LINCOLN PARISH SCHOOL BOARD
Ruston, Louisiana
REGULAR SESSION
Tuesday, March 10, 2015 6:00 p.m.
The Lincoln Parish School Board met in Regular Session on Tuesday, March 10, 2015, 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. David Ferguson, Mr. Danny Hancock, Ms. Lynda Henderson, Mr. Trott Hunt, Mr. George Mack, Jr., Mr. Joe Mitcham and Ms. Susan Wiley.
No board member was absent.
President Anders called the meeting to order, and the invocation was given by Mr. Hunt. Ms. Abrahm 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. Barmore, seconded by Mr. Hancock, the Board unanimously voted to adopt the agenda as printed.
Upon a motion by Ms. Best, seconded by Ms. Henderson, the Board unanimously voted to approve the minutes of the Regular Sessions held on February 3, 2015, and February 18, 2015, as distributed.
The following personnel items were reported by Mary Null, Director of Curriculum, Instruction, and Special Programs:
1. Retirement of the following:
Ronny Volentine, child welfare and attendance coordinator, effective September 1, 2015; and
Chris Gatlin, special education/coach at Ruston High, effective March 3, 2015.
2. Resignation of the following:
Judy Mabry, principal at Dubach School, effective September 1, 2015; and
Andrea McTyer, math teacher at I. A. Lewis, effective February 15, 2015.
3. Point of Reference/Transfer of Brian Thomas from Ruston High to math teacher at I. A. Lewis effective March 9, 2015, replacing Andrea McTyer who resigned.
4. Employment of Jerrod Baugh as PE/coach at Ruston High effective March 2, 2015, replacing Chris Gatlin who retired.
Superintendent Danny Bell voice a special thank you to Ronnie Volentine and Judy Murphy for their years of service in Lincoln Parish.
George Murphy, Business Manager, reported that $1,743,358 was collected in sales taxes during the month of February 2015. That was a 62.8% increase for the month and a 28.27% increase year-to-date. Again this month he attributed the rise to oil and gas extractions. For the second month in a row, there were no recoveries through audits. That fund was down 35% for the year. In the 1967 and 1979 sales tax funds, $792,436 was collected. Deposits in the 1993 and 2000 sales tax funds were $950,922.
Moving on to the January 2015 financial report, Mr. Murphy noted that money had been received from the sheriff, and the ad valorem tax funds had revenue showing. The Total Fund Balance for January was $41,342,645. He said it’s a great year financially, and all of the funds are looking really good. Mr. Murphy pointed out the Unassigned Fund Balance of $9,835,583 was a healthy amount, but he will discuss it later on in the meeting.
In his update on the Health Plan for January 2015, George Murphy said the fund was down $161,776 for the first month of the calendar year. He will monitor that as the year progresses and make recommendations for changes if needed.
As part of his construction update, Coordinator of Auxiliary Services, David Crowe, thanked Bill Bayne with Triad Builders and Architect Mike Walpole for the good job they are doing at Cypress Springs. He said the project is almost complete except for minor touchups. Mr. Crowe is waiting on the slab to be poured at Glen View and is hoping for that job to be completed by July 31, 2015.
Accepting a bid for the addition and renovation project at Hillcrest, I. A. Lewis, and Ruston Elementary was the next agenda item. David Crowe reported that six qualified bids opened and reviewed on March 3, 2015, were submitted by D & L of Ouachita, Inc., Don M. Barron Contractor, Don Leach Construction, Mann’s Construction, Traxler Construction Company, Inc., and Triad Builders of Ruston, Inc. They ranged from $4,098,000 to $5,075,000 with Don M. Barron Contractor submitted the bid of $4,098,000.
Architect Mike Walpole reminded board members that the most recent job Barron’s had performed for the school system was the Ruston High School/Hoss Garrett Stadium concession and toilet project, and they have had good luck with the company in the past. His schedule of values, a list of subcontractors, and a letter indicating he was comfortable with his bid were received earlier in the day. Based on the above, Mr. Walpole recommended the acceptance of their bid. He was happy to communicate that this job was the third project out of the Ruston School District bond issue that came in below the budgeted amount; cumulatively the three jobs are over one million dollars below the estimates.
Mr. Crowe asked the Board to accept the bid of $4,098,000 submitted by Don M. Barron Contractor.
Upon a motion by Mr. Hancock, seconded by Mr. Hunt, the Board unanimously voted to accept the bid $4,098,000 submitted by Don M. Barron Contractor and award them as the contractor for the Hillcrest, I. A. Lewis, and Ruston Elementary Schools project.
In answer to a question, Superintendent Danny Bell said the five unexpected days out of school because of recent snow and ice (and one scheduled for staff development on January 21, 2015) would not need to be made up as six buffer days were built into the current school calendar leaving .4 days.
Ms. Null reported very little flexibility in the school calendar for 15-16 because the state mandated numerous testing and testing makeup dates 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 was very similar to the current one and had the same number of instructional and buffer days as the 14-15 calendar. Ms. Null did point out that school would be starting about one week later than usual in August.
Upon a motion by Mr. Barmore, seconded by Ms. Abrahm, the Board unanimously voted to adopt the proposed calendar for the 15-16 school year as follows:
Lincoln Parish 2015 - 2016 School Calendar
Staff Development Days August 17-19, 2015
All Staff Faculty Meetings August 20, 2015
First Day of School - Students (1/2 Day) August 21, 2015
Labor Day September 7, 2015
Columbus Day October 12, 2015
Thanksgiving November 23-27, 2015
Christmas/New Year Dec. 21, 2015-Jan. 1, 2016
End of First Semester January 15, 2016
Martin Luther King, Jr. Day January 18, 2016
Staff Development Day January 19, 2016
Presidents’ Day February 15, 2016
Spring/Easter Break March 25-April 1, 2016
Last Day of School - Students (Full Day) May 25, 2016
Staff Development Day May 26, 2016
Instructional Staff Workday (1/2 Day) May 27, 2016
Over the last several years, the Lincoln Parish School Board has funded several projects throughout the district with the unassigned fund balance. As noted in documents from the bond attorney, Grant Schlueter with Foley Judell, the unassigned fund balance has dropped from 29% to 20% as of June 30, 2014. George Murphy said the current year’s budget projects that it will drop to 15.4% at June 30, 2015. He also called attention to the RatingsDirect from Standard and Poor’s that referred to the fund balance. Mr. Murphy recommended that the Board budget the next fiscal year an unassigned fund balance that will not reduce from this fiscal year.
Mr. Bell also believes after conversations with Standards and Poor’s the Board does need to look carefully at future spending. He mentioned his thankfulness for recent large projects that had been completed or are in the works, the track at Choudrant High School, the track at Simsboro High School, the renovation and addition at Dubach School, athletic facilities in Ruston, New Tech at Ruston High, and the Early Childhood Center. Mr. Bell voiced that the district is progressive, and all of them have been paid for with these funds.
Trott Hunt commended George Murphy on the excellent job he does.
Upon a motion by Ms. Henderson, seconded by Ms. Best, the Board unanimously voted to budget the next fiscal year an unassigned balance that will not reduce from this fiscal year.
With the upcoming retirement of Superintendent Danny Bell, selecting the top educator was the Board’s responsibility. Seven qualified candidates had submitted their applications for the position of superintendent. They were:
Mr. M. David Claxton, Principal of Sally Humble Elementary School in Monroe, La;
Mr. Byron Lyons, Director of Human Resources in East Cleveland (Ohio) City School;
Mr. Mike Milstead, Chief Academic Officer at the Lincoln Parish School Board in Ruston, La;
Dr. Susan Moore, Executive Director of Curriculum/Instruction, E Baton Rouge Parish School System;
Dr. Brent Vidrine, Superintendent, Monroe City Schools;
Dr. Jerrod Wheeler, Executive Director of Wheeler Designs in Platte City, Missouri; and
Mr. Jesse Winston, Jr., Director of Federal Programs, Morehouse Parish, Bastrop, La.
As their letters of applications, applications, resumes, and certificates were distributed, President Anders described the type of person for which he believed they were searching. Mr. Bell said as decisions are made to guide the district forward, candidates need to be scrutinized closely. He read the list of applicants and shared their current positions, highest degrees, and years of experience. In order to offer transparency to the public, Mr. Bell proposed that the Board continue in Open Session instead of going into Executive Session as they reviewed the applications and decided on an interview schedule. Because there were seven qualified applicants for the position and the Board had already decided to interview six, he had previously recommended to the Executive Committee that all of the applicants be interviewed instead of eliminating one. They had agreed, so Superintendent Bell suggested the following interview schedule with an hour of time before each interview allotted for a Meet and Greet with the Public in the lobby of the Central Office:
Monday, March 16, 2015 2:00, 4:00 and 6:30;
Tuesday, March 17, 2015 4:00 and 6:30; and
Wednesday, March 18, 2015 2:00 and 4:00.
If no second interviews were needed, deliberations could begin at 6:30 on Wednesday, March 18, 2015. Because the applicants’ character and competency would be discussed, he suggested that the interviews be conducted in Executive Session. Also mentioned was scheduling the dates and times for the interviews in the order the applications were received. He communicated that candidates’ applications and supporting information would need to be brought back for the interviews as it would not be copied again.
Chairman of the Executive Committee, Joe Mitcham, indicated that he and the remainder of the committee, Curtis Dowling and Lynda Henderson, agreed with Superintendent Bell’s recommendation to interview all seven of the applicants and schedule the interviews in the order the completed applications were returned.
President Anders summarized the superintendent’s recommendation to interview all seven candidates for the position of Superintendent using the schedule outlined above. It was proposed that members arrive at approximately 1:30 p.m. on the first day in order to allow time to review interview questions and confirm the process.
Upon a motion by Mr. Hunt, seconded by Ms. Best, the Board unanimously voted to approve the superintendent’s recommendation to interview all seven candidates for superintendent and that the schedule be as follows:
Monday, March 16, 2015 Arrive and review questions at 1:30 p.m.;
Monday, March 16, 2015 Interviews at 2:00, 4:00 and 6:30 p.m.;
Tuesday, March 17, 2015 Interviews at 4:00 and 6:30 p.m.;
Wednesday, March 18, 2015 Interviews at 2:00 and 4:00 p.m.; and
Wednesday, March 18, 2015 Deliberations.
In a Report of the Superintendent, Mr. Bell said that:
1. He will need to meet with Mr. Dowling and staff members at Simsboro School on the millage renewal election scheduled for May 2, 2015.
2. He apologized for leaving the last meeting early on Wednesday, March 18, 2015, at I. A. Lewis as he was under the weather. Regarding technology mentioned at that meeting, he commended the technology department, and said upon review of vendor proposals from Inline, DETEL, Proficient Telecom and NEXUS for network and Internet, the technology committee had made the decision to re-negotiate our contract with NEXUS Systems. There would be an approximate savings of $10,000 for the Board and $50,000 to the Schools & Libraries Division of USAC. We will begin upgrading the local network to ten gigabits per second and the Internet up to one gigabit per second
3. Bob Hammonds, the Board’s attorney working with the desegregation suit, had been by earlier in the day. He will update the Board on the desegregation case at the May 5, 2015 meeting. Unfortunately due to involved parties’ illnesses and other circumstances, that report will have to be delayed until then.
Following brief comments from Mr. Anders and a motion by Ms. Best, the meeting adjourned at 7:20 p.m.
_______________________________ _______________________________
Danny L. Bell, Secretary Otha L. Anders, President