LINCOLN PARISH SCHOOL BOARD
Ruston, Louisiana
REGULAR SESSION
Tuesday, July 2, 2024 6:00 p.m.
The Lincoln Parish School Board met in Regular Session on Tuesday, July 2, 2024, at 6:00 p.m. at the Lincoln Parish School Board Office, 410 S. 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, and Dr. Danielle Williams.
Mr. Hunter Smith was absent.
President Gregg Phillips called the meeting to order and welcomed guests. Mr. Anders delivered the invocation, and Mr. Mack 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. Mitcham, seconded by Ms. Abrahm, the Board voted 10-1 to approve the minutes of the Regular Session held on June 4, 2024, as presented. Mr. Ferguson voted no.
Mr. Phillips declared a time of public hearing for the proposed budget for fiscal year ended June 30, 2025, and called on Chief Financial Officer Juanita Duke to present the proposed budget.
Ms. Duke presented a summary of the budget as follows: General Fund activities are estimated to have $67.9 million in revenues, $64 million in expenditures, and net other uses of funds of $470,901. The estimated positive change in fund balance for the General Fund is $3.4 million and ending fund balance of $37.3 million. The total budget for all Special Revenue Fund activities combined is $36.9 million in revenues, $30.1 million in expenditures, net other uses of funds of $6 million. The total positive change in Special Revenue Fund balances is estimated at $745,000, for a total ending fund balance of $21.9 million. Overall, combined revenues for operations expected for the new fiscal year is $104.8 million, combined expenditures of $94.2 million, and combined net uses of funds of $6.5 million is estimated to result in an overall positive change of $4.1 million in total fund balances, which is estimated to be $59.3 million at the end of the 2024-2025 fiscal year.
Ms. Duke also discussed major factors considered in the development of the budget, including changes in Minimum Foundation Program (MFP) funding; a state legislative appropriation to continue a pay supplement for certified and support employees another year; a state allocation for continuation of differentiated compensation pay for teachers who meet certain qualifications; the reduction in state retirement system costs due to employer rate-reductions; no change in sales tax revenues; 2.4% change in property tax revenues based on historical trends; the final budget for remaining federal Education Stabilization Funds (also known as ESSER) that includes the continuation of the payment of an employee recruitment and retention stipend, the reduction or transfer of ESSER funded positions to other district funds, and the reduction of indirect cost payments to the General Fund; various fund transfers to support individual funds for utilities, nursing services, the school food service program, and capital projects; an increase of $1.2 million in health insurance program costs; local funds budgeted to purchase replacement buses, and property insurance premiums stabilizing. She mentioned additional state allocations through the MFP for specific program activities are forthcoming, but are not included in the budget estimates at this time.
Summarizing total budgeted revenues for the district, she stated that the MFP accounts for 37% of the total, sales and use taxes 27.8%, property taxes at 18.3%, federal grants 14.5%, other revenues 3.8%, and investment interest 1.9%.
Further, Ms. Duke concluded with a summary of total budgeted expenditures, stating that salaries are $48.8 million and employee benefits are $24.7 million, accounting for 78.1% of the total expenditures – followed by supplies $7.7 million, other purchases services $4.8 million, property services $3.2 million, professional services at $2.6 million, and movable property $2.1 million.
Mr. Phillips requested any comments to be heard from the public on the proposed 2024-2025 budget that was presented. After a time, and recognizing there were none, he closed the public hearing and called for the Board to take action on the budget presented.
Upon a motion by Mr. Hancock, seconded by Mr. Mitcham, and upon a roll call vote of 11-0, the Board voted to adopt the Budget Resolution setting forth the approval of the proposed 2024-2025 Beginning Budget as presented.
Ms. Duke presented a request to distribute a one-time compensation payment for retention and recruitment to eligible employees with Education Stabilization Funds awarded through ESSER grants. The proposed amounts are $1,800 for full time certified/professional staff, $900 for full time support staff, and $720 for part-time certified/uncertified/support staff who work 20 hours per week or more on a regular schedule.
New employees hired on or after July 1, 2024 and who remain employed and actively working “in-person” through September 27, 2024 will receive the full amount of the one-time recruitment payment with their October payroll distribution. Retention of the full amount of the recruitment stipend is conditioned upon continued employment through November 15, 2024. Returning employees who continue to work “in-person” through September 27, 2024 will receive the full amount of the above payment with their October payroll distribution. Ms. Duke reminded the Board that additional eligibility guidelines, including timely completion of required trainings, will be the same as last year’s. Distributions and records of eligibility and performance will be retained on file for the federal ESSER program monitoring and compliance.
Upon a motion by Mr. Canterbury, seconded by Ms. Abrahm, the Board unanimously voted to approve the distribution of the one-time recruitment and retention payment to employees who meet the qualifications set forth.
New Construction Supervisor James Payton expressed to the Board some safety concerns regarding Cypress Springs Elementary School. The campus has areas of inadequate fencing on the south border, the west border, and part of the north boundary. Cypress Springs Principal Mary Kilgore has requested to fence the campus if possible. The estimated cost is $75,000.
Upon a motion by Ms. Doss, seconded by Ms. Abrahm, the Board unanimously voted to grant permission to ask for quotes for security fencing at Cypress Springs Elementary.
Next, Mr. Payton asked the Board to grant permission to advertise for bids for the proposed parking lot at Ruston High School. He said that all dirt work and drainage had been completed and we are now ready to hard surface the lot. When complete, the parking lot will add approximately fifty additional parking spaces at Ruston High School.
Upon a motion by Mr. Hancock, seconded by Mr. Mack, the Board unanimously voted to grant permission to advertise for bids for the final hard surface for the Ruston High School parking lot, and grant permission to the district administration to accept a qualified bid that is within budget.
Superintendent Ricky Durrett told the Board that LEAN Frog Business Solutions, Inc., dba LEAN Frog, has provided a proposal for Comprehensive Organizational Review for the Lincoln Parish School Board at a cost of $17,980.00. This review would identify recommendations for organizational and reporting structure improvements, and help define standard performance metric recommendations.
Upon a motion by Ms. Doss, seconded by Ms. Henderson, the Board unanimously voted to approve entering into contract with LEAN Frog for a Comprehensive Organizational Review for Lincoln Parish School Board.
In a Construction update, Mr. Payton offered some photographs and shared with the Board that installation of the new turf on the Ruston High School Football field was nearing completion. Goal posts have been removed and are being powder coated before reinstallation. The old tennis courts have been converted into a new fenced parking lot adding 151 parking spaces for the RHS campus. Additionally, two new ticket booths have been added for more convenience.
Next, he gave an update on construction at Simsboro School. Demolition has begun with the gym, and other projects will continue with new lighting at the baseball and softball fields, new Ag shop and classrooms, and auditorium updates.
He said that for the Ruston School District bond project, the CMAR construction method will be used. That process has begun and a contractor for the project will be in place by September 3, 2024. The portion of the project for Ruston High School will include a covered pavilion, renovation of the softball facility on Bittersweet, baseball field updates, security upgrades, and additional gym updates for the basketball side. Projects at Ruston Junior High School include security upgrades, fencing and gates. All of these projects are in the planning stages and the Board will receive updates.
Child Welfare/Attendance Officer Tim Nutt offered a Youth Rescue Center update and Discipline report. He told the Board that after considerable discussion the decision was made to keep the YRC setting intact with some adjustments and additional supports. He said that an elementary element would be added this year, along with junior high and high school, and the facility would be staffed with certified personnel.
The following personnel items were shared by Dr. Doris Lewis, Director of Human Resources:
1. Administrative Point of Reference, effective July 1, 2024;
Amy Brister from Central Office – Early Childhood Coordinator to Early Childhood Coordinator at Lincoln Parish Early Childhood Center, replacing Melinda Killen who was reassigned; and
Melinda Killen from Early Childhood Director to Early Childhood Coordinating Teacher at Lincoln Parish Early Childhood Center.
2. Resignations of the following, effective May 25, 2024;
Chelce Thompson, Prekindergarten teacher at Lincoln Parish Early Childhood Center;
Hannah Lewis, elementary teacher at Ruston Elementary;
Jeremy Hattaway, mathematics teacher at Simsboro School; and
Kristen Ragan, mathematics teacher at Simsboro School.
3. Recommendation of the following effective July 15, 2024, unless noted otherwise:
Jessica Powell, School Secretary/Bookkeeper at Glen View Elementary, effective July 29, 2024, replacing Teri Watts who resigned;
Cherry Shaw, business education teacher at Ruston High School, effective June 25, 2024, replacing Dori Lewis who resigned;
Marcus Jackson, health and physical education teacher/coach at Ruston High School, replacing Christopher Bond who was reassigned;
LaShanda Smith-Cooper, health and physical education teacher/coach at Ruston High School, replacing Meredith Graf who resigned;
Joshua Mote, health and physical education teacher/coach at Ruston High School, replacing Steven Ensminger who resigned;
Christopher Gatlin, special education teacher/coach at Ruston High School, replacing Karen Newsom who retired;
Charles Dean, mathematics teacher/coach at Ruston High School, replacing Emily Bishop who was reassigned;
Joia Crowe, school counselor at Ruston Junior High, effective July 29, 2024, replacing Tatum Mitchell who transferred; and
Vincent Bahm, agriculture teacher at Ruston Junior High, effective July 1, 2024, replacing Jamie McCullin who retired.
4. Point of Reference of the following effective July 15, 2024, unless noted otherwise:
Jeanetta Roberson, from curriculum strategist at Hillcrest Elementary to coordinating teacher at Hillcrest Elementary, effective July 29, 2024, replacing Rebecca Sutherland who transferred;
Amanda Cauley, from online learning administrator at Youth Rescue Center to health and physical education teacher/coach at Ruston High School, replacing Lucie Hunt who resigned;
Katie Walker, from Assistant Principal at Ruston High School to Assistant Principal of Curriculum at Ruston High School, replacing Jamie Hudson who retired;
Christopher Bond, from social studies teacher at Ruston High School to Assistant Principal at Ruston High School, replacing Katie Walker who was reassigned;
Morgan Smith, from science teacher at Ruston High School to biology teacher/coach at Ruston High School, replacing Chloe Winstead who transferred; and
Tatum Mitchell, from school counselor at Ruston Junior High to school counselor at Ruston High School, effective July 29, 2024, replacing Lindsey O’Neal who resigned.
Retirement of Moshuma Keesee, school custodian at Ruston High School, effective June 19, 2024.
Ms. Duke presented the sales tax report for June 2024. She said that actual June 2024 collections were up 1% over last June. Overall for the fiscal year, cash-basis collections are .8% less than collected in fiscal year 2022-2023. Collections are relatively even.
In the interim financial report through May 31, 2024, she reported total year to date revenues collected across all funds was $103.8 million, total expenditures were $83.9 million, total net uses of funds were $7.7 million, resulting in a positive $12.2 million change in Fund balance to date. The total ending fund balance is $63.4 million. Of that, $29.7 million is undesignated and equivalent to 48.2% of budgeted General Fund expenditures.
Lastly, in the health plan report for the month of May 2024, total contributions including interest income is $1.2 million for the month, with total year-to-date contributions being level through the same period last year at $6.08 million. The total fixed costs paid in the month of May is $345,000, and $1.7 million for the plan year compared to $1.68 million last year. The total claims expenses incurred in May was $1.2 million, and $5.4 million for the plan year-to-date, compared to $4.1 million last year (an increase of $1.3 million in expenses). Overall, the resulting change in net assets is a reduction of $373,000 in the month of May and a reduction of $1 million for the plan year to date.
In a Report of the Superintendent, Mr. Durrett said that:
1. The school board office and all schools will be closed Thursday and Friday of this week for the 4th of July holiday.
2. Thank you to Amy Miller for helping us for the last several months. She will be leaving the District Attorney’s office later this month, and we hate to lose her, but wish her well.
After several comments from Board members, upon a motion by Mr. Mitcham, seconded by Mr. Canterbury, the meeting adjourned at 7:11 p.m.
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Ricky Durrett, Secretary Gregg Phillips, President