LINCOLN PARISH SCHOOL BOARD
Ruston, Louisiana
REGULAR SESSION
Tuesday, November 2, 1999 6:00 p.m.
The Lincoln Parish School Board met in Regular Session on Tuesday, November 2, 1999 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, Ms. Priscilla Barfield, Dr. Marty Beasley, Mr. Curtis Dowling, Ms. Mattie Harrison, Mr. Jim Kessler, Mr. George Mack, Mr. Joe Mitcham, Mr. Robert Shadoin and Mr. Allen Tuten.
No Board members were absent.
President Wright called the meeting to order and the invocation was given by Mr. Mack. Mr. Wright led the Board in the Pledge of Allegiance to the American flag and welcomed the official staff, guests, and members of the media.
Upon a motion by Mr. Anders, seconded by Mr. Shadoin, the Board unanimously voted to adopt the agenda as printed.
Upon a motion by Mr. Abrahm, seconded by Mr. Mitcham, the Board unanimously voted to approve the minutes of the Regular Sessions held on October 5 and October 20, 1999 as distributed.
Superintendent Gerald Cobb was pleased to announce that the Lincoln Parish School Board Business Department has acquired two of the most prestigious awards to be given to school systems and governmental bodies for their Comprehensive
Annual Financial Report for the year ended June 30, 1998. He presented the Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting by the Government Finance Officers Association of the United States and Canada to Business Manager, Juanita Duke.
This is the parish's fourth consecutive year to receive this award. They were also awarded the Certificate of Excellence in Financial Reporting by the Association of School Business Officials International for the fifth year. Dr. Cobb presented a plaque to Ms. Duke on behalf of the Board.
Ms. Duke was commended by the Board and encouraged to keep up the good work.
According to Director of Auxiliary Services, Charles Owens, home economics is no longer offered as part of the curriculum at Dubach High School. A large portion of the equipment and supplies for this course was transferred to the Alternative School and the remainder has been placed in storage at DHS. Mr. Owens recommended that these items be declared as surplus and disposed of in accordance with state law and board policy and that the proceeds from the sale be used for technology.
Upon a motion by Dr. Beasley, seconded by Ms. Barfield, the Board unanimously voted to declare the home economics equipment and supplies stored at Dubach High as surplus to be disposed of in accordance with applicable state law and board policy and that the proceeds from the sale be used for technology at DHS.
The Board served as a Committee of the Whole and the following Personnel Committee agenda items were discussed after Mr. Ronnie Suggs, Assistant Superintendent, presented item 1.-2. and Mr. Howard Whitlock, Transportation Supervisor, presented item 3.:
1. Resignation of Lincoln Center principal, Ray Bratton, effective November 1, 1999.
2. Appointment of Rickey Burton, effective November 1, 1999 and for the remainder of the school year, as Interim Principal at Lincoln Center. He was previously their Social Services Facilitator/Administrative Assistant.
3. Employment of Geraldine Liner effective October 18, 1999 as a bus driver in the Ruston area to replace Reita Otwell who was terminated.
Upon a motion by Mr. Kessler, seconded by Mr. Dowling, the Board unanimously voted to approve the above recommendations.
After three months of declining sales tax collections, a 3.5% increase over the same month last year was noted for the month ending October 31, 1999, according to Ms. Duke. The elevation, in her opinion, was mainly due to car sales. She told the Board that $356,739 was collected in the 1967 and 1979 fund and $214,043 in the 1993 fund. Year-to-date collections are 4.06% below this time last year. Recovered by audits was $1,081.
A financial report for the month ending August 31, 1999 was also presented by Ms. Duke. She called attention to fund balances which included an increased general fund balance. New nine and ten month employees' salaries had not begun to be paid. The 5 mill maintenance fund is running low at this time as expected. All of the other funds are doing quite well, she said, and the sales tax funds continue to grow. Utilities continue to be paid out of the district M & O funds. Balances are looking good, she concluded.
President Wright presented background information on the Sales Tax/Millage Review Committee which was formed by the Board and met on Tuesday, October 26. Superintendent Cobb introduced the 1/2 cent sales tax and 10 mill ad valorem tax proposal, Ms. Duke followed with a very good presentation, and Mr. Kessler closed with a MFP synopsis. Most committee members were in attendance and seemed very responsive to the idea, he reported. Mr. Wright closed with the expression of his appreciation to the administration for their preparation and to the Board for their participation in the Committee meeting.
In order to move forward with the sales tax/millage proposal the Board must adopt a Resolution calling for an election to be held, according to Superintendent Cobb. He recommended adoption of a resolution which was prepared by the Board's bonding attorney with Foley & Judell, David Wolfe.
Upon a motion by Dr. Beasley, seconded by Mr. Dowling, the Board unanimously voted by roll call to adopt a Resolution to call an election on January 15, 2000 requesting voter approval of a 1/2 cent parishwide sales tax and a 10-mill parishwide ad valorem tax.
At the Board's April meeting, a Memorandum of Understanding from Ruston Parks and Recreation was tabled until questions and concerns could be worked out. The concern regarding liability was addressed by the Board's attorney and the Memorandum was revised. Mr. Jay Ellington, Director of RPAR, came before the Board to present his revised Memorandum which basically explains the informal working relationship between the two governmental agencies concerning the use of facilities and grounds. Dr. Cobb requested that the Board uphold the administration's recommendation to approve the revised Memorandum of Understanding which is for a period of two years.
Upon a motion by Dr. Beasley, seconded by Ms. Harrison, the Board unanimously voted to approve the revised Memorandum of Understanding from Ruston Parks and Recreation.
Mr. Ellington also took a few minutes to share RPAR's Master Plan entitled Vision 2020 and where the Board fits into those plans. He explained the process used to develop the Plan and reported that it has been adopted by the RPAR Board and is currently being reviewed by other agencies. After communicating that any items mentioned in the Plan requiring School Board participation would be brought before the Board for a vote, he asked for Board approval of a Resolution supporting the Master Plan.
Upon a motion by Mr. Tuten, seconded by Mr. Anders, the Board unanimously voted to adopt the Resolution supporting the Master Plan of Ruston Parks and Recreation as outlined by Mr. Jay Ellington.
Ms. Duke communicated that although a decline in sales tax collections has been experienced during the first several months of the 99-00 school year, due to the balance of funds in the account, it has been determined that the fund can still provide the same salary supplement payments as last year at this time. She proposed that $1,100 be distributed to certified employees and $550 be given to non-certified employees. She reiterated that the amount of these checks is based on actual collections, and contingent upon the tax proposals to be voted on in January 2000, there is no guarantee that the same amounts will be paid next year at this time.
Upon a motion by Mr. Kessler, seconded by Mr. Mitcham, the Board unanimously voted to approve the disbursement of $1,100 for certified and $550 for non-certified employees in a December 1 salary supplement check.
In a report of the Superintendent, Dr. Cobb:
1. Reminded the Board that the Academic Awards Banquet is scheduled for November 15.
2. Notified members that a Thank You note from Howard Whitlock was included in packets.
3. Said that results of the 1993 sales tax election which should give some idea of what took place in each district was also distributed.
There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 7:04 p.m.
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Gerald W. Cobb, Secretary David Wright, President