LINCOLN PARISH SCHOOL BOARD
Ruston, Louisiana
REGULAR SESSION
Tuesday, May 4, 2004 6:00 p.m.
The Lincoln Parish School Board met in Regular Session on Tuesday, May 4, 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. Otha Anders, Mr. Curtis Dowling, Ms. Mattie Harrison, Ms. Lynda Henderson, Mr. Jim Kessler, Mr. Flynn Ludley, Mr. George Mack, Mr. Ted McKinney, Mr. Joe Mitcham, and Ms. Jo Tatum.
Ms. Lisa Best was absent
President Rob Shadoin called the meeting to order. The invocation was given by Vice President Otha Anders. Mr. Shadoin led in the Pledge of Allegiance to the American flag and welcomed guests.
Upon a motion by Ms. Tatum, seconded by Ms. Harrison, the Board unanimously voted to adopt the agenda as printed.
Upon a motion by Mr. Ludley, seconded by Mr. Mitcham, the Board unanimously voted to approve the minutes of the Regular Session held on April 6, 2004 as submitted.
After welcoming newly-elected board member for district 12, Ted McKinney, Mr. Shadoin indicated that the election of officers for the remainder of 2004 was the next agenda item.
Mr. Mitcham moved that the present slate of officers serve out the remainder of the year.
Mr. Mack seconded the motion.
Mr. Mack moved to close nominations and Ms. Tatum seconded that motion.
The board unanimously voted in favor of the Mitcham/Mack motion to allow President Rob Shadoin and Vice President Otha Anders to serve out the remainder of 2004.
They expressed their appreciation to the Board for their support.
Secondary and Vocational Supervisor, Ricky Edmiston, introduced Wesley Henderson and Matthew Moore who were recently named State Novice Policy Debaters. He presented plaques to the Ruston High School students for their outstanding accomplishments, hard work, dedication, and focus. Mr. Edmiston also recognized their principal, Kenny Henderson, and debate coach, Dana Talley. President Shadoin expressed the Board's pride in the students.
Mr. Edmiston also recognized and presented a plaque to the state, class B, girls' basketball coach, Kelly Stuckey, from Simsboro High School. Her exceptional team had a seasonal record of 40 wins with only 5 loses. Coach Stuckey introduced team members who were in attendance. Principal of Simsboro, Tim Nutt, was acknowledged.
Presenting the routine matter of the distribution of Letters of Continued Employment to employees as mandated by Act 745 of the 1977 Legislature was Superintendent Charles Scriber, in the absence of Danny Bell, Director of Curriculum and Instruction.
Upon a motion by Mr. Kessler, seconded by Ms. Harrison, the Board unanimously voted to grant permission to send Letters of Continued Employment for the 04-05 school year.
In order to provide safe, high quality bus service to the students of the parish and to adequately provide for extra curricular activities, Transportation Supervisor, Ronny Volentine, feels that it is vitally important to continue to purchase buses on a yearly basis. He listed three main reasons behind his request to purchase five new buses. At present 70% of the current fleet of sixty-four board-owned buses are at least ten years old. With the addition of new buses, older buses could be taken out of service temporarily to perform necessary maintenance and preventive maintenance. The Board must be prepared to provide buses for the contract drivers that retire or become board drivers. Two contract drivers retired or resigned and were replaced with board drivers. Finally, newer model buses need to be provided for the growing number of athletic and activity trips. He estimated the cost of each bus to be in the $55,000 rang totaling about $275,000 for the five buses. These monies would be paid from the 1993 millage allocated for the yearly purchase of buses.
Upon a motion by Mr. Anders, seconded by Mr. Dowling, the Board unanimously voted to grant permission to advertise for bids for the purchase of five 72-passenger, conventional, 2005 year model school buses.
The Board served as a Committee of the Whole and the following Personnel Committee agenda items were considered after Dr. Scriber presented item 1., Charles Owens, Director of Auxiliary Services, presented 2.-9., Mr. Volentine presented 10., and School Food Supervisor, Brenda Theodos, presented 11.-12.:
1. The first personnel item to be considered was the naming of a principal at Ruston Junior High School because of Randy Moore's approaching retirement. Dr. Scriber reported that Danny Bell chaired a selection committee consisting of Eric Carter, David Ferguson, Kenny Henderson, Charles Owens, and David Rogers who interviewed five qualified applicants on April 27, 2004. The committee unanimously recommended Carrie Ferguson to Dr. Charles Scriber for the position. He concurred and recommended her to the Board.
Upon a motion by Mr. Kessler, seconded by Mr. Mitcham, the Board unanimously voted to accept the administration's recommendation of Carrie Ferguson for the position of principal of Ruston Junior High School effective July 1, 2004.
Because of James Pilgreen's approaching retirement, a principal at Hico Elementary School was also needed. Dr. Scriber reported that Mr. Bell chaired that selection committee which consisted of Cecil Barham, Foster Harris, Patrice Hay, Mary Null, and Willie Washington. They interviewed five qualified applicants on April 28, 2004 and unanimously recommended the promotion to principal of Hico Elementary's coordinating teacher, Vicky Key, to the Superintendent. He concurred and recommended Mrs. Key to the Board.
Upon a motion by Ms. Tatum, seconded by Mr. McKinney, the Board unanimously voted to accept the administration's recommendation of Vicky Key for the position of principal of Hico Elementary School effective July 1, 2004.
2. Retirement of the following:
Jeanette Crouch, coordinating teacher at Choudrant Elementary, effective June 1, 2004.
Sue Gullatt, administrative assistant at Ruston Junior High, effective June 30, 2004.
3. Resignation of the following teachers effective May, 24, 2004 unless otherwise noted:
Meg Harrington, elementary at Simsboro, effective March 26, 2004.
Rose Johnson, special education at Cypress Springs.
Sara Moore, special education at Ruston High.
Ronald Phillips, math at Dubach High.
4. Request for leave without pay for the 04-05 school year effective August 11, 2004 for Janet Johnson, music teacher at Ruston Junior High and I. A. Lewis.
5. Sabbatical leave request for the first semester of 04-05 effective August 11, 2004 for Kay Bradford, English teacher at Ruston High.
6. Employment of Joe Ferguson as coach at Ruston High effective May 3, 2004 replacing an employee whose name will be announced at a later date.
7. Retirement of custodian at Lincoln Center, Jerry Lyons, effective July 30, 2004.
8. Resignation of the following:
Mary Jenkins, custodian at Ruston High, effective February 4, 2004.
Rescission of employment of Charles Westerfield as bus mechanic at the central office effective April 19, 2004.
9. Employment of Greg Mayfield as custodian at Ruston Junior High effective May 1, 2004 replacing Yancy Crew who resigned.
10. Retirement of Curtis Young, bus driver in the Ruston area, effective May 21, 2004.
11. Resignation of school food service clerk at Choudrant High, Jennifer Alexander, effective July 30, 2004.
12. Retirement of Charlotte Perritt, school food service technician at Simsboro, effective March 31, 2004.
Upon a motion by Mr. Anders, seconded by Mr. Mitcham, the Board unanimously voted to accept the 2. - 9. personnel recommendations.
Due to the Business Manager's absence, DaVona Howard, Fiscal Accountant, reported that sales tax collections were currently at 92.92% of last year's total collections. In the recoveries from audits, there was an overall increase because of a previous check received in February. She anticipates the next two months' sales tax collections to increase also.
Ms. Howard then reported on the financial standing through March 31, 2004. She said fund balances have increased so significant balances are in place to cover at least three months of expenditures. Overall, the General Fund is in really good shape.
Because the voters in the Ruston School District approved a bond issue for capital improvements on April 17, 2004, Superintendent Scriber said the services of an architect must be secured. He recommended hiring Mike Walpole who would provide basic services consisting of Schematic Design Phase, Design Developmental Phase, Construction, Document Phase, Bidding Phase, and Construction Phase. For these basic architectural services, he would charge 6.5892%, the same formula that is used for architecture services on all state projects. He requested permission to enter into a contract with Mr. Walpole.
After numerous questions, upon a motion by Mr. Mitcham, seconded by Mr. Ludley, the Board unanimously voted to grant permission to enter into a contract with Architect Mike Walpole for the Ruston School District capital outlay project.
Bond attorney, Grant Schlueter, indicated that a Resolution canvassing the results of the April 2004 bond election must be adopted in order to comply with the Louisiana Election Code.
Upon a motion by Mr. Anders, seconded by Mr. McKinney, the Board unanimously voted by roll call to adopt the following:
RESOLUTION
A resolution providing for canvassing the returns and declaring the result of the special election held in Ruston School District No. 1 of the Parish of Lincoln, State of Louisiana, on Saturday, April 17, 2004 to authorize the incurring of debt and issuance of bonds therein.
The next step, according to Mr. Schlueter, was to adopt another Resolution authorizing him to proceed with the advertising for sealed bids for the purchase of $15,000,000 of general obligation bonds. These bonds will be sold at a Special Called Session of the Lincoln Parish School Board on Wednesday, June 9, 2004 and scheduled for delivery on or about July 21, 2004. At that time, proceeds would be on deposit and available for projects.
Upon a motion by Mr. Kessler, seconded by Ms. Henderson, the Board unanimously voted by roll call to adopt the following:
RESOLUTION
A resolution authorizing the advertising for sealed bids for the purchase of fifteen million dollars ($15,000,000) of General Obligation School Bonds, Series 2004, or Ruston School District No. 1 of the Parish of Lincoln, State of Louisiana, and providing for other matters in connection therewith.
As Superintendent Scriber informed the Board in March, the State of Louisiana has notified school systems that the employer's cost of Teachers Retirement will increase from 13.8% to 17.3% and Louisiana School Employees Retirement will increase from 8.5% to 18.8% effective July 1, 2004. The Parish is to receive no additional funds from the State to assist with these rising retirement costs; therefore, this will cost the system approximately $1,200,000 each year. With double digit increases in health care costs, school systems cannot afford these heightened retirement costs. He asked for approval of a couple of resolutions encouraging the State to take responsibility for the increased costs.
Upon a motion by Mr. Kessler, seconded by Mr. Mack, the Board unanimously voted by roll call to adopt the following:
RESOLUTION
A resolution asking the State Department of Education to take any and all action necessary to eliminate the additional mandated unfunded costs which are being imposed upon public school systems through increases in the employer's share of retirement contributions.
Upon a motion by Mr. Dowling, seconded by Mr. Anders, the Board unanimously voted by roll call to adopt the following:
RESOLUTION
A resolution participating with other public school boards of the State of Louisiana as a plaintiff in any legal action taken against the State relative to the duties imposed on the State by Article 10, Section 29 of the Louisiana Constitution regarding the funding of retirement costs and employing the firm of Hammonds & Sills to file such legal pleadings necessary to participate.
President Shadoin said that 2004 Committee Assignment Preference Forms were included in packets. These should be completed and returned to Becky Gemelli before leaving the meeting. By acclamation, the Board named Jim Kessler to fill Billy Abrahm's slot on the Lincoln Parish Sales & Use Tax Commission.
In a Report of the Superintendent, Dr. Charles Scriber said:
1. A memo with area high schools' graduation dates and times, a 04-05 school calendar, and a revised list of board members were all included in portfolios.
2. That a retirement reception for 03-04 retirees would be held prior to the June 1, 2004 board meeting at 6:00 p.m. in the lobby.
After brief questions and comments, the meeting adjourned at 7:30 p.m.
__________________________ ____________________________________
Charles R. Scriber, Secretary Robert E. Shadoin, President