LINCOLN PARISH SCHOOL BOARD

Ruston, Louisiana

REGULAR SESSION

Wednesday, October 20, 2004   12:30 p.m.

The Lincoln Parish School Board met in Regular Session on Wednesday, October 20, 2004 at 12:30 p.m. at Choudrant High School.  Members present were President Rob Shadoin, Mr. Otha Anders, Ms. Lisa Best (arrived after the meeting began), 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.

No board member was absent.

Prior to the business meeting, board members enjoyed a delicious lunch in the school cafeteria.

President Shadoin called the meeting to order.  Superintendent Charles Scriber gave the invocation and Mr. Shadoin led in the Pledge of Allegiance to the American flag.

 Upon a motion by Ms. Tatum, seconded by Ms. Henderson, the Board unanimously voted to adopt the agenda as submitted.

Choudrant High School Principal Doug Postel welcomed everyone to the school.  He shared information about the good things going on at the school including improved test scores.  Mr. Postel introduced the following integral support employees to the board: Earlene Jackson, counselor; Coach Tony Antley, assistant principal; Kathie Farmer, business manager; Anita McGuire, receptionist; Jerry Touchstone, head custodian; and Stella Smith, maid.  He concluded with a "thank you" for coming to the school and for providing things which are needed to make his job easier.

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. and Charles Owens, Director of Auxiliary Services, presented 2.-3.:

1.   Employment of the following teachers effective October 11, 2004:

Ann Smithey, special education at Glen View, replacing Emily Smith who resigned.

Samantha Till, elementary at Ruston Elementary, replacing Jaime Hudson who resigned.

Ms. Best arrived at the meeting.

2.      Leave without pay from July 28, 2004 through January 31, 2005 for Ruston High custodian Dorothy Spencer.

3.      Point of Reference/Transfer of Willie Gunn from 9 ½ month custodian at Hillcrest to 12 month head custodian at Hillcrest, effective October 11, 2004, replacing Earlene Simmons who retired.

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

A financial report for the months ending July and August 2004 was presented by Jack Boyd, Business Manager.  He noted that the format of the reports had changed with the addition of a summary of fund activity in order to give more information regarding overall amounts of revenues and expenditures in the funds represented.  Mr. Boyd called attention to fund activity year-to-date totals listed on the bottom of each month's report.

Mr. Boyd indicated that health insurance costs exceeded the monthly collections for the months of July and August.  Claims which had been held from the prior year were processed. In addition the Third Party Administrator caught up on their claims backlog in anticipation of changing to a new computing system.  He projects October's cost figures to be lower because of their July, August, and September claim processing.  Year to date health costs have held very stable from those of the prior year.

At the previous meeting, Board members were given a copy of the revised policy:  Board Member Compensation and Expenses (BBBE) and one new policy: Public School Choice (JBCE).  Dr. Scriber asked the Board to approve the revision and addition of the policies.

Upon a motion by Mr. McKinney, seconded by Ms. Best, the Board unanimously voted to approve the revisions to the Board Member Compensation and Expenses policy (BBBE) and the addition of a Public School Choice policy (JBCE).

In the past Hico Baptist Church, which is adjacent to Hico Elementary School, has allowed the school to use the church's driveway to access the garbage dumpster and to deliver goods to the school cafeteria, according to Charles Owens.  The burden of maintenance and upkeep has been borne by the church over the years as state law specifically prohibits the use of public funds on private property.  In order to bring a more equitable solution and to avoid the expense of constructing another entrance to the school for an approximate cost of $20,000, the administration proposed entering into an agreement with Hico Baptist Church for a right-of-way along the western border of their property utilizing the existing driveway off of Highway 152.  The School Board would be responsible for the maintenance and upkeep of this right-of-way for the term of the lease, possibly ten years.  Mr. Owens requested permission for the superintendent to negotiate the terms of an agreement with the church and report back to the Board prior to the execution.

1.      2005 convention information was in portfolios.

Upon a motion by Ms. Tatum, seconded by Ms. Best, the Board unanimously voted to grant authorization to the superintendent to negotiate the terms of a long term lease agreement with Hico Baptist Church and to report back to the Board prior to execution.

In reviewing the Acts of the 2004 Louisiana Legislature, policies are continuing to be updated.  Superintendent Scriber presented seven policies for revision: Administrative Records (CN), Bids and Quotations (DJED), Sabbatical Leave (GBRHA), Sick Leave (GBRIB), Holidays (AEAB), Field Trips and Excursions (IFCB), and Child Abuse (JGCE) and one new policy, Holidays (GBRL), for the Board's perusal until the November meeting.

    In a Report of the Superintendent, he said that:

2.      Board members who haven't already done so should RSVP to Beck Gemelli regarding their attendance at the upcoming Academic Awards Banquet.

 There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 1:13 p.m.

_____________________________                __________________________

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