LINCOLN PARISH SCHOOL BOARD
Ruston, Louisiana
REGULAR SESSION
Tuesday, February 4, 1992 6:00 p.m.
The Lincoln Parish School Board met in Regular Session on Tuesday, February 4, 1992 at 6:00 p.m. in the Board Room of the Lincoln Parish School Board Office. Members present were: Dr. Phil Rice, Mr. David Wright, Mrs. Loyace Braggs, Dr. Marty Beasley, Mr. George Mack, Mr. Andy Shealy, Mr. Jim Kessler, Mr. Wayne Barfield, Mr. Calvin Wilkerson, Ms. Ann M. Boyd, Mr. Paul Woodard and Mr. Allen Tuten.
Absent: None
Dr. Rice called the meeting to order and gave the invocation.
He welcomed guests and members of the staff and media who were present. He then recognized Mrs. Donna McCabe, principal of A. E. Phillips, who introduced Kia Baldwin, a fifth grade student at A. E. Phillips, who was selected to lead the board in the Pledge of Allegiance to the American Flag. Following the pledge, Dr. Cobb presented Kia with a certificate of appreciation from the Lincoln Parish School Board. Also present and recognized at this time were Kia's parents, Mr. and Mrs. Jerry Baldwin, and her teacher, Mrs. Elmira McCarty.
Upon a motion by Mr. Allen Tuten, seconded by Mrs. Loyace Braggs, the board voted to approve the minutes of the Regular Session held on January 7, 1992.
Upon a motion by Mr. Jim Kessler, seconded by Ms. Ann M. Boyd, the board voted to ratify the poll vote taken on January 14, 1992, asking the board's permission to proceed with repairing the storm damage to the roof at Glen View Elementary at an approximate cost of $15,000.
Upon a motion by Mr. Paul Woodard, seconded by Ms. Ann Boyd, the board voted to grant permission to send Letters of Intent for the 1992-93 school year to all employees of the Lincoln Parish School System.
Upon a motion by Mrs. Loyace Braggs, seconded by Mr. George Mack.. the board voted to grant permission to advertise for and receive quotes for a Fiscal Agent for July 1, 1992 to June 30, 1994, as requested by Benice McGee, Supervisor of Finance. Mrs. McGee explained that the Fiscal Agent is the bank selected and designated by a governing body for deposit of funds belonging to that body. She indicated that every two years the board advertises and receives bids from local banks for a two-year fiscal agent agreement. For the past six years the board has operated under fiscal agent agreements where one bank is designated the administrator bank with the other banks receiving a portion of the board's investments, based on each bank's size.
Upon a motion by Mr. Andy Shealy, seconded by Mr. Jim Kessler, the board voted to grant permission to seek informal quotes for auditors to audit accounting records for the two-year period from July 1, 1990 to June 30, 1992, as presented by Benice McGee. Mrs. McGee indicated that an agreement was signed with the Legislator Auditors in 1990 for a four year audit but the Louisiana Legislature passed Act 610 in 1991 which restricts the audits of Legislative Auditors to those government bodies requiring free audit services as well as those with specific special needs and requirements. As a result, they can no longer audit the Lincoln Parish School Board. Mrs. McGee indicated that letters will be sent to those auditors who submitted quotes in 1990 and other interested firms. After quotes are received, this information will be brought back to the board for a final decision.
The board served as a Committee of the Whole and the following personnel items were addressed:
1. Upon a motion by Mr. David Wright, seconded by Dr. Marty Beasley, the board voted to accept the Letters of Resignation submitted by the following teachers and supervisor, as presented by Mr. Suggs:
a. Betty Johnson resigning as Special Education teacher at I. A. Lewis, effective January 17, 1992.
b. Abby Robinson resigning as Jr. High/Coach at Dubach High School, effective February 17, 1992.
c. Benice McGee resigning as Supervisor of Finance for Lincoln Parish Schools, effective April 17, 1992.
Upon a motion by Mr. Jim Kessler, seconded by Ms. Ann Boyd, the board voted to grant the Superintendent permission to advertise the position of Supervisor of Finance and receive applications beginning February 10 through February 21, 1992. Dr. Cobb indicated to the board that he hoped to be ready to make a recommendation for this position at the March 3 board meeting.
2. Upon a motion by Mr. Allen Tuten, seconded by Mr. David Wright, the board voted to grant the request submitted by Carla Roundtree, speech therapist, for a Maternity Leave Without Pay, effective January 27, 1992 through March 31, 1992, as presented by Mr. Suggs.
3. Upon a motion by Ms. Ann M. Boyd, seconded by Mr. Paul Woodard, the board voted to approve employing the following teachers, as presented by Mr. Suggs.
a. Carlos Wilson as 4/6 science teacher at Ruston High School to replace James Meadors who was transferred. This will be effective January 21, 1992.
b. Margaret Daulton as 112 music teacher at Choudrant Elementary School to replace Vicki Allen who is on Sabbatical Leave. This will be effective January 21, 1992.
c. Earnestine Bennett-Johnson as P. E. teacher at Glen View Elementary to replace Lynne A. Gillum, transferred. This will be effective January 6, 1992.
d. Trudy Ireland as Jr. High teacher at Dubach High School to replace Abby Robinson who resigned. This will become effective February 17, 1992. It was pointed out that Mr. Howard Brown, principal, will assume coaching duties for that position on an interim basis only.
4. Upon a motion by Mr. David Wright, seconded by Mr. Andy Shealy, the board voted to accept the letter of resignation submitted by Pinkie Smith, SFS technician at Cypress Springs, to be effective October 22, 1991, as presented by Brenda Theodos.
5. Upon a motion by Mrs. Loyace Braggs, seconded by Mr. Wayne Barfield, the board voted to grant the request for leave without pay for Teresa Kay, SFS technician at Ruston High School, effective January 8, 1992 and ending June 1, 1992, as presented by Mrs. Theodos.
6. Upon a motion by Mr. Paul Woodard, seconded by Dr. Marty Beasley, the board voted to grant the request for leave without pay for Booker Garner, SFS technician at I. A. Lewis, effective January 11, 1992 for up to one year, as presented by Mrs. Theodos.
The Sales Tax report for the month of January, 1992 was given by Benice McGee. She reported that collections were down $16,726.29 or 5.58% from the same month last year. Mrs. McGee indicated that the fact that local governments no longer pay sales tax, plus the state of the economy have impacted sales tax collections. She further indicated that if this trend continues, there could possibly be a shortage of funds available for the salary adjustment or 13th check.
The monthly financial report for December, 1991 was given at this time. Mrs. McGee commented on the status of fund balances as of December 31 and offered brief explanations on each.
Mr. Charles Owens was called on to update the board on the after school detention program in Lincoln Parish high schools. He indicated that expenditures in our after-school detention program for the 1991-92 school year are slightly less than 40% or $3,000 of the $8,000 budgeted; therefore, we are implementing a Saturday Detention on a pilot basis for elementary grades in the Ruston School District. By implementing this program, it is hoped that principals will have an alternative to suspension by providing them a means of discipline the child without suspension. This program is scheduled to begin the week of February 10 at I. A. Lewis School. Hours of operation are from 8:00 to 11:00 a.m. each Saturday and students eligible for assignment are all students in grades 1-6 in the Ruston School District. The approximate of this program will be less than $900.
Dr. Gerald Cobb spoke to the board regarding extended unemployment compensation to noncertificated public school employees. He indicated that this is new legislation passed by the Federal Government which is a permissive type law where the states can adopt this law which would provide unemployment compensation to noncertified personnel during the summer months. If this becomes law in the State of Louisiana, local school boards would have to fund this. Dr. Cobb indicated that if the Lincoln Parish School Board was opposed to this becoming law in Louisiana, they should go on record as being opposed and should write letters to Senator Ewing and Representatives Wilkerson and McCallum encouraging them to protect us from this federal legislation.
Upon a motion by Mr. Andy Shealy, seconded by Ms. Ann M. Boyd, the board voted 10-1 to authorize the Superintendent to express their opposition to this in writing to our senator and two representatives. Board members are also free to express their opposition to legislators.
Voting against the motion was Mr. Calvin Wilkerson.
The next agenda item to be considered was the proposed lease of the old Dubach High School property for the purpose of constructing a fire house as explained to the board by Mr. Wayne Barfield. Upon a motion by Mr. Barfield, seconded by Mr. Paul Woodard, it was proposed that we lease this property to the Lincoln Parish Fire District for the purpose of construction of a fire house, as part of the new Lincoln Parish Fire District which was voted in earlier this year. A lease agreement will be drawn up for the board's approval. Board members expressed appreciation over the increased fire protection for our schools. It was suggested that we lease this property for 25 years for the sum of one dollar per year and that language be included in the lease that would relieve us of any liability and that the land would be used only as a fire station. The completed lease will be brought back to the board for ratification.
In the Superintendent's Report, Dr. Cobb gave the following information:
1. The next board meeting will be held on Wednesday noon, February 19, 1992 at Simsboro High School.
2. He reminded board members attending the LSBA Convention that they would have received registration notices by this time.
3. Another copy of committee assignments was given to each board member.
4. He asked board members to complete the Chapter I survey form included in their packet.
Mr. Jim Kessler told the board of the passing away of Mr. Robert Dade, a long time bus driver for the Lincoln Parish School System. Condolences were offered by members of the board to Mr. Dade's family.
There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 6:45 p.m.
Gerald W. Cobb, Secretary Philip F. Rice, President