LINCOLN PARISH SCHOOL BOARD
Ruston, Louisiana
REGULAR SESSION
Tuesday, September 5, 1995 6:00 p.m.
The Lincoln Parish School Board met in Regular Session on Tuesday, September 5, 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, Dr. Marty Beasley, Mr. Curtis Dowling, Mr. Jim Kessler, Mr. George Mack, Mr. Joe Mitcham, Mr. Rob Shadoin, Mr. Allen Tuten, and Mr. Calvin Wilkerson.
Absent were Mrs. Loyace Braggs and Mr. Wayne Barfield.
President Wright called the meeting to order and the invocation was given by Mr. Mitcham. Mr. Wright welcomed guests, members of the staff, and media.
Upon a motion by Mr. Shadoin, seconded by Mr. Kessler, the Board unanimously voted to adopt the agenda as printed.
Upon a motion by Dr. Beasley, seconded by Mr. Abrahm, the Board unanimously voted to approve the minutes of the Regular Session held on August 1, 1995 as distributed.
Mr. Wright announced that this was the time specified for a public hearing on the proposed 95-96 budget. Opportunity was given for anyone present to express comments or ask questions regarding the budget. There were no comments or questions concerning the proposed budget.
Business Manager, Ms. Pam Roy, reminded the Board that each year Lincoln Parish schools are allotted monies from the 1979 sales tax fund for library supplement ($1.75), classroom supplies ($3.00), office supplies and equipment repair/purchase ($3.00), student services ($3.00), debate and speech ($1.50), and kindergarten ($100 per teacher). These funds are distributed on a per pupil basis and sent directly to the schools to be disbursed by the principals. She said because of healthy sales tax collections the amounts, except for kindergarten, were increased by twenty-five cents per student.
Upon a motion by Mr. Abrahm, seconded by Mr. Kessler, the Board unanimously voted to approve the allocations as outlined by Ms. Roy.
When the home economics department burned at Ruston High several years ago many of the sewing machines were burned and damaged, Supervisor of Child Nutrition, Ms. Brenda Theodos, informed the Board. The others were broken and damaged beyond repair. These surplus machines need to be disposed of as they are creating a storage problem.
Upon a motion by Mr. Mack, seconded by Mr. Tuten, the Board unanimously voted to declare the unusable sewing machines at Ruston High as junk to be disposed of.
The Board served as a Committee of the Whole and the following Personnel Committee agenda items were discussed:
Upon a motion by Mr. Tuten, seconded by Mr. Mitcham, and after Mr. Mack called for the previous question, the Board unanimously voted to grant/accept the following requests. Mr. Ronnie Suggs, Director of Curriculum and Instruction, presented 1.-4.; Ms. Brenda Theodos presented 5.-6.; and Mr. Charles Owens, Director of Auxiliary Services, presented 7.-8.
1. Sabbatical leave for the second semester of the 95-96 school year, effective January 16, 1996, for the following:
Lori Braddock, teacher at Glen View.
Laurie Ann Scott, teacher at Glen View.
Mr. Suggs said these both meet local and state guidelines.
2. Resignations of the following:
Mary Hyatt, kindergarten teacher at Ruston Elementary, effective August 2, 1995.
Pamela Payne, social studies teacher at Ruston Junior High, effective August 8, 1995.
Valerie Ludley, elementary teacher at Simsboro, effective August 2, 1995.
Anthony Tisdale, junior high teacher at Simsboro, effective August 18, 1995.
3. As a point of reference, effective August 18, 1995, Kathy Shipp moved with her special education students from Glen View Elementary to I. A. Lewis.
4. Employment of the following effective August 18, 1995:
Rebecca Sain, special education at Glen View Elementary, in a new position.
Tami Stewart, teacher at Glen View Elementary, in a new position.
Sarah Frost, teacher at Ruston Elementary, replacing Sheila Miller who transferred.
Kay Bradford, English teacher at Ruston High, replacing Steve Hammons who resigned.
Shannon Brewster, 1/2 time English teacher at Ruston High, replacing Sonia Falou who resigned.
Lisa Lagattula, teacher at Ruston Junior High, replacing Pamela Payne who resigned.
Jeananne Shows in a new junior position at Ruston Junior High.
Janet Blackwell, teacher at Simsboro, replacing Valerie Ludley who resigned.
Virginie Gore, French teacher at Simsboro, replacing Jane Atchison who is on leave without pay.
James Pogue, junior high teacher at Simsboro, replacing Anthony Tisdale who resigned.
Rustene Carr in a new special ed aide position at Glen View Elementary.
Barbara Bradshaw in a new Title 1 aide position at Lincoln Center.
Toya Holiday in a new suspension room proctor position at Lincoln Center.
5. Resignation of Lisa Briggs as school food service technician at Choudrant Elementary effective June 1, 1995.
6. Employment of Belinda Dunn as school food service technician at Choudrant Elementary effective August 18, 1995, replacing Lisa Briggs who resigned.
7. Points of reference effective September 1, 1995, for the following custodians:
Jerome Richards transferred from Ruston High to Glen View Elementary replacing Eddie Underwood, deceased.
Sylvia Goldsmith transferred from Simsboro High to Ruston High replacing Alan Hartwell who resigned.
Bernice Outley transferred from I. A. Lewis to Ruston High replacing Helen Mitchell who transferred.
8. Employment of the following custodians effective September 1, 1995:
Helen Mitchell at I. A. Lewis replacing Bernice Outley, transferred.
Betty Gray at Lincoln Center replacing Maxine Williams, retired.
Ms. Pam Roy said that $20,162.00 was recovered by audits during the month of August, 1995, bringing the total recovered for the year to $36,938.00. Sales tax receipts for the same month reflected an increase in the 1967 and 1979 collections of $25,746.06.
Collections in the 1993 fund also showed an increase of $15,447.61. This is a 9.6% increase for the month and a 2.5% increase for the year.
Ms. Roy called to Board's attention to the June, 1995, financial statement in their portfolio. She also asked members to look at the statement of revenue and expenditures for the year ended June 30, 1995 which showed each fund and ending fund balances.
Goals 2000 update was shared by Dr. Charles Scriber, Supervisor of Secondary Education. He said the Lincoln Parish School System along with 10 other systems in North central and Northeast Louisiana has received the Goals 2000 Implementation Grant applied for in June. The total amount of the grant is $1.6 million which is to be divided equally among the 11 parishes in the consortium. Administrative costs will be taken from the total 1.6 million leaving approximately $146,000 for each parish. This money will be spent as outlined in the implementation grant and will include the following: a computer lab at Ruston High, a suspension room housed at Lincoln Center, support programs to promote preschoolers' readiness for learning, an alternative to regular education class at Ruston High, and professional development. The Board enthusiastically supported these plans, had several questions, made brief comments, and expressed the hope that the federal government will also allot monies for the Goals 2000 program for the following year. If not, it was suggested that the Board look at finding alternative funding for the suspension room at Lincoln Center.
Mr. Ronnie Suggs reported to the Board that the opening of school this year was "excellent" with nothing but positive comments from principals. At this time the total number of students in public schools in the parish is approximately 7,000. Although this is about 14 students less than last year, he expects to end up on October 1, the official count day, with about the same number of students. He said the PAMS computer system is working better than expected and is more efficient than what was previously used. Demographic information, grades, discipline records, report cards, and transcripts are readily available. The cost is approximately $16,000 per year. It was unanimously agreed that the principals, secretaries, and other staff have done a very commendable job learning and using PAMS. Mr. Suggs completed his presentation by telling the Board that the principals, teachers, supervisors, and support staff in Lincoln Parish have done an excellent job.
A summary of new laws passed by the Louisiana Legislature which will have the most impact on the day-to-day operation of our school system was given by Dr. Gerald Cobb, Superintendent. The following are acts he summarized:
ACT 663: Allows school employees to transfer accumulated sick leave from system to system.
ACT 828: Limits liability claims against school systems and employees to $750,000.
ACT 80: Adds "possession" to the drug laws in addition to "knowledge of and intention to distribute drugs," and "distribution of drugs."
ACT 264: Establishes guidelines for voluntary student-led prayer in various settings in public elementary and secondary schools.
ACT 283: Prohibits SBESE from establishing exceptional children discipline policies which are more restrictive than federal laws and regulations relative to such students.
ACT 948: Adds substitute bus drivers to the process of filling vacant bus routes.
ACT 997: Prohibits payment of AFDC benefits to parents of children whose school attendance does not meet specific requirements.
ACT 1292: Provides for a one year expulsion of a student, regardless of age, found guilty of possessing a firearm on school property, school bus, or at a school event.
ACT 1307: Requires local school boards to declare a holiday for the birthday of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr./Great American Day/Presidents' Day. Boards may observe the day as a holiday or within a regularly scheduled school day without adjourning all or a portion of the school day.
ACT 325: Establishes timeline guidelines concerning the pay for employees who are terminated or resign.
ACT 877: Provides that school boards and public agencies which receive more than $3,500,000 shall be audited annually.
ACT 940: Requires each local school board to submit a copy of its budget to the State Superintendent of Education in lieu of a budget summary each year.
ACT 60: Deletes certain teachers such as counselors and librarians from the Teacher Assessment Program.
ACT 79: Provides for written notification to a student's parent when a student is absent for five days in a semester or ten days during a school year.
ACT 1042: Requires immediate suspension and removal from the school premises any student accused of battery of a school employee. Student may not return to school until all hearing and appeal procedures have been followed. If a student is found guilty of battery on a school employee, the student shall be assigned to a school other than the one in which the battered employee works. The school system shall not be required to provide transportation to the new school.
ACT 1181: Requires that local school systems develop a plan by October 1, 1995 to manage the integration of exceptional children into the regular classroom. Each system shall implement its plan by December 1, 1995.
ACT 211: Prohibits a K - 12 public school pupil from leaving school during the school day upon his own authority. Requires the school to notify parent or guardian of any such absence.
ACT 437: Mandates BESE to require that every bus acquired after January 1, 1996 shall have a crossing control device.
ACT 671: Provides that the Board is not responsible for providing transportation and is not liable for the student providing his/her own transportation for any student suspended or expelled and assigned to an alternative school.
President Wright informed the Board that the adoption of the 95-96 budget was the next item on the agenda. Upon a motion by Dr. Beasley, seconded by Mr. Dowling, the Board unanimously approved the 95-96 budget of all funds.
In an effort to stay abreast of worthwhile educational trends, to focus in on our educational beliefs and values, and to think about what we are about, the Lincoln Parish School System periodically revises its instructional philosophy. Dr. Charles Scriber said a revision committee composed of 7 parents and/or community people, 3 teachers, 3 administrators, 2 central office supervisors, and 1 board member met on August 15, 1995 and suggested revisions to the current philosophy.
Upon a motion by Mr. Kessler, seconded by Mr. Shadoin, the Board unanimously voted to approve the instructional philosophy recommended by the committee.
Dr. Gerald Cobb reminded the Board that 5 years ago they leased a small portion of property at the Choudrant Elementary School site to the Lincoln Parish Riding Club for a riding and rodeo arena. The provisions of the lease have been met by the riding club and it has helped to meet the recreational needs of the community. The riding club, through its attorney Mike Coyle, is requesting that the lease be extended for another 5 year period.
Upon a motion by Mr. Dowling, seconded by Mr. Kessler, the Board unanimously voted to approve the extension of the lease of a small portion of property at Choudrant Elementary to the Lincoln Parish Riding Club for 5 years for a riding and rodeo arena.
Board representation on the Ruston Planning and Zoning Committee was discussed at this time. This nonvoting advisory member would replace Mr. Andy Shealy who is no longer on the Board.
Mr. Mack nominated Mr. Abrahm to serve as the Board's representative on the Ruston Planning and Zoning Committee and he was declared as elected by acclamation.
Upon a motion by Mr. Abrahm, seconded by Dr. Beasley, the Board unanimously approved Monday, October 23, 1995 as the date for the annual Academic Awards Banquet with Dr. Ray Arveson, State Superintendent of Education, as the guest speaker.
Mr. Ronnie Suggs said we are very fortunate to have personnel and equipment to operate a first class driver education program in our parish. Because of a law passed in December, 1993, our enrollment has increased from about 175 students in a summer-only program to 340 in our year-round 94-95 program. Lincoln is the smallest parish in North Louisiana which has been able to make this year-round service available to the community. No state funding is received for the program's operation. Current rates, established in 1991 when courtesy cars were received from a local dealership, are $110. The driver receives $35 per pupil for 30 hours of classroom instruction, $45 per pupil for 6 hours of driving and 6 hours of observation, and the Board receives the remaining $30 to cover expenses. He compared this '91 rate with other parishes and recommended an increase of $25 per pupil. Students receive 1/2 credit for driver education on their high school transcript and the parents receive a 10% savings on insurance. He shared revenue and expense figures from July 1, 1992 through June 30, 1995 and said the program is currently operating at approximately $10,834 deficit over this 3 year period. Ideally, the program should be self-sufficient which is what the proposed increase would accomplish. Equipment and materials which have been needed for several years could also be purchased. Presently vehicles are rented at a nominal daily fee from a dealership in Monroe. If not for this arrangement, securing vehicles for the program would be very difficult and very expensive. All students in Lincoln Parish who wish to take drivers' education are served. One supervisor, 3 full time instructors, and 3 part time instructors make up the program.
Upon a motion by Mr. Tuten, seconded by Mr. Dowling, the Board unanimously voted to increase driver education fees to $135 per student beginning with the fall application process.
Superintendent Cobb called to Board's attention to the list of the schools' Open House dates and times and encouraged them to attend as many as possible.
There being no further business and upon a motion by Mr. Shadoin, the Board decided by acclamation to adjourn at 7:20 p.m.
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Gerald W. Cobb, Secretary David Wright, President