PARISH OF DESOTO

DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

Mansfield, Louisiana

 

June 4, 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, June 4, 2020, at 6:00 p.m. with the following members present:

 

             Dudley M. Glenn, Dr. Neil Henderson, Jeffrey Dillard, Donald B. Dufour,  Alice Thomas, Coday Johnston, Dale Morvan, Mark Ross,  Bobby Boyd, Rosie Mayweather, and Clay Corley, Superintendent.

 

            Absent: Thomas Craig, Jr.

 

            Item 1:  Call to order

           

            President Boyd called the meeting to order.  Ms. Thomas gave the invocation, remembering Board Member Tommy Craig, others fighting health issues, those who have lost family members and led the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.   Superintendent Corley made them aware that Board Member Dillard contacted him to let him know he would be a few minutes late, but he would be attending the meeting.

 

            Item 2:  Revisions to the agenda.

 

            There was one revision to the agenda.  Superintendent Corley explained that item 6c – “Adopt the millage rate(s)  and approve the resolutions for the tax year 2020” and item 7 – “Board policies for review” simply needed to be removed from the agenda.  Due to a revised timeline necessitated by COVID-19, the vote to adopt millage rates and approve resolutions must occur at the July Board meeting instead of the June meeting.   

 

Motion was made by Mr. Glenn, seconded by Mr. Morvan to remove 2 items from the agenda:  Item 6c – Adopt the millage rate(s) and approve the resolutions for the tax year 2020; also remove Item 7 - Board policies for review.  The vote was taken and the President stated the motion to remove item 6c and item 7 carried with the following votes – Yes = 9, No = 0, Absent = 2, and Abstentions = 0.

 

**Note: Board Member Dillard entered the meeting at this point.

 

            Item 3:  Approval of minutes of the regular Board meeting of May 7, 2020.

 

            Dr. Henderson made the motion, seconded by Mr. Glenn, to approve the minutes of the May 7, 2020, regular Board meeting.  The vote was taken and the President stated the motion carried with the following votes – Yes = 10, No = 0, Absent =1, and Abstentions = 0.

 

            Item 4:  Consider approval of State Superintendent resolution.

 

Superintendent Corley read aloud a resolution congratulating Dr. Cade Brumley, recently appointed Louisiana State Superintendent of Education.  Mr. Dufour made the motion, seconded by Ms. Thomas, to adopt the resolution.  The vote was taken and the President stated the motion carried with the following votes – Yes = 10, No = 0, Absent = 1, and Abstentions = 0.

 

RESOLUTION

 

Congratulating Dr. Cade Brumley on his appointment as Superintendent of Schools for the State of Louisiana

            Whereas, Dr. Cade Brumley has strong ties to Northwest Louisiana, having graduated from Converse High School, having attained a bachelor’s degree from Northwestern State University, and a master’s degree from Louisiana State University in Shreveport.

            Whereas, Dr. Brumley served as sports editor of The Natchitoches Journal while attending college.

            Whereas, Dr. Brumley began his career in education as a teacher, coach, assistant principal and principal in Caddo and Sabine Parishes. 

            Whereas, Dr. Brumley then served as Assistant Superintendent and Superintendent in DeSoto Parish where he, and the professional educators under his guidance, led Desoto Parish Schools to:

• An “A” Rating in 2016 & 2017

• To the rank of 9th of all of Louisiana’s School Systems (district ranked   49th in 2010)

• A Final Cohort Graduation Rate of 94% (67.8 in 2009, 79.2 in 2012)

• All Schools “Academically Acceptable” (no failing schools)

• To the Largest ACT Growth in Louisiana with Average Score up 2.1 points since 2012

• A designation as a Top Ten District for Improving Special Education Academic Outcomes

• A designation as a Top Ten District for Improving Minority Academic Outcomes

• Increased Gifted and Talented Identification over 100%

• A designation of National Institute for Excellence in Teaching “District of Distinction” (2012, 2016)

• To recognition as a National Advanced Placement (AP) Honor Roll (2016, 2017)

• Decreased Out-Of-School Suspensions by 48%

• Led system through expenditure reductions to address a nearly 40% revenue decrease

 

    BE IT THEREFORE RESOLVED, that the DeSoto Parish School Board hereby

            (1) congratulates Dr. Cade Brumley on his recent appointment as Louisiana State Superintendent of Education.

            (2) directs its secretary to make available enrolled copies of this resolution to all news media and to the Louisiana School Board Association.

              (3)      directs its secretary to transmit a certified copy of this resolution to Dr. Cade Brumley.

 

By Motion of Board Member, Donald B. Dufour, duly seconded by Board Member Alice Thomas, the above Resolution was adopted by the following vote on this 4th day of June, 2020. 

 

YEAS: 10   NAYS: 0    ABSENT:  1   ABSTAIN: 0

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand officially on this 4th   day of June 2020. 

 

                                                 /s/ Bobby Boyd

                                BOBBY BOYD, PRESIDENT

 

            Item 5:  Public hearing for the Budget for fiscal year 2020-21:

 

Mr. Morvan made the motion, seconded by Mr. Johnston, to open the public hearing.  The vote was taken and the President stated the motion carried with the following votes – Yes = 10, No = 0, Absent = 1, and Abstentions = 0.

 

There were no public comments.  Mr. Glenn made the motion, seconded by Mr. Johnston, to close the public hearing. The vote was taken and the President stated the motion carried with the following votes – Yes = 10, No = 0, Absent = 1, and Abstentions = 0.

 

             Item 6 – Report of the Budget/Finance Committee meeting held on May 21, 2020. 

 

Mr. Morvan made the motion, seconded by Mr. Johnston, to approve the minutes of the May 21, 2020, Finance Committee meeting as presented.  The vote was taken and the President stated the motion carried with the following votes – Yes = 10, No = 0, Absent = 1 , and Abstentions = 0.

 

DeSoto Parish School Board

 

BUDGET RESOLUTION

 

The following resolution was offered by Alice Thomas and seconded by Dr. Neil Henderson:

 

A resolution adopting, finalizing and implementing the Annual Operating Budget of the DeSoto Parish School Board for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2020 and ending June 30, 2021.

 

WHEREAS, Clay Corley, in his capacity as chief administrative officer of the DeSoto Parish School Board prepared, with the assistance of Donayle Ashworth, Director of Business Services, a proposed General Fund, Special Revenue Fund, Debt Service Fund, Capital Projects Fund, Internal Service Fund, and Pension (and Other Employee Benefits) Trust Fund Budgets for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2020 and ending June 30, 2021, which was accompanied by a budget adoption resolution; and

 

WHEREAS, the proposed General Fund and Special Revenue Fund Budgets as shown in the Annual Operating Budget document after the budget adoption resolution shows the revenues itemized by source and the expenditures itemized by function as required by Louisiana R.S. 39:1305; and

 

WHEREAS, the accompanying budget adoption resolution has been submitted to this School Board for review and consideration; and

 

WHEREAS, notice of a public hearing on the proposed Annual Operating Budget, notice of the availability of the proposed budgets for review at such hearing and a general summary of the proposed budgets have been timely published in The Enterprise; and

 

WHEREAS, a public hearing on the proposed Annual Operating Budget has now been reviewed and considered; now

 

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED by the School Board that the proposed Annual Operating Budget is hereby approved, adopted, and finalized subject to the following changes.

 

1.       

 

            2.  

 

            3.  

 

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Secretary-Treasurer of the School Board, Clay Corley, or his successor, is hereby authorized and in his sole discretion, to make such changes within the various budget classifications as he may deem necessary provided that any reallocation of funds affecting in excess of five percent (5%) of the projected revenue collections must be approved in advance by action of the School Board at a meeting duly noticed and convened.

 

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Superintendent of the School Board, Clay Corley, or his successor, in his capacity as chief administrative officer of the School Board, is hereby directed to advise the School Board in writing when:

 

1.         Total revenues collections & other sources plus projected revenues & other sources for the remainder of the year, within a fund are failing to meet total budgeted revenues & other sources by five percent (5%) or more.

 

2.         Total expenditures & other uses plus projected expenditures & other uses for the remainder of the year, within a fund, are exceeding the total budgeted expenditures & other uses by five percent (5%) or more, or

 

3.         The actual beginning fund balance, within a fund, fails to meet the estimated beginning fund balance by five percent (5%) or more, and the fund balance is being used to fund current year expenditures.

 

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Secretary-Treasurer of the School Board, Clay Corley, or his successor, shall certify completion of all actions required by Louisiana R.S. 39:1306 by publishing a notice of the minutes of the meeting in The Enterprise.

 

This Resolution having been submitted to a vote, the vote thereon was as follows Yes = 10, Nays = 0, Abstaining = 0, Absent = 1:

 

YEAS:                          Dudley M. Glenn, Dr. Neil Henderson, Jeffrey Dillard, Donald B. Dufour, Alice Thomas, Coday Johnston, Dale Morvan, Mark Ross, Bobby Boyd, Rosie Mayweather

 

NAYS:              None               

 

ABSTAINING:  None   

 

ABSENT:                      Thomas Craig, Jr.        

 

CERTIFICATE

            I hereby certify that the foregoing is a true and exact copy of a Resolution adopted at a regular meeting held on the 4th day of June 2020, at which time a quorum was present and voting.

 

            Mansfield, Louisiana, this 5th day of June 2020.

 

 /s/ Clay Corley

Clay Corley, Superintendent

DeSoto Parish School Board

 

Mr. Morvan, seconded by Ms. Thomas, made the motion to approve the following:

 

·        Approve budget revisions to the General Fund and Special Revenue Funds.

 

·        Approve bids as presented for laminating film, copier toner and janitorial supplies as presented.

 

·        Approve Mansfield Enterprise & Interstate Progress as the official journal for 2020-21.

 

The vote was taken and the President stated the motion carried with the following votes – Yes = 10, No = 0, Absent = 1, and Abstentions = 0.

           

 Item 8:   Superintendent Comments

 

Superintendent Corley made Board Members aware of the following: 

 

·        District leadership and school staff are developing several plans regarding the 2020-2021 school year.  A preliminary outline of each plan was presented for information purposes.  The district continues to consider the guidance of Governor Edwards and the State Board of Education while planning for the future.   More information will be shared at the July Board meeting, as these plans are finalized.

 

·        The lack of strong internet access for rural areas has been the topic of many of our discussions with local, state and national leaders.  We recognize the urgency of this issue in our parish and hope to obtain some answers and solutions in the future.

 

·         The social and emotional health of students continues to be a top priority of our   system, as we plan for their return.

 

·        Plans for a new and updated website were shared.  Mrs. Laffitte is working on this project and it should be up and ready before the fall semester begins.  The new website and app will provide improved communication with our parents and families. 

 

·        Student athletes will begin to return to campus for training purposes the week of June 8.

 

Board Members expressed appreciation for the update and for the hard work of district employees while making plans for the academic, mental, and social well-being of students and staff.   They also expressed gratitude for being able to meet in person to discuss these important school issues.

 

Item 9:  The Board may enter into executive session pursuant to La. R.S. 42:17(A)(2) regarding the status and its strategy in defending the following matters:

 

a.      Scott Abernathy, et ux. v. DeSoto Parish School Board, et al.; No. 60, 964; 3rd Judicial District Court, Lincoln Parish, Louisiana;

 

b.      Scott Abernathy, et ux. v. DeSoto Parish School Board, et al.; No. 81259; 42nd Judicial District Court, DeSoto Parish, Louisiana; and

 

c.      Kalette Haley, et al. v. DeSoto Parish School Board, et al.; Civ. Act. No. 5:20-cv-00476; U.S. Dist. Court, Western District of Louisiana, Shreveport Division

 

Mr. Glenn, seconded by Mr. Dufour, made the motion to enter into executive session regarding the status and strategy in defending the above legal matters.  The vote was taken and the President stated the motion carried with the following votes – Yes = 10, No = 0, Absent = 1, and Abstentions = 0.

 

**Executive Session**

 

Mr. Glenn, seconded by Dr. Henderson, made the motion to end the executive session.  The vote was taken and the President stated the motion carried with the following votes – Yes = 10, No = 0, Absent = 1, and Abstentions = 0.

 

Item 10:  Adjournment

 

On a motion by Mr. Johnston and seconded by Mr. Morvan,  the Board voted to adjourn at 7:31 p.m.

 

Bobby Boyd, President                                      Clay J. Corley, Secretary

DeSoto Parish School Board                              DeSoto Parish School Board