By T. Scott Boatright
It will be a constructive summer for local schools, and the Lincoln Parish School Board received an update on multiple construction projects over the next few months from New Construction Supervisor James Payton as the LPSB held its June meeting Tuesday night at Central Office.
One of those projects had the LPSB granting permission to execute a substantial completion letter for the parking lot project at Ruston High School that will add 72 parking spaces between the gym area heading east toward L.J. “Hoss” Garrett Stadium.
Payton also provided updates on new field and facilities construction for five different projects — renovations to the RHS Main Gymnasium, building new RHS Baseball and Softball Complexes adjacent to the Ruston Sports Complex, a Multi-Sports Covered Pavilion for outdoor practices for RHS athletic teams, perimeter fencing at Ruston Junior High School, renovating the gym at Simsboro High School, a new AG Building at RHS, adding six classrooms and seating to the auditorium at Choudrant Elementary, and three classrooms in a multi-purpose steel building at Choudrant High.
“So we’ve got a lot going on,” Payton said. “That’s a total of 15 different projects at five schools.”
The meeting began with recognition of the Ruston High School E-Sports state championship team — Connor Martin, Victor Espinosa, Jacob Thomas and Carl Wesley along with team sponsor Victoria Axton.
Ruston High took first place in Super Smash Brothers Ultimate Division while also placing second in Mario Kart Competition.
Schools Superintendent Ricky Durrett then announced Stephanie Griffin as the new principal at Ruston Elementary to replace Mandy Brown, who recently stepped down from the position.
Griffin moves into that role after previously serving as Coordinating Teacher at Choudrant Elementary.
“Thank you for the opportunity to lead a very established school and continue it on its path to excellence in academics and other opportunities beyond academics,” Griffin said. “I’m very much looking forward to it.”
The LPSB also approved the Lincoln Parish Sales and Use Tax Commission Proposed 2025-26 Budget, which is an estimated $437,166 for combined operations of Lincoln and Union parishes — an overall decrease of 0.3%.
Lincoln Parish’s estimated budget for the Sales and Tax Use Commission Proposed 2025-26 Budget is $237,116, a $16,644, or 6.55% decrease from last year’s budget which LPSB CFO Juanita Duke and Lincoln Parish Sales and Use Tax Commission Administrator Denise Griggs said was a result of an estimated increase in Union Parish’s contribution to Commission operating costs.
The LPSB’s share of the Commission’s operating budget is an estimated $103,645, a 4.28% decrease in fees from the previous year’s budget.
That fee is charged equally across the five half-cent sales tax ordinances authorized for collection by the LPSB.
The LPSB also passed a resolution providing for canvassing the returns and declaring the results of a May 3 special election that according to tabulations passed 106-24 in favor of continuation of a 3.33 millage on all property subject to taxation within Simsboro School District No. 3.
That will bring an estimated $247,500 per year for 10 years beginning in 2026 and ending in 2035 for the purpose of maintaining and operating school facilities within the district including, but not limited to (in the case of reappraisal) the payment of utility costs.
The millage represents a .34 increase (due to reappraisal) over the 2.99 mills tax authorized to be levied through 2025 pursuant to a 2015 election.
Also approved were 2025-26 Lincoln Parish Schools job descriptions and employee salary schedule and pay rates as well as annual fall allotments given to each parish school. The total allocation for this upcoming fall is $104,591.50.
The approved salary schedule at this point does not include a one-time supplemental bonus check because that is still under discussion during the ongoing state legislative period, but would be added if approved at the State Capitol.
Also approved during the meeting was a resolution requesting the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development to accept the Everett Street Multi-Use Path as part of the DOTD’s Transportation Alternative Program.
If the DOTD accepts that request, Everett Street could be converted to a two-way straight and close to James Street, allowing students to freely walk from the main campus across the street to L.J. “Hoss” Garrett Stadium.
The LPSB also granted permission to put out for bid a request for food service generators at Cypress Springs Elementary, Ruston Junior High, Ruston High, Glenview Elementary, Choudrant Elementary and Simsboro.
Lincoln Parish Schools Maintenance Supervisor Ricky Edmiston would help prevent food being spoiled at those schools should a lengthy power outage occur.
Edmiston said those schools were selected because they had bigger freezers than could accommodate additional foodstuffs from schools not listed if necessary.
In other business, the LPSB also adopted a resolution in appreciation of teachers in Lincoln Parish.