LINCOLN PARISH SCHOOL BOARD
Ruston, Louisiana
REGULAR SESSION
Wednesday, October 21, 1998 12:30 p.m.
The Lincoln Parish School Board met in Regular Session on Wednesday, October 21, 1998 at 12:30 p.m. at Dubach High School. Members present were Mr. David Wright, Mr. Billy Abrahm, Mr. Otha Anders, Mr. Wayne Barfield, Dr. Marty Beasley, Mr. Curtis Dowling, Mr. Jim Kessler, Mr. George Mack, Mr. Joe Mitcham, and Mr. Rob Shadoin (left the meeting early).
Members absent were Mr. Allen Tuten and Mr. Calvin Wilkerson.
Prior to the business meeting, board members enjoyed a delicious lunch in the school cafeteria.
President Wright called the meeting to order and Mr. Anders gave the invocation. Mr. Wright led in the Pledge of Allegiance to the American flag and welcomed the staff, guests, and members of the media.
Upon a motion by Mr. Anders, seconded by Mr. Barfield, the Board unanimously voted to adopt the agenda as printed.
Principal of Dubach High, Howard Brown, welcomed everyone to the school and invited those present to look around the school on their way out or to come back at a future time. He introduced Helen Hall, administrative assistant and librarian, to the Board and she voiced her thanks for additional textbook monies. They are in the process of automating the library and now offer all courses that are required for the state's scholarship plan, Tuition Opportunity Program for Students (TOPS). Agriscience teacher, James Sandifer, spoke briefly and mentioned a new aquaculture program which may be incorporated into the school's curriculum in the near future.
Dr. Beasley expressed the Board's thanks for the wonderful welcome to the school.
Because of continued growth in the elementary age population at Choudrant Elementary School, Superintendent Gerald Cobb shared a need for four additional classrooms to meet the basic educational purposes of the school. He recommended the purchase of two 24' x 64' modular portable buildings each containing two classrooms. The projected cost for each building is approximately $41,000 and monies would be paid from the General Fund. Assistant Superintendent Ronnie Suggs said in 95-96 Choudrant Elementary had 320 students in grades kindergarten through six and this year their enrollment has stretched to 390. The administration is looking for ways to handle the number of students within state guidelines for class size.
Upon a motion by Mr. Kessler, seconded by Mr. Dowling, the Board unanimously voted to authorize the advertisement for bids for the purchase of two 24' x 64' modular portable buildings to be located at Choudrant Elementary School.
The Board served as a Committee of the Whole and the following Personnel Committee agenda items were discussed:
Ronnie Suggs presented item 1. and James Payton, Interim Transportation Supervisor, presented 2.
1. Sabbatical leave request for the second semester of the 98-99 school year for Michael Barmore, teacher at Hico Elementary.
2. Employment of Louise Hudson as a bus driver in the Ruston area, effective September 17, 1998, replacing Barbara Manning who resigned.
Upon a motion by Mr. Barfield, seconded by Mr. Mack, the Board voted 9-0 to approve the recommendations/requests. Dr. Beasley abstained from the vote.
Charles Owens, Director of Auxiliary Services, reminded the Board that permission was granted at the September 1 meeting to advertise for bids on a concession/rest room facility for Choudrant High School. He recommended the acceptance of the low bid from Davis Construction Company of $22,500 to complete the project through the shell stage.
Mr. Shadoin left during the discussion of the matter.
After a brief period of discussion, upon a motion by Mr. Kessler, seconded by Mr. Mack, the Board unanimously voted to accept the bid of $22,500 from Davis Construction for the construction of a shell for a concession/rest room facility at Choudrant High School.
Business Manager, Juanita Duke, stated that in recent months there have been many demands for information from the State Department of Education in addition to the ongoing need for updating fiscal programs for the year 2000. With the legislature continuing and strengthening their focus on accountability, she predicts that even more requests for information at the school district level will be forthcoming. Currently the business office programs are serviced under an annual software maintenance contract with a software provider, Software & Services of LA, out of Shreveport. Approximately 22 school systems use this provider. The contract only services existing programs and costs for enhancing old programs and writing new ones are in addition to this maintenance contract. Avoyelles, DeSoto, Sabine, Union, and Webster school districts have proposed entering into a Cooperative Endeavor Agreement which would provide mutual software programming services at an annual fixed cost. Regardless of the volume of programming requests, the cost will remain the same. The intent of the agreement is to contain costs in addition to providing more focus on the needs of fewer districts. The Agreement proposes that a programmer/analyst will be employed by the Fiscal Agent, DeSoto Parish School Board, and all costs for providing programming services would be divided equally among all participating districts. DeSoto's attorney, Hammonds & Sills, has found the agreement acceptable. Projected cost to the Lincoln Parish School Board for the first year is $7,153 and then the annual expense would be approximately $12,737. Cost under the current maintenance contract for 97-98 was $22,322. She recommended that the Board adopt a resolution to enter into a Cooperative Endeavor Agreement for fiscal programming services.
Upon a motion by Dr. Beasley, seconded by Mr. Abrahm, the Board unanimously voted by poll vote to adopt the resolution to enter into a Cooperative Endeavor Agreement for fiscal programming services.
Again this year, the Legislature appropriated monies to provide teaching materials, supplies, and equipment to each eligible school-based teacher, librarian, counselor, and speech, occupational, and physical therapist in the State, Dr. Cobb reported. Pre-kindergarten and coordinating teachers, administrative assistants, assistant principals, and suspension and expulsion room teachers are not eligible for the supply money. The allotment for Lincoln Parish teachers is $93,898 which equals about $190 to $200 per eligible teacher. All goods must be received by the schools no later than June 30, 1999 and a report must be submitted on how the funds were expended. The law requires that a minimum of 75% of these monies shall be used for teaching materials, supplies, and equipment which are not consumable within a one year period of time. Up to 25% of each allocation may be used for consumable instructional materials and supplies. Dr. Cobb asked for the Board's approval of allocating the funds as described.
Upon a motion by Mr. Abrahm, seconded by Mr. Anders, the Board unanimously voted to approve allocating approximately $190 to $200 in state teacher supply money to each eligible school-based teacher who meets the state's guidelines. After brief comments, the meeting was adjourned at 1:45 p.m.
Gerald W. Cobb, Secretary
David Wright, President