FEBRUARY 8, 2022

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

District One:

DOUG BRANDON

ROBERT PYNES

JIM SEAMAN

JACKIE SELF

STEVE WOODS

District Two:

ANGIE DAVIS

District Four:

RANDY MARTIN

District Five:

SHAD STEWART

District Six:

VERNON L. TRAVIS

District Sever:

JOHN BLANKENBAKER

District Eight:

LISA THOMPSON

ABSENT:

STEVE WOODS (District One)

DAVID DETZ (District Three)

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

The meeting was opened in prayer by:   JOHN BLANKENBAKER

The Pledge of Allegiance was led by:     JOHN BLANKENBAKER           

Item #1: Approval of Minutes

On motion of Doug Blankenbaker, seconded by Vernon L. Travis, Jr., the Board voted to approve the minutes of the February 3, 2022 regular meeting and dispense with the reading of the minutes.

Item #2:            Approval of Budget Amendments/Personnel Changes

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

Item #3:            Authorization to Pay Claims

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

Item #4:            Employee Retirements

On motion of Jackie Self, seconded by, Doug Brandon, the Board voted to accept employee retirements.

Item #5:            Leave Without Pay Requests

On motion of Shad Stewart, seconded by David Detz, the Board voted to approve leave without pay requests.

Item #6:             Headstart Policies/Procedures Approval

On motion of Jim Seaman, seconded by Randy Martin, the Board voted to approve the policies and procedures presented to the Board at the February 3rd meeting.

Item #7:            Pickering High School Principal Position       

On motion of Randy Martin, seconded by Jackie Self, the Board voted to advertise for the principal position at Pickering High School.

Item # 8:           COVID Stipend

On motion of Angie Davis, seconded by Jim Seaman, the Board voted to approve the COVID Stipend for the 2020-2021 school year.

Item #9:            Fort Polk Progress

Mayor Rick Allen, Chairman of Fort Polk Progress presented the Vernon Parish School Board with a donation from Fort Polk Progress of $94,300 to be used for technology and

curriculum.

Item #10:          Recognition of “Beginning Teachers of the Year”

Carolyn Bosley, Curriculum Supervisor introduced the following “Beginning Teachers of

the Year” to the Board:

1)         Elementary Beginning Teacher of the Year – Kylie McAllister, West Leesville

            Elementary.  The Principal is Karen Robertson

2)         Middle School Beginning Teacher of the Year – Sharia Ashley,  Leesville Junior   High School.  The Principal is Henry Lacking

3)         Head Start Early Childhood Beginning Teacher of the Year – Autumn Anderson,

            Anacoco Elementary School. The Principal is Angela Schraven.

Item #11:          Employee of the Month

Finance Director, Tim Ward welcomed Jeff Taylor with Taylor and Sons Insurance, sponsor for our Vernon Parish School Employee of the Month.  

Justin Scogin, teacher/coach at Leesville High School, received the Employee of the Month award for February. Principal Mark Mawae spoke about what an amazing teacher and coach Mr. Scogin is and informed the Board that Mr. Scogin is always available to assist him in any job to be done. Thank you for a job well done.

Item #12:          Student Recognition

Student Recognition

February 8, 2022

Anacoco High School

Track

Raylee Mitchell              5th (400 meter relay), 5th (800 Meter), 4th (400 Meter relay)

Laykin Cole                               6th (400 meter), 4th (400 meter relay)

Izabella Henry                           5th (300 meter hurdles), 4th (400 meter relay)

Lydia Brown                              4th (400 meter relay)

Joanna Mawae                          6th (high jump), 6th (triple jump)

Lauren Hunnicutt                       6th (discuss)

Brayden Prichard                       6th (3200 Meter)

Kaleb Goodwin             5th (110 hurdles)

Baseball State Semi-Finalist

Kaleb Goodwin

Chase Taylor

Dylan Fitzgerald

Reid Rodriguez

Dustin Welch

Trent LeBlanc

Gavin Morvant

Tristan Allen

Austin Wilson

Kaleb Godwin

Gauge Cole

Tristan Cole

Softball Team State Runner-Up

Abby Benevage

Jayce Brumley

Brooklyn Bryant

Brooke Cochran

Jessalyn Cochran

Jaiden Craft

Emilee D’Amico

Ava Davis

Bailey Davis

Hanna Jackson

Raylee Mitchel

Kaylin Richard

Ruth Rodriguez

Emily Scott

Tylar Summit

Anna Claire Vinson

Boys Basketball State Runner-Up

Chase Taylor

Brayden Prichard

Nathan Austin

Trey Lewing

Caden Cooley

Landin Draughn

Kaleb Goodwin

Dustin Welch

Ethan MacDonald

FBLA

Landin Draughn

Samantha Hale

Anniston Manley

Lilly Shira

Katelyn Stanley

Hailey Weathers

4-H

Chase Taylor                 3rd place Fishing Sports

Evans High School

Track

Caleb Williams

Hicks High School

Rodeo

Kase Busby

Baseball State Champion Team

Connor Helton

Zach Haymon

Bradley Pelt

Bryson Rachal

Cayden Cowgill

Hayden Doyle

Brodie Perkins

Aiden Coffman

Garrett Wolf

Dakota Edwards

Ty Poe

Eli Lee

Kane Hagan

Micah Merchant

Connor Wilt

Cole Hunt

Cody Richardson

Girls Basketball State Champion Team

Chloe Wilbanks

Lauren Quinn

Kaycie Helton

Avery Coffman

Masdion Jones

Maci Charrier

Karsyn Blackwell

Reese Stephens

Tallen Earl

Shyanne Phillips

Track

Alyna Gilbert - 1st Place- 1600m run

                          1st Place - 4x100 relay

Maci Charrier - 5th Place 400 Meter Run

                          1st Place 4x100 relay

Reese Stephens - 1st Place 4x100 relay

Avery Coffman - 1st Place 4x100 relay

Pickering High School

Bronze Medal for Scholastic Regional A at the Louisiana-Mississippi Color Guard and Percussion Circuit (LMCGPC) Championship

Dana Tatum

Jasmine Tatum

Payton Holt

Samantha Jones

Pitkin

FBLA

Daniel Sauer

Cara Willis

4-H

Austin Johnson

Bryleigh Mckee

Track

Abby Robinson

Gage Thompson

Item #13:          Black History Month Overview

Special Education Director Charlotte Cooper presented the Board with a 30-page booklet

compiled by students from Vernon Parish schools on history, dates, achievements, and people who were instrumental in shaping our black history.

Item #14:            Athletic Committee Report

Ms. Angie Davis reported to the Board on the discussion given by Athletic Director, Hub Jordan during the 9:30 Athletic Committee Meeting on the following items:

1.  LHSAA Update

2.  Vernon Parish Athletic Updates

3.  Other Business

Ms. Davis also reported that Mr. Hub Jordan provided the Board Members with a 2022 softball, baseball, and track schedule.

Item #15:  Superintendent’s Remarks

Superintendent Williams welcomed all to the meeting and thanked the Board and Col. Smith for their continued support.  Mr. Williams asked Col. Smith for an update on Fort Polk events. 

Col. Smith thanked Superintendent Williams, Assistant Superintendent Mike Kay, Curriculum Director Anne Smith, and District One Board Member, Jim Seaman for their attendance at the State of JRTC and Fort Polk (strengthening community partnerships) which was held on February 7, 2022 at the 1-5 Aviation Hangar.  Col Smith said the event was a great success.

Mr. Williams announced to the Board that Finance Director Tim Ward received the Government Finance Officers Association’s Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in financial reporting.  The Certificate of Achievement is the highest form of recognition in governmental accounting and financial reporting, and its attainment represents a significant accomplishment by a government and its management. Mr. Williams presented Mr. Ward with a certificate of achievement and thanked him for his continued excellent performance as the Vernon Parish School Board Finance Director.

Mr. Williams informed the Board that the Quiz Bowl Tournament is scheduled for Thursday, February 10 at 8:00 am at the Leesville High School auditorium.

He reminded the Board that Bill Blair will be here on February 23^rd at 10:00 am to continue discussing reapportionment.

He also reminded the Board of the Louisiana School Board Association conference March 6-8.

Mr. Williams asked the Board to review the graduation dates and times placed in their folder.

This is Black History Month, 2022 and Mr. Williams and the Board received a booklet composed by the Director of Special Education, Charlotte Cooper with information from Vernon Parish Schools celebrating achievements by Black Americans and recognizing the central role of African Americans in the story of the United States of America.

Item #16: Memorial Resolutions

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 Jo Ann Hillman who recently passed away; and

            WHEREAS, Ms. Hillman retired from the Vernon Parish School System as a Special Education Paraprofessional and also worked 11 years prior as a custodian at Simpson High School; and

            WHEREAS, Ms. Hillman 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.

Item #17:  Adjournment

There being no other business the meeting was adjourned.

Authorized Officer

_________________________

JOHN BLANKENBAKER, PRESIDENT

ATTEST:

__________________________________

JAMES WILLIAMS, SUPERINTENDENT