LINCOLN PARISH SCHOOL BOARD
Ruston, Louisiana
REGULAR SESSION
Tuesday, June 2, 2009 6:15 p.m.
The Lincoln Parish School Board met in Regular Session on Tuesday, June 2, 2009, at 6:15 p.m. at Ruston High School, 900 Bearcat Drive, Ruston, Louisiana. Members present were Mr. Otha Anders, Mr. Michael Barmore, Ms. Lisa Best, Mr. Curtis Dowling, Ms. Mattie Harrison, Ms. Lynda Henderson, Mr. Eddie Jones, Mr. Jim Kessler, Mr. George Mack, Mr. Ted McKinney, and Mr. Joe Mitcham.
Mr. Trott Hunt was absent.
Prior to the meeting, 08-09 retirees of the Lincoln Parish School System were honored with a reception in the lobby of the school.
President Otha Anders called the meeting to order, and Mr. Barmore gave the invocation. Ms. Harrison led in the Pledge of Allegiance to the American flag followed by Mr. Anders’ welcome to board members, staff, press, retirees, and other special guests.
Upon a motion by Mr. Barmore, seconded by Mr. Dowling, the Board unanimously voted to adopt the agenda as printed.
Upon a motion by Ms. Best, seconded by Ms. Henderson, the Board unanimously voted to approve the minutes of the Regular Session held on May 5, 2009, as distributed.
Prior to the recognition of the retirees, Superintendent Danny Bell thanked Ruston High School principal, Mike Milstead, and his staff for inviting the Board to the school for supper, a tour of the renovated facility, and the meeting. He announced that Mr. Milstead had recently been selected as Regional Principal of the Year. Mr. Bell congratulated Mr. Milstead, and wished him well as he moves on to state competition.
At this point in the meeting, the 17 retirees honored with an earlier reception were presented with small gifts and certificates of appreciation for a total of 412 years of faithful and dedicated service to the parish. Retirees were as follows:
NAME SCHOOL YRS. IN LINCOLN TOTAL YEARS
Kathy Bayne Simsboro High (Teacher) 31 33
Marilyn Blachier Glen View Elem. (Teacher) 20 25.5
Patricia Edington Ruston Junior High (Teacher) 7 31
Judy Emory Simsboro High (Teacher) 30 30
Linda Gilley Ruston Elementary (Teacher) 21 30
Deborah Key Hico Elementary (Teacher) 33 33
Judy Pylant Hico Elementary (Teacher) 33 34
Kaye Rabb Glen View Elem. (Teacher) 23 33
Bonnie Thomason Itinerant (Teacher) 23.5 34.5
John Wallace Ruston High (Teacher) 24 28
Kathie Farmer Choudrant High (Bookkeeper) 25 25
Anita Jones Ruston High (Secretary) 30 30
Joe Holland Ruston (Bus Driver) 20 20
Olivin Anne Brewster Ruston (Bus Aide) 28 28
Annie Canty Alma J. Brown (Food Service) 20 20
Marcie Gray Glen View Elem. (Food Service) 13 13
Mary Jones Choudrant Elem. (Food Service) 31 31
Mr. Anders thanked the retirees for their years of service and dedication, offered congratulations on their retirement, and wished them well.
Director of Auxiliary Services, Charles Owens, reported that six qualified bids for the construction of a Pre-K Center were opened on May 14, 2009. Don Barron initially came in as low bidder; however, after examining their numbers they withdrew their bid. The next lowest bidder was Traxler Construction Co., Inc. with a base bid of $4,576,000. Three additive alternates were received with their bid: the first being four additional classrooms, the second being a blazed tile base in lieu of a rubber cove base, and the third being the completion of the north drive connecting to Georgia Avenue. Realizing that Traxler’s bid and alternates were below the total projected cost of the Pre-K Center, Mr. Owens asked the Board to approve Traxler as the low bidder with all three of the alternates.
Architect Mike Walpole reiterated that Barron was originally the low bidder but notified him within the forty-eight hour deadline that they wished to withdraw their bid because of an error in tabulation. He noted that Traxler has done several of the recent jobs for the school system, and he recommends taking their base bid and all of the alternates for a total of $5,087,000.
Upon a motion by Mr. Mitcham, seconded by Mr. Dowling, the Board unanimously voted to accept the base bid with the three alternates, $5,087,000, submitted by Traxler Construction Co., Inc., and approve this construction company as the low bidder and contractor for the new Pre-K Center.
Bid opening was held on May 15, 2009, for the purchase of the following items for the 09-10 school year: duplicating paper, paper towels, toilet tissue, gasoline, diesel, and dust mop rentals. After providing an explanation of a 10% preference to companies that manufacture or process their products in the state of Louisiana, Charles Owens recommended that the Board accept the lowest bids meeting specifications.
Upon a motion by Mr. Mack, seconded by Mr. Barmore, the Board unanimously voted to accept the lowest bids meeting specifications for the purchase of materials and supplies for the 09-10 school year as shown below:
COMpany Submitting Bid
Jackson Paper Co. 1,600 Cases of Copy Paper
Price Per Unit: $27.75
Total for 1,600 Cases: $44,400.00
Jackson Paper Co. 600 Cases of Paper Towels
Price Per Case: $14.77
Total for 600 Cases: $8,862.00
Jackson Paper Co. 300 Cases of Toilet Tissue
Price Per Case: $33.85
Total for 600 Cases: $10,155.00
Hill Oil Company Gasoline & Diesel
Unleaded Regular Cost + .0985 gallon
Unleaded Plus Cost + .0985 gallon
Unleaded Premium Cost + .0985 gallon
Road-Use Diesel Cost + .1025 gallon
Off Road Diesel Cost + .1225 gallon
KAPS Textile Service Dust Mop Rentals
18 inch .40 each weekly
36 inch .69 each weekly
48 inch .79 each weekly
A representative from Indigo Minerals, LLC, had shared their desire to lease oil, gas, and minerals from property the Board owns in Simsboro with George Murphy, Business Manager. Mr. Murphy presented a resolution authorizing Argent Property Services, LLC, to act on behalf of the Board in granting that lease.
Joe Rainer, representative with Argent, was present to help with questions, but none were voiced.
Upon a motion by Mr. Kessler, seconded by Mr. Jones, the Board unanimously voted by roll call to adopt the following:
RESOLUTION
Authorizing Argent Property Services, LLC to act on behalf of the Lincoln Parish School Board for the advertising and granting of a paid-up oil, gas, and mineral lease by Indigo Minerals of the Simsboro School property.
Verbal approval had been given by the administration for a change order dealing with the Pre-K Center construction project. Mr. Owens noted that stabilizing the bedding for pipe for the twin 48” main drain lines costs $1,547.81. The contract time period would be unchanged. He requested that the Board formally approve the change order.
Upon a motion by Ms. Best, seconded by Mr. Jones, the Board unanimously voted to approve the change order adding $1,547.81 to the Pre-K Center construction project.
Although sales tax collection declined during the months of February, March, and April, because of the accumulated reserve in the sales tax funds, George Murphy recommended and Mr. Bell concurred that June salary supplement checks be paid to employees as follows: $5,025 to certified and $2,513 to support employees. These suggested amounts were the same as last year. Mr. Murphy requested the Board’s approval of the payment amounts and reminded board members that the checks are based on actual collections. There is no guarantee that the same amounts will be paid next year.
Upon a motion by Mr. Barmore, seconded by Mr. Jones, the Board unanimously voted to approve the payment of salary supplement checks on June 26, 2009, in the amounts of $5,025 for certified staff and $2,513 for support staff.
Each year the governmental agencies which compose the Sales and Use Tax Commission must consider and approve the Commission’s proposed budget. Mr. Mitcham presented the proposed $393,500 budget for examination and called attention to a $100,000 contract auditor fee addition from the previous year.
Administrator for the Commission, Jerry Moore, noted that the contract auditors had been working on a contingency plan but are now being paid by the hour. He indicated that this must now be included in the budget; however, he believes they will pay for themselves.
Upon a motion by Mr. Jones, seconded by Mr. Kessler, the Board unanimously voted to approve the 09-10 Sales and Use Tax Commission’s budget of $393,500.
Prior to the Choudrant capital improvement project proposition being presented to the voters, certain capital expenditures may be paid from the general fund, according to George Murphy. Upon the issuance of the bonds, reimbursement would be made to the general fund for those expenditures. He presented a resolution to that effect.
Upon a motion by Mr. Kessler, seconded by Ms. Henderson, the Board unanimously voted by roll call to adopt the following:
RESOLUTION
Declaring the intention of the parish School Board of the Parish of Lincoln that certain expenditures made in connection with capital school projects be reimbursed with the proceeds of tax-exempt borrowings.
The time had arrived to adopt millages for 2009, and Mr. Murphy distributed a resolution containing that information. Two parish-wide millages and the Dubach maintenance and operation millage were levied at the rates that the voters approved when they were renewed in 2008. The Simsboro debt service millage was reduced from 9.5 to 9.0 due to less collections being needed to service the bonds. All of the other millages remained the same. He asked the Board to adopt the Resolution levying the millages.
President Anders announced that this was the time specified for a public hearing regarding tax millages for 2009. Hearing no comments or questions, he asked for the Board’s pleasure regarding the matter.
Upon a motion by Mr. Jones, seconded by Mr. Dowling, the Board unanimously voted to approve the resolution setting millages for 2009 as follows:
Resolution
Constitutional Tax (La. Const. Art. VII, Sect. 13) 4.23 mills
Special Maintenance & Operation 4.94 mills
Special Repair & Equipment 4.94 mills
Parish wide Maintenance & Operation 10.25 mills
Parish wide Maintenance & Operation 8.49 mills
Ruston School District #1 2.61 mills
Simsboro School District #3 2.99 mills
Dubach School District #5 3.25 mills
General Obligation Bonds Ruston SD #1 11.50 mills
General Obligation Bonds Simsboro SD #3 9.00 mills
Voting by roll call FOR the above motion: Otha Anders, Michael Barmore, Lisa Best, Curtis Dowling, Mattie Harrison, Lynda Henderson, Eddie Jones, Jim Kessler, George Mack, Ted McKinney, and Joe Mitcham.
Voting AGAINST the motion: None.
Absent and not voting: Trott Hunt.
In accordance with state law, a solicitation for proposals was sent to the two newspapers in Lincoln Parish in order to name an official journal for the upcoming year. The Morning Paper proposed $4.50 per square with a $ .75 reduction if submitted on disk or e-mail. The Ruston Daily Leader offered $3.75 per legal square with a .50 discount per square if submitted by disk or e-mail. President Anders asked the Board’s preference.
Upon a motion by Mr. Mitcham, seconded by Mr. Dowling, the Board unanimously voted to name The Ruston Daily Leader as the official journal for fiscal year 09-10.
Mr. Owens indicated that three vehicles, five mowers, and seven buses are of no further use. He recommended that the Board declare them as surplus and grant permission for their disposal through the bid process or sell to the highest bidder if a minimum bid is not received.
Upon a motion by Ms. Best, seconded by Mr. Barmore, the Board unanimously voted to declare the three vehicles, five mowers, and four buses as surplus and grant permission to dispose of them through the bid process or sell to the highest bidder if a minimum bid is not received.
As a result of the weight room renovation at Simsboro High, Mr. Owens requested permission to advertise for bids to purchase weight equipment.
Upon a motion by Mr. Dowling, seconded by Mr. Jones, the Board unanimously voted to grant permission to advertise for bids to purchase new weight equipment for the newly renovated weight room at Simsboro High School.
The Board served as a Committee of the Whole, and the following Personnel Committee agenda items were considered after being presented by Mary Null:
Resignation of the following effective June 2, 2009, unless otherwise noted:
Johnna Cronk, special education at Cypress Springs;
April Lewis, special education at Glen View;
Deborah Ann Smithey, special education at Glen View;
Dennis Hensley, band at Ruston High/I. A. Lewis, effective June 16, 2009;
Leon Moore, social studies/coach at Ruston Junior High; and
Amanda Jordan, physical education at Simsboro High.
Retirement of the following effective June 2, 2009, unless noted otherwise:
Linda Gilley, teacher at Ruston Elementary;
Kathy Bayne, physical education at Simsboro High; and
Olivin Anne Brewster, bus aide in the Ruston District, effective May 30, 2009.
Points of Reference/Transfers of the following effective August 3, 2009, unless otherwise noted:
Shavonne Price from the Career Academy to coordinating teacher at I. A. Lewis replacing Lisa Mangum who promoted;
Greta Otwell, from teacher at Ruston Elementary to coordinating teacher at Ruston Elementary replacing Pam Harris who promoted; and
Alisa Antley from I. A. Lewis to math at Ruston Junior High replacing Cecil Barham who resigned.
4. Employment of Lt. Col Dan Simonsen as ROTC instructor at Ruston High, effective July 13, 2009, replacing Burnie Watson who resigned.
Upon a motion by Ms. Best, seconded by Ms. Harrison, the Board unanimously voted to accept the personnel recommendations as presented.
Donna Doss, School Improvement/Accountability Coordinator, distributed four items of interest: LEAP/GEE percentage comparisons for Lincoln Parish and the state, LEAP/GEE percentage comparisons for Lincoln Parish for 2008-2009, State Department’s reports for grades 3-11 showing % comparisons of the individual schools to the district and to the state, and a newspaper article from the News Star dated May 21, 2009. She indicated that the positives far outweigh the negatives. Significant increases were noted in some areas with the greatest areas of concern being 4th grade science and 8th grade math and science. The greatest cause for celebration were the increases in the numbers of students who passed the GEE for high school graduation. Lincoln Parish ranked first in the northeast region of the state in students scoring advanced or mastery in the mathematics and the science components, second in advanced or mastery in the English component, and tied for second in advanced or mastery in social studies. Ms. Doss communicated that administrators will continue to seek ways to improve student academic achievement.
Use of federal economic stimulus money was the next report on the agenda. Willie Washington, Director of Title I, said he will use his allotment of $1,157,208 to improve strategies to close the achievement gap and improve the economy. His grant will focus on pillar 4 and will pay teachers and aides to extend hours, days, weeks, and months of class time at Cypress Springs and Ruston Elementary during the next two years to help improve the performance of at-risk students.
Kathy Shipp, Supervisor of Special Education, said another $1,757,847 will fund more intensive special education and will focus on all 4 pillars. The money will be spent on technology, transition, curriculum, and at the junior high and high school levels to minimize the number of students who drop out.
Mr. Murphy presented a sales tax report for the month ending May 2009. Accumulations were down 23.07% for the month with $988,748 being collected. This was a 2.19% decrease year-to-date which he attributed to another drop in oil and gas extractions and automobile sales. Recoveries through audits were $103,904 for the month which was a 327.85% rise. Collections in the 1967 and the 1979 sales tax fund were $449,431, and $539,317 went into the 1993 and 2000 fund.
He also delivered an April 2009 financial update and indicated that it was very similar to the previous months with only one fund showing a deficit, the 5 mill maintenance fund. The May spreadsheet will show a $5,000,000 transfer from the general fund and a $2,000,000 transfer from the 2000 ad valorem tax fund to a parish-wide capital project fund. The first project to be funded will be the Pre-K Center. Mr. Murphy is sure, in conjunction with that project, that change orders, furniture, and other necessary expenditures will be forthcoming. He noted that the other funds are doing pretty well and closed by saying that the sales tax funds will fund the 14th checks and the reserves will help if losses continue.
Moving on to the health and dental plan, George Murphy said an excess of assets over expenditures of $228,559 was experienced for the month of April 2009. Year-to-date, after four months, that fund is up $539,109. After a recent meeting with Covenant, he has discovered that trends are on the high side of predictions, and costs may continue to rise.
Mr. Bell informed board members that John Guice will provide four hours of training to meet the requirements of Act 380 of the 2008 Legislative Session at no charge on Saturday, July 25, 2009, beginning at 9:00 a.m. in the board room. Members were urged to let Becky Gemelli know if they would like to attend. An agenda will be disseminated at a later date.
In a Report of the Superintendent, Mr. Bell conveyed that he will have information on flex/merit pay breakdown and a tax abatement/exclusion policy at the July meeting. He might also have more information on the Choudrant bond proposal at that time.
After comments from a couple of board members, the meeting adjourned at 7:46 p.m.
__________________________ ___________________________
Danny L. Bell, Secretary Otha L. Anders, President