LINCOLN PARISH SCHOOL BOARD

Ruston, Louisiana

REGULAR SESSION

Tuesday, November 7, 1995   6:00 p.m.

The Lincoln Parish School Board met in Regular Session on Tuesday, November 7, 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, Mr. Allen Tuten, and Mr. Calvin Wilkerson (arrived after the meeting began).

No members were absent.

President Wright called the meeting to order and the invocation was given by Mr. Mitcham.  Mr. Wright welcomed guests; members of the staff; media; G.S.U. students from class 452; the class coordinator, Ms. Augusta Clark; and Dr. Janie Humphries. 

Upon a motion by Mrs. Braggs, seconded by Mr. Barfield, the Board unanimously voted to adopt the agenda as amended, with the addition of an addendum to the personnel agenda.

Upon a motion by Mr. Shadoin, seconded by Mr. Abrahm, the Board unanimously voted to approve the minutes of the Regular Session held on October 18, 1995 as distributed.

Dr. Charles Scriber, Secondary Supervisor, reminded the Board that Ms. Maribel Tuten Childress was the Lincoln Parish Elementary Teacher-of-the-Year.  She was also selected as one of eight regional finalists in the state-wide program.  He presented her with a plaque in recognition of this distinction.  Ms. Childress told the Board it was an honor to represent Lincoln Parish and thanked the Board for the privilege.  She also expressed appreciation to Board from the teachers for their concern and time spent to help Lincoln Parish as parents and concerned citizens.  Superintendent Gerald Cobb congratulated her and expressed the parish's pride in her and her husband, Dan Childress, football coach at Cedar Creek.

Mr. Wilkerson arrived during Ms. Childress's dialogue.

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 Dr. Beasley, the Board unanimously voted to grant/accept the following requests.  Mr. Ronnie Suggs, Director of Curriculum and Instruction, presented items 1.-3. and Ms. Brenda Theodos, School Food Services, presented 4.

1.         Sabbatical leave for the second semester of the 95-96 school year, effective January 16, 1996 for the Ms. Diana Humphries, counselor at Simsboro.

            Mr. Suggs said this meets local and state guidelines.

2.         Leave without pay for the remainder of the 95-96 school year, effective October 23, 1995 for Ms. Karen Matthews, special education teacher at Choudrant Elementary.

            He said this also meets all precedents set by the Board.

3.         Employment of the following:

            Ms. Bobbie Golden as special education teacher at Choudrant Elementary effective November 1, 1995 to replace Ms. Karen Matthews, leave without pay.

            Mr. Phillip Thigpen as P. E. teacher at Hillcrest Elementary effective November 6, 1995 to replace Ms. Chalonda Smith, resigned.

            Mr. Shannon Aultman as Coach/Social Studies teacher at Ruston Junior High School effective November 13, 1995 to replace Mr. Jay Seal, resigned.

            Ms. Marilyn Gray in a new special education aide position at Lincoln Center effective October 16, 1995.

4.         Leave without pay beginning November 27, 1995 and ending June 1, 1996 for Ms. Marilyn Bonner, school food service clerk at Alma J. Brown.

Elementary Supervisor, Mr. Danny Bell, told the Board that the contract period for state textbooks is on a seven year cycle.  This year the State of Louisiana will be adopting science textbooks and/or science technological programs.  Each district is responsible for reviewing and possibly adopting some of the programs that will be approved by the State Committee.  Programs approved by the State will not be announced until December.  Due to the importance of having good science programs, our adoption committee and science teachers will begin reviewing new programs immediately.  Our local committee will work with our teachers until new programs are adopted.  The process of purchasing new textbooks for the fall begins in April.  He shared this with the Board for informational purposes only.  No action was needed.

Ms. Pam Roy, Business Manager, reported that $51,950.12 has been recovered by audits since July, 1995.  Sales tax receipts for the October, 1995 reflected a decrease in the 1967 and 1979 collections, for the first time in 28 months, of $14,591.55.  However, sales tax collections were not down.  The Sales Tax Commission had to make a large refund out of the monies.  The fund is up $107,323.19 for the year which is a 3.4% increase.  Collections in the 1993 fund also showed a decrease of $8,755.52 for the month but is up $64,393.19 for the year.

"These good collections justify an increase in the 93 sales tax supplement to be distributed with regular payroll checks on December 1, 1995," Ms. Roy said.  Instead of last year's $700 for instructional personnel and $350 for non-instructional personnel, projections allow for $900 for instructional and $450 for non-instructional.

Upon a motion by Mr. Dowling, seconded by Mr. Tuten, the Board unanimously voted to increase the amount of the '93 sales tax supplement to go out December 1, 1995 from $700 for instructional personnel and $350 for non-instructional to $900/$450.

She called the Board's attention to the shaded area on the October, 1995 financial statement.  Fund balances are all okay but continue to decrease until the end of the year.  Additionally, utility bills are now being paid out of the ad velorum fund.

The Board, at its September 5 meeting, heard a report concerning the Opening of School by Mr. Ronnie Suggs.  At that point, student numbers were down slightly.  Official enrollment figures as of October 1 (September 29) have been received and compiled.  This resulting figure determines the amount of minimum foundation money we receive from the State of Louisiana beginning in February, 1996.  Numbers for this year and the preceding two are:  95-96 - 7090 (before the audit process), 94-95 - 7129, and 93-94 - 7152.  Attending prekindergarten at Lincoln Center and Hico are 73 students which are not included in the total count.  He said since we are no longer a hold harmless parish, the amount of money per student increases slightly each year.  Our total amount of money received for the 95-96 school year (beginning in February) will increase slightly, even with the decrease in students.

Mr. Bill Smith came before the Board at this point as he had requested to be on the agenda concerning Ruston Junior High School's no bookbag policy.  He thanked them for the opportunity to come before them to express his concern.  He said RJHS is the only school in the parish with a no bookbag policy.  If the policy was enforced consistently he said, he would have not been present and would have no problem.  He feels that they are discriminating as cheerleaders, football players, and "over nighters" are allowed to bring bags to school.  It is extremely difficult, he feels, for students to get home with up to six textbooks, notebooks, etc. and back to school with everything needed, especially in inclement weather.  He talked to Principal Sandra Henderson and asked for information concerning the number of guns being brought to school since the policy was instated.  He passed out copies of the information which had the number of weapons confiscated at the school each year since 1988.  As the number has increased since the policy's inception, he feels that the no bookbag policy is not helping.  He pointed this out to Mrs. Henderson who, he said, told him there would be no change.  He then spoke to Mr. Ronnie Suggs regarding the policy.  Mr. Suggs talked with Mrs. Henderson and Dr. Gerald Cobb, Mr. Smith said, and told him that the central office would back Mrs. Henderson's decision.  Mr. Smith appealed to the Board to review the policy as it is unnecessary especially as there is only one school in the parish with that policy and it is not enforced consistently.

Mr. Suggs shared background information beginning with Mr. Smith's first contact with him regarding the policy.  He added that Mr. Smith had also expressed his concern that teachers are allowed to take briefcases to school and could possibly have a concealed weapon in them.  Mr. Smith felt that teachers should be required to abide by the same policies as the students.

Mrs. Henderson said during the 88-89 school year, two students brought guns to school in their bookbags.  One student had been carrying the gun around for two or three days before it was discovered.  Dr. Charles Scriber, who was principal at the time, realized that in order to minimize the possibility of this situation occurring again, a look at the discipline policy was inevitable.  The faculty senate, PTC representatives and student council representatives met and decided that because it's impossible to see inside a bookbag to determine what a student brings to school, for safety purposes, they should be eliminated.  It was viewed as a possible way to cut down on situations that could be life threatening.  This was not a unilateral decision made by the administration, but a concerted effort by parents, teachers, and students to help prevent future acts of violence.  This rule has been enforced since the 89-90 school year with little or no complaints in those seven years.

Mrs. Henderson said she also feels that no bookbags make it a little more difficult to bring weapons to school.  No guns have been confiscated since the incident in 88-89.  Regarding some of the students being allowed to bring bags to the school, she said on football game days the football players are allowed to bring their necessary items to school in a bag but they are taken immediately to their football lockers.  Cheerleaders likewise bring their items in a bag, on game day only, and also take them immediately to their sponsor's room.  "Over nighters", usually on Friday, are allowed to bring a bag directly to the office upon arrival.  These students strictly adhere to these rules and are not allowed to go back to the bags and/or football lockers during the school day.  Since Mrs. Henderson has been the principal of Ruston Junior High School, she said, she has had to weigh the convenience of bookbags verses the safety of the students.  She also reminded the Board that this policy was implemented not as a unilateral decision by the previous administration but with input from faculty, parents, and students.  She ended with the statement that since new clear plastic and mesh bookbags have become available, the policy will be re-evaluated at the end of the 95-96 school year.

A period of comments and questions followed with several members expressing their understanding of Mr. Smith's concern and the inconvenience of the no bookbag policy.  It was felt by most of those expressing their views however that it would be very unfortunate if they voted to reverse the policy at the school and a gun was brought to school in a bookbag and another student was hurt.  Mr. Tuten inquired if it would be appropriate to form a committee of the original groups to look at the policy before the end of the year and get more input for the Board.  Mr. Mack suggested that the policy be looked at sooner, maybe January, as possible weapon carriers, i.e., cheerleaders, football players, etc. are allowed to bring bags; therefore, the policy is not being enforced consistently.  Mr. Abrahm said with two children going through the school since the policy's inception, he knows first hand how inconvenient the no bookbag policy is.  He did disagree with Mr. Smith's opinion that the increased number of weapons being brought to school indicated that the policy is not working.  He felt that the number of weapons being brought to school could have been significantly higher without the no bookbag policy.

Mr. Tuten moved that the Board request that the principal and staff, at the principal's selection; office administration, Dr. Cobb's selection; and representatives of the P.T.C. meet between now and February and bring a report and/or recommendation to the February meeting of the Board at which time the Board will decide whether to accept the recommendation and if there is a change, the date it should be implemented.  The motion was seconded by Mr. Kessler.  After discussion, Mr. Shadoin called for the question, and the Board unanimously voted to approve Mr. Tuten's motion.

The next item on the agenda was to consider a Sales and Use Tax Commission Agreement.  The School Board, along with the Police Jury, City of Ruston, City of Grambling, and the Town of Dubach make up the Commission.  At their October 3, 1995 meeting a preference to meet on the second Tuesday of each month, rather than the first Tuesday as is specified in their Cooperative Endeavor Agreement was indicated.  Accordingly, their attorney, Mr. William Carter, prepared the draft in Board members' packets of a document entitled "First Amendment to Cooperative Endeavor Agreement".  It contemplates an amendment to Article 4 of the Cooperative Endeavor Agreement and provides that the Commission shall meet on a monthly basis and shall have the authority to set the date, time and location of the monthly meeting.  The School Board's attorney, Mr. Wayne Smith, received the agreement from Mr. Carter and forwarded it to Dr. Cobb with his recommendation that it be approved.

Upon a motion by Mr. Shadoin, seconded by Mr. Kessler, the Board unanimously voted to approve the Sales and Use Tax Commission Agreement to Cooperative Endeavor Agreement and authorized David Wright to execute the same.

In the Report of the Superintendent, he called the Board's attention to a news article in their packets regarding the Lafayette Parish School Board voting to put a 7:00 p.m. limit on their meetings.  He also said additional Louisiana School Board Association convention information was included for future reference.

After brief comments from members, the meeting was adjourned at 7:20 p.m.

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Gerald W. Cobb, Secretary                                     David Wright, President