LINCOLN PARISH SCHOOL BOARD
Ruston, Louisiana
REGULAR SESSION
Tuesday, August 4, 2009 6:00 p.m.
The Lincoln Parish School Board met in Regular Session on Tuesday, August 4, 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. Eddie Jones, Mr. Jim Kessler, Mr. George Mack, Mr. Ted McKinney, and Mr. Joe
Mitcham.
No board member was absent.
President Anders called the meeting to order, and Mr. Dowling gave the invocation. Ms. Best led in the Pledge of Allegiance to the American flag, and Mr. Anders welcomed guests to the meeting.
Upon a motion by Mr. Barmore, seconded by Mr. Dowling, the Board unanimously voted to adopt the agenda as printed.
Upon a motion by Mr. Kessler, seconded by Ms. Best, the Board unanimously voted to approve the minutes of the Regular Session held on July 7, 2009, as submitted.
In order to comply with all applicable bulletins, acts of the Legislature, and state regulations, the local Pupil Progression Plan (PPP) must be revised periodically according to Secondary Academic Coordinator, Paula Pardue. This year it was revised to extend the 7 - 12 grading scale to include the 6th grade (except for Choudrant Elementary and Simsboro Schools which would remain under the K - 5 scale because of their physical location). She said that would establish a bridge which would provide for an easy, seamless transition to the 7th grade. The transition would become even more necessary with the expansion of the STEM program at I. A. Lewis, the 6th grade center. Ms. Pardue indicated that an entire copy of the PPP was included in packets for review. She asked the Board to approve the revised Plan.
Upon a motion by Mr. Jones, seconded by Mr. Barmore, the Board unanimously voted to approve the revisions to the Lincoln Parish Pupil Progression Plan as stated above.
Because the old contract has expired, a new contract will need to be secured in order to purchase library books with state and local funds for the 09-10 fiscal year with an option for a renewal for the 10-11 fiscal year, reported Wanda Mitchell, Computer Coordinator. She requested permission to advertise for bids.
Upon a motion by Mr. Mack, seconded by Mr. Harrison, the board unanimously voted to grant permission to advertise for bids to purchase library books with state and local funds for the 09-10 school year with an option for renewal for the 10-11 school year.
George Murphy, Business Manager, reminded Board members that each fall schools are allocated monies from the 1979 sales tax fund for library supplement ($2.50), classroom supplies ($3.75), office supplies and equipment repair/purchase ($4.00), student services ($3.75), and debate and speech ($2.00). These funds are distributed on a per pupil basis and sent directly to the schools to be disbursed by the principal. He recommended sending the per pupil allotments shown above which are the same amounts as last year. Also to be included in the checks are $120 per kindergarten teacher and monies for those schools that have a band program. If approved the total to be disbursed to the schools would be $114,612.50.
Upon a motion by Mr. Kessler, seconded by Mr. Barmore, the Board unanimously voted to approve the annual school allocation of funds for 09-10 from the 1979 sales tax as outlined by Mr. Murphy.
The Board served as a Committee of the Whole, and the following Personnel Committee agenda items were considered after Ms. Null, Director of Curriculum, Instruction, and Special Programs, presented 1.-5. and 9; Charles Owens presented 6; and James Payton, Transportation Coordinator, presented 7.-8:
Resignation of the following:
Amy Green, teacher at Hico Elementary, effective July 21, 2009;
Sandi Singleton, special education teacher at Ruston Elementary, effective July 14, 2009;
Todd Boddie, social studies/coach at Ruston High effective July 28, 2009; and
LaWanda Barnes, physical education teacher at Ruston Junior High, effective July 28, 2009.
Retirement of Sandra Whitman, speech therapist at Ruston Elementary, effective July 31, 2009.
Points of Reference/Transfers of the following effective August 10, 2009, unless noted otherwise:
Sheila Barber, special education teacher, in a new academic interventionist position at Cypress Springs, effective July 27, 2009;
Heather Causey, from Ruston Junior High to special education at Cypress Springs replacing Jill Murphy who is transferring;
Mark Wilson, from I. A. Lewis to sign language assistant at Cypress Springs following deaf students and effective August 13, 2009;
Alice Higginbotham, from Hico Elementary to special education at Dubach High following special education students from Hico;
Amanda Simmons, from Lincoln Center to academic facilitator at Glen View replacing Brenda Carr who is transferring;
Suzanne Tyler, from Choudrant Elementary to special education at Glen View because of increased number of autistic students;
Latisha Freeman, from Cypress Springs to special education at Ruston Elementary replacing Sandi Singleton who was resigning;
Jill Murphy, from Cypress Springs to special education at Ruston High replacing Nancy Giesse who was reassigned;
Kay Darnell, from itinerate to special education at Ruston Junior High replacing Heather Causey who was transferring;
Lillie Williams, from Ruston Junior High to assistant principal at Simsboro High, effective July 13, 2009, replacing Theodis Johnson who was transferring;
Brenda Carr, from Glen View to K - 3 regular education at Youth Rescue Center replacing Connie White who retired;
Diana Grigsby, from Choudrant Elementary to part-time speech therapist at Simsboro High replacing Judy Emory who retired; and
Eva Williams, from I. A. Lewis to itinerate special education replacing Kaye Darnell who was transferring.
Sabbatical requests from the following:
Eddie Thomas, physical education at Choudrant High, for a 1st semester medical sabbatical from August 10, 2009, through January 8, 2010;
Deborah Cramer, physical education at I. A. Lewis, for a professional sabbatical from August 10, 2009, through May 26, 2010; and
Deanna Forester, reading/English at Ruston Junior High, for a 2nd semester sabbatical from January 11, 2010, through May 26, 2010.
Employment of the following effective August 10, 2009, unless noted otherwise:
Michael Giesse, physical education instructor at Choudrant High, replacing Eddie Thomas who requested a sabbatical;
Heather Smith, special education teacher at Cypress Springs, replacing Johnna Cronk who resigned;
Elizabeth Speights, teacher at Cypress Springs replacing Nancy Delafosse who resigned;
Kenya Morris, teacher at Cypress Springs replacing Bobbi Miles who was resigning;
Heather Pixley, teacher at Cypress Springs, in a new position due to increased numbers;
Carla Johnston, special education teacher at Cypress Springs replacing Sheila Barber who was reassigned;
Nina Boddie, interim secretary at I. A. Lewis, effective July 30, 2009, replacing Liz Silmon who was transferring to another position;
Amanda Jordan, physical education instructor at I. A. Lewis replacing Debbie Cramer who requested a sabbatical;
Shelby Mall; special education paraprofessional at I. A. Lewis, effective August 13, 2009, replacing Herbert Piert who resigned;
Tyler Price, special education teacher at Lincoln Parish Career Academy replacing Laundi Williams who was granted a sabbatical;
Tara Griffin, English/language arts teacher at Ruston High replacing Jane Tatum who transferred;
Amy Guerin, STEM at Ruston High in a new part-time slot;
Wendy Scott, in a new sign language assistant position at Ruston High, effective August 13, 2009;
Helene Shaw, family and consumer science teacher at Ruston High replacing Kayla McGuire who resigned;
Aniece Harding, physical education teacher at Ruston Junior High replacing LaWanda Barnes who resigned;
Chris Skinner, math teacher at Ruston Junior High, replacing Lillie Williams who was promoted;
Kim Black, itinerate occupational therapist, in a new position added due to the case load; and
Rachel Wood, physical education teacher at Simsboro High replacing Amanda Jordan who resigned.
Retirement of George Bolton, custodian at Ruston Junior High, effective July 30, 2009.
Resignation of Kim Crowe, bus aide in the Ruston district, effective July 29, 2009.
Employment of Erica Minnifield as bus aide in the Ruston District, effective August 13, 2009, replacing Kim Crowe who resigned.
Resignation of Glenda Douglas, assistant principal at the Career Academy, effective August 5, 2009.
Upon a motion by Mr. Kessler, seconded by Mr. Mitcham, the Board unanimously voted to approve the personnel recommendations.
Mr. Murphy reported that sales tax collections for the month of July 2009, the first month of the 09-10 fiscal year, were $1,085,317 which was down 31% compared to last year. Recoveries through audits were $8,077 which was down 79% compared to last year.
Collections in the ’67 and ’79 fund were $493,326, and $591,990 was collected in the ’93 and ’00 sales tax fund. Primary reasons for the decrease continued to be oil and gas extractions being down 62%, and automotive dealers and service stations were down approximately 30%.
For the first six months of 2009, contributions were in excess of costs; therefore, the health/dental plan had an excess of $497,206 according to Mr. Murphy. For the month of June 2009, the health plan was down $80,618. The higher claim expenses that he had expected did occur in June. Nevertheless it looks like no major changes will need to be made to the plan during the calendar year.
Formal approval was requested by Charles Owens for a change order yielding a credit balance for the Pre-K Center’s site work. Pipe, dirt work, and labor to correct a drainage problem at the southwest corner of the property cost $5,811.93. A portion of a $23,651.50 credit allowance would be used to pay for the work. Mr. Owens requested approval of change order #4 for the site work.
Upon a motion by Mr. Mitcham, seconded by Ms. Best, the Board unanimously voted to approve the change order of $5,811.93 for the Pre-K Center’s site work leaving a credit balance of $17,839.47.
Assistant District Attorney, Andy Shealy, summarized events since Saint-Gobain asked the Board at their October 2008 meeting for an abatement of sales taxes to rebuild two of its furnaces. The glass manufacturer estimated those taxes to run approximately $520,000 for the two-year project. The Governor had recently signed House Bill 320 allowing the Board to grant the exclusion. Mr. Shealy prepared an Ordinance amending the ’67, ’79, ’93, and ’00 sales tax Ordinances so the Board could act on the legislation to fulfill the Board’s October 22, 2008, intent. The exclusion, which would be retroactive to October 22, 2008, and would end October 21, 2010, would only be for a glass container manufacturer with a NAICS code of 327213.
After a question from a reporter regarding the effect the action would have on the employees’ 13th and 14th checks, upon a motion by Ms. Best, seconded by Ms. Henderson, the Board unanimously voted by roll call to adopt the Ordinance excluding certain sales and use taxes on materials needed by Saint-Gobain to repair two furnaces beginning on October 22, 2008, and ending on October 21, 2010.
The Louisiana Department of Education had advertised the allocation of Qualified School Construction Bonds for school districts, and the Lincoln Parish school system applied for $5,087,000. Mr. Murphy said these stimulus monies, originating from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, will be used to construct the Pre-K Center. The goal of the program is for the bondholders to receive a tax credit from the federal government in lieu of interest from the Board. He is working with Community Trust Bank on the project. The Board will be able to earn interest on the funds set aside for repayment without being subject to arbitrage.
Upon a motion by Mr. Hunt, seconded by Mr. Barmore, the Board unanimously voted by roll call to approve the following:
RESOLUTION
Resolution giving preliminary approval to the issuance of not to exceed Five Million Eighty Seven Thousand Dollars ($5,087,000) of Revenue Bonds
(Taxable QSCB), in one or more series, of the Parish School Board of the Parish of Lincoln, State of Louisiana; providing certain terms of said Bonds, making application to the State Bond Commission for the approval of said Bonds, and providing for other matters in connection therewith.
The State Legislative Auditor’s Office requires all Louisiana governmental units to complete a System’s Survey & Compliance Questionnaire and submit it to the independent auditors at the beginning of the financial and compliance audit, George Murphy reported to the Board. He requested approval of the questionnaire.
Upon a motion by Ms. Best, seconded by Mr. Dowling, the Board unanimously voted to approve the System’s Survey & Compliance Questionnaire for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2009, as presented.
Mr. Murphy called attention to the revised budget for 08-09 in order to adjust the original budget to the actual amounts. He noted that the figures in the revised budget came really close to those in the projected budget last September. A beginning budget for 09-10 will be presented at the September board meeting.
Upon a motion by Mr. Mitcham, seconded by Mr. Hunt, the Board unanimously voted to accept the revised budget for the 08-09 fiscal year.
In order to ensure the Louisiana Comprehensive Curriculum is implemented correctly during the upcoming school year, Mr. Null requested that two additional days of staff development be added to the 09-10 school calendar. Because the schools have ample minutes to meet the instructional requirements, she proposed extending the students’ Labor Day weekend by using Tuesday and Wednesday, September 8 and 9, 2009, for those days.
Upon a motion by Mr. Barmore, seconded by Ms. Harrison, the Board unanimously voted to add two additional staff development days to the 09-10 school calendar on Tuesday and Wednesday, September 8 and 9, 2009.
In a Report of the Superintendent, Mr. Bell said that:
A new school year was about to kick off with staff development on Monday and Tuesday, August 10 and 11. He commended the staff who worked on planning those inservices which are to be geared toward this year’s focus. The annual all-faculty workshop will be held in the Ruston High School auditorium on Wednesday, August 12, at 8:15 a.m. Board members were invited to attend and hear a national presenter. Principals will hold meetings with their teachers on Thursday, and Friday, August 14, is the first half-day of school for students.
Annual Disclosure Statements were placed in packets.
He cautioned members to pay special attention to the deadline.
He was one of two representatives from the State of Louisiana to attend the recent Superintendents’ National Academy at Ohio State University. It was a wonderful opportunity for visiting with other superintendents and hearing great presenters and ideas. Mr. Bell appreciated the opportunity and plans to share information at the state level and with the Board at the September or October meeting.
After comments and questions from several members and a motion by Ms. Best, the meeting adjourned at 7:10 p.m.
_____________________________ ______________________________
Danny L. Bell, Secretary Otha L. Anders, President