Franklinton, Louisiana
April 16, 2015
6:30 p.m.
The Washington Parish School Board met in regular session on the above date with the following members present: Dan Slocum, John Wyble, Bruce Brown, John Breland, Matthew Tate, Dewitt Perry, Robert Boone and Lesley McKinley. Absent: Alan McCain.
Agenda Item #1 - Call to order
The meeting was called to order by President Matthew Tate.
Agenda Item #2 – Invocation
The invocation was given by Bruce Brown.
Agenda Item #3 – Pledge of Allegiance
Agenda Item #4 – Awards Presentation – Students of the Year (Mary Jones).
Supervisor Mary Jones briefly reviewed the Louisiana Students of the Year Awards Program. The Guidelines for Selection of Candidates were used to select the winners at the school and the parish level. The four categories for selection included the cumulative grade point average, a portfolio of supporting documents, writing samples, and an interview with the judges. The following school level winners were introduced by their respective school principals and presented plaques from the Washington Parish School System:
SCHOOL STUDENT OF THE YEAR PRESENTER
Franklinton Jr. High Kaniya Dillon Tiffany Smith, Principal
Mt. Hermon Jr. High Emily McElveen Pauline Bankston, Principal
Pine Jr. High Sydney Thomas Jennifer Thomas, Principal
Varnado Jr. High Christian Mizell Jennifer Beninato, Principal
Franklinton High Trista Galivan Lisa Tanner, Principal
Mt. Hermon High Karla Martin Pauline Bankston, Principal
Pine High Hunter Cooper Jennifer Thomas, Principal
Varnado High Zoe Busby Jennifer Beninato, Principal
Superintendent Darrell Fairburn then recognized and presented plaques to the Washington Parish Jr. High School Student of the Year 2014-2015, Kaniya Dillon and the Washington Parish High School Student of the Year 2014-2015, Hunter Cooper (Absent).
The Board congratulated the students of the year.
Agenda Item #5 – Recognize Renee Burris and Grant Gerald (Darrell Fairburn).
On Monday night, Superintendent Fairburn recognized and thanked Renee Burris for her service and leadership as Principal at Varnado High School for the 2015 Spring Semester. He also recognized and thanked Grant Gerald for his service and leadership as Assistant Principal at Varnado High School for the 2015 Spring Semester.
The Board also thanked them for their leadership.
Agenda Item #6 – Consider a motion to adopt the minutes of the March 12, 2015, regular board meeting (Matthew Tate).
It was moved by John Breland, seconded by Bruce Brown, that the Board adopt the minutes of the March 12, 2015, regular board meeting as submitted to each member. Motion carried unanimously.
Agenda Item #7 – Consider a motion to authorize withdrawal privileges for Jennifer Beninato on all Varnado High School bank accounts and terminate withdrawal privileges for Renee Burris and Polly Thigpen on all Varnado High School bank accounts effective April 8, 2015 (Darrell Fairburn).
It was moved by John Breland, seconded by Lesley McKinley, that the board authorize withdrawal privileges for Jennifer Beninato on all Varnado High School bank accounts and terminate withdrawal privileges for Renee Burris and Polly Thigpen on all Varnado High School bank accounts effective April 8, 2015. Motion carried unanimously.
Agenda Item #8 – Consider a motion to adopt a resolution authorizing the superintendent to sign the Amendment to Investment Agreement (Beth Keaton).
It was moved by John Wyble, seconded by John Breland, that the Board adopt a resolution authorizing the superintendent to sign the Amendment to Investment Agreement as follows:
RESOLUTION
Whereas, the Washington Parish School Board has been informed of the option to withdraw a certain amount of said funds invested in the State Treasury pursuant to authority of La. R.S. 39.99 (Act 161 of the 2002 First Extraordinary Session of the Legislature) and our investment agreement;
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Washington Parish School Board does request the execution of the amendment to investment agreement with the State Treasury pursuant to La. R.S. 39.99; and
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Washington Parish School Board does request the withdrawal of funds from the State Treasury in the amount of $123,602.00 to be used as specified in our recently approved EEF plan for Tobacco Settlement Funds.
It is hereby affirmed and certified the foregoing is a true and exact copy of the resolution unanimously adopted by the Washington Parish School Board, Franklinton, Louisiana during regular session on April 16, 2015 at which a quorum was present and voted.
______________________________
Darrell Fairburn
Superintendent
Washington Parish School Board
Motion carried unanimously.
Agenda Item #9 – Consider a motion to authorize advertisement for bids for the purchase of Bakery Products, Milk and Other Food and Non-Food Supplies for the School Lunch Program for the 2015/2016 school year (Marsha Newman).
It was moved by John Wyble, seconded by Dewitt Perry, that the Board authorize advertisement for bids for the purchase of Bakery Products, Milk and Other Food and Non-Food Supplies for the School Lunch Program for the 2015/2016 school year. Motion carried unanimously.
Agenda Item #10 – Personnel Report (Richard Kennedy)
PERSONNEL ADJUSTMENTS
RETIREMENT RESIGNATION
Enon Elementary School: Jeannie Tate, Regular Teacher, Retirement Resignation effective May 22, 2015.
Franklinton Elementary School: Cherry Brown, Regular Teacher, Retirement Resignation effective May 22, 2015.
Franklinton Jr. High School: Regina Meyerchick, Regular Teacher, Retirement Resignation effective May 22, 2015.
Franklinton High School: Carol Johnson, School Lunch Manager, Retirement Resignation effective May 22, 2015.
Mt. Hermon School: Deborah Burris, Counselor, Retirement Resignation effective June 30, 2015.
Mt. Hermon School: Linda Fortenberry, Regular Teacher, Retirement Resignation effective May 22, 2015.
Mt. Hermon School: Donice Thomas, Custodian, Retirement Resignation effective June 30, 2015.
Pine School: Karl Mann, Regular Teacher, Retirement Resignation effective May 22, 2015.
RESIGNATION
Special Education Department: Adam Lockwood, School Psychology Intern, Resignation effective June 2, 2015.
Enon Elementary School: Karen Ballard, Regular Teacher, Resignation effective May 22, 2015.
Franklinton Jr. High School: Megan Adkins, Special Education Teacher, Resignation effective May 22, 2015.
Franklinton School District: Loralee McClendon, Bus Attendant, Resignation effective May 22, 2015.
Pine School: Tammy Lambert, Custodian, Resignation effective March 31, 2015.
Pine School: Emily Stuart, Special Education Teacher, Resignation effective May 22, 2015.
Pine School: Catherine Tall, Regular Teacher, Resignation effective May 22, 2015.
Varnado High School: Elaine Morris, Custodian, Resignation effective May 22, 2015.
TRANSFER
Priscilla Garcia, Literacy Paraprofessional (Paid out of EIS), Mt. Hermon School TO School Clerk-Administrative Assistant I, Franklinton Elementary School effective March 30, 2015.
Lauren Johnson, Registered Nurse Itinerant, Franklinton Primary School TO Registered Nurse Itinerant, Franklinton Elementary School effective March 2, 2015.
Ethel Mae Williams, Bus Attendant on Bus F92-Carolyn Fussell TO Bus Attendant on Bus F95-Melaney Rauch effective the 2015/2016 school year.
EMPLOY
Varnado High School: Jennifer Beninato, Principal, Employ effective March 30, 2015 – March 29, 2017 (2 year contract).
Agenda Item #11 – Consider a motion to adopt Transportation Adjustments (Richard Kennedy).
It was moved by John Wyble, seconded by Dewitt Perry, that the Board adopt the transportation adjustments as follows:
TRANSPORTATION ADJUSTMENTS
Enon District: Extend the route of Kellie Adams 3 miles one way to pick up students on Hwy. 60. Effective date: March 16, 2015.
Franklinton District: Extend the route of Carolyn Fussell 4.5 miles one way to pick up students on Hwy. 439. Effective date: March 25, 2015.
Extend the route of Melaney Rauch 5.6 miles one way to pick up students on Sundance Road. Effective date: March 16, 2015.
Motion carried unanimously.
Agenda Item #12 - Superintendent’s Report
Add to the Agenda: It was moved by Dan Slocum, seconded by John Wyble, to adopt a resolution opposing reducing or repealing the inventory tax credit. Motion carried unanimously.
It was moved by Dan Slocum, seconded by John Breland, that the Board adopt a resolution as follows:
Washington Parish School System
Resolution
The WASHINGTON PARISH SCHOOL BOARD HEREBY RESOLVES:
A RESOLUTION URGING STATE SENATORS AND STATE REPRESENTATIVES TO FIND ALTERNATIVES MEASURES IN BALANCING THE STATE BUDGET WITHOUT REDUCING OR REPEALING THE INVENTORY TAX CREDIT; AND THEREBY REDUCING THE INVENTORY TAX THAT LOCAL GOVERNMENTS RELY ON FOR ITS OPERATIONS
Whereas, the state of Louisiana has a projected budget deficit of 1.6 billion dollars; and
Whereas, any bill that proposes reductions or repeal of the Inventory Tax Credit would be detrimental to Washington Parish’s economy by approximately 1.7 million dollars and the Washington Parish School System budget by approximately 159,000 dollars; and
Whereas, Washington Parish Inventory Tax received contributes to the overall operation of Washington Parish Schools and other taxing authorities’ operations; and
Whereas, reducing or repealing this local revenue stream, would cause substantial decline to the quality of the public school system, local health care system, law enforcement authority including 911 Call Center, transit services, an exhausted supportive services programs; i.e., Head Start Program, Elderly Services, Youth Programs, etc., road and public works projects, maintenance of water treatment plants, Emergency Management and Preparedness ability to respond to emergencies, and other local government supported programs and services; and
Whereas, Washington Parish School Employees’ salaries and benefits account for approximately 84% of the operating budget, a repeal or any reduction to the inventory tax received by the Washington Parish School System would make it virtually impossible to maintain a low pupil/teacher ratio.
Whereas, by supporting any change to reduce or repeal the Inventory Tax Credit would mean dwindling the local economy and creating economic hardship on many families; and further imposing barriers on the sustainability of local government;
Therefore, be it resolved, that the Washington Parish School Board and Superintendent do hereby urge Louisiana State Senators and Representatives to find alternative measures in balancing the state budget without reducing or repealing the Inventory Tax Credit that local governments rely on for operations.
RESOLUTION OFFERED BY: Dan Slocum
RESOLUTION SECONDED BY: John Breland
The vote, in open meeting on the within resolution was as follows:
YEAS: ______8_________
NAYS: _______0_________
ABSENT: ____ 1_________
CERTIFICATION
I, Darrell Fairburn, hereby certify that the above and foregoing is a true and correct copy of a resolution adopted at the regular meeting of the Washington Parish School Board held on Thursday, April 16, 2015, a quorum being present and voting.
______________________________
Darrell Fairburn, Secretary
Washington Parish School System
Motion carried unanimously.
Agenda Item #16 - Personal Privileges – School Board Members
The Board congratulated Jennifer Beninato on her appointment as Principal of Varnado High School.
Ms. Beninato thanked the Central Office Staff, Varnado High School faculty and staff, students and parents for welcoming her to Varnado High School. Ms. Beninato will host a meet and greet on Tuesday, April 21, 2015 at 6:00 p.m. at the school.
Dan Slocum stated that the best meetings of the year are recognizing student accomplishments.
John Wyble stated that a former Franklinton High School demonette, Megan Tanner made the New Orleans Saintsations.
Agenda Item #14 - Consider a motion to adjourn.
It was moved by John Wyble, seconded by Lesley McKinley, that the Board adjourn. Motion carried unanimously.
______________________________
Matthew Tate, President
______________________________
Darrell Fairburn, Secretary