MAY 9, 2017
DRAFT
THE VERNON PARISH SCHOOL BOARD CONVENED IN REGULAR SESSION AT 10:00 A.M., 201 BELVIEW ROAD, LEESVILLE, LOUISIANA. PRESIDENT WOODS CALLED THE MEETING TO ORDER AND ON ROLL CALL THE FOLLOWING MEMBERS WERE PRESENT:
STEVE WOODS, PRESIDENT
ANGIE DAVIS, VICE-PRESIDENT
DOUG BRANDON
DAVID DETZ
VERNON L. TRAVIS JR.
ROBERT PYNES JR.
JACKIE SELF
JOHN BLANKENBAKER
RANDY MARTIN
SHAD STEWART
GERALD COOLEY
COL. DAVID G. ATHEY
ABSENT: JIM SEAMAN
There was also present Mr. James Williams, Secretary of the Board.
The meeting was opened in prayer by John Blankenbaker.
The Pledge of Allegiance was led by John Blankenbaker.
On motion of Angie Davis, seconded by David Detz, the Board voted to approve the minutes of the May 4, 2017 regular meeting and dispense with the reading of the minutes.
Students from the following schools were recognized and congratulated by the Board for their achievements at State Level:
Anacoco High Leesville High Evans High Hicks High
Rosepine High Pitkin High Pickering High Hornbeck High
Simpson High
On motion of Jackie Self, seconded by Vernon Travis, the Board voted to accept the following retirements:
Bazin, Cynthia, sped para/PHS
Mastrosimone, Carmelo, teacher/LHS
Midkiff, Zelda, cook/PHS
Bennett, Paula, custodian/Parkway
Gramigna, Veronica, custodian/Simpson
Kreps, Wendy, teacher/AES
Hillman, Patricia, office aide/AES
Istre, Susan Kay, teacher/WLE
Browning, Cheryl, counselor/LJHS
Snell, Joan, cook/Hornbeck
Rainwater, Mary, lease bus driver/NPE
Ceballos, Tricia, teacher/Hornbeck
On motion of John Blankenbaker, seconded by David Detz, the Board voted to adopt the revised School Wellness Plan.
SCHOOL WELLNESS
The Vernon Parish School Board is committed to the optimal development of every student. The School Board believes that for students to have the opportunity to achieve personal, academic, developmental and social success, the School Board shall strive to ensure positive, safe and health-promoting learning environments at every level, in every setting, throughout the school year.
It is the School Board’s desire to ensure environments and opportunities for all students to practice healthy eating and physical activity behaviors throughout the school day while minimizing commercial distractions. Specifically, the School Board shall establish goals and procedures to ensure that:
§ Students in the Vernon Parish public schools have access to healthy foods throughout the school day ‒ both through reimbursable school meals and other foods available throughout the school campus‒ in accordance with Federal and state nutrition standards;
§ Students receive quality nutrition education that helps them develop lifelong healthy eating behaviors;
§ Students have opportunities to be physically active before, during and after school;
§ Schools engage in nutrition and physical activity promotion and other activities that promote student wellness;
§ School staff are encouraged and supported to practice healthy nutrition and physical activity behaviors in and out of school;
§ The community is engaged in supporting the work of the School Board in creating continuity between school and other settings for students and staff to practice lifelong healthy habits; and
§ The School Board establishes and maintains an infrastructure for management, oversight, implementation, communication about and monitoring of the policy and its established goals and objectives.
SCHOOL HEALTH ADVISORY COUNCIL (SHAC)
The School Board shall establish a School Health Advisory Council (SHAC) to advise the School Board on physical activity for students, physical and health education, nutrition, and overall student health. The council members shall be appointed by the School Board and shall include parents of students and individuals representing the community, as well as school health and food service professionals. The School Health Advisory Council shall assist in implementation, periodic review, and updating of the School Wellness policy.
The Superintendent or his/her designee shall be responsible for assuring compliance with established district-wide nutrition and physical activity wellness policies. In each school, the principal or designee shall oversee compliance with those policies in his/her school and shall report on the school’s compliance to the Superintendent or his/her designee.
School food service staff, at the school or district level, shall assess compliance with nutrition policies within school food service areas and report on this matter to the Superintendent (or if done at the school level, to the school principal).
IMPLEMENTATION
The School Board shall develop and maintain a plan for implementation to manage and coordinate the execution of the School Wellness policy. The plan shall delineate roles, responsibilities, actions and timelines specific to each school; and include information about persons responsible for making changes; as well as specific goals and objectives for nutrition standards for all foods and beverages available on the school campus, food and beverage marketing, nutrition promotion and education, physical activity, physical education and other school-based activities that promote student wellness.
This School Wellness policy and any progress reports shall be maintained on the School Board’s website.
TRIENNIAL PROGRESS ASSESSMENTS
At least once every three (3) years, the School Board shall evaluate compliance with the School Wellness policy to assess the implementation of the policy and document the assessment for each school under its jurisdiction. The School Wellness policy shall be assessed and updated as indicated at least every three (3) years, following the triennial assessment.
RECORDKEEPING
The School Board shall retain records to document compliance with the requirements of the School Wellness policy at the Vernon Parish School Board central office. Documentation maintained in this location shall include, but not be limited to:
§ The written School Wellness policy;
§ Documentation demonstrating that the policy has been made available to the public;
§ Documentation of efforts to review and update the School Wellness policy; including an indication of who is involved in the update and methods the School Board uses to make stakeholders aware of their ability to participate on the School Health Advisory Council;
§ Documentation to demonstrate compliance with the annual public notification requirements;
§ The most recent assessment on the implementation of the School Wellness policy;
§ Documentation demonstrating the most recent assessment on the implementation of the School Wellness Policy has been made available to the public.
COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT, OUTREACH AND COMMUNICATIONS
The School Board is committed to being responsive to community input, which begins with awareness of the School Wellness policy. The School Board shall inform parents of the improvements that have been made to school meals and compliance with school meal standards, availability of child nutrition programs and application procedures, and a description of and compliance with nutrition standards. The School Board shall use electronic mechanisms, such as e-mail or displaying notices on the School Board’s website, as well as non-electronic mechanisms, such as newsletters, presentations to parents, or sending information home to parents, to ensure that all families are actively notified of the content of, implementation of, and updates to the School Wellness policy, as well as how to get involved and support the School Wellness Policy and activities/initiatives. The School Board shall ensure that communications are culturally and linguistically appropriate to the community, and accomplished through means similar to other ways that the School Board and individual schools are communicating important school information with parents.
Annual Notification of Policy
The School Board shall actively inform families and the public each year of basic information about the School Wellness Policy, including its content, any updates to the policy and implementation status. The School Board shall make this information available via the School Board’s website and/or district-wide communications.
NUTRITION
School Meals
The Vernon Parish School Board is committed to serving healthy meals to children, with plenty of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and fat-free and low-fat milk; that are moderate in sodium, low in saturated fat, and have zero grams trans-fat per serving (nutrition label or manufacturer’s specification); and to meeting the nutrition needs of school children within their calorie requirements.
All public schools within Vernon Parish participate in the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) child nutrition programs, including the National School Lunch Program (NSLP), the School Breakfast Program (SBP). All public schools within Vernon Parish shall be committed to offering school meals through the NSLP and SBP programs, and other applicable Federal child nutrition programs, that:
§ Are accessible to all students;
§ Are appealing and attractive to children;
§ Are served in clean and pleasant settings;
§ Meet or exceed current nutrition requirements established by local, state, and Federal statutes and regulations.
Water
To promote hydration, free, safe, unflavored drinking water shall be available to all students throughout the school day and throughout every school campus. The School Board shall make drinking water available where school meals are served during mealtimes.
Competitive Foods and Beverages
The School Board is committed to ensuring that all foods and beverages available to students on the school campus during the school day support healthy eating. The foods and beverages sold and served outside of the school meal programs (e.g., “competitive” foods and beverages) shall meet the nutrition standards as outlined in 7 CFR 210.11. These standards aim to improve student health and well-being, increase consumption of healthful foods during the school day and create an environment that reinforces the development of healthy eating habits.
To support healthy food choices and improve student health and well-being, all foods and beverages outside the reimbursable school meal programs that are sold to students on the school campus during the school day shall meet or exceed the USDA nutrition standards. These standards shall apply in all locations and through all services where foods and beverages are sold, which may include, but are not limited to, à la carte options in cafeterias, vending machines, school stores and snack or food carts.
Food and Beverage Marketing in Schools
It is the intent of the School Board to protect and promote student health by restricting advertising and marketing in the schools to only those foods and beverages that are permitted to be sold on campus, consistent with this School Wellness policy and its implementation plan.
Other Food and Beverages Provided, but not Sold, on School Campuses
The School Board has developed the following guidelines for foods and beverages which are provided, but not sold, during the school day:
1. Celebrations and parties. The School Board will provide a list of healthy party ideas to parents and teachers, including non-food celebration ideas.
2. Classroom snacks brought by parents. The School Board will provide to parents a list of foods and beverages that meet Smart Snacks nutrition standards.
3. Rewards and incentives. The School Board will provide teachers and other relevant school staff a list of alternative ways to reward children. Foods and beverages will not be used as a reward, or withheld as punishment for any reason, such as for performance or behavior.
Nutrition Promotion
Nutrition promotion and education positively influence lifelong eating behaviors by using evidence-based techniques and nutrition messages, and by creating food environments that encourage healthy nutrition choices and encourage participation in school meal programs. Students and staff shall receive consistent nutrition messages throughout schools, classrooms, gymnasiums, and cafeterias. Nutrition promotion shall also include marketing and advertising nutritious foods and beverages to students as well as encouraging participation in school meal programs.
Nutrition Education
The School Board shall teach, model, encourage and support healthy eating by all students. Schools shall provide nutrition education and engage in nutrition promotion that:
§ Is designed to provide students with the knowledge and skills necessary to promote and protect their health;
§ Is part of not only health education classes, but also integrated into other classroom instruction through subjects such as math, science, language arts, social sciences and elective subjects;
§ Includes enjoyable, developmentally-appropriate, culturally-relevant and participatory activities, such as cooking demonstrations or lessons, promotions, taste-testing, farm visits and school gardens;
§ Promotes fruits, vegetables, whole-grain products, low-fat and fat-free dairy products and healthy food preparation methods;
§ Emphasizes caloric balance between food intake and energy expenditure (promotes physical activity/exercise);
§ Links with school meal programs, cafeteria nutrition promotion activities, school gardens, and other school foods and nutrition-related community services;
PHYSICAL ACTIVITIES
Physical Education
The School Board shall provide students with physical education, using an age-appropriate, sequential physical education curriculum consistent with national and state standards for physical education. The physical education curriculum shall promote the benefits of a physically active lifestyle and will help students develop skills to engage in lifelong healthy habits.
All School Board elementary (K-8) students shall receive physical education for at least 30 minutes per day throughout the school year. High school students are required to have a minimum of 1.5 Carnegie units in physical education to graduate.
The School Board physical education program shall promote student physical fitness through individualized fitness and activity assessments and shall use criterion-based reporting for each student.
Physical Activity
Students in grades K-8 are required by state law to receive at least thirty (30) minutes of physical activity per day. High school students shall be encouraged to incorporate physical activity into their day. A substantial percentage of students’ physical activity can be provided through a comprehensive school physical activity program. Such programs reflect strong coordination and synergy across all of the components: quality physical education as the foundation; physical activity before, during and after school; staff involvement and family and community engagement. Schools shall ensure that varied physical activity opportunities are in addition to, and not as a substitute for, physical education.
To the extent practicable, the School Board shall ensure that its grounds and facilities are safe and that equipment is available to students to be active.
Classroom Physical Activity Breaks (Elementary and Secondary)
The School Board recognizes that students are more attentive and ready to learn if provided with periodic breaks when they can be physically active or stretch. Thus, students shall be offered periodic opportunities to be active or to stretch throughout the day on all or most days during a typical school week. Teachers shall be encouraged to provide short (3-5-minute) physical activity breaks to students during and between classroom time at least three (3) days per week. Such physical activity breaks shall complement, not substitute, for physical education class, recess, and class transition periods.
The School Board shall provide resources and links to resources, tools, and technology with ideas for classroom physical activity breaks. Resources and ideas are also available through USDA and other organizations which promote health and wellness.
Active Academics
Teachers shall be encouraged to incorporate movement and kinesthetic learning approaches into “core” subject instruction when possible (e.g., science, math, language arts, social studies and others) and do their part to limit sedentary behavior during the school day.
The School Board shall support classroom teachers incorporating physical activity and employing kinesthetic learning approaches into core subjects by providing annual professional development opportunities and resources, including information on leading activities, activity options, as well as making available background material on the connections between learning and movement. Teachers shall serve as role models by being physically active alongside the students whenever feasible.
OTHER ACTIVITIES THAT PROMOTE STUDENT WELLNESS
The School Board shall integrate wellness activities across the entire school setting, not just in the cafeteria, other food and beverage venues and physical activity facilities. The School Board shall coordinate and integrate other initiatives related to physical activity, physical education, nutrition and other wellness components so all efforts are complementary, not duplicative, and work towards the same set of goals and objectives promoting student well-being, optimal development and strong educational outcomes.
Public schools in Vernon Parish shall be encouraged to coordinate content across curricular areas that promote student health, such as teaching nutrition concepts in mathematics, with consultation provided by either the school or the School Board’s curriculum experts.
All efforts related to obtaining federal, state or other organizational recognition for efforts, or grants/funding opportunities for healthy school environments shall be coordinated with and complementary of the School Wellness policy, including but not limited to ensuring the involvement of the School Health Advisory Council.
All school-sponsored events shall adhere to the School Wellness policy guidelines. All school-sponsored wellness events shall include physical activity and healthy eating opportunities when appropriate.
DEFINITIONS
In accordance with 7 CFR 210.11, for purposes of this policy:
School day shall be defined as beginning at midnight until thirty (30) minutes after the official school day ends.
School campus shall be defined as all areas of the property under the jurisdiction of the school that are accessible to students during the school day.
New policy: June, 2006 Revised: April, 2017
Revised: April, 2009
Revised: September, 2013
Ref: PL 108-265 (Section 204, Child Nutrition and Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) Reauthorization Act of 2004); 42 USC 1751 et seq. (Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act); 42 USC 1771 et seq.(Child Nutrition Act of 1966); 7 CFR 210 (National School Lunch Program); 7 CFR 220 (School Breakfast Program); La. Rev. Stat. Ann. §17:17.1, 17:197.1; Board minutes
On motion of Randy Martin, seconded by John Blankenbaker, the Board voted to approve the Headstart Content Area Plan.
On motion of Angie Davis, seconded by Doug Brandon, the Board voted to advertise for principal position at Anacoco High School.
On motion of Vernon Travis, seconded by John Blankenbaker, the Board voted to advertise for principal position at Vernon Middle School.
On motion of Angie Davis, seconded by Doug Brandon, the Board voted to advertise for assistant principal at Hornbeck High School.
On motion of Doug Brandon, seconded by Vernon Travis, the Board voted to approve the Budget Revision for 2016-2017.
VERNON PARISH SCHOOL BOARD
FINANCE COMMITTEE MEETING
May 04, 2017
FISCAL YEAR 2016-2017
BUDGET ADJUSTMENTS
110 Workers Comp $850,000 (350,000) $500,000
The FY 2017 budget for Workers Compensation fund is being decreased by $350,000. The original budget was an estimate and is being updated for current year trends.
127 Rapides Found Boot Camp $0 80,819 $80,819
The FY 2017 grant award allocation for Boot Camp Challenge was received in the amount of $80,819. This was a new grant and wasn’t budgeted.
229 Preschool $79,902 8,512 $88,414
The FY 2017 grant award allocation for Preschool was increased by $8,512 which was a supplemental allocation received.
235 Indian Education $6,674 (1,100) $5,574
The FY 2017 grant award allocation for Indian Education was received in the amount of $5,574. The original budget was an estimate and is being decreased by $1,100.
230 Head Start $1,809,821 255,175 $2,064,996
The FY 2017 grant award allocation for Head Start was increased by $255,175. We received a duration grant supplement to the budget.
530 LA-4 State $782,119 (7,640) $774,479
The FY 2017 grant award allocation for LA 4 State was received in the amount of $774,479. The original budget was reduced by the state by $7,640.
648 Title I School Im-Simpson $0 11,208 $11,208
The FY 2017 grant award allocation for Title I School Improvement-Simpson was received in the amount of $11,208. This was a new grant and not budgeted.
649 Title I School Im-Vernon $0 11,208 $11,208
The FY 2017 grant award allocation for Title I School Improvement-Vernon was received in the amount of $11,208. This is a new grant and was not budgeted
650 Title III Immigrant $0 2,412 $2,412
The FY 2017 grant award allocation for Title III Immigrant was received in the amount of $2,412. This is a new award and was not budgeted.
104 SALES TAX FUND
REVENUE $23,864,618 7,501 $23,872,119
EXPENDITURES 23,674,999 8,343 23,683,342
EXCESS(DEFICIENCY)
OF REVENUE 189,619 (842) 188,777
FUND BAL: BEGINNING 1,446,188 0 1,446,188
504 Ward 3 Maint
REVENUE $239,602 0 $239,602
EXPENDITURES 134,603 26,548 161,151
EXCESS(DEFICIENCY)
OF REVENUE 104,999 (26,548) 78,451
FUND BAL: BEGINNING 426,659 0 426,659
506 Ward 5 Maint
REVENUE $369,072 (113,310) $255,761
EXPENDITURES 338,932 (32,573) 306,359
EXCESS(DEFICIENCY)
OF REVENUE 30,140 (80,737) (50,597)
FUND BAL: BEGINNING 614,268 0 614,268
507 Ward 6 Maint
REVENUE $137,007 8,339 $145,346
EXPENDITURES 112,571 0 112,571
EXCESS(DEFICIENCY)
OF REVENUE 24,436 8,339 32,775
FUND BAL: BEGINNING 32,881 0 32,881
508 Ward 7 Maint
REVENUE $345,846 6,255 $352,101
EXPENDITURES 233,108 55,611 288,719
EXCESS(DEFICIENCY)
OF REVENUE 112,738 (49,356) 63,381
FUND BAL: BEGINNING 426,132 0 426,132
509 Ward 8 Maint
REVENUE $76,775 36,390 $113,165
EXPENDITURES 61,877 9,500 71,377
EXCESS(DEFICIENCY)
OF REVENUE 14,898 26,890 41,788
FUND BAL: BEGINNING 12,785 0 12,785
REVENUE $6,001,541 0 $6,001,541
EXPENDITURES 5,859,472 (120,805) 5,738,667
EXCESS(DEFICIENCY)
OF REVENUE 142,069 120,805 262,874
FUND BAL: BEGINNING 66,943 0 66,943
FUND BAL: ENDING $209,012 120,805 $329,817
An adjustment was made to the Lunch Fund to decrease expenditures by $120,805 to reflect decreases in current year expenses.
REVENUE $21,564 0 $21,564
EXPENDITURES 18,518 482 19,000
EXCESS(DEFICIENCY)
OF REVENUE 3,046 (482) 2,564
FUND BAL: BEGINNING 930 0 930
FUND BAL: ENDING $3,976 (482) $3,494
An adjustment was made to the Evans Processing Plant Fund to increase expenditures by $482 due to current year trends.
|
GENERAL OPERATING FUND |
||
|
REVISED BUDGET |
||
|
2016/2017 FISCAL YEAR |
||
|
May, 2017 |
||
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REVENUE AND OTHER |
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FINANCING SOURCES |
||
|
|
||
|
LOCAL |
$ 13,876,514 |
|
|
STATE |
53,489,190 |
|
|
FEDERAL |
5,323,433 |
|
|
OTHER SOURCES |
1,842,489 |
|
|
TOTAL - REVENUES |
$ 74,531,626 |
|
|
|
||
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EXPENDITURES AND |
||
|
OTHER FINANCING USES |
||
|
|
||
|
REGULAR INSTRUCTION |
$31,742,906 |
|
|
SPECIAL EDUCATION |
8,173,653 |
|
|
VOCATIONAL PROGRAMS |
1,535,588 |
|
|
OTHER INSTRUCTIONAL |
949,773 |
|
|
SPECIAL PROGRAMS |
432,552 |
|
|
PUPIL SUPPORT |
4,016,453 |
|
|
INSTRUCTIONAL STAFF |
2,930,729 |
|
|
GENERAL ADMINISTRATION |
1,503,939 |
|
|
SCHOOL ADMINISTRATION |
5,678,198 |
|
|
BUSINESS SERVICES |
376,030 |
|
|
MAINTENANCE OF PLANT |
6,461,716 |
|
|
STUDENT TRANSPORTATION |
6,060,502 |
|
|
CENTRAL SERVICES |
1,090,162 |
|
|
FOOD SERVICES |
270,289 |
|
|
COMMUNITY SERVICES |
27,411 |
|
|
OTHER USES OF FUNDS |
3,266,685 |
|
|
TOTAL - EXPENDITURES |
$74,516,586 |
|
|
EXCESS OF REVENUES OR |
||
|
(EXPENDITURES) |
15,040 |
|
|
FUND BALANCE: |
||
|
BEGINNING |
6,705,783 |
|
|
ENDING FUND BALANCE |
6,720,823 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
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Jackie Self reported that the Curriculum Committee had met and Anne Smith discussed the following Rapides Foundation Grants:
Effective Schools Grant-targets professional development
Healthy Behavior Grant-targets diet and physical activity, healthy living
Strategic Solutions Grant-focuses on improvement of ELA scores for select schools
Mrs. Smith also discussed the following DoDEA Grants:
Project Advance, Project Level, Project Navigate
Mrs. Smith also presented an update on summer school and Mrs. Renita Page gave a testing update. Mr. Self also stated that the Curriculum Committee is recommending a resolution for the Effective Schools Grant and the Healthy Behaviors Schools Grant-this will be placed on the June 1st Agenda for discussion and on the June 6th Agenda for approval.
Angie Davis reported that the Athletic Committee had met and Hub Jordan stated that all Vernon Parish High Schools made the play-offs this year. Mr. Jordan noted accomplishments made during the 2016-2017 school year and the next Athletic Committee meeting will be August 8th.
On motion of Vernon Travis, seconded by David Detz, the Board voted to approve budget amendments related to personnel changes.
On motion of Vernon Travis, seconded by John Blankenbaker, the Board voted to authorize the president and secretary to pay the claims.
Superintendent Williams noted graduation/awards dates for Vernon Parish High Schools and thanked everyone involved in the spring testing process. This Board meeting was also the last for Colonel Athey who is being transferred to Fort Sam Houston. Colonel Athey expressed his appreciation and stated that it had been a pleasure to be included in the educational process in Vernon Parish. Board President Steve Woods presented the Superintendent’s Certificate of Appreciation to Colonel Athey and thanked him for his dedication to the students of Vernon Parish.
There being no further business, and on motion of David Detz, seconded by the Board, the meeting was adjourned.
_________________________
STEVE WOODS, PRESIDENT
ATTEST:
___________________________________
JAMES WILLIAMS, SUPERINTENDENT