LINCOLN PARISH SCHOOL BOARD
Ruston, Louisiana
SPECIAL SESSION
Thursday, July 17, 1997 3:00 p.m.
The Lincoln Parish School Board met in Special Session on Thursday, July 17, 1997 at 3:00 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. Otha Anders, Mr. Wayne Barfield, Dr. Marty Beasley, Mr. Curtis Dowling, Mr. Jim Kessler, Mr. George Mack, Mr. Joe Mitcham, Mr. Allen Tuten, and Mr. Calvin Wilkerson.
Absent was Mr. Billy Abrahm and Mr. Rob Shadoin.
President David Wright called the meeting to order and Mr. Tuten gave the invocation. Mr. Wright led in the Pledge of Allegiance to the American flag and welcomed guests, members of the media, and the official staff to the meeting.
Upon a motion by Mr. Kessler, seconded by Mr. Dowling, the Board unanimously voted to adopt the agenda as printed.
Superintendent Gerald Cobb brought the Board up to date on the vacant principal position at Simsboro High School. Four interviews for the position were held on July 8 by a committee consisting of Ronnie Suggs, chairman, Charles Owens, Dr. Charles Scriber, Sandra Henderson, Randy Moore, and Ronald Crawford. Although Rik Cason, Clifton Lewis, and Tony Guirlando were the top three scoring applicants, the committee unanimously agreed that they could not make a recommendation of any candidate for the position. Therefore, Dr. Cobb said, he rejected all applicants and proposed the following interim appointments at Simsboro High School for the 97-98 school session: Dr. Charles Scriber, principal, and Theodis Johnson, administrative assistant.
Upon a motion by Mr. Dowling, seconded by Mr. Mack, the Board unanimously voted by roll call to approve Dr. Charles Scriber, principal, and Theodis Johnson, administrative assistant, as interim appointments at Simsboro High School for the 97-98 school session effective August 6, 1997.
Dr. Cobb told the Board that Senator Ewing was able to secure a grant of $295,000 during the 1997 session of the Louisiana Legislature for the Lincoln Parish School Board to assist in the establishment of a pilot, secondary, alternative school in the parish. Plans at this time are for the school to be housed at the old Greenwood Elementary School. He recommended the following interim appointments at the secondary alternative school for the start up year: Clifton Lewis, principal, and Rik Cason, assistant principal. Since this is a lateral transfer for Mr. Cason, Dr. Cobb said, he was sharing the information as a point of reference which does not require a vote. During the period of questions and comments that followed, Mr. Wright asked if the Board should go into executive session. Dr. Cobb said the person in question would have to be given 24 hour notice regarding the discussion. At Mr. Mack's request, Dr. Cobb read the applicable section of the Louisiana law, "Discussion of the character, professional competence, or physical or mental health of a person, provided that such person is notified in writing at least twenty-four hours before the meeting and that such person may require that such discussion be held at an open meeting, and provided that nothing in this Subsection shall permit an executive session for discussion of the appointment of a person to a public body." [R.S. 42:6.1.A.(l)]
Following several minutes of discussion and a recommendation that a resolution be drafted thanking Senator Ewing for his help in securing seed money for the alternative school, Mr. Wright suggested that the Board make a decision regarding Dr. Cobb's recommendation.
Upon a motion by Mr. Tuten, seconded by Mr. Barfield, the Board unanimously voted by roll call to approve the Superintendent's recommendation that Clifton Lewis be employed, effective August 6, 1997 as an interim principal at the Secondary Alternative School for the 97-98 school year.
Mr. Suggs was asked to report in the near future on the program and to include in his report the kinds of training the personnel had been given in order to work with the students.
There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 3:59 p.m.
Gerald W. Cobb, Secretary David Wright, President