LINCOLN PARISH SCHOOL BOARD
Ruston, Louisiana
REGULAR SESSION
Wednesday, April 4, 1995 6:00 p.m.
The Lincoln Parish School Board met in Regular Session on Tuesday, April 4, 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, Mr. Wayne Barfield, Dr. Marty Beasley, Mrs. Loyace Braggs (arrived at 6:07 p.m.), Mr. Curtis Dowling, Mr. Jim Kessler, Mr. George Mack, Mr. Joe Mitcham, Mr. Allen Tuten, and Mr. Calvin Wilkerson.
Members absent were: Mr. Andy Shealy and Mr. Rob Shadoin.
Mr. David Wright, President, called the meeting to order and Mr. George Mack led the Board in the Lord's Prayer.
Mr. Wright welcomed guests, members of the staff, and press.
Upon a motion by Mr. Joe Mitcham, seconded by Mr. Curtis Dowling, the Board unanimously voted to adopt the agenda as amended, with the addition of three items: 1) Consider letter of resignation submitted by Mr. Andy Shealy, Board Member representing Ward I-G, 2) Consider Board Member to represent Ward I-G, and 3) Consider approval of special election proclamation.
Dr. Charles Scriber, Lincoln Parish Secondary Supervisor, came before the Board to recognize three outstanding students from Lincoln Parish Schools. He told the Board that each year the Lincoln Parish School System participates in the Student-of-the-Year program sponsored by the Burger King Corporation. Students are selected from three divisions--elementary (grade 5), junior high (grade 8), and high school (grade 12). Parishwide winners are selected from each division. On behalf of the Lincoln Parish School Board, Dr. Scriber presented the following parish winners with plaques:
Elementary - - - - - Abigail Ashworth of Ruston Elementary
Junior High - - - - Michelle Winter of Ruston Junior High
High School - - - - Chris Simmons of Ruston High School
Mr. Wright expressed the Board's appreciation to these Students-of-the-Year, parents, grandparents, friends, and principals for their accomplishments.
Mrs. Loyace Braggs arrived at 6:07 p.m.
Upon a motion by Mr. Wayne Barfield, seconded by Mrs. Loyace Braggs, the Board unanimously voted to approve the minutes of the Regular Session held on March 22, 1995, as distributed.
Upon a motion by Dr. Marty Beasley, seconded by Mr. Calvin Wilkerson, the Board unanimously voted to grant permission to submit an application for the grant "Title I - Helping Disadvantaged Children Meet High Standards, Part I of Public Law H.R. 6, Improving America's Schools Act of 1994, (IASA)" - Fiscal Year 1995-96, as presented by Mr. Willie Washington, Administrative Supervisor of Chapter 1.
Upon a motion by Mr. George Mack, seconded by Mr. Allen Tuten, the Board unanimously voted to grant permission to the Humanitarian Enterprises of Lincoln Parish (HELP) to use Lincoln Center's cafeteria as a feeding site for the 1995 Summer Food Service for Children Program, as presented by Mr. Charles Owens, Director of Auxiliary Services.
Upon a motion by Mr. Allen Tuten, seconded by Mr. Wayne Barfield, the Board unanimously voted to grant permission to advertise for bids for the purchase of the following items for the 1995-96 school year, as presented by Mr. Charles Owens: duplicating fluid and paper, thermal and spirit masters, toilet tissue and paper towels, dust mops, and gasoline and diesel.
Upon a motion by Mrs. Loyace Braggs, seconded by Mr. Jim Kessler, and after a brief discussion regarding quotes for bus drivers' insurance, the Board unanimously voted to grant permission to advertise for quotes for property and casualty insurance, as presented by Mrs. Pam Roy, Business Manager.
The Board served as a Committee of the Whole and the following Personnel Committee agenda items were discussed:
Upon a motion by Mr. Curtis Dowling, seconded by Mr. Joe Mitcham, the Board unanimously voted to grant/accept the following:
a. Sabbatical leave for the 1995-96 school year for Susan Hilton, Science teacher at Ruston Junior High, effective August, 1995, as presented by Mr. Ronnie Suggs, Director of Curriculum and Instruction.
b. Resignation of Mary Pierce, special education teacher at Cypress Springs effective May 31, 1995, as presented by Mr. Suggs.
c. Resignation of Mildred Neal, half-time French at I. A. Lewis, effective May 31, 1995, as presented by Mr. Suggs.
d. Resignation of Feleasha Nelson, special education aide at Dubach High School, effective March 9, 1995, as presented by Mr. Suggs.
e. Resignation of Alan Hartwell, custodian at Ruston High School, effective April 1, 1995, as presented by Mr. Charles Owens.
Mrs. Pam Roy told the Board that the Parish Auditor recovered $2,116.00 in sales tax revenue for the month of March, 1995. This brings the total sales tax revenue recovered by audits to $75,605.00 for the year. She also reported that sales tax receipts for the same month reflected an increase in the 1967 and 1979 collections of $15,532.73. Although this is the smallest increase since July, 1994, it is the twenty-second consecutive month showing an increase. Collections in the 1993 fund also showed an increase of $9,319.37. These figures reflect a 6.9% growth over the same month last year and a 12% increase for the entire year.
A financial update for the month ending February, 1995, was also presented by Mrs. Roy. She said that all of the fund balances look very good but to keep in mind that the Parish has to live off of this for the entire year as ad valorem taxes are collected in January.
A report on Career Path Counseling by Mrs. Barbara Kirkland, Vocational Supervisor, was the next item on the agenda. She informed the Board that a plan for school improvement is being formulated in Louisiana with a vision to provide productive citizenship and work for every Louisiana citizen. Three major pieces of legislation call for school reform. The Goals 2000: Educate America Act is designed to develop high content and performance standards; the School-to-Work Opportunities Act calls for methods to connect K-12, postsecondary education, work opportunities, and industry-sponsored training; and the Improving America's School Act stresses the need to rethink how federal, state, and local education programs can fit together into a unified system that focuses on one principal goal: enabling all students to achieve to challenging standards. "Educators must realize that school is about preparing ALL students for work, not about preparing a few students for college," said Mrs. Kirkland. As a result, guidance and counseling programs are being redefined as schools respond to workplace change. Counselors must be prepared, using current career resources to: (1) inform students about the changing workplace and job trends; (2) actively encourage students to consider a variety of educational pathways; and (3) help parents understand that employment in America is in the process of transforming where work is performed, who performs it, how it is performed, and how it is compensated.
Lincoln Parish counselors have received several hours of in-service and have had the opportunity to meet and plan how to best implement Tech Prep and career path selection into their guidance programs at their individual schools. At the 7th and 8th grade levels, students are introduced to the career path options and given interest inventories to help them determine in which area they are most interested. As students pre-register for 9th grade, they are being asked to select a specific career path and to consider courses that would be applicable to that particular area. Career guidance activities will be planned for all students and will be appropriate for all students regardless of whether they are preparing to go to college, vocational school, the military, or directly to work.
Although a vote was not required, the Board enthusiastically supported the plan to prepare all students for work as summed up in Mrs. Kirkland's statement that, "We don't want students to take a hodgepodge of courses that lead to nowhere, but want to prepare EVERY student for their chosen career."
Upon a motion by Mr. Allen Tuten, seconded by Mr. Wayne Barfield, and after President Wright reminded the Board of steps that must be taken to secure an interim replacement, the Board unanimously voted to accept the letter of resignation submitted by Mr. Andy Shealy, board member representing Ward I, District G. After making the motion, Mr. Tuten said that Mr. Shealy has been a real asset to the Board and his input will certainly be missed. A brief period of questions, comments, and expressions of concerns by board members followed.
Consideration of a board member to represent Ward I, District G, vacated by the resignation of Mr. Andy Shealy, was the next agenda item to be addressed by the Board. Dr. Gerald Cobb, Superintendent, discussed replacement procedures. In accordance with the directions of the Executive Committee of the Board, any interested person meeting the qualifications required by law may call Mrs. Becky Gemelli, Secretary to the Superintendent, Lincoln Parish Schools, to be placed on a list of prospective candidates. Nominations for the position will be made by Board members only and this list does not preclude them from nominating other qualified prospects. Mr. Wright, Chairman of the Executive Committee, has called a special meeting of the Board on Tuesday, April 11, 1995, at 2:00 p.m. to elect a temporary replacement for Mr. Shealy.
Upon a motion by Mrs. Loyace Braggs, seconded by Mr. Jim Kessler, the Board unanimously voted to adopt the following Proclamation calling for a special election to fill the vacancy in the office of school board member from Ward I, District G, Lincoln Parish, Louisiana:
PROCLAMATION
I, David Wright, President of the School Board of the Parish of Lincoln, State of Louisiana, do hereby announce and proclaim that the Lincoln Parish, Louisiana, School Board does hereby and herewith order a special election to fill the vacancy in the office of School Board member from Ward I, District G, Lincoln Parish, Louisiana.
Be if further proclaimed and announced that under the authority of Louisiana Revised Statute 18:402, as amended, and other constitutional and statutory authority supplemental thereto, a special primary election be, and the same is hereby called and ordered to be held in Ward I, District G, Lincoln Parish, Louisiana, School Board, on Saturday, October 21, 1995; and a special general election, if necessary, is hereby called and ordered to be held in Ward I, District G, Lincoln Parish, Louisiana, School Board, on Saturday, November 18, 1995; all for the purpose of filling the vacancy in the office of School Board member, Ward I, District G, Lincoln Parish, Louisiana.
It is further proclaimed and announced that in accordance with Louisiana Revised Statute 18:467, as amended, the qualifying period for candidates in the special election, hereinabove called and ordered, shall open on Tuesday, September 5, 1995, and shall close at 5:00 p.m. on Thursday, September 7, 1995.
Thus done and signed at Ruston, Louisiana, on this 4th day of April, 1995.
ATTEST:
Gerald W. Cobb, Secretary David Wright, President
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Upon a motion by Mr. Wayne Barfield, seconded by Mr. Curtis Dowling, the Board unanimously voted to adopt the proposed Option 1 school calendar, as the choice of the majority of all school employees, for 1995-96 as follows:
Lincoln Parish School Calendar
1995-96
Parishwide Workshop August 18, 1995
Labor Day Holiday September 4, 1995
Thanksgiving Holiday November 20-24, 1995
Christmas/New Year Holidays December 18-January 1, 1996
Mid-Term Break January 15, 1996
Spring Break March 11-15, 1995
Easter Holiday April 5 & 8, 1996
Last Day of School May 30, 1996
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There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 7:03 p.m.
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Gerald W. Cobb, Secretary David Wright, President