MARCH 24, 2020

THE VERNON PARISH SCHOOL BOARD CONVENED IN A SPECIAL CALLED MEETING AT 11:00 A.M., 201 BELVIEW ROAD, LEESVILLE, LOUISIANA. 

THIS MEETING WAS CONDUCTED VIA TELECONFERENCE PURSUANT TO PROCLAMATION NUMBER JBE 2020-30 FOR THE SOLE PURPOSE OF PASSING AN EMERGENCY RESOLUTION.

PRESIDENT SHAD STEWART CALLED THE MEETING TO ORDER AND ON ROLL CALL THE FOLLOWING MEMBERS WERE PRESENT:

ANGIE DAVIS

STEVE WOODS

DOUG BRANDON

RANDY MARTIN

DAVID DETZ

JACKIE SELF

VERNON L. TRAVIS, JR.

ROBERT PYNES, JR.

JOHN BLANKENBAKER

JIM SEAMAN

LISA THOMPSON

COL. RYAN K. ROSEBERRY

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:  Approval of Minutes:

On motion of Vernon L. Travis, Jr., seconded by David Detz, the Board voted to approve the minutes of the March 10, 2020 regular meeting and dispense with the reading of the minutes.

Item #2:  Declaration of Public Emergency Resolution:

On motion of David Detz, seconded by Randy Martin, the Board voted to approve the Declaration of Public Emergency Resolution Number JBE 2020-30.  (resolution attached)

VERNON PARISH SCHOOL BOARD

DECLARATION OF PUBLIC EMERGENCY

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COVID-19

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            WHEREAS, on December 31, 2019, officials in China alerted the World Health Organization (“WHO”) to several cases of an unknown respiratory illness primarily concentrated in the City of Wuhan, Hubei Province; and

            WHEREAS, after further investigating the illness and ruling out the recurrence of other previously known viruses, officials, on January 7, 2020, announced the discovery of a new virus belonging to the corona virus family of viruses (“COVID-19”); and

            WHEREAS, over the following weeks, the Chinese government began to report additional cases of the virus, evidencing a propensity of the virus to spread throughout China and beyond; and

            WHEREAS, by January 30, 2020, approximately eighteen countries, outside of China,were reporting cases of the virus, causing the WHO to declare the virus a “Public Health Emergency of International Concern;”and

            WHEREAS, over the following weeks, the virus continued to spread to nations around the globe, infecting thousands of individuals; and

            WHEREAS, on March 11, 2020, the WHO declared the corona virus outbreak a “Global Pandemic;” and

            WHEREAS, on March 11, 2020, the Governor of the State of Louisiana declared a “Public Health Emergency” over the corona virus outbreak; and

            WHEREAS, on March 13, 2020, the President of the United States of America declared a national emergency due to the corona virus outbreak; and 

            WHEREAS, in an attempt to combat the spread of the virus, the Governor, on March 13, 2020, ordered the closure of all public elementary and secondary schools in Louisiana, beginning on March 16, 2020 and ending on April 13, 2020; and 

            WHEREAS, many children depend on the services of the Vernon Parish School Board for essential services such as the provision of healthy meals; and

            WHEREAS, while the cancellation of school will hopefully serve to combat the spread of the virus, such cancellation may put children at risk of not receiving enough healthy meals during the prolonged closure; and

            WHEREAS, the spread of the virus and its impact on the everyday lives of the School Board’s students, faculty, staff, and their family members requires the School Board to take unprecedented steps to combat the spread of the virus and to serve the children of Vernon Parish; and

            WHEREAS, the sudden closure of all schools until April 13, 2020 or later has also caused confusion and concern to employees of the school district about their ability to continue to be able to support their families through receipt of compensation from the School Board.

            NOW, THEREFORE, the above recitals considered, the School Board desires to utilize its assets in the fight against the corona virus, as more fully set forth below.

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            AND NOW, CONSIDERING THE FOREGOING, THE SCHOOL BOARD HEREBY DECLARES AS FOLLOWS:

            BE IT DECLARED, that the Vernon Parish School Board hereby declares a public emergency due to the outbreak of the COVID-19 virus.

            BE IT FURTHER DECLARED that, notwithstanding any policy or rule to the contrary, the School Board hereby confers emergency powers upon its Superintendent of Schools, for purposes of leading the School Board’s response to the outbreak.  Such emergency powers include, at the sole discretion of the Superintendent:

(1)        The authority to enter into any agreement or contract, without any further Board approval, for the purchase of materials, equipment, supplies, or services for sanitation, cleaning, technology, and other Covid-19 related services and supplies on behalf of School Board.

(2)        The authority to supply and arrange for the delivery of meals to all children of the parish, eighteen (18) years of age or younger, at no costs to the child or his/her family.

(3)        The authority to continue to pay school employees their regular compensation during the period schools are closed.

(4)        The authority to adjust curriculum, work schedules, compensation, and staff assignments without any further Board approval.

(5)        The authority to adjust the school calendar.

(6)        The authority to apply to BESE, LDOE, and/or USDOE, or any other governmental body for waivers of regulations or requirements, the compliance of which is impacted by COVID-19.

(7)        The authority to apply for waivers, grants, reimbursements, aid, and other Covid-19 related matters on behalf of the School Board.

(8)        The authority to provide non-mandatory, supplemental educational resources to students.

(9)        The authority to take any other action reasonably necessary to implement the above directives.

            BE IT FURTHER DECLARED that the Superintendent is required to report, in writing and at reasonable intervals, to the School Board as to the amount of expenditures made pursuant to this Declaration, as well as, the actions taken by the Superintendent pursuant to this Declaration.

            BE IT FURTHER DECLARED that, in accordance with the Governor’s declaration, any bidding requirements of the Louisiana Public Bid Law (La. R.S. 38:2212 et seq.)applicable to any purchases related to the School Board’s response to the corona virus outbreak are hereby suspended.

            BE IT FURTHER DECLARED that this Declaration shall remain in effect until withdrawn by the School Board.

            BE IT FURTHER DECLARED that notice of the provisions contained herein shall be published in the official journal of the Vernon Parish School Board within ten (10) days hereof.

THIS DECLARATION is adopted by the Vernon Parish School Board, at a meeting held on the24th day of March 2020 in Leesville, Louisiana.

___________________________                       _____________________________

James Williams, Superintendent                        Shad Stewart, Board President

Vernon Parish School Board                              Vernon Parish School Board

Item #3:  Superintendent’s Remarks:

On motion of Doug Brandon, seconded by David Detz, the Board voted to have Superintendent James Williams to notify the Board Members of the next board meeting.

Superintendent Williams gave updates on current operations of school board in response to Covid-19.  He also informed the Board of details concerning the feeding programs which began on Monday, March 23, 2020.  There were 1,086 meals served on 3-23-20.

Item #4:  Adjournment

There being no other business the meeting was adjourned.

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SHAD STEWART, PRESIDENT

ATTEST:

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JAMES WILLIAMS, SUPERINTENDENT