LINCOLN PARISH SCHOOL BOARD
Ruston, Louisiana
REGULAR SESSION
Tuesday, December 6, 2005 6:00 p.m.
The Lincoln Parish School Board met in Regular Session on Tuesday, December 6, 2005 at 6:00 p.m. at the Lincoln Parish School Board, 410 South Farmerville Street, Ruston, Louisiana. Members present were President Otha Anders, Ms. Lisa Best, Ms. Mattie Harrison, Ms. Lynda Henderson (arrived after the meeting began), Mr. Jim Kessler, Mr. Flynn Ludley, Mr. George Mack, Mr. Ted McKinney, Mr. Joe Mitcham, Mr. Rob Shadoin, and Ms. Jo Tatum.
Mr. Curtis Dowling was absent.
Mr. Anders called the meeting to order and Mr. Shadoin gave the invocation. Mrs. Tatum led in the Pledge of Allegiance to the American flag followed by Mr. Anders’ welcome to board members, staff, press, honorees, and visitors including the STAR class from Ruston High School.
Upon a motion by Ms. Tatum, seconded by Ms. Harrison, the Board unanimously voted to adopt the agenda as presented.
Upon a motion by Ms. Best, seconded by Mr. Ludley, the Board unanimously voted to approve the minutes of the Regular Session held on November 1, 2005 as distributed.
According to Betty Wall, dyslexia/504 coordinator for the parish, School Performance Scores with applicable school performance labels have recently been received. The administration is very pleased with the results and hopes the schools will continue to move forward in achieving their growth targets and subgroup performances. The schools’ staff and administrators continuously review assessment data in an effort to improve. Staff development is ongoing and school improvement plans are being revised.
Of the twelve public schools receiving growth labels, nine are eligible for financial rewards for being in the categories of either Recognized or Exemplary Academic Growth. She proudly recognized administrators from the following schools for making the most significant gains and achieved the label Exemplary Academic Growth: Cypress Springs Elementary, Glen View Elementary, Choudrant High School, Dubach High School, and Simsboro High School. They were given framed certificates and encouraged to continue their pursuit of student achievement.
President Anders and Mrs. Wall expressed pride and appreciation to the schools’ staff and administrators.
Mrs. Henderson arrived at the meeting.
Chris Baker was introduced to the Board by Secondary Supervisor Ricky Edmiston for coaching the Choudrant High School boys who recently won state in Class B cross country for the third year in a row. Mr. Edmiston presented certificates of achievement to the seven team members and a plaque to Coach Baker in recognition of their dedication and hard work. Coach Baker thanked the Board and administration for their support.
Also presented with certificates on behalf of the Board and administration by Ricky Edmiston were four students making up the State FFA Farm Business Management Team from Choudrant High. Using a spread sheet, they must make decisions on how to manage a farm and make it profitable. The team also ranked 14th in the nation out of 42 states in the national competition. After being awarded a plaque, Coach Cantrell expressed his thanks for support.
The final presentation by Mr. Edmiston was the Ruston High School’s FFA Forestry Team who also won the state competition. He indicated that they have the potential to win the national competition. They can read maps and compasses, identify trees, pace, thin timber, measure pulpwood, saw logs, and must take a written test. He presented certificates to the four team members and a plaque to Coach Mark Milstead to recognize their dedication and hard work. Mr. Milstead also voiced his thanks for those partially responsible for the accomplishment and for the support of the administration and Board.
Mr. Edmiston closed by sharing his annual request for permission to apply for Impact Aid funding which is based upon the number of federally-connected children in the parish. The system receives about $5,000 for the estimated 300 students. These funds are used to defray extra costs incurred as a result of the students moving into the system, such as the spring testing program.
Upon a motion by Mr. Kessler, seconded by Ms. Best, the Board unanimously voted to grant permission to apply for Impact Aid funding for 2005-2006.
The Board served as a Committee of the Whole and the following Personnel Committee agenda items were considered after Director of Instruction, Personnel, and Special Programs, Mary Null presented 1.-5.; Director of Auxiliary Services, Charles Owens, presented 6.-7.; Transportation Supervisor, Ronny Volentine, presented 8.-10.; and School Food Service Supervisor, Brenda Theodos, presented 11.
1. Retirement of Miranda Parnell, family & child studies at Simsboro High effective January 7, 2006.
2. Resignation of the following effective January 9, 2006 unless otherwise noted:
Lori Golden, English at Choudrant High.
Nancy Griffith, math at Dubach High.
Melissa Bullock, science at Ruston High.
Elena Jones, science at Ruston Junior High.
Adrianne Gillyard, paraprofessional at Cypress Springs, effective October 21, 2005.
3. Points of Reference/Transfer of the following effective January 9, 2006:
Annie Jones from Choudrant High to family & child studies at Simsboro High, replacing Miranda Parnell who retired.
Mariam Stone from Secondary Alternative to family & child studies at Choudrant High, replacing Annie Jones who transferred.
4. Employment of the following effective January 9, 2006:
Haley Phillips, English at Choudrant High, replacing Lori Golden who resigned.
Ryan Walsh, math at Dubach High, replacing Nancy Griffith who resigned.
Dana Talley, math at Ruston Junior High, replacing Elena Jones who resigned.
Karen Seacrist, family & child studies at Secondary Alternative, replacing Mariam Stone who transferred.
5. Modification of sabbatical for John Wallace, special education at Ruston High, returning after one-half year instead of full year, effective January 9, 2006.
6. Resignation of Betty Gant, custodian at Ruston High, effective October 31, 2005.
7. Employment of Barbara Sowers as custodian at Choudrant Elementary effective October 3, 2005 replacing Mildred Dade who retired.
8. Retirement of Charlie Jones, bus driver in the Ruston district, effective January 9, 2006.
9. Employment of Linette Williams as bus driver in the Ruston district, effective January 9, 2006, replacing Charlie Jones who retired.
10. Resignation of Tommy Jackson, bus maintenance at the central office, effective January 9, 2006.
11. Resignation of Lisa Younse, school food service technician at Choudrant, effective November 15, 2005.
Upon a motion by Mr. Shadoin, seconded by Mr. Ludley, the Board unanimously voted in favor of the personnel recommendations.
George Murphy, Business Manager, reported that November 2005 was another good month financially with sales tax collections up 13.86% for the month and 12.72% for the year. Recoveries by audits were also good with a 22.84% increase for the year. He told the Board that $411,773 was collected in the '67 and '79 fund and $494,127 in the '93 and '00 fund. He listed categories which have increased sales taxes for the year which included oil and gas extraction (33%); stone, clay and glass products (81%); industrial machinery and equipment (10%); durable goods (22%); automotive dealers and service stations (9); eating and drinking places (12%); and miscellaneous retailers (13%).
A good month was also noted by Mr. Murphy in the self-insured health benefits program. He reminded the Board that the program was in arrears last month by approximately 1.4 million. Year-to-date, the deficit has been reduced to 1.163 million. For the month collections exceeded expenditures by $243,000.
Three bids were received following the transportation supervisor’s advertisement in order to purchase three new buses. Bids from Kent-Mitchell Bus Sales, Ross Bus Sales, and Scott Truck Co., Inc. ranged from a high of $61,629 to a low of $59,428 for a 2007 conventional bus. Ronny Volentine recommended that the Board accept the bid from Ross Bus Sale which was the lowest bid fully meeting specifications.
Upon a motion by Mr. McKinney, seconded by Ms. Best, the Board unanimously voted that the bid from Ross Bus Sales, $60,867 per bus, be accepted for the purchase of the three new 2007 conventional buses as the lowest bid which fully meets specifications.
MidNite Energy has requested permission to enter into an oil, gas, and mineral lease covering 2 acres of land near the old Noble School in Dubach owned by the Board for $250. Superintendent Bell spoke with Andy Shealy, the Board’s attorney, who suggested that the State Mineral Board be appointed to handle the advertising and leasing of the property to MidNite with rentals, bonuses, and royalties from the lease paid to the Board. Mr. Shealy indicated that this is the procedure being used by the City of Ruston and the Lincoln Parish Police Jury for the granting of oil, gas, and mineral leases on their property.
Upon a motion by Mr. Mack, seconded by Ms. Tatum, the Board unanimously voted by roll call to adopt the following:
RESOLUTION
Authorizing the State Mineral Board to act on behalf of the Lincoln Parish School Board, Ruston, Louisiana, for the advertising and granting of an oil, gas, and mineral lease pursuant to application of MidNite Energy, Inc.
Mr. Bell said a small plot of the Board’s property near the corner of Woodward Avenue and Tarbutton Road adjacent to Ruston Junior High has been requested by BellSouth Telecommunications as a servitude to construct, operate, maintain, add, and/or remove systems of communications, facilities, or related services. This 25 x 25 plot is located in a grassy area at the far southwestern corner of the property that will likely never be necessary for school use. If the Board approves, they retain ownership of the property, but BellSouth will be permitted to use this location to maintain and improve their communications system. For this use, they will pay a one-time payment of $2,000. Mr. Bell requested the Board’s permission to enter into a contract with BellSouth for the servitude.
Upon a motion by Ms. Best, seconded by Mr. Ludley, the Board unanimously voted to grant permission for the president of the Lincoln Parish School Board to approve the servitude agreement and sign the applicable servitude contract with BellSouth Telecommunications, Inc. with appropriate witnesses and notary.
In a Report of the Superintendent, Mr. Bell said that:
1. LSBA convention preference forms were included in packets. They should be completed and returned to Becky Gemelli as soon possible.
2. The state legislators decided in special session to include in the December 16 MFP payment additional funds for the displaced hurricane students: $625 for each student enrolled on September 16, 2005 and an additional $625 for those still with us on November 1, 2005. These are both one time payments. At the present time, two hundred seventy students are still in the school system which brings the total student count to approximately 7,000. In addition, to help with increased costs for retirement and fuel, the legislature also approved an additional $60 per pupil based on the October 1, 2005 count.
There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 6:52 p.m.
_________________________ ____________________________
Danny L. Bell, Secretary Otha L. Anders, President