LINCOLN PARISH SCHOOL BOARD
Ruston, Louisiana
REGULAR SESSION
Wednesday, January 17, 1996 12:30 p.m.
The Lincoln Parish School Board met in Regular Session on Wednesday, January 17, 1996 at 12:30 p.m. at Hico Elementary School. Members present were Mr. David Wright, Mr. Billy Abrahm, Dr. Marty Beasley, Mrs. Loyace Braggs, Mr. Curtis Dowling, Mr. Jim Kessler, Mr. George Mack, Mr. Joe Mitcham, Mr. Rob Shadoin, and Mr. Calvin Wilkerson.
Members absent were Mr. Wayne Barfield and Mr. Allen Tuten.
Prior to the business meeting, board members enjoyed a delicious lunch in the school cafeteria.
President Wright called the meeting to order and the invocation was given by Mrs. Braggs. Mr. Wright led the Board in the Pledge of Allegiance to the American flag and welcomed guests, staff, and members of the media.
Upon a motion by Mr. Shadoin, seconded by Mr. Dowling, the Board unanimously voted to adopt the agenda as amended, with the addition of one item: Ratify poll vote granting permission to issue change order increasing the cost of the Cypress Springs project.
Upon a motion by Mrs. Braggs, seconded by Mr. Mitcham, the Board unanimously voted to approve the minutes of the Regular Session held on January 2, 1996 and the Special Session of January 9, 1996.
Principal of Hico, Mr. James Pilgreen, welcomed the guests to his school which is known, he said, for their friendliness and the job of learning and teaching that goes on there. He invited members to visit anytime as the Hico area member, Mr. Barfield, does. He shared his appreciation to the Board for the library that's available to students, Pams computer program, and the support people at his school who do anything they can to help the learning process. Also working at Hico are two Green Thumb employees, a maid and a teacher's aide. This program, working to get older citizens into the labor force, is funded with federal monies.
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 Mr. Shadoin, the Board unanimously voted to accept the following requests and recommendations. Mr. Ronnie Suggs, Director of Curriculum and Instruction, presented items 1. - 4. and Mr. Charles Owens, Director of Auxiliary Services, presented 5.:
1. As a point of reference, effective January 8, 1996 Phillip Cardwell has been reassigned from special education teaching duties to counseling duties at Simsboro, replacing Diana Humphries who is on sabbatical leave. This is for the remainder of the 95-96 school year only.
2. Resignation of Tim Pruitt effective December 1, 1995 as a tutorer at Lincoln Center.
3. Sabbatical leave requests for 96-97, which meet state and local guidelines and will be effective the first day of the 96-97 school year, for the following:
Susan Jones, elementary teacher at Choudrant Elementary.
Jenny Franks, social studies/English teacher at Dubach High.
Nancy Wallace, social worker from Lincoln Center.
Pam Plummer, elementary teacher at Ruston Elementary.
Dr. Cobb pointed out that sabbatical leaves are now funded with local monies as they are unfunded under the Minimum Foundation Program.
4. Employment of the following:
Acquanette Mitchell, effective January 16, 1996, as a home economics teacher at Ruston Junior High School, replacing Betty Parks who was granted sabbatical leave for the second semester of 95-96.
Beverly Canterbury, effective January 8, 1996, as special education teacher at Simsboro, replacing Phillip Cardwell who was reassigned for the remainder of the 95-96 school year.
Jennifer Green, effective January 16, 1996, as French teacher at Simsboro, replacing Virginie Gore who resigned.
LaRhonda Burks, effective January 16, 1996, as tutorer at Lincoln Center, replacing Tim Pruitt who resigned.
5. Resignation of Patrick Pierce, effective December 27, 1995, as school food service technician at Lincoln Center.
Committee Assignments for 1996 were presented by Mr. Wright. They were adopted by common consent with a suggestion that committees become more active. Mr. Wright said, "It's up to the committees and the chairmen."
Mr. Owens told members that the repair work authorized by them at Cypress Springs Elementary is almost complete. It went as expected with the exception of disturbing the underground electrical and sewer service. This disturbance was the result of inaccurate plans indicating the exact location of these services. Several voids were also discovered under the slab. These will require filling with grout to lessen the chances of further settling of the foundation. The original estimated cost of the project was $26,000.00. The additional cost of the necessary items and work is $8,457.00, causing the total project to be $32,457.00. Included in the total amount is a $2,000.00 contingency allowance. He recommended ratifying the poll vote taken during the week of January 8-12, 1996 granting permission to issue a change order authorizing the additional funding.
After some discussion, upon a motion by Dr. Beasley, seconded by Mr. Kessler, the Board unanimously voted to ratify the poll vote taken during the week of January 8-12, 1996 granting permission to issue a change order increasing by $8,457.00 the cost of the Cypress Springs project.
Business Manager, Ms. Pam Roy, told the Board that the insurance review committee met on January 10, 1996 to review quotes on disability insurance and to consider the addition of a Tax Sheltered Mutual Funds program for payroll deduction. They heard a presentation from Primerica Financial Services to explain how a mutual funds program could benefit the employees of the parish and also reviewed quotes received from seven companies for disability coverage. Both of these programs would be individual choices made by the employees and would require no board contribution. She shared the committee's recommendation that the Board approve the addition of Primerica Financial Services for payroll deduction of a tax sheltered mutual fund program and Horace Mann Insurance Company as the designated disability insurance carrier.
Upon a motion by Mr. Abrahm, seconded by Mr. Shadoin, the Board voted 9-0 in favor of adding Primerica Financial Services for payroll deduction of a tax sheltered mutual fund program and Horace Mann Insurance Company as the disability insurance carrier. Dr. Beasley abstained from voting as her child is seeking a scholarship from one of the companies.
Mr. Wright informed the Board that the next agenda item, to consider the appeal of a student recommended for expulsion, had been postponed at the request of the Department of Social Services.
In a report of the Superintendent, Dr. Cobb:
1. Called the Board's attention to Senator Randy Ewing's response to them concerning weapons being allowed in students' vehicles.
2. Enclosed in packets for informational purposes resolutions that are to be brought before the Louisiana School Boards Association.
3. Asked Mr. Owens for an update on the situation at the Ruston High School auditorium which was gutted by fire December 5, 1995.
Mr. Owens said that 120 feet of linear pipe covered with asbestos had been discovered. It will probably be removed during the upcoming weekend and will delay the project approximately 3 weeks. They are in the process of removing the seats to put them in dry storage.
Dr. Cobb said even with the asbestos problem, the parish is still under the umbrella of the insurance company. He is very pleased with the attitude and cooperation of the insurance carrier.
After a suggestion that Dr. Cobb invite Senator Randy Ewing to speak at their next meeting, the Board was adjourned at 1:20 p.m.
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Gerald W. Cobb, Secretary David Wright, President