FEBRUARY 4, 2021

 

THE VERNON PARISH SCHOOL BOARD CONVENED IN REGULAR SESSION AT 10:00 A.M., 201 BELVIEW ROAD, LEESVILLE, LOUISIANA.  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

ANGIE DAVIS

RANDY MARTIN

DAVID DETZ

VERNON L. TRAVIS, JR.

LISA THOMPSON

SHAD STEWART

COL. RYAN K. ROSEBERRY

 

ABSENT:          JOHN BLANKENBAKER

                       

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

The meeting was opened in prayer by:               Angie Davis     

The Pledge of Allegiance was led by:                 Angie Davis

 

Item #1:            January 12, 2021 Minutes

On motion of Shad Stewart, seconded by Doug Brandon, the Board voted to approve the minutes of the January 12, 2021 regular meeting and dispense with the reading of the minutes.

 

Item #2:              Recognition of Teachers of the Year

Curriculum Supervisor, Carolyn Bosley presented the Vernon Parish School Board Teachers of the Year to the Board. The Teachers of the Year are Samantha Westerfield, teacher at Parkway Elementary, Donna Adams, teacher at Leesville Junior High, and Summer Peters, teacher at Leesville High School. Principal Mawae,  Bradford, and  Atkins praised their teachers for being excellent teachers and providing their students with quality teaching techniques and dedication to always being available to assist any student with extra help needed.  No matter the need, these three teachers go above and beyond the call of duty for their students. 

 

Item #3:            Head Start Report 

Director of Head Start, Curtis Clay gave an update to the Board concerning Head Start business. Mr. Clay requested that the following information presented to the Policy Council Meeting on February 2, 2021 be added to the February 9th agenda for approval:

1.          VPHS Policies and Procedures for Documenting Nonfederal Share (In-Kind)

2.          VPHS Financial Procedure Manual

3.         Semi Annual Report

On motion of Vernon L. Travis, Jr., seconded by Randy Martin, the Board voted to add to the February 9th meeting for approval.

 

Item #4:            DCIP Grant Update

Director of Finance, Tim Ward, gave an update on the DCIP grant.

 

Item #5:            Accountability/Testing Update

Directors of Curriculum, Renita Page and Anne Smith gave an update on accountability and testing.  They provided the Board with a 21 page report covering all the information related to accountability and testing

 

Item #6:            Black History Month Overview

Director of Special Education, Charlotte Cooper presented an overview of Black History Month events and dates taking place in the Vernon Parish schools in February.  The following schools will participate:  Anacoco Elementary, Anacoco High School, East Elementary, Evans High, Hicks High, Hornbeck High, Leesville Junior High, Leesville High, North Polk Elementary, Parkway Elementary, Pickering Elementary, Pickering High, Pitkin High, Rosepine Elementary, Rosepine High, Simpson High, Vernon Middle and West Elementary.

 

Item # 7:           Salary/Personnel Committee Report

Salary/Personnel Chairperson, Angie Davis reported to the Board on the information discussed at the 9:30 meeting by Assistant Superintendent, Mike Kay. Mr. Kay reported on the following:  February personnel changes, student enrollment, graduation dates, new policy - Title 28 Part CXLVII Bulletin 130 – Regulation for the Evaluation and Assessment of School Personnel and Educator Effectiveness Committee.  On motion of Vernon L. Travis, Jr. seconded by David Detz the Board voted to add the new policy to the February 9th meeting for approval.  Mr. Kay also informed the Board that we would advertise for a vacant position, Hicks High principal.  On motion of Angie Davis, seconded by Shad Stewart, the Board voted to add to the February 9th meeting to advertise for the Hicks High principal position.

 

Item #8:            Superintendent’s Remarks

Superintendent Williams welcomed all to the meeting.  He asked Col. Roseberry for an update on Fort Polk events.  Col. Roseberry reported on funds to be received and what they would be used for.  He informed the Board that the Department of Defense Education Director, Edith Perkins will be visiting Fort Polk on the 18th, 19th, and 20th and invited all to attend.

Superintendent, James Williams discussed the hurricane restoration, LSBA conference, teachers of the year, and reminded the Board about the meeting on Tuesday, February 9th.

 

Item #9:            Memorial Resolutions

 

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 Matricia Martin who recently passed away; and

            WHEREAS, Ms. Martin was the wife of retired custodian Johnny Martin; and

            WHEREAS, Ms. 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 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 Ethel May Mortensen who recently passed away; and

            WHEREAS, Ms. Mortensen was the mother-in-law of retired special education paraprofessional, Jane Mortensen, and

            WHEREAS, Ms. Mortensen 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 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 Alla Walls who recently passed away; and

            WHEREAS, Ms. Walls was a retired cook technician at Leesville High; and

            WHEREAS, Ms. Walls 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 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 Elroy Treme who recently passed away; and

            WHEREAS, Mr. Treme was the husband of Rita Treme, retired Pickering Elementary School secretary, brother of retired bus driver Mavis Odette, and brother-in-law of Dorothy Treme, East Leesville Elementary bus driver; and

            WHEREAS, Mr. Treme 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 Doug Brandon, 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 Darrell Wayne Bynog who recently passed away; and

            WHEREAS, Mr. Bynog was the brother of Alisa Cooley, Vernon Middle School bus driver, and

            WHEREAS, Mr. Bynog 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 Jim Seaman, 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 Martha Jo Rogers Collins who recently passed away; and

            WHEREAS, Ms. Collins was employed by the Vernon Parish School Board as a Cook Technician at East Leesville Elementary School; and

            WHEREAS, Ms. Collins 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 Ms. Martha Killian who recently passed away; and

            WHEREAS, Ms Killian was a retired teacher for the Vernon Parish School Board; and

            WHEREAS, Ms. Killian 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 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 Delbert L. Smith who recently passed away; and

            WHEREAS, Mr. Smith was the husband of retired teacher Catherine “Kay” Smith;and

            WHEREAS, Mr. Smith 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 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 Janice Bennett Merchant Fulks who recently passed away; and

            WHEREAS, Ms. Fulks was a retired school secretary and special education secretary; and

            WHEREAS, Ms. Fulks was the wife of Larry Fulks, former custodian at Simpson High,  mother of Donna Fairchild, technology secretary, grandmother of Tracy Parker, teacher at Simpson High, Neil Standifer and wife Brittany, teachers at Hicks High, Miranda Fulks, teacher at Simpson High, stepson Billy Fulks, former custodian at Simpson High; and

            WHEREAS, Ms. Fulks 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 other business the meeting was adjourned.

Authorized Officer

_________________________

JACKIE SELF, PRESIDENT

ATTEST:

 

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JAMES WILLIAMS, SUPERINTENDENT