PARISH OF DESOTO

DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

Mansfield, Louisiana

 

May 6, 2021

 

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, May 6, 2021, at 6:00 p.m. with the following members present:

 

Dudley M. Glenn, Dr. Neil Henderson, Jeffrey Dillard, Alice Thomas, Coday Johnston, Mark Ross, Thomas Craig, Jr. Bobby Boyd, Rosie Mayweather, and Clay Corley, Superintendent.

 

            Absent: Donald B. Dufour and Dale Morvan

 

Item 1:  Call to order

           

            Vice-President Glenn served in the place of President Dale Morvan, due to Mr. Morvan’s absence.  Mr. Glenn called the meeting to order and welcomed everyone.  Mr. Corley and Board Members asked to remember DeSoto’s teacher who is recovering from an automobile accident; also others with health issues, and families who have lost loved ones.  North DeSoto High School softball players Taylor Davlin and Liberty Smith 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:  Approve minutes from the regular Board meeting of April 1, 2021.

           

Motion was made by Mr. Craig, seconded by Mr. Boyd, to approve the minutes of the April 1, 2021, Board 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 Abstentions = 0.

 

Item 4:  Great News

 

Mr. Corley introduced Ms. Terri Byrd, Foundation Director for DeSoto Regional Health System.  Ms. Byrd presented awards and certificates of appreciation to some very talented 4th/5th grade Stanley High School students who participated in designing artwork for the upcoming DRHS 5k run/walk.  These students are listed below:

 

Noah Chreene (art design winner)

Grynlee Hilliard

Kinsleigh McMillon

Payden Simpson

Dan Spears

Anna Yarbrough

 

Item 5:  Resolution recognizing North DeSoto High School Lady Griffins softball team as Class 4A State Champions

 

Resolution

 

WHEREAS, the North DeSoto High School Lady Griffins Softball Team, during the 2020-2021 season were Class 4-A State Champions with a season record of 32 wins and 5 losses, and

 

WHEREAS, the members of this team, Jorden Brewster, Kinsley Carney, Carley Cooksey, Macy Corley, Cameron Curtis, Regan Davlin, Taylor Davlin, Aly Delafield, Madelyn Garrett, Skyler Garza, Hallie Granger, Laney Johnson, Kloe Kennington, Whitley Martin, Peyton McCloskey, Madison Millican, Mikayla Mondello, Anessa Morris, Mia Norwood, Ciara Orgeron, Landry Price, Riley Purland, Liberty Smith, and Manager Cambri Best, have demonstrated their uncommon devotion to team spirit and unity, their unusual dedication to the game of softball and their willingness to devote themselves to learning, to improvement and to the pursuit of excellence, and

 

WHEREAS, Head Coach Tim Whitman, Assistant Coaches Ashleigh Whitman, Danielle Price and Roland Rodriguez, Principal Tammie Phillips, Assistant Principal Lyndsey Rhoads, Assistant Principal Joseph Savarino, Athletic Director Dennis Dunn, the faculty, the student body, and school patrons of the North DeSoto community have joined hands to bring credit and distinction to North DeSoto High School and the DeSoto Parish School System, now

 

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the members of the DeSoto Parish School Board, Superintendent Clay J. Corley, and the entire educational family of DeSoto Parish wish to commend the North DeSoto High School Lady Griffins Softball Team, the coaches, the principal, the faculty, the student body and the school community for winning the Class 4-A State Championship in the State Softball Tournament and commend them for their accomplishments and for representing the DeSoto Parish School System with pride, dignity and sportsmanship above reproach.

 

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the DeSoto Parish School Board does hereby proclaim Thursday, May 6, 2021:

“North DeSoto High School Lady Griffins Softball Team Day”

 

Signed and executed on this 6th day of May, 2021, by:

 

      /s/ Dale Morvan                                                                               /s/ Clay Corley

 ___________________________                                                              ______________________________                                    

Dale Morvan, President                                                                          Clay J. Corley, Superintendent

DeSoto Parish School Board                                                                  DeSoto Parish Schools

 

Motion was made by Mr. Ross, seconded by Dr. Henderson, to adopt the resolution 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.

           

Item 6:   Report of the Finance & Operations Committee meeting held on April 22, 2021.

 

Motion was made by Mr. Ross, seconded by Mr. Boyd, to approve the minutes of the April 22, 2021, Finance & Operations 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 Abstentions = 0. 

 

Motion was made by Mr. Dillard, seconded by Mr. Johnston, to approve the following action from the April 22, 2021, Finance & Operations Committee meeting:

 

·         Approve school audit reports as presented

·         Approve budget revisions to the Special Revenue Funds

·         Approve Sales Tax Commission 2021-22 Budget Resolution

·         Approve bid for carpet and tile replacement

·         Approve bid for painting of schools

 

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 7:  Review and approve bid for Logansport High School gym lobby renovation

 

Mr. Richard Wilkinson explained that all bids came in well over the planned budget of $260,000 and the recommendation from the architect and district staff is to reject all bids.  Details of the project and the budget will be revisited to see what adjustments can be made. 

 

            Motion was made by Mr. Craig, seconded by Mr. Boyd, to approve the bid as presented.  The vote was taken and the President stated the motion to approve as presented was rejected with the following votes –  Yes = 3, No = 6, Absent = 2, and Abstentions = 0. 

 

Item 8:  Review and approve bid for Logansport High School turf fields

 

            Mr. Wilkinson presented the bid for Logansport High School turf fields, with the low bid coming in from  RS Bernard & Associates, for base bid and alternate number one for fencing.  Mr. Corley reminded Board members that this project will be funded using Logansport High School Capital Projects Funds. Mr. Johnston asked if Mr. Morvan was in agreement with accepting this bid and Mr. Corley confirmed that they spoke with Mr. Morvan after the bid openings and he was in agreement to reject all bids for the gym lobby renovation and accept the low bid for the turf fields, as presented.

 

            Motion was made by Mr. Craig, seconded by Ms. Thomas, to approve the bid as presented.  The vote was taken and the President stated the motion was approved with the following votes – Yes = 9, No = 0, Absent = 2, and Abstentions = 0.  Note: Mr. Craig’s electronic voting remote malfunctioned so he cast his vote verbally.

 

Item 9:  Notice is hereby given pursuant to LSA-L.R.S. 42:19.1 that the DeSoto Parish School Board in DeSoto Parish at its regular meeting place at the DeSoto Parish School Board Instructional Materials Center, located at 523 Oxford Road, Mansfield, Louisiana on Thursday, June 3, 2021 at 6:00 p.m. intends to levy, increase, or renew all ad valorem property tax rates.

 

            Mr. Glenn read the agenda item in its entirety, as required by law.  It was not an action item, so there was no vote required. 

 

Item 10:  Comments

 

Superintendent Corley made the Board Members and public aware:

·         Student artwork is on display in the conference room and some of it is for sale.  Talented Art teacher Ms. Tolliver can assist with any purchases.

·         DOVE Lt. Gov. Billy Nungesser visited the Special Services DOVE class at Mansfield High School today and was able to see them in action, building wood duck boxes.

·         DeSoto has some state champions in track and field and they will be honored at the June Board meeting.

·         Mrs. Flanders, Dr. Davis and staff have worked hard to plan and staff summer learning opportunities, otherwise known as Camp DeSoto at three separate sites.  Camp DeSoto will be located at Mansfield Elementary School, North DeSoto Lower Elementary School and Stanley High School.  We are expecting approximately 150 students per site.

·         Teacher Appreciation Week – a very special thank you to all teachers/leaders who have worked so hard during this most difficult year.  We are completing this school year soon and we appreciate their effort from beginning to the end.

·         Our Supervisor of Technology, Mrs. Lisa Register, is retiring and we thank her for 33 years she has dedicated to our students.  She is leaving her department in the capable hands of Mrs. Sherri Laffitte, who will serve in that position. 

 

            Board Members joined Superintendent Corley in wishing Mrs. Register a wonderful retirement.

 

Item 11: Adjournment 

 

On a motion by Mrs. Mayweather, seconded by Mr. Dillard the Board voted to adjourn at 6:31 p.m.

 

Dale Morvan, President                                                               Clay Corley, Secretary

DeSoto Parish School Board                                                       DeSoto Parish School Board