LINCOLN PARISH SCHOOL BOARD
Ruston, Louisiana
REGULAR SESSION
Tuesday, June 8, 2010 6:15 p.m.
The Lincoln Parish School Board met in Regular Session on Tuesday, June 8, 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 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.
Prior to the meeting, 09-10 retirees of the Lincoln Parish School System were honored with a reception in the lobby of the school board office.
President Otha Anders called the meeting to order, and Mr. Kessler gave the invocation. Ms. Henderson 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. Kessler, seconded by Mr. Barmore, the Board unanimously voted to adopt the agenda as printed.
Upon a motion by Mr. Barmore, seconded by Ms. Harrison, the Board unanimously voted to approve the minutes of the Regular Session held on May 4, 2010, as distributed.
At this point in the meeting, the 24 retirees honored with an earlier reception were presented with small gifts and certificates of appreciation for a total of 534 years of faithful and dedicated service to the parish. Retirees were as follows:
NAME SCHOOL YRS. IN LINCOLN TOTAL YEARS
David Ferguson L. P. Career Academy (Principal) 10 35
Earlene Jackson Simsboro High (Principal) 29 37
Bettye Anders Cypress Springs (Teacher) 40.5 42.5
Deborah Abrahm Glen View Elem. (Teacher) 30 35.5
Mollie Allen Choudrant High (Teacher) 11 30
Mary Cato Hico Elementary (Teacher) 18 33
Linda Dick Dubach High (Teacher) 24 30
Peggy Fallin Ruston Junior High (Teacher) 22 25.5
Marilyn Ferguson Pupil Appraisal 24 35
Billy Graham L. P. Career Academy (Teacher) 12.5 17.5
Albert Hunter Cypress Springs (Teacher) 31 31
Debra Minnifield Ruston Elementary (Teacher) 18 33
Pam Villagran I. A. Lewis (Teacher) 5 21.5
Lula Bradford-Wesley Alma J. Brown (Teacher) 34 37
Rosalyn White Simsboro Elementary (Teacher) 33 34
Sandra Whitman Ruston Elementary (Teacher) 35 36
Carla Watts Dubach High (Secretary/Bookkeeper) 33 33
Mary Austin (Deceased) Ruston District (Bus Driver) 11 11
Pete Theodos Ruston District (Bus Driver) 10 10
Arthur Thomas Central Office (Maintenance) 12.5 12.5
Carolyn Bolds Ruston Junior High (Custodian) 25 25
George Bolton Ruston Junior High (Custodian) 10 10
Edna Hill I. A. Lewis (Food Service) 28 28
Alice Byrnside Ruston Junior High (Food Service) 28 28
Mr. Anders thanked the retirees for their years of service and dedication, offered congratulations on their retirement, and wished them well.
Cathi Cox, Lincoln ACHIEVE Coordinator, introduced Jenny Blalock, Elementary Regional Teacher of the Year, and Julie Stephenson, High School Regional Teacher of the Year, to the Board. She provided background information and presented plaques in recognition of the honor.
Ms. Cox also recognized and presented a plaque to a State Distinguished Partner in Education, the Sunrise Kiwanis. She said for a civic organization with a small number of members, they have been spectacular partners. Ms. Cox mentioned some of the things the group had done and was pleased to introduce Jim Pesnell, President. He will travel to Baton Rouge in about a week for recognition at the state level.
Four vehicles are of no further use to the school system: 1983 Hale trailer, 1985 Chevrolet pickup, 1989 Ford pickup, and 1992 Ford pickup, according to Charles Owens, Director of Auxiliary Services. He asked the Board to declare them as surplus and grant permission to dispose of them.
Upon a motion by Mr. Kessler, seconded by Mr. Mack, the Board unanimously voted to declare the 1983 Hale trailer, 1985 Chevrolet pickup, 1989 Ford pickup, and 1992 Ford pickup as surplus and grant permission to dispose of them through the bid process or sell them to the highest bidder.
The Board served as a Committee of the Whole, and the following Personnel Committee agenda items were considered after being presented by Mary Null, Director of Curriculum, Instruction, and Special Programs:
Nine qualified applicants were interviewed by Charles Hogan, Judy Mabry, Charles Owens, Sonja Walker, and Willie Washington for principal positions at Lincoln Parish Career Academy and Simsboro High. Chairman of the Interview Committee, Mary Null, said the top three highest scoring applicants in numerical order were:
L. P. Career Academy - Pam Schooler, Mildred Smith, Stacy Findley
Simsboro High - Dr. Joanne Hood, Pam Schooler, Ricky Durrett
Ms. Null shared the recommendation of the Committee and Superintendent Danny Bell to name Stacy Findley principal of the Career Academy and Ricky Durrett principal of Simsboro High. She asked for approval of the recommendation.
Upon a motion by Mr. Barmore, seconded by Mr. Kessler, the Board unanimously voted to name Stacy Findley principal of Lincoln Parish Career Academy and Ricky Durrett principal of Simsboro High effective July 1, 2010.
Resignation of the following effective May 27, 2010, unless otherwise noted:
Michelle Hogan, science teacher at Choudrant High;
Jane Hurst, teacher at Hillcrest Elementary;
Amanda Phillips, physical education teacher at I. A. Lewis;
Laura Hawkins, English teacher at Ruston High;
Wendy Hill, sign language interpreter at Ruston High, effective May 26, 2010;
Kyle Kavanaugh, science/social studies teacher at Ruston High;
Emery Pendergrass, math teacher at Ruston High;
Jamie Simmons, secretary at Ruston Junior High, effective June 8, 2010; and
Michal Oliverson, special education teacher at Simsboro High.
Retirement of the following effective May 27, 2010, unless noted otherwise:
Billy Graham, vocational coordinator at Career Academy, effective June 9, 2010;
Mollie Allen, special education teacher at Choudrant High;
Bettye Anders, coordinating teacher at Cypress Springs, effective June 1, 2010;
Deborah Abrahm, teacher at Glen View;
Mary Cato, teacher at Hico Elementary; and
Marilyn Ferguson, ed diagnostician with pupil appraisal, effective June 9, 2010.
Points of Reference/Transfers of the following effective August 16, 2010, unless otherwise noted:
Daryl Savage from Simsboro High to math teacher at Ruston High replacing Emery Pendergrass who resigned;
Jill Cheek from Simsboro High to science teacher at Ruston High replacing Germaine Lindquist who resigned;
Susan Kelley from assistant principal at Ruston Junior High to counselor at Ruston Junior High, effective July 19, 2010, replacing Michelle Marsh who transferred;
Shelly Quayhagen from Choudrant High to science teacher at Ruston Junior High replacing Adam Tremblay who left because the French program was eliminated; and
Sheri Robken from teacher at Ruston Junior High to curriculum coordinator/assistant principal at Ruston Junior High, effective August 2, 2010, replacing Susan Kelley who transferred to counselor.
Leave without pay request effective August 29, 2010, and through December 27, 2010, from Daphne Mathis, paraprofessional at Lincoln Center.
Sabbatical requests for the following:
Kaye Darnell, special education teacher at Ruston Junior High, requesting a professional sabbatical for the entire year, August 16, 2010, through May 27, 2011; and
Beverly Canterbury, curriculum strategist at Simsboro High, requesting a medical sabbatical for the entire year, from August 9, 2010, through June 6, 2011.
Employment of the following effective August 16, 2010, unless noted otherwise:
Beverly Bass, secretary at Cypress Springs, effective August 5, 2010, replacing Ginger Aycock who transferred;
Jennifer Franks, counselor at Dubach High, effective August 2, 2010, replacing Linda Dick, who retired;
Marilyn Rushing, secretary at Dubach High, effective August 5, 2010, replacing Carla Watts who retired;
Tatum Johnson, Journey to Careers teacher at I. A. Lewis, replacing Jeananne Smith who resigned;
Kelsey Whitlock, social studies teacher at Ruston High, replacing Kyle Kavanaugh who resigned;
Britton Kilpatrick, math teacher at Ruston High, replacing Anthony Rutherford who left because the ROTC program was ending; and
Addie Smith, counselor at Ruston Junior High, effective August 2, 2010, replacing Peggy Fallin who retired.
Resignation of Melba Wheeler, school food service technician at Choudrant High, effective April 13, 2010.
Retirement of the following school food service employees:
Alice Byrnside, manager at Ruston Junior High, effective July 30, 2010; and
Edna Hill, technician at I. A. Lewis, effective May 26, 2010.
Resignation of Christopher Hurt, bus driver in the Ruston district, effective May 3, 2010.
Resignation of Johnny Hicks, custodian at Ruston High, effective June 3, 2010.
Upon a motion by Ms. Best, seconded by Mr. Jones, the Board unanimously voted to accept the 2. - 11. personnel recommendations as presented.
Ricky Edmiston, Secondary Supervisor, gave a brief report on the Ruston High stadium upgrade. At the Building and Grounds and Finance Committees’ request in May for more information, Mike Walpole has visited the stadium and assessed the structure. He is presently drawing a proposal that will be presented at the July board meeting. A renovation of the existing facility along with the addition of offices and a film room to the south side of the existing facility are being considered at this time.
Giving an accountability update were Donna Doss, Accountability/District Test Coordinator, and Instructional Coaches, Sheri Boyd and Kim Shackelford. Parish students continue to outscore students statewide except in high-stakes eighth grade, spring 2010 testing shows. Students showed significant gains in ELA in 3rd and 6th grade iLEAP and 10th grade GEE results. The trio’s Power Point presentation had LEAP, GEE, and iLEAP scores broken down by grade and test for the last three years, Lincoln Parish Overview, Plan of Action, and Louisiana Initiatives. The goal is continuous improvement, they noted. Meetings have already begun to determine the strengths and weaknesses within the parish and to develop a plan of action to improve student achievement.
George Murphy, Business Manager, presented a sales tax report for the month ending May 2010. Accumulations were $1,1047,843 which was up 5.98% for the month but still down 21.82%, or $3.1 million, year-to-date. Recoveries through audits were $6,129 for the month which was down 94% for the month and 57.15% year-to-date. Collections in the 1967 and the 1979 sales tax fund were $476,293, and $571,550 went into the 1993 and 2000 fund.
He also delivered an April 2010 financial update and called attention to the sales tax funds. The 14th checks will be discussed later in the meeting; if approved as recommended, they will cost about $4.1 mill. That money will come from the sales tax funds and the 2000 ad valorem fund. Those funds have adequate monies to fund the checks, but reserves will be dipped into to pay the recommended amounts. The general fund is doing better than last year. It is expected to decrease in the next couple of months. The five mill maintenance, child nutrition, and other ad valorem tax funds are all doing fine.
Moving on to the health and dental plan, George Murphy said an excess of assets over expenditures of $114,174 was experienced for the month of April 2010. Year-to-date, after four months, that fund was up $662,650. He noted that the health care fund was doing well and hasn’t required as many transfers from the general fund and sales tax funds as in years past.
Superintendent Bell reported that the Lincoln Parish Early Childhood Center was on schedule to open in August 2010. So far 140 preschoolers have signed up, and he expects to offer eleven classes initially, inclusive of three for handicapped students.
Following a month of perusal of a revised Student Transfer and Withdrawal (JBCD) policy, Mary Null asked for approval of the changes.
Upon a motion by Mr. Jones, seconded by Mr. Barmore, the Board unanimously voted to approve the revised Student Transfer and Withdrawal (JBCD) policy.
Six qualified bids for the construction and renovation of Choudrant Elementary were opened on May 28, 2010, reported Charles Owens. Don Barron Contractor, Inc., came in as low bidder with a base bid of $3,725,000. Also, three alternates were received with their bid, and all three were deductive in the event that the base bid exceeded the funding allotted for the project. After reviewing Barron’s base bid and deductive alternates, it was realized that the total was slightly under what was originally believed would be bid. The acceptance of Barron’s bid would permit the construction of a new building and address the renovations to the existing buildings at Choudrant Elementary. He recommended the acceptance of Barron’s bid.
Upon a motion by Mr. Kessler, seconded by Ms. Henderson, the Board unanimously voted to accept the base bid submitted by Don Barron Construction Co., Inc., and approve this construction company as the low bidder and contractor for the Choudrant Elementary School project.
Bid opening was held on May 11, 2010, for the purchase of the following items for the 10-11 school year: duplicating paper, paper towels, toilet tissue, gasoline, diesel, and dust mop rentals. Charles Owens recommended that the Board accept the lowest bids meeting specifications.
Upon a motion by Mr. Mitcham, seconded by Mr. Kessler, the Board unanimously voted to accept the lowest bids meeting specifications for the purchase of materials and supplies for the 10-11 school year as shown below:
Company Submitting Bid
Unisource 2010 Cases of Copy Paper
Price Per Unit: $27.05
Total for 2,010 Cases: $54,370.50
Economical Janitorial & Paper 800 Cases of Paper Towels
Price Per Case: $12.65
Total for 800 Cases: $10,120.00
Jackson Paper 400 Cases of Toilet Tissue
Price Per Case: $31.59
Total for 400 Cases: $12,636.00
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
Although sales tax collections declined during the fiscal year through April, because of the accumulated reserve in the sales tax funds, George Murphy recommended and Danny 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 Ms. Best, seconded by Mr. Dowling, the Board unanimously voted to approve the payment of salary supplement checks on June 25, 2010, 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 10-11 proposed $425,030 budget for examination and called attention to a $34,000 addition for a new computer program and software. The Commissioner is considering collecting sales taxes on a percentage basis for several other parishes.
Upon a motion by Mr. Jones, seconded by Mr. Barmore, the Board unanimously voted to approve the 10-11 Sales and Use Tax Commission’s budget of $425,030.
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 10-11.
In a Report of the Superintendent, Mr. Bell conveyed that:
He was glad to have Greg Wallace, his father, Karl Wallace, Mr. John Emory, and Mr. Lane Parnell from Choudrant in attendance. There is excitement in Choudrant about the construction and renovation at the elementary school;
Three firms gave presentations to the Insurance Committee on Voluntary Products and Section 125 administration. The Committee unanimously voted to keep the school system’s business with the Clinton Agency. They agreed to provide the administration and flexible spending accounts for free since they are maintaining the current business and will be adding a long-term care product, reduce the Board’s premium on employees’ life insurance and the employees’ premiums on supplemental life and disability, build a web site for the employees to access employee benefit information, and provide employee benefit handbooks. He said it was his decision to allow the Clinton Agency to continue to provide voluntary products and to begin to provide Section 125 administration; and
Board member elections will be held on October 2, 2010. Qualifying is scheduled for July 7 - 9 from 8:30 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. and 5:00 p.m. on Friday. If necessary, a runoff election will be held in November.
After comments from one board member, the meeting adjourned at 7:56 p.m.
______________________________ ______________________________
Danny L. Bell, Secretary Otha L. Anders, President