LINCOLN PARISH SCHOOL BOARD
Ruston, Louisiana
REGULAR SESSION
Tuesday, May 6, 2008 6:00 p.m.
The Lincoln Parish School Board met in Regular Session on Tuesday, May 6, 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 Mr. 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.
President Otha Anders called the meeting to order, and the invocation was given by Mr. Hunt. Ms. Best led in the Pledge of Allegiance to the American flag. Mr. Anders welcomed board members, staff, members of the press, persons of special recognition, state champions and their guests, principals, and others present for the meeting.
Upon a motion by Ms. Best, seconded by Mr. Dowling, the Board unanimously voted to adopt the agenda as printed.
Upon a motion by Mr. Kessler, seconded by Ms. Harrison, the Board unanimously voted to approve the minutes of the Regular Session held on April 1, 2008, as distributed.
Secondary Curriculum Coordinator, Paula Pardue, was very proud to honor three faculty sponsors and their state champion teams. She presented plaques along with congratulations to Mark Milstead from Ruston High with his FFA meat evaluation and technology team and Steve Baker and Marty Cantrell from Choudrant High School who had two FFA championship teams, floriculture and dairy products. They introduced their state champion team members who in turn introduced their guests. Ms. Pardue also recognized Loyd Bruner, Ruston High FBLA, and his impromptu speaking state champion. He accepted his plaque and introduced his team of one who has qualified for nationals. He allowed him to present his guests to the Board.
The Outstanding School Support Employee Awards Program provides an opportunity to honor outstanding employees in the elementary, middle, and high school levels who support and provide leadership in the operation of non instructional activities within the school system according to Director of Auxiliary Services, Charles Owens. He reviewed the selection procedure and presented plaques to the following in order to recognize their contributions to the Lincoln Parish School System:
Patsy Lewis Elementary S.F.S. Clerk at Ruston Elementary
Carolyn Jones Smith Junior High Paraprofessional at Career Academy
Carla Watts High School Secretary/Bookkeeper at Dubach High
As has become her custom in the spring, Betty Wall, Accountability Coordinator, was in attendance to present a state accountability reward check; this time to Mike Milstead, principal of Ruston High School. RHS received the $24,438 reward from BESE for Recognized Academic Growth.
Director of Curriculum, Personnel, and Special Programs, Mary Null, asked for approval of thirty-four policy manual revisions, deletions, and additions that she initially proposed at the April meeting.
Upon a motion by Mr. Kessler, seconded by Mr. McKinney, the Board unanimously voted to approve of sixteen policy revisions: Agenda Preparation and Dissemination (BCBD), Board Meeting News Coverage (BCBJ) Administrative Regulations and Procedures (CMA), Sale of Buildings and Land (DFN), Investigations (GAMC), Supervision of Personnel (GBH), Tenure (GBL), Dismissal of Employees (GBN), Time Schedules (GBRB), Non-School Employment (GBRG), Substitute Personnel (GBRJ), Special Education (IDDF), Parent Conferences (IHAD), School Bus Conduct (JCDAD), Corporal Punishment (JDA), and Use of School Facilities (KG); deletion of fourteen policies: Policy Review (BDE), Administration in Policy Absence (CMB), Fiscal Year (DCB) School Properties Disposal Procedure (DO), School Bus Conduct (EDBC), Student Transportation Scheduling and Routing (EDD), Life Insurance Program (EGAB), Health Insurance (EGAC), Nonprofessional Personnel Supervision and Evaluation (GCH), Nonprofessional Personnel Tenure (GCL), Transfer (GCM), Separation of Classified and Support Personnel (GCN), Substitutes for Support Personnel (GCRJ), Board Meeting News Coverage (KBCC); and four policy additions: Minutes of Board Meetings (BCBH), Sale of Surplus Equipment and Supplies (DFM), Employee Insurance (EGA), and Co-Curricular Activities and Extracurricular Activities (IDE).
Change orders for the Ruston Junior High and Ruston High construction projects were summarized by Mr. Owens. The items which had received verbal approval but needed the Board’s formal approval were:
RJHS
1 Added cost for fence changes $ 502
2. Subtracted credit from contingency allowance $ 502
Net Change (added costs) $ 0
RHS
1. Added cost of additional roof replacement $8,434
2. Subtracted credit for roof unit price $4,800
3. Subtracted credit for portion of roof unit price $3,634
4. Added cost of light fixtures in rooms 1118 & 1121 $2,912
Net Change (added costs) $2,912
Bids received for the central office capital improvements program were opened and reviewed on April 24, 2008. Mr. Owens indicated that four qualified bids from Pro-Build Construction, Traxler Construction, Ragan Builders, and Triad Builders were received. Pro-Build came out as low bidder with a base bid of $667,000; therefore, he asked for acceptance of their bid.
Architect on the Project, Mike Walpole, said the system was fortunate in the bids in his opinion. He was pleased with the bids and had done some checking on Pro-Build. He had no reason to believe that they wouldn’t do a good job on the project. It was also his recommendation that their bid be accepted.
Upon a motion by Mr. Mack, seconded by Ms. Best, the Board unanimously voted to accept and approve Pro-Build Construction as the low bidder and contractor for the central office portion of the capital improvements program.
Increased food prices, labor cost, minimum wage, salary schedule increases through local and state raises, and transportation cost have necessitated a meal price change, according to Earlene Jackson, Child Nutrition Program Supervisor. She noted that prices had not been increased since August 1989, and revenue must be augmented to meet the increased costs. She requested permission for the Child Nutrition Program to increase meal prices as follows:
Breakfast: Change from $.60 to $.75 (all students)
Lunch: Change from $.80 to $1.00 (elementary)
Change from $.90 to $1.25 (high school)
Employee Breakfast: Change from $1.00 to $1.25
Employee Lunch: Change from $2.00 to $2.50
Upon a motion by Mr. Barmore, seconded by Ms. Harrison, the Board unanimously voted to increase meal prices as shown above.
Superintendent Bell said since the Board approved the 08-09 school calendar, the State Superintendent and BESE have changed testing dates. The new dates fall during spring break so the calendar must be adjusted. Mr. Bell proposed changing spring break from Monday, March 30, through Friday, April 3, 2009, to Monday, April 20, through Friday, April 24, 2009. This will give the teachers and other staff the same number of days off; they will just be later in the month of April.
Upon a motion by Ms. Best, seconded by Mr. Barmore, the Board unanimously voted to approve changing spring break on the 2008-2009 school calendar from Monday, March 30, through Friday, April 3, 2009, to Monday, April 20, through Friday, April 24, 2009.
Charles Owens reported that since the architectural study was completed in 2003 numerous dead spots have been discovered in the Ruston High boys’ gym floor. An installer has indicated that the repair is so widespread and significant that it will be necessary to replace the entire floor. The cost will like require the utilization of the bid process. He requested permission to advertise for bids on the project.
Upon a motion by Mr. Kessler, seconded by Ms. Henderson, the Board unanimously voted to grant permission for the advertisement of bids for the replacement of the boys’ gym floor at Ruston High School.
Making her annual request for permission to distribute letters of continued employment on the last day of school was Mary Null.
Upon a motion by Mr. Mitcham, seconded by Mr. Dowling, the Board unanimously voted to grant permission to distribute letters of continued employment for the 08-09 school year.
The Board served as a Committee of the Whole and the following Personnel Committee agenda items were considered after Mary Null presented items 1.-5. and Charles Owens presented 6.:
1. Retirement of the following effective June 3, 2008, unless otherwise noted:
Betty Wall, 504/dyslexia coordinator at the central office, effective July 1, 2008;
Robert Penland, math teacher at Choudrant High;
Pinkie Davis, computer proctor at Dubach High, effective June 2, 2008;
Louise McAdams, elementary teacher at Glen View;
Janet Brown, school psychologist with pupil appraisal, effective July 1, 2008;
Connie Doyle, elementary teacher at Ruston Elementary;
Mary Ann Eley, elementary teacher at Ruston Elementary; and
Beverly Beasley, special education teacher at Ruston Junior High.
2. Resignation of the following effective June 3, 2008, unless noted otherwise:
Mariam Stone, family & consumer science teacher at Choudrant High;
Jenny Blalock, elementary teacher at Glen View;
Lisa Coleman, elementary teacher at Hillcrest;
Christian Block, physical education teacher at Ruston High School, effective July 1, 2008; and
Lindsey Vincent, English teacher at Ruston High.
3. Professional sabbatical requests for the 08-09 school year, effective August 13, 2008, for:
Letitia Freeman, special education teacher at Cypress Springs; and
Melissa Savage, math teacher at Simsboro High.
4. Employment of the following effective August 13, 2008, unless otherwise noted:
Jan Norwood, in a new instructional coordinator at the Career Academy position, effective July 30, 2008;
Michelle Hogan, science teacher at Dubach High, effective April 21, 2008, replacing Kirk Andrews who resigned;
Hope Cowgill, in a new social studies slot at the Ruston High Academy;
Patrick Hall, PE/coach at Ruston High, effective July 16, 2008, replacing Christian Block who resigned;
Julie Stephenson, English teacher at Ruston High replacing Lindsey Vincent who resigned; and
Hilton Hay, social studies at Ruston Junior High replacing Chris Taylor who transferred.
5. Points of Reference/Transfers of the following effective August 13, 2008:
Chris Taylor, from Ruston Junior High to a new math position at the Ruston High Academy;
Kyle Falting, from Dubach High to a new math slot at the Ruston High Academy;
Alishia Thomason, from Ruston Junior High to a new ELA position at the Ruston High Academy; and
Sherri Ferrell, from Ruston Junior High to science teacher at Simsboro High replacing Julie Dubois who resigned.
6. Defacto resignation of the following:
Ray Torbor, maintenance at the central office, effective February 21, 2008; and
Ronnie King, maintenance at the central office, effective March 31, 2008.
Nina Boddie, school secretary at I. A. Lewis, effective September 22, 2008.
Upon a motion by Mr. Jones, seconded by Ms. Best, the Board unanimously voted to accept the personnel recommendations as presented.
Sales taxes collected for the period ending April 30, 2008, totaled $1,358,063, George Murphy, Business Manager, reported. This was a 3.93% decrease from the same month in the previous year. Year to date the collections were still up 11.18%. Recoveries through audits for the month were $7,534 which brought the year to date total to $233,189. Compared to last year the fund was down 52.728%. For the month $617,297 was collected in the ’67 and ’79 fund and $740,755 was collected in the ’93 and ’00 fund.
Moving on to the financial statement for March 2008, Mr. Murphy called attention to the shaded line on a spreadsheet which showed all of the fund balances. He indicated that all of the funds looked good except for the child nutrition fund. Increased meal prices, which the Board had just voted on, should help remove or lower the deficit of $256,472. The fund may have to be subsidized from the general fund.
Moving on to the health care report for the month ending March 31, 2008, the fund had a loss of $484,872, and year to date the loss was $465,749. He explained that three months of activity/expenses were included but only two months of revenue. One month of revenue was recorded in the previous year. The fund itself is doing fine this year, he communicated.
In a Report of the Superintendent, Mr. Bell said:
1. He would like George Murphy to facilitate a joint meeting of the Building & Grounds and Finance Committees of the Board possibly as early as next week. Mr. Bell wants Architect Mike Walpole to give an update on the prek center, and he will discuss progress made on portable buildings. May 14 is the tentative date of the meeting. He has talked to Gary Stokley, who works for Louisiana Tech and has done these types of studies, the SOS committee, and different groups to try to put together a package with money and facilities to bring a voice-of-the stakeholders-proposal back to the Board for the Choudrant area. He has not forgotten about the Hico/Dubach district and shall also include that area.
2. He is very, very concerned about the legislation relative to the sales and use tax collection. Although the Board had sent a resolution opposing centralized collection, the issue is alive and well. Two of the BESE members indicated earlier in the day that this may very well pass. He is most concerned about those comments and urged members to let the area legislative delegation understand their concerns.
3. State Superintendent Paul Pastorek was in Ruston this past week and spoke to a group at Ruston Elementary as a high performing/high poverty school. It was a very positive visit. Mr. Pastorek has some very strong positions and beliefs on charter schools and vouchers which concern him.
4. A graduation schedule, Lincoln Health Foundation information, and Southern Region Conference registration information were all included in packets.
Following Cathi Cox’s invitation to attend the first Academic Honors Celebration to recognize students in grades 6 - 8 as part of the emphasis on academics in the middle grades, the meeting adjourned at 7:35 p.m.
______________________________
Danny L. Bell, Secretary
______________________________
Otha L. Anders, President