LINCOLN PARISH SCHOOL BOARD
Ruston, Louisiana
REGULAR SESSION
Tuesday, October 7, 1997 6:00 p.m.
The Lincoln Parish School Board met in Regular Session on Tuesday, October 7, 1997 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. Otha Anders, Dr. Marty Beasley, Mr. Curtis Dowling, Mr. Jim Kessler, Mr. George Mack, Mr. Joe Mitcham, Mr. Rob Shadoin, Mr. Allen Tuten and Mr. Calvin Wilkerson.
Absent was Mr. Wayne Barfield.
President David Wright called the meeting to order and Mr. Dowling gave the invocation. Mr. Wright welcomed guests, members of the media, and staff. He led in the Pledge of Allegiance to the American flag and introduced the new business manager, Mrs. Juanita Duke, to the Board.
Upon a motion by Mr. Mitcham, seconded by Mr. Anders, the Board unanimously voted to adopt the agenda as distributed.
Upon a motion by Mr. Mack, seconded by Mr. Abrahm, the Board unanimously voted to approve the minutes of the Regular Session held on September 2, 1997 as printed.
School Food Service Supervisor, Ms. Brenda Theodos, reviewed the background information and selection process on the Teacher of the Year program. Each of the following 97-98 parish winners were presented with a plaque of appreciation on behalf of the Board for their excellence and hard work:
Sonja Walker - Ruston Elementary - elementary division
Anna Belle Nihart - I. A. Lewis - junior high division
Charles Patterson - Choudrant High School - high school division
Mr. Wright commended the Teachers of the Year and wished them well as they pursue further honors in the regional and state competitions.
Principal of Ruston High School, Mr. Randy Moore, recognized and presented a plaque to a senior student, Brittney Cooper, as a National Achievement Scholarship Program Semi-Finalist. He reminded the Board of the small percentage of students who achieve this honor. Brittney thanked all of the educators in the parish who urged her to do her best and not to accept anything less. She also introduced her mother who she acknowledged as the driving force behind her success.
Mr. Wright thanked Brittney for her hard work and wished her well.
Title I Supervisor, Mr. Willie Washington, informed the Board that based on a Schoolwide Needs Assessment, there is a great demand for a computer lab that will accommodate an entire class to be assembled at Alma J. Brown. This state-of-the-art lab will eliminate "pull-out" from the regular classroom and will allow all students in the school access to computer instruction. The cost of the lab, approximately $137,000, will be paid using Alma J. Brown's Title I Schoolwide Program funds. Yearly installments will be paid over the next five years. The agreement will include installation and maintenance of a complete 30-station lab, all hardware and software, and staff development for management of the lab. Computer Curriculum Corporation is the sole source of the software, and the hardware is included on state contract pricing.
Upon a motion by Dr. Beasley, seconded by Mr. Kessler, the Board unanimously voted to grant permission for Title I to enter into a lease-purchase agreement for a period of 60 months by adopting the Certificate of Resolutions with Computer Curriculum Corporation as described for Alma J. Brown Elementary.
Ms. Sharon Thomas, Special Education Supervisor, said additional space is needed for a class of young, disabled students with both academic and self-help needs at Glen View Elementary. This classroom will service students with exceptionalities such as: mild mental disabilities, moderate mental disabilities, autism, emotional/behavioral disorders, and other health impairments. Having a classroom with a bathroom will allow the teacher and aide to teach basic self-help skills to those who need it. The larger space of this classroom building (24' x 40') will allow ample space for various learning and activity centers which will help to better meet the individual needs of these young students. The cost will be paid by special education as approval has been received in this year's IDEA project.
Upon a motion by Dr. Beasley, seconded by Mr. Shadoin, the Board unanimously voted to grant permission to advertise for bids for construction of a special education classroom at Glen View Elementary.
The Board served as a Committee of the Whole and the following Personnel Committee agenda items were discussed:
Mr. Ronnie Suggs, Assistant Superintendent, presented items 1.-3., Ms. Brenda Theodos, presented 4.-6., and Mr. Charles Owens, Director of Auxiliary Services, presented 7.-10.
1. Sabbatical leave requests for the second semester of 97-98, effective January 20, 1997 for the following:
Julie Holmes, elementary teacher Ruston Elementary.
Mandy Bain, math teacher at Ruston Junior High.
Kathryne Boddie, science teacher at Ruston Junior High.
Mr. Suggs said these meet all state and local guidelines.
2. Resignation of the following:
Aimee Harter, math teacher at Ruston Junior High, effective October 3, 1997.
Jerry Griffin, math teacher at Simsboro High, effective September 2, 1997.
3. Employment of the following:
Lisa Dollar, effective September 8, 1997 in a new kindergarten position at Cypress Springs.
Easter Hill, in a new 1/2 teacher, 1/2 aide position at Ruston junior High, effective September 3, 1997.
Tracey Waldrop, effective October 6, 1997, teaching math at Ruston junior High replacing Aimee Harter who resigned.
Dana Daughty, in a language arts position at Simsboro effective September 2, 1997 replacing Jerry Griffin who resigned.
Jane Thorson, effective September 8, 1997, as a special education aide at Cypress Springs replacing Elizabeth Hubbard who resigned.
4. Resignation of Cindy Jones as a school food service technician at Choudrant Elementary effective September 12, 1997.
5. Transfer from part time to full time, mentioned as a point of reference, of Laureen Brister, school food technician at Choudrant Elementary.
6. Employment of Linda Norred as 4 hour school food service technician, effective September 15, 1997, replacing Laureen Brister who became full time.
7. Resignation of Hillcrest maid, Sandra Davis, effective August 19, 1997.
8. Employment of the following custodians all effective October 1, 1997:
Shirley Holyfield at Hillcrest, replacing Sandra Davis who resigned.
Judy Hardyway at Ruston High, replacing Bernice Outley who was terminated.
James Hatter at Ruston High, replacing Jerome Richards who transferred.
Willie Patton at Ruston High, replacing Robert Mitchell who transferred.
9. Resignation of the following bus drivers:
Jerry Huey, effective October 10, 1997, Grambling area. Jerry Singleton, Ruston area, effective September 11, 1997.
10. Employment of the following bus drivers:
L.0. Adams, effective September 3, 1997, in the Ruston area replacing Ernest Causey, deceased.
Rene Dickerson, driving in the Ruston area, effective September 1997 replacing Jerry Singleton who resigned.
Charles Wright, effective October 11, 1997, in the Grambling area, replacing Jerry Huey who resigned.
Upon a motion by Dr. Beasley, seconded by Mr. Anders, the Board unanimously voted to approve the personnel requests and recommendations.
Willie Washington introduced Ms. Kaye Sharbono, Coordinator for the Northeast Louisiana Regional Even Start Consortium, who said that literacy is a tradition and value that begins early, in the home. Because parents are their children's first and best teacher, and because education is truly a family value which is passed through the generations; family literacy is a practice which seeks to support both children and their families learning together. Even Start Family Literacy exists to support learning, development and high achievements for children birth to age seven and their families; break the cycle of limited literacy, under employment and high mobility of participating families by building literacy in both parents and children; and to provide "simultaneous" services for families, where parents and their children attend school together, which builds support for parents to succeed with their educational and employment goals and which develops habits of lifelong learning. Lincoln Parish is a four year member of the consortium which operates in seven Northeast Louisiana school districts. She turned the floor over to Ms. Karen Mitcham, Lincoln Parish Literacy Specialist, who has been with the program for 3 years and shared the following statistics: 63 families have been served by parents and educational components of the program since September 1995; last year the Lincoln Parish Even Start served 43 families and 64 children; presently 24 families and 32 children are attending Even Start parenting and Graduate Equivalency Diploma (GED) classes; 30 participants have received their GED'S; the graduate with the highest GED score from the entire consortium this year was a Lincoln Parish mother; 6 Even Start graduates are enrolled at either G.S.U. or LA Tech and 9 are enrolled at Ruston Technical College; and several graduates are employed full time.
Ms. Pam Roy, departing business manager, told the Board that $612.17 was recovered by both the parish auditor and the outside recovery group during the month of September, 1997, which brings the yearly amount recovered by audits to $38,690.31. The 1967 and 1979 sales tax collections for the same month were $278,584.96. The difference of $47,290.11 is a 14.5% decrease over the same month last year. Collections for the year are down $16,804.33 in those two funds which is about a 1/2% decrease. Collections for the month in the 1993 fund were $167,150.64 which is a decrease of $2.8,374.01 over the same month last year. That fund is down $10,082.57 for the year. The percentages are the same. She again mentioned a law passed about a year ago regarding tax on leased cars. This is distributed every other month so next month the tax collections should be higher.
Ms. Roy went over the financial report for August, 1997. She called attention to the fund balances in each of the accounts. Balances are as expected for this time of year.
Superintendent Gerald Cobb restated that the annual Academic Awards Banquet has been scheduled for Monday, October 20, at the Ruston Civic Center. Guest speaker for the event will be Dean Curtis Baham of the College of Education at Grambling State University. No vote was taken as this was shared for informational purposes only.
Dr. Cobb alluded to a unanimous poll vote taken on September 19, 1997 regarding a resolution permitting Ms. Bobbie Adams, science teacher at Ruston Junior High, to enter into a contract with the Department of Agriculture and Forestry. Board permission would allow her to create a nature study area in the wooded area between the fence and the service road. She had a Goals 2000 grant last year.
Upon a motion by Mr. Tuten, seconded by Mr. Wilkerson, the Board unanimously voted to ratify the poll vote adopting a resolution permitting Ms. Bobbie Adams to enter into a contract with the Department of Agriculture and Forestry.
At the previous meeting of the Board on September 2, 1997, a revised Public Participation policy, BCBI, was distributed. This change would allow for a public comment period before any vote is taken on an agenda item. Superintendent Cobb recommended approval of the revised policy.
Upon a motion by Mr. Kessler, seconded by Dr. Beasley, the Board unanimously voted by a show hands to approve the revised Public Participation, BC policy.
"During the 1997 Regular Session of the Louisiana Legislature, the passage of Acts 424, 459, 556, and 1987 have required revisions to our policies on Discipline, JD; Suspension, JDD; and Expulsion, JDE," Dr. Cobb said. We also now have a new policy on Discipline of Students with Disabilities, JDF. Copies of the new and revised policies were given to the Board for consideration with a vote to be taken at the October 22 meeting.
As the Board knew, the Louisiana Legislature mandated 2 additional teacher workdays in exchange for $60,000,000 in teacher pay raises for the 97-98 school year. Dr. Cobb shared the results of an instructional staff survey which provided an overwhelming majority, approximately 80%, who indicated a desire to have the 2 additional workshop days on June 2 and June 3, 1998. Each principal will be planning the structure of the workshops at their individual schools. These are to be non-student and non-parent contact days. All instructional staff that are nine month employees are now on a 182 day contract period by state law. Any employee unable to attend the workshops will have 2 options, personal leave or sick leave. Support staff members are not affected by this law or by the workshop days chosen by the instructional staff. Dr. Cobb requested approval of the structure for the 2 additional days.
Upon a motion by Mr. Anders, seconded by Mr. Abrahm, the Board unanimously voted to approve the 2 additional instructional workdays' structure.
Superintendent Cobb told the Board that during the 1997 Regular Session of the Legislature, monies were appropriated to provide teaching materials and supplies to each eligible classroom teacher in the state. The allotment for Lincoln Parish teachers is $87,689 which amounts to approximately $210 per eligible teacher and which must be spent by December 31, 1997. These funds will be allocated to the individual schools for disbursement pending receipt of the money from the state and the Board's approval of the process. A report will be filed with the state as to how these funds were expended and in accordance to the deadlines. Teachers who are not eligible for the classroom supply money include coordinating teachers, librarians, counselors, administrative assistant, assistant principals, Title I funded teachers, and suspension and expulsion room teachers. Once a school receives these funds, the decision on the use of the monies shall be made either individually by each teacher, or collectively by the teachers at each school. These funds shall be used for instructional materials and supplies which are defined as items which enhance the teaching process. The law requires that a minimum of 75% of these monies shall be used for teaching materials and supplies which are not consumable within a one year period of time. The law also states that 25% of each allocation may be used for consumable instructional materials and supplies. In other words, he explained that the law allows that 100% of the money may be spent on items which last more than one year, but if consumable supplies are purchased, the law requires that only 25% of the funds may be spent on these items. Dr. Cobb requested approval of the plan to allocate approximately $210 in state classroom supply money to each eligible, classroom teacher who meets the state's guidelines.
Upon a motion by Mr. Kessler, seconded by Mr. Mack, the Board unanimously voted to approve allocating approximately $210 in state classroom supply money to each eligible, classroom teacher who meets the state's guidelines.
In the Report of the Superintendent he told the Board that:
1) The next meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, October 22, at Glen View Elementary at 12:00.
2) Bid opening on construction of the Secondary Alternative School is scheduled for October 17. The Board will probably be notified of results through a poll vote in order to begin construction as quickly as possible.
3) Wayne Barfield is home from the hospital and expressed his regret that he could not be in attendance tonight.
4) Louisiana School Board Association's convention has been scheduled for March 5-7, 1998 in Lake Charles.
5) Information on Back to School Parents' Night on October 16 is in portfolios.
Mr. Shadoin expressed his appreciation for Business Manager, Pam Roy's, dedication and conscientiousness and wished her well as she leaves the area.
Mr. Wright recognized Grambling State University students who were in attendance.
There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 7:35 p.m.
Gerald W. Cobb, Secretary David Wright, President