PARISH OF DESOTO

DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

Mansfield, Louisiana

April 2, 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, April 2, 2020, at 6:00 p.m. with the following members attending virtually:

            Dudley M. Glenn, Dr. Neil Henderson, Jeffrey Dillard, Donald B. Dufour, Alice Thomas, Mark Ross, Bobby Boyd.  Superintendent Clay Corley was present at the physical location.

            Absent:  Coday Johnston, Dale Morvan, Thomas Craig, Jr., and L. J. Mayweather, Jr.

            Item 1:  Call to order

            President Boyd called the meeting to order.  Superintendent Corley the invocation and the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.  Special thoughts were given to health care workers, first responders, those providing and stocking food and other essentials, and everyone experiencing health issues at this time.

            Item 2:  Revisions to the agenda.

            There were no revisions to the agenda. 

            Item 3:  Approval of minutes of the regular Board meeting of March 5, 2020.

            Mr. Boyd made the motion, seconded by Mr. Glenn, to approve the minutes of the March 5, 2020, regular Board meeting.  The motion carried with the following votes – Yes = 7, No = 0, Absent = 4, and Abstentions = 0. 

            Item 4:  Consider approval of Emergency Declaration Resolution

            Superintendent Corley explained that this declaration gives the Board the right to extend emergency powers to the Superintendent relative to the School Board’s response to COVID-19.

            Mr. Boyd made the motion, seconded by Mr. Glenn, to approve the Emergency Declaration Resolution as presented.  The motion carried with the following votes – Yes = 7, No = 0, Absent = 4, and Abstentions = 0. 

Item 5 – Consider approval of revised school calendar for the 2019-2020 school year.

Superintendent Corley explained the only revision to the calendar is to observe Spring Break April 3-10 instead of April 10-17, as originally scheduled.

Motion was made by Mr. Boyd, seconded by Ms. Thomas, to approve the revised 2019-2020 school year calendar as presented.  The motion carried with the following votes – Yes = 7, No = 0, Absent = 4, and Abstentions = 0. 

Item 6 – Report of the Budget/Finance Committee meeting held on March 19, 2020. 

Motion was made by Mr. Dufour, seconded by Mr. Glenn, to approve the minutes of the March 19, 2020, Finance Committee meeting as presented.  The motion carried with the following votes – Yes = 7, No = 0, Absent = 4, and Abstentions = 0. 

Motion was made by Mr. Dufour, seconded by Mr. Glenn, to approve the following:

1.      Approve budget revisions to the General Fund and Special Revenue Funds as presented

2.      Approve low bids as presented for:

·        Concrete driveway repair at Stanley High School to MAC Contracting Group, Inc.

·        Turf and track revisions at North DeSoto High School to T3Global Projects, LLC

·        Solid waste disposal to Triple C Disposal

The motion carried with the following votes – Yes = 6, No = 1, Absent = 4, and Abstentions = 0. 

Item 7 – Review and approve bids for painting of schools and facilities

Motion was made by Mr. Boyd, seconded by Mr. Glenn, to approve low bids as presented, to Performance Construction & Painting, for painting of schools and facilities.  The motion carried with the following votes – Yes = 7, No = 0, Absent = 4, and Abstentions = 0.

Item 8 – Board policy for review

Board policy II – Testing Program, was presented for review. 

Item 9:  Comments

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

·        Our district will suspend the food distribution program for next week only, as we observe spring break.  It will be back up and running on Monday, April 13.  It has been a great success.

·        Requests were received from local EMS and fire districts for any extra disinfecting wipes and hand sanitizer the schools have on campus.  Principals are gathering up those supplies and they will be delivered to the first responders on Friday.   We will continue to do our best to support community needs.  If you know of a need, please contact the Central Office.

·        Other emergency plans are being put in place, relative to COVID-19, to address any scenario we may encounter.

·        Vacant positions are currently being advertised on the district website.

Before the meeting adjourned, Dr. Henderson and Board Members commended Superintendent Corley and staff for the statewide recognition the district recently received for the quality programs, resources and support services offered to DeSoto students while schools are closed.

      President Boyd and Board Members expressed appreciation for everything the district is doing to provide support to students and staff and asked to keep Superintendent Corley, staff, and students in prayer.

Item 9:  Adjournment

On a motion by Mr. Glenn, seconded by Ms. Thomas, the Board voted to adjourn at 6:22 p.m.

Bobby Boyd, President                                      Clay J. Corley, Secretary

            DeSoto Parish School Board                                         DeSoto Parish School Board