LINCOLN PARISH SCHOOL BOARD

Ruston, Louisiana

REGULAR SESSION

Wednesday, October 16, 2013  12:30 P.M.

            The Lincoln Parish School Board met in Regular Session on Wednesday, October 16, 2013, at 12:30 p.m. at Choudrant High School, 2555 Highway 80, Choudrant, Louisiana.  Members present were Ms. Debbie Abrahm, Mr. Otha Anders, Mr. Michael Barmore, Ms. Lisa Best, Mr. Danny Hancock, Ms. Mattie Harrison, Mr. Trott Hunt, Mr. George Mack, Jr., and Mr. Joe Mitcham.

            Mr. Curtis Dowling, Ms. Lynda Henderson, and Mr. Eddie Jones were absent.

Prior to the business meeting, board members enjoyed a delicious lunch in the school cafeteria.

            President Otha Anders called the meeting to order.  Mr. Hancock gave the invocation, and Ms. Best led in the Pledge of Allegiance to the American flag.  Mr. Anders welcomed board members, staff, and guests to the meeting.

            Upon a motion by Ms. Best, seconded by Mr. Barmore, the Board unanimously voted to adopt the agenda as printed. 

            Principal of Choudrant High School, Lisa Bastion, welcomed guests to the school.  She noted that for the first time in her six years there, the enrollment has increased by approximately 25 students.  Last year the school piloted a program consisting of two hours of junior high math each day.  Since 80% of those students in 7^th and 8^th grades scored Proficient, she is continuing the practice and has added 9^th grade algebra I.  In closing, Ms. Bastion invited board members to walk around the recently renovated school, visit the classrooms, and come back at any time.  

            Ruston High and Dubach School have been collecting and storing broken and obsolete property.  In addition, Ricky Edmiston, Secondary Supervisor, said Ruston Junior High had recently replaced athletic lockers, and the old lockers needed to be discarded.  He called attention to a list of items and asked that they be declared surplus.

            Upon a motion by Mr. Hancock, seconded by Mr. Barmore, the Board unanimously voted to declare the items presented on the distributed list as surplus and grant authority to the administration to dispose of all items in a prudent manner.

            Overall COMPASS evaluation ratings for 12-13 were the next item on the agenda.  Paula Pardue, Human Resource Coordinator, distributed a handout with VAM and SLT results, and indicated the bell curve had been drafted by the State Department of Education some months ago.  As salaries were to be tied to the evaluation results, the Salary Study Committee and Business Department used that information in their discussion about stipends and the formation of a new salary schedule.  It was thought that 10% of the teachers would be rated Ineffective, 10% would be Highly Effective, and the remaining 80% would fall into the Emerging and Proficient categories.  Based on projections as seen in the bell chart, the estimated cost of VAM and SLT ratings was $149,000 including benefits.  The actual cost of the ratings was $327,000, a difference of almost $178,000.  She stressed the fact that the amount would not be sustainable.  Ms. Pardue noted that Ms. Null would present a revised salary schedule at the December board meeting.  At that point, she called attention to a chart containing actual numbers of VAM and SLT ratings.  Instead of the projected bell curve, roughly 94% fell in the Proficient and Highly Effective categories. 

            Director of Curriculum and Instruction, Mary Null, reminded Board members that last November a new salary schedule was presented, and in December it was approved.  With no data to go on and no pilot of the COMPASS evaluation system, the stipends and raises were based on the expected bell curve results.  Since the results did not follow the bell curve, she noted the administration is currently working on scenarios and sustainability as it is their opinion that the school system cannot continue paying these amounts.  She believes a revised salary schedule will be presented for their consideration before January 1, 2014.

            In answer to a question, Ms. Null communicated that VAM are the tested grades (4^th, 8^th, LEAP and iLEAP), and SLT are the nontested grades (P.E., music, kindergarten, 1^st, 2^nd, etc).  The VAM targets are mandated by the state, and the SLT goals are set by teachers with the approval of their principals.

            Following a few questions and answers by the administration, Mike Milstead and Lisa Bastion, a board member encouraged the administration to find a way to keep the current salary schedule and appropriately reward those teachers who are rated Highly Effective with the COMPASS evaluation program.

            ACT results were received and reported on by Donna Doss, Accountability and School Improvement Coordinator.  She distributed a chart with two years of scores for Lincoln Parish.  In 2012, Lincoln’s average ACT score was 20.7, and the state’s average was 20.3.  In 2013, Lincoln Parish’s average ACT score was 19.8, and the state’s average was 19.5.  Although the administration was not pleased with a .9 decline, Ms. Doss explained some changes that were faced this year.  As part of the SPS and statewide initiative, every student in the 2013 senior class was required to take the ACT except for those that were considered LA-1; almost 100 additional students in Lincoln Parish took the test.  Results by schools were:

                        Choudrant High             20.5

                        Dubach High                 18.1

                        Ruston High                  20.1

                        Simsboro High              17.0

She congratulated Choudrant High School for their increase and allowed Ms. Bastion to explain her strategy and incentives.

            Ms. Pardue went over the process to be used following the receipt of a Type 1 charter school application.  Since the district had received a letter of intent and a completed application from Success Academy Prep, a third party independent reviewer must be hired.  Kimberly Williams of New Millennium Education out of Baton Rouge had been contacted, given a copy of the application, and will be doing a review of the same.  A public hearing and her recommendation will be placed on the agenda for the December 3, 2013, regularly scheduled meeting.  The absolute deadline for a decision to be made by the Board is December 31, 2013.  If approved, the charter school would open in the fall of 2014.

            Answering a question, Ms. Pardue said Jackie Aniebok was listed on the application as the person to contact.  She provided no address except a post office box in Grambling.  The utilization of Lincoln Parish facilities was referenced.

            Mr. Murphy was pleased to report that September 30, 2013, was a good month for the Health/Dental Care Fund; it was up $374,505 for the month and $155,556 year-to-date.

            Ms. Null asked the Board to approve twelve policy revisions, one new policy for addition, and the deletion of a single policy that had been recommended at the previous meeting.

            Upon a motion by Mr. Barmore, seconded by Mr. Hunt, the Board unanimously voted to approve the revision of the following policies: School Board Member Continuing Education  (BBBC), Tax and Bond Elections and Sales (EBBC), Emergency/Crisis Management (EBBC), Buildings and Grounds Security (EBC), Child Nutrition Program Management (EE), Dismissal of Employees (GBN), Education of Students with Exceptionalities (IDDF), Co-Curricular Activities, Extracurricular Activities (IDE), Interscholastic Activities (IDFA), Prayer in Schools (IKDC), Bullying and Hazing (JCDAF), and Student Health Services (JGC); the addition of Miscellaneous Conditions of Employment (GAMJ); and the deletion of Bomb Threats (EBBCA-R).

Sales tax collections have increased during the first three months of the fiscal year.  In addition, George Murphy noted that over the years the system has accumulated a reserve in the sales tax funds for the purpose of maintaining the salary supplement amounts paid to employees in years where tax collections are in decline; however, in future years a reduction may be necessary if a sustained period of decline in sales tax collections occurs.  The administration proposed paying salary supplements in the same amounts as last year:  $2,450 to certified personnel and $1,225 to support personnel.  Last year the thirteenth checks cost the school board $1,949,674.   

Upon a motion by Ms. Best, seconded by Mr. Mack, the Board unanimously voted to approve the payment of salary supplements on November 22, 2013, in the amounts of $2,450 to certified personnel and $1,225 to support personnel.

In a Report of the Superintendent, Mr. Bell:

1.             Thanked Lisa Bastion for the school’s hospitality and extended his invitation to board members to tour the school before leaving;

2.             Expressed his appreciation to the principals as they work with teachers and approve SLTs with deadlines looming in the new evaluation period;

3.             Said visitors from the State Department are arriving later in the day; and,

4.             Voiced that the accountability results for the school district may be released in time to be placed on the agenda for the November meeting.

There being no further business and upon a motion by Ms. Best, the meeting adjourned at 1:22 p.m.

________________________________                ___________________________________

Danny L. Bell, Secretary                                                Otha L. Anders, President