LINCOLN PARISH SCHOOL BOARD
Ruston, Louisiana
REGULAR SESSION
Tuesday, February 5, 2008 6:00 p.m.
The Lincoln Parish School Board met in Regular Session on Tuesday, February 5, 2008, 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 President Otha Anders, Mr. Michael Barmore, Ms. Mattie Harrison, Mr. Trott Hunt, Mr. Eddie Jones, Mr. George Mack, Mr. Ted McKinney, and Mr. Joe Mitcham.
Ms. Lisa Best, Mr. Curtis Dowling, Lynda Henderson, and Mr. Jim Kessler were absent.
President Anders called the meeting to order and Mr. Mitcham gave the invocation. Ms. Harrison led in the Pledge of Allegiance to the American flag. Mr. Anders welcomed board members, staff, press, and special guests.
Upon a motion by Mr. Hunt, seconded by Mr. Barmore, the Board unanimously voted to adopt the agenda as printed.
Upon a motion by Mr. McKinney, seconded by Mr. Mitcham, the Board unanimously voted to approve the minutes of the Regular Session held on January 8, 2008, as distributed.
Mary Null, Director of Instruction, Personnel, and Special Programs, had the pleasure of introducing the Ruston Jaycees’ Outstanding Young Educator of the Year, Lillie Williams. She shared background information on her including the fact that she is a math teacher at Ruston Junior High School. Ms. Null expressed her pride in Ms. Williams for being chosen for this honor. She allowed her to introduce her guests and share brief comments with the Board. Ms. Williams thanked the board for their recognition and honor.
Background information on the Student of the Year program was verbalized by Eric Carter, Supervisor of Testing, Evaluation, and Curriculum. Each of the Lincoln Parish schools selects a Student of the Year from three divisions: elementary (grade 5), junior high (grade 8), and high school (grade 12). Parish-wide winners selected from each division go on to compete at the regional level. If successful there, they go on to state level competition. He introduced and shared personal information about each of the parish winners and allowed them to introduce their guests. On behalf of the Lincoln Parish School Board, Mr. Carter presented the following parish Students of the Year with plaques in recognition of their hard work:
Elementary - Margeaux Smith - A. E. Phillips
Junior High - Katie Hogan - Choudrant Elementary
High School - Aubri Teague - Ruston High School
Superintendent Danny Bell and President Anders congratulated the Students of the Year and wished them the best.
Voicing her annual request for permission to advertise and accept bids in order to purchase food, paper and kitchen supplies, and equipment for 08-09 was Earlene Jackson, School Food Service Supervisor.
Upon a motion by Mr. Mack, seconded by Mr. McKinney, the Board unanimously voted to grant permission to advertise and accept the lowest bids that meet specifications for all purchases of food, paper and kitchen supplies, and equipment for the 08-09 school year.
Mr. Anders thanked Board members for volunteering to serve on various committees and indicated that committee assignments for 2008 were included in packets.
Changes to the policy manual are to be introduced at one board meeting and voted on at a subsequent meeting; therefore, Mr. Bell asked for approval of the policy revisions that he proposed at the January meeting.
Upon a motion by Mr. Barmore, seconded by Mr. Hunt, the Board unanimously voted to approve the revision of two policies: Employee Conduct (GBRA) and Child Abuse (JGCE).
Change order #5 for the Ruston High School construction project was summarized by Director of Auxiliary Services, Charles Owens. The four items which had received verbal approval but needed the Board’s formal approval were:
1. Install one roof mounted outside air intake $ 2,102
2. Millwork changes in music/robes $ 393
3. Additional paint in weight room $ 558
4. Additional roof work $75,860
Architect Mike Walpole provided further explanation regarding items #1 and #4. He said the school will have a great roof system when the project was finished.
Upon a motion by Mr. Mitcham, seconded by Ms. Harrison, the Board unanimously voted to approve change order #5 for Ruston High School totaling $78,913.
Two calendar options for the 08-09 school year were presented by Mr. Bell. The Superintendent’s Advisory Council met on December 10, 2007, for the purpose of reviewing the calendars. Then they were distributed to the schools’ faculty and staff, bus drivers, central office personnel, and staff of food service, maintenance, pupil appraisal, special education, and Title 1. Votes were tallied and ninety-three percent chose option 1 as their calendar preference. Mr. Bell asked for adoption of that calendar for the next school year.
Upon a motion by Mr. Barmore, seconded by Mr. Mitcham, the Board unanimously voted to adopt the proposed option 1 calendar for the 08-09 school year as follows:
Lincoln Parish 2008 - 2009 School Calendar
Instructional Staff Workday August 13, 2008
All Staff Workday August 14, 2008
First Day of School-Students (1/2 day) August 15, 2008
Labor Day September 1, 2008
Columbus Day October 13, 2008
Election Day November 4, 2008
Thanksgiving November 24-28, 2008
Christmas/New Year Dec. 22, 2008-Jan. 2, 2009
End of First Semester January 9, 2009
Martin Luther King, Jr. Day January 19, 2009
Staff Development/All Staff Workday January 20, 2009
Presidents’ Day February 16, 2009
Spring Break March 30-April 3, 2009
Easter April 10-13, 2009
Last Day of School-Students (1/2 day) May 29, 2009
Instructional Staff Workday (1/2 day) June 1, 2009
The Board served as a Committee of the Whole, and the following Personnel Committee agenda items were considered after Ms. Null shared items 1.-4., Charles Owens announced 5.-7., and Earlene Jackson communicated 8.-9.:
1. Resignation of the following secretaries:
Paula Cupp, Ruston Elementary, effective February 1, 2008; and
Sandra Huddleston, special education, effective February 4, 2008.
2. Professional sabbatical request for the 08-09 school year from Anita Greenwood, foreign language teacher at Ruston High, effective August 13, 2008.
3. Employment of the following:
Jessica Bryan, in a new assistant career center outreach counselor position at Ruston High, effective January 23, 2008;
Lindsey Vincent, English teacher at Ruston High replacing Deborah Hollimon who transferred, effective February 4, 2008; and
Lee Irwin, special education at Ruston Junior High replacing Laundi Williams who transferred, effective January 8, 2008.
4. Employment of the following:
Deon Caldwell, secretary at Ruston Elementary replacing Paula Cupp, effective January 31, 2008; and
Tammy Clark, special education secretary replacing Sandra Huddleston who resigned, effective February 4, 2008.
5. Retirement of Wiley Moore, custodian at the central office, effective January 16, 2008.
6. Resignation of Brenda Ferguson, custodian at Glen View, effective January 4, 2008.
7. Employment of the following:
Patsy Dade, custodian at Choudrant High replacing Stella Smith who was deceased, effective January 7, 2008; and
Johnny Hicks, custodian at Ruston High replacing Dennis Dean who resigned, effective January 28, 2008.
8. Retirement of Gloria Smith, school food service technician at Choudrant High, effective January 1, 2008.
9. Resignation of Patsy Dade, school food service technician at Choudrant High, effective January 4, 2008.
Upon a motion by Mr. Mitcham, seconded by Mr. Barmore, the Board unanimously voted to approve the personnel recommendations.
According to George Murphy, Business Manager, sales taxes collected for the period ending January 31, 2008, were $1,471,209 which was only 2.15% higher than the same month last year. Auto dealers’ money was not received, but if it had been, the increase would have been 9.47%. Year-to-date those collections were up 13.80%. Taxes recovered by audits were $32,186. Year-to-date that fund was down 60.519%. Collected in the ’67 and ’79 fund was $668,732, and $802,477 was generated in the ’93 and ’00 fund.
Mr. Murphy noted that November and December 2007 financial updates were included in packets. He indicated that December’s showed the general fund up $1,268,025 year-to-date. He gave the ending balances in each fund and commented on them. As of December, the 5 mill maintenance and Ruston and Simsboro district M & O funds were showing negative balances. The 5 mill maintenance and ad valorem tax money had not arrived in December but was received in January 2008.
A health plan update for December 2007 which covered the entire calendar year of 2007 was Mr. Murphy’s next agenda item. A loss of $70,732 was sustained for the month; but year-to-date the health plan program ended up with a positive balance of $778,261. This was a result of contributions made to the fund by the Lincoln Parish School Board. Otherwise the plan would have probably ended with a zero balance.
Mrs. Null said that the Third Party Administrator has not changed. However, Benesys has been bought out by Covenant. Letters and new medical cards have gone out or will be going out in order to explain changes taking place with the insurance and adding PPO’s in Texas.
In a Report of the Superintendent, Mr. Bell:
1. Gave updates on the pre-k center, RHS track facility, and bus facility.
2. Mentioned that he’d like the Curriculum, Finance, and Building and Grounds committees to begin meeting more often to become more informed and to review some future plans.
3. Stated that the next board meeting will be held at Choudrant Elementary School on February 20, 2008, at 12:30 p.m.
4. Noted that a millage presentation schedule was placed in packets for informational purposes. He and George Murphy are going and making presentations with the goals of making sure people understand how the money is used, that it’s a renewal and not a new tax, and that there is no misunderstanding.
5. Indicated that even though the registration check was mailed, convention pre-registration information had not been received from the LSBA. Included in packets were his comments regarding the proposed LSBA resolutions.
Following brief comments, the meeting adjourned at 7:02 p.m.
______________________________ _________________________________
Danny L. Bell, Secretary Otha L. Anders, President