JANUARY 14, 2020                                                                  

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

JACKIE SELF – VICE PRESIDENT

DOUG BRANDON

ROBERT PYNES, JR.

JIM SEAMAN

STEVE WOODS

DAVID DETZ

RANDY MARTIN

SHAD STEWART

VERNON L. TRAVIS, JR.

JOHN BLANKENBAKER

LISA THOMPSON

ABSENT:

ANGIE DAVIS

COL. RYAN K. ROSEBERRY

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 John Blankenbaker, seconded by David Detz, the Board voted to approve the minutes of the January 9, 2020 regular meeting and dispense with the reading of the minutes.

Item #2:    Retirement Approval

On motion of Randy Martin, seconded by Steve Woods, the Board voted to approve retirements from the January personnel changes.

Item #3:    Authorization To Pay Claims        

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

Item #4:    Approval for Budget Amendments/Personnel Changes

On motion of Jim Seaman, seconded by Randy Martin, the Board voted to approve budget amendments related to personnel changes.

Item #5:    VPSB Policies & Procedures

On motion of David Detz, seconded by Vernon L. Travis, Jr., the Board voted to approve changes and additions to the Vernon Parish School Board policies and procedures presented at the January 9^th meeting.

Item #6:    Employee of the Month

Rodney Taylor from Taylor and Sons Insurance is the sponsor for our “Employee of the Month”.  Mr. Taylor introduced Ms. Myra Midkiff, a teacher from West Leesville Elementary School and her Principal, Ms. Karen Robertson to the Board. Mr. Taylor and Ms. Robertson congratulated Ms. Midkiff and her excellent teaching skills, job performance, and exceptional relationship she has with her students, parents, and co-workers at her school.

Item #7:    Food Service/Title Programs Update

Director of Federal Programs and Food Service, Joey Whiddon, gave the Board an update on Federal Programs and Food Service.  He informed the Board that the Launch of Super App 2020-21 was November 4, 2019 – initial submission date: February 7, 2020 for Titles l, ll, lll, V, DSS, IDEA B, IDEA PRE-SCHOOL AND CARL PERKINS: in the amount of $4,402,201.00  received for the above mentioned programs.

Mr. Whiddon also informed the Board of the purchase of 29 Chromecarts and 928 chromebooks through his programs.  He informed the Board on Title I eligibility which is based on percentage of economically disadvantaged students.

Food Service Update:  Mr. Whiddon informed the Board on the State reimbursement comparison August to December which is $195,391.00 from 2016-2020.

Item #8:    Technology Update

Mr. Bill Lohman, Technology Supervisor, informed the Board on the many projects being conducted by the Technology Department which are:  incoming phone lines changing to digital lines vs old telephone (copper) lines, one to one ratio for testing meaning every student has a testing station and will not wait on a testing machine, deployed 2400 chrome books during last school year and went to 3600 during 2019 summer and now we have 4200 plus.  Mr. Lohman discussed the state backup plan for ransom ware which has been in place for two years in our parish.  Mr. Lohman praised his technology team for their response time, keeping the school districts up and running and completing 3600 workorders since the beginning of school in August.  Mr. Lohman also praised his technicians for their great work ethics and politeness to fellow co-workers.

Item #9:    Superintendent’s Remarks

Superintendent James Williams welcomed all to the meeting.  He reminded the Board that the LSBA registration deadline is January 23, 2020.  He also informed the Board that recognition of “Student of the Year” will be during the February 6^th meeting.

Item #10:   Memorial Resolutions

On motion of Lisa Thompson, 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 Joe Ladale Carruth who recently passed away; and

            WHEREAS, Mr. Carruth was the Father of Catherine Boyd, cook technician at West Leesville Elementary and  Grandfather of Sara Boyd, teacher at North Polk Elementary; and

            WHEREAS, Mr. Carruth was a resident of Vernon Parish; now

            BE IT THEREFORE RESOLVED that the Vernon Parish School Board requests a copy of this memorial 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 Matilda Tilly LeBlanc Cutrer who recently passed away; and

            WHEREAS, Ms. Cutrer was the Mother of retired VPSB Curriculum Supervisor, Kim Nugent; and

            WHEREAS, Ms. Cutrer was a resident of Ponchatoula, Louisiana

            BE IT THEREFORE RESOLVED that the Vernon Parish School Board requests a copy of this memorial be sent to her family at this time of sadness.

On motion of Jackie Self, 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  Carnie Carl Burns who recently passed away; and

            WHEREAS, Mr. Burns was the Grandfather of Shannon Dowdle, retired Special Education Diagnostician; and

            WHEREAS, Mr. Burns was a resident of Vernon Parish; now

            BE IT THEREFORE RESOLVED that the Vernon Parish School Board requests a copy of this memorial be sent to his family at this time of sadness.

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On motion of Steve Woods, 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 Alvin Jack Brandon who recently passed away; and

            WHEREAS, Mr. Brandon was the Uncle of District One Board Member, Doug Brandon; and

            WHEREAS, Mr. Brandon was a resident of Sabine Parish; now

Item #11:   Adjournment  

There being no further business the meeting was adjourned

Authorized Officer

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SHAD STEWART, PRESIDENT

ATTEST:

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JAMES WILLIAMS, SUPERINTENDENT