for the December 1st salary supplement: $1,350 for certified employees and $675 for non certified employees.  These checks will be disbursed along with regular monthly payroll on Monday, December 1, 2003.  She reiterated that the amount of these checks is based on actual collections, and there is no guarantee that the same amounts will be paid next year at this time. 

Upon a motion by Mr. Wright, seconded by Mr. Kessler, the Board unanimously voted to approve the disbursement of $1,350 for certified and $675 for non certified employees in a December 1 salary supplement check.

Superintendent Charles Scriber said that since the Board accepted Mrs. Duke’s letter of resignation, he proposed to open the application process for the Business Manager position on November 5 through November 17, 2003.  After sending advertisements to school systems and newspapers across North Louisiana, interviews would be held on November 19-20, 2003 with a recommendation to fill the position to be presented to the Board at its December 2, 2003 meeting.  He asked for approval of these plans.

Upon a motion by Mr. Mack, seconded by Mr. Dowling, the Board unanimously, regretfully voted to approve the advertisement and interview process for Business Manager as presented by Dr. Charles Scriber.

In a Report of the Superintendent, Dr. Scriber mentioned:

1.         That the Academic Awards Banquet is approaching and will be held at 6:30 p.m. on Monday, November 10, at the Civic Center.

2.         That policy changes adopted at the previous meeting were copied, had holes punched for insertion into policy manuals, and were placed beneath portfolios.

Mr. Mack asked for a report on the matter handled at the end of the last meeting, the parents’ appeal of their student’s expulsion from the Ruston High School varsity football team.  Mr. Shadoin indicated that he had followed the Board’s instructions and met with the principal of the school and the superintendent.  He stated that no deals were made, but the situation was going to be handled at the school.  This met with the approval of the school personnel and the parents; therefore, a special called session of the Board for Monday, October 27, 2003 was canceled.

Several board members said that they had been contacted and informed that although the player returned to the team, he was not starting.  There seemed to be a problem with someone’s credibility or a misunderstanding but the issue had not been resolved to the parents’ or those board members’ satisfaction.

It was mentioned that participation in athletics is a privilege and not a right and furthermore if the parents wished to approach the Board regarding the matter, they should do so by following proper procedure so that all parties could be present at the meeting.

Another Board member felt that even though the Board is responsible for the schools and the hiring of personnel, this matter should not become a Board issue.  In her opinion, it falls under the realm of extra curricular activities which falls under the responsibility of the school and that teacher, coach, cheerleading sponsor, etc. and is not a policy situation.

Mr. Shadoin said that if the matter is to be considered by the Board, it should be properly brought before the Board.  Since it was not on the night’s agenda, it was not going to be discussed at the meeting.

Mr. Anders moved that the Board call a special meeting in order to meet with all parties involved and address the issue.  Mr. Mack seconded the motion.  The Board voted 4 For - 6 Against the motion by a show of hands; therefore, no special meeting will be called. Those voting For the motion were:  Otha Anders, Mattie Harrison, George Mack, and David Wright.  Those voting Against the motion were: Don Beasley, Lisa Best, Curtis Dowling, Jim Kessler, Joe Mitcham, and Jo Tatum.  Billy Abrahm and Rob Shadoin abstained from voting.

After a brief further comments, the meeting adjourned at 7:10 p.m.

___________________________                _____________________________

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