NOVEMBER 7, 2007
THE PARISH SCHOOL BOARD OF VERNON PARISH LOUISIANA CONVENED IN REGULAR SESSION, NOVEMBER 7, 2007, AT, 1:00PM, AT 201 BELVIEW ROAD, LEESVILLE, LA. VICE-PRESIDENT ARMES CALLED THE MEETING TO ORDER AND ON ROLL CALL THE FOLLOWING MEMBERS WERE PRESENT:
JAMES ARMES, VICE PRESIDENT
ROBERT PYNES JR.
MEL HARRIS
MARK H. SMITH
STEVE WOODS
BERYL FORD
RANDY MARTIN
MICHAEL PERKINS
GAYE MCKEE
COL. DAVID G. SAGE
ABSENT: RICKY REESE - BUSINESS
VERNON TRAVIS - BUSINESS
GENE HAYMON - BUSINESS
There was also present Dr. Cynthia Gillespie, Secretary of the Board.
The meeting was opened in prayer by Mel Harris.
The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Mark Smith.
On motion of Mark Smith, seconded by Mel Harris, the Board voted to approve the minutes of November 1, 2007 regular meeting and dispense with the reading of the minutes.
On recommendation of Superintendent Gillespie and on motion of Randy Martin, seconded by Steve Woods, the Board to approve the following resignations:
Alicia Howard, teacher/PES
Carla Egan, bus driver/Evans
Margie Hopkins, Headstart aide/ELE
Kelly Harvey, teacher/LHS
Flobell Canibano, cook/RES
On recommendation of Superintendent Gillespie and on motion of Beryl Ford, seconded by Mark Smith, the Board voted to approve the following sabbatical leave requests:
Lisa Kennedy, teacher/Evans-MED SABB1-12-08/January 2009
Sandra Hilton, teacher/WLE-MED SABB 1-14-08/5-29-08
Lillian Wise, teacher/Hornbeck-MED SABB 10-3-07/6-4-08
On recommendation of Superintendent Gillespie and on motion of Robert Pynes, seconded by Mel Harris, the Board voted to approve the following request to rescind a sabbatical:
Barbara Osborne, teacher/SPE-Rescind MED SABB effective 10-22-07
On recommendation of Superintendent Gillespie and on motion of Mike Perkins, seconded by Randy Martin, the Board voted to approve the following request for a leave without pay:
Rebecca LaCaze, cook/Pitkin-MED LWOP 10-1-07/9-30-08
On recommendation of Superintendent Gillespie and on motion of Gaye McKee, seconded by Beryl Ford, the Board voted to approve the following list of new employees:
Lavonne Gallion, bus aide/LJHS-replacing Lannis Martin (trns to bus driver)
Julie Young, teacher/PES-replacing Alicia Howard (resigned)
Wanda Turner, cook/NPE-replacing Frances Neal (I/S trns to custodian)
Evelyn Burlison, cook/ELE-replacing Alice Duncan (retired)
Belinda Tetreault, cook/LJHS-replacing Sheri Sinclair (trns to assistant manager)
Vaniesha Riley, bus driver/Evans-replacing Carla Egan (resigned)
Heather Burd, teacher/LHS-replacing Kelly Harvey (resigned)
On recommendation of Superintendent Gillespie and on motion of Gaye McKee, seconded by Mel Harris, the Board voted to approve the following employee transfers:
Elizabeth Jeffery, cook/AES-trns to NPE-replacing Marilyn Martinez (trns to LE)
Frances Neal, cook/NPE-I/S trns to custodian-replacing Jeannette Mayo (trns toOptional School)
Marilyn Martinez, cook/NPE-trns to ELE-replacing Leon Jackson (trns to LHS)
Dawn Collins, Sped Aide/Simpson-trns to WLE-replacing Elizabeth Everidge (trns to PHS)
Carolyn Thompson, Sped Aide/RES-trns to RHS-replacing Betty Presley (trns to RES)
Anne Brister, Headstart aide/RES-trns to Sped Aide-new position
Kimberly Craft, Headstart Aide/RES-I/S trns to LA4 Aide-new position
Kathleen Westerchil, teacher/NPE-trns to LJHS-replacing Carolyn Coody(retired)
Kenneth Smart, maintenance-position change from Level II to Level III
On motion of Mark Smith, seconded by Randy Martin, the Board voted to approve budget amendments related to personnel changes.
On motion of Beryl Ford, seconded by Gaye McKee, the Board voted to authorize the president and secretary to pay the claims.
Dr. Lucy Hayden presented the District SACS Accreditation Quality Assurance Review
Oral Exit Report
Quality Assurance Review Team
District Accreditation
Vernon Parish Public Schools
Leesville, LA
What does district accreditation involve?
The capacity of a school district to address three major elements. As such, a school district must:
- Meet standards for accreditation;
- Demonstrate a systemic and continuous process of improvement; and
- Implement methods that provide for quality assurance.
Role and Responsibilities of the Team
Assess the capacity and impact of how the district meets district and school standards and implements a continuous process of improvement
Assess the effectiveness of the district's methods for assuring quality to its stakeholders
Identify strengths of the district deserving of commendation
Develop recommendations that are designed to help strengthen the district
Procedures Followed During the Visit
The Quality Assurance Review Team
* Reviewed the district's self study describing its evidence in meeting the 3 pillars of accreditation (research-based)
* Developed points of inquiry and conducted interviews with a representative set of stakeholders throughout the district and gathered evidence on- site
* Visited 11 schools in the district to gather evidence from stakeholders and cross validate findings
* Engaged in professional deliberations as a team to consider the capacity of the district to meet the requirements for district accreditation.
Evidential Process
In considering the evidence, the Quality Assurance Review Team
- Sought a district perspective;
- Pursued evidence that could be correlated and validated through multiple sources;
- Examined the context and capacity of the district in relation to its vision, mission, and beliefs; and
- Applied the standards and requirements for accreditation.
Interviews with Stakeholders throughout the district
The Superintendent of Schools
8 Members of the Board of Education
14 Central Office Administrators and Staff
39 School Level Administrators
66 School Level instructional and support staff
(Teachers, Counselors, Media Specialists)
Parents and Community Members
24 Students
Total of Stakeholders Interviewed --256
Summary of Our Observations
* Strengths conditions that exist and benefit the district.
* Accomplishments its most noteworthy, capacity-building achievements.
* Commendations to acknowledge outstanding aspects of the district's capacity
* Challenges conditions that exist, must be acknowledged, and acted upon to sustain its school accreditation and improvement efforts
* Recommendations to preserve accreditation and strength the district's capacity in achieving its vision
Strengths conditions that exist and benefit the district.
* Strong, stable leadership and a high degree of confidence in the leader
* Supportive Board of Education
* High expectations for students and genuine concern for meeting the needs of all students
* Efforts focused to make instructional decisions using performance data
* Productive and collaborative relationships with the local military community
Strengths, conditions that exist and benefit the district.
* Commitment and consensus of stakeholders to the district's vision
* An empowering attitude that pervades the parish
* Supportive parents and community stakeholders
Accomplishments, especially noteworthy achievements in building the district's capacity
* Documented student success after leaving the parish schools (military academy appointments; ACT/SAT performance; National Merit Scholars)
* A culture that supports teamwork and collaboration among all employees
* Emphasis and focus on data including understanding and application of data to drive improvement
* Providing district and school staff the capacity to grow professionally (Whole Faculty Study Group (WFSG) process; quality professional development)
* A reputation and history of quality performance on state accountability measures
Commendations
. A Superintendent who
- is a visionary leader
- is appreciated, respected, considered a role model
- articulates high expectations for teaching and learning, focused on quality continuous improvement,
- Communicates effectively and passionately the parish's vision for educating every child, every day, no matter what it takes across the district
- leads by example, is visible and accessible
- Inspires positive caring action among staff
- Empowers and builds capacity in the learning organization's journey to educational excellence
Commendations
. A Board of Education that
- understands its role in policy making
- supports and preserves the authority of the Superintendent and administrative staff in determining and implementing initiatives
- models productive collaborative Board-Superintendent relationships
- articulates high expectations for the parish
Commendations
* Responding to stakeholder needs by actively opening the doors with enhanced communication (Vernon Voice; Parent Command Center; radio programs; JCOM; websites)
* Creating and implementing a quality assurance framework to monitor, assist, and support efforts for continuous improvement at the individual school level
Commendations
* Focusing on, believing in, and committing to making students first as evidenced by implemented specialized programs and instructional strategies (GATES; Options; LA Virtual School; dual-enrollment; special education inclusion)
* Building the capacity throughout parish to engage in a continuous pursuit of excellence and building a culture where everyone is perceived to play a critical part in achieving the parish's vision
Commendations
* Establishing the WFSG process at school level to build capacity for improvement
* Building strong, viable partnerships with the military community (Ex-Officio Board Member and liaison staff in many schools; Ft. Polk Outreach Programs; responsiveness to educational needs of military-dependent students)
Challenges, conditions that exist; must be acknowledged acted upon, or changed to sustain school improvement
* Leading change and taking the risks necessary to move from a system of schools to quality school system
* Building processes to solve organizational problems in new ways
* Developing and implementing long range plans in the face of uncertainties in student enrollment and funding
* Replacing aging facilities given current funding constraints
Challenges.
* Connecting, aligning and communicating effectively about all initiatives, activities, and funding streams to support the parish's vision and improvement goals
* Geographic size of parish; sense of rural isolation in some schools
* Recruiting and retaining teachers
Challenges.
* Ability to drive systemic instructional decision-making and alignment activities, given current state curriculum and assessment resources and mandates
The Quality Assurance Review Team makes the following Recommendations
Next Steps
A written report of our findings and observations will be drafted and sent to the Superintendent of Schools within approximately 30 days after the visit.
After receipt of the report, the district is expected to
* Review and communicate the findings and observations contained in the report;
* Initiate steps to address the recommendations in the report;
* Continue to monitor accreditation requirements for the system and its schools;
* Monitor the execution and impact of strategies for improvement; and
* Continue to engage methods that provide for quality assurance.
Final Recommendation
The Quality Assurance Review Team recommends to AdvancEd that Vernon Parish Public Schools receive initial accreditation as a quality school system.
Once approved by AdvanED, the district and each of its schools will be accredited for a five year term.
What will District Accreditation Mean to VPSB?
* "We are
- Continually striving to improve."
- Aligned and have continuity, especially for our transient students.
* "We have credibility and high expectations."
* "Our parish staff :
- are doing their jobs; everyone has a role in achieving the vision of our parish schools.
- love teaching children just the way they come to us.
- believe in learning; are passionate.
- Willing to go 'whole hog' for our children.
* "This will be an incentive for our military partners."
* "It shows that we are willing to follow Dr. G. that we trust her leadership."
Final Thoughts
On behalf of the Quality Assurance Team, I extend:
*Our appreciation for your hospitality, support, and professionalism, and
*Our respect and acknowledgement of the quality of your school district
In other business, Mark Smith scheduled a Finance Committee meeting for Thursday, December 6th at 8:00AM. Mr. Pynes requested that Superintendent Gillespie and Mrs. Whitlock assess the progress of the Accelerated Reader Program.
On motion of Randy Martin, seconded by the Board, the Board adopted the following memorial resolution:
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, the members of the Vernon Parish School Board take this means to express their sympathy to the family of Robert Farquhar who recently passed away; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Farquhar was the husband of Sharon Farquhar, librarian at Pickering High School; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Farquhar was a resident of DeRidder and he will be sadly missed by his family and friends; now
BE IT THEREFORE RESOLVED that the Vernon parish School Board requests a copy of this memorial resolution be sent to his family at this time of sadness.
On motion of Robert Pynes, seconded by the Board, the Board adopted the following memorial resolution:
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, the members of the Vernon Parish School Board would like to express their condolences to the family of LeVetta Clay who recently passed away; and
WHEREAS, Mrs. Clay was the mother of Curtis Clay, curriculum supervisor, the grandmother of LaCurtria Clay, teacher at Leesville Jr. High School, and the mother-in-law of Elsie Clay, teacher at South Polk Elementary; and
WHEREAS, Mrs. Clay was a resident of Mansfield and she will be sadly missed by her family and friends; now
BE IT THEREFORE RESOLVED that the Vernon Parish School Board requests a copy of this memorial resolution be sent to her family at this time of sadness.
There being no further business, on motion of Gaye McKee, seconded by the Board, the meeting was adjourned.
______________________________________
JAMES ARMES, BOARD VICE-PRESIDENT
ATTEST:
______________________________________
DR. CYNTHIA GILLESPIE, SUPERINTENDENT