Franklinton, Louisiana

October 12, 2020

6:00 p.m.

 

 

The Washington Parish School Board met in regular session on the above date with the following members present: Bruce Brown, John Wyble, Kendall McKenzie, Alan McCain, Robert Boone, Dewitt Perry and Lesley McKinley.  Absent: Dan Slocum and Frankie Crosby.

 

Agenda Item #1 - Call to order

 

The meeting was called to order by President John Wyble.

 

Agenda Item #2 – Invocation

 

The invocation was given by Bruce Brown.

 

Agenda Item #3 – Pledge of Allegiance

 

Agenda Item #4 – Presentation on August 2020 financial statements (Lacy Burris).

 

Lacy Burris, Director of Finance, presented the August 2020 financial statements for the following funds:

 

General Fund

School Lunch Fund

Tax District #4 Bond Sinking Fund

 

Agenda Item #5 – Consider a motion to adopt the minutes of the September 10, 2020, regular board meeting (John Wyble).

 

It was moved by Dewitt Perry, seconded by Kendall McKenzie, that the Board adopt the minutes of the September 10, 2020, regular board meeting as submitted to each member.  Motion carried unanimously.

           

            Agenda Item #6 – Discuss and take appropriate action regarding the Fiscal Agency Contract for the period of November 1, 2020 through October 31, 2021 (Lacy Burris).

 

            It was moved by Dewitt Perry, seconded by Alan McCain, that the Board award Hancock-Whitney Bank the Board’s Fiscal Agency Contract for the period of November 1, 2020 through October 31, 2021.  Motion carried unanimously.

 

            Agenda Item #7 – Discuss and allow public comment on the proposed use of funds received under the USDA Rural Development Grant (Lacy Burris).

 

            Agenda Item #8 – Consider a motion to adopt a resolution authorizing the application of grant funding through USDA Rural Development (Lacy Burris).

 

            It was moved by Alan McCain, seconded by Lesley McKinley, that the Board adopt a resolution as follows:

Resolution

 

            The Washington Parish School Board authorizes the application of grant funding through the USDA Rural Development Grant.  The amount of funding for the project will be $50,000 in grant funds received under the USDA Rural Development Grant program and an addition $21,947 in matching fund provided by the Washington Parish School Board General Fund.  The $71,947 in funding will be used to purchase 10 AED Devices at an expected cost of $16,000.  The remaining $55,947 will be used to purchase approximately 160 Chromebooks.

 

            Motion carried unanimously.

 

            Agenda Item #9 – Consider a motion to adopt the schedule of School Board meetings for 2021 (Frances Varnado).

 

            It was moved by Kendall McKenzie, seconded by Dewitt Perry, that the Board adopt the schedule of School Board meetings for 2021 as follows:

 

PUBLIC MEETINGS

ACT 707 OF 1977

 

REGULAR MEETINGS OF WASHINGTON PARISH SCHOOL BOARD – 2021

 

The Washington Parish School Board shall meet in regular session for the year 2021 at its legal domicile, the Washington Parish School Board Office Building, 800 Main Street, Franklinton, Louisiana, at 6:00 P.M., on the following dates:

 

THURSDAY - SCHOOL BOARD MEETINGS     MONDAY - COMMITTEE MEETINGS

 

January 14, 2021                                                          January 11, 2021

                                                                       

February 11, 2021                                                        February 8, 2021

 

March 18, 2021                                                            March 15, 2021

 

April 22, 2021                                                               April 19, 2021

                                                                                                                                          

May 13, 2021                                                                May 10, 2021

 

June 10, 2021                                                               June 7, 2021

 

July 22, 2021                                                               July 19, 2021

 

August 5, 2021                                                             August 2, 2021

 

September 9, 2021                                                       September 7, 2021 (Tuesday)

 

October 7, 2021                                                          October 4, 2021

                                                                                                                                               

November 11, 2021                                                      November 8, 2021

 

December 9, 2021                                                        December 6, 2021

 

            Motion carried unanimously.

 

            Agenda Item #10 – Consider a motion to accept the donation of 0.793 acres of land from Dr. Jerry A. Thomas and LouAnn Pitre Thomas (Frances Varnado).

 

            It was moved by Kendall McKenzie, seconded by Bruce Brown, that the Board accept the donation of 0.793 acres of land from Dr. Jerry A. Thomas and LouAnn Pitre Thomas at Thomas Elementary School.  Motion carried unanimously.

 

            Agenda Item #11 - Personnel Report (Mary Jones).

 

PERSONNEL ADJUSTMENTS

 

SICK LEAVE/RETIREMENT RESIGNATION

 

1.                Varnado High School:  Robin Olivier, Guidance Counselor, Sick Leave effective November 30, 2020 through February 19, 2021 and Retirement Resignation effective February 19, 2021.

 

RETIREMENT

 

1.                Franklinton Elementary School:  Juhn Marie Green, Regular Teacher, Retirement Resignation effective October 6, 2020.

 

2.                Franklinton Elementary School:  Lauren Johnson, Registered Nurse, Retirement Resignation effective October 30, 2020.

 

3.                Franklinton High School:  Patricia Archote, Special Education Paraprofessional, Retirement Resignation effective December 1, 2020.

 

4.                Wesley Ray Elementary School:  Carrie Sheridan, Registered Nurse, Retirement Resignation effective November 9, 2020.

 

5.                Pine School:  Haley Hunt, Special Education Paraprofessional, Retirement Resignation effective December 18, 2020.

 

6.                Varnado High School:  Katherine Jenkins, Regular Teacher, Retirement Resignation effective October 30, 2020.

 

7.                Varnado High School:  Larry Jenkins, Special Education Paraprofessional, Retirement Resignation effective October 30, 2020.

 

MEDICAL TERMINATION

 

1.                Franklinton Primary School:  Paula Anthony, School Food Service Worker, Medical Termination effective November 2, 2020.

 

RESIGNATION

 

1.                Franklinton School District:  Kay Harmon, Bus Operator, Resignation effective September 25, 2020.

 

2.                Varnado High School:  Durand Smith, Custodian, Resignation effective September 11, 2020.

 

3.                Wesley Ray Elementary School:  Treana Burton, Administrative Assistant I – School Clerk, Resignation effective October 5, 2020.

 

TRANSFER

1.                Genie Williams, Registered Nurse, Franklinton Primary School TO Registered Nurse, Wesley Ray Elementary School effective November 10, 2020 (Replacing Carrie Sheridan).

 

CHANGE OF EMPLOYMENT STATUS

1.                Enon Elementary School:  Tina Hartfield, Part-Time School Lunch Worker TO Special Education Paraprofessional effective August 31, 2020. (Replacing Tiffany Modlin).

 

2.                Franklinton High School:  Barbara Magee, School Lunch Worker TO Custodian effective October 1, 2020 (Replacing Iretha Brown).

 

3.                Thomas Elementary School:  Lisa Magee, Faculty Coordinator (10 month) TO Assistant Principal (12 month) effective September 1, 2020.

 

EMPLOY

 

1.                Enon Elementary School:  Tara McAlister, Part-Time School Lunch Worker, Employ as Full Time School Lunch Worker for the 2020/2021 school year only effective August 31, 2020 (replacing Tina Hartfield). 

 

2.                Franklinton Elementary School:  Abbie Stevenson, Music Teacher, Employ effective October 1, 2020 (Replacing Juhn Marie Green).

 

3.                Franklinton Primary School:  Connie Johnston, Registered Nurse, Employ effective October 20, 2020 (Replacing Genie Williams).

 

4.                Franklinton Elementary School:  Shana Turnage, Registered Nurse, Employ effective October 26, 2020 (Replacing Lauren Johnson).

 

5.                Varnado High School:  Bobby Thomas, Custodian, Employ effective September 30, 2020 (Replacing Durand Smith).

 

CONTRACT RENEWAL

1.                Enon Elementary School:  Shannon Fowler, Principal, Contract Renewal November 1, 2020 through October 31, 2022.

 

            Agenda Item #12 – Discuss and take appropriate action regarding Transportation Adjustments (Shane Smith).

            None

 

Agenda Item #13 - Superintendent’s Report

 

Jackie Jenkins, Supervisor, informed the Board of a District Wide School Safety Grant.  The Grant is for 3 years in the amount of $750,000.00.

 

7th and 8th graders returned to school today (October 12, 2020).

 

            Distance learners will return to school on October 15th.

 

            All students return to school 4 days per week on October 19th and 5 days per week on November 2nd. 

 

Agenda Item #14 - Personal Privileges – School Board Members

 

            The Board thanked everyone for their hard work during this unprecedented time.

 

            The Board thanked Dr. Jerry and Ms. LouAnn Thomas for their donation.

 

            Agenda Item #15 – Consider a motion to enter into Executive Session under LA.R.S. 42:17(2) regarding Suit #2:20-cv-2425 Alexander Thomas and Stacey Thomas versus Frances Varnado and the Washington Parish School Board (John Wyble).

           

            It was moved by Kendall McKenzie, seconded by Lesley McKinley, that the Board enter into Executive Session under LA R.S. 42:17(2) regarding Suit #2:20-cv-2425 Alexander Thomas and Stacey Thomas versus Frances Varnado and the Washington Parish School Board.  Motion carried unanimously.

 

            Agenda Item #16 – Consider a motion to return to regular session.

 

            It was moved by Kendall McKenzie, seconded by Alan McCain, that the Board return to regular session.  Motion carried unanimously.

 

            In the matter of Suit #2:20-cv-2425 Alexander Thomas and Stacey Thomas versus Frances Varnado and the Washington Parish School Board, the Washington Parish School Board will not appeal the decision of the courts.

 

Agenda Item #17 - Consider a motion to adjourn.

 

It was moved by Alan McCain, seconded by Dewitt Perry, that the Board adjourn.  Motion carried unanimously.

 

______________________________

John Wyble, President

 

______________________________

Frances Varnado, Secretary