By Kyle Roberts
DUBACH, La. — The Lincoln Parish School Board voted 12-0 Thursday to approve November salary supplements of $2,316 for certified staff and $1,158 for support employees during its regular meeting at Dubach School.
The amounts match last year’s distribution, according to Chief Financial Officer Juanita Duke. The checks are scheduled to go out Nov. 19.
“The recommendation for the November 2026 salary supplement payment is to keep the supplement payment the same as the previous year: certified staff getting $2,316 and support employees receiving $1,158,” Duke said. “This is paid from the 2000 sales tax. It has been supporting this 13th check and also supports the 14th check that’s paid out in May each year.”
Young said the supplements are built into the district’s pay structure.
“It’s part of our regular salary schedule,” Young said. “When we advertise our salaries to employees, we put estimated amounts in there for the 13th and 14th check. Keeping this amount the same is something we strive to do, and increase it when we can.”
Young said the district thinks it is advantageous to hold the November amount steady and possibly increase the May check.
“The overall reason why we give it is because when those sales tax funds are given to us, we have to find ways to give it back to employees,” Young said.
The board voted 12-0 to grant permission to advertise for bids on five new or used regular school buses and one special needs bus. The motion also lets the board accept a qualified bid that meets specifications and is within budget.
Transportation Coordinator Doc Hoefler said that older buses must be replaced as the fleet ages and that newer buses will have air conditioning. Payment will come from the 1993 Ad Valorem fund, which is allocated for bus purchases.
The board voted 12-0 to approve Change Order No. 3 for the Simsboro School District No. 3 2023 Bond Project. The change order subtracts $188,284.82 from the original contract price, bringing the new price to $9,289,767.18, according to Construction Supervisor James Payton.
The board voted 12-0 to approve the 2026-27 Pupil Progression Plan, which sets promotion and placement policy and is due to the Louisiana Department of Education by Oct. 31. Assistant Superintendent Justin Barron presented the plan.
Board members also voted 12-0 to approve the Systems Survey and Compliance Questionnaire for the 2025-26 fiscal audit. The state Legislative Auditor’s Office requires the questionnaire, which goes to the district’s independent auditors, Allen, Green & Williamson, according to a memo from Young and Chief Financial Officer James Odom.
District Safety Coordinator and Director of Athletics Dan Gressett presented the board an emergency operations plan report and campus safety updates. The Louisiana Center for Safe Schools granted the district $145,425, Gressett’s report said.
The report listed these improvements:
- Controlled access on exterior doors at Ruston High School
- Funding for perimeter fencing upgrades at Glen View and Hillcrest
- Two body scanners being purchased for Simsboro High School
- Funding to enhance security at the front entrance of Choudrant High School
- Funding for bus security upgrades, including more cameras and two-way communication devices
The district also formed a District Safety and Emergency Team with 18 members representing every campus and the departments of Transportation, Maintenance, Pupil Appraisal, Special Education and IT. The team will meet quarterly.
Odom reported September sales tax receipts of $2,640,557.29, up 2.90 percent from September 2025, an increase of $74,491.48. Collections through September total $7,995,206.72, up 2.77 percent from the same period last year.
For the period ended Aug. 31, general funds took in $7,375,670 in revenue and spent $5,823,730.
A personnel report from Doris Lewis listed five retirements and 10 resignations.
