2021-10-14

THE VERNON PARISH SCHOOL BOARD CONVENED IN REGULAR SESSION AT 10:00 A.M., 201 BELVIEW ROAD, LEESVILLE, LOUISIANA. JACKIE SELF CALLED THE MEETING TO ORDER AND ON ROLL CALL THE FOLLOWING MEMBERS WERE PRESENT:

On motion of John Blankenbaker, seconded by David Detz, the Board voted to approve the minutes of the September 7, 2021 regular meeting and dispense with the reading of the minutes.

Finance Director, Tim Ward presented to the Board the low bid from Jim South for propane for Simpson, Hicks, and Evans schools. On motion of Doug Brandon, seconded by David Detz, the Board voted to approve the low bid from Jim South

On motion of Vernon Travis, seconded by Shad Stewart, the Board voted to table advertising for the HVAC at North Polk Elementary.

Curtis Clary, Director of Head Start & Birth to five Program Director presented an update/summary on the content areas of the program. Mr. Clay informed the Board that the enrollment as of 10-14-21 is 253. The waiting list for income eligible as of 10-14-21 is 105, over income 66 and vacancies 8. The number of students receiving Special Education services as of 10-14-21 is 33. Mr. Clay reminded the Board that the Head Start Training will be on Tuesday, October 19^th at 9:00 in the Board Room.

Cheree’ Atkins also discussed grants received for the program and the cost per child.

Child Welfare Director, Hub Jordan discussed the following Vernon Parish School Board Policy updates and revisions:

FILE: BH ACT 199 NEPOTISM - #5. Exceptions – Any member of the immediate family of any School Board member or of the Superintendent may be employed as a school bus operator provided that such family member is certified as a school bus operator.

FILE: ID ACT 458 CURRICULUM – Prior to revising a student’s graduation plan, the school counselor shall meet with the student’s parent or legal guardian either in person or virtually to explain the possible impacts the revisions to the plan might have on the student’s graduation requirements and postsecondary education goals. Any revisions to a student’s plan shall be approved in writing by the student’s parent or legal guardian.

FILE: IDCC ACT 386 KINDERGARTEN - The Vernon Parish School Board shall offer full-day kindergarten instruction to each child who turns (5) years of age on or before September 30^th of the calendar year in which the school year begins. Each child entering kindergarten for the first time shall be given a valid and reliable readiness assessment at the beginning of the school year.

FILE: JBA COMPULSORY SCHOOL ATTENDANCE AGES – Beginning with the 2022-2023 school year, the parent or legal guardian of a child who resides in Louisiana and who is age five (5) by September 30^th of the calendar year in which the school year begins through eighteen (18) shall send the child to a public or nonpublic school, as defined by La.Rev.Stat.Ann. 17:236, unless the child’s parent or legal guardian opted to defer enrollment of his/her child in kindergarten pursuant to La.Rev.Stat.Ann. 17:151.3 (D) or the child graduates from high school prior to his/her eighteenth birthday. A child below the age of five (5) who legally enrolls in school shall also be subject to these provisions.

The School Board shall allow a dependent child of an active duty member of the United States Armed Forces, of the military reserve forces, or of the National Guard or a Department of Defense civilian to register and preliminarily enroll in a public school under its jurisdiction by remote means, including electronic means, prior to becoming a resident of the state, provided all of the following apply:

1. The student’s parent or legal guardian is transferred or pending transfer to a military installation or comparable duty location in Louisiana pursuant to an official military order.

2. The student’s parent or legal guardian provides a copy of the official military order transferring the parent or legal guardian to a military installation or comparable duty location in Louisiana to the School Board.

3. The student’s parent or legal guardian completes and submits all required registration and enrollment forms and documentation, except that proof of residency shall not be required until ten (10) days after the arrival date specified on the parent or legal guardian’s transfer orders.

The School Board shall provide a student of a military family who remotely registers the same enrollment opportunities available to resident students, including requesting and applying for school assignment, registering for courses, participating in extracurricular activities, and applying to any school or program that requires an additional request, including a lottery for admission to a specific school or program.

A student of a military family registered and enrolled shall not attend school until proof of residency is provided in accordance School Board policy.

FILE: JBCE ACT 420 – PUBLIC SCHOOL CHOICE – The School Board shall define “capacity” for each school, and determine a transfer request period which shall begin no later than March first and end no earlier than March twenty-eighth, annually. Prior to the transfer request period, the School Board shall notify parents and legal guardians of students enrolled in schools that received a D or F school performance letter grade of the following:

2. Schools under the jurisdiction of the School Board that received an A, B, or C school performance letter grade, if any;

4. The page on the Louisiana Department of Education’s website that contains school performance data.

Drafted to address provisions of ACT 456 which requires school boards to adopt “policies relative to the installation and operation of cameras that record both video and audio in a classroom upon written request of a parent or legal guardian.

FILE: JR ACT 407 – STUDENT RECORDS –Revised to include ACT 407’s changes which include the addition of race and ethnicity data to the definition of personally identifiable information.

On motion of Shad Stewart, seconded by John Blankenbaker, the Board voted to add to Tuesday, 10-19-21 agenda for approval.

Mike Kaypresented the Board with a meeting dates schedule for 2022 and asked the Board to review the schedule to be placed on the October 19th^th agenda for approval.

On motion of David Detz, seconded by Vernon Travis, the Board voted to add to the Tuesday, October 19^th meeting for approval.

Item #7: Strategic Demographics, LLC/ Reapportionment and Redistricting Update

Assistant Superintendent, Mike Kay discussed Census 2020 School Board Redistricting

Sept/Oct Malapportionment Report Provided to Jurisdiction Resolution Passed to Acknowledge Need to Redistrict

Superintendent, James Williams presented the Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting to Director of Finance, Tim Ward.

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

On motion of David Detz, seconded by Vernon Travis, the Board voted to add to the Tuesday, 10-19-21 agenda for approval, the contract for non-promotional Assistant Principal at Pickering Elementary School.

On motion of John Blankenbaker, seconded by David Detz, the Board voted to add to the Tuesday, 10-19-21 agenda for approval of the COVID Leave Renewal.

On motion of David Detz, seconded by John Blankenbaker, the Board voted to add to the Tuesday, 10-19-21 agenda, the board meeting dates for the calendar year 2022 for approval.

Superintendent, James Williams welcomed all to the meeting. Mr. Williams asked Directors Anne Smith and Joey Whiddon and Supervisor Lisa Lohman to explain the BESE Accountability to the Board. The informed the Board that BESE voted, pending Federal approval, that no letter grades will be assigned for schools and districts for the 2020-2021 school year. The decision was based on disruptions from the COVID pandemic, two hurricanes, a tropical depression and an ice storm all within a 6 month period. We know that the results of the LEAP 2025 spring scores reflect about 5% decrease in meeting state achievement targets across all grades and subjects. The data from LEAP 2025 spring assessments will be provided to districts once it is finalized, and the information will be used to inform instruction for students.

Mr. Williams asked Mr. Hub Jordan to discuss COVID updates. Mr. Jordan presented the Board with three (3) updates on COVID:

Mr. Williams reminded the Board of the Head Start Training on Tuesday, October 19^th and the November 4^th Ethics Training with John Guice.

On motion of Vernon L. Travis, Jr., seconded by the Board, the Board voted to adopt the following memorial resolution:

WHEREAS, the members of the Vernon Parish School Board wish to express their sympathy to the family of Col. Robert Freshley who recently passed away; and

WHEREAS, the Board would like to acknowledge family members employed by the Vernon Parish School System: Col. Freshley’s wife is Mary Freshley, retired Leesville High School teacher. His son is Mark Freshley, retired teacher, Assistant Principal, and Principal. Col. Freshley’s daughter-in-law is Susan Freshley, retired school counselor; and

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.

On motion of Vernon L. Travis, seconded by the Board, the Board voted to adopt the following memorial resolution:

WHEREAS, the members of the Vernon Parish School Board wish to express their sympathy to the family of Debra Taylor who recently passed away;

WHEREAS, the Board would like to acknowledge family members employed by the Vernon Parish School System: Ms. Taylor’s sister is Wanda Wright, retirement coordinator at the Central Office; and

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 Vernon L. Travis, Jr., seconded by the Board, the Board voted to adopt the following memorial resolution:

WHEREAS, the members of the Vernon Parish School Board wish to express their sympathy to the family of Josephine Grace who recently passed away; and

WHEREAS, Ms. Grace was the aunt of Leesville High School Administrative Assistant, Joe Sowells and retired teacher Vanilla Sanders; and

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 Doug Brandon, seconded by the Board, the Board voted to adopt the following memorial resolution:

WHEREAS, the members of the Vernon Parish School Board wish to express their sympathy to the family of Barbara Jean Detz who recently passed away; and

WHEREAS, Ms. Detz was the Mother of District Three Board Member, David Detz; and

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 John Blankenbaker, seconded by the Board, the Board voted to adopt the following memorial resolution:

WHEREAS, the members of the Vernon Parish School Board wish to express their sympathy to the family of Tom-Sam Witt who recently passed away; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Witt is the Father of Morgan Witt, Rosepine High School teacher; and

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.

On motion of Lisa Thompson, seconded by the Board, the Board voted to adopt the following memorial resolution:

WHEREAS, the members of the Vernon Parish School Board wish to express their sympathy to the family of Sonja “Missy” Leigh Squyres who recently passed away; and

WHEREAS, Ms. Squyres was an Early Childhood Head Start Teacher at Hicks High School and East Leesville Elementary School; and

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 David Detz, seconded by the Board, the Board voted to adopt the following memorial resolution:

WHEREAS, the members of the Vernon Parish School Board wish to express their sympathy to the family of Jean Tarver Nash who recently passed away; and

WHEREAS, Ms. Nash was the Mother of Darlene Moses, secretary of Evans High School and Dianne Gibson, retired Leesville High School secretary, and

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 Vernon Travis, Jr., seconded by the Board, the Board voted to adopt the following memorial resolution:

WHEREAS, the members of the Vernon Parish School Board wish to express their sympathy to the family of Doris Faye Jackson who recently passed away; and

WHEREAS, Ms. Jackson was the Mother of Marian M. Jackson, secretary at Vernon Middle School; and

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 Jackie Self, seconded by the Board, the Board voted to adopt the following memorial resolution:

WHEREAS, the members of the Vernon Parish School Board wish to express their sympathy to the family of John C. Burns who recently passed away; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Burns honorably served the Vernon Parish School System as a Business Education Teacher, Bookkeeping Instructor, Finance Director, Assistant Superintendent, Superintendent and after retirement Board Member.

WHEREAS, the Board would like to acknowledge family members employed by the Vernon Parish School System: Mr. Burns’ wife was Shirley (Kitty) Burns, retired teacher and his son is Randal Burns, Central Office Warehouse Employee; and

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 Randy Martin, seconded by the Board voted to adopt the following memorial resolution:

WHEREAS, the members of the Vernon Parish School Board wish to express their sympathy to the family of Christina Legg Teska who recently passed away; and

WHEREAS, the Board would like to acknowledge family members employed by the Vernon Parish School System: Ms. Teska’s daughter is Megan Boudreaux, teacher at Pickering Elementary; and

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:

WHEREAS, the members of the Vernon Parish School Board wish to express their sympathy to the family of Shirley A. Cole who recently passed away; and

WHEREAS, the Board would like to acknowledge the family members employed by the Vernon Parish School System: Ms. Cole’s daughter is Kelley Cole Stewart, Librarian at West Leesville Elementary and her son-in-law is Shad Stewart, District Five Vernon Parish School Board Member; and

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 Lisa Thompson, seconded by the Board, the Board voted to adopt the following memorial resolution:

WHEREAS, the members of the Vernon Parish School Board wish to express their sympathy to the family of Bessie Sue Powell Basco who recently passed away; and

WHEREAS, Ms. Basco was a retired Simpson High School cook and her daughter is Susan Wise, bus driver at Simpson High School; and

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 Steve Woods, seconded by the Board, the Board voted to adopt the following memorial resolution:

WHEREAS, the members of the Vernon Parish School Board wish to express their sympathy to the family of Charles Cryer who recently passed away; and

WHEREAS, the Board would like to acknowledge family members employed by the Vernon Parish School System: Mr. Cryer’s two brothers, Johnny Cryer, teacher/coach and Joseph “Bo” Cryer, para/coach/bus driver, and sister-in-laws, Susan Cryer teacher/ librarian at Rosepine Elementary and Cheri Cryer, former Central Office payroll clerk; and

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 Vernon L. Travis, Jr., seconded by the Board, the Board voted to adopt the following memorial resolution:

WHEREAS, the members of the Vernon Parish School Board wish to express their sympathy to the family of Alice Duncan who recently passed away; and

WHEREAS, Ms. Duncan was a retired cook and returned after retirement as a Special Education Paraprofessional at Leesville Junior High School and her Daughter is Alicia Duncan, a Special Education Paraprofessional at East Leesville Elementary; and

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 David Detz, seconded by the Board, the Board voted to adopt the following memorial resolution:

WHEREAS, the members of the Vernon Parish School Board wish to express their sympathy to the family of Jackie Dee Cryer who recently passed away; and

WHEREAS, Ms. Cryer was a retired cook and Central Office Food Service Assistant; and

WHEREAS, the Board would like to acknowledge family members employed by the Vernon Parish School System: Ms. Cryer’s sister-in-law is Linda Cryer retired Vernon Parish School Board Bookkeeper; and

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 Randy Martin, seconded by the Board, the Board voted to adopt the following memorial resolution:

WHEREAS, the members of the Vernon Parish School Board wish to express their sympathy to the family of Sharon Villanueva who recently passed away; and

WHEREAS, Ms. Villanueva was the wife of Paul Villanueva, custodian at North Polk Elementary; and

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 Steve Woods, seconded by the Board, the Board voted to adopt the following memorial resolution:

WHEREAS, the members of the Vernon Parish School Board wish to express their sympathy to the family of Barbara Ann Box Barrington who recently passed away; and

WHEREAS, the members of the Board would like to acknowledge family members employed by the Vernon Parish School System: Ms. Barrington’s Granddaughter is Chasity Cryer, Counselor at Leesville High School; and

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 Jackie Self, seconded by the Board, the Board voted to adopt the following memorial resolution:

WHEREAS, the members of the Vernon Parish School Board wish to express their sympathy to the family of Margaret Lynn Clark Rachal who recently passed away; and

WHEREAS, Ms. Rachal was a retired Home Economics teacher at Leesville High School; and

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.