LINCOLN PARISH SCHOOL BOARD

Ruston, Louisiana

REGULAR SESSION

Tuesday, October 3, 2023   12:00 p.m.

                        The Lincoln Parish School Board met in Regular Session on Tuesday, October 3, 2023, at 12:00 p.m. at Dubach School, 7710 Fellowship Road, Dubach, Louisiana.  Members present were Ms. Debbie Abrahm, Mr. Clark Canterbury, Ms. Donna Doss, Mr. David Ferguson, Mr. Danny Hancock, Ms. Lynda Henderson, Mr. George Mack, Jr., Mr. Joe Mitcham, Mr. Gregg Phillips, Mr. Hunter Smith, and Dr. Danielle Williams.  

                        Mr. Otha Anders was absent.    

                        President Joe Mitcham called the meeting to order, and Ms. Doss gave the invocation.  Ms. Henderson led in the Pledge of Allegiance to the American flag. 

                        Upon a motion by Mr. Smith, seconded by Mr. Hancock, the Board voted to adopt the agenda as printed.  

                        Upon a motion by Ms. Abrahm, seconded by Ms. Doss, the Board unanimously voted to approve the minutes of the Regular Session held on September 5, 2023, as printed.

                        Brandon Sutherland, Communications Coordinator, shared that he was honored to recognize three Ruston High School seniors, Chaz Backhaus, Jodi Dunbar, and Thomas Rogers.  These students are among the 16,000 semifinalists in the annual National Merit Scholarship Program.  This group represents less than 1% of all high school seniors in the United States.  Mr. Sutherland shared some background information about these amazing students and presented each with a plaque.

                        Mr. Mitcham asked the three students to introduce their family in attendance and again congratulated them on such an amazing accomplishment. 

                        Following a month of studying policy revisions, John Young, Assistant Superintendent, recommended the board members approve the proposed policy revisions to the policy manual.        Upon a motion by Mr. Hancock, seconded by Ms. Abrahm, the Board unanimously voted to approve policy revisions BCBK – Executive Sessions, DC – Annual Operating Budget, DID – Audits, EBBC – Emergency/Crisis Management, EBBI – Public Health Emergency, EBCB – Video/Audio Monitoring of School Board, ED – Student Transportation Management, GBRIB – Sick Leave, and GBRIC – Maternity and Adoption Leave.

                        Superintendent Ricky Durrett reported to the Board that a five-member committee including Clark Canterbury, Danny Hancock, George Mack, Jr., Kevin Singh, and Steve Traxler served in the selection process for the Construction Management at Risk Service (CMAR) Simsboro School District No. 3 Bond Construction Project.   The committee reviewed the six submissions narrowing them down to three companies for the final interview held on September 20, 2023.  Following this process, and after final tabulation, Lincoln Builders of Ruston, Inc. was selected for the project.  He asked the Board to approve this selection.

                        Upon a motion by Mr. Canterbury, seconded by Ms. Doss, the Board unanimously voted to approve the selection of Lincoln Builders of Ruston, Inc. for the CMAR – Simsboro School Capital Improvements 2023 Bond Project.

                        Dr. Sheila Nugent, Facilitator of Federal Programs, presented a proposal to the Board for bus air conditioning units for Lincoln Parish school buses.  She said this proprosal would help to improve air quality on buses.  The plan is to eventually equip all buses in the fleet with air conditioning, with the exception of buses that are 10 – 15 years old.  These older buses will soon exit the fleet and will be replaced with air-conditioned buses.

                        Upon a motion by Mr. Smith, seconded by Ms. Henderson, the Board voted unanimously to grant the Superintendent permission to issue a Request for Proposal to retrofit air conditioning systems for approximately 35 school buses, with an option for more buses as ESSER funding allows, to provide a safer bus riding experience for our students and drivers, and that the Board grants the Superintendent permission to accept the lowest bid meeting specifications as outlined on the Request for Proposal.

                        Juanita Duke, Chief Financial Officer, 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 the November salary supplement amounts with $3,700 ($500 increase) being paid to certificated employees and $1,850 ($250 increase) being paid to support employees.  She stated that future supplement amounts could change based on changes in staff counts, retirement costs, and/or group insurance costs. These are all factors in determining funds available for supplement payments.

                        Dr. Williams asked for clarification on salaried employees versus support employees, and about the status of the review that was discussed at a previous meeting.  Mr. Durrett said that we have submitted information to the private consultant contracted to review staff compensation and a final report with recommendations is expected in the spring.

                        Upon a motion by Mr. Smith, seconded by Mr. Mack and Ms. Abrahm, the Board unanimously voted to approve the amount of the November salary supplements to be distributed to salaried employees on November 16, 2023, in the amounts of $3,700 for certified positions and $1,850 for support positions.

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

1.     Retirement of Cheryl Williams, school secretary at Glen View, effective December 21, 2023.

2.     Resignation of Nathan Trahan, music teacher at Ruston High, effective September 23, 2023.

            3.   Employment of the following:

                  Chloe Winstead, science teacher at Ruston High, replacing Kai Burrell who resigned, effective September 8, 2023; and

                  Todd Garvin, online administrator/coach at Youth Rescue Center, replacing Angelia Borden who transferred, effective September 14, 2023.

            4.   Resignation of Jessica Jenkins, bus operator, effective September 23, 2023.

5.     Employment of Joseph Fletcher, bus operator, replacing Christopher Joiner who transferred, effective September 12, 2023; and

Alton Roane, bus operator, replacing Kimberly Salsberry Jones who transferred, effective September 25, 2023.

                           Ms. Duke reported that sales tax collections for September were up 8.29% over the same month of the prior year. Overall, total collections are down 3.64% year-to-date, with total collections for the first three months of the year being approximately 22.95% of collections last year.          

                          In a financial update for August of 2023, the total ending fund balance for all funds combined was $52.7 million.  The total General Fund is at $3.6 million, total Undesignated Fund balance is 35.9% of our total operating expenditures when compared to the budget that Board adopted at the last meeting.  Expenditures so far for the first two months of the year are $7.9 million. She noted $1.1 million of spending is from federal Education Stabilization Funds for capital projects underway and liquidating ESSER II funds.  

                        Ms. Duke shared that our July health plan report was deferred last month, so we have two reports.  For July, total plan operating expenses was $1.15 million and for August, total operating expenses was $1.4 million.  The total accumulated year-to-date expenditures as of the end of August 2023 for our health plan is $10.1 million, compared to $8.7 million in August last year.  This is an increase of $1.4 million in health plan expenditures. The total net change in assets for the plan year through August is a $371,956 decrease.

                        Next Mr. Durrett presented an enrollment update to board members.  He stated that all of our Lincoln Parish schools have a daily attendance rate above 90%, with Howard School, A.E. Phillips and Choudrant Elementary being above 95%.   He added that many schools are doing rewards every month for students with perfect attendance, and we are working hard to try to get attendance rates up

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

1.     This Friday is our October Professional Development day.  There will be no school for students, but teachers and staff will report for a No Nonsense Nurturer PD that day. This training is designed to help teachers and administrators understand more about the culture and climate of their schools, and how to handle different discipline issues with students.

2.     All schools and offices are closed the week of October 9 – 13 for fall break.     

3.     November 7th will be a virtual day for Lincoln Parish students and will be an additional Professional Development day for Academics due to the No Nonsense Nurturer PD on October 6^th.

                        Following comments from board members, Dubach parents, and members of the Dubach community, Ms. Doss took the opportunity to thank everyone who came to Dubach School today.  She said this was a great opportunity to show off her “home”, and that great things happen at Dubach School.

                        Upon a motion by Mr. Phillips, seconded by Mr. Smith, the meeting adjourned at 12:54 p.m.

__________________________________                      ___________________________________

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