FEBRUARY 9, 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

JIM SEAMAN

STEVE WOODS

ANGIE DAVIS

DAVID DETZ

RANDY MARTIN

VERNON L. TRAVIS

LISA THOMPSON

ABSENT:

COL. RYAN K. ROSEBERRY

SHAD STEWART

VERNON L. TRAVIS, JR.

LISA THOMPSON

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

The meeting was opened in prayer by:   JASON KEES

The Pledge of Allegiance was led by:     DAVID DETZ    

Item #1: Approval of Minutes

On motion of Angie Davis, seconded by David Detz, the Board voted to approve the minutes of the February 4, 2021 regular meeting and dispense with the reading of the minutes.

Item #2:            Approval of Budget Amendments/Personnel Changes

On motion of Doug Brandon, seconded by, Jim Seaman, the Board voted to approve budget amendments related to personnel changes for February 4th.

Item #3:            Authorization to Pay Claims

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

Item #4:            Employee Retirements

On motion of Doug Brandon, seconded by, David Detz, the Board voted to accept employee retirements.

Item #5:            Leave Without Pay Requests

On motion of Angie Davis, seconded by Doug Brandon, the Board voted to approve leave without pay requests.

Item #6:             Headstart Policies/Procedures Approval

On motion of Jim Seaman, seconded by David Detz, the Board voted to approve the policies and procedures presented to the Board at the February 4^th meeting.

Item #7:            Hicks High School Principal Position 

On motion of Steve Woods, seconded by John Blankenbaker, the Board voted to advertise for the principal position at Hicks High School.

Item # 8:           Personnel Evaluation Plan Policy

On motion of Doug Brandon, seconded by David Detz, the Board voted to approve the

Personnel Evaluation Plan Policy.  (ATTACHED)

Item #9:            Employee of the Month

Finance Director, Tim Ward welcomed Jeff Taylor with Taylor and Sons Insurance, sponsor for our Vernon Parish School Employee of the Month. Mr. Ward asked Mr. Taylor to present the “Employee of the Month” award and introduce her to the Board.  Christina Potter was named Employee of the Month and was nominated by Rosepine Elementary Principal, Sandra Blakeway because of her willingness to always teach her students in a positive manner.  Ms. Potter always goes that extra mile to assist her students with a pleasant attitude.

Item #10:          Federal Programs Update

Director of Food Service and Title Programs, Joey Whiddon, reported to the Board concerning the Federal Programs for 2021-2022 (initial 85% of prior year) and presented them with a printout covering amounts and supervisors responsible for reporting.

Item #11:            Athletic Committee Report

Vernon L. Travis, Jr., Athletic Chairperson was absent so Ms. Angie Davis reported to the Board on the discussion given by Athletic Director, Hub Jordan during the 9:30 Athletic Committee Meeting on the following items:

1.  LHSAA Update

2.  Vernon Parish Athletic Updates

3.  Other Business

Ms. Davis also reported that Mr. Hub Jordan gave the Board Members a 2020-2021 softball, baseball, and track schedule.

Item #12:          Insurance Update

Meredith Campbell, adjuster for Sedgwick Adjusters for Vernon Parish School Board property insurance company reported to the Board on progress with Cotton Company and future restoration to be completed. Mike Holt, CEO of Braddock Companies, LLC reported to the Board on his part of the reconstruction.

Item #13:  Superintendent’s Remarks

Superintendent Williams welcomed all to the meeting and thanked the Board for their continued support during these trying times. He informed the Board that a letter had been placed in their folder from Thornton Tomasetti, Engineering Firm consulting Sedgwick Adjusters on the Hicks High School Gym.  Mr. Williams reminded the Board of the LSBA Conference in March.  He informed the Board that he is daily monitoring the weather forecast which could affect our schools again.   Mr. Williams announced that the next board meeting will be March 3^rd.

Item #14: Memorial Resolutions

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 Harriet King who recently passed away; and

            WHEREAS, Ms. King was the mother of retired bus driver and former paraprofessional, Donna Christ; and

            WHEREAS, Ms. King 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.

________________________________________________________________________

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 Brenda Elaine Devaney who recently passed away; and

            WHEREAS, Ms. Devaney was a retired Vernon Parish teacher and the wife of Phillip Devaney also a retired Vernon Parish teacher; and

            WHEREAS, Ms. Devaney was a resident of Sabine Parish; now

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 Robbie Browning who recently passed away; and

            WHEREAS, Ms. Browning was a retired bus driver at Hornbeck High and the mother of Jamie Stringer, retired bus driver at Hornbeck High, grandmother of Treasure Manes, teacher at Hornbeck High and mother-in-law of Jennifer Browning, librarian at Hornbeck High.

            WHEREAS, Ms. Browning was a resident of Vernon Parish; now

On motion of John Blankenbaker, 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 Bonnie Lee Willis Johnson who recently passed away; and

            WHEREAS, Ms. Johnson was a retired bus driver at Pitkin High; and

            WHEREAS, Ms. Johnson was a resident of Vernon Parish; now

On motion of John Blankenbaker, 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 Wanda Merle West who recently passed away; and

WHEREAS, Ms. West was the wife of retired Rosepine High bus driver Lee West, mother of Barbara Fletcher, retired Rosepine High teacher, Jan Rouleau, teacher at Rosepine High, and Diane Hyatt, cafeteria manager at North Polk Elementary.  Ms. West was the grandmother of Chloe Rouleau, teacher at Pickering Elementary, Daniel Fletcher, teacher at Evans High, sister of Betty Presley, former Rosepine High school office worker, mother-in-law of Danny Fletcher, retired Rosepine High teacher, and brother-in-law John Blankenbaker, Vernon Parish School Board Vice President and District Seven Board Member; and

WHEREAS, Ms. West 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.

On motion of John Blankenbaker, 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 Bland Howell McKee who recently passed away; and

            WHEREAS, Mr. McKee was the husband of retired Rosepine High bus driver Ivadell McKee; and

            WHEREAS, Mr. McKee was a resident of Vernon Parish; now

Item #15:  Adjournment

There being no other business the meeting was adjourned.

Authorized Officer

_________________________

JACKIE SELF, PRESIDENT

ATTEST:

__________________________________

JAMES WILLIAMS, SUPERINTENDENT

ITEM #8 POLICY

Title 28

EDUCATION

Part CXLVII. Bulletin 130—Regulations for the Evaluation and Assessment of School Personnel

Chapter 1. Overview

§105. Framework for LEA Personnel Evaluation Programs

[Formerly §109]

A. – B.2. ...

3. Observation/Data Collection Process. The evaluator or evaluators of each teacher and administrator shall conduct

observations of teacher and administrator practice sufficient to gain a complete picture of performance and impart individualized

feedback each year.

a. for the 2020-2021 academic year only, this shall include one announced observation for teachers and administrators.

b. any teacher or administrator who earns an observation rating of Ineffective or Effective: Emerging shall be observed a

second time.

c. following the 2020-2021 academic year, this shall include a minimum of two observations per academic year and may

include more observations, particularly for teachers or administrators that are not meeting expectations. At least one of these

observations shall be announced and shall include a pre- and post-observation conference. One of the observations may be waived

for teachers who have earned a rating of highly effective according to the value-added model in the previous year. Following all

observations, evaluators shall provide evaluates with feedback, including areas for commendation as well as areas for

improvement. Additional evidence, such as data from periodic visits to the school and/or classroom as well as written materials or

artifacts, may be used to inform evaluation.

B.4. – B.5. ...

AUTHORITY NOTE: Promulgated in accordance with R.S. 17:6(A)(10), R.S. 17:391.10, R.S. 17:3881-3886, and R.S. 17:3901-3904, R.S.

17:3997, and R.S. 17:10.1.

HISTORICAL NOTE: Promulgated by the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education, LR 36:2251 (October 2010), amended LR

38:1215 (May 2012), LR 38:2359 (September 2012), LR 39:1273 (May 2013), LR 46:.

Chapter 3.Personnel Evaluation

§301. Overview of Personnel Evaluation

A. Personnel evaluation for teachers and administrators shall be composed of two parts. Fifty percent of the evaluation shall be

composed of applicable measure(s) of growth in student learning. The remaining 50 percent shall be based upon a qualitative

assessment of teacher or administrator performance.

1. For teachers, data derived from the value-added assessment model shall be a factor in measuring growth in student

learning for grade levels and subjects for which value-added data are available. If value-added data are available, growth in student

learning (50 percent of the total score) shall be comprised of 35 percent value-added data and 15 percent student learning targets. If

value-added data are not available, growth in student learning shall be comprised of 50 percent student learning targets. For

administrators, the 50 percent of the evaluation based upon growth in student learning shall incorporate a school-wide measure of

growth and goal setting for principals is subject to §305.D of this bulletin.

2. For the 2020-2021 academic year only, the 50 percent of the evaluation that is based on a qualitative measure of teacher

and administrator performance shall include one announced observation for teachers and administrators.

a. any teacher or administrator who earns an observation rating of Ineffective or Effective: Emerging shall be observed a

second time.

b. following the 2020-2021 academic year, Tithe 50 percent of the evaluation that is based on a qualitative measure of

teacher and administrator performance shall include a minimum of two observations or site visits. This portion of the evaluation

may include additional evaluative evidence, such as walk-through observation data and evaluation of written work products.

B. ...

AUTHORITY NOTE: Promulgated in accordance with R.S. 17:6(A)(10), R.S. 17:391.10, R.S. 17:3881-3886, and R.S. 17:3901-3904, R.S.

17:3997, and R.S. 17:10.1.

HISTORICAL NOTE: Promulgated by the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education, LR 38:1215 (May 2012), amended LR 38:2359

(September 2012), LR 39:1273 (May 2013), LR 41:1266 (July 2015), LR 43:2480 (December 2017), LR 46:.

§305. Measures of Growth in Student LearningLearning Targets

A. – D.1. ...

2. For principals, at least one learning target shall be based on overall school performance improvement in the current school

year, as measured by the school performance score.

a. for the 2020-2021 academic year only, overall school performance improvement may be measured by the school

performance score or by formative assessment data.

3. For principals, at least one learning target shall be based on growth in a component (e.g., ELA or math improvement) of

school performance score.

a. for the 2020-2021 academic year only, overall school performance improvement may be measured by the school

performance score or by formative assessment data.

D.4 – E.3. ...

AUTHORITY NOTE: Promulgated in accordance with R.S. 17:6(A)(10), R.S. 17:391.10, R.S. 17:3881-3886, and R.S. 17:3901-3904, R.S.

17:3997, and R.S. 17:10.1.

HISTORICAL NOTE: Promulgated by the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education, LR 38:1216 (May 2012), amended LR 38:2359

(September 2012), LR 39:1273 (May 2013), LR 41:1267 (July 2015), LR 46:.