LINCOLN PARISH SCHOOL BOARD

Ruston, Louisiana

REGULAR SESSION

Tuesday, December 5, 2023   6:00 p.m.

The Lincoln Parish School Board met in Regular Session on Tuesday, December 5, 2023, at 6:00 p.m. at 410 South Farmerville Street, Ruston, Louisiana. Members present were Ms. Debbie Abrahm, Mr. Otha Anders, 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.

President Mitcham called the meeting to order and welcomed guests and media.  Dr. Williams gave the invocation.  Mr. Ferguson 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.

Upon a motion by Mr. Hancock, seconded by Mr. Ferguson, the Board unanimously voted to approve the minutes of the Regular Session held on November 7, 2023 as    distributed.

Superintendent Ricky Durrett introduced Tiffany Curry as Principal of Dubach Elementary School.  He said that she has served as interim principal there for the past year and a half, and has done a great job.  Under her leadership, the school has moved from a “D” school to a “B” school and has had the most growth of any school in the district this last year. Ms. Curry has done a tremendous job with the school and students, and in the Dubach community.  In addition, Ms. Curry is the Lincoln Parish Elementary Principal of the Year.  Mr. Durrett then turned the floor over to Ms. Curry.

                        Principal Curry thanked Mr. Durrett and the Board for the opportunity to be at the meeting and expressed that she and her staff at Dubach Elementary had been working very hard to do the things they were asked to do.  She then introduced some of her teachers and staff, her children, friends, and her parents who were in attendance.

                        Mr. Mitcham and Ms. Doss added their appreciation for the great job Ms. Curry continues to do at Dubach Elementary School.

                        Chief Financial Officer Juanita Duke, filling in for Supervisor of Auxiliary Services  Ricky Edmiston, told the Board that each year we are required by law to advertise for bids on materials and supplies for schools with an aggregate cost of $60,000.00 or more.  She asked the Board to consider granting permission to advertise for bids for duplicating paper for the second half of the school year.

                        Upon a motion by Mr. Phillips, seconded by Ms. Doss, the Board unanimously voted to grant permission to advertise for bids for duplicating paper for January 1 – June 30, 2024.

                        Mr. Durrett reminded the Board that board members are required to complete six continuing education hours annually because of Act 705 of the 2010 legislative session. An additional responsibility has been imposed by revised statute 43:1170, requiring elected officials to receive a minimum of one hour of education and training on the Campaign Finance Disclosure Act during each term of office. Finally, a press release providing the training status of each member must be published in the official journal each year.  Mr. Durrett asked for permission to publish the board members' 2023 training hours; all twelve board members met or exceeded the minimum requisite.

Upon a motion by Mr. Phillips, seconded by Mr. Canterbury, the Board unanimously voted to grant permission to enter board members' 2023 training certificates into the official minutes of the Board.

Mr. Durrett reported to the Board that Weyerhaeuser NR Company was requesting an ITEP tax exemption of property taxes for their facility located in Simsboro for improvements to plant.  He expressed that this indicates the company’s commitment to staying here, and providing approximately 149 local jobs, with an additional 150 construction jobs for the project.  He recommended the Board approve the tax exemption. Several Weyerhaeuser representatives were present and Mr. Chris Woloszyn, Plant Manager, thanked the Board for their consideration of this tax abatement that ensures the future of the facility for him and his 148 fellow employees.

Upon a motion by Mr. Hancock, seconded by Ms. Henderson, the Board voted by roll call 12 – 0 to approve the Weyerhaeuser NR Company Board of Commerce and Industry Approval Notice Tax Exemption Application #20220452-ITE - $62,559,200.00.

                          Dr. Doris Lewis, Director of Human Resources, communicated the following personnel changes:

1.     Resignation of the following:

Misty Dickey, computer lab proctor at Choudrant Elementary, effective November 18, 2023;

Kristen Telford, elementary teacher at Choudrant Elementary, effective December 22, 2023; and

David Mahaffey, science teacher at Ruston High, effective December 22, 2023.

2.     Employment of the following:

 Brittany Smith, computer lab proctor at Choudrant Elementary, effective November 27, 2023, replacing Misty Dickey who resigned;

Alayjah Morehead, elementary teacher at Cypress Springs, effective November 27, 2023, replacing Avery Shivers who resigned; and

Teri Watts, school secretary at Glen View, effective December 1, 2023, replacing Cheryl Williams who retired.

3.      Staff point of reference of the following:

Crystal Pugh, from special education teacher (Inclusion) at Hillcrest to special education teacher (Self-Contained) at Hillcrest, effective November 27, 2023, replacing Shena Henderson who resigned; and

Krystan Channell, from school secretary at Hillcrest to school secretary at Ruston Elementary, effective December 4, 2023, replacing Vonda Madden who transferred.

4.      Employment of Josiah Allen, bus operator-itinerate, effective January 8, 2024, replacing Joseph Fletcher who transferred.

5.      Bus operator point of reference of Joseph Fletcher, bus operator, effective January 8, 2024, replacing Margaret Spivey who retired.

6.    Employment of April Cook, cafeteria technician, effective November 27, 2023, replacing JaShontra Sears who resigned.

7.    Child Nutrition point of reference of Vonda Madden, Child Nutrition Program Secretary, effective December 4, 2023, replacing Lorrie Gates who resigned.

Ms. Duke reported sales tax collections for the month of November were up approximately 6% over this month last year.  Overall for the year, including the tax refund made earlier in July, we are up a tenth of a percent.  She referred to the report and stated individual monthly performance has been on average in excess of five percent excluding July 2023 collections.

In the monthly financial report for October, Ms. Duke stated the total combined expenditures is $23.6 million, total combined revenues received is $26.7 million.  Total ending fund balance combined for all funds is $50 million, with total undesignated fund balance of $20 million, representing approximately 33% of our total operating budget for the year.     

Moving on to the Health Insurance Fund report for October, Ms. Duke reported the plan is experiencing medical inflation this year, especially in the area of prescription drugs. Total plan expenses for the month of October is $1.5 million, compared to the average monthly expenses of $1.3 million to date for the plan year.  Total expenditures for the plan year to date is $13 million.  The average monthly plan expenses for 2023 compared to the 2022 year is approximately $200,000 more per month mainly due to prescription drug costs.  The total change in net assets for the month of October is a decrease of $234,000, and an overall decrease of $829,000 for the plan year.

In an update by Chief Academic Officer, Dana Talley, she explained in detail the District Performance Scores and School Performance Scores, and an Accountability update as it related to our labels.

She said that as a district, we improved 3.8 points, and this brought our District Performance Score to 93.3.  Lincoln Parish made two of the state’s lists: (1) Highest Scoring School System, where we were number 6, up from number 9 last year. (2) Most Improved School System, where we were number 10.  It is important that we are not only one of the highest performing districts in the state, but we also want to make sure we are always continuing to improve at a higher rate than other districts.  The LDOE is now providing District Subgroup Performance Scores, which allow us to see how we are doing compared to other districts.

Ms. Talley then addressed School Performance Scores.  Dubach School had the most growth at 10.5, and three schools moved from a “C” letter grade to a “B”.  Glen View had a slight drop and were only one-tenth of a point away from a “B” due to the Interest and Opportunities index, and this is being appealed.

Eight out of twelve schools were recognized for Top Gains.  Their students outperformed the majority of other students in the state in terms of growth.  In addition, two of our three high schools received Opportunity Honoree, as well as A.E. Phillips.  They were ranked in the 90^th percentile or higher in one or more subgroups.  A.E. Phillips was an Opportunity Honoree for the Black or African American and Economically Disadvantaged subgroups, Choudrant High was an Opportunity Honoree for the Economically Disadvantaged subgroup, and Ruston High was an Opportunity Honoree for the subgroups Black or African American, Hispanic/Latino, Economically Disadvantaged, and Students with Disabilities.

Six schools have a “C” or higher in all of the subgroups, including A.E. Phillips, Choudrant Elementary, Choudrant High, Cypress Springs, Ruston High, and Simsboro.  Two schools, Dubach and Ruston Elementary, have an Urgent Intervention Needed label for Students with Disabilities.  Ruston Junior High has an Urgent Intervention Required label and I.A. Lewis has a Comprehensive Intervention Required label for Students with Disabilities. We have increased and improved resources and are providing consistent targeted support to staff in these schools.

In closing, Ms. Talley said the two schools competing in the state championship game at the Superdome this Saturday are Ruston High and Zachary.  These two are tied for the highest SPS in the state at 104.7.  Also, all four of our Early Childhood centers are rated Excellent, which is the highest label given.

In an Enrollment update, Mr. Durrett reported on attendance for the month of November and said our goal is 95% or better each month.  A.E. Phillips and Howard School met that goal, with a few others being close to that mark; however, mainly due to sickness, many came close but were unable to reach that goal.  He also noted there are currently 18 students in alternative placement.  

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

1.     Ruston High School’s football team is once again playing in the state championship game on Saturday night at 7:00.  We will not close school on Friday since the game is being played in the evening on Saturday, December 9.

2.     Christmas break is only two weeks away. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to everyone.

3.     We appreciate all the work that our district leadership, administrators, and support staff have done to help achieve these scores. We always want to do everything we can to help every student, and we are continuing to look for ways to do that even better.

4.     The next LPSB meeting is January 9 at 12 noon at Glen View Elementary.  This meeting will be livestreamed on YouTube.

5.     The entire district will be closed February 16 as a reward for being an “A” District.

Upon a motion by Mr. Phillips, seconded by Mr. Smith the meeting adjourned at 7:06 p.m.

_______________________________                                        _______________________________

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