JULY 11, 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
VERNON L. TRAVIS JR.
JIM SEAMAN
JACKIE SELF
JOHN BLANKENBAKER
RANDY MARTIN
GERALD COOLEY
ABSENT: DAVID DETZ, SHAD STEWART, ROBERT PYNES, COL. THOMAS
There was also present Mr. James Williams, Secretary of the Board.
The meeting was opened in prayer by Ava Davis, daughter of Angie Davis.
The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Angie Davis.
On motion of John Blankenbaker, seconded by Randy Martin, the Board voted to approve the minutes of the July 6, 2017 regular meeting and dispense with the reading of the minutes.
Geralyn Janice updated the Board Members on the Central Louisiana Technical College and the services offered.
On motion of Jim Seaman, seconded by Jackie Self, the Board voted to approve the following request to rescind Leave Without Pay:
Causey, Lisa, teacher/ELE-Rescind LWOP 8-7-17/5-25-18
On motion of Angie Davis, seconded by Gerald Cooley, the Board voted to accept the following retirements:
VanDine, Nancy E., teacher/ELE
Thompson, Theresa, bus driver/Pitkin
The following resolution was offered by Doug Brandon and seconded by Vernon Travis:
RESOLUTION
A resolution giving preliminary approval to the issuance of not exceeding Fourteen Million Five Hundred Thousand Dollars ($14,500,000) of General Obligation School Refunding Bonds of Leesville School District No. 16 of Vernon Parish, State of Louisiana making application to the State Bond Commission for approval of said Bonds and providing for other matters in connection therewith.
WHEREAS, pursuant to the provisions of Article VI, Section 33 of the Constitution of the State of Louisiana of 1974, Sub-Part A, Part III, Chapter 4, of Title 39 of the Louisiana Revised Statutes of 1950, as amended, and other constitutional and statutory authority, Leesville School District No. 16 of Vernon Parish, State of Louisiana (the "Issuer"), has heretofore issued $21,500,000 of its General Obligation School Bonds, Series 2010, as authorized at an election held on May 1, 2010 (the “Series 2010 Bonds”); and
WHEREAS, to provide debt service savings to the Issuer, this School Board wishes to refund all or a portion of the callable maturities of the Series 2010 Bonds pursuant to the provisions of Chapter 14-A of Title 39 of the Louisiana Revised Statutes of 1950, as amended, and other constitutional and statutory authority (the "Act"), through the issuance of general obligation refunding bonds of the Issuer; and
WHEREAS, pursuant to the Act, and subject to the approval of the State Bond Commission, this Governing Authority wishes to accomplish the refunding by authorizing the issuance of not exceeding Fourteen Million Five Hundred Thousand Dollars ($14,500,000) of General Obligation School Refunding Bonds of the Issuer (the "Bonds") to be payable from unlimited ad valorem taxes in the same manner as the Series 2010 Bonds to be refunded; and
WHEREAS, the Issuer desires to make application to the State Bond Commission for approval of the issuance of the Bonds:
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the School Board of the Parish of Vernon, State of Louisiana (the “Governing Authority”), acting as the governing authority of Leesville School District No. 16 of Vernon Parish, Louisiana, that:
SECTION 1.Preliminary Approval of the Bonds. Preliminary approval is given to the issuance of not exceeding Fourteen Million Five Hundred Thousand Dollars ($14,500,000) of General Obligation School Refunding Bonds of the Issuer, in one or more series, for the purpose of refunding all or any of the outstanding callable maturities (2021 to 2030) of the Issuer’s General Obligation School Bonds, Series 2010 and paying the costs of issuance of the Bonds, the Bonds to be payable from and secured by unlimited ad valorem taxes now being levied and collected annually in excess of all other taxes on all the property subject to taxation within the territorial limits of the Issuer in the same manner as the Series 2010 Bonds to be refunded. The Bonds shall be issued in one or more series, bear interest at a rate or rates not to exceed five percent (5%) per annum and shall mature in annual principal payments due no later than March 1, 2030, to be determined by subsequent resolution(s) of this Governing Authority at the time of the sale of the Bonds or each series thereof. The Bonds shall be issued in fully registered form, shall be sold to the purchasers thereof at a price of not less than 97% of par, plus accrued interest and premium, if any, and shall have such additional terms and provisions as may be determined by subsequent resolution adopted by this Governing Authority.
SECTION 2. State Bond Commission. Application is hereby made to the State Bond Commission, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, for approval of the issuance and sale of the Bonds and for consent and authority to proceed with the issuance and sale of the Bonds as provided above, and Bond Counsel is directed to make application to the State Bond Commission in accordance with the foregoing on behalf of the Governing Authority.
SECTION 3. Compliance with State Bond Commission Policy. By virtue of applicants/issuer’s application for, acceptance and utilization of the benefits of the Louisiana State Bond Commission’s approval(s) resolved and set forth herein, it resolves that it understands and agrees that such approval(s) are expressly conditioned upon, and it further resolves that it understands, agrees and binds itself, its successors and assigns to, full and continuing compliance with the “State Bond Commission Policy on Approval of Proposed Use of Swaps, or other forms of Derivative Products Hedges, Etc.”, adopted by the Commission on July 20, 2006, as to the borrowing(s) and other matter(s) subject to the approval(s), including subsequent application and approval under said Policy of the implementation or use of any swap(s) or other product(s) or enhancement(s) covered thereby.
SECTION 4. Employment. This Governing Authority finds and determines that a real necessity exists for the employment of special counsel in connection with the issuance of the Bonds, and accordingly, Foley & Judell, L.L.P., of New Orleans, Louisiana, as Bond Counsel, is hereby employed to do and perform work of a traditional legal nature as bond counsel with respect to the issuance and sale of the Bonds. Said Bond Counsel shall prepare and submit to this Governing Authority for adoption all of the proceedings incidental to the authorization, issuance, sale and delivery of such Bonds, shall counsel and advise this Governing Authority as to the issuance and sale thereof and shall furnish its opinion covering the legality of the issuance of the Bonds. The fee of Bond Counsel for the Bonds shall be fixed at a sum not exceeding the fee allowed by the Attorney General's fee guidelines for such Bond Counsel work in connection with the issuance of general obligation bonds and based on the amount of the Bonds actually issued, sold, delivered and paid for, plus "out-of-pocket" expenses, said fee to be contingent upon the issuance, sale and delivery of the Bonds. Pursuant to instructions from the Secretary of the Governing Authority, Bond Counsel shall cause to be prepared an official statement with respect to the sale of the Bonds and the costs of the preparation and printing of said official statement shall be paid from the proceeds of the Bonds for which it has been prepared. Said official statement may be submitted to one or more of the nationally recognized bond rating service or services, together with a request that an appropriate rating be assigned. Payment for all ratings shall be made by said Secretary upon presentation of appropriate statements from the particular rating service furnishing the ratings. A certified copy of this resolution shall be submitted to the Attorney General of the State of Louisiana for his written approval of said employment and of the fees herein designated.
The President of this Governing Authority is hereby authorized and directed to execute and this Governing Authority hereby agrees to and accepts the terms of the engagement letter of Bond Counsel, a copy of which is on file in the records of the Issuer.
SECTION 5. Appointment of Underwriters. Raymond James & Associates, Inc., of New Orleans, Louisiana (the "Underwriter"), is hereby appointed as investment banker/ underwriter in connection with refunding of all or a portion of the callable maturities of the Series 2010 Bonds, any compensation to be subsequently approved by the Issuer and to be paid from the proceeds of the Bonds and contingent upon the issuance of the Bonds; provided that no compensation shall be due to the Underwriter unless the Bonds are sold and delivered.
The foregoing resolution having been submitted to a vote, the vote thereon was as follows:
Member Yea Nay Absent Abstaining
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Doug Brandon |
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X |
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Jim Seaman |
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X |
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Steve Woods |
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X |
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Jackie Self |
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X |
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Robert Pynes, Jr. |
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X |
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Angie Wise Davis |
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X |
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David J. Detz |
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X |
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William R. Martin |
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X |
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Shad Stewart |
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X |
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Vernon Travis, Jr. |
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X |
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John Blankenbaker |
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X |
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Gerald Cooley |
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X |
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And the resolution was declared adopted, on this, the 11th day of July, 2017.
/s/ James Williams /s/ Steve Woods________
Secretary President
STATE OF LOUISIANA
PARISH OF VERNON
I, the undersigned Secretary of the School Board of Leesville School District No. 16 of Vernon Parish, State of Louisiana, do hereby certify that the foregoing five (5) pages constitute a true and correct copy of a resolution adopted by said School Board on July 11, 2017, giving preliminary approval to the issuance of not exceeding Fourteen Million Five Hundred Thousand Dollars ($14,500,000) of General Obligation School Refunding Bonds of Leesville School District No. 16 of Vernon Parish, State of Louisiana, making application to the State Bond Commission for approval of said Bonds and providing for other matters in connection therewith.
IN FAITH WHEREOF, witness my official signature and the impress of the official seal of said District on this, the 11th day of July, 2017.
_________________________________
Secretary
(SEAL)
On motion of Jackie Self, seconded by Randy Martin, the Board voted to approve to piggy-back on Vermilion Parish School Board for printing Eureka Math Books for Grades K-4.
On motion of Doug Brandon, seconded by Angie Davis, the Board voted to advertise for a non-promotional principal position at Evans High School.
On motion of Gerald Cooley, seconded by John Blankenbaker, the Board voted to advertise for an assistant principal at Simpson High School.
On motion of Vernon Travis, seconded by Jim Seaman, the Board voted to advertise for an assistant principal at Parkway Elementary.
On motion of Doug Brandon, seconded by Angie Davis, the Board voted to advertise for Director of Child Welfare/Attendance/Athletics .
On motion of John Blankenbaker, seconded by Vernon Travis, the Board voted to approve budget amendments related to personnel changes.
On motion of Vernon Travis, seconded by Randy Martin, the Board voted to authorize the president and secretary to pay the claims.
Superintendent Williams introduced Alnata Bradford, new principal at Parkway Elementary and Kathy Bass, new principal at Evans High School. Superintendent Williams also noted the School Board Disclosure Statement Form in their folders and the Board meetings on August 3rd and August 8th. A Curriculum Committee meeting was scheduled for August 8th at 9:00AM and an Athletics Committee meeting at 9:30AM.
There being no further business, and on motion of John Blankenbaker, seconded by the Board, the meeting was adjourned.
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STEVE WOODS, PRESIDENT
ATTEST:
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JAMES WILLIAMS, SUPERINTENDENT