SEPTEMBER 11, 2018

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

ANGIE DAVIS - PRESIDENT

VERNON TRAVIS, JR, VICE-PRESIDENT

DOUG BRANDON

ROBERT PYNES, JR.

JACKIE SELF

STEVE WOODS

DAVID DETZ

SHAD STEWART

JOHN BLANKENBAKER

GERALD COOLEY

ABSENT:   JIM SEAMAN

                    RANDY MARTIN

                    COL. THOMAS    

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

The meeting was opened in prayer by:   DOUG BRANDON       

The Pledge of Allegiance was led by:    DOUG BRANDON       

Item #1:   Approved 9-6-18 Minutes

On motion of John Blankenbaker, seconded by Shad Stewart, the Board voted to approve the minutes of the September 6, 2018 regular meeting and dispense with the reading of the minutes.

Item #2: Consolidated and General Fund Budgets for 2018-2019

On motion of Jackie Self, seconded by David Detz, the Board voted to adopt the Consolidated and General Fund Budgets for 2018-2019.

September 6, 2018

Vernon Parish School Board

201 Belview Road

Leesville, LA  71446

Re:  Executive Summary for the 2018-2019 Operating Budget

Dear Board Members:

The budget for the Vernon Parish School Board for the fiscal year July 1, 2018 through June 30, 2019 is hereby submitted.

The board will be asked to approve the 2018-2019 Operating Budget on September 11, 2018.  The proposed resolution follows.

Before the resolution is acted upon, The Board will receive comments and recommendations from the Finance Committee and the public.  The Finance Committee will review the budget on September 6^th and a Public Hearing will be held at that time.

Budget Summary

The Vernon Parish School Board is the second largest employer in the parish.  Total budget revenues are $116.4 million and total budgeted expenditures are 116.1million.

The purpose of each fund and an overview of the changes from last year are:

General Fund

General fund educational activities are accounted for in the General Fund and are supported by local taxes, state entitlements, and federal grants.

Special Revenue Fund

The Special Revenue Fund accounts for the proceeds of specific revenue sources that are legally restricted to the expenditures for specific purposes.

Debt Service Fund

The Debt Service Fund is used to accumulate monies for the payment of outstanding bond issues.

Debt service funds are not required to be included in this budget plan.

Capitol Projects Fund

The Capitol Projects Fund accounts for financial resources to acquire, construct, and improve public school facilities in nine (9) school districts.

Capitol project funds are not required to be included in this budget plan.

Budget Guidance

In developing the budget for FY 2018-2019, the administrative staff was given the following short term and financial operational policies:

1.      Salary estimates include “step increases”

2.      Half of any MFP increase budgeted as teacher salaries.

3.      To prepare estimates based on a student population of 8303.

4.      To use employer contribution rates of 26.7% for Teachers Retirement System and 28.0% for Louisiana School Employees Retirement

5.      To use the indirect cost rate of 7.8284 %

6.   To budget for decreased student enrollment and possible decrease in personnel.

Budget Concerns

The uncertainty of Department of Defense Funding and Impact Aid Funding make the goal of using these funds only for non-recurring expenses imperative.

We have had a steady increase in healthcare costs and also the number of retirees with health insurance. There will be a .10% increase in the retirement rate this coming year. The student count has been a major area of concern. From 2010-2014 we had net decrease in student count of 257 students. In 2012-2013 we had one of largest losses of students in recent years, 406 students. From 2014-2017 there was a loss of an additional 655 students. Last year we had our first increase in years, a net increase of 27 students. We are trending downward for this year.

Another area of concern is the loss of state funding for a number of programs such as summer school and tutoring. We have had to look to other sources to replace these funds. Also federal grant money has decreased in recent years because of reduced funding and lower student count.

Acknowledgements

The preparation of this report could not have been accomplished without the efficient and dedicated services of the entire staff of the Business Department.  We want to express our appreciation to them for this assistance.

We also thank the members of the Board for their interest and support in planning and conducting the financial operations of the School System in a responsible and progressive manner.

_____________________________                               _____________________

James Williams, Superintendent                                                  Tim Ward.

Vernon Parish Schools                                                         Director of Finance

BUDGET RESOLUTION

The following resolution was offered by Jackie Self and seconded by David Detz.

A resolution adopting, finalizing, and implementing the General Fund, Special Revenue, and Consolidated Fund Budgets of the Vernon Parish School Board for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2018 and ending June 30, 2019, which was accompanied by this budget adoption resolution; and

WHEREAS, the proposed Consolidated, General Fund, and the Special Revenue Fund Budgets and the accompanying budget adoption resolution have been submitted to this School Board for review and consideration; and

WHEREAS, notice of the public hearing on the proposed Consolidated, General Fund, and Special Revenue Fund Budgets, notice of the availability of the proposed budgets for review at such hearing and a general summary of the proposed budgets have been timely published in the Leesville Daily Leader; and

WHEREAS, a public hearing on the proposed Consolidated, General Fund, and Special Revenue Fund Budgets has now been reviewed and considered; now

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVEDby the School Board that the proposed Consolidated, General Fund, and Special Revenue Budgets are hereby approved, adopted, and finalized.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED actual revenues, expenditures and fund balances for the year ended June 30, 2016 are hereby adopted as the amended budgets for the year, in compliance with the requirements of the state law.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVEDthat the Secretary-Treasurer of the School Board, James Williams, or his successor, is hereby authorized and in her sole discretion, to make such changes within the various budget classifications as she may deem necessary provided that any reallocation of funds affecting in excess of five percent (5%) of the projected revenue collections must be approved in advance by action of the School Board at a meeting duly noticed and convened.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVEDthat the Superintendent of the School Board, James Williams, or his successor, in her capacity as chief administrative officer of the School Board, is hereby directed to advise the School Board when:

1. Revenue collections plus projected revenue collections for the remainder of the year, within a fund, are failing to meet estimated annual budgeted revenues by five percent (5%) or more, or

2. Actual expenditures plus projected expenditures for the remainder of the year, within a fund, are exceeding the estimated budgeted expenditures by five percent (5%) or more, or

3. The actual beginning fund balance, with a fund, fails to meet the estimated beginning fund balance of five percent (5%) or more, and the fund balance is being used to fund current year expenditures.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVEDthat the Secretary-Treasurer of the School Board, James Williams, or his successor, shall certify completion of all actions required by Louisiana R.S. 39:1306 by publishing a notice of the minutes of the meeting in the Leesville Daily Leader.

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

YEAS:10         

NAYS:    0

ABSTAINING:0           

ABSENT: 2

Item #3:  Propane Advertisement

On motion of David Detz, seconded by Gerald Cooley, the Board voted to advertise for propane for Evans Hicks, and Simpson Schools.

Item #4:  Retirements

On motion of Vernon Travis, seconded by Doug Brandon, the Board voted to accept retirements.

Item #5: Leave Without Pay Requests

On motion of Doug Brandon, seconded by John Blankenbaker, the Board voted to approve leave without pay requests.

Item #6:  Budget Amendments/Personnel Changes

On motion of Gerald Cooley, seconded by Vernon Travis, the Board voted to approve budget amendments related to personnel changes.

Item #7:  Authorization to Pay Claims

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

Item #8:  Policy Revisions

On motions of Steve Woods, seconded by Doug Brandon, the Board voted to approve policy revisions presented at the September 6^th board meeting.

Note:        File:  JCEA  Cf:  GAEAA, JGCE attached after Item # 14.

Item #9: Employee of the Month

Director of Finance, Tim Ward introduced Jeff Taylor with Taylor and Sons Insurance, who sponsors “Employee of the Month”, explaining how once a month during the school year, his company recognizes one employee who has done an outstanding job.  Jan Rouleau, teacher at Rosepine Elementary School was chosen for September’s Employee of the Month for her outstanding teaching abilities as a teacher and the growth shown in her students learning.

Item #10:  Energy Conservation Report

Director of Finance, Tim Ward reported to the Board on the savings from the Energy Conservation program.  There was a $1.7 billion savings in the 2017-2018 school year.

Item #11:  Curriculum Committee Report

Jackie Self, Chairperson for the Curriculum Committee, introduced and welcomed Ben Martindale with Rapides Foundation and Brandy Brunson, Coordinator from the LA Depart of Education. Mr. Martindale and Ms. Brunson spoke to the Board about Vernon Parish Schools and commended the Superintendent on how highly our parish rates in the state.  

Mr. Self also reported to the Board concerning the updates presented by the Curriculum Directors, Anne Smith and Renita Page on the accountability changes for the 2018-2019 school year.  Ms. Smith and Ms. Page presented the Board with a very informative 23 page booklet (guiding belief) from the Department of Education on  2018-2019 testing, grading scales, formulas, assessment indexes, DCAI, ACT, workkeys, graduation rate, and growth of our students.

Item #12:  Superintendent’s Remarks

Superintendent, James Williams welcomed everyone to the meeting.  He also gave a special welcome to our visitors Mr. Martindale, Ms. Brunson, and Jeff Taylor.

Mr. Williams thanked Board Member Doug Brandon for remembering the 9-11 tragedy with a moment of silence before the opening prayer and the pledge of allegiance.

Mr. Williams reminded the Board of the Vernon Parish College Fair for juniors and seniors to be held at Leesville High School on September 25^th from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm.  Representatives from colleges, universities, and military branches will be there to assist our juniors and seniors on decisions for their future.

Mr. Williams reminded the Board of the Head Start policy counsel training to be held in October.  Also John Guice will be here to conduct the ethics hours training for the Board Members.  Next board meeting will be October 4^th.

Item #14:   Adjournment

There being no further business the meeting was adjourned.

Attached information for Item # 8:

Authorized Officer

_________________________

ANGIE DAVIS

ATTEST:

__________________________________

JAMES WILLIAMS, SUPERINTENDENT