2020-07-02

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, July 2, 2020, at 6:00 p.m. with the following members present:

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

President Boyd called the meeting to order. Ms. Thomas gave the invocation and led the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.

Mr. Morvan made the motion, seconded by Ms. Thomas, to approve the minutes of the June 4, 2020, regular Board meeting. The President stated the motion carried with the following votes – Yes = 9, No = 0, Absent = 2, and Abstentions = 0.

Mr. Boyd reminded the Board and attendees that the public hearing would allow the opportunity for the public to speak about the millage rates before the Board voted.

Mr. Johnston made the motion, seconded by Dr. Henderson, to open the public hearing. The vote was taken and the President stated the motion carried with the following votes –

There were no public comments. Mr. Morvan 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 = 9, No = 0, Absent = 2, and Abstentions = 0.

Item 5 - Adopt the millage rate(s) and approve the resolutions for the tax year 2020.

The following resolution was offered by Dr. Henderson and seconded by Mark Ross:

BE IT RESOLVED, that the following millage(s) are hereby levied on the 2020 tax roll on all property subject to taxation by the DeSoto Parish School Board:

	Millage Expires	2019 Levy	2020 Levy	Increase (Decrease) from Prior Tax Levy
Parishwide Millages
Constitutional Tax	Not applicable	5.32	5.32	0.00
Renewable Maintenance Tax	12/31/2026	8.17	8.17	0.00
Renewable Operations Tax	12/31/2026	43.17	43.17	0.00

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the proper administrative officials of the Parish of DeSoto, State of Louisiana, be and they are hereby empowered, authorized, and directed to spread said taxes, as hereinabove set forth, upon the assessment roll of said Parish for the year 2020, and to make the collection of the taxes imposed for and on behalf of the taxing authority, according to law, and that the taxes herein shall become a permanent lien and privilege on all property subject to taxation as herein set forth, and collection thereof shall be enforceable in the manner provided by law.

The foregoing resolution was read in full, the roll call or electronic vote was called on the adoption thereof, and the resolution was adopted by the following votes Yes = 9, Nays = 0, Abstaining = 0, Absent = 2:

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

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

The following resolution was offered by Dr. Henderson and seconded by Mark Ross:

BE IT RESOLVED, that the following millage(s) are hereby levied on the 2020 tax roll on all property subject to taxation by the DeSoto Parish School Board:

	Date Elections were held	2019 Levy	2020 Levy	Increase (Decrease) from Prior Tax Levy
General Obligation Bond Millages
District No. 1 – Logansport	11/18/2017	3.00	3.00	0.00
District No. 2 – North DeSoto	09/18/2004	3.60	3.60	0.00
District No. 4 – Mansfield	05/05/2007	4.00	4.00	0.00

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

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

Item 6 – Report of the Budget/Finance Committee meeting held on June 18, 2020.

Motion was made by Mr. Ross, seconded by Dr. Henderson, to approve the minutes of the June 18, 2020, Finance Committee meeting as presented. The vote was taken and the President stated the motion carried with the following votes – Yes = 9, No = 0, Absent = 2, and

· Approve budget revisions to OPEB Trust and Special Revenue Funds as presented

The vote was taken and the President stated the motion carried with the following votes – Yes = 9, No = 0, Absent = 2, and Abstentions = 0.

Board Members asked questions about the new and revised policies. Mr. Corley explained that the Public Health Emergency policy is new, and included for first review. The athletic and extracurricular activity drug screening policy is a revision to an existing policy. Mr. Corley emphasized it is not about trying to do harm to any student, but to help students by providing needed support in keeping them safe and drug free.

Dr. Henderson asked to comment on the steps our district has already taken. He reminded the Board that the Superintendent; Dr. Hampton and others from Student Services Department; along with school counselors, administrators, law enforcement and other stakeholders have already formed a working panel. This panel met several times before the school year ended in March. They made significant progress in establishing various ways to identify issues, educate students, staff, parents, and provide help for those students who may need extra support to remain safe and drug free.

Superintendent Corley presented the DeSoto Parish Strong Start plan for the beginning of school. He commended the entire Leadership Team for the time and the hard work that went into development of this plan. He made the Board and the public aware this plan is available on the district website, desotopsb.com.

On a motion by Mr. Johnston, seconded by Ms. Thomas, the Board voted to adjourn at 6:52 p.m.

Parishwide Millages

General Obligation Bond Millages