LINCOLN PARISH SCHOOL BOARD

Ruston, Louisiana

REGULAR SESSION

Tuesday, June 3, 2025  6:00 p.m.

The Lincoln Parish School Board met in Regular Session on Tuesday, June 3, 2025, at 6:00 p.m. at the Lincoln Parish School Board Office, 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, Mr. George Mack, Jr., Mr. Joe Mitcham, Mr. Gregg Phillips, Mr. Hunter Smith, and Dr. Danielle Williams.

Ms. Lynda Henderson was absent.

President Phillips called the meeting to order and welcomed guests.  Mr. Mitcham gave the invocation, and Dr. Williams led in the Pledge of Allegiance to the American flag.

Upon a motion by Mr. Anders, seconded by Mr. Mitcham, the Board voted unanimously to approve the agenda as printed.

Upon a motion by Ms. Doss, seconded by Ms. Abrahm, the Board voted 10-1 to approve the minutes of the Regular Session held on May 6, 2025, as presented.  Mr. Ferguson voted no.

Communications Coordinator Brandon Sutherland recognized Ruston High School’s E-Sports State Champions.  He introduced the team members and presented each with a plaque.  Team members are: Connor Martin, Carl Wesley, Jacob Thomas, and Victor Espinoza.  He also recognized sponsor Victoria Axton who was in attendance.

Superintendent Ricky Durrett communicated that interviews were held on May 7, 2025, to fill the vacancy for principal at Ruston Elementary School.  The interview committee consisted of Justin Barron, Rebecca Sutherland, Dr. Doris Lewis, Jennifer Martin, and Mary Wilks-Kilgore.  John Young chaired the committee but did not vote.  Mr. Durrett thanked the interview committee for their time and commitment.

The committee’s unanimous recommendation for the principal of Ruston Elementary was Stephanie Griffin.  Mr. Durrett said that Ms. Griffin taught at Simsboro School and then transitioned to Choudrant Elementary as Coordinating Teacher.  She has done a tremendous job in Lincoln Parish and we look forward to great things from her as principal at Ruston Elementary.

Ms. Griffin said that she was very excited for this opportunity to serve the students, faculty, families, and community, and she looks forward to great things this year at Ruston Elementary School.

Chief Financial Officer Juanita Duke shared the Lincoln Parish Sales and Use Tax Commission’s proposed budget for 2025-2026 that was approved at their May 20, 2025 meeting.  Ms. Duke noted that the budget was prepared by Denise Griggs, Sales and Use Tax Commission Administrator, who is in attendance this evening.  The 2025-2026 budget for Lincoln Parish operations is $437,116.  Of that budget, the estimated cost share for Lincoln Parish School Board is $237,116, which is an estimated 6.55% decrease in last year’s budget.  Ms. Duke recommended the Board approve the proposed budget.  Mr. Mitcham thanked Ms. Griggs for the tremendous job she does and said the Commission is very efficient in collecting and disbursing sales tax collections.

Upon a motion by Mr. Hancock, seconded by Ms. Abrahm, the Board unanimously voted to approve the 2025-2026 Lincoln Parish Sales and Use Tax Commission Proposed Budget as presented.

Ms. Duke presented to the Board a summary of the elections held on May 3, 2025.  She asked the Board to consider adopting the resolution providing for canvassing the returns and declaring election results.  The total votes for Simsboro School District No. 3, including absentee ballots, was as follows:  106 FOR and 42 AGAINST, passing by a majority of 64 votes, or 71.6% of the vote.  In order to comply with the Louisiana Election Code, the Board must adopt a resolution canvassing the results of the election.

Upon a motion by Mr. Canterbury, seconded by Ms. Doss, the Board unanimously voted by roll call to adopt the following:

New Construction Supervisor James Payton told board members that all work on the Ruston High School parking lot project is complete.  At this time, it is necessary that we request formal permission from the Board to execute Substantial Completion documents for this project.  Substantial Completion means the owner can use and occupy the parking lot, and is responsible for insurance, maintenance and operation.

Upon a motion by Mr. Smith, seconded by Mr. Anders, the Board unanimously voted to grant permission and authorize the Superintendent, his staff, and the engineer to execute the Substantial Completion documents for the Ruston High School Parking Lot.

Maintenance Supervisor Ricky Edmiston said the Lincoln Parish School Board will receive $450,000 from FEMA for the purchase of six generators for the district.  This is approximately 75% of the cost of the generators to be installed at six cafeterias in the district.  This will allow us to keep the food in freezers and coolers from spoiling due to power outages.

Upon a motion by Mr. Hancock, seconded by Mr. Mitcham, the Board unanimously voted to grant permission to advertise for the purchase of generators for district food service facilities.

Assistant Superintendent John Young presented the 2025-2026 Employee Job Descriptions for approval.  He said that policy GBB-Personnel Positions states that the Superintendent shall maintain a comprehensive and up-to-date set of job descriptions for all positions in the school district.  These job descriptions shall be kept on file and utilized in conjunction with the performance evaluation plan for employees.  This provides a formal notification to the Board that job descriptions have been set.  He added that these job descriptions comply with the requirements of ACT 311 of the 2024 Regular Session of the Legislature.

Upon a motion by Mr. Smith, seconded by Ms. Doss, the Board unanimously voted to approve receipt of employee job descriptions for the 2025-2026 school year.

Chief Financial Officer Juanita Duke presented the 2025-2026 Employee Salary Schedules for all certified and support employees and 2025-2026 Pay Rates for all hourly and substitute employees.  She stated that in accordance with Louisiana R.S. 17:418, the School Board is authorized to establish salary schedules by which to determine the salaries to be paid to teachers and all other school personnel.  In accordance with Board policy, the Superintendent sets the salary of employees accordingly.  As a regular practice, these schedules are brought to the School Board prior to the start of each fiscal year.  These salary schedules do not include any pay increases that may be proposed by the Louisiana state legislature.  If staff raises are approved by the Legislature and the Governor, the salary schedules will be revised to reflect these increases.

Upon a motion by Ms. Abrahm, seconded by Mr. Hancock, the Board unanimously voted to approve the 2025-2026 Employee Salary Schedules and Pay Rates and authorize the revision of these schedules in July 2025 for any amounts approved by the Legislature and the Governor at the conclusion of the 2025 Regular Legislative Session.

In accordance with state law, the Board is required each year in June to name a newspaper to serve as the official journal to publish official proceedings and notices for the Lincoln Parish School Board.  Ms. Duke communicated that the Ruston Daily Leader is the only newspaper in Lincoln Parish eligible to be named as an Official Journal.  She recommended the Board name the Ruston Daily Leader their official journal for fiscal year 2025-2026.

Upon a motion by Mr. Ferguson, seconded by Dr. Williams, the Board unanimously voted that the Ruston Daily Leader be named as the Official Journal of the Lincoln Parish School Board, and that charges for the publication of official proceedings and notices be billed monthly.

Ms. Duke reminded the Board that each year schools are allocated funds from the instructional portion of the 1979 Sales Tax Fund to purchase instructional supplies, and she presented a schedule of allocations for distribution.  This allocation is the Fall Annual School Allotment and is based upon the student enrollment from the previous year.  The total to be distributed to our schools is $104,591.50.  These funds are designated for library supplies, classroom supplies, office supplies, equipment repairs and expenses for student services, debate and speech, band, and kindergarten classrooms.  She asked the Board for approval to make the distributions directly to the schools.

Upon a motion by Mr. Anders, seconded by Mr. Mitcham, the Board unanimously voted to approve the distribution of the fall annual school allocations for the 2025-2026 school year as outlined on the schedule presented.

The next agenda item to consider was to adopt millages for the 2025 tax roll.  Ms. Duke presented to the Board a resolution for consideration in levying school board millage rates on taxable properties for the 2025 tax roll for Lincoln Parish.  She said there are no recommended changes in the rates compared to the existing rates making this a level adoption of the millage rates for the 2025 calendar year.  Once approved, this resolution will be submitted to the Lincoln Parish Assessor Billy McBride, who will send it to the Legislative Auditor for approval before adding it to the Lincoln Parish property tax roll.  Ms. Duke recommended adoption of the resolution.

RESOLUTION

BE IT RESOLVED, that the following millage rates are hereby levied on the 2025 tax roll on all property subject to taxation by the Lincoln Parish School Board:

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the proper administrative officials of the Parish of Lincoln, State of Louisiana, be and they are hereby empowered, authorized, and directed to spread said taxes, as hereinabove set forth, upon the assessment roll of said Parish for the year 2025, and to make the collection of the taxes imposed for and on behalf of the taxing authority, according to law, and that the taxes herein levied shall become a permanent lien and privilege on all property subject to taxation as herein set forth, and collection thereof shall be enforceable in the manner provided by law.

The foregoing resolution was read in full, the roll was called on the adoption thereof, and the resolution was adopted by the following votes:

YEAS:  Danielle Williams, David Ferguson, Clark Canterbury, Donna Doss, Joe Mitcham, Hunter Smith, Greg Phillips, Danny Hancock, Otha Anders, George Mack, Jr., and Debbie Abrahm.

NAYS:  None

ABSTAINED:  None

ABSENT:  Lynda Henderson

CERTIFICATE

I hereby certify that the foregoing is a true and exact copy of the resolution adopted at the board meeting held on June 3, 2025, at which meeting a quorum was present and voting.

Ruston, Louisiana, this 3rd day of June, 2025.

/s/ Ricky Durrett, Secretary

Mr. Durrett asked board members to consider supporting a request to the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development to accept the Everett Street Multi-Use Path Project as part of its Transportation Alternatives Program.  This project, developed in partnership with Hunt, Guillot & Associates and the City of Ruston, would transform Everett Street into a two-lane street with sidewalks to better accommodate both pedestrians and cyclists.  If approved, the grant would cover 90% of the project's cost.  Upon completion, the City of Ruston would assume long-term maintenance of Everett Street.  This would not only enhance student safety around Ruston High School, but also reduce traffic on nearby James Street.  Looking ahead, this could make it possible to close James Street to traffic during the school day to further improve student safety.

Upon a motion by Mr. Hancock, seconded by Ms. Abrahm, the Board unanimously voted to adopt the resolution of support for the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development to accept the Everett Street Multi-Use Path Project under the Transportation Alternatives Program.

Next, Mr. Phillips read aloud a proposed Resolution in Appreciation of the Teachers of Lincoln Parish Schools.  He asked the board to consider approving this resolution.

Upon a motion by Mr. Anders, seconded by Ms. Doss, the Board unanimously voted to adopt the resolution of support for the teachers of Lincoln Parish for their dedication and excellence during the 2024-2025 school year.

Testing Coordinator Dr. Lillie Williams-Hearn offered board members a 2024-2025 EOY K-3 Literacy Screener DIBELS Report.  This report indicated the percent proficient data results for the state and for the district.  In all categories, Lincoln Parish students showed positive growth in Kindergarten – 3rd grade.

Mr. Durrett, filling in for Human Resources Director Dr. Doris Lewis, shared the following personnel items:

A sales tax report for the month ending May 2025 was presented by Ms. Duke.  She reported an increase in May collections compared to the same month last year of 11.2%.  Overall, collections to date are 99.4% of the previous year’s collections, an increase of approximately 8.0%. The increases that we are seeing in the last few months are the result of large manufacturing equipment purchases in the parish.

Ms. Duke also delivered the April 2025 financial update for 10 months of operations to date.  Total revenue in the General Fund is 86.7% of budgeted amounts and total expenditures are 75% of budgeted amounts.  Total revenue reported in Special Revenue Funds are 87.2% of the budget and total expenditures are approximately 75% of the budget.

In the health plan update for April 2025, she reported year-to-date total contributions of $5.9 million, an increase of $1.06 million over the same period last year.  Total plan expenses are $5 million compared to $5.5 million in the prior year.  Operating results four months into the plan year have added $910,000 to net assets.  She noted that the Plan’s receipt of initial drug rebates from Optum Rx is still pending and expected in June.

Mr. Payton offered a Construction Update detailing construction on the campus of Ruston High School, RHS Softball Complex, RHS Baseball Complex, Ruston Junior High School, Choudrant High School, Choudrant Elementary School, and Simsboro School.  This was a very informative report and he offered photographs of all construction sites so that board members and others in attendance could see some of the actual progress with each project.

In a Report of the Superintendent, Mr. Durrett noted the following information:

Following additional discussion on various items, and there being no further business, upon a motion by Mr. Smith, seconded by Mr. Mitcham, the meeting adjourned at 7:07 p.m.