LINCOLN PARISH SCHOOL BOARD
Ruston, Louisiana
REGULAR SESSION
Tuesday, June 5, 2012 6:00 p.m.
The Lincoln Parish School Board met in Regular Session on Tuesday, June 5, 2012, 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 Ms. Debbie Abrahm, Mr. Otha Anders, Mr. Michael Barmore, Ms. Lisa Best, Mr. Curtis Dowling, Mr. Danny Hancock, Ms. Mattie Harrison, Ms. Lynda Henderson, Mr. Trott Hunt, Mr. Eddie Jones, Mr. George Mack, Jr., and Mr. Joe Mitcham.
No board member was absent.
Prior to the meeting, 2011-2012 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. Dowling gave the invocation. Ms. Harrison 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. Barmore, seconded by Mr. Mitcham, the Board unanimously voted to adopt the agenda as printed.
Upon a motion by Ms. Henderson, seconded by Mr. Mack, the Board unanimously voted to approve the minutes of the Regular Session held on May 8, 2012, as distributed.
At this point in the meeting, the 43 retirees honored with an earlier reception were presented with small gifts and certificates of appreciation for a total of 948 years of faithful and dedicated service to the parish. Retirees were as follows:
NAME LOCATION YRS. IN LINCOLN TOTAL YRS
Rickey Burton Ruston Jr High (Asst Principal) 33 33
Carynn Wiggins A. E. Phillips (Principal) 30 33
Marsha Armond Ruston Elementary (Librarian) 27 27.5
Mike Canterbury Simsboro High (Teacher) 26 33
Brenda Carr Youth Rescue Center (Teacher) 33 33
Margarita Cazenave Ruston High School (Teacher) 28 29
Linda Colvin Glen View Elementary (Teacher) 29 40
Marcia Colvin Howard School (Teacher) 10 30
Roxann Fallin Simsboro High (Teacher) 26 30
Harriett Fletcher Choudrant High (Counselor) 3 23
Sarah Frost Ruston Elementary (Teacher) 17 29
Betsy Gouedy Choudrant High (Teacher) 20 30
Hilda Grafton Hillcrest Elementary (Teacher) 24 30
Anita Greenwood Ruston High (Teacher) 14 14
Janet Hammock Hillcrest Elementary (Teacher) 20 30
Mary Celia Hanchey Ruston Elementary/Hillcrest (Teacher) 41 42
Sara Hollis Hico Elementary (Teacher) 23.5 25.5
Liz Hood Hillcrest Elementary (Teacher) 19 22
Remonia Hudson Youth Rescue Center (Counselor) 38 38
Patricia Jones Hillcrest Elementary (Teacher) 21 23
Sally Landry Hico Elementary (Teacher) 19 36.5
Earnestine Layton Youth Rescue Center (Teacher) 25.5 33
Kathy League Glen View Elementary (Teacher) 28 28
Gail Nelson A. E. Phillips (Librarian) 20 34
Claire Post Ruston Elementary (Teacher) 11 29
Carolyn Rockett Choudrant High (Teacher) 18 25
Kathy Shealy Cypress Springs Elementary (Teacher) 22 31
Joy Telford Hico/Dubach (Teacher) 10 36
Eva Williams Youth Rescue Center (Teacher) 18 23
Rustene Carr Cypress Springs Elementary (Tchr Aide) 16.5 16.5
Arleta Harris Career Academy (Teacher Aide) 17 17
Ronald Baker Choudrant District (Bus Driver) 27 27
Joe Gaido Ruston District (Bus Driver) 10.5 10.5
Louise Hudson Ruston District (Bus Driver) 12 12
Artie Runyon Ruston District (Bus Driver) 11 11
Charles Wright Ruston District (Bus Driver) 14 14
Donald Mayfield Glen View (Custodian) 31 31
Mary Smith Hico Elementary (Custodian) 18 18
Larry Waldron Central Office (Maintenance) 10 10
Barbara Fowler Ruston Elementary (Food Service) 39 39
Song Franklin Ruston Elementary (Food Service) 29 29
Donna Holloway Cypress Springs Elem. (Food Service) 31.5 31.5
Sherry Hudson Simsboro High (Food Service) 28 28
Mr. Anders thanked the retirees for their years of service to and for the children, offered congratulations on their retirement, and wished them well.
On May 8, 2012, test scores were released according to Donna Doss, Testing/Accountability Coordinator. School districts must offer 50 hours of summer school to fourth and eighth graders who’s LEAP scores fall below the threshold for promotion. Fewer students fell into that category this summer: 77 fourth graders (down from 84 last year) and 85 eighth graders (down from 101 last year), and more of them came within a few points of passing. Test scores are improving - slowly - but they are improving, she communicated.
George Murphy, Business Manager, presented a sales tax report for the month ending May 2012. Accumulations were $1,045,916 which was down 3.06% compared to the same month last year but up 1.19% year-to-date. Recoveries through audits were $11,256 for the month which was down 25% compared to the same month last year and down 11% year-to-date. Collections in the 1967 and the 1979 sales tax fund were $475,417, and $570,499 went into the 1993 and 2000 fund.
He also delivered an April 2012 financial update and said it was very similar to April 2011. Mr. Murphy called attention to the total fund balance of $42,526,322 which had dropped about $200,000 from the previous month.
Land clearing and dirt work is scheduled to begin on the new ag building at Ruston High School on June 11, 2012, announced Superintendent Danny Bell. Shortly thereafter demolition work will begin on the old ag building which will make room for the New Tech building. The RHS field house is nearing completion, but is awaiting delivery of weight equipment that has been donated by an ex RHS football player who went on to the National Football League after college. He said the next meeting of the Board has been moved to the field house and will be held on Monday, July 2, 2012. An Open House will precede the meeting at 5:30 p.m.
Director of Auxiliary Services, Charles Owens, related that the buildings in front of Choudrant High School have been moved, and the final phase of the parking lot project has begun. It should be completed before school starts in the fall.
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 the following effective May 26, 2012, unless otherwise noted:
Harriett Fletcher, counselor at Choudrant High, effective June 23, 2012;
Kathy League, teacher at Glen View Elementary;
Patricia Jones, teacher at Hillcrest Elementary;
Anita Greenwood, foreign language teacher at Ruston High; and
Mike Canterbury, social studies teacher at Simsboro High.
Resignation of the following effective May 26, 2012, unless noted otherwise:
Allison Milstead, teacher at Choudrant Elementary;
Nicole Postel, librarian at Choudrant Elementary;
Amanda Cauley, ELA/reading teacher at Dubach High;
Tanya Paul, art teacher at Glen View/Hico;
Mindy Martin, music teacher at Ruston High;
Misty Wilson, interpreter at Ruston High, effective May 25, 2012;
Aniece Greene, H&PE teacher at Ruston Junior High;
Chelsea Langue, art teacher at Ruston Junior High; and
Erica Phillips, math teacher at Ruston Junior High.
Rescission of retirement by Martha Hayes, teacher at Cypress Springs Elementary, effective May 17, 2012.
Points of Reference/Transfers of the following effective August 13, 2012, unless otherwise noted:
Michelle McDowell, from SHS/Itinerant to ELA/Spanish teacher at Dubach High replacing Danyelle O’Neal who transferred;
Martha Hayes, from Cypress Springs, to teacher at Hico Elementary, replacing Sara Hollis who retired;
Phaedra Burks, from Glen View to special education teacher at I. A. Lewis, replacing Robbie Burnham who transferred;
Trish Saber, from Glen View to math teacher at I. A. Lewis, because of an 8th period day;
Karmyn McLeroy, from Ruston Elementary, to special education teacher at I. A. Lewis, replacing Sunny Journey who transferred;
Betty Jenkins, from LPECC to custodian at I. A. Lewis effective August 8, 2012, replacing Joyce Jenkins who retired;
Markia Daigs, from Hico Elementary to pre-k teacher at LPECC at moving all pre-k to center;
Evelyn Cooper, from Simsboro to pre-k teacher at LPECC as moving all pre-k to center;
Jennifer Willis, from Dubach High to math teacher at Ruston Junior High, replacing Adam Powell who resigned;
Rebecca Strickler, from Ruston High to art teacher at Ruston Junior High, replacing Chelsea Lange who resigned;
Becky White, from Simsboro High to art teacher at Ruston High, replacing Rebecca Strickler who transferred;
Heidi DeCou from RJHS/DHS to music teacher at Ruston High, replacing Mindy Martin who resigned;
Alicia Thomason, from Ruston High to Freshman Academy Director at Ruston High effective July 30, 2012, replacing Pam Pruden who transferred;
Pam Pruden, from Ruston High to New Tech Coordinator at Ruston High, replacing Cathi Cox-Boniol who was ACHIEVE Coordinator;
Matthew Vincent, from Dubach High to math teacher at Ruston High replacing Daryl Savage who resigned;
Kevin Huff, from Choudrant High to science teacher at Simsboro High, replacing Chris Campbell who was granted leave without pay;
Danyelle O’Neal, from Dubach High to English teacher at Simsboro High, replacing Roxann Fallin who retired;
Nicky Weaver, from Dubach High to social studies teacher at Simsboro High, because of student numbers;
Brooke Hoefler, from Ruston Elementary to special education teacher at Simsboro High, replacing Gwen Torbor who transferred;
Edward Smith, from Ruston High to behavior/academic interventionist at Youth Rescue Center, replacing Remonia Hudson who retired; and
Gwen Torbor, from Simsboro Elementary to special education teacher at Youth Rescue Center, replacing Eva Williams who retired.
Employment of the following effective August 13, 2012:
Clint Ebey, middle math teacher at Dubach High, replacing Matthew Vincent who transferred;
Halie Martin, teacher at Hico Elementary, replacing Sally Landry who retired;
Timenee Thomas, physical education teacher at Ruston Junior High, replacing Aniece Green who resigned;
Erin McCown, math teacher at Ruston Junior High, replacing Erica Phillips who resigned; and
David Richard, math teacher at Simsboro High, replacing Mike Canterbury who retired.
Leave without pay request effective August 13, 2012, and through May 24, 2013, for Melanie Lewis, English teacher at I. A. Lewis.
Retirement of the following:
Mary Smith, custodian at Hico Elementary, effective June 2, 2012; and
Joyce Jenkins, custodian at I. A. Lewis effective September 9, 2012.
Retirement of Artie Runyon, bus driver in the Ruston district, effective May 24, 2012.
Retirement of Barbara Fowler, school food service manager at Ruston Elementary, effective June 30, 2012.
Upon a motion by Ms. Best, seconded by Mr. Hancock, the Board unanimously voted to accept the personnel recommendations as presented.
Bid opening was held on April 10, 2012, for the purchase of the following items for the 12-13 school year: duplicating paper, toilet tissue, paper towels, dust mop rentals, gasoline, and diesel. Charles Owens recommended that the Board accept the lowest bids meeting specifications.
Upon a motion by Mr. Hunt, seconded by Mr. Jones, the Board unanimously voted to accept the lowest bids meeting specifications for the purchase of materials and supplies for the 11-12 school year as shown below:
Company Submitting Bid
Unisource 2100 Cases of Copy Paper
Price Per Unit: $26.65
Total for 400 Cases: $55,965.00
Staples 400 Cases of Toilet Tissue
Price Per Case: $32.10
Total for 400 Cases: $12,840.00
Unisource 800 Cases of Paper Towels
Price Per Case: $13.99
Total for 800 Cases: $11,192.00
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 Services Dust Mop Rentals
18 inch .40 each weekly
36 inch .69 each weekly
48 inch .79 each weekly
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 12-13 proposed $392,850 budget for examination.
Administrator Jerry Moore was in attendance and said the sheriff’s department has a new tax that begins on July 1. Although they were not included in the figures, he predicted that would decrease the Board’s percentage of expenses about 2.5.
Upon a motion by Mr. Hancock, seconded by Ms. Abrahm, the Board unanimously voted to approve 12-13 Sales and Use Tax Commission’s budget.
Sales tax collections have increased 1.62% during the fiscal year through April; however, collections this year are expected to be down close to $2,600,000 compared to three years ago. This decline in collections will require the use of reserves to fund the salary supplement checks to the level of the previous year, announced George Murphy. A reserve has been accumulated for the purpose of maintaining the supplement amounts paid to employees in years where tax collections are less than previous years. Although he recommended that the June salary supplement checks remain the same as last year, $5,025 to certified and $2,513 to support employees, he said in future years a reduction in the amounts may be necessary if a sustained period of shortage in sales tax collections occurs. He requested the Board’s approval of the payment amounts.
Upon a motion by Mr. Mitcham, seconded by Ms. Henderson, the Board unanimously voted to approve the payment of salary supplement checks on June 26, 2012, in the amounts of $5,025 for certified staff and $2,513 for support staff.
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. One proposal from the Ruston Daily Leader was received. Mr. Murphy stated they offered $3.75 per legal square with a $ .50 discount per square if submitted by disk or e-mail.
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 12-13.
In a Report of the Superintendent, Mr. Bell noted that:
1. Only preliminary testing information had been received. Detailed information that could be placed in members’ testing binders would be received in late summer or early fall. An invitation was issued to visit summer school which is being held at Ruston Junior High School.
2. A Safe Routes to School grant application in collaboration with the City of Ruston had been awarded. The $265,281 promoting healthy minds and bodies will provide walking paths from surrounding neighborhoods to I. A. Lewis, Ruston Elementary, and Cypress Springs.
3. He attended a program at Louisiana Tech University last weekend where Ruston High STEM bobotics students came in first place. Different aspects of the weeklong competition were writing, math, science, technology and programming.
4. Katie Hogan, former Choudrant High School student, has been selected as a Presidential Scholar in the prestigious nation-wide search and will be recognized at the White House in the near future.
5. Training is ongoing for teachers and administrators with some attending Compass (evaluation) and Common Core (curriculum) training in Ouachita Parish tomorrow.
6. The transition process in the four elementary schools is going well. The principals are collaborating and staffing is being addressed. Right now the focus is on transportation and school start and stop times. Parents have been notified and encouraged to make sure the schools have current 911 addresses. If questions are received by board members, he requested that they be referred to the central office. He reminded those present that the transfer policy had recently been changed, and the office is moving forward with that very quickly while making sure to follow guidelines that the Justice Department has approved relative to the transition process. Relative to the desegregation issue, he called attention to a letter from Attorney Bob Hammonds showing appreciation to the Board. Partial unitary status has been given on five Green Factors: student assignment, teacher assignment, transportation, facilities and extracurricular. Those will be under close review until October 2013. At a later time obligations regarding the laboratory schools will be considered. He voiced his appreciation to Mrs. Null, Mr. Payton, and others putting in long hours helping the transition process operate correctly and smoothly.
7. Principal of Hillcrest, Patrice Hilton, had sent board members copies of a Letter to the Editor of the Ruston Leader thanking the RHS football coaches, players, and others for moving furniture to and from the school as they get ready to implement grade changes in the school.
There being no further business to come before the Board, upon a motion by Ms. Best, the meeting adjourned at 7:04 p.m.
__________________________________ ___________________________________
Danny L. Bell, Secretary Otha L. Anders, President