LINCOLN PARISH SCHOOL BOARD
Ruston, Louisiana
REGULAR SESSION
Tuesday, November 7, 2023 6:00 p.m.
The Lincoln Parish School Board met in Regular Session on Tuesday, November 7, 2023, at 6:00 p.m. at the Lincoln Parish School Board, 410 S. Farmerville Street, Ruston, Louisiana. Members present were Ms. Debbie Abrahm, Mr. Otha Anders, Ms. Donna Doss, Mr. David Ferguson, Ms. Lynda Henderson, Mr. Danny Hancock, Mr. George Mack, Jr., Mr. Joe Mitcham, Mr. Gregg Phillips, Mr. Hunter Smith, and Dr. Danielle Williams.
Mr. Clark Canterbury was absent.
President Mitcham called the meeting to order and welcomed guests. Mr. Hancock gave the invocation and Mr. Phillips led in the Pledge of Allegiance to the American flag.
Upon a motion by Mr. Anders, seconded by Ms. Doss, the Board unanimously voted to adopt the agenda as printed.
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Upon a motion by Mr. Smith, seconded by Ms. Henderson, the Board unanimously voted to approve the minutes of the Special Called Session held on September 28, 2023, as printed.
Upon a motion by Mr. Hancock, seconded by Ms. Abrahm, the Board unanimously voted to approve the minutes of the Regular Session held on October 3, 2023, as printed.
Finance Committee Chairperson Mr. Mack reported that the committee met on Thursday, October 26, 2023, to discuss two items to be considered by the Board for approval. These items were the distribution of differentiated compensation stipends for 2023-2024, and the distribution of 2023 certificated and support staff stipends for 2023-2024. Mr. Mack turned the floor over to Superintendent Ricky Durrett who shared detailed information with the Board about the stipends.
Mr. Durrett reported on the first and stated that during the 2023 Regular Session, the Louisiana Legislature appropriated funding to assist school systems with addressing unique market needs in the recruitment and retention of teachers. This stipend will be awarded to eligible classroom teachers who meet criteria of either receiving a Highly Effective final Compass rating for the 2022-2023 school year, or teach in critical shortage areas designated by BESE in the 2023-2024 school year. This stipend is for teachers only and will be approximately $560. This amount will be pro-rated for part-time classroom teachers based on the percentage of full-time schedule worked in the 2023-2024 school year. Distribution of these stipends will be December 19.
Mr. Mack made the recommendation from the committee that the Board approve the Guidelines for Distribution of Differentiated Compensation Stipends (FY 2023-24) and authorize an amendment to the 2023-2024 Salary Schedule to include this plan. The Board voted unanimously to approve the recommendation.
Chairman Mack introduced the second item, a one-time state stipend and he asked Mr. Durrett to share additional information with the Board.
Mr. Durrett said that the Louisiana Legislature allocated funding to provide for a one-time stipend for eligible employees. Distribution of the stipend will be December 19 and will be as follows: $2,000 for full-time salaried certificated positions, $1,000 for full-time salaried support positions, $1,600 for part-time hourly certificated positions with regular weekly work schedules of at least 20 hours, $800 for part-time hourly support positions with regular weekly work schedules of at least 20 hours, and pro-rated amounts for part-time salaried certificated and part-time hourly certificated positions with regular weekly work schedules of less than 20 hours.
Mr. Mack made the committee’s recommendation to approve the Guidelines for Distribution of 2023 Certificated and Support Staff Stipends (FY 2023-24) and authorize an amendment to the 2023-2024 Salary Schedule to include this plan. The Board voted unanimously to approve the recommendation.
Superintendent Durrett asked the Board to consider amending the Board Meeting Locations. He said that he had received numerous requests to have more meetings in the schools, and pointed out that the board had not met at schools since before Covid. Last month’s meeting at Dubach School was very much appreciated by the staff, students, and community. Ms. Doss added that this did so much for the morale of the teachers and allowed their school to shine.
Discussion followed by members of the public and board members about meeting locations, times, and looking into live streaming meetings.
Upon a motion by Mr. Smith, seconded by Mr. Ferguson, the Board voted unanimously to make one change and hold the January 9, 2024, meeting at 12:00 p.m. at Ruston Elementary.
Debbie Pender, Technology Coordinator, said that the Lincoln Parish School District is requesting permission from the Board for the Technology Department to release an E-Rate Request for Category 1 and for two separate Category 2 Proposals (RFPs). The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) governs the E-Rate Program and the FCC will pay 90% of the cost, and the District will pay its portion of 10% for Category 1. The FCC will pay 85% of the cost, and the District will pay its portion of 15% for Category 2. Category specifics are as follows: (1) Category 1 - RFP for Internet Access and Wide-Area Network (WAN); (2) Category 2 - RFP for networking equipment (switches, racks, access points, batteries, indoor cabling) and technology services; and (3) Category 2 - RFP for unit pricing of buried fiber.
Upon a motion by Mr. Smith, seconded by Mr. Hancock, the Board unanimously voted to grant permission to release three Request for Proposals to advertise the items mentioned above as required by state law and local policies.
Chief Financial Officer Juanita Duke reported that the administration has been working with Brown & Brown on this year’s renewals for our self-funded health and dental plans, and in addition, our group life insurance for employees. She then introduced Mr. David Charpentier and Janiece Campbell of Brown & Brown of Louisiana, and turned the floor over to Mr. Charpentier to present the renewal for 2024.
Mr. Charpentier stated the Lincoln Parish School Board Self-Funded Plan has performed well over the last few years, but it is not immune from recent medical cost trends. There has been a significant increase in claims over the last year, and that trend is more pronounced in the Pharmacy, mainly due to high utilization of diabetic and autoimmune drugs which account for over 50% of the plan’s drug costs last year. Dental claims have leveled out and are in a slightly downward trend. Medical claims have gone up, but in addition, carriers have had to spend an inordinate amount of money due to an ongoing stream of regulatory mandates from the federal government.
Lincoln Parish School Board has held premiums the same for a long time; however, the plan is at a point where an increase will be needed during 2024. Brown & Brown is recommending a mid-year evaluation and adjustment based upon performance data through that period. Additionally, they will be recommending that premiums be converted to a standard Four Tier structure in lieu of the current Three Tier. Three tiers do not allow an equitable premium differential for plan costs incurred by member classes.
Mr. Charpentier went on to point out that the 2024 Renewal with BlueCross was a good renewal. The claims administration renewal is a multi-year rate guarantee with BlueCross, so no change other than a slight increase from the Cobra vendor. The Stop Loss renewal for specific claims is increasing 6.45% with limited lasers for the new plan year. The total overall administrative renewal cost increase if 4.63%.
Next, he touched on the Medicare Advantage Renewal for retirees and said there was a small increase, but the premium is still lower than the initial premium when we put the program in place a few years ago. It also has significant improvements, especially in the “extra” benefits. The Vision Benefit is going from $225 to $300; the Hearing Benefit is going from $500 to $1,000; the over-the-counter supplies are going from $50 per quarter to $100 per quarter; the Dental Benefit is going from a $1,200 basic dental to a $2,000 comprehensive dental; and the Preferred Tier 1 on the Pharmacy will now be $0 copays for 30, 60, and 90 days. The premium is increasing $12 to $341 per month overall. However, the increased OTC Benefit alone more than offsets the premium increase.
Ms. Duke added that premiums for the Medicare Advantage plan is the only premium that is changing at this time and the schedule in the board packet indicating new premiums for LPSB retired participants effective January 1, 2024. She noted that administrative staff will be working with Brown & Brown on the self-insured health plan premium development and contribution cost-sharing to bring a recommendation to the Board in the near future.
Upon a motion by Mr. Hancock, seconded by Mr. Smith, the Board unanimously voted to approve the proposed 2024 health, dental, stop loss and Medicare Advantage plan renewals and changes in plan premiums as recommended.
Director of Human Resources, Dr. Doris Lewis, continued with a personnel report. She communicated the following information:
1. Resignation of the following:
Vivien Ballard, French Immersion teacher at Ruston Elementary, effective October 21, 2023;
Avery Shivers, elementary teacher at Cypress Springs, effective November 4, 2023;
Amanda Barham, elementary teacher at Hillcrest, effective November 4, 2023; and
Shena Henderson, special education teacher at Hillcrest, effective November 18, 2023.
2. Employment of the following:
Lynette Murphy, music teacher at Ruston High, replacing Nathan Trahan who resigned, effective October 5, 2023.
3. Staff Point of Reference of Kenyatta Percy, from special education paraprofessional at Hillcrest to special education paraprofessional at Glen View due to slot move to Glen View, effective October 16, 2023.
4. Child Nutrition resignations of the following:
Remonia Wright, cafeteria technician, effective October 4, 2023;
Rickell Crane, cafeteria technician, effective October 21, 2023;
JaShontra Sears, cafeteria technician, effective October 28, 2023; and
Lorrie Gates, Child Nutrition Program secretary, effective October 28, 2023.
5. Employment of Child Nutrition Program Supervisor, Cody Carrico, replacing Harryette Tinsley who is retiring, effective November 6, 2023.
Ms. Duke reported that sales tax collections for the month ending October 2023, were up 4.77% compared to the same month last year. Overall, for the first four months of the fiscal year, collections cash basis is down 1.42% mainly due to the large one-time sales tax refund withheld from July collections. If the one-time refund is excluded, collections would be up almost 4%.
Moving on to the September 2023 Financial updates, Ms. Duke stated this is the first month of the year that nine-month employee payrolls are reported in the new fiscal year. We had total expenditures across all funds of $16.3 million and total revenues collected of $18.2 million. She noted $2.5 million in transfers were made to the Parishwide Capital Projects Fund: $1.5 million from the 2000 Ad Valorem Fund and $1.0 million from the 2020 Sales Tax Fund. The total year-to-date excess of funds in the General Fund is $3.1 million, and the total deficiency of funds in Special Revenue Funds, primarily due to outstanding grant reimbursements, is $5.4 million for a total net deficit of $2.3 million overall for the month of September. The total Undesignated Fund balance is approximately 34.8% of our total General Fund budgeted expenditures. The total Ending Fund Balance across all funds is $49.4 million.
Ms. Duke noted that the total Claims Expenses for the calendar year through September is $11.5 million, compared to $9.9 million last year. This is a $1.56 million increase over the previous year. Total net change in net assets is a reduction of $556,000 year-to-date compared to a reduction of $204,000 this time last year. She noted the overall increase in plan expenses is primarily due to Claims Paid for prescription drugs which increased to $3.4 million compared to $2.5 million last year, before rebates are applied.
Mr. Durrett provided an Enrollment update for the month of October. He stated that attendance for Cypress Springs Elementary is above 95%, I.A. Lewis is 96%, A.E. Phillips is 98%, Choudrant Elementary is 96%.
Mr. Durrett continued with a National Honor Society update. He shared that this year at Ruston High School 518 students were eligible for the National Honor Society. Invitations were hand delivered to all eligible students on September 7th. They were told that applications were available in the main office and the applications were due back on September 22nd. 136 students submitted an application and 72 students were accepted into the National Honor Society.
In a Report of the Superintendent, Mr. Durrett said:
1. Congratulations to the Ruston High School Volleyball team on a great season. They will travel to Lafayette on Thursday to play in the state tournament.
2. High School football playoffs are about to start. In addition, basketball at Choudrant High and Simsboro School have begun.
3. School Performance Scores and District Performance Scores will be released on Monday at 10:00 a.m.
Following comments by two board members and a member of the public and upon a motion by Mr. Phillips, seconded by Mr. Smith, the meeting adjourned at 7:06 p.m.
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Ricky Durrett, Secretary Joe E. Mitcham, Jr., President