Franklinton, Louisiana

November 12, 2020

6:00 p.m.

The Washington Parish School Board met in regular session on the above date with the following members present: Dan Slocum, Bruce Brown, Robert Boone, Kendall McKenzie, John Wyble, Lesley McKinley, Alan McCain, Dewitt Perry and Frankie Crosby.  Absent:  None.

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 – Consider a motion to adopt the minutes of the October 8, 2020, regular board meeting (John Wyble).

It was moved by Frankie Crosby, seconded by Dan Slocum, that the Board adopt the minutes of the October 8, 2020, regular board meeting as submitted to each member.  Motion carried unanimously.

Agenda Item #5 – Presentation to Dr. Jerry and LouAnn Thomas (Frances Varnado).

Superintendent Varnado presented a pewter tray to Dr. Jerry and Ms. LouAnn Thomas and thanked them for their donation of 0.793 acres of land at Thomas Elementary School.  The new “Thomas Bypass” was donated to help with traffic flow at the school and to clear Highway 424 of congestion.  The Board members thanked Dr. and Mrs. Thomas also.

Mr. Richard Thomas, Parish President was thanked for his help in securing the property and making the road accessible.  Malinda White, State Representative was also in attendance at tonight’s meeting and thanked for her service to Washington Parish.

Agenda Item #6 – Presentation to School Resource Officers (Frances Varnado).

The Washington Parish School System Resource Officers were recognized for their dedication, compassion, & hard work.  These gentlemen go above and beyond every day to keep students and staff safe while at school.

Superintendent Varnado presented a plaque in memory of Mr. Harold Varnado, Jr.to his family for his many years of service to the Washington Parish School System.

Lionel Mark with the Washington Parish Sheriff’s Office and John Herring and Ernie Corkern with the Franklinton Police Department were also presented with a plaque of gratitude for their service to the Washington Parish Schools.

A special thanks also goes out to all of the Franklinton Police Department and Washington Parish Sheriff’s Office for the endless amount of support that they provide to the Washington Parish School System.

Agenda Item #7 – Presentation on September 2020 financial statements (Lacy Burris).

Lacy Burris, Director of Finance, presented the September 2020 financial statements at the Monday night committee meeting for the following funds:

General Fund

School Lunch Fund

Tax District #4 Bond Sinking Fund

Agenda Item #8 – Discuss and take appropriate action on Request for Proposals received for an Integrated Electronic Access Control System, Integrated Building Wide Alerting System and Integrated Security Camera System-CCTV (Lacy Burris).

This item has been postponed till the December 2020 board meeting.

Agenda Item #9 – Consider a motion to approve the second allocations to schools for the 2019/2020 operations budget (Lacy Burris).

It was moved by Dewitt Perry, seconded by Dan Slocum, that the Board approve the second allocations to schools for the 2019/2020 operations budget as follows:

  Motion carried unanimously.

Agenda Item #10 - Consider a motion to approve restricted allocations for some schools in lieu of paying for water/sewage (Lacy Burris).

It was moved by Alan McCain, seconded by Kendall McKenzie, that the Board approve restricted allocations for school schools in lieu of paying for water/sewage as follows:

Motion carried unanimously.

Agenda Item #11 – Discuss and take appropriate action on entering into a master installment purchase agreement with Mercedes-Benz Financial Services USA, LLC for the purchase of seven Thomas School Buses at a cost of $82,494.84 each (Lacy Burris).

It was moved by Frankie Crosby, seconded by Robert Boone, that the Board enter into a master installment purchase agreement with Mercedes-Benz Financial Services USA, LLC for the purchase of seven Thomas School Buses at a cost of $82,494.84 each.  Motion carried unanimously.

Agenda Item #12 – Personnel Report (Mary Jones)

PERSONNEL ADJUSTMENTS

SICK LEAVE/RETIREMENT RESIGNATION

1.                Franklinton Primary School:  Janice Branch, Administrative Assistant I – School Clerk, Sick Leave effective November 16, 2020 through June 30, 2021 and Retirement Resignation effective June 30, 2021.

RESIGNATION

1.                Central Office:  Christi Wood, Administrative Assistant I – Literacy/Curriculum, Resignation effective December 31, 2020.

2.                Franklinton Elementary School:  Abbie Stevenson, Music Teacher, Resignation effective November 6, 2020.

3.                Thomas Elementary School:  Makayla Luper, Part-Time School Lunch Worker, Resignation effective November 9, 2020.

4.                Thomas Elementary School:  Cherish Seal, Pre-K Paraprofessional, Resignation effective October 9, 2020.

5.                Wesley Ray School District:  Crystal Fox, Bus Operator, Resignation effective October 23, 2020.

TRANSFER

1.                Katlyn Baker, Speech Pathologist Assistant, 4 days per week – Fall Semester Only, Wesley Ray Elementary School TO Speech Pathologist Assistant, 4 days per week – Fall Semester Only, Thomas Elementary School effective December 7, 2020.

2.                Melissa Lebo, Speech Pathologist, Homebased at Thomas Elementary School TO HomeHomebased at Franklinton Elementary School effective December 7, 2020.

3.                Lorrie Wood, Accountant I – School Clerk, Franklinton Primary School/Central Office TO Accountant I – School Clerk, Franklinton Primary School effective November 16, 2020 (Replacing Janice Branch).

4.                AnnaShea Frazier, Pre-K Paraprofessional, Franklinton Primary School TO Accountant I – School Clerk, Franklinton Primary School/Central Office effective November 16, 2020 (Replacing Lorrie Wood).

5.                Cindy LaCroix, School Lunch Worker, Franklinton High School TO School Lunch Worker, Franklinton Primary School effective January 4, 2021 (Replacing Paula Anthony).

6.                Jackie Thomas, Literacy Paraprofessional (Paid out of ½ EIS & ½ REAP), Franklinton Primary School TO Administrative Assistant I – Literacy/Curriculum, Central Office effective January 4, 2021 (Replacing Christi Wood).

CHANGE OF EMPLOYMENT STATUS

1.                Franklinton School District:  David Barber, Bus Operator TO Bus Operator, Kay Harmon’s Bus Route effective October 19, 2020.

2.                Franklinton Primary School:  Candace Simone White, Pre-K Paraprofessional TO Kindergarten Teacher effective October 12, 2020 (Replacing Kristy Bennett).

3.                Thomas Elementary School:  Judy Sumrall, Special Education Paraprofessional TO Pre-K Paraprofessional effective October 19, 2020 (Replacing Cherish Seal).

4.                Varnado High School:  Lynell Hanson, Regular Teacher TO Guidance Services effective November 30, 2020 (Replacing Robin Olivier).

5.                Wesley Ray Elementary School:  Carrie Sheridan, Registered Nurse, Retirement Resignation effective November 9, 2020 TO Retirement Resignation effective November 7, 2020.

EMPLOY

1.                Franklinton District:  Heather Cooper, Bus Operator, Employ effective November 2, 2020 (David Barber’s Route).

2.                Franklinton Primary School:  Abbie Jones, Pre-K Paraprofessional, Employ effective November 18, 2020 (Replacing AnnaShea Frazier).

3.                Franklinton Primary School:  Rita Tate, Pre-K Paraprofessional, Employ effective November 5, 2020 (Replacing Candace White).

4.                Franklinton High School:  Melissa Alford, School Lunch Worker, Employ effective January 4, 2021 (Replacing Cindy LaCroix).

5.                Franklinton High School:  Keyon Bickham, Special Education Paraprofessional, Employ effective December 1, 2020 (Replacing Patricia Archote).

6.                Franklinton High School:  Deborah Rogers, School Lunch Worker, Employ effective October 20, 2020 (Replacing Barbara Magee).

7.                Pine School:  Ashley Miller, Special Education Paraprofessional, Employ effective January 4, 2021 (Replacing Haley Hunt).

8.                Thomas Elementary School:  Andrea Rawls, Special Education Paraprofessional, Employ effective November 4, 2020 (Replacing Judy Sumrall).

9.                Varnado High School:  Taylor Busby, Regular Teacher, Employ effective November 9, 2020 (Replacing Katherine Jenkins).

10.             Varnado High School:  Falisha McDonald-Garrett, Librarian, Employ effective November 30, 2020 (Replacing Lynell Hanson).

11.             Varnado High School:  Amanda Hebert, Accountant I – School Clerk, Employ effective November 4, 2020 (Replacing Josephine Moses).

12.             Varnado High School:  Tiffany Owens, Special Education Paraprofessional, Employ effective November 18, 2020 (Replacing Sherina Thompson).

13.             Varnado High School:  Sarah Touchet, Special Education Paraprofessional, Employ effective November 18, 2020 (Replacing Larry Jenkins).

14.             Wesley Ray Elementary School:  Hailie Adams, Accountant I – School Clerk, Employ effective November 4, 2020 (Replacing Treana Burton).

15.             Central Office:  John Thomas, Computer Technician, Employ effective December 1, 2020.

CONTRACT RENEWAL

1.                Pine School:  Jennifer Thomas, Principal, Contract Renewal December 17, 2020 through December 16, 2022.

            Agenda Item #13 – Discuss and take appropriate action regarding Transportation Adjustments (Shane Smith).

It was moved by Robert Boone, seconded by Dewitt Perry, that the Board adopt the Transportation Adjustments as follows:

TRANSPORTATION ADJUSTMENTS

Varnado District:                                                           Extend the route of Easter Blackburn 5 miles one way to pick up students on Hwy. 62.  Effective date:  October 12, 2020.

Varnado/Wesley Ray District:                                        Extend the route of Barbara Harris 16 miles to help with vacant bus route.  Mileage is for VHS – WRES twice a day.  Effective date:  August 17, 2020 to September 22, 2020 only.

Wesley Ray Elementary School:                                     Extend the route of Margo Owens 2.8 miles one way to pick up students on H. H. Seals Road.  Effective date:  September 21, 2020.

Motion carried unanimously.

Agenda Item #14 - Superintendent’s Report

Paquita Thomas presented a plan to the Board concerning Footprints 2 Pathways goal to establish a community center for Franklinton’s youth on the property across from Franklinton Primary School.

            Agenda Item #15 - Personal Privileges – School Board Members

            Frankie Crosby recognized Mr. Greg Route, Mayor Elect of Franklinton, who was in attendance at tonight’s meeting.

The Board wished all a Happy Thanksgiving.

Agenda Item #16 - Consider a motion to adjourn.

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

______________________________

John Wyble, President

______________________________

Frances Varnado, Secretary