LINCOLN PARISH SCHOOL BOARD

Ruston, Louisiana

REGULAR SESSION

Tuesday, October 1, 2024  6:00 p.m.

The Lincoln Parish School Board met in Regular Session on Tuesday, October 1, 2024, 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, Mr. Clark Canterbury, Ms. Donna Doss, Mr. Danny Hancock, Mr. George Mack, Jr., Mr. Joe Mitcham, Mr. Gregg Phillips, Mr. Hunter Smith, and Dr. Danielle Williams.

Ms. Lynda Henderson and Mr. David Ferguson were absent.

President Phillips called the meeting to order and gave the invocation.  Mr. Mack led in the Pledge of Allegiance to the American flag.

Upon a motion by Mr. Anders, seconded by Ms. Doss, the Board voted to adopt the agenda as printed.

Upon a motion by Mr. Mitcham, seconded by Ms. Abrahm, the Board unanimously voted to approve the minutes of the Regular Session held on September 10, 2024, as printed.

Communications Coordinator Brandon Sutherland recognized the Ruston High School Future Farmers of America Parliamentary Law team who recently won a state championship.  Team members are President Joe Aulds, Vice President Emma Medders, Secretary Boston Smith, Treasurer Paige Bordelon, Reporter Isaiah Dozier, Sentinel Kayden Woods, and Advisor Lauren Strickland.  The team will compete in Indianapolis, Indiana at Nationals on October 21.

Several board members congratulated the team and wished them well in the next phase of competition.

Next, Mr. Sutherland shared that he was honored to recognize four Ruston High School seniors, John Cedric Serio, Carter Tims, Anhaar Wasi, and Lydia Watts.  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. Phillips asked the four students to introduce their family in attendance and again congratulated them on such an amazing accomplishment.

Superintendent Ricky Durrett told the Board that an agreement with the City of Ruston had been made for payment for the use of the softball and the tennis facilities at the Sports Complex, and the conveyance of the McLane Center property adjacent to Ruston High School.  LPSB will pay $300,000.00 to the City of Ruston for the use of softball and tennis facilities for Ruston High School from January 1, 2024 through December 31, 2025, and for the conveyance of the McLane Center property.

Upon a motion by Mr. Hancock, seconded by Mr. Mitcham, the Board unanimously voted to approve the Cooperative Endeavor Agreement with the City of Ruston allowing for the use of tennis and softball facilities from January 1, 2024 – December 31, 2025, and for the conveyance of the McLane Center property.

Chief Financial Officer Juanita Duke reported that after evaluating current year collection trends and group health costs in the 2000 Sales Tax Fund, staff counts, and retirement costs, administration proposes to keep the November 2024 sales tax supplement equal to the estimated amount approved by the Board in the 2024-2025 employee salary schedules.

Ms. Duke reminded board members that at the special meeting held on June 26, 2024 the Board approved the 2024-2025 employee salary schedules, which included an adjustment redistributing the annual tax supplements.  The annual November 13th supplement check and the May 14th supplement check amounts were reduced, only to add an equal amount to increase the annual tax supplement amount paid over 12 equal distributions in monthly payroll checks.  Distributions will be made with the November 21, 2024 payroll of $1,716 paid to certificated employees and $858 paid to support employees.

Upon a motion by Mr. Canterbury, seconded by Mr. Mack, the Board unanimously voted to approve the amount of the November salary supplements to be distributed to salaried employees on November 21, 2024, in the amounts of $1,716 for certified positions and $858 for support positions.

Ms. Duke said that Educational Benefits Incorporated (EBi) (aka The Clinton Agency) are consultants for the school board’s Section 125 Cafeteria Plan.  EBi has offered recommendations to update plan benefits for the 2025 open enrollment.  The first change is to change the administrator of the plan’s tax-deferred employee Flexible Spending Accounts from National Benefits Services to JTS Financial Service.  This will eliminate annual fees currently charged, and JTS will provide this service at no cost to LPSB or employee participants.  Also recommended is to add Aflac Critical Illness to the supplemental benefits offering.  This will provide an option for at-risk employees to purchase supplemental coverage to help pay out-of-pocket costs for certain critical illnesses.

Upon a motion by Ms. Doss, seconded by Ms. Abrahm, the Board unanimously voted to approve the changes recommended for the 2025 cafeteria plan year.

Assistant Superintendent John Young reported that the State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education requires each school system to develop and revise as necessary, a policy for promotion and retention of students within the local school system.  The Lincoln Parish Pupil Progression Plan is based on Bulletins 741, 1566, and Act 750 (R.S. 17:24.4) of the Louisiana State Legislature.  This plan complies with all state regulations.

Upon a motion by Mr. Anders, seconded by Mr. Smith, the Board unanimously voted to approve the Lincoln Parish Pupil Progression Plan for the 2024-2025 school year.

Assessment and Accountability Supervisor Dr. Lillie Williams-Hearn presented a report on the 2024-2025 Beginning of Year K-3 Literacy Screener (DIBELS).  She detailed information about the history of design, intended purpose, and intended uses of this open source BOY and MOY screener, as well as the secure EOY screener, which is used in Lincoln Parish schools.  In addition, she shared BOY screener results for school years 2023-2024 and 2024-2025 and compared student scores in our district to students statewide.

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

Ms. Duke reported sales tax collections for September were up 6.39% over the same month of the prior year, and fiscal year-to-date collections increased 9.91% over the same period last fiscal year.  She reminded the board the annual increase is inflated due to a large one-time tax refund payment made in July of 2023.

Moving on to the financial update for the fiscal year through August 31, 2024, Ms. Duke reported General Fund actual revenues are 11.1% and actual expenditures are 8.25% of annual budget estimates, resulting in a net increase in fund balance of $1.9 million.  In the combined special revenue funds, actual revenues are 5.26% and expenditures are 14.5% of annual budget estimates, resulting in a decrease in fund balance of $3.3 million.  Special revenue fund expenditures increased over this same period last year by approximately 69% primarily due to the final liquidation of federal ESSER funds underway.  She reported ESSER funds will be liquidated through November 2024.  Ms. Duke explained that tax revenues are down about 29.5% in the general fund and 16.5% in special revenue funds because collections for August sales taxes are not included; the distribution information was not received in time to be accrued in the August report.

Ms. Duke shared for the August health plan report that total plan expenses were $1.38 million for the month of August and net assets decreased $21,239.  She reported average monthly expenses are $1.44 million this plan year, and total accumulated plan expenses are $11.5 million which is approximately $1.4 million higher than expenses compared to this time last year.  Overall performance of the plan to date is a decrease in plan net assets of $1.8 million, due to increased paid claims and the estimate for incurred-but-not-reported claims.

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

Upon a motion by Mr. Smith, the meeting adjourned at 6:54 p.m.