FEBRUARY 7, 2023                                                                 

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

District One:

KELLY KAIAMA GOODWIN

RHONDA MORRISON

ROBERT PYNES

JIM SEAMAN

JACKIE SELF

District Two:

ANGIE DAVIS

District Three:

DEIDRA SHELL

District Four:

RANDY MARTIN

District Six:

VERNON L. TRAVIS

District Eight:

CANDACE BLACK

ABSENT:

Shad Stewart – District Five

John Blankenbaker – District Seven

Col. Samuel P. Smith, Jr. – Fort Polk Garrison Commander

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

The meeting was opened in prayer by:   Pastor Darin Worthington, Leesville First Baptist Church

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

Item #1: Approval of Minutes

On motion of Vernon L. Travis, Jr., seconded by Kelly Kaiama Goodwin, the Board voted to approve the minutes of the February 2, 2023 regular meeting and dispense with the reading of the minutes.

Item #2:            Approval of Budget Amendments/Personnel Changes

On motion of Jackie Self, seconded by, Deidra Shell, the Board voted to approve budget amendments related to personnel changes.

Item #3:            Authorization to Pay Claims

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

Item #4:            Employee Retirements

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

Item #5:            Leave Without Pay Requests

On motion of Angie Davis, seconded by Deidra Shell, the Board voted to approve leave without pay requests.

Item #6:             Headstart Policies/Procedures Approval

On motion of Vernon L. Travis, Jr., seconded by Kelly Kaiama Goodwin, the Board voted to approve the policies and procedures presented to the Board at the February 2nd meeting.

Item #7:            Motion to approve cancelation of lease with Vernon Parish Water &nSewer District # 1 contingent on release of liability

On motion of Randy Martin, seconded by Vernon L. Travis, Jr., the Board voted to approve cancelation of lease with Vernon Parish Water & Sewer District #1 contingent on release of liability.  The vote was 10 yeas, 0 nays, 2 absent

Item # 8:           Employee of the Month

Rodney Taylor, Taylor and Sons Insurance and sponsor of the Vernon Parish School Board Employee of the Month, introduced February’s Employee of the Month to the Board.  Miranda Taylor, teacher and coach at Anacoco High School, was named Employee of the Month for February.  Mr. Taylor read Principal Haymon’s description of Ms. Taylor’s qualities.   Ms. Taylor teaches high school chemistry and physical science and also coaches many sports.  Principal Haymon said Ms. Taylor is always available for any job that needs to be done.  She goes above and beyond her normal duties to assist where needed. Thank you Ms. Taylor for your excellent job performance.

Item #9:            3^rd & 4^th grade Literacy Support Update

Curriculum Director, Anne Smith informed the Board that Vernon Parish has developed a plan to implement the 3^rd and 4^th grade literacy support required by Bulletin 1566 Addendum.  Beginning with the 2022-2023 school year, and continuing through the summer following the 2023-2024 school year, any student enrolled in 3^rd and 4^th grade and scoring below-level on the end -of-the-year LDOE-approved literacy assessment shall receive a minimum of 30 hours of explicit literacy instruction inclusive of targeted interventions during the summer.  Ms. Smith explained the student number count, instruction, assessment, and parental involvement with this program.

Item #10:          Black History Month Overview

Curriculum Supervisors, Jerome Henson and Karen Robertson presented the  Board with a print out with a summary of how all our 18 schools have been celebrating Black History Month.  A combination of reading assignments, discussions, and projects were done by all schools in honor of Black History Month. Famous Black Americans were introduced to students with booklets to share with their parents.

Item #11:          Report from Finance Committee

Vernon L. Travis, Jr., Chairperson for the Finance Committee reported to the Board on the 9:00 Finance Committee meeting held 2-7-23.  Director of Finance, Tim Ward gave an in depth explanation of  the purpose of each fund and an overview of the changes from last year.  He also presented a copy to each member of the  General Fund Budget and the Consolidated Budget ending 6-30-23.  Mr. Ward explained to the Board the total budget revenues and expenditures and how we obtain monies to operate our school system.

Item #12:          Superintendent’s Remarks

Superintendent Williams welcomed all to the meeting.  Mr. Williams invited the Board to attend the Vernon Parish Quiz Bowl scheduled for Thursday, February 16, 2023.

Mr. Williams  announced that Hailey Wolff, a tenth grader at Hicks High School is the Vernon Parish Oratorical Contest Winner.

Also,   Anna White, a Pitkin High School senior was crowned as the 2022-2023 West LA Forestry Festival Queen, competed on Feb. 3 & 4 in Baton Rouge at the LA Association of Fairs and Festivals’ Queen of Queens Contest against 57 other young ladies.  Anna reached the final group of 15 from which the queen was chosen.

Congrats to these two winners!!

The LSBA Convention will be next month in Lake Charles.

Mr. Williams thanked Mr. Mike Kay for his service as Assistant Superintendent/Personnel Director and wished him well on his retirement.

He turned the meeting over to the President, Jim Seaman.

Item #13:          Memorial Resolutions

There were no memorial resolutions

Item #14:  Adjournment

There being no other business the meeting was adjourned by President Jim Seaman.

Authorized Officer

_________________________

JIM SEAMAN, PRESIDENT

ATTEST:

__________________________________

JAMES WILLIAMS, SUPERINTENDENT