LINCOLN PARISH SCHOOL BOARD
Ruston, Louisiana
REGULAR SESSION
Tuesday, October 5, 2021 6:00 p.m.
The Lincoln Parish School Board met in Regular Session on Tuesday, October 5, 2021, at 6:00 p.m. at the STEM Center, 525 Tarbutton Road, 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, and Ms. Susan Wiley.
Mr. Hunter Smith was absent.
President Joe Mitcham called the meeting to order, and Dr. Gullatt gave the invocation. Ms. Best led in the Pledge of Allegiance to the American flag.
Upon a motion by Mr. Anders, seconded by Ms. Doss and Dr. Gullatt, the Board voted to adopt the agenda as printed.
Mr. Mitcham stated that the Personnel report in the minutes from the September 7, 2021, meeting had been corrected stating, “Deborah Roton transferred” (instead of resigned). Malek Hunter’s name was deleted from the Personnel report. A copy of the corrected minutes has been placed in board members’ portfolios. Upon a motion by Ms. Best, seconded by Ms. Abrahm and Ms. Henderson, the Board unanimously voted to approve the minutes of the Regular Session held on September 7, 2021, as corrected.
John Young, Chief Administration & Operations Officer/Asst. Superintendent, sharedthat he was honored to recognize Ruston High School senior, Jason Willis. Mr. Willis is the only Lincoln Parish student who was announced as one of the approximately 16,000 semifinalists in the 67th annual National Merit Scholarship Program. This group represents less than 1% of all high school seniors in the United States. Mr. Young provided background information on Mr. Willis who is involved in his school, community, and church. He presented a plaque to the deserving young man.
Mr. Willis introduced his parents and thanked the Board for their support. Several board members expressed their pride and congratulations for the accomplishments of Mr. Willis, stating that he was among the elite of the elite.
Dana Talley, Chief Academic Officer, explained that as hard as the district works to keep students on grade level so they “don’t slip through the cracks” and drop out of school, there have always been and will likely continue to be a few students that do not graduate. She went on to say that even though these students have dropped out, she feels that we as a district still have an obligation to provide them with an opportunity to earn a high school diploma whenever possible. Some students, over time, realize a diploma is necessary if they are going to get a good job or be able to take care of their family.
The district has partnered with Graduation Alliance, an organization that connects with students who have dropped out of school within the past few years. The students who enroll in the program are given a laptop, internet connectivity, and access to online tutors. The students interact with state certified online instructors, academic coaches check on student progress, and students meet weekly with a local advocate in the community who ensures that the students’ social and emotional needs are met. The program is cost neutral with no expense to the district. Currently, Graduation Alliance is working with one former Simsboro High School student and four former Ruston High students. Ms. Talley opined that we are fortunate that this type of organization exists that collaborates with districts to find and support these students. Several board members had positive comments regarding the program.
Juanita Duke, Chief Financial Officer, informed the Board that administration had been working with David Charpentier, VP of Brown & Brown Insurance, on this year’s insurance renewal. Mr. Charpentier will present the 2022 renewals and plan trends. She said that marketing for this year’s renewal was directed primarily for the PPO health plan’s stop loss coverage.
Mr. Charpentier noted that Covid presented many problems with health plans and employment over the last eighteen months. The district’s health plan had to deal with multiple mandates that came from the state and federal government. Lincoln Parish’s plan had no significant claims due to Covid, only one large claim while all other expenses were minor.
He reported that the self-funded medical plan had a downward trend over the last 32 months and the prescription plan was up for the same period. When the two plans are combined the overall costs of medical and prescriptions on a per member per month basis had a negative trend over the past 32 months. Dental claims had a significant downward trend for the same period. This is all great news for the plan; it means the plan is working efficiently.
Mr. Charpentier summarized stop loss quotes from twelve carriers for 2022. All quoted the same stop loss deductible of $175,000 in 12/18 terms. Overall, Blue Cross had the best quote. The top four conditions that are driving costs in the LPSB plan are arthritis, diabetes, cancer, and heart disease, which will reach $5 million by the end of the year.
Nothing will change with the Medicare Advantage Plan renewal other than the premium will go from $347 to $305 per member per month, which is an approximate savings of $277,000.
He reported that there would be no changes in active or retiree health premiums however there will be a slight increase in dental premiums.
Ms. Duke recommended the Board approve the proposed 2022 health, dental, stop loss, and Medicare Advantage plan renewals and changes in plan premiums. Also to authorize Brown and Brown to engage an actuary to study the self-insured health plan member classes and premiums.
Upon a motion by Mr. Ferguson, seconded by Ms. Wiley, the Board unanimously voted to approve Ms. Duke’s above recommendation.
Ms. Duke voiced that a public announcement was required by state law to be read in an open meeting and published in the Official Journal to give Notice of a Public Meeting to be held on November 2, 2021, whereby the Lincoln Parish School Board would consider a resolution to call an election for the renewal of ad valorem taxes on March 26, 2022. Additionally, the Louisiana Legislative delegation for Lincoln Parish will be notified of the public meeting being held for this purpose.
President Mitchamread the Announcement of Public Meeting in full as follows:
Notice is hereby given that at its meeting to be held on Tuesday, November 2, 2021, at 6:00 p.m. at its alternate meeting place, the Lincoln Parish School Board STEM Center, 525 Tarbutton Road, Ruston, Louisiana, the Parish School Board of the Parish of Lincoln, State of Louisiana, plans to consider adopting a resolution ordering and calling elections to be held in (i) Consolidated School District No. 1 of the Parish of Lincoln, State of Louisiana, and (ii) Ruston School District No. 1 of the Parish of Lincoln, State of Louisiana, to authorize the renewal of ad valorem taxes therein.
No action was needed.
As the parish’s policy for promotion and retention of students, the Pupil Progression Plan (PPP), is based on Bulletin 1566, Bulletin 741, and Act 750 (R.S. 17:24.4) of the Louisiana State Legislature. Lisa Bastion, Chief Pandemic Officer/Asst. Superintendent and Pupil Progression Chair, asked that revisions to the 2021-2022 PPP be approved in order to be in full compliance with all state regulations. She indicated that a copy of the plan was available for review. In addition, the submission of the Lincoln Parish PPP would be made to LDOE following the approval of the plan.
Upon a motion by Dr. Gullatt, seconded by Ms. Henderson, the Board unanimously voted to approve the revised 2021-2022 Lincoln Parish Pupil Progression Plan.
Ms. Duke stated that the Clinton Insurance Agency was the servicing agent for the supplemental employee benefits offered by the School Board and has reviewed the current benefit offerings for the next plan year starting January 1, 2022. The only recommended change in supplemental insurance products being offered during this year’s open enrollment period is a new cancer plan with TransAmerica Life Insurance. She reported the group cancer plan with American Public Life was suspended for new enrollments, and the employees can choose to keep the current plan on payroll deduction or enroll in the new plan with TransAmerica. She recommends the Board approve the TransAmerica cancer plan to be offered during open enrollment.
Upon a motion by Mr. Hancock, seconded by Ms. Abrahm, the Board unanimously voted to approve the TransAmerica Life Insurance Company Cancer plan to be offered to employees voluntarily with coverage effective January 1, 2022.
Mr. Young asked board members to study policy manual revisions to BH – School Board Ethics, ID – Curriculum, IDCC- Kindergarten, IDDF – Education of Students with Exceptionalities, JBA – Compulsory School Attendance Ages, JBC – School Admission, JBCE – Public School Choice, and JR – Student Privacy and Education Records. He also asked board members to study the proposed policy manual addition of IDDFC – Cameras in Special Education Classrooms. He gave a brief overview of the proposed revisions and addition to the policy manual. A vote would be taken at the next meeting.
Ms. Duke reported that after evaluating sales tax collections and group health costs in the 2000 Sales Tax Fund this past year and this year’s current staff counts and retirement costs, administration proposes an increase in this year’s November salary supplement amounts with $3,200 being paid to certificated employees and $1,600 being paid to support employees. The cost of this year’s supplement is estimated to be $2,646,068 based on current salaried staff counts, compared to $2,443,310 last November. She stated that in the future, a reduction might be necessary if there is a decline in collections or an increase in staff counts, retirement costs, or group insurance costs. These are all factors in determining funds available for supplement payments.
Upon a motion by Mr. Anders, seconded by Ms. Abrahm, the Board unanimously voted to approve the payment of salary supplements on November 18, 2021, in the amounts of $3,200 to certificated personnel and $1,600 to support personnel.
A personnel report was the next item on the agenda. Dr. Doris Lewis, Human Resources Director, voiced the following:
1. Resignation of LaToya Pierre, Payroll Coordinator at the Central Office, effective September 23, 2021.
2. Employment of the following effective August 16, 2021, unless noted otherwise:
Sabrina Mata, teacher at Cypress Springs, replacing Mary Kent who resigned;
Pamela Touchstone, social studies teacher at I.A. Lewis, replacing Michael Adamson who resigned;
Kyle Williams, health & PE teacher at Ruston High, replacing Tim Smith who resigned;
Devin Rowland, math teacher at Ruston Junior High, replacing Charles Helams who resigned; and
Jessica Foster, special education paraprofessional at Ruston Junior High replacing Danyelle Williams who deceased, effective September 27, 2021.
3. Faculty Points of Reference of the following effective September 7, 2021,
Tina Hogan, pre-k teacher at Dubach to kindergarten teacher at Choudrant Elementary, due to high numbers; and
Leslie Thomas, kindergarten teacher at Glen View to kindergarten teacher at Hillcrest due to high numbers.
4. Resignation of James McGee, custodian at LPECC, effective September 4, 2021.
5. Employment of the following:
Lisa Nelson, custodian at LPECC, replacing James McGee who resigned, effective September 13, 2021;
Melvin Powell, custodian at Simsboro School, replacing Malek Hunter who resigned, effective September 10, 2021; and
Malek Hunter, custodian at Simsboro School, replacing Roger Candler who resigned, effective August 26, 2021.
6. Retirement of James McNeal, bus operator in the Ruston area, effective September 18, 2021.
7. Resignation of Greg Morrow, bus operator in the Ruston area, effective September 13, 2021.
8. Employment of the following:
Lisa LaMay-Gaines, bus operator in the Ruston area replacing James McNeal who retired, effective September 20, 2021; and
Jo Givens, bus operator in the Ruston area replacing Greg Morrow who transferred to sub bus operator, effective September 30, 2021.
9. Resignation of the following:
Sabrina Davis, cafeteria technician, effective September 22, 2021; and
Stephanie Wright, cafeteria technician, effective September 6, 2021.
10. Employment of the following:
Sabrina Davis, cafeteria technician replacing Kimberly Ruby who transferred, effective September 9, 2021; and
Debra Staples, cafeteria technician, replacing Stephanie Wright who resigned, effective September 27, 2021.
In a construction update, Mr. Payton reminded the Board that the contract on the Eco Car building was signed in February 2020. Work did not begin until March of that year and there has been one setback after another. Building materials are getting harder to get as well as employees to work the job site. The framework is up and complete. The insulation has been ordered however, the sides, ceiling, and roof cannot be installed until the insulation has arrived. The original substantial completion date was June 2021, as of right now we do not have any idea when it will be complete.
Ms. Duke reported that sales tax collections for September were up 44.29% over the same month of the prior year and up 40% year-to-date. The monthly performance equivalent is a 15.5% increase over September 2020 and 12.3% increase fiscal year-to-date.
In a financial update for August of 2021, she stated that the General Fund operating accounts have a current ending fund balance of $20.3 million; the unassigned fund balance is $12.4 million, which is approximately 23% of the budgeted expenditures for the year.
Ms. Duke shared that the collections in the health plan were $1.1 million for the month of August. The fixed costs are in line with the current monthly average of $343,000. The claims costs for the month of August were $757,000, which is higher than the monthly average for both last year and for this year through the same period. Total claims expense year-to-date is $676,000 higher than at this time last year.
In a Report of the Superintendent, Mr. Durrett said that:
1. The State is letting school districts decide their quarantine process. We have decided to continue with the process we have in place. Our Covid numbers are down, as of today there are only 43 cases parish wide.
2. There is an invitation in board members’ portfolios from Speaker of the House Clay Schexnayder and Representative Chris Turner. They will be in town October 11 to discuss proposed amendments that will be on the November 13 ballot. Everyone is invited to attend.
3. Friday will be a Professional Development day; no students will attend school that day.
There are many informative workshops for teachers to attend.
4. Next week is Fall Break. This will be a welcome and deserved break for everyone. The start of school was not what we all expected. The teachers, administrators, students, support staff, bus operators, custodians, and food service employees have all done an excellent job with Covid protocols.
5. The Covid vaccine booster is now available for those that had the Pfizer vaccine. This will be available at the North Louisiana Medical Center every Friday. You can register online at the NLMC’s website.
After several comments from board members, Ms. Best made a motion to adjourn,
the meeting adjourned at 6:53 p.m.
__________________________________ ___________________________________
Ricky Durrett, Secretary Joe E. Mitcham, Jr., President