JUNE 6, 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 K. GOODWIN

RHONDA MORRISON

JIM SEAMAN

JACKIE SELF

ROBERT PYNES, JR.

District Two:

ANGIE DAVIS

District Three:

DEIDRA SHELL

District Four:

RANDY MARTIN

District Five:

SHAD STEWART

District Six:

VERNON L. TRAVIS, JR.

District Eight:

CANDACE BLACK

ABSENT:

JOHN BLANKENBAKER – DISTRICT SEVEN

COL. SAMUEL P. SMITH, JR. – FORT POLK GARRISON COMMANDER

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

The meeting was opened in prayer by:   David Richmond

The Pledge of Allegiance was led by:                 Deidra Shell

Roll Call

Item #1:            Approval of Minutes

On motion of Randy Martin, seconded by Rhonda Morrison, the Board voted to approve the minutes of the June 1, 2023 regular meeting and dispense with the reading of the minutes.

Item #2:            Employee Retirements           

On motion of Shad Stewart, seconded by Deidra Shell, the Board voted to approve  employee retirements.           

Item #3:              Leave Without Pay Requests

On motion of Angie Davie, seconded by Candace Black, the Board voted to approve Leave Without Pay Requests.

Item #4:            Authorization to Pay Claims

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

Item #5:              Budget Amendments /Personnel Changes

On motion of Angie Davis, seconded by Rhonda Morrison, the Board voted to approve budget amendments related to personnel changes.

Item #6:              Resolution for CTE

On motion of Vernon L. Travis, Jr., seconded by Deidra Shell, the Board voted to approve a resolution for CTE.

Item #7:            Performance Contracts           

On motion of Vernon L. Travis, Jr., seconded by Angie Davis, the Board voted to advertise for a promotional Principal position at West Leesville Elementary School.

Item #8:            Student Recognition

Students from Anacoco High School, Anacoco Elementary, Hornbeck High School and Pitkin High School were awarded certificates in several categories during the board meeting today for the 2022-2023 school year.

Item #9:            Report from Curriculum Committee

Jackie Self, Chairperson for the Curriculum Committee reported to the Board on the discussion during the Curriculum Committee held at 9:00 am this morning.

Mr. Self gave a brief summary of the two programs to be implemented for next school year, the Executive Function and the Capture Point Solution/ Building Better Futures.

Lisa Lohman, Anne Smith and Vernon Travis gave a very in depth summary of each program.

Item #10:          Report from Athletic Committee

Athletic Director, Hub Jordan updated the Board on the following items:

l.          LHSAA Update on the article 4.4.4/class/divisions issue

2.         Pitkin Tigers Division V Baseball State Champions         

3.         Vernon Parish had 17 state champions in outdoor track and field. 

4.         Vernon Parish Basketball Tournament 12-21-23 / 12-22-23

4.         Next meeting August 8th

Item #11:          Superintendent’s Remarks

Personnel Director, Hub Jordan welcomed all to the meeting and informed the Board that Garrison Commander, Col. Samuel P. Smith, Jr. will not be returning due to his change of command so there will be no update on Fort Polk events at this time.  Mr. Jordan presented Tiffany-Franklin Koch, Col. Smith’s assistant, a plaque for Col. Smith’s service on the Board.

Mr. Jordan introduced Dr. David Aymond and his wife Kara Porter Aymond to the Board.

Dr. David Aymond, a local physician and his wife Kara Porter Aymond, owner of the Medical Spa donated $13,000 to our Special Education Autistic department.

Director of Finance, Tim Ward presented the Board with the Sales Tax Collection for 2022-2023.  The bonus checks will be mailed out on June 16^th.  Mr. Ward presented the Board with a dollar amount for all employees.

Two teachers also honored were:

Item #12:          Memorial Resolution

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 Connie “CJ” Jerrol Welch who recently passed away; and

            WHEREAS, the Board would like to acknowledge his family members employed by the Vernon Parish School System: Mr. Welch’s brother,  Lester Welch employee at PES,  Doris Welch, sister-in-law, retired PES custodian and paraprofessional; and

            WHEREAS, Mr. Welch was a resident of Vernon Parish; now

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 Douglas Ray Wilson who recently passed away; and

            WHEREAS, the Board would like to acknowledge his family members employed by the Vernon Parish School System:   Mr. Wilson’s wife is Lynette Wilson, PES bus driver and his daughter is Lisa Grimes, former PES and VMS bus driver; and

            WHEREAS, Mr. Wilson was a resident of Vernon Parish; now

            BE IT THEREFORE RESOVED 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 Vernon L. Travis, Jr., seconded by the Board, the Board voted o 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 Madison Jerome Guess, Jr. who recently passed away; and

            WHEREAS, the Board would like to acknowledge his family members employed by the Vernon Parish School Board:  His wife is Alice Guess retired Central Office Finance secretary and retired LHS Jag Instructor; and

            WHEREAS, Mr. Guess was a resident of Vernon Parish; now

            BE IT THEREFORE RESOLVED that the Vernon Parish School requests a copy of this memorial resolution be sent to her family at this time of sadness.

Item #14:  Adjournment

There being no further business the meeting was adjourned.

Authorized Officer

__________________________________

JIM SEAMAN,  PRESIDENT

ATTEST:

_____________________________________

JAMES WILLIAMS, SUPERINTENDENT