LINCOLN PARISH SCHOOL BOARD
Ruston, Louisiana
REGULAR SESSION
Tuesday, January 7, 2014 6:00 p.m.
The Lincoln Parish School Board met in Regular Session on Tuesday, January 7, 2014, at 6:00 p.m. at the Lincoln Parish School Board, 410 South Farmerville Street, Ruston, 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. Eddie Jones, Mr. George Mack, Jr., and Mr. Joe Mitcham.
Mr. Curtis Dowling and Ms. Lynda Henderson were absent.
President Anders called the meeting to order and delivered the invocation. The ladies led in the Pledge of Allegiance to the American flag.
Mr. Anders welcomed board members, staff, media, and other guests.
Upon a motion by Ms. Best, seconded by Mr. Barmore, the Board unanimously voted by roll call to adopt the agenda as amended deleting items #7.2 and #7.4 and adding one item of New Business: Change order #2 for Dubach School project.
Upon a motion by Ms. Abrahm, seconded by Mr. Jones, the Board unanimously voted to approve the minutes of the Regular Session held on December 3, 2013, as distributed.
The Election of Officers for 2014 was the next item on the agenda. Mr. Anders turned the floor over to the Secretary, Danny Bell. Mr. Bell declared the floor open for nominations for President for 2014. Ms. Harrison nominated Otha Anders. Hearing no further nominations for president, Mr. Bell declared the time for nominations closed and asked for a vote. Mr. Anders was unanimously selected as President for 2014.
Danny Bell asked for nominations for Vice President for 2014. Mr. Jones nominated Joe Mitcham. Hearing no further nominations, Mr. Bell declared the time for nominations closed and asked for a vote. Mr. Mitcham was unanimously selected as Vice President for 2013.
Superintendent Bell congratulated the men and expressed his appreciation for the leadership they have provided and for their diligence.
Mr. Anders thanked the Board for the vote of confidence. He said it’s humbling, and that his service is not self-fulfilling, self-seeking or self-serving; it’s much deeper and far reaching than that. He pledged to continue to ask much of the Board, the Superintendent, the staff, and of the entire Lincoln Parish group of stake-holders to help bring fruition to the visions and goals of the Lincoln Parish School District.
Mr. Mitcham concurred with Mr. Anders’ comments.
Following voter approval on November 16, 2013, of the Ruston School District #1 bond issue of $21,000,000 for capital projects, Grant Schlueter, Bond Attorney with Foley & Judell, wanted to proceed with the issue of the first series of bonds for $8,000,000. He called attention to a Resolution advertising for the bond sale at a school board meeting during the day on February 19, 2014.
Upon a motion by Mr. Jones, seconded by Mr. Hancock, the Board unanimously voted by roll call to adopt the Resolution authorizing the advertising for sealed bids for the purchase of Eight Million Dollars ($8,000,000) of General Obligation School Bonds, Series 2014, of Ruston School District No. 1 of the Parish of Lincoln, State of Louisiana, and providing for other matters in connection therewith.
Administrators at Choudrant High School and in the district have decided it’s time to move forward in considering the addition of a track to enhance their very successful track program. Because they were pleased with their construction of the Simsboro High School track, Danny Bell and Charles Owens, Director of Auxiliary Services, recommended that the Board employ Riley Company of Louisiana for surveying and engineering services that would be needed at Choudrant High School.
Upon a motion by Mr. Hunt, seconded by Mr. Jones, the Board unanimously voted to grant permission to enter into a contract with Riley Company of Louisiana, Inc., for the construction of a track at Choudrant High School.
Because work on the Simsboro High School track was nearing completion, Mr. Owens requested permission to execute Substantial Completion documents based on the recommendation of the engineer after his preparation of the final punch list and other appropriate paperwork.
Upon a motion by Mr. Jones, seconded by Mr. Hancock, the Board unanimously voted to grant permission and authorize the superintendent, his staff, and the engineer to execute the Substantial Completion documents for the Simsboro High School track.
After the closure of Hico Elementary School last fall, all movable property of value had been distributed, sold or discarded. Charles Owens asked permission to demolish the main building and the gymnasium as the board had no further need of the structures and the cost to rehabilitate them was prohibitive.
Upon a motion by Mr. Barmore, seconded by Mr. Hunt, the Board unanimous voted to grant permission to demolish Hico Elementary School.
Chairman of the Building and Grounds Committee, Trott Hunt, gave a brief report from their meeting the previous day. He said they reviewed the capital program for the Ruston School District #1 bond issue with architect Mike Walpole. A complete presentation was given by Mr. Walpole and a schedule of all of the projects, timeframes, estimates and dollar amounts were presented. The schedule was designed to get all of the projects in the field and under construction as quickly as possible. They will begin with the lighting and artificial turf at Ruston High School to get those done before the start of the 2014 football season, and because they do not require a lot of design work. After that, work will start with the elementary schools, then Ruston Junior High, and finally Ruston High School. The security work in all of the schools will be done as one project as opposed to including it with the work at the individual schools with the goal of making sure all of the systems are compatible. He noted the plans were basically what had been shared with the full board with a little refinement.
Charles Owens requested permission to advertise for bids for project “A” of the Ruston School District #1 bond issue, lighting improvements and installation of artificial turf at L. J. “Hoss” Garrett Stadium at Ruston High School.
Upon a motion by Mr. Hancock, seconded by Mr. Jones, the Board unanimously voted to grant permission to advertise for bids for lighting improvements and installation of artificial turf at L. J. “Hoss” Garrett Stadium at Ruston High School.
The Lincoln Parish Police Jury requested that the entities enter into a Cooperative Endeavor Agreement regarding the transfer of a surplus portable building currently located on the vacated Hico School campus. Mr. Owens said the portable had been declared surplus, and the school system had no other use for the building. He suggested that the Board approve the Police Jury’s request.
Upon a motion by Mr. Barmore, seconded by Ms. Harrison, the Board unanimously voted to approve the request from the Lincoln Parish Police Jury to enter into a Cooperative Endeavor Agreement to transfer a surplus portable building from the Hico School property for their use.
In a ruling on Act 2 litigation, the Louisiana Supreme Court declared unconstitutional the use of MFP funds for vouchers and held that the 2012-13 MFP was null and void on procedural grounds. Superintendent Bell said since the 2012-13 MFP resolution was unconstitutional, the last approved MFP resolution was that for the 2011-12 fiscal year. That MFP contained a provision calling for a 2.75% growth factor in 2012-13 which was not paid by the State. St. John the Baptist Parish School Board filed a lawsuit questioning whether the State should be compelled to pay the 2.75% increase to the public school boards of the State. Their legal counsel has agreed to associate LSBA Legal Counsel Bob Hammonds as co-counsel in the matter. Mr. Bell recommended that the Lincoln Parish School System join approximately thirty (30) other school districts that have already moved forward with being a part of the suit. Seventeen other districts are also considering joining in the suit within the next few weeks. In Lincoln Parish, if successful, that would amount to between $800,000 and $900,000 minus a 10% contingency fee. If unsuccessful, there would be no cost to the school system. He noted a part of the employment contracts for Business Manager, George Murphy, and him state they will provide for and seek appropriate funding and protect all funds whether they be constitutionally approved, State approved, or locally approved to properly educate children living in Lincoln Parish. After checking with the Board’s attorney, Assistant District Attorney Andy Shealy, Mr. Bell recommended joining in the suit.
Upon a motion by Ms. Best, seconded by Mr. Jones, the Board voted 9 FOR and 1 AGAINST by roll call to adopt the Lawsuit Preparation Resolution and grant the board President the authority to sign on behalf of the Lincoln Parish School Board the Contingency Fee Agreement supporting the litigation relative to restoring the loss in State MFP funding of public schools as a result of eliminating the 2.75% growth factor. Voting AGAINIST the motion was Trott Hunt.
Approval was being requested on a couple of items at Dubach School that would address specific utility changes necessary for the construction and renovation project according to Charles Owens. Specifically change order #2 represented:
1. Rerouting an 8 inch water main around the new classroom addition – ADD $16,658.82;
2. Deduct to use aluminum feeder wire instead of copper – CREDIT $14,000.00; and
3. Credit of contingency allowance – CREDIT $2,658.62.
Executing the change order would not add any money to the project, but would add five (5) days to the construction schedule.
Upon a motion by Mr. Barmore, seconded by Mr. Hunt, the Board unanimously voted to approve change order #2 for the Dubach School project.
In her Personnel Report, Mary Null, Director of Curriculum, Instruction, and Special Programs, verbalized:
1. Retirement of Kathleen Miller, speech therapist at Hillcrest, effective February 1, 2014.
2. Resignation of the following effective January 6, 2014:
Suzette Bagwell, insurance specialist at the Central Office; and
Cynthia Garner, elementary teacher at Cypress Springs.
3. Employment of the following effective January 6, 2014, unless noted otherwise:
Boylston Lewis, special education teacher at Cypress Springs effective December 2, 2013, replacing Williams Fields who resigned;
Michelle Chauvin, elementary teacher at Cypress Springs, replacing Cynthia Garner who resigned;
Lisa Nelson, speech therapist at Glen View, replacing Donna Thomas who resigned; and
T. J. Bowman, math teacher at Ruston High, replacing Terri Peters who was granted extended sick leave.
4. Points of Reference/Transfers of the following effective January 6, 2014:
Brenda Magee, from Hillcrest Elementary to business department at the Central Office replacing Suzette Bagwell who resigned; and
Carla Chrisman, lab proctor at Hillcrest Elementary to secretary/bookkeeper at Hillcrest Elementary replacing Brenda Magee who transferred.
5. Resignation of the following:
Loretta Ford, custodian at Ruston High, effective November 21, 2013; and
Markus Richard, custodian at LPECC, effective December 21, 2013.
6. Employment of the following effective January 6, 2014:
Joe Dunaway, custodian at Choudrant Elementary, replacing Sheila Newton who resigned;
Gary Williams, custodian at Ruston High, replacing Jettie McClain who perished; and
Paula Lott, custodian at Ruston High, replacing Loretta Ford who resigned.
7. School Food Service Points of Reference/Transfers of the following effective January 6, 2014:
Sharon Council, from Simsboro to clerk technician at Choudrant Elementary, replacing Patrina Robinson who transferred;
Lena Anderson, from I. A. Lewis to technician at Choudrant Elementary, replacing Virginia Sanderson who transferred;
Virginia Sanderson, from Choudrant Elementary to technician at Hillcrest Elementary replacing Lori Blair who transferred;
Tina Dowing, from technician at Simsboro to clerk technician at Simsboro, replacing Sharon Council who transferred;
Lori Blair, from Hillcrest Elementary to technician at Simsboro, replacing Tina Dowing who transferred;
Patrina Robinson, from Choudrant Elementary to technician at Ruston High, replacing Harriet Dunn who promoted; and
Arlene Simonton, from Choudrant Elementary to technician at Glen View, replacing Scymentress Davis who transferred.
8. Employment of Amy Bourgeois as school food service manager at I. A. Lewis effective January 6, 2014, replacing Lena Anderson who transferred.
George Murphy called attention to figures on the December 2013 sales tax report and noted that $1,127,932 was collected. That was a 3.68% increase compared to the same month last year and 10.76% year-to-date. He was excited about those numbers. Recoveries through audits for the month were $144,047. Year-to-date $214,546 had been collected. That was a 95.86% increase compared to last year. Collected in the ‘67 and ‘79 fund was $512,696; $615,235 was generated in the ‘93 and ‘00 fund.
In his financial update for November 2013, Mr. Murphy said a check for $12 million had recently been received from the Sheriff. Those monies will show up on the January statement, and the property tax funds that are showing deficits will be back in the black. The General Fund was doing well. The total fund balance was $31.4 million.
Moving on to the health and dental fund, through the month of November 2013 the fund was up $91,430. Year-to-date, the fund was up $103,653 according to Mr. Murphy. He cautioned that it will not look as good next month because numerous expenses were incurred in December; however, stop loss reimbursements on some claims were received in January so it should present a more accurate picture.
Although Committee Preference forms were included in packets, President Anders asked that board members remain on the same committees they were on in 2013. He believes members were serving in their areas of expertise, and the committees were very effective. He asked members to notify Becky Gemelli if they must make a change or to write “status quo” on their form if they were willing to keep the 2013 committee assignments.
In a Report of the Superintendent, Mr. Bell said:
1. A State of the District Report has been scheduled on Wednesday, January 29, 2014, at noon in the Community Room of the Lincoln Parish Library. Light refreshments will be served at 11:30 a.m. Board members were invited to attend.
2. The Louisiana School Board Convention was moved from March to January 20 – 23, 2014, and ten board members have planned to attend. He invited the remaining two to attend the ACHIEVE Celebration of Choudrant High School as a Top Gain “A” School on Tuesday, January 21, 2014, from 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at Squire Creek Country Club. Teachers and school and central office administrators will be present for the Celebration as it is a teacher in-service day. Members should RSVP to Cathi Boniol to let her know if they will attend and specify their lunch entre preference.
3. LSBA convention information was included in packets and should be reviewed prior to the upcoming event.
With no other business to come before the Board and upon a motion by Ms. Best, the meeting adjourned at 6:48 p.m.
_____________________________ _____________________________
Danny Bell, Secretary Otha Anders, President