SEPTEMBER 2, 2021                                       

                                                                       

THE VERNON PARISH SCHOOL BOARD CONVENED IN REGULAR SESSION AT 10:00 A.M., 201 BELVIEW ROAD, LEESVILLE, LOUISIANA. THE PRESIDENT AND VICE-PRESEDENT WERE ABSENT SO DISTRICT ONE BOARD MEMBER STEVE WOODS 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

DAVID DETZ

RANDY MARTIN

SHAD STEWART

VERNON L. TRAVIS, JR.

 

ABSENT:        

 

JACKIE SELF

JOHN BLANKENBAKER

LISA THOMPSON

COL. SAMUEL P. SMITH

                       

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

The meeting was opened in prayer by:   DAVID DETZ

The Pledge of Allegiance was led by:     DAVID DETZ

 

Item #1:            August 10, 2021 Minutes

On motion of Angie Davis, seconded by David Detz, the Board voted to approve the minutes of the August 10, 2021 regular meeting and dispense with the reading of the minutes.

 

Item #2:           Advertise for Propane

On motion of Doug Brandon, seconded by David Detz, the Board voted to advertise for propane for Evans, Hicks and Simpson Schools

 

Item #3:           Demographic Service Contract

Assistant Superintendent, Mike Kay discussed the Demographic Service Contract to the Board and informed them on the process of the reapportionment and redistricting in the parish to be done in the future. This process is done every 10 years and is based on the census numbers.

He also presented the Board with the following Resolution to be approved on the September 7th meeting:

Resolution of the Vernon Parish School Board authorizing and directing the President to execute a contract with Strategic Demographics, LLC to provide reapportionment and redistricting services to the Vernon Parish School Board.

On motion of Randy Martin, seconded by Doug Brandon, the Board voted to add the resolution to the September 7th meeting for approval.

                                                                                                

Item #4:           Hurricane Laura and Restoration Repair Update

Director of Finance, Tim Ward updated the Board on Hurricane Laura and restoration repairs completed and also repairs still being done.  He informed the Board that the bid for the Hicks High School was done and hopefully will be completed in 30-45 days.  Other bids are still not in for our other schools except for West Leesville Elementary.  Cotton Construction Company is continuing at this time on their roof.

 

Item #5:           Report from Salary/Personnel Committee

Salary/Personnel Committee Chairperson, Angie Davis reported to the Board on the topics discussed during the 9:00 meeting by Personnel Director, Mike Kay.

Mr. Kay discussed the September Personnel Changes to be approved at the September 7th meeting.  The following motions were made after discussion of items.

On motion of Shad Stewart, seconded by Vernon L. Travis, Jr. the Board voted to add the personnel changes for approval to the September 7th meeting.

On motion of Shad Stewart, seconded by David Detz, the Board voted to add the Performance Contract for the non-promotional Hornbeck Assistant Principal to the September 7th board meeting for approval.

On motion of Randy Martin, seconded by Vernon L. Travis, Jr., the Board voted to add to the September 7th meeting advertising for non-promotional Pickering Elementary Assistant Principal.

 

Item #6:           Report from Finance Committee

Finance Committee Chairperson, Steve Woods reported to the Board on the Finance Committee’s discussion.  Director of Finance, Tim Ward presented the Board with the General Fund Budget for 2021-2022 and the Consolidated Budget for 2021-2022.  Mr. Woods explained the expenditures and other financing uses and balances of each.

On motion of Doug Brandon, seconded by Randy Martin, the Board voted to add to the September 7th agenda for approval.

 

Item #7:           Superintendent’s Remarks

Superintendent James Williams welcomed all to the meeting.  He informed the Board that he has visited schools every day since start-up and everything is going very smoothly.

Teachers and students are happy to be back and all schools are in good operating condition. Mr. Williams also reported to the Board that he is doing daily tracking of COVID for students and staff.  All schools are following the mask mandate, social distancing and washing hands.

Mr. Williams gave the Board a copy of the Resolution of the Vernon Parish School Board authorizing and directing the President to execute a contract with Strategic Demographics, LLC to provide reapportionment and redistricting services to the Vernon Parish School Board.

Mr. Hub Jordan reported to the Board on the COVID tracing being conducted in schools and presented them with a chart which covered positive count, negative count, quarantine count, etc.  He also discussed COVID procedures.

Mr. Jordan gave the Board members a copy of the Vernon Parish basketball, cross country and volleyball schedules for the 2021-2022 school year.

 

Item # 8:          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 Jean Ellen Jeanette Sowells who recently passed away; and

            WHEREAS, the Board would like to acknowledge family members employed by the Vernon Parish School Board:  Ms. Sowells’ husband is Paul Sowells, retired bus driver.  Joe Sowells, Administrative Assistant at Leesville High School is her nephew and

Vanilla Sanders, retired teacher is her niece; and

            WHEREAS, Ms. Sowells 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 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  Sintha Buxton Cryer who recently passed away; and

            WHEREAS, Ms. Cryer was a retired cook at Parkway Elementary; and

            WHEREAS,  Ms. Cryer 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 Robert Pynes, 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 Jefferey “Jeff” Grimes who recently passed away; and

            WHEREAS, the Board would like to acknowledge family members employed by the Vernon Parish School System:  Mr. Grimes father is Jackie Grimes, bus driver for the Vernon Parish School System; and

            WHEREAS, Mr. Grimes was a resident of Campti, LA; now

            BE IT THEREFORE RESOLVED that the Vernon Parish School Board requests a copy of this memorial resolution be sent to his family at this time of sadness.