LINCOLN PARISH SCHOOL BOARD
Ruston, Louisiana
REGULAR SESSION
Tuesday, May 10, 2005 6:00 p.m.
The Lincoln Parish School Board met in Regular Session on Tuesday, May 10, 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, Ms. Lisa Best, 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.
Mr. Rob Shadoin was absent.
President Otha Anders called the meeting to order. The invocation was given by Mr. Mack. Ms. Tatum led in the Pledge of Allegiance to the American flag and Mr. Anders welcomed board members, staff, honorees, and the many visitors to the meeting.
Upon a motion by Mr. McKinney, seconded by Mr. Ludley, the Board unanimously voted to adopt the agenda as printed.
Upon a motion by Mr. Dowling, seconded by Ms. Tatum, the Board unanimously voted to approve the minutes of the Regular Session held on April 12, 2005 as submitted.
Secondary and Vocational Supervisor, Ricky Edmiston, was pleased to introduce Deanna Rhodes who received a first place award at the 2005 district FBLA conference and also at the Louisiana state conference in Introduction to Business Communication. As he presented Deanna with a plaque, he outlined what the contest consisted of and congratulated her for being named as a state champion. Mr. Edmiston introduced her mother, Mrs. Rhodes, and her FBLA advisor at Simsboro High, Debbie Pender.
Next he recognized Ashley Free and Holly Baugh from Ruston High, who placed first in the state FCCLA contest called Focus on the Children. Their project, named Bearcat Alert, dealt with stranger awareness and educated the Ruston community on that topic and also the Louisiana Amber Alert system. He presented the girls with a plaque and congratulated them for winning the state championship. Mr. Edmiston recognized their parents and advisor, Kayle McGuire.
Mr. Edmiston wished the girls success as they move on to national competition. He closed by saying that the schools now have outstanding career and technical programs and teachers who are doing a great job preparing the students. President Anders expressed the Board's pride in Deanna, Ashley, and Holly for their hard work, dedication, and noteworthy achievements.
The Outstanding School Support Employee Awards Program provides an opportunity to honor outstanding employees in the elementary, middle, and high school levels who support and provide leadership in the operation of non instructional activities within the school system according to Director of Auxiliary Services, Charles Owens. He reviewed the selection procedure and presented plaques to the following in order to recognize their contributions to the Lincoln Parish School System:
Betty Jenkins Elementary Custodian at Lincoln Center
Carla Watts Junior High Secretary/Bookkeeper at Dubach High
Joan Frazier High School Clerk/Secretary at Ruston High
Eric Carter, Supervisor of Testing, Evaluation, and Curriculum, furnished background information on the National Board Certification program and recognized six parish teachers who have completed those requirements. They were: George Boyd, music at A. E. Phillips; Scarlet Chopin, foreign language teacher at Ruston High; Susan Griffin, science teacher at Ruston High; Stefanie Parker, first grade at Hillcrest Elementary; Patricia Stevens, third grade at A. E. Phillips; and Karen Roberson, first grade at A. E. Phillips. In addition to a $5,000 per year monetary award from the State Department of Education, they were presented with plaques by Mr. Carter for meeting high and rigorous standards for what accomplished teachers should know and be able to do.
Two resolutions concerning the Simsboro School District No. 3, which were very similar to those adopted prior to the election for the Ruston School District, were summarized by Bond Attorney, Grant Schlueter. The first resolution approves a capital improvements plan, which was included for board information, detailing how $6,500,000 of general obligation bond proceeds would be used if the bond proposition is approved by the public and obligating the Board to use good faith efforts to complete all of the projects and improvements set forth in the plan.
President Anders called on architect Mike Walpole to give an overview of the work represented by the proposed Simsboro bond issue. Bottom line, he said, is that it would bring the Simsboro school district up to about where the Ruston school district will be after that bond work is completed. A brief scope of work includes all new roofs, renovation of all interior space and finishes, new lighting, new air conditioning units, adding a junior high building in the back, left corner of the lot as well as a new home economics building, re-paving all of the asphalt parking, and improving drainage.
Mr. Anders and Mr. Dowling indicated that much preliminary work has been done, in addition to several meetings with the citizens of Simsboro. Mr. Dowling and Principal Tim Null are in favor of going forward with the bond election.
Upon a motion by Mr. Mitcham, seconded by Ms. Best, the Board unanimously voted by roll call to adopt the following:
A resolution approving the "CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS PLAN" designating purposes for which proceeds of a proposed bond issue will be budgeted, and otherwise providing with respect thereto.
Mr. Schlueter indicated that the second resolution calls for an election on Saturday, July 16, 2005, and incorporates by reference the obligation of the Board to do the specific projects. Proposition number one is a renewal for maintenance and operations for ten years at 3.12 mills. Proposition number two is the bond proposition that provides for $6,500,000 of bonds for the construction project just approved in the preceding resolution that would be paid out over twenty years at 22.5 mills, an increase of approximately 3.3 over the current 19.2 mills being levied for outstanding bonds in this district.
Principal Nutt arrived at the meeting and said he appreciates Mr. Dowling and Mr. Ludley who have been instrumental in talking about the effort and getting the word out to the public. They have attended two meetings which he has already had. He has also planned an Open House on Friday to get the parents out and share the information and plans for improvements with them.
Following questions, upon a motion by Mr. Dowling, seconded by Mr. Kessler, the Board unanimously voted by roll call to adopt the following:
A resolution ordering and calling a special election to be held in Simsboro School District No. 3 of the Parish of Lincoln, State of Louisiana, to authorize the levy of a special tax and incurring of debt and issuance of bonds therein; making application to the State Bond Commission in connection therewith; and providing for other matters in connection therewith.
New tables have been purchased for the cafeterias at Cypress Springs and Hillcrest and; therefore, nine tables at Cypress Springs and fourteen tables at Hillcrest need to be declared as surplus. School Food Service Supervisor, Brenda Theodos, communicated that they are over twenty-five years old and are no longer needed.
Upon a motion by Ms. Tatum, seconded by Ms. Best, the Board unanimously voted to grant permission to declare the old tables from Cypress Springs and Hillcrest as surplus and receive sealed quotes from anyone wanting to purchase them.
According to Mr. Edmiston, Ruston High Business Department has recently purchased new computers and now has old computers which are no longer needed. Old sewing machines have accumulated in Ruston High's Family Consumer Science Department after new sewing machines were purchased. Simsboro High's Family Consumer Science Department purchased new equipment for their department and they now have old sewing machines and an Apple II computer which are extraneous. He'd like to hold a public sale do dispose of the items with proceeds from the sale to be deposited in the clubs' accounts.
Upon a motion by Mr. Kessler, seconded by Mr. Ludley, the Board unanimously voted to declare outdated equipment at Ruston High and Simsboro High as surplus in order for the items to be disposed of as described.
By acclamation, the Board granted permission for Danny Bell, Director of Curriculum and Instruction to distribute Letters of Continued Employment for 05-06 to employees as mandated by Act 745 of the 1977 Legislature.
Federal Programs Director, Willie Washington, requested permission to submit the yearly application for the No Child Left Behind (NCLB)/Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) combined application for grants which would bring in $3,782,711 of federal monies. He mentioned that this is the first time the application would be submitted electronically.
Upon a motion by Mr. Mack, seconded by Mr. McKinney, the Board unanimously voted to grant permission to submit the NCLB/IDEA combined application for grants.
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.-3. and Ms. Theodos presented 4.-5.:
1. Retirement of Ann Lary, secretary at Ruston Elementary, effective June 6, 2005.
2. Resignation of the following teachers effective May 30, 2005 unless otherwise noted:
Janet Johnson, music at I. A. Lewis.
John McKenzie, health/coach at Ruston High.
Daniel Mejia, assistant band director at Ruston High.
Missy Wooley, science at Ruston High.
Erika McIntyre, American studies at Ruston Junior High.
Stephanie Mattox, home economics at Secondary Alternative, effective May 4, 2005.
Maribeth Sherman, special education at Simsboro High.
3. Request for professional sabbatical for the first semester of 05-06, effective August 15, 2005 for Melanie Garrison, business teacher at Ruston High.
4. Retirement of school food service manager Cinda Martindale effective July 21, 2005.
5. Resignation of the following school food service technicians:
Betty Colvin, Dubach High, effective March 23, 2005.
Hong Cross, Glen View, effective May 31, 2005.
Upon a motion by Mr. Dowling, seconded by Ms. Harrison, the Board unanimously voted to accept the personnel recommendations.
Business Manager, George Murphy, reported that April 2005 sales tax receipts were up 2.79% over year-to-date collections for the same month last year. All funds were up 3.50% for the month with $441,120 being collected in the '67 and '79 fund and $264,671 collected in the '93 and '00 funds.
Mr. Murphy proceeded with February and March 2005 financial updates. He indicated that the general fund balance at the end of March was $7,746,385. Year-to-date that fund has an excess of revenues over expenditures of $1,595,026.
According to the Superintendent, after much research and discussion concerning the 4 x 4 block schedule and other forms of schedules, it has become apparent that no scheduling structure is going to satisfy all of the stakeholders in Lincoln Parish. Furthermore Kenny Henderson, Principal of RHS and Chairman of the Block Study Committee, through study of the Committee has some concerns regarding instituting the 3 x 2 block within all grades for the 05-06 school year. Consequently that has been revisited and the Superintendent, Mr. Henderson, and the remainder of the administration feel that it would be unwise to fully implement the 3 x 2 block for the 05-06 school year. Dr. Scriber added that Ruston High School is not broke and does not need fixing as some have indicated in past meetings. Because of improvements at the high school level, the District Profile Score has moved from 51st in the state in 2002 to number 16 in the state this year. He commended the teachers and administration in the high schools and particularly Ruston High for doing a great job. The scores continue to improve from 85 in 2002 to 90.5 year-to-date. No structure is as important as the people within the structure. He closed by recommending that Ruston High School pilot the 3 x 2 block for the ninth grade only for the 05-06 school year with plans to fully implement for all grades for the 06-07 school year.
Upon a motion by Mr. Ludley, seconded by Ms. Henderson, the Board voted 10 in Favor with 1 Abstention for Ruston High School to pilot the 3 x 2 block for the ninth grade only for the 05-06 school year with plans to fully implement for all grades for the 06-07 school year. Mr. McKinney abstained from the vote after saying that he changed his initial opinion and feels that a scheduling decision is one for the administration and not a matter which should be decided by the board.
Mr. Anders thanked the Committee and Mr. Henderson for their diligence in studying the matter.
President Anders announced the names of six applicants who have expressed an interest in the vacant superintendent position that will become available with the upcoming retirement of Dr. Charles Scriber. He said that all six are certified for the position and noted that cover letters, applications, and copies of teaching certificates had been distributed on Friday, May 6. Mr. Anders provided a procedure for interviews and a time line to be used to fill the vacancy which were drafted following consultation with the President and Vice President of the Board. He summarized the plan which included two interviews to be conducted in Executive Session and scheduled at 4:45 and 7:00 p.m. on Monday, May 16; Wednesday, May 18; and Thursday, May 19. Each two hour interview would be preceded by a 30 minute time for the public to informally meet the candidate in the lobby of the central office. Immediately following the final interview which will begin at 7:00 p.m. on Thursday, the Board will enter into a period of discussion in order to come up with the name of one person to be recommended for negotiations with the Executive Committee. Saturday, May 21, at 10:00 a.m. will be reserved for additional discussion time if a decision cannot be reached on Thursday night. If it becomes evident that second interviews are needed, Wednesday, May 26, will be reserved for those. The original plan, for a recommendation to be presented at the Regular Session of the board on June 7, 2005 is still viable. He indicated that Board members will be given a list of formal questions to be used in the interview process and to be asked of each candidate. Following that, informal questions may be asked by individual Board members. Mr. Anders requested approval of the procedures and time line.
Ms. Tatum suggested that Friday, May 20, be scheduled for additional discussion time if a decision couldn't be reached on Thursday, May 19, instead of Saturday, May 21.
Jon Guice and Blake Kramer, attorneys with the firm of Hammonds and Sills, were in attendance to answer questions. Mr. Guice indicated that they stand ready to help with procedure, a contract for the superintendent, or in any way possible.
After several questions, upon a motion by Mr. Kessler, seconded by Ms. Best, the Board unanimously voted to interview all six applicants for the position of superintendent of schools and to approve the interview procedure and time line as specified with the modification of Friday, May 20, instead of Saturday, May 21, for a final time of discussion if necessary.
In a Report of the Superintendent, Dr. Charles Scriber said:
1. A letter concerning the pipeline litigation was in portfolios announcing that the judge ruled in favor of the pipeline companies. However, because of the assessment of the pipelines themselves, some of the experts think more tax monies may be received in the long run than would have been received from the one time assessment. The companies are trying to file a motion to reconsider so the monies are still being held in escrow.
2. That a retirement reception for 04-05 retirees would be held prior to the June 7, 2005 board meeting at 6:00 p.m. in the lobby.
A custodial delegation from Ruston High, with Gregory Richards as spokesperson, indicated that they are concerned about salaries. Mr. Richards hears that the Governor is proposing a $1500 teacher pay raise and a $500 support staff raise. He had questions concerning this. President Anders asked that the matter be addressed through appropriate channels.
Having no further business to conduct, the meeting adjourned at 7:34 p.m.
__________________________ _________________________
Charles R. Scriber, Secretary Otha L. Anders, President