LINCOLN PARISH SCHOOL BOARD
Ruston, Louisiana
REGULAR SESSION
Tuesday, April 1, 2014 6:00 p.m.
The Lincoln Parish School Board met in Regular Session on Tuesday, April 1, 2014, 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, Ms. Lisa Best, Mr. Curtis Dowling, Mr. Danny Hancock, Ms. Mattie Harrison, Ms. Lynda Henderson, Mr. Trott Hunt, Mr. George Mack, Jr. and Mr. Joe Mitcham.
Mr. Eddie Jones was absent.
President Anders called the meeting to order, and the invocation was given by Mr. Hancock. Ms. Best led in the Pledge of Allegiance to the American flag. Mr. Anders welcomed board members, staff, and visitors to the meeting.
Upon a motion by Mr. Hancock, seconded by Ms. Abrahm, the Board unanimously voted to adopt the agenda as printed.
Upon a motion by Ms. Henderson, seconded by Mr. Barmore, the Board unanimously voted to approve the minutes of the Regular Session held on March 4, 2014, as distributed.
The subsequent personnel items were shared by Mary Null, Director of Curriculum, Instruction, and Special Programs:
1. Retirement of the following:
Patsy Albritton, elementary teacher/ELA at Cypress Springs, effective May 24, 2014;
Kathy Sims, curriculum strategist at Cypress Springs, effective May 31, 2014;
Delaine Moseley, history/fine arts teacher at Choudrant High, effective May 24, 2014;
Angela Dison, math teacher at Ruston Junior High, effective March 15, 2014; and
Dianne Helferich, education diagnostician at Pupil Appraisal, effective March 12, 2014.
2. Resignation of the following:
Tim Hancock, agriculture teacher at Choudrant High, effective March 29, 2014; and
Stephanie Campbell, special education teacher at Howard School, effective May 24, 2014.
3. Retirement of Steven Watts, mechanic at the district bus barn, effective July 1, 2014.
4. Point of Reference/Transfer of Mary Roton, from clerk/technician at Choudrant High to manager at Choudrant High effective February 1, 2014, replacing Paulette Davis who retired.
5. Retirement of Paulette Davis, school food service manager at Choudrant High, effective February 1, 2014.
March 2014 was another good month with sales tax collections totaling $1,037,410 reported Business Manager, George Murphy. That was a 6.3% increase compared to the same month last year. Year-to-date the fund was up 8.19%. Audit recoveries for the month were $2,153, and year-to-date those collections were up 80.32%. Collections in the 1967 and 1979 funds were $471,550, and $565,859 was collected in the 1993 and 2000 funds.
Mr. Murphy said the total fund balance on the financial statement for the month ending February 2014 was a little over $41,000,000. The general fund was slightly higher than
$11,000,000. The sales tax funds were doing well compared to budget projections. He had nothing unforeseen or unusual to report.
The health plan was up $822,985 for the month ending February 2014 and $1,183,799 year-to-date according to George Murphy. The primary reason for the increase was Estimated Claims IBNR which had a $525,000 swing for the month; he noted that will fluctuate during the year.
In his construction update, Charles Owens, Director of Auxiliary Services, narrated pictures of the L. J. “Hoss” Garrett Stadium project, the Hico Elementary School demolition, and the construction at Dubach School. All of the projects were progressing well.
In the absence of Doris Marzett, Supervisor of School Food Service, Charles Owens presented the yearly appeal for permission to advertise and accept bids in order to purchase food, paper, kitchen supplies, and equipment for the 14-15 school year.
Upon a motion by Mr. Barmore, seconded by Ms. Harrison, the Board unanimously voted to grant permission to advertise for bids and accept the lowest bids meeting specifications on all purchases of food, paper, kitchen supplies, and equipment that meet specifications for the 14-15 school year.
In order to comply with state law, Charles Owens voiced his annual request for permission to advertise for bids in order to purchase materials and supplies for the next school year.
Upon a motion by Mr. Hancock, seconded by Ms. Abrahm, the Board unanimously voted to grant permission to advertise for bids for duplicating paper, toilet tissue, paper towels, dust mops, gasoline, and diesel for 14-15.
The Board was reminded by George Murphy that each year schools are allocated monies from the 1979 sales tax fund to purchase instructional supplies. These amounts are distributed on a per pupil basis through the business department. Mr. Murphy proposed the same per pupil allocations from the previous year, but noted the total amount was slightly lower than last year because of a decrease in students. The $77,389 distribution he recommended was:
Art K-12- $1.75 per student
Physical Education K-12 - $1.75 per student
Library Supplies K-5 - $1.25 per student
6-12 - $1.75 per student
Music K-5 - $1.25 per student
6-12 - $1.75 per student
Magazines & K-6 - $3.00 per student
Newspapers 7-12 - $3.25 per student
Science K-6 - $1.50 per student
7-8 - $3.00 per student
9-12 - $4.50 per student
Upon a motion by Mr. Mack, seconded by Ms. Best, the Board unanimously voted to approve the distribution of 1979 sales tax monies for instructional supply money as mentioned above in the total amount of $77,389.
R. H. Electric submitted the lone bid for the James Field/L. J. “Hoss” Garrett Stadium field lights at Ruston High School according to Charles Owens. Their base bid was $150,000.00 and the bid for the additive alternate which included adding two new light poles was $92,000.00. He said based on the input from a local professional engineer as well as the architect, the administration feels that adequate lighting would be achieved by replacing the existing lights and fixture bar mounts without adding two new light poles.
In addition, the Building and Grounds Committee met before the meeting, and Architect Mike Walpole shared information with them on the lighting project. It was their unanimous decision to endorse the acceptance of the base bid by R. H. Electric.
Upon a motion by Mr. Hunt, seconded by Mr. Hancock, the Board unanimously voted to approve the base bid of $150,000.00 submitted by R. H. Electric for the RHS James Field/L. J. “Hoss” Garrett Stadium field light project and reject additive alternate #1 at this time.
On March 19, 2014, three bids were opened for new bleachers at Ruston Junior High School. Charles Owens communicated that Insight, Inc. of Ruston submitted the lowest bid meeting specifications at $70,771.00, and he proposed the acceptance of the same.
Upon a motion by Ms. Best, seconded by Mr. Dowling, the Board unanimously voted to accept the low bid of $70,771.00 from Insight, Inc. to replace the old bleachers at Ruston Junior High School with new ones.
Approval of change order #2 for the L.J. “Hoss” Garrett Stadium was the next agenda item. Charles Owens said the change order would increase the total for the project by $9,490.25 and would allow the running of conduit to pole lights on the home side of the stadium complex.
Upon a motion by Mr. Hancock, seconded by Mr. Barmore, the Board unanimously voted to approve change order #2 adding $9,490.25 to the cost of the L.J. “Hoss” Garrett Stadium project.
Superintendent Danny Bell shared his plan to open the application process for a supervisor of special education and principals of Cypress Springs Elementary and Simsboro School on Wednesday, April 2, 2014. The application period would close at 4:00 p.m. on Tuesday, April 15, 2014, with interviews to be scheduled shortly thereafter. A recommendation to fill the positions would then be made at the May 6, 2014, board meeting. He noted that the process would be implemented in accordance with the court order pertaining to the selection of administrative personnel.
Upon a motion by Mr. Dowling, seconded by Ms. Abrahm, the Board unanimously voted to approve the timeline to advertise and interview for the supervisor of special education, principal of Cypress Springs Elementary, and principal of Simsboro School as explained above.
Because of the vital role of school bus drivers, lunchroom workers, custodians, secretaries, clerical personnel, teacher aides, bus aides, maintenance workers, and para-professionals in the efficient operation of the school system, Mr. Owens recommended that the Board adopt a Resolution designating April 21-25, 2014, as Support Personnel Week.
Upon a motion by Ms. Best, seconded by Ms. Harrison, the Board unanimously voted to adopt the following:
RESOLUTION
That the Lincoln Parish School Board designate the week of April 21-25, 2014, as Support Personnel Week in Lincoln Parish and copies of this Resolution be sent to each school in Lincoln Parish and also made a part of the official minutes of the Lincoln Parish School Board.
President Anders reminded board members that they approved a revised Evaluation of the Superintendent policy last August, and it was time to implement it. Since they would be discussing the character, integrity, and competency of Danny Bell, upon a motion by Mr. Mitcham, seconded by Ms. Best, the Board unanimously voted to enter Executive Session at 6:28 p.m.
Upon a motion by Mr. Hunt, seconded by Ms. Best, the Board unanimously voted to return to Open Session at 7:08 p.m.
There being no further business, upon a motion by Ms. Best, the meeting adjourned at 7:09 p.m.
_______________________________ _______________________________
Danny L. Bell, Secretary Otha L. Anders, President