LINCOLN PARISH SCHOOL BOARD
Ruston, Louisiana
REGULAR SESSION
Tuesday, June 6, 2006 6:00 p.m.
The Lincoln Parish School Board met in Regular Session on Tuesday, June 6, 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 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, Mr. Rob Shadoin, and Ms. Jo Tatum.
No board member was absent.
Prior to the meeting, 05-06 retirees of the Lincoln Parish School System were honored with a reception in the lobby of the School Board.
President Otha Anders called the meeting to order and Mr. Shadoin gave the invocation. Ms. Henderson led in the Pledge of Allegiance to the American flag followed by Mr. Anders welcome to board members, staff, media, special guests, and retirees.
Upon a motion by Ms. Tatum, seconded by Ms. Harrison, the Board unanimously voted to adopt the agenda as printed.
Upon a motion by Ms. Best, seconded by Ms. Henderson, the Board unanimously voted to approve the minutes of the Regular Session held on May 2, 2006 as distributed.
At this point in the meeting, the twenty-four retirees honored with an earlier reception were presented with small gifts and certificates of appreciation for a total of 683 years of faithful and dedicated service to the parish. Retirees were as follows:
NAME SCHOOL YRS. IN LINCOLN TOTAL YEARS
Cecil Barham Glen View Elementary (Principal) 33 34
Tommy Hay Ruston High (Assistant Principal) 33 33
Robert Summerlin Ruston Junior High (Asst. Principal) 27 28
Lynda Allen Howard School (Teacher) 25 25
Barbara Boyd Cypress Springs (Teacher) 33 33
Donna Canterbury Hillcrest Elementary (Teacher) 29 35
Elizabeth Jackson Ruston Junior High (Teacher) 30.5 32.5
Easter Mayfield Lincoln Center (Teacher) 23 24
Bobbie Miles Alma J. Brown (Teacher) 30 34
Miranda Parnell Simsboro High (Teacher) 32 33
Rebecca Roach Choudrant Elementary (Teacher) 33 34
Gertrude Roebuck Grambling Middle School (Teacher) 27 34
Sandra Stokley I. A. Lewis (Librarian) 12 30
George Stone I. A. Lewis (Teacher) 19 28
Gloria Wade Glen View Elementary (Teacher) 29 37
Marilyn Woodson Ruston Elementary (Teacher) 25 28
Joan Frazier Ruston High School (Office Clerk) 25 25
Linda Johnson Ruston High School (Bookkeeper) 31 31
Shirley Thomas Central Office (Resource Center) 31 31
Jane Bartlett Choudrant School (Bus Driver) 20 20
Mildred Dade Choudrant Elementary (Custodian) 23 23
Charlie Jones Ruston Schools (Bus Driver) 25 25
Lue Simpson Dubach High School (Custodian) 21 21
Mary Jane Brazzel Ruston High School (SFS Technician) 5 5
Mr. Anders thanked the retirees for years of service and dedication, offered congratulations on their retirement, and wished them well.
Eric Carter, Supervisor of Testing, Evaluation, and Curriculum, furnished background information on the National Board Certification program and recognized five parish teachers who had completed those requirements. They were: Stephen Baker, agriculture teacher at Choudrant High; Kay Bradford, English teacher at Ruston High; Johnathan Milstead, agriculture teacher at Ruston High; Douglas Perry, agriculture teacher at Simsboro High, and Dana Talley, math teacher at Ruston Junior High. 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 becoming one of the elite of the teaching profession. This brings the total National Board Certified Teachers in Lincoln Parish to twenty-two.
Secondary Supervisor, Ricky Edmiston, recognized Dr. Carrie Ferguson, principal of Ruston Junior High School (RJHS), Jeananne Smith, computer literacy teacher at RJHS, and Vivian Davis, 9th grade ELA teacher at RJHS. This elite group of three have gone above and beyond their job descriptions by securing an extremely competitive 8(g) grant in the amount of $99,998 for a reading lab. He thanked them on behalf of the Lincoln Parish School Board and the students for their proactive way they have chosen to improve reading.
Dr. Ferguson indicated that the Read 180 Lab is a reading lab set up for at-risk students scoring between the 20th and 35th percentile on the IOWA and iLEAP. For the first year the eighth grade population will be targeted and the class will be considered a students elective. The students will rotate between three stations, computer assisted instruction, auditory books and silent reading, and direct small group instruction with a teacher. She closed by introducing and thanking the two teachers who will work with the grant and are going the extra mile, Ms. Smith and Ms. Davis.
Mr. Edmiston, Mr. Anders, and Superintendent Danny Bell expressed their appreciation to Dr. Ferguson, Ms. Smith, and Ms. Davis for working on and being awarded this competitive grant.
Mr. Edmiston was also pleased to again recognize Choudrant High School track coach, Chris Baker, for preparing the state track and field champions. He said that the coach has won four state championships as a coach as well as when he was a runner himself. He knows what it takes to win and wants to excel. He is a great classroom teacher and coach. Mr. Edmiston introduced the coach to the Board and presented a plaque to him on behalf of the Board in recognition of winning the class B, boys state track title, a first for Choudrant High School.
Coach Baker expressed his thanks to the Board and introduced eight of the boys who were in attendance. He indicated that all twelve of the students worked very hard all year.
Mr. Anders thanked Coach Baker and the champions for their dedication and hard work, and for representing themselves, their families, and Lincoln Parish well with character and distinction.
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 1.-6.; and Brenda Theodos, School Food Service Supervisor, presented 7.-8.:
1. The first personnel item to be considered was the naming of a principal at Glen View Elementary because of Cecil Barhams approaching retirement. Mrs. Null announced that she chaired a selection committee consisting of Ricky Edmiston, Foster Harris, Patrice Hay, Vickie Key, and Charles Owens who interviewed seven qualified applicants on May 30, 2006. The committee unanimously recommended Bridget Simoneaux to Mr. Bell for the position. He concurred and recommended her to the Board.
Upon a motion by Ms. Best, seconded by Mr. Dowling, the Board unanimously voted to accept the administrations recommendation of Bridget Simoneaux as principal of Glen View Elementary effective July 1, 2006.
2. Retirement of the Donna Lynn Canterbury, teacher at Hillcrest Elementary, effective May 30, 2006.
3. Resignation of the following effective May 30, 2006:
Paul Bean, math teacher at Dubach High.
Rebecca Daulton, social studies teacher at Dubach High.
Ryan Walsh, math teacher at Dubach High.
Doris Bacon, language arts teacher at I. A. Lewis.
Joyce Spurgeon, pre k special education teacher at Lincoln Center.
Kristy Hickman, business teacher at Ruston High.
Iris Reppond, special education nurse.
Kerry Deason, art teacher at Simsboro/Hico.
4. Request for professional sabbatical leave during the 06-07 school year for the following teachers:
Rebecca Smith, elementary at Cypress Springs, and for the 2nd semester only, effective January 15, 2007.
Felicia Dunbar, math at Ruston High, and for the 1st semester only, effective August 21, 2006.
Deborah Hollimon, English at Ruston High, and for the entire school year. This would be effective August 21, 2006.
5. Points of Reference/Transfer of the following effective August 7, 2006 unless otherwise noted:
Glenda Douglas from Ruston High to assistant principal at Career Academy replacing Rik Cason who transferred.
Beth Freeman from filling in for Kathy Stones sabbatical to a new school psychologist slot at Lincoln Center effective August 21, 2006.
Mildred Smith from Lincoln Center to a new administrative assistant position at the Career Academy and Lincoln Center.
Deborah Hauser from Glen View to coordinating teacher at Choudrant Elementary effective August 14, 2006 replacing Bridget Simoneaux who promoted.
Lala Cooper from Ruston Junior High to social studies at Dubach High effective August 21, 2006 replacing Rebecca Daulton who resigned.
Amanda Simmons from I. A. Lewis to administrative assistant at Lincoln Center replacing Mildred Smith who transferred.
Rik Cason from Career Academy to assistant principal at Ruston High replacing Glenda Douglas who transferred.
Nick Brown from Simsboro High to social studies at Ruston High effective August 21, 2006 replacing Sandra Hughes who resigned.
Abigail James from I. A. Lewis to administrative assistant at Ruston Junior High replacing Mildred Smith who transferred.
Rickey Burton from Lincoln Center to administrative assistant at Ruston Junior High replacing Robert Summerlin who retired.
Helen Sears from Hillcrest to a new paraprofessional slot at Lincoln Center effective August 22, 2006.
6. Employment of the following effective August 21, 2006 unless noted otherwise:
Brenda Lofton as math at Dubach replacing Ryan Walsh who resigned.
Corine de Matos as foreign language at Ruston High replacing Scarlet Chopin who resigned.
Lisa McCalmon as music at Ruston High replacing Mary Ann Parks who resigned.
Greg Williams as assistant principal at Ruston High effective July 24, 2006 replacing Tommy Hay who retired.
LaWanda Barnes as physical education at Ruston Junior High replacing Elizabeth Jackson who retired.
Adam Powell as math at Ruston Junior High replacing Dana Talley who promoted.
Lance Waldron as coach/social studies at Simsboro High replacing Willie Simmons who resigned.
7. Retirement of Ruston High technician, Mary Brazzel, effective April 11, 2006.
8. Resignation of Bonnie Jackson, cafeteria manager at Simsboro, effective June 1, 2006.
A parent in attendance expressed concern regarding the transfer of a coordinating teacher. With the replacement of their retiring principal with someone from another school and the renovation of the building which will be ongoing throughout the year, she felt that continuity was needed in that position. She requested that the coordinating teacher be allowed to remain or that the matter be tabled.
Superintendent Bell indicated that the specifics could not be discussed in open session but it remained the administrations recommendation to transfer the coordinating teacher.
Mr. McKinney made a motion, which was seconded by Ms. Tatum, to accept the personnel recommendations as presented.
The parent reiterated her request to allow the coordinating teacher to remain at the school and Mr. Bell again replied that there were reasons for his decision which he could not go into in a public format.
Mr. Shadoin called for the previous question.
Acting upon the McKinney/Tatum motion, the Board unanimously voted to accept the personnel recommendations as presented.
Mr. George Murphy, Business Manager, presented a sales tax report for the month ending May 2006. Accumulations were up 15.66% for the year and 16.95% compared to the same month last year. Total sales tax collections were $955,300. Collections in the 1967 and the 1979 sales tax fund was $434,228, and $521,072 went into the 1993 and 2000 fund. Audit recoveries were up 101.15% over last years numbers with $6,995 being collected.
He also delivered an April 2006 financial update and indicated that ten months into the fiscal year the General Fund is $1.7 million to the good, with an $8.8 million fund balance. The 5 mill maintenance fund is $171,000 to the good with an $807,000 balance. Each of the sales tax, ad valorem, and M & O funds are in the black.
Mr. Murphys final report dealt with the self-insured health program which runs on the calendar year. After the first four months, its $257,000 to the good and $75,000 to the good for the month. He believes the changes made last year are coming to fruition but he plans to continue to monitor the program closely because one bad month could drastically change things. Hopefully no major adjustments will be required during the current year.
Bid opening was held on May 25, 2006 for the purchase of the following items for the 06-07 school year: duplicating paper, toilet tissue, paper towels, gasoline, diesel, and dust mop rentals. Charles Owens, Director of Auxiliary Services, recommended that the Board accept the lowest bids meeting specifications.
Upon a motion by Mr. Shadoin, seconded by Mr. Kessler, the Board unanimously voted to accept the lowest bids meeting specifications for the purchase of materials and supplies for the 06-07 school year as shown below:
Company Submitting Bid Gasoline & Diesel
Hill Oil Company Unleaded Regular Cost + .0985 gallon
Unleaded Plus Cost + .0985 gallon
Unleaded Premium Cost + .0985 gallon
Road Use Diesel Cost + .1025 gallon
Off Road Diesel Cost + .1225 gallon
Central Poly Corp. 300 Cases Toilet Tissue
Price Per Case: $33.99
Total for 300 Cases: $10,197.00
UNISOURCE 600 Cases Paper Towels
Price Per Case: $12.89
Total for 600 Cases: $7,734.00
UNISOURCE 1,400 Cases Copy Paper
Price Per Unit: $25.00
Total for 1,400 Cases: $35,000.00
Ruston Uniform Services Dust Mop Rentals
18 inch .40 each weekly
36 inch .70 each weekly
48 inch 1.25 each weekly
The time had arrived to adopt millages for 2006 according to George Murphy. He suggested leaving the millages the same as 2005 requested approval of a resolution, which he read in its entirety, setting those rates.
Upon a motion by Mr. Mitcham, seconded by Ms. Harrison, the Board unanimously voted by poll vote to approve the resolution setting millages for 2006 as follows:
Constitutional Tax (La. Const. Art. VII, Sect. 13) 4.79 mills
Special Maintenance & Operation 4.94 mills
Special Repair & Equipment 4.94 mills
Parish wide Maintenance & Operation 11.61 mills
Parish wide Maintenance & Operation 9.61 mills
Ruston School District #1 3.05 mills
Simsboro School District #3 3.12 mills
Dubach School District #5 3.25 mills
General Obligation Bonds Ruston SD#1 16.95 mills
General Obligation Bonds Simsboro SD#3 22.50 mills
Voting by roll call for the above motion were: Otha Anders, Lisa Best, Curtis Dowling, Mattie Harrison, Lynda Henderson, Jim Kessler, Flynn Ludley, George Mack, Ted McKinney, Joe Mitcham, Rob Shadoin, and Jo Tatum.
Voting against the motion: None
Absent and not voting: None
For a number of years the Lincoln Parish School Board has employed the services of Forethought Consulting, Inc. for the purpose of maintaining the Lincoln Parish policy manual's accuracy while at the same time keeping it as current as possible. Board mandates, selected state and federal court cases, pertinent legislation, and attorney general's opinions are reviewed to determine their effects on our policy manual. Mr. Bell said this is becoming more important each year and is an effective, valuable service. Renewal of the Policy Updating Service for July 2005 through June 2006 is $2,800 which is a $350 increase over the previous year. In April 1996 the Board also voted to subscribe to their computer-assisted Policy Service (CAPS) which has cross-referenced and linked the policy manual, Louisiana statues, BESE bulletins, and minutes. These are updated by computer disk periodically. Cost for the CAPS semiannual updating service for the fiscal year is $1,500 which is the same amount as last year. He recommended renewal of the contract with Forethought for both of these services.
Upon a motion by Mr. Kessler, seconded by Mr. Ludley, the Board unanimously voted to approve the renewal of a 12-month contract with Forethought Consulting, Inc. beginning July 2005 and ending June 2006 at a cost of $4,300 for the policy manual and CAPS updating services.
As a result of increased sales tax collections, Mr. Murphy recommended and Mr. Bell concurred that July salary supplement checks be paid to employees as follows: $3,756 to certified and $1,878 to support employees. These amounts, which are up $342/$171 over the previous year, are possible because of the reserve and increased collections. He requested the Boards approval of the payment amounts and reminded Board members that the checks are based on actual collections. There is no guarantee that the same amounts will be paid next year.
Upon a motion by Mr. Mitcham, seconded by Ms. Harrison, the Board unanimously voted to approve the payment of salary supplement checks on June 26, 2006 in the amounts of $3,756 for certified staff and $1,878 for support staff.
Project A of the Ruston School District renovation project, Cypress Springs and Hillcrest Elementary Schools, is nearing completion according to Charles Owens. Several changes were encountered during the scope of the project; therefore, he presented a second change order on the project. He asked the architect to elaborate.
Architect Mike Walpole was pleased to come before the board with a credit change order for Project A for $16,000. He provided a list describing seventeen items and their costs. The second part of the change order added nineteen days to the contract time. The revised date of substantial completion for both schools would be Friday, June 9, 2006.
Upon a motion by Ms. Best, seconded by Ms. Henderson, the Board unanimously voted to approve Change Order #2 of Project A for Cypress Springs Elementary and Hillcrest Elementary in the amount of $16,049.00 and increasing the contract time by nineteen days.
Mr. Owens summarized another change order, #1 for Project C for Ruston Elementary, which basically added a covered walkway and walks in front of the school. The primary reasons for the request were security, safety, and transportation concerns because the school has limited exterior property and has always had limited canopy for student protection due to the weather. Sufficient funds are available from the general fund to cover the additional expense.
Originally the north side of the school was to be used for student pick up but after bus drop off and pick up times are changed to accommodate the new seven period day at the high school, students have to be picked up in the front of the school, reported Mr. Walpole. The original covered walkway and canopy was only thirty to forty feet long, and it was felt that a one hundred foot extension should be added in order to accommodate all of the buses. Air conditioning units would also have to be moved back so they would not become safety hazards for the children. Traxler Construction submitted a proposal for $44,615 for extending the covered extruded aluminum canopy the full front of the building and tying the sidewalk back to the cafeteria entrance.
Principal Sonja Walker was in attendance and helped to answer brief questions.
Upon a motion by Mr. Mitcham, seconded by Mr. Ludley, the Board unanimously voted to approve Change Order #1 of Project C for Ruston Elementary School in the amount of $44,615.
Each year the governmental agencies which compose the Sales and Use Tax Commission must consider and approve the Commissions proposed budget. Mr. Mitcham presented the proposed budget to the Board for their examination and asked for approval of the $226,000 instrument which was up 2.77% over the previous year. He noted that the Lincoln Parish School Board is the largest entity within the Commission at 49%.
Upon a motion by Mr. Kessler, seconded by Mr. Dowling, the Board unanimously voted to approve the 06-07 Sales and Use Tax Commissions budget of $226,000.
In accordance with state law, a solicitation for proposals was sent to the two newspapers in Lincoln Parish in order to name an official journal for the upcoming year. The Morning Paper proposed $4.80 per square with a $1.00 reduction for the first 100 words if submitted on floppy disk or e-mail. The Ruston Daily Leader offered $4.50 per legal square with a .50 reduction per square if submitted by disk or e-mail. President Anders asked for a motion.
Upon a motion by Mr. Mitcham, seconded by Mr. Dowling, the Board unanimously voted to name The Ruston Daily Leader as the official journal for fiscal year 06-07.
In a Report of the Superintendent, Mr. Bell verbalized the following:
1. Provisional approval was granted at the May meeting for Triad Builders bid on the Simsboro renovation/construction project. He asked Mr. Walpole to report on that project which actually began on May 25, five days earlier than expected. Phase 1 is basically the gym, cafeteria and the locker room and Triad is already making good progress, Mr. Walpole communicated. They have also started some preliminary work on the roof.
2. Representative Hollis Downs contacted him yesterday and it appears that the proposed Minimum Foundation Program (MFP) looks good for Lincoln Parish. He will wait to see if this version makes it through the legislature.
After brief comments, the meeting adjourned at 7:41 p.m.
_________________________ ____________________________
Danny L. Bell, Secretary Otha L. Anders, President