LINCOLN PARISH SCHOOL BOARD
Ruston, Louisiana
REGULAR SESSION
Tuesday, July 10, 2007 6:00 p.m.
The Lincoln Parish School Board met in Regular Session on Tuesday, July 10, 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, Mr. Curtis Dowling, Ms. Mattie Harrison, Mr. Trott Hunt, Mr. Eddie Jones, Mr. Jim Kessler, Mr. George Mack, Mr. Ted McKinney, and Mr. Joe Mitcham.
Ms. Lisa Best and Ms. Lynda Henderson were absent.
President Anders called the meeting to order and Mr. Dowling delivered the invocation. Ms. Harrison led in the Pledge of Allegiance to the American flag. Mr. Anders welcomed board members, staff, press, and persons of special recognition and their guests.
Upon a motion by Mr. Barmore, seconded by Mr. Jones, the board unanimously voted to adopt the agenda as printed.
Upon a motion by Mr. Dowling, seconded by Mr. Mack, the board unanimously voted to approve the minutes of the Regular Session held on June 5, 2007, as distributed.
Secondary Supervisor, Ricky Edmiston, was very proud to honor two FFA state champion teams from Choudrant High School, Farm Business Management and Parliamentary Procedure. He recognized and presented a plaque along with congratulations to Marty Cantrell, an advisor who coached the teams. Mr. Edmiston also welcomed parents of the team members and thanked them for their support.
Mr. Cantrell offered a further explanation about the contests followed by an introduction of the team members who were present.
On behalf of the board and the entire staff, Otha Anders applauded the students for their hard work, determination, and dedication to excellence which resulted in outstanding achievement.
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 for fiscal year 2008 which would bring in $3,836,576 of federal monies. The duo elaborated on the application and its tentative programs and components.
Upon a motion by Mr. Barmore, seconded by Mr. Dowling, the board unanimously voted to grant permission to submit the NCLB/IDEA combined application for grants for the 2008 fiscal year.
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., Ronny Volentine, Transportation Supervisor, presented 7.-9., and Superintendent Danny Bell presented 10.-11. in the absence of Charles Owens, Director of Auxiliary Services,:
1. Retirement of Mary Frances Colvin, secretary at Glen View Elementary, effective June 8, 2007.
2. Resignation of the following teachers effective May 28, 2007:
Shauna Vallery, elementary at Cypress Springs.
Charles Brouilette, art at Hico/Simsboro Elementary.
Crystal Clampit, pre-kindergarten at Lincoln Center.
Carol Johnson, elementary at Ruston Elementary.
Amanda Ortego, health/P.E. at Ruston High.
Fred Hearn, health/P.E. at Ruston Junior High.
James King, social studies at Simsboro High.
3. Request for professional sabbatical for the 07-08 school year, effective August 15, 2007, from Sheila Barber, special education at Lincoln Center.
4. Request for medical sabbatical for the 07-08 school year, effective August 15, 2007, from Charlene Best, math teacher at I. A. Lewis.
5. Points of Reference/Transfers, effective August 15, 2007, of the following:
Donna Miles from I. A. Lewis to special education at the Career Academy replacing Kristi Townsend who transferred.
Stefanie Parker from Hillcrest to elementary at Choudrant Elementary replacing Jane Watson who transferred.
Brigette Matthews from Ruston Junior High to special education at Cypress Springs replacing Alice Higginbotham who transferred.
Leska Nelson from Hico Elementary to math/science at Dubach High because the 6th grade moved to Dubach High.
Sheila Miller from Lincoln Center to elementary at Glen View replacing Marian Davenport who retired.
Kristi Townsend from Career Academy to special education at Glen View replacing Laundi Williams who transferred.
Loriann Norris from I. A. Lewis to a new special education position at Glen View.
Michelle Rosenberger from Simsboro High to special education at Hillcrest replacing Karen Newsom who transferred.
Allison Brister from Lincoln Center to special education at Hillcrest replacing Pam Villagran who transferred.
Kathleen Mitchell from Hillcrest to special education homebound replacing Johnna Cronk who transferred.
Heather Causey from Ruston High to special education at I. A. Lewis replacing Donna Miles who transferred.
Pam Villagran from Hillcrest to special education at I. A. Lewis replacing Loriann Norris who transferred.
Deborah Davis from Hillcrest to a new, itinerant LIPS coordinator slot.
Debbie Hollimon from Ruston High to a new, itinerate literacy coach position.
Nancy Jensen from Ruston Junior High to a new, itinerate gifted art slot.
Shunda Lloyd Young from Cypress Springs to special education at Lincoln Center replacing Melanie Saunders who transferred.
Karen Newsom from Hillcrest to special education at Ruston High replacing Heather Causey who transferred.
Harryette Tinsley from Dubach High to business at Ruston High replacing Kay White who transferred.
Laundi Williams from Glen View to special education at Ruston Junior High replacing Brigette Matthews who transferred.
6. Employment of the following, effective August 15, 2007, unless otherwise noted:
David Janssen as science teacher at Choudrant High replacing Chris Baker who resigned.
Victoria Allen as special education at Cypress Springs replacing Shunda Lloyd Young who transferred.
Amy Grifka as music teacher at Cypress Springs/Glen View replacing Barbara Young who retired.
Jessica Sims as teacher at Cypress Springs replacing Shauna Vallery who resigned.
Shara Wade as teacher at Cypress Springs replacing Theresa Phillips who retired.
Helen Hall as counselor at Dubach High, effective August 1, 2007, replacing Linda Dick who was granted sabbatical leave.
Thomas Freeman as agriculture teacher at Dubach High, effective July 11, 2007, replacing Luke Polk who resigned.
LeJoyce Adams as teacher at Hillcrest replacing Patricia Beard who retired.
Shandra Winbush as speech therapist at Hillcrest replacing Deborah Davis who transferred.
Jackie LeBlanc as science/social studies teacher at I. A. Lewis replacing Ashley Carter who transferred.
Christine Brown as special education pre-kindergarten teacher at Lincoln Center replacing Allison Brister who transferred.
Phyllis Batusic in a new special education pre-kindergarten position at Lincoln Center.
Deborah Cobb as pre-kindergarten teacher at Lincoln Center replacing Crystal Clampit who resigned.
Jill Allen as teacher at Ruston Elementary replacing Terri Singleton who was granted sabbatical leave.
Rhonda McClure as teacher at Ruston Elementary replacing Jana Comstock who transferred.
Leslie Windsor as teacher at Ruston Elementary replacing Carol Johnson who resigned.
Chris Brister in a new sports medicine instructor position at Ruston High, effective August 1, 2007.
Lynne Roberts as social studies teacher at Ruston High replacing Gary Green who retired.
James Roberts as health/P. E. teacher at Ruston High replacing Amanda Ortego who resigned.
Barbara Torbor in a new Career Center counselor slot.
Nicholas McConnell as health/P. E. teacher at Ruston Junior High replacing Fred Hearn who resigned.
Melane Slocum in a new pre-kindergarten position at Simsboro Elementary.
7. Retirement of Lavell Willis, bus driver in the Ruston area, effective July 23, 2007.
8. Resignation of Johnathan Miller, bus driver in the Ruston area, effective May 25, 2007.
9. Employment of the following bus drivers effective August 16, 2007:
Aaron Austin as driver in the Ruston area replacing Johnathan Miller who resigned.
Marchale Canty as driver in the Dubach/Hico area replacing Johnnie Dyes who retired.
Christi Dickerson as driver in the Ruston area replacing Lavelle Willis who retired.
10. Employment of Markus Richard as custodian at Hico Elementary, effective July 1, 2007, replacing Johnnie Dyes who retired.
11. Employment of the following in central office maintenance positions effective July 1, 2007:
Ronnie King, replacing Allen Arnold who is deceased.
Lessel Mayfield, replacing Gerry Briggs who resigned.
Elbert Woods, replacing Keith Collinsworth who resigned.
Grady Blair, replacing Billy Ray Torbor who retired.
Ray Torbor, in a new position.
Milton Reed, in a new position.
Upon a motion by Mr. Mitcham, seconded by Mr. McKinney, the board unanimously voted to approve the personnel recommendations.
The Finance Committee met prior to the board meeting and Chairman Joe Mitcham and said pay raises for the fiscal year 07-08 were discussed. He asked the superintendent to explain the details of his financial proposal.
Mr. Bell reminded board members that the state plans to give pay raises to both certificated and support workers which is a very positive thing. The legislature approved a $1,000 raise for support workers which will become part of the budget. He verbalized his desire to give all board-hired support employees a $250 raise from local monies. The expenditure would cost approximately $98,000 per year and he feels that it would be an appropriate use of those funds.
Mr. Mitcham said the Finance Committee recommends that the board approve a $250 raise for board-employed support workers for the fiscal year 07-08 and that the raises for both certificated staff and support workers be retroactive to July 1, 2007.
Upon a motion by Mr. Jones, seconded by Mr. Dowling, the board unanimously voted to approve a $250 raise for board-employed support workers for the fiscal year 07-08 and that the raises for both certificated staff and support workers are retroactive to July 1, 2007.
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.
Full day classes were held at I. A. Lewis and the Career Academy. Although the state mandates 50 hours of instruction in each subject area the student did not pass on the spring test, Lincoln Parish provided 60 hours of instruction in each subject area. Utilizing funds provided at the local level from special education and Title I, the parish hired 45 highly qualified teachers to work with the 4th grade, 8th grade, and high school students. Instead of having 16 to 17 students in a class, 10 or 11 students was the average. In addition to the classroom teachers, 20 aides, 2 curriculum strategists, a discipline coordinator, a school secretary, and a school principal were working to make this summer remediation a success. Six bus routes were run each day, and the students were provided a nutritious breakfast and lunch. In closing Mr. Carter communicated that the final result was an extremely well run summer remediation program which ended with an enrollment of 289 students.
Next Eric Carter called attention to black binders which had been placed in front of each board member. He said they contained nothing new that had not been printed by the media or published. It was done to provide a compact, concise tool showing what Lincoln Parish accomplished on the spring 2007 assessment. Mr. Carter summarized the contents of the binders and encouraged anyone with questions to visit with him in his office.
George Murphy, Business Manager, presented the final sales tax collection report for the 07-08 fiscal year and indicated that $13,783,631 was collected. This was an increase of over $2,000,000 from the previous fiscal year. This was a 16.13% increase over the same month last year and an 18.07% increase for the year. Recoveries through audits totaled $56,486 for the year which was $261,674 more than the previous year. This was up over 80%. June sales tax collections in the 1967 and 1979 fund were $528,187 and $633,823 was collected in the 1993 and the 2000 sales tax fund.
In his summary of the May financial statement, Mr. Murphy called attention to the general fund and 5 mill maintenance funds which both had positive balances. The child nutrition fund was in the negative. Moving on to the sales tax funds, he noted that they all had positive balances. After the June financial statement those will decrease due to the payment of 13th checks. The 1993 and 2000 ad valorem tax funds and Ruston, Simsboro, and Dubach district M & O funds all had positive balances.
For the month of May 2007 the self-insured health program had a loss of $182,483, Mr. Murphy reported. Year-to-date the program was up $371,244. Meetings have been ongoing with the provider who is predicting an increase of 6% - 9% for the next plan year.
In the process of construction and renovation at several school sites, Charles Owens mentioned that verbal approval had been given for several changes. He came before the board to ask for formal approval of change orders so that they can be processed properly. He listed the projects, schools, and monetary amounts as follows:
Project B: Glen View and I. A. Lewis Total: $ 0
Project C: Lincoln Center, Ruston Elem., Career Academy Total: $ 0
Project D: Ruston Junior High Total: $54,848.96
Project E: Ruston High Total: $ 4,286.33
Simsboro Project Total: $14,180.00
Mike Walpole, architect, distributed a revised copy of the change orders and elaborated on the changes. He said that another $1,600 was removed from the Ruston Junior High project after talking to the contractor earlier in the day. That corrected amount would be $53,218. Since projects B and C are nearing the end of the job, the decision was made to offset the additional expense for the change orders by the contingency allowance. That was why there was no increase in the amount of money needed to fund those two projects.
Mr. Owens and Mr. Walpole reminded the board that the decision was made at the beginning of the first project to allow each job to hold its own. They were not going to use money from one project for another project. Overall, compared to the average renovation job, the percentage of adds has been extremely low. Mr. Walpole explained that the largest change order expense at Ruston Junior High consisted of additions like new bleachers and replacing the ceiling in the gym. He felt that the change orders were all bonafide issues.
Following several questions, upon a motion by Mr. Jones, seconded by Mr. Mitcham, the board unanimously voted to approve the change orders for Glen View, I. A. Lewis, Lincoln Center, Ruston Elementary, Career Academy, Ruston Junior High, Ruston High, and Simsboro High projects as mentioned above.
Plans relative to the renovation and construction of the Ruston High track facility by Mr. Walpole and others have been completed since the last meeting, according to Mr. Owens. He requested permission to advertise for bids in order to allow for a possible August contractor bid date.
Upon a motion by Mr. Hunt, seconded by Mr. Dowling, the board unanimously voted to grant permission for the advertisement of bids for the Ruston High School track facility construction and renovation.
In a Report of the Superintendent, Mr. Bell said that:
1. Confirmation from Baton Rouge was received on Friday that the funding for certificated and support employees’ pay raises has come through. Teachers in Lincoln Parish are to receive $2,375 from the Governor and an additional $958 raise from the Minimum Foundation Program (MFP).
2. The intent of No Child Left Behind, to improve public education, has been partially realized; however, there are flaws and difficulties behind the state’s plan to meet the requirements. Information will be forthcoming on how calculations will be handled with new base lines being established again this year. He agrees with the comment by BESE member, Leslie Jacobs, ”Unless the state changes what we are doing with special population students, all districts will fail.” Mr. Bell predicted that, ”this is going to become a media and public relations issue for those who are educators.”
Following brief comments from several board members, the meeting adjourned at 7:34 p.m.
________________________ _________________________
Danny L. Bell, Secretary Otha L. Anders, President