LINCOLN PARISH SCHOOL BOARD
Ruston, Louisiana
REGULAR SESSION
Tuesday, August 4, 1992 6:00 p.m.
The Lincoln Parish School Board met in Regular Session on Tuesday, August 4, 1992 at 6:00 p.m. in the Board Room of the Lincoln Parish School Board Office, 410 South Farmerville Street, Ruston, LA. 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. Phil Rice, president, called the meeting to order and the invocation was given by Mr. Paul Woodard.
Dr. Rice welcomed the press and members of the staff and media who were present.
Upon a motion by Mr. Andy Shealy, seconded by Mrs. Loyace Braggs, the board voted to approve the minutes of the Regular Session of July 7, 1992.
Dr. Rice announced that this was the time specified for a public hearing on the proposed budget for 1992-93. There were no comments or questions regarding the budget.
Mr. Danny Bell, Supervisor of Elementary Education, was asked to recognize Emily Hanchey for her outstanding performance in placing 19th at the 65th annual National Spelling Bee. Emily represented her school, parish and state in an outstanding manner and, on behalf of the Lincoln Parish School Board, Dr. Cobb presented her with a plaque of appreciation.
The report of the Personnel Committee meeting held on Monday, August 3, 1992 at 4:00 p.m. was presented by Mr. Andy Shealy, chairman, and the following action was taken:
1. Upon a motion by Mr. Andy Shealy, seconded by Mr. Jim Kessler, the board, upon the unanimous recommendation of the Personnel Committee, voted to approve Proposal I as presented by Dr. Gerald Cobb which calls for the elimination of the present structure of Chapter I Director and a Chapter I Supervisor and to replace these positions and titles with a Chapter I Administrative Supervisor position and a Chapter I Instructional Supervisor position.
Upon a motion by Mr. Andy Shealy, seconded by Mr. George Mack, the board, upon the unanimous recommendation of the Personnel Committee, voted to approve Proposal II as presented by Dr. Gerald Cobb which calls for the employment of a Parental Involvement Coordinator. Included in the motion was the granting of permission to Dr. Cobb to advertise for this new position, with a recommendation to be made at the August 18 board meeting. This will be a 9 1/2 months position funded by Chapter I.
2. Consideration for filling the Chapter I Instructional Supervisor position was the next item to be addressed by the board. Mr. Shealy, chairman of the Personnel Committee, indicated that the Personnel Committee had no recommendation to bring to the board from their meeting of August 3. He explained that a motion to table the recommendation to the full board of the appointment of Mrs. Jackie Whitlock as Chapter I Instructional Supervisor was deadlocked in a 3-3 vote, and also the motion to recommend approval by the full board of the appointment of Mrs. Whitlock as Chapter I Instructional Supervisor was deadlocked in a 3-3 vote also.
A motion was offered by Mr. Jim Kessler and seconded by Ms. Ann M. Boyd, that the board accept the recommendation of the Interview Committee and Dr. Gerald Cobb to employ Mrs. Jackie Whitlock as Chapter I Instructional Supervisor.
Members of the board engaged in a lengthy discussion regarding this recommendation after which the following roll call vote was taken:
Voting in favor of the motion to employ Mrs. Whitlock as Chapter I Instructional Supervisor: Mr. Andy Shealy, Mr. Jim Kessler, Mr. Wayne Barfield, Ms. Ann M. Boyd, Mr. Paul Woodard, Mr. Allen Tuten and Dr. Phil Rice.
Voting against the motion to employ Mrs. Whitlock as Chapter I Instructional Supervisor: Mr. David Wright, Mrs. Loyace Braggs, Dr. Marty Beasley, Mr. George Mack, and Mr. Calvin Wilkerson.
By a vote of 7-5, Mrs. Whitlock was named as Chapter I Instructional Supervisor.
3. Upon a motion by Mr. Andy Shealy, seconded by Mr. Jim Kessler, the board voted unanimously to accept the following faculty resignations as presented by Ron Suggs:
a. Peggy Holloway as elementary teacher at Glen View, effective July 17, 1992
b. Lisa Boggs as teacher at Ruston Elementary, effective July 21, 1992
c. Margie Hall as Chapter I teacher at Ruston Elementary, effective July 19, 1992
d. James Blackwell as English/Coach at Ruston High School effective July 16, 1992
e. Randy Peters as Science/Coach at Ruston High School effective July 13, 1992
f. Greg Williams as Asst Principal/Coach at Ruston High School effective July 29, 1992
g. Nancy Diaz as French teacher at Ruston Jr. High/Ruston High School effective July 21, 1992
4. The following information was presented as points of reference by Ron Suggs:
a. Renee Dougherty, Special Education teacher, transferred to Cypress Springs to replace Janet Hammock, transferred
b. Janet Hammock, Special Education teacher, transferred to Hillcrest to replace Jena Love, resigned
c. Judy Willis, Special Education teacher, transferred to I. A. Lewis to replace Debbie Pruitt, transferred
d. Karen Leachman, Special Education teacher, transferred to Lincoln Center to replace Kathi Pesnell, reassigned
e. Debbie Pruitt, Special Education homebound teacher, to replace Alice Farrar, retired
5. Upon a motion by Ms. Ann M. Boyd, seconded by Mr. Paul Woodard, the board voted unanimously to approve the following teacher recommendations as presented by Ron Suggs:
a. Betsy Gouedy as Special Education teacher at Choudrant High School in a new position
b. Patricia Naylor as teacher at Cypress Springs to replace Sadie Ludley, retired
c. Ricky Mitchell as Social Studies/Business teacher at Dubach High School to replace Carol White
d. Valerie Ludley as Chapter I teacher at Hillcrest in a new position
e. Yolanda Dade as teacher at I. A. Lewis to replace Dorothy Rodgers, retired
f. Betty Johnson as Special Education teacher at I. A. Lewis, to replace Renee Dougherty, transferred
g. Sidney Price as elementary teacher at I. A. Lewis to replace Jack Duncan, retired
h. Melanie Sanders as Special Education teacher at Lincoln Center to replace Judy Willis, transferred
i. Connie Doyle as teacher at Ruston Elementary to replace Lisa Boggs, resigned
j. Dana Milam as science teacher at Ruston High School to replace Randy Peters, resigned
k. William Smith as English/Coach at Ruston High School to replace James Blackwell, resigned
l. Kellye Ratcliff as math teacher at Ruston Jr. High School to replace Lisa Taylor who is on Leave Without Pay for 1992-93
m. Geneva Sanders as Physical Education teacher at Ruston Jr. High School to replace Cora Brown, retired
n. Brad Smith as Social Studies/Coach at Ruston Jr. High to replace Robert Summerlin who is on Sabbatical Leave for 1992-93
6. Upon a motion by Mr. Paul Woodard, seconded by Mrs. Loyace Braggs, the board, upon the committee's recommendation, voted 11-0 to employ Michelle Kessler as math teacher at Ruston High School to replace Joan Best, resigned. Abstaining from the vote: Mr. Jim Kessler
7. Upon a motion by Mr. Andy Shealy, seconded by Ms. Ann Boyd, the board, upon the committee's recommendation, voted unanimously to employ Epsy Bowden as bus driver for Ruston Schools to replace Terry Williams, resigned.
8. Upon a motion by Mr. Andy Shealy, seconded by Ms. Ann Boyd, the board, upon the committee's recommendation, voted unanimously to accept the letter of resignation submitted by Tessaline Jenkins, custodian at Ruston Elementary.
The following Personnel addendum items were presented to the board for action:
1. Upon a motion by Mr. Andy Shealy, seconded by Ms. Ann Boyd, the board, upon the committee's recommendation, voted unanimously to accept the following letters of resignation:
a. Jena Love as Special Education teacher at Hillcrest, effective August 3, 1992
b. Kerry Merritt, as Math/Coach at Ruston High School, effective August 3, 1992
2. As a point of reference, the board was informed that Theodis Johnson has transferred to Ruston High School as football coach to replace James Meadors, resigned.
3. Upon a motion by Mr. Andy Shealy, seconded by Mrs. Loyace Braggs, the board, upon the committee's recommendation, voted to approve the following teacher recommendations:
a. Melanie Colvin as Coach/Science & P.E. at Dubach High to replace Abigail Robinson, resigned
b. Robert Arvie as at-risk teacher at Ruston High School in a new position (funded by grant) and also as coach at Ruston High School to replace Greg Williams, resigned. This is effective August 3, 1992.
c. Jerry Griffin as coach/math at Ruston High to replace Kerry Merritt, resigned. This is effective August 3, 1992.
An update on the new Minimum Foundation Program was given by Dr. Gerald Cobb, Superintendent. He pointed out that we have been told that our school system will receive $42,000 in additional funds for the 1992-93 school year. The average system will receive $573,034. We will be informed on January 1, 1993 as to how much money we will have to operate this upcoming school year. Dr. Cobb told the board that there are now three (3) levels of funding: 1) Level one assures every system of $1,930 per student, 2) Level two is an incentive or matching portion. This is where systems get extra money for sales tax and millages. Lincoln Parish's sales tax and millages are below state average and our capital outlay is above, but we get no credit for capital outlay. In other words, credit is given only for how tax payers support local school systems but school buildings and facilities make no difference. Systems with high sales taxes and millages receive greater benefits in level two - incentive or matching. 3) Level three is a weighted portion of the formula where extra funds are given for at-risk children and vocational educational students.
Another change in funding this year is how the money is distributed. Seventy percent of what we receive goes to all instruction needs rather than being categorized and 30% goes to all support services.
Dr. Cobb pointed out that if we enroll only 28 new students, the additional $42,000 will be depleted. Normally, we average about 100 new students each year. In the past, additional students meant additional funding. This will no longer be the case.
He pointed out that litigation is still pending regarding the new Minimum Foundation formula.
A report by Mr. Richard Hinton, Supervisor of Transportation/Child Welfare and Attendance, was presented to the board. Mr. Hinton explained the due process statement and related documents that were distributed to members of the board after which there was a time of discussion by members of the board.
The Administrators' Workshop held recently was highlighted by Mr. Ron Suggs. He indicated that the workshop was very successful and motivational. Some of the topics addressed were test scores, curriculum, budget cuts, remediation, testing and others. Mr. Suggs was very complimentary of our principals and administrators.
An update on sales tax receipts for July, 1992 as well as a financial update for June, 1992 was given by Mr. Richie Garrett, Supervisor of Finance.
Upon a motion by Mr. Allen Tuten, seconded by Mr. David Wright, the board voted unanimously to adopt the proposed budget for 1992-93 as presented.
Members of the board were given on July 7 a copy of the new proposed transportation handbook for their review. Prior to this time, Lincoln Parish has not had a transportation handbook and members of the board expressed their appreciation to Mr. Hinton for meeting this need.
Upon a motion by Ms. Ann Boyd, seconded by Dr. Marty Beasley, the board voted unanimously to adopt the Transportation Handbook as presented to them on July 7, 1992.
In the Superintendent's Report, Dr. Cobb informed the board of the following:
1. Ruston High School's status for inclusion in the National Register of Historic Places.
2. Communication from Mr. Jewette Farley, Tax Assessor, calling attention to our declining tax base and expressing his concern.
There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 7:35 p.m.
Gerald W. Cobb, Secretary Philip F. Rice, President