JULY 11, 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:

RHONDA MORRISON

JACKIE SELF

ROBERT PYNES, JR.

JIM SEAMAN

VERNON L. TRAVIS, JR.

ANGIE DAVIS

DEIDRA SHELL

RANDY MARTIN

JOHN BLANKENBAKER

ABSENT:

KELLY GOODWIN

SHAD STEWART

COL. CLIFTON LOPEZ, III

CANDACE BLACK

There was also absent 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:            Adopt Millage Rates for Tax Year 2023

On motion of John Blankenbaker, seconded by Deidra Shell, the Board voted to adopt the resolution for millage rates for tax year 2023.

Item #2:            Approval of Minutes

On motion of Jackie Self, seconded by John Blankenbaker, the Board voted to approve the minutes of the July 6, 2023 regular meeting and dispense with the reading of the minutes.

Item #3:            Approval of Employee Retirements

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

Item #4:            Budget Amendments Related to Personnel Changes

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

Item #5:            Pay the Claims

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

Item #6:            Assistant Principal Hicks High School

On motion of Vernon Travis, seconded by Angie Davis, the Board voted to advertise for a promotional Assistant Principal position at Hicks High  School.

Item #7:            Administrative Assistant AES non-promotional (1 yr.)                        

On motion of Angie Davis, seconded by Randy Martin, the Board voted to advertise for an Administrative Assistant at AES non-promotional (1 year)

Item #8:             Supervisor of Food Service & Title Programs

On motion of Randy Martin, seconded by Vernon Travis, the Board voted to advertise for a Supervisor of Food Service and Title Programs

Item #9:            Supervisor of Transportation

On motion of Deidra Shell, seconded by Randy Martin the Board voted to advertise for a Supervisor of Transportation

Item #10:            Activity Bus for Simpson High School

On motion of Deidra Shell, seconded by John Blankenbaker, the Board voted to advertise for an activity bus to Simpson High School.

Item #11:          Motion to approve Rapides Foundation Grants and Resolution

Curriculum Director, Anne Smith introduced Ashley Stewart with the Rapides Foundation to the Board.  Ms. Stewart updated the Board on the three grants we are receiving from the Rapides Foundation:  The Effective School grant, the Healthy Behavior grant, and the Youth Volunteer Club.  On motion of Vernon Travis, seconded by John Blankenbaker the Board voted to approve the grants awarded by the Rapides Foundation.

 A resolution was presented to the Board.  On motion of Vernon Travis, seconded by Deidra Shell the Board voted to approve the Resolution 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 herby give him the power and authority to do all things necessary to implement, maintain, amend or renew said documents with The Rapides Foundation.

Item #12:          Pupil Progression Plan

On motion of Angie Davis seconded by Deidra Shell the Board  voted to accept the Pupil Progression Plan for the 23-24 school year.

Item #13.          Superintendent’s Remarks

Personnel Director, Hub Jordan filled in for Superintendent Williams and welcomed all to the meeting.  Mr. Jordan expressed Superintendent Williams’ gratitude to the Board and everyone present for their support in his time of sadness and through his wife’s illness and asked for continued prayer for his family.

Col. Lopez was absent so Tiffany Koch gave an update on Fort Johnson.

Item # 14:         Memorial Resolutions

There were no memorial resolutions presented.

Item #15:          Adjournment

There being no further business the meeting was adjourned

Authorized Officer

_________________________

JIM SEAMAN,  PRESIDENT

ATTEST:

__________________________________

JAMES WILLIAMS, SUPERINTENDENT

VERNON PARISH SCHOOL BOARD

                      BE IT RESOLVED, that the following millages are hereby levied on the 2023 tax roll on all property subject to taxation by the VERNON PARISH SCHOOL BOARD District of the Parish of Vernon, Louisiana.

MILLAGE

Parish Wide School Regular                                                            4.18 mills

Parish Wide School Special                                                             8.12 mills

Ward 1 Maintenance Regular                                                         13.03 mills

Ward 2 Hornbeck Maintenance Regular                                          13.83 mills

School District 143 Hornbeck Construction & Maintenance              10.39 mills

Ward 2 Orange Maintenance Regular                                             13.24 mills

Ward 3 Maintenance Regular                                                        18.77 mills

Ward 4 Maintenance Regular                                                        14.57 mills

Ward 5 Maintenance Regular                                                        19.11 mills

Ward 6 Maintenance Regular                                                        12.68 mills

Ward 6 School Dist 161 Additional funding                                     10.00 mills

Ward 7 Maintenance Regular                                                        17.42 mills

Ward 8 Maintenance Regular                                                        14.32 mills

Ward 8 School Dist 151 Additional funding                                     10.23 mills

Leesville Sinking Fund                                                                  21.78 mills

Orange Sinking Fund                                                                   16.32 mills

Ward 3 Sinking Fund                                                                      6.26 mills

Pickering Sinking Fund                                                                25.42 mills

Ward 6 Sinking Fund                                                                     2.87 mills

Ward 7 Sinking Fund                                                                   10.17 mills

Ward 8 Sinking Fund                                                                    29.23 mills

                      BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the proper administrative officials of the Parish of Vernon, State of Louisiana, be and they are hereby empowered, authorized, and directed to spread said taxes, as hereinabove set forth, upon the assessment roll of said Parish for the year 2023, and to make collection of the taxes imposed for and on behalf of the taxing authority, according to law, and that the taxes herein levied shall become a permanent lien and privilege on all property subject to taxation as herein set forth, and collection thereof shall be enforceable in the manner provided by law.

                     The foregoing resolution was read in full, the roll was called on the adoption thereof, and the resolution was adopted by the following votes:

                     YEAS: 9     

                     NAYS: 0      

                     ABSTAINED: 0

                     ABSENT: 3      

CERTIFICATE

                    I hereby certify that the foregoing is a true and exact copy of a resolution adopted at a regular board meeting held on July 11, 2023 at which meeting a quorum was present and voting.

Leesville, Louisiana, this 11th day July, 2023

________________________(Superintendent)

AFFIDAVIT

STATE OF LOUISIANA

PARISH OF VERNON

            BEFORE ME, the undersigned notary public, duly commissioned and qualified within and for the aforesaid parish and state, personally came and appeared:

                                                                         James Williams

                                  who, after first being duly sworn, did depose and say that:

He/she is the duly authorized Superintendent/Treasurer of the Vernon Parish School Board.

(Mark the appropriate box below to show how you complied with the Open Meetings Law.)

A public meeting was held in accordance with the Open Meetings Law at R.S. 42:11, et seq., including allowing a public comment period before taking a vote, R.S. 42:14(D), to adopt the millage rates for the 2023 tax year.  Public written notice of the agenda, date, time, and place of the meeting (X) was posted on the building where the meetings of this taxing authority are usually held no less than 24 hours before the meeting, excluding Saturdays, Sundays and legal holidays and/or (    ) was published in the official journal no less than 24 hours before the meeting, excluding Saturdays, Sundays and legal holidays.

If applicable, the presiding officer of this public body certified that this public meeting held via electronic means was limited to one of four provisions set forth in R.S. 42:17.1; and provided all proper notices and public comment information.

A quorum or simple majority of the total membership of the taxing authority was physically present and voting at the public meeting, which was held on the 11th day of July, 2023, at 10:00 a.m. at Vernon Parish School Board Office at 201 Belview Road, Leesville, LA 71446.  The meeting was conducted in accord with the prior noticed agenda. Matters not included on the agenda were not discussed without the unanimous approval of the members present after complying with all provisions of R.S. 42:19(A)(1)(b)(ii)(cc).

If applicable and as required by R.S. 42:23(A) and R.S. 44:36(F) as a non-elected board we have video or audio recorded, filmed or broadcast live all proceedings of our public meeting and ensure the recording will be maintained for at least 2 years.

The taxing district did not roll forward.  Copies of all required notices and agenda are attached hereto and incorporated herein by reference.

                                                                                    _________________________________

                                                                                    (Signature of affiant)

                                                                                    James Williams, Superintendent

            SWORN TO AND SUBSCRIBED Before Me, this 11th day of July,2023, at Leesville, Louisiana.

_________________________________________________________

Notary Public

                                    Printed or Typed Name (as commissioned): Timothy G. Ward

                                    Notary ID or Bar Roll No.:054078_

Rev 1/2021