LINCOLN PARISH SCHOOL BOARD
Ruston, Louisiana
REGULAR SESSION
Tuesday, April 3, 2018 10:30 p.m.
The Lincoln Parish School Board met in Regular Session on Tuesday, April 3, 2018, at 10:30 a.m. at Ruston Junior High School, 481 Tarbutton Road, Ruston, Louisiana. Members present were Ms. Debbie Abrahm, Mr. Michael Barmore, Ms. Lisa Best, Mr. David Ferguson, Mr. Danny Hancock, Mr. Trott Hunt, Mr. George Mack, Jr., Mr. Joe Mitcham, and Ms. Susan Wiley.
Mr. Otha Anders, Mr. Curtis Dowling, and Ms. Lynda Henderson were absent.
President Mitcham called the meeting to order, and the invocation was given by Ms. Abrahm. Ms. Best led in the Pledge of Allegiance to the American flag.
Upon a motion by Ms. Best, seconded by Mr. Hunt, the Board unanimously voted by roll call to adopt the agenda as amended deleting one Report: Health plan update for February 2018.
Upon a motion by Mr. Hancock, seconded by Mr. Barmore, the Board unanimously voted to approve the minutes of the Regular Session held on March 6, 2018, as distributed.
Daryl Savage, Ruston Junior High School principal, thanked the board for meeting at the school and invited them to view the facilities. He also thanked the taxpayers and the Board for their support and noted that the students at the school have everything they need to receive a quality education.
Debbie Pender, Technology Coordinator, said her department had posted Form 471 applications for Category 1 and Category 2 services with Category 1 being for discounts on Firewall, Telephone, Internet, and Wide Area Network. The Category 2 application was for two additional wireless connections for Ruston High School’s new special education classrooms. Also included in the application was the request for continued basic maintenance and support of the existing arrays throughout the schools in the district. She reported LPSB has contracts with Transformyx for Firewall service and Nexus/Hunt Telecom for the remaining services.
The subsequent personnel items were shared by Dr. Doris Lewis, Director of Human Resources:
1. Administrative changes effective July 1, 2018:
Mary Kilgore, principal at Cypress Springs Elementary, replacing Michelle Thrower who transferred;
and Amanda Brown, principal at Ruston Elementary, replacing Amy Brister who transferred.
2. Retirement of the following effective May 22, 2018:
Shirley May, teacher at Youth Rescue Center;
and Amanda Simmons, Academic Facilitator at Youth Rescue Center.
3. Retirement of the following effective June 30, 2018:
Jerry Dade, maintenance at Central Office;
and Willie Patton, custodian at Ruston Elementary.
March 2018 sales tax collections totaled $1,222,053 reported George Murphy, Business Manager. That was a 16.30% decrease compared to the same month last year; however, year-to-date the fund was up 7.48%. Audit recoveries for the year were $86,734, which were up for the month, but still down almost 21% for the year.
In his financial update for the month ending February 2018, Mr. Murphy communicated that the Total Fund Balance was down $3.5 million compared to February 2017.
James Payton, New Construction Coordinator, gave the following construction update:
1. Ruston High School special education building is on schedule to be completed in August.
2. A new parking lot at Ruston High School was completed allowing for 92 additional spaces. Also a steep hill behind the lot was corrected making it easier to mow.
Following a month of studying one policy revision and one policy addition, Lisa Bastion, Assistant Superintendent, asked board members to approve the proposed changes to the policy manual.
Upon a motion by Mr. Hunt, seconded by Mr. Barmore, the Board unanimously voted to approve revisions to Payday Schedules – DJCA and the addition of Industrial Tax Exemptions – DFAA.
Mr. Payton reported that one bid for the Ruston High School scoreboard was opened and reviewed at 2:00 p.m. on March 29, 2018, in the Board Room at Lincoln Parish School Board. The qualified bidder was Shreveport Neon Signs. The primary base bid was $390,525.65. Projected completion date is July 4, 2018.
Upon a motion by Ms. Best, seconded by Mr. Hancock, the Board unanimously voted to accept the bid of $390,525.65 by Shreveport Neon Signs for the Ruston High School scoreboard project.
Mr. Murphy stated that on November 3, 2015, the LPSB passed a Resolution that allowed the district to join the Child Nutrition Purchasing Cooperative. The agreement expires June 30, 2018. The Cooperative has proven to be effective. He recommended that the Board approve the Resolution which will extend the agreement for 10 years.
After a motion by Mr. Barmore, seconded by Ms. Abrahm, the Board voted unanimously to approve the Resolution to allow the Lincoln Parish School Board to continue to be a member of the Child Nutrition Purchasing Cooperative.
Because of the vital role of school bus operators, lunchroom workers, custodians, secretaries, clerical personnel, teacher aides, bus aides, maintenance workers, paraprofessionals, and others in the efficient operation of the school system, Ricky Edmiston recommended that the Board adopt a Resolution designating April 23-27, 2018, as Support Personnel Week. President Mitcham requested that Mr. Edmiston read the resolution in full.
Upon a motion by Ms. Abraham, seconded by Mr. Mack, the Board unanimously voted to adopt the following:
RESOLUTION
That the Lincoln Parish School Board designate the week of April 23-27, 2018, 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.
Mr. Murphy reported that Lincoln Parish School Board had 65 surplus iPads that were purchased in 2013 and were at the end of their useful lives. He requested that they be declared as surplus.
After a motion by Mr. Barmore, seconded by Ms. Abrahm, the Board voted unanimously to declare 65 iPads as surplus and grant permission to advertise these items and authorize a surplus sale, and should there be no buyers on some items to dispose of those in a prudent manner.
Three 2000 Bluebird buses were of no further use to the transportation department. Rik Cason, Transportation Coordinator, asked the Board to declare the buses as surplus and allow him to dispose of them with minimum bids.
Upon a motion by Ms. Best, seconded by Mr. Barmore, the Board unanimously voted to declare the above-mentioned buses as surplus and grant permission to dispose of them through the bid process.
Mr. Edmiston communicated that as a result of cleaning and organizing the maintenance shop, several items were no longer needed. He requested that these items be declared surplus.
After a motion by Ms. Best, seconded by Mr. Hancock, the Board unanimously voted to declare the items presented on an attached list as surplus and grant authority to the administration to dispose of all items in a prudent manner.
The Board was reminded by Mr. 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. He 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 $73,871.00 distribution Mr. Murphy recommended was:
Art PK-12 - $1.75 per student
Physical Education PK-12 - $1.75 per student
Library Supplies PK-5 - $1.25 per student
6-12 - $1.75 per student
Music PK-5 - $1.25 per student
6-12 - $1.75 per student
Magazines & PK-6 - $3.00 per student
Newspapers 7-12 - $3.25 per student
Science PK-6 - $1.50 per student
7-8 - $3.00 per student
9-12 - $4.50 per student
Upon a motion by Mr. Hunt, seconded by Mr. Barmore, the Board unanimously voted to approve the distribution of $73,871.00 from 1979 sales tax monies for instructional supply money as mentioned above.
In order to comply with state law, Ricky Edmiston voiced the annual request for permission to advertise for bids in order to purchase duplicating paper, Scott paper towels, dust mops, gasoline, and diesel for the next school year.
Upon a motion by Ms. Wiley, seconded by Ms. Abrahm, the Board unanimously voted to grant permission to advertise for bids for the purchase of duplicating paper, Scott paper towels, dust mops, gasoline, and diesel for 2018-2019.
The multi-parish consortium was authorized to bid out food, paper, and supplies, but they do not handle equipment or produce; therefore, George Murphy requested permission to advertise and accept the lowest bids for purchases of equipment and produce.
Upon a motion by Mr. Ferguson, seconded by Mr. Mack, the Board unanimously voted to approve the advertisement for and the acceptance of the lowest bids meeting specifications on purchases of equipment and produce for the school food service department for 2018-2019.
Because ownership of property on which the Ruston High baseball field is located was transferred by the Louisiana Foundation to the City of Ruston, a Cooperative Endeavor Agreement concerning the continued use by RHS is needed. Superintendent Milstead shared this information and explained it would initially be for one year and was similar to the agreement with the Lincoln Foundation.
After a motion by Mr. Hancock, seconded by Mr. Hunt, the Board voted unanimously to approve the Cooperative Endeavor Agreement for one year with the City of Ruston concerning property used by Ruston High School for its baseball facility.
In a Report of the Superintendent, Mr. Milstead:
1. Noted that Tier 3 Personal Financial Disclosure Statements were included in packets. They are due May 15.
2. Shared that he is working on a second CEA with the City of Ruston regarding giving them Lincoln Center in exchange for use of their new sports complex.
3. Reminded board members that a Superintendent’s Evaluation document was sent to them electronically. He asked them to complete it and return it.
4. Voiced that construction on the district’s STEM Center will begin this summer and should be ready for the 2019 school year. A director will be named soon.
5. Communicated that the two new principals named earlier in the meeting were the first to be hired since the district was declared unity. They were unanimously recommended by a five member committee consisting of Patrice Hilton, Dr. Doris Lewis, Lisa Mangum, Pam Pruden, and John Young. Ms. Bastion chaired the committee but did not vote. Seven applicants were interviewed on one day using a rigorous process, which was very similar to what was used while the district was under the desegregation suit. Race and ratios can no longer be considered or used in making personnel decisions.
After comments from several board members, upon a motion by Ms. Best, the meeting adjourned at 11:09 a.m.
_______________________________ _______________________________
Mike Milstead, Secretary Joe E. Mitcham, Jr., President