LINCOLN PARISH SCHOOL BOARD
Ruston, Louisiana
REGULAR SESSION
Tuesday, August 1, 2017 6:00 p.m.
The Lincoln Parish School Board met in Regular Session on Tuesday, August 1, 2017, at 6:00 p.m. at the Lincoln Parish School Board Office, 410 South Farmerville Street, Ruston, Louisiana. Members present were Ms. Debbie Abrahm, Mr. Michael Barmore, Ms. Lisa Best, Mr. Curtis Dowling, Mr. David Ferguson, Mr. Danny Hancock, Mr. Trott Hunt, Mr. George Mack, Jr., and Mr. Joe Mitcham.
Mr. Otha Anders, Ms. Lynda Henderson, and Ms. Susan Wiley were absent.
President Mitcham called the meeting to order and welcomed guests to the meeting. Mr. Hunt gave the invocation, and Ms. Abrahm led in the Pledge of Allegiance to the American flag.
Upon a motion by Mr. Barmore, seconded by Ms. Best, the Board unanimously voted to adopt the agenda as printed.
Upon a motion by Mr. Hunt, seconded by Ms. Best, the Board unanimously voted to approve the minutes of the Regular Session held on July 11, 2017, as submitted.
In lieu of a construction update, James Payton, New Construction Coordinator, and John Freeman, Assistant Public Works Director with the City of Ruston, provided pictures of the new Tarbutton interchange near Ruston Junior High School. They said the joint federal, state, and city project in the northwest part of town has been in the making for 20 years, should take about 3 years, and is expected to cost $25,000,000. Two entrance ramps, two exit ramps, and a new bridge about 200’ west of the existing bridge across Interstate 20 are going to be constructed. When the 6 phases are complete, they should facilitate better traffic flow especially from Cooktown Road. Mr. Payton noted that both service roads would become one-ways.
George Murphy, Business Manager, delivered the sales tax collection report for the period ending July 31, 2017. It was a good month because collections were up 7.62% compared to same month last year. That was the third consecutive month of increases, so that was a good start to the fiscal year. There were no recoveries through audits.
The health care fund was down over $22,000 for the month of June and $304,500 for the year according to Mr. Murphy.
Many personnel changes were shared by Dr. Doris Lewis, Human Resources Director. They were:
1. Resignation of the following:
Amy Ostrander, special education teacher at Choudrant Elementary, effective July 26, 2017;
Tameka Miller, special education teacher at Choudrant High, effective July 13, 2017;
Haley Caraway, teacher at Cypress Springs, effective July 23, 2017;
Leigh Anne Liles, teacher at Cypress Springs, effective July 10, 2017;
Kirsten Blake, teacher at Cypress Springs, effective July 11, 2017;
Shannon Aultman, social studies teacher at I. A. Lewis, effective July 31, 2017;
Beth Rupp, social studies teacher at I. A. Lewis, effective June 29, 2017;
Doyle Sandifer, special education teacher at I. A. Lewis, effective July 17, 2017;
Karen Hopkins, science teacher at I. A. Lewis, effective July 17, 2017;
Clinton Blazier, special education teacher at Ruston Elementary, effective July 19, 2017;
Sheila Wheelis, librarian at Ruston Elementary, effective July 26, 2017;
Kayla Howington, ELA teacher at Ruston High, effective July 7, 2017;
Jason Jackson, science teacher at Ruston Junior High, effective July 31, 2017;
Jeremy Blake, special education teacher at Ruston Junior High, effective July 25, 2017;
Sean Welsh, social studies teacher at Ruston Junior High, effective July 10, 2017; and
Emily Galindo, math teacher at Ruston Junior High, effective July 19, 2017.
2. Points of Reference/Transfers of the following effective August 7, 2017, unless noted otherwise:
Jessica Jones, from regular education at Ruston Junior High to special education teacher at Choudrant High, replacing Tameka Miller who resigned;
Stephanie Register, from Glen View to teacher at Dubach Elementary, in a position due to increased numbers;
Polly Durrett, from regular education at Ruston Elementary to special education teacher at I. A. Lewis, replacing Doyle Sandifer who resigned;
Finitra Emerson, from home school interventionist to counselor/behavior interventionist at I. A. Lewis/Ruston Junior High, in a new slot;
Donna Miles, from monitor of IEP services to facilitator of special education services at Pupil Appraisal, replacing Finitra Emerson who transferred to a new position;
Linda Fowler, from Ruston High to monitor of IEP services at Pupil Appraisal, replacing Donna Miles who transferred to a new position;
Tara Turner, from transition coordinator to IEP facilitator at Pupil Appraisal, effective July 1, 2017, in a new position;
Jennifer Morgan, from Cypress Springs to enrichment at Ruston Elementary, replacing Amy Pilgreen who retired;
Rhonda Thomas, from Ruston Elementary to special education paraprofessional at Ruston High effective August 10, 2017, replacing LaFreda Best who resigned;
Hilton Hay, from Ruston Junior High to social studies/coach at Ruston High effective July 10, 2017, replacing Steven Ehrhard who resigned; and
Zandria Guidry, from special education at Ruston Junior High to ELA teacher at Ruston Junior High, replacing Caitlin Pittman who resigned.
3. Employment of the following, effective August 7, 2017, unless otherwise noted:
Clara Rugg, teacher at Cypress Springs, replacing Leigh Anne Lines who resigned;
Joia Crowe, teacher at Cypress Springs, replacing Kirsten Blake who resigned;
Rachel Collins, special education teacher at Hillcrest, replacing Gwen Torbor who resigned;
Dalton Hamby, science/coach at I. A. Lewis effective July 24, 2017, replacing Karen Hopkins who resigned;
Michael Adamson, social studies teacher at I. A. Lewis, replacing Beth Rupp who resigned;
Brooke Taylor, social studies teacher at I. A. Lewis, replacing Shannon Aultman who resigned;
Colleen Savage, school psychologist at Pupil Appraisal effective July 24, 2017, replacing Celesta McGrew who resigned;
Lauren Fish, special education teacher at Ruston Elementary, replacing Clinton Blazier who resigned;
Kathryn Taylor, teacher at Ruston Elementary, replacing Kathryn Martin who promoted to coordinating teacher;
Ashlee Bell, ELA teacher at Ruston High, replacing Kayla Howington who resigned;
Jackson Colvin, math/coach at Ruston High effective July 10, 2017, replacing Risa Kendrick who resigned;
Jennifer Chism, math teacher at Ruston Junior High, replacing Emily Galindo who resigned;
Tess Stevenson, ELA teacher at Ruston Junior High, replacing Jessica Jones who transferred;
Gregory Young, special education teacher at Ruston Junior High, replacing Zandria Guidry who transferred;
Bettye Slocum, ELA teacher at Ruston Junior High, replacing Jason Jackson who resigned;
Adam Novak, science/coach at Ruston Junior High effective July 10, 2017, replacing Hilton Hay who transferred;
Amy Guerin, science/STEM at Ruston Junior High effective July 24, 2017, replacing Holly Payton who promoted to assistant principal;
Shana Simms, teacher at Simsboro Elementary, replacing Stephanie Griffin who transferred to Choudrant Elementary; and
Michael Black, business teacher at Simsboro High, replacing Anna Baines who resigned.
4. Retirement of bus driver in the Ruston area, Rodney Ebeyer, effective August 18, 2017.
5. Point of Reference/Transfer of Mary Nelson Perry from Cypress Springs to custodian at Lincoln Parish Early Childhood Center effective August 3, 2017, replacing Mance Allman who resigned.
6. Employment of the following effective August 3, 2017:
Debra Eaton, custodian at Cypress Springs, replacing Mary Nelson Perry who transferred;
Brenda Ferguson, custodian at Glen View, replacing Horace Jerome Richards who retired;and
Brenda Washington, custodian at Ruston Junior High, replacing James Wimberly who resigned.
Three items were no longer needed by the Maintenance Department. Ricky Edmiston, Supervisor of Auxiliary Services, asked the Board to declare a 24’ x 30’ portable building, a 5’ x 10’ trailer with a tank, and a John Deere reel mower as surplus so they could dispose of the items.
Upon a motion by Mr. Hancock, seconded by Ms. Abrahm, the Board unanimously voted to declare the above-mentioned items as surplus and dispose of them in accordance with state law and local policies.
Board members were reminded by George Murphy that each fall schools are allocated monies from the 1979 sales tax fund to provide supplements for additional library supplies ($2.50), classroom supplies ($3.75), office supplies and equipment repair/purchase ($4.00), expenses for student services ($3.75), debate and speech ($2.00), band allotment ($3.50 at I. A. Lewis, $3.85 at junior high, and $10.00 at high school), and prek/kindergarten ($120.00 per teacher). These funds are distributed on a per pupil basis and sent directly to the schools to be disbursed by the principal. He recommended sending the per pupil allotments shown above which were the same amounts as last year. If approved, the total amount to be disbursed to the schools would be $110,653.
Upon a motion by Mr. Hancock, seconded by Mr. Hunt, the Board unanimously voted to approve the fall allocations of school instructional supply money as outlined on the schedule disseminated by Mr. Murphy.
A 25-year lease agreement with the Lincoln Parish Fire Protection District No. 1 for property at 118 Smith Street in Dubach had recently expired. Superintendent Mike Milstead said the approximately 0.52 acres was leased to provide a location for construction of a Dubach fire station. He shared the option of renewing the lease or donating the property to the Fire District. Because Mr. Milstead felt it was unnecessary for the operation of Dubach School now or in the foreseeable future, he asked Assistant District Attorney Jeff Robinson to prepare a legal document for the transfer of the property ownership.
Mr. Robinson called attention to a Cooperative Endeavor Agreement Regarding Donation of Property between the School Board and the Fire District. If approved, the School Board would be receiving fire protection and emergency services in exchange for the donation of the property.
Upon a motion by Ms. Abrahm, seconded by Mr. Hancock, the Board unanimously voted to approve the property transfer of approximately 0.52 acres located at 118 Smith Street in Dubach, Louisiana, described in accompany legal documentation (Township 20 North, Range 3 West) to the Lincoln Parish Fire Protection District #1 and authorize the appropriate person to execute the same on the Board’s behalf.
George Murphy called attention to the revised budget for 2016-2017 in order to adjust the original budget to the actual amounts. When the budget was prepared in September of 2016, he expected to end the year with a deficit of $284,000. Instead the school system ended the year with a $221,000 deficit. The deficit was close to what was predicted, which he felt was a pretty good year considering a significant drop in sales tax revenues, a significant cut in MFP, and a charter school opening in the parish. Spending was controlled, extra care was used in staffing, and capital spending was curtailed. Plans are to bring the 2017-2018 beginning budget for the Board’s consideration at the next meeting. In closing, he said that over $37 million was held in reserve; plans are to cut into that with capital expenditures and through operating expenditures.
Upon a motion by Mr. Hunt, seconded by Ms. Best, the Board unanimously voted to adopt the revised 2016-2017 budget.
In a Report of the Superintendent, Mr. Milstead said:
1. Annual Disclosure Statements were included in board packets. If applicable, they should be sent to the Board of Ethics by September 6, 2017.
2. All of the Central Office Administrators and Coordinating Teachers, Curriculum Strategists, Assistant Principals and Principals from the schools will meet all day tomorrow in a one-day Administrators’ Workshop.
3. The Back-to-School meeting in Ruston High School’s auditorium was scheduled for Monday, August 7, at 8:00 a.m. He invited and encouraged board members to attend and mix with about 600 - 700 staff members. Students arrive for a half-day of instruction on Friday, August 11, followed by a full-day on Monday, August 14. He eagerly anticipates the new school year and the new beginning for the students and staff.
4. He continues to work on the Capital Outlay Plan. He distributed copies of the current year’s spending with items that were already paid or money that was already allocated highlighted in yellow. This past year $1.5 million was spent and issues were addressed that needed to be. Security upgrades, which vary greatly by school, were a large portion of the expense. Other projects that could be postponed were postponed in an attempt to control spending. He hopes to have emergency generators installed at the schools and the Central Office by the end of the year. Although that cost was included in the $1.5 million, he reiterated about 75% of it or $200,000 would be paid for by FEMA. Next year’s Capital Outlay Plan will be more aggressive. He would like to have a Building and Grounds Committee meeting at 5:30 p.m. prior to the September 5th board meeting to look at the Capital Outlay Plan.
5. Plans had been made to share the final results of the Focus Group meetings, but he had just received the 52-page report. Because Mr. Milstead hadn’t assimilated and absorbed all of it, he will share the highlights of it soon. He thanked all who had served, and said the feedback has already been very beneficial. Some things are already in the works to have a better, open relationship with the faculties of the schools and community leaders.
6. Earlier in the day he went to RHS and observed the new “introduction-to-engineering/technology classroom” set up in conjunction with Louisiana Tech. The AP computer science classroom was constructed and designed like Tech wanted for a beginning engineering class. He sees some dual credit classes in that cooperative endeavor’s future and believes the return will be worth in excess of the $77,000 that was spent to make it a reality.
There being no further business, upon a motion by Ms. Best, the meeting adjourned at 6:29 p.m.
_____________________________ ______________________________
Mike Milstead, Secretary Joe E. Mitcham, Jr., President