LINCOLN PARISH SCHOOL BOARD
Ruston, Louisiana
REGULAR SESSION
Tuesday, August 20, 1991 6:30 p.m.
The Lincoln Parish School Board met in Regular Session on Tuesday, August 20, 1991 at 6:30 p.m. in the Board Room of the Lincoln Parish School Board Office, 410 South Farmerville Street, Ruston, Louisiana. Members present were: Mr. Allen Tuten, Dr. Phil Rice, Mrs. Loyace Braggs, Dr. Marty Beasley, Mr. George Mack, Mr. Andy Shealy, Mr. James R. Kessler, Mr. Wayne Barfield, Mr. Calvin Wilkerson, Ms. Ann M. Boyd, Mr. Paul Woodard, and Mr. David Wright.
Absent: None
Mr. Tuten called the meeting to order and gave the invocation. He welcomed the guests, and members of the staff and media who were present.
Upon a motion by Mr. George Mack, seconded by Ms. Ann M. Boyd, the board voted to approve the minutes of the Regular Session held on August 6, 1991.
Mr. Tuten announced that this was the time specified for a public hearing for the proposed budget for 1991-92. Time was allowed for questions and answers and it was announced that the budget will be formally adopted at the next board meeting.
Mr. Andy Shealy, chairman of the Personnel Committee, gave the report of the committee which met on Monday, August 19 at 3:00 p.m. and the following action was taken:
1. The faculty/aide resignations were presented by Mr. Suggs and upon a motion by Mr. Andy Shealy, seconded by Dr. Marty Beasley, and upon the unanimous recommendation of the Personnel Committee, the board voted to accept the following recommendations:
a. Nancy Kavanaugh, English teacher at Choudrant High School, resigning effective August 6, 1991
b. Sheila Miller, Special Education aide at Hillcrest, resigning effective August 7, 1991
2. The following points of reference were given by Mr. Suggs:
a. Lisa Moody, elementary teacher at Simsboro, transferring to I. A. Lewis, effective August 21, 1991
b. Leslie Gray, Special Education teacher at Glen View, transferring to I. A. Lewis, effective August 21, 1991
c. Virginia Rainwater, 4-hour clerk at Ruston High School, transferring to RHS office, effective August 7, 1991
d. Denise Griffith, secretary at Central Office, transferring to Pupil Appraisal, effective August 14, 1991
3. Requests for Leave-Without-Pay were presented by Mr. Suggs and the following action was taken:
a. The board, upon the unanimous recommendation of the Personnel Committee and upon a motion by Mr. Andy Shealy, seconded by Mr. Wayne Barfield, voted to grant the request submitted by Alice Farrar, homebound itinerant teacher, for a Leave-Without-Pay beginning August 21, 1991 to October 31, 1991.
b. The board, upon the unanimous recommendation of the Personnel Committee and upon a motion by Mr. Andy Shealy, seconded by Ms. Ann Boyd, voted to deny the request submitted by Shonna Jordan, secretary at RHS, for a Leave-Without-Pay for the 1991-92 school year on the basis of the precedent that has been set in the past in similar circumstances. The board, in denying her request for Leave-Without-Pay, voted to accept her resignation effective August 7, 1991.
4. The following personnel recommendations were presented and upon a motion by Mr. Andy Shealy, seconded by Mrs. Loyace Braggs, the board, upon the Personnel Committee's unanimous recommendation, voted to accept the following:
a. Kristina Boyd as French teacher at Choudrant to replace Sue David, resigned
b. Kathlyn McMichael as science teacher at Choudrant to replace Nancy Kavanaugh, resigned
c. Terri Singleton as elementary teacher at Hico to replace Leska Nelson, Sabbatical Leave for first semester of 1991-92
d. Kathryn Davis as French teacher at Hico/Dubach to replace Codofil position
e. Shannon Frasier as Social Studies/Coach at Ruston High School to replace Jimmy Childress, retired
f. Phyllis Hall as math teacher at Ruston High School to replace Jerry Burnham, Sabbatical Leave
g. Stephanie Payne as psychologist at Pupil Appraisal in a new position
h. Linda Meadors as secretary at Ruston High School to replace Shonna Jordan, resigned
i. Billie Hogan as secretary at Central Office to replace Denise Griffith, transferred
5. As a point of reference, Mrs. Brenda Theodos informed the board that Janice Seaman will transfer from a 7-hour technician position to a clerk/technician position at Ruston High School, effective August 7, 1991
6. Mr. Richard Hinton presented the bus driver retirement, resignation, and recommendations. Upon a motion by Mr. Andy Shealy, seconded by Ms. Ann M. Boyd, and upon the unanimous recommendation of the Personnel Committee, the board voted to approve the following:
a. Elbe Richard retiring as bus driver in the Ruston District, effective August 5, 1991
b. Louis S. Malone resigning as bus driver in the Simsboro District effective August 8, 1991
Upon a motion by Mr. Andy Shealy, seconded by Mr. David Wright, the board, upon the unanimous recommendation of the Personnel Committee, voted to approve the following new employees:
a. Johnny Brewster to be employed as bus driver in the Grambling District to replace Tyrone Harris, retired
b. Kerry Jordan to be employed as bus driver in Ruston to replace Elbe Richard, retired
c. Sara Williams as Special Education bus driver in a new position
Upon a motion by Mr. Andy Shealy, seconded by Mr. David Wright, the board, upon the unanimous recommendation of the Personnel Committee, voted to employ Chip Pickett as bus driver in Simsboro District to replace Louis Malone, resigned and to employ Bernice Outley as a bus aide in a new position.
Dr. Phil Rice, chairman of the Finance Committee, gave the report of that committee and the following action was taken:
1. Three presentations were heard by the Finance Committee from three different credit unions. They were: LA Capital Federal Credit Union, Lincoln Community Federal Credit Union and Grambling Federal Union, a branch of the Shreveport Federal Credit Union. Representatives speaking on behalf of these credit unions informed committee members of the background, services offered, stability and philosophy of their organization. Following these presentations, the Finance Committee voted 3-2 to recommend to the full board that they endorse La Capital Federal Credit Union as the one to be used by Lincoln Parish School Board. Following this recommendation, a motion was made by Dr. Phil Rice, seconded by Mr. Andy Shealy, that Lincoln Parish enter into an agreement with La Capitol Federal Credit Union. A lengthy discussion followed this recommendation and motion. Comments, both pro and con, were offered by many of the board members.
The vote was called for and upon a 6-5 vote the board voted to enter into an agreement with the La Capital Federal Credit Union. Voting for the motion were the following board members: Mr. Jim Kessler, Mr. Andy Shealy, Dr. Phil Rice, Mr. Wayne Barfield, Ms. Ann Boyd and Mr. Paul Woodard.
Voting against the motion: Mrs. Loyace Braggs, Dr. Marty Beasley, Mr. George Mack, Mr. Calvin Wilkerson, and Mr. David Wright.
The board served as a Committee of the Whole and addressed the remaining Finance agenda items as follows:
2. Dr. Cobb spoke to the board on the possibility of entering into a suit against the State whereby suing the state would hopefully bring forth equitable funding for all students in this state. He presented details of the meetings held thus far addressing this subject and shared this information with the board. It was the board's decision to ask that Dr. Cobb obtain answers to some questions that they had and to report back to the board after securing this information.
3. The next item to be considered required no board action. Mr. Hinton informed the board that the 10% increase in operational supplement for gasoline granted to bus drivers in 1990 ended on May 31, 1991. This increase was given due to the rapidly increasing cost of gasoline in July-August, 1990. Dr. Cobb indicated that operational costs will continue to be monitored but he pointed out that bus drivers have recently received a $500 salary increase and fuel reimbursement from the state.
4. Mr. Ron Suggs presented the recommended Sales Tax Distribution to schools for 1991-92 from the 1979 Sales Tax as shown below:
RECOMMENDED SALES TAX DISTRIBUTION FOR 1991-92
1979 Sales Tax Fund
(Based on 1990-91 Annual Report)
FALL 1991
INSTRUCTIONAL 1. Kindergarten $ 100.00 per K teacher
INSTRUCTIONAL 2. Classroom Instructional $ 2.75 per student
Materials
INSTRUCTIONAL 3. Audio Visual & Office $ 2.75 per student
Supply Equipment
INSTRUCTIONAL 4. Debate/Speech $ 1.25 per student
(where applicable)
INSTRUCTIONAL 5. Duplicating Materials $ 1.75 per student
INSTRUCTIONAL 6. Student Services $ 2.75 per student
(This category is for
anything to benefit
students-field trips,
science fairs, materials,
equipment, A/V, etc.)
Upon a motion by Dr. Phi Rice, seconded by Mrs. Loyace Braggs, the board voted to accept the recommended sales tax distribution for 1991-92 as shown above.
Senator Randy Ewing spoke to the board on the 1991 Legislative Session and the education legislation affecting the schools. Some of the points that he brought out concerned the Minimum Foundation Program and equitable funding for all children; the implementation by BESE of a curriculum that would allow flexibility and alternatives for young people, especially those who do not plan to attend college; the Teacher Evaluation Program was discussed in detail. Senator Ewing coauthored a bill that, for one year, suspended this program in order to revise parts of it. He also talked about what a tremendous problem drugs continue to be in our schools and suggested that there was an alternative to the two year automatic suspension in a drug related incident, depending upon the circumstances. He urged that school administrators must use extreme caution when deviating from the two year suspension. Senator Ewing indicated that a cost of living increase for retirees had been passed that was later amended to aid those with the greatest need. These are retirees who have been retired the longest length of time and receive a lower monthly income.
Senator Ewing touched on a number of other education related matters that the legislators acted on and he urged that we must continue working for parental involvement in our schools.
An update on the Methodist Children's Home was given by Ron Suggs. He explained that the Howard School is owned by the Methodist Children's Home. About 40 students attend, with 4 teachers and one principal. A textbook allotment is provided by Lincoln Parish, along with other supplementary material as needed. When ready, these students are placed in the Lincoln Parish Public Schools. We supply one Chapter I teacher and, this year, we will supply a Special Education teacher to the Methodist Children's Home. Mr. Suggs indicated that we have an excellent working relationship with the Home at this time.
Mr. Suggs gave a brief update on the inservice workshop and opening of school. He told of the excellent guest speaker for the workshop and indicated that the biggest question at this time is numbers and how they are distributed. He also indicated that everything was ready and in order for school to begin.
Pam Roy, accountant, gave an excellent and well received report on our two self-funded programs--Workers' Compensation and Health/Dental Insurance. She briefly reviewed a statement of revenue and expenditures for both programs. Our ending fund balance as of June 30, 1991 in the Workers' Comp is $131,136, and the ending fund balance as of June 30, 1991 in Health and Dental is $998.044. Board members expressed their approval over this excellent report and also on the excellent service that we have received since going to the self-funded programs.
A brief update on the status of refunding Ruston School District School Bonds was given by Dr. Cobb and Benice McGee. They indicated that the Louisiana Public Facilities Authority (LPFA) is still watching the market and a determination will be made in the near future.
Mr. Suggs reported on the Model Career Option for teachers. He explained that only teachers who meet the following three (3) requirements are eligible to participate. The requirements are: 1) must have received a Superior rating on LaTep, 2) must have Masters degree, and 3) must have at least 7 years experience. Lincoln Parish has eleven teachers who are eligible and 10 of these will participate in the program. They will receive 10% of their state salary in additional compensation. Participation in this program must be approved by the teacher's principal and Mr. Suggs and will be monitored to insure that all requirements are met.
An updated graduation policy was presented to the board for their approval. Upon a motion by Mr. Jim Kessler, seconded by Mr. Paul Woodard, the board voted to adopt the policy on graduation requirements which came as an outgrowth of the Principals' Workshop. The revised policy states that only those students meeting all graduation requirements as set forth by the State Board of Education in Bulletin #741, including passing scores on each of the five parts of the Louisiana Graduate Exit Exam, shall be eligible for a regular high school diploma and shall be eligible to participate in graduation exercises.
Policies on substitutes for teachers and support personnel were revised to include an additional sentence at the ending of each policy to read as follows: "Substitutes shall be approved and paid by the Lincoln Parish School Board." Upon a motion by Mr. David Wright, seconded by Mr. Jim Kessler, the board voted to adopt the revised policies.
A listing of proposed board meetings for 1991-92 was presented to the board members and upon a motion by Dr. Phil Rice, seconded by Mrs. Loyace Braggs, the board voted to accept the listing of meetings.
Upon a motion by Dr. Marty Beasley, seconded by Mr. David Wright, the board voted to adopt resolutions paying tribute to the late Mr. Robert W. "Moose" Phillips and Mr. Sidney H. "Dusty" Rhodes.
Dr. Cobb informed members of the board that the hearing scheduled for the dismissal of a custodial employee would not be necessary since the employee in question had submitted, of his own free will, a letter of resignation.
There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 8:25 p.m.
Gerald W. Cobb, Secretary Allen Tuten, President