LINCOLN PARISH SCHOOL BOARD
Ruston, Louisiana
REGULAR SESSION
Tuesday, September 7, 1999 6:00 p.m.
The Lincoln Parish School Board met in Regular Session on Tuesday, September 7, 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, Ms. Priscilla Barfield, Dr. Marty Beasley, Mr. Curtis Dowling, Ms. Mattie Harrison, Mr. Jim Kessler, Mr. George Mack, Mr. Joe Mitcham, and Mr. Allen Tuten.
Mr. Rob Shadoin was absent.
President David Wright called the meeting to order and Mr. Anders gave the invocation. Mr. Wright led in the Pledge of Allegiance to the American flag and welcomed special guests, members of the press, and of the official staff.
Upon a motion by Mr. Anders, seconded by Mr. Mitcham, the Board unanimously voted to adopt the agenda.
Upon a motion by Mr. Abrahm, seconded by Mr. Harrison, the Board unanimously voted to approve the minutes of the Regular Session held on August 9, 1999 as printed.
Mr. Wright announced that this was the time specified for a public hearing for the proposed 99-00 budget. Opportunity was given for anyone present to express comments or questions regarding the budget. Hearing no comments or questions, he closed the public hearing time.
The Finance Committee meet just prior to the 6:00 meeting of the Board and the following was presented by Mr. Tuten, Chairman:
Reported that the only Finance Committee agenda item was the presentation of the beginning budget for review, discussion, and vote as the official budget for 99-00. He reviewed the established time line for the budget adoption and called attention to a very informative narrative of all of the funds and a note at the end of the booklet reminding all that a budget is a guideline and is not set in stone, especially since Minimum Foundation Program revenues are not known until January. The proposed $35,000,000 budget included total revenues projected for the year ending June 30, 2000 from local, state and federal sources for the General Fund and Special Revenue Funds of $35,093,543. Estimated expenditures for the 99-00 fiscal year from the same funds are $35,023,055.
Mr. Tuten asked Business Manager, Juanita Duke, for comments she'd like to make and she quickly provided a budget summary and information she felt was necessary.
After questions and comments, Mr. Tuten said the Finance Committee passed a motion to present the proposed 99-00 budget to the Board and he moved that the Board adopt the budget as presented. Dr. Beasley seconded the motion and it passed by a unanimous vote of those present.
The Board served as a Committee of the Whole and the following Personnel Committee agenda items were discussed after Assistant Superintendent Ronnie Suggs presented 1.-4., School Food Service Supervisor Brenda Theodos presented 5.-6., and Director of Auxiliary Services Charles Owens presented 7.-8.:
1. Retirement of Patsy Bratton, kindergarten teacher at Simsboro, effective August 11, 1999.
2. Resignation of the following:
Pamela Young, computer proctor at Cypress Springs, effective August 13, 1999.
Special education aide at Glen View, Debbie Stuckey, effective August 17, 1999.
Birdel Barker, social worker homebased at Lincoln Center, effective August 4, 1999.
Special education aide at Lincoln Center, Mary Johnson, effective August 18, 1999.
Ellen Breed, special education teacher at Ruston Elementary, effective August 9, 1999.
Special education aide at Simsboro, Marilyn Gray, effective August 18, 1999.
Tina Green, special education aide at Simsboro, effective August 23, 1999.
3. Points of Reference (Transfers) effective August 18, 1999 unless stated otherwise:
Ronda Roberts transferring from Simsboro to 1/2 time music at Choudrant Elementary replacing Vicki Colvin who retired.
Alexis DeFreese transferring from Choudrant to kindergarten at Cypress Springs in a new position.
Corey Howard transferring from Ruston High into a new special education aide slot at Cypress Springs.
Jan Mitchell transferring from Glen View to a new, itinerant, instructional facilitator position.
Mary Minnifield transferring from Ruston Elementary to special education aide at Lincoln Center, effective September 7, 1999, replacing Mary Johnson who resigned.
4. Employment, effective August 18, 1999 unless otherwise stated of the following:
Renee Cook as special education teacher at A. E. Phillips replacing Cindy Huckaby who transferred.
Mollie Allen as science teacher at Choudrant High replacing Mechele Jackson who resigned.
Angela Jones in a new special education aide position effective August 30, 1999 at Choudrant High effective August 30, 1999.
Vernesta Adams as computer proctor at Cypress Springs replacing Pamela Young who resigned.
Velma Williams in a new Title I tutor slot at Cypress Springs.
Wilma Outley in a new special education aide position at Dubach High.
James Cooper as a special education teacher at Glen View replacing Becky Sain who was granted a leave without pay.
Lisa Duncan as an elementary teacher at Glen View replacing Jan Mitchell who transferred.
Marilyn Rushing as a special education aide at Glen View effective August 25, 1999 replacing Debbie Stuckey who resigned.
Shawn Kaffka in a new discipline coordinator slot at the Howard School.
Diana Grigsby as 1/2 time, itinerant speech therapist replacing Leah Hall who resigned.
Linda Bates as special education teacher at Ruston High replacing Bonnie Sherrard who retired.
Terri Simmons as special education aide at Ruston High effective August 23, 1999 replacing Corey Howard who transferred.
Sean Hays as math teacher at Secondary Alternative School replacing Felicia Dunbar who transferred.
Ponice Devine as special education aide at Simsboro effective August 20, 1999 replacing Marilyn Gray who resigned.
Chandra Garrison as special education aide at Simsboro effective August 23, 1999 replacing Suzette Green who resigned.
Kala Sims as kindergarten teacher at Simsboro replacing Patsy Bratton who retired.
5. Resignation of Ruston High school food service technician, Dot Holloway, effective August 3, 1999.
6. Retirement of Nina Rogers, effective August 3, 1999 as Simsboro school food service technician.
7. Retirement of Simsboro bus driver, Donna Simms, effective August 19, 1999.
8. Employment of Lemoyne Brewster as custodian at I. A. Lewis effective September 1, 1999 replacing Roy Ford who resigned.
Upon a motion by Mr. Kessler, seconded by Ms. Barfield, the Board unanimously voted to approve the personnel recommendations.
Because the contract for a state and local library book vendor has expired, according to Randy Moore, Secondary Supervisor, a contract for their purchase for the 99-00 fiscal year will need to be awarded. He presented his biannual request for permission to advertise for bids to purchase library books with an option for renewal for the 00-01 fiscal year.
Upon a motion by Dr. Beasley, seconded by Mr. Mack, the Board unanimously voted to grant permission to advertise for bids for the purchase of library books with state and local funds for 99-00 with an option for renewal for the 00-01 fiscal year.
Juanita Duke reminded Board members that each year schools are allocated funds from the 1979 sales tax fund for library supplement ($1.75), classroom supplies ($3.00), office supplies and equipment repair/purchase ($3.00), student services ($3.00), and debate and speech ($1.50). These funds are distributed on a per pupil basis and sent directly to the schools to be disbursed by the principal. Ms. Duke recommended sending the per pupil allotments shown above which are the same as 98-99 amounts. Also to be included in the checks are $100 per kindergarten teacher and monies for those schools which have a band. The total to be disbursed to the schools would be $93,750.
After a couple of questions, upon a motion by Mr. Anders, seconded by Mr. Mitcham, the Board unanimously voted to approve the annual school allocation of funds for 99-00 from the 1979 sales tax as outlined by Ms. Duke.
Sales tax collections for August, 1999 were down 4.62% over the same month last year, according to Ms. Duke, mainly because manufacturing and construction are down. In the 1967 and 1979 sales tax fund $283,861 was collected with $170,316 being collected in the 1993 fund. Compared to this month last year, collections are also down 16.79%. She said that $2,486 was recovered by audits during the month.
Ms. Duke went over the Financial Statement as of and for the year ended June 30, 1999. She shared a quick review of revenue, expenditures and fund balances in each account. The general fund did end the year with a $369,000 deficit mostly because of group insurance claims. Because that fund is getting a little low, she said, plans would need to be made accordingly.
It was a very smooth, quiet opening of school again this year with the usual adjustments being made, Ronnie Suggs reported. He expressed thanks to the principals, teachers, support staff, and supervisors for the things they do to get ready. He shared 95-96 through 98-99 enrollment figures. Although the official student count is not taken until October 1, 1999, he estimated that the parish will have 6,720 students, a loss of about 50 students.
The first item of Unfinished Business was the consideration of a Resolution Dr. Beasley introduced at the previous meeting expressing the Board's appreciation to all those associated with the education of the students. Included along with the accolades, was the suggestion of the creation of a Committee which would ascertain what is necessary to improve the educational structure of the parish. Because the Board did not have time to study the Resolution prior to the August meeting, Dr. Beasley had asked that the matter be postponed. After the subject was introduced, continuing concern was expressed over the parish's inability to raise teachers' pay and loss of certified personnel for monetary reasons.
After a brief discussion, it was mentioned that a study subcommittee should be immediately formed to define what the Committee should do to bring a plan of action to implement ideas and plan for a January 15, 2000 proposal to be brought before the voters of the parish.
Upon a motion by Dr. Beasley, seconded by Mr. Kessler, the Board unanimously voted by show of hands, to approve Dr. Beasley's Resolution with added clarification that the duties and responsibilities of the Committee should be decided by an immediate meeting of a Subcommittee consisting of the Executive Committee, Chairmen of the other Committees, and Superintendent Cobb.
Following presentation at the August meeting of a revised Curriculum policy, ID, Dr. Cobb recommended that the Board approve the revised policy.
Upon a motion by Mr. Dowling, seconded by Mr. Anders, the Board unanimously voted to approve the revised Curriculum policy, ID.
In a packet mailed to Board members, Superintendent Gerald Cobb summarized changes necessary to the following Lincoln Parish School Board policies because of laws which were passed during the 1999 Regular Session of the Louisiana Legislature: Policy Development, BD; Sabbatical Leave, GBRHA; Sick Leave, GBRIB; Acceptable Use Policy for School Computer Systems and the Internet - Student Use, IFBGA; Acceptable Use Policy for School Computer Systems and the Internet - Faculty Use, EFA; Prayer in Schools, IKDC; Student Conduct, JCD; Discipline, JD; Suspension, JDD; and Expulsion, JDE. Also needing to be revised because of local procedure was General Leaves of Absence, GBRIA. In the interest of time, Dr. Cobb asked if Board members had any questions about his five legal page summary of the eleven proposed policy changes. After very brief comments and questions, he said these policy changes were submitted for consideration only and will be on the agenda of the October 5 meeting for Board approval.
The sixteenth annual Lincoln Parish Academic Awards Banquet has been scheduled for Monday, November 15, 1999 according to Superintendent Cobb. It will be held at the Ruston Civic Center and the recommended guest speaker is Dr. Patrick Garrett, English Professor at Louisiana Tech University. He asked for the Board's approval of the banquet plans.
By acclamation, the Board approved the Academic Awards Banquet plans.
After brief comments and questions, the meeting was adjourned at 8:15 p.m. on a Kessler/Barfield motion.
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Gerald W. Cobb, Secretary David Wright, President