SEPTEMBER 10, 2020

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING/PUBLIC MEETING

DATE OF NOTICE SEPTEMBER 10, 2020        

A PUBLIC HEARING WAS HELD AS FOLLOWS:

DATE:                         SEPTEMBER 10, 2020

TIME:                          10:00 AM

PLACE OF HEARING:  VERNON PARISH SCHOOL BOARD ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICE  

THE FOLLOWING MEMBERS WERE PRESENT:

SHAD STEWART – PRESIDENT

JACKIE SELF – VICE PRESIDENT

DOUG BRANDON

ROBERT PYNES, JR.

JIM SEAMAN

STEVE WOODS

ANGIE DAVIS

DAVID DETZ

RANDY MARTIN

VERNON L. TRAVIS, JR.

JOHN BLANKENBAKER

LISA THOMPSON

COL. RYAN K. ROSEBERRY

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

1.  Allow for public comments of the 2020 Roll Forward of Millage Rates

2.  Adjourn

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:

SHAD STEWART - PRESIDENT

JACKIE SELF– VICE PRESIDENT

DOUG BRANDON

ROBERT PYNES, JR.

JIM SEAMAN

DAVID DETZ

JOHN BLANKENBAKER

RANDY MARTIN

ANGIE DAVIS

LISA THOMPSON

STEVE WOODS

VERNON L. TRAVIS, JR.

COL. RYAN K. ROSEBERRY

ABSENT:  ALL MEMBERS PRESENT

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

The meeting was opened in prayer by:

Rev. Chad King, Pastor of Anacoco First Baptist Church 

The Pledge of Allegiance was led by:   Angie Davis

Item #1:            Approval of Minutes

On motion of John Blankenbaker, seconded by Jim Seaman, the Board voted to approve the minutes of the August 11, 2019 regular meeting and dispense with the reading of the minutes.

Item #2:            Consolidated and General Fund Budgets for 2020-2021

On motion of Jackie Self, seconded by Steve Woods, the Board voted to adopt a resolution to approve the Consolidated and General Fund Budgets for 2020-2021.

Item #3:            Advertise for Propane

On motion of David Detz, seconded by Lisa Thompson, the Board voted to advertise for propane for Evans, Hicks, and Simpson schools.

Item #4:            Employee Retirements

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

Item #5:             Budget Amendments Related to Personnel Changes

On motion of Vernon L. Travis, Jr., seconded by Randy Martin, the Board voted to approve budget amendments related to personnel changes.

Item #6:            Authorization to Pay the Claims

On motion of Doug Brandon, seconded by Randy Martin, the Board voted to authorize the president and secretary to pay the claims.

Item #7:            Adopt the Adjusted Millage Rate(s) for Tax Year 2020

On motion of Vernon L. Travis, Jr., seconded by David Detz, the Board voted to adopt the adjusted millage rate(s) for tax year 2020

Item #8:             Adopt the Millage Rate(s) After Reassessment

On motion of Vernon L. Travis, Jr., seconded by Angie Davis, the Board voted to adopt the adjusted millage rate(s) after reassessment and roll forward the millage rate(s) not to exceed the prior years’ maximum authorized millage for the tax year 2020.

Item #9:            Adopt Other Authorized Millages or Taxes

On motion of Lisa Thompson, seconded by Randy Martin, the Board voted to adopt other authorized millages or taxes.

Item #10:           North Polk Elementary School Lease Agreement

On motion of David Detz, seconded by John Blankenbaker, the Board voted to approve the lease agreement for North Polk Elementary.  There was one nay vote by Vernon L. Travis, Jr.

Item #11:          Finance Committee Report

Steve Woods, Chairperson for the Finance Committee reported to the Board on the topics discussed by Finance Director, Tim Ward during the meeting held at 9:30 am.

Mr. Ward presented the Board with a copy of the General Fund Budget 2020-2021 and the Consolidated Budget for fiscal year ending 6-30-2021.  A copy of the budgets is attached. Mr. Ward submitted to the Board an executive summary for the 2019-2020 operating budget. Also the Budget Resolution was offered by Steve Woods and seconded by Vernon L. Travis, Jr.  This resolution having been submitted to a vote, the vote was as follows:

YEAS:              0

NAYS:              0

ABSTAINING:    0

ABSENT:          0

Mr. Woods reported that the Vernon Parish School Board is the second largest employer in the parish.  Total budget revenues are $123.5 million and total budgeted expenditures are $122.8 million.

Item #12:          Salary/Personnel Committee Report

Chairperson for the Salary/Personnel Committee, Angie Davis reported to the Board concerning the discussion during the meeting held at 9:00 am.

Assistant Superintendent/Personnel Director, Mike Kay presented the Board with a copy of the September, 2020 personnel changes.  Mr. Kay asked Tim Ward to explain the renewal lease due by October 15^th for North Polk Elementary to the Board.  He informed the Board of the legal part of the lease and the responsibilities of the military and the Vernon Parish School Board.

Item #13:          School Reopening Update

Finance Director, Tim Ward introduced Meredith Campbell, AIC, AIC-M Executive General Adjuster with the Sedgwick team (insurance)  to the Board and asked for an update on damages and evaluations from hurricane Laura to our schools.

Ms. Campbell presented a 10 page report to the Board explaining the process and time frame for repairing our schools in Vernon Parish.  She also introduced Justin White, building consultant from the Cotton mitigation team.  Mr. White reported to the Board the process, plans, and progress from his team on the reconstruction to the damaged schools and how his team proposes to continue with restoration of our schools for a safe return for students and staff.

All directors reported to the Board on their progress and action taken so far on the reopening of schools on Monday, September 14, 2020.

Item #14:  Superintendent’s Remarks

Superintendent, James Williams welcomed all to the meeting and thanked everyone for their support during the restoration from the hurricane Laura, the COVID 19 pandemic, and efforts to reopen our schools. 

Superintendent Williams asked Col. Ryan K. Roseberry for an update from Fort Polk.  Col. Roseberry reported on the damages at Fort Polk and restoration completed and continued repairs.

Item #15:  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 Ben Nell M. Hagan who recently passed away; and

            WHEREAS, Ms. Hagan was the sister-in-law of Linda Sue Brister, Vernon Parish School System Bus Driver; and

            WHEREAS, Ms. Hagan 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 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 Rev. Dr. Harrison Fields who recently passed away; and

            WHEREAS, Rev. Fields was a Vernon Parish School System retired teacher; and

            WHEREAS, Rev. Fields 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 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 Kenneth Harold Baggs, Jr. who recently passed away; and

            WHEREAS, Mr. Baggs was the son of former District Two Board Member, Rev. Kenneth Baggs, Sr. and Sandra Crosby Baggs former employee of the Vernon Parish School System; and

            WHEREAS, Mr. Baggs 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 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 Archie L. Martin who recently passed away; and

            WHEREAS, Mr. Martin was the husband of the Vernon Parish School System retired teacher, Clarine Martin; and

            WHEREAS, Mr. Martin 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 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 Cheryl Mitchell Tilley who recently passed away; and

            WHEREAS, Ms. Tilley was a Vernon Parish School System retired teacher; and

            WHEREAS, Ms. Tilley 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 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 Kathleen David who recently passed away; and

            WHEREAS, Ms. David was a retired cook technician at Hornbeck High; and

            WHEREAS, Ms. David was the sister of Hornbeck High cafeteria manager, Linda Parker; and

            WHEREAS, Ms. David 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 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 Frank Marion Miller who recently passed away; and

            WHEREAS, Mr. Miller was a cook technician at Evans High School; and

            WHEREAS, Mr. Miller 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.

Item #16:  Adjournment

There being no other business the meeting was adjourned

Authorized Officer

_________________________

SHAD STEWART, PRESIDENT

ATTEST:

__________________________________

JAMES WILLIAMS, SUPERINTENDENT

VERNON PARISH SCHOOL BOARD

RESOLUTION NO. 1

                      BE IT RESOLVED by the VERNON PARISH SCHOOL BOARD District of the Parish of Vernon, Louisiana, in a public meeting held on September 10, 2020 which meeting was conducted in accordance with the Open Meetings Law and the additional requirements of Article VII, Section 23(C) of the Louisiana Constitution and R.S. 47:1705(B), that the following adjusted millage rates be and they are hereby levied upon the dollar of the assessed valuation of all property subject to ad valorem taxation within said Parish for the year 2020, for the purpose of raising revenue:

                                                                                                           MILLAGE

Parish Wide School Regular                                                                4.08 mils

Parish Wide School Special                                                                 7.92 mils

Ward 1 Maintenance Regular                                                             12.66 mils

Ward 2 Hornbeck Maintenance Regular                                              13.47 mils

School District 143 Hornbeck Construction and Maintenance                10.12 mils

Ward 2 Orange Maintenance Regular                                                  12.88 mils

Ward 3 Maintenance Regular                                                             17.88 mils

Ward 4 Maintenance Regular                                                             14.57 mils

Ward 5 Maintenance Regular                                                             18.25 mils

Ward 6 Maintenance Regular                                                             12.42 mils

Ward 6 School Dist 161 Additional funding                                            9.80 mils

Ward 7 Maintenance Regular                                                             16.91 mils

Ward 8 Maintenance Regular                                                             14.32 mils

Ward 8 School Dist 151 Additional funding                                          10.23 mils

                      BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Assessor of the Parish of Vernon shall extend upon the assessment roll for the year 2020 the taxes herein levied, and the tax collector of said Parish shall collect and remit the same to said taxing authority in accordance with law.

                     The foregoing resolution was read in full, the roll was called on the adoption thereof, and the resolution was adopted by the following votes:

                     YEAS:               12

                     NAYS:                0

                     ABSTAINED:      0

                     ABSENT:           0

CERTIFICATE

                    I hereby certify that the foregoing is a true and exact copy of a resolution adopted at a regular board meeting held on September 10, 2020 at which meeting a quorum was present and voting.

                    Leesville, Louisiana, this 10^th day of September, 2020

________________________

(Superintendent)               

VERNON PARISH SCHOOL BOARD

RESOLUTION NO. 2

                      BE IT RESOLVED by the VERNON PARISH SCHOOL BOARD District of the Parish of Vernon, Louisiana, in a public meeting held on September 10, 2020, which meeting was conducted in accordance with the Open Meetings Law and the additional requirements of Article VII, Section 23(C) of the Louisiana Constitution and R.S 47:1705(B), that the taxing district voted to increase the millage rates, but not in excess of the prior year’s maximum rates, on all taxable property shown on the official assessment roll for the year 2020, and, when collected, the revenues from said taxes shall be used for the specific purposes for which said taxes have been levied. Said millage rate(s) are:    

                                                                                                   Adjusted Rate         2020 Levy

Parish Wide School Regular                                                           4.08 mills                  4.18 mills 

Parish Wide School Special                                                           7.92 mills                  8.12 mills

Ward 1 Maintenance Regular                                                        12.66 mills                13.03 mills

Ward 2 Hornbeck Maintenance Regular                                         13.47 mills                13.83 mills

School District 143 Hornbeck Construction and Maintenance          10.12 mills                10.39 mills

Ward 2 Orange Maintenance Regular                                            12.88 mills                13.24 mills

Ward 3 Maintenance Regular                                                        17.88 mills                18.77 mills

Ward 4 Maintenance Regular                                                        14.57 mills                14.57 mills

Ward 5 Maintenance Regular                                                       18.25 mills                 19.11 mills

Ward 6 Maintenance Regular                                                       12.42 mills                 12.68 mills

Ward 6 School Dist 161 Additional funding                                      9.80 mills                10.00 mills

Ward 7 Maintenance Regular                                                       16.91 mills                17.42 mills

Ward 8 Maintenance Regular                                                       14.32 mills                14.32 mills

Ward 8 School Dist 151 Additional funding                                    10.23 mills                10.23 mills

Leesville Sinking Fund                                                                                               31.37 mills

Orange Sinking Fund                                                                                                 26.31 mills

Hornbeck Sinking Fund                                                                                             10.31 mills

Ward 3 Sinking Fund                                                                                                 36.70 mills

Ward 3 Sinking Fund-Wildlife Management Area                                                          11.32 mills

Pickering Sinking Fund                                                                                              24.94 mills

Ward 5 Sinking Fund                                                                                                 25.39 mills

Ward 6 Sinking Fund                                                                                                 18.30 mills

Ward 7 Sinking Fund                                                                                                 27.26 mills

Ward 8 Sinking Fund                                                                                                 33.14 mills

                      BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Assessor of the Parish of Vernon shall extend upon the assessment roll for the year 2020 the taxes herein levied, and the tax collector of said Parish shall collect and remit the same to said taxing authority in accordance with law.

                     The foregoing resolution was read in full, the roll was called on the adoption thereof, and the resolution was adopted by no less than two-thirds of the total membership of the taxing authority voted in favor as required by Article VII, Section 23(C) of the Louisiana Constitution, and R.S. 47:1705(B). The votes were:

                     YEAS:               12

                     NAYS:                0

                     ABSTAINED:      0

                     ABSENT:           0

CERTIFICATE

                    I hereby certify that the foregoing is a true and exact copy of a resolution adopted at a regular board meeting held on September 10, 2020 at which meeting at least two-thirds of the total membership was present and voting.

                    Leesville, Louisiana, this 10thday of September, 2020

                                     _______________________ (Superintendent)           

BUDGET RESOLUTION

The following resolution was offered by Steve Woods and seconded by Vernon Travis.

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, 2020 and ending June 30, 2021, 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, 2020 are hereby adopted as the amended budgets for the year, in compliance with the requirements of the state law.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that 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 RESOLVED that 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 RESOLVED that 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:                  12

NAYS:                   0

ABSTAINING:        0

ABSENT:               0