LINCOLN PARISH SCHOOL BOARD
Ruston, Louisiana
REGULAR SESSION
Tuesday, December 4, 2007 6:00 p.m.
The Lincoln Parish School Board met in Regular Session on Tuesday, December 4, 2007, at 6:00 p.m. at the Lincoln Parish School Board, 410 South Farmerville Street, Ruston, Louisiana. Members present were President Otha Anders, Mr. Michael Barmore, Ms. Lisa Best, Mr. Curtis Dowling, Ms. Mattie Harrison, Ms. Lynda Henderson, Mr. Trott Hunt, Mr. Eddie Jones, Mr. Jim Kessler, Mr. George Mack, Mr. Ted McKinney, and Mr. Joe Mitcham.
No board member was absent.
Mr. Anders called the meeting to order, and Mr. Hunt gave the invocation. Ms. Harrison led in the Pledge of Allegiance to the American flag followed by Mr. Anders’ welcome to board members, staff, media, special honorees, and guests.
Upon a motion by Ms. Best, seconded by Mr. Mitcham, the Board unanimously voted to adopt the agenda as presented.
Upon a motion by Mr. Barmore, seconded by Mr. McKinney, the Board unanimously voted to approve the minutes of the Regular Session held on November 6, 2007, as distributed.
Secondary Supervisor, Ricky Edmiston, was very pleased to recognize the Ruston High School state FFA forestry team. He introduced their coach, Mark Milstead, and presented him with a plaque. Mr. Edmiston commended Mr. Milstead for having one of the top programs in the state. Mr. Milstead offered thanks to several individuals and recognized the forestry team, Brad White, Brandon Knowles, Jordan Gray and David White. The young men introduced their guests.
Mr. Anders commended and applauded the teams for their hard work, dedication, and desire to excel.
Mr. Edmiston said it was a pleasure to welcome Choudrant High School Coach Shannon Lee with her state Class B boys’ cross country champs. He indicated that the team won at the state competition with a perfect score. Coach Lee was presented with a plaque in recognition of coaching the team to the state championship. She introduced the athletes and expressed her pride in the runners and her appreciation for the support they have received.
President Anders voiced his appreciation of the athletes’ hard work and desire to excel as the best of the best. He wished them well.
According to Business Manager, George Murphy, the Consolidated School District No. 1 Special Operating and Maintenance millages and Dubach Special Operating and Maintenance millage will expire with the collection of the 2008 assessments. The parish-wide taxes are both for 4.94 mills with a collection period of ten years and currently generate approximately $1,089,000 each year. The Dubach tax is 3.25 mills with a collection period of ten years and currently generates about $95,000 annually. This money is vital to the fiscal operation of the Lincoln Parish School Board. He presented a resolution in order to call an election on Saturday, March 8, 2008, to authorize the renewal of the taxes, to name Foley & Judell as bond counsel for handling the renewal, and for other related matters.
Upon a motion by Mr. Kessler, seconded by Mr. Barmore, the Board unanimously voted to approve the resolution in order to call an election on March 8, 2008, for voters to consider the renewal of the taxes of the Consolidated School District No. 1 and Dubach School District No. 5 of the Parish of Lincoln.
According to Superintendent Danny Bell, it is time to employ an architect and request assistance with the basic services expected with a project of the magnitude of the pre-k center. For multiple reasons, including continuity, consistency, and quality, he recommended that the Board enter into a contract with Mike Walpole.
Upon a motion by Mr. McKinney, seconded by Mr. Mitcham, the Board unanimously voted to grant permission to enter into a contract with Mike Walpole as the designated architect for the construction of the new Lincoln Parish Pre-K Center Construction Project.
Various computer monitors, keyboards, CPUs, printers, televisions, and other equipment has been collected by Wanda Mitchell, Technology Coordinator, and needs to be scrapped. Mr. Murphy said that the items have no value and should be declared surplus and junked.
Upon a motion by Mr. Mack, seconded by Ms. Best, the Board unanimously voted to declare items as surplus at Glen View, I. A. Lewis, Hillcrest, and Ruston High School and dispose of as described.
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.-5. and Charles Owens, Director of Auxiliary Services, presented 6.-7.:
1. Retirement of Susan Barron, teacher at Choudrant Elementary, effective January 14, 2008.
2. Resignation of secretary at Simsboro High, Tina Indest, effective December 31, 2007.
3. Sabbatical request for January 2, 2008, through June 2, 2008, for Stacy Campbell, science teacher at Ruston High.
4. Employment of the following:
Missy Wooley, science teacher at Ruston High, effective January 2, 2008, replacing Stacy Campbell who requested a sabbatical.
Anthony Rutherford, ROTC at Ruston High, effective November 1, 2007, replacing Leroy Brown who resigned.
Felicia Willis, special education at Simsboro High, effective January 2, 2008, replacing Johnna Cronk who transferred.
Herbert Piert, in a new special education paraprofessional position at Cypress Springs, effective November 5, 2007.
5. Point of Reference/Transfer of Johnna Cronk from Simsboro High to special education at Cypress Springs, effective January 2, 2008, replacing Burgundie Smith who resigned.
6. Resignation of Dennis Dean, custodian at Ruston High, effective November 27, 2007.
7. Employment of Bobby Brown, custodian at Choudrant Elementary and Choudrant High, effective October 22, 2007, in a new slot.
Upon a motion by Ms. Best, seconded by Mr. Dowling, the Board unanimously voted in favor of the personnel recommendations.
George Murphy reported that November 2007 was another good month financially with $1,251,042 being collected in sales taxes. That was a 23.85% increase for the month and 18.24% year-to-date. Recoveries through audits were $6,242 with $98,459 being collected in the first five months of the year. That was a 77% decrease for the year. He told the Board that $568,656 was collected in the ’67 and ’79 fund and $682,386 in the ’93 and ’00 fund. The increases are due primarily to oil and gas extraction, industrial machinery and equipment, and building materials and garden supplies. Last month’s 2% increase combined with this month’s collections bring the sales tax fund back to where it was previously.
For the month of October 2007, the self-insured health benefits program lost $16,049, Mr. Murphy reported. Year-to-date the fund was still in the black with collections exceeding expenditures by $647,277 for ten months. Changes which the Board approved are in place for the first of January.
In a Report of the Superintendent, Mr. Bell said that:
1. He appreciated the Board members’ attendance at the recent Academic Awards Banquet.
2. The schools are working very diligently relative to school improvement. He gave examples of ways academics are being stressed and enhanced.
3. Fifteen employees from Ruston High are leaving for South Carolina tomorrow to visit a model school there.
4. A small piece of property adjacent to Lincoln Center may be desirable to the board and should be considered for purchase in the near future.
5. He would appreciate any suggestions on the millage renewal plans.
After brief comments, following a motion by Ms. Best, the meeting adjourned at 6:50 p.m.
__________________________ ____________________________
Danny L. Bell, Secretary Otha L. Anders, President