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