LINCOLN PARISH SCHOOL BOARD
Ruston, Louisiana
REGULAR SESSION
Tuesday, October 3, 1995 6:00 p.m.
The Lincoln Parish School Board met in Regular Session on Tuesday, October 3, 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 (arrived after meeting started), Mr. Wayne Barfield, Dr. Marty Beasley (arrived after meeting started), Mrs. Loyace Braggs, Mr. Curtis Dowling, Mr. Jim Kessler, Mr. George Mack, Mr. Joe Mitcham, Mr. Rob Shadoin, and Mr. Allen Tuten.
Absent was Mr. Calvin Wilkerson.
President Wright called the meeting to order and the invocation was given by Mr. Barfield. 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 amended, with the addition of one item of new business: Consider emergency repairs to Cypress Springs' foundation.
Dr. Beasley arrived at 6:02 p.m.
Upon a motion by Mr. Mack, seconded by Mr. Mitcham, the Board unanimously voted to approve the minutes of the Regular Sessions held on September 5 and 21, 1995 as distributed.
Mr. Abrahm arrived at this point in the meeting. It was 6:03 p.m.
Dr. Charles Scriber, Secondary Supervisor, reviewed background information on the Teacher-of-the-Year program. Each of the following 95-96 parish winners were presented with a plaque of appreciation on behalf of the Board for their excellence and hard work:
Maribel Childress - first grade teacher from Hillcrest representing Elementary
Linda Telford - Simsboro teacher representing Junior High Schools
Amy Talley - Ruston High teacher representing High Schools
Mr. Wright congratulated them on behalf of the Board for winning this award and wished them well as they move into regional competition.
Principal of Ruston High School, Mr. Randy Moore, had the next item on the agenda but requested that his item be deferred until his student arrived from Quiz Bowl competition.
The Board honored his request.
The Board served as a Committee of the Whole and the following Personnel Committee agenda items were discussed:
Upon a motion by Mr. Kessler, seconded by Mr. Dowling, the Board unanimously voted to grant/accept the following requests. Mr. Ronnie Suggs, Director of Curriculum and Instruction, presented items 1. and 2. and Mr. Charles Owens, Director of Auxiliary Services, presented 3.
1. Sabbatical leave for the second semester of the 95-96 school year, effective January 16, 1996 for the Ms. Betty Parks, home economics teacher at Ruston Junior High.
Mr. Suggs said this meets all local and state guidelines.
2. Resignation of Ms. Chalonda Smith, physical education teacher at Hillcrest, effective October 9, 1995.
3. Employment of the following effective October 2, 1995:
Isiah Jones as custodian at Hillcrest to replace Stella Smith who transferred.
James McConnell as custodian at Ruston High to replace Jerry Howard who resigned.
Ms. Pam Roy, Business Manager, reported that $9,556.09 was recovered by audits during the month of September, 1995 bringing the total recovered for the year to $46,494.09. Sales tax receipts for the same month reflected an increase in the 1967 and 1979 collections of $43,947.76. Collections in the 1993 fund also showed an increase of $26,368.50. This is a 16.9% increase for the month and a 3.9% increase for the year. September was a "really good month" financially.
Ms. Roy called to Board's attention to the August, 1995 financial statement and said fund balances are beginning to decrease as we are using ad valorem taxes that are collected annually.
The Board, at its August 1 meeting, approved advertising for bids for state library book orders for the 95-96 school year with an option for 96-97. Dr. Scriber updated the Board on the bid process followed and recommended that the Board accept the bid of Brodart Company as the lowest and best bid.
Upon a motion by Mr. Tuten, seconded by Dr. Beasley, the Board unanimously voted to accept the bid submitted by Brodart Company for the purchase of state library books for the 95-96 school year with an option for 96-97.
Mr. Ronnie Suggs told the Board that at their October 6, 1992 meeting the Board approved a ranking criteria for the Louisiana Honors Scholarship Program. Since that time some concerns have arisen regarding the transfer of students from one school to another within Lincoln Parish, during the senior year, for the purpose of qualifying for one of the scholarships. He proposed the following change in the wording:
(From) In order to be considered for a Louisiana Honors Scholarship a student must have been a legal resident (as defined by Section VIII. A. of the Louisiana Honors Scholarship Manual) in the school district in which he/she is applying for at least 12 months prior to application. Legal proof of residence may be required by presenting drivers' license, income tax forms, or voter registration card.
(To) In order to be considered for a Louisiana Honors Scholarship a student must have been a legal resident (as defined by Section VIII. A. of the Louisiana Honors Scholarship Manual) and must be a bonafide active student in the school in which he/she is applying for at least 1 full school year prior to application. Legal proof of residence may be required by presenting drivers' license, income tax forms, or voter registration card.
Upon a motion by Mrs. Braggs, seconded by Dr. Beasley, the Board unanimously voted to approve the proposed change in wording dealing with ranking criteria for the Louisiana Honors Scholarship Program.
The next item on the agenda was to consider a hearing timeline for disciplinary and appeal hearings for both students and employees as recommended by Mr. Shadoin. He felt this was necessary in order to keep the Board on track and on the task at hand. Other public entities, including courts of appeal, are using time limits to ensure some order to the proceedings. He reminded members that "by the time appeals reach the Board, they have already been thrashed out very thoroughly at several other levels." He was also trying to steer the Board away from day-to-day decision making that belongs to the professional staff.
Mr. Shadoin moved that the Board approve his hearing timeline structure and Mr. Abrahm seconded the motion.
A lengthy period of questions and comments followed with most of the Board members expressing their opinions. Several alternative suggestions were voiced including disregarding the plan as "too restrictive"; letting the President use his gavel to help the Board conduct its business in an orderly, timely manner; using the plan as a guide but allowing the Board to extend times as needed by a majority vote; changing the time limits from the suggested 1 hour and 50 minute limit to 3.5 hours with unlimited time for Board debate; and using the suggested times as a guide while Board members become more aware of what they want to say or ask, organize their thoughts and have them in a cogent and succinct form. It was pointed out that because members do not receive hearing information prior to the hearing, this is difficult to do. It was felt by several Board members that if time limits were placed on students/parents and/or employees the Board would appear to its constituents to be unconcerned and to have more important things to do with their time. One Board member reminded others that, "We are dealing with people's lives." Other Board members were in complete agreement with the proposed plan. Mr. Tuten suggested that the Board try the proposed guidelines at the next hearing or appeal. President Wright asked Mr. Shadoin, who made the original motion, and Mr. Abrahm, who seconded the motion, if that would be agreeable to them.
Mr. Shadoin and Mr. Abrahm agreed to withdraw their original motion and Mr. Shadoin suggested that the time guidelines would be used at the next hearing or appeal, at the President's discretion and, "If it doesn't work, it will be reviewed." The Board agreed by common consent.
Mr. Randy Moore recognized and presented a plaque to Ruston High School student, Holly Moore, as a National Achievement Scholarship Program Semi-Finalist. Mr. Wright congratulated Holly and told her the Board is behind her efforts and recognizes what an honor it is for her to receive this recognition.
The addendum to the agenda, to consider emergency repairs to Cypress Springs' foundation, was presented by Mr. Charles Owens. He said in late October of 1994 a separation was discovered in the floor of the foundation in the southeastern section of the building. In an effort to determine the cause, Mr. Mike Walpole, architect, was asked to study the situation. Mr. Walpole, with approval, engaged the services of Aillet, Fenner, Jolly, & McClelland, an environmental and structural engineering firm. After Mr. Fenner, chief engineer, made at least two visits to Cypress Springs, he recommended that: the separation be closely watched over the next 6 months to 1 year to determine if there was any additional movement; in the event of movement, immediate steps be taken to correct the situation; and a plan and specifications be developed for correcting the situation. Mr. Walpole obtained an estimate from a local contractor in the amount of $30,000.00 for this purpose. As the situation has worsened, Mr. Owens recommended that the Board engage the services of Mr. Walpole to correct the foundation problems at Cypress Springs.
Upon a motion by Mr. Barfield, seconded by Mr. Dowling, the Board unanimously voted to engage the services of Mr. Mike Walpole to correct the foundation problems at Cypress Springs.
Superintendent Cobb reminded the Board that their next meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, October 18, at noon at Cypress Springs and that the Academic Awards Banquet will be held on Monday, October 23, at 7:00 p.m. at the Ruston Civic Center.
There being no further business and upon a motion by Mr. Shadoin, the Board decided by acclamation to adjourn at 7:30 p.m.
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Gerald W. Cobb, Secretary David Wright, President