APRIL 20, 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.

JACKIE SELF

JIM SEAMAN

STEVE WOODS

DAVID DETZ

ANGIE DAVIS

RANDY MARTIN

VERNON L. TRAVIS, JR.

ABSENT:          COL. RYAN K. ROSEBERRY

                        JOHN BLANKENBAKER

                        LISA THOMPSON

                        SHAD STEWART

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

The meeting was opened in prayer by:   JACKIE SELF

The Pledge of Allegiance was led by:     JACKIE SELF

Item #1:            April 15, 2021 Minutes

On motion of Angie Davis, seconded by David Detz, the Board voted to approve the minutes of the April 15, 2021 regular meeting and dispense with the reading of the minutes.

Item #2:            Employee Retirements

On motion of Vernon L. Travis, Jr., seconded by Steve Woods, the Board voted to accept employee retirements.

Item #3:            Leave Without Pay Requests    

On motion of Angie Davis, seconded by David Detz, the Board voted to accept leave without pay requests.

Item #4:             Amendments Related to Personnel Changes

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

Item #5:             Pay the Claims

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

Item #6:            Vernon Parish School Board Policies

On motion of Randy Martin, seconded by David Detz, the Board voted to approve

FILE: GBQ, RETIREMENT

Item #:7            Head Start Policy/Procedures

On motion of Jim Seaman, seconded by Randy Martin, the Board voted to approve the Head Start policy/procedures presented at the April 15^th meeting.

Item #8:            Federal Grant for Head Start

On motion of Randy Martin, seconded by Angie Davis, the Board voted to accept the Federal Grant received by Head Start for the preschool ages 3 & 4 years old and birth to 3 years old.  There were 7 yes votes and 2 no votes.  No votes were made by Angie Davis and Vernon L. Travis, Jr.

Item # 9:           Fort Polk Progress Update

Mayor Rick Allen presented to the Board a grant awarded to the Vernon Parish School Board in the amount of $97,241.25.  This will cover web site updates, AP course stipends, hand writing kits for K-2, chrome books, and other technology improvements which will benefit all students in Vernon Parish.  

Item #10:          Employee of the Month

Director of Finance, Tim Ward along with employee of the month sponsor, Jeff Taylor with Taylor and Sons Insurance, presented an award to Ms. Sharon Ford, a special education teacher from Anacoco High School  Principal,  Raymond Haymon thanked Ms. Ford for her 38 years of service.  Mr. Haymon talked about her dedication to her students and how she is always willing to go the extra mile to encourage and assist her students in any way needed.

Item #11:          Audit

Finance Director, Tim Ward gave an update on the findings from our last audit covering major federal grants, finance data, federal awards over 750 thousand,  total awards 16.8 million, and account policies.  The final summary rating from Allen, Green & Williamson, and LLP Certified Public Accounts for our audit is noted as unmodified which means no changes, no deficiencies and no non-compliance.  This is an excellent rating.  The Independent Accountant’s Report on Applying BESE Agreed-Upon Procedures and Associated findings are as follows:

The auditors selected a sample of 25 transactions, reviewed supporting documentation, and observed that the sampled expenditures/revenues are classified correctly and are reported in the proper amounts reported on the schedule.

Item #12:          Curriculum Report

Curriculum Chairperson, Vernon L. Travis, Jr. reported to the Board on the topics discussed during the 9:30 curriculum meeting:

1.  Strong start overview – Curriculum Director, Renita Page explained to the Board about the pilot program.  This will be no cost to the school system; LDOE will cover the cost of the pilot participation for tools, resources, professional development, and technical assistance.

2.  Accelerate/Summer school update – This summer we will have two programs for students.  One is the traditional credit and attendance recovery program and the other is the state recommended Accelerate which is based on recovering learning loss.   Curriculum Supervisors, Joan Simmons, Leigh Lansdale, and Dwain Ducote informed the Board on the purpose and guidelines for the Accelerate Summer Camp program covering K-8^th grade. The purpose of the program is to recover student learning loss.  The 2021 Summer School for K-6 and 7-12 includes credit/attendance recovery and ELA  and math remediation/enrichment.  The Board received information covering both programs which will also be available to parents.

3.  Testing update – Curriculum Director, Renita Page provided the Board with a Vernon Parish Testing Calendar for spring 2021 covering dates, schools, content area and sessions.

4.  2021-22 virtual school update – Lisa Lohman discussed the proposed guidelines and official application for the 2021-2022 school year. She also provided a copy of each to the Board and requested On motion of Steve Woods, seconded by David Detz, the Board voted to add to the May 6^th agenda for approval of the application and the guidelines.

5.  Other business – Curriculum Director, Anne Smith discussed the proposed change:  moving lst grade from East Leesville elementary to West Leesville elementary – On motion of Jim Seaman, seconded by David Detz, the Board voted to add to the May 6^th agenda for approval.

Item # 13:         Superintendent’s Remarks

Superintendent James Williams welcomed visitors to the meeting and thanked our supervisors and directors for their excellent job performance. He commented that the Vernon Parish School System is successful because of the dedicated employees working to accomplish the goals set in our system.  Mr. Williams reminded the Board of the LSBA capitol conference 2021 on May 4^th and to complete their disclosure statements.

Item #14:          Memorial Resolutions

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 Ronnie Stephens who recently passed away; and

            WHEREAS, the Board would like to acknowledge family members employed by  the Vernon Parish School System:  Mr. Stephens’ daughter is Tammie Kay, Librarian at Evans High School and son-in-law Mike Kay, Vernon Parish School Board Assistant Superintendent/Personnel Director; and

            WHEREAS, Mr. Stephens was a resident of Fair Mount, Texas; 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.

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 Robert Earl Johnson who recently passed away; and

WHEREAS, the Board would like to acknowledge family members of Mr. Johnson employed by the Vernon Parish School System: Mr. Johnson’s sister, Sherry Jeter former bus driver at West Leesville Elementary and sister-in-law,  Connie Johnson present bus driver at West Leesville Elementary; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Johnson 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.

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 James Larry Nelson who recently passed away; and

WHEREAS, the Board would like to acknowledge family members of Mr. Nelson employed by the Vernon Parish School System: Mr. Nelson’s wife is Deloris Nelson, retired Pitkin High School teacher; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Nelson 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.

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 Jerry Lynn Jeane who recently passed away; and

WHEREAS, the Board would like to acknowledge family members of Mr. Jeane employed by the Vernon Parish School System:  Mr. Jeane’s wife is Debra Jeane, former bus aide at Evans High School; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Jeane 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.

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 Olla Mae Bass Wellman who recently passed away; and

WHEREAS, the Board would like to acknowledge family members employed by the Vernon Parish School System:  Ms. Wellman’s daughter-in-law is Sherry Wellman former cook at Hicks High School; and

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

AUTHORIZED OFFICER

_________________________

JACKIE SELF, PRESIDENT

ATTEST:

__________________________________

JAMES WILLIAMS, SUPERINTENDENT