LINCOLN PARISH SCHOOL BOARD
Ruston, Louisiana
REGULAR SESSION
Tuesday, March 7, 2006 6:00 p.m.
The Lincoln Parish School Board met in Regular Session on Tuesday, March 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 (arrived after the meeting began), Mr. Curtis Dowling, Ms. Mattie Harrison, Ms. Lynda Henderson, Mr. Jim Kessler, Mr. Flynn Ludley, Mr. George Mack (arrived after the meeting began), Mr. Ted McKinney, Mr. Joe Mitcham, Mr. Rob Shadoin (left before the meeting ended), and Ms. Jo Tatum.
No board member was absent.
President Anders called the meeting to order and the invocation was given by Mr. McKinney. Ms. Tatum led in the Pledge of Allegiance to the American flag and Mr. Anders welcomed staff, board members, members of the press, and special guests and visitors to the meeting.
George Mack arrived at the meeting.
Upon a motion by Ms. Henderson, seconded by Mr. Ludley, the Board unanimously voted by roll call to adopt the agenda with an addendum to the personnel agenda and another adding an item of New Business: Roof replacement at Hico Elementary School.
Upon a motion by Mr. Kessler, seconded by Ms. Harrison, the Board unanimously voted to approve the minutes of the Regular Sessions held on February 7 and February 22, 2006 as printed.
Charles Owens, Director of Auxiliary Services, communicated that Mike Walpole, architect, has been preparing plans for the construction and renovation of the Simsboro school complex because of a $6,500,000 bond proposition that was passed in July. Bids are almost ready for advertisement.
Lisa Best entered during Mr. Owens’ report.
Architect Mike Walpole expounded on the project and said after various meetings, he and others are at the end of the process. The scope of the planned work is similar to that being done in the Ruston Schools with the addition of a junior high building. He predicted an early bid date of April 27 or a maximum of two weeks later. Mr. Walpole summarized the process, answered a few questions, and requested permission to advertise for bids.
Upon a motion by Mr. Dowling, seconded by Mr. Ludley, the Board unanimously voted to grant permission for the advertisement of bids for renovations and construction at Simsboro High.
Mr. Walpole closed by giving an update on the other renovation and construction projects going on in the district. Project A in the Ruston School District’s renovation, Cypress Springs, Hillcrest, and the Ruston High football stadium, is on schedule with Lincoln Builders and should be completed by the end of May or first of June 2006. Traxler Construction Company is four to six weeks into their work on Glen View and I. A. Lewis with completion projected to be in the early summer of 2007. Bids for the third job, Lincoln Center, Ruston Elementary, Secondary Alternative School, are to be received on March 16, 2006 and could be brought to the Board in April. He has been meeting with the principal and has begun schematic plans for the next job, Ruston Junior High. Bids should be advertised about the time school starts. The last phase of renovation and construction work from the 2004 Ruston bond issue is scheduled to bid about this time next year and involves Ruston High and a little work at the Central Office. Some work has begun on the RHS roof. No major snags have been hit and only one change order has been necessary for Project A. He is optimistic that no more change orders will be necessary for the first project and that project B will be similar with minimal changes. He answered a couple of questions before he departed.
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. Beginning this year, each school will be given these funds and they will account for the expenditures through school accounting. Mr. Anders asked the Board’s preference regarding the proposed 06-07 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
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Upon a motion by Ms. Henderson, seconded by Mr. Mack, the Board unanimously voted to approve the allocations for 06-07 from 1979 sales taxes as outlined above.
The Board granted permission to enter into a one year contract with Norris Insurance Consultants at the September meeting, according the George Murphy. This contract enabled the consultants to do a thorough assessment of the district’s liability insurance by developing loss exposures, reviewing details of current coverage, assisting in managing competitive quotes, and developing renewal alternatives. Mr. Tom Hudson, a representative of the company, has met with representatives at the Central Office several times during the process. Mr. Murphy summarized a timeline/calendar of events he expects to be true in order to finish the process. He suggested that the superintendent be allowed to negotiate insurance renewals based on proposals submitted by agents through Norris Insurance Consultants.
Mr. Tom Hudson was in attendance to explain the procedure and answer questions. He went over the suggested list containing four agencies which would be invited to submit competitive quotes. Three were incumbents; Huval Insurance Agency, The Lincoln Agency, and Risk Services of Louisiana; and one was new, Arthur J. Gallagher of La, Inc. Mr. Hudson said that Norris is impartial, favoring no particular agency, save the one which brings the best overall quote to the Lincoln parish School Board. They consider the financial strength of the carrier, the broadest, most comprehensive coverage quoted and the premium. Adding additional agencies to the list would only serve, in his opinion, to dilute the limited markets available and impede the process of obtaining the best available quotes. He also suggested that Superintendent Bell be given authorization to negotiate insurance renewals after receiving a spreadsheet from him containing his recommendation concerning which carrier for what coverage, reasoning, and price.
Upon a motion by Mr. McKinney, seconded by Mr. Kessler, the Board unanimously voted to allow Superintendent Danny Bell to negotiate insurance renewals based on proposals submitted by agents through Norris insurance Consultants.
The Board served as a Committee of the Whole and the following Personnel Committee agenda items were considered after Mary Null, Director of Instruction, Personnel and Special Programs, presented items 1-3., Charles Owens presented 4., and Ronny Volentine, Transportation Supervisor, presented 5.:
1. Retirement of Elizabeth Jackson, teacher at Ruston Junior High, effective May 30, 2006.
2. Resignation of Tracie Stroud, teacher at Glen View, effective March 2, 2006.
3. Retirement of Tommy Hay, assistant principal at Ruston High, effective March 7, 2006.
4. Employment of the following custodians effective February 27, 2006:
Ora Reed, at Dubach High, replacing Lue Simpson who retired.
Earnest Nicholson at Ruston High, replacing Todd Kennedy who resigned.
Gerry Briggs at Ruston High, replacing Dorothy Spencer who resigned.
5. Employment of Melvin McNeil, bus maintenance at the central office, effective March 8, 2006 replacing Tommy Jackson who resigned.
Upon a motion by Ms. Best, seconded by Ms. Tatum, the Board unanimously voted to approve the personnel recommendations.
George Murphy reported that February 2006 was another good month for sales tax collections. They were up 25% for the month and 16% year-to-date. Monies recovered from audits totaled $1,548. Year-to-date, more has been collected this fiscal year than last fiscal year. In the 1967 and 1979 sales tax funds, $425,509 was collected. Deposits in the 1993 and 2000 sales tax funds showed an increase of $102,346 compared to last year’s figures, with $511,810 being collected.
Next on the agenda were December 2005 and January 2006 health insurance updates. Mr. Murphy reminded the Board that the self insurance program was $1.4 million in the whole in August 2005 when a committee was formed to look at ways to keep the plan solvent. The net loss for the year ending December 2005 was $958,000; therefore, some progress was made eliminating the deficit. A $21,944 deficit was experienced for the month ending January 2006. He plans to continue to monitor the program to insure that progress is being made. The committee will meet again if it becomes obvious that more changes are needed.
According to Ricky Edmiston, Secondary Supervisor, three vendors submitted proposals that met the deadline and other submission requirements for equipment, software, training, and installation of distance learning equipment for a minimum of six classrooms at the high schools in the district. He and Wanda Mitchell, Computer Technician/Instructional Facilitator, explained how a committee reviewed and evaluated the proposals before selecting CameraWatch Corporation from Jackson, Mississippi as the vendor with the proposal that best met the district’s needs and was within the budgetary restraints of the project. They answered brief questions regarding the project.
Upon a motion by Mr. Mack, seconded by Ms. Best, the Board unanimously voted to approve the review committee’s selection of CameraWatch Corporation as the provider for equipment, software, training, and installation of distance learning equipment.
The roof at Hico Elementary has begun to crack and deteriorate due to age and poor drainage. Charles Owens reported there is a significant leak in one elementary classroom and other roof leaks are apt to occur relatively soon. The roof membrane is cracked in several places allowing water to saturate the insulation board resulting in drips in occupied spaces. If left unattended, water will eventually saturate most of the decking resulting in further damage and additional expensive repairs. He and the superintendent feel that the condition of the roof is so bad that patching or temporary repairs will not be effective; therefore, they asked for permission to advertise for bids to replace the roof. They do not have an estimated cost.
Rob Shadoin left the meeting during Mr. Owens’ explanation.
Upon a motion by Ms. Tatum, seconded by Ms. Harrison, the Board unanimously voted to grant permission to advertise for bids for a roof replacement for Hico Elementary School.
In a Report of the Superintendent, Mr. Bell said that:
1. He has an invitation from Hammonds & Sills for board members to take a break from the annual LSBA convention and have dinner with them at 6:30 on Thursday, March 9. Board members should RSVP to Becky Gemelli prior to leaving.
2. Packets of information were enclosed in portfolios regarding resolutions submitted for consideration at the convention. He summarized his personal feelings and recommendations about them.
3. Bruce Everist Lecture Series information was also placed in portfolios at the request of Sallie Evans. He encouraged board members to attend.
After brief comments, the meeting adjourned at 7:25 p.m.
___________________________ ________________________________
Danny L. Bell, Secretary Otha L. Anders, President