LINCOLN PARISH SCHOOL BOARD
Ruston, Louisiana
REGULAR SESSION
Tuesday, October 7, 2014 6:00 p.m.
The Lincoln Parish School Board met in Regular Session on Tuesday, October 7, 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. Curtis Dowling, Mr. Danny Hancock, Ms. Mattie Harrison, Ms. Lynda Henderson, Mr. Trott Hunt, Mr. George Mack, Jr., and Mr. Joe Mitcham.
Mr. Michael Barmore, Ms. Lisa Best, and Mr. Eddie Jones were absent.
President Otha Anders called the meeting to order, and Mr. Dowling gave the invocation. Ms. Henderson led in the Pledge of Allegiance to the American flag. Mr. Anders welcomed everyone to the meeting.
Upon a motion by Ms. Henderson, seconded by Mr. Hunt, the Board unanimously voted by roll call to adopt the agenda as amended at Bill Smith’s request to have the discussion regarding the loaning of money to the District Attorney’s office added to the agenda.
Upon a motion by Mr. Dowling, seconded by Ms. Abrahm, the Board unanimously voted to approve the minutes of the Regular Session held on September 2, 2014.
Two Ruston High School seniors, Austin Meng and Nicholas Ruff, were recognized by Cathi Cox-Boniol, Lincoln ACHIEVE Coordinator, for being named National Merit Scholarship semi-finalists. She provided background information on the students and the competition, presented plaques to them, and allowed the seniors to speak to the Board and introduce their guests. Ms. Cox-Boniol reminded the Board that the young men scored in the top 1% of the students in the country who took the PSAT last fall.
Mr. Anders congratulated the seniors for their diligence, desire to excel, and achievements and wished them well in the future.
George Murphy, Business Manager, reported that sales tax collections for the month of September 2014 were $1,330,152 which was a .63% increase compared to the same month last year. Year-to-date those collections were up 5.67%. Recoveries through audits were $41,539; that was up 97% compared to last year. He attributed the increase in sales taxes primarily to larger collections in the oil and gas extractions and automotive dealers and service station categories.
In his report on the financial statement for the month ending in August 2014, Mr. Murphy said compared to August 2013, it was down about $1.3 million primarily due to the construction last year that was paid through the General Fund. The ad valorem tax funds were showing deficits and would continue to do so until collections are received from the sheriff in December and January. The sales tax funds were all up.
According to George Murphy, the Health/Dental Care Fund was up $409,410 for the month of August 2014 and $1,330,173 year-to-date. He opined the reason for the increase for the current month was the change in the net incurred but not reported liabilities.
Director of Instruction and Personnel, Mary Null, continued with a personnel report containing the following:
1. Resignation of the following:
Mary Cahee, business teacher at Dubach School, effective September 27, 2014;
Jane Watson, curriculum strategist at Ruston Elementary, effective September 13, 2014; and,
Kyle Falting, math teacher at Ruston High, effective September 20, 2014.
2. Points of Reference/Transfer of the following effective September 15, 2014:
Jasmine Hall, from Cypress Springs to interim curriculum strategist at Ruston Elementary replacing Jane Watson who resigned;
Dr. Byron Miller, from Simsboro School to Assistant Principal at Ruston High School replacing Lillie Williams-Hearn who transferred; and
Lillie Williams-Hearn, from Ruston High to Interim Principal at Simsboro School replacing Dr. Byron Miller who transferred.
3. Leave without pay request from Jennifer Green, ELA teacher at Simsboro School, for the 14-15 school year and effective September 29, 2014.
4. Employment of the following:
Leigh Anne Liles, teacher at Cypress Springs Elementary effective September 8, 2014, replacing Jasmine Hall who promoted;
Bettina Collins, business teacher at Dubach School effective October 9, 2014, replacing Mary Cahee who resigned;
Katie Matthews, ELA teacher at Ruston Junior High effective August 14, 2014, replacing Elizabeth Thompson who resigned;
Danielle Martin, paraprofessional at Ruston Junior High effective September 22, 2014, replacing Gloria Scott who was deceased; and
Carol Colvin, paraprofessional at Ruston Junior High effective September 22, 2014, replacing Gary Richmond who resigned.
5. Employment of the following effective September 22, 2014:
Antonio Wilson, custodian at Hillcrest, replacing Jimmy Perry who resigned;
Gregory Dade, custodian at Ruston Junior High, replacing Eric Goree who retired;
Lawrence Vernon, custodian at Simsboro School, replacing Elonzo Johnson who resigned;
Carla Crawley, custodian at Simsboro School, replacing Belinda Murphy who resigned; and
Charles Jackson, laborer at the Maintenance Facility replacing Billy Hicks who resigned.
6. Point of Reference/Transfer of Rhonda Sampson, from Ruston High to custodian at I. A. Lewis effective September 22, 2014, replacing Curtis Mack who resigned.
7. Employment of the following school food service employees effective September 22, 2014:
Christina Buxton, clerk technician at Glen View Elementary, replacing Catherine Holyfield who transferred;
Margaret Pierce, technician at Ruston High, replacing Odesta Mamon who transferred;
Edna Drayton, technician at Ruston High, replacing Patsy Slack who retired;
Bernice Outley, technician at Ruston High, replacing Lisa Roton who resigned;
Shalacy Collins, clerk technician at Ruston High, replacing Janis Nelson who transferred; and
CeNedra Shoaf, clerk technician at Simsboro School, replacing Tina Dowing who promoted.
Ms. Null called attention to a standard two-year contract that had been placed in portfolios. It is used for anyone promoting beyond the position of a nine-month teacher.
Revision of nine policies, GAAA-Equal Employment Opportunity, GBA–Contracts and Compensation, GBI–Evaluation of Personnel, GBJ–Promotion, GBK–Employee Discipline, GBL–Tenure, GBN–Dismissal of Employees, GBRIB–Sick Leave, and JBCE–Public School Choice, and the addition of a new policy, GAJ–Gifts, were recommended by Mary Null. She asked board members to approve the policy changes.
Upon a motion by Mr. Hancock, seconded by Mr. Hunt, the Board unanimously voted to approve the revision of the following policies: GAAA-Equal Employment Opportunity, GBA–Contracts and Compensation, GBI–Evaluation of Personnel, GBJ–Promotion, GBK–Employee Discipline, GBL–Tenure, GBN–Dismissal of Employees, GBRIB–Sick Leave, and JBCE–Public School Choice and the addition to the policy manual of GAJ–Gifts.
Due to an increase in sales tax collections during the first three months of the fiscal year and because they have also increased over the last four years, George Murphy proposed a 2% increase in the November salary supplement checks. If approved, certificated personal would receive $50 more than the previous year’s amount for a total of $2,500, and a $25 increase would be added for support personnel making their total $1,250. He noted that the thirteenth check cost the school board $2,027,505 last year. Mr. Murphy cautioned that in future years a reduction might become necessary if there is a sustained period of decline in sales tax collections.
Upon a motion by Ms. Henderson, seconded by Ms. Harrison, the Board unanimously voted to approve the payment of salary supplements on November 21, 2014, in the amounts of $2,500 to certified personnel and $1,250 to support personnel.
As a result of side road improvements included in the Cypress Springs Elementary School renovation and construction project, a slight elevation was created on the east side of the roadway that has required modifications to be made for access to neighboring residents’ back property entrances. According to Coordinator of Auxiliary Services, David Crowe, that has been addressed with the exception of one property which will require a change order incorporating a culvert along with some top soil and grading. The same should eliminate any issue of access to the street from the back of the residential property. He asked the Board to approve Change Order #4 increasing the project by $3,500 by allowing the construction of a roadway access allowing a resident to enter the street without difficulty.
Upon a motion by Mr. Hancock, seconded by Mr. Hunt, the Board unanimously voted to approve Change Order #4 allowing for a back access roadway modification leading to a residential property resulting in a $3,500 increase in the Cypress Springs School renovation and construction project.
After slight tweaking and a second advertisement for bids to build a track and track facility at Choudrant High, five qualified bidders submitted bids. They were: Womack and Sons Construction Group, Inc., Amethyst Construction, Traxler Construction, Triad Builders of Ruston, Inc., and C W & W Contractors, Inc. After opening and reviewing them on October 2, 2014, it was determined that Womack and Sons Construction Group, Inc., was the low bidder with a base bid of $1,703.628 and an additive alternate of $119,693 to include a parking lot and lighting. After reviewing Womack’s base bid with the engineer and business manager, Superintendent Danny Bell communicated that he believes the acceptance of the bid would allow the school system to move forward with plans to construct the track and related facilities as well as add a greatly needed parking lot with appropriate lighting if approval was also given for the additive alternate.
Following one question, upon a motion by Mr. Hancock, seconded by Ms. Henderson, the Board unanimously voted to accept the base bid of $1,703,628 submitted by Womack and Sons Construction Group, Inc., and also to approve their additive alternate of $119,693, thereby naming them as the contractor for the Choudrant High School track project.
Since being named as architect on the Ruston High School baseball complex project, Mike Walpole has worked to address a critical need for the facility – field lighting. Although some of the desired improvements cannot be completed prior to baseball season in the spring, David Crowe expressed that those projects that can be completed will be. Mr. Walpole has had the field properly evaluated and is ready to advertise for bids for the improvement of field lighting at the complex.
Upon a motion by Ms. Abrahm, seconded by Ms. Harrison, the Board unanimously voted to grant permission for the advertisement for bids for the Ruston High School baseball field lighting project.
Several items are no longer useful or are broken, obsolete or unneeded and should be disposed of. George Murphy requested permission to declare as surplus and dispose of a 1999 Dodge Ram van, a 1989 Ford pickup, a 1997 Ford F250 pickup, a 3-door reach-in cooler, a drink vending machine, and other items submitted by Choudrant High, Ruston Junior High, and Ruston High.
Upon a motion by Mr. Mitcham, seconded by Mr. Hancock, the Board unanimously voted to grant permission to declare the above-mentioned items as surplus and dispose of them in accordance with board policy, state law, and in a prudent manner.
At the request of Bill Smith, Superintendent Bell provided background information on the Truancy Program and the schools system’s relationship with the District Attorney’s office that administers it. The employees of the Truancy Program work with students and parents relative to attendance, tardies, and other problems that might arise. He applauded the vital program and what the partnership has done and continues to do in the schools. Reports are periodically given to the Board with numbers of families served and the successes they have achieved. The school system partially supports the program; however, the DA procures state and federal grants to cover the majority of the fiscal responsibilities which relieves the Lincoln Parish School Board of the bulk of the financing. At times, grant monies are delayed and difficulties arise with meeting financial obligations. That occurred recently, and the school system advanced $30,000 to the District Attorney’s – just as they do for their own programs financed by grant monies when those funds are delayed. Mr. Bell said he had the Assistant District Attorney, Andy Shealy, prepare a Memorandum of Understanding so the details regarding the payment for three months’ of truancy services would be spelled out in writing. He signed the MOU, Mr. Shealy signed the MOU for District Attorney Bob Levy, and a check was cut by the LPSB’s Business Department and given to the District Attorney’s office. If the DA’s office is reimbursed, Mr. Bell anticipates the monies being repaid to the Lincoln Parish School Board in the near future. He has solicited legal advice on the matter.
A brief time of questions and answers followed as well as comments from three board members. While the worthiness of the truancy program wasn’t being questioned, two members of the public were anxious to ascertain what was going on with the perceived loaning of public funds without the knowledge or approval of the Board.
Mr. Bell said maybe the MOU should not have been done since it was unnecessary and misleading, but he believed it would be beneficial to have the details in writing along with the invoice. In the future, he said if monies were requested by the DA’s office for the Truancy Program, he would either bring the MOU to the Board for their consideration or simply authorize the payment of services from the invoice.
In a Report of the Superintendent, Mr. Bell said:
1. The next meeting of the board was scheduled for Wednesday, October 22, 2014, at 12:30 at Dubach School. Before lunch at noon, a walking tour of the newly renovated building and new construction will begin at 11:30. In addition, the revised Capital Outlay Plan for the next five years would be considered.
2. He appreciates those who attended the recent Open House at the maintenance and bus facilities and another invitation was extended to attend Lincoln ACHIEVE’s Open House tomorrow.
3. A copy was placed in portfolios of two billboards recently erected in the city with a picture of Tammy Schales, Louisiana’s Elementary Teacher of the Year, who is from Lincoln Parish.
4. He wanted to remind board members who had not completed their one hour of training per term on Campaign Finance Disclosure to do so as soon as possible as the training hours need to be published in the official journal before the end of the year. Anyone having questions should contact Becky Gemelli or him.
After comments from two board members and upon a motion by Ms. Harrison, the meeting adjourned at 7:07 p.m.
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Danny Bell, Secretary Otha Anders, President