DECEMBER 3, 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

JACKIE SELF

STEVE WOODS

ANGIE DAVIS

DAVID DETZ

RANDY MARTIN

LISA THOMPSON

JOHN BLANKENBAKER

COL. RYAN K. ROSEBERRY

 

ABSENT:         

                       

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

The meeting was opened in prayer by:   DAVID DETZ

The Pledge of Allegiance was led by:     DAVID DETZ

Roll Call

 

Item #1:            November 10, 2020 Minutes

On motion of John Blankenbaker, seconded by Randy Martin, the Board voted to approve the minutes of the November 10, 2020 regular meeting and dispense with the reading of the minutes.

 

Item #2:            Recognition of Parish Principals of the Year  

Curriculum Directors Renita Page and Anne Smith introduced the Parish Principals of the Year to the Board.  Karen Robertson, West Leesville Elementary Principal is the Elementary Parish Principal of the Year, Ramona Bennett, Simpson High School Principal is the Middle School Parish Principal of the Year, and Mark Mawae, Leesville High School Principal is the High School Parish Principal of the Year. Ms. Page informed the Board that all three principals were graduates of Vernon Parish Schools.

 

Item #3:              Head Start Report:

Mr. Curtis Clay, Director of Head Start gave the Head Start report and presented the following Head Start Policies for approval:

VPHS Grievance Procedures

VPHS Health Plan Policy

VPHS Reduction in Force

VPHS Dual Language Policy and Procedures

VPHS Monthly Enrollment Reporting Procedures

VPHS Video Surveillance Policy

VPHS Classroom Volunteer Minimum Age

VPHS Policy for Obtaining Volunteers and Substitutes in Classrooms

VPHS Career Opportunity Statement

VPHS Policy of Employee Discipline

VPHS Readiness Goals

VPHS Policy of Tuition Payments

VPSB Intra-Agency Agreement between Head Start and SPED

Disability Referral Procedures

Income Eligibility Procedure

 

On motion of Randy Martin, seconded by David Detz, the Board voted to add the Vernon Parish Head Start policies to the December 8th agenda for approval.

Director of Head Start, Curtis Clay also reported to the Board on student count, reductions, lunch information, and other important Head Start operating topics and presented the Board with a 21 page report on operating procedures of the Head Start program.

 

Item #4:            Restoration Update

Director of Finance, Tim Ward gave an update on the continuing restoration in 18 schools due to the hurricanes.

 

Item #5:            COVID Update

Director of Child Welfare Services, Hub Jordan gave the Board an update on the Vernon Parish School Board weekly COVID 19 tracing in schools.  Mr. Jordan gave the Board a chart on each school’s positive cases, quarantined students and staff, and pending results.  He also discussed procedures to follow.

 

Item #6:             Policy Update

Director of Child Welfare Director, Hub Jordan gave the Board a copy of the Vernon Parish School policy changes which are as follows:

Discipline:  File: JS

Suspension:  File: JDD

Expulsion:  File: JDE

Mr. Jordan also informed the Board on the Vernon Parish Schools virtual discipline policy which covers privacy and the virtual classroom, conduct in the virtual classroom, and consequences of inappropriate online conduct.

 

Item #7:              Report From Salary/Personnel Committee

Angie Davis, Salary/Personnel Chairperson reported to the Board on the discussion during the Salary/Personnel Committee Meeting.  Ms. Davis informed the Board that Assistant Superintendent, Mike Kay reported on the personnel changes for December.

 

Item # 8:           Report From Finance Committee

Steve Woods, Finance Chairperson updated the Board on the Finance Committee’s meeting.  He informed the Board on the Budget Revisions presented by Director of Finance, Tim Ward.  On motion of Randy Martin, seconded by Lisa Thompson, the Board voted to add to the December 8th meeting the budgets for approval.

 

Item #9:  Superintendent’s Remarks

Superintendent Williams welcomed all to the meeting and asked Col. Roseberry to give an update on Fort Polk events. Col. Roseberry reported on COVID-19 at Fort Polk and the upcoming Tree Lighting Festival.

Mr. Williams thanked Shad Stewart for serving as President of the Board for year 2020   and reminded the Board that Mr. Jackie Self will serve as President and John Blankenbaker will serve as Vice-President for the 2021 year.

 

Item #10:  Memorial Resolutions

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 Gilda Rae Sweat Richmond who recently passed away; and

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

            WHEREAS, Ms. Richmond 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 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 Isaac R. Nabors who recently passed away; and

            WHEREAS, Mr. Nabors was a Vernon Parish retired bus driver; and

            WHEREAS, Mr. Nabors 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.

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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 Billy John Burns who recently passed away; and

            WHEREAS, Mr. Burns was a retired Vernon Parish teacher, librarian, coach and Assistant Principal at Anacoco High School; and          

            WHEREAS, Ms. Burns 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.

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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 W. E. Dowden, Jr. who recently passed away; and

            WHEREAS, Mr. Dowden was the husband of Vernon Parish retired teacher Dorothy Dowden; and

            WHEREAS, Mr. Dowden 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 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 Regina Sims Harper who recently passed away; and

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

            WHEREAS, Ms. Harper 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 Zane Miles Crocker who recently passed away; and

            WHEREAS, Mr. Crocker was the son-in-law of Kathy Bonner, bus driver at Evans High School; and

            WHEREAS, Mr. Crocker 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 Randy Martin, 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   Ramona Vinson who recently passed away; and

            WHEREAS,  Ms. Vinson was the mother-in-law  of Annette Vinson, retired bus driver, Peggy Vinson, retired bus driver, son-in-law Sammy Hinson retired Vernon Parish School Board Superintendent, and grandmother of Bo Hinson, retired teacher/coach; and

            WHEREAS, Ms. Vinson 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 # 10: Adjournment

There being no further business the meeting was adjourned.

Authorized Officer

_________________________

 

SHAD STEWART, PRESIDENT

 

ATTEST:

 

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JAMES WILLIAMS, SUPERINTENDENT