LINCOLN PARISH SCHOOL BOARD
Ruston, Louisiana
REGULAR SESSION
Wednesday, February 20, 2008 12:30 p.m.
The Lincoln Parish School Board met in Regular Session on Wednesday, February 20, 2008, at 12:30 p.m. at Choudrant Elementary. 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. Jim Kessler, Mr. George Mack, Mr. Ted McKinney, and Mr. Joe Mitcham.
Mr. Eddie Jones was absent.
Prior to the business meeting, board members enjoyed a delicious lunch in the school cafeteria.
After President Anders called the meeting to order, the invocation was given by Mr. Mack, and Ms. Best led in the Pledge of Allegiance to the American Flag. Mr. Anders welcomed board members, staff, members of the media, and special guests to the meeting.
Upon a motion by Ms. Best, seconded by Mr. Barmore, the Board unanimously voted to adopt the agenda as printed.
Principal of Choudrant Elementary, Charles Hogan, said that it was his pleasure to welcome guests to the school on behalf of the faculty and staff. He is appreciative to the Board for many things including the portable meeting in which the meeting was taking place. Even though the bond issue up for a vote last year failed, he is still planning for the growth that they have been and are experiencing. Mr. Hogan knows he can count on the Board for their continued support. He closed by inviting members back to Choudrant Elementary at any time in the future.
Director of Instruction, Personnel, and Special Programs, Mary Null verbalized her pleasure in recognizing employees in the Business Department for the good job they do in appropriately managing finances. For preparing the Comprehensive Annual Financial Report and enabling the Lincoln Parish School System to attain the Government Finance Officers Association’s Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting and also the Association of School Business Officials’ Certificate of Excellence in Financial Reporting Award for the fiscal year ending June 2006, she turned the floor over to George Murphy. Mr. Murphy recognized the following Business Department employees: Cindy Hinton, Accounts Clerk; Suzette Bagwell, Insurance/Accounts Payable; Wanda Randall, Federal Programs Bookkeeper; Sandy Harris, Fiscal Assistant; Bonnie Fogger, Payroll Specialist; and one who was absent, Kathy Pool, Fiscal Accountant. He verbalized his pleasure in working with the Business Department staff.
Because the Board had recently authorized the purchase of new school buses, three older school buses (’90, ’92, and ’94) are no longer needed, Ronny Volentine, Transportation Supervisor, told the Board. He recommended that they be declared as surplus in order to dispose of them.
Upon a motion by Mr. Hunt, seconded by Mr. Barmore, the Board unanimously voted to grant permission to declare three older school buses as surplus and dispose of them through the bid process.
Ms. Null submitted her annual request to send Letters of Intent to employees so that she could begin planning for the 08-09 school year.
Upon a motion by Mr. Dowling, seconded by Mr. Kessler, the Board unanimously voted to grant permission to send Letters of Intent.
After the end of one month, the self-insured health plan had a negative balance of $483,382; however, the revenue figure did not include the contributions from December. Mr. Murphy believes that if they had been included, the fund balance would not be as low. He will continue to carefully monitor the program.
The Fire and Rescue Department of the City of Ruston asked to utilize one of the substantially damaged surplus buses for future training of local rescue employees. Mr. Owens indicated that Attorney Andy Shealy prepared an Act of Donation because having appropriate and adequate training of rescue personnel would definitely be advantageous to the school district and to the community.
Upon a motion by Mr. Barmore, seconded by Mr. Mitcham, the Board unanimously voted to grant approval of the Act of Donation giving permission to the City of Ruston to acquire one of the surplus school buses for training purposes.
In order to fulfill their responsibility of building and maintaining roads and bridges throughout the parish, Charles Owens said the Lincoln Parish Policy Jury would like to use approximately five acres of property the Board owns and upon which the former Liberty Hill School was located. The Board makes many requests to the Jury and allowing them to use the land to store dirt, gravel, and other construction materials would maintain a spirit of cooperation between the two entities as well as benefit the citizens of Lincoln Parish. Mr. Shealy prepared a Cooperative Endeavor Agreement allowing the Jury use of the land for a period of five years.
Upon a motion by Mr. Mitcham, seconded by Mr. Kessler, the Board unanimously voted to approve the Cooperative Endeavor Agreement between the Lincoln Parish School Board and the Lincoln Parish Police Jury regarding the Jury’s use of the land upon which the former Liberty Hill School was located.
Nelson Acquisitions and/or its partners have drilled and completed a well in the vicinity of Glen View Elementary and have requested that the Board enter into an oil, gas, and mineral lease. Argent Property Services was hired to consult with the Board relative to its property and they, Andy Shealy, and Charles Owens suggested that the Board execute a lease allowing the Board to begin receiving any and all mineral royalties to which it is entitled. Mr. Shealy noted that if approved, he and Joe Rainer will handle the advertisements instead of going through the State Mineral Board.
Upon a motion by Mr. Mitcham, seconded by Ms. Henderson, the Board unanimously voted by roll call to adopt a Resolution authorizing Argent Property Services, LLC to act on behalf of the Board for the advertising and granting of an oil, gas, and mineral lease.
In a Report of the Superintendent, Mr. Bell said:
1. He appreciates Charles Hogan and Choudrant Elementary for their hospitality. He encouraged Board members to tour the campus before leaving.
2. Saturday, February 23, through Saturday, March 1, are absentee voting dates for two Lincoln Parish and one Dubach millage renewals. He is getting positive feedback from his presentations to the systems’ employees and to the public.
3. He’d like the Finance and Building and Grounds Committee chairpersons to meet with him next week to set up meetings for the near future. He told committee members to expect notification of special called meetings in the near future.
4. Ruston Elementary was recently recognized by State Superintendent Paul Pastorek as one of twenty High Performing/High Poverty Schools in the state. He is very proud of the administration, faculty, and staff of that school.
5. Choudrant High School and Simsboro High School were also recently recognized as two out of eight high schools in the state being recognized for increasing the number of students taking the ACT over the last five years and also increasing yearly the students’ performance. He said the high schools do a good job.
6. On March 3 district accountability scores are expected to be released by the State Department. There has been a recalculation of how the scores were handled during the past year.
7. LSBA convention information was included in packets. Questions should be directed to Becky Gemelli.
8. Board members are invited to a Brunch and Community Open House at 10:30 a.m. next Wednesday at Glen View Elementary.
Following brief comments, the meeting adjourned at 1:23 p.m.
______________________________ ______________________________
Danny L. Bell, Secretary Otha L. Anders, President