LINCOLN PARISH SCHOOL BOARD

Ruston, Louisiana

REGULAR SESSION

Tuesday, February 4, 2014  6:00 p.m.

The Lincoln Parish School Board met in Regular Session on Tuesday, February 4, 2014, at 6:00 p.m. at the Lincoln Parish School Board, 410 South Farmerville Street, Ruston, Louisiana.  Members present were Mr. Otha Anders, Mr. Michael Barmore, Mr. Curtis Dowling, Mr. Danny Hancock, Ms. Mattie Harrison, Ms. Lynda Henderson (left the meeting early), Mr. Trott Hunt, Mr. Eddie Jones (arrived after the meeting began), Mr. George Mack, Jr., and Mr. Joe Mitcham.

Ms. Debbie Abrahm and Ms. Lisa Best were absent.

President Anders called the meeting to order.  The invocation was given by Mr. Mitcham, and Ms. Henderson led in the Pledge of Allegiance to the American Flag.  Mr. Anders welcomed board members, staff, members of the media, and special guests to the meeting.

Upon a motion by Mr. Hancock, seconded by Mr. Barmore, the Board unanimously voted by roll call to adopt the agenda as amended adding one item of Unfinished Business:  Accept bids to purchase buses.

Upon a motion by Ms. Henderson, seconded by Mr. Barmore, the Board unanimously voted to approve the minutes of the Regular Session held on January 7, 2014, as presented.

Independent Auditor, Margie Williamson, presented an audit report for the year ending June 30, 2014.  She called attention to two reports, the Comprehensive Annual Financial Report and the Single Audit Report.  Ms. Williamson briefly went over the results of the audit.  The General Fund decreased by $1.7 million for the year after a transfer of $2.1 million to another fund.  It had an ending balance of $21.2 million with $13 million being unassigned.  In the Comprehensive Annual Financial Report (CAFR), the LPSB received an unmodified audit opinion, the best opinion possible, which means that the Board’s financial condition, position, and operations are fairly presented in the financial statements.  The school district received a Certificate of Excellence for Financial Reporting from GFOA and ASBO for the CAFR for 2012, the 17^th year in a row, and it has been submitted for 2013 as well.  Moving on to the Single Audit Report, the compliance part of the audit, she said $7,050,049 was the total of federal grants the district received for 12-13 -- $2.3 million for school lunch and breakfast programs, $2.2 million for Title I, and $1.5 million for special education programs.  The federal programs her firm tested were the Title I program and the math and science partnership grant.  Although there were no findings for the federal programs, one finding was noted regarding the maintenance department’s work orders.  Procedures from the initial phase to the completion of the work order were not consistent. Documentation from whom initiated the work order, who did the work, and the person who initiated it signing off at the completion were not consistently done.  Ms. Williamson called attention to the corrective action planned to address the finding.

She closed by saying, “It’s a very good report,” and her firm appreciates the help of the Business Department.

Mr. Jones entered the meeting during Ms. Williamson’s report.

In her Personnel Report, Ms. Null verbalized:

1.    Resignation of the following:

Boylston Lewis, special education teacher at Cypress Springs, effective January 27, 2014; and

Candace Culpepper, science teacher at I. A. Lewis, effective January 3, 2014.

2.    Employment of the following:

Alyssa Moore, speech therapist at Hillcrest Elementary effective February 3, 2014, replacing Kathleen Millioner who retired; and

Clint Blazier, science teacher at I. A. Lewis effective January 7, 2014, replacing Candace Culpepper who resigned.

3.    Points of Reference/Transfer of the following school food service employees:

Harriet Dunn, transferring from Ruston High to clerk/technician at Ruston High effective September 23, 2013, replacing Janis Nelson who promoted; and

Lori Blair, transferring from Simsboro High to technician at Hillcrest effective February 10, 2014, replacing Patricia Buckhanan who perished.

4.    Resignation of the following school food service employees:

Patrina Robinson, technician at Ruston High effective January 6, 2014; and

Sharon Council, clerk/technician at Choudrant Elementary effective January 7, 2014.

5.    Retirement of school food service technician at Ruston High, Patsy Slack, effective January 10, 2014. 

According to George Murphy, Business Manager, sales taxes collected for the period ending January 31, 2014, were $1,308,199 which was down 1% compared to the same month last year, but still up 8.77% year-to-date.  Recoveries through audits were $6,249.  That was up 110% compared to the same month last year, and year-to-date they were up 96%.  Collections in the ‘67 and ‘79 fund were $594,636, and $713,562 was generated in the ‘93 and ‘00 fund.

In the end of December 2013 financial report, Mr. Murphy reiterated that money was received from the sheriff in January so the funds still showing negative balances would be in the black on the January 2014 statement.  The total fund balance, $31.3 million, was about $1.7 million lower than the total fund balance in December 2012.  He primarily attributed the decrease to projects discussed earlier in the Building and Grounds Committee meeting.  Those monies were mainly paid from the ‘93 ad valorem tax fund.

                        In the health plan update, Mr. Murphy reported that December 2013 was a tough month as he had predicted.  By the end of the month, the fund was down $199,130, and year-to-date it was down $95,477.  At the same time last year, the fund was up $1.7 million. Looking at both years, the fund was still up $1.6 million proving the move to Blue Cross Blue Shield was a wise decision. 

                        Standard and Poor’s released a report on the district when they were doing their periodic rating on district debt.  In addition, George Murphy and Kathy Pool, Accounting Manager, had recently had a meeting with Grant Schlueter, Bond Attorney, and representatives from Standard and Poor’s.  They went over the report and discussed debt in relation to the upcoming bond sale.   The district kept its ‘AA-‘ rating which is a fairly good rating that lowers interest costs when issuing debt.  Under the Outlook section of the report, he read, “We do not expect to change the rating within the next two years due to the district’s additional debt issuance plans.  While we do not view it as likely to occur, we could lower the rating if reserves were to deteriorate further.” Mr. Murphy opined it’s not likely, but he did want to point that out and said it was a result of the total fund balance dropping $1.7 million.

            In his construction update, Charles Owens, Director of Auxiliary Services, said the Ruston High School stadium concession/toilet project is on schedule, and he is very satisfied with the work.  He showed pictures of that, the track at Simsboro School, and the Dubach School renovation and construction.  He was pleased with Riley and Company who brought the Simsboro track project in on time and under budget.  Finally he noted the Dubach School project was also on schedule. 

            Three bids were received following an advertisement for bids for the purchase of four 2015 conventional buses and one 2015 special education bus.  They were from Kent Mitchell Bus Sales, Scott Truck L.L.C., and Ross Bus Sales.  After careful analysis and comparison of bids, James Payton, Transportation Coordinator, recommended that the bid from Kent Mitchell Bus Sales be accepted as the lowest bid which fully met specifications.

            Upon a motion by Mr. Mitcham, seconded by Ms. Henderson, the Board unanimously voted to accept the bid of $73,751.00 each for the purchase of four 2015 conventional school buses and $87,030.00 for the purchase of one 2015 special education bus from Kent Mitchell Bus Sales.

                        Because several seats were broken or missing and the understructure or framing was warped, Mr. Owens requested permission to advertise for bids for new bleachers to replace the twenty-nine-year-old bleachers at Ruston Junior High School.

                        Upon a motion by Mr. Jones, seconded by Mr. Mack, the Board unanimously voted to grant permission to advertise for bids for the purchase of new bleachers at Ruston Junior High School.

                        Ms. Lynda Henderson left the meeting.

                        In a Report of the Superintendent, Mr. Bell said:

1.      He appreciated the board members who were able to attend the Student of the Year and Teacher of the Year event last night.

2.      The Ruston-Lincoln Chamber of Commerce’s Business after Hours will be hosted by the LPSB for the first time from 5:00 – 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday, February 11, 2014.  He invited everyone to attend.

3.      The February 19, 2014, board meeting will be held at the Central Office and not at Dubach School due to the advertisement of the same in the bond sale information.  A light lunch will be served at 12:00 noon followed by the meeting at 12:30 p.m.

Following brief comments by Mr. Anders and a motion by Ms. Harrison, the meeting adjourned at 6:39 p.m.

______________________________     ______________________________

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