MARCH 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:

JACKIE SELF – PRESIDENT

JOHN BLANKENBAKER – VICE PRESIDENT

ROBERT PYNES

JIM SEAMAN

DOUG BRANDON

STEVE WOODS

ANGIE DAVIS

RANDY MARTIN

COL. RYAN K. ROSEBERRY

ABSENT:

LISA THOMPSON

DAVID DETZ

VERNON L. TRAVIS, JR.

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

The meeting was opened in prayer by:   ROBERT PYNES, JR.  

The Pledge of Allegiance was led by:     ROBERT PYNES, JR.  

Item #1:            Approval of Minutes:

On motion of Jim Seaman seconded by Angie Davis, the Board voted to approve the minutes of the March 4, 2021 regular meeting and dispense with the reading of the minutes.

Item #2:            Approval of Employee Retirements:

On motion of John Blankenbaker, seconded by Doug Brandon, the Board voted to approve employee retirements.

Item #3:            Head Start Policies/Procedures:

On motion of Jim Seaman,  seconded by Randy Martin, the Board voted to approve Head Start policies and procedures presented at March 4^th meeting.

Item # 4:           Authorization to Pay Claims

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

Item #5:            Approval of Budget Amendments

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

Item #6:            2020-2021 School Calendar

On motion of John Blankenbaker, seconded by Doug Brandon the Board voted to approve for the 2021-2022 school year chosen by employees.

Item #7:            Hicks High School Principal

On motion of  Angie Davis, seconded by Doug Brandon, the Board voted to approve the contract for Jennifer Wilbanks as Hicks High School Principal.

Item #8:            Students of the Year

Curriculum Supervisor, Carolyn Bosley  introduced the following students and their principals to the Board for Students of the Year recognition:

Jabari Burney                Pickering 5^th grade

Hanna Marsalise           Pickering 8^th grade

Zachary Layug              Pickering High

McKenzie Grover           Simpson 5th

Jacoby Jeter                 Simpson 8^th

Preston Miller                Simpson High

Baylor Haymon              Hicks 5th grade

Hailey Wolff                  Hicks 8^th grade

Ashlyn Baker                 Rosepine 5^th grade

Gabriel McKee              Rosepine 8^th grade

Taylor James                Rosepine High

District Level Winners:

Baylor Haymon              Hicks 5^th

Hailey Wolff                  Hicks 8^th

Taylor James                Rosepine 12th

Item #9:              Employee of the Month:

Director of Finance, Tim Ward introduced Rodney Taylor with Taylor and Sons Insurance, sponsor of “Employee of the Month” to the Board.  Mr. Taylor announced to the Board that Stephanie Wilson, North Polk  Elementary Head Start Center Director  had been chosen as the employee of the month.  Mr. Taylor presented Ms. Wilson with a plaque and thanked her for her dedication to the Head Start program since October of 1992.  North Polk Principal Elsee Ashworth  spoke to the Board about the great job Ms. Wilson does for her program and how she is always ready to go the extra mile and help with any situation that may arise.

Item #10:           Recognition of PCAL Bus Driver of the Year

Director of Transportation, Tom Neubert introduced Mike Godwin as the Parish and Regional PCAL Bus Driver of the Year. Mr. Godwin’s school base is West Leesville Elementary. Ms. Karen Robertson, Principal of West Leesville Elementary spoke to the Board about the way Mr. Godwin relates to the students who ride his bus and how he has a great attitude towards others.  He is an excellent driver and always reports to work. Mr. Godwin was presented with a certificate, a district and regional plaque, a jacket and $100 for being the Parish and Regional Bus Driver of the Year.  Malcolm Morris and Logan Morris with Morris Insurance are sponsors for PCAL also reiterated the importance of excellent bus drivers such as Mr. Godwin.

Item #11:           Vernon Parish STEM Projects

Curriculum Supervisor, Lisa Lohman spoke to the Board about the Vernon Parish STEM Projects.  She presented the Board with a printout explaining in detail the purpose of the projects and the future plans involved. STEM stands for science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.  The projects are designed to ignite student interest in these subjects through a computer program designed for all students which is compatable to chrome books.

Project #1:      Amazon Future Engineers

Project #2:        LSU Computational Thinking

Project #3:        Ingevity STEM Greenhouse

Project #4:        Robotics Education and Competition Foundation

Project #5:        DoDEA Project Achieve and Succeed

Item #12:          Insurance Update

Meredith Campbell updated the Board on restoration of damages to our schools and the Hicks and Pitkin gyms. She informed the Board on future plans and reimbursement.

Item #13:           Superintendent’s Remarks

Superintendent James Williams welcomed all to the meeting.  He asked Col. Roseberry for an update on Fort Polk events. Col. Roseberry informed the Board that GEN Garrett is here visiting Fort Polk rotation division and would be visiting Parkway Elementary school.

Superintendent James Williams congratulated the Students of the Year, basketball team winners,  Mike Godwin, PCAL Parish and Regional Bus Driver of the Year Award winner  and Stephanie Wilson as Employee of the Month.   

Mr. Williams reminded the Board to complete their financial disclosure statements before the deadline.

He informed the Board that the next Board Meeting will be April 15TH.

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 Debby Hunt Mace  who recently passed away; and

            WHEREAS, Ms. Mace  was a former Special Education Paraprofessional and school secretary at Leesville Junior High;

            WHEREAS, Ms. Mace was the mother of Robert Mace, Jr. and Megan Andrus, both former student workers at the central office and her sister, Dana Kreyenbuhl, is a  teacher at Leesville Junior High; and

            WHEREAS, Ms. Mace  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 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. Margie Brown who recently passed away; and

            WHEREAS, Ms. Brown was the mother of Kayla Hopkins, Assistant Principal at Simpson High School; and

            WHEREAS, Ms. Brown was a resident of Sabine 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 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 L.B. Collins who recently passed away; and

            WHEREAS, Mr. Collins was a retired custodian at West Leesville Elementary; and

            WHEREAS, Mr. 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 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 Iva R. Green who recently  passed away; and

            WHEREAS, Ms. Green was a retired Pickering High and Pickering Elementary teacher; and

            WHEREAS, Ms. Green was a resident of Beauregard 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 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 Ilo May Ernst Burns who recently passed away; and

            WHEREAS, Ms. Burns was the mother of retired central office secretary Connie L. Shira; 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 be sent to her family at this time of sadness.

Item # 15: Adjournment

There being no further business the meeting was adjourned.

Authorized Officer

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JACKIE SELF, PRESIDENT

ATTEST:

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JAMES WILLIAMS, SUPERINTENDENT