LINCOLN PARISH SCHOOL BOARD

Ruston, Louisiana

REGULAR SESSION

Tuesday, April 6, 2010   6:00 p.m.

The Lincoln Parish School Board met in Regular Session on Tuesday, April 6, 2010, 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 President Otha Anders, Mr. Michael Barmore, Ms. Lisa Best (arrived after the meeting began), 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 the invocation was given by Mr. Mack.  Ms. Harrison led in the Pledge of Allegiance to the American flag.  Mr. Anders welcomed board members, staff, and visitors to the meeting.

Upon a motion by Ms. Best, seconded by Mr. Barmore, the Board unanimously voted to adopt the agenda as printed.

Upon a motion by Mr. Dowling, seconded by Mr. Kessler, the Board unanimously voted to approve the minutes of the Regular Session held on March 2, 2010, as distributed.

Paula Pardue, Secondary Curriculum Coordinator, was delighted to inform the Board that two more students from Lincoln Parish have been selected as a National Merit Finalists. She summarized what the students had gone through before making it to the top 5% of seniors in the nation.  Ms. Pardue introduced Matt Robertson and Collin Smith from Ruston High and allowed them to introduce their guests.  She presented a plaque to Matt and Collin in recognition of being selected as a National Merit Finalists.

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:

In order to comply with state law, Charles Owens requested permission to advertise for bids in order to purchase materials and supplies for the next school year.

Upon a motion by Mr. Mitcham, seconded by Mr. Barmore, the Board unanimously voted to grant permission to advertise for bids for duplicating paper, toilet tissue, paper towels, dust mops, gasoline, and diesel for 10-11.

Architect Greg Wallace is nearing completion of plans for the renovation and construction at Choudrant Elementary.  Architect Mike Walpole is nearing completion of plans relative to the renovation at Ruston High for New Tech, according to Mr. Owens. He allowed both architects to share any changes in plans since their last meeting with the Board.  Mr. Owens recommended that the board grant permission for the advertisement of bids.

Upon a motion by Mr. Barmore, seconded by Mr. Hunt, the Board unanimously voted to grant permission for the advertisement of bids for renovation and construction at Choudrant Elementary and renovation at Ruston High for New Tech.

Ms. Null submitted her annual request for permission to send Letters of Intent to employees so that she could begin planning for the 10-11 school year.

Upon a motion by Mr. Kessler, seconded by Mr. Mack, the Board unanimously voted to grant permission to send Letters of Intent.

The Board was reminded by Business Manager, George Murphy, that each year schools are allocated funds from the 1979 sales tax fund to purchase instructional supplies.  These amounts are distributed on a per pupil basis through the Business Department.  Mr. Murphy proposed the same per pupil allocations from the previous year.  The $79,315.25 distribution he proposed was:

Magazines &                            

Upon a motion by Mr. Dowling, seconded by Mr. Jones, the Board unanimously voted to approve the allocations for 10-11 from 1979 sales taxes as outlined above.

On February 26 the Lincoln Parish SACS district leadership committee hosted state representatives from AdvancEd for the Readiness Visit according to Paula Pardue, Secondary Academic Coordinator.  The purpose of the visit was to assess the district’s “readiness” so that a determination could be made regarding its capacity to meet the AdvancEd standards and be granted candidacy status for accreditation.  The result of the visit was a recommendation and approval of the Lincoln Parish School System as a candidate for accreditation.  The next step in the process is to submit a Letter of Commitment that includes approval by the Lincoln Parish School Board.

Upon a motion by Mr. Jones, seconded by Mr. McKinney, the Board unanimously voted to grant approval for Lincoln Parish School System’s commitment to pursue district accreditation.

Superintendent Danny Bell said significant progress has been made toward New Tech for the coming fall, and he commended Principal Mike Milstead, the staff at Ruston High, and Cathi Cox, Project Director.  Community interest and interest among the student population is exceeding expectations.  He issued an invitation to a meeting next Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. in the auditorium at Ruston High regarding New Tech.  Chamber of Commerce, community businesses, university personnel, and interested parents have been invited.  A more detailed report on New Tech will be given at the May board meeting.

George Murphy, reported that $918,935 was collected March 2010 sales taxes. That was a 5.65% decrease for the month and 26.33% decrease for the year.  Audit recoveries were $36,064 for the month which was up 13.64% compared to the same month last year.  Year-to-date the audit recovery fund was down 47.57%.  Collections in the 1967 and 1979 funds were $417,698, and $501,237 was collected in the 1993 and 2000 funds.

In the financial statement for the month ending February 2010, Mr. Murphy said ad valorem tax money has been received so those funds are doing fine.  The primary areas of concern are the sales tax funds which are still taking a pretty big hit this year.

The health/dental plan was up $544,766 for the year and $254,609 for the month according to George Murphy. 

The Board served as a Committee of the Whole, and the following Personnel Committee agenda items were considered after Mary Null, Director of Curriculum, Instruction, and Special Programs, presented 1-3, and James Payton, Transportation Coordinator, presented 4:

1. Ten qualified applicants for Brenda Theodos’s School Food Service Supervisor position were interviewed by a committee comprised of Chairman, Mary Null, Sallie Evans, Judy Mabry, Tim Nutt, Charles Owens, and Sonja Walker.  It was the recommendation to name Doris Marzett for the position.

    

2. Employment of Kathi Pesnell in a new Interim Early Childhood Administrator slot at the Lincoln Parish Early Childhood Center effective July 19, 2010.

    

   Upon a motion by Mr. Hunt, seconded by Ms. Best, the Board unanimously voted to approve the administrative recommendations.

    

3. Resignation of Kerri McBeth as math teacher at the Career Academy effective March 11, 2010.
    

4. Employment of Ernestine Spearman as bus aide in the Ruston district, effective March 22, 2010, replacing Shondalyn Tucker who resigned.

Upon a motion by Mr. Dowling, seconded by Ms. Harrison, the Board unanimously voted to approve the personnel recommendations.

The time having arrived for the last phase of the Choudrant School District No. 6 bonds, George Murphy said it was time to complete the funding on the project.  He turned the floor over to the bond attorney.

Grant Schlueter presented a Resolution authorizing the advertising for bids for the purchase of nine million dollars of General Obligation Bonds to be received on June 16, 2010.

Upon a motion by Mr. Kessler, seconded by Ms. Best, the Board unanimously voted by roll call to approve the following:

RESOLUTION

Authorizing the advertising for sealed bids for the purchase of Nine Million Dollars ($9,000,000) of General Obligation School Bonds, Series 2010, of Choudrant School District No. 6 of the Parish of Lincoln, State of Louisiana, and providing for other matters in connection therewith.

Two school calendar options for 10-11 were distributed to the schools’ faculties, staff, and bus drivers and also to personnel in the central office, food service, maintenance, pupil appraisal, special education, and Title I.  Both options had later August starting dates than the 09-10 calendar and separate Easter and spring breaks.  Option 1 had a later Spring Break than Option 2.  Seventy-two percent of the employees preferred the Option 1 school calendar; therefore, Mr. Bell asked for its adoption for the next school year.

Upon a motion by Mr. Mitcham, seconded by Mr. Kessler, the Board unanimously voted to adopt the proposed calendar for the 10-11 school year as follows:

Lincoln Parish 2010 - 2011 School Calendar

Because of the vital role of school bus drivers, lunchroom workers, custodians, secretaries, clerical personnel, teacher aides, bus aides, maintenance workers, and para-professionals in the efficient operation of the school system, Mr. Owens recommended that the Board adopt a Resolution designating April 19-23, 2010, as Support Personnel Week.

Upon a motion by Mr. Jones, seconded by Mr. Barmore, the Board unanimously voted to adopt the following:

RESOLUTION

That the Lincoln Parish School Board designates the week of April 19-23, 2010, as Support Personnel Week in Lincoln Parish, and copies of this Resolution be sent to each school in Lincoln Parish and also made a part of the official minutes of the Lincoln Parish School Board.

Approximately 3.25 acres of land located between and behind the softball and baseball fields at Choudrant High School have come up for sale.  The property is between the Board’s property and a railroad track.   Mr. Bell noted that the owner has agreed to accept $25,500, the estimated value from a current appraisal.  Due to the fact that Choudrant High School is land-locked and limited space is available for future expansion of the facilities, the administration felt it would be a wise purchase.  They feel that land acquisition adjacent to school property which is made available at a reasonable asking price should be seriously considered.

Upon a motion by Mr. Kessler, seconded by Mr. Dowling, the Board unanimously voted to grant permission to the superintendent and/or his designee to move forward with the purchase of approximately 3.25 acres of land behind Choudrant High School. 

Because Act 380 of the 2008 Legislative Session requires training certificates of each school board member to be entered into the official minutes of the Board, Superintendent Bell distributed copies and requested permission for them to be entered.

Upon a motion by Mr. Jones, seconded by Mr. Barmore, the Board unanimously voted to attach Exhibits A through L, board members’ 2008-2009 training certificates, and that they be incorporated into the official minutes of the Board by reference.

______________________________        ______________________________

Danny L. Bell, Secretary                         Otha L. Anders, President