LINCOLN PARISH SCHOOL BOARD

Ruston, Louisiana

REGULAR SESSION

Wednesday, January 20, 1999 12:30 p.m.

The Lincoln Parish School Board met in Regular Session on Wednesday, January 20, 1999 at 12:30 p.m. at Secondary Alternative School. Members present were Mr. David Wright, Mr. Billy Abrahm, Mr. Otha Anders, Mr. Wayne Barfield, Dr. Marty Beasley, Ms. Mattie Harrison, Mr. Jim Kessler, Mr. George Mack, Mr. Joe Mitcham.

Absent were Mr. Curtis Dowling, Mr. Rob Shadoin, and Mr. Allen Tuten.

Prior to the business meeting, board members enjoyed a delicious lunch in the school cafeteria.

President Wright called the meeting to order and the invocation was given by Mr. Abrahm.

SAS student, Kristopher Flournoy, led the Board in the Pledge of Allegiance to the American flag and Mr. Wright welcomed special guests, media, and members of the official staff to the meeting.

Upon a motion by Mr. Anders, seconded by Mr. Mitcham, the Board unanimously voted to adopt the agenda with an addendum containing two items:

Boundary agreement on Cypress Springs School property and Resolution declaring an Emergency to exist at Simsboro High School.

Principal of Secondary Alternative School, Mr. Clifton Lewis, was glad to welcome visitors to the facility which he considers the bright spot in the parish. He has visited five other parishes and Baton Rouge in order to assist the State Department of Education with alternative school standards. They will resemble Lincoln Parish's program and will probably include the attitudinal survey, mentoring program, and parental participation according to Mr. Lewis. Several schools have visited the Lincoln Parish alternative school, looked at the curriculum, and asked questions. The school is pretty full at the present with openings in the eleventh and twelfth grades only. Those wanting to enroll in all other grades are placed on a waiting list. He invited Board members to visit classrooms at the conclusion of their business meeting.

The Board served as a Committee of the Whole and the following Personnel agenda items, presented by Assistant Superintendent Ronnie Suggs, were Committee discussed:

1.         Resignation of the following teachers:

            Malcolm Butler, effective January 12, 1999 as language arts teacher at Dubach High School.

            Effective January 15, 1999, Toya Holiday at the Lincoln Center Alternative School.

            Steve Miller, effective January 8, 1999 as science at Simsboro.

 2.        Sabbatical leave requests for the following teachers:

            Kim Goree, language arts at Choudrant High, effective February 4, 1999 and through June 2, 1999.  This would be an emergency sabbatical.

            Effective August, 1999, and for the 99-00 school year, for Laureen Mayfield, special education at Ruston Elementary.

  According to Mr. Suggs, these meet local and state guidelines for sabbatical leave.

3.         Employment of the following teachers:

Julie Hurndon as special education at Choudrant Elementary in a new position effective January 14, 1999.

Effective January 11, 1999, Kristina Danzy as English at Choudrant High, replacing Kim Goree who requested an emergency sabbatical.

Lenora Miller as language arts at Dubach High replacing Malcolm Butler who is resigning, effective January 19, 1999.

Effective January 14, 1999, Becky Martin as elementary at Glen View replacing Brenda Carr who was granted a sabbatical leave.

Shauna Vallery as elementary at Glen View, effective January 15, 1999 replacing Robin Davidson who was granted a sabbatical leave.

Effective January 14, 1999, Ernie Jones as special education at Ruston High replacing Stanley Lewis who resigned.

Dorothy Carter as special education at Ruston Junior High, effective January 4, 1999 replacing Joe Taylor who resigned.

Effective January 14, 1999, Donna White as expulsion room, 1/2 time, at Secondary Alternative School in a new position.

Cindy Huckaby as special education at A. E. Phillips, effective January 4, 1999 replacing Alice Higginbotham who resigned.

Effective January 14, 1999, Sandra Jennings as special education aide at I. A. Lewis replacing Patricia Stevens who resigned.

Upon a motion by Dr. Beasley, seconded by Mr. Abrahm, the Board unanimously voted to approve the requests and recommendations.

Mr. Wright pointed out that members received a list of Committee Assignments for 1999 which he compiled from their committee assignment requests forms from the January 5 meeting. This was adopted by acclamation.

Superintendent Gerald Cobb reminded the Board that they were given copies of a new Student Fees, Fines, and Charges policy; JS; which had been proposed because of recent legislation.  Deletion of the old Student Fees, Fines, and Charges policy, JS-R, would become necessary with the adoption of JS.

Upon a motion by Mr. Anders, seconded by Dr. Beasley, the Board unanimously voted to approve the addition of the Student Fees, Fines, and Charges policy QS) and the deletion of Student Fees, Fines, and Charges JS-R).

Dr. Cobb also reminded the Board that approval was given at the November 3, 1998 meeting to accept the donation of property near Cypress Springs Elementary School. He requested permission for David Wright to sign the boundary agreement on the property.

Upon a motion by Mr. Abrahm, seconded by Mr. Mitcham, the Board unanimously voted to authorize Mr. Wright to sign a boundary agreement accepting the donation of property near Cypress Springs Elementary School.

The final item of business to be considered by the Board was a Resolution declaring an emergency at Simsboro High because of damage to the more than 25 year old roof as a result of the December 23 ice storm. Director of Auxiliary Services, Mr. Charles Owens, discovered severe damage to the roof of the high school wing with major leaks in several classrooms. He estimated the repair to cost between $12,000 and $16,000.

Upon a motion by Mr. Mitcham, seconded by Mr. Mack, the Board unanimously voted to approve the following:

Resolved, In accordance with provisions Section nil of Title 38 of the Revised Statutes of Louisiana, authority is ranted to the Lincoln Parish School Board to declare an emergency to exist because of the damages sustained to the roof at Simsboro High School as a result of a severe ice storm which occurred on  December 23, 1999

Further Resolved, That in view of the emergency existing, authority is hereby given for the purchase of certain materials and labor required for the repair of the roof at Simsboro High School

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

         1)            He invited area legislators to the February 2 meeting to discuss education issues and answer any  questions.

2)           He is very pleased with recent millage renewals in order to maintain the status quo.

Board members expressed their thanks to the Superintendent and his staff for a good job with publicity regarding the three millage renewals and for maintaining public rapport.

There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 1:05 p.m.

Gerald W. Cobb, Secretary                                   David Wright, President