AUGUST 9, 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:

JIM SEAMAN

SHAD STEWART

DOUG BRANDON

ROBERT PYNES, JR.

STEVE WOODS

ANGIE DAVIS

RANDY MARTIN

VERNON L. TRAVIS, JR.

JOHN BLANKENBAKER

LISA THOMPSON

DAVID DETZ

ABSENT:

JACKIE SELF

COL. SAMUEL SMITH, JR.

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 Vernon L. Travis, Jr., seconded by David Detz, the Board voted to approve the minutes of the August 4, 2022 regular meeting and dispense with the reading of the minutes.

Item #2:            Budget Amendments Related to Personnel Changes

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

Item #3:            Pay the Claims

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

Item #4:            Policy Updates

On motion of Vernon L. Travis, Jr. seconded by David Detz the Board voted to approve the following policy updates and revisions:

File:  BH, EDD, GAAA, JAA, JCDB, GAMB,  JCDAF, JBD, JD, JDE, JGC, JGCD, DJED, JM and JQE.

Item # 5:           Advertise for Promotional AP Position at Pitkin High School

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

Item #6:            Advertise for Promotional Principal Position at Hornbeck High

On motion of Angie Davis, seconded by Randy Martin, the Board voted to advertise for a

Promotional Principal position at Hornbeck High.

Item #7:            Advertise for Non-Promotional  Special Education Director

On motion of Vernon L. Travis, Jr., seconded by David Detz, the Board voted to advertise for a non-promotional Special Education Director (one year only).

Item #8:            Performance Contracts

On motion of Jim Seaman, seconded by Lisa Thompson, the Board voted to approve performance contracts presented at the 8-4-22 meeting.

Item #9:            Teacher of the Year Finalist

Elementary Curriculum Supervisor, Karen Robertson introduced this year’s State Teacher of the Year Finalist, Katie Hines to the Board and presented her with a plaque and a certificate to show her appreciation of her hard work and continued dedication to our Parish.  Ms. Hines has represented our parish with pride.

Item #10:          Report from the Transportation Committee

Jim Seaman, Chairperson for the Transportation Committee reported to the Board on the information covered by the Transportation Director, Dwain Ducote during the 9:30 committee meeting.

Topics Discussed:

1. Number of buses

2. Substitute information

3. Annual summer in-service

4. Routes cleaned up for the Leesville bus driver who service Fort Polk for LHS, LJHS, and VMS

5. Service on buses almost complete

6. Contract drivers will have a 10% maintenance increase allocated to them.

7. Fuel cost last year compared to upcoming

8. Lease contract discussion

9. Schedules provided for all school’s bus drivers, bus numbers, phone numbers, street names

Item #11:           Superintendent’s Remarks

Superintendent James Williams welcomed all to the meeting. Mr. Williams again thanked and congratulated Ms. Katie Hines for her achievements in becoming a State

Teacher of the Year Finalist.

Mr. Williams also recognized Mr. Vernon L. Travis, Jr. and informed the Board that he is on the Board for the Louisiana School Board Association.  Mr. Travis gave an update on the topics discussed at the conference in July.

Mr. Williams reminded the Board of the back-to-school open house/orientation calendar and dates during the 2022- 2023 school calendar to remember.  He encouraged the Board members to visit the school or schools they represent on these dates during back to school open house/orientation and special days during the school year.

Item #12           Memorial Resolution

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 Tommy Lee Pollard who recently passed away; and

            WHEREAS, Mr. Pollard was the husband of Joann Pollard, secretary at Pitkin High School; and

            WHEREAS, Mr. Pollard 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 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 Sandra Lynn Crosby Baggs who recently passed away; and

WHEREAS, Ms. Baggs was a retired Special Education Paraprofessional,

the wife of former District Two Board Member Kenneth Baggs, Sr., and the mother of Dena Jarrell, teacher at Hornbeck High School; and

WHEREAS, Ms. Baggs was a resident of Vernon Parish; now

BE IT THEREFORE RESOLVEDthat 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 David Detz, 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 Yvonne “Snookie” Young who recently passed away; and

            WHEREAS, Ms. Young was a retired custodian at Evans High School; and

            WHEREAS, Ms. Young 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.

On motion of Steve Woods, 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 Claude “Buddy” Leach who recently passed away; and

            WHEREAS, Mr. Leach was the brother-in-law of Creighton Owen, former Vernon Parish School Board Superintendent.  His niece was Mae Ann Owen White, former LHS teacher and graduate, nephew Charles Owen, LA. State Representative,  Charles’s wife is Carolyn Van Dine Owen, former teacher for VPSB and both graduates of LHS; and

            WHEREAS, Mr. Leach was a resident of Vernon Parish for many years; 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.

Item #13:  Adjournment

There being no other business the meeting was adjourned

Authorized Officer

_________________________

JOHN BLANKENBAKER,  PRESIDENT

ATTEST:

__________________________________

JAMES WILLIAMS, SUPERINTENDENT