LINCOLN PARISH SCHOOL BOARD
Ruston, Louisiana
REGULAR SESSION
Tuesday, August 10, 2010 6:00 p.m.
The Lincoln Parish School Board met in Regular Session on Tuesday, August 10, 2010, at 6:00 p.m. at the new Lincoln Parish Early Childhood Center, 801 East Mississippi Avenue, 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 (arrived after the meeting began), Mr. George Mack (arrived late and left early), Mr. Ted McKinney, and Mr. Joe Mitcham.
No board member was absent.
President Anders called the meeting to order, and Mr. Hunt 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. McKinney, the Board unanimously voted to adopt the agenda as printed.
Upon a motion by Ms. Henderson, seconded by Mr. Dowling, the Board unanimously voted to approve the minutes of the Regular Session held on July 6, 2010, as submitted.
Interim Administrator of the Lincoln Parish Early Childhood Center, Kathi Pesnell, said a word of greeting and welcome to the new school. She noted that Superintendent Danny Bell’s dream had been realized. Ms. Pesnell introduced teachers who were in attendance. She closed by inviting everyone to visit the pre-kindergarten school at any time and thanking Mr. Bell and the Board for their support.
Mr. Kessler entered the meeting.
Cathi Cox, Lincoln ACHIEVE Coordinator, was pleased to announce that Lincoln Parish had not one but two state Teachers of the Year. She recognized A. E. Phillips’ Elementary Teacher of the Year, Jenny Blalock, and Ruston High School’s High School Teacher of the Year, Julie Stephenson, for their unbelievable hard work and commitment to the classroom. Ms. Cox gave background information on the ladies and presented them with plaques and $500 checks from Lincoln ACHIEVE. They introduced their guests and spoke brief words of thanks to the Board, their schools, and their principals.
Mr. Anders voiced the Board’s indebtedness to Mrs. Blalock and Mrs. Stephenson for their toil and said the children reap the benefits from teachers of their caliber.
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 for clarity and because of end-of-course tests and a mandatory change from 16 to 10 days of absence per year to meet the state law of 94% attendance. She mentioned a career diploma and said she would offer a more in-depth discussion regarding the same later in the meeting. Ms. Pardue asked the Board to approve the revisions to the PPP.
Upon a motion by Mr. Kessler, seconded by Mr. Barmore, the Board unanimously voted to approve the revisions to the Lincoln Parish Pupil Progression Plan as stated above.
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 $112,658.
Upon a motion by Mr. Dowling, seconded by Ms. Harrison, the Board unanimously voted to approve the annual school allocation of funds for 10-11 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 being presented by Ms. Null, Director of Curriculum, Instruction, and Special Programs:
Retirement of Carol James, teacher at Cypress Springs, effective July 29, 2010.
Resignations of the following:
Megan Odom, teacher at Choudrant Elementary, effective July 14, 2010;
Kara Patrick Williams, math teacher at Choudrant High, effective July 15, 2010;
Jartara Triplett, pre-k teacher at Lincoln Parish Early Childhood Center, effective July 21, 2010;
Shirley Boyd, special education teacher at Ruston High, effective July 22, 2010;
Alexa Ginn, special education teacher at Ruston High, effective July 20, 2010;
Casey Knotts, speech therapist at Simsboro High, effective July 24, 2010;
Heather Taylor, English/language arts at Simsboro High, effective July 13, 2010; and,
Tenisha Willis, special education teacher at Simsboro High, effective August 2, 2010.
Points of Reference/Transfers of the following effective August 16, 2010, unless noted otherwise:
Doug Perry, from Simsboro High to agriculture at Choudrant High, replacing Marty Cantrell who transferred;
Ramona Adams, from Hico Elementary to special education at Cypress Springs, replacing Allison Brister who was granted a sabbatical;
Tyler Price, from Lincoln Parish Career Academy (LPCA) to special education at Glen View, replacing Robbie Burnham who transferred;
Jill Murphy, from Ruston High School to special education at the lab schools, replacing Eva Williams who transferred;
Eva Williams, from an itinerant position to special education at Lincoln Center, replacing Leslie Gray who transferred;
Vivian Franklin, from Lincoln Center to paraprofessional at Lincoln Parish Early Childhood Center (LPECC) in a new slot, effective August 5, 2010;
Daphne Mathis, from Lincoln Center to a new paraprofessional position at the LPECC;
Daphne Scott, from Lincoln Center to paraprofessional at Lincoln Parish Early Childhood Center (LPECC) in a new slot, effective August 5, 2010;
Felicia Medlock, from Youth Rescue Center to paraprofessional at Ruston Elementary effective August 19, 2010, replacing Mary Johnson who transferred;
William Major from LPCA to special education teacher at Ruston High, replacing Glen Dowden who resigned;
Alan Whitaker, from Ruston Junior High to special education teacher at Ruston High, replacing Shirley Boyd who resigned;
Heidi DeCou, from I. A. Lewis and Ruston Junior High to music and choir teacher at Dubach and Ruston Junior High, replacing Heidi DeCou who transferred;
Glenda Jones, from central office to custodian at the new LPECC, effective August 9, 2010;
Alice Higginbotham, from Dubach High to education diagnostician with pupil appraisal effective August 2, 2010, replacing Marilyn Ferguson who retired;
Marty Cantrell, from Choudrant High to agriculture at Simsboro High, replacing Doug Perry who transferred; and,
Laundi Williams, from sabbatical/LPCA to special education at the Youth Rescue Center, replacing Alexa Ginn who resigned.
Lois Futch as teacher at Choudrant Elementary replacing Megan Odom who resigned;
Geoffrey Underwood as P.E. and social studies teacher at Choudrant High replacing Eddie Thomas who was deceased;
Bridgette Bennett as math teacher at Choudrant High replacing Kara Patrick Williams who resigned;
Patricia Dunn as teacher at Cypress Springs replacing Carol James who retired;
Sarah Moore as special education at Cypress Springs replacing Mike Oliverson who resigned;
Rickey Burton, II, as special education at Dubach High replacing Alice Higginbotham who was reassigned;
Matthew Vincent as math teacher at Dubach High replacing Jerrod Seilhan who was deceased;
Angel Lowe as elementary and middle school teacher at Howard School replacing Arlene Banks who retired;
Amy Dakin as special education teacher at I. A. Lewis replacing Tracy Barnes who transferred;
Leigh Ann Perritt as special education teacher at LPCA replacing Tyler Price who transferred;
Christopher Robinson as P. E. teacher at LPCA replacing William Major who transferred;
Nichole Brown, teacher at Ruston Elementary replacing Kristen Telford who transferred; and,
Mary Smith as secretary at Simsboro High effective August 19, 2010, replacing Sissy Polman who retired.
Retirement of Mary Minniefield, bus aide in the Ruston District, effective July 26, 2010.
Points of reference/Transfers of the following school food service personnel effective August 9, 2010, unless noted otherwise:
Tameka Patton, from Ruston High to clerk/technician at Alma J. Brown, replacing Renee Gilbert who transferred;
Virginia Sanderson, from Ruston High to technician at Choudrant High effective August 19, 2010, replacing Melba Wheeler who resigned;
Renee Gilbert, from Alma J. Brown to manager at Hico, replacing Teresa Kay who transferred;
Pam Moon, from field manager to manager at I. A. Lewis, replacing Velma Rivers who resigned;
Jacqueline Burks, from Grambling High to clerk/technician at I. A. Lewis, replacing Kathy Tatum who transferred;
Teresa Kay, from Hico to LPECC in a new manager position;
Annette Davis, from I. A. Lewis to a new technician slot at LPECC, effective August 19, 2010;
Kathy Tatum, from I. A. Lewis to LPECC in a new technician slot, effective August 19, 2010; and,
Sandra McCullin, from field manager to manager at Ruston Junior High, replacing Alice Byrnside who retired.
Upon a motion by Mr. Mitcham, seconded by Ms. Best, the Board unanimously voted to approve the personnel recommendations.
This was the third year that a totally free-of-charge summer reading camp was held according to Elementary Supervisor, Jan Murphy. Transportation, breakfast, lunch, and supplies were provided. Glen View was the location where 200 kindergarten through third grade students participated in the literacy program.
Deborah Davis, LIPS Coordinator, shared information on the formation and goal of the Early Literacy Leadership team which is focusing on raising the number of children reading at grade level at the end of first grade. After research and several meetings, the team has come up with some very good recommendations.
Dr. Debby Hollimon, Literacy Coach, noted that this is year three in working with adolescent literacy but she is really focusing on pre-k and first grades as mentioned by Ms. Davis. She feels like the school system is in the better shape to work with those students than in past years. Newer facilities, more materials, and great instructional leaders are combining to steer the initiative to work with the classroom teachers. Dr. Hollimon is hoping for even greater gains. In fact the goal is to have 98% of the children being at grade level when they leave first grade.
The career and technical diploma went into effect last year but Lincoln Parish had a waiver until a plan could be implemented reported Paula Pardue. So far about 26 students will be eligible to take part in the program. Requirements to get into the program were listed in the PPP She communicated that there is a separate curriculum for the program. Students can opt in and out of the program at various times, but it will be difficult after the sophomore year.
Ronny Volentine, Child Welfare and Attendance and Hearing Coordinator, thanked those present who served on the Drop Out Committee. He shared their 8 recommendations and the district’s plans to address them. He closed by saying Lincoln Parish has a dedicated, caring group of people working with those in danger of dropping out. They are striving to improve because all students need to be in school and succeed.
Superintendent Danny Bell again turned the Board’s attention to the Ruston High School stadium. He said that Mike Walpole, architect, had drawn up two diagrams: one with a stand-alone building and a second renovating the existing field house. Mr. Bell asked Mr. Walpole to elaborate.
Mr. Walpole gave background information and said discussion and thoughts led him to believe that a stand-alone facility might be the best option. He had slides showing two different plans and said a decision would need to be made about doing it in phases. One slide was basically an initial phase and the second slide was a later phase.
The first slide showed a new approximately 17,000 square foot field house that would house junior varsity and varsity football as well as a weight room. It would have a training room and other associated spaces such as laundry. A future phase might add a place for the freshmen. This plan would incorporate the entire football program and could also be used for programs other than football. He said his next step would be to find out where the Board would like the building more than what the Board would like in the building. Parking would be expanded. Since he was looking at a master planning approach, he also considered if additional space was needed for New Tech in the future. Mr. Walpole included a building for that program which was shown where the current agriculture building is located. If that happened, a new agriculture shop would have to be constructed and possibly a storage facility to replace the one already being renovated into New Tech space.
The second slide was the same as the previous slide with more work on both sides of the stadium. If the field house moved to the west side of the stadium, James Street would have to be moved over slightly. This would free up existing space for new concessions and toilets under the existing east side stands. It would free up the freshman locker room for soccer or some other sport. That could be an even later phase down the road. Basically if the home side was moved to the west side, this would affect the location of the potential field house. If James Street was not going to be moved at some point in the future, then the field house could be moved closer to the playing field. If James Street might be moved, then he would need to position the building where nothing would have to be done to the field house.
Mr. Mack entered the meeting during Mr. Walpole’s report.
Mr. Bell said he and the Board have to look at 5, 10, and 15 years down the road. One possibility for funding that he communicated was extending the existing property tax 5 years from 2025 to 2030 which would raise approximately $5.5 million at the current millage rate with no increase in current taxes being paid. Not all of the proceeds would go toward the varsity field house. Among other needs are a freshman field house, additional New Tech classrooms, and a new agriculture building.
A brief discussion ensued.
Upon a motion by Mr. Hunt, seconded by Mr. Mack, the Board unanimously voted to authorize Mike Walpole to draw up more plans and put a budget together for the absolute minimum, the first phase including a weight room, and request the administration to formulate two recommendations for funding the same.
Mr. Murphy reported that sales tax collections for the month of July 2010, the first month of the 10-11 fiscal year, were $1,165,726 which was up 7.4% compared to last year. Recoveries through audits were $9,117 which was up 12.88% compared to last year. Collections in the ‘67 and ‘79 fund were $529,876, and $635,850 was collected in the ‘93 and ‘00 sales tax fund.
For the first six months of 2010, contributions were in excess of costs; therefore, the health/dental plan had an excess of $976,589 according to Mr. Murphy. For the month of June 2010, the health plan was up $105,590.
Formal approval was requested by Charles Owens for a change order relocating an existing 6” water main from beneath the new building line and adding $3,881.40 to the Choudrant Elementary construction project. He requested approval of change order #2 for the site work.
Upon a motion by Mr. Kessler, seconded by Mr. Jones, the Board unanimously voted to approve change order #2 in the amount of $3,881.40 for the Choudrant Elementary School construction and renovation project.
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 which had no changes from the previous year.
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, 2010, as presented.
Because the policy manual service, Forethought, Inc., recommended the addition of one policy, Attendance Reports for Student Drivers (JBH), and the revision of another, School Wellness (JGB), Ms. Null distributed a copy of each policy for members’ perusal until the next meeting.
Mr. Mack left the meeting.
Mr. Murphy called attention to the revised budget for 09-10 in order to adjust the original budget to the actual amounts. He noted that the figures turned out better than expected compared to the beginning budget. A beginning budget for 10-11 will be presented at the September board meeting.
Upon a motion by Mr. Hunt, seconded by Mr. Jones, the Board unanimously voted to accept the revised budget for the 09-10 fiscal year.
In a Report of the Superintendent, Mr. Bell said that:
Several members of the Sunrise Kiwanis organization were in attendance. He expressed appreciation to them for all they do for the students in Lincoln Parish and especially their reading to the children. He did note that they had adopted the Lincoln Parish Early Childhood Center for the upcoming school year; and,
A new school year was about to kick off, and the annual all-faculty workshop is scheduled for Tuesday, August 12, at 7:45 a.m. in the Ruston High School auditorium. Board members were invited to attend and hear a national presenter, Dr. Rita Pierson.
After comments and questions from several members and a motion by Ms. Best, the meeting adjourned at 8:00 p.m.
______________________________ ______________________________
Danny L. Bell, Secretary Otha L. Anders, President