LINCOLN PARISH SCHOOL BOARD

Ruston, Louisiana

REGULAR SESSION

Wednesday, March 17, 1999   12:30 p.m.

The Lincoln Parish School Board met in Regular Session on Wednesday, March 17, 1999 at 12:30 p.m. at I. A. Lewis.  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, and Mr. Joe Mitcham.

Absent were Mr. Wayne Barfield, 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 Ms. Harrison.  Mr. Wright led the Board in the Pledge of Allegiance to the American flag and welcomed the staff, press, and any other special guests.

Upon a motion by Mr. Anders, seconded by Mr. Mitcham, the Board unanimously voted to adopt the agenda as printed.

Principal of I. A. Lewis, Ms. Mary Null, welcomed the Board to the school.  She shared interesting highlights from this year and through the years, which included a science room for hands on activities; a pilot program on inclusion of special education students; RHS students working with her students with a Character Counts program; another self-esteem and behavior help, a Dear Mrs. Null box, where students communicate with her; and a new $2,500 computerized score board in the gym.  A major source of Ms. Null's pride is the school's technology.  I. A. Lewis is the first school in the parish where teachers posted their last six week's grades in their own classrooms.  Every room including band, P.E., and the teachers' lounge will soon have Internet access.  She also boasted a new, 25 station computer lab to which every child goes at least twice a week.

Teachers also have the option of taking their entire classroom to the lab to do research and reports.  She expressed her appreciation to the Board for their support and to her staff for their willingness to try new things and their devotion to the students.  Several board members commended Ms. Null and her staff for the excellent job they are doing.

Charles Owens, Director of Auxiliary Services, presented his annual request for permission to advertise for bids on materials and supplies for the 99-00 school year.

Upon a motion by Mr. Abrahm, seconded by Mr. Mack, the Board unanimously voted to grant permission to advertise for bids on copy paper, duplicating fluid, thermal masters and spirit masters, toilet tissue and paper towels, dust mops, and gasoline and diesel for 99-00.

Each board member in attendance at the meeting had gone to the Louisiana School Boards Association convention the previous week in Alexandria.  Everyone reviewed the highlights of the convention and differences they discovered in talking to those from other parishes.  Every clinic and session offered was attended by Lincoln Parish board members and they were:  New Board Member Orientation, School Board Presidents, Rapides Parish School Board Alternative School, Student Safety:  Coping with Violence in Our Schools, Effective Lobbying and the Legislative Process, School Evaluation and Assessment Pilot:  Implications for Accountability, Lafayette Parish School Board's Boot Camp, and Law Forum.  It was the consensus of opinion that this convention was very interesting and enjoyable, even more so than last year's Louisiana and National conventions.  At the conclusion of the dialogue, Superintendent Cobb mentioned the change he detected in the Governor's attitude, a stronger commitment to teacher raises than to MFP funding.

In lieu of a Report of the Superintendent, Dr. Cobb invited the Board to stop by the computer lab in order to view the different schools' web sites, at request of the Technology Coordinator, Ms. Deborah Sandidge.

After brief comments and questions, the meeting was adjourned at 1:37 p.m.

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Gerald W. Cobb, Secretary                                                 David Wright, President