LINCOLN PARISH SCHOOL BOARD

Ruston, Louisiana

REGULAR SESSION

Tuesday, September 10, 2024  12:00 p.m.

The Lincoln Parish School Board met in Regular Session on Tuesday, September 10, 2024, at 12:00 p.m. at Choudrant High School, 2555 Hwy. 80, Choudrant, Louisiana.  Members present were Ms. Donna Doss, Mr. David Ferguson, Mr. Danny Hancock, Ms. Lynda Henderson, Mr. George Mack, Jr., Mr. Joe Mitcham, Mr. Gregg Phillips, and Mr. Hunter Smith.

Mr. Otha Anders, Ms. Debbie Abrahm, Mr. Clark Canterbury, and Dr. Danielle Williams were absent.

President Phillips called the meeting to order, and Mr. Hancock gave the invocation.  Ms. Henderson led in the Pledge of Allegiance to the American flag.

Upon a motion by Mr. Hancock, seconded by Mr. Mitcham, the Board voted 7-1 to adopt the agenda as printed.  Mr. Ferguson voted no.

Upon a motion by Ms. Doss, seconded by Ms. Henderson, the Board unanimously voted to approve the minutes of the Regular Session held on August 6, 2024, as printed.

Mr. Phillips recognized Choudrant High School Principal Chris Jones who welcomed board members and guests.  He introduced his administrative staff, and then shared with the Board some of the many opportunities for students, and accomplishments of students and staff at CHS.  In addition, he expressed his appreciation to everyone for coming today.

Supervisor of Auxiliary Services, Ricky Edmiston, reminded board members that authorization was given at the May meeting to advertise for bids for gasoline and diesel for the 2024-2025 school year.  He shared that the bid opening was held August 27, 2024, as stipulated in the advertisement.  Mr. Edmiston recommended that the Board accept the lowest bid meeting specifications for the 2024-2025 school year.

Upon a motion by Mr. Mitcham, seconded by Mr. Smith, the Board unanimously voted to accept the lowest bid meeting specifications for the 2024-2025 school year as shown below:

Next, Mr. Edmiston reported that all work on the Ruston High School Chiller Project is complete and now it is necessary to request formal permission from the Board to execute substantial completion on the project.  Substantial completion means the owner can use and occupy the facility and is responsible for insurance, maintenance and operation of the building.

Upon a motion by Mr. Smith, seconded by Mr. Hancock, the Board unanimously voted to grant permission and authorize the Superintendent, his staff, and the architect to execute the substantial completion documents for the Ruston High School Chiller Project.

New Construction Supervisor James Payton reported that all work on the Ruston High School Football Turf Project is complete.  At this time, it is necessary that we request formal permission from the Board to execute substantial completion on this project.

Upon a motion by Mr. Smith, seconded by Ms. Doss, the Board unanimously voted to grant permission and authorize the Superintendent, his staff, and the architect to execute the substantial completion documents for the Ruston High School Football Turf Project.

Superintendent Ricky Durrett reminded board members that at the May 7, 2024 board meeting, authorization was given to use the Construction Management at Risk Service (CMAR) for the Ruston School District No. 1 Capital Improvements 2024 Bond Project.  He said the project was advertised and two submissions were received.  A committee of five members consisting of Danny Hancock, George Mack, Jr., Hunter Smith, David Walker, and Rice Gregory, held interviews on August 20, 2024.  Following this process, and after final tabulation, Clark Contractors was selected for the project.

Upon a motion by Mr. Hancock, seconded by Mr. Smith, the Board unanimously voted to approve the selection of Clark Contractors for the CMAR – Ruston School District No. 1 Capital Improvements 2024 Bond Project.

Mr. Durrett introduced representatives from Clark Contractors who were in attendance.  Clark Contractors President Shannon Earls expressed his excitement for this project and thanked the board for the opportunity.

Chief Financial Officer Juanita Duke reported that the State Legislative Auditor’s Office requires all Louisiana governments to complete a Systems Survey & Compliance Questionnaire and provide it to the independent auditors at the beginning of the School Board’s annual financial and compliance audit.  She requested approval of the questionnaire presented for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2024.

Upon a motion by Mr. Smith, seconded by Mr. Mitcham, the Board unanimously voted to approve the Systems Survey and Compliance Questionnaire as presented.

Ms. Duke presented the following resolution for the Board’s consideration for the upcoming renewal of the school system’s automobile insurance coverage:

Therefore, be it resolved, that the Lincoln Parish School Board hereby authorizes Superintendent Ricky Durrett to sign the required Louisiana Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist form reflecting the rejection of Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist Bodily Coverage for the October 1, 2024 to October 1, 2025 auto liability coverage period.

Upon a motion by Mr. Mitcham, seconded by Mr. Mack, the Board unanimously voted to adopt the Resolution to authorize the Superintendent to sign the required Louisiana Uninsured/Underinsured Motorists form for rejection of Uninsured/Underinsured Motorists Coverage.  This selection is applicable to Commercial Automobile Insurance Coverage for the period of October 1, 2024 to October 1, 2025, as presented.

Assistant Superintendent John Young introduced policy manual revisions recommended due to outcomes of the Regular Session of the 2024 Louisiana Legislature:  ABCB – School Board Member Qualifications, BBBC – School Board Member Continuing Education, BCBB – Notification of School Board Meetings, GBA – Contracts and Compensation, GBRIB – Sick Leave, GBRIBB – Sick Leave Bank, JGC – Student Health Services, JGCB – Immunizations, JGCD – Administration of Medication, and JGCFA – Behavioral Health Services for Students.

Mr. Young asked the Board to consider waiving policy BD (review period), and then approve these policies as presented.

Upon a motion by Ms. Henderson, seconded by Mr. Smith, the Board unanimously voted to waive policy BD.

Upon a motion by Ms. Doss, seconded by Mr. Hancock, the Board unanimously voted to approve these policies as presented.

In an Academic Update, Chief Academic Officer Dana Talley shared with board members a detailed plan for the 2024-2025 school year.  She explained how from the district level, to school leaders, to teachers, and ultimately to students, a plan would be implemented with K-2 literacy as the top priority.  The goal is for students to be reading on grade-level by the end of the second grade.

K-2 Literacy Coordinator Michelle Thrower said that last year, the Louisiana Department of Education adopted Dynamic Indicators of Basic Early Literacy Skills (DIBELS) as the universal literacy screener for Louisiana.  The proficiency rate for all grade levels increased; however, we were not satisfied with these results.  To raise these literacy rates, LPSB has partnered with Louisiana Tech University College of Education and Human Sciences to implement a new skills curriculum to enhance students’ reading and spelling abilities.

Louisiana Tech Assistant Professor Dr. Libby Manning then addressed the Board and provided an overview of the University of Florida Literacy Institute (UFLI) curriculum.  Since implementing the curriculum last year at A.E. Phillips School, the results have been tremendous.

In conclusion, Ms. Talley cited the 2023-2024 DIBELS and LEAP results.  Overall, these are in line with the state results, however, the plans that we have in place this year for K-2 literacy we believe will yield improvements overall.

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

In the sales tax collection report, Ms. Duke said that sales tax collections for August 2024 were down 5.5% compared to August of 2023, but up 12.21% in the first two months of collections of the fiscal year.

Ms. Duke presented the July 2024 financials reporting $40.6 million in assets in the General Fund, less liabilities, with an ending fund balance of $38.2 million at the end of the period.  Currently, actual performance is 6.5% of revenues and 4.5% in expenditures budgeted through the end of July.  For the Special Revenue Funds, the ending fund balance is $22.3 million, with actual performance of 5% of revenues and 4.8% of expenditures budgeted for the year.

In her group health plan report for July, Ms. Duke reported total plan expenses of $10.1 million through July 31, 2024, and total change in net assets for the plan year is a decrease of $1.8 million.  She noted an additional chart in the board packet this month indicating the cost of claims tracked over a three-year period.  Increases in the last 12 months have been leveling off on drug claims, but expenses for outpatient and inpatient claims are now on the rise in recent months.  Additional information was presented in regards to participation, costs, and benefits LPSB is providing through the self-funded health plans.

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

Upon a motion by Mr. Smith, seconded by Mr. Hancock, the meeting adjourned at 1:27 p.m.