LINCOLN PARISH SCHOOL BOARD

Ruston, Louisiana

REGULAR SESSION

Tuesday, March 4, 2014   6:00 p.m.

The Lincoln Parish School Board met in Regular Session on Tuesday, March 4, 2014, at 6:00 p.m. in the Lincoln Parish School Board Central 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.

President Anders called the meeting to order, and the invocation was given by Mr. Jones.  Ms. Harrison 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. Barmore, the Board unanimously voted by roll call to adopt the agenda with an addendum adding one item of New Business: Advertise for bids for Ruston School District #1 projects.

Upon a motion by Ms. Abrahm, seconded by Mr. Jones, the Board unanimously voted to approve the minutes of the Regular Sessions held on February 4, 2014, and February 19, 2014, as distributed.

Cathi Boniol, Lincoln ACHIEVE Coordinator, was delighted to inform the Board   that another Ruston High school student had been selected as a National Merit Finalist.   She summarized what steps the student had taken prior to making it to the top .5% of seniors in the nation.  Ms. Boniol introduced Benjamin Serio, presented a plaque to him in recognition of being selected as a National Merit Finalist, and had him introduce his guests.

President Anders congratulated the academic champion, expressed pride in him, and wished him well in the future. 

Next Ms. Boniol recognized and presented a plaque to the Semi-Finalist Teacher of the Year, Tammy Schales, and the Semi-Finalist Principal of the Year, Ricky Durrett.  She summarized background on the 4^th grade teacher from Ruston Elementary and the principal from Simsboro School and shared what they had gone through to reach that level in the competition.  Ms. Boniol and Mr. Anders congratulated and expressed pride in the duo that were among the top 15 in the state in their profession.

The following personnel items were reported by Mary Null, Director of Curriculum, Instruction, and Special Programs:

1.             Retirement of Kathy Shipp, special education supervisor, effective July 1, 2014.

2.             Employment of Justin White as teacher at Choudrant Elementary effective January 21, 2014, replacing Angela McKaskle who transferred.

3.             Points of Reference/Transfers of the following effective July 1, 2014:

Mike Milstead, from Ruston High School to Chief Academic Officer at the Central Office, replacing Jan Murphy who retired; and Ricky Durrett, from Simsboro School to principal of Ruston High School, replacing Mike Milstead who transferred.

4.             Resignation of:

Belinda Murphy, custodian at Simsboro High, effective February 28, 2014; and

Elonzo Johnson, custodian at Simsboro High, effective February 19, 2014.

5.             Resignation of the following:

Aaron Austin, Sr., bus driver in the Ruston area, effective January 30, 2014; and

Al Shaw, bus driver in the Ruston area, effective February 14, 2014. 

  George Murphy, Business Manager, reported that $1,070,836 was collected in sales taxes during the month of February 2014.  That was a 5.53% increase for the month and an 8.4% increase year-to-date.  Recoveries through audits were $4,432 which was up 96.09% year-to-date.  In the 1967 and 1979 sales tax funds, $486,744 was collected.  Deposits in the 1993 and 2000 sales tax funds were $584,092. 

Moving on to the January 2014 financial report, Mr. Murphy called attention to the 5 mill maintenance fund and the six ad valorem and M&O funds that were all funded by property taxes.  The bulk of the revenue was debited to the accounts in January although a little will be received in February and March.  Those funds that were in the red are in the black except for the 5 mill maintenance fund that is still showing a deficit.  Because there have been numerous needs and much going on during the past year, he predicted that a transfer will be again be made from the General Fund.  Sales tax funds were doing well, and the General Fund was up $2.3 million year-to-date.  In December of 2013, the total fund balance was down to $31.3 million, but with the monies received from the sheriff’s office the total fund balance was up to $39.4 million. 

In his update on the Health Plan for January 2014, George Murphy said he was very pleased to report the fund was up $360,814 for the first month of the calendar year.

As part of his construction update, Director of Auxiliary Services, Charles Owens, showed pictures of the track project at Simsboro School, the work at Dubach School, and the Hoss Garrett Stadium.  He noted the track project was finished except for the public address system that should be completed next week.  The Dubach project was on schedule with the slab being poured last week.  Mr. Owens said the renovated building and the new building will be connected by an enclosed corridor.  In spite of the weather, the main slab was laid at the Hoss Garrett Stadium, and some of the auxiliary slabs are slated to be poured later in the week.  That project was also on schedule.

Accepting the bid for new artificial turf on the James Field at the Hoss Garrett Stadium at Ruston High School was the next agenda item.  Mr. Owens reported that one qualified bid was submitted by Hellas Construction.  Their base bid was $898,600, and their total bid was $1,188,100.  The first additive alternate, to resurface the entire track surface, was for $150,300.  The second alternate, to install a new  Cushdrain Drainage and Shock Absorption Pad under all turf areas, was for $139,200.  The coaching and administrative staff felt the alternates would greatly benefit the project, in particular, additive alternate #2 would add a layer of protection for the players and extend the life of the new turf.  In addition, the resurfacing of the track would be critical due to existing track problems, and it makes sense to deal with those issues at this time rather than later on.

Upon a motion by Mr. Barmore, seconded by Ms. Harrison, the Board unanimously voted to accept the base bid and two additive alternates for a total of $1,118,100.00 submitted by Hellas Construction for the new artificial turf and related James Field/L. J. “Hoss” Garrett Stadium improvements at Ruston High School. 

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 Choudrant High School.

Upon a motion by Mr. Hancock, seconded by Ms. Best, the Board unanimously voted to grant permission to advertise for bids for the purchase of new bleachers at Choudrant High School.

Ms. Null reported very little flexibility in the school calendar for 14-15 because the state mandated thirty-eight windows of testing as well as the way holidays and days of the week fell in the coming year.  She asked the Board to adopt the proposed calendar that had the same number of instructional days as the 13-14 and 12-13 calendars.

Upon a motion by Mr. Hunt, seconded by Mr. Dowling, the Board unanimously voted to adopt the proposed calendar for the 14-15 school year as follows:

Lincoln Parish 2014 - 2015 School Calendar

Staff Development Days                                                                 August 11-13, 2014

All Staff Faculty Meetings                                                               August 14, 2014

First Day of School - Students (1/2 Day)                                          August 15, 2014

Labor Day                                                                                      September 1, 2014

Columbus Day                                                                               October 13, 2014

Thanksgiving                                                                                  November 24-28, 2014

Christmas/New Year                                                                       Dec. 22, 2013-Jan. 2, 2015

End of First Semester                                                                     January 9, 2015

Martin Luther King, Jr. Day                                                              January 19, 2015

Staff Development Day                                                                    January 20, 2015

Presidents’ Day                                                                               February 16, 2015

Louisiana Test Dates                                                                       March 2-27, 2015

Spring/Easter Break                                                                        March 30-April 6, 2015

Louisiana Test Dates                                                                       April 27-May 20, 2015

Last Day of School - Students (Full Day)                                           May 20, 2015

Staff Development Day                                                                    May 21, 2015

Instructional Staff Workday (1/2 Day)                                                May 22, 2015

In order to comply with the DOTD’s plans for an interchange at Tarbutton and Interstate 20 near Ruston Junior High School, Entergy needs to acquire right-of-way of approximately 0.44 acre from the Lincoln Parish School Board to relocate existing electrical power lines.  Charles Owens said they have offered to pay $4,840.00 for the right-of-way; the land and minerals would not transfer.

After brief questions, upon a motion by Mr. Hancock, seconded by Ms. Henderson, the Board unanimously voted to accept the offer of $4,840.00 from Entergy for the acquisition of right-of-way at the Tarbutton and Interstate 20 interchange.

Due to having numerous bid dates associated with the Ruston School District #1 Bond project, Architect Mike Walpole requested permission to advertise for bids as he completes respective plans and prepares for each bid date instead of coming back to the Board each time.  Superintendent Bell called attention to Mr. Walpole’s chart of projects with anticipated bid dates, and said he believes the action would likely prevent any delays that might occur as a result of Mr. Walpole completing plans mid-month and having to wait for the Board to meet. 

Upon a motion by Mr. Barmore, seconded by Mr. Dowling, the Board unanimously voted to authorize the architect, Mike Walpole, to advertise for bids for each of the Ruston School District #1 projects listed on a chart as he determines he is ready to do so.

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

1.     Student assessments will begin as early as next week for some of the students. Spring Break is coming up in the latter part of the month for Lincoln Parish; however, a bid opening will be held during that week at the Central Office.

2.     He was thankful for the quick action by the Board as a playoff ballgame was scheduled for 7:00 p.m. at Simsboro School.

Following brief comments from Mr. Anders and a motion by Ms. Best, the meeting adjourned at 6:42 p.m.

_______________________________                       _______________________________

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