LINCOLN PARISH SCHOOL BOARD
Ruston, Louisiana
REGULAR SESSION
Tuesday, December 7, 2010 6:00 p.m.
The Lincoln Parish School Board met in Regular Session on Tuesday, December 7, 2010, at 6:00 p.m. at the Lincoln Parish School Board, 410 South Farmerville Street, Ruston, Louisiana. Members present were President Otha Anders, Mr. Michael Barmore, Ms. Lisa Best, Ms. Lynda Henderson, Mr. Trott Hunt, Mr. Eddie Jones, Mr. Jim Kessler, Mr. George Mack, Mr. Ted McKinney, and Mr. Joe Mitcham.
Mr. Curtis Dowling and Mrs. Mattie Harrison were absent.
Mr. Anders called the meeting to order, and Mr. McKinney gave the invocation. Ms. Henderson led in the Pledge of Allegiance to the American flag followed by Mr. Anders’ welcome to board members, staff, media, persons of special recognition, and guests.
He also acknowledged out-going members, Ted McKinney representing district 12 and Jim Kessler from ward 5, who have served their constituents for many years. Mr. Anders thanked them for their dedication to the children and wished them well in the future. Both men thanked the Board for the opportunity to serve.
Upon a motion by Mr. Barmore, seconded by Mr. Hunt, the Board unanimously voted by roll call to adopt the agenda with the deletion of one item of new business: Change order for Choudrant Elementary School project.
Upon a motion by Mr. Kessler, seconded by Ms. Henderson, the Board unanimously voted to approve the minutes of the Regular Session held on November 2, 2010, as distributed.
In order to continue to update the fleet and meet the increasing demand for special education transportation, James Payton, Transportation Coordinator, requested permission to buy two new conventional buses and one new special education school bus.
Upon a motion by Mr. Mack, seconded by Mr. Kessler, the Board unanimously voted to grant permission to advertise for bids for the purchase of two new conventional and one new special education school buses.
The Board served as a Committee of the Whole, and the following Personnel Committee 1.-3. agenda items were considered after being presented by Mary Null, Director of Curriculum, Instruction, and Special Programs:
1. Points of Reference:
Larry Waldron transferring from bus driver to central office maintenance effective November 29, 2010; and
Janet Burse transferring from I. A. Lewis to special education teacher at Ruston High, effective November 9, 2010, replacing Jill Murphy who transferred.
2. Employment of Rachel Gay as ELA teacher at Lincoln Parish Career Academy, effective December 6, 2010, replacing Betty Peoples who retired.
3. Leave without pay request from April 4, 2011, through May 27, 2011, from Samantha Lantrip, teacher at Hillcrest Elementary.
Upon a motion by Ms. Best, seconded by Mr. Barmore, the Board unanimously voted to approve the administration’s personnel recommendation.
Paula Pardue, Secondary Academic Coordinator, said that Louisiana Department of Education conversion charts with point value for end-of-course test achievement levels based on Lincoln Parish’s grading scales have been added to the 10-11 Pupil Progression Plan. She distributed copies of the same and noted that no action was needed by the Board.
Thereafter a brief discussion ensued relative to Lincoln Parish’s two grading scales.
Calling attention to her chart of student/teacher ratios of those with core classes only was Mary Null. The district average last year was 16:1, and this year’s is 17:1. She attributes that to adding a preschool center where ratios are 20:1. A paraprofessional is required by the state if a classroom has over ten students; therefore, a higher student/teacher ratio can be maintained in those classes. These numbers are well under what Bulletin 741 allows.
November 2010 brought an increase in sales tax collections with $1,000,163 being collected according to George Murphy. That was a 10.07% increase for the month and 6.96% year-to-date. The collections are still down about $3,000,000 compared to two years ago which is significant. Increases each month are good, but he wanted the Board to know that he continues to dip into reserves. There is only a finite amount of reserves to be had. Recoveries through audits were $44,577 which was up 597% for the month and down 23.378%. He told the Board that $454,620 was collected in the ’67 and ’79 sales tax fund, and $545,543 in the ’93 and ’00 fund.
He called attention to the shaded line on the October 2010 financial statement. Year-to-date the general fund was still up over three million. The 5 mill maintenance fund and all five ad valorem tax funds were all showing negative balances; the property tax revenue will begin to be deposited in December and January. He will also be adding a column for Choudrant’s M & O fund as they passed a millage. The child nutrition fund was showing a positive balance, and the sales tax funds were about as predicted. Mr. Murphy communicated that the $1.3 million the district was to receive in the Education Jobs Fund program, which occurred at the same meeting where the Board approved construction of a field house at Ruston High, have subsequently been earmarked by the Governor for other purposes. Last week the Legislature voted to go back and try to recoup those monies. He is concerned about what is going on at the state level – not only this year, but what they will cut next year. He is concerned about putting any more money into projects and being able to continue to operate in the same way. He reiterated that student/teacher ratios may have to go up in order to keep the bond ratings the school system merits.
Forethought Consulting had recommended policy changes due to recent acts of the Louisiana Legislature. Ms. Null presented the following policies for the Board to consider revising and a Student Biometric Information (JGFHA) addition to the policy manual: School Superintendent Legal Status (ABD); Board Member Continuing Education (BBBC); School Board Ethics (BH); Superintendent Powers and Responsibilities (CEB); Employment of Superintendent (CED); Investments (DFL); Sale of Buildings and Land (DFN); Bids and Quotations (DJED); Buildings and Grounds Security (EBC); Employment of Personnel (GBD); Transfer (GBM); Alcohol, Tobacco, Drug and Substance Abuse Education Program( IDBB); Testing (II); and Student Alcohol and Drug Use (JCDAC). She suggested that members study the proposed changes until the January meeting.
Six qualified bids were received for the Choudrant High School renovation and construction project according to Charles Owens. Initially K D Homes Builder was determined to be the low bidder with their base bid of $3,335,980, but after careful review, they withdrew their bid. The bid should go to the next lowest bidder which was Mann’s Construction, Inc., submitted a base bid of $3,748,000. Because the bid is slightly under what was expected, the acceptance of their bid will allow for the construction of a new building and renovations to the existing buildings at Choudrant High. Mr. Owens asked the Board to accept their base bid and reject the deductive alternates.
Upon a motion by Mr. Kessler, seconded by Mr. Hunt, the Board unanimously voted to accept the base bid and reject the deductive alternates submitted by Mann’s Construction Co., Inc., and approve this construction company as the low bidder and contractor for the Choudrant High School project.
In a Report of the Superintendent, Mr. Bell said that:
He appreciates Greg Wallace, his father, and Charles Owens for what they are doing in the Choudrant schools.
The New Tech addition at Ruston High should be ready for occupancy by mid January if not sooner.
He’ll be coming back to the Board in January with a resolution calling for an April election relative to extending millages in the Ruston School District to fund a New Tech facility and perhaps an agriculture building.
Topography work has been done on the Ruston High stadium project, and the architect continues to work on the plans.
He is looking at closing on some property in the Choudrant area that the Board had previously approved.
After brief comments from a couple of board members, and following a motion by Ms. Best, the meeting adjourned at 6:51 p.m.
____________________________ _____________________________
Danny L. Bell, Secretary Otha L. Anders, President