LINCOLN PARISH SCHOOL BOARD
Ruston, Louisiana
REGULAR SESSION
Tuesday, July 6, 2004 6:00 p.m.
The Lincoln Parish School Board met in Regular Session on Tuesday, July 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. Otha Anders, Ms. Lisa Best, Ms. Mattie Harrison, Mr. Flynn Ludley, Mr. George Mack, Mr. Ted McKinney, Mr. Joe Mitcham, and Ms. Jo Tatum.
President Rob Shadoin, Mr. Curtis Dowling, Ms. Lynda Henderson, and Mr. Jim Kessler were absent.
Vice President Anders called the meeting to order, welcomed guests, and delivered the invocation. Ms. Best led in the Pledge of Allegiance to the American flag.
Upon a motion by Ms. Tatum, seconded by Mr. McKinney, the Board unanimously voted to adopt the agenda as printed.
Upon a motion by Mr. Ludley, seconded by Mr. Mack, the Board unanimously voted to approve the minutes of the Regular Session held on June 1, 2004 and the Special Sessions held on June 9, 2004 and June 23, 2004 as distributed.
Special Education Supervisor, Gloria Roebuck, indicated that the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) application has a twofold purpose which is to develop and implement assurances and procedures that specify the provision of a free appropriate education to all students with disabilities residing in the jurisdiction of the Lincoln Parish School System and to provide the Louisiana State Department of Education with the procedures that the Louisiana Education Agency (LEA) will implement to qualify for the federal funds under IDEA. She requested permission to submit the application, which is a planning guide that outlines goals and activities to address the needs of the students with disabilities, for approximately $1,071,000.
Upon a motion by Mr. Mitcham, seconded by Ms. Best, the Board unanimously voted to grant permission to submit the LEA application for IDEA flow-through funds for fiscal year 2005 to the Louisiana State Department of Education.
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 items 1.-6., Charles Owens, Director of Auxiliary Services, presented 7.-9.; and Ronny Volentine, Transportation Supervisor, presented 10.:
1. The first personnel item to be considered was the naming of a principal at Dubach High School because of Tony Guirlando's recent resignation. Mr. Bell reported that he chaired a selection committee consisting of Ricky Edmiston, David Ferguson, Charles Owens, Doug Postel, and Sonja Walker who interviewed three qualified applicants on July 1, 2004. The committee unanimously recommended Donna Doss to Superintendent Charles Scriber as their choice to fill the vacancy. Dr. Scriber concurred and recommended to the Board that she be named principal of Dubach High School.
Ms. Tatum offered a motion to name Donna Doss principal of Dubach High effective July 8, 2004. Mr. McKinney seconded the motion which the Board unanimously voted to accept.
2. With the Board's acceptance of Dr. Fredrick Pinkney's letter of resignation from his principal position at I. A. Lewis along with the superintendent's desire to better utilize the talents and abilities of existing personnel, Mr. Bell indicated that Dr. Scriber recommends the following administrative changes:
Transfer of David Ferguson from the principal position at Lincoln Center to I. A. Lewis for a one year, interim appointment effective July 1, 2004.
Rickey Burton's duties will be changed from Administrative Assistant at Lincoln Center to Interim Principal. This would also be a one year, interim appointment effective July 1, 2004.
Upon a motion by Mr. Mack, seconded by Ms. Harrison, the Board unanimously voted to approve the Superintendent's proposed changes: David Ferguson as Interim Principal at I. A. Lewis and Rickey Burton as Interim Principal at Lincoln Center effective July 1, 2004 and for a period of one year.
3. Points of Reference/transfers of the following effective August 11, 2004 unless otherwise noted:
Jackie Powell from Lincoln Center to special education aide at Cypress Springs effective August 12, 2004.
Shunda Lloyd from Hico Elementary to special education at Cypress Springs.
Argusta Wilson from Ruston Elementary to special education aide at Cypress Springs effective August 12, 2004.
Kevin Herren from I. A. Lewis to special education at Hico Elementary replacing Shunda Lloyd who transferred.
Bobbie Conner from sabbatical to special education at I. A. Lewis replacing Kevin Herren who transferred.
Jennifer Cook from Ruston Junior High to special education aide at Lincoln Center effective August 12, 2004.
Jane Thorson from I. A. Lewis to special education aide at Ruston Junior High effective August 12, 2004.
Yolanda Daniel from I. A. Lewis to special education at Ruston Elementary.
Linda Gilley from Simsboro to Ruston Elementary replacing Gloria McAdams who resigned.
Rustene Carr from Ruston Junior High to special education aide at Ruston High effective August 12, 2004.
Heather Reeder from Choudrant High to social studies at Ruston High replacing Doug Garrett who transferred.
Julie Alexander from Choudrant Elementary to special education at Ruston Junior High replacing Angela Dison who was reassigned.
Pinkie Davis from Dubach High to a new Title I tutor position at Simsboro Elementary effective August 12, 2004.
Sheree' Ganey from Hillcrest to teacher at Simsboro High replacing Leigh Ann Williams who was granted a sabbatical leave.
4. Resignation of the following effective June 30, 2004:
Gloria McAdams, teacher at Ruston Elementary.
Christian Block, PE/coach at Ruston High.
5. Employment of the following effective August 11, 2004 unless otherwise noted:
Bridget Simoneaux, coordinating teacher at Choudrant Elementary, effective August 4, 2004 replacing Jeanette Crouch who retired.
Dorothy Parks, special education aide at Choudrant Elementary, effective August 12, 2004 replacing Vana Welch who resigned.
Heather Slay, in a new half-time English slot at Choudrant High.
Marty Cantrell, agriculture at Choudrant High, effective July 1, 2004 replacing Ricky Edmiston who was promoted to central office supervisor.
John Quarles, social studies/coach at Choudrant High, replacing Randy Martin who resigned.
Amber O'Neal, Spanish at Choudrant High, replacing Heather Reeder who transferred.
Katie Redlich, special education at Cypress Springs, replacing Cathey Kavanaugh who retired.
Lori Kelly, teacher at Cypress Springs, replacing Gail Reeder who resigned.
Tanya Paul, art at Cypress Springs/Glen View, replacing Janet Mathews who was uncertified (TAT).
Julie Post, coordinating teacher at Hico Elementary, effective August 4, 2004 replacing Vicky Key who was promoted to principal.
Linda Jynes, prekindergarten at Lincoln Center, replacing Tina Brownfield who was granted a professional sabbatical.
Amanda Simmons, interim administrative assistant at Lincoln Center, effective July 28, 2004 replacing Rickey Burton who was appointed interim principal for the year.
Joe Pritchard, in a new school facilitator position at Ruston Elementary and Cypress Springs.
Monica Olsen, English at Ruston High, replacing Teniesha Bean who resigned.
Anna Udicova Lorenzano, special education at Ruston High, replacing Sara Moore who resigned.
Erika McIntyre, social studies at Ruston Junior High, replacing Mariam Stone who resigned.
Aqueenta Hester, English at Ruston Junior High, replacing Bonnie Cunningham who retired.
Susan Kelley, administrative assistant at Ruston Junior High, effective July 28, 2004 replacing Sue Gullatt who retired.
Chris Taylor, math/coach at Ruston Junior High, effective August 2, 2004 replacing Penny Crawford who retired.
Mary Huckabay, elementary coordinator at Simsboro, effective August 4, 2004 replacing Linda Gilley who transferred.
Leigh Ann Moore, teacher at Simsboro Elementary, replacing Ella Payne who retired.
6. Recission of retirement request for John Wallace, special education transition coordinator at Ruston High, effective June 8, 2004.
7. Resignation of the following maintenance employees:
Philip McClain, central office maintenance, effective April 13, 2004.
Dallas Allen, custodian at Hillcrest, effective June 1, 2004.
8. Retirement of Earlene Simmons, head custodian at Hillcrest, effective July 30, 2004.
9. Employment of Steve Watts as bus mechanic at the central office effective July 1, 2004 replacing Wilson Boyte who retired.
10. Employment of the following bus drivers effective August 12, 2004:
Dale Garner, for the Ruston area, replacing Curtis Young who retired.
Rodney Ebeyer, for the Ruston, Hico, and Dubach area, replacing Dennis Byrnes who retired.
Upon a motion by Mr. Mitcham, seconded by Ms. Best, the Board unanimously voted to approve the 3.-10. personnel recommendations.
Finance Committee Chairman, Joe Mitcham, announced that his committee met on Wednesday, June 30, 2004. He turned the floor over to Dr. Scriber to give an account of the meeting and his very good, much needed recommendation. Dr. Scriber reported that support employees have not received a raise from local monies since 1995. Because of the increased cost of living, he recommended a 2% raise which would become effective on the employees' first scheduled day of work in the 04-05 school year. This would cost the system from $105,000 to $108,000 a year in salary and benefits.
Mr. Mitcham shared the unanimous recommendation of the Finance Committee to approve Superintendent Scriber's proposition and offered the same in the form of a motion. Ms. Harrison seconded the motion, and the Board unanimously voted to approve a 2% pay raise using local monies for support employees beginning with the 04-05 school year.
Jack Boyd, Business Manager, presented the final sales tax collection report for the 03-04 fiscal year and indicated that sales tax collections for the month ending June 30, 2004 increased 1.23% over the same month last year. Total year-to-date collections were up 8.73%. Total sales tax collections for the 03-04 fiscal year in the 1967 and 1979 fund were $4,437,306 and $2,662,378 was collected in both the 1993 and the 2000 sales tax funds. Year-tp-date audit collections were up 3135.70% compared to collections this month last year. Total monies collected by the parish auditor and outside recovery groups were $2,873,924.
Mr. Boyd noted that sales tax funds had large balances because sales tax settlements had been collected which were not disbursed until June.
A plethora of testing information from the 2003-2004 school year has been received according to Mr. Bell. Each principal and school improvement team received copies of this testing data and have already begun to analyze the information to determine strengths and weaknesses of our academic program. He shared test comparisons for Spring 2004 for: LEAP 21 for grades four and eight, GEE 21 for grade 10 and 11, and IOWA for grades 3, 5, 6, 7, and 9. Recognizing the number of at risk students in Lincoln Parish, the administration continues to be pleased with test results. They speak well of staff members and each school that academics continue to be the number one priority in Lincoln Parish.
According to Mary Null, Elementary Supervisor, the LEAP 21 summer school program was offered at no cost to 150 fourth grade and 75 eighth grade students. For the first year, students in fourth grade were required to score a Basic/Approaching Basic combination in English/language arts (ELA) and math in order to pass. Students in eighth grade and high school had to score at least Approaching Basic in both ELA and math to pass. In addition, 67 high school students also participated in summer school at Ruston Junior High School because of failing GEE 21 scores. All students not passing were eligible for this summertime remediation. The program had a total of 26 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 13 but will hopefully be available to the schools prior to that day as school begins that day.
Ms. Null reminded board members that a year ago they were presented with the administration's intentions to spend the funds from the state's Education Excellence Fund (EEF) as a result of the one-time sale of state tobacco settlement bonds in 2001. The application focused on extending the after-school tutoring programs to include third graders and a greater range of fourth graders and hiring an extra teacher in high schools in order to provide the opportunity for ninth graders to have math all year or tenth graders English/language arts all year verses a half year on the block schedule. Since the application was written as a two-year project, the objectives will remain the same for the coming year. Since outcomes from last year were very positive, she concluded that after-school tutoring and whole-year instruction in high school has a direct impact on students' ability to be successful on high-stakes tests. She closed by predicting that statistics will improve even more in the Spring 2005 when the impact this effort has had will be shown on last year's third and ninth graders as they take the LEAP 21 and GEE 21.
In an effort to determine the perception by students, parents, and teachers toward block scheduling in high schools, Superintendent Scriber had the applicable principals conduct a survey concerning academic expectations and scheduling. He pointed out a few observations:
Surveys were sent with report cards to each parent of a student in grades 9 - 11.
With only 32 responses, the low response indicates either a trust in the school for the scheduling structure or no preference in structure.
All groups reported high academic expectations from teachers and administrators.
Students do not see other students as having as high academic expectations from their teaches as teachers and parents do.
The majority in each category do not see the six or seven period day as an advantage in academic achievement.
There are more opportunities for courses to be taken on the block.
It is obvious that students like the block very much. Eighty-seven percent indicated the block as their choice whereas only 6% indicated the six period day and 7% selected the seven period day as their choice. Sixty-eight percent of the teachers and 59% of the parents surveyed favored the block.
He closed by saying that good personnel and keeping students on task are the keys to optimum academic success.
Sincere parent of present and former Ruston High students, Rusty Woodard, came before the Board because he wants what is best for all of the students. He sees the block as limiting all groups of students. Things he felt the Board needed to know were:
Block scheduling removes approximately 30 school days per year from the students.
Not as much material is covered on the block as on the prior six period schedule, i.e., three novels are read in English instead of the usual six and American History begins with the Reconstruction Period instead of with the Vikings or Columbus.
Absences are more weighted on the block therefore fewer days can be missed. This penalizes those with discipline problems.
Teachers are given 90 minute planning periods as compared to 55 minutes in a six period day.
There are scheduling problems for honor classes.
Seniors are not taking many classes during their senior year and that leadership is being lost.
He urged each board member to look at block scheduling because he feels that it is not serving the students well as shown by the radical difference in the amount students are learning.
Vice President Anders thanked Mr. Woodard for sharing the concerns he expressed and decided to refer the issue of scheduling in high schools for the Curriculum Committee for further study.
In a Report of the Superintendent, Dr. Scriber:
1. Indicated that a list of board meeting dates for 04-05 was included in packets for informational purposes.
2. Said that a group picture of the Board will be taken in the board room prior to the next meeting, on August 3.
After one question, the meeting adjourned at 7:59 p.m.
__________________________________ __________________________________
Charles R. Scriber, Secretary Robert E. Shadoin, President