LINCOLN PARISH SCHOOL BOARD

Ruston, Louisiana

REGULAR SESSION

Tuesday, September 6, 2022   6:00 p.m.

                        The Lincoln Parish School Board met in Regular Session on Tuesday, September 6, 2022, at 6:00 p.m. at the Lincoln Parish School Board, Ruston, Louisiana.  Members present were Mr. Otha Anders, Ms. Lisa Best, Mr. Clark Canterbury, Ms. Donna Doss, Mr. David Ferguson, Mr. Danny Hancock, George Mack, Jr., Mr. Joe Mitcham, Mr. Hunter Smith, and Ms. Susan Wiley.

                        Ms. Debbie Abrahm and Ms. Lynda Henderson were absent. Ms. Abrahm attended remotely by telephone but was unable to vote.

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

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

                        Upon a motion by Mr. Hancock, seconded by Ms. Doss, the Board unanimously voted to approve the minutes of the Regular Session held on August 2, 2022, as printed.  

                        Dana Talley, Chief Academic Officer, shared that last year the district developed an academic five-year strategic plan. As part of the plan, seven goals or “mission measures’” were implemented. She said that the strategic plan includes a goal for 55% of the parish’s students in grades 3-8 to demonstrate proficiency in both English and math on the end-of-year tests by 2026. Last spring that rate was 43% in English and 34% in math, both on the rise from previous dips attributed to the instability of COVID-19 years. Before COVID, 43.8% of students passed as proficient on their English tests, while 38% did so in math. Those rates fell to 41% in English and 30.4% in math for 2021. No LEAP tests were administered in 2020.

                        Ms. Talley explained that proficiency only accounts for the top two categories of test results. The bottom two categories, out of five, indicate students who are further behind in showing that they understand the grade-level concepts. 34.8% of students in grades 3-8 tested in those bottom two categories in math. That is slightly more students than tested as proficient. Proficiency increases as students move into Algebra 1, generally in 9^th grade. In that class, 42.1% of test-takers were proficient this spring. However, 36.2% of students were in the bottom two categories, which is worse than grades 3-8. In other words, more students moved from one extreme or the other on their math tests as they entered high school.   

                        She pointed to English II as the model for how the district hopes results in all classes will look over the next few years. Not only is proficiency in that class already above the 55% benchmark, but scores are virtually equal across all three high schools in the parish, which is a rarity.

                        Ms. Talley stated that scores are far from equal when it comes to the racial makeup of the school’s population. 53% of white students are achieving proficiency, while only 19% of black students are doing the same. About 25% of Hispanic students are testing as proficient. She said closing the 34% gap over time, between white and black students in Lincoln Parish is of particular concern. She said the thought process is in terms of inclusive education, meeting the needs of every student and making sure that every student is actually mastering content. She went on to say that if teachers and administrators are able to respond to where each student is in his or her work on each standard in class, “the subgroup problem will take care of itself.” The district’s strategic plan aims to shrink the white/black gap down to 29% by 2026 President Mitcham declared a time of public hearing for the proposed budget for the year ending June 30, 2023.

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 accounts with estimated revenues of $61.1 million, expenditures of $57.5 million, total other sources of funds of $361,263, resulting in a total excess of funds of $3.9 million and a projected ending fund balance of $28.2 million for the 2022-2023 fiscal year. The total budgeted activities for all Special Revenue Funds combined were revenues of $47.05 million, expenditures of $39.8 million, with a positive net change in fund balance of $1.4 million, and an ending fund balance of $22.9 million. The total of all funds combined has a projected ending fund balance of $51.2 million as of June 30, 2023.

A summary of the 2022-2023 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 Resolution and the proposed beginning budget for the year ending June 30, 2023. Upon a motion by Ms. Best, seconded by Mr. Anders, a roll call vote was taken.

The Board unanimously voted by roll call to adopt a Resolution and the 2022-2023 proposed beginning budget as presented, granting authorities to administration for implementing and revising the budget, and for presenting a cumulative revised budget to the Board for approval at year-end.  

The time for public hearing was then closed.

John Young, Assistant Superintendent, shared with the Board that seven policy revisions and one new policy were recommended due to outcomes of the Regular Session of the 2022 Louisiana Legislature. He gave a brief explanation of the revisions and new policy. Because these all became law on August 1, he recommended Policy BD temporarily be suspended and immediately approve the revisions and addition.     

Upon a motion by Mr. Hancock, seconded by Ms. Doss, the Board unanimously voted to temporarily suspend Policy BD- School Board Policy, which requires the introduction of policies and revisions at one meeting and approval at the next.

Upon a motion by Ms. Wiley, seconded by Ms. Best, the Board unanimously voted to approve the revisions of DJED – Bids and Quotations, GBDA – Employment of Retired Personnel, GBN – Dismissal of Employees, GBRID – Military Leave,  IDDFA – Special Education Advisory Council, IDDFC – Cameras in Special Education Classrooms, JBCE – Public School Choice,  and the addition of  LEH – Patriotic Organizations.

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

1.   Retirement of Ramona Adams, special education teacher at Cypress Springs, effective

      September 24, 2022; and

      Carol Colvin, special education paraprofessional at Ruston High, effective May 27, 2022.

            2.   Resignation of the following:

Melissa Wooley, STEM director at central office, effective September 1, 2022;

Randy Hill, computer technician at central office, effective September 30, 2022;

Krystal Lavigne, special education teacher at Hillcrest, effective May 28, 2022;

Regina Buggs, special education paraprofessional at I.A. Lewis, effective May 27, 2022;

Kristina Bourgeois, science teacher at Ruston Junior High, effective September 3, 2022; and

Kyle Weiss, science teacher at Simsboro School, effective May 28, 2022.  

            3.   Employment of the following, effective August 15, 2022, unless noted otherwise;

                  Johnathan Millage, behavior interventionist at Choudrant Elementary, replacing Gloria Dubose who retired;

                  Lauren Harris, special education paraprofessional at Choudrant Elementary, replacing Frances Elliott who retired;

                  Stephanie Bairin, French Language Immersion teacher at Glen View, replacing Sarah Geeraerts who resigned;

                  Candice Cole, teacher at Glen View, replacing Megan Sutherland who transferred;

                  Stephanie Cobbs, teacher at Glen View, replacing Halie Franklin-Martin who transferred;

                  Karla Rodriguez, French Language Immersion teacher at Glen View, replacing Maylis Lucas who resigned;

                  Kenyatta Percy, special education paraprofessional at Hillcrest, replacing Mary Haulcy who transferred;

                  Heather Roussell, teacher at LPECC, replacing Mary Veatch who resigned;

                  Hannah Myles, teacher at LPECC, replacing Deidra Dunbar who transferred;

                  Aude de la Perrelle, French Language Immersion teacher at Ruston Elementary, due to a new position, effective August 29, 2022;

                  Kenya Morris, math teacher at Ruston High, replacing Michael Sutton who resigned;

                  Matthew MacDaniels, math teacher at Ruston High, replacing Ashton Guin who resigned;

                  Shaquita McKinsey, special education paraprofessional at Ruston High, replacing Carol Colvin who retired;

                  Robert Underwood, special education teacher at Ruston High, replacing Allen Whitaker who resigned;

                  DaVarika Johnson, math teacher at Ruston High, replacing Zachary White who resigned;

                  Kristen Boydstun, special education teacher at Ruston High, replacing Kara Patterson who resigned;

                  Frasier Hogan, health & physical education teacher/coach at Ruston High, replacing Timothy Smith who resigned, effective August 26, 2022;

                  Jeff Lee, science teacher at Ruston Junior High, replacing Madeline Davison who resigned;

                  Morgan Echols, special education paraprofessional at Ruston Junior High, replacing Cynthia Heying who resigned;

                  Brandie O’Brien, science teacher at Ruston Junior High, replacing Sara Johnston who resigned;

                  Beth Heidenreich, English teacher at Ruston Junior High, replacing Mallory Rogers who transferred; and

                  Amanda Cauley, English teacher at Youth Rescue Center, due to a new position.

            4.   Point of Reference of the following effective August 15, 2022:

                  Heather Causey, from self-contained special education teacher at Choudrant High to special education teacher at Choudrant Elementary;

                  Mallory Rogers, from English teacher at Ruston Junior High to English teacher at Ruston High, replacing Edward Griffith who resigned; and

                  Rebecca Edmonsond, from online administrator at Youth Rescue Center to science teacher at Simsboro School, replacing Kyle Weiss who resigned.

            5.   Employment of the following effective August 15, 2022:

                  Justin Buggs, bus operator, replacing Kenneth Slocum, Jr. who retired;

                  Kristalyn Taylor, bus operator, replacing James Johnston who retired; and

                  Lucita Foster, itinerate bus operator, due to a new position (ESSER funds).

            6.   Retirement of the following:

                  James Johnston, bus operator, effective May 27, 2022; and

                  Kenneth Slocum, Jr., bus operator, effective November 6, 2022.

            7.   Employment of Corey Washington, custodian at Glen View, replacing Charles Jackson who transferred, effective August 8, 2022.

            8.   Child Nutrition resignation of the following effective May 27, 2022, unless noted otherwise:

                  Venus Goldsmith, cafeteria technician;

                  Cynthia King, cafeteria clerk/ technician, effective June 4, 2022; and

                  Samantha Scott, cafeteria technician.

            9.   Child Nutrition employment of the following effective August 15, 2022:

                  Tionna Poe, cafeteria technician, replacing Diedre Nelson who transferred; and

                  Mariel Rodriguez, cafeteria technician, replacing Venus Goldsmith who resigned.

                        Sales tax collections for August 2022 were $2.1 million which was a 2.2% increase compared to the same month last year and up 1.64% fiscal year-to-date, according to Juanita Duke.  

                       She reported next on the July 2022 Financial Statement stating that the undesignated fund balance in the General Fund was $15.7 million; which represents approximately 27.4% of the estimated budget expenditures for the new year.

                        Health Care Fund contributions for the month of July were $1.15 million according to Ms. Duke. Total claims and administrative expenses for July were $968,000, with a positive change in net assets of $181,000.           

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

1.     The first three weeks of school went well and it looks like we have a slight increase in our number of students.           

            2.   Faculty and staff have completed numerous trainings during the first few weeks of the school year.       

3.     Covid cases are being monitored. The numbers have been low. Choudrant and Ruston High had a spike but after three days, the numbers went back down.  

4.     Cross Country has started their season with students participating from kindergarten to high school. Volleyball and football seasons have also started.

5.     Ms. Talley will give a report next month regarding what is being done in Pre-K through 2^nd grade reading to ensure students are reading on level when they leave 2^nd grade. 

6.     He and Mr. Young will attend the Louisiana School Law Workshop next week in Baton Rouge. Legislative updates will be discussed.

                          Upon a motion by Ms. Best, the meeting adjourned at 6:49 p.m.

__________________________________                      ___________________________________

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