5847780 OCTOBER 5, 2023 THE VERNON PARISH SCHOOL BOARD CONVENED IN REGULAR SESSION AT 10:00 A.M., 201 BELVIEW ROAD, LEESVILLE, LOUISIANA. JIM SEAMAN CALLED THE MEETING TO ORDER AND ON ROLL CALL THE FOLLOWING MEMBERS WERE PRESENT: District One: Kelly K. Goodwin Rhonda Morrison Robert Pynes, Jr. Jim Seaman Jackie Self District Two: Angie Davis District Three: Deidra Shell District Four: Randy Martin District Five: Shad Stewart District Six: Vernon L. Travis, Jr. District Seven: John Blankenbaker District Eight: Candace Black Fort Johnson Garrison Commander: Col. Clifton Lopez The meeting was opened in prayer by:Shad Stewart The Pledge of Allegiance was led by:Shad Stewart Item #1: September 12, 2023 Minutes On motion of Shad Stewart, seconded by Kelly K. Goodwin, the Board voted to approve the minutes of the September 12, 2023 regular meeting and dispense with the reading of the minutes. Item #2: Technology Update Administrator/Supervisor of Technology, Bill Lohman updated the Board Members on progress and major changes being made in the Technology Department on security, internet, networking instructional technology, and software and services. Mr. Lohman presented the members with a detailed information sheet outlining all areas of infrastructure as follows: VPSB Technology Department: IT Information Technology Infrastructure Security Firewall VPN Malware/Virus Protection MFA Internet Content Filter Classroom Management Software Networking Wide Area Network Local Area Network (Each location) Wi-Fi Networking Hardware Switching 453 Switches WiFi Access Points 750 AP's Phone System Security Camera System (800 +/-) Server Infrastructure High Availability Cluster Physical Servers Virtual Severs Server Backup hourly and nightly Cloud Computing and Infrastructure (SaaS) Client Computing and Printing Admin Fac/Staff/Instructional Student Printers Email Environmental Sensors TV Displays Instructional Technology Classroom Technology Teacher computers/chromebooks Display Panels 700+ Hovercam Podiums 600+ Student Computers 1:1 Chromebooks (13,000) Software and Services: Student Information System Active Directory Google Workspace Microsoft Licensing Server Licensing Productivity Software VMware Veeam Faculty/Staff/Student IDM Username Password Email/Login Data Sharing Clever GG4L Website Parent/Communication Software ALL State Reporting via JCAMPUS Student Broadcast Program Athletics iPads for games Direct Cert Direct Match CEP DCIP Buildings STEM equipment Pixellot Cameras The Technology Department staff consists of 1 Administrator/Supervisor, 8 technicians, and 1 secretary serving 8,000 staff and 1,200 students. At this time, 169 miles of internet with underground fiber is almost complete. Item #3: Discussion of VPSB Meeting Dates for 2024 Personnel Director, Hub Jordan presented the Board with the Vernon Parish School Board meeting dates for 2024 during the Salary/Personnel committee meeting. After discussion from two board members recommending changing the meeting time from 10:00 am to 7:00 pm, the Salary/Personnel committee voted 3 yeas and 8 nays to leave the board meeting time 10:00 am. The recommendation failed in committee. On motion of John Blankenbaker, seconded by Vernon L. Travis, Jr., the Board voted to add to the Tuesday, October 10th meeting for approval of the recommended calendar without changes. Item #4: Discussion of New Laws/Policies Concerning Teaching Certification Personnel Director, Hub Jordan presented the Board with a copy of the Bulletin 746:Certification ACT 371 (2023) amends regulations regarding military families 1. Five year certification to active military or military spouses serving in Louisiana, and 2. Eligibility determination made within 20 days of receipt of complete application. ACT 392 (2023) amends certification law to: 1. Redesignate and restructure the law; 2. Allow for conditional acceptance into a teacher preparation program with GPA flexibility; 3. Update literacy requirements; 4. Update Out of State reciprocity' 5. Update TCAC membership; and a. Expand the Temporary Employment Permit (TEP) pathway. Item #5: Maintenance Update Director of Maintenance, Dwain Ducote reported to the Board on maintenance funding including step by step procedures from purchase orders, invoices, funding, and monthly reports. There are 12-25 work orders received each day which does not include emergency calls for maintenance. There are a total of 16 maintenance workers in the maintenance department including the Director and secretary. Mr. Williams congratulated Mr. Ducote and the Supervisor of Maintenance, Red McKee on their auditing and accountability procedures. Item #6: Report from Salary/Personnel Committee Chairperson, Angie Davis, reported to the Board on the following topics discussed during the 9:30 am Salary/Personnel Committee meeting: 1. Personnel transactions for October, 2023. On motion of John Blankenbaker, seconded by Jackie Self the Board voted to add to the 10-10-23 regular meeting for approval. 2. Discussion of board calendar/meeting dates for 2024. After discussion about changing the meeting time a full committee vote was called: 3 yeas and 8 nays and recommendation failed in committee. On motion of John Blankenbaker, seconded by Vernon L. Travis, Jr. the Board voted to add to the 10-10-23 regular meeting for approval with changes. 3.Promotional contracts for Assistant Principal positions for Simpson High School and Leesville Junior High School. On motion of Deidra Shell, seconded by Randy Martin, the Board voted to add to the 10-10-23 regular meeting for approval. 4. Other Business: COVID-19 Leave; after discussion the recommendation is: Discontinue the previous VPSB policy contingent on legal advice. On motion of Vernon L. Travis, Jr., seconded by Shad Stewart the Board voted to add to 10-10-23 agenda (only after contingent on legal advice) for approval to discontinue covid leave. Item #7: Superintendent's Remarks Superintendent, James Williams welcomed all to the meeting. Mr. Williams ask Col. Clifton Lopez, Garrison Commander for an update on Fort Johnson Polk events. Col. Lopez informed the Board that the 82nd training had returned to Fort Johnson from North Carolina. Col. Lopez also commented on the ACT 371 saying this will encourage families to transfer to Fort Johnson and make it easier for spouses to obtain teaching certificates. Col. Lopez invited everyone to attend the Fall Festival on Saturday, 10-7-23 at Fort Johnson. Curriculum Director, Lisa Lohman gave an update on the "Capture Point" conference she and Vernon L. Travis, Jr. attended in Albuquerque, New Mexico. The Vernon Parish School Board program "Capture Point" has become a nation wide topic for other school districts throughout the U.S. due to the hard work of implementing this program in our school system by Ms. Lohman and Mr. Travis. Mr. Williams reminded the Board of the Head Start Training on Tuesday, October 10th at 9:00 am and immediately after the 10:00 am regular meeting, John Guice will conduct the ACT 705 Training Session for the Board Members. President of the Board, Jim Seaman reported to the Board on the LSBA Trail Blazer meeting held in Baton Rouge that he and District Three Board member, Deidra Shell attended. Mr. Williams informed the Board that he attended AG Day at the Porter Ranch on Wednesday, which was a big success again this year. There were around 145 students who participated. Mr. Williams turned the meeting over to the President, Jim Seaman Item # 8: 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 PATSY RAE JETT who recently passed away; and WHEREAS, Ms. Jett was a retired secretary from Anacoco High School after 33 years of service; and WHEREAS, the Board would like to acknowledge family members employed by the Vernon Parish School System: Ms.Jett's son is Bobby Jett, retired Vernon Parish School System bus driver; and WHEREAS, Ms. Jett 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 Vernon L. Travis, Jr., 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 DAVID BROOM who recently passed away; and WHEREAS, Mr. Broom was a former custodian at Parkway Elementary School; and WHEREAS, the Board would like to acknowledge family members employed by the Vernon Parish School System: Mr. Broom's daughter is Ariel McCoy employed as a Paraprofessional at Leesville High School; WHEREAS, Mr. Broom 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 Robert Pynes, Jr., 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 NYLDA SANTANA who recently passed away; and WHEREAS, the Board would like to acknowledge family members employed by the Vernon Parish School System: Ms. Santana's husband was Roberto Santana, retired Vernon Parish School System bus driver ; and WHEREAS, Ms. Santana 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 Jackie Self, 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 BETTY RUTH EVANS who recently passed away; and WHEREAS, the Board would like to acknowledge family members employed by the Vernon Parish School System: Ms. Evans' daughter is Quinda Bennett, retired Secretary to the Superintendent and her granddaughter is Brandi Bennett, Secretary at West Leesville Elementary; and WHEREAS, Ms. Evans was a resident of College Station, Texas; 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 #9: Adjournment There being no other business, the meeting was adjourned. Authorized Officer Jim Seaman, President ATTEST: _____________________James Williams, Superintendent (10) 25