SEPTEMBER 6, 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

ROBERT PYNES, JR.

JIM SEAMAN

STEVE WOODS

ANGIE DAVIS

LISA THOMPSON

RANDY MARTIN

COL. SAMUEL P. SMITH, JR.

ABSENT:

SHAD STEWART

DAVID DETZ

VERNON L. TRAVIS, JR.

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:             September 1, 2022 Minutes

On motion of  Randy Martin, seconded by Jackie Self, the Board voted to approve the minutes of the September 1, 2022 regular meeting and dispense with the reading of the minutes.

Item #2:            Resolution for Approval of Consolidated and General Fund Budgets  for 2022-2023

On motion of Doug Brandon, seconded by Randy Martin, the Board voted to adopt a resolution to approve the Consolidated and General Fund Budgets for 2022-2023.

BUDGET RESOLUTION

The following resolution was offered by Doug Brandon and seconded by Randy Martin.

A resolution adopting, finalizing, and implementing the General Fund, Special Revenue, and Consolidated Fund Budgets of the Vernon Parish School Board for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2022 and ending June 30, 2023, which was accompanied by this budget adoption resolution; and

WHEREAS, the proposed Consolidated, General Fund, and the Special Revenue Fund Budgets and the accompanying budget adoption resolution have been submitted to this School Board for review and consideration; and

WHEREAS, notice of the public hearing on the proposed Consolidated, General Fund, and Special Revenue Fund Budgets, notice of the availability of the proposed budgets for review at such hearing and a general summary of the proposed budgets have been timely published in the Alexandria Town Talk; and

WHEREAS, a public hearing on the proposed Consolidated, General Fund, and Special Revenue Fund Budgets has now been reviewed and considered; now

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED by the School Board that the proposed Consolidated, General Fund, and Special Revenue Budgets are hereby approved, adopted, and finalized.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED actual revenues, expenditures and fund balances for the year ended June 30, 2022 are hereby adopted as the amended budgets for the year, in compliance with the requirements of the state law.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Secretary-Treasurer of the School Board, James Williams, or his successor, is hereby authorized and in her sole discretion, to make such changes within the various budget classifications as she may deem necessary provided that any reallocation of funds affecting in excess of five percent (5%) of the projected revenue collections must be approved in advance by action of the School Board at a meeting duly noticed and convened.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Superintendent of the School Board, James Williams, or his successor, in her capacity as chief administrative officer of the School Board, is hereby directed to advise the School Board when:

1. Revenue collections plus projected revenue collections for the remainder of the year, within a fund, are failing to meet estimated annual budgeted revenues by five percent (5%) or more, or

2. Actual expenditures plus projected expenditures for the remainder of the year, within a fund, are exceeding the estimated budgeted expenditures by five percent (5%) or more, or

3. The actual beginning fund balance, with a fund, fails to meet the estimated beginning fund balance of five percent (5%) or more, and the fund balance is being used to fund current year expenditures.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Secretary-Treasurer of the School Board, James Williams, or his successor, shall certify completion of all actions required by Louisiana R.S. 39:1306 by publishing a notice of the minutes of the meeting in the Alexandria Town Talk.

This Resolution having been submitted to a vote, the vote thereon was as follows:

YEAS:  9         

NAYS:    0

ABSTAINING:0

ABSENT: 3

September 1, 2022

Vernon Parish School Board

201 Belview Road

Leesville, LA  71446

Re:  Executive Summary for the 2022-2023 Operating Budget

Dear Board Members:

The budget for the Vernon Parish School Board for the fiscal year July 1, 2022 through June 30, 2023 is hereby submitted.

The board will be asked to approve the 2022-2023 Operating Budget on September 6, 2022.  The proposed resolution follows.

Before the resolution is acted upon, The Board will receive comments and recommendations from the Finance Committee and the public.  The Finance Committee will review the budget on September 1^st and a Public Hearing will be held at that time.

Budget Summary

The Vernon Parish School Board is the second largest employer in the parish.  Total budget revenues are $137.2 million and total budgeted expenditures are $135.9 million.

The purpose of each fund and an overview of the changes from last year are:

General Fund

General fund educational activities are accounted for in the General Fund and are supported by local taxes, state entitlements, and federal grants.

Special Revenue Fund

The Special Revenue Fund accounts for the proceeds of specific revenue sources that are legally restricted to the expenditures for specific purposes.

Debt Service Fund

The Debt Service Fund is used to accumulate monies for the payment of outstanding bond issues.

Debt service funds are not required to be included in this budget plan.

Capitol Projects Fund

The Capitol Projects Fund accounts for financial resources to acquire, construct, and improve public school facilities in nine (9) school districts.

Capitol project funds are not required to be included in this budget plan.

Budget Guidance

In developing the budget for FY 2022-2023, the administrative staff was given the following short term and financial operational policies:

1.     Salary estimates include “step increases”

2.     Half of any MFP increase budgeted as teacher salaries, there is a raise of $750 for support and $1500 for certificated personnel built into this year’s MFP.

3.     To prepare estimates based on a student population of 7496.                                                           

4.     To use employer contribution rates of 24.8% for Teachers Retirement System and 27.6% for Louisiana School Employees Retirement

5.     To use the indirect cost rate of 9.0302 %

6.   To budget for decreased student enrollment and possible decrease in personnel.

Budget Concerns

The uncertainty of Department of Defense Funding and Impact Aid Funding make the goal of using these funds only for non-recurring expenses imperative.

We have had a steady increase in healthcare costs and the number of retirees with health insurance. There will be a 5.5% increase in the health insurance rates this coming year for school employees. The student count has been a major area of concern. From 2011-2022 we had net decrease in student count of 2,038 students. Last year we lost 206 students. We are up slightly at the beginning this school year.

Another area of concern is the loss of state funding for a number of programs such as summer school and tutoring. We have had to look to other sources to replace these funds. Also federal grant money has decreased in recent years because of reduced funding and lower student count. ESSER funding will fill some gaps in revenue but is only a short-term measure.

Acknowledgements

The preparation of this report could not have been accomplished without the efficient and dedicated services of the entire staff of the Business Department.  We want to express our appreciation to them for this assistance.

We also thank the members of the Board for their interest and support in planning and conducting the financial operations of the School System in a responsible and progressive manner.

_____________________________                               _____________________

James Williams, Superintendent                                                  Tim Ward.

Vernon Parish Schools                                                         Director of Finance

Item #3:            Employee Retirements

On motion of Jim Seaman, seconded by Lisa Thompson, the Board voted to accept employee retirements.

Item #4:            Budget Amendments Related to Personnel Changes

On motion of Angie Davis, seconded by Doug Brandon, the Board voted to approve the budget amendment related to personnel changes.

Item #5:            Authorization to Pay the Claims

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

Item #6:            VPSB Policies

On motion of Jackie Self, seconded by Lisa Thompson, the Board voted to approve policy additions presented at the 9-1-22 meeting:  File:  GBDA, GBN, GBRIB, GBRID, IDDFA, IDDFC, JBCE, JGCE and LEH

Item # 7:           Promotional Assistant Principal/Hornbeck High School

On motion of Angie Davis, seconded by Lisa Thompson, the Board voted to advertise for a promotional Assistant Principal position at Hornbeck High School.

Item #8:            Performance Contracts 

On motion of Randy Martin, seconded by Steve Woods, the Board voted to approve performance contracts presented at the 9-2-22 meeting.

Item #9:            Employee of the Month

Finance Director, Tim Ward and Rodney Taylor introduced Madeleine Lewis to the Board and presented her a plaque honoring her as employee of the month.  Ms. Lewis is a teacher at Pitkin High School and teaches 5^th and 6^th science, social studies, math and is the PBIS coordinator.  Her principal, Mr. Brian Thompson also spoke to the Board about her strong leadership as a teacher, her organization and her outstanding teaching skills.

Item #10:           Superintendent’s Remarks

Superintendent James Williams welcomed all to the meeting.  He asked Col. Smith to update the Board on Fort Polk events.  Col. Smith informed the Board that he has been visiting schools and participating on bus runs at Fort Polk.  Col. Smith expressed his positive assessment with the administration and staff.

Col. Smith told the Board he is presently working on social media to promote Vernon Parish Schools for incoming military families and to bring a positive perspective to new military students. He also informed the Board that he has sent out a survey to military families for their concerns and input on school matters.

Col. Smith updated the Board on the Star Base Center and introduced Rebecca Foltz, Director of the program.

Superintendent Williams thanked Col. Smith for his update and thanked the Board for their support and concern at this time.

He turned the meeting over to the President, John Blankenbaker and he asked for memorial resolutions.

Item #11:  Memorial Resolutions

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 Gloria Mae Dowden who recently passed away; and

            WHEREAS, Ms. Dowden was a retired Paraprofessional  from Hornbeck High School  and her daughter is Pam Merriman, retired Hornbeck High School bus driver; and

            WHEREAS, Ms. Dowden 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 Randy Martin, 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 Linda Dukes who recently passed away; and

            WHEREAS, Ms. Dukes was a retired Pickering Elementary custodian and the wife of  Joe Duke retired PES custodian; and

            WHEREAS, Ms. Dukes 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 #12:          Adjournment

There was no other business and meeting was adjourned.

Authorized Officer

_________________________

JOHN BLANKENBAKER, PRESIDENT

ATTEST:

__________________________________

JAMES WILLIAMS, SUPERINTENDENT