LINCOLN PARISH SCHOOL BOARD
Ruston, Louisiana
REGULAR SESSION
Tuesday, January 3, 1995 6:00 p.m.
The Lincoln Parish School Board met in Regular Session on Tuesday, January 3, 1995 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, Mrs. Loyace Braggs, Mr. Curtis Dowling, Mr. James Kessler, Mr. George Mack, Mr. Joe Mitcham, Mr. Rob Shadoin, Mr. Andy Shealy, Mr. Allen Tuten, and Mr. Calvin Wilkerson.
Mr. David Wright, President, called the meeting to order and gave the invocation.
He welcomed guests, members of the staff and media, and the two new board members.
Mrs. Sue Sanderson, Lincoln Parish Clerk of Court, administered the Oath of Office to all of the board members. New board members who have recently been elected to serve are: Mr. Joe Mitcham, Ward 1-A, and Mr. Curtis Dowling, Ward 3. Board members returning for an additional term of office are: Mr. Robert Shadoin, Ward 1-B, Mr. Allen Tuten, Ward 1-C, Dr. Marty Beasley, Ward 1-D, Mrs. Loyace Braggs, Ward 1-E, Mr. George Mack, Ward 1-F, Mr. Andrew Shealy, Ward 1-G, Mr. Calvin Wilkerson, Ward 2-A, Mr. David Wright, Ward 2-B, Mr. Wayne Barfield, Ward 4, and Mr. James Kessler, Ward 5.
Upon a motion by Mrs. Loyace Braggs, seconded by Mr. Wayne Barfield, the Board voted unanimously to adopt the agenda as printed.
Upon a motion by Mr. Allen Tuten, seconded by Mrs. Loyace Braggs, the Board voted unanimously to adopt the minutes of the Regular Session held on December 6, 1994 as distributed.
Mr. David Wright opened the floor for nominations for board President for 1995. Mr. Andy Shealy nominated Mr. Wright to serve as President for a second term. There being no further nominations, he was elected by a unanimous show of hands vote to serve as President for an additional year.
Mr. Wright opened the floor for nominations for Vice-President of the Board. Mr. George Mack nominated Mr. Wayne Barfield to serve as Vice-President for a second term. Upon a motion by Mr. Allen Tuten, seconded by Mr. Andy Shealy, the Board voted unanimously by a show of hands that nominations cease and Mr. Barfield be elected by acclamation to serve as Vice-president for an additional year.
At this time, Becky Rich, Home Economist and Chairman of the Lincoln Parish Cooperative Extension Service, introduced Lincoln Parish's new 4-H Agent, Mr. Gary Stockton, to the Board. He spoke to the Board briefly and introduced four 4-H members who told the board what they have done in 4-H. Mr. Stockton thanked the Board for the opportunity for the 4-H students to speak. Mr. David Wright thanked the students for coming to the meeting and sharing.
The Board served as a Committee of the Whole and the following personnel agenda item was addressed:
Upon a motion by Mr. James Kessler, seconded by Mr. Wayne Barfield, the board voted unanimously to accept the letter of intent to retire, effective January 13, 1995 submitted by Mr. Clyde Barham, Bus Driver for the Ruston District, as presented by Mr. Howard Whitlock, Supervisor of Transportation.
Mr. Howard Whitlock indicated that he had a personnel item for the Board to consider. The employee was asked if he desired the Board to remain in Regular Session or to go into Executive Session. The employee requested that the Board go 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 6:21 p.m.
Upon a motion by Mr. Andy Shealy, seconded by Mr. Wayne Barfield, the Board voted unanimously to end the Executive Session and move into Regular Session at 7:18 p.m.
A motion was offered at this time by Mr. Andy Shealy, seconded by Mrs. Loyace Braggs, that the Board uphold the recommendation of Superintendent Gerald Cobb and Mr. Howard Whitlock that Mr. Fred Johnson, Bus Driver for the Choudrant District, be suspended for two weeks without pay from the afternoon of November 29, 1994 through the morning of December 13, 1995. The motion was carried by a unanimous vote of the Board.
Mr. Andy Shealy left the meeting at this time. It was 7:22 p.m.
An update on sales tax receipts for the month of December, 1994 was presented by Mrs. Pam Roy, Business Manager. There was an increase in the 1967 and 1979 collections of $22,627.49 or 11.4% over the same month last year. Collections in the 1993 sales tax fund also showed an increase of $13,837.76 or 11.4% over the same month last year. These funds reflect a yearly increase of 18.2%. She said that $13,229.00 was recovered by the parish auditor and $1,395.33 was recovered by an outside recovery group on a one-time basis.
Mr. Allen Tuten told the Board that Mr. Wayne Barfield was recently elected 1995 Chairman of the Lincoln Parish Sales and Use Tax Commission. He was congratulated.
Mr. Rob Shadoin updated the Board on the work being done by the Discipline Policy Review Committee of which he's the chairman. He reminded the Board that by State law they had elected a committee to compare parish discipline policies with the Louisiana State Law. It was the committee's feeling that Lincoln Parish seems to keep current with the law; therefore, they are looking at the "meat" of the discipline law and considering what could be done by them to supplement what's already in place. They will meet again on January 10, 1995 and will update the Board as needed. Recommendations to the Board for possible revisions to policies are to be made by February 1, 1995.
Mr. Danny Bell, Elementary Supervisor, told the Board that a copy of the draft reflecting school system per pupil expenditures for textbooks was given out by the director of Educational Financial Services from the State Department at a recent State Textbook Supervisors' Conference held in Baton Rouge. This was an attempt to focus attention on how systems used the $27.02 which was allotted through the MFP for textbooks, materials, and supplies. In addition, this called attention to how much local funding was given by school districts to help schools meet their textbook and library needs. This report is based on expenditures reported by districts for the 1993-94 school year. As a result of the passage of the local millage, Lincoln Parish added an additional $36.79 as spendable per child for textbooks for the 1993-94 school year.
Principal of Ruston High School, Mr. Randy Moore, expressed his appreciation to the Board and the public for the monies allotted for textbooks. He said Ruston High has been able to "catch up" on needed books in some subjects and has been able to implement two new subjects.
At 7:30 p.m. Mr. Rob Shadoin left the meeting.
Upon a motion by Mr. Wayne Barfield, seconded by Mrs. Loyace Braggs, the Board voted unanimously to adopt the following policies requiring revision as a result of Act 45 of the 1994 Third Extraordinary Session of the Louisiana Legislature: Visitors to the Schools; Dangerous Weapons; Student Searches; Truancy; Alcohol, Drug, and Substance Abuse Education Program; and evaluation of Personnel. These revised policies were prepared for our consideration by the policy updating service that we subscribe to in order to keep our Lincoln Parish Policy Manual updated and were presented by Superintendent Cobb.
Upon a motion by Dr. Marty Beasley, seconded by Mr. James Kessler, the Board voted unanimously to ratify the poll vote taken on December 14, 1994 changing the date for returning to school after the Christmas and New Year holidays from Monday, January 2, to Tuesday, January 3, 1995.
Upon a motion by Dr. Marty Beasley, seconded by Mr. George Mack, the board voted unanimously to adopt as printed the Retirement Resolution to Mrs. Jean G. Brown, retired teacher at Alma J. Brown Elementary, drawn up by Mr. David Wright.
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, Mrs. Jean G. Brown has served the children of Lincoln Parish for thirty-nine years; and
WHEREAS, she demonstrated a commitment and dedication that are rare in society today; and
WHEREAS, her students are beneficiaries of a quality of instruction that caused success in many endeavors throughout the world; and
WHEREAS, she has chosen to culminate this career by retirement; therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the Lincoln Parish School Board congratulates Mrs. Brown and commends her on the meritorious service to the children of the parish, and be it further
RESOLVED, That the Lincoln Parish School Board encourages all educators to emulate the caliber of service for which she is credited.
RESOLVED, That a copy of this resolution be presented to her and spread upon the minutes of the Lincoln Parish School Board.
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In the Report of the Superintendent, Dr. Cobb addressed the following items:
1. He called the Board's attention to a form requesting committee preferences for 1995.
2. The Special Workshop for new board members scheduled January 12, 1995 has been canceled. He recommended that the two new board members attend that meeting at the LSBA upcoming convention.
3. A picture of the Board will be taken at 5:45 p.m. on February 7, 1995 in the Board Room.
Following brief comments from a board member, the meeting was adjourned at 7:45 p.m.
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Gerald W. Cobb, Secretary David Wright, President