MARCH 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:

PRESENT:

District One:

Doug Brandon

Robert Pynes, Jr.

Jackie Self

District Two:

Angie Davis

District Four:

Randy Martin

District Five:

Shad Stewart

District Seven:

John Blankenbaker

District Eight:

Lisa Thompson

ABSENT:

District One:

Steve Woods

Jim Seaman

District Three:

David Detz

District Six

Vernon L. Travis, Jr.

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

The meeting was opened in prayer by:   DOUG BRANDON        

The Pledge of Allegiance was led by:     DOUG BRANDON        

Item #1:            Approval of Minutes:

On motion of Shad Stewart, seconded by Randy Martin, the Board voted to approve the minutes of the March 3, 2022 regular meeting and dispense with the reading of the minutes.

Item #2:            Approval of Employee Retirements:

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

Item #3:            Head Start Policies/Procedures:

On motion of Lisa Thompson, seconded by Shad Stewart, the Board voted to approve Head Start policies and procedures presented at the March 3 board meeting.

Item # 4:           Authorization to Pay Claims

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

Item #5:            Approval of Budget Amendments

On motion of Randy Martin, seconded by Shad Stewart, the Board voted to approve budget amendments related to personnel changes.

Item #6:              2020-2021 School Calendar

On motion of Jackie Self, seconded by Shad Stewart the Board voted to approve the 2022-2023 school calendar voted on by employees.

Item #7:            Performance Contracts           

On motion of Doug Brandon, seconded by Lisa Thompson, the Board voted to approve the contract for Jerome Henson for Curriculum Supervisor and Jeffrey Odom for Pickering High School Principal.

Item #8:            Bids for Phase 3 Construction and Renovations

Tim Ward, Finance Director introduced Mike Holt, Vernon Parish School Board architect to the Board and asked Mr. Holt to update the Board on projects completed for construction and renovations and an update on bids received.

On motion of Jackie Self, seconded by Doug Brandon, the Board voted to receive bids for Phase 3 construction and renovations.

The following bids were received for storm damage repairs and renovations

 Hicks & Pitkin school campuses, Vernon Parish School Board – Owner

See attached:

BID DATE: March 7, 2022

STORM DAMAGE REPAIRS & RENOVATIONS HICKS & PITKIN SCHOOL CAMPUSES VERNON PARISH SCHOOL BOARD - OWNER

ARCHITECT'S PROJECT NUMBER: BC2021-02.2

On motion of Jackie Self, seconded by Randy Martin, the Board voted to accept the recommendation from Mike Holt, VPSB architect, to accept the low bid received from Pat Williams Construction.

Item #9:            Students of the Year and District LevelStudents of the Year

Evans — 5^th grade Kailey McCarty, 8^th grade Cayleigh Kay, 12^th grade Jasmine Blanchard

Pickering Elementary — 5^th grade Jacob Barnwell

Pickering High School — 8^th grade Kyler Slaughter, 12^th grade Brianna Billiot

Pitkin — 5^th grade Dakota Pollard, 8^th grade Colten Nolen, 12^th grade Daisy Rhame

Rosepine Elementary — 5^th grade Parker Reinninger, 8^th grade Naomi Jeffers

Rosepine High School — 12^th grade Sophia Jeffers

Anacoco High School — 8^th grade Ava Davis

Hornbeck — 5^th grade Alexa Walsh, 8^th grade Carter Ward, 12^th grade Hannah Dahlhoff

District Level Students of the Year

5^th grade Dakota Pollard, Pitkin High School

8^th grade Naomi Jeffers, Rosepine High School

12^th grade Sophia Jeffers, Rosepine High School

Item #10:            Employee of the Month:

Director of Finance, Tim Ward introduced Rodney Taylor with Taylor and Sons Insurance, sponsor of “Employee of the Month” to the Board.  Mr. Taylor introduced Mr. Bryan Churchman as the “Employee of the Month”.  Mr. Churchman is the AG teacher at Rosepine High School.  Mr. Joseph Bartz, RHS Principal spoke to the board about what an amazing teacher Mr. Churchman is and that he is proud to have him as an employee at his school.  Mr. Taylor presented Mr. Churchman a plaque as a token of Taylor and Sons appreciation for his outstanding teaching career.

Item #11:           Recognition of PCAL Bus Driver of the Year

Director of Transportation, Dwain Ducote introduced Daniel Davis, Board Owned Bus Driver as the Parish and Regional PCAL Bus Driver of the Year. Mr. Davis’ school base is Anacoco Elementary. Mr. Raymond Haymon, Principal spoke to the Board about what an excellent employee Mr. Davis is. Mr. Davis relates to the students who ride his bus and has a great attitude towards others.  He is an excellent driver and always reports to work. Mr. Davis was presented with a certificate, a district and regional plaque, a jacket and $100 for being the Parish and Regional Bus Driver of the Year.  Logan Morris with Morris Insurance and Laura Young with PCAL, sponsors also reiterated the importance of excellent bus drivers such as Mr. Davis.

Item #12:           Report from Curriculum Committee

Curriculum Supervisor, Lisa Lohman spoke to the Board about the Vernon Parish STEM Projects.  She presented the Board with a printout explaining in detail the purpose of the projects and the future plans involved. STEM stands for science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.  The projects are designed to ignite student interest in these subjects through a computer program designed for all students that is compatible to chrome books.

Project #1:      Amazon Future Engineers

Project #2:        LSU Computational Thinking

Project #3:        Ingevity STEM Greenhouse

Project #4:        Robotics Education and Competition Foundation

Project #5:        DoDEA Project Achieve and Succeed

Item #13:           Superintendent’s Remarks

Superintendent James Williams welcomed all to the meeting.  He asked Col. Smith for an update on Fort Polk events.

Col. Smith informed the Board on the following:

1.         Fort Polk has canceled the mask mandate

2.         His assistant will issue a school liaison flyer list

3.         The Pentagon Awards Ceremony for Vernon Parish School Board Partnership date to be announced

4.         Fort Polk will work with the Vernon Parish School with testing dates

Superintendent James Williams continued his comments.  He congratulated the Students of the Year, basketball team winners, Daniel Davis as PCAL Parish and Regional Bus Driver of the Year Award winner,   and Bryan Churchman as Employee of the Month.   

Mr. Williams reminded the Board to complete their financial disclosure statements before the deadline.

Mr. Williams reminded the Board about the LSBA Capitol Conference Tuesday, April26, 2022 1:30-5:00 Legislative Updates and Visit to the State Capitol.  Networking Reception – 5:30 to 8:00 pm.

In addition, the weekly COVID chart with updated information is in your folder, please review.

He informed the Board that Virtual Day/Parent teacher conference day will be March 11, with a checklist in the board folders.

The next Board Meeting will be April 7.

Item #14:          Memorial Resolutions

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 Francis Jordan, Jr.  who recently passed away; and

            WHEREAS, Mr. Jordan was a retired teacher at Pitkin High School; and

            WHEREAS, Mr. Jordan’s wife, Sharon Jordan is a retired teacher; and

            WHEREAS, Mr. Jordan 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 his family at this time of sadness.

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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 Sheila Kay who recently passed away; and

            WHEREAS, Ms. Kay was a cook technician at Evans High School, and

            WHEREAS, Ms. Kay was the sister of retired maintenance supervisor, Rickey Kay, sister of Regina Kay Harry, board owned bus driver at West Leesville Elementary sister-in-law of Pat Kay, retired personnel secretary,

            WHEREAS, Ms. Kay 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.

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On motion of John Blankenbaker, 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 Ilene Stephens Fletcher who recently passed away; and

            WHEREAS, Ms. Fletcher was the mother of retired teacher/coach  Danny Fletcher, mother-in-law of board owned bus driver at RES, Barbara Fletcher (also retired teacher), and grandmother of Daniel Lee Fletcher, teacher/coach at Evans High School.  Daniel’s wife is also a teacher at PHS, Brittny Fletcher.  Ms. Fletcher’s granddaughter is Lacy Blocker, former teacher in Vernon Parish; and

            WHEREAS, Ms. Fletcher 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.

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Item # 15: Adjournment

There being no further business the meeting was adjourned.

Authorized Officer

_________________________

JOHN BLANKENBAKER, PRESIDENT

ATTEST:

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JAMES WILLIAMS, SUPERINTENDENT