LINCOLN PARISH SCHOOL BOARD

Ruston, Louisiana

REGULAR SESSION

Tuesday, October 2, 2007   6:00 p.m.

The Lincoln Parish School Board met in Regular Session on Tuesday, October 2, 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 (arrived after the meeting began), Ms. Mattie Harrison, Ms. Lynda Henderson (left the meeting early), Mr. Trott Hunt, Mr. Eddie Jones, Mr. Jim Kessler, Mr. George Mack, Mr. Joe Mitcham, and Mr. Ted McKinney.

Mr. Curtis Dowling was absent.

President Otha Anders called the meeting to order and Mr. Mack gave the invocation.  Ms. Harrison led in the Pledge of Allegiance to the American flag.  Mr. Anders welcomed visitors to the meeting.

Upon a motion by Ms. Kessler, seconded by Mr. Barmore, the Board unanimously voted by roll call to adopt the agenda with an addendum adding four items of New Business.

Upon a motion by Mr. Mitcham, seconded by Mr. Barmore, the Board unanimously voted to approve the minutes of the Regular Session held on September 4, 2007.

Testing, Evaluation, and Curriculum Supervisor, Eric Carter, presented background information on the Teacher of the Year program and introduced the 07-08 parish winners.  The following teachers were presented with a plaque of appreciation on behalf of the
board and a monetary award from their business sponsor for dedication to the profession and to the students:

Jada Walsworth - Hico Elementary - Elem. Division - M. L. Smith                                           

Lillie Williams - Ruston Junior High - Jr. High Division -  Devon Energy

Catherine Letendre - Ruston High - High School Division - Franke Consumer Products

Lynn Gnemi, a representative of the Ruston-Lincoln Chamber of Commerce, presented each of the business sponsors with a certificate of appreciation for their support of the Teacher of the Year program.

Mr. Anders congratulated the Teachers of the Year and expressed the Board’s thanks for being such capable, caring, hardworking individuals.  He also voiced appreciation to the businesses and Chamber for their recognition of the outstanding achievement of the teachers.

Because the old contract has expired, a new contract will need to be secured in order to purchase library books with state and local funds for the 07-08 fiscal year with an option for a renewal for the 08-09 fiscal year, according to Eric Carter.  He requested permission to advertise for proposals.

Mrs. Best entered the meeting during Mr. Carter’s presentation.

Upon a motion by Mr. Mitcham, seconded by Mr. Kessler, the Board unanimously voted to grant permission to advertise for proposals to purchase library books with state and local funds for the 07-08 school year with an option for renewal for the 08-09 school year.

As a result of legislative acts of the 2007 session, the Superintendent, Danny Bell, summarized proposed changes to the Suspension (JDD) and Expulsion (JDE) policies. He asked board members to study the suggested changes until the next meeting.

Permission to formally approve change order request #3 for Project B, Glen View and I. A. Lewis, was submitted by Charles Owens, Director of Auxiliary Services.  Items included in the change order were an $18,926.95 credit on the remaining contingency allowance and a $10,000.00 credit on the remaining hardware allowance.  This brought the net credit on the project to $28,926.95.

Items included in the change order # 5 for Project C, Lincoln Center, Lincoln Parish Career Academy, and Ruston Elementary, were a $5,092.98 credit on the remaining contingency allowance and a $10,000.00 credit on the remaining hardware allowance.  This brought the net credit on the project to $15,092.98.

Architect Mike Walpole said each of the projects have contingency allowance money included in each of the renovation projects.  Fortunately, both of the projects being discussed, B & C, had monies left over so the change orders are reducing the contract amounts.  He was also recommending that substantial completion be granted and that the contractors be given the days so the number of days coincides with the date of substantial completion.

Upon a motion by Ms. Best, seconded by Ms. Henderson, the board unanimously voted to approve change order #3 for Project B for a credit in the amount of $28,926.95.

Upon a motion by Mr. Kessler, seconded by Mr. Hunt, the board unanimously voted to approve change order #5 for Project C for a $15,092.98 credit.

It was nearing the time to wrap up Project B at Glen View Elementary and I. A. Lewis due to construction and renovation work coming to completion; therefore, Charles Owens requested permission to execute Substantial Completion for the project based on the recommendation of the architect after his preparation of the final punch list and other appropriate documents.  This would be executed only conditionally following appropriate and thorough review by the owner and architect.

Upon a motion by Mr. Mack, seconded by Mr. Mitcham, the board unanimously voted to grant permission and authorize the superintendent, his staff, and the architect to execute the Substantial Completion documents for Project B, the Glen View Elementary and I. A. Lewis school project.

It was also nearing the time to wrap up Project C at Lincoln Center, Ruston, Elementary, and the Career Academy due to construction and renovation work coming to completion.  Therefore, at this time Charles Owens requested permission to execute Substantial Completion for the project based on the recommendation of the architect after his preparation of the final punch list and other appropriate documents.  This would be executed only conditionally following appropriate and thorough review by the owner and architect.

Upon a motion by Ms. Best, seconded by Ms. Harrison, the board unanimously voted to grant permission and authorize the superintendent, his staff, and the architect to execute the Substantial Completion documents for Project C, Lincoln Center, Ruston Elementary, and the Career Academy.

Because funds are now available, and in order to keep the bus fleet upgraded in order to provide safe and reliable transportation for the students, Ronny Volentine, Transportation Supervisor, requested permission to advertise for bids to purchase nine new conventional school buses and one new special education bus.  The estimated cost for each conventional bus is $72,000 and the special education bus should cost in the $84,000 range totaling approximately $732,000 for all ten buses.

Upon a motion by Mr. Kessler, seconded by Mr. Barmore, the Board unanimously voted to grant permission to advertise for bids to purchase nine 71/72 passenger, conventional, 2008 or later model school buses and one special education 2008 or later model school bus.                 

Five ’91 to ’94 model school buses are of no further use to the system.  Mr. Owens asked for them to be declared surplus so they can be disposed.

Upon a motion by Mr. Mitcham, seconded by Ms. Henderson, the board unanimously voted to declare five buses surplus and granted permission to dispose of them through the bid process.

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.; Ronny Volentine presented 2.-3; and Earlene Jackson, Child Nutrition Program Supervisor, presented 4.-5.:

1.   Resignation of Earlo Anderson, math teacher at Career Academy, effective September 10, 2007.

2.   Retirement of Tommy Thomas, bus driver in the Ruston area, effective September 24, 2007.

3.   Employment of Linda Barnett as bus driver in the Ruston area, effective September 25, 2007, replacing Tommy Thomas who retired.           

4.   Resignation of Sheri Roane, school food service clerk at Simsboro, effective September 6, 2007.

5.   Employment of the following school food service personnel effective September 21, 2007:

      Barbara Tanner as technician at Cypress Springs replacing Julia Norman who transferred.

      Sharon Council as clerk at Simsboro replacing Sheri Roane who resigned.

Upon a motion by Ms. Best, seconded by Mr. Barmore, the Board unanimously voted to accept the personnel recommendations.

Chairman of the Building and Grounds Committee, George Mack, reported that the committee met on September 12, 2007, to consider several parcels of land in Ruston for the construction of a preschool center.  After listening to Willie Washington, Chairman of the Pre-kindergarten Property Search Committee formed by Superintendent Danny Bell, they considered five different properties.  Although each of the properties had distinct advantages and disadvantages and a wide range of prices, the Search Committee preferred the approximately 11.5 acres at 811 East Georgia Avenue.  Mr. Mack indicated that the Building and Grounds Committee authorized the Superintendent and/or the staff to move forward in submitting an offer to purchase the Sartor property located between the Ruston Post Office and Woodall’s Furniture Store extending on the back to Mississippi.  The owner had an asking price or $350,000.  The Building and Grounds committee unanimously voted to recommend to the full board the purchase of the property on East Georgia following the school board administration’s price negotiations and further property review.  Mr. Mack made this in the form of a motion.

A brief period of questions and discussion ensued.

Superintendent Bell reported that the owners of the property have agreed to accept the counter-negotiation he made, while working with Assistant District Attorney Andy Shealy, of $287,500.  A $2,000 check was submitted earlier in the day as a deposit pending further property surveys and review.  As part of the agreement, if the property is found to be unacceptable, then he will not move forward.

The board unanimously voted to purchase the Sartor property on East Georgia Avenue for $287,500 in order to construct a preschool center.

Ms. Henderson left the meeting.

The twenty-fourth annual Academic Awards Banquet has been scheduled for Monday, November 12, 2007, at the Ruston Civic Center beginning at 6:00 p.m. according to Danny Bell.  The speaker will be announced at a later date.

George Murphy, Business Manager, reported that sales tax collections for the month of September 2007 totaled $1,232,699 which was an 18.67% increase over the same month last year and a 22.79% rise year-to-date.  Recoveries through audits were $1,604 for the month and $88,782 for the year.  In the 67 and 79 funds, $560,318 was collected and $672,380 was added to the 93 and 00 funds.  He indicated that the oil and gas activity in the parish is primarily responsible for the increase.

Mr. Murphy noted that the self insurance health benefits program showed a net gain of $381,945 for the month ending August 31, 2007.  After eight months in 2007 the fund was up $920,009.  He mentioned that the balance is so good because the Lincoln Parish School Board put more money into the fund last fiscal year (15%) and this fiscal year (10%).  Those costs have not been passed on to the employee.

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

1.   He appreciated board members getting out for Simsboro’s Ribbon Cutting following the completion of their construction and renovation project.  It is exciting and amazing to see the transformation and progress that has been and is being made at that school.

2.   That he thanks and appreciates those who served on his Study Committees for the pre-kindergarten center, those on the board’s Building and Grounds Committee, and especially Chairman George Mack.  He plans to proceed very carefully and look at many options toward the goal of expanding the LA-4, 8(g), and Title I preschool programs. 

3.   Ribbon cutting was held at Ruston Junior High School’s stadium last Tuesday. There was a lot of excitement there also.  He urged those not in attendance at the ribbon cutting to go by and take a look at the facility.

After brief comments and questions from several board members and visitors, the meeting adjourned at 6:58 p.m.

________________________                    _________________________

Danny Bell, Secretary                              Otha Anders, President