LINCOLN PARISH SCHOOL BOARD

Ruston, Louisiana

SPECIAL CALLED SESSION

Monday, October 19, 2020   4:00 p.m.

The Lincoln Parish School Board met in Special Called Session on Monday, October 19, 2020, at 4:00 p.m. at the STEM Center, 525 Tarbutton, Ruston, Louisiana.  Members present were Ms. Debbie Abrahm, Mr. Otha Anders, Ms. Lisa Best, Ms. Donna Doss, Mr. David Ferguson, Dr. David Gullatt, Mr. Danny Hancock, Ms. Lynda Henderson, Mr. George Mack, Jr., Mr. Joe Mitcham, Mr. Hunter Smith, and Ms. Susan Wiley.

No board member was absent.

President Joe Mitcham called the meeting to order. Mr. Smith gave the invocation.  Ms. Best led in the Pledge of Allegiance to the American flag.  Mr. Mitcham welcomed board members and visitors to the meeting.

Upon a motion by Mr. Anders, seconded by Ms. Abrahm, the Board unanimously voted to adopt the agenda as printed.

Mr. Mitcham turned the meeting over to Counsel Jon Guice. Mr. Guice recommended that the Board reach an agreement of the procedure that would be in place throughout the interview process. He stated they needed to come to an agreement on three areas. These were, how the questions would be asked, the interview presentation (in Open or Executive Session, or a combination of the two), and the voting procedure.

Upon a motion by Dr. Gullatt, seconded by Ms. Henderson, the Board voted unanimously to have Mr. Guice ask the interview questions in Open Session with follow-up questions asked by the Board members in Executive Session. The same questions would be asked of each candidate.

Mr. Guice stated that the final decision the Board needed to determine was the voting procedure. They could choose the typical motion and second or the paper ballot in which their name and vote would be read aloud. Upon a motion by Mr. Smith, seconded by Mr. Hancock, the Board unanimously voted to use the paper ballot method to cast their votes for the Superintendent position.     

President Mitcham introduced the candidates, Mr. Ricky Durrett and Mr. Byron Lyons. Mr. Guice explained that he had an envelope with both candidates’ names enclosed. He asked Vice President Henderson to draw a name to determine which candidate would interview first, she drew Mr. Lyons name. Mr. Durrett relinquished his cell phone and was escorted to a private area at Ruston Junior High until his time to interview.

Mr. Guice asked Mr. Lyons to introduce himself to the Board and give a brief background, after which Mr. Guice moved directly into the question portion of the interview.

Upon completion of the questions asked in Open Session, Mr. Anders made a motion to enter into Executive Session at 4:33 p.m. Ms. Best seconded the motion which passed unanimously.

Upon a motion by Mr. Smith, seconded by Mr. Anders, the Board unanimously voted to return to Open Session at 5:17 p.m.

Mr. Lyons left the meeting and was escorted to Ruston Junior High. At that time Mr. Durrett entered the meeting for his interview.

Mr. Guice asked Mr. Durrett to introduce himself to the Board and give a brief background, after which Mr. Guice moved directly into the question portion of the interview.

Upon completion of the questions asked in Open Session, Dr. Gullatt made a motion to enter into Executive Session at 5:41 p.m. Mr. Anders seconded the motion which passed unanimously.

Upon a motion by Mr. Anders, seconded by Mr. Smith, the Board unanimously voted to return to Open Session at 6:33 p.m. 

President Mitcham announced it was time for any public comments, hearing none he turned the meeting over to Mr. Guice. He reminded Board members that they chose the paper ballot method to vote and it would take seven affirmative votes in order to elect a Superintendent tonight. Board members were asked to complete their ballot and pass them to the Board president. Mr. Guice counted the ballots to assure there were twelve. He then read each ballot aloud stating the Board member’s name and their vote. Voting for Ricky Durrett were Ms. Doss, Dr. Gullatt, Mr. Smith, Mr. Mitcham, Mr. Hancock, and Ms. Abrahm. Voting for Byron Lyons were Ms. Best, Ms. Wiley, Mr. Ferguson, Ms. Henderson, Mr. Anders, and Mr. Mack. The vote was tied at six to six. Mr. Guice suggested the Board vote a second time, all agreed. The votes were counted and read aloud as before. The final vote returned was the same as the previous vote, six to six.  

Mr. Guice stated that there were two options; recess and return for a third vote or they could adjourn, come back at some other time, and take whatever action was the pleasure of the Board at that time. Several Board members made suggestions as to what the next step should be.      

                             After discussion, Mr. Mack made a motion, Mr. Smith seconded, and the meeting adjourned at 6:50 p.m. to resume at a later date.

_______________________________                            _______________________________

Mike Milstead, Secretary                                                     Joe Mitcham, Jr., President