LINCOLN PARISH SCHOOL BOARD

Ruston, Louisiana

REGULAR SESSION

Tuesday, October 4, 1994     6:00 p.m.

The Lincoln Parish School Board met in Regular Session on Tuesday, October 4, 1994, at 6:00 p.m. in the Board Room of the Lincoln Parish School Board Office, 410 South Farmerville Street, Ruston, Louisiana.  Members present were Mr. David Wright, President; Mr. Wayne Barfield, Dr. Marty Beasley, Ms. Ann Boyd, Mrs. Loyace Braggs, Mr. Jim Kessler, Mr. George Mack, Mr. Rob Shadoin, Mr. Andy Shealy, Mr. Allen Tuten, Mr. Calvin Wilkerson and Mr. Paul Woodard.

Absent: None

Mr. David Wright, president, called the meeting to order and the invocation was given by Dr. Marty Beasley.

Mr. Wright welcomed guests and members of the staff and media and congratulated board members recently reelected.

Upon a motion by Mrs. Loyace Braggs, seconded by Ms. Ann M. Boyd, the board voted unanimously to adopt the agenda as printed.

Upon a motion by Mr. Andy Shealy, seconded by Mr. George Mack, the board voted unanimously to adopt the minutes of the Regular Session held on September 6, 1994, as printed.

Dr. Charles Scriber, Secondary Supervisor, reviewed background information on the Teacher of the Year program.  Each of the 94-95 Lincoln Parish winners were presented with a plaque of appreciation on behalf of the Lincoln Parish School Board for their accomplishments.  Mr. Danny Bell, Elementary Supervisor, recognized Mrs. Sue Barfield, a second grade teacher from Hico representing the Elementary division.  Dr. Scriber recognized Mrs. Charlotte Smith, a Language Arts teacher at Ruston Junior High representing the Jr. High Schools and Mr. Douglas Stewart, a science teacher from Ruston High School representing High Schools.  Mr. Wright expressed the board's collective appreciation and thanks and wished the winners well as they move into state competition.

Mr. Randy Moore, principal at Ruston High School, recognized Kristi Talley, a senior at Ruston High School, who has been named as a National Merit Semifinalist.  He presented her with a plaque of appreciation on behalf of the Lincoln Parish School Board for her accomplishments. He indicated that only one-tenth of one percent of all high school students in America are recognized as Nation Merit Semifinalist and that most high schools in the USA have never had a single student recognized for this honor.  He said that Kristi is number 127 from Ruston High School.

Following the presentation, Mr. Moore informed the board that Jennifer Chen, a former student of Ruston High School and now attending Louisiana School for Math, Science, and the Arts in Natchitoches, has recently been named as a National Merit Semifinalist.

Distribution of Annual School Allotment Funds for 1994-95 from the 1979 Sales Tax Fund was presented to the board by Mrs. Pam Roy, Business Manager for Lincoln Parish Schools.  She informed the board that this is a yearly allotment on a per pupil basis, which is sent directly to each school to be used for library supplements ($1.50); classroom supplies ($2.75); office supplies and equipment repairs/purchases ($2.75); student services ($2.75); debate and speech ($1.25); and kindergarten ($100.00 per teacher).  The rate shown is the same as last year.

Upon a motion by Mr. Jim Kessler, seconded by Ms. Ann Boyd, the board voted unanimously to approve the distribution of the Annual School Allotment Funds for 1994-95.

The board served as a Committee of the Whole and the following personnel agenda items were addressed:

1.         Upon a motion by Mr. Paul Woodard, seconded by Mrs. Loyace Braggs, the board voted unanimously to approve the following requests for Sabbatical Leave for 1994-95, as submitted by Mr. Ronnie Suggs, Director of Curriculum and Instruction:

a.         Stephanie Sisemore, elementary teacher at Glen View Elementary, requesting a Sabbatical Leave for the Spring Semester of 1994-95.

b.         Myrtle Livingston, Chapter I teacher at Simsboro, requesting an Emergency Sabbatical Leave for the Fall Semester of 1994-95.

2.         Upon a motion by Mr. Andy Shealy, seconded by Ms. Ann Boyd, the board voted unanimously to approve the following personnel items presented by Mr. Charles Owens, Director of Auxiliary Services:

a.         Becky Gemelli transferring from Secretary at Hillcrest Elementary School to Secretary to the Superintendent of Lincoln Parish Schools to replace Jo Johnson, retired.  This will be effective October 1, 1994.

b.         Terri Hinton as Central Office Receptionist/Secretary to replace Sandy Harris, transferred and to be effective October 19, 1994.

c.         Brenda Magee transferring from Hillcrest Elementary Chapter I Computer Programmer to Secretary at the school to replace Becky Gemelli, transferred.  This will be effective September 19, 1994.

3.         Upon a motion by Mr. Allen Tuten, seconded by Ms. Ann Boyd, the board voted unanimously upon the recommendation of Mr. Ronnie Suggs to employ LeAnne Christensen as Chapter I Computer Programmer to replace Brenda Magee, transferred and to be effective September 19, 1994.

4.         Upon a motion by Mr. Allen Tuten, seconded by Mr. Andy Shealy, the board voted unanimously to addend the personnel committee agenda with the following item: Consider Staff Resignation.

5.         Following a motion by Mr. Andy Shealy, seconded by Mr. Paul Woodard, and after lengthy questions, comments, and concerns expressed by various board members, the board voted 10-2 to accept the letter of resignation submitted by Mrs. Martha Pee, Secretary/Bookkeeper at Chapter 1, effective October 18, 1994, as presented by Mr. Charles Owens.

Voting for the motion: Mr. Wayne Barfield, Ms. Ann Boyd, Mr. Jim Kessler, Mr. George Mack, Mr. Rob Shadoin, Mr. Andy Shealy, Mr. Allen Tuten, Mr. Calvin Wilkerson, Mr. Paul Woodard and Mr. David Wright.

Voting against the motion: Dr. Marty Beasley and Mrs. Loyace Braggs.

Mr. Howard Whitlock, Supervisor of Transportation for Lincoln Parish Schools, indicated that he had a personnel item for the board to consider.  The employee was asked if she desired the board to remain in Regular Session or to go into Executive Session.  The employee's attorney requested that the board enter into Executive Session.

Upon a motion by Mr. Andy Shealy, seconded by Mr. George Mack, the board voted unanimously to go into Executive Session at 6:42 p.m.

Upon a motion by Mr. Rob Shadoin, seconded by Dr. Marty Beasley, the board voted unanimously to end the Executive Session and move into Regular Session at 9:00 P.M.

A motion was offered at this time by Mr. Allen Tuten, seconded by Mr. George Mack, that the action of the Superintendent to suspend Mrs. Leila Brumett, bus driver for Lincoln Parish, for five days without pay be upheld.  Also, as a part of that motion that upon the successful completion and documentation of at least ten hours of some type of conflict resolution/interpersonal type skills course, with prior approval of the Superintendent and Transportation Supervisor, that the pay be reinstated.

After brief discussion an amendment to the original motion offered by Mr. Allen Tuten was made by Mr. Wayne Barfield, seconded by Mr. Rob Shadoin, to divide the previous motion into two parts to be voted on separately.  A show of hands vote resulted in 4 for the motion and 8 against.

Voting for the motion: Mr. Wayne Barfield, Mr. Rob Shadoin, Mr. Andy Shealy and Mr. Paul Woodard.

Voting against the motion: Dr. Marty Beasley, Ms. Ann Boyd, Mrs. Loyace Braggs, Mr. Jim Kessler, Mr. George Mack, Mr. Allen Tuten, Mr. Calvin Wilkerson and Mr. David Wright.

A roll call vote on the original motion made by Mr. Allen Tuten and seconded by Mr. George Mack that the action of the Superintendent to suspend Mrs. Leila Brumett, bus driver for Lincoln Parish, for five days without pay be upheld.  Also, as a part of that motion that upon the successful completion and documentation of at least ten hours of some type of conflict resolution/interpersonal type skills course, with prior approval of the Superintendent and Transportation Supervisor, that the pay be reinstated resulted in a 10-2 vote.

Voting for the motion: Mr. Wayne Barfield, Dr. Marty Beasley, Ms. Ann Boyd, Mrs. Loyace Braggs, Mr. Jim Kessler, Mr. George Mack, Mr. Andy Shealy, Mr. Allen Tuten, Mr. Calvin Wilkerson and Mr. David Wright.

Voting against the motion: Mr. Rob Shadoin and Mr. Paul Woodard.

An update on the Sales Tax receipts for the month ending September 30, 1994, was given to the board by Mrs. Pam Roy.  She indicated that $22,601.00 was recovered by the parish auditor on a one-time basis and that collections in the 1967 and 1979 sales tax funds reflected an increase of $67,273.38 or 35% over the same month last year.  Dr. Gerald Cobb, Superintendent of Schools, noted that this fund reflects a yearly increase of 4.12%. Collections in the 1993 sales tax fund also showed an increase of $40,363.72. Mrs. Roy called attention to a Two Year Comparison of Net Sales for Lincoln Parish graph she had included in the board members' packet.  She pointed out the large increase in the area of manufacturing.

An update on the PAMS Computer Network was presented to the board by Mr. Ronnie Suggs who told the board that all schools are now on line, running and printing report cards to go out this Friday.  He indicated that the system is working great and it's proving to be flexible and meeting our needs.

Upon a motion by Mr. Allen Tuten, seconded by Mrs. Loyace Braggs, the board voted unanimously to amend the revised Expulsion Policy as presented by Dr. Gerald Cobb.  He indicated that the revisions were necessary in order to be in compliance with the Federal Gun-Free Schools Act of 1994.

Upon a motion by Mr. Allen Tuten, seconded by Ms. Ann Boyd, the board voted unanimously to adopt a resolution expressing the board's appreciation to Mrs. Jo Johnson, retired secretary to the superintendent, for the many years that she served the board and asked Dr. Gerald Cobb to draft an appropriate resolution.

There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 9:20 p.m.

Gerald W. Cobb, Secretary                         David Wright, President