LINCOLN PARISH SCHOOL BOARD
Ruston, Louisiana
REGULAR SESSION
Tuesday, November 9, 2004 6:00 p.m.
The Lincoln Parish School Board met in Regular Session on Tuesday, November 9, 2004 at 6:00 p.m. at the Lincoln Parish School Board, 410 South Farmerville Street, Ruston, Louisiana. Members present were President Rob Shadoin, Mr. Otha Anders, Ms. Lisa Best, Mr. Curtis Dowling, Ms. Mattie Harrison, Mr. Jim Kessler, Mr. Flynn Ludley, Mr. George Mack, Mr. Ted McKinney, Mr. Joe Mitcham, and Ms. Jo Tatum.
Lynda Henderson was absent.
President Shadoin called the meeting to order. The invocation was given by Mr. Mitcham and Mr. Shadoin led in the Pledge of Allegiance to the American flag.
Upon a motion by Mr. Anders, seconded by Ms. Harrison, the Board unanimously voted to adopt the agenda as submitted.
Upon a motion by Ms. Tatum, seconded by Mr. Mack, the Board unanimously voted to approve the minutes of the Regular Sessions held on October 5 and October 20, 2004 as presented.
Eric Carter, Supervisor of Testing, Evaluation, and Curriculum, reminded the Board that as part of Louisiana's accountability system all schools now receive School Performance Scores (SPS) based on several factors that include LEAP 21/GEE 21 test scores, IOWA/ITED test scores, attendance, and dropout rates. Based on those SPS, Growth Targets (the amount of progress that a school must make every two years to reach the State's 10 and 20 year goals) are established for each school. Every school in the state has just received a Growth Label based on their success in reaching their Growth Target. He was proud to extol the achievements of seven Lincoln Parish schools that achieved the label of Exemplary Academic Growth. These schools reached their growth target, all subgroups grew at least two points, and the school is not in School Improvement. Mr. Carter introduced the following principals or their representatives and presented Certificates of Achievement on behalf of the Board in recognition of their hard work achieving their level of academic growth: Alma J. Brown, Hillcrest Elementary, Grambling Middle School, Choudrant High School, Dubach High School, Grambling High School, and Ruston High School.
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.-2. and Brenda Theodos, School Food Service Supervisor, presented 3.-4.:
1. Retirement of Gloria Roebuck, special education supervisor, effective January 1, 2005.
2. Medical leave sabbatical for the second semester of 04-05, effective January 6, 2005, for Carol James, teacher at Cypress Springs.
3. Resignation of Phyllis Libengood, school food service clerk/technician at Cypress Springs, effective December 31, 2004.
4. Employment of Sheri Roane as school food service technician at Ruston High effective November 1, 2004 replacing Debbie McBee who promoted.
Upon a motion by Mr. Kessler, seconded by Mr. Dowling, the Board unanimously voted to approve the personnel recommendations.
Business Manager, Jack Boyd, told the Board that sales tax collections for the month ending October 31, 2004 were up slightly, 1.99%, compared to the same month last year and 3.84% over year-to-date collections this month last year. He indicated that sales from building materials and manufacturing caused the decline from the previous month's larger increases. However, increases were noted when comparing the previous month's and this month's sales tax collections on apparel, automotive, food, furniture, merchandise, miscellaneous services and sales, restaurant, and utilities. In the 1967 and 1979 sales tax fund $418,024 was collected and $250,814 was also collected in the 1993 and 2000 funds. Audit collections were up 1870.62% over the same month last year with $103,891 being collected.
This was due to a $103,000 payment by a business at the conclusion of an audit. Mr. Boyd reminded the Board that audit collections can and do fluctuate and are not spent until collected.
Attention was called to the financial statement for the month ending September 30, 2004 showing what is owned and owed by the Board. After summarizing the newer section showing beginning fund balances, year-to-date revenues and expenditures, and ending balances, he mentioned that expenses exceed revenues in the '93 and '00 ad valorem and Ruston, Simsboro, and Dubach M & O tax funds. This is normal operating procedure because these taxes are not collected until after December 31 of the year. At that point the revenues will more than exceed the expenditures. The general fund has total revenues of over $6,000,000 with expenditures slightly higher than $3,500,000. Therefore, the general fund balance is looking quite healthy.
After presenting the following revised policies: Holidays (AEAB); Administrative Records (CN); Bids and Quotations (DJED); Sabbatical Leave (GBRHA); Sick Leave (GBRIB); Field Trips and Excursions (IFCB); and Child Abuse (JGCE); and one new policy: Holidays (GBRL) at the last board meeting, Superintendent Charles Scriber asked if there were questions about the proposed policy changes.
Hearing none, upon a motion by Mr. McKinney, seconded by Mr. Ludley, the Board unanimously voted to approve the revisions to the following policies: Holidays (AEAB); Administrative Records (CN); Bids and Quotations (DJED); Sabbatical Leave (GBRHA); Sick Leave (GBRIB); Field Trips and Excursions (IFCB); and Child Abuse (JGCE); and the addition of one new policy: Holidays (GBRL).
Following the acceptance of Gloria Roebuck's retirement plans, Dr. Scriber shared his plans to fill the crucial Supervisor of Special Education position. He would like for the application period to open on Wednesday, November 10, 2004, and close at noon on Friday, November 19, 2004. After sending advertisements to school systems and newspapers across North Louisiana, interviews would be held on Tuesday, November 30, and Wednesday, December 1, 2004. A recommendation to fill the position would be presented to the Board at its December 7, 2004 meeting. He requested approval of his plan.
Upon a motion by Lisa Best, seconded by Otha Anders, the Board unanimously voted to approve the time-line to advertise and interview for the Supervisor of Special Education position as explained.
Because sales tax collections have increased slightly this year, Mr. Boyd proposed a 4.5% increase in the amount of salary supplement checks. He recommended that certified employees receive $1410.75 instead of $1350 and $705.37 for non certified employees instead of $675. These checks would be disbursed along with regular monthly payroll on Friday, November 19, 2004. He stated 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. Kessler, seconded by Ms. Tatum, the Board unanimously voted to approve the disbursement of $1410.75 for certified and $705.37 for non certified employees in a November 19 salary supplement check.
There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 6:40 p.m.
__________________________ _______________________________
Charles R. Scriber, Secretary Robert E. Shadoin, President