MAY 12, 2026

THE VERNON PARISH SCHOOL BOARD CONVENED IN REGULAR SESSION AT 10:00 A.M., 201 BELVIEW ROAD, LEESVILLE, LOUISIANA. PRESIDENT DEIDRA SHELL CALLED THE MEETING TO ORDER AND ON ROLL CALL THE FOLLOWING MEMBERS WERE PRESENT:

District One:

Kelly Kaiama Goodwin

Rhonda Morrison

Robert Pynes, Jr.

Jim Seaman

District Two:

Angie Davis

District Three:

Deidra Shell

District Four:

Randy Martin

District Five:

District Six:

District Seven:

John Blankenbaker

District Eight:

Candace Black

ABSENT

Col. J. Adam Barlow, Fort Johnson Garrison Commander

District 5 : Shad Stewart

District 6 : Vernon L. Travis, Jr.

The meeting was opened in prayer by: Deidra Shell

The Pledge of Allegiance was led by: Deidra Shell

Item #1: Adopt Millage Rates for Tax Year 2026

On motion of John Blankenbaker, seconded by Kelly Goodwin, the Board voted to adopt the millage rates for tax year 2026. A full board vote was called with 9 yeas, 0 nays, and 3 absent.

Item #2: Approval of Minutes of May 7, 2026 Meeting

On motion of Kelly Goodwin seconded by Jim Seaman, the Board voted to approve the minutes of the May 7, 2026 regular meeting and dispense with the reading of the minutes.

Item #3: Approval of Employee Retirements

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

Item #4: Budget Amendments Related to Personnel Changes

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

Item #5: Pay the Claims

On motion of Rhonda Morrison, seconded by Candace Black, the Board voted to authorize the president and secretary to pay the claims.

Item #6: Advertise for two Curriculum Supervisors

On motion of Candace Black seconded by Kelly Goodwin, the Board voted to advertise for two Curriculum Supervisors

Item#7: Advertise for a promotional Principal position at Evans High School

On motion of Kelly Goodwin, seconded by Rhonda Morrison, the Board voted to advertise for a promotional Principal position at Evans High School.

Item #8: Advertise for non-promotional position at WLE

On motion of Rhonda Morrison, seconded by Kelly Goodwin, the Board voted to advertise for a non-promotional principal position at WLE

Item #9: Motion to name interim Board Member for remaining term of District 1/6 vacancy

On motion of Jim Seaman, seconded by John Blankenbaker, the Board voted to name

Mark H. Smith as interim Board Member for remaining term of the vacancy in District 1/6.

Item #10: Student recognition Evans, Hicks, Hornbeck, RES, RHS and Simpson

Curriculum Supervisor, Karen Robertson and Principals from the above named schools, presented their students with an award certificate for their achievements. List of names attached:

Item #11: Recognition of Employee of the Month

Traci Parker, teacher at Simpson High School was recognized today as the Employee of the Month. Her principal, Sherre Morse spoke about what an outstanding teacher Mrs. Parker is, always going above and beyond her regular duties. Beyond her classroom responsibilities, Mrs. Parker has earned the respect of her students through her fairness, consistency and genuine care for their success. Her classroom environment promotes learning, accountability and mutual respect, allowing students to thrive both academically and personally.

Rodney Taylor with Pelican Benefits Advisor, sponsor of Employee of the Month presented Mrs. Parker with a plaque and a bag of goodies. Thank you for a job well done, Mrs. Parker.

Item #12: Recognition of VPSB Nurses

Personnel Director and Director of Nurses, Joseph Bartz recognized the Vernon Parish School Nurses and thanked them for the awesome job they do for our schools and students. Nurses are a very important part of our faculty and staff at each school. The following is a list of our nurses by name and school:

Mandie Johnson- Head Nurse/Pitkin, Shelby Ford/Hornbeck, Robbie Suire/LHS and RHS, Carla Allain/LJHS and Simpson, Christina Edwards/Pickering and Simpson, Brenda Beall/ Evans and Parkway, Kina Dowden/Hornbeck and Anacoco, Tina Turnage/Hicks and VMS, Heather Blackwell/Hicks and WLE Lajuanna Reed/LHS and LJHS, Debra Dougharty/WLE and Pitkin and Lexi Burns/RHS and RES, Caitlin McKenzie/PHS and PES and RES, Danee Cook/AHS and AES and Parkway, and Leah Power/H.S. ELE/North.

Thanks to all our nurses for the incredible job you do at our schools.

Item #13: Superintendents Remarks

Superintendent Williams thanked all the students who were recognized today for their outstanding accomplishments and hard work. He also thanked the teachers and administrators for working with their students and helping them achieve their goals.

Congratulations to all the graduates of 2026. We are very proud of you all.

Item #14: 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 Carolyn J. Armes who recently passed away; and

WHEREAS, Ms. Armes was a nursing instructor at Leesville High School from 2000-2010 before transferring to Anacoco schools and Hornbeck as a school nurse until she retired June 30, 2025; and

WHEREAS, Ms. Armes 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 # 15: Adjournment:

There being no further business the meeting was adjourned.

Authorized Officer

_________

DEIDRA SHELL, PRESIDENT

ATTEST:

__________

JAMES WILLIAMS, SUPERINTENDENT

VERNON PARISH SCHOOL BOARD

BE IT RESOLVED, that the following millages are hereby levied on the 2026 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 4.16 mills

Parish Wide School Special 8.09 mills

Ward 1 Maintenance Regular 12.98 mills

Ward 2 Hornbeck Maintenance Regular 13.66 mills

School District 143 Hornbeck Construction & Maintenance 10.27 mills

Ward 2 Orange Maintenance Regular 13.08 mills

Ward 3 Maintenance Regular 18.64 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 9.75 mills

Ward 7 Maintenance Regular 17.33 mills

Ward 8 Maintenance Regular 14.32 mills

Ward 8 School Dist 151 Additional funding 10.21 mills

Leesville Sinking Fund 19.37 mills

Orange Sinking Fund 7.52 mills

Ward 3 Sinking Fund 1.20 mills

Pickering Sinking Fund 13.93 mills

Ward 6 Sinking Fund 2.56 mills

Ward 7 Sinking Fund 20.50 mills

Ward 8 Sinking Fund 22.52 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 2026, 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 May 12, 2026 at which meeting a quorum was present and voting.

Leesville, Louisiana, this 12th day May, 2026

______

(Superintendent)

6/19/26 ($152.96)