LINCOLN PARISH SCHOOL BOARD
Ruston, Louisiana
REGULAR SESSION
Tuesday, April 6, 2004 6:00 p.m.
The Lincoln Parish School Board met in Regular Session on Tuesday, April 6, 2004 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, Ms. Lisa Best, Mr. Curtis Dowling, Ms. Mattie Harrison, Ms. Lynda Henderson, Mr. Flynn Ludley, Mr. George Mack, Mr. Joe Mitcham, and Ms. Jo Tatum.
Mr. Jim Kessler was absent.
President Shadoin called the meeting to order and Vice President Anders gave the invocation. 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 Mr. Mitcham, the Board unanimously voted to adopt the agenda with an addendum adding one item of New Business.
Upon a motion by Mr. Anders, seconded by Mr. Dowling, the Board unanimously voted to approve the minutes of the Regular Sessions held on March 2, 2004 and March 17, 2004 as distributed.
Secondary and Vocational Supervisor, Ricky Edmiston, introduced Ruston High School senior Rosalyn Pillow who had been named a National Achievement Scholarship finalist. Superintendent Charles Scriber presented her with a plaque in recognition of her impressive accomplishment and asked her to introduce her guests.
Mr. Edmiston also recognized Hannah Washington who was not in attendance but was a recipient of the prestigious National Merit Finalist award. This recognition is awarded annually to only .5% of the seniors in the entire nation. He will deliver a plaque to her at Ruston High School on behalf of the Board and the superintendent.
Danny Bell, Director of Curriculum and Instruction, had the honor of introducing the Ruston-Lincoln Chamber of Commerce and Ruston Jaycees' Outstanding Young Educator of the Year, Lindsey Husted Braddock. He shared interesting background information on her including the fact that she is a first grade teacher at Ruston Elementary. Mr. Bell allowed her to introduce her guests and share brief comments with the Board.
Supervisor of Testing, Evaluation and Curriculum, Eric Carter, furnished background information on the National Board Certification program and recognized seven Lincoln Parish teachers who have completed the certification requirements. They were: Christy Gearhart, kindergarten at A. E. Phillips; Betsy Gouedy, special education at Choudrant High; Anita Greenwood, French at Ruston High, Sharon St. Andre, agriscience at Ruston High, Ginger Schanks, speech pathologist at I. A. Lewis; Linda Wallace first grade at Glen View; and Pam Willis, special education at Hillcrest. In addition to a $5,000 per year monetary award from the State Department of Education, Dr. Scriber presented plaques to five of the seven who were in attendance in recognition of completing the program, thus making them become the best teacher they can be:
At this point in the meeting, President Shadoin recognized and welcomed two new members to the Board, Lynda Henderson representing district 9 and Flynn Ludley representing district 2.
Because of a softball game conflict for the coach, the Class B, State basketball team from Simsboro High could not be recognized as planned. They will be recognized at the May board meeting.
Making her annual request for permission to advertise and accept bids in order to purchase food, paper and kitchen supplies, and equipment for 04-05 was Brenda Theodos, School Food Service Supervisor.
Upon a motion by Mr. Abrahm, seconded by Mr. Mack, the Board unanimously voted to grant permission for the child nutrition program to advertise for bids and accept the lowest bid on all purchases of food, paper and kitchen supplies, and equipment that meets specifications for the 04-05 school year.
Because Carl D. Perkins Vocational Educational Funds are being used to update vocational education equipment at Ruston, Choudrant, and Simsboro high schools, various pieces of outdated equipment are no longer needed for instruction, according to Mr. Edmiston. He asked the Board to declare the equipment as surplus. Each school would then host its own sale and proceeds would be deposited in the appropriate vocational program's account.
Upon a motion by Ms. Tatum, seconded by Ms. Harrison, the Board unanimously voted to declare various vocational equipment at Ruston, Choudrant, and Simsboro high schools as surplus and allow disposal as presented above.
Supervisor of Title I, Willie Washington, requested permission to submit the yearly application for the grant, LEA Consolidated Application for Federal Programs which will bring in $2,373,743.
Upon a motion by Ms. Best, seconded by Ms. Harrison, 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 2005.
Charles Owens, Director of Auxiliary Services, verbalized his annual appeal for permission to advertise for bids for materials and supplies for the 04-05 school year.
Upon a motion by Mr. Mitcham, seconded by Mr. Anders, the Board unanimously voted to grant permission to advertise for bids for duplicating paper, toilet tissue and paper towels, dust mops, and gasoline and diesel for 04-05.
The Board served as a Committee of the Whole and the following Personnel Committee agenda items were considered after Danny Bell presented 1. - 4. and Ronny Volentine, Transportation Supervisor, presented 5. - 7.:
1. Retirement of the following principals effective July 1, 2004:
Randy Moore from Ruston Junior High.
James Pilgreen from Hico Elementary School.
2. Retirement, effective May 25, 2004, of the following teachers:
Bonnie Cunningham, language arts at Ruston Junior High.
Ella Payne, language arts at Simsboro High.
Daisy Smith, elementary at Simsboro High.
3. Resignation of the following effective May 24, 2004 unless otherwise specified:
Vana Welch, special education aide at Choudrant Elementary, effective March 8, 2004.
Laucetta McMurry, Title I tutor at Cypress Springs, effective Marcy 1, 2004.
Huey Farrell, PE/coach at Dubach High.
Teniesha Bean, English at Ruston High.
Natorshau Davis, music at Simsboro High.
Meg Harrington, elementary at Simsboro High.
4. Sabbatical requests effective August 11, 2004 for the following:
Tina Brownfield, pre-kindergarten at Lincoln Center, for 04-05 professional sabbatical.
Katherine Keil, English at Ruston High, for 1st semester of 04-05 professional sabbatical.
5. Resignation of Jeff White, bus driver in the Ruston area, effective April 1, 2004.
6. Employment of Darren Ambrose as bus driver in the Ruston area effective April 5, 2004 replacing Jeff White who resigned.
7. Employment of Charles Westerfield in a mechanic position at the central office effective April 19, 2004.
Upon a motion by Mr. Dowling, seconded by Ms. Tatum, the Board unanimously voted to approve the personnel items.
Jack Boyd, Business Manager, explained that 1967 and 1979 sales tax collections for the month of March 2004 were $326,991 which was up $8,885 over the same month last year. Collections in the 1993 and 2000 sales tax funds also showed an increase of $5,331 compared to March 2003, with $196,194 being collected. These are 2.79% increases comparing month to month and overall for the year, accumulations are up 16.68% over those of last year. Revenue recovered by audit increased greatly because of a large one-time collection in February 2004. Audit collections for the year total $1,707,065.
Mr. Boyd began his February 2004 financial update by repeating that the school system is in very sound financial condition with actual expenses and revenues very close to projected figures. Fund equity greatly outweighs total liability in each fund and healthy asset and cash balances were also noted.
The Superintendent's Advisory Council met on March 8, 2004 for the purpose of reviewing three proposed 04-05 school calendars, Dr. Scriber communicated. The main difference in the calendars was midterm: Option 1 closely resembled the 03-04 calendar with midterm before the Christmas holidays. Option 2 was similar to Option 1 with the addition of Presidents' Day on February 21. Option 3 had separate spring and Easter breaks. Schools' faculty and staff, bus drivers, central office, food service, special education, and Title I personnel were polled and 49% voted for Option 3. However as numbers were call in, many voiced their opinion that they preferred Option 3 with the addition of Presidents' Day from Option 2. The schools were again polled and the overwhelming majority chose calendar Option 3 with the addition of Presidents' Day. Dr. Scriber requested approval of the proposed Option 3 calendar with the addition of Presidents' Day on February 21, 2005 and the addition of one day at the end of May.
President Shadoin suggested that if the addition of Presidents' Day is approved by the Board, the parish's holiday entitled Martin Luther King, Jr./Great Americans' Day should be called Martin Luther King, Jr. Day.
A visitor requested a couple of changes in the calendar and a suggestion for upcoming calendars. The administration explained why those legitimate suggestions were not in the best interest of the entire system.
Upon a motion by Mr. Mack, seconded by Mr. Ludley, the Board unanimously voted to adopt the proposed Option 3 calendar as amended for the 04-05 school year as follows:
Lincoln Parish School Calendar
2004-2005
Instructional Staff Workday August 11, 2004
All Staff Workday August 12, 2004
Labor Day Holiday September 6, 2004
Presidential Election November 2, 2004
Thanksgiving Holiday November 22-26, 2004
End of First Semester December 22, 2004
Christmas/New Year Holidays Dec. 23-Jan. 5, 2005
All Staff Workday/Staff Development January 6, 2005
Martin Luther King, Jr. January 17, 2005
Presidents' Day February 21, 2005
Easter Holiday March 25 & March 28, 2005
Spring Break April 4-8, 2005
Last Day of School for Students May 26, 2005
Instructional Staff Workday (½ day) May 27, 2005
Because the Board, at an earlier meeting, accepted the intent to retire of Randy Moore, principal at Ruston Junior High, Superintendent Scriber proposed opening the application process for that position on Wednesday, April 7, 2004. The application period would close at noon on Tuesday, April 20, and interviews would be scheduled for either April 26 or 27, 2004. A recommendation to fill the position would be presented to the Board at its May 4, 2004 meeting.
With the imminent retirement of Hico Elementary principal, James Pilgreen, Dr. Scriber suggested using the RJHS principal application and recommendation dates/times and interviewing for that position on April 27 or 28, 2004. The process for filling both vacancies would be implemented in accordance with the court order pertaining to the selection of administrative personnel.
Upon a motion by Mr. Anders, seconded by Ms. Best, the Board unanimously voted to approve the advertisement and interview schedules as presented for the Ruston Junior High and Hico Elementary principal positions as explained above.
Mr. Owens said that schools could not continue to exist without the hard work of the support staff: secretaries, clerical personnel, bus drivers, bus aides, lunchroom workers, custodial and maintenance staff, para-professionals, 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. Abrahm, seconded by Ms. Harrison, the Board unanimously voted to adopt the following:
RESOLUTION
That the Lincoln Parish School Board designates the week of April 19-23, 2004 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.
Senators Robert Barham and Robert Marionneaux are sponsoring Bills 394, 422, and 618 in the 2004 Louisiana Legislature exempting off road diesel from taxation by local taxing bodies, Jerry Moore, Lincoln Parish Sales and Use Tax Commission Administrator, reported. The parish has always collected these taxes and it is vitally important that they continue. He requested Board approval of a Resolution opposing those Senate bills.
Upon a motion by Ms. Best, seconded by Mr. Dowling, the Board unanimously voted to approve the following:
RESOLUTION
Requesting that the Lincoln Parish legislative delegation oppose Senate Bills 394, 422, and 618 by Senators Robert Barham and Robert Marionneaux exempting off road diesel from taxation by local taxing bodies.
In a Report of the Superintendent, Dr. Scriber:
1) Mentioned that a copy of the 2004 Code of Governmental Ethics was included in portfolios.
2) Announced that Joe Mitcham had been chosen Louisiana Farmer of the Year.
3) Shared the bond issue power point presentation which he has been demonstrating to civic clubs and religious groups in anticipation of the April 17, 2004 election.
Following brief comments and questions, the meeting was adjourned at 7:44 p.m.
Charles R. Scriber, Secretary Robert E. Shadoin, President