LINCOLN PARISH SCHOOL BOARD
Ruston, Louisiana
REGULAR SESSION
Tuesday, February 7, 2006 6:00 p.m.
The Lincoln Parish School Board met in Regular Session on Tuesday, February 7, 2006 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, Mr. Flynn Ludley, Mr. George Mack, Mr. Ted McKinney, Mr. Joe Mitcham, and Ms. Jo Tatum.
Mr. Jim Kessler was in Washington fulfilling Legislative Liaison obligations. Mr. Rob Shadoin was also absent.
President Anders called the meeting to order and Mr. Ludley gave the invocation. Ms. Henderson led in the Pledge of Allegiance to the American flag. Mr. Anders welcomed board members, staff, members of the press, and special guests.
Upon a motion by Mr. McKinney, seconded by Ms. Harrison, the Board unanimously voted by roll call to adopt the agenda after tabling one item of New Business: Purchase of three new buses.
Upon a motion by Ms. Tatum, seconded by Ms. Best, the Board unanimously voted to approve the minutes of the Regular Session held on January 10, 2006 as distributed.
Eric Carter, Supervisor of Testing, Evaluation, and Curriculum, came before the Board and gave background information on the Student of the Year program. Each of the Lincoln Parish schools selects a Student of the Year from three divisions: elementary (grade 5), junior high (grade 8), and high school (grade 12). Parish-wide winners, selected from each division, go on to compete at the regional level and if successful there, at the state level. He introduced each of the parish winners, shared personal information about them, and allowed them to introduce their guests. On behalf of the Lincoln Parish School Board, Mr. Carter presented the following parish Students of the Year with plaques in recognition of their hard work:
Elementary - Christan Dillard - Ruston Elementary
Junior High - Carlos Wilson - A. E. Phillips
High School - Melissa Manual - Ruston High
Once again Ricky Edmiston, Secondary Supervisor, had the pleasure of introducing an FFA state champion team from Ruston High School. He recognized and presented a plaque to one of the advisors, Mark Milstead, who trained the team and also recognized James Sandifer, another advisor who was in attendance. Mr. Edmiston said that the team, along with Mr. Milstead’s forestry team, will participate in Indianapolis, Indiana in the national competition.
Mr. Milstead gave credit to the six individuals who won the state parliamentary procedure contest in Bunkie in January. After introducing them, he expressed his pride in the students. Mr. Milstead also thanked Kenny Henderson, his principal; Ricky Edmiston, his supervisor; Danny Bell, superintendent; and the Board for their support.
Mr. Anders congratulated and commended the students for having the boldness to stand out, be different, excel, and achieve. He challenged them to continue to pursue knowledge and skills.
Director of Instruction, Personnel, and Special Programs, Mary Null, submitted the annual request to send Letters of Intent to employees in order to begin planning for the 06-07 school year.
Upon a motion by Mr. Mack, seconded by Mr. Ludley, the Board unanimously voted to grant permission to send the Letters of Intent.
The Board served as a Committee of the Whole and the following Personnel Committee agenda items were considered after Ms. Null shared items 1.-2., Charles Owens, Director of Auxiliary Services, shared 3.-4., and Ronny Volentine, Transportation Supervisor, shared 5.-7.:
1. Resignation of Mary Ann Parks, music teacher at Ruston High, effective February 10, 2006.
2. Employment of Chris Block as strength & conditioning coach at Ruston High effective February 13, 2006 replacing Herb Holliman who resigned.
3. Retirement of Lue Simpson, custodian at Dubach High, effective January 23, 2006.
4. Resignation of Dorothy Spencer, custodian at Ruston High, effective January 18, 2006.
5. Leave without pay from January 30 to May 10, 2006 for Pam Driskill, bus driver in the Grambling area.
6. Resignation of bus driver in the Ruston area, Dennis Sutherland, effective January 30, 2006.
7. Employment of Al Williamson as bus driver in the Ruston area effective January 31, 2006 replacing Dennis Sutherland who resigned.
Upon a motion by Ms. Best, seconded by Mr. Dowling, the Board unanimously voted to accept the personnel recommendations from the administration.
An addendum to the personnel agenda was presented in order for the Board to consider a staff termination. Ms. Null shared the superintendent’s recommendation to terminate an employee assigned to Ruston Junior High School.
Superintendent Bell noted that special education supervisor, Kathy Shipp, who was the employee’s direct supervisor, was in attendance in order to answer questions. Termination was being recommended for the following reasons:
a. Willful neglect of duty
Frequently absent from work
No prior notification of absences from work
Has not reported to work since January 9, 2006
b. Insubordination
Ignored request from principal to report to the school office after acknowledgement of request. In addition the employee failed to report to the special education supervisor or to the personnel director.
Since the employee was a student support/aide category which is a non-certified, non-tenured employee, a hearing was not necessary prior to termination. It was mentioned that this employee was previously assigned to another school.
Following brief questions, upon a motion by Ms. Henderson, seconded by Mr. Dowling, the Board unanimously voted to accept the superintendent’s recommendation to terminate the non-instruction, non-tenured employee.
According to George Murphy, Business Manager, January 2006 was another good month for sales tax collections as they were up about 21% from the same month last year with $1,205,800 being collected. Year-to-date, those collections were up 15.01%. Reasons for the additional sales taxes were increases in oil and gas extraction (up 47%), special trade contractors (up 38%), industrial machinery and equipment (14%), wholesale trade durable goods (23%), food stores (12%), miscellaneous retail (14%), hotel and other lodging (23%), and business services (21%). Audit recoveries were already in excess of those received in the entire 04-05 fiscal year. Collected in the ’r;67 and ’r;79 fund was $548,092 and $657,709 was generated in the ’r;93 and ’r;00 fund.
Following the conclusion of an internal audit by Tim Green, Mr. Murphy was ready to share July and August financial updates with the Board. He concurred with Mr. Green’s comment last month that the system is in stable financial condition. Mr. Murphy called attention to the General Fund balance of $2.4 million on the August statement. The 5 mill maintenance fund, the ’93 and ’00 ad valorem, and the M & O funds for Ruston, Simsboro, and Dubach are all showing negative balances because ad valorem taxes had not been collected. Subsequently those have been received and will appear in the upcoming financial updates. He closed by saying that the sales tax funds are doing well as he had mentioned earlier with a 15% increase for the year.
Mr. Anders thanked Board members for volunteering to serve on various committees and indicated that committee assignments for 2006 were included in packets.
As part of the E-rate program, through which technology discounts are realized, the current technology plan must be amended to include the items requested in the plan, according to Technology Coordinator, Debbie Sandidge. She summarized the proposed amendment and noted that the E-rate pre-discount application total was $398,766 of which the district would be responsible for $87,729. Categories titles were internet access, goals and strategies, professional development, budget E-rate, and assessment and evaluation. Ms. Sandidge requested approval of the amendment.
Upon a motion by Mr. Mitcham, seconded by Mr. Ludley, the Board unanimously voted to approve the Amendment to the District Technology Plan effective for E-rate funding year 2006 and grant permission to submit it to the Louisiana Center for Educational Technology for approval.
Superintendent Bell expressed appreciation to the Board attorney, Andy Shealy, who was in attendance. He had prepared an ordinance to abolish Downsville School District No. 24 and another to enlarge Choudrant School District No. 6. District 24 was created in 1923 to generate funds for the Downsville School through property taxes. The residents in District 24 pay no specific school taxes; however, they do pay parish-wide taxes including of those dedicated to all schools in Lincoln parish. The Choudrant School district was created in 1937. Presently the Choudrant District educates at least 38 students for the geographic area. There seems to be no misunderstanding by the people who live in the community nor any negative comments or opposition to the plan to abolish the Downsville District and enlarge the Choudrant District. It will greatly benefit the Choudrant schools to have this geographic area and assessed property valuation included within their district when a bond proposition is considered in the future.
Mr. Shealy helped Mr. Bell field questions regarding the proposal.
Upon a motion by Mr. Dowling, seconded by Ms. Tatum, the Board unanimously voted to approve the ordinances abolishing the Lincoln Parish Downsville School District No. 24 and altering and enlarging the Choudrant District No. 6.
At the January meeting of the Ruston City Council, a Cooperative Endeavor Agreement with the School Board regarding the use of the Bobby James Gym by the City of Ruston or RPAR was approved unanimously. Danny Bell and Andy Shealy reviewed the document and added an addendum and amendments which they feel are appropriate and necessary. One dealt with occupancy which was warranted in the event of special circumstances requiring daily use of the facility during regular school hours and the other was specific to the ”r;rights” of both parties and liability insurance coverage. Mr. Bell requested Board approval of the Agreement as amended.
Upon a motion by Mr. Ludley, seconded by Ms. Harrison, the Board unanimously voted to approve the Cooperative Endeavor Agreement with the added addendum and amendments and grant approval to the Board’s president to represent the Board and enter into the agreement specific to the Bobby James Gym with the City of Ruston, represented by the mayor.
The Superintendent’s Advisory Council met in November 2005 for the purpose of reviewing four proposed calendars for the 06-07 school year. After distribution to all employees, a vote was taken and the majority of 69% preferred option 4.
At the January board meeting the superintendent shared his intentions for all of the high schools to change to a 7 period day next year. This would allow more flexibility in developing the school calendar; therefore, Mr. Bell took the previous calendar option number 4, and made some modifications. Some of these included: slightly longer instruction days (ten minute longer days but two fewer days), first day of school is one week later and the last day is two and one half days later, added Columbus Day in October, Christmas/New Year holiday changes from Friday, December 22, through Friday, January 5, to Monday, December 18, through Monday, January 1, and the students’ last day of school changed from a full day on Monday, May 21, to a half day on Thursday, May 24, giving teachers an additional half day work day prior to the end of school. This modified calendar was shared with the faculties and staffs and very little negative feedback was received. Because a large number of positive comments were made, Mr. Bell recommended this modified option 4 calendar for the 06-07 school calendar.
Upon a motion by Mr. Mack, seconded by Ms. Harrison, the Board unanimously voted to adopt the modified proposed option 4 calendar as amended for the 06-07 school year as follows:
Lincoln Parish 2006 - 2007 School Calendar
Instructional Staff Workday August 21, 2006
All Staff Workday August 22, 2006
First Day of School-Students (1/2 day) August 23, 2006
Labor Day September 4, 2006
Columbus Day October 9, 2006
Thanksgiving November 20-24, 2006
Christmas/New Year Dec. 18, 2006-Jan. 1, 2007
End of First Semester January 12, 2007
Martin Luther King, Jr. January 15, 2007
Staff Development/All Staff Workday January 16, 2007
Presidents’ Day February 19, 2007
Spring Break/Easter April 2-9, 2007
Last Day of School-Students (1/2 day) May 24, 2007
Instructional Staff Workday (1/2 day) May 25, 2007
In a Report of the Superintendent, Mr. Bell:
1. Stated that the next board meeting is scheduled for noon on Wednesday, February 22, at Ruston Elementary.
2. Encouraged Board members to stop by schools with ongoing construction projects. The school faculties are handling things well and adjusting as needed.
Following brief comments, the meeting adjourned at 7:05 p.m.
_________________________ _________________________________
Danny L. Bell, Secretary Otha L. Anders, President