LINCOLN PARISH SCHOOL BOARD
Ruston, Louisiana
REGULAR SESSION
Tuesday, April 7, 1998 6:00 p.m.
The Lincoln Parish School Board met in Regular Session on Tuesday, April 7, 1998 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, Mr. Wayne Barfield, Dr. Marty Beasley (arrived after the meeting began), Mr. Curtis Dowling, Mr. Jim Kessler, Mr. George Mack, Mr. Joe Mitcham, and Mr. Allen Tuten.
Mr. Rob Shadoin and Mr. Calvin Wilkerson were absent.
President Wright called the meeting to order and the invocation was given by Mr. Tuten. Mr. Wright led in the Pledge of Allegiance to the American flag and welcomed special guests, members of the official staff, and members of the press.
Upon a motion by Mr. Anders, seconded by Mr. Barfield, the Board unanimously voted to adopt the agenda as amended, with the addition of bids to repair the northwest wall of the Ruston High School gymnasium, declare as surplus the old lighting system from the old Choudrant softball league and dispose of it through the bid process, grant permission to execute the Recovery Distribution Agreement with Coregis Insurance Company, and a personnel item - consider faculty recommendations.
Upon a motion by Mr. Mack, seconded by Mr. Abrahm, the Board unanimously voted to approve the minutes of the Regular Session held on March 3 and the Special Session of March 17, 1998 as distributed.
Administrative Supervisor of Title I, Mr. Willie Washington, told the Board that the LEA Consolidated Application for Federal Programs is designed to improve teaching and learning by encouraging greater cross-program coordination, planning and service delivery under the Improving America's Schools Act (IASA), and to enhance integration of programs under IASA, Goals 2000, the School-to-Work Opportunities Act, and with other educational activities carried out with state and local funds. He requested permission to submit an application for the grant.
Upon a motion by Mr. Kessler, seconded by Mr. Anders, the Board unanimously voted to grant permission to submit an application for grant -- "LEA Consolidated Application for Federal Programs," Improving America's Schools Act of 1994.
Upon a motion by Mr. Tuten, seconded by Mr. Barfield, the Board unanimously voted to grant permission to advertise for bids for duplicating fluid; thermal masters and spirit masters; toilet tissue and paper towels; dust mops; and gasoline and diesel. This yearly request was recommended by Director of Auxiliary Services, Mr. Charles Owens.
The Board served as a Committee of the Whole and the following Personnel Committee agenda items were discussed after Assistant Superintendent Suggs presented 1.-5. and Ms. Brenda Theodos, Supervisor of School Food Service, presented 6.-7.:
1. Requests for 98-99 sabbaticals, effective August 19, 1998, for the following teachers:
Sandy Hogan, kindergarten, at Choudrant Elementary.
Rebecca Roach, kindergarten, at Choudrant Elementary.
Debra Minnifield, special education, at I. A. Lewis.
Kim Billberry, math, at Ruston Junior High.
Mr. Suggs said all of these meet both state and local guidelines for sabbatical leave requests.
2. Request for leave without pay for 98-99 effective August 19, 1998 for an itinerant speech therapist, Diana Grigsby.
According to Mr. Suggs, this also meets the parish's guidelines for leave.
3. Retirement of the succeeding faculty members effective June 4, 1998 unless stated otherwise:
Patsy Bullock as principal at Cypress Springs, effective August 26, 1998.
Shirley Cobb as Title I teacher at Cypress Springs.
Effective June 18, 1998, Guyette Barham, librarian/counselor at Dubach High School.
Ruby Moore as business teacher at Ruston High School.
Mellie J. Neaville as music teacher at Ruston High School.
Bobbie Adams as science teacher at Ruston Junior High.
Mattie Harrison as librarian at Ruston Junior High.
Myrtle Livingston as Title I teacher at Simsboro.
4. Resignation of:
Donna Williams, effective June 4, 1998, as an elementary teacher at Choudrant Elementary.
Michelle Rosenberger, teacher at Dubach High School, effective March 20, 1998.
Robert Arvie, effective March 16, 1998, as an English teacher/coach at Ruston High School.
Rebecca Barnett, speech/debate teacher at Ruston High School, effective June 4, 1998.
Lori Golden, effective June 4, 1998, as an English teacher at Ruston High School.
Jerald Kennedy, P.E. teacher/coach at Ruston High School, effective February 27, 1998.
Joey Pender, effective April 1, 1998, as P.E. teacher/coach at Ruston High School.
Cindy Boudinot, 1/2 time music teacher at Simsboro, effective June 4, 1998.
Patricia O'Brien, effective June 2, 1998, as special education aide at Lincoln Center.
5. Employment of:
Tommy Reeder, effective April 8, 1998, as P.E. teacher/head coach at Ruston High School replacing Joey Pender who resigned.
Steve Johnson as P.E. teacher/coach at Ruston High School effective August 1, 1998 replacing Jerald Kennedy who resigned.
6. Resignation of 4 hour technician at Choudrant Elementary, Belinda Dunn, effective March 16, 1998.
7. Employment of Janice Hennigan, effective March 18, 1998, as 4 hour technician at Choudrant Elementary replacing Belinda Dunn who resigned.
Upon a motion by Mr. Kessler, seconded by Mr. Abrahm, the Board unanimously voted to approve personnel items l.-4.
Mr. Mack shared his views regarding hiring coaches and on several other subjects as well. He proposed that the Board come up with a policy to advertise and accept applications for any future coaching positions.
Dr. Beasley arrived while Mr. Mack was expressing his opinion.
Upon a motion by Mr. Abrahm, seconded by Mr. Tuten, the Board unanimously voted to accept:
Tommy Reeder as PE/head coach at Ruston High School, effective April 8, 1998.
Steve Johnson as PE/coach at Ruston High School, effective August 1, 1998.
Upon a motion by Mr. Barfield, seconded by Mr. Mitcham, the Board unanimously voted to approve personnel items 6.-7.
The suspension of a bus driver was the next item to be considered. Mr. Suggs said the employee was not in attendance but that he had a letter from the employee requesting that it be read in executive session.
Upon a motion by Mr. Abrahm, seconded by Mr. Anders, the Board unanimously voted to go into executive session at 6:55 p.m.
Upon a motion by Dr. Beasley, seconded by Mr. Anders, the Board unanimously voted to return to regular session at 7:05 p.m.
Upon a motion by Mr. Kessler, seconded by Mr. Dowling, the Board unanimously voted to uphold the Superintendent's recommendation of suspension without pay for 2 weeks of a bus driver.
The final item of personnel business was the termination of a school food service employee. Ms. Theodos said the employee was present and asked Dorothy White if she preferred an open or closed session. She chose to have an open session. Ms. Theodos gave background information and said Ms. White was being brought before the Board because of violation of leave policy. She has 38 days of absence which are not covered by leave and without doctors' excuses. Ms. White said she has diverse medical problems and has seen several doctors, none of whom are willing to put in writing that she is unable to work. Following a brief period of questions and comments, it was suggested that she be allowed additional time to obtain a statement from a doctor or that the Board recommend a doctor and accept his/her opinion.
Upon a motion by Mr. Tuten, seconded by Mr. Barfield, the Board unanimously voted that Ms. Dorothy White be placed on unpaid leave for 30 days instead of termination to allow time for her to get documentation regarding her condition and fitness to work. At the end of 30 days, if necessary, another recommendation will be brought to the Board.
Title I Parental Involvement Coordinator, Sallie Evans, informed the Board that the Louisiana Parent Congress consists of concerned citizens building partnerships to address critical issues that will have an impact on education and encourage local educational programs to work harmoniously with families and friends of education. A second Louisiana Parent Congress was recently held in Alexandria, EXPO '98, during which all school districts were invited to showcase their parental involvement program. Lincoln Parish participated in the project, which was on display for the Board members in the lobby of the central office. For the second year a plaque was received by Lincoln Parish for excellence in display. Ms. Evans shared interesting information regarding the Parent Congress and Lincoln Parish's parental involvement program. President Wright, on behalf of the Board, expressed appreciation to Ms. Evans for the hard work of all of those involved.
Mr. Kessler suggested that the reports on the Louisiana School Boards Association convention and the National School Boards Association convention be postponed in the essence of time. The Board decided by acclamation to do so.
Ms. Juanita Duke, Business Manager, reported that 1967 and 1979 sales tax collections for the month of March,, 1998 were $258,828 which is up $26,768 over the same month last year. Collections in the 1993 sales tax fund also showed an increase of $16,061 compared to last year, with $155,297 being collected. The is an 11.5% increase for the month and 3.8% for the year. "Sales tax is doing good," she said. Recovered by auditors during the same month was $16,431 which was also an increase. The fund is still down 68% because of the unusually large collection in August of last year.
Ms. Duke called the Board's attention to the February, 1998 financial statement which includes fund balances. The bulk of the ad valorem taxes have been received at this time. She called attention to the shaded row on the bottom which shows good balances.
Prior to the introduction of the next agenda item, Mr. Tuten moved to accept the next four recommendations from the staff which included:
1) To reject the bid received in the amount of $34,087 from Computer Solutions of Ruston and grant permission to re-advertise for bids to purchase a telephone system for the central office. This was from Ms. Duke.
2) To accept the lowest bid meeting specification, from Louisiana Association for the Blind for $29,625, for duplicating paper for the 98-99 school year, as recommended by Charles Owens.
3) To adopt the following resolution from Mr. Owens:
Declaring the week of April 20-24, 1998 as Support Personnel Week in Lincoln Parish, sending it to all of the schools in the parish, and making it a part of the official minutes of the Lincoln Parish School Board.
4) To adopt the following as recommended by Superintendent Gerald Cobb:
Designating May 4-10, 1998 as Teacher Appreciation Week in Lincoln Parish, sending it to all schools in the parish, and making it a part of the official minutes of the Lincoln Parish School Board.
Juanita Duke asked if she could change her request from re-advertising for bids to accepting proposals. These proposals would be brought back to the Board. The Board, by acclamation, allowed her to make this change in wording.
Mr. Wright requested permission to add the two items of business remaining on the agenda and the three additional items of business which were added by an addendum to the agenda, to Mr. Tuten's motion. These items of business were:
1) To adopt the proposed calendar for 98-99 as the choice of the majority of all school employees, as recommended by Dr. Cobb.
Lincoln Parish School Calendar
1998-1999
Parishwide Workshop August 19, 1998
Labor Day Holiday September 7, 1998
Thanksgiving Holiday November 23-27, 1998
Christmas/New Year Holidays December 21 -January 1, 1999
End of First Semester January 14, 1999
Parishwide Inservice January 15, 1999
Martin Luther King/Great Americans' Day January 18, 1999
Spring Break March 8-12, 1 999
Easter Holiday April 2 & 5, 1999
Last Day of School June 2, 1999
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2) To approve the advertisement April 8 through April 24, 1998 of the Simsboro principal position with interviews to be conducted April 29-May 1, 1998, also at Dr. Cobb's request.
3) To grant permission to advertise for bids to repair the northwest wall of the Ruston High School gymnasium as recommended by Mr. Owens.
4) To declare as surplus the old Choudrant softball lighting system which includes 60 lights, 3 switch boxes, and 1 7 cross arms and associated wiring; and grant permission to dispose of them through the bid process with proceeds to be used to install the new lighting system. Mr. Owens also recommended this matter to the Board.
5) To grant permission, at Mr. Owens' entreaty, to execute the Recovery Distribution Agreement with Coregis Insurance Company in order to recover all or part of the deductible paid in the Ruston High School auditorium fire.
Mr. Tuten agreed to this request. Mr. Anders seconded the revised motion, and the Board unanimously voted to accept/adopt the nine items of business.
In a Report of the Superintendent, Dr. Cobb mentioned:
1) In conjunction with Teacher Appreciation Week, an article in today's Times with the headline "Ruston School Gets National Notice" which alluded to excellent test results. "Our teachers do a marvelous job," he said.
2) The next meeting is scheduled for April 22, 1998 at Ruston High School at noon.
After brief comments, the meeting was adjourned at 8:01 p.m.
Gerald W. Cobb, Secretary David Wright, President