LINCOLN PARISH SCHOOL BOARD
Ruston, Louisiana
REGULAR SESSION
Tuesday, March 1, 2005 6:00 p.m.
The Lincoln Parish School Board met in Regular Session on Tuesday, March 1, 2005 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 President Otha Anders, Ms. Lisa Best, Mr. Curtis Dowling, Ms. Mattie Harrison, Ms. Lynda Henderson (arrived after the meeting began), Mr. Jim Kessler, Mr. Flynn Ludley, Mr. George Mack, Mr. Joe Mitcham, and Ms. Jo Tatum.
Mr. Ted McKinney and Mr. Rob Shadoin were absent.
President Anders called the meeting to order and the invocation was given by Mr. Ludley. Ms. Tatum led in the Pledge of Allegiance to the American flag and Mr. Anders welcomed board members, members of the press, and special guests and visitors to the meeting.
Ms. Lynda Henderson arrived at the meeting.
Upon a motion by Mr. Kessler, seconded by Ms. Tatum, the Board unanimously voted to adopt the agenda after moving item #10.1 between #5. and #6.
Upon a motion by Ms. Best, seconded by Mr. Dowling, the Board unanimously voted to approve the minutes of the Regular Sessions held on February 1 and February 16, 2005 as printed.
Betty Wall, 504/Dyslexia/Reading/Screening Coordinator, was honored to have seven schools to recognize for Exemplary Academic Growth as part of the Louisiana Department of Education's current approach to student achievement and school improvement. These schools met their annual growth target and exceeded it by five points or more. In addition, two more schools met their growth targets and may have exceeded it but by fewer than five points to earn the title of Recognized Academic Growth. She indicated that the schools will receive monetary reward allocations in amounts determined by the legislature to augment student achievement and raise test scores. This year the schools with Exemplary Growth will receive $15.28 per pupil with a minimum payment of $4,000 while those with Recognized Growth will be paid $10.19 per pupil and a minimum of $2,000. Ms. Wall recognized each school and announced their K-12 accountability reward allocations which are as follows:
Exemplary Academic Growth Alma J. Brown $ 4,000.00
Choudrant High School $ 4,828.89
Dubach High School $ 4,000.00
Grambling High School $ 4,000.00
Grambling Middle School $ 4,000.00
Hillcrest Elementary $ 6,219.48
Ruston High $17,619.32
Recognized Academic Growth Choudrant Elementary $ 4,543.64
Simsboro High $ 6,143.08
Mr. Anders expressed the board's thanks and appreciation to the principals and their faculty and staff for their focus, hard work, preparation, and team work while striving to offer the best education possible to the children of the parish. Superintendent Charles Scriber commended Ms. Wall who has worked diligently with the principals. He said without her knowledge and expertise these accomplishments would not have been possible.
An overview of family involvement, required of each LEA (local educational agency) by the No Child Left Behind Act, was shared by Sallie Evans, Title I Supervisor. In particular, she mentioned the Family Resource Center, written parental involvement policy, Brainchild, Computer Home Instruction Program, Family Lending Library, "I CARE" Positive Parenting and Character Curriculum, Take Home Activity Packets, test preparation materials, workshops upon request, and Family Update radio spot which are all programs and services designed to strengthen the home and school connection and build family support for students' academic achievement.
President Anders called on Mr. Tim Green, C.P.A., who introduced Diane Ferschoff who was actually in charge of the school system's audit and then gave a short presentation on the financial and compliance audit for the year ending June 30, 2004. He summarized the Comprehensive Annual Financial Statement which deals primarily with the financial part of the school board operations. In his opinion, the financial statements, operations for the year, and fund balances at the end of the year were very good. Looking at the financial statements, things looked really good and the operations were very sound. He commended the staff and the Board for being conservative in their approach. Mr. Green called attention to the second report, the Single Audit Report, which deals primarily with federal programs and indicated that the two programs extensively tested for compliance and internal control were special education and Title I. He was pleased to report had no reportable findings and commended supervisors Gloria Roebuck and Willie Washington for properly spending their special education and Title I monies. The Lincoln Parish School System has always had a good Single Audit Report, but he noted that there were a couple of citations included in this year's report. He has spoken to management about both of them and is sure they will be corrected during the year. In closing, Mr. Green said he has no major concerns regarding the financial operation of the system or more specifically the accounting part of the operations.
Architect Mike Walpole was very pleased to report that bids on the first phase of the $33 million school expansion and renovation project at Cypress Springs, Hillcrest, and the Ruston High stadium were opened earlier in the day and came within $11,000 of the original estimate. Four bids were received with a low of $6,761,000 from a local contractor, Lincoln Builders. The bids included all added alternates and were subject to the standard contractor's bond and insurance certificates. He recommended acceptance of the low bid from Lincoln Builders. In addition, he mentioned that the bids on the second phase of the renovation project should be ready in approximately six months.
Upon a motion by Mr. Mack, seconded by Mr. Kessler, the Board unanimously voted to grant conditional approval to start renovation work at Cypress Springs, Hillcrest, and Ruston High football stadium as one project; and to enter into a contract with Lincoln Builders for a base bid of $6,761,000 which includes all three alternates, provided their list of subs, schedule of values, bonds, and certificates of insurance are in order.
Mr. Anders reminded board members that they were asked to look at class scheduling in the high schools five months ago. A study committee of parents and teachers was formed with the principal of Ruston High School, Kenny Henderson, as chairman. He thanked the committee for their hard work and dedication. After much study, research, and comparison of schedules nationwide they discovered that all schedules have advantages and disadvantages when looking at all of the students. Mr. Henderson summarized methods used to decide the best way to incorporate four years of rigorous academics with greater emphasis on core classes. He mentioned his plans to implement a ninth grade academy or freshman program and work with Louisiana Tech to teach some courses on the high school campus for college or dual credit. The committee's first recommendation was to allow a "3 X 2" modified block schedule to be piloted at Ruston High School for the 05-06 school year. This would consist of 60 minute traditional classes, to be taught all year, for 1st, 4th, and 5th periods and 95 minute, block classes during Fall and Springs terms for 2nd and 3rd periods. Their second recommendation regarding seniors only had four parts: 1) all full time seniors will be required to take a minimum of five courses (out of seven) unless approved by a Hardship Committee consisting of the secondary supervisor, principal, counselor, and two teachers; 2) all classes will be scheduled consecutively which will stop seniors from coming and going during the school day; 3) seniors will be allowed to graduate at midterm but will be considered alumni after that thus giving up all privileges of an active member of RHS including walking at the graduation ceremony; and 4) attendance requirements will be removed from fifth year seniors.
President Anders asked for Superintendent Scriber"s input. Dr. Scriber indicated that the committee and especially Kenny Henderson have endured a grueling process and he believes that their recommendation is a good, workable solution. There will be "bugs" to work out and things that will come up that need to be resolved. However with the good faculty and staff at the school, the changes can be implemented and made to work. In his opinion this will be a giant step toward making seniors take enough classes.
There may be a problem with the computer software being updated in time for the 05-06 school year according to Technology Coordinator Debbie Sandidge. She said that the school may have to continue with the "4 X 4" block next year if the program is not ready. The committee believes that implementation of the modified block schedule for the fall of 2005 is doable and indicated their willingness to do whatever is necessary to bring it to fruition.
There followed a brief time of comments and questions. Some of the board members seemed concerned by the restriction from participating in graduation ceremonies by mid term grads. Mr. Anders asked what the Board members' preferred regarding the committee's recommendations.
Upon a motion by Mr. Mitcham, seconded by Ms. Best, the Board unanimously voted to allow the "3 X 2" modified block schedule to be piloted at Ruston High School for the 2005-2006 school year.
Upon a motion by Ms. Best, seconded by Ms. Henderson, the Board voted 9 - 1 in favor of: 1) all full time seniors being required to take a minimum of five courses unless approved by a Hardship Committee (made up of the secondary supervisor, principal, counselor, and two teachers); 2) all classes being scheduled consecutively which will stop seniors from coming and going during the school day; and 3) removing attendance requirements for fifth year seniors. Ms. Tatum voted against the motion because she wanted the ban from walking in graduation ceremonies by midterm grads to be included in the motion.
Mr. Henderson and the block study committee were verbally recognized for their diligence and hard work.
According to the special education department, transportation of special needs students has reached the point where an additional bus must be purchased, Ronny Volentine, Transportation Supervisor reported. Although four special education bus routes are in operation, there is an ever increasing demand for their transportation and those buses are limited in the number of children they can accommodate in a reasonable manner. He estimated that the bus with lift capability and air conditioning would cost in the $68,000 range with monies to come from the special education medicaid fund. Mr. Volentine requested permission to advertise for bids in order to purchase another bus.
Upon a motion by Ms. Tatum, seconded by Ms. Harrison, the Board unanimously voted to grant permission to advertise for bids to purchase one new special education 2006 model lift bus.
In order to properly dispose of accumulated, obsolete property at Dubach High School, secondary supervisor, Ricky Edmiston, recommended that the items be declared as surplus.
Upon a motion by Mr. Kessler, seconded by Ms. Best, the Board unanimously voted to declare the listed broken or obsolete items at Dubach High as surplus in order to dispose of them.
Director of Curriculum and Instruction, Danny Bell, submitted the annual request to send Letters of Intent to employees in order to begin planning for the 05-06 school year.
Upon a motion by Mr. Dowling, seconded by Mr. Ludley, the Board unanimously voted to grant permission to send the Letters of Intent.
The Board was reminded by George Murphy, Business Manager, that each year schools are allocated funds from the 1979 sales tax fund to purchase instructional supplies for art, music, science, P. E., and for magazines, newspapers, and library materials. These amounts are distributed on a per pupil basis through the Business Department. Mr. Anders asked the Board's preference regarding the proposed 05-06 allocations which were the same amounts as the previous year. The distribution was as shown below:
Art K-12 - $1.00 per student
Physical Education K-12 - $1.00 per student
Library Supplies K-5 - $ .50 per student
6-12 - $1.00 per student
Music K-5 - $ .50 per student
6-12 - $1.00 per student
Magazines & K-6 - $2.20 per student
Newspapers 7-12 - $2.50 per student
Science K-6 - $ .75 per student
7-8 - $2.25 per student
9-12 - $3.75 per student
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Upon a motion by Mr. Dowling, seconded by Ms. Best, the Board unanimously voted to approve the allocations for 05-06 from 1979 sales taxes as outlined above.
The Board served as a Committee of the Whole and the following Personnel Committee agenda items were considered after Danny Bell presented items 1-3. and Charles Owens, Director of Auxiliary Services, presented 4.:
1. Retirement of the following teachers effective May 27, 2005:
Glenda Nelson at Hico Elementary.
Sylvia Duck at Ruston Elementary.
2. Resignation of DaVona Howard, fiscal accountant at the central office, effective February 28, 2005.
3. Professional sabbatical leave requests, effective August 15, 2005, for the following:
Teresa Shrell, elementary at Choudrant Elementary, for the entire 05-06 school year.
Shannon Lee, social studies/coach at Choudrant High, for the first semester of 05-06.
4. Employment of Barbara Gunn as custodian at Hillcrest effective March 1, 2005 replacing Earlene Simmons who retired.
Upon a motion by Mr. Mitcham, seconded by Mr. Dowling, the Board unanimously voted to approve the personnel recommendations.
George Murphy reported that 1967 and 1979 sales tax collections for the month of February 2005 were $341,221 which was up $4,108 over the same month last year. Collections in the 1993 and 2000 sales tax funds also showed an increase of $2,465 compared to last years, with $204,732 being collected. This was a 1.22% increase for the month and 2.29% for the year. Audit recoveries for the month were down because of a huge settlement received in February of 2004 which brings the year-to-date audit collections to 90.72% below last years.
Mr. Murphy called the Board's attention to the fund balances in the shaded area on the December 2004 financial statement. Not much change was noted since November. Assets were $8.2 million and the general fund balance was $930 thousand year-to-date. Ad valorem funds were showing a deficit but those monies will start coming in again in January 2005.
In a Report of the Superintendent, Dr. Scriber said a letter was included in portfolios from DeSoto Parish Superintendent Walter Lee asking for support of legislation changing the sales tax law. This matter will be presented at the LSBA convention to be held later in the week.
There being no further business to come before the Board, the Board adjourned at 7:25 p.m.
_____________________________ ____________________________
Charles R. Scriber, Secretary Otha L. Anders, President