LINCOLN PARISH SCHOOL BOARD
Ruston, Louisiana
REGULAR SESSION
Tuesday, June 4, 2019 6:00 p.m.
The Lincoln Parish School Board met in Regular Session on Tuesday, June 4, 2019, 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 Mr. Otha Anders, Mr. Michael Barmore, Ms. Lisa Best, Mr. David Ferguson, Dr. David Gullatt, Mr. Danny Hancock, Ms. Lynda Henderson, Mr. George Mack, Jr., Mr. Joe Mitcham, and Ms. Susan Wiley.
Ms. Debbie Abrahm and Mr. Hunter Smith were absent.
President Joe Mitcham called the meeting to order. Ms. Best gave the invocation, and Ms. Henderson led in the Pledge of Allegiance to the American flag.
Mr. Mitcham recognized special guests, Boy Scout Troop 45 and their leaders. The young men were attending the Board meeting as a requirement to earn their Citizenship Merit Badge.
Upon a motion by Mr. Anders, seconded by Mr. Barmore, the Board unanimously voted to adopt the agenda as printed.
Upon a motion by Dr. Gullatt, seconded by Ms. Henderson, the Board unanimously voted to approve the minutes of the Regular Session held on May 7, 2019, as distributed.
Cathi Cox-Boniol, Lincoln ACHIEVE Coordinator, felt privileged and honored to recognize a remarkable young student who had scored a perfect 36 on the ACT. She introduced Amanda Meng, who will be a senior at Ruston High this fall and provided background information on her. She explained that 2/10 of 1% of all test takers in the United States achieve this accomplishment. Ms. Cox-Boniol presented a plaque to her in recognition of her outstanding achievement and asked her to speak. Ms. Meng thanked the school board, teachers, counselors, and principals at Ruston High School, and her family for the education, support, and encouragement she had received. She introduced her parents, who were in attendance. Several board members voiced how proud they were of Ms. Meng.
In the absence of Ricky Edmiston, Supervisor of Auxiliary Services, George Murphy, Chief Financial Officer, shared that bid opening was held on May 17, 2019, for the purchase of the following items for the 2019-2020 school year: duplicating paper, Scott paper towels, dust mop rental, and fuel. Mr. Murphy recommended that the Board accept the lowest bids meeting specifications.
Upon a motion by Ms. Best, seconded by Mr. Hancock, the Board unanimously voted to accept the lowest bids meeting specifications for the purchase of materials and supplies for the 2019-2020 school year as shown below:
Company Submitting Bid
Parker Wholesale Paper 2000 Cases of Copy Paper
Price per Case: $29.25
Total for 2000 Cases: $58,500.00
Jackson Paper 600 Cases of Scott Towels
Price per Case: $43.18
Total for 600 Cases: $25,908.00
KAPS Textile Service Dust Mop Rental
18 inch $.45 each bi-weekly
36 inch $.72 each bi-weekly
48 inch $.82 each bi-weekly
Hill Oil Company Fuel
Unleaded regular $.1085
Unleaded plus $.1085
Unleaded premium $.1085
Low sulfur road use diesel $.1125
Regular No. 2 grade diesel $.1325
Mr. Murphy shared the Lincoln Parish Sales and Use Tax Commission’s proposed budget for 2019-20. He mentioned several line items and explained reasons for the difference in the budgeted amounts. Mr. Mitcham verbalized, and Mr. Murphy concurred, that the Commission is very efficient and does an excellent job collecting and disbursing sales tax collections. Mr. Murphy noted that Denise Griggs, the Sales and Use Tax Commission’s Administrator, was in attendance and available to answer any questions about the budget.
Hearing none, upon a motion by Mr. Hancock, seconded by Mr. Barmore, the Board unanimously voted to approve the 2019-2020 Sales and Use Tax Commission’s proposed budget.
One Bluebird and four Freightliner 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. Henderson seconded by Dr. Gullatt, the Board unanimously voted to declare the above-mentioned buses as surplus and grant permission to dispose of them through the bid process.
In accordance with state law, a solicitation for a proposal was sent to the only newspaper in Lincoln Parish prior to naming an official journal for the upcoming year. George Murphy communicated that the Ruston Daily Leader offered $6.00 per legal square, which was the same as last year. The maximum rate allowed by state law is $6.00 per legal square. He recommended that the Board name them as the official journal.
Upon a motion by Mr. Anders, seconded by Ms. Wiley, the Board unanimously voted to name the Ruston Daily Leader as the official journal for fiscal year 2019-2020.
In her Personnel Report, Dr. Doris Lewis, Director of Human Resources, shared the following information:
1. Retirement of the following personnel:
Alexis DeFreese, paraprofessional at Glen View, effective May 24, 2019;
Kathi Pesnell, Administrator/Pre-K Coordinator at LPECC, effective June 30, 2019;
Ashley Brown, Special Education Supervisor, effective July 31, 2019;
Betty Bolton, paraprofessional at Ruston High, effective May 24, 2019; and
Deborah Martin, math teacher at Ruston High, effective May 25, 2019.
2. Resignation of the following effective May 25, 2019:
Justin White, teacher at Choudrant Elementary;
Rhonda Cox, math teacher at Choudrant High;
Ashley Butler, teacher at Cypress Springs;
Ann-Elizabeth Brown, special education teacher at Dubach Elementary;
Dr. Tracy Bennett, teacher at Glen View;
Amy Crittenden, itinerant music teacher at Hillcrest;
Taylor Wyatt, teacher at Hillcrest;
Kimberly Cormier, science teacher at I.A. Lewis;
Shannon Chase Frasier, physical education teacher at I.A. Lewis;
Mary DeMarigny, ELA teacher at Ruston High;
Bettye Slocum, ELA teacher at Ruston Junior High;
Megan Dunson, special education teacher at Simsboro School; and
Josh Legendre, coach/math teacher at Simsboro School.
3. Points of Reference/Transfer of the following effective July 1, 2019:
Lisa Wilmore from Middle School Supervisor at the Central Office to Special Education Supervisor, replacing Ashley Brown who retired.
4. Rescission of retirement of Glenda Samuel, cafeteria technician at Ruston Elementary, effective May 22, 2019.
5. Resignation of Betty Fowler, School Food Service Supervisor, effective June 28, 2019.
6. Food Service Point of Reference of the following effective July 1, 2019:
Harryette Tinsley from Ruston High to interim School Food Service Supervisor, replacing Betty Fowler who resigned.
7. Employment of Mickey Johnson as field technician at School Food Service effective July 1, 2019, replacing Willie Millsap, who retired.
8. Resignation of Joe Dunaway, custodian at Choudrant Elementary, effective May 4, 2019.
9. Retirement of Patricia VanOsdell, bus operator in the Ruston District, effective July 21, 2019.
10. Resignation of Richard Garrett, bus operator in the Ruston District, effective April 23, 2019.
A sales tax report for the month ending May 2019 was presented by Mr. Murphy. He stated that year-to-date collections were down $1.8 million compared to this time last year, which translates to a 10% decrease. Recoveries through audits were also down. He noted that a Business Classification Report was included in board members’ portfolios and called attention to several categories explaining the decrease in sales tax collections. Most notable was oil and gas extraction, which was down over $11 million.
Mr. Murphy also delivered an April 2019 financial update and reported the Total Fund Balance was $36.9 million, which was down from this time last year.
In a health plan update for April 2019, he said the health care fund was up for the month of April; however, the fund was down $136,000 year–to-date. He stated he had met with the health insurance broker and would be coming before the Board with recommendations for changes to the health care plan.
James Payton, New Construction Coordinator, gave the following construction update:
1. Three acres of land adjacent to Choudrant High School had been cleared by a railroad company that had been using the area as a road.
2. The Choudrant Elementary carline was near completion. The final grade was being laid on the road this week.
3. July 19 is the estimated completion date for the STEM Center.
Ricky Durrett, Secondary Schools Supervisor, gave a report on graduation rates. He explained that graduation rate results run a year behind, he would be reporting on last year’s seniors. Lincoln parish was leading the state with an average of 97.8%; Simsboro and Choudrant were at 100%. The data was based on incoming freshman who graduate in four years. He attributed Lincoln parish’s success to several factors including the credit recovery, truancy, and Jump Start Pathway programs.
Mr. Durrett shared statistics regarding college enrollment. He said 67% of the 2017 graduating class enrolled in college, in the fall of 2018, 54% were still in college. This is higher than the state average. Lincoln parish is doing a great job of getting students in college. If they can complete their first year, they have a strong chance of graduating and becoming successful.
Superintendent Milstead stated that much clean-up work had been done since the April 25 tornado. Ruston High School and Cypress Springs both sustained damage.
Mr. Payton then shared several photos of the damage and narrated the repair that had been completed thus far:
1. He noted that $28,000 of repairs at the Spirit building had not begun because they had not gotten clearance from the insurance company yet.
2. The insurance company had condemned the damaged Eco-car building. The building and all debris had been removed.
3. Several light poles at the football stadium had broken off at the base, were condemned, and had been removed or would be removed. A structural engineer had been hired to inspect the light poles and bases still standing. Poles on the west side of the stadium were not damaged; those on the east side were being inspected for cracks in the concrete around the anchor bolts.
4. Several tombstones in the adjacent cemetery were damaged by falling debris. They would be repaired this week.
5. The damaged press box had been demolished. Wiring and control panels for the scoreboard were still intact, as well as the plumbing, which could all be used during renovation. Architect Mike Walpole should be ready to bid the press box renovation project by the end of June.
In a Report of the Superintendent, Mr. Milstead noted the following information:
1. Included in board members’ portfolios were a list of retirees, a list of board meeting dates, times, and places for the upcoming school year, and an Adopt-A-School brochure from the ACHIEVE office. He noted that September’s board meeting would possibly be moved to the STEM Center.
2. LPSB had received a $5,000 donation from the Community Foundation of North Louisiana to aid in the repairs of the RHS Spirit building and athletic complex. Lance Hall, an RHS graduate, nominated the district.
3. Due to tornado damage at the RHS stadium, home football games would be played at Louisiana Tech’s stadium until repairs were complete.
4. Act 410 of the 2018 State Legislature states that all schools and buildings administered by local school systems must post the National Motto. Lisa Bastion, Assistant Superintendent/Chief Academic Officer stated that effective 2019-2020 school year, all school systems must provide education to students by 5th grade on the history of the Motto.
5. State Superintendent of Education, John White, and Chancellor Dennis Epps with Louisiana Delta Community College will be here tomorrow to discuss a way for more students to transition from high school to college, without having to go in debt to pay for an education. The program would allow students to be certified in certain areas when they graduate, then earn $1,000 per month that summer working in their chosen career path. The program, Propel Louisiana, would pay tuition to continue their education at Delta, when complete they would work for IBM, Graphic Packaging, or Ochsner Hospital.
6. The Louisiana State Legislature successfully passed a $1,000 pay raise for certificated personnel and a $500 pay raise for non-certificated personnel. Also passed was the funding of the Minimum Foundation Program, which will make this pay raise permanent.
7. The July meeting would be held on the second Tuesday of the month, July 9.
He called attention to the list of retirees as follows:
NAME LOCATION YRS IN LINCOLN TOTAL YRS
Kay Bradford Central Office (Administrative) 24 33
Kathi Pesnell LPECC (Administrative) 35 35
Dr. Sheri Robken I.A. Lewis (Administrative) 20 22
Steve Barber Ruston High (Teacher) 14.5 24.5
Alexis DeFreese Glen View Elementary (Teacher) 21 21
Letitia Freeman Ruston Junior High (Teacher) 20 21
Lora Hammons Ruston High (Teacher) 31 32
Deborah Martin Ruston High (Teacher) 16.5 25.5
Pamela Owen Ruston Elementary (Teacher) 19 28
Shannon Perot Ruston Elementary (Teacher) 30 33
Teresa Shrell Choudrant Elementary (Teacher) 26 33
Gary Teague Ruston Junior High (Teacher) 29 33
Linda Wallace Glen View Elementary (Teacher) 31 31
Diana Grigsby Choudrant Elementary (Pupil Appraisal) 25 32
Kathleen Mitchell Pupil Appraisal 30 35
Bonnie Fogger Central Office 23.5 26
Betty Bolton Ruston High (Paraprofessional) 14 14
Betty Hinton Choudrant Elementary (Paraprofessional) 24 24
Kayla Martin Ruston Elementary (Paraprofessional) 16 16
Richard Anderson Transportation (Choudrant bus operator) 10.5 10.5
James Bonner Transportation (Ruston bus operator) 17 17
Patricia VanOsdell Transportation (Ruston bus operator) 19 19
Anne Waldron Transportation (Simsboro bus operator) 17 17
Grady Blair Ruston High (Custodian) 11 11
Tyrone Jordan Central Office (Custodian) 33 33
Vickie Modest Glen View Elementary (Custodian) 11 11
Karen Blade Simsboro School (Food Service) 17 17
Annette Davis LPECC (Food Service) 28 28
Autrie Powell Ruston Junior High (Food Service) 31 31
Remona Turner School Food Service 30 30
Tressia Smith Hillcrest Elementary 11 11
Willie Millsap School Food Service 12 12
There being no further business, upon a motion by Ms. Best, the meeting adjourned at 6:54 p.m.
__________________________________ ___________________________________
Mike Milstead, Secretary Joe E. Mitcham, Jr., President