JANUARY 15, 2019                                                       DRAFT

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

VERNON L. TRAVIS, JR.          PRESIDENT

SHAD STEWART                     VICE-PRESIDENT

DOUG BRANDON

ROBERT PYNES

JACKIE SELF

JIM SEAMAN

STEVE WOODS

LISA THOMPSON

JOHN BLANKENBAKER

RANDY MARTIN

ANGIE DAVIS

COL. JARRETT THOMAS II     ABSENT

DAVID DETZ                            ABSENT

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

The meeting was opened in prayer by:   Robert Pynes, Jr.         

The Pledge of Allegiance was led by:    Robert Pynes, Jr.         

Item #1: Approval of Minutes

On motion of Randy Martin, seconded by Shad Stewart, the Board voted to approve the minutes of the January 10, 2019 regular meeting and dispense with the reading of the minutes.

Item #2: Approval of Employee Retirements

On motion of Doug Brandon, seconded by Jim Seaman, the Board voted to approve employee retirements.

Item #3: Contract Extension

On motion of Doug Brandon, seconded by Randy Martin, the Board voted to approve a contract extension for Superintendent Williams.

Item # 4: Headstart Policies/Procedures:

On motion of Shad Stewart, seconded by Angie Davis, the Board voted to approve the Headstart Policies/Procedures presented at the January 10^th meeting.

VPHS – Income Eligibility

VPHS-  Child Abuse

VPHS-  Child Attendance and Tardiness

VPHS – Personnel

VPHS- Transition

Item #5:  Authorization to Pay Claims

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

Item #6:  Personnel Changes

On motion of Doug Brandon, seconded by John Blankenbaker, the Board voted to approve budget amendments related to personnel changes.

Item #7:  VPSB Policies and Procedures

On motion of Randy Martin, seconded by Doug Brandon, the Board voted to approve the following policies and procedures:

File:  DFD          Tax and Bond Elections and Sales

File:  DJE           Purchasing

File:  GAEAA    Sexual Harassment

File:  GBC        Personnel Recruitment

File:   JBCC      Student Assignment

File:  GBD        Employment of Personnel

File:  GBDA Employment of Retired Personnel

File:  GBRIC Maternity and Adoptive Leave

File:  GBRIB Sick Leave

Item #8:  Advertise for RHS Assistant Principal

On motion of John Blankenbaker, seconded by Jackie Self, the Board voted to advertise for a vacant non-promotional Assistant Principal position at Rosepine High School.

Item #9:  PHS Principal Contract

On motion of Randy Martin, seconded by Doug Brandon, the Board voted to approve the promotional contract for Jerome Henson as Principal at PHS.

Item #10:  Employee of the Month

Tim Ward introduced Scott Walker with Taylor and Sons insurance to present Judy Branch “Employee of the Month” with a plaque for outstanding teaching skills in the classroom.  Ms. Branch is a 2^nd grade teacher at Pickering Elementary.  Pickering Elementary Assistant Principal Brandy Sanders also gave a presentation about the excellent job Ms. Branch does in her classroom.

Item #11: Food Service/Title Programs Update

Joey Whiddon, Director of Food Service and Title Programs gave an update on the programs’ finances, meals served, process of hiring employees in these departments and balances in the federal programs (ESSA) for 2019-2020.  Mr. Whiddon handed out printouts with detailed instruction and explanation.

Item #12:  Report from Curriculum Committee

Jackie Self, Chairperson for the Curriculum Committee gave an overall summation of the Curriculum Meeting.  Directors Anne Smith and Renita Page discussed the following:

l. Testing Schedules

2.  School site visits, tutoring, and enrichment programs will be used to prepare for testing

3.  CLIP update and explanation of the program to help teachers receive certification

4.  Math curriculum and investigating change

Mr. Self informed the Board that they will add a curriculum meeting to the February 12^th meeting to discuss

Item #13:  Superintendent’s Remarks

Superintendent Williams welcomed all to the meeting.  He gave an update to the Board of the upcoming events:

1.         Evaluation and review February 4 with accreditation team “Advanced Education”

2.         LSBA annual meeting February 24 – 26

3.         Best practices review

4.         Thank you to Directors, Supervisors, and all employees who work hard to make the Vernon Parish School System a success.                     

Item #14:  Memorial Resolutions

On motion of Angie Davis, seconded by the Board, the Board voted to adopt the following memorial resolution:

R E S O L U T I O N

            WHEREAS, the members of the Vernon Parish School Board with to express their sympathy to the family of Barbara Mize Piro who recently passed away; and

            WHEREAS,  Ms. Piro was a retired teacher for the Vernon Parish School Board and her Husband Joe Piro was a former teacher; and

            WHEREAS, Ms. Piro was a longtime resident of Vernon Parish; 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.

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On motion of Angie Davis, seconded by the Board, the Board voted to adopt 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 Samantha Hoer Dewey  who recently passed away; and

            WHEREAS,  Samantha Hoer Dewey was a graduate of Anacoco High School and LSU.  She is the Daughter of retired teacher Paula Hoer; and

            WHEREAS, Samantha Hoer Dewey was a former resident of Vernon Parish; 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.

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On motion of Vernon L. Travis, Jr., seconded by the Board, the Board voted to adopt 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 Sylvester James Lucius who recently passed away; and

            WHEREAS, Mr. Lucius was the Son of Linda Hickman Lucius a Cook Technician at West Leesville Elementary; and

            WHEREAS, Mr. Lucius as a resident of Vernon Parish; 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.

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On motion of Shad Stewart, seconded by the Board, the Board voted to adopt 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 Jessie Maricle who recently passed away; and

            WHEREAS,  Ms. Maricle was a retired Cook Technician; and

            WHEREAS, Ms. Maricle was the Mother of Carolyn Elliott also a retired Cook Technician; and

            WHEREAS, Ms. Maricle was a resident of Vernon Parish; 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.

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There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned.

Authorized Officer

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VERNON L. TRAVIS, JR., PRESIDENT

ATTEST:

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JAMES WILLIAMS, SUPERINTENDENT