PARISH OF DESOTO

DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

Mansfield, Louisiana

 

March 5, 2020

 

The DeSoto Parish School Board met in regular session at the DeSoto Parish School Board Instructional Materials Center, 523 Oxford Road, Mansfield, Louisiana, on Thursday, March 5, 2020, at 6:00 p.m. with the following members present:

 

            Dr. Neil Henderson, Jeffrey Dillard, Donald B. Dufour, Coday Johnston, Alice Thomas, Mark Ross, Bobby Boyd, L. J. Mayweather, Jr., and Clay Corley, Superintendent.

 

            Absent:  Dudley M. Glenn, Dale Morvan & Thomas Craig, Jr.

 

            Item 1:  Call to order

           

            President Boyd called the meeting to order.  Superintendent Corley spoke for a moment about the careers of two retirees who recently passed away. Mrs. Carolyn Palmer, former DeSoto Parish educator, Director of Instruction and Interim Superintendent and Mr. Myrtis Anderson, longtime Ag Teacher and Driver’s Education instructor.  Dr. Henderson gave the invocation and led the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.   

 

            Item 2:  Revisions to the agenda.

 

            There were no revisions to the agenda. 

 

            Item 3:  Approval of minutes of the regular Board meeting of February 6, 2020.

 

            Mr. Ross made the motion, seconded by Ms. Thomas, to approve the minutes of the February 6, 2020, regular Board meeting.  The President stated the motion carried with the following votes – Yes = 7, No = 0, Absent = 4, and Abstentions = 0. 

 

            Board Member L. J. Mayweather, Jr., entered the meeting after Item 3 was complete.

 

            Item 4:  Great News

 

            Mrs. Laffitte announced the state winners for Wrestling and the Indoor Track Shot Put.  Superintendent Corley presented them with certificates. 

 

North DeSoto HighSchool  - State Champions

Isaac Dees – wrestling, 106 pound class

Richard Mack – wrestling, 152 pound class

Johnny Mitchell – indoor track shot put, 56 feet, 8.5 inches

Dylan Olivier – wrestling, 195 pound class

Josh Sarpy – wrestling, 120 pound class

 

            Mrs. Noel, Student Learning Director, introduced the school and district level winners for Student of the Year school.  Superintendent Corley presented them with certificates.   

 

5th grade Students of the Year

Marianna Roberts – Logansport High School

Yuxi Zheng – Mansfield Middle School, Parish Level Winner

Jessie May – North DeSoto Upper Elementary School

Koby Groves – Stanley High School

 

8th grade Students of the Year

Jordan Porterfield – Logansport High School, Parish Level Winner

Paris Warmsley – Mansfield Middle School

Ella Cosby – North DeSoto Middle School

Mia Norwood – Stanley High School

 

12th grade

Annelisa Dixon – Logansport High School

Brandon DeLoach – Mansfield High School

Landry Burback – North DeSoto High School, Parish Level Winner

Malaya Rougely – Stanley High School

 

Mrs. Laffitte presented the school and parish level Teacher of the Year winners. 

 

Elementary School Teachers of the Year

Kourteni Prealow-Henderson – Logansport High School

Monica Cowden – Mansfield Elementary School

Bailee Smith – North Desoto Lower Elementary School

Jessica Rivers – North DeSoto Upper Elementary School

Denise Gordon – Stanley High School, Parish Level Winner

 

Middle School Teachers of the Year

Charday Wilson – Logansport High School

JemartriusMayweather – Mansfield Middle School

Zachary Harper – North DeSoto Middle School, Parish Level Winner

Klifford Walker – Stanley High School

 

High School Teachers of the Year

Shonda Ford – DeSoto Schools’ Grace House

Nakia Graham – Mansfield High School, Parish Level Winner

Stephanie Locke – North Desoto High School

Lindsey Christiana – Stanley High School

 

            Ms. Giles presented an award to the DeSoto Parish Principal of the Year, Mrs. Brittany Anderson.  Mrs. Anderson serves as Principal of Mansfield Elementary School.

 

Certificates and awards were given to the school and parish level winners.  Mr. Corley and Board Members commended them for their dedication and hard work. 

 

Superintendent Corley introduced the teachers who serve on the Superintendent’s Advisory Council.  He explained their role as members of the Council and thanked them for serving for the 2019-2020 school year.  The members are Jeremy Burnett, Lori Dick, Rachael Griffin, Demetri Hill, Brooke Lowe, Natasha Ogunyemi, Jessica Rivers, Scarlett Walker, Shelly Walters, and Tyler Warren.

 

Item 5 – Consider approval of school calendar for the 2020-2021 school year.

 

Mrs. Noel presented a 2020-2021 school year calendar draft for approval. 

 

Motion was made by Mr. Johnston, seconded by Mr. Dillard, to approve the 2020-2021 school year calendar as presented.  The vote was taken and the President stated the motion carried with the following votes – Yes = 8, No = 0, Absent = 3, and Abstentions = 0. 

 

Item 6 – Report of the Budget/Finance Committee meeting held on February 27, 2020. 

 

Motion was made by Mr. Ross, seconded by Ms. Thomas, to approve the minutes of the February 27, 2020, Finance Committee meeting as presented.  The vote was taken and the President stated the motion carried with the following votes – Yes = 8, No = 0, Absent = 3, and Abstentions = 0. 

 

Motion was made by Mr. Dillard, seconded by Mr. Johnston, to approve the following:

 

·        Approve budget revisions to the Capital Projects Funds as presented

·        Approve minor revisions to the salary schedule as presented.

 

Dr. Henderson asked for clarification as to what changed on the salary schedule, specifically was a new position involved.  Mr. Corley explained the minor changes were to add an HR clerk title to a column, as the job title was changing, and to change the wording of a statement.  No new positions were created.  Dr. Henderson thanked him for that explanation.

 

The President stated the motion carried with the following votes – Yes = 8, No = 0, Absent = 3, and Abstentions = 0.

 

            Item 7 – Board policies for approval.

 

Board policies were presented for approval.

a.      DFD – Tax and Bond Elections

b.      GAEAA – Sexual Harassment

c.      GBN – Dismissal of Employees

d.      GBRL- Holidays

 

Motion was made by Mr. Dufour, seconded by Mr. Johnston, to approve Board policies as presented.  The vote was taken and the President stated the motion carried with the following votes – Yes = 8, No = 0, Absent = 3, and Abstentions = 0.

 

            Item 8:  Comments

 

            Mr. Corley made the Board and the public aware of the following:

 

·        Board Training will be held 12:00 – 3:00 on Tuesday, March 10.

 

·        Stanley High School Panthers will play Friday night in the 3rd round of the basketball playoffs at Doyline

 

·        Mansfield High School’s Lady Wolverines will play Friday at 6pm in Lake Charles for the state basketball championship. 

 

            Item 9:  Adjournment

 

On a motion by Mr. Johnston, seconded by Ms. Thomas, the Board voted to adjourn at 6:32 p.m.

 

Bobby Boyd, President                                      Clay J. Corley, Secretary

            DeSoto Parish School Board                                         DeSoto Parish School Board