LINCOLN PARISH SCHOOL BOARD
Ruston, Louisiana
REGULAR SESSION
Tuesday, August 1, 1995 6:00 p.m.
The Lincoln Parish School Board met in Regular Session on Tuesday, August 1, 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. George Mack, Mr. Joe Mitcham, Mr. Rob Shadoin, Mr. Allen Tuten, and Mr. Calvin Wilkerson.
Absent was Mr. Jim Kessler.
President Wright called the meeting to order and the invocation was given by Mr. Abrahm. Mr. Wright welcomed guests, members of the staff, and media.
Upon a motion by Mrs. Braggs, seconded by Mr. Dowling, the Board unanimously voted to adopt the agenda as printed.
Upon a motion by Mr. Barfield, seconded by Mr. Mitcham, the Board unanimously voted to approve the minutes of the Regular Session held on July 11, 1995 as distributed.
Secondary Supervisor, Dr. Charles Scriber, told the Board that the contract for state and local library funds is up for renewal. The contract will apply to the purchase of library books with state and local funds for the 95-96 fiscal year with an option for the 96-97 fiscal year.
Upon a motion by Mrs. Braggs, seconded by Mr. Abrahm, the Board unanimously voted to grant permission to advertise for bids for library books.
The Finance Committee met just prior to the Board and the following report was presented by Mr. Tuten, Chairman:
1. Upon a motion by Mr. Tuten, seconded by Mr. Mack, the Board, upon the recommendation of the Finance Committee, unanimously voted to adopt the 1995-96 budget procedures schedule as shown below:
Board Action Required
a. Authorization to publish a general summary budget in the Ruston Leader on August 7, 1995 and notice that the 1995-96 beginning budget is available for public inspection on working days from August 7, 1995 to September 5, 1995, at the Lincoln Parish School Board, 410 South Farmerville, Ruston, Louisiana, between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m.
b. Authorization to publish a notice in the Ruston Leader on August 7, 1995, that the 1995-96 beginning budget will be presented at a public hearing at the Lincoln Parish School Board office, 410 South Farmerville Street, Ruston, Louisiana, on September 5, 1995.
August 7, 1995
Publish a general summary budget in the Ruston Leader along with the notice of public inspection and public hearing on September 5, 1995.
September 5, 1995
Presentation of the beginning budget at public hearing at the School Board meeting at 6:00 p.m.
September 5, 1995
Adoption of the beginning budget for the fiscal year July 1, 1995 through June 30, 1996.
2. Mr. Tuten reported to the Board that the second Finance agenda item was the presentation of the initial proposed budget for review and discussion before its adoption by the Board as the official budget for 95-96 on September 5, 1995.
3. Upon a motion by Mr. Tuten, seconded by Mr. Abrahm, the Board, upon the recommendation of the Finance Committee, unanimously voted by roll call vote to adopt the resolution levying millages on the 1995 assessment roll for Lincoln Parish as follows:
I. Parishwide
A. 4.95 Mills Constitutional Tax
B. 5.10 Mills Special Repair & Equipment Tax
C. 5.10 Mills Special Maintenance & Operation Tax
D. 12.00 Mills Parishwide Maintenance & Operation Tax
II. District Taxes - For Bond and Interest Fund
A. 17.00 Mills Ruston School District #1
B. 16.20 Mills Simsboro School District #3
C. -0- Mills Dubach School District #5
D. 45.00 Mills Choudrant School District #6
III. District Taxes - Maintenance and Operation
A. 3.05 Mills Ruston School District #1
B. 2.98 Mills Simsboro School District #3
C. 2.86 Mills Dubach School District #5
Voting by roll call vote for the above motion was: Mr. Billy Abrahm, Mr. Wayne Barfield, Dr. Marty Beasley, Mrs. Loyace Braggs, Mr. Curtis Dowling, Mr. George Mack, Mr. Joe Mitcham, Mr. Rob Shadoin, Mr. Allen Tuten, Mr. Calvin Wilkerson, and Mr. David Wright.
Voting against the motion: None
Absent and not voting: Mr. Jim Kessler
The Board served as a Committee of the Whole and the following Personnel Committee agenda items were discussed:
As several members of the Board are fairly new, Mr. Ronnie Suggs, Director of Curriculum and Instruction, shared information regarding the process followed in the hiring of professional staff. He said the number of applicants, including minorities and males, is down this year. Although the number of professionals applying is down, Lincoln Parish is ranked number four out of sixty-six school systems in the state by having only 5.2% of its faculty not fully certified.
Upon a motion by Mr. Barfield, seconded by Mr. Dowling, and after Mr. Mack called for the question, the Board unanimously voted to grant/accept the following requests. Mr. Ronnie Suggs presented 1.-4.; Mr. Howard Whitlock, Transportation Supervisor, presented 5.; and Ms. Brenda Theodos, Supervisor of Child Nutrition, presented 6.-7.
1. Leave without pay for the 95-96 school year for Millie Hooper, teacher at Choudrant Elementary, effective August 18, 1995.
2. Resignations of the following:
Evelyn Blakeney, kindergarten teacher at Glen View, effective July 15, 1995.
Monica Rohner, teacher at Glen View, effective July 17, 1995.
Karen Taylor, teacher at Ruston Elementary, effective July 25, 1995.
Barry Canterbury, P.E./coach at Ruston High, effective July 14, 1995.
Steve Hammons, social studies at Ruston High, effective July 25, 1995.
Kirby "Jay" Seal, teacher/coach at Ruston Junior High, effective July 25, 1995.
Jennifer Schubert, elementary teacher at Simsboro, effective July 15, 1995.
3. Points of reference effective August 18, 1995, except for the counseling position at Ruston High which will be effective August 4, 1995:
Shari Scriber transferring from Cypress Springs to Choudrant Elementary, to replace Anita Henderson, resigned.
Donna Williams transferring from Cypress Springs to Choudrant Elementary, to replace Martha Hayes, transferred.
Martha Hayes transferring from Choudrant Elementary to Cypress Springs, to replace Donna Williams, transferred.
Bonnie Singleton transferring from Simsboro to Cypress Springs, to replace Shari Scriber, transferred.
Kay Phillips transferring from Ruston Elementary to Glen View, to replace Evelyn Blakeney, resigned.
Chris Joiner transferring from Glen View to I. A. Lewis, to replace Doris Bacon, resigned.
Sheila Miller transferring from Ruston Elementary to a new position at Lincoln Center.
Mamie Hammock transferring from assistant coach at Ruston High to coach at Ruston High, to replace Glenda Smith, who moved into administration full time.
Remonia Hudson transferring from P.E. at Ruston High to counseling at Ruston High, to replace Diane Sistrunk, resigned.
Mary Boddie transferring from Glen View to Ruston Junior High to replace Susan Hilton, sabbatical.
Carmen Hoefler transferring from special education at Ruston Elementary to Simsboro, to replace Gwen Torbor, sabbatical.
Joan Frasier transferring from special education aide to a clerical position at Ruston High, to replace Peggy Boone, leave without pay.
4. Employment of the following effective August 18, 1995, except for the boys' P.E./coach at Ruston High which will be effective August 4, 1995:
Susan Norred as teacher at Choudrant Elementary to replace Millie Hooper, leave without pay.
Cynthia Evans as home economics at Choudrant High to replace Earlene Jackson, sabbatical.
Diane Madden in a new junior high position at Choudrant High.
Cynthia Breed as special education at Cypress Springs to replace Mary Pierce, resigned.
Kelly Caldwell in a new kindergarten position at Cypress Springs.
Gay Ramsey as special education at Cypress Springs to replace Kathryn Rowell, resigned.
Eashell Hatcherson in a new special education position at Dubach High.
Shai Lantrip as elementary at Glen View to replace Kristie Frasier, 1/2 year sabbatical.
Tammy Schales as elementary at Glen View to replace Monica Rohner, resigned.
Vivian Franklin in a new position as Title I tutorer at Lincoln Center.
Daphne Livingston in a new position as Title I tutorer at Lincoln Center.
Aleshia Smith in a new position as Title I tutorer at Lincoln Center.
Joey Smith as an Even Start aide at Lincoln Center to replace Stephanie Robinson, terminated.
Debra Jordan as teacher at Ruston Elementary to replace Kay Phillips, transferred.
Sandra Ameel as counselor at Ruston High to replace Cassandra Lyles, sabbatical.
Jan Martin as home economics aide at Ruston High in a new position.
Will McGee as art teacher at Ruston High to replace Betty Lee, retired.
Jonathan Miller as special education aide at Ruston High to replace Jacqueline Daniels, resigned.
Debbie Stuckey as special education aide at Ruston High to replace Joan Frasier, transferred.
Jack Thigpen as boys' P.E./coach at Ruston High to replace Barry Canterbury, resigned.
Karen Vining as girls' P.E./coach at Ruston High to replace Remonia Hudson, transferred.
Aimee Harter as teacher as Ruston Junior High to replace Kellye Ratcliff, leave without pay.
Pamela Payne as teacher at Ruston Junior High to replace Jan Norwood, transferred.
Rochelle Foy as music at Ruston Junior High/I. A. Lewis to replace Lindelle Weaver, sabbatical.
Allison Hanson as elementary at Simsboro to replace Alisa Antley, 1/2 year sabbatical.
Julie Keen as math at Simsboro High to replace Doug Johnson, non-renewal.
5. Employment of the following bus drivers effective August 18, 1995:
Deana Abraham in the Ruston area to replace Clyde Barham, retired.
Roy Crowe in the Ruston area to replace Cartres Johnson, retired.
O'Donald Hill in the Ruston area to replace V. A. Torbor, retired.
Jeff Killough in the Dubach area to replace Jim McGrew, resigned.
Bruce Odom in the Ruston area to replace Leila Brumett, non-renewal.
Richard Pilgreen in the Dubach area to replace James Mattox, retired.
Milton Simmons in the Ruston area to replace O. B. McDonald, retired.
6. Employment of the following school food service personnel effective August 1, 1995:
Pam Wisdom as manager at Ruston High to replace Stephanie Mattox, resigned.
Valorie Cooper as technician at Hico to replace Debbie Ware, transferred.
7. Points of reference effective August 1, 1995:
Maribeth Pesnell transferring from clerk to manager at Choudrant High to place Jean Phillips, retired.
Chris Griffin transferring from clerk at Ruston Junior High to clerk at Choudrant High to replace Maribeth Pesnell, transferred.
Debbie Ware transferring from technician at Hico to clerk at Ruston Junior High to replace Chris Griffin, transferred.
Mrs. Theodos indicated that no action was needed on the last two items of her personnel information as the situation at the school is being re-evaluated at this time.
Business Manager, Ms. Pam Roy, gladly informed the Board that $16,776.00 was recovered by audits during the month of July, 1995. She also reported that sales tax receipts for the same month reflected an increase in the 1967 and 1979 collections of $52,220.92. This 20.3% increase is the largest in the three years shown on the report. Collections in the 1993 fund also showed an increase of $31,332.60.
Mr. Charles Owens, Director of Auxiliary Services, updated the Board on the bids for the Title I Parenting Center. Authorization was given to accept bids at the June 27 meeting, bid opening was held on July 31. Mr. Owens recommended that the bid be accepted, although larger than the estimated cost of $30,000-$35,000, pending the availability of additional federal funds. Concern was expressed regarding the difference in the estimate and the bid and the fact that only one company submitted a bid. A brief period of discussion, questions, and answers ensued. In view of the concerns expressed, Superintendent Gerald Cobb suggested that Mr. Owens contact the state Title I office to determine if additional monies were available. Although he feels optimistic that these funds will be secured, he said the Board would be informed at their next meeting if additional monies were not available. He assured that Board that local funds would not be spent on the center.
Upon a motion by Mr. Tuten, seconded by Mr. Shadoin, the Board unanimously voted to accept the bid received from Cowan Painting and Construction for $49,990 for the construction of a Title I Parenting Center, pending the availability of additional federal funds.
Mr. Howard Whitlock reported on the status of the bids for used school buses authorized at the June 27 meeting. Again, only one bid was received; therefore, he recommended that the bid be accepted, pending visual inspection.
Upon a motion by Dr. Beasley, seconded by Mrs. Braggs, the Board unanimously voted to accept the bid received from Ross Bus Sales for the purchase of 11 used buses.
Ms. Pam Roy made her yearly presentation required by auditors concerning a System Survey and Compliance Questionnaire.
Upon a motion by Mrs. Braggs, seconded by Mr. Abrahm, the Board unanimously voted to approve the System Survey and Compliance Questionnaire as presented.
Mr. Charles Owens asked the Board to ratify the poll vote taken during the week of July 10 asking permission to enter into an intergovernmental agreement with the Lincoln Parish Police Jury and the Lincoln Parish Detention Commission. This agreement would allow the Board to use a portion of a field southwest of the detention center to park buses.
Upon a motion by Mr. Dowling, seconded by Mr. Wilkerson, the Board unanimously voted to ratify the poll vote taken during the week of July 10 authorizing the Lincoln Parish School Board to enter into an intergovernmental agreement with the Lincoln Parish Police Jury and the Lincoln Parish Detention Commission authorizing the Board to use a portion of a field to park buses.
Upon a motion by Dr. Beasley, seconded by Mr. Mack, the Board unanimously and enthusiastically voted to grant permission to enter into an intergovernmental agreement with the Lincoln Parish Police Jury and the Lincoln Parish Detention Commission allowing the Board to use a portion of a field southwest of the detention center for bus parking.
It was agreed that this will save taxpayers money, is a sound financial decision, and a big "Thank You" should be given to the Police Jury for their hard work.
There being no further business, the Board decided by acclamation to adjourn at 6:55 p.m.
_____________________________________________________________________
Gerald W. Cobb, Secretary David Wright, President