AUGUST 11, 2015

DRAFT

THE VERNON PARISH SCHOOL BOARD CONVENED IN REGULAR SESSION AT 10:00 A.M., 201 BELVIEW ROAD, LEESVILLE, LOUISIANA.  PRESIDENT BRANDON CALLED THE MEETING TO ORDER AND ON ROLL CALL THE FOLLOWING MEMBERS WERE PRESENT:

DOUG BRANDON, PRESIDENT

DAVID DETZ, VICE-PRESIDENT

MICHAEL PERKINS

VERNON L. TRAVIS JR.

JIM SEAMAN

ANGIE DAVIS

JOHN BLANKENBAKER

RANDY MARTIN

STEVE WOODS

MICHAEL PERKINS

ABSENT:  ROBERT PYNES JR., GERALD COOLEY, COL. DAVID ATHEY

There was also present Mr. James Williams, Secretary of the Board.

The meeting was opened in prayer by Reverend A.J. Trosclair.

The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Michael Perkins.

On motion of John Blankenbaker, seconded by Michael Perkins, the Board voted to approve the minutes of the August 6, 2015 regular meeting and dispense with the reading of the minutes.

On motion of Randi Gleason, seconded by Jim Seaman, the Board voted to approve Student Records Policy.

On motion of David Detz, seconded by Steve Woods, the Board voted to authorize the purchase of land at Evans for Evans High School.

On motion of Angie Davis, seconded by Randy Martin, the Board voted to advertise for principal at Anacoco High School.

On motion of John Blankenbaker, seconded by David Detz, the Board voted to approve a promotional contract for the assistant principal at Rosepine Elementary School.

On motion of Randy Martin, seconded by John Blankenbaker, the Board voted to approve a promotional contract for a curriculum supervisor at the central office.

                  The following resolution was offered by David Detz and seconded by John Blankenbaker:

RESOLUTION

A resolution ordering and calling special elections to be held in (i) Ward Three Wardwide School District No. 160 of Vernon Parish, Louisiana and (ii) Ward Seven Wardwide School District of Vernon Parish, Louisiana, to authorize the levy of special taxes therein; making application to the State Bond Commission in connection therewith; and provid­ing for other matters in connection there­with.

                  BE IT RESOLVED by the Parish School Board of the Parish of Vernon, State of Louisiana (the "Governing Authority"), acting as the governing authority of (i) Ward Three Wardwide School District No. 160 of Vernon Parish, Louisiana and (ii) Ward Seven Wardwide School District of Vernon Parish, Louisiana (the "Districts"), that:

                  SECTION 1.      Election Call.  Subject to the approval of the State Bond Commission, and under the authority conferred by Article VI, Sections 30 and 32 and Article VIII, Section 13(C) of the Constitution of the State of Louisiana of 1974, the applicable provisions of Chapter 5 and Chapter 6-A of the Louisiana Election Code, and other constitutional and statutory authority, special elections are hereby called and ordered to be held in the Districts on SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 2015, between the hours of seven o'clock (7:00) a.m. and eight o'clock (8:00) p.m., in accordance with the provisions of La. R.S. 18:541, and at the said elections there shall be submitted to all registered voters qualified and entitled to vote at the said elections under the Constitution and laws of this State and the Constitution of the United States, the following propositions, to-wit:

WARD THREE WARDWIDE SCHOOL DISTRICT

NO. 160 OF OF VERNON PARISH, LOUISIANA

PROPOSITION (TAX CONTINUATION)

Shall Ward Three Wardwide School District No. 160 of Vernon Parish, Louisiana (the "District"), be authorized to continue to levy a special tax of eighteen and seventy-seven hundredths (18.77) mills on all of the property subject to taxation in said District (an estimated $241,644 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 2017 and ending with the year 2026, for the purpose of giving additional support to the public elementary and secondary schools in the District, including paying the cost of operating and maintaining public school houses and buildings in the District, said millage to represent a five and sixty-three hundredths mills (5.63) increase over the 13.14 mills tax authorized to be levied through the year 2016 pursuant to an election held on April 29, 2006?

WARD SEVEN WARDWIDE SCHOOL DISTRICT

OF VERNON PARISH, LOUISIANA

 PROPOSITION (TAX CONTINUATION)

Shall Ward Seven Wardwide School District of Vernon Parish, Louisiana (the "District"), levy a seventeen and forty-two hundredths (17.42) mills tax on all of the property subject to taxation in said District (an estimated $315,735 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 2017 and ending with the year 2026, for the purpose of giving additional support to the public elementary and secondary schools in the District, including paying the cost of operating and maintaining public school houses and buildings in the District, said millage to represent a four and forty-two hundredths mills (4.42) increase over the 13 mills tax authorized to be levied through the year 2016 pursuant to an election held on April 29, 2006??

                  SECTION 2.      Publication of Notice of Elections.  A Notice of Special Elections shall be published in the Leesville Daily Leader, a newspaper of general circulation within the Districts, published in Leesville, Louisiana, and being the official journal of the Districts, once a week for four consecutive weeks, with the first publication to be made not less than forty-five (45) days nor more than ninety (90) days prior to the date of the elections, which Notice shall be substantially in the form attached hereto as "Exhibit A" and incorporated herein by reference the same as if it were set forth herein in full.

                  SECTION 3.      Canvass.  This Governing Authority shall meet at its regular meeting place, the Parish School Board Office, 201 Belview Road, Leesville, Louisiana, on TUESDAY, DECEMBER 8, 2015, at FIVE O'CLOCK (5:00) P.M., and shall then and there in open and public session proceed to examine and canvass the returns and declare the results of the said special elections.

                  SECTION 4.      Polling Places.  The polling places set forth in the aforesaid Notice of Special Elections are hereby designated as the polling places at which to hold the said elections, and the Commissioners-in-Charge and Commissioners, respectively, will be the same persons as those designated in accordance with law.

                  SECTION 5.      Election Commissioners; Voting Machines.  The officers designated to serve as Commissioners-in-Charge and Commissioners pursuant to Section 4 hereof, or such substitutes therefor as may be selected and designated in accordance with La. R.S. 18:1287, shall hold the said special elections as herein provided, and shall make due returns of said elections for the meeting of the Governing Authority to be held on Tuesday, December 8, 2015, as provided in Section 3 hereof.  All registered voters in the Districts will be entitled to vote at the special elections, and voting machines shall be used.

                  SECTION 6.      Authorization of Officers.  The Secretary of the Governing Authority is hereby empowered, authorized and directed to arrange for and to furnish to said election officers in ample time for the holding of said elections, the necessary equipment, forms and other paraphernalia essential to the proper holding of said elections and the President and/or Secretary of the Governing Authority are further authorized, empowered and directed to take any and all further action required by State and/or Federal law to arrange for the elections.

                  SECTION 7.      Furnishing Election Call to Election Officials.  Certified copies of this resolution shall be forwarded to the Secretary of State, the Clerk of Court and Ex-Officio Parish Custodian of Voting Machines of Vernon Parish and the Registrar of Voters of Vernon Parish, as notification of the special elections, in order that each may prepare for said elections and perform their respective functions as required by law.

                  SECTION 8.      Application to State Bond Commission.  Application is made to the State Bond Commission for consent and authority to hold the special elections as herein provided, and in the event said elections carry for further consent and authority to levy and collect the special taxes provided for therein.  A certified copy of this resolution shall be forwarded to the State Bond Commission on behalf of this Governing Authority, together with a letter requesting the prompt consideration and approval of this application.

                  SECTION 9.      Additional Notice Requirement. This Governing Authority made the announcement with respect to the adoption of this resolution required by La. R.S. 42:19.1, at its public meeting on Thursday, July 9, 2015 and published said announcement in the Official Journal on Friday, July 10, 2015.

                  This resolution having been submitted to a vote, the vote thereon was as follows:

MEMBERS                               YEAS             NAYS         ABSENT       ABSTAINING

Randi Gleason                         X                                                                                

Jim Seaman                            X                                                                                

Robert Pynes, Jr.                                                                     X                                 

Angie Davis                             X                                                                                

Steve Woods                           X                                                                                

Doug Brandon                          X                                                                                

David Detz                               X                                                                                

Randy Martin                           X                                                                                

Michael Perkins                       X                                                                                

Vernon L. Travis, Jr.                 X                                                                                

John Blankenbaker                  X                                                                                

Gerald Cooley                                                                          X                                 

                  And the resolution was declared adopted on this, the 11th day of August, 2015.

                       /s/ Doug Brandon                      

                             President

                      /s/ James Williams                                  

                             Secretary                                                                     

                           EXHIBIT "A"

NOTICE OF SPECIAL ELECTIONS

                  Pursuant to the provisions of a resolution adopted by the Parish School Board of the Parish of Vernon, State of Louisiana (the "Governing Authority"), acting as the governing authority of (i) Ward Three Wardwide School District No. 160 of Vernon Parish, Louisiana and (ii) Ward Seven Wardwide School District of Vernon Parish, Louisiana (the "Districts"), on August 11, 2015, NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that special elections will be held within the Districts on SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 2015, and that at the said elections there will be submitted to all registered voters in the respective Districts qualified and entitled to vote at the said elections under the Constitution and Laws of the State of Louisiana and the Constitution of the United States, the following propositions, to-wit:

WARD THREE WARDWIDE SCHOOL DISTRICT

NO. 160 OF OF VERNON PARISH, LOUISIANA

PROPOSITION (TAX CONTINUATION)

Shall Ward Three Wardwide School District No. 160 of Vernon Parish, Louisiana (the "District"), be authorized to continue to levy a special tax of eighteen and seventy-seven hundredths (18.77) mills on all of the property subject to taxation in said District (an estimated $241,644 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 2017 and ending with the year 2026, for the purpose of giving additional support to the public elementary and secondary schools in the District, including paying the cost of operating and maintaining public school houses and buildings in the District, said millage to represent a five and sixty-three hundredths mills (5.63) increase over the 13.14 mills tax authorized to be levied through the year 2016 pursuant to an election held on April 29, 2006?

WARD SEVEN WARDWIDE SCHOOL DISTRICT

OF VERNON PARISH, LOUISIANA

 PROPOSITION (TAX CONTINUATION)

Shall Ward Seven Wardwide School District of Vernon Parish, Louisiana (the "District"), levy a seventeen and forty-two hundredths (17.42) mills tax on all of the property subject to taxation in said District (an estimated $315,735 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 2017 and ending with the year 2026, for the purpose of giving additional support to the public elementary and secondary schools in the District, including paying the cost of operating and maintaining public school houses and buildings in the District, said millage to represent a four and forty-two hundredths mills (4.42) increase over the 13 mills tax authorized to be levied through the year 2016 pursuant to an election held on April 29, 2006??

                  The said special elections will be held at the following polling places situated within the Districts, which polls will open at seven o'clock (7:00) a.m., and close at eight o'clock (8:00) p.m., in accordance with the provisions of La. R.S. 18:541, to-wit:

                  The polling places set forth above are hereby designated as the polling places at which to hold the said elections, and the Commissioners-in-Charge and Commissioners, respectively, shall be those persons designated according to law.

                  Notice is further given that a portion of the monies collected from the taxes described in the Propositions shall be remitted to certain state and statewide retirement systems in the manner required by law.

                  The said special elections will be held in accordance with the applicable provisions of Chapter 5 and Chapter 6-A of Title 18 of the Louisiana Revised Statutes of 1950, as amended, and other constitutional and statutory authority, and the officers appointed to hold the said elections, as provided in this Notice of Special Elections, or such substitutes therefor as may be selected and designated in accordance with La. R.S. 18:1287, will make due returns thereof to said Governing Authority, and NOTICE IS HEREBY FURTHER GIVEN that the Governing Authority will meet at its regular meeting place, the Parish School Board Office, 201 Belview Road, Leesville, Louisiana, on TUESDAY, DECEMBER 8, 2015, at FIVE O'CLOCK (5:00) P.M., and shall then and there in open and public session proceed to examine and canvass the returns and declare the results of the said special elections.  All registered voters of the Districts are entitled to vote at said special elections and voting machines will be used.

                  THUS DONE AND SIGNED at Leesville, Louisiana, on this, the 11^th day of August, 2015.

ATTEST:   

                       /s/ Doug Brandon                      

                             President

                      /s/ James Williams                     

                             Secretary

Randi Gleason reported that the Curriculum Committee had met and will be recommending approval of the Pupil Progression Plan at the September 3, 2015 Board meeting.  Renita Page discussed the universal enrollment packet and Anne Smith discussed the ELA and Math resources that continue to be available. 

On motion of Steve Woods, seconded by Randy Martin, the Board voted to approve budget amendments related to personnel changes.

On motion of Angie Davis, seconded by David Detz, the Board voted to authorize the president and secretary to pay the claims.

Superintendent Williams thanked for Board for their support for a successful beginning of school.  He also commended directors, supervisors, administrators and support staff for their dedication to a successful school year.  Superintendent Williams also noted that the press release for the DoDEA Grant would be held after the Board meeting.

Superintendent Williams also reviewed meeting dates for September and called for a Finance Committee meeting on September 3rd.

On motion of Michael Perkins, seconded by the Board, the Board adopted the following memorial resolution:

R E S O L U T I O N

            WHEREAS, the Vernon Parish School Board takes this means to express their sympathy to the family of Betty Sue Compton who recently passed away; and

            WHEREAS, Mrs. Compton was a retired teacher at Pitkin High School for more than thirty years; and

            WHEREAS, Mrs. Compton was a longtime resident of Pitkin and she will be greatly 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.

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 wish to express their condolences to the family of Rose Annette Turner who recently passed away; and

            WHEREAS, Mrs. Turner was the mother of Linda Brinkley, mother-in-law of Roger Brinkley, and the grandmother of Julie Lawrence, all paraprofessionals at Pickering Schools; and

            WHEREAS, Mrs. Turner was a longtime resident of Vernon Parish 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, and on motion of Randy Martin, seconded by the Board, the meeting was adjourned.

_____________________________

DOUG BRANDON, PRESIDENT

ATTEST:

___________________________________

JAMES WILLIAMS, SUPERINTENDENT