JULY 12, 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:

DOUG BRANDON

JACKIE SELF

ROBERT PYNES, JR.

JIM SEAMAN

STEVE WOODS

VERNON L. TRAVIS, JR.

ANGIE DAVIS

DAVID DETZ

RANDY MARTIN

LISA THOMPSON

ABSENT:

SHAD STEWART

COL. SAMUEL P. SMITH, JR.

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

The meeting was opened in prayer by:   ROBERT PYNES, JR.  

The Pledge of Allegiance was led by:     ROBERT PYNES, JR.

Item #1:            Adopt Millage Rates for Tax Year 2022

On motion of Vernon L. Travis, Jr., seconded by David Detz, the Board voted to adopt the resolution for millage rates for tax year 2022.

Item #2:            Approval of Minutes

On motion of Jackie Self, seconded by Lisa Thompson, the Board voted to approve the minutes of the July 7, 2022 regular meeting and dispense with the reading of the minutes.

Item #3:            Approval of Employee Retirements

On motion of Angie Davis, seconded by David Detz, the Board voted to approve employee retirements.

Item #4:            Budget Amendments Related to Personnel Changes

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

Item #5:            Pay the Claims

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

Item #6:            Assistant Principal West Leesville Elementary

On motion of Jackie Self, seconded by Doug Brandon, the Board voted to advertise for a promotional Assistant Principal position at West Leesville Elementary School.

Item #7:            Assistant Principal Leesville High        

On motion of Doug Brandon, seconded by Jackie Self, the Board voted to advertise for a promotional Assistant Principal position at Leesville High School.

Item #8:             Assistant Principal Parkway Elementary

On motion of Vernon L. Travis, Jr., seconded by David Detz, the Board voted to advertise for a promotional Assistant Principal position at Parkway Elementary School.

Item #9:            Principal Position Pitkin High

On motion of Angie Davis, seconded by Randy Martin the Board voted to advertise for a promotional Principal position at Pitkin High School.

Item #10:            SER Compliance/Secretary Special Education

On motion of Doug Brandon, seconded by David Detz, the Board voted to advertise for a Special Education SER/SIS Facilitator/Secretary position at the Special Education office.

Item #11:          Technology Department Secretary      

On motion of Randy Martin, seconded by Lisa Thompson, the Board voted to advertise for a Technology Department Secretary position.

Item #12:            Maintenance Department Supervisor

On motion of Jackie Self, seconded by David Detz, the Board voted to advertise for a Maintenance Department Supervisor.

Item #13:          Rapides Foundation Grants

On motion of David Detz, seconded by Jackie Self, the Board voted to authorize Mr. James Williams, Superintendent, the terms and conditions that he may deem advisable, to negotiate and execute grant agreements on behalf of the Board, and further we do hereby give him the power and authority to do all things necessary to implement, maintain, amend or renew said documents with The Rapides Foundation.

Item #14:          Pupil Progression Plan

On motion of Jim Seaman, seconded by David Detz, the Board voted to approve the Pupil Progression Plan for the 2022-2023 school year.

Item #15:          Report from Curriculum Committee

Curriculum Chairperson, Jackie Self reported to the Board concerning discussion in the 9:00 Curriculum meeting.

Elementary Curriculum Director, Anne Smith presented a summary to the Board on preparations for the 2022-2023 opening of Vernon Parish schools.

Secondary Curriculum Director, Lisa Lohman presented the Board a proposal with several options for virtual and homeschool students through the Edmentum program.

The Edmentum program also includes a recruitment and recovery program.  This program will provide our school system to recover impact aide and MFP funds for our parish as well as quality teaching for our virtual and homeschool students.

After an excellent presentation and explanation of cost and information on the Edmentum program the Board chose option 1-A, K-12, one year contract which includes the recruitment and recovery package. On motion of Randy Martin, seconded by David Detz, the Board voted to add to the August 4^th meeting for approval to use Edmentum’s Ed options academy program for virtual school for 2022-2023 school year.

Item #16.          Superintendent’s Remarks

Superintendent James Williams welcomed all to the meeting.  He thanked the Curriculum Directors for their extensive presentation of the curriculum information through the Edmentum program. Mr. Williams informed the Board he would be out for a few days and Mr. Kay will be in charge.  He turned the meeting over to President Blankenbaker.

Item # 17:         Memorial Resolutions

On motion of Jim Seaman, 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 DENNIS “DEE” PATRICK ALTENBURGER who recently passed away; and

            WHEREAS, the Board would like to acknowledge family members employed by the Vernon Parish School System:  Mr. Altenburger’s son is Mike Godwin, WLE bus driver and his daughter-in-law is Assistant Principal at Hicks High School, Catherine Altenburger; and

            WHEREAS, Mr. Altenburger 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.

On motion of Jim Seaman, 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 CAROLYN JUNE WILLIAMS BYNOG who recently passed away; and

            WHEREAS, the Board would like to acknowledge family members employed by the Vernon Parish School System: Ms. Bynog’s husband was W.L. Bynog, retired bus driver, daughter Alisa Cooley bus driver at WLE, and her son-in-law is Doug Cooley, bus driver at PES.

            WHEREAS, Ms. Bynog  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 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 WILLIAM “WILL” ADKINS  who recently passed away; and

            WHEREAS, the members of the Vernon Parish School Board would like to acknowledge family members employed by the Vernon Parish School System: 

Mr. Adkins brother is Shad Stewart, District Five Board Member and his sister-in-law is Kelley Stewart, Librarian at West Leesville Elementary School; and

            WHEREAS, Mr. Adkins 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 #18:          Adjournment

There being no further business the meeting was adjourned

Authorized Officer

_________________________

JOHN BLANKENBAKER,  PRESIDENT

ATTEST:

__________________________________

JAMES WILLIAMS, SUPERINTENDENT