LINCOLN PARISH SCHOOL BOARD
Ruston, Louisiana
REGULAR SESSION
Tuesday, April 12, 2005 6:00 p.m.
The Lincoln Parish School Board met in Regular Session on Tuesday, April 12, 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 Mr. Otha Anders, Mr. Curtis Dowling, Ms. Mattie Harrison, Ms. Lynda Henderson, Mr. Flynn Ludley, Mr. Jim Kessler, Mr. George Mack, Mr. Ted McKinney, Mr. Joe Mitcham, Mr. Rob Shadoin, and Ms. Jo Tatum.
Ms. Lisa Best was absent.
President Anders called the meeting to order and Superintendent Charles Scriber gave the invocation. Ms. Harrison led in the Pledge of Allegiance to the American flag. Mr. Anders welcomed guests to the meeting.
Upon a motion by Ms. Tatum, seconded by Mr. Dowling, the Board unanimously voted to adopt the agenda with corrections.
Upon a motion by Mr. Dowling, seconded by Ms. Harrison, the Board unanimously voted to approve the minutes of the Regular Session held on March 1, 2005 as distributed.
Mary Null, Elementary Supervisor, had the honor of introducing the Ruston-Lincoln Chamber of Commerce and Ruston Jaycees' Outstanding Young Educator of the Year, Lori Frasier Kelly. She shared interesting background information on her including the fact that she is a fourth grade teacher at Cypress Springs Elementary. Ms. Null allowed her to introduce her guest and share brief comments with the Board.
Broken and obsolete property collected at Cypress Springs has created clutter in areas that are needed for other purposes, according to Mrs. Null. She provided board members with a list of those items and requested that they be declared as surplus to be properly disposed.
Upon a motion by Mr. Mack, seconded by Mr. McKinney, the Board unanimously voted to declare the items listed from Cypress Springs as surplus.
Voicing her annual request for permission to advertise for bids in order to purchase food, equipment, and supplies for 05-06 was Brenda Theodos, School Food Service Supervisor.
Upon a motion by Mr. Kessler, seconded by Ms. Henderson, the Board unanimously voted to grant permission to advertise for bids for all food, equipment, and supplies for the 05-06 school year.
Charles Owens, Director of Auxiliary Services, also requested permission to advertise for bids for materials and supplies for the next school year.
Upon a motion by Mr. Dowling, seconded by Mr. Ludley, the Board unanimously voted to grant permission to advertise for bids for duplicating paper, toilet tissue and paper towels, dust mops, and gasoline and diesel for 05-06.
Transportation Supervisor, Ronny Volentine, indicated that purchasing two new buses would allow his department to continue to upgrade the fleet and to provide reliable transportation for the students of the parish. He estimated the cost for each bus to be approximately $57,000 totaling $114,000. The monies would be paid from the 93 millage allocated for the purchase of buses. Mr. Volentine requested permission to advertise for bids in order to purchase two new buses.
Upon a motion by Mr. Kessler, seconded by Ms. Tatum, the Board unanimously voted to grant permission to advertise for bids to purchase two 72-passenger, conventional, 2006 model school buses.
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. - 3. and Charles Owens presented 4.:
1. Retirement of the following effective May 30, 2005 unless otherwise noted:
Judith Deal, teacher at Glen View.
Michael Barmore, teacher at Hico Elementary.
Judy Crawford, teacher at Hico Elementary.
Margie Dyes, computer proctor at Hico, effective May 27, 2005.
Dianne Hay, teacher at Hillcrest.
Inell Hoard, special education at Ruston High, effective July 29, 2005.
Willie Young, P.E./coach at Ruston Junior High.
2. Resignation, effective May 30, 2005 unless otherwise noted, of the following teachers:
Colleen Cox, science/social studies at I. A. Lewis.
Kelly Aguillard, band at Ruston High, effective June 13, 2005.
Sandra Hughes, math at Ruston High.
Katherine Keil, English at Ruston High.
Virginia Hoenke, elementary at Simsboro High.
3. Employment of Kathy Pool as accounting manager at the central office effective April 1, 2005 replacing DaVona Howard who resigned.
4. Resignation of Antoine Landry, carpenter working out of the central office, effective March 14, 2005.
Upon a motion by Mr. McKinney, seconded by Mr. Ludley, the Board unanimously voted to approve the personnel items.
Feeling that the Board should know what is being done with its investments, George Murphy, Business Manager, introduced Lucius McGehee with Argent Financial Group. Mr. McGehee quickly summarized what Argent is and how they serve as a paying agent and registrar on bond issues including the recent two of the Board's. They are also custodian of some of the school system's surplus funds and have been since 1997. He explained the investment laws and processes for the different types of funds and how they attempt to earn the maximum amount of monies while keeping a portion of the money available for spending.
Mr. Murphy communicated that March 2005 was a really good month for sales tax collections with $347,699 being collected in the 1967 and 1979 funds. Collections in the 1993 and 2000 sales tax funds were $208,619 which was an increase of $12,425 compared to March 2004. These are 6.33% increases comparing month to month and overall for the year, accumulations are up 2.69% over those of last year.
In the financial statement comparing January 2005 to December 2004, Mr. Murphy said ad valorem taxes began to come in. The General Fund is up a little over $2,000,000 for the year and the fund balance to date is a little over $8,000,000. The other funds showing increases for the month are the 93 ad valorem tax, 00 ad valorem tax, and the M & O funds for Ruston, Simsboro and Dubach.
Three bids were received in response to the advertisement to purchase a new special education bus. Mr. Volentine recommended that the Board accept the lowest bid fully meeting specifications, from Ross Bus Sales, for $64,567.
Upon a motion by Mr. Mack, seconded by Mr. McKinney, the Board unanimously voted to accept the bid of $64, 567 from Ross Bus Sales in order to purchase one special education bus.
In response to parental surveys and a committee of teachers, Ms. Null shared Ruston High School Principal Kenny Henderson's request to require a uniform shirt at the school before going to a "full" uniform. She called attention to the policy that he would like to implement in the fall and said that the colors of the shirts will remain consistent with what is going to be required at the other city public schools (red, black or white). Mrs. Null recommended approval of Mr. Henderson's request.
Mr. Henderson was present to help with questions.
Following one question, upon a motion by Mr. McKinney, seconded by Mr. Ludley, the Board unanimously voted to give Ruston High School the authority to institute the disseminated school uniform policy for the 05-06 school year.
Because of the vital role of school bus drivers, lunchroom workers, custodians, secretaries, clerical personnel, teacher aides, bus aides, maintenance workers, and para-professionals in the efficient operation of the school system, Mr. Owens recommended that the Board adopt a Resolution designating April 25-29, 2005 at Support Personnel Week.
Upon a motion by Mr. Kessler, seconded by Ms. Tatum, the Board unanimously voted to adopt the following:
RESOLUTION
That the Lincoln Parish School Board designates the week of April 25-29, 2005 as Support Personnel Week in Lincoln Parish and copies of this Resolution be sent to all of the schools in the parish, and made a part of the official minutes of the Lincoln Parish School Board.
Mr. Owens said that Midnight Energy Inc. is interested in a lease agreement with the Board on two acres of land, the site of the old Nobels School, in Dubach. Although the Board sold the land to Arvel Sanders in 1951, it reserved the mineral rights due to oil and gas production. Mr. Owens asked for permission for the superintendent to enter into an agreement with Midnight for an oil and gas lease on the land.
Upon a motion by Ms. Tatum, seconded by Mr. Ludley, the Board unanimously voted to grant permission for the Superintendent to execute a lease agreement with Midnight Energy Inc. for an oil and gas lease on a two acre tract of property in Dubach for a period of two years for $125 per acre and a total of $250.
At this point in the meeting, President Anders recognized Superintendent Scriber who humbly thanked the Board for the opportunity to serve, especially as superintendent for the past two years, but indicated his intent to retire effective June 30, 2005. After 35 years in education, with 29 of those in Lincoln Parish, he believes the time has come for him to make a change; therefore, he has decided to accept the superintendency in Mountain Home, Arkansas effective July 1, 2005.
Upon a motion by Mr. Kessler, seconded by Mr. Ludley, the Board unanimously voted to accept Dr. Charles Scriber's letter of intent to retire as superintendent effective June 30, 2005.
A time line and suggested procedure to be used to fill the vacancy in the office of superintendent had been prepared in accordance with the Executive Committee's wishes. Mr. Anders shared the recommended application period of April 13 - May 4, 2005; application review, selection of candidates to be interviewed, interview of applications, and selection of a candidate for negotiations and finalization from May 9 - 25; and the formal selection of superintendent at the June 7, 2005 Regular Session of the board. Minimum requirements call for completed certification for superintendent in accordance with the Louisiana State Department of Education Bulletin 746 or immediate eligibility for LA superintendent certification if out of state. Screening the applicants and a decision regarding interviews will be made at the May 10 meeting. Interviews will be conducted in Executive Session and the applicant receiving the majority of vote of the total membership will be the candidate selected for negotiations with the Executive Committee and formal recommendation to the Board. A negotiable beginning salary of $80,000 plus $5,000 car allowance was proposed along with a starting date of July 1, 2005 and a two year contract. A sample application was included for the Board's perusal. It was suggested that a meeting between each applicant and the public be scheduled.
Following a lengthy period of questions and comments, upon a motion by Mr. Kessler, seconded by Mr. Dowling, the Board unanimously voted to approve the time line and search procedures for the position of superintendent as presented with the understanding that these could be modified as needed through the Executive Committee.
Kenny Henderson gave the Board an update on the implementation of the modified block schedule at Ruston High School for the fall. After the formation of a Block Schedule Study Committee to look at schedules to be used at Ruston High and a vote at the March board meeting in favor of allowing them to pilot the 3X2 modified block in the fall, he expressed some concerns over whether this could be done by the next school year. A meeting was held about a week after that board meeting with Dr. Scriber, Mr. Bell, Paula Pardue, registrar at RHS; Debbie Sandidge, technology coordinator; and several employees from the JPAMS computer programming company. The computer system in place does not have the capability to calculate grade point averages for a mixed block schedule which will have a great effect on seniors who are applying for scholarships in the fall. Several concerns were expressed at that meeting, mainly regarding the effect on seniors' five-year plans (which began in their 8th grade year) as required by Act 1124. Additionally, some of the seniors need eight credits to graduate. The modified block allows a maximum of seven credits per year; therefore, some seniors would be unable to graduate next year. Those were some of the reasons that the group decided that the modified block schedule should be piloted with the 300 9th graders verses the 1100 9th-12th graders at RHS. That would also allow time to make sure it's a good, workable solution for all of the students at Ruston High and the other high schools that are considering a future change to the modified block.
A couple of the Committee members were in attendance as were some parents of RHS students and parents of former RHS students. Two of the parents reiterated their strong opposition to postponing implementation of the modified block in all grades at RHS in the fall of 2005 and their desire to do whatever is necessary to see it happen. They feel that the benefits of the change for 1100 students far outweigh any negative impact on a much smaller number. It was even suggested that if the 3X2 could not be implemented for all students at RHS by the fall, a traditional seven period schedule should be activated.
Because board members expressed concern over the inability to make the change in all grades at RHS for the fall, Mr. Henderson said he would talk with the computer programmers again and would have another recommendation from the Block Schedule Study Committee by the end of the week.
There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 8:35 p.m.
__________________________ _________________________
Charles R. Scriber, Secretary Otha L. Anders, President