LINCOLN PARISH SCHOOL BOARD
Ruston, Louisiana
REGULAR SESSION
Tuesday, July 7, 2009 6:00 p.m.
The Lincoln Parish School Board met in Regular Session on Tuesday, July 7, 2009, 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. Jim Kessler, Mr. George Mack, Mr. Ted McKinney, and Mr. Joe Mitcham.
Mr. Eddie Jones was absent.
President Anders called the meeting to order, and Mr. Hunt delivered the invocation. Ms. Henderson led in the Pledge of Allegiance to the American flag. Mr. Anders welcomed Board members, staff, press, principals, and guests.
Upon a motion by Mr. Dowling, seconded by Mr. Hunt, the Board unanimously voted by roll call to adopt the agenda with an addendum adding one item of new business: Bids to purchase weight room equipment for Simsboro.
Upon a motion by Mr. Barmore, seconded by Ms. Best, the Board unanimously voted to approve the minutes of the Regular Session held on June 2, 2009, as distributed.
Superintendent Danny Bell said it was his pleasure to officially recognize the Region VIII Principal of the Year, Mike Milstead. Mr. Bell gave background information on the competition and wished the Ruston High principal well as he moves on to the state level.
For the past few years members of the Choudrant community and school board staff have met to develop a plan to upgrade and renovate the Choudrant schools. On May 28, 2009, a town meeting was held, a plan was presented, and questions were answered. Business Manager, George Murphy, offered two resolutions for the Board’s consideration and turned the floor over to David Henderson, Bond Attorney, with Foley and Judell.
Mr. Henderson asked the Board to amend the agenda to add ”and election call resolutions” to item number 9.1.
Upon a motion by Mr. Kessler, seconded by Mr. Hunt, the Board unanimously voted by roll call to amend the agenda to make item 9.1 read Choudrant capital improvements plan and election call resolutions.
Mr. Henderson briefly explained the two propositions which were being considered. Proposition 1 calls for a bond election for capital improvements that would be paid out over twenty years at 21.0 mills. There are no current outstanding bonds in the Choudrant district. Proposition 2 calls for a maintenance and operation tax for ten years at 3.00 mills. Choudrant is the only district that presently has no specific district millage for the purpose of maintenance and operation. The bond issue should bring in approximately $9,000,000, and $87,000 a year is expected from the levy of the property tax. Two resolutions would be necessary in order to proceed: one approving the Capital Improvements Plan and the other calling for an October 17, 2009, election.
Upon a motion by Mr. Kessler, seconded by Mr. Dowling, the Board unanimously voted 11 - 0 by roll call vote to adopt the following:
RESOLUTION
A resolution approving the "CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS PLAN," designating purposes for which proceeds of a proposed bond issue will be budgeted, and otherwise providing with respect thereto.
Upon a motion by Mr. Kessler, seconded by Ms. Best, the Board unanimously voted 11 - 0 by roll call vote to adopt the following:
RESOLUTION
A resolution ordering and calling a special election to be held in Choudrant School District No. 6 of the Parish of Lincoln, State of Louisiana, to authorize the incurring of debt and issuance of bonds and the levy of a special tax therein; making application to the State Bond Commission in connection therewith; and providing for other matters in connection therewith.
The Board served as a Committee of the Whole, and the following Personnel Committee agenda items were considered after Mary Null, Director of Instruction, Personnel, and Special Programs, recommended 1.-4., and James Payton, Transportation Coordinator, presented 5:
Resignation of the following effective June 2, 2009, unless otherwise noted:
Chris Skinner, math teacher at Choudrant High;
Ricky Mitchell, guidance counselor at Choudrant High, effective July 3, 2009;
Nancy Delafosse, teacher at Cypress Springs;
Bobbie Miles, teacher at Cypress Springs;
Liz Dickson, science teacher at Dubach High;
Barry Carter, P.E./coach at Dubach High;
Kylie Williams, teacher at Ruston Elementary;
Glenn Dowden, special education teacher at Ruston High;
Kayla McGuire, family and consumer science teacher at Ruston High;
Kristina Byrd, science teacher at Ruston Junior High;
Chanel Fields, ELA teacher at Ruston Junior High; and
Meg Harrington, teacher at Simsboro Elementary.
Retirement of Marilyn Blachier, gifted and talented teacher at Glen View, effective June 2, 2009.
Points of Reference/Transfers of the following effective August 10, 2009:
Theodis Johnson, from Simsboro High, to P.E./coach at Dubach High replacing Barry Carter who resigned;
Kathy League, from Ruston Elementary, to teacher at Glen View, replacing Sheila Malone who resigned;
Latoya Gilmore, from Glen View, to teacher at Ruston Elementary, replacing Kathy League who transferred;
Jane Tatum, from teacher at Ruston High, to counselor in the Ruston High Career Center replacing Barbara Torbor who resigned;
Jonathan Hood, from math at Simsboro High, to elementary P.E. at Simsboro Elementary replacing Kathy Bayne who retired; and
Shelia Nugent, from Ruston Elementary, to teacher at Simsboro Elementary replacing Beth Waldron who transferred to the high school.
Employment of the following effective August 10, 2009, unless indicated otherwise:
Rachel Browning, ELA teacher at Choudrant High, replacing Linda Leggett who transferred;
Harriett Fletcher, guidance counselor at Choudrant High, effective July 13, 2009, replacing Ricky Mitchell who resigned;
Kara Lynn Patrick, math teacher at Choudrant High, replacing Chris Skinner who resigned;
Shaleigh Lamkin, secretary at Choudrant High, effective July 30, 2009, replacing Kathy Farmer who retired;
Susan Strain Williams, science teacher at Dubach High, effective July 30, 2009, replacing Kathy Barnes who resigned;
Samantha Lantrip, teacher at Hillcrest Elementary, replacing LeeAnn Patterson who transferred;
Aquanetta Archangel, math teacher at I. A. Lewis, replacing Alisa Antley who transferred;
Ashley Cripps, teacher at Ruston Elementary, replacing Greta Otwell who promoted;
Shelli Quayhagen, teacher at Ruston Elementary, replacing Shelia Nugent who transferred;
Evanie Tims, teacher at Ruston Elementary, replacing Linda Gilley who retired;
Myesha Varner, teacher at Ruston Elementary, replacing Kylie Williams who resigned;
Donnie Bartlett, ELA part-time at Ruston High, replacing Kay Bradford who transferred.
Kim Goree, English teacher at Ruston High, replacing Hope Britt who resigned;
Randall Wood, assistant band director at Ruston High, effective July 27, 2009, replacing Dennis Hensley who resigned;
Pat Edington, science teacher at Ruston Junior High, replacing Kristina Byrd who resigned;
Crystal Ehrhard, family and consumer science teacher at Ruston Junior High and Ruston High, in a new itinerant position.
Roxanne Holton, social studies teacher at Ruston Junior High, replacing Leon Moore who resigned;
Katherine Walker, ELA teacher at Ruston Junior High, replacing Angie Brewer who transferred;
Kayla Walthall, ELA teacher at Ruston Junior High, replacing Chanel Fields who resigned; and
Haley Hay, teacher at Simsboro Elementary, replacing Meg Harrington who resigned.
Employment of the following bus aides in the Ruston area effective August 13, 2009:
Sharion Brown, replacing Olivin Brewster who retired; and
Kim Crowe, replacing Martha Montgomery who resigned.
Upon a motion by Mr. Dowling, seconded by Mr. Barmore, the Board unanimously voted to approve the personnel recommendations.
Because studies indicate that truancy is a gateway to juvenile delinquency and adult crime, Truancy Assessment Services Center (TASC), a joint endeavor of the district attorney’s office and the school district, was designed to reduce truancy in elementary schools. Assistant District Attorney, Andy Shealy, gave a brief report on the TASC and their involvement with the students during the 08-09 school year. Referrals totaled 657 with 401 of the students being in kindergarten through fifth grades, the primary target area. He was delighted to report that more than 85.6% of those targeted for intervention met attendance requirements at the end of the year. Early intervention to keep students in school is the purpose as two-thirds to four-fifths of adult prisoners are high-school dropouts. In addition drop-outs are more likely to need government assistance and earn an estimated $7,000 a year less than high-school graduates. Mr. Shealy and Mrs. Patsy Bullock, heading up the truancy department, closed by thanking the Board and school system for their involvement and cooperation.
Mr. Shealy gave an update on Saint-Gobain’s tax abatement or exclusion. He said House Bill 320 allowing the Board to grant the same had passed and was awaiting the Governor’s signature. Mr. Shealy felt that it would be premature to take any formal action; however, once it is enacted it would be encumbered on the Board to act on that legislation to fulfill the Board’s October 22, 2008, intent. He indicated that a tax abatement or exclusion policy will need to be considered after the Saint-Gobain issue has been settled.
Ms. Null was very excited to share something the staff and all of the administrators had been working on for a long time which could be one of the most important things to happen at the Lincoln Parish School Board and to its focus. She took them on a quick virtual tour of the Louisiana Comprehensive Curriculum which was written in 2005 and revised in 2008. It was apparent what a wonderful resource it was and could be for the teachers because of its alignment with state content standards as defined by grade-level expectations and organization into coherent, time-bound units with sample activities, and classroom assessments to guide teaching and learning. Ms. Null communicated that the goal is to work smarter.
A totally free-of-charge summer school for 4th, 8th, and high school students who needed remediation in math and/or English/language arts began on June 2 according to Jan Murphy, Elementary Supervisor. The program had a total of 14 instructional days beginning at 7:30 a.m. and ending at 3:30 p.m. Breakfast and lunch were served to the students. Approximately 162 eligible fourth and eighth grade students attended summer school with 27 teachers, 2 paraprofessionals, 1 deaf interpreter, a computer lab manager, a discipline coordinator, and a summer school coordinator. Six teachers were hired for the GEE summer school program with 18 students participating in ELA and 18 participating in math. One principal was hired for both remediation summer school programs. Results of the summer LEAP and GEE tests are scheduled for August 8 and will be used for grade placement of the students in the fall.
Lincoln Parish was awarded an almost $70,000 High School Redesign-Credit Recovery grant with a goal of increasing on-time promotions of students, decreasing course failures and the number of drop outs, increasing the number of credits earned, and increasing the graduation rate. Paula Pardue, Secondary Academic Coordinator, said several schools offered tutoring during twilight school (3:15 - 5:00 p.m.). Ruston High offered tutoring during 0-hour (6:40 - 7:40 a.m.), Saturday school (8:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.), and extended school during the month of June (8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m., Monday - Friday). During the period covered by the grant, the end of January through the end of June, 61 students earned a total of 45 credits. All 21 of the seniors earned the credits necessary for graduation.
Ms. Null reminded the Board that the Governor awarded a one-time grant to the districts last summer called Flex Pay or Merit Pay. The objectives the administration chose were:
1. To raise the percentage of students (whole school) scoring at the ”PROFICIENT” level on state assessments in ELA and/or math by 10% or greater; and
2. To increase the number of ADVANCED and/or MASTERY units on state assessments (LEAP, iLEAP, GEE) at each school by 10% or greater.
She was happy to report that 6 of the 14 schools met objective 1; therefore, 198 employees received incentive pay totaling $204,275 which was 90% of the state allotment. Nine of the 14 schools met objective 2, and 365 employees received additional monies totaling $24,000 which was 10% of the allotment. Glen View, Career Academy, and Simsboro met both of the objectives.
A third objective was added, using local funds:
To increase teacher attendance thereby decreasing certificated absences requiring eligible certificated teachers to miss no more than one school day - personal or sick.
Ninety employees met the criteria for objective 3 for the grant period of October 1 through the end of school. Sixty-four missed no days. Six missed a half day, and 20 missed one day. There were only 28 employees who missed no more than 1 day in 2008.
Ms. Null expressed the administration’s pride in the schools’ faculties that met the Flex Pay/Merit Pay objectives during the 08-09 school year.
George Murphy presented the final sales tax collection report for the 08-09 fiscal year. Collections for the month ending June 30, 2009, were $1,239,862. This was 2.71% lower than the same month last year but a 1.79% increase for the year. Even though sales taxes had decreased over the last few months, the past month was not as bad as the previous month. The sales tax funds ended up in relatively good shape. Recoveries through audits were $646,598 for the year which was $368,189 higher than the previous year. Collections in the 1967 and 1979 fund were $563,574, and $676,287 was collected in the 1993 and 2000 sales tax fund.
In his summary of the May financial statement, Mr. Murphy said he wanted to focus on the general fund. Year-to-date the general fund was down a little over $4 mill which was discussed last month. Money was transferred out of that fund into the capital improvements fund for the parish to pay for the Pre-K Center. He moved $5 million out of the fund in the month of May. The other $2 million was taken from the 2000 ad valorem tax fund in May also. The 5 mill maintenance fund has a $275,000 deficit even though two $250,000 transfers were already made into that fund. Roofing in Choudrant and flooring throughout the district were the primary reasons for the expenditures from that ad valorem fund. The child nutrition fund has done well this year and was in the black. The ’79, ’67, ’93, ’00 sales tax funds through May are all showing in the black; in June, the 14th check payments were made from those funds and the ’00 ad valorem tax fund. The remaining funds are fine and are indicative of a pretty good year financially.
For the month of May 2009, the self-insured health program had an excess of $38,715, Mr. Murphy reported. Year-to-date for five months the program was up $577,824. He reminded the Board that significant claims costs for the next few months are anticipated. It appears that changes made to the plan last year will be sufficient, and no significant changes will be necessary this year.
In the process of the construction of an addition at Glen View Elementary, Charles Owens mentioned that verbal approval had been given for one change. He came before the Board to ask for formal approval of the change order adding neither money nor days to the project. He listed the monetary breakdown as follows:
Item 1: Add double egress doors in place of existing storefront $ 2,865.00
Item 2: Cast bronze plaque - credit ($ 800.00)
Item 3: Contingency allowance - credit ($ 2,065.00)
Upon a motion by Ms. Best, seconded by Mr. Mack, the Board unanimously voted to approve the change order for the new addition at Glen View Elementary.
Mr. Owens reported that two changes were necessary in order to complete dirt work for the Pre-K Center. He asked the Board’s approval of a change order adding $1,475.33 to that project. No additional days were necessary. Breakdown of the request was:
Item 1: Bring a ditch to correct pipe grade $ 1,175.33
Item 2: Remove and dispose of unknown manhole $ 300.00
Upon a motion by Mr. Barmore, seconded by Mr. Dowling, the Board unanimously voted to approve the change order adding $1,475.33 to the Pre-K Center project.
It was nearing the time to wrap up the site work for the Pre-K Center and begin the construction phase of the project. Charles Owens requested permission to execute Substantial Completion documents for the project based on the recommendation of the engineer after his preparation of the final punch list and other appropriate paperwork. This would be executed only conditionally following appropriate and thorough review by the owner and engineer.
Upon a motion by Mr. Kessler, seconded by Ms. Harrison, the Board unanimously voted to grant permission and authorize the superintendent, his staff, and the engineer to execute the Substantial Completion documents for the site work for the Pre-K Center provided that all applicable items on the punch list were cleared.
Four qualified bids were opened on July 1, 2009, so that weight room equipment for Simsboro High could be purchased. Power Lift submitted the low bid on racks, platforms, and benches at $25,559.23, and Free Motion Fitness was the low bidder on the hamstring, seated quad, and dual cable cross at $16,002.00. The total amount of both bids including freight was $43,241.23. It was noted that the other two bids did not meet specifications. Mr. Owens requested permission to proceed with the purchase.
Upon a motion by Mr. Dowling, seconded by Ms. Henderson, the Board unanimously voted to accept Power Lift’s bid of $25,559.23 for racks, platforms, and benches, and Free Motion Fitness’s bid of $16,002.00 for the hamstring, seated quad, and dual cable cross for the weight room at Simsboro High School.
In a Report of the Superintendent, Mr. Bell said that:
He plans to use part of the stimulus money for GEE 21 remediation and LEAP 21 tutoring because of state cuts. Approximately eight projects have been cut 100%. The state had provided $131,283 for LEAP 21 tutoring and approximately $10,218 for GEE 21. Although those programs are mandated by the state, an estimated $150,000 is being cut. Mr. Bell has no other available funding source, so he is going to pick up funding for tutoring for the children who are unsuccessful with the state assessments or that teachers view at risk of not being able to pass the state assessments due to their skill levels. The stimulus money will be filling in on that if the spending project is approved.
He is proud and wanted to publicly thank two interim employees brought in this year: James Payton, Transportation Coordinator, and Brenda Theodos, Child Nutrition Program Supervisor. Mr. Bell indicated that both of them have done a tremendous job and have agreed to stay another year. He also thanked Willie Washington, Title I Director, who closed the year at I. A. Lewis following the departure of the principal.
Jon Guice, Attorney with Hammonds & Sills, will be providing training for school board members on Saturday, July 25. He requested that board members let Becky Gemelli know if there were any changes in their plans.
A revised superintendent’s evaluation form was placed in the back of the packets. He offered members a chance to complete the evaluation and return it. Mr. Bell said he appreciates the feed back.
Board meeting dates for next year were also placed in packets.
Following a comment from one board member, the meeting adjourned at 7:41 p.m.
__________________________ ___________________________
Danny L. Bell, Secretary Otha L. Anders, President