LINCOLN PARISH SCHOOL BOARD
Ruston, Louisiana
REGULAR SESSION
Tuesday, June 5, 2007 6:00 p.m.
The Lincoln Parish School Board met in Regular Session on Tuesday, June 5, 2007, 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, Mr. Michael Barmore, Ms. Lisa Best, Mr. Curtis Dowling, Ms. Mattie Harrison, Ms. Lynda Henderson, Mr. Eddie Jones, Mr. George Mack, Mr. Ted McKinney, and Mr. Joe Mitcham.
Mr. Trott Hunt and Mr. Jim Kessler were absent.
Prior to the meeting, 06-07 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. Barmore gave the invocation. Ms. Best led in the Pledge of Allegiance to the American flag followed by Mr. Anders’ welcome to board members, staff, media, retirees, and other special guests.
Upon a motion by Mr. McKinney, seconded by Mr. Barmore, the board unanimously voted by roll call to adopt the agenda with the deletion of one item of New Business: Permission to bid Ruston High School track facility.
Upon a motion by Mr. Jones, seconded by Ms. Harrison, the board unanimously voted to approve the minutes of the Regular Session held on May 8, 2007, as distributed.
At this point in the meeting, the twenty-three retirees honored with an earlier reception were presented with small gifts and certificates of appreciation for a total of 494 years of faithful and dedicated service to the parish. Retirees were as follows:
NAME SCHOOL YRS. IN LINCOLN TOTAL YEARS
Brenda Theodos Administration (Central Office) 28 35
Barbara Barham Ruston High (Teacher) 19 36
Patricia Beard Hillcrest (Teacher) 22 31
Sharon Bentley I. A. Lewis (Teacher) 11 21
Marian Davenport Glen View (Teacher) 27 33
Gary Green Ruston High (Teacher) 32 33
Terri Johnson Ruston High (Teacher) 34.5 36
Loyce Miller Ruston High (Teacher) 24 25
Emily Moore I. A. Lewis (Teacher) 28 28
Theresa Phillips Cypress Springs (Teacher) 17 30
Barbara Terrell Grambling High (Teacher) 38 42
Barbara Young Cypress Springs (Teacher) 14 30
Marjorie Berguson Ruston Junior High (Secretary) 23 23
Charlotte Davidson Central Office (Bookkeeper) 30 30
Ruth Kent I. A. Lewis (Teachers’ Aide) 21 21
Cannie Davison Bus Driver (Ruston area) 10 10
Johnnie Dyes Bus Driver/Custodian (Hico area) 32 32
Elton Pylant Bus Driver (Ruston area) 12 12
Lynell Bryant Food Service Technician (Hico) 18 18
Amittie Combs Food Service Technician (I. A. Lewis) 11 11
Teresa Drayton Food Service Technician (I. A. Lewis) 23 23
Ollie Dunn Food Service Technician (Cypress Spr.) 5 5
Denise Thomas Food Service Manager (Dubach High) 14.5 14.5
Mr. Anders thanked the retirees for their years of service and dedication, offered congratulations on their retirement, and wished them well.
Two Lincoln Parish teachers were the first in the parish to complete the LA LEADS program which is designed to prepare future administrators. Amy Brister from Hico Elementary School and Jay Seal from Dubach High School have now received a teacher leader endorsement on their teacher certificates. The next step will be ”principal” certification. Mary Null, Director of Curriculum, Personnel, and Special Programs, recognized them for their effort, hard work, and time spent preparing. He also thanked their principals for mentoring and supporting the teachers.
Cathi Cox, Project ACHIEVE Coordinator, said it was a pleasure, privilege, and honor to recognize Community Trust Bank’s (CTB) representatives for the bank’s recent selection as the first Louisiana Distinguished Partner in Education from Lincoln Parish. Businesses, organizations, or individuals who have formed a partnership and made a significant contribution to education are vigorously judged in order to make sure that the businesses that are selected are well deserving of the award. She felt like the bank’s ongoing relationship is what stood out more than anything else. Ms. Cox, who nominated the bank, said out of nine 2007 honorees that won the award statewide, CTB earned the highest score. A community-wide celebration to honor the bank is planned at 5:00 p.m. on June 26 at the Ruston Civic Center.
Superintendent Danny Bell presented a beautiful plaque to CEO Drake Mills in recognition of Community Trust Bank’s selection as a 2007 Louisiana Distinguished Partner in Education.
Drake Mills voiced a special thanks on behalf of more than 250 employees to Cathi Cox. He said the selection emphasizes how seriously the bank takes their partnership with the Lincoln Parish School System. He also thanked the board members for what they do for the parish and the students. Mr. Mills communicated that he believes the award is further evidence and confirmation of the school systems’ well-deserved reputation for superiority. He closed by thanking Mr. Anders, the board, Mr. Bell, and Cathi Cox.
President Anders, on behalf of the board, thanked the bank for their partnership in education because they have gone beyond the narrow definition of partnership by becoming actively and resourcefully involved with all of the schools.
The board served as a Committee of the Whole, and the following Personnel Committee agenda items were considered after being presented by Mary Null:
1. Retirement of Loyce Miller, English teacher at Ruston High, effective May 28, 2007.
2. Resignation of the following effective May 28, 2007, unless otherwise noted:
Janet Fryer, teacher at Ruston Elementary.
Chief Leroy Brown, ROTC at Ruston High, effective June 16, 2007.
Lisa McCalmon, music at Ruston High.
Pam Schooler, ELA at Ruston Junior High.
3. Request for professional sabbatical leave effective August 15, 2007, and for the first semester of the 07-08 school year only for Terri Singleton, teacher at Ruston Elementary.
4. Points of Reference/Transfer of the following:
Sherry Boyd, from coordinating teacher at Glen View to a new curriculum strategist position at Glen View, effective August 8, 2007.
Jana Comstock, from teacher at Ruston Elementary to coordinating teacher at Glen View, effective August 8, 2007.
Kellye Ratcliff, from teacher at Ruston High to guidance counselor at Ruston High, effective August 1, 2007.
Kay White, from teacher at Ruston High to registrar/guidance at Ruston High, effective July 1, 2007.
5. Employment of the following effective August 15, 2007:
Julie Riser as PE/business teacher at Choudrant High in a new position.
Ashley Carter as teacher at Ruston Elementary replacing Janet Fryer who resigned.
Meredith Scott as English teacher at Ruston High replacing Barbara Barham who retired.
Pamela Givens as music teacher at Ruston High replacing Lisa McCalmon who resigned.
Katherine Keil as English teacher at Ruston High replacing Loyce Miller who retired.
Courtney Martin as math teacher at Ruston High replacing Kellye Ratcliff who transferred.
Emery Carlisle as math teacher at Ruston High in a new position.
Sheri Robken as ELA teacher at Ruston Junior High replacing Pam Schooler who resigned.
Sherri Ferrell in a new LEAP prep teacher slot at Ruston Junior High.
Amanda Jordan as PE teacher at Simsboro High replacing Kelly Stuckey who resigned.
6. Employment of the following school secretaries effective August 2, 2007:
Elizabeth Silmon at I. A. Lewis replacing Nina Boddie who retired.
Tina Indest at Simsboro High replacing Angela Taylor who transferred.
Upon a motion by Mr. Barmore, seconded by Mr. Dowling, the board unanimously voted to accept the personnel recommendations as presented.
A bi-annual report on Project ACHIEVE had been promised, and Ms. Cox was back at the lectern to give an overview of what had been accomplished in the first year. She distributed a one page listing of Project ACHIEVE ”By the Numbers” for later study and expounded on two or three of the items. Her goals at the beginning of the project were to promote community involvement, focus on awards and incentives, offer school support to target reading throughout the parish, and have a positive impact on public relations for the Lincoln Parish School System. Overall she feels that a really good start has been made and an undeniable momentum has begun. In the upcoming year she plans to really focus on continuing to recognize business partners and to bring more and more people from all corners of the parish to become involved.
Mr. George Murphy, Business Manager, presented a sales tax report for the month ending May 2007. Accumulations were up 18.26% for the year and 15.38% compared to the same month last year. Total sales tax collections were $1,102,207. Collections in the 1967 and the 1979 sales tax fund were $501,003, and $601,203 went into the 1993 and 2000 fund. He said the increase was due primarily to oil and gas extraction.
He also delivered an April 2007 financial update and indicated that there were no major changes from the previous month and nothing unexpected to report. He did predict that a large sum of monies would be spent at the end of June for the employees’ sales tax checks.
Moving on to the self-insured health care fund, he called attention to three months of updates. He said three months were being presented at once because the school system changed banks and they were behind getting things reconciled. Year-to-date, looking at the April 2007 statement, the fund is in the black with $553,728 excess revenue over expenses. He has been talking with the TPA, Benesys, regarding any possible changes for next year and will come back to the board if there are any recommended changes.
Bid opening was held on May 22, 2007, for the purchase of the following items for the 07-08 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. Jones, seconded by Mr. Mitcham, the board unanimously voted to accept the lowest bids meeting specifications for the purchase of materials and supplies for the 07-08 school year as shown below:
Company Submitting Bid
VCC Janitorial Supply 300 Cases Toilet Tissue
Price Per Case: $30.98
Total for 300 Cases: $9,294.00
Parker Wholesale Paper Co. 600 Cases Paper Towels
Price Per Case: $12.15
Total for 600 Cases: $7,290.00
Jackson Paper Co. 1,600 Cases Copy Paper
Price Per Unit: $25.88
Total for 1,600 Cases: $41,408.00
Ruston Uniform Services Dust Mop Rentals
18 inch .40 each weekly
36 inch .70 each weekly
48 inch 1.25 each weekly
Hill Oil Company Gasoline & Diesel
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
The time had arrived to adopt millages for 2007 according to George Murphy. He suggested leaving the millages the same as 2006 and requested approval of a resolution setting those rates.
President Anders announced that this was the time specified for a public hearing regarding tax millages for 2007. Hearing no comments or questions, he asked the board’s pleasure regarding the matter.
Upon a motion by Mr. Dowling, seconded by Mr. Mack, the board unanimously voted by poll vote to approve the resolution setting millages for 2007 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: Otha Anders, Michael Barmore, Lisa Best, Curtis Dowling, Mattie Harrison, Lynda Henderson, Eddie Jones, George Mack, Ted McKinney, and Joe Mitcham.
Voting against the motion: None.
Absent and not voting: Trott Hunt and Jim Kessler.
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. 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. The board has continued to renew the subscription each year including the past year. In response to requests from boards across the state and to provide the most current technology, the company has recently upgraded the CAPS program to a more enhanced version which is still easy to use. Unlike the old program, the new program includes the ability to add the policy manual and other documents to the board’s website, still in convenient searchable format. If the system doesn’t want the public to have access, it can be placed on the intranet. It also includes color coded links to statutes, more BESE bulletins, and in addition, federal statutes and regulations. In 2006, the first year of marketing the improved CAPS program, eleven systems subscribed or upgraded to it and all of them were very happy with the product. To thank current CAPS clients for being supportive, they are offering an upgrade to the new program at a substantial discount.
As a consequence of revamping the program, Forethought Consulting will only continue to support the original version of the CAPS program for three more years beginning January 1, 2007. For conversion of policies and minutes to the new CAPS format a one time charge of $9,800 will be assessed. After conversion, the cost of one year of updating CAPS will be $4,400. There is an increase in the updating cost as there is much more work in converting to the HTML format, but the charge is still less that what it could be done for internally. In addition updates will be provided more frequently as opposed to semi-annually. In addition, Forethought Consulting, Inc. is combining all their policy updating services into one service called Policy 360. It reflects the combined costs of both the Policy Updating Service and the updating of CAPS.
Present Policy 360 Invoice: $4,300 (July 2007-June 2008)
($2,800 for Policy Updating Service + $1,500 for CAPS updating)
Policy 360 Invoice after upgrade: $7,200 (July 2008-June 2009)
($2,800 for Policy Updating Service + $4,400 for CAPS updating)
Should the board opt for the upgrade, and the upgrade is completed before the end of the Policy 360 contract year (June 30, 2008), the amount invoiced for 2007-2008 will be prorated to reflect the additional cost of updating the new program for the remainder of the contract year.
Superintendent Bell recommended that the board consider:
1. CAPS Upgrade at a cost of $9,800 (to be invoiced upon completion)
2. Renewal of updating services (Policy 360, covering both CAPS updating and the Policy Updating Service) with Forethought Consulting, Inc. for July 2007 to June 2008 at a cost of $4,300
Upon a motion by Mr. Jones, seconded by Mr. Mitcham, the board unanimously voted to in favor of the CAPS upgrade and renewal of the updating services by Forethought Consulting, Inc. as listed above.
As a result of increased sales tax collections, Mr. Murphy recommended and Mr. Bell concurred that June salary supplement checks would be paid to employees as follows: $4,320 to certified and $2,160 to support employees. These amounts, which are up $564/$282 over the previous year, are possible because of the reserve and increased collections. He requested the board’s 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 Ms. Best, seconded by Ms. Harrison, the board unanimously voted to approve the payment of salary supplement checks on June 26, 2007, in the amounts of $4,320 for certified staff and $2,160 for support staff.
Each year the governmental agencies which compose the Sales and Use Tax Commission must consider and approve the Commission’s proposed budget. Mr. Mitcham presented the proposed budget for examination and asked for approval of the $240,500 instrument which was up $14,500 over the previous year. He noted that the Lincoln Parish School Board is the largest entity within the Commission at 49%.
Following brief questions, upon a motion by Mr. Jones, seconded by Mr. Barmore, the board unanimously voted to approve the 07-08 Sales and Use Tax Commission’s budget of $240,500.
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 $4.00 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 $4.75 per legal square with a .50 discount 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 07-08.
Permission for funding an additional School Resource Office (SRO) position at the schools for the 06-07 academic year was given at the May 2, 2006, meeting. A new position was also filled by the Lincoln Parish Sheriff’s Office. These additions provided officers daily or weekly at Ruston Junior High, Choudrant High, Dubach High, Ruston High, Simsboro High, and the Career Academy. Continuance of the project, relative to the financial participation by the board, was to be reviewed annually. In order to determine the effectiveness of the program, Superintendent Bell surveyed the applicable principals. The response was unanimous to continue at their schools for the 07-08 school year. Because Mr. Bell also believed that the program warranted continued support, he recommended that the board contribute $30,000 again this year, which breaks down to $5,000 per school based on six schools, to continue the SRO program.
Upon a motion by Mr. Barmore, seconded by Ms. Henderson, the board unanimously voted to grant permission to the superintendent and/or business manager to appropriate $30,000 for the purpose of supporting the School Resource Officer Program in designated Lincoln Parish public schools.
In a Report of the Superintendent, Mr. Bell verbalized the following:
1. The system has two new National Merit Scholars, Wesley Henderson and Matthew Moore. Both Ruston High School students were previously recognized as being Finalists in the program.
2. After holding a meeting with the parents and citizens of the Hico and Dubach communities, he has decided to move the sixth grade from Hico Elementary to Dubach High. If approval is received from the State Department, he plans to make the move in the fall. Reasons involve a spatial issue at Hico Elementary and the need to increase enrollment numbers at Dubach High.
3. Additional items were placed in the back of the packets including a form to evaluate the superintendent’s performance. He solicited comments to help him as he continues to move forward.
4. The Ruston High track facility was taken off of the agenda because some engineering aspects had not been completed. Hopefully that item will be placed on another agenda soon.
5. Test scores are coming in and a report will be provided at the July meeting along with a notebook for the board’s information.
After brief comments, the meeting adjourned at 7:45 p.m.
___________________________ _____________________________
Danny L. Bell, Secretary Otha L. Anders, President