LINCOLN PARISH SCHOOL BOARD
Ruston, Louisiana
REGULAR SESSION
Tuesday, March 5, 1996 6:00 p.m.
The Lincoln Parish School Board met in Regular Session on Tuesday, March 5, 1996 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.
No members were absent.
President Wright called the meeting to order and the invocation was given by Mr. Dowling. Mr. Wright led in the Pledge of Allegiance to the American flag and welcomed guests, members of the staff, and media.
Upon a motion by Mr. Barfield, seconded by Dr. Beasley, the Board unanimously voted to adopt the agenda as printed.
Upon a motion by Mrs. Braggs, seconded by Mr. Mack, the Board unanimously voted to approve the minutes, as corrected, of the Regular Session held on February 6, 1996, and the Special Session of February 12, 1996.
Dr. Charles Scriber, Lincoln Parish Secondary Supervisor, came before the Board to recognize three outstanding students from Lincoln Parish Schools. He told the Board that each year the Lincoln Parish School System participates in the Student-of-the-Year program. Students are selected from three divisions--elementary (grade 5), junior high (grade 8), and high school (grade 12). Parishwide winners are selected from each division. On behalf of the Lincoln Parish School Board, Dr. Scriber presented the following parish winners with plaques:
Elementary - - - Amanda Ann James of Cypress Springs Elementary
Junior High - - Keren Corley of Ruston Junior High
High School - - Brendan Reagan of Ruston High School
Mr. Wright expressed the Board's appreciation to the students and their parents for their achievement and the good work they are doing. He wished them luck in the future.
Principal of Ruston High School, Mr. Randy Moore, had the next item on the agenda but requested that his item be deferred until the student he was to recognize arrived. The Board honored his request.
Upon a motion by Dr. Beasley, seconded by Mr. Abrahm, the Board unanimously voted to grant permission to advertise for and accept the lowest bids for school food service equipment, food, and supplies for the 1996-97 school year, as presented by Ms. Brenda Theodos, Supervisor of Child Nutrition. This is an annual request in order to be in compliance with the State and Federal laws.
"The Lincoln Parish transportation department's number of buses is growing each year; therefore, bus maintenance has become a very expensive endeavor," Transportation Supervisor, Mr. Howard Whitlock said. Most buses are sent out for repair but the long term goal is to have a bus shop with a full time mechanic. Most of the repair work could then be done in-house. The first priority would be to find a lot near the School Board Office on which the shop could be built. Such a lot, approximately 75' x 150', has become available. It is directly behind the bus parking facility at 410 Kirkland Street. An old house which presently sits on the lot could be sold to be moved or for materials. The lot and house can be purchased for $7500.00 plus legal fees which Mr. Whitlock recommended that the Board pursue.
Upon a motion by Mr. Kessler, seconded by Mr. Barfield, the Board unanimously voted to allow the School Board staff to aggressively pursue the purchase of the lot at 410 Kirkland Street. Additionally, after an appraisal of the property and legal work, if the property value is the same or more than $8,000.00, the staff was also authorized, by the same motion and vote, to purchase the property.
Upon a motion by Ms. Braggs, seconded by Mr. Tuten, the Board unanimously voted to approve the allocations of Instructional Supply Money for 96-97, as presented by Business Manager, Ms. Pam Roy. This yearly expenditure is from the 79 Sales Tax Fund and is distributed on a per pupil basis. The following was approved for the 96-97 distribution:
Art K-12 - $1.00 per student
Physical Education K-12 - $1.00 per student
Library Supplies K-5 - $ .50 per student
6-12 - $1.00 per student
Music K-5 - $ .50 per student
6-12 - $1.00 per student
Magazines & K-6 - $1.70 per student
Newspapers 7-12 - $2.00 per student
Science K-6 - $ .50 per student
7-8 - $2.00 per student
9-12 - $3.50 per student
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Upon a motion by Mr. Barfield, seconded by Mr. Mitcham, the Board unanimously voted to grant permission to advertise for bids for the purchase of duplicating paper for the 96-97 school year, as presented by Mr. Charles Owens, Director of Auxiliary Services.
Upon a motion by Mr. Abrahm, seconded by Mr. Dowling, the Board unanimously voted to grant permission to send Letters of Intent for 96-97, as requested by Mr. Ronnie Suggs, Director of Curriculum and Instruction. This request is made yearly in order to begin looking at staffing needs for the next school year.
The Board served as a Committee of the Whole and the following Personnel Committee agenda items were discussed:
Upon a motion by Mr. Shadoin, seconded by Mr. Mitcham, the Board unanimously voted to grant the following 96-97 sabbatical leave requests all effective the first day of school, all for Ruston Elementary, as recommended by Mr. Suggs:
Ms. Kathy League
Ms. Nancy McDonald
Ms. Vickie Wheelis
Ms. Pam Roy, Business Manager, reported that $1,180.17 was recovered by audits during the month of February, 1996, but repeated that this money is not budgeted as it can't be counted on. The sales tax receipts for the same month reflected an increase in the 1967 and 1979 collections of $28,266.33. Collections in the 1993 sales tax fund also showed an increase of $16,959.76. These are up 11.6% over the same time last year and 5.7% for the year.
Ms. Roy called to Board's attention to the shaded line on the January, 1996, financial statement. She said the fund balances are the best they are going to be for the year as ad valorem taxes have been collected. Beginning in January utility bills have been paid out of the ad valorem funds.
The next agenda item was a report from those who had attended the recent Louisiana School Boards Association (LSBA) annual convention in Bossier City. Various members commented on the convention. Ms. Maribel Childress, Lincoln Parish's finalist in the Elementary Teacher of the Year category, also shared with the Board and thanked them for allowing her to attend and to see the political side of education.
Superintendent Gerald Cobb told the Board that there is a strong movement by Governor Foster and members of his Education Transition Team to do away with the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education (BESE). Presently eight members of BESE are elected and three members are appointed by the Governor. The recommendation is that BESE be replaced with a board appointed entirely by the Governor with a Superintendent of Education also appointed by the Governor who would then be called the Education Secretary and would serve as part of the Governor's cabinet. This recommendation would put all education boards, including the Board of Regents, Board of Trustees, and BESE under the complete appointative control of the Governor; therefore, Dr. Cobb recommended that the Board approve a resolution in support of BESE.
Upon a motion by Mr. Barfield, seconded by Mr. Wilkerson, the Board unanimously voted to go on record opposing any plan to eliminate the democratic process and petition Governor Foster and members of the Legislature to not only preserve the board of Elementary and Secondary Education, but to provide stronger legislation that will perpetually guarantee the citizens of Louisiana their democratic right for educational representation.
Mr. Mack suggested that the Board adopt a resolution opposing term limits and pay cuts for Board members. He had heard of a movement in that direction. President Wright advised him to meet with the Superintendent, come up with a resolution, and add it to the next Board agenda.
There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned by acclamation at 7:20 p.m.
_____________________________________________________________________
Gerald W. Cobb, Secretary David Wright, President