LINCOLN PARISH SCHOOL BOARD
Ruston, Louisiana
REGULAR SESSION
Tuesday, September 9, 2008 6:00 p.m.
The Lincoln Parish School Board met in Regular Session on Tuesday, September 9, 2008, at 6:00 p.m. in the Board Room of the Lincoln Parish School Title I Conference Room, 504 East Arizona, Ruston, Louisiana. The meeting, originally scheduled for September 2, 2008, was postponed because of Hurricane Gustov. Members present were Mr. Otha Anders, Mr. Michael Barmore, Ms. Lisa Best, Mr. Curtis Dowling, Ms. Mattie Harrison, Mr. Trott Hunt, Mr. Eddie Jones, Mr. Jim Kessler, Mr. George Mack, Mr. Ted McKinney, and Mr. Joe Mitcham.
Ms. Lynda Henderson was absent.
President 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 those in attendance.
Upon a motion by Ms. Best, seconded by Mr. Jones, the Board unanimously voted by roll call to adopt the agenda as amended adding one item of New Business: Permission to declare classroom furniture as surplus.
Upon a motion by Mr. Barmore, seconded by Mr. Harrison, the Board unanimously voted to approve the minutes of the Regular Session held on August 5, 2008, as distributed.
Project ACHIEVE Coordinator, Cathi Cox, introduced the 08-09 Lincoln Parish Teachers of the Year. The following outstanding teachers were presented with a plaque of appreciation on behalf of the board by Superintendent Danny Bell and a monetary award from their business sponsor for dedication to the profession and to the students:
Karmyn Crowe Rabon - Ruston Elementary - Elem. Division - M. L. Smith
Rachel Tuten Simmons - Ruston Junior High - Jr. High Division - Devon Energy
Penny Warner - Choudrant High - High School Division - Franke Consumer Products
Greg McCarter, a representative of the Ruston-Lincoln Chamber of Commerce, was present and voiced brief comments on their behalf. He thanked the business sponsors with whom he said it would be impossible to promote the school system as they have done.
Ms. Cox thanked Nancy Bergeron, also with the Chamber, for coordinating the Teacher of the Year recognition.
Mr. Anders and Mr. Bell congratulated the Teachers of the Year and expressed the Board’s thanks for being such capable, caring, hardworking individuals.
The Board served as a Committee of the Whole. Before the personnel items were read, Danny Bell asked that the process be changed and future personnel motions be made and voted on without reading each and every line. The following Personnel Committee agenda items were considered after being recommended by Mary Null, Director of Instruction, Personnel, and Special Programs:
1. Resignation of the following:
Tina Brownfield, prekindergarten teacher at Lincoln Center effective August 7, 2008;
Mary Mayfield, math teacher at the Career Academy, effective August 13, 2008, with a defacto resignation; and
Jack Goode, physical education instructor at Ruston Junior High, effective August 8, 2008.
2. Employment of the following effective August 13, 2008, unless stated otherwise:
Kerri McBeth as math teacher at Career Academy, effective August 18, 2008, replacing Mary Mayfield who resigned;
LaToya Gilmore as teacher at Glen View, effective August 26, 2008, because of class size reduction;
April Lewis as special education teacher at Glen View replacing Loriann Norris who resigned;
Lacey Cooper as prekindergarten teacher at Hico Elementary replacing Kelly Caldwell who transferred;
Dennis Hensley as band teacher at I. A. Lewis and Ruston High, effective July 30, 2008, replacing Nathan Mumphrey who resigned;
Vanna Hood as prekindergarten teacher at Lincoln Center replacing Tina Brownfield who resigned;
Susan Edminson as kindergarten teacher at Ruston Elementary, effective August 25, 2008, because of class size reduction;
Alan Whitaker as special education teacher at Ruston Junior High replacing Beverly Beasley who resigned; and
Jessica Aulds as interpreter at Cypress Springs, effective August 14, 2008, replacing Jane Thorson who resigned.
3. Points of Reference/Transfers of the following effective August 13, 2008:
Ginger Schanks transferring from itinerant to speech at Glen View replacing Misty Falting who transferred; and
Misty Falting from Glen View to itinerant speech replacing Ginger Schanks who transferred.
4. Employment of the following effective August 25, 2008:
Carolyn Frost as custodian at Ruston High replacing Dorothy Spencer who resigned; and Levell Jackson as custodian at Ruston High replacing Greg Richards who is out for medical reasons.
Upon a motion by Mr. Dowling, seconded by Mr. Hunt, the Board unanimously voted to approve the personnel recommendations.
The Finance Committee met at 5:45 p.m. just prior to the Board meeting. Chairman, Joe Mitcham, announced that the Committee unanimously voted to recommend to the Board the acceptance of the proposed 08-09 budget. He asked George Murphy, Business Manager, to give a summary.
Mr. Murphy said the proposed budget had an excess of expenditures over revenues for the year of $4,888,209. However the system is fiscally sound because more than $34 million remains in reserves. In fact, he has moved $500,000 to the health care fund in the last two months to help with deficits. Some of the spending highlights of the budget he mentioned were: $7,000,000 for the construction of a pre-k center on land purchased last year, 10% increase to the health care fund, addition of 18 new employees, $95,000 for improvements to the RHS softball field, and $65,000 for technology funding for the 9th grade academy at Ruston High. Employer contributions to the Louisiana Teachers’ Retirement System are 15.5% which has a significant impact on the budget. Mr. Murphy also noted that MFP funding is expected to decrease by $1,504,733 from last fiscal year’s allocation. Finally he communicated that revenues from ad valorem taxes are anticipated to decrease since there were several settlements in last year’s collections.
Otha Anders announced that it was time for a public hearing on the budget. Hearing no comments, the time for a public hearing closed.
After some discussion and questions, Mr. Mitcham reiterated the recommendation of the Finance Committee that the board adopt the 08-09 proposed budget as presented and grant permission for it to be amended throughout the year.
Upon a motion by Mr. Kessler, seconded by Mr. McKinney, the Board unanimously voted to adopt the 08-09 proposed budget as presented, grant permission for the administration to amend the budget as needed throughout the year, and bring a final revised budget to the Board for approval at year-end.
Ms. Mary Null reported that due to careful planning by supervisors, it was a very smooth start of school this year as noted in a recent editorial in the Ruston Daily Leader. The total number of students is up 108 students over the total number on October 1, 2007. However, numbers were down 98 in 06-07 which brings the net gain to 10 students. The growth was spread among several schools.
A brief report on professional personnel staff hiring for 08-09 was given by Ms. Null. She explained the procedure followed when a certified teacher applies for a job in Lincoln Parish. Elementary applicants are interviewed in a job fair-type process by the principals from Choudrant, Hico, Ruston, and Simsboro. Middle school and secondary applicants are given a list of schools in the parish and are encouraged to contact those principals to schedule personal interviews. She called attention to a chart with a breakdown by race/gender and certified/non- certified for those interviewed and hired in the summer of 2008 and total hires for the summers of 2000 through 2008.
Sales tax collections for August 2008 were up 29.81% over the same month last year with a total of $1,460,508 being collected, according to Mr. Murphy. Year-to-date sales tax figures were up 18.45%. Oil and gas extractions are the reasons for the rise. Recoveries through audits were $39,415 for the month and $78,084 for the year which was down 10.43%. In the 67 and 79 sales tax fund, $663,868 was collected, and $796,640 was collected in the 93 and 00 fund.
June and July 2008 financial statements had been included in packets. Mr. Murphy said the general fund had a balance of $12,580,382 as of July 2008. Ad valorem monies had not been collected which affects the 5 mill maintenance and the M & O funds. Those monies should be received in December or January and until then those funds will continue to show a deficit balance. Sales tax funds were doing well.
Following seven months of activity in the system’s health care plan, Mr. Murphy noted a positive balance of $260,023 for the month of July 2008. That was only possible because of a transfer of $1,186,000 which included an extra $500,000. This was the second month in a row that $500,000 was transferred. The second $500,000, which came out of reserve money and was not budgeted, marked the first time since he was employed that the need to dig into reserves in order to pay bills occurred. He felt that this was very significant and mentioned upcoming meetings with an insurance committee to look for ways to keep the health insurance plan viable and fiscally sound.
Superintendent Bell said meetings have been held and are ongoing to discuss facility planning with interested parties in the Hico/Dubach and Choudrant areas. Committee members are getting out in the communities and providing information and seeking feedback. Mr. Barmore and Mr. Kessler gave brief updates on their respective areas and said they feel more positive about the future of their facilities.
In the absence of Director of Auxiliary Services, Charles Owens, Danny Bell requested board approval of a change order for the Ruston Junior High additions and renovations. It was a $29,498 credit and also increased the contract time by three days.
Upon a motion by Mr. Hunt, seconded by Ms. Best, the board unanimously voted to approve the change order for the Ruston Junior High School project.
The last set of policy manual revisions were concentrated mainly on one Louisiana Board of Elementary and Secondary Education (BESE) Bulletin. This set of modifications being proposed by Mr. Bell was based on several different Bulletins. One change even resulted from amendments made to Title 28 of the Louisiana Administrative Code, which serves as BESE’s own version of a policy manual. He asked members to peruse until the October meeting the following policy changes: Superintendent Qualifications (CEA), Inventories (DIC), Student Health Services (JGC), Administration of Medication (JGCD), and Illnesses and Accidents (JGFG); and two new policies: School Census (ADA) and Supplemental Educational Services (IDCJ).
Because the schools in Choudrant have new classroom furniture, the old furniture is no longer needed according to George Murphy. He would like those items to be declared as surplus and disposed of according to applicable board policy and state law.
Upon a motion by Mr. Kessler, seconded by Mr. Barmore, the Board unanimously voted to declare the items as surplus or junk and grant permission for their disposal according to applicable board policy and state law.
In a Report of the Superintendent, Mr. Bell said that:
1. Impact on the district because of Hurricane Gustov was very minimal except for missing two days of school. Extra instructional minutes were built into the 08-09 school calendar so it will not be necessary to make them up. Some costs were expended because of five downed trees at Ruston High. The only other expense involved the school buses transporting those that were in the shelter at the Civic Center to Louisiana Tech for showers. Reimbursement is to be made by FEMA after a claim is filed and proper documentation is collected.
2. The state has granted a submission extension on a grant regarding flex pay for certified teachers and there is a $238,000 allocation specifically for Lincoln Parish which will be connected with performance. He had previously established a plan of performance-type pay for principals and this is a similar plan for teachers only. He and others are working on the grant and will be submitting their proposal to the state. He will share an overview with the board at the October meeting. It will also be shared with principals and teachers at an appropriate time. This is a change he believes may be forthcoming from the state with future pay raises.
3. He wanted board members to take home information that he distributed showing several successes, measurable targets, what’s being done this year, and what the plan will be for the next two years. He is seeing some great things happening in the parish due to the efforts of the schools and is very blessed with his supervisors and coordinators. Many, many good things are going on and coming into play. Having the instructional staff well-trained through quality staff development is the key.
After questions and comments from board members and the public, the meeting adjourned at 7:05 p.m.
Otha L. Anders, President
Danny L. Bell, Secretary