CLAIBORNE PARISH
SCHOOL BOARD
MINUTES OF REGULAR MEETING
January 16, 2025
The Claiborne Parish School Board met in a regular session at the Claiborne Parish School Board office in Homer, Louisiana, at six o’clock January 16, 2025 with the following members:
Present: Patricia Stevens, Stewart Griffin, Linda Knox, Yolanda Coleman, Perry Anderson, Roy Mardis, David Nokes, Mark Perot
Absent: William Maddox, Tommy Davidson
There was also present Mr. Chris Brooks, Secretary of the Board.
Ms. Stevens, Board Member, opened the meeting with prayer followed by the Pledge of Allegiance.
Mr. Nokes made a motion to nominate Mr. Anderson as President, seconded by Mr. Griffin. Motion passed unanimously to re-elect Mr. Anderson as President. A motion was made by Mr. Nokes to nominate Ms. Coleman as Vice-President, seconded by Mr. Griffin. Motion passed unanimously to re-elect Ms. Coleman as Vice-President..
The minutes of the Regular Meeting held December 5, 2024, which had been emailed to the Board Members previously, were approved.
In honor of School Board Recognition Month, Superintendent Brooks expressed his appreciation and gratitude to the board members for their service, dedication and focus on the well-being and achievement of our students throughout the district. He read a proclamation declaring January 2025 as a Louisiana School Board Recognition Month into the minutes.
SCHOOL BOARD RECOGNITION PROCLAMATION
WHEREAS, the mission of public schools is to meet the diverse educational needs of all children and to empower them to become competent, productive contributors to a democratic society and an ever-changing world; and
WHEREAS, local school board members are committed to children and believe that all children can be successful learners and that the best education is tailored to the individual needs of the child; and
WHEREAS, local school board members work closely with parents, educational professionals, and other community members to create the educational vision we want for our students; and
WHEREAS, local school board members are responsible for ensuring the structure that provides a solid foundation for our school system; and
WHEREAS, local school board members are strong advocates for public education and are responsible for communicating the needs of the school district to the public and the public’s expectations to the district;
NOW, THEREFORE, I, Superintendent Chris Brooks, do hereby declare my appreciation to the members of the Claiborne School Board and proclaim January 2025 as
SCHOOL BOARD RECOGNITION MONTH in Claiborne Parish School District. I urge all citizens to join me in recognizing the dedication and hard work of local school board members and in working with them to mold an education system that meets the needs of both today’s and tomorrow’s children.
IN OFFICIAL RECOGNITION WHEREOF, I hereby affix my signature this 9th day of January, 2025.
Superintendent
Superintendent Brooks recognized the following training hours for each board member for 2024.
BOARD MEMBER TRAINING
CLAIBORNE PARISH
2024
Ethics Online • Camp. Fin. Online • Sexual Harassment Online • Bullying Online • Cyber Security Online • LSBA Conference 3/10-12/24 • Capitol Conference 4/17/24 • Southern Region 7/21-23/2024 • Fall Trailblazer 10/18/24 • Guice Meeting 10/21/24 • TOTALS
Name
Paticia Stevens • 1.0 • x • 1.0 • 1.0 • 0.50 • 11.5 • 5.0 • 11.0 • 5.0 • 3.0 • 39.00
Linda Knox • 1.0 • x • 1.0 • 1.0 • 0.50 • - • - • - • - • 3.0 • 6.50
Yolanda Coleman • 1.0 • - • 1.0 • - • - • 11.5 • - • - • 5.0 • 3.0 • 21.50
Perry Anderson • 1.0 • x • 1.0 • 1.0 • 0.50 • - • - • - • 4.0 • 3.0 • 10.50
Stewart Griffin • 1.0 • x • 1.0 • 1.0 • 0.50 • - • - • - • - • 0.3 • 3.8
William Maddox • 1.0 • x • 1.0 • 1.0 • 0.50 • - • - • - • - • 3.0 • 6.5
Tommy Davidson • 1.0 • x • 1.0 • 1.0 • 0.50 • - • - • - • - • - • 3.50
Roy Mardis • 1.0 • x • 1.0 • 1.0 • 0.50 • - • - • - • - • 3.0 • 6.50
David Nokes • 1.0 • x • 1.0 • 1.0 • 0.50 • - • - • - • - • 3.0 • 6.50
Mark Perot • 1.0 • x • 1.0 • 1.0 • 0.50 • - • - • - • - • 3.0 • 6.50
Online - Annual Ethics Training - 1 CLU Hr.
Online - Campain Finance - 1 CLU Hr. (Due withing 4 year term)
Online - Sexual Harassment - 1 CLU
Online - Bullying - 1 CLU
Onlne - Cyber Security
3/10-3/12/24 LSBA Annual Conference - 11.5
4/17/24 - Capitol Conference - 5.0
7/21-23/24 - Southern Region - 10.5 CLU
10/18/24 Fall Trailblaxers 5.0 CLU
10/21/24 Guice Meeting - 3.0 CLU
He also gave special recognition to Ms. Patricia Stevens and presented her with a certificate for achieving the distinction of a “certified school board member”. This is a program offered by the Louisiana School Board Association (LSBA), whereby a school board member is recognized for having voluntarily earned twenty (20) or more training hours during a calendar year. Ms. Stevens completed 39 hours for the 2024 year.
Motion was made by Mr. Mardis, seconded by Ms. Knox, to set the date/time for Regular Board Meetings for the first Thursday after the first Sunday of each month at 6 PM. Motion passed by a vote of 8 yes, 0 no.
Mr. Scott Martin, Supervisor, introduced Ms. Christy Chandler (Alternative Program Principal) and Ms. Tammisha Dupree (KARE Program Coordinator). He expressed his appreciation to both of them for doing phenomenal jobs and making a difference in students’ lives. Ms. Dupree stated she currently has 8 students in the KARE program and 5 which are seniors who will graduate in May. She also has 2 students who are enrolled in the CNA certification program at Northwest Louisiana Technical Community College in Minden. When they graduate, they will be able to enter the workforce with this certification. Since the inception of the KARE program in August of 2018, 40 students have graduated thus far who may have not otherwise. Ms. Dupree shared the success story of a specific student, who had a track record of being in and out of the Alternative Program in his early high school years. His parent asked Ms. Dupree to give him a chance in the KARE program; so, before enrolling him, he had to prove he was ready to put in the work and complete his assignments. Now, enrolled in the KARE program, he will be graduating and receiving his diploma in May. He also is currently employed and working in Arcadia. Ms. Dupree and Ms. Chandler expressed how proud they are of this young man. Ms. Chandler explained the Alternative Program has students who are dealing with behavioral issues in their home schools. In the program, they try to teach more self-control, better decision-making skills and conflict resolution. They set and accomplished their academic goal of improving failing scores and behavioral goals for their students. Ms. Chandler shared that many of these students just need the positive encouragement and support to know they are capable of achieving their goals and to persevere.
Ms. Micki Turner, Business Manager, requested the Board approve the updated Student Activity Funds Policies and Procedures Manual. This manual is the guidelines used for school finances. Motion to approve was made by Ms. Knox, seconded by Ms. Stevens. Motion passed to approve by a vote of 8 yes, 0 no.
Superintendent Brooks stated updates are continuing to be made to employee job descriptions each month. He requested the Board to approve updates to the paraprofessional and school secretary positions this month. Motion to approve was made by Ms. Coleman, seconded by Ms. Knox. Motion passed by a vote of 8 yes, 0 no.
Superintendent Brooks requested the approval of out of state travel for employees. Twelve employees will be travelling to Orlando, Florida, from March 19th - March 23rd, to attend the Innovative Teacher Summit and three employees will be travelling to Las Vegas, Nevada, from January 18th - 21st, to attend the ‘Get Your Teach On’ Conference. These trips will be funded with Title I funds. Motion to approve was made by Mr. Nokes, seconded by Ms. Coleman. Motion passed by a vote of 8 yes, 0 no.
Superintendent Brooks asked the Board to consider proceeding with the steps to declaring the Old Homer Junior High School campus, located at South Pearl Street, as surplus property no longer needed for school purposes; and further directing staff to sell the property through any means authorized by law. If approved, our attorney will begin paperwork for the district to open bids for the property. It will be made known there will be no clear title on this property. Mr. Nokes made a motion to approve, seconded by Ms. Coleman. Motion passed by a vote of 8 yes, 0 no.
Ms. Turner discussed the salary supplement which was paid on Friday, January 10th, 2025. The 2024-25 supplement check is $768.18 for professionals and $384.09 for support personnel.
Ms. Turner briefly discussed the December 2024 financials. She stated the district has received the first ad valorem check for Fund 46 - Districtwide
Superintendent’s Report:
Personnel Actions
– January 16, 2025
I. To be Hired:
a. Certified Teaching or Administrative Positions
Name - Position - Effective - Replacing
Michelle Newton - Teacher-Homer El - 12/6/24 - Patricia Eddens
Lawren Williams - Teacher – Homer High - 1/8/25 - Replacing Hannah Ates
b. Classified, Support, Bus Drivers or Other Non-Certificated Positions
Name - Position - Effective - Replacing
II. Resignations, Retirements:
Name - Position - Effective - Reason
Alyson McCoy - Principal – Homer El - 1/3/25 - Resigned
Destiny Burns - Teacher-Haynesville El - 1/6/25 - Resigned
Missouri Wade - Para – Homer El - 1/7/25 - Resigned
III. Transfers:
Name - Position - Effective - Reason
Hannah Ates - Teacher - Summerfield - 1/6/25 - Replace Ag Teacher
1. Ms. Philana Banks has been named the Interim Principal at Homer Elementary. The permanent position will open for applicants in the next couple of months when the hiring cycle begins.
2. The possible winter weather is being monitored for next week and preparation made, if necessary.
3. The newly passed Louisiana law approving the displaying of the Ten Commandments in all classrooms is currently being reviewed by our attorney. If and when our attorney gives permission to proceed, the district will display in classrooms.
4. Progress is being made on a renewal lease with the Boys and Girls Club - Homer location and will be completed soon. Also, the possible donation of the old Vo-Tech property to our district is being worked on currently.
There being no further business to come before the Board, a motion was made by Mr. Nokes to adjourn the meeting, seconded by Mr. Griffin.
Perry Anderson, President
Claiborne Parish School Board
ATTEST:
Mr. Chris Brooks, Secretary
Claiborne Parish School Board
(January 31, 2025)
Cost of Notice: $105
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