LINCOLN PARISH SCHOOL BOARD
Ruston, Louisiana
REGULAR SESSION
Tuesday, May 2, 1995 6:00 p.m.
The Lincoln Parish School Board met in Regular Session on Tuesday, May 2, 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. Billy Abrahm, Mr. Wayne Barfield, Dr. Marty Beasley, Mrs. Loyace Braggs, Mr. Curtis Dowling, Mr. Jim Kessler, Mr. George Mack, Mr. Joe Mitcham, Mr. Rob Shadoin (arrived after the meeting started), Mr. Allen Tuten (left the meeting early), and Mr. Calvin Wilkerson.
Absent: None.
Mr. David Wright, President, called the meeting to order and Mr. Wayne Barfield gave the invocation.
Mr. Wright welcomed special guests, members of the staff, and media. A special welcome was extended to Mr. Billy Abrahm, new board member appointed by the Board to serve in Mr. Andy Shealy's former position, representing Ward 1-G, until such time as an election can be held in October, 1995. He was offered congratulations and welcomed to the Board by the other members.
Upon a motion by Dr. Beasley, seconded by Mr. Mitcham, the Board unanimously voted to adopt the agenda as printed.
Mrs. Brenda Theodos, Lincoln Parish Supervisor of Child Nutrition, came before the Board to recognize three Outstanding Support Persons. She told the Board that this is the second year for Lincoln Parish to participate in the program, went over the selection procedure used, and emphasized that the school system could not operate without these special people. Winners were selected from three divisions - elementary, middle school, and secondary school. Parishwide winners presented with plaques were: Jeanne Burns, Secretary at Hico Elementary; Marj Berguson, Secretary at Ruston Junior High; and Bobby Dade, Custodian and Bus Driver at Choudrant High School. Mr. Wright congratulated each of the winners and encouraged them to keep up the good work.
Three outstanding students from Lincoln Parish Schools who participated, and won, at the parish level in the annual Louisiana Superintendent's Writing competition were recognized by Elementary Supervisor, Mr. Danny Bell. The winners, who were presented with a certificate of appreciation and will now advance to the regional level, were: Karishma Furtado, second grade at Hillcrest Elementary; and Whitney Michelle Massingale, 6th grade at I. A. Lewis. Krystal Ferguson, 8th grade at Grambling Middle School, was also named as a winner but was unable to attend the board meeting. Mr. Wright thanked Mr. Bell and congratulated these young people and their parents for doing a good job.
Dr. Gerald Cobb, Superintendent, told the Board that this year, in Redbook's fourth annual survey, Lincoln Center has been selected as one of ten schools nationally in the category of outstanding parent-community involvement programs. He presented Mr. Ray Bratton, Principal, and Dr. Janie Humphries, Project Director of LINC (Lincoln Institutions Networking for Children), with a plaque in recognition of their leadership of the program. Dr. Cobb also recognized, welcomed, and thanked Dean Jeanne Gilley, College of Human Ecology, Louisiana Tech University, for the support given to the program.
Upon a motion by Mr. Tuten, seconded by Mrs. Braggs, the Board unanimously voted to approve the minutes of the Regular Session held on April 4, 1995 and the Special Session of April 25, 1995 as distributed.
Upon a motion by Mrs. Braggs, seconded by Mr. Barfield, the Board unanimously voted to grant permission to send Letters of Continued Employment to employees as mandated by Act 745 of the 1977 legislature and presented annually by Mr. Ronnie Suggs, Director of Curriculum and Instruction.
Upon a motion by Mr. Mack, seconded by Mr. Kessler, the Board unanimously voted to grant permission to apply for funds through Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and Preschool Flow Through, as presented yearly by Supervisor of Special Education, Mrs. Sharon Thomas.
Upon a motion by Mr. Barfield, seconded by Mrs. Braggs, and after brief comments and questions, the Board unanimously voted to grant permission to advertise for air conditioning equipment for Dubach High School, as requested by Mr. Charles Owens, Director of Auxiliary Services.
Upon a motion by Mr. Dowling, seconded by Mr. Mitcham, the Board unanimously voted to grant permission to advertise and accept the lowest bids for agriscience shop equipment for Ruston High School. Mrs. Barbara Kirkland, Supervisor of Federal Programs, and Principal Randy Moore reminded the Board that plans are underway to implement an agriscience program at R. H. S. for the 95-96 school year. To provide instruction and experiences with facilities and equipment that is up-to-date to meet labor market demands and lead to increased student work and job placement, it is necessary to purchase shop equipment to teach welding, small engines, woodworking, horticulture, animal science, and electricity. Local funds available to R. H. S. will be used, supplemented by federal vocational funds as available.
Upon a motion by Mr. Tuten, seconded by Mr. Dowling, the Board unanimously voted to declare various items at Ruston High School as surplus. Mrs. Kirkland and Mr. Moore told the Board that this is necessary in order to utilize space for the agriscience program in the T & I building and under the concession area across from the T & I building that are now used for storage. Unusable items include drafting tables, student desks, teacher desks, wooden chairs, bookshelves, wooden storage cabinets, filing cabinets, etc.
Mr. Tuten left the meeting following the vote at 6:23 p.m.
The Board served as a Committee of the Whole and the following Personnel Committee agenda items were discussed:
Upon a motion by Mr. Dowling, seconded by Mrs. Braggs, and after one question the Board unanimously voted to grant/accept the following requests. Mr. Ronnie Suggs presented a.-g. and Mr. Howard Whitlock, Transportation Supervisor, presented h.-j.:
a. Retirement of Mrs. Frances Smith, accounts payable clerk at the central office, effective June 30, 1995.
b. Retirement of Mrs. Judy Woodard, social studies teacher at Simsboro, effective January 31, 1996.
c. Retirement of Mrs. Antionette Anderson, elementary teacher at Hillcrest, effective June 1, 1995.
d. Resignation of Ms. Karen Holmes, elementary teacher at Choudrant, effective June 1, 1995.
e. Resignation of Mr. Todd Thompson, social studies/coach at Ruston High, effective June 1, 1995.
f. Sabbatical leave for rest and recuperation for the 95-96 school year for Ms. Gwendolyn Torbor, special education teacher at Simsboro, effective August 18, 1995.
Mr. Suggs said that this meets the local guidelines used in the past.
g. Leave Without Pay for the 95-96 school year for 4/6 French teacher at Simsboro, Mrs. Jane Atchison, effective August 18, 1995.
Mr. Suggs said this also meets local guidelines used in the past.
h. Retirement of Mr. Cartres Johnson, bus driver in the Ruston area, effective June 1, 1995.
i. Retirement of Mr. O. B. McDonald, bus driver in the Ruston area, effective June 1, 1995.
j. Retirement of Mr. V. A. Torbor, bus driver in the Ruston area, effective June 1, 1995.
Next on the agenda was a report from Mrs. Barbara Kirkland and Mr. Danny Bell on the numerous in-service opportunities that had been available to the instructional staff throughout the 94-95 school year. They gave the Board a list by funding sources of those held and said that hundreds of teachers have taken advantage of these opportunities for professional growth. Mrs. Kirkland and Mr. Bell also gave members a copy of a survey that had been distributed to the faculty to determine areas of interest. Although no Board action was necessary, they agreed the survey looks good and will be helpful.
Dr. Charles Scriber, Secondary Supervisor, shared details and a narrative summary of results of the Goals 2000 education survey and said that the Strategic Planning Committee has begun work on writing the action plan for the 95-96 school year. The plan will primarily address the top three priorities identified by the survey which are: safe and drug free schools (with the greatest concerning being discipline), increasing high school graduation rate, and student achievement (focus on and use the basic curriculum and increase the computer literacy of students).
President Wright expressed his desire to hear a report on the alternative program and Dr. Cobb assured him that he would hear one before the start of school.
Dr. Cobb thanked Dr. Scriber for his good work starting from "ground zero" with Goals 2000.
Mrs. Pam Roy, Business Manager, told the Board that April, 1995 was a good month financially with $23,324.00 being recovered by audits. This brings the total sales tax revenue recovered by audits to $98,929.00 for the year. She also reported that sales tax receipts for the same month reflected an increase in the 1967 and 1979 collections of $43,135.38. Collections in the 1993 fund also showed an increase of $25,880.90. These figures reflect a 15.2% growth over the same month last year and a 13.7% increase for the entire year.
A financial update for the month ending March, 1995 was also presented by Mrs. Roy. She said that by looking at the most important area of the report, the shaded area, board members would notice healthy fund balances but that "we have to live off of what we have until January of next year." Adult education is the only fund showing a deficit because those funds are used and then requested from the state.
Upon a motion by Dr. Beasley, seconded by Mrs. Braggs, the Board unanimously voted to ratify the poll vote taken on April 21, 1995 granting permission to accept the lowest bid that met specifications for the building materials and labor for two portable buildings at Ruston Junior High School, as presented by Mr. Charles Owens. The bid was submitted by Cowan Painting and Construction Company in the amount of $76,999.00.
Upon a motion by Mr. Kessler, seconded by Mr. Mitcham, the Board unanimously voted to adopt the following resolution designating May 1-5, 1995 as Teacher Appreciation Week. Dr. Cobb told the Board that the parish is so fortunate in that the many successes of our school system are a direct result of the quality teachers that we have employed; therefore, we need to recognize these individuals for their hard work and show our appreciation to them by designating a week by which we may honor them. He said that "where the rubber meets the road in the classroom is with the teacher."
RESOLUTION
WHEREAS, the Lincoln Parish Public School System has a long history of academic achievement by its students; and
WHEREAS, this academic achievement has been accomplished because of an outstanding faculty; and
WHEREAS, the teachers of Lincoln Parish work long and hard to meet the needs of students; and
WHEREAS, the core of any good instructional program takes place in the classroom.
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED: That the Lincoln Parish School Board designates May 1-5, 1995 as Teacher Appreciation Week and expresses its appreciation to the faculties of the Lincoln Parish Public School System.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED: That this resolution be sent to each school in Lincoln Parish and also made a part of the official minutes of the Lincoln Parish School Board.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Upon a motion by Mrs. Braggs, seconded by Mr. Wilkerson, the Board unanimously voted to adopt the following resolution honoring the late Mrs. Dorothy Prescott:
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, Mrs. Dorothy M. Prescott served the children and youth in the Lincoln Parish School system for twenty-five years after seven years in Winn Parish; and
WHEREAS, she spent the last several years as Librarian at Choudrant High School in addition to some teaching duties; and
WHEREAS, in 1991 she chose to close out an admirable professional career by retirement from active duty; and
WHEREAS, God in his infinite wisdom has recently called her from labor to eternal rest.
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED: That the Lincoln Parish School Board join with her many colleagues and friends in expressing condolences to her husband and family.
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED: That the quiet and efficient way in which she performed her tasks be a benchmark for us all.
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED: That a copy of this resolution be given to the family and have a place in the records of this system.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Upon a motion by Mr. Barfield, seconded by Mrs. Braggs, the Board unanimously voted to declare May 12, 1995 Speech Therapist Appreciation Day in the Lincoln Parish School System, as recommended by Mrs. Sharon Thomas. Mrs. Thomas called on Mrs. Sharon Patterson, Related Services Coordinator, who gave the Board a brief overview of the speech therapy program in the parish. She said the parish is fully staffed, which is not the case in most parishes, with eight qualified, very professional speech therapist.
At this point in the meeting Mr. Danny Bell recognized Krystal Ferguson, 8th grade parish winner of the Superintendent's Writing Award, as she had arrived at the meeting.
Mr. Wright recognized Mrs. Shirley Dring, bus driver, who came before the Board to express her previous and continued interest in the bus lease purchase program. Mr. Howard Whitlock, gave background information concerning the program which originated in 1991, was dropped due to lack of finances, and reinstated in 1992. He told the Board that the pilot program did not accomplish the objectives originally intended and that problems began to arise over specifics of the lease purchase agreement; therefore, recommended that the Board no longer participate in the lease purchase program for contract drivers. A majority of board members, several bus drivers, and staff members had questions and made comments. One suggestion was made by a board member that drivers who had expressed an interest in the bus lease purchase program be allowed to purchase a bus and then the Board could no longer participate in the program. Mr. Wright sensed that the Board was not ready to deal with this nor look into the intricacies of the program.
At 7:20, during this discussion, Mr. Shadoin arrived at the meeting.
After Mr. Wright proposed that the matter be tabled, Mr. Kessler made a motion, seconded by Mrs. Braggs, to postpone the matter of bus lease purchase until the next regular meeting of the Board. The consensus of the Board was that the matter should be postponed. Mr. Shadoin wanted the minutes to reflect that he was not in favor of the motion.
Dr. Beasley invited board members to the LSBA Day at the Legislature Tuesday, May 9, in Baton Rouge and commended Mr. Whitlock for his newsletter to the bus drivers.
After brief comments from several board members, the meeting was adjourned at 7:48 p.m.
____________________________________________________________________
Gerald W. Cobb, Secretary David Wright, President