LINCOLN PARISH SCHOOL BOARD

Ruston, Louisiana

REGULAR SESSION

Tuesday, December 6, 1994     6.00 p.m.

The Lincoln Parish School Board met in Regular Session on Tuesday, December 6, 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.

Mr. David Wright, president, called the meeting to order and the invocation was given by Mr. Allen Tuten.

Mr. Wright welcomed guests, members of the staff and media, students from Mrs. Cook's civics class (Ruston High School), and the two newly elected board members whose term begins January 1, 1995.

Upon a motion by Mr. Rob Shadoin, seconded by Mrs. Loyace Braggs, the board voted unanimously to adopt the agenda as amended, with the addition of one item of New Business: Grant permission to advertise for four used school buses.

Upon a motion by Dr. Marty Beasley, seconded by Mr. Allen Tuten, the board voted unanimously to adopt the minutes of the Regular Session held on November 1, 1994, as distributed.

At this time, Mr. Wright presented plaques to Ms. Ann Boyd and Mr. Paul Woodard, board members whose terms expire December 31, 1994.  He made appropriate comments regarding their service and contributions to the Lincoln Parish School System during their term.  Ms. Boyd and Mr. Woodard expressed their appreciation to the Board and urged them to continue their good work.

Upon a motion by Mr. Andy Shealy, seconded by Mr. Jim Kessler, the board voted unanimously to grant permission for four vehicles that are of no further use to the Lincoln Parish School Board to be declared as surplus and disposed of through the bid process.  This was presented by Mr. Charles Owens, Director of Auxiliary Services for Lincoln Parish Schools.

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

1.         Upon a motion by Mr. Andy Shealy, seconded by Ms. Ann Boyd, the board voted unanimously to accept the following staff resignations as presented by Mr. Ronnie Suggs, Director of Curriculum and Instruction:

a.         Lisa Smith, kindergarten teacher at Glen View Elementary, effective November 11, 1994

b.         Amanda Simmons, teacher at I. A. Lewis, effective November 11, 1994

2.         Upon a motion by Mr. Paul Woodard, seconded by Ms. Ann Boyd, the board voted unanimously to grant the request for leave without pay for the remainder of the 1994-95 school year, submitted by Susan Browder, elementary teacher at Simsboro, effective October 14, 1994, as presented by Mr. Suggs.

3.         Upon a motion by Dr. Marty Beasley, seconded by Mrs. Loyace Braggs, the board voted unanimously to grant the request for a sabbatical leave for the second semester of 94-95 for Susan Hermes, elementary teacher at Glen View, effective January 17, 1995, as presented by Mr. Ronnie Suggs.

4.         Upon a motion by Mr. Andy Shealy, seconded by Mr. Paul Woodard, the board voted unanimously to employ the following instructional personnel as presented by Mr. Suggs:

a.         Barbara Hammond in a new 1/2 time kindergarten position at Cypress Springs Elementary, effective November 10, 1994

b.         Mary Boddie as elementary teacher at Glen View to replace Susan Hermes, sabbatical, effective January 17, 1995

c.         Sally Davenport as elementary teacher at Glen View effective January 17, 1995, to replace Stephanie Sisemore, sabbatical

d.         Stephanie Moran as elementary teacher at Glen View to replace Lisa Smith, resigned, effective November 14, 1994

e.         Doris Bacon as teacher at I. A. Lewis effective November 14, 1994, to replace Amanda Simmons, resigned

f.          Sidney Price as elementary teacher at Simsboro to replace Susan Browder, leave without pay, effective October 14, 1994

5.         Upon a motion by Mr. George Mack, seconded by Ms. Ann Boyd, the board voted unanimously to employ Wanda Rondall as secretary/bookkeeper at Chapter I to replace Martha Pee, resigned.  This was presented by Mr. Charles Owens and will be effective December 7, 1994.

6.         Upon a motion by Mrs. Loyace Braggs, seconded by Mr. Rob Shadoin, the board voted unanimously to approve the resignation of Stephanie Mattox, cafeteria manager at Ruston High.  This was presented by Mrs. Brenda Theodos, School Food Service Supervisor, and is to be effective November 9, 1994.

An update on sales tax receipts for the month of November, 1994, reflected an increase in the 1967 and 1979 collections of $41,931.78 or 18.7% over the same month last year.  She told the Board that this is the 18th consecutive month with an increase in this sales tax.  Collections in the 1993 sales tax fund also showed an increase of $25,159.05 or 18.7% over the same month last year.  Ms. Roy said that $4,735.00 was recovered by the parish auditor and $609.00 was recovered by an outside recovery group on a one-time basis.

A financial update for the month ending October 31, 1994, was presented to the board at this time by Mrs. Roy.  She told the Board that funds are in pretty good shape due to the fact that sales tax collections are up.

There was some discussion regarding the importance of shopping Ruston first and some speculation that neighboring parishes might also be shopping Ruston first as most of them have decreases in sales tax.

Mr. Charles Owens reported on renovations on classrooms at Lincoln Center which were authorized by the Board at their November meeting.  Bids were opened November 15, 1994, at 10:00 a.m. in the Board Room and the low bid of $24,994.00 from Cowan Construction was accepted.  He said that work on the project began November 17, has progressed through phase one at this time, is on schedule, and is expected to be finished well ahead of the due date of March 24, 1995.  He reminded the Board that funding for this project is provided for in its entirety by Chapter I Federal Funds through the Northeast Louisiana Regional Even Start Consortium.

A Systems Survey & Compliance Questionnaire required by the legislative auditor was presented to the Board by Mrs. Pam Roy.  This document states that auditors have examined our records and that they are presented in accordance with generally accepted accounting principals.  These standards are tested during the routine audits of the school board records.

Upon a motion by Mr. Andy Shealy, seconded by Mr. Allen Tuten, and after some discussion the Board unanimously approved the adoption of the System's Survey and Compliance Questionnaire as required by the legislative auditor.

Mr. Howard Whitlock, Transportation Supervisor, said that due to the age of the Lincoln Parish School Board bus fleet and the fact that several contract routes became school board routes this year, it has become necessary to immediately purchase four additional school buses.  In order to provide substitute buses for our routes and to provide buses for activity and field trips, this request is vitally important.  Although 18 buses have been purchased in the last 3 years, the Board does not have adequate spare buses to ensure the proper transport of students to and from school and related activities.

After some discussion, upon a motion by Mr. Wayne Barfield, seconded by Mr. Jim Kessler, the Board voted unanimously to grant permission to advertise for four used school buses.

Following brief comments and observations from board members, the meeting was adjourned at 6:35 p.m.

Gerald W. Cobb, Secretary                         David Wright, President