NOVEMBER 10, 2020  

THE VERNON PARISH SCHOOL BOARD CONVENED IN REGULAR SESSION AT 10:00 A.M., 201 BELVIEW ROAD, LEESVILLE, LOUISIANA. DUE TO THE ABSENCE OF THE PRESIDENT THE VICE-PRESIDENT JACKIE SELF CALLED THE MEETING TO ORDER AND ON ROLL CALL THE FOLLOWING MEMBERS WERE PRESENT:

DOUG BRANDON

ROBERT PYNES, JR.

JIM SEAMAN

STEVE WOODS

VERNON L. TRAVIS, JR.

DAVID DETZ

RANDY MARTIN

ANGIE DAVIS

LISA THOMPSON

ABSENT:

SHAD STEWART

JOHN BLANKENBAKER

COL. RYAN K. ROSEBERRY

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

The meeting was opened in prayer by:    Lisa Thompson

The Pledge of Allegiance was led by:      Lisa Thompson            

Item #1:            Approval of Minutes

On motion of Randy Martin, seconded by Angie Davis, the Board voted to approve the minutes of the November 5, 2020 regular meeting and dispense with the reading of the minutes.

Item #2:            Head Start Policy /Procedures

On motion of Vernon L. Travis, Jr., seconded by David Detz, the Board voted to approve Head Start policies/procedures presented to the Board at the November 5^th meeting.

Item #3:            DCIP Grant Engineer

On motion of Vernon L. Travis, Jr., seconded by Jim Seaman, the Board voted to advertise for RFP for DCIP Grant Engineer.

Item #4:            Budget Amendments Related to Personnel Changes

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

Item #5:            Authorization to Pay the Claims

On motion of Vernon L. Travis, Jr., seconded by Lisa Thompson, the Board voted to authorize the president and secretary to pay the claims.

Item #6:             Election of Board Officers

On motion of Doug Brandon, seconded by the Board, the Board voted to approve the election of board officers for the 2021 school year.  Jackie Self will be the President and John Blankenbaker will be the Vice-President.

Item #:  Employees of the Month

Tim Ward, Finance Director introduced Scott Walker with Taylor and Sons Insurance to the Board and asked Mr. Walker to announce the Employees of the Month for September 2020, October 2020, and November, 2020.  Mr. Walker explained to the Board that we have not had Employee of the Month due to the COVID 19 and today we will be catching up.  Mr. Scott Lee, teacher from Leesville High School is the September Employee of the Month, Nancy Davis, teacher from Anacoco High School is the October Employee of the Month, and Tshombe Martin, cook technician from East Leesville Elementary is the November Employee of the Month. 

Item #8:              ACT Update

Curriculum Director, Renita Page presented the Board with a chart explaining the ACT scores from 12 parishes according to the last 7 school years.  Vernon Parish ranks number one in the 12 parishes every year for the last 7 school years.

Item #9:            Food Service Update

Director of Food Service, Joey Whiddon informed the Board on the COVID-19: Child Nutrition Response #59 which the summary is as follows:

(1)  This waiver allows the Summer Food Service Program and the National School Lunch Program Seamless Summer Option to continue to operate through June 30, 2021.

(2)  This waiver applies to State agencies administration, and local organizations operating, the Summer Food Service Program and the National School Lunch Program Seamless Summer Option.

(3)  This document relates to 42 U.S.C 1761 (c) (1), (d), and (e), and 7 CFR 225.6 (b)(1) and (e)(1).

In other words all students will continue to eat free for breakfast and lunch at all schools in Vernon Parish through the 2020-2021 school year.

Item #10:          Athletic Update 2021

Athletic Director, Hub Jordan presented the Board with basketball schedules and tournament schedules for the 2021 school year.

Item #11:  Superintendent’s Remarks

Superintendent James Williams welcomed all to the meeting. Mr. Williams welcomed District Attorney, Terry Lambright and asked him to introduce the new Assistant District Attorney to the Board. Cindy Lavestere will be serving as the new Vernon Parish Assistant District Attorney.  Senator Mike Reese was also in attendance and discussed several legislative topics and house bills to hopefully be approved which will benefit the Vernon Parish School System.

Mr. Williams welcomed Jon K. Guice to the meeting and reminded the Board of the Vernon Parish School Board Member Training after today’s meeting

Item #12:  Memorial Resolutions

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 Maxine Murphy who recently passed away; and

            WHEREAS, Ms. Murphy was a retired Vernon Parish teacher; and

            WHEREAS, Ms. Murphy was the mother of Kristen Bruce, a teacher at Pickering Elementary School; and

            WHEREAS, Ms. Murphy was a previous 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 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 James Carl Ray who recently passed away; and

            WHEREAS, Mr. Ray was the husband of Wanda Ray, retired custodian at Simpson High School; and

            WHEREAS, Mr. Ray 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 Joann Sewell who recently passed away; and

            WHEREAS, Ms. Sewell is the mother of Pam Sewell, a teacher at Leesville High School; and

            WHEREAS, Ms. Sewell 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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Item #13:  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