LINCOLN PARISH SCHOOL BOARD
Ruston, Louisiana
REGULAR SESSION
Tuesday, September 7, 2010 6:00 p.m.
The Lincoln Parish School Board met in Regular Session on Tuesday, September 7, 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, 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.
Ms. Lisa Best was absent.
President Anders called the meeting to order, and Mr. Dowling gave the invocation. Ms. Henderson led in the Pledge of Allegiance to the American flag. Mr. Anders welcomed those in attendance.
Upon a motion by Mr. Dowling, seconded by Mr. McKinney, the Board unanimously voted to adopt the agenda as printed.
Upon a motion by Mr. Dowling, seconded by Mr. Mack, the Board unanimously voted to approve the minutes of the Regular Session held on August 10, 2010, as printed.
Following a month of study, Mary Null, Director of Instruction, Personnel, and Special Programs, asked the Board to approve a policy manual addition and revision.
Upon a motion by Mr. Jones, seconded by Ms. Henderson, the Board unanimously voted to approve the addition of one policy: Attendance Reports for Student Drivers (JBH) and the revision of another: School Wellness (JGB).
Formal approval was requested by Superintendent Danny Bell for a change order for the Early Childhood Center construction project. Changes totaling $16,947 included the additional cost for door changes, change corridor ceiling tile to meet fire marshal requirements, additional cost for concrete at drilled piers, panic hardware at cafeteria doors, sod for playground, add exterior building letters, and ADA shower seats. A contingency and hardware allowance yielded a credit of $12,000 which left a balance of $4,947. He asked for Board approval of the change order.
Upon a motion by Mr. Kessler, seconded by Mr. Jones, the Board unanimously voted to approve the change order adding $4,947.00 to the Early Childhood Center project.
Because Forethought, Inc. recommended several policy changes and an addition due to recent Acts of the Louisiana Legislature, Mrs. Null distributed copies of the following and asked members to peruse them until the next meeting:
REVISIONS: Minutes of Board Meetings (BCBH), School Bus Scheduling and Routing (EDD), Child Nutrition Program Management (EE), Employment of Personnel (GBD), Interscholastic Athletics (IDFA), Attendance (JB), Compulsory School Attendance Ages (JBA), Student Absences and Excuses (JBD), School Admission (JBC), Student Transfer and Withdrawal (JBCD), Bullying, Cyberbullying, Intimidation, Harassment, and Hazing (JCDAF), Student Dress Code (JCDB), and Illness and Accidents (JGFG).
ADDITION: Employment of Retired Personnel (GBDA).
The time had arrived to adopt millages for 2010, and George Murphy, Business Manager, distributed a Resolution containing that information. The only change was the two millages the Choudrant voters passed last year, a maintenance and operation for 3 mills and 21 mills to pay for the bonds for the construction and renovation of the elementary and high school. He asked the Board to adopt the Resolution levying the millage after he read the same.
President Anders announced that this was the time specified for a public hearing regarding tax millages for 2010. Hearing no comments or questions, he asked for the Board’s pleasure regarding the matter.
Upon a motion by Mr. Jones, seconded by Mr. McKinney, the Board unanimously voted to approve the Resolution setting millages for 2010 as follows:
Resolution
Constitutional Tax (La. Const. Art. VII, Sect. 13) 4.23 mills
Special Maintenance & Operation 4.94 mills
Special Repair & Equipment 4.94 mills
Parish wide Maintenance & Operation 10.25 mills
Parish wide Maintenance & Operation 8.49 mills
Ruston School District #1 2.61 mills
Simsboro School District #3 2.99 mills
Dubach School District #5 3.25 mills
Choudrant School District #6 3.00 mills
General Obligation Bonds Ruston SD #1 11.50 mills
General Obligation Bonds Simsboro SD #3 9.00 mills
General Obligation Bonds Choudrant SD #6 21.00 mills
Voting by roll call FOR the above motion: Otha Anders, Michael Barmore, Curtis Dowling, Mattie Harrison, Lynda Henderson, Trott Hunt, Eddie Jones, Jim Kessler, George Mack, Ted McKinney, and Joe Mitcham.
Voting AGAINST the motion: None.
Absent and not voting: Lisa Best.
The Board served as a Committee of the Whole, and the following Personnel Committee agenda items were considered after Mary Null presented 1.-5:
Retirement of Vivian Davis, special education teacher at Ruston Junior High, effective August16, 2010.
Resignations of the following:
Sandy Harris, fiscal accountant at the Central Office, effective August 13, 2010;
Tatum Johnson, journey to careers at I. A. Lewis, effective August 16, 2010, because the program was not approved by BESE; and
Felicia Medlock, paraprofessional at Ruston Elementary, effective August 30, 2010.
Points of Reference/Transfers of the following, effective September 1, 2010, unless stated otherwise:
Kim McCormack, from Ruston High to fiscal specialist at the Central Office replacing Sandy Harris who resigned;
Janet Hammock, from Ruston Elementary to special education teacher at Hillcrest effective August 16, 2010, because the visually impaired class was being moved to Hillcrest;
Michele Brown, from Hico Elementary to secretary at Simsboro High, replacing Donna Williams who transferred; and
Donna Williams, from Simsboro High to bookkeeper at Ruston High, replacing Kim McCormack who transferred.
4. Employment of the following, effective August 16, 2010, unless otherwise noted:
Sterling Jackson, teacher at Glen View, effective August 23, 2010, due to class size reduction;
Dionna LeBlanc, prekindergarten teacher at LPECC, replacing Jartara Triplett who resigned;
Julie Warner, prekindergarten teacher at LPECC, due to class size reduction;
Heather Roussell, teacher at Ruston Elementary, effective August 30, 2010, replacing Melinda Killen who transferred;
David Aguilar, PE/science teacher at Ruston High, effective July 20, 2010, replacing Ricky Durrett who was promoted;
Barbara Phelps, special education at Ruston Junior High, replacing Alan Whitaker who transferred; and
Zandria Guidry, special education at Simsboro High, replacing Tenisha Willis who resigned.
Defacto resignation of Milton Reed, Central Office maintenance employee, effective August 12, 2010.
Upon a motion by Mr. Barmore, seconded by Mr. Kessler, the Board unanimously voted to approve the personnel recommendations.
The Finance Committee met at 5:45 p.m. just prior to the Board meeting. Chairman, Joe Mitcham, announced that the Committee unanimously voted to recommend to the Board the acceptance of the proposed 10-11 budget. He asked George Murphy to give a summary.
Mr. Murphy noted that for the first time in his tenure, the proposed 10-11 budget had an excess of expenditures over revenues for the year of $1,697,626. The $1.7 million deficit was due to two main sources: retirement funds and enrollment. This year the state required the district to take on an extra $1.7 million in retirement funding. Additionally the budget is partially based on enrollment numbers for last year which were down; therefore, the Minimum Foundation Program (MFP) allocation is expected to drop approximately $1.3 million. Fewer projects have been planned, and 4 teacher positions have been cut saving about $240,000. Sales tax collections were also low last year although Mr. Murphy said they have been up for the last two months. He does not expect them to go back up to the level of two or three years ago. Fund balances have increased from 40% six years ago to 50%. Some of the spending highlights of the budget he mentioned were: 13th and 14th checks at the same levels as last year and the purchase of three new buses. Stimulus funds will be going away next year, and the MFP may drop close to $1 million if the state doesn’t pick up what the federal government has been paying for. Health care costs have been built in but he is unsure what will happen in January when the new health care laws take effect. An administrator will come to the October meeting to discuss the possible effect.
Otha Anders announced that it was time for a public hearing on the budget. After one question, hearing no further questions or comments, the time for a public hearing closed.
After some discussion and questions, Mr. Mitcham reiterated the recommendation of the Finance Committee that the board approve the 10-11 proposed budget as presented, grant permission for the administration to amend the same as needed throughout the year, and bring a final revised budget back to the Board at year end.
Mr. Anders said the Finance Committee brings a motion, seconded by Mr. Jones, to adopt the 10-11 proposed budget as presented, grant permission for the administration to amend the budget as needed throughout the year, and bring a final revised budget to the Board for approval at year-end. The Board unanimously voted in favor of the motion.
Ms. Mary Null reported a very smooth opening of school this year which she attributed to much preparatory work by principals and staff. On August 16, 2010, Dr. Rita Pearson spoke to the certificated personnel at Ruston High. Students attended school for a half day on Friday, August 20. Prekindergarteners and kindergarteners began on August 30. Prekindergarten numbers are up by 73 bringing the total to 199 at the Early Childhood Center. Every prekindergarten student that wanted to attend has been accepted, and parents are very complimentary about the new school.
The superintendent was very proud that district achievement on the ACT rose to 21 which was up .9 from the previous year. He believes AP courses, dual enrollment classes, ACT prep courses, and increased rigor to the curriculum all contributed to the rise. Ruston High did lead the high schools with a 21.7 ACT average. This brought Lincoln Parish up to a tie of 3rd in the state with Central Community in the Baton Rouge area. He said we are fortunate to have results like this, although the goal is to be number 1 in the state. He appreciates the high schools, teachers, and principals for everything they have done to prepare the students for the test.
New Tech @ Ruston had a magnificent kickoff, according to Cathi Cox, with 80% parental involvement at the first parent meeting. The program is full with 100 9th graders and is receiving rave reviews from parents. The staff at Ruston High told her the program was definitely affecting the student’s culture for the better.
RHS principal, Mike Milstead, also shared his enthusiasm about New Tech and gave a presentation outlining the future needs of the program including additional classroom and lab space that will be required if it is to progress. On a side note, he communicated that the current enrollment at Ruston High is up by 70 students from transfers from private schools, home school, and out of district based on course offerings. He asked the Board to ponder how to prepare the facility at RHS to meet the changing needs of the 21st Century learner.
Sales tax collections for August 2010 were up 8.27% over the same month last year with a total of $1,062,586 being collected, according to Mr. Murphy. Year-to-date sales tax figures were up 7.82%. Recoveries through audits were $18,238 which was a 24% increase from the same month last year. Year-to-date that fund is up 20%. In the 67 and 79 sales tax fund, $482,994 was collected, and $579,592 was collected in the 93 and 00 fund. Primary reasons for the rise were increases in oil and gas extractions. For the month ending July 31, 2010, Mr. Murphy noted the health insurance fund was down $472,623, and year-to-date for seven months the balance was up $503,966.
In a Report of the Superintendent, Mr. Bell said that:
1. He appreciates Mr. Milstead and Ms. Cox for giving additional information on New Tech. He’s never seen such excitement at the beginning of a school year and on the campus of RHS. He said the spatial needs will be looked at and considered and made to work. Anytime something that great and with that momentum is going on, it is going to be successful and an asset for the school district.
2. The SACS accreditation team will be visiting all of the schools and the central office on Sunday, October 3, through Wednesday, October 6. He invited board members to sit down and talk with the committee about the school system, and said other stakeholders will be doing the same. Mr. Bell believes it will be noteworthy if the district can become SACS accredited. Further information will be disseminated at a later date.
After comments from a couple of board members, upon a motion by Mr. Mitcham, the meeting adjourned at 7:15 p.m.
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Danny L. Bell, Secretary Otha L. Anders, President