LINCOLN PARISH SCHOOL BOARD

Ruston, Louisiana

REGULAR SESSION

Tuesday, December 2, 1997 6:00 p.m.

The Lincoln Parish School Board met in Regular Session on Tuesday, December 2, 1997 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. Otha Anders (arrived after the meeting began), Mr. Wayne Barfield, Dr. Marty Beasley, Mr. Curtis Dowling, Mr. Jim Kessler, Mr. George Mack, Mr. Joe Mitcham, Mr. Rob Shadoin (arrived after the meeting began), and Mr. Allen Tuten.

Mr. Wilkerson was absent.

President Wright called the meeting to order and the invocation was given by Mr. Mack. Mr. Wright led the Board in the Pledge of Allegiance to the American flag.

Mr. Anders and Mr. Shadoin arrived at this point in the meeting.

Mr. Wright welcomed special guests, members of the official staff, and media.

Upon a motion by Mr. Tuten, seconded by Mr. Barfield, the Board unanimously voted to adopt the agenda with the addition of a personnel addendum.

Upon a motion by Mr. Anders, seconded by Mr. Mitcham, the Board unanimously voted to approve the minutes of the Regular Session held on November 4 and the Special Called Session of November 19, 1997 as distributed.

Principal of Ruston High School, Mr. Randy Moore, recognized track coach, Mr. Dave Anderson, who again led his boys cross country team to capture the state championship.  Coach Anderson introduced the team which consists of 10 dedicated individuals.  They have also been district champions for 7 years in a row.  Superintendent Gerald Cobb presented a plaque to Coach Anderson in recognition of winning the Class AAAAA Boys Cross Country State title.  He and Mr. Wright commended the group of young people, their parents, and coach for their accomplishments.

The Board served as a Committee of the Whole and the following Personnel Committee agenda items were discussed:

Assistant Superintendent, Mr. Ronnie Suggs, presented items 1.- 3. and Mr. Charles Owens, Director of Auxiliary Services, presented 4.- 5.:

            1.         Resignation of Dubach High math teacher, Kenny Bostwick, effective November 21, 1997.

                        Resignation of Roy Hill, effective November 17,1997 as social studies teacher/coach at Ruston High.

            2.         Employment, effective November 20, 1997, of Michael Williams as social studies teacher /coach at Ruston High replacing Roy Hill who resigned.

            3.         Effective December 8, 1997, the employment of Malcolm Butler as P.E. teacher at Dubach High, replacing Kenny Bostwick who resigned.

            4.         Employment of Suzette Bagwell, replacing Bonnie Lowe as accounts payable clerk at the Central Office, effective December 1, 1997.

            5.         Resignation, effective December 1, 1997, of Gregory Dade as custodian at Ruston Junior High.

Upon a motion by Mr. Abrahm, seconded by Mr. Shadoin, the Board unanimously voted to approve the above recommendations.

Business Manager, Ms. Juanita Duke, was pleased to report that sales tax collections were up for the month ending November 30, 1997.  She told the Board that the 1967 and 1979 sales tax collections were up 11% over last month and 2.5% for the year.  Revenue recovered by audits was $4,244.27. This is down 74% from last year.  She reminded members that there was an unusually large collection last August of approximately $188,000.  Salary supplement checks totalling $734,839 were paid December 1 but are reflected in this November report.

A financial report for the month ending October, 1997 was also presented by Ms. Duke. After calling attention to the fund balances, she said the general fund balance decreased a little primarily due to start of school expenditures such as text books and school supplies.  The 5 mill maintenance fund has a very small balance which is usual for this time of year as we are waiting on collections of property taxes at the beginning of the year.  We are still waiting, she said, on federal reimbursement for adult education.  Child nutrition is doing well.  Sales tax funds are building up and have good balances.  She said the 1993 sales tax fund does not reflect the salary payment that was made the first of December because this is the October report.  That will be reflected in next months report.  The 93 ad valorem fund is being used because of the condition of the 5 mill maintenance fund for operating and maintenance.  No money is being spent from the district maintenance and operation funds until collections at the beginning of the calendar year begin.  General fund bond surplus is stagnant at this point.

In answer to a question at the November meeting, Transportation Supervisor, Mr. Howard Whitlock, was glad to report that 100% of school buses in Lincoln Parish now have strobe lights installed on their roofs.  Bulbs will have to be replaced as they burn out or if they are knocked off.

Bids were opened on November 13 for the special education classroom at Glen View Elementary as summarized by Mr. Charles Owens.  All bids exceeded the budgeted amount.  Therefore, he recommended their rejection and asked for permission to re-advertise.

Upon a motion by Mr. Kessler, seconded by Mr. Anders, the Board unanimously voted to reject all bids received on the special education classroom at Glen View and grant permission to re-advertise the project.

Superintendent Cobb recommended approval of the poll vote conducted November 20 allowing Margaret Rhone Center Industries to rent the old Greenwood School.  A visit by the Building and Grounds Committee in order to make a visual inventory of the facility was discussed.  It was decided that Dr. Cobb, Mr. Owens, and District Attorney Bob Levy should be allowed to complete the arrangements.

Upon a motion by Mr. Barfield, seconded by Mr. Abrahm, the Board unanimously voted to approve the poll vote of November 20, 1997 allowing M.R.C. to rent the old Greenwood School for $1,000 per month retroactive to November 1, 1997 and until March 30, 1998 with the stipulation that they would continue to maintain and insure the facility.

Secondary Supervisor, Dr. Charles Scriber, said that in order to expedite the implementation of technology in Lincoln Parish and to take advantage of state and federal technology funds, Lincoln Parish has found it necessary to write a Technology Plan.  This plan includes sections related to philosophy, goals and objectives, inservice training, implementation, and expenditures.  Also addressed are current status, maintenance, and timelines for accomplishments.  The implementation of the plan has begun and updates and additions will follow periodically.  Each school will also write a technology plan, which will follow the same format.  He asked for the Board's approval of the plan.

Upon a motion by Dr. Beasley, seconded by Mr. Kessler, the Board unanimously voted to approve the Lincoln Parish Technology Plan as presented by Dr. Scriber.

Again, because of laws passed during the 1997 Regular Session of the Louisiana Legislature, Dr. Cobb reported on policy manual revisions and one addition that were necessary.  He or one of his staff briefly explained the current policies and suggested revisions of: School Board Ethics, Investments, Bids and Quotations, Student Transportation Management, Health Examinations, Substitute Teachers, Support Personnel Employment, and School Food Service Management.  Ms. Duke discussed the new policy, Short Term Notes.  This was presented for information purposes with a vote to be taken at the next meeting.

The Lincoln Parish Sales and Use Tax Commission, of which the Board is a member, requested clarification that persons hired and performing duties on behalf of the Commission are employees of the Commission rather than employees of any municipality or political subdivision.  Because of problems obtaining a quorum at their monthly meetings, they also asked for permission to determine the interval of its regular meetings, possibly bimonthly or quarterly.  Attorney William Carter drew up an agreement consisting of these 2 amendments, which Dr. Cobb and Mr. Mitcham presented to the Board.

Upon a motion by Mr. Kessler, seconded by Mr. Tuten, the Board unanimously voted to authorize Mr. David Wright to execute the Third Amendment to Cooperative Endeavor Agreement for the Sales and Use Tax Commission.

Mr. Shadoin recused himself from the vote as the agreement came from the law firm of which he is a partner.

In a report of the Superintendent, Dr. Cobb informed the Board that:

            1)         The L.S.B.A. convention is scheduled for March 5-7, 1998 in Lake Charles.  More information was included in packets.

            2)         The N.S.B.A. convention, which is extremely costly, will be held in New Orleans this year and is scheduled for April 4-7, 1998.  More information may be gotten from Becky Gemelli.

            3)         He had an update on R.H.S. tennis court repair.  Mr. Jack Love said 3 new post tension courts are going to be constructed and in addition to those, 2 of the existing courts will be overlaid.  The remaining 3 courts will be patched.  This would result in 5 excellent and 2 playable courts.  The completion date is still January.

After brief comments and questions, the meeting was adjourned at 7:12 p.m.

Gerald W. Cobb, Secretary                                             David Wright, President