Changes Contemplated for Lincoln School District Retiree’s Health Plan

Changes to the health plan for Lincoln Parish School District retirees is being contemplated, it was said at Tuesday night’s meeting of the Lincoln Parish School Board.

Said District Superintendent Mike Milstead, “The plan basically saves us anywhere from $800 thousand to a million dollars a year. It increases the coverage for the retirees. Their out of pocket will go from $5000 to $1000.”

He added, “Retirees who presently pay a zero premium every month – their spouses pay some – we want for that to continue.”

Further details will be forthcoming and a detailed plan will be presented at the August board meeting, Milstead said.

He noted that if no changes are made, by 2027 the cost of medical insurance for retirees would be increase to $16 million from today’s cost of $10 million.

Milstead also said that in order to get the budget in line, personnel reductions had been effected, all through attrition.

Twenty certified and thirty-three non-certified employee have left, either through resignations or retirement.

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Letter to the Editor from Sheila Bordelon

Lincoln Parish School Board Tomorrow

The Lincoln Parish School Board will meet Tuesday, July 9, 6:00 PM, Central Office, 410 South Farmerville Street.

Here’s the agenda.

Meng Family Achieves again @ Lincoln Schools

Amanda Meng, center, with parents June and Dave

Not to be outdone by her older brother Austin, Amanda Meng is the second of Dave and June Meng’s children to be lauded as a high achiever in Lincoln Parish schools.

She was at last night’s meeting of the Lincoln Parish School Board, and was recognized for scoring a perfect 36 on the American College Test (ACT).

Her brother Austin was recognized four years ago as a National Merit Scholarship finalist.

Amanda, who’ll be a Ruston High School (RHS) Senior this fall, is a National Honor Society member, news editor of the school’s newspaper, and is President of the school’s Future Business Leaders of America chapter.

An accomplished pianist, she was a first-place winner in Calculus at the state Literary Rally.

Her plans include a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math) college education, and then medical school.

Board President Joe Mitcham noted, “The fact that you’ve taken the talents God has given to you – developed them further to improve your mind and improve your studies – we’re very proud that you’ve made Lincoln Parish proud.”

Other academic news included a report from Secondary Supervisor Ricky Durrett, who said that for the school year 2017-2018, the graduation rate was above 95%, among the best in the state.

Durrett said that measure counts freshmen who graduate within four years.

See here the tabulations.

Business Manager George Murphy reported that sales tax collections were still lagging, mostly because of a decline of oil and gas exploration in the parish.

He cited a report from the parish’s tax office that documents the collections by business/industry.

Lincoln Parish School Board Tomorrow

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

Here’s the agenda.

McBride Announces for Lincoln Parish Tax Assessor

Billy Mac McBride, Jr. announced today that he is a candidate for Assessor of Lincoln Parish.

McBride is the Chief Deputy Assessor for Lincoln Parish. As a Certified Deputy Assessor, McBride is involved in the valuation process of land, buildings, drilling rigs, oil and gas wells, cell towers, pipelines, and all general businesses as well as overseeing the daily operation of the Assessor’s office.

“Lincoln Parish has blessed me with so many opportunities,” McBride said.

“I’m running because I want to continue serving the people of Lincoln Parish. My wife and I are proud to call Lincoln Parish home.”

McBride said his campaign platform will be to work with all residents and businesses to ensure that assessments are fair and equitable. McBride added that both his experience in the private sector and in the government will give him a foundation to address the issues facing Lincoln Parish.

“Lincoln Parish is one of the brightest lights when it comes to economic development and entrepreneurship,” McBride said.

“ I want to work with our elected officials and community leaders to ensure that Lincoln Parish’s economic progress continues to grow stronger in the next few years.”

McBride was the Ruston OTASCO store Assistant Manager before he began working for the Weyerhaeuser Plywood Division in 1986. After 23 years with Weyerhaeuser, he accepted a position at the Lincoln Parish Assessor’s Office where he has served for the past 10 years.

McBride is a member of the International Association of Assessing Officers (IAAO). He is a Certified Louisiana Deputy Assessor (CLDA) with over 240 hours of IAAO classroom education.

McBride is a graduate of Lincoln Leadership XXXII. He is a member of Ruston-Lincoln Chamber of Commerce, Lincoln Rotary Club, Ruston Community Men’s Shed, NRA, and National Wild Turkey Federation.

Billy Mac and Janet Hall McBride have been married for 35 years. They have two children, Ashley McBride and Adam McBride, who is married to Tiffany Brown McBride. Billy Mac and Janet have two grandchildren, Tripp, age six, and Harper, age two.

For the past 10 years Janet has operated her own business, Janet McBride Court Reporting, in Ruston.
Billy Mac and Janet are members of First Baptist Church in Ruston.

Billy Mac enjoys spending time with his family and working with wood to create walking canes, furniture and other items.

School Retirement Incentive Plan Okayed

Claiming a potential savings of over $200 thousand this year in personnel costs, Lincoln Parish School District’s Assistant Superintendent Lisa Bastion urged the School Board to adopt an incentive plan to encourage several qualified employees to retire.

The plan was adopted unanimously.

The action came at last Tuesday’s meeting of the Board.

Said Bastion, “We have about 30 people in our district who have completed DROP (Deferred Retirement Option Plan), or will complete DROP this summer. In this discussion, we realized that we have identified four people which would not have to be replaced. So, through attrition, if these four people accepted this incentive, we would save $212 thousand this year.”

“We have talked about setting aside up to $10 thousand – paying a $10 thousand incentive bonus for early retirement, but these people would have to meet the qualifications and have to apply.”

She went on to say if no one applied, the cost savings would be through attrition, or not replacing personnel that retire or resign.

The district hires 60 to 100 new employees each year, according to Superintendent Mike Milstead.

The plan would take applications for the incentive late this month, and would pay out the money in June.

Retirement Talk @ Lincoln Schools

Several long-time employees at the Lincoln Parish School Board may be retiring soon, if a memo circulating among board members is any indication. The memo is dated 3/29/19, and lists as the subject “Consider adoption of a one-time retirement incentive for 2019 only.”

In an effort to reduce some recurring expenses, the Board will consider offering a one­ time salary incentive to individual employees based on having completed DROP (Deferred Retirement Option Plan) and 25 or more years of experience. This incentive would be capped at a total of $100,000 for 10 individuals who qualify. If more than 10 individual employees meeting this criterion decide for this option, then those leaving through attrition and others that have the largest impact to the budget would be given first consideration.

See here the complete memo.

The board will meet tomorrow (Tuesday, April 2), 10:30 AM, Choudrant High School, 2555 Hwy 80, Choudrant. The Building & Grounds Committee will meet at 10:00 AM.

Here are the agendas.

2019-2020 School Calendar Adopted

With little discussion, the Lincoln Parish School Board adopted the district’s 2019-2020 calendar at last night’s meeting.

Assistant Superintendent Lisa Bastion said the calendar is similar to that of last year.

Said she, “There’s 170 1/2 instructional days. There’s 8 professional development days for teachers. We’re incorporating a fall break, around Columbus Day in October.”

Superintendent Mike Milstead said advertising and interviews for principals at I. A. Lewis and Ruston High School will be scheduled soon.

Business Manager George Murphy reported that the May salary supplement checks would be distributed on May 24.

Teachers and other certified employees will receive $5825, and non-certified employees will receive $2,913.

See here the memo.

School Board Tomorrow

The Lincoln Parish School Board will meet tomorrow (Tuesday, 3/5), 6:00 PM, Central Office, 410 South Farmerville Street.

Here’s the agenda.