LINCOLN PARISH SCHOOL BOARD
Ruston, Louisiana
REGULAR SESSION
Tuesday, July 10, 2018 6:00 p.m.
The Lincoln Parish School Board met in Regular Session on Tuesday, July 10, 2018, at 6:00 p.m. in the board room of the Central Office at 410 South Farmerville Street, Ruston, Louisiana. Members present were Ms. Debbie Abrahm, Mr. Otha Anders, Mr. Mike Barmore, Ms. Lisa Best, Mr. Danny Hancock, Ms. Lynda Henderson, Mr. Trott Hunt, Mr. George Mack, Jr., Mr. Joe Mitcham, and Ms. Susan Wiley.
Mr. Curtis Dowling and Mr. David Ferguson were absent.
President Joe Mitcham called the meeting to order. Mr. Otha Anders delivered the invocation, and Mr. Trott Hunt led in the Pledge of Allegiance to the American flag.
Upon a motion by Mr. Hunt, seconded by Ms. Abrahm, the Board unanimously voted by roll call to adopt the agenda as amended adding one item of New Business: Lease Agreement with Lincoln Total Community Action, Inc.
Upon a motion by Mr. Anders, seconded by Mr. Barmore, the Board unanimously voted to approve the minutes of the Regular Session held on June 5, 2018, as presented.
The following personnel items were shared by Dr. Doris Lewis, Director of Human Resources:
1. Retirement of Gary Teague, band director at Ruston Junior, effective October 1, 2018.
2. Resignation of the following:
Brittany Norris, librarian at Cypress Springs, effective July 2, 2018;
Tasha Smith, special education teacher at Glenview, effective June 26, 2018;
Dalton Hamby, science/coach at I.A. Lewis, effective June 26, 2018;
Mary Spillers, ELA teacher at I.A. Lewis, effective June 26, 2018;
Terri Belknap, itinerant speech therapist, effective June 30, 2018;
Jermaine Morris, math teacher at Ruston High, effective May 22, 2018;
Lauren Spillers, math teacher at Ruston High, effective June 25, 2018;
Bonnie Goss, math teacher at Ruston Junior High, effective May 22, 2018; and
Rachel Collins, special education teacher at Ruston Junior High, effective June 21, 2018.
3. Points of Reference/Transfer of the following effective August 13, 2018, unless noted otherwise:
Abi Gail Leachman, from teacher at Ruston High to librarian at Cypress Springs, replacing Brittany Norris who resigned;
Emily Howell, part-time ELA Facilitator at the Central Office, due to a new position effective July 16, 2018;
Shunda Young, from Ruston High to special education teacher at I.A. Lewis, replacing Tyrance Garrett who transferred;
Jacquelyn Bean, from Ruston Junior High to French teacher at Ruston High, replacing Stacy Allbritton who transferred;
Earl Griffin, offensive coordinator at Ruston High effective July 16, 2018, replacing Andy Robinson who resigned;
Vivian Hinton, from Ruston Junior High to special education teacher at Ruston High replacing Shunda Young who transferred;
Tyler Price, from Youth Rescue Center to special education teacher at Ruston Junior High, replacing Greg Young who transferred;
Tyrance Garrett, from I.A. Lewis to special education teacher at Ruston Junior High, replacing Rachel Collins who resigned;
Greg Young, from Ruston Junior High to special education teacher at Youth Rescue Center, replacing Tyler Price who transferred; and
Loretta Clark, from Ruston High to special education teacher at Youth Rescue Center, replacing Shirley May who retired.
4. Employment of the following effective August 13, 2018, unless otherwise noted:
Missy Wooley, STEM Director at the Central Office effective July 1, 2018, due to a new position;
Tina Richard, special education teacher at Cypress Springs, replacing Janet Burse who retired;
Bethany Schimmel, teacher at Cypress Springs, replacing Laura Davidson who resigned;
Lauren Warren, itinerant art teacher replacing Tracy Stark who resigned;
Mary Hicks, teacher at Dubach Elementary, replacing Jordan Bostick who resigned;
Kristina Kassab, itinerant gifted teacher, replacing Susan Hermes who retired;
Molly Duddy, teacher at Glenview, replacing Leslie Ray who transferred;
Jamieka Hester, math teacher at I.A. Lewis, replacing Sherryl Morgan who resigned;
Deana Revels, art teacher at Ruston High, due to a new position;
Jack Wasson, math teacher at Ruston High, replacing Jermaine Morris who resigned;
Cory Craig, band director at Ruston Junior High effective July 30, 2018, replacing Gary Teague who retired;
Sandy Lipscomb, ELA teacher at Ruston Junior High, replacing Tess Stevenson who resigned;
Paige Smith, teacher at Simsboro Elementary, replacing Sarah Pender who resigned;
Joshua Legendre, math/coach at Simsboro High effective July 16, 2018, replacing Misty Owens who resigned; and
Cheyanne DeMars, science teacher at Simsboro High, replacing Mark Alexander who resigned.
5. Retirement of Autrie Powell, cafeteria technician at Ruston Junior High, effective June 4, 2018.
6. Point of Reference/Transfer of Dana Wright from the Cypress Springs to cafeteria manager/clerk at LPECC effective August 1, 2018, replacing Janis Nelson who retired.
7. Employment of Leslie Colwell as cafeteria manager at Ruston Elementary effective August 1, 2018, replacing Antoinette Collins who transferred.
8. Point of Reference/Transfer of Gary Williams as custodian at Ruston High due to a change of position, effective July 1, 2018, replacing Charles Parker who was terminated.
9. Employment of the following effective July 1, 2018 unless otherwise noted:
Austin Ball as skilled maintenance at Central Office Maintenance replacing Jerry Huey who retired;
Jacy Ball as skilled maintenance at Central Office Maintenance replacing Lessel Mayfield who was terminated;
Craig Farris as custodian at Ruston Elementary replacing Willie Patton who retired; and
Stephanie Harris as custodian at Ruston High effective August 8, 2018, replacing Gary Williams who had a change of position.
George Murphy, Business Manager, presented a sales tax report for June of 2018. He said receipts for the month of June were down 8.03%, however a full year of data is now available showing an increase of 4.76% over the previous year which translates into $822,000. He noted this was a good year for sales tax. Recoveries through audits were down for the year about 22%.
Moving on to his summary of the May 2018 financial statement, Mr. Murphy said figures were down $7.5 million compared to May 2017.
For the month of May 31, 2018, the self-insured health plan was down $62,000 compared to May 2017, and up $506,000 year-to-date according to George Murphy. He reported that adjustments to the plan may need to be made going forward.
New Construction Coordinator, James Payton narrated pictures of numerous projects and gave the following construction update:
1. The Ruston High School scoreboard project is finally complete. The last step was to add a new 30 second clock to each end of the football field. Representatives from Nevco will be at the school on Friday to provide training for those that will operate the scoreboard.
2. The Special Education building at Ruston High School is basically finished. Finishing touches are all that need to be completed. He pointed out magnetic devices in the photograph, sharing these would cause the doors to close automatically if the fire alarm was activated.
3. Site preparation has begun for the new STEM building. All the timber has been cut and cleared from the site. After soil tests were done, engineers suggested the building be built on drill piers. The work would begin this month on drilling and installing the piers.
4. Six eighty-foot steel poles would soon be installed at the Choudrant High School baseball field for new lights. Photographs will be shown at the August board meeting.
Betty Fowler, Supervisor of Child Nutrition, reported that after moving into their new office, School Food Services has obsolete equipment. She requested that these items be declared surplus.
After a motion by Ms. Abrahm, seconded by Ms. Best, 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.
In the absence of Ricky Edmiston, Supervisor of Auxiliary Services, Mr. Murphy communicated that the Maintenance Department has student desks, file cabinets, and an end table that are no longer needed. He requested that these items be declared surplus. He stated that the surplus sale would be held with School Food Services.
After a motion by Ms. Henderson, seconded by Mr. Barmore, the Board unanimously voted to declare the items requested as surplus and dispose of them in accordance with state law and local policies.
Lisa Bastion, Assistant Superintendent/Chief Academic Officer asked board members to study revisions to five policies, BC – School Board Meetings, DJA – Authorized Signatures, GBRIBA – Family and Medical Leave, JCAB – Student Searches, and JGC – Student Health Services, the deletion of BCBFA – Quorum, and the addition of EFAA – Employee Use of Social Media until the August meeting.
The State Legislative Auditor’s Office requires all Louisiana governmental units to complete a System’s Survey & Compliance Questionnaire and provide it to the independent auditors at the beginning of the financial and compliance audit, George Murphy reported to the Board. He requested approval of the questionnaire for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2018.
Upon a motion by Ms. Best, seconded by Mr. Barmore, the Board unanimously voted to approve the System’s Survey & Compliance Questionnaire as presented for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2018.
Superintendent Mike Milstead communicated that representatives of the Lincoln Parish School Board (LPSB) and the City of Ruston have engaged in several conversations concerning the future of the Lincoln Center facility owned by LPSB. Included as part of these conversations was the use of said property by Lincoln Total Community Action, Inc. for the purpose of housing Head Start facilities. At this time the Superintendent welcomed Ms. Pamela Harris, Ms. Clotill Smith, and Mr. W. D. Walker, representatives of Lincoln Total Community Action. He reported the process of a property swap with the city has gone well but it is not quite time to sign The Cooperative Endeavor Agreement. Because timing is crucial Mr. Milstead asked the Board to authorize the Superintendent to execute the exchange of property known as Lincoln Center with the City of Ruston for an approximate equal value of construction of and use of a softball field and tennis courts at the Ruston Sports Complex presently under construction.
Upon a motion by Mr. Anders, seconded by Mr. Hancock, the Board unanimously voted to grant this recommendation.
Mr. Milstead stated in lieu of a ready to sign document with the City of Ruston he would like to enter into a temporary 90-day lease agreement with Lincoln Total Community Action, Inc. The lease would terminate when the CEA is signed with the city. This will allow Head Start directors, teachers, and students to occupy the building owned by LPSB as soon as possible.
After a motion by Mr. Anders, seconded by Ms. Best, the Board unanimously voted to allow the Lincoln Parish School Board property known as Lincoln Center to be leased to Lincoln Total Community Action, Inc., for the sole purpose of housing its Head Start program under conditions stated in the background information.
In a Report of the Superintendent, Mr. Milstead said that:
1. A Nepotism Disclosure Form was placed in the Board Members packet.
Also included was the Tier 3 Financial Disclosure and the qualifying dates for the upcoming election.
2. The Enhanced School Calendar is in its fourth week. The first three weeks have gone flawlessly. He encouraged the Board to visit the two schools and see the exciting things happening. The directors will give a report at the next board meeting.
3. Negotiations are ongoing regarding the October 2017 fire at the former Head Start building. Mike Walpole has been instrumental with the task of going line by line on the reimbursement items. The insurance offer should be finalized in the next few months.
4. Lincoln is one of twenty parishes in the state that qualifies for federal funds related to improving how teachers are compensated based on their classroom performance. The grant is called Teacher Incentive Funds or TIF. There are several principles that guide the design of the compensation system. This is designed to show appreciation for teachers whose students perform at a higher level.
5. A Language Immersion program will begin in August at LPECC. Forty students will be taught their subject matter in French. Approximately sixty students have confirmed interest in the program. A drawing will be held on July 30 to determine which forty students will be in the program. Names of remaining students will be placed on a waiting list.
6. Last week a meeting was held with Courtney Hall, Parish Administrator of LPPJ, Danny Hancock, Charles Hogan, and Stephen Williams, representing Lincoln Parish Sheriff’s Office, concerning the student drop off and pick up area at Choudrant Elementary. The Choudrant Elementary School population has increased causing an overflow of vehicles stopped on Highway 80. A temporary solution is to have vehicles enter from Walker Road. Courtney Hall will make a presentation at the next board meeting offering a more permanent solution.
After several comments from the public and Board members, upon a motion by Ms. Best, the meeting adjourned at 6:30 p.m.
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Mike Milstead, Secretary Joe E. Mitcham, Jr., President