LINCOLN PARISH SCHOOL BOARD

Ruston, Louisiana

SPECIAL CALLED SESSION

 Monday, January 24, 2022 5:00 p.m.

            The Lincoln Parish Police Jury and Lincoln Parish School Board met in Joint Special Session on Monday, January 24, 2022, at 5:00 p.m., at the Lincoln Parish Library Events Center, 910 North Trenton Street, Ruston, Louisiana. The purpose of the meeting was to discuss the reapportionment of the election districts of said governing bodies; to hear comments, suggestions, and/or plans from the public; to consider the adoption of the final redistricting plan for the Lincoln Parish Police Jury and Lincoln Parish School Board election districts; and to conduct any other business relative to redistricting.

Police Jury Members Present: Richard Durrett, President; Theresa Wyatt, Hazel Hunter, T.J. Cranford, Logan Hunt, Glenn Scriber, Matt Pullin, Skip Russell, Joe Henderson, Milton Melton, Sharyon Mayfield (entered late), and Annette Straughter.

Police Jury Members Absent: None

School Board Members Present: David Gullatt, President; Susan Wiley, David Ferguson, Danny Hancock, Joe Mitcham, Hunter Smith, Lisa Best, Otha Anders, George Mack, Debbie Abrahm, and Lynda Henderson

School Board Members Absent:Donna Doss.

            Lincoln Parish Police Jury and School Board legal counsel Mr. Lewis Jones called the meeting to order and stated that the Police Jury and School Board both had a quorum present. Police Juror Joe Henderson delivered the Invocation and School Board Member Lynda Henderson led in the Pledge of Allegiance.

            President Richard Durrett called for the approval of the Police Jury agenda. (Ms. Mayfield entered the meeting.) Annette Straughter offered a motion to approve the agenda as presented. Milton Melton seconded the motion.  The motion carried with the following votes cast:

YEAS:              Police Jury:    Richard Durrett, Theresa Wyatt, Hazel Hunter, T.J.

  Cranford, Logan Hunt, Glenn Scriber, Matt Pullin,

  Skip Russell, Joe Henderson, Milton Melton, Sharyon  

  Mayfield, and Annette Straughter

NAYS               Police Jury:          None

ABSENT:          Police Jury:          None

President David Gullatt called for the approval of the School Board agenda. Debbie Abrahm offered a motion to approve the agenda as presented. Susan Wiley seconded the motion.  The motion carried with the following votes cast:

YEAS:              School Board:  David Gullatt, Susan Wiley, David Ferguson, Danny Hancock, Joe Mitcham, Hunter Smith, Lisa Best, Lynda Henderson, Otha Anders, George Mack, and Debbie Abrahm

NAYS:  School Board: None

ABSENT:          School Board: Donna Doss

            Mr. Durrett called for public comments on agenda items, he also reminded those in attendance that they would have three minutes to make comments. Bill Smith expressed his concerns about potential district changes. Joe Henderson asked a question. Hearing no other comments, Mr. Durrett closed the public comment section of the meeting.

            Mr. Jones announced that the Joint Public Hearing would be conducted in accordance with the official public notice heretofore given by the Lincoln Parish Police Jury and Lincoln Parish School Board regarding the reapportionment of the election districts of said governing bodies; to consider the adoption of the final redistricting plan for the Lincoln Parish Police Jury and Lincoln Parish School Board election districts.

            Mr. Jones asked if there was anyone present that would like to comment regarding the reapportionment of the election districts of said governing bodies or concerning the adoption of the final redistricting plan for the Lincoln Parish Police Jury and Lincoln Parish School Board election districts. Bill Smith again expressed  his concerns about potential district changes. Caleb Daniel, Ruston Daily Leader reporter, asked for a breakdown of the population and an explanation as to how the districts were divided, Dannie Garrett of Strategic Demographics responded in kind. There being no further persons desiring to comment, Mr. Jones closed the Public Hearing.

The Police Jury voted on their Ordinance, which passed unanimously by roll call vote and adjourned the Police Jury meeting.

            School Board President David Gullatt called the Special Meeting of the Lincoln Parish School Board into session. Mr. Gullatt turned the meeting over to Superintendent Ricky Durrett. Mr. Durrett explained that after working with Strategic Demographics and the Police Jury, the School Board had established a redistricting plan that would be utilized for the regularly scheduled elections in the fall of 2022 for the Lincoln Parish School Board, in accordance with Louisiana law. It will be the same redistricting plan just passed by the Police Jury. He recommended the Board adopt the Resolution pertaining to the redistricting plan.      

            Hunter Smith offered a motion to adopt the following Resolution approving of rearranging and re-establishing the boundary lines of the Lincoln Parish School Board District. The motion was seconded by Lynda Henderson.

            Mr. Gullatt stated that it was time for comments from the public. Bill Smith voiced several concerns and George Mack asked a question. There were no other public comments.     

RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, LRS 17:71.4 and 17:71.5 require that each School Board in the State of Louisiana consider the redistricting of its election district boundaries after each federal decennial census;

            WHEREAS, a review of the 2020 federal decennial census data evidences the necessity to redistrict the election district boundaries of the Lincoln Parish School Board to ensure that all districts fall within acceptable population parameters; 

            THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, by the Lincoln Parish School Board that the Plan entitled Lincoln PJ-SB Plan 2022, as described below, utilizing precincts established by the Lincoln Parish Police Jury, and depicted in the shapefiles and block equivalency files submitted to the Louisiana Secretary of State, be and is hereby adopted and such plan shall be utilized for the regularly scheduled elections in the Fall of 2022 for the Lincoln Parish School Board, in accordance with Louisiana law.

DISTRICT 1

District 1 consists of the entirety of precincts 1-1, 1-2, 1-3, 2-1A and 6-1A

DISTRICT 2

District 2 consists of the entirety of precincts 1-1A, 2-1 and 3-1A

DISTRICT 3

District 3 consists of the entirety of precincts 3-1, 3-2, 3-3, 3-4, 3-5, 3-6 and 4-5A

DISTRICT 4

District 4 consists of the entirety of precincts 4-1, 4-2, 4-3, 4-4, 4-5, 4-6 and 5-2A

DISTRICT 5

District 5 consists of the entirety of precinct 5-1, 5-2, 5-3 and 5-4

DISTRICT 6

District 6 consists of the entirety of precincts 6-1, 6-2, 6-3, 8-3, 8-4 and 9-3

DISTRICT 7

District 7 consists of the entirety of precincts 7-1 and 7-2

DISTRICT 8

District 8 consists of the entirety of precincts 8-1, 8-2, 8-3A and 9-5

DISTRICT 9

District 9 consists of the entirety of precincts 12-5, 9-1, 9-2 and 9-4

DISTRICT 10

District 10 consists of the entirety of precincts 10-1, 10-2, 10-3, 10-4, 10-5, 11-2 and 11-3A

DISTRICT 11

District 11 consists of the entirety of precincts 11-1, 11-2A, 11-3, 11-4 and 2-2

DISTRICT 12

District 12 consists of the entirety of precincts 12-1, 12-2, 12-3, 12-4 and 12-6

            Said Resolution having been read and considered by a quorum of the Lincoln Parish School Board, on motion to adopt by Hunter Smith, seconded by Lynda Henderson, a roll call vote was taken and the following result was had:

YEA:                David Gullatt, Susan Wiley, David Ferguson, Danny Hancock, Joe Mitcham, Hunter Smith, Lisa Best, Lynda Henderson, Otha Anders, George Mack, and Debbie Abrahm

NAY:                None

ABSENT:          Donna Doss

            WHEREUPON, the presiding officer declared the above Resolution duly

adopted in full on this the 24^th day of January, 2022.

ATTEST:

/s/ Ricky Durrett                                                             /s/ David E. Gullatt                    

RICKY DURRETT                                                            DAVID E. GULLATT

SECRETARY                                                                  PRESIDENT

A motion was made by Lisa Best to adjourn the Special Meeting of the Lincoln Parish School Board. Otha Anders seconded the motion.  The motion carried with the following votes cast:

YEA:                David Gullatt, Susan Wiley, David Ferguson,  Danny Hancock, Joe Mitcham, Hunter Smith,  Lisa Best, Lynda Henderson, Otha Anders, George Mack, and Debbie Abrahm

NAY:                 None

ABSENT:          Donna Doss

            There being no other business to come before the Board, the meeting was adjourned at 5:34 p.m.

RICKY DURRETT                                                                     DAVID E. GULLATT

SECRETARY                                                                            PRESIDENT