LINCOLN PARISH SCHOOL BOARD
Ruston, Louisiana
REGULAR SESSION
Tuesday, December 1, 1998 6:00 p.m.
The Lincoln Parish School Board met in Regular Session on Tuesday, December 1, 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. George Mack, Mr. Joe Mitcham, Mr. Rob Shadoin, and Mr. Allen Tuten.
Mr. Jim Kessler 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. He welcomed special guests, members of the official staff, and media. Mr. Wright noted the presence of newly elected Board member, Mrs. Mattie Harrison, and his wife, Eula Wright.
Upon a motion by Mr. Tuten, seconded by Mr. Barfield, the Board unanimously voted to adopt the agenda as printed.
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 3, 1998 as distributed.
Assistant Principal of the Secondary Alternative School, Rik Cason, brought greetings from the school and introduced their Vocational Supervisor, Billy Graham. Mr. Graham thanked the Board for guidance, leadership, and believing in them. His students made wooden Bible stands to sell in order to purchase uniform jackets for everyone at the school. To show their appreciation to the Board, one was presented to each Board member. Mr. Wright expressed the Board's thanks.
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. - 5. and Mr. Charles Owens, Director of Auxiliary Services, presented 6.:
1. Employment of Ms. Gloria Roebuck as supervisor of special education replacing Ms. Sharon Thomas who is retiring effective February 1, 1999.
Upon a motion by Mr. Anders, seconded by Mr. Dowling, the Board unanimously voted to approve the administration's recommendation to hire Ms. Roebuck as revealed by Mr. Suggs.
2. Emergency sabbatical leave request for the remainder of the 98-99 school year by Brenda Carr, teacher at Glen View Elementary.
3. Retirement, effective January 15, 1999, of Sharon Patterson as Related Services Coordinator who is housed at Lincoln Center.
4. Resignation of:
Stanley Lewis, effective December 1, 1998 as special education teacher at Ruston High School.
Effective November 20, 1998, special education aide at I. A. Lewis, Patricia Stephens.
5. Employment of Robert Boagni, effective November 11, 1998 as math teacher at Ruston High School, replacing Barbara Smith who resigned.
6. As a point of reference, Terri Russell moved from receptionist to secretary at the central office, effective November 23, 1998. She replaces Sandy Harris who resigned.
Upon a motion by Mr. Tuten, seconded by Mr. Mack, the Board unanimously voted to approve the above recommendations.
Dr. Marty Beasley, along with approximately 700 others, attended the Governor's Education Summit on November 10 in Baton Rouge. She related that the State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education (BESE) suggested that the workplace of the new millennium will look vastly different from today, with new technology requiring greater skills and new and higher expectations of employees. Therefore, education has to change dramatically and immediately in order to meet the needs of the 21st Century workplace. In response to the need for a radical change in the way we educate our children, the Governor, the Legislature, BESE, the State Superintendent of Education, business, educators, and the public worked together to develop a plan for fundamental changes in our classrooms focusing on improving student achievement. Technology shifts in the workplace require more challenging programs designed to increase students' learning and to teach higher level skills. These changes begin with new higher level content standards, new local curricula, new and more rigorous tests, and system of School and District Accountability that will measure individual schools' success in educating their students. While the notion of accountability is sweeping the nation, experts have said that Louisiana is ahead of the rest by developing and implementing a comprehensive, fully integrated plan for school improvement that will move education forward into the next century. Dr. Beasley shared specific key components, expectations, and timelines of the plan.
Business Manager, Ms. Juanita Duke, was pleased to report that sales tax collections were up again for the month ending November 30, 1998. She told the Board that the 1967 and 1979 sales tax collections were up 12% over last month and about 13% for the year. Revenue recovered by audits was $4,763 which is a decrease from last month. Salary supplement checks were paid December 1 as planned.
A financial report for the month ending October 31, 1998 was also presented by Ms. Duke. After calling attention to the fund balances, she said the general fund has a good balance. The 5 mill maintenance and 93 ad valorem funds have dropped as expected for this time of the year. All sales tax funds are doing well. District maintenance and operation funds have almost all been paid out at this time and she is anticipating January collections.
Bids were opened on November 19 for two modular buildings at Choudrant Elementary as summarized by Mr. Charles Owens. He recommended the acceptance of the low bid by Comark Building Systems.
Upon a motion by Mr. Anders, seconded by Mr. Barfield, the Board unanimously voted to accept the bid of $81,572 for the construction of two modular buildings at Choudrant Elementary by Comark Building Systems.
A resolution praising retiring member, Mr. Calvin Wilkerson, was presented for the Board's scrutiny by President Wright.
Upon a motion by Dr. Beasley, seconded by Mr. Mack, the Board unanimously voted to approve the resolution, with one correction, honoring Mr. Calvin Wilkerson.
Based on a needs assessment, there is a great need for a computer lab that will accommodate an entire class at Grambling Middle School, Title I Supervisor, Mr. Willie Washington, said. The cost of the lab, approximately $90,000, will be a collaborative effort between Title 1, Classroom Basic Technology Funds (CBTF) and LA LEARN for the 21 Century. Cost includes installation of all hardware and software, maintenance, and staff development for management of the lab (first year). Computer Curriculum Corporation is the sole source of the software and the hardware is included on the state contract. He requested permission to purchase the computer lab.
Upon a motion by Mr. Mack, seconded by Mr. Shadoin, the Board unanimously voted to grant permission to purchase a 25-station computer lab for Grambling Middle School as outlined by Mr. Washington.
Technology Coordinator, Ms. Debbie Sandidge, reminded Board members that approval was given at the December, 1997 meeting of the original Lincoln Parish Technology Plan. The plan was submitted for state approval as part of the 97-98 CBTF application. The 98-99 guidelines for the CBTF application require a review of all district plans and the submission of any revisions to the Louisiana Center for Educational Technology (LCET). The revised plan identifies changes and additions that have been made since it was approved by the Board and LCET. Revision highlights she mentioned were: increase the number of student and teacher work stations and access to Internet, upgrade school administrative computer systems for Y2K compliance, convert business labs from typewriters to computers, install a teacher technology training center, install automated library circulation/catalog system, and participate in FCC/SAC E-rate discount program. She asked the Board to approve the Technology Plan revisions.
Upon a motion by Dr. Beasley, seconded by Mr. Anders, the Board unanimously voted to approve the Lincoln Parish Technology Plan revisions as presented by Ms. Sandidge.
Juanita Duke announced that the annual renewal of the Board's self-insured health plan was November 1, 1998. She recommends no changes in health plan benefits for the renewal period. She does, however, recommend changing the reinsurance carrier and increasing dental premiums. The increase in reinsurance claims this past year and the potentially large claims that exist at renewal have greatly increased our exposure to reinsurance claims going into the new plan year. Therefore, the current carrier, Continental Assurance Company, increased their annual renewal premium by approximately $627,000. This is the reason for changing the reinsurance carrier to American United Life as of November 1, 1998. Their renewal premium will still increase but only by about $342,000. She reminded everyone that approximately $418,000 was saved in the renewal premium last year by changing the carrier, which was a result of a good claims experience in 96-97. She also reported that employee dental premiums were increased 5% at last year's renewal to help offset any future increases that might be needed. Unfortunately, she said, this increase was not enough to fund the claims this past year. Based on a loss report for the dental plan, which she distributed, total claims of $288,485 exceeded total premiums paid of $279,823 by $8,662. In order to adequately fund the dental plan, she recommended an additional 10% increase in employee dental premiums effective January 1, 1999. Cost for an active single employee would increase from $10.66 to $11.70 and for an active employee and family from $39.01 to $42.90. A retired single employees' cost would jump from $16.51 to $17.55.
Upon a motion by Dr. Beasley, seconded by Mr. Anders, that Board unanimously voted to approve the 10% increase in dental premiums effective January 1, 1999.
Superintendent Cobb reported that the mayor-elect for the Town of Dubach has expressed their desire to renew the existing lease on the old Hopewell School property for another ten years. Rent on the property is $100 per month and the renewal would be effective January 1, 1999. He shared a copy of the expiring lease and a prospective Extension of Lease Contract and Agreement which was prepared by Attorney Andy Shealy for the Board's perusal. This lease would terminate on December 31, 2008. The legal description of the property was left blank in the agreement pending actual confirmation. Dr. Cobb recommended approval of the agreement.
Upon a motion by Mr. Abrahm, seconded by Mr. Barfield, the Board unanimously voted to approve the Extension of Lease Contract and Agreement between the Town of Dubach and the Lincoln Parish School Board renewing the Town's lease on the buildings and cafeteria of the old Hopewell School for ten years pending finalization of the property description.
In a report of the Superintendent, Dr. Cobb informed the Board that:
1) Mr. Wright has a memo in portfolios regarding a holiday lunch on December 21.
2) A memo from him is also enclosed in packets encouraging members to bring qualifying information to the same luncheon to be completed with the Clerk of Court.
3) The L.S.B.A. convention is scheduled for March 4-6, 1999 in Alexandria. More information was included in packets.
After brief comments and questions, the meeting was adjourned at 7:37 p.m.
Gerald W. Cobb, Secretary
David Wright, President