DECEMBER 8, 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:

STEVE WOODS

DOUG BRANDON

ROBERT PYNES, JR.

JIM SEAMAN

JACKIE SELF

JOHN BLANKENBAKER

RANDY MARTIN

LISA THOMPSON

ABSENT:

VERNON L. TRAVIS, JR.

DAVID DETZ

COL. RYAN K. ROSEBERRY

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

The meeting was opened in prayer by:   Reverend Charlie Willis

The Pledge of Allegiance was led by:     Reverend Charlie Willis

Item #1:            Approval of Minutes

On motion of Randy Martin, seconded by Jim Seaman, the Board voted to approve the minutes of the December 3, 2020 regular meeting and dispense with the reading of the minutes.

Item #2:            Budget Revisions 2020-2021

On motion of Jackie Self, seconded by John Blankenbaker, the Board voted to approve Budget Revisions for 2020-2021.

Item #3: Head Start Policies/Procedures

On motion of Randy Martin, seconded by Angie Davis, the Board voted to approve the Head Start policies/procedures presented at the December 3rd meeting.

Item #4:            Budget Amendments/ Personnel Changes

On motion of John Blankenbaker, seconded by Doug Brandon, the Board voted to approve the budget amendments related to personnel changes presented at the December 3^rd meeting.

Item #5:              Leave Without Pay Request

On motion of Doug Brandon, seconded by Lisa Thompson, the Board voted to approve leave without pay requests for the December 3^rd personnel changes.

Item #6:            Authorization to Pay the Claims

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

Item #7:             VPSB Policy Changes

On motion of Randy Martin, seconded by Lisa Thompson, the Board voted to approve the Vernon Parish Policy Changes presented at the December 3^rd meeting which are as follows:  Discipline: File JS, Suspension: JDD, Expulsion: File JDE

Item #8:            Employee of the Month

Tim Ward, Finance Director and Jeff Taylor, Taylor and Sons Insurance introduced to the Board the Employee of the Month, Renee Cunningham. Renee is a Special Education Paraprofessional at West Leesville Elementary School and does an outstanding job at her school.  Principal Karen Robertson also praised Ms. Cunningham for her dedication, positive attitude, and excellent job performance.

Item #9:              RFQ for Architect/Engineer for the DCIP Grant

On motion of Jackie Self, seconded by Doug Brandon, the Board voted to approve the RFQ for Architect/Engineer for the DCIP Grant.

Item # 10:         Athletic Update

Hub Jordan, Vernon Parish School Board  Athletic Director presented the Board with the COVID-19 Mitigation Measures/Athletic Events/ REVISION  from the LHSAA Executive Director, Eddie Bonine which explains procedures to be carried out for athletic events.  Mr. Jordan also distributed an update on quarantine guidance from the CDC for students and employees to be followed.

Item #11:          Insurance Update        

Tim Ward, Director of Finance and Insurance updated the Board on continued progress of reconstruction of hurricane damages at our schools.  He gave an approximate time line for completion of the damages.  Mr. Ward explained to the Board the problem with obtaining materials to complete the reconstruction which may cause a longer completion

date.

Item #12:          Cenergistic Energy Overview 

Finance Director Tim Ward introduced Vice President of Cenergistic Lynn Pace to the Board and asked him to give an update on the Vernon Parish School System savings.  Mr. Pace informed the board on our savings from the last 5 years which is 3.3 million.  We have also reduced our energy usage by 42%.  Mr. Pace informed the Board that Cenergistic will be extending our contract.

Item #13:          Outgoing Vernon Parish School Board President

Superintendent James Williams thanked President Shad Stewart for his service to the Board as President for the year 2020 and presented him with a plaque.  Mr. Williams asked Mr. Stewart to initiate the passing of the gavel as President to District One Board Member Jackie Self for the year 2021 and welcomed Mr. Self as the new President.

Item #14:            Superintendent’s Remarks

Superintendent, James Williams welcomed all to the meeting.  He reminded the Board to study the quarantine guide given to them by Mr. Jordan and to encourage everyone to be very cautious and wear your masks to stay safe.  Mr. Williams also informed the Board that he gets updates all through the day and keeps a track of all cases in our schools and the central office. He informed the Board that December 18^th will be a parent conference day for our schools.

Item #15:  Memorial Resolutions

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 Billy D. Kennedy who recently passed away; and

            WHEREAS, Mr. Kennedy was the husband of Carolyn Sue Midkiff, retired Title I Paraprofessional and the father of Stacy Diane Kennedy Lee, former

LA-4Paraprofessional; and

            WHEREAS, Mr. Kennedy 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 Don Holton who recently passed away; and

            WHEREAS, Mr. Holton was the husband of Jane Holton, retired teacher, counselor, Assistant Principal and Board Member; and

            WHEREAS, Mr. Holton 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 Ms. Ethel Frazier who recently passed away; and

            WHEREAS, Ms. Frazier was the mother of retired teacher/supervisor Patricia Schwartz and former mother-in-law of Billy Crawford, retired teacher/principal; and

            WHEREAS, Ms. Frazier was a former longtime 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.

Item #16:  Adjournment

There being no other business the meeting was adjourned

Authorized Officer

_________________________

SHAD STEWART

ATTEST:

__________________________________

JAMES WILLIAMS, SUPERINTENDENT

VERNON PARISH SCHOOL BOARD

FINANCE COMMITTEE MEETING

December 03, 2020

FISCAL YEAR 2020-2021

BUDGET ADJUSTMENTS

FUND                                                Current               Increase                 Revised

NUMBER                                          Budget              (Decrease)                Budget

275 Carl Perkins                                 $91,573               16,575                   $108,148

The FY 2021 grant award allocation for the Carl Perkins was received in the amount of $108,148. This was an increase of $16,575.

277 Indian Education                           $4,000                  3,997                       $7,997

The FY 2021 grant award allocation for Indian Education was received in the amount of $7,997.  The original budget was an estimate and is being increased by $3,997.

283 Head Start                               $2,345,520                  107,510                   $7,997

The FY 2021 grant award allocation for Head Start was received in the amount of $2,453,030.  There was a COLA received in the amount of  $107,510.

285 ESSERF Incentives                   $175,000                  212,871               $387,871

The FY 2021 grant award allocation for Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Fund Incentives was received in the amount of $387,871.  This is an increase of $212,871.

287 GEERF                                      $0                              174,500               $174,500

The FY 2021 grant award allocation for Governor’s Emergency Education Relief Fund was received in the amount of $174,500.  This is a new award and was not budgeted.

580 LA 4 State                                $1,406,060               (463,624)               $942,436

The FY 2021 grant award allocation for LA4 State was received in the amount of $942,436.  This is a decrease of $463,624 because of fewer students.

686 Title II                                     $356,713                   (83,045)                  $273,668

The FY 2021 grant award allocation for Title II was received in the amount of $273,668; this is a decrease of $83,045.

687 Title IV REAP                        $175,556                   (20,749)                  $154,807

The FY 2021 grant award allocation for Title IV REAP was received in the amount of $154,807; this is a decrease of $20,749.

689 Title III                                       $3,700                        7,218                    $10,918

The FY 2021 grant award allocation for Title III was received in the amount of $10,918; this is an increase of $7,218.

690 Direct Student Services          $50,019                       10,444                  $60,463

The FY 2021 grant award allocation for Direct Student Services was received in the amount of $60,463; this is a increase of $10,444.

691 SRCL Grant B-5                     $0                                11,000                  $11,000

The Striving Readers Comprehensive Literacy Grant B-5 is a carryover grant form 2019-2020 and was not budgeted.

672 SRCL K-2                              $0                                      827                       $827

The Striving Readers Comprehensive Literacy Grant K-2 is a carryover grant from 2019-2020 and was not budgeted.