LINCOLN PARISH SCHOOL BOARD

Ruston, Louisiana

REGULAR SESSION

Tuesday, June 4, 1996   6:30 p.m.

The Lincoln Parish School Board met in Regular Session on Tuesday, June 4, 1996, at 6:30 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, Mr. Curtis Dowling, Mr. Jim Kessler, Mr. George Mack, Mr. Joe Mitcham, Mr. Rob Shadoin, and Mr. Allen Tuten.

Absent were Ms. Loyace Braggs and Mr. Calvin Wilkerson.

Prior to the meeting, retirees of the Lincoln Parish School System for 95-96 were honored with a reception in the lobby of the School Board.

President David Wright called the meeting to order and Mr. Tuten gave the invocation.  Mr. Wright welcomed special guests, members of the official staff, and media and led in the Pledge of Allegiance to the American flag.

Upon a motion by Mr. Shadoin, seconded by Mr. Barfield, the Board unanimously voted to adopt the agenda as printed.

Upon a motion by Mr. Abrahm, seconded by Mr. Mack, the Board unanimously voted to approve the minutes of the Regular Session held on May 7, 1996, as distributed.

At this point in the meeting, the retirees honored with an earlier reception were presented with certificates of appreciation for their many years of faithful and dedicated service to the parish.  Retirees are as follows:

NAME                                SCHOOL                                YRS. IN LINCOLN          TOTAL YEARS

Madeline Cooper           Hico Elementary (Teacher)                          24                              24

Donnell Cowan             Grambling Middle (Teacher)                         28                              31

Elaine Gaudet              Simsboro (Teacher)                                    20                              21

Elfreda Humphries        A. E. Phillips (Teacher)                               37                              41

Ken Lantrip                  Ruston High (Teacher/Coach)                     19                              20

Ollie Lolley                  Choudrant High (Counselor)                          5                              20

Judy Woodard              Simsboro (Teacher)                                   30                              30

Nan Colvin                   Ruston Junior High (Secretary)                    25                              25

Annie Jackson             Alma J. Brown (School Lunch)                     27                              27

Henrietta Slaton           Hillcrest Elementary (School Lunch)             25                              25

Naomi Wilson              I. A. Lewis (School Lunch)                           21                              21

Mr. Wright, on behalf of the Board, wished them well and offered congratulations on their retirement. 

Superintendent Gerald Cobb presented a plaque to Mr. Tony Antley, coach at Choudrant High School, in recognition for winning the State Class B Baseball title.  It was noted that he made history as this is the first state championship in the history of Choudrant.  Coach Antley was also selected as Class B Outstanding Coach of the Year and the North Louisiana Coach of the Year from all classes.  He thanked the Board for their support without which he said the championship would not have been possible.

Upon a motion by Mr. Tuten, seconded by Mr. Mitcham, the Board unanimously voted to approve The Ruston Daily Leader as the official journal for fiscal year 96-97 as presented by Business Manager, Ms. Pam Roy.  This annual petition is required by revised statute 43:171.

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 1.-4. and Ms. Brenda Theodos, Supervisor of Child Nutrition, presented 5.

                              1.   Retirement of Mr. Ken Lantrip, social studies/coach at Ruston High, effective May 31, 1996.

                              2.   Resignation of Ms. Sonya Arenda, kindergarten teacher at Hillcrest, effective May 30, 1996.

                                    Resignation, effective May 23, 1996, of Ms. Carla Roundtree, speech therapist at Lincoln Center.

                                    Resignation of Mr. David Klick, social studies teacher/coach at Ruston High, effective May 30, 1996.

                                    Resignation, effective May 30, 1996, of Ms. Kellye Ratcliff, math teacher at Ruston Junior High.

                                    Resignation of Ms. Charlotte Smith, English teacher at Ruston Junior High, effective May 30, 1996.

                                    Resignation, effective May 30, 1996, of Ms. Kathy Johnson, special ed. aide at I. A. Lewis.

                              3.   Request for rest and recuperation sabbatical for 96-97 for Ms. Sue Jones, language arts teacher at Ruston Junior High.  Mr. Suggs said this meets all local and state guidelines for leave.

                              4.   Employment of Mr. Michael Batey, biology teacher/coach at Ruston High, effective August 1, 1996, to replace Mr. Ken Lantrip, retired.

                                    The second recommendation for employment was not considered as the prospective employee decided against relocation.

                              5.   Employment of Ms. Annie Canty, school food service manager at Alma J. Brown, effective August 21, 1996, to replace Ms. Annie Jackson, retired.

Ms. Roy told the Board that $1,895.00 was recovered by the parish auditor during the month of May, 1996.  This brings the total sales tax revenue recovered by audits to $95,621.67 for the year.  The 1967 and 1979 sales tax receipts for the same month were $261,242.02 which is up $5,598.43 over last year.  This is a 2.1% increase for the month.  Total sales collections for the year are $265,033.85 which is an 8.5% increase.  Collections in the 1993 fund were $156,744.90 which is an increase of $3,352.46.  These figures reflect the same growth percentages.  Ms. Roy had included in portfolios information to go out with June payroll checks on salary supplements.  At this time projections allow an increase in the salary supplement from the '67 and '79 sales tax funds to $1800 for certified personnel and $900 for noncertified.  This is an increase of $200/$100 over last year.  Also to be distributed with June payroll checks is a second check from the '93 sales tax increasing from $1100/$550 to $1200/$600.  The Board was very pleased with the excellent tax collections and the ability to increase employees' June salary supplement checks.  Again the importance of "shopping Ruston first" was mentioned and the incentive this is for prospective Lincoln Parish teachers.

Upon a motion by Mr. Mack, seconded by Dr. Beasley, the Board unanimously voted that June salary supplements be disbursed as recommended by Ms. Roy.

A financial update for the month ending April, 1996, was also presented by Ms. Roy.  After calling attention to the shaded area, she said fund balances compare favorably with this time last year and are pretty much as expected.

Mr. Suggs said he had more good news - excellent test scores.  Comparing the '91 and '96 CAT (California Achievement Test) scores for grades 1 through 8, the parish is up in every grade except 2nd which remained the same.  This years scores are up in 5 grade levels and down in 3 grades.  The 3rd, 5th, and 7th graders' scores increased in 5 areas on the Louisiana Educational Assessment Program (LEAP), decreased in 5, and  remained the same in 1 area.  The parish tied for 1st in 66 school systems in math, 5th grade.  High school students take the GEE (Graduate Exit Exam).  The parish tied for 2nd in 66 systems in the science section of the GEE.  Math scores have decreased from 97 in '91, to 86 in '95, to a puzzling 78 in '96.  Mr. Suggs said this will be studied at the administrators' workshop this summer and by Secondary Supervisor, Dr. Charles Scriber, and himself.  A period of questions and comments ensued.

Dr. Beasley and Mr. Kessler spoke to the Board regarding the Louisiana School Board Association's Day at the Legislature held Monday, May 20.  They shared interesting details about their day, copies of Networking with State Government they brought back to fellow members, and other enlightening information.  Several minutes were spent in discussion about the new administration in Baton Rouge including Governor Foster, Senate President Randy Ewing from this area, and State Superintendent-Elect of Education, Cecil Picard, who is presently a Senator.  An optimistic but wait-and-see attitude was suggested and members were urged to get involved and let the administration know what Lincoln Parish feels concerning educational issues.  Dr. Beasley said, "Everything we supported -passed and everything we did not support - failed."  Dr. Cobb feels the biggest change will be a different accountability program for districts which should convince people in Louisiana we are serious about education and will not just go through the motions. Regarding the proposed classroom teachers' pay raise, BESE (Board of Elementary and Secondary Education) met today and right now basically all teachers are to get between $700 and $1,200 raises, according to Dr. Cobb.  Unfortunately, in his opinion, the formula is still a long way from being any where near a common sense approach.  He is pleased that they have decided to give all teachers a raise because all teachers impact on children.  Mr. Wright commended the L.S.B.A. emissaries for doing a good job.  A lengthy period of questions, comments, and discussion followed.  

Director of Auxiliary Services, Mr. Charles Owens, reminded members that authorization was given at the April 2, 1996, meeting to advertise for bids on a new cooling tower at Ruston High School.  Bid opening was held on May 14 and a poll vote was taken during the week of May 20, 1996, unanimously approving acceptance of the lowest bid meeting specifications.  He recommended ratification of that poll vote.

Upon a motion by Mr. Kessler, seconded by Mr. Abrahm, the Board unanimously voted to ratify the poll vote taken during the week of May 20, 1996, accepting the bid from York International of St. Rose, Louisiana, for $38,550.00 for a cooling tower replacement at Ruston High School.

For a number of years the Lincoln Parish School Board has employed the services of Forethought Consulting, Inc. for the purpose of maintaining the Lincoln Parish policy manual's accuracy while at the same time keeping it as current as possible.  Dr. Cobb said this is becoming more important each year and is an effective, valuable service.  Board mandates, selected state and federal court cases, pertinent legislation, and attorney general's opinions are reviewed to determine their effects on our policy manual.  He recommended renewal of this contract.

Upon a motion by Dr. Beasley, seconded by Mr. Dowling, and after one question the Board unanimously voted to approve the renewal of a 12 month contract with Forethought Consulting, Inc. beginning July 1, 1996, and ending June 30, 1997, at a cost of $1,690.00. 

Dr. Cobb said at the present time the parish's sexual harassment policy does not specify examples of disciplinary actions which may be taken when violations of the policy have been determined to be valid.  Possible disciplinary actions such as reprimand, suspension, or termination proceedings were added to the policy, underlined, and presented for consideration.  Tentative approval of the revised sexual harassment policy was given but actual adoption of the revised policy will be an item on the agenda for the July meeting. 

After a brief discussion, the meeting was adjourned at 7:43 p.m.

________________________                  _____________________________

Gerald W. Cobb, Secretary                     David Wright, President