MARCH 7, 2019                                                           

 

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, JR.

JACKIE SELF

JIM SEAMAN

STEVE WOODS

RANDY MARTIN

LISA THOMPSON

ANGIE DAVIS

DAVID DETZ

JOHN BLANKENBAKER

 

COL. THOMAS – ABSENT

 

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

 

The meeting was opened in prayer by:   STEVE WOODS

 

The Pledge of Allegiance was led by:     STEVE WOODS

 

Roll Call

 

Item #1: February 12, 2019 Minutes

On motion of Jackie Self, seconded by John Blankenbaker, the Board voted to approve the minutes of the February 12, 2019 regular meeting and dispense with the reading of the minutes.

 

Item #2:  Advertise for copy paper

On motion of Doug Brandon, seconded by David Detz, the Board voted to advertise for copy paper.

 

Item #3:  Employee Retirements

On motion of Angie Davis, seconded by Shad Stewart, the Board voted to accept employee retirements.

 

Item #4:  Budget Amendments/Personnel Changes

On motion of Randy Martin, seconded by Lisa Thompson, the Board voted to accept the budget amendments related to personnel changes.

 

Item #5:  Authorization to Pay Claims

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

 

Item #6:           Black History Program

Director of Special Education, Charlotte Cooper introduced Parkway Elementary Principal, Dione Bradford and 3rd grade teacher, Gloria Orgain to the Board.  Ms. Bradford and Ms. Orgain organized the Black History program presented at Parkway Elementary during Black History month.  Also present were a few of  Ms. Orgain’s 3rd grade students who participated in the program: Gavin Baker, Axton Fritts, Daniel Son, Emily Dasilva, Kyle Mills, and Leily Konieczny.   The students presented part of the program for the Board which was a wax museum of influential African Americans.

 

Item #7:            Headstart Policy/Procedure Updates

Director of Head Start, Curtis Clay updated  the Board on Head Start business.  Mr. Clay

Presented the following information to be added to the March 12th agenda for approval:

VPHS 2019-2020 Budget/Grant

VPHS Self Assessment

VPHS Long and Short Term Goals 2019-2020

VPHS T/TA Plan 2019-2020

New Hires for the Duration Grant

On motion of David Detz, seconded by Shad Stewart, the Board voted to add to the March 12th agenda for approval.

 

Item #8:            Technology Update

Supervisor  of Technology, William Lohman presented the Board with a detailed update on the following:

 

Priority I – Test Ready:

Added 1900 Chrome Devices since February, 2017.

Testing Seats

Small Group Testing

Replacing aged refurbished computers

No 101 fund monies used – Monies used:  Title I, REAP, CTE, and Grants

 

Priority II – Infrastructure:

Turned bandwidth up from 250 mbps to 1 gbps

Future-proofing bandwidth with 10 gbps pipe

Virus Protection

Content filtering

Substantially less network downtime, isolated issues

 

Priority III – Centralizing Operations:

Sync Systems of record across software

Managing disparate systems together

Synching student information with software partners, securely

Internal data and systems safely hosted and backed up

 

Our goal is to continue to improve what we do daily.  To improve communication to and from employees and meeting the promises of SLA’s.

Our future concerns being:

Aging computers, printers, projectors

Keeping up with needs when adopting new curriculum

Conserving resources where we can.

 

Item #9:           Salary/Personnel Committee report

Angie Davis, Salary/Personnel Committee Chairperson informed the Board on the information presented by Assistant Superintendent, Mike Kay during the Salary/Personnel Committee Meeting:

 

1.  Personnel Changes for March, 2019

2.  Discussed the two calendar proposals from the calendar committee meeting

On motion of Jackie Self, seconded by John Blankenbaker, the Board voted to add to the March 12th meeting for approval on 2019-2020 calendar chosen.

3.  Employee contracts

4.  Graduation dates

5.   Discussion of Promotional Position for Evans Principal

 

On motion of David Detz, seconded by Shad Stewart, the Board voted to add to the March 12th board meeting the approval to advertise for promotional principal position for Evans High School.

Under other business discussed, Ms. Davis reported a request for replacing a retired employee in technology.  Discussion to continue.

 

Also, she reported that Mr. Kay explained the Leave Without Pay policy and procedure and discussed reduction procedures.

 

Item #10:          Superintendent’s Remarks

Superintendent, James Williams thanked Ms. Cooper, Ms. Bradford, Ms. Orgain, and Parkway students for their Black History program.

 

He reported up coming events discussed at the LSBA convention and reported that 5 Board Members attended from Vernon Parish.  Mr. Jim Seaman and Mr. Vernon L. Travis received certificates for their years of service with Mr. Travis also being elected/appointed to the State Board of Directors.

 

Mr. Williams congratulated the teams in the playoffs from Hicks, Anacoco, Leesville High School, and Simpson.  Simpson is now in the Boys’ Basketball State Finals for State Championship Class C.

 

Item #11:         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 wish to express their sympathy to the family of Jeanette Heidi Mayo who recently passed away; and

            WHEREAS, Ms. Mayo was a retired Vernon Parish School Board secretary; and

            WHEREAS, Ms. Mayo was the sister-in-law to Michelle Cooley, a teacher with the Vernon Parish School System; and

            WHEREAS, Ms. Mayo 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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On motion of David Detz, 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 Bobby Egan who recently passed away; and

            WHEREAS, Mr. Egan was the father of Bonita Katrice Egan, teacher at Evans High School and the father-in-law of Carla Egan, bus driver at  Evans High School; and

            WHEREAS, Mr. Egan 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 his family at this time of sadness.

 

Item #12:         Adjournment

There was no other business and meeting was adjourned.

 

Authorized Officer

 

_________________________

VERNON L. TRAVIS, JR., PRESIDENT

 

ATTEST:

 

__________________________________

JAMES WILLIAMS, SUPERINTENDENT