LINCOLN PARISH SCHOOL BOARD
Ruston, Louisiana
REGULAR SESSION
Tuesday, October 5, 2010 6:00 p.m.
The Lincoln Parish School Board met in Regular Session on Tuesday, October 5, 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. 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 and Mr. Curtis Dowling were absent.
President Otha Anders called the meeting to order, and Mr. Mitcham gave the invocation. Ms. Harrison led in the Pledge of Allegiance to the American flag. Mr. Anders welcomed visitors 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 Mr. Kessler, seconded by Mr. Barmore, the Board unanimously voted to approve the minutes of the Regular Session held on September 7, 2010.
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:
Retirement of Sandra Spivey, paraprofessional at Ruston Junior High, effective December 2, 2010.
Resignation of the following:
Jimmy James, paraprofessional at Youth Rescue Center, effective August 25, 2010; and
Barbara Phelps, special education teacher at Ruston Junior High, effective October 12, 2010.
Leave without pay request effective December 6, 2010, through December 17, 2010, from Vanna Hood, teacher at Early Childhood Center.
Point of Reference/Transfer of Natasha Ellis from paraprofessional to secretary at Hico Elementary, effective September 6, 2010, replacing Michele Brown who transferred.
Retirement of bus driver in the Ruston district, L. O. Adams, effective September 30, 2010.
Resignation of bus driver in the Dubach district, Al Shaw, effective October 8, 2010.
Resignation of Edna Drayton, school food service technician at Ruston Junior High, effective September 17, 2010.
Upon a motion by Mr. Barmore, seconded by Ms. Harrison, the Board unanimously voted to accept the personnel recommendations.
Reports were submitted on New Tech @ Ruston (NT@R) by Superintendent Danny Bell and Cathi Cox-Boniol, NT@R Director, in conjunction with the advisory board. Student and faculty enthusiasm for NT@R hasn’t waned, and none of the students have dropped out of the rigorous program. Based on the latest research, students in New Tech programs are generally achieving 5 to 10 percentage points higher than state or district averages. He believes the program will reap huge benefits in Lincoln Parish. The 100 freshmen enrolled in the program this year will eventually total 400 students, freshmen through seniors. Going forward will entail more construction.
Present at the meeting were Ruston-Lincoln Chamber of Commerce members who were also NT@R Advisory Board members: Dr. Bobby Price, Ryan Kilpatrick, Lucius McGehee, Jr., Rusty Woodard, and Ted McKinney.
Dr. Bobby Price, President of the Chamber, presented a brief report regarding New Tech and a resolution from the Chamber recommending that the Board leave the current property tax millages at the present rate rather than roll the millages back. Additionally they encouraged the Board to use these millage dollars to provide for new space at Ruston High School for the relocation of the ag program, additional space for the New Tech program, and to create and renovate the space needed for the athletic department.
Mr. Lucius McGehee also provided a short report from the New Tech Advisory Board. He communicated that NT@R brings all types of people together for a common goal. He said it’s a wonderful thing to see New Tech teach students working together and using technology.
Mr. Bell thanked Dr. Price for the resolution from the Chamber and Mr. McGehee for speaking on behalf of the Advisory Board. He noted that extending the Ruston district millage another 5 years would bring in an estimated $5.8 million for the Ruston district based on the bond attorney’s last projection. Mr. Bell noted that an extension would require a vote of the public. That avenue along with others will be explored.
A brief period of questions, comments and discussion ensued.
George Murphy, Business Manager, reported that sales tax collections for the month of September 2010 were $1,011,048 which was a 1.74% increase compared to the same month last year. Year-to-date those collections were up 5.84% which was a little higher than he had budgeted. Recoveries through audits were $20,617 which was down 55% compared to the same month last year. Year-to-date that fund was down a little over 30%. In the 67 and 79 fund, $459,568 was collected, and $551,480 was collected in the 93 and 00 fund.
Financial statements for the months of June through August 2010 were distributed by Mr. Murphy, and he called attention to the ending fund balances on the June statement. He noted that the General Fund was up over $8 million, and the sales tax funds had healthy balances as well as the 93 and 00 ad valorem funds which he said he would talk about later in the meeting. He skipped to the August statement and said year-to-date the General Fund was up over $11 million. The 5 mill maintenance, ad valorem and M & O funds would all show deficits until collections are received in December and January. The sales tax funds were doing okay and were in the black.
Mr. Murphy noted that the self insurance health benefits program showed a loss of $334,546 for the month ending August 31, 2010. Year-to-date the fund was still up $169,419.
Good news was communicated by Mr. Murphy when he said the system received a little over $1 million as their portion of the federal Education Job Funds Program. This will be beneficial to help reduce the beginning budget deficit. It will be used to pay retirement benefits.
Following a month of study, Mrs. Null asked the Board to approve thirteen policy revisions and the addition of one policy.
Upon a motion by Mr. Hunt, seconded by Mr. Kessler, the Board unanimously voted to approve the proposed revisions to the following policies: 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) and the addition to the policy manual of Employment of Retired Personnel (GBDA).
Background information on a field house at Ruston High was provided by Secondary Supervisor, Ricky Edmiston, who reiterated the main area of concern has been how to pay for the field house. He said a total of $3,100,000 was needed for the project, and the funds are available from the Parishwide Capital Project Fund and the 93 and 00 Ad Valorem Tax Funds. If the Board approved that transfer, in order to be equitable within the parish, $680,000 could be allocated to the Simsboro district, and $630,000 could be allocated to the Dubach district for projects within those districts. The Choudrant district had previously been allocated $606,000 from the Parishwide Capital Project Fund. Mr. Edmiston noted that a total of $2,710,000 would need to be transferred from the 93 and 00 Ad Valorem Tax Funds to the Parishwide Capital Project Fund in order to fund the field house and to provide equitable funds for projects in the Simsboro and Dubach districts. He and the administration feel that it is time to move forward with the RHS field house project.
Architect Mike Walpole was at the meeting and distributed information which was also shown on the screen. He had been looking at the best placement for a new field house. He formulated a site plan and met with Ruston High principal, Mike Milstead and Coaches Billy Laird and J. P. Dunbar. Mr. Walpole unveiled preliminary sketches of his Phase 1 plan for a new 16,700 square foot field house to be located on the west side of James Street. It would include a dressing room for varsity and junior varsity football teams, coaches’ offices, almost 200 new lockers, training room, weight room, several classrooms, and a physical therapy area accessible from the outside. He estimates the cost to be $3,100,000 with architectural and engineering fees and adjacent parking. Phase 2 calls for a 5,500 square foot addition on the north side of Phase 1 to house the freshmen football team and coaches. That addition would cost approximately $1,600,000 with architectural and engineering fees. The estimates did not include furniture, security system, landscaping, weight room equipment, and other furnishings. Following a question, he indicated that Phase 1 could possibly be completed by the summer of 2012.
Mr. Milstead and Coach Laird expressed appreciation to Mike Walpole and their support of his plan, the set up, and the beauty of the building.
Upon a motion by Mr. Mack, seconded by Mr. Kessler, the Board unanimously voted to transfer $2,710,000 from the 1993 and 2000 Ad Valorem Tax Funds to provide funding for the Ruston High School field house project and to provide equitable funding for projects in the Simsboro and Dubach districts.
Upon a motion by Mr. Hunt, seconded by Mr. McKinney, the Board unanimously voted to move ahead with the construction of the first phase of the field house project.
The policy manual service, Forethought Consulting, had recommended more policy changes due to recent Acts of the Louisiana Legislature. They recommended revisions to two policies: Responsibility for Vehicle Operation (EDBA) and Dismissal of Employees (GBN). She asked members to review the proposed policy changes until the next board meeting.
The State Department of Insurance has issued guidelines relating to Uninsured Motorist coverage. Mr. Murphy said each school system is required to include in the board minutes a consent item authorizing the Superintendent to sign the Uninsured Motorist form. He asked for adoption of a Resolution authorizing the Superintendent to do the same.
Upon a motion by Mr. Kessler, seconded by Mr. Mitcham, the Board unanimously voted to adopt the following:
RESOLUTION
Authorizing the superintendent to sign the required Louisiana Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist form reflecting the selection of or rejection of Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist Bodily Injury Coverage.
As time was nearing to conclude the renovation work at the Lincoln Parish Early Childhood Center, Mr. Owens requested permission to execute substantial completion documents based on the recommendation of the architect after his preparation of the final punch list and other appropriate paperwork.
Upon a motion by Mr. Barmore, seconded by Mr. Mitcham, the Board unanimously voted to grant permission and authorize the superintendent, his staff, and the architect to execute the substantial completion documents for the central office project provided that all applicable items on the punch list were cleared and all life safety codes and IBC regulations had been satisfied.
In a Report of the Superintendent, Mr. Bell said:
He is continuing to work with Mike Walpole on a Long Range Facilities Plan. A joint meeting of the Building and Grounds and Finance Committees may be scheduled for Thursday, October 14.
The next regular meeting of the Board is scheduled for October 20, 2010, at Ruston Elementary.
A visiting SACS team arrived in Ruston on Sunday evening and has been in the schools on Monday and Tuesday. He reminded board members and citizens that they are invited to attend the SACS Exit Report at 1:00 tomorrow in the board room.
The Academic Awards Banquet has been scheduled for Monday, November 8, 2010. He asked members to RSVP to Becky Gemelli by October 15, 2010.
He was sorry about an incident that occurred last week concerning Saturday’s local elections. With his approval, an employee of the Central Office placed mayoral campaign material from one of the candidates on the van to be distributed to employees at the Ruston Schools. Before the error was caught, about half of the Ruston schools had passed them out to their employees. At no time did he nor anyone else think that their actions were in contradiction of Board policy or state law; rather, it was felt to be a common sense means of addressing the candidate’s request. He regrets the mistake made and offered an apology to Mayor Dan Hollingsworth and others who have been upset with the action. Further candidates for any political positions are placed on notice that no campaign materials will be distributed by the schools or the district office. Mr. Bell hopes the Board, parents, and the public will return to the task to which they are dedicated, the education of Lincoln Parish students. He closed by requesting that a committee of board members be formed to review the matter, move forward with whatever needs to be done to address it properly, and report back to the Board.
After comments from several board members and upon a motion by Mr. Mitcham, the meeting adjourned at 7:28 p.m.
________________________ _______________________________
Danny Bell, Secretary Otha Anders, President