LINCOLN PARISH SCHOOL BOARD
Ruston, Louisiana
REGULAR SESSION
Tuesday, November 12, 1996 6:00 p.m.
The Lincoln Parish School Board met in Regular Session on Tuesday, November 12, 1996 at 6:00 p.m. at the Lincoln Parish School Board, 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 (arrived after the meeting started), Mr. Joe Mitcham, Mr. Rob Shadoin, and Mr. Allen Tuten (arrived after the meeting started).
Members absent were Ms. Loyace Braggs and Mr. Calvin Wilkerson.
President Wright called the meeting to order and the invocation was given by Mr. Dowling. Mr. Wright led the Board in the Pledge of Allegiance to the American flag. He welcomed special guests, staff, and media.
Upon a motion by Mr. Abrahm, seconded by Mr. Dowling, the Board unanimously voted to adopt the agenda with a personnel addendum.
Upon a motion by Mr. Barfield, seconded by Mr. Shadoin, the Board unanimously voted to approve the minutes of the Regular Sessions held on October 1 and 16, 1996 as printed.
Secondary Supervisor, Dr. Charles Scriber, told the Board that Lincoln Parish's Junior High School Teacher of the Year, Ms. Jerrilene Washington, had been selected as 1 of 8 regional winners in the competition. He presented a plaque to Ms. Washington and turned the floor over to her. She shared a few words on her experiences in the state competition. Although Ms. Washington did not win at the state level, she said she enjoyed the 3 1/2 days in Baton Rouge and was proud to represent Ruston Junior High School and Lincoln Parish.
Mr. Mack arrived during her comments.
Mr. Wright expressed the Board's pride in Ms. Washington as she represented the parish and urged her to keep up her good work.
The Board served as a Committee of the Whole and the following Personnel Committee agenda items were discussed:
Mr. Ronnie Suggs, Director of Curriculum and Instruction, presented item 1. and Mr. Charles Owens, Director of Auxiliary Services, presented 2. - 4.
1. Resignation of Pat Stevens, effective November 1, 1996, as an elementary teacher at Hico.
Resignation of Wanda Wilson, effective January 6, 1997, as a P.E. teacher at Lincoln Center.
2. Resignation of David Smith, effective September 26, 1996, as a custodian at Hillcrest Elementary.
Resignation of Frederick Moore, effective November 6, 1996, as a custodian at Ruston Elementary.
3. Retirement of Charles Holloway, effective December 31, 1996, as a bus driver in the Ruston area.
4. Employment of Cannie Davison, effective October 16, 1996, as a bus driver in the Simsboro area replacing Bob Perritt who retired.
Upon a motion by Mr. Kessler, seconded by Mr. Dowling, the Board unanimously voted to approve the above requests.
At this time Mr. Charles Owens indicated that the final personnel item to come before the Board involved the suspension of an employee who was not present. He recommended that the Board enter into Executive Session.
Upon a motion by Mr. Dowling, seconded by Mr. Kessler, the Board unanimously voted to go into Executive Session at 6:10 p.m.
Mr. Tuten arrived at 6:16 p.m.
At 6:21 p.m. Mr. Kessler moved that the Board return to Regular Session. There being no objection, the Board returned to Regular Session.
Upon a motion by Dr. Beasley, seconded by Mr. Kessler, the Board unanimously voted to ratify the Superintendent's action suspending a contract bus driver for 10 days without pay.
Ms. Pam Roy, Business Manager, told the Board that $4,164.44 was recovered by audit during the month of October, 1996 which brings the yearly amount recovered by auditors to $201,194.34. The 1967 and 1979 sales tax collections for the same month were $263,817.98. This is up $3,974.61 over the same month last year which is a 1 1/2% increase. Collections for the year are down $31,719.80 in those two funds. Collections for the month in the 1993 fund were $158,290.48 which is an increase of $2,385.37 over the same month last year. That fund is down $19,031.27 for the year. She recommended that salary supplement checks be distributed November 22, since December 1 is a Sunday, in the amount of $1,000 for certified and $500 for non-certified employees. That is a $100/$50 increase over the '95 amount and $300/$150 over the '94 amount.
Upon a motion by Mr. Shadoin, seconded by Mr. Mack, the Board unanimously voted to approve Ms. Roy's recommendation that salary supplement checks be paid November 22 and in the amount of $1000 for certified and $500 for non-certified.
A financial report for the month ending September, 1996 was presented to the Board at this time by Ms. Roy. She called attention to the black area of the report, the fund balances. She said beginning in February the general fund's balances will begin to be used because of the Minimum Foundation Program (M.F.P.) cut. Fund balances are decreasing except for the sales tax funds which are growing.
Ms. Barbara Kirkland, Vocational Supervisor, told the Board that Career Night was held Thursday, November 7, from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. at Ruston Junior High School. Parish juniors, seniors, and their parents were invited to attend. Representatives from more than 35 colleges and universities from Louisiana, Texas, Arkansas, and Mississippi; Louisiana technical colleges; beauty schools; and all branches of the armed forces were available to meet with those interested in attending the various schools. Information on scholarships, financial aid, ACT requirements, and admission policies were also presented. This annual event was coordinated Ms. Kirkland and the parish high school guidance counselors.
Mr. Wright commended Ms. Kirkland for the commendable job she did.
Mr. Ronnie Suggs said 7,091 students were enrolled in Lincoln Parish schools on October 1, 1995 and 6,965 on October 1, 1996. This is a loss of about 126 students. Auditors will check the count in January but he foresees no changes. Possible reasons he suggested for the drop were lower kindergarten enrollments in a couple of schools and the failure of Claiborne and Union parishes to allow students to transfer into Lincoln Parish. These lower numbers will reduce monies received from the state through the M.F.P. by approximately $250,000 to $300,000. There will be no funding changes until February. February through June checks will reflect the decrease in funding. For the remainder of the fiscal year, he said, all expenditures will need to be considered very carefully and hopefully there will be no major disbursements. Although no personnel changes are planned at this point, next summer staffing will have to be scaled back in order to bring total salaries in line with funding from the state. Superintendent Cobb reminded the Board that this cut will be in addition to an approximate $55,000 loss of transportation funds through "Kid Miles."
On October 18 and 21 a poll vote was conducted by Mr. Charles Owens for the purpose of rejecting all bids submitted for a restroom/concession facility at Glen View and requesting permission to re-advertise that facility. Initially, an approximately 500 square foot building housing public restrooms, a small storage area, and space for concessions had been planned at a cost of $20,000.00. Subsequently, the Booster Club proposed a 960 square foot facility housing dressing rooms, both public and team restrooms, a storage area, and space for concessions. The facility will be constructed in two phases. Phase 1 would consist of pouring the slab and erecting a pre-fabricated metal building and Phase 2 would consist of finishing the inside of the structure. The Board has been asked to bear the cost of pouring the slab and erecting the structure while the Booster Club agreed to finish the inside of the structure. The approximate cost to the Board is estimated at $21,000.00.
Upon a motion by Mr. Tuten, seconded by Mr. Barfield, the Board unanimously voted to approve the poll vote of October 18 and 21, 1996 rejecting all bids for the restroom/concession facility at Glen View and granting permission to re-advertise.
At the October 1, 1996 meeting of the Board authorization was given to advertise for bids on a walkway cover for the parent pickup area at Ruston Junior High School. Two bids were opened on Tuesday, November 12. Mr. Charles Owens recommended that the bids be taken under advisement.
Upon a motion by Mr. Kessler, seconded by Dr. Beasley, the Board unanimously voted that the bids for the covered walkway at Ruston Junior High School be taken under advisement.
In a report of the Superintendent, Dr. Cobb informed the Board that Governor Foster is suing the systems who are suing the State over the M.F.P. Although Lincoln Parish is one of those suing the State, it is not listed in the suit. Those named are the ones who did not spend 70% of State monies on instruction.
President Wright encouraged Board members to attend a forum Saturday at 8:30 a.m. at Ruston High School regarding public education and sponsored by Phi Delta Kappa.
After brief comments, the meeting was adjourned at 6:59 p.m.
Gerald W. Cobb, Secretary David Wright, President