LINCOLN PARISH SCHOOL BOARD
Ruston, Louisiana
REGULAR SESSION
Tuesday, May 7, 2013 6:00 p.m.
The Lincoln Parish School Board met in Regular Session on Tuesday, May 7, 2013, 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, 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.
Ms. Lisa Best was absent.
President Otha Anders called the meeting to order, and the invocation was given by Mr. Hancock. Ms. Henderson led in the Pledge of Allegiance to the American flag. Mr. Anders welcomed board members, staff, media, and visitors to the meeting.
Upon a motion by Mr. Hancock, seconded by Mr. Dowling, the Board unanimously voted to adopt the agenda as printed.
Upon a motion by Ms. Henderson, seconded by Mr. Jones, the Board unanimously voted to approve the minutes of the Regular Session held on April 2, 2013, as distributed.
Several months ago Lincoln Parish was approached by Vermilion Parish to promote interest in an educational co-op that they had created called The District Cooperative of Louisiana. The Cooperative was created as another option to the Louisiana Course Choice Program (Act 2, Louisiana Legislature). Paula Pardue, Secondary Academic Coordinator, said the administration believes this is the best approach to Course Choice options because it will create a vast array of course selections beyond what a single district could potentially offer while substantially reducing the per pupil costs which would be taken from the MFP. She recommended approval of a Memorandum of Understanding and an Intergovernmental Agreement with the Vermilion Parish School Board.
Upon a motion by Mr. Mitcham, seconded by Mr. Hunt, the Board unanimously voted to approve the Memorandum of Understanding and Intergovernmental Agreement with Vermilion Parish School Board for the purpose of joining The District Cooperative of Louisiana.
In 2005 the LPSB joined forty-six other public school systems in Louisiana filing suit against the Louisiana School Employees’ Retirement System (LSERS) because of language in Article 10, Section 29(E) of the Louisiana Constitution. That language provides that the State shall fund the employer’s share of retirement contributions to two retirement systems, and that in any year in which it does not do so; those systems can warrant the funds directly from the state. Superintendent Danny Bell said the school system was represented by Bob Hammonds of the Hammonds & Sills Law Firm. In the suit, a ruling was sought from the Court that it was the obligation of the State (rather than the school boards) to pay the employer’s share of such contributions and that LSERS could not attempt to collect those contributions from the school board. Initially, Judge Kay Bates agreed with the school systems’ argument, but she went on to rule that the State had satisfied their obligation through the MFP payments made to public school systems in the State. In April 2013, she ruled that even though it was the State’s obligation to fund the employer’s share, they had fulfilled that obligation through MFP payments. In addition, she granted the motion for summary judgment filed by LSERS and dismissed the litigation. Obviously Mr. Hammonds feels the decision of the trial court was in error. Even if there was funding in the MFP to cover the cost of the contributions to LSERS prior to 2008, there are no longer sufficient revenues in the MFP with which to do so. The difference in the 07-08 rate of contributions ($441,068) and the 13-14 rate ($787,099) is $346,031; therefore, the litigation has a significant impact on the Lincoln Parish School System. In considering whether to appeal the decision of the trial court, Mr. Hammonds felt it would serve no purpose for some of the forty-seven systems to appeal the decision while others did not. He suggested that all of the systems be polled, and that the decision to appeal or not to appeal be dictated by majority vote of the systems. It was noted that funding for such an appeal is already contained in the litigation account, so there would be no additional cost to appeal. Superintendent Bell recommended that an appeal be filed.
Upon a motion by Mr. Jones, seconded by Mr. Mack, the Board unanimously voted to appeal the decision of the 19th Judicial District Court in the case of East Baton Rouge Parish School Board, et al v. Louisiana School Employees’ Retirement System, Docket No. 539,015, Sec. 26.
Formal approval was requested by Charles Owens, Director of Auxiliary Services, for a change order for the ag shop and New Tech project at Ruston High School. The following changes were included in the change order: install additional brick ties at New Tech (add $2,369.52); add exhaust fans for two lab hoods at New Tech (add $2,405.91); drainage modifications in front of ag shop (add $1,400.70); increase the size of awards sign at ag shop (add $677.00); add power, drain and water for future ice machine and dishwasher at ag shop (add $556.44); and contingency and miscellaneous hardware allowances (deduct $7,409.57). Those changes left a remaining $4,590.43 in unused project funds as a credit. Mr. Owens asked for approval of the change order.
Upon a motion by Mr. Hancock, seconded by Mr. Jones, the Board unanimously voted to approve change order #5 for the ag shop and New Tech at Ruston High resulting in a $4,590.43 credit to the Lincoln Parish School Board.
Because work on the ag shop at Ruston High had been completed, 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. Dowling, seconded by Ms. Abrahm, the Board unanimously voted to grant permission and authorize the superintendent, his staff, and the architect to execute the Substantial Completion documents for the construction of the new ag shop at Ruston High School.
According to Superintendent Bell, three qualified applicants were interviewed on April 25, 2013, for the principal position at Ruston High School. The Interview Committee consisted of Mary Null, Chairman, Lisa Bastion, Judy Mabry, Mike Milstead, Charles Owens, and Willie Washington. They unanimously decided and Mr. Bell concurred that none of the three people interviewed be recommended to the Board for the position. Instead he proposed to reopen the application process on Wednesday, May 8, 2013, through 4:00 p.m. on May 22, 2013. Advertisements for the position would again be sent to school systems across Louisiana as well as surrounding states. In addition the administrative advertisement would be placed on the district’s web site and in the official journal. Interviews would be scheduled after May 22 with a recommendation to be presented at the June 4, 2013, meeting.
Upon a motion by Mr. Barmore, seconded by Ms. Harrison, the Board unanimously voted to reject all applicants and advertise and interview for the principal of Ruston High School as explained above.
The Louisiana Department of Education continues to make changes and require many more varied courses before high school students can graduate. Dubach High School currently has an enrollment of approximately 85 in grades 9 through 12 and an instructional faculty of 13. As a result, it has become increasingly difficult to adequately offer the courses necessary for graduation. Superintendent Danny Bell proposed to bus the 9th through 12th graders from Dubach High School to Ruston High School beginning in August 2013. In closing Mr. Bell said that knowing the high school students would have many more curricular and extracurricular choices at RHS made the extremely difficult decision a little easier to make.
In addition, the principal and coordinating teacher at Hico Elementary have recently submitted letters indicating their intent to retire at the end of the 12-13 school year. Because of their plans and since the facilities at DHS are newer and in better shape than those at Hico Elementary and in a more centralized location, he also proposed to move kindergarten through 5th grades from Hico Elementary to Dubach High beginning in August 2013. This would necessitate the closing of Hico Elementary. Mr. Bell feels that the area can sustain a vibrant kindergarten through 8th grade program. He suggested calling the new school Dubach School.
He communicated that none of the personnel at either of the schools would be terminated under his proposals; instead they would be re-assigned to a location/school that the administration believes is the best fit for their certification and experience and according to the needs of the children and the school system.
Mr. Bell verbalized that a public meeting was held at DHS on April 9, 2013, and those gathered were presented with the facts and the proposal by central office administrators and administrators from both high schools. Although all of those present were not in agreement, the majority seemed to understand the reasoning and were in favor of the changes.
Upon a motion by Mr. Barmore, seconded by Mr. Jones, the Board unanimously voted to transfer the 9th - 12th graders from Dubach High School to Ruston High School beginning in August 2013, move the kindergarten - 5th graders from Hico Elementary School to what had been Dubach High School with the new name of Dubach School beginning in August 2013, and close Hico Elementary School at the end of the 12-13 school year.
With the upcoming grade changes at Dubach High School, renovations to the existing building will be necessary to accommodate the new students. In addition the central office and school administration wanted the Board to consider the construction of a new building to possibly include a library, toilets and classrooms. In order to proceed, Charles Owens communicated that the services of an architect must be secured. He suggested contracting the project with Architect Mike Walpole who would handle the following phases: schematic design, design development, construction document, bidding, and construction.
Upon a motion by Mr. Hunt, seconded by Mr. Jones, the Board unanimously voted to enter into a contract with Architect Mike Walpole for the renovation of the existing building and construction of a new building at what is currently Dubach High School.
In her Personnel Report, Mary Null, Director of Curriculum, Instruction, and Special Programs, voiced the following:
1. Retirement of the following effective May 25, 2013, unless otherwise noted:
Martha Hayes, teacher at Hico Elementary;
Pam Garbarino, teacher at Glen View Elementary, effective June 30, 2013;
Sylvia Evans, teacher at Glen View Elementary; and
Susan Hilton, science teacher at Ruston Junior High.
2. Resignation of the following:
Nina Boddie, secretary at I. A. Lewis, effective June 7, 2013; and
Kelsey Whitlock, ELA teacher at Ruston High, effective May 25, 2013.
3. Employment of the following effective August 12, 2013, unless otherwise noted:
Tim Hancock, agriculture at Choudrant High, effective July 1, 2013, replacing Steve Baker who retired;
Thais Morelos, social worker at Pupil Appraisal, replacing Diane Soper who retired;
Sandra Lassiter, music teacher at Cypress Springs Elementary and Ruston Elementary, replacing Mary Hanchey who retired;
Bakari Beckwith, basketball coach at Ruston High, effective July 15, 2013, replacing Chris Bush who resigned;
Amanda Davis, math teacher at Ruston Junior High, in a double-blocked math slot;
Brandy Tyler, PE/coach at Simsboro School, effective July 15, 2013, replacing Rachel Wood who transferred;
Elizabeth Bagley, math teacher at Simsboro School, replacing Debra Hathorn who retired; and
Abby Odenbaugh, math teacher at Simsboro School, replacing Cassie Maxwell who resigned.
4. Retirement of the following:
Epsey Samuel, bus driver in the Ruston area, effective June 2, 2013; and
Sam Squyres, bus driver in the Simsboro area, effective July 19, 2013.
5. Resignation of Levell Thurmon, bus driver in the Ruston area, effective April 4, 2013.
6. Retirement of Doris Roberson, custodian at Cypress Springs, effective May 30, 2013.
Graduation rates were released by the state for 2012, and Superintendent Bell was glad to report that all of the schools were above the state goal of 80% by the year 2014. Rates for the parish high schools were as follows:
Choudrant High School greater than 95%;
Dubach High School 84.2%;
Ruston High School 88.7%; and
Simsboro High School 82.5%.
Lincoln Parish’s special education graduation rate of 53% ranks the school system #3 in the state with special education populations. He was extremely proud of that accomplishment and commended the schools and the staffs for their efforts. The district’s graduation rate of 79.9% was a drop from the 2011 rate of 84.2%. He attributed the decrease to the scoring of the cohort of students from the Alternative School that did not graduate in four years - which earned the schools a zero for each of those students. He believes after talking with the Accountability Coordinator, Donna Doss, that should not be the case next year. Mr. Bell encouraged the high schools and special education department to keep up the great job they are doing. He also expressed his appreciation for the Truancy Program and the great job Andy Shealy and his staff are doing.
Sales taxes collected for the period ending April 30, 2013, totaled $1,381,889, George Murphy, Business Manager, reported. It was the best month of the year so far. The total was a 6.29% increase from the same month last year. Year-to-date the collections were up 2.4%. Recoveries through audits for the month were $3,409 which was down a little over 96% compared to the same month last year, and year-to-date that figure was down a little over 51%. For the month, $628,132 was collected in the ‘67 and ‘79 fund, and $753,757 was collected in the ‘93 and ‘00 fund.
Moving on to the financial statement for March 2013, Mr. Murphy noted that there was not much change from the previous month. The Total Fund Balance was 42,258,346.
In his Health Care Fund report, George Murphy, said a loss of $357,914 was experienced for the month ending March 2013. Year-to-date that fund was down $125,345.
Very good news regarding the construction of the New Tech building at Ruston High was shared by Charles Owens. They are in the final few weeks of work. He showed several pictures of the outside and inside of the building.
In a Report of the Superintendent, Mr. Bell said:
1. He is moving the July 2nd board meeting from the Central Office to the New Tech building. This move will allow for a tour of the newly-completed New Tech and ag shop by the board and community members.
2. A Retiree Reception has been scheduled for 5:30 p.m. prior to the June 4 Regular Session of the Board. All in attendance were invited to attend the reception to visit with the retirees and wish them well.
3. A schedule of graduations was included in packets, and those interested in attending were encouraged to do so.
4. Board members may have seen information in the newspaper about the Advanced Learning Academy. He is putting that in place next year in the four city elementary schools. It is to identify students in the early grades that are well ahead of their peers in reading or math but primarily reading. They will capture those students where they are and encourage them to excel. He believes programs like this will impact school performance and accountability.
There being no further business, upon a motion by Ms. Abrahm, the meeting adjourned at 7:04 p.m.
______________________________ _______________________________
Danny L. Bell, Secretary Otha L. Anders, President