LEE COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT

REGULAR SCHOOL BOARD MEETING

TUESDAY, MAY 20, 2010

6:00 P. M.

 

 

 

The Lee County School Board of Directors held its regular school board meeting.  The meeting was called to order by President L. Smith at 6:02 P. M.  Board members present: Waldrip, Corkran, Smith, Hall, Perry, Gray and Johnson.  Johnson arrived at 6:25 P. M. Board members absent: None.  A quorum was present.

 

The board approved the minutes of April 20 and 26, 2010.

 

The board approved the finance report of April 20, 2010.

 

The board approved the food service report of April 20, 2010.

 

J. Helms presented the finance report.

 

J. Helms also presented the food service report, in the absence of D. Lewellen.

 

Supt. Lusk presented and recommended that the board approve of continuing the agreement with Sub Teach USA for the teacher substitute program for 2010-2011.

 

The board agreed to table this item due to more information was needed to make a decision.

 

L. Ginn presented a purchase order over $5,000.

 

Supt. Lusk recommended that the board approve the above purchase order in the amount of $5,095.00 for Head start services provided by Great Rivers Educational Cooperative.

 

A motion was made by Corkran and seconded by Gray, to accept Supt. Lusk’s recommendation.  The motion passed unanimously.

 

Supt. Lusk presented and recommended that the board approve changes in extended day salary schedules.

 

A motion was made by Hall and seconded by Waldrip, to accept Supt. Lusk’s recommendation.  Those for: Gray, Hall, Perry, Waldrip, Corkran and Smith.  Those opposed: Johnson.

 

Supt. Lusk presented and recommended that the board approve of the district participating in a grant application for “Race to the Top Program”.

 

A motion was made by Hall and seconded by Johnson, to accept Supt. Lusk’s recommendation.  The motion passed unanimously.

 

Supt. Lusk and J. Franks presented Ark. Leadership Academy contract.

 

Supt. Lusk recommended that the board approve of a contract agreement between the district and the Ark. Leadership Academy.  Supt. Lusk also stated all of the principals agreed on this program.

 

A motion was made by Corkran and seconded by Waldrip, to accept Supt. Lusk’s recommendation.  Those for: Waldrip, Gray and Corkran.  Those opposed: Hall, Perry, Johnson and Smith.  The motion failed.

 

Supt. Lusk presented and recommended that the certified and classified staff be given a $1,000 bonus pending approval from the state and that the bonus be given in June.  He also stated funds from SFSF Stimulus Funds would be used for the bonus.

 

A motion was made by Gray and seconded by Hall.  After a brief discussion, Smith amended the motion for Supt. Lusk to receive a $1,000 bonus along with the staff.  Those for: Hall, Smith and Gray.  Those opposed: Johnson, Waldrip, Corkran, Perry.  The motion failed.

 

A motion was made by Johnson and seconded by Hall to give certified and classified staff a

$1,000 bonus.  Those for: Hall and Johnson.  Those opposed: Waldrip and Corkran.  Those

abstained: Smith.  The motion failed.

 

At this point, Ms. N. Blount asked if she could come forward.

 

The board agreed.

 

Ms. Blount came forward to help the board understand what Supt. Lusk was asking regarding the

vote.

 

A motion was made by Smith and seconded by Johnson, to give all certified and classified

staff a $1,000 bonus with the exception of the Superintendent.  Those for: Smith, Johnson,

Gray and Hall.  Those opposed: Perry, Waldrip and Corkran.  The motion passed.

 

Supt. Lusk and R. Pamplin presented bids for the purchase of a new bus.

 

Supt. Lusk recommended that the board approve of the purchase of a new bus from Merl’s Bus Company which was a Thomas Built Bus, for the price of $89,148.  The purchase will be paid out of the IDEA Stimulus funds.

 

A motion was made by Corkran and seconded by Hall, to accept Supt. Lusk’s recommendation.  The motion passed unanimously.

 

Admin. Asst. W. Murdock presented the 2010-2011student handbook as the first reading.

 

Supt. Lusk recommended that the board approve the 2010-2011 student handbook as the first reading.

 

A motion was made by Johnson and seconded by Hall, to accept Supt. Lusk’s recommendation.  The motion passed unanimously.

 

Dr. Pat Adcock with Educators Consulting Services gave a report on the progress of his program.  He state at the beginning of the year the enrollment was around 200 and toward the end of the program enrollment was almost 300.  He also stated that all bills had been paid including all teachers.  The benchmark results will be given to board members as soon as the district receives them.  Mr. Adcock also invited the board to a summer summit in Hot Springs, Ark.

 

Susie Page reported on America’s Choice Program.  Ms. Page stated the teachers, students and principals have worked hard this year.  She stated 60% of the third grade students will be placed on 4th grade reading level, 5th and 6th graders have averaged a two grade level growth in math and literacy, 7th graders also averaged a two level growth and 11th grade-only one regular ed. student was below basics.

 

Randall Jennings gave a report to the board regarding the Orchard Software Program.

 

Supt. Lusk stated he and the board would look at this program and they would make a decision at a later date.

 

Ms. M. Knight presented a proposal from the Personnel Policy Committee.

 

Ms. S. Lewis, Principal at Lee High School, reported on advanced education.  He stated Lee High School was fully accredited.

 

Mr. R. Murdock reported on construction projects.  He stated contracts that were approved were in the process of getting their bonds in and all the other projects were 100% complete, except there had to be a little sod completed regarding the drainage project.

 

Nancy Blount, State Rep. made a presentation to Lee High School students, (Future Problem Solvers), staff and Principal Lewis.

 

L. Strickland reported on benchmark literacy scores.  She also gave the board handouts regarding the 11th grade scores.

 

Supt. Lusk asked Ms. D. Moton and her representative to come forward.

 

Mr. Nagel stated there was a question about Ms. Moton’s service.  He also stated they were not able to locate years of service, so the number of years listed for Ms. Moton was accurate.  Mr. Nagel also stated he had one more comment and that was the reduction in force policy did provide for the recall of an employee up to two years for any vacancies that might occur within the school food service. 

 

At this point the board went into executive session without Supt. Lusk.  The board convened into executive session at 7:45 P. M.

 

The board reconvened into open session at 7:55 P. M.

 

Supt. Lusk stated that his recommendation was the same as it was last time.  Ms. Moton falls under the RIF Policy for non-renewal.  He recommended that Ms. Moton be non-renewed for the 2010-2011 school year.

 

A motion was made by Hall and seconded by Gray, to accept Supt. Lusk’s recommendation.  Those for: Gray, Smith, Johnson and Hall.  Those opposed: Perry and Corkran.  Waldrip stated he did not attend the original hearing on Ms. Moton so he was excusing himself from this portion of the meeting.  The motion passed.

 

After the vote, Ms. E. Johnson read policy GCBA, and she stated verification and written documents of work experience were not presented to the appropriate Central Office Personnel before credit would be given.  She stated that did not happen, so they had no other alternative because they were going to follow their policy.  She also stated they must follow what they have written.

 

Supt. Lusk gave the board more information regarding personnel.

 

Supt. Lusk reported the following certified resignations.  (Please see attachment page 8).

 

Supt. Lusk recommended that the board hire Willie Branch as a Middle Level Teacher at Strong Middle School, for school year 2010-2011.

 

A motion was made by Hall and seconded by Johnson, to accept Supt. Lusk’s recommendation.  The motion passed unanimously.

 

Supt. Lusk reported the following classified resignations/retirements.  (Please see attachment page 9).

 

Supt. Lusk recommended that the board approve of reassignments (Please see attachment page 10).

 

At this point the board went into executive session with Supt. Lusk at 8:04 P. M.

 

The board reconvened into open session at 8:15 P. M.

 

Smith stated he wanted to correct the statement he made regarding Ms. Moton’s non-renewal.  He stated that Ms. Moton would not be riffed, but that was not the motion.  He stated the motion was for her to be riffed.  The vote was to uphold the Superintendent’s recommendation, and he recommended that she be riffed for the 2010-2011 school year.   

 

 Mr. Nagel stated as long as the board members understood that was what they voted on.

 

Mr. Smith asked the board did they understand what they voted on.

 

The board understood the vote.

 

A motion was made by Gray and seconded by Hall, to accept Supt. Lusk’s recommendation regarding the reassignments.  Those for: Gray, Hall, Waldrip, Corkran and Smith.  Those opposed: Johnson and Perry.

 

Supt. Lusk recommended that the board approve of an addendum to Ms. P. Shears’ contract. 

 

 

A motion was made by Waldrip and seconded by Corkran, to accept Supt. Lusk’s recommendation.  The motion passed unanimously.

 

Mr. Smith asked Mrs. Murdock to read the reassignments.

 

Mrs. Murdock came forward and read the following reassignments: John Bell from Assist. Sr. Football Coach/ALE Teacher to Head Jr. High Coach/ALE Teacher, Jennifer Deneal from Elem./Middle School Music Teacher to High School Vocal Music and Samuel White from Assist. Prin at LHS to Full Time Assist Prin. at Whitten Elem.

 

Supt. Lusk asked the board what date would be better for them to have an expulsion hearing.

 

The board agreed on Tuesday, May 25th.

 

Supt. Lusk recommended that the board approve the summer schedule for twelve month staff from June 14 –July 1, 2010; staff will work from 7:00-4:30 with 30 min. lunch and be off on Fridays.

 

After a brief discussion, the board agreed to table this item for further discussion.

 

Supt. Lusk stated they had some students that have an opportunity to go to Minneapolis for the National Program of the Future Problem Solvers.  They have raised more than what they needed and the district was able to pay for registration out of Title I funds.  Supt. Lusk recommended

that the board approve of the trip.

 

A motion was made by Gray and seconded by Johnson, to accept Supt. Lusk’s recommendation.  The motion passed unanimously.

 

Supt. Lusk also recommended that the board approve of twenty students that had been raising money to go to the French Quarters in New Orleans.

 

A motion was made by Hall and seconded by Gray, to accept Supt. Lusk’s recommendation.  Those for: Hall, Gray, Johnson, Waldrip and Corkran.  Abstained: Perry.

 

Under Audience to Patrons, M. Knight asked the board to consider asking the Leadership Academy to bring information to the schools.

 

Mr. Smith stated they had asked for this information.

 

Also under Audience to Patrons, Mr. Derwin Sims and Mr. Reynolds came forward to discuss previous bids regarding the roofing project.

 

The board asked Mr. Sims to put their information in writing.

 

The board agreed to allow Mr. Ronnie Reynolds to speak regarding the roofing project.

 

Supt. Lusk stated the board voted to have a fully adhered system.

 

Mr. R. Murdock came forward and stated the board asked for options and options were presented to the board.  Mr. Murdock also stated the pre construction conference was for clarity, asking questions.

 

After a lengthy discussion, a motion was made by Hall and seconded by Johnson, to adjourn the meeting.  The motion passed unanimously.  The meeting adjourned at 9:00 P. M.