K-2 reading scores improve

Reading proficiency for kindergarten through second grade has improved markedly from the fall of 2021, English Language Arts Facilitator Michelle Thrower told last night’s meeting of the Lincoln Parish School Board.

At the beginning of the 2021-22 school year, only 38% of students were proficient for their grade level, while 34% were a year behind, and 27% were more than a year behind in proficiency.

Said Thrower, “We’ve got to get kids reading at proficient levels by the end of the year. We set a goal that we wanted our proficiency rate to increase to 80%. We did get pretty close – so we did get our proficiency rate up to 73.5%.”

She added that the goal was to get that number up to 80% by the end of this school year and 95% by 2026.

Lincoln Schools uses the American Reading Company curriculum, Thrower said.

In other business, the board heard the monthly personnel report and approved the November salary supplement checks. Employees with a current teaching certificate will receive $3,200 and all other employees will be paid $1,600.

School Board meets Tuesday

The Lincoln Parish School Board will meet Tuesday, October 4, 6:00 PM, Central Office, 410 South Farmerville Street.

Here’s the agenda.

School Board adopts 2022-23 Budget

The Lincoln Parish School Board last night adopted the district’s budget for fiscal year 7/1/22 through 6/30/23. Total projected revenues are estimated to be about $108 million with expenditures estimated at about $97 million.

See here the budget summary.

About 75% of the expenditures are for personnel salary and benefits.

The revenues and expenditures are about 10% greater than that of 2021-2022.

District Business Manager Juanita Duke told the board that there would be a surplus at the end of the year.

Said Duke, “So the total of all funds combined we’re estimating projected ending fund balance of $51.2 million as of the end of June, 2023.”

Doris Lewis reported on personnel changes, which was somewhat lengthy. This is normal during summer break, with reassignments, promotions, and retirements.

District Chief Academic Officer Dana Talley gave an extensive report on math and english proficiency statistics, focusing on changes since 2019, prior to the covid school shutdowns.

English proficiency has actually increased slightly, according to the index.

See here the tabulations.

Algebra proficiency is relatively steady, but geometry scores have declined significantly.

See here the tabulations.

Said Talley, “With a lot of the kids who are scoring unsatisfactorily, we’re having issues with attendance and potentially discipline.”

School Board Meets Tomorrow

The Lincoln Parish School Board will meet Tuesday, September 6, Central Office, 410 South Farmerville Street.

The Finance Committee of the board will meet at 5:00 PM, with the full board to follow at 6:00 PM.

Here are the agendas.

School Board to Roll Forward Some Millage Rates

Tomorrow night’s meeting of the Lincoln Parish School Board will see a couple of resolutions to adjust or “roll forward” some of the parish property tax rates. Most notable is a 5.32 mil increase in the Ruston School District #1 Bond, from 12.43 to 17.75 mils.

The meeting is set for Tuesday, July 12, 6:00 PM, Central Office, 410 South Farmerville Street.

Here are the documents.

Wiley won’t seek Re-election for School Board

Lincoln Parish School Board member Susan Wiley said she won’t be standing for re-election this fall, she told fellow members at last night’s meeting of the board.

“After much thought and prayer, I have decided not to seek re-election,” she said. “When I first ran for office in 2014, my daughter was an 8th grader at Ruston Junior High School. My desire was to provide parental insight on our school board, and God has allowed me to do that,” she added. “I’m still dedicated and passionate about education and will continue to help students to identify career pathways that will lead to sustainable wages and success.”

Wiley represents District 1, which takes in part of Grambling and the Mt. Olive community north of Interstate 20.

Business Manager Juanita Duke reported on the proposed salary schedules for the school year beginning 7/1/2022.

One significant change is re-allocation of part of the May salary supplements (14th check) to base salary.

Duke said that the May, 2023 supplement will be decreased by $1200 for certified employees and $600 for non-certified, and that money will be included in the employee’s base salary.

Said Duke, “$6,464 that was disbursed to certified teachers in May will be reduced by that $1200, so there will still be a sizeable distribution in that 14th check. The 13th check that’s paid in November will remain the same.”

The board approved the recommendation unanimously.

See here the complete salary schedule.

Duke also presented the board with an amended budget to reflect changes that have occurred in revenues and expenditures. It was adopted unanimously.

Doris Lewis reported on personnel changes for the month.

School Board Meets Tomorrow

The Lincoln Parish School Board will meet Tuesday, June 7, 6:00 PM, Central Office, 410 South Farmerville Street.

Here is the agenda.

Lincoln Parish School Board Tuesday

The Lincoln Parish School Board will meet Tuesday, May 3, 6:00 PM, Central Office, 410 South Farmerville Street.

Here is the agenda.

Tax Election Tomorrow

Parishwide Consolidated School District No. 1 Proposition

Shall Consolidated School District No. 1 of the Parish of Lincoln, State of Louisiana (the “District”), continue to levy a ten (10) mills tax on all the property subject to taxation within said District (an estimated $4,805,400 reasonably expected at this time to be collected from the levy of the tax for an entire year), for a period of ten (10) years, beginning with the year 2023 and ending with the year 2032, for the purpose of (a) purchasing textbooks, instructional materials and equipment, (b) acquiring, maintaining and operating school buses, (c) constructing, maintaining and operating school buildings and facilities, (d) offsetting reductions in federal and state school funding, and (e) funding mandated federal and state programs?

Ruston School District No. 1 Proposition

Shall Ruston School District No. 1 of the Parish of Lincoln, State of Louisiana (the “District”), continue to levy a two and fifty-three hundredths (2.53) mills tax on all the property subject to taxation in the District (an estimated $806,800 reasonably expected at this time to be collected from the levy of the tax for an entire year), for a period of ten (10) years, commencing with the year 2024 and ending with the year 2033, for the purpose of maintaining and operating school facilities in the District, including, but not limited to, the payment of the costs of utilities?

National Merit Finalist Recognized @ LPSB

RHS Senior Jason Willis (R), with Lincoln School’s Brandon Sutherland

Another Lincoln Parish scholar has made it to the finals of the National Merit Scholarship program.

Ruston High School (RHS) senior Jason Willis was recognized at last night’s meeting of the Lincoln Parish School Board for his merit scholarship accomplishments, and also was recognized as High School Student of the Year.

Lincoln Schools’ Communications Coordinator Brando Sutherland said Willis is editor of the school’s newspaper, the Chatterbox.

“He’s a member of the Student Council, National Honor Society, and the FBLA. He also scored 35 on the ACT,” Sutherland said.

Also recognized were Elementary Student of the Year Avery Dixon, and Junior High School Student of the Year, Melissa Lee.

In other business, the board approved the calendar for the school year 2022-2023.

Notable in the personnel report was the retirement of two administrators, Transportation Coordinator Rick Cason, and Special Education Supervisor Lisa Wilmore.

Appointed as Cason’s replacement was David “Doc” Hoefler, who most recently coached and taught at RHS.