LINCOLN PARISH SCHOOL BOARD
Ruston, Louisiana
REGULAR SESSION
Tuesday, November 3, 1998 6:00 p.m.
The Lincoln Parish School Board met in Regular Session on Tuesday, November 3, 1998 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, Mr. Wayne Barfield, Dr. Marty Beasley, Mr. Curtis Dowling, Mr. Jim Kessler, Mr. George Mack, and Mr. Joe Mitcham.
Mr. Rob Shadoin, Mr. Allen Tuten, and Mr. Calvin Wilkerson were absent.
President Wright called the meeting to order and the invocation was given by Dr. Beasley. Mr. Wright led the Board in the Pledge of Allegiance to the American flag and welcomed the official staff, guests, and members of the media.
Upon a motion by Mr. Anders, seconded by Mr. Abrahm, the Board unanimously voted to adopt the agenda with an addendum of Unfinished Business: December 1, 1998 Salary Supplement Checks.
Upon a motion by Mr. Mitcham, seconded by Mr. Barfield, the Board unanimously voted to approve the minutes of the Regular Sessions held on October 6 and 21, 1998 as distributed.
Superintendent Gerald Cobb was pleased to announce that the Lincoln Parish School Board Business Department has acquired two of the most prestigious awards to be given to school systems and governmental bodies for their Comprehensive Annual Financial Report for the year ended June 30, 1997. He presented the Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting by the Government Finance Officers Association of the United States and Canada to Business Manager, Juanita Duke. This is the parish's fourth consecutive year to receive this award and they are one of the thirty-six governmental entities in the State who were selected this year, according to Dr. Cobb. They were also awarded the Certificate of Excellence in Financial Reporting by the Association of School Business Officials International for the third year. Only nineteen of the sixty-six school districts in the State received this award with only one other from the Northeast portion of Louisiana. Ms. Duke expressed her appreciation to the entire Business Department for their support and dedication and especially mentioned Ms. Charlotte Davidson, Accountant, for the part she plays in the preparation of the financial report.
Mr. Wright commended the Business Department for their excellent work in such an important division of the Central Office.
The Board served as a Committee of the Whole and the following Personnel Committee agenda items were discussed after Mr. Ronnie Suggs, Assistant Superintendent, presented item #1 and Mr. Charles Owens, Director of Auxiliary Services, presented item #2:
1. Rescission of sabbatical leave for the second semester of the 98-99 school year for Tammy Schales, teacher at Glen View Elementary.
2. Resignation of Sandy Harris, effective November 2, 1998 as secretary at the Central Office.
Upon a motion by Mr. Barfield, seconded by Mr. Anders, the Board unanimously voted to approve the above recommendations.
Ms. Barbara Kirkland, Vocational Supervisor, told the Board that Career Night will be held Tuesday, November 17, 1998 from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. at Ruston Junior High School. Parish juniors, seniors, and their parents are invited to attend. Representatives from more than 30 colleges and universities from Louisiana, Texas, Arkansas, and Mississippi; Louisiana technical colleges; beauty schools; financial institutions; and all branches of the military will be available to meet with those interested in attending the various schools. Information on scholarships, financial aid, ACT requirements, and admission policies will also be presented. This annual event is coordinated by Ms. Kirkland and the parish high school guidance counselors.
Sales tax collections were up again for the month ending October 31, 1998 as reported by Ms. Duke. She told the Board that the 1967 and 1979 sales tax collections were up 2.40% over last month and 38% over last year. Recovered by audits was $36,699. She predicted that the yearly total of resources recovered by audits may exceed last years' total. In her opinion, additional sales tax monies will enable the Board to provide a little more in tax supplement checks to be issued from the 93 sales tax fund on December 1.
A financial report for the month ending August 31, 1998 was presented by Ms. Duke. She called attention to fund balances which she described as good, healthy balances. Nine and ten month employees' salaries had not begun to be paid prior to August 31. The '93 ad valorem fund is down as expected for this time of year. She continued with a financial report for the month ending September 30, 1998. Ms. Duke indicated that the general fund balance decreased because the first payment of salaries for the new school year is made in September. The 5 mill maintenance fund balance and other funds are doing well at this point.
Ms. Duke requested permission to distribute $1,100 for certified and $550 for noncertified employees in the December 1 salary supplement checks. Although this is a $100/$50 increase, she reiterated that the amounts to be paid in the salary supplement checks are based on actual collections in the '93 sales tax fund and there is no guarantee that the same amounts will be paid at this time next year.
Upon a motion by Mr. Anders, seconded by Dr. Beasley, the Board unanimously voted to approve the disbursement of $1,100 for certified and $550 for noncertified employees in a December 1 salary supplement check.
Ms. Duke reported that three tax millages, which had ten year collection periods, are expiring after the 1998 collections. They are: the Dubach District No. 5 Maintenance & Operating, 3.33 mill, which generates approximately $60,482 and the Consolidated School District No. 1 Parishwide M & 0 and Equipment & Operating, both 5.14 mill, which generate about $651,686 each. Due to the amount of revenue generated from these millages, there would be a drastic affect on the operating budget in the event these millages are not renewed. She requested Board approval of a resolution calling for an election in order to renew the millages.
Upon a motion by Dr. Beasley, seconded by Mr. Mack, the Board unanimously voted by poll vote to approve the resolution to set an election date of January 16, 1999 for the purpose of renewing the Dubach School District Maintenance & Operating Tax and the Consolidated School District No. 1 Parishwide Maintenance & Operating and Parishwide Operating Taxes, and to make the appropriate application to the State Bond Commission.
Superintendent Cobb proposed to open the application process for the supervisor of special education position on Wednesday, November 4, 1998. The application period would close at noon on Monday, November 16, 1998. Advertisements for the position would be sent to school systems and newspapers across North Louisiana seeking applicants. Interviews would be held on November 17 and possibly November 18 with a recommendation to fill the position to be presented to the Board at its December 1, 1998 meeting. He recommended that the Board grant permission to advertise and interview for this supervisor of special education position as previously stated.
Upon a motion by Mr. Abrahm, seconded by Dr. Beasley, the Board unanimously voted to grant permission to advertise November 4 through November 16 and interview November 17 and 18, 1998 for the supervisor of special education position.
Mr. Dick Nealy contacted Dr. Cobb on behalf of a group developing the property which adjoins the southern boundary of the Cypress Springs school property. In surveying, a triangular piece of property abutting the school property was found which could not be easily surveyed in order to determine ownership. In order to settle the matter, Mr. Nealy has proposed to establish the boundary by donating the disputed property, containing some .58 acres, to the School Board. Board attorney, Andy Shealy, reviewed the legal aspects of the transaction and following his recommendation, Superintendent Cobb recommended that the Board accept the offer of the property.
Upon a motion by Dr. Beasley, seconded by Mr. Abrahm, the Board unanimously voted to accept the donation of the tract three property as described above.
The final item of business, to consider the grievance filed by an employee, was continued from the previous meeting of the Board. Upon a motion by Mr. Barfield, seconded by Mr. Dowling, the Board unanimously voted to go into executive session at 6:40 p.m.
Upon a motion by Mr. Kessler, seconded by Mr. Dowling, the Board unanimously voted to return to regular session at 8:42 p.m.
Upon a motion by Mr. Kessler, seconded by Mr. Dowling, the Board unanimously voted to accept the recommendation of the Superintendent to approve the denial of the grievance filed by an employee relating to placement in Phase II of the Intensive Assistance Program.
In a report of the Superintendent, Dr. Cobb reminded the Board that the Academic Awards Banquet is scheduled for November 16.
After brief comments, the meeting was adjourned at 8:46 p.m.
Gerald W. Cobb, Secretary
David Wright, President