Notice

Publication Date

2024-01-12

Subcategory

Miscellaneous Notices

DECEMBER 12, 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:

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

ABSENT:

Kelly Kaiama Goodwin District One

Col. Clifton Lopez Fort Johnson Garrison Commander

The meeting was opened in prayer by: Deidra Shell

The Pledge of Allegiance was led by: Deidra Shell

Roll Call

Item #1: Approval of December 7, 2023 Minutes

On motion of Randy Martin, seconded by Vernon L. Travis, Jr., the Board voted to approve the minutes of the December 7, 2023 regular meeting and dispense with the reading of the minutes.

Item #2: Approval of Budget Revisions 2023-2024

On motion of Vernon L. Travis, Jr., seconded by John Blankenbaker, the Board voted to approve Budget Revisions for 2023-2024.

Item #3: Approval for Head Start Policies/Procedures:

On motion of Shad Stewart, seconded by Randy Martin, the Board voted to approve the Head Start Policies presented on December 7th.

Item #4: Approval of Budget Amendment /Personnel Changes

On motion of Randy Martin, seconded by Shad Stewart, the Board voted to approve budget amendments/personnel changes presented on December 7th.

Item #5: Authorize President & Secretary to Pay Claims

On motion of Angie Davis, seconded by Deidra Shell, the Board voted to authorize the president.

and secretary to pay claims.

Item #6: Approval of Policy Changes

On motion of Vernon L. Travis, Jr. seconded by the Board voted to approve policy changes presented on December 7th.

Item #7: Approval of Board Officers for 2024

On motion of John Blankenbaker, seconded by Deidra Shell, the Board voted to approve Shad Stewart for President and Vernon L. Travis, Jr. as Vice President for 2024.

Mr. Williams also presented the outgoing President, Jim Seaman with a plaque. President Seaman passed the gavel to the in-coming President, Shad Stewart.

Item #8: Canvass Election Results from District 7

On motion of John Blankenbaker, seconded by Shad Stewart the Board voted on a resolution providing for canvassing the returns and declaring the results of the special election held in Ward Seven Wardwide School District of Vernon Parish, Louisiana, on Saturday, November 18, 2023, to authorize issuance of general obligation bonds therein.

Item #9: Recognition of Employee of the Month

Jeff Taylor, with Taylor and Sons Insurance presented the Employee of the Month plaque to Tamara Jackson. Ms. Jackson is employed at Pickering Elementary School as a Special Education Paraprofessional. Ms. Jackson is an exceptional employee, always willing to go the extra mile outside her duties. She reports early to work and works well with others.

Item #10: Report from Curriculum Committee

The Curriculum Committee Chairperson, Jackie Self requested that Lisa Lohman, Curriculum

Supervisor report to the Board on Accountability Update discussed during the Curriculum meeting.

Item #11: Accountability Update

Special Education Director, Leslie Ortiz presented the Board with a plan to target certain needs to improve success for her Special Education students which includes addressing behavior, remediation of students and goals for teachers instructing their students.

Curriculum Supervisor, Lisa Lohman reported to the Board on the Strategic Focus Plan Overview, Commonalities/Concerns, and Programs/Supports for improving ratings in needed areas of four schools. She also reported that Vernon Parish has once again received an overallA rating.

Item #12: Superintendents Remarks

Superintendent, James Williams welcomed all to the meeting. He presented the Board with a list of initiatives for cooperative interests which included the following:

1. Educational Savings (Scholarships) Accounts

2. MFP/Funding

3. Accountability

4. Retaining and Recruiting Teachers

Mr. Williams reminded the Board of upcoming Christmas events.

The meeting was then turned over to the President who called for memorial resolutions.

Item #13: Memorial Resolutions

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 Leola Miller Smith who recently passed away; and

WHEREAS, Ms. Smiths two sons are Wendell Miller, custodian at Vernon Middle School and Louis James Smith, retired custodian at East Leesville Elementary; and

WHEREAS, Ms. Smith 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 Shad Stewart, 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 Shelda Pelt who recently passed away; and

WHEREAS, Ms. Pelts two sisters are Frankie Singletary, retired Pitkin office worker and Tammie Hebert, Special Education teacher a Pitkin High School; and

WHEREAS, Ms. Pelt 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 her family at this time of sadness.

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 Mike Mitchell who recently passed away; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Mitchells wife is Susie Mitchell, a retired bus driver. Mr. Mitchells son is Jody Dale Mitchell, CECP softball coach at Hornbeck High, his daughter-in-law is Denise Mitchell, bookkeeper at Hornbeck High, 2 sisters-in-law, Jenni Browning, Librarian at Hornbeck High and Jamie Stringer, retired bus driver; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Mitchell 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 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 Barbara Orr who recently passed away; and

WHEREAS, Ms. Orrs daughter is Amy Reese, Special Education Teacher/Hearing Impaired and her son-in-law is Tracy Reese Teacher/Coach; and

WHEREAS, Ms. Orr was a resident of Burnet, Texas; now

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

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 Arlie Lorene Hale who recently passed away; and

WHEREAS, Ms. Hale is a retired Hornbeck High Cook; and

WHEREAS, Ms. Hale 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 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

The following resolution was offered by John Blankenbaker and seconded by Shad Stewart:

RESOLUTION

A resolution providing for canvassing the returns and declaring the results of the special election held in Ward Seven Wardwide School District of Vernon Parish, Louisiana, on Saturday, November 18, 2023, to authorize the issuance of general obligation bonds therein.

BE IT RESOLVED by the Parish School Board of the Parish Vernon, State of Louisiana (the "Governing Authority"), acting as the governing authority of Ward Seven Wardwide School District of Vernon Parish, Louisiana (the "District"), that:

SECTION 1. Canvass. This Governing Authority does now proceed in open and public session to examine the official tabulations of votes cast at the special election held in Ward Seven Wardwide School District of Vernon Parish, Louisiana, on SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 18, 2023 (the "Election"), to authorize the issuance of general obligation bonds therein pursuant to the following proposition (the "Proposition"):

PROPOSITION

(BOND)

Shall Ward Seven Wardwide School District of Vernon Parish, Louisiana (the "District"), incur debt and issue bonds not exceeding $7,000,000, in one or more series, to run not exceeding 20 years from date thereof, with interest at a rate not exceeding 7% per annum, for the purpose of financing capital expenditures for school purposes for the District, including constructing, acquiring and/or improving schools and other school related facilities, together with equipment and furnishings therefor, title to which shall be in the public; which bonds will be general obligations of the District and will be payable from ad valorem taxes to be levied and collected in the manner provided by Article VI, Section 33 of the Constitution of the State of Louisiana of 1974 and statutory authority supplemental thereto, with an estimated increase of 15 mills to be levied in the first year of issue above the 10.17 mills currently being levied to pay General Obligation Bonds of the District?

This Governing Authority does further proceed to examine and canvass the returns of the Election thereof.

SECTION 2. Election Results. According to the official certified tabulation of votes cast at said Election, there was a total of 303 votes cast IN FAVOR OF Proposition and a total of 259 votes cast AGAINST Proposition, resulting in a majority of 44 votes cast IN FAVOR OF Proposition. The Proposition was therefore duly CARRIED by a majority of the votes cast by the qualified electors voting at the Election.

SECTION 3. Promulgation of Election Result. The results of said election shall be promulgated by publication in the manner provided by law, after receipt from the Secretary of States office of the actual costs of the election, as required by 18:1292 of the Louisiana Revised Statutes of 1950, as amended.

SECTION 4. Declaration. The foregoing results of the Election are hereby declared by this Governing Authority and shall be published as required by law.

SECTION 5. Procs Verbal. A Procs Verbal of the canvass of the returns of the Election shall be made and a certified copy thereof shall be forwarded to the Secretary of State, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, who shall record the same in his office; another certified copy thereof shall be forwarded to the Clerk of Court and Ex-Officio Recorder of Mortgages in and for the Parish of Vernon, who shall record the same in the Mortgage Records of said Parish; and another copy thereof shall be retained in the archives of this Governing Authority.

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

YEAS:

NAYS:

ABSENT:

And the resolution was declared adopted on this, the 12th day of December, 2023.

/s/ James Williams

Secretary

/s/ Jim Seaman

President

PROCS VERBAL OF THE CANVASS OF THE VOTES CAST AT THE SPECIAL ELECTION HELD IN WARD SEVEN WARDWIDE SCHOOL DISTRICT OF VERNON PARISH, LOUISIANA, ON SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 18, 2023.

BE IT KNOWN AND REMEMBERED that on Tuesday, December 12, 2023, at 10:00 a.m., at its regular meeting place, the Parish School Board Office, 201 Belview Road, Leesville, Louisiana, the Parish School Board of the Parish Vernon, State of Louisiana (the "Governing Authority"), acting as the governing authority of Ward Seven Wardwide School District of Vernon Parish, Louisiana (the "District"), and being the authority ordering the special election held therein on Saturday, November 18, 2023, with a quorum of the Governing Authority present and did, in open and public session, examine the official certified tabulations of votes cast at the said election, and did examine and canvass the returns of the said election, there having been submitted at said election the following proposition, to wit:

PROPOSITION

(BOND)

There was found by said count and canvass that there was a total of 303 votes cast IN FAVOR OF Proposition and a total of 259 votes cast AGAINST Proposition, as hereinabove set forth, and it was further found and determined that there was a majority of 44 votes cast IN FAVOR OF Proposition as hereinabove set forth.

Therefore, the Governing Authority did declare and proclaim and does hereby declare and proclaim in open and public session that the Proposition as hereinabove set forth was duly CARRIED by a majority of the votes cast by the qualified electors voting at the said special election held in the District on Saturday, November 18, 2023.

Results by precinct are available from the Secretary of this Governing Authority during regular business hours or via the Louisiana Secretary of States website (voterportal.sos.la.gov).

Exhibit "A" attached hereto and made a part of this Procs Verbal is a copy of the Notice of Special Election and proof of publication thereof.

THUS DONE AND SIGNED at Leesville, Louisiana, on this, the 12th day of December, 2023.

ATTEST:

/s/ Jim Seaman

President

/s/ James Williams

Secretary

EXHIBIT "A"

NOTICE OF SPECIAL ELECTION

Pursuant to the provisions of a resolution adopted by the Parish School Board of the Parish Vernon, State of Louisiana (the "Governing Authority"), acting as the governing authority of Ward Seven Wardwide School District of Vernon Parish, Louisiana (the "District"), on September 12, 2023, NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that a special election will be held within the District on SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 18, 2023, and that at the said election there will be submitted to all registered voters in the District qualified and entitled to vote at the said election under the Constitution and Laws of the State of Louisiana and the Constitution of the United States, the following proposition, to-wit:

PROPOSITION

(BOND)

The said special election shall be held at the polling places for the following precincts which polls will open at seven o'clock (7:00) a.m. and close at eight o'clock (8:00) p.m., in accordance with the provisions of La. R.S. 18:541, to-wit:

PRECINCTS

04-03A(PART)

04-03B(PART)

07-01

07-02(PART)

07-02A(PART)

07-02B(PART)

07-03

07-04(PART)

07-04A(PART)

07-05

07-05A(PART)

07-05D

The polling places for the precincts set forth above are hereby designated as the polling places at which to hold the said election, and the Commissioners-in-Charge and Commissioners, respectively, shall be those persons designated according to law.

The estimated cost of this election as determined by the Secretary of State based upon the provisions of Chapter 8-A of Title 18 and actual costs of similar elections is $3,200.

Notice is further given that a portion of the monies collected from the taxes described in the Proposition shall be remitted to certain state and statewide retirement systems in the manner required by law.

The said special election will be held in accordance with the applicable provisions of Chapter 5 and Chapter 6-A of Title 18 of the Louisiana Revised Statutes of 1950, as amended, and other constitutional and statutory authority, and the officers appointed to hold the said election, as provided in this Notice of Special Election, or such substitutes therefor as may be selected and designated in accordance with La. R.S. 18:1287, will make due returns thereof to said Governing Authority, and NOTICE IS HEREBY FURTHER GIVEN that the Governing Authority will meet at its regular meeting place, the Parish School Board Office, 201 Belview Road, Leesville, Louisiana, on TUESDAY, DECEMBER 12, 2023, at TEN O'CLOCK (10:00) A.M., and shall then and there in open and public session proceed to examine and canvass the returns and declare the result of the said special election. All registered voters of the District are entitled to vote at said special election and voting machines will be used.

PROCLAMATION

I, the undersigned President of the Parish School Board of the Parish Vernon, State of Louisiana, the governing authority of Ward Seven Wardwide School District of Vernon Parish, Louisiana (the "District"), do hereby declare, proclaim and announce that the proposition submitted at the special election held in the District on Saturday, November 18, 2023, was CARRIED by a majority of the votes cast at the said special election, all as described and set out in the above Procs Verbal.

THUS DONE AND SIGNED at Leesville, Louisiana, on this, the 12th day of December, 2023.

/s/ Jim Seaman

President

STATE OF LOUISIANA

PARISH OF VERNON

I, the undersigned Secretary of the Parish School Board of the Parish Vernon, State of Louisiana (the "Governing Authority"), acting as the governing authority of Ward Seven Wardwide School District of Vernon Parish, Louisiana (the "District"), do hereby certify that the foregoing pages constitute a true and correct copy of the proceedings and Procs Verbal made by said Governing Authority on December 12, 2023, providing for canvassing the returns and declaring the results of the special election held in the District on Saturday, November 18, 2023, to authorize the issuance of general obligation bonds therein.

IN FAITH WHEREOF, witness my official signature at Leesville, Louisiana, on this, the 12th day of December, 2023.

___________________

Secretary

9721488 1/12/24