LINCOLN PARISH SCHOOL BOARD

Ruston, Louisiana

REGULAR SESSION

Tuesday, July 11, 2006   6:00 p.m.

The Lincoln Parish School Board met in Regular Session on Tuesday, July 11, 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, Mr. Jim Kessler, Mr. Flynn Ludley, Mr. George Mack, Mr. Ted McKinney, Mr. Joe Mitcham, Mr. Rob Shadoin, and Ms. Jo Tatum.

Ms. Lynda Henderson was absent.

President Anders called the meeting to order and Mr. Ludley delivered the invocation.  Ms. Tatum led in the Pledge of Allegiance to the American flag.  Mr. Anders welcomed board members, media, special guests, and principals to the meeting.

Upon a motion by Ms. Tatum, seconded by Mr. Shadoin, the Board unanimously voted to adopt the agenda as printed.

Upon a motion by Mr. Kessler, seconded by Mr. Mitcham, the Board unanimously voted to approve the minutes of the Regular Session held on June 6, 2006 as distributed.

The time having arrived for the last phase of the Ruston School District #1 bonds, Business Manager George Murphy said it was time to complete the funding on the project.  He turned the floor over to the bond attorney.

Grant Schlueter presented a Resolution authorizing the advertising for bids for eight million dollars of General Obligation Bonds to be received on August 1, 2006.

Two changes had been made in the advertisement, no bond printing, which should save a couple of thousand dollars, and allowing bids to be received electronically along with paper, which should encourage more bidders to submit bids.  The Board has received favorable bids from the first two bond sales, 3.89% and 4.62%, and he believes this time will be no different.  The next step in the process is to adopt the Resolution authorizing the bond sale.

 Upon a motion by Ms. Best, seconded by Mr. Mack, the Board unanimously voted to approve the following:

                                                                 RESOLUTION

Authorizing the advertising for sealed bids for the purchase of Eight Million Dollars ($8,000,000) of General Obligation School Bonds, Series 2006, of Ruston School District No. 1 of the Parish of Lincoln, State of Louisiana, and providing for other matters in connection therewith.

Due to unexpected problems associated with the construction projects and extended roof warranty costs because of energy efficiency and the longevity of school roofs, Charles Owens, Director of Auxiliary Services, asked the architect on the renovation and construction projects to present a change order.

Mike Walpole briefly explained each item on the list with the vast majority of the monies dealing with changing from ten year to fifteen year roof warranties.  For Project B (Glen View and I. A. Lewis) the total of the change order was $55,638 with $39,490 going toward the roof change.  Project C’s (Lincoln Center, Ruston Elementary, and Career Academy) roof revision would cost $39,380 and that total of the change order was $43,343.  More unexpected items have surfaced on the Simsboro project than any of the others and their change order totaled $50,048; therefore, at this time he is not asking to extend that roof warranty.  That will reduce the total change order on the Simsboro project by $19,761 to $30,287.

Following several questions, upon a motion by Mr. Dowling, seconded by Mr. Ludley, the Board unanimously voted to approve a change order adding the following:  $55,638 to Project B, $43,343 to Project C, and $30,287 to the Simsboro project.

The national technology plan has been revised and states are currently rewriting their plans, announced Technology Coordinator Debbie Sandidge.  The effective date of the Lincoln Parish technology plan was August 2003 through June 2006.  It has been amended several times during those years because of participation in the E-rate program.  She asked the Board to consider another amendment to the District Technology Plan for 06-07 and for permission to submit the plan to the Louisiana Center for Educational Technology for approval.

Upon a motion by Mr. Kessler, seconded by Ms. Tatum, the Board unanimously voted to approve the Amendment to the District Technology Plan effective for 2006-2007 and grant permission to submit it to the Louisiana Center for Educational Technology for approval.

Because of the upcoming retirement of Brenda Theodos, Superintendent Danny Bell requested permission to open the application process for Child Nutrition Program Supervisor on Wednesday, July 12, 2006.  The application period would close at noon on Tuesday, July 25, 2006, and interviews would be scheduled on July 26 and 27, 2006.  He plans to present a name to the Board at its August 1, 2006 meeting.  The entire process and interview committee makeup would be implemented in accordance with the court order pertaining to the selection of administrative personnel.

Upon a motion by Mr. Mack, seconded by Mr. Dowling, the Board unanimously voted to advertise and interview for a Child Nutrition Program Supervisor as described above.

Federal Programs Director, Willie Washington, and Special Education Supervisor, Kathy Shipp, 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.  This is an increase of approximately $8,214 over the previous year.  The duo elaborated on the application and its tentative programs and components.

Upon a motion by Ms. Best, seconded by Ms. Harrison, 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 Mary Null, Director of Instruction, Personnel, and Special programs, presented 1.-6., and Brenda Theodos, Child Nutrition Program Supervisor, presented 7.:

1.      Employment of the following administrative personnel:

Barbara Kirkland as Interim Principal of Simsboro High School effective August 1, 2006 replacing Dana Talley who resigned.

Theodis Johnson as Administrative Assistant at Simsboro High effective July 24, 2006 replacing Rick Huckabay who is deceased.

Upon a motion by Mr. Dowling, seconded by Mr. Ludley, the Board unanimously voted to approve the administrative personnel employments.

2.      Retirement of Brenda Theodos, supervisor of child nutrition at the central office, effective August 31, 2006.

3.   Resignation of principal of Simsboro High, Dana Talley, effective June 9, 2006.

4.   Resignation of the following teachers:

Melissa Kern, art at Ruston High, effective June 23, 2006.

Timothy O’Neal, business/coach at Ruston High, effective July 5, 2006.

Lydia Smith, science at Ruston High, effective June 23, 2006.

Pam Mathis, elementary at Simsboro High, effective June 6, 2006.

5.   Points of Reference/Transfers effective August 21, 2006 unless otherwise noted:

Rebecca Quarles from Ruston Elementary to Choudrant Elementary replacing Rebecca Roach who retired.

Tish Freeman from regular education to special education at Cypress Springs replacing Robert Sims who resigned.

Sheree Ganey from Simsboro Elementary to elementary at Hillcrest replacing Donna Canterbury who retired.

Bess Decuir from Choudrant Elementary to elementary at Hillcrest replacing Lee Ann Denny who resigned.

Lisa Moody from teacher I. A. Lewis to coordinating teacher at I. A. Lewis effective August 14, 2006 replacing Amanda Simmons who transferred.

Allison Brister from Choudrant Elementary to pre k special education at Lincoln Center replacing Joyce Spurgeon who resigned.

6.   Employment of the following effective August 21, 2006 unless noted otherwise:

Melanie Thiel, special education at Choudrant Elementary, replacing Allison Brister who transferred.

Sherry Boyd, coordinating teacher at Glen View effective August 14, 2006, replacing Deborah Hauser who transferred.

Jenny Blalock, elementary at Glen View, replacing Tracy Stroud who resigned.

Amy Carter, elementary at Glen View, replacing Gloria Wade who retired.

Charles Brouillette, elementary at Hico and itinerant, replacing Kerry Deason who resigned.

Lee Ann Holley, elementary at Hillcrest, replacing Stefanie Parker who was on sabbatical.

Monica Williams, English/language arts at I. A. Lewis, replacing Doris Bacon who resigned.

Loriann Norris, special education at I. A. Lewis, replacing Amy Day who resigned.

Andrea McTyer, math at I. A. Lewis, replacing Lisa Moody who promoted.

Eva Williams, counselor at I. A. Lewis effective August 14, 2006, replacing Doris Lewis who promoted.

Wendell Crowe, physical education at I. A. Lewis, replacing George Stone who retired.

Tina Puckett, itinerant special education nurse, replacing Iris Reppond who resigned.

Cynthia Garner, elementary at Ruston Elementary, replacing Lindsey Braddock who resigned.

Jasamine Hall, elementary at Ruston Elementary, replacing Rebecca Quarles who transferred.

Alicia Powell, elementary at Ruston Elementary, replacing Marilyn Woodson who retired.

David Anderson, PE/coach at Ruston High effective July 24, 2006, replacing David Anderson who resigned.

Rebecca Atkins, art at Ruston High, replacing Melissa Kern who resigned.

Hoff Schooler, special education/coach at Ruston High effective July 24, 2006, replacing Anna Lorenzano who resigned.

Melinda Jackson, science at Ruston High, replacing Lydia Smith who resigned.

Vicki McGuire, English at Ruston Junior High, replacing Lala Cooper who transferred.

Elizabeth Johnson, English at Ruston Junior High, replacing Vivian Davis who moved to the reading 180 lab.

Melanie Lewis, English at Ruston Junior High, replacing Deanna Forrester who was granted a first semester sabbatical.

Pam Schooler, English at Ruston Junior High, replacing Susan Kelley who promoted.

Beth Waldron, elementary at Simsboro High, replacing Sheree Ganey who transferred.

Megan Harrington, elementary at Simsboro High, replacing Pam Mathis who resigned.

Cathi Cox in a new project ACHIEVE coordinator position at the central office effective August 1, 2006.

7.   Points of Reference/Transfers of the following school food service employees effective August 1, 2006.

Patrina Robinson from I. A. Lewis to manager at Simsboro replacing Bonnie Jackson who resigned.

Janis Nelson from clerk at I. A. Lewis to manager at I. A. Lewis replacing Patrina Robinson who transferred.

Regina Rice from Ruston Junior High to clerk at I. A. Lewis replacing Janis Nelson who promoted.

Upon a motion by Mr. McKinney, seconded by Mr. Mitcham, the Board unanimously voted to approve the #2.-#7. personnel recommendations.

The Financial Committee met prior to the Board meeting and Chairman Mitcham asked the superintendent to explain the details of his financial proposal to the full Board.  Mr. Bell verbalized his desire to give all board-hired support employees a $500 raise from local monies to match the $500 raise they are to receive from state monies.  In view of the $3,589 raise the certificated personnel are to receive from the state, and because they are critical to the success of the educational program, it was his opinion that support workers deserved more than the $500 increase the state was allocating.  He stated that he is thankful for both raises that the Legislature endorsed.

Mr. Mitcham said the Finance Committee recommends that the Board approve a $500 raise for board-employed support workers for the fiscal year 06-07 and that the raises for both certificated staff and support workers be retroactive to July 1, 2006.

Upon a motion by Ms. Harrison, seconded by Ms. Best, the Board unanimously voted to approve a $500 raise for board-employed support workers for the fiscal year 06-07 and that the raises for both certificated staff and support workers be retroactive to July 1, 2006.

Another successful summer school session has been operated at no cost to students not passing the LEAP or GEE tests, reported Supervisor of Testing, Eric Carter. 

Orientation was held at Ruston Junior High on June 5 with full day classes beginning the next day.  The program had a total of 15 instructional days, beginning at 7:45 a.m. and ending at 3:00 p.m., in order to meet the minimum requirement of 50 instructional hours per subject.  In grade 4, 111 students were enrolled, in grade 8, 126 students were enrolled, and there were 48 students who attended the GEE summer remediation for a total of 285 students.  To serve those students, the district employed 42 teachers, 22 aides, a coordinator, and a principal.  Results from the LEAP and GEE are scheduled to arrive on August 7 which will give the principals time to let parents and students know the results before the new school year begins.

George Murphy presented the final sales tax collection report for the 05-06 fiscal year, for the month of June 2006, and indicated that sales tax collections increased 16.19% over the same month last year.  Total year-to-date collections were up 15.71%, which was $1.5 million above the previous year.  June sales tax collections in the 1967 and 1979 fund were $454,818 and $545,781 was collected in the 1993 and the 2000 sales tax fund.  Although monthly audit collections were down 30.36% compared to the same month last year, year-to-date collections were still up 35.77%.  Collections for the year by the parish auditor and outside recovery groups were $323,088, which was an increase of $85,000.  All in all, he said it had been a great sales tax year.

In his summary of the May financial statement, Mr. Murphy called attention to the General Fund which was up $1.5 million year-to-date, with a balance of $8.6 million.  The ad valorem and sales tax funds are all in the black which, again, shows a really good year.

For the first five months of 2006, the self-insured health program is $600,000 to the good and is up $342,827 for the month according to George Murphy. Although the program is currently doing well, he plans to continue his close monitoring to make sure it remains a viable program for the employees.

In a Report of the Superintendent, Mr. Bell said that:

1.      A form to be used to evaluate his first year’s performance as superintendent was included in board packets.  He encouraged board members to honestly complete it and turn it in by the next meeting on the 1^st of August.

2.      The travel policy had recently been revised and was also included in packets.  One change he noted was mileage reimbursement increasing from .36 to .40.

3.      A list of 06-07 board meeting dates was another component of board packets.  He asked if the Board preferred to change the Tuesday night meeting times to 5:30 p.m. but the majority wanted to leave the 6:00 p.m. starting time.

There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 7:25 p.m.

________________________                 __________________________________

Danny L. Bell, Secretary                       Otha L. Anders, President