DECEMBER 7, 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.

JIM SEAMAN

JACKIE SELF

JOHN BLANKENBAKER

LISA THOMPSON

VERNON L. TRAVIS, JR.

COL. SAMUEL P. SMITH, JR.

ABSENT:

RANDY MARTIN

DAVID DETZ

STEVE WOODS

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

The meeting was opened in prayer by:   ANGIE DAVIS

The Pledge of Allegiance was led by:    ANGIE DAVIS

Item #1:            Approval of Minutes

On motion of John Blankenbaker, seconded by Jim Seaman, the Board voted to approve the minutes of the December 2, 2021 regular meeting and dispense with the reading of the minutes.

Item #2:            Budget Revisions 2021-2022

On motion of Doug Brandon, seconded by Lisa Thompson, the Board voted to approve Budget Revisions for 2021-2022.

Item #3:            Head Start Policies/Procedures

On motion of Shad Stewart seconded by Jim Seaman, the Board voted to approve the Head Start policies/procedures presented at the December 2nd meeting.

Item #4:            Budget Amendments/ Personnel Changes

On motion of Angie Davis seconded by John Blankenbaker, the Board voted to approve the budget amendments related to personnel changes presented at the December 2nd meeting.

Item #5:            Leave Without Pay Requests

On motion of Vernon Travis, seconded by Shad Stewart, the Board voted to approve leave without pay requests for the December personnel changes.

Item #6:            Authorization to Pay the Claims

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

Item #7:            Approval of Policy Changes

On motion of Shad Stewart, seconded by Doug Brandon, the Board voted to approve the policy changes presented at the December 2^nd meeting.

File:  DJE, DJED, GBRHA, GBRIB, IHAD, JG, & JQE

Act:   102 & 275

Item #8:            Approval of bid for Wide Area Network RFP

On motion of Jim Seaman, seconded by Shad Stewart, the Board voted to approve the bid from Hunt Land Development, LLC as the internet provided.

Item #9:            Reconstruction and Restoration Bids

On motion of Doug Brandon, seconded by Angie Davis, the Board voted to advertise for bids for reconstruction and restoration for schools.

Item #10:          Promotional Principal Position RHS

On motion of John Blankenbaker, seconded by Vernon L. Travis, Jr., the Board voted to advertise for the promotional Principal position at Rosepine High School.

Item # 11:         Promotional Director of Transportation & Maintenance

On motion of Shad Stewart, seconded by John Blankenbaker, the Board voted to advertise for the promotional Director of Transportation & Maintenance position.

Item #12:          Purchase of Excavator

On motion of Vernon L. Travis, Jr., seconded by John Blankenbaker, the Board voted to purchase a new excavator on state contract.

Item #13:          Employee of the Month 

Director of Finance, Tim Ward introduced Scott Walker with Taylor and Sons, sponsor of the Employee of the Month, to announce the name of the Employee of the Month.

Mr. Walker announced that Jeffrey Iber has been chosen as the Employee of the Month for December.  Mr. Iber is a science teacher and athletic director at Pitkin High School.

Assistant Principal, Jeffrey Odom also spoke to the Board about Mr. Iber’s qualities as a teacher and athletic director.   

Item #14:          Report from Curriculum Committee

Vernon L. Travis, Jr. reported to the Board about the overview given by Lisa Lohman and Leigh Lansdale, Curriculum Supervisors, during the Curriculum Committee meeting.

Mr. Travis reported that the Vernon Parish School System is #1 in the Rapides Foundation Service Region comparison and in the top 10 school districts in the SPS comparison even with the COVID, hurricanes, and flooding our parish has experienced.

Vernon continues to rank among the top performing districts in the state. (excluding Zachary and Central, Vernon is ranked #5 among all public schools).  Vernon’s ACT scores, DCAI, graduation rate and strength of diploma contributed significantly to the district’s overall performance.  14 schools were designated as Top Gains (student growth score of 90+) and 6 schools were designated as Equity Honoree (subgroup performance score of 90+).

Item #15:          Strategic Demographics Overview      

Bill Blair discussed the Strategic Demographics process and presented the information for our jurisdiction.  He explained requirements for redistricting and talked about the next steps in the process.  Board members were also given a printout explaining redistricting plans and procedures.  Mr. Blair instructed the Board on parish census 2020 population, single-member districts, ideal population, districts outside the acceptable population deviation, and deadlines.

Item #16:          Outgoing VPSB President

Superintendent James Williams and the Vernon Parish School Board outgoing president, Jackie Self presented the gavel to the 2022 President, John Blankenbaker.  Mr. Williams thanked Mr. Self for serving as president and his appreciation for mentoring him in past years.  Mr. Williams welcomed John Blankenbaker as the 2022 president and Jim Seaman as the vice-president. 

Item #17:          Superintendent’s Remarks

Mr. Williams welcomed all to the meeting and reminded everyone to be mindful of what today stands for, Pearl Harbor Day.

 He asked Col. Samuel P. Smith, Jr. for an update on Fort Polk events.  Col. Smith thanked Mr. Self and Mr. Blankenbaker for their support and to all the Board members for their support concerning Fort Polk and school board business.  Col. Smith announced that the Snow Flake Festival and the Lighting of the Tree was a great success especially with the schools’ participation.  He informed the Board that housing, education, and spousal employment are still top priorities with military families moving to Fort Polk and he is continually presenting positive information to encourage families to choose Fort Polk. Col. Smith also commented on the 2021 Partnership Award with the Vernon Parish School Board and thanked the Board for their support.

Mr. Williams reminded the Board about the Christmas Luncheon on December 15^th at 11:30 am at the school board office.

Item #18:          Memorial Resolution

On motion of Lisa Thompson, 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 ROMAN JACOB DUPRE who recently passed away; and

            WHEREAS,” Baby” Dupre’s mother is Christina Snider, substitute at Simpson High School and his grandmother is Toni Snider, teacher at Simpson High School; and

            WHEREAS, “Baby” Dupre 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.

Item # 19:         Adjournment

There being no other business the meeting was adjourned

Authorized Officer

_________________________

JACKIE SELF

ATTEST:

__________________________________

JAMES WILLIAMS, SUPERINTENDENT

VERNON PARISH SCHOOL BOARD

FINANCE COMMITTEE MEETING

December 02, 2021

FISCAL YEAR 2021-2022

BUDGET ADJUSTMENTS

   FUND                                           CURRENT          INCREASE            REVISED                  

NUMBER                                          BUDGET         ( DECREASE)           BUDGET

255 Carl Perkins                                $109,139               (20,684)                 $88,455

The FY 2022 grant award allocation for the Carl Perkins was received in the amount of $88,455. This was a decrease of $20,684.

259 Early Childhood Lead Agency  $20,000                  (6,718)                   $13,282

The FY 2022 grant award allocation for Early Childhood Lead Agency was received in the amount of $13,282.  The original budget was an estimate and is being decreased by $6,718.

263 Head Start                               $2,385,173                  97,430               $2,482,603

The FY 2022 grant award allocation for Head Start was received in the amount of $2,482,603.  There was a COLA received in the amount of $97,430.

269 ESSERF II Incentive              $          0                  100,000               $100,000

The FY 2022 grant award allocation for Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Fund II Incentive was received in the amount of $100,000.  This is new grant and was not budgeted.

270 ESSERF III Incentive           $0                              64,000                $64,000

The FY 2022 grant award allocation for ESSERF III Incentive was received in the amount of $64,000.  This is a new award and was not budgeted.

627 Title V REAP                        $167,000                   28,674                  $195,674

The FY 2021 grant award allocation for Title IV REAP was received in the amount of $195,674; this is an increase of $28,674.