September 1, 2016

DRAFT

A PUBLIC HEARING WAS HELD TO ALLOW FOR PUBLIC COMMENTS ON 2016 MILLAGE RATES.

THERE WERE NO COMMENTS.  THE HEARING WAS ADJOURNED.

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

DAVID DETZ, PRESIDENT

STEVE WOODS, VICE-PRESIDENT

DOUG BRANDON

VERNON L. TRAVIS JR.

RANDI GLEASON

JIM SEAMAN

ROBERT PYNES JR.

ANGIE DAVIS

JOHN BLANKENBAKER

SANDRA WHITLOCK

GERALD COOLEY

COL. DAVID G. ATHEY

ABSENT:          RANDY MARTIN

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

The meeting was opened in prayer by Dr. Doug Brandon.

The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Dr. Doug Brandon.

On motion of Randi Gleason, seconded by Jim Seaman, the Board voted to approve the minutes of the August 9, 2016 regular meeting and dispense with the reading of the minutes.

Superintendent Williams and the Board recognized Mrs. Carolyn Bosley for being selected as a National Distinguished Principal.  This award is the highest praise a principal can receive from her peers and honors exemplary elementary and middle-level principals who set the pace, character, and quality of the education children receive during their early school years.  She will travel to Washington D.C. to take part in the Awards Ceremony.

On motion of Gerald Cooley, seconded by John Blankenbaker, the Board voted to receive bids for propane for Evans, Hicks, and Simpson Schools.  Bids received as follows:

Shawson - $1.19 per gallon

Amerigas - $1.15

Jim’s South Propane - $1.15

On motion of Vernon Travis, seconded by John Blankenbaker, the Board voted to take these bids under advisement.

On motion of Gerald Cooley, seconded by Doug Brandon, the Board voted to receive bids for a bus for Simpson High School.  Bids as follows:

Ross Bus Sales - $61,000 – 2012 Activity Bus for Simpson High School

On motion of Gerald Cooley, seconded by Doug Brandon, the Board voted to accept the bid from Ross Bus Sales if it meets specifications.

On motion of John Blankenbaker, seconded by Jim Seaman, the Board voted to adopt the adjusted Millage Rate(s) for the tax year 2016.

VERNON PARISH SCHOOL BOARD

RESOLUTION NO. 1

                      BE IT RESOLVED by the VERNON PARISH SCHOOL BOARD District of the Parish of Vernon, Louisiana, in a public meeting held on September 1, 2016 which meeting was conducted in accordance with the Open Meetings Law and the additional requirements of Article VII, Section 23(C) of the Louisiana Constitution and R.S. 47:1705(B), that the following adjusted millage rates be and they are hereby levied upon the dollar of the assessed valuation of all property subject to ad valorem taxation within said Parish for the year 2016, for the purpose of raising revenue:

                                                                                                           MILLAGE

Parish Wide School Regular                                                                4.16 mils

Parish Wide School Special                                                                 8.10 mils

Ward 1 Maintenance Regular                                                             12.89 mils

Ward 2 Hornbeck Maintenance Regular                                              13.12 mils

School District 143 Hornbeck Construction and Maintenance               10.39 mils

Ward 2 Orange Maintenance Regular                                                 12.39 mils

Ward 3 Maintenance Regular                                                             19.49 mils

Ward 4 Maintenance Regular                                                             14.03 mils

Ward 5 Maintenance Regular                                                             19.11 mils

Ward 6 Maintenance Regular                                                             12.16 mils

Ward 7 Maintenance Regular                                                             17.17 mils

Ward 8 Maintenance Regular                                                             12.57 mils

                      BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Assessor of the Parish of Vernon shall extend upon the assessment roll for the year 2016 the taxes herein levied, and the tax collector of said Parish shall collect and remit the same to said taxing authority in accordance with law.

                     The foregoing resolution was read in full, the roll was called on the adoption thereof, and the resolution was adopted by the following votes:

                     YEAS:               11

                     NAYS:               0

                     ABSTAINED:   0

                     ABSENT:          1

CERTIFICATE

                    I hereby certify that the foregoing is a true and exact copy of a resolution adopted at a regular board meeting held on September 01, 2016 at which meeting a quorum was present and voting.

                    Leesville, Louisiana, this 1^st day of September, 2016

________________________

(Superintendent)

On motion of Randi Gleason, seconded by Doug Brandon, the Board voted to adopt the adjusted Millage Rate(s) after Reassessment and roll forward the Millage to a rate(s) not to exceed the prior year’s maximum authorized Millage for the tax year 2016.

On motion of Steve Woods, seconded by Doug Brandon, the Board adopted other authorized millages or taxes.

VERNON PARISH SCHOOL BOARD

RESOLUTION NO. 2

                      BE IT RESOLVED by the VERNON PARISH SCHOOL BOARD District of the Parish of Vernon, Louisiana, in a public meeting held on September 01, 2016, which meeting was conducted in accordance with the Open Meetings Law and the additional requirements of Article VII, Section 23(C) of the Louisiana Constitution and R.S 47:1705(B), that the taxing district voted to increase the millage rates, but not in excess of the prior year’s maximum rates, on all taxable property shown on the official assessment roll for the year 2016, and, when collected, the revenues from said taxes shall be used for the specific purposes for which said taxes have been levied. Said millage rate(s) are:  

                      BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Assessor of the Parish of Vernon shall extend upon the assessment roll for the year 2016 the taxes herein levied, and the tax collector of said Parish shall collect and remit the same to said taxing authority in accordance with law.

                     The foregoing resolution was read in full, the roll was called on the adoption thereof, and the resolution was adopted by no less than two-thirds of the total membership of the taxing authority voted in favor as required by Article VII, Section 23(C) of the Louisiana Constitution, and R.S. 47:1705(B). The votes were:

                     YEAS:               11

                     NAYS:               0

                     ABSTAINED:   0

                     ABSENT:          1

CERTIFICATE

                    I hereby certify that the foregoing is a true and exact copy of a resolution adopted at a regular board meeting held on September 1, 2016 at which meeting at least two-thirds of the total membership was present and voting.

                    Leesville, Louisiana, this 1^st day of September, 2016

                                     _______________________ (Superintendent)

AFFIDAVIT

STATE OF LOUISIANA

PARISH OF VERNON

            BEFORE ME, the undersigned notary public, duly commissioned and qualified within and for the aforesaid parish and state, personally came and appeared:

James Williams

who, after first being duly sworn, did depose and say that:

He/she is the duly authorized Superintendent/Treasurer of the Vernon Parish School Board.

(Mark the appropriate box below to show how you complied with the Open Meetings Law.)

A public meeting was held in accordance with the Open Meetings Law at R.S. 42:11, et seq., including allowing a public comment period before taking a vote, R.S. 42:14(D), to adopt the millage rates for the 2016 tax year.  That public written notice of the agenda, date, time, and place of the meeting (X) was posted on the building where the meetings of this taxing authority are usually held no less than 24 hours before the meeting, excluding Saturdays, Sundays and legal holidays and/or (    ) was published in the official journal no less than 24 hours before the meeting excluding Saturdays, Sundays and legal holidays.

If applicable and as required by R.S. 42:19.1 a notice giving date, time, place and subject matter of public meeting to adopt the annual millage rate(s) of this district was published in the official journal and announced during the course of a regularly scheduled meeting no more than 60 days nor less than 30 days before such meeting. In addition and as required by R.S. 42:19.1 notice of such meeting was sent to each voting member of the governing authority and to each state senator and representative in whose district this political subdivision is located.

A quorum or simple majority of the total membership of the taxing authority was physically present and voting at the public meeting, which was held on the 1^st day of September 2016, at 10:00 a.m. at the Vernon Parish School Board Office at 201 Belview Road, Leesville, Louisiana 71446.  The meeting was conducted in accord with the prior noticed agenda. Matters not included on the agenda were not discussed without the unanimous approval of the members present after complying with all provisions of R.S. 42:19(A)(1)(b)(ii)(cc).

If applicable and as required by R.S. 42:23(A) and R.S. 44:36(F) as a non-elected board we have video or audio recorded, filmed, or broadcast live all proceedings of our public meeting and ensure the recording will be maintained for at least 2 years.

The taxing district did not roll forward.  Copies of all required notices and agenda are attached hereto and incorporated herein by reference.

___________________________________________

James Williams, Superintendent_____________________

            SWORN TO AND SUBSCRIBED Before Me, this 1st day of September, 2016, at Leesville, Louisiana.

_________________________________________________________

Notary Public

                                    Printed or Typed Name (as commissioned): Timothy G. Ward

                                    Notary ID or Bar Roll No.: 054078

Act 363 of 2013 Reg Ses (Efc 6/17/2013)

Act 267 of 2013 Reg Ses (Efc 8/1/2013)

Act 1027 of 2010 Reg Ses (Efc 7/8/2010)

Acts 850 and 861 of 2010 Reg Ses (Efc 8/15/2010)

Acts 539 of 2012 Reg Ses (Efc 8/15/2012)

Rev 7/2014

AFFIDAVIT

STATE OF LOUISIANA

PARISH OF VERNON

            BEFORE ME, the undersigned notary public, duly commissioned and qualified within and for the aforesaid parish and state, personally came and appeared:

James Williams

who, after first being duly sworn, did depose and say:

That he/she is the duly authorized Superintendent/Treasurer of the Vernon Parish School Board.                

That a public meeting was held in accordance with the Open Meetings Law at R.S. 42:11, et seq., including allowing a public comment period before taking a vote, R.S. 42:14(D), to adopt the millage rate(s) for the 2016 tax year.  That public written notice of the agenda, date, time, and place of the meeting (X) was posted on the building where the meetings of this taxing authority are usually held no less 24 hours before the meeting and/or (X) was published in the official journal no less than 24 hours before the meeting.

A quorum or simple majority of the total membership of the taxing authority was physically present and voting at the public meeting, which was held on the 1^st  day of  September, 2016, at 10:00 A.M., at the Vernon Parish School Board Office at 201 Belview Road, Leesville, Louisiana 71446.

The meeting was conducted in accord with the prior noticed agenda. Matters not included on the agenda were not discussed without the unanimous approval of the members present after complying with all provisions of R.S. 42:19(A)(1)(b)(ii)(cc).

Roll Forward Occurred:  Yes (X)       No ( )

If Roll Forward Occurred:

In addition to the provisions of the Open Meetings Law, R.S. 42:11 et seq., the additional publishing requirements of Article 7, Section 23(C) of the Louisiana Constitution and R.S. 47:1705(B) regarding increases in the millage rate(s) have been complied with. These requirements include, but are not limited to the following:

·       Public notice of the date, time, place, and subject matter of the public hearing was published on two separate days no less than thirty days before the public hearing in the official journal of the taxing authority;

·       And, if applicable, in another newspaper with a larger circulation within the taxing authority than the official journal;

·       The publications contained an estimate of the amount of tax revenues to be collected in the next tax year from the increased millage as compared to the amount of tax revenue for the current year;

·       The publications also contained the amount of increase in taxes attributable to the millage increase;

·       On the first day of publication, the notice was posted on the Internet website, if the taxing authority maintains an Internet website;

·       The posting remained active on the Internet until the taxing authority took action to approve or disapprove or abandon action on the proposed millage increase;

·       For purposes of the internet publication only, the notice contained a recitation of the current budget of the taxing authority.

·       Publications were published by July 15;

·       The taxing authority submitted a notice to the official journal in conformity with the date required and the official journal failed to publish the notice by July fifteenth, said notices were then properly published by July 25^th. Proof of submission date is attached.

·       Publications were published in a prominent place in the newspaper in a section other than the classified advertisements or the public notice section.

·       The assessor was provided notice of the date, time and place of the pending hearing;

·       A press release was issued to newspapers with substantial distribution within the jurisdiction of the taxing district; and

·       To area broadcast media;

·       If the advertised public hearing was cancelled or postponed or was considered at the public hearing without action or vote, then, all of the notice requirements of R.S. 47:1705(B) for future public hearings to consider such proposal to increase millage rates were advertised and publicized, except the newspaper advertisement by July 15;

·       Two separate ordinances or resolutions were adopted; and

·       Two-thirds of the total membership of the taxing authority voted in favor of the second ordinance or resolution to increase the millage.

That copies of all required notices and agenda are attached hereto and incorporated herein by reference.

                                              __________________________________________

                                               James Williams, Superintendent_____________________

            SWORN TO AND SUBSCRIBED Before Me, this 1st day of September, 2016, at Leesville, Louisiana.

_________________________________________________________

Notary Public

                                    Printed or Typed Name (as commissioned): Timothy Ward

                                    Notary ID or Bar Roll No.: 54078

Mr. Travis reported that the Salary/Personnel Committee had met and reviewed personnel changes for September.  There was also discussion on enrollment comparison to previous years.  No action was taken.

Mr. Travis reported that the Finance Committee had met and Tim Ward presented the 2016-2017 Consolidated and General Funds Budget.  There was discussion on ways to adjust to the decrease in student enrollment and loss of some of the state funding. The budget will be placed on the September 6, 2016 Agenda for approval.

Superintendent Williams recognized Colonel Athey for an update on Fort Polk activities.

Colonel Athey commented on the success of the Ribbon Cutting Ceremony at Parkway and commended Mrs. Bosley for her achievement and honor.  Jim Seaman commented on the Southern Regional Conference in New Orleans.

Superintendent Williams stated that due to flooding in Baton Rouge, School Performance Scores and District Performance Scores should be released by the end of October or first of November.

On motion of John Blankenbaker, seconded by the Board, the Board adopted the following memorial resolution:

R E S O LU T I O N

            WHEREAS, the members of the Vernon Parish School Board wish to express their sympathy to the family of Russell Usher Fairbanks Jr. who recently passed away; and

            WHEREAS, Mr. Fairbanks was a retired teacher at Rosepine High School with twenty nine years of dedicated service; and

            WHEREAS, Mr. Fairbanks was a resident of DeRidder and he will be greatly 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 Steve Woods, 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 William H. West who recently passed away; and

            WHEREAS, Mr. West was a retired teacher, coach and principal in the Vernon

Parish Schools with many years of dedicated service; and

            WHEREAS, Mr. West was a longtime resident of Vernon Parish and a graduate of Leesville High School; now

            BE IT THEREFORE RESOLVED that the Vernon Parish School Board requests a copy of this memorial resolution be sent to this 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 wish to express their sympathy to the family of Harold Kaiama who recently passed away; and

            WHEREAS, Mr. Kaiama was the father of Kelly Goodwin, secondary transition coordinator at the Central Office; and

            WHEREAS, Mr. Kaiama was a longtime resident of Leesville and he will be sadly missed by his family and many friends; now     

BE IT THEREFORE RESOLVED that the Vernon Parish School Board request a copy of this memorial resolution be sent to his family at this time of sadness.

On motion of Gerald Cooley, 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 Elmer Wallace who recently passed away; and

            WHEREAS, Mr. Wallace was the father-in-law of Dodie Wallace, retired nurse; and

            WHEREAS, Mr. Wallace was a resident Leander and he will be greatly missed by his family and many 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 Gerald Cooley, 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 Stepheny Bolton Waugaman who recently passed away; and

            WHEREAS, Mrs. Waugaman was the sister of Lesa Miller, teacher at Simpson High; and

            WHEREAS, Mrs. Waugaman was a longtime resident of Vernon Parish and she will be sadly missed by her family and many 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 John Blankenbaker, seconded by the Board, the meeting was adjourned.

________________________

DAVID DETZ, PRESIDENT

ATTEST:

___________________________________

JAMES WILLIAMS, SUPERINTENDENT