LINCOLN PARISH SCHOOL BOARD

Ruston, Louisiana

REGULAR SESSION

Tuesday, September 7, 2021   6:00 p.m.

                        The Lincoln Parish School Board met in Regular Session on Tuesday, September 7, 2021, at 6:00 p.m. at the STEM Center, 525 Tarbutton Road, Ruston, Louisiana.  Members present were 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.

                        Ms. Debbie Abrahm was absent.

                        President Mitcham called the meeting to order, and Ms. Wiley gave the invocation.  Ms. Henderson led in the Pledge of Allegiance to the American flag. Mr. Mitcham welcomed those in attendance.    

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

                        Upon a motion by Dr. Gullatt, seconded by Ms. Wiley, the Board unanimously voted to approve the minutes of the Regular Session held on August 3, 2021, as printed.    President Mitcham declared a time of public hearing for the proposed budget for the year ending June 30, 2022.

Chairperson Lisa Best reported that the Finance Committee met prior to the start of the Regular Session at 5:00 p.m. She said Ms. Juanita Duke, CFO/Business Manager, had presented the proposed budget to the Finance Committee. She turned the floor over to Ms. Duke to summarize the Finance Committee discussion. 

Ms. Duke called attention to “Exhibit A” and pointed out recommended total budgeted General Fund activities with estimated revenues of $56.1 million, expenditures of $54.1 million, resulting in a positive net change in fund balance of $1.4 million and an ending fund balance of $18.9 million for the 2021-2022 fiscal year. The total budgeted activities for all Special Revenue Funds combined were revenues of $32.9 million, expenditures of $26.4 million, with a positive net change in fund balance of $1.5 million, and an ending fund balance of $19.6 million.        

A summary of the 2021-2022 Proposed Budget follows:

She asked for questions or comments, hearing none she turned the meeting back over to Chairperson Best.

Ms. Best shared the Committee’s recommendation to adopt the proposed beginning budget for the year ending June 30, 2022. Upon a motion by Mr. Hancock, seconded by Ms. Henderson, a roll call vote was taken.

The Board unanimously voted by roll call to adopt the 2021-2022 proposed budget as presented and grant permission for the administration to amend the budget as needed throughout the year and bring a final revised budget to the board for approval at year-end.

The time for public hearing was then closed.

           Mr. Ricky Edmiston, Supervisor of Auxiliary Services, reminded board members that authorization was given at the April board meeting to advertise for bids for fuel and diesel for the 2021-2022 school year. He shared that the bid opening was held August 20, 2021, as stipulated in the advertisement. Only one bid was received, it was from Hill Oil. He recommended that the Board accept that bid for the 2021-2022 school year.

           Upon a motion by Ms. Best, seconded by Mr. Hancock, the Board unanimously voted to accept the only bid submitted which met specifications for the purchase of fuel and diesel for 2021-2022 as shown below:

                  Company Submitting Bid                 Fuel

      Hill Oil Company                            Unleaded Regular                         $.135

      James Norwood                              Unleaded Plus                             $.135

      103 Ward Chapel    Rd.                   Unleaded Premium                      $.155

      Farmerville, LA 71241                      Low sulfur road use diesel            $.158

      318-368-3101                                   Regular No. 2 grade diesel          $.158

                        Ms. Duke communicated that every year a Resolution is required to renew LPSB automobile insurance coverage. The State Department of Insurance issues guidelines related to Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist coverage. Ms. Duke stated that each school system is required to include in board minutes a consent item authorizing the Superintendent to sign the Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist form. She asked the Board to adopt the Resolution.

                        Upon a motion by Mr. Ferguson, seconded by Mr. Smith, the Board unanimously voted to adopt the Resolution authorizing the Superintendent to sign the Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist form.

                        Ms. Lisa Bastion, Chief Pandemic Officer/Asst. Superintendent, communicated to the Board that the following statement is being recommended to the Lincoln Parish School Board 2021-2022 Pay Rate Schedule allowing the superintendent flexibility in securing personnel to support district needs:

                        The Superintendent has the authority to revise this pay rate schedule based on job duties, available funding sources, and district needs. Revisions or adjustments to this schedule will be in writing to the Human Resource Department on a case-by-case situation and shall expire on June 30, 2022.

                        Upon a motion by Ms. Doss, seconded by Mr. Hancock, the Board unanimously voted to approve the above statement, which would be added to the end of the previously approved pay rate schedule. The original pay rate schedule was approved at the LPSB meeting on June 1, 2021, and became effective on July 1, 2021.

                        Mr. James Payton, New Construction Supervisor, stated that two portable buildings at Choudrant Elementary had recently been sold in a surplus sale. Several items were stored in those buildings and those items are no longer needed. Outdated teaching materials, chairs, desks, and filling cabinets, which are in poor condition, need to be discarded. Also included in this surplus request is one moveable greenhouse in fair condition.

                        Upon a motion by Mr. Anders, seconded by Mr. Ferguson, the Board unanimously voted to declare the above-mentioned items as surplus and grant permission to dispose of them in accordance with state and local policies. 

                        Ms. Duke communicated that Ruston High School’s family consumer science department had dining and kitchen items that are no longer needed. These items are considered obsolete. She asked permission to declare these items as surplus and dispose of them in accordance with state law and school board policies. 

                        Upon a motion by Ms. Henderson, seconded by Ms. Wiley and Mr. Smith, the Board unanimously voted to declare the family consumer science items as surplus and dispose of them in accordance with state laws and policies.  

                        Ms. Duke explained to the Board that in August 2006 the School Board entered into the public risk pool with Louisiana Public Schools Risk Management Agency (LARMA) Interlocal Agreement. The agency provides insurance coverage for the School Board’s commercial liabilities. Recently the LARMA Board of Trustees updated the language in the interlocal agreement to read that membership is in an existing pool, to designate the Superintendent as the authorized person to sign the interlocal agreement, and to update the pooling agent contact information. She recommended the School Board continue participation in LARMA’s interlocal risk management program by approving the revised agreement.   

                        Upon a motion by Dr. Gullatt, seconded Ms. Best, the Board unanimously voted to approve the School Board’s participation in the LARMA risk management program, and authorize the Superintendent to execute the required interlocal agreement.       

                        A personnel report was the next item on the agenda.  Dr. Doris Lewis, Human Resources Director, voiced the following:         

1.   Retirement of Lee Ann Holley, teacher at Hillcrest, effective August 11, 2021.

2.   Resignation of the following:

Ann Hancock, curriculum strategist at Choudrant Elementary, effective August 9, 2021;

Mary Kent, teacher at Cypress Springs, effective August 2, 2021;

Timothy Smith, special education teacher at YRC, effective August 17, 2021; and

Toby White, paraprofessional at Ruston High, effective August 20, 2021.  

3.   Employment of the following, effective August 16, 2021, unless noted otherwise;

                  Grace Underwood, math teacher at Choudrant High, replacing Christopher Cavin who resigned;

                  Mindy Jones, speech therapist at Pupil Appraisal, in a new position;

                  Clishundra Johnson, discipline facilitator at Ruston Elementary, replacing Kevin Hill who resigned;

                  Jennifer Carter, elementary music teacher at Ruston Elementary, replacing Sandra Lassiter who resigned, effective August 30, 2021; and

                  Shannon Tatum, pre-k teacher at Simsboro School, in a new position.                      

            4.   Point of Reference of the following:

                  Yolonda Beckwith, from special education paraprofessional at I.A. Lewis to receptionist at Central Office replacing Sharon Marshall who transferred, effective September 7, 2021;

                  Jaimie Simpson, from math teacher at Ruston High to instructional coach at I.A. Lewis, due to a new position, effective August 16, 2021, (ESSER 2 funds);

                  Katherine Folmar, from social studies teacher at Simsboro School to social studies teacher at I.A. Lewis, replacing Jeremy Huckeba who resigned, August 16, 2021;

                  Victoria Harris, from pre-k teacher at Simsboro School to pre-k teacher at LPECC replacing Adrianne Iannone who resigned, effective August 16, 2021;

                  Shontrece Dupree, ELA teacher at I.A. Lewis to curriculum strategist at Ruston Elementary replacing Jaimie Hudson who transferred, effective August 9, 2021; and

                  Chandler Burkhalter, from social studies teacher at Simsboro School to social studies teacher at Ruston High replacing Curtis Goodwin who resigned, effective August 16, 2021.     

            5.   Resignation of the following:

                  Sterling Richard, custodian at Choudrant Elementary, effective August 10, 2021;

                  Jerry Touchstone, custodian at Choudrant High, effective August 24, 2021; and

                  Roger Candler, custodian at Simsboro School, effective August 3, 2021.

            6.   Employment of the following:

                  Carolyn Grisby, custodian at Choudrant Elementary, replacing Deborah Roton who transferred, effective August 30, 2021;

                  Jarvis Spivey, custodian at Choudrant High, replacing Jerry Touchstone who resigned, effective August 31, 2021; and

                  James McGee, custodian at LPECC, replacing Mary Perry who transferred, effective August 9, 2021.

            7.   Resignation of Cameron Wells, bus operator in the Ruston area, effective August 25, 2021.

            8.   Employment of Corey Anding, bus operator in the Ruston area, replacing Cameron Wells who transferred to sub bus operator, effective August 25, 2021.

            9.   School Food Service resignation of the following:

                  Constance Jones, cafeteria technician with School Food Services, effective August 30, 2021;

                  Antoinette Collins, cafeteria technician with School Food Services, effective August 2, 2021; and

                  Alethea Gipson, cafeteria technician with School Food Services, effective August 12, 2021.

            10.  Employment of Dana Land, cafeteria technician with School Food Services, replacing Antoinette Collins who resigned, effective August 16, 2021. 

                              Sales tax collections for August 2021 were up 37.52% compared to the same month last year and up 38.47% fiscal year-to-date, according to Juanita Duke. The monthly performance equivalent is a 10.1% increase over August 2020 and a 10.9% increase fiscal year-to date.

                              Ms. Duke stated that there was a new format for the monthly financial report. It now looks very similar to the budget document presented in the current annual adopted budget. She explained that the new format would show the current budget and actual performance figures as well as a month-to-date comparison from the previous year for each account. It also presents a report for all special revenue funds of the Board, including state, federal and local grant funds.  The total ending fund balance of General Funds for the month ending July 31, 2021, was $17.4 million after current expenditures of $2.6 million, and the undesignated fund balance was $11.7 million, or 21.6% of budgeted General Fund expenditures.

Special Revenue Funds, including grant funds, were reported with an ending fund balance of $17.1 million and current expenditures to date of $772,794. The total ending fund balance for all funds as of July 31, 2021, was $34.5 million. She pointed out the Education Stabilization fund, which includes the federal stimulus in response to the pandemic, is reported as well as other major grant programs for Title 1, Early Childhood, and Special Education.            

                        Health Care Fund contributions for the month of July are in line with the monthly average of the previous plan year, according to Ms. Duke. Total administration expenses for July were $338,000 and total claims expenses were $969,841. July’s claims expense is higher than the current year’s and previous year’s monthly average due to a few high dollar claims.  Total year-to-date claims expenses were $4.1 million, which is about the same as annual claims expense through the same period last year. The Health Fund net assets year-to-date were $1,078,000, compared to $1,721,000 this time last year.          

                        In a Report of the Superintendent, Mr. Durrett said:

1.     Enrollment in Lincoln Parish schools is up 45 students parish wide. Because kindergarten numbers were at two elementary schools, a kindergarten teacher was moved from Glen View and Dubach to Hillcrest and Choudrant Elementary respectively to lower the class sizes.          

            2.   As of last Friday, there were 62 students absent due to Covid and as of this morning, there were 43 absent. There were four teachers absent last Friday, one returned today. He hopes that trend continues to move in a positive direction. Teachers, custodial staff, and bus operators are all doing a great job keeping everyone as safe as possible. Right now, we are not seeing Covid spread in the schools.      

3.     This is the last year for the Teacher Incentive Funds grant, or TIF, from the Louisiana Department of Education. All returning teachers who earned a 2021 Compass evaluation rating of 3 or higher will receive a $325 stipend in their September paycheck. There are about 350 classroom teachers across the district that will receive the stipend.

4.     We are limiting travel for our faculty and staff. We are allowing some to attend conferences, not an entire department but a few to go and bring back information for the others. Some athletic teams are traveling, but we are trying to limit overnight travel. Coaches are taking necessary precautions if they have to travel overnight. We are trying to give students as positive a high school experience as possible.

5.     School board members’ computers are getting old and worn out. We would like to replace those in the near future. He will keep board members informed as to when they will be ordered

                          Upon a motion by Ms. Best, the meeting adjourned at 6:29 p.m.

__________________________________                      ___________________________________

Ricky Durrett, Secretary                                                    Joe E. Mitcham, Jr., President