LINCOLN PARISH SCHOOL BOARD
Ruston, Louisiana
REGULAR SESSION
Wednesday, March 7, 1995 6:00 p.m.
The Lincoln Parish School Board met in Regular Session on Wednesday, March 7, 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. Jim Kessler, Mr. George Mack, Mr. Joe Mitcham, Mr. Rob Shadoin, Mr. Allen Tuten and Mr. Calvin Wilkerson.
Members absent were: Mr. Andy Shealy
Mr. David Wright, President, called the meeting to order and the invocation was given by Dr. Marty Beasley.
Mr. Wright welcomed members of the staff, media and special guests.
Upon a motion by Mr. Wayne Barfield, seconded by Mr. Rob Shadoin, the Board unanimously voted to adopt the agenda as amended, with the addition of an addendum to the personnel agenda.
Upon a motion by Mr. Allen Tuten, seconded by Mr. Rob Shadoin, the Board unanimously voted to approve the minutes of the Regular Session held on February 7, 1995, as distributed.
Mrs. Pinkie Wilkerson and Mr. Jay McCallum, State Representatives, spoke to the Board regarding legislation that could affect education. Some of the topics discussed were the proposed 1995-96 Minimum Foundation Program (MFP) budget which has special education and transportation factors figured in, unfunded state and federal mandates, and the child nutrition program. The Board was told that the deadline for bills to be introduced is March 25, 1995. They reminded the Board to let them know how they feel on educational issues as they count on the Board's expertise. Both representatives thanked the Board for their continued support and pledged to continue to support Lincoln Parish's requests that they don't mandate programs without funding.
Mrs. Wilkerson shared some interesting facts about the YMCA Youth Legislative Program. She said that Claiborne, Bienville, Lincoln, and Union parishes now make up a district and may participate in this very worthwhile program.
Mr. Wright thanked the representatives for attending the meeting. Dr. Gerald Cobb, Superintendent, assured them that they would be kept informed and thanked them for listening and being sincerely concerned about educational issues.
Upon a motion by Dr. Marty Beasley, seconded by Mr. George Mack, the Board unanimously voted to grant permission to send Letters of Intent for 1995-1996, as requested by Mr. Ronnie Suggs, Director of Curriculum and Instruction. This request is made yearly in order to plan for the next school year.
Upon a motion by Mr. George Mack, seconded by Mr. Rob Shadoin, the Board unanimously voted to grant permission to advertise for bids for the construction of two temporary ("T") buildings at Ruston Junior High School, as presented by Mr. Charles Owens, Director of Auxiliary Services. Ruston Junior High is experiencing an acute space shortage because of growth of faculty, staff, and student enrollment; addition of new courses; meeting State mandates; the expansion of specialized programs such as special education; and reducing the teacher/student ratio. This would allow four "floating" teachers to have a classroom as each "T" building contains two rooms. Funding will come from the Five Mill Maintenance Fund. It was suggested that the Board look into something more permanent as funds allow.
Upon a motion by Mr. Jim Kessler, seconded by Dr. Marty Beasley, the Board unanimously voted to grant permission to advertise for bids for school food service equipment, food, and supplies for the 1995-96 school year, as presented by Mrs. Brenda Theodos, Supervisor of Child Nutrition. This is also done on a yearly basis in order to be in compliance with the State and Federal laws.
Mrs. Theodos shared information and discussed the impact of the proposed Personal Responsibilities Act, House Resolution 4, Title V, which would repeal the nation's child nutrition programs. She said the Act sets no dietary guidelines and provides no nutritional standards.
Upon a motion by Dr. Marty Beasley, seconded by Mrs. Loyace Braggs, the Board unanimously voted to grant permission to send a letter to Congressman Richard Baker, co-author of the Personal Responsibilities Act, House Resolution 4, Title V, opposing the repeal of our nation's child nutrition programs and replacing them with block grant cash payments to the States.
Upon a motion by Mrs. Loyace Braggs, seconded by Mr. Wayne Barfield, the Board unanimously voted to authorize the expenditure of Instructional Supply Money for 1995-96, as presented by Mrs. Pam Roy, Business Manager. This yearly expenditure is provided by the instructional portion of the 1979 Sales Tax Fund and is distributed on a per pupil basis. The following was approved for the 1995-96 distribution:
Art K-12 $1.00 per student
Library Supplies K-5 $ .50 per student
6-12 $1.00 per student
Magazines & K-6 $1.70 per student
Newspapers 7-12 2.00 per student
Music K-5 $ .50 per student
6-12 1.00 per student
Physical K-12 $1.00 per student
Education
Science K-6 $ .50 per student
7-8 2.00 per student
9-12 3.50 per student
The Board served as a Committee of the Whole and the following personnel agenda items were addressed:
1. Upon a motion by Mr. Rob Shadoin, seconded by Mr. Curtis Dowling, the Board unanimously voted to accept the letter of resignation submitted by Mrs. Susan Browder, elementary teacher at Simsboro, to be effective February 6, 1995, as presented by Mr. Ronnie Suggs.
2. Upon a motion by Mr. Allen Tuten, seconded by Mr. George Mack, the Board voted unanimously voted to deny the request for a leave without pay for the period February 14, 1995, to April 14, 1995, for James McGrew, bus driver in the Choudrant area; but to accept his letter of resignation effective February 13, 1995. This was presented by Mr. Howard Whitlock, Supervisor of Transportation. The action is in keeping with the policies followed in the past relative to granting leave to personnel who have accepted employment elsewhere. The Board expressed their desire to remain consistent in their position in dealing with requests for leave under these conditions.
3. At this time Mr. Ronnie Suggs indicated that he had a personnel item for the Board to consider. The employee involved was not present at the meeting; therefore, the Board upon a motion by Mr. Jim Kessler, seconded by Mr. George Mack, unanimously voted to go into Executive Session at 7:06 p.m.
Upon a motion by Mr. Wayne Barfield, seconded by Mrs. Loyace Braggs, the Board unanimously voted to end Executive Session and move into Regular Session at 7:21 p.m.
Upon a motion by Mr. Wayne Barfield, seconded by Mr. Jim Kessler, the Board unanimously voted to uphold the Superintendent's recommendation that the employee discussed in Executive Session be suspended for five days without pay.
An update on sales tax receipts for the month of February, 1995, reflected an increase in the 1967 and 1979 collections of $21,648.19 Mrs. Pam Roy, told the Board. Collections in the 1993 fund also showed an increase of $12,988.67. These figures reflect a 11.2% growth over the same month last year and a 11.5% increase for the entire year. She said that she had made an adjustment in the monies recovered by audits so those figures were deceiving.
A financial update for the month ending January, 1995, was also presented by Mrs. Roy. She told the Board that all funds have good balances because ad valorem taxes have been collected and will be disbursed throughout the year.
Mr. Howard Whitlock shared information about the Omnibus Transportation Employee Testing Act of 1991 with the Board. He said that Lincoln Parish has established a drug and alcohol testing policy for all employees holding a commercial driver's license (CDL) that exceeds the federal guidelines. The parish is required to test 50% of the employees holding a CDL for drugs and 25% for alcohol. The initial test in Lincoln Parish was done on 100% of the employees holding a CDL. The test was conducted on January 26-27, 1995, by Bayou Lab of West Monroe. All reports came back negative. Random, monthly testing will be done on 7 employees for drugs and 4 employees for alcohol. In order to comply with the 50% testing for drugs and 25% testing for alcohol required by law, random, monthly testing through a computer printout of social security numbers from the laboratory will be done on 7 employees for drugs and 4 employees for alcohol. The random test was done on February 21, 1995. Mr. Whitlock reported that the approximately 110 bus drivers have been very cooperative concerning the testing.
Dr. Cobb thanked Mr. Howard Whitlock for his excellent work implementing this testing procedure.
Dr. Cobb called the Board's attention to a brief impact summary of the proposed 1995-96 MFP budget which the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education (BESE) has approved to send to the Legislature for its consideration. This Governor-endorsed summary which points out the "bottom line" impact of the new MFP on each parish, shows that Lincoln Parish stands to tentatively receive $811,000 in increased funds over the 1994-95 budget. This would be the first significant increase Lincoln Parish has been scheduled to receive since the new MFP was established three years ago. He said if Lincoln Parish does receive this amount it will help make up the $200,000 plus state-required step raises Lincoln Parish has given its employees over the past three years from local funds.
Upon a motion by Dr. Marty Beasley, seconded by Mr. Jim Kessler, the Board unanimously voted to go on record as supporting the 1995-96 Minimum Foundation Program budget.
Upon a motion by Mr. Wayne Barfield, seconded by Mr. George Mack, the Board unanimously voted to accept the highest bid meeting specifications received on three of the four vehicles declared as surplus at the December 6, 1994 meeting, as presented by Mr. Charles Owens.
Dr. Gerald Cobb reminded the Board that the next meeting will be a Wednesday meeting on March 22, 1995, at Choudrant High School.
There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 7:50 p.m.
Gerald W. Cobb, Secretary David Wright, President