LINCOLN PARISH SCHOOL BOARD
Ruston, Louisiana
REGULAR SESSION
Tuesday, December 5, 2006 6:00 p.m.
The Lincoln Parish School Board met in Regular Session on Tuesday, December 5, 2006 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 (arrived after the meeting began), Mr. Curtis Dowling, Ms. Mattie Harrison, Ms. Lynda Henderson, Mr. Jim Kessler, Mr. Flynn Ludley (left before the meeting ended), Mr. George Mack, Mr. Ted McKinney, Mr. Joe Mitcham, Mr. Rob Shadoin (arrived after the meeting began), and Ms. Jo Tatum.
No board member was absent.
Mr. Anders called the meeting to order and Mr. Ludley gave the invocation. Ms. Henderson led in the Pledge of Allegiance to the American flag followed by Mr. Anders’ welcome to board members, staff, board members-elect, media, special honorees, and visitors.
Because this was the last meeting of the current Board, Mr. Anders voiced a special thanks to the three departing members, Flynn Ludley, Rob Shadoin, and Jo Tatum. In his opinion they have served unselfishly and with dedication, commitment and forethought. He asked them to continue to support the Lincoln Parish public schools.
Mr. Shadoin entered the meeting during Mr. Anders’ comments.
Upon a motion by Ms. Tatum, seconded by Mr. Ludley, the Board unanimously voted to adopt the agenda as presented.
Upon a motion by Mr. Kessler, seconded by Ms. Harrison, the Board unanimously voted to approve the minutes of the Regular Session held on November 7, 2006 as distributed.
Secondary Supervisor, Ricky Edmiston, was very pleased to recognize four National Merit Semi Finalists who scored in the top 1% of the students in country who took the PSAT, the preliminary college entrance exam, last fall. He introduced William Hogan and Robert Long from Choudrant High and Wesley Henderson and Matthew Moore from Ruston High.
Mr. Edmiston presented a plaque to them along with congratulations from the Board in recognition of their excellent achievement. He acknowledged their principals who were in attendance and allowed each student to recognize his guests.
Also Mr. Edmiston was very proud to welcome Coach Dave Anderson with his state 5A girls cross country champs. While handing the girls, certificates, he read some individual statistics and expressed the Board’s pride in them. Coach Anderson was presented with a plaque in recognition of coaching the RHS girls’ cross country team to a state championship.
Coach Anderson praised the girls and their parents and thanked the Board for the opportunity to return and work with the students.
Mrs. Best entered the meeting.
Finally Chris Baker was recognized by Mr. Edmiston for coaching the Choudrant High School boys who recently won state in Class B boys’ cross country for the fourth year in a row. He presented certificates of achievement to the team and a plaque to Coach Baker in recognition of their dedication and hard work. Coach Baker thanked the boys, School Board, administration, managers, and community for their support.
Four bids were received for ”Project D,” Ruston Junior High School’s capital improvement program, according to Charles Owens, Director of Auxiliary Services. He recommended that the board accept Traxler Construction Company’s low bid of $4,744,000 and include alternates #1 and #2 but exclude #3.
Architect Mike Walpole indicated that he has been pleased in general with Traxler’s work on the last two Ruston projects. He elaborated on the work included in the alternates.
Upon a motion by Mr. Ludley, seconded by Mr. Dowling, the Board unanimously voted to accept and approve Traxler Construction Co., Inc., as the low bidder and contractor for the ”Project D,” Ruston School District capital improvement program, with a base bid of $4,744,000 and to include additive alternates #1 for $77,000 and #2 for $233,000 in the acceptance.
After a month of studying proposed policy manual revisions, Superintendent Danny Bell requested approval of the same which he introduced at the November meeting.
Upon a motion by Mr. Mack, seconded by Ms. Henderson, the Board unanimously voted to approve the revisions to the School Board Ethics (BH), Buildings and Grounds Management (EB), Employee Tobacco Use (GAMA), Employment of Personnel (GBD), Assignment (GBE), Employee Conduct (GBRA), Professional Leave (GBRH), Suspension (JDD), and Student Health Services (JGC) policies.
At the request of the pastor and representatives of the Building and Grounds Committee of Simsboro First Baptist Church, a property exchange was brought to the Board by the Superintendent. A parcel of property belonging to the LPSB runs across the immediate front of the church and educational building and includes the graveled parking lot to the south of the church on Tiger Drive. The church and its members desire to square off the church property for the purpose of clarity and possible future expansion. Another parcel of property belonging to the church, formerly the Madden property located to the south and southwest of the existing graveled parking lot and bordering Tiger Drive and Highway 80, will be offered in exchange rather than a purchase by either party. This property offers a significantly larger land area that has been cleared of all structures by the church. Mr. Bell said it is ideal property for the LPSB and for future expansion of Simsboro High School. After evaluating the parcels he felt that it was a good situation for each of the entities. He presented an Act of Exchange, drafted by the Board’s attorney, Andy Shealy, for consideration.
Upon a motion by Mr. Dowling, seconded by Mr. Ludley, the board unanimously voted to approve the Act of Exchange of properties belonging to the Lincoln Parish School Board and the Simsboro First Baptist Church.
Following the approval of the property exchange between the Board and the Simsboro First Baptist Church, both parties requested to enter into a Cooperative Endeavor Agreement utilizing each other’s property as the need arises. In the past they have worked together for the purpose of sharing parking space and perhaps other temporary-related outdoor land utilization. Mr. Bell shared their desire to maintain this close and cordial relationship for many more decades to come, and, therefore, would like for the Board to consider a Cooperative Endeavor Agreement established through an agreement with the superintendent, the pastor, and representative members of the Simsboro First Baptist Church. The agreement, if approved, would be considered perpetual. However, at which time certain circumstances present themselves to either party, negotiations for a new agreement may be set in motion.
Upon a motion by Mr. Dowling, seconded by Ms. Best, the Board voted unanimously to approve the Cooperative Endeavor Agreement between the Lincoln Parish School Board and the Simsboro First Baptist Church.
Mr. Bell indicated that another request was received; this one from Hico First Baptist Church centering on sewage drainage into the Board’s sewer lines. There has always been the situation of the church’s parsonage sewer line connecting to the Board’s sewer lines for drainage. Just recently the existing sewer line was accidentally cut by a dozer preparing the surface for the church’s new parsonage. When this happened, the repair and replacement matter was questioned by church members, and the health department reviewed the issue.
Mr. Hannah of the health department stated that a document must be filed at the Courthouse giving permission for the church to repair the cut line and tie the new line back into the existing Hico Elementary School’s sewage line thereby permitting drainage. Although the matter was previously handled by a handshake, it now needs to be scripted and placed on file. Mr. Bell asked the Board to consider a Right of Drainage Agreement approving the matter.
Upon a motion by Ms. Tatum, seconded by Ms. Best, the Board unanimously voted to approve the Right of Drainage Agreement between the Lincoln Parish School Board and the Hico First Baptist Church.
Superintendent Bell reminded Board members that 60% of pipeline litigation funds as a result of a tax settlement earlier this year had been received. The remaining 40% has been held in escrow because of an appeal. In order to resolve the issue, the local tax assessor will need to defend the assessments made in legal proceedings thereby necessitating the need to contract the services of legal counsel. He called attention to a Resolution authorizing the assessor to secure legal counsel.
Pam Jones, Lincoln Parish Tax Assessor, noted that if the Board approves the Resolution, legal counsel will be hired on a contingency fee basis with the fee payable solely from the additional taxes received pursuant to a judgment. This arrangement would cost the assessor nothing unless the suit is successful.
Upon a motion by Mr. McKinney, seconded by Mr. Shadoin, the Board unanimously voted to approve the Resolution to support and permit the parish tax assessor to secure and contract with legal counsel relative to the on-going pipeline litigation tax issue.
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.-6.; Transportation Supervisor, Ronny Volentine, presented 7.-8.; and School Food Service Supervisor, Earlene Jackson, presented 9:
1. Resignation of Kenny Henderson, principal of Ruston High School, effective January 2, 2007.
2. Retirement of Marian Davenport, effective May 26, 2007, as teacher at Glen View Elementary.
3. Resignation of the following paraprofessionals:
Deandra Cooper, from Cypress Springs, effective November 13, 2006.
Melissa Miller, from Lincoln Center, effective January 2, 2007.
4. Points of Reference/Transfer of the following:
Kristi Townsend, from Cypress Springs to a new special education position at the Career Academy, effective October 10, 2006.
Alice Higginbotham, from Cypress Springs to a new special education position at Hico Elementary, effective December 8, 2006.
Upon a motion by Mr. Kessler, seconded by Ms. Tatum, the Board unanimously voted in favor of the personnel recommendations.
5. Michael Milstead as interim principal at Ruston High effective January 2, 2007, replacing Kenny Henderson who resigned.
Upon a motion by Mr. Dowling, seconded by Mr. Kessler, the Board unanimously voted in favor of the administrative personnel recommendation.
6. William Carter as H & PE/coach at Dubach High effective November 27, 2006, replacing Jimmy Allen who resigned.
7. Resignation of David Buckley, bus driver in the Ruston area, effective December 15, 2006.
8. Employment of Brad Lantrip as bus driver in the Ruston area effective January 2, 2007 replacing David Buckley who resigned.
9. Employment of the following school food service employees effective November 27, 2006:
Barbara Canada as technician at Glen View replacing Mary Boston who is on workman’s compensation.
Nancy Calhoun, technician at Ruston High, replacing Kaye Houck who transferred.
Upon a motion by Ms. Best, seconded by Mr. Kessler, the Board unanimously voted in favor of the final personnel recommendations.
Mr. Ludley left the meeting after expressing his appreciation for the opportunity to serve on the Lincoln Parish School Board.
Coordinator Cathi Cox gave an encapsulated overview of the highpoints of Project ACHIEVE’s last three months. Project RESCUE at New Living Word Ministries, which is a branch of Project ACHIEVE, is up, running, and thriving. Suspension data is being charted and is being compared by school and by year. Areas of greatest need for improvement are being noted. She is helping each principal to clarify his vision for the year according to the individual school’s strengths and weaknesses. He will then formulate a customized plan using the available information and resources. All fourteen schools are engaged in some part of that plan right now. She distributed a handout and closed by saying that by the year 2014 every school in Lincoln Parish must be showing a school performance score of 120. Progress to reach that point has been broken down into doable steps in order the reach the goal. Regardless, she expects to see significant growth by next year.
The superintendent said the purpose of the activities and programs Ms. Cox mentioned is to help students become better readers and successful citizens and to improve test scores.
George Murphy, Business Manager, reported that November 2006 was another good month financially with $1,010,126 being collected in the sales tax funds. That’s an 11.51% increase for the month and 14.19% for the year. Recoveries by audits were $17,067 with $428,575 being collected in the first five months of the year. He told the Board that $459,148 was collected in the ’67 and ’79 fund and $550,977 in the ’93 and ’00 fund.
For the month of October 2006 the self-insured health benefits program lost $31,409, Mr. Murphy reported. Year-to-date the fund is still in the black with collections exceeding expenditures by $378,382.
In a Report of the Superintendent, Mr. Bell said that:
1. The 2007 LSBA convention preference forms were included in packets. They should be completed and returned to Becky Gemelli as soon possible.
2. He appreciates the short time he’s spent with those board members who are leaving and challenged them to stay interested in what goes on in public schools. Mr. Bell closed by wishing all the best for the Christmas holidays.
After comments from several board members including goodbyes from Mr. Shadoin and Ms. Tatum, President Anders again voiced thanks to them for their unselfish service where the children benefited.
There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 7:37 p.m.
_______________________ _________________________________
Danny L. Bell, Secretary Otha L. Anders, President