LINCOLN PARISH SCHOOL BOARD
Ruston, Louisiana
REGULAR SESSION
Tuesday, March 2, 1999 6:00 p.m.
The Lincoln Parish School Board met in Regular Session on Tuesday, March 2, 1999 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, Dr. Marty Beasley, Mr. Curtis Dowling, Ms. Mattie Harrison, Mr. Jim Kessler, Mr. George Mack, Mr. Joe Mitcham, Mr. Rob Shadoin, and Mr. Allen Tuten.
Mr. Wayne Barfield was absent.
Prior to the meeting, at the request of the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education, an Accountability Update was presented by Ginger Merritt and Becky Solley. A brief period of questions and answers ensued. This session qualified for Board member training as required by Act 66.
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 members of the official staff, press, and special guests.
Upon a motion by Mr. Anders, seconded by Mr. Abrahm, the Board unanimously voted to adopt the agenda as printed.
Upon a motion by Mr. Mack, seconded by Dr. Beasley, the Board unanimously voted to approve the minutes of the Regular Session held on February 2, 1999 as distributed.
Randy Moore, Interim Secondary Supervisor, came before the Board to recognize three outstanding students from Lincoln Parish Schools. He told the Board that each year the Lincoln Parish School System participates in the Student-of-the-Year program. Students are selected from three divisions--elementary (grade 5), junior high (grade 8), and high school (grade 12). Parishwide winners, selected from each division, go on to compete at the regional level, and if successful there, at the state level. A representative from their home school recognized each of the parish winners and shared brief personal information about them. On behalf of the Lincoln Parish School Board, Mr. Moore presented the following parish winners with plaques:
Elementary - - - Ansley Whittington of Cypress Springs
Junior High - - Amber Grafton of Ruston Junior High
High School - - Michelle Winter of Ruston High School
Mr. Wright expressed the Board's appreciation to the students and their parents for their achievement and the good work they are doing. He wished them luck in the future.
In the interest of time, upon a motion by Mr. Tuten, seconded by Mr. Anders, the Board unanimously voted to grant permission to: advertise for and accept the lowest bids for school food service food, supplies, and equipment for the 99-00 school year; advertise for bids for 3 new (2000) and 2 used (1995-1999) school buses, a new food service maintenance van, and four classrooms at Secondary Alternative School; send Letters of Intent for 99-00; and allocate instructional supply money for 99-00 as outlined by Business Manager, Juanita Duke.
Art K-12 - $1.00 per student
Physical Education K-12 - $1.00 per student
Library Supplies K-5 - $ .50 per student
6-12 - $1.00 per student
Music K-5 - $ .50 per student
6-12 - $1.00 per student
Magazines & K-6 - $1.70 per student
Newspapers 7-12 - $2.00 per student
Science K-6 - $ .50 per student
7-8 - $2.00 per student
9-12 - $3.50 per student
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The Board served as a Committee of the Whole and the following Personnel Committee agenda items were discussed after being presented by Ronnie Suggs, Assistant Superintendent:
1. Resignation of the following:
Tamitha O'Rear, effective February 12, 1999, as science teacher at Dubach High School.
Julia Callaway as elementary teacher at Simsboro School effective February 14, 1999.
2. Emergency sabbatical leave request effective February 22, 1999 and through June 2, 1999 for Cheryl Garner, special education teacher at Glen View Elementary. Upon presentation in the summer of 1999 of two doctors' letters recommending a fall semester sabbatical, Ms. Garner would also be granted a second semester sabbatical for the fall as well, according to Mr. Suggs.
Upon a motion by Dr. Beasley, seconded by Mr. Kessler, the Board unanimously voted to approve the recommendations/requests.
Notification has been received by the parish indicating that approval has been granted for each of the allowable categories; telecommunications, Internet access, and internal connections; in the district's e-rate application submitted in April, 1998, Ms. Deborah Sandidge, Technology Coordinator, told the Board. These discounts will generate approximately $61,000 in reimbursements. An additional $85,000 has been approved for recurring expenses and additional services that have not been implemented.
Juanita Duke reported that sales tax collections were up just over 4% for the month of February, 1999. Total year-to-date collections, compared to this month last year, are up 5%. Collected in the '67 and '79 fund was $255,296 and $153,177 was generated in the '93 fund. Approximately 77% of last year's total audit collections have been collected at this point.
Ms. Duke then called to Board's attention to the shaded line on the January, 1999 financial statement which showed fund balances. She said balances are up due to ad valorem taxes being collected during the month. The general fund balance is lower than expected primarily due to transfers for insurance costs which should be reimbursed in the future.
Superintendent Gerald Cobb said that copies of a proposed Testing Security policy, II, were distributed at the previous meeting. The deletion of the Discipline of Students with Disabilities policy, JDF, was also suggested at that time. He recommended the approval of the Testing Security policy and the deletion of Discipline of Students with Disabilities policy.
Upon a motion by Mr. Shadoin, seconded by Mr. Dowling, that Board unanimously voted to approve the proposed Testing Security policy, II, and the deletion of the Discipline of Students with Disabilities policy, JDF.
According to Charles Owens, Director of Auxiliary Services, the emergency repair work on the northwest wall of the Ruston High School gymnasium was accomplished with substantial savings to the parish. After work began, it was discovered that many of the expensive repair techniques set forth in the specifications were not required. The damage was also not as widespread as originally thought. Approximately 80% of the damaged area was repaired without demolition and reconstruction. Due primarily to these three factors, the wall was repaired for $51,853.40 resulting in a contract reduction of $98,146.60. He recommended that the Board approve a change order detailing these amounts.
Upon a motion by Mr. Mack, seconded by Mr. Kessler, the Board unanimously approved a change order on the repair work on the Ruston High School gymnasium wall reducing the original contract price of $150,000.00 by $98,146.60 to a new contract sum of $51,853.40.
Jetta Production Company, Inc. currently leases oil, gas, and mineral rights on approximately 5 acres of land belonging to the Lincoln Parish School Board, Dr. Cobb advised. Jetta desires to assign its rights, title, and interest in the lease to JMI Energy, Inc. and its partner, Fidelity Oil Holdings, Inc. The Assistant District Attorney prepared a resolution approving the transfer of the lease and Superintendent Cobb recommended that it be approved.
Upon a motion by Dr. Beasley, seconded by Mr. Dowling, the Board unanimously voted to approve the following:
RESOLUTION
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Lincoln Parish School Board does hereby approve and consent to the transfer and assignment by Jetta Production Company, Inc. to JMI Energy, Inc. and Fidelity Oil Holdings, Inc. of all of the right, title, and interest, which the said Jetta Production Company, Inc. might have in and to State Agency Lease #5053 by and between the Lincoln Parish School Board and T. L. James & Company, Inc., which lease was filed for record on March 1, 1968 and recorded in Conveyance Book 128, Page 118 of the records of the Clerk of Court, Lincoln Parish, Louisiana, said lease covering and affecting approximately 5.0 acres, more or less, located in Section 22, Township 20 North, Range 3 West, Lincoln Parish, Louisiana.
In celebration of Dr. Seuss's birthday on March 2, upon a motion by Dr. Beasley, seconded by Mr. Abrahm, the Board unanimously voted to approve a Resolution enthusiastically endorsing "Read Across America" and committing to promote reading as the catalyst for the students' future academic success, preparation for America's jobs of the future, and ability to compete in a global economy.
It appears that there will be another attempt by business and industry organizations to introduce and pass legislation that will make the State responsible for the collection and distribution of the sales and use taxes, according to Superintendent Cobb. Since Lincoln Parish has an effective, excellent sales and use tax operation, he presented a Resolution supporting continued local administration and collection of sales and use taxes.
Upon a motion by Mr. Tuten, seconded by Mr. Dowling, the Board unanimously voted to approve the Resolution supporting continued local administration and collection of sales and use taxes.
In a Report of the Superintendent, Dr. Cobb called attention to information in the folders regarding high stakes testing in Virginia. Approximately 2% of the state's schools earned a passing grade on the entire battery of tests.
After brief comments, the meeting was adjourned at 7:08 p.m.
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Gerald W. Cobb, Secretary David Wright, President