PARISH OF DESOTO
DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
Mansfield, Louisiana
September 2, 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, September 2, 2021, at 6:00 p.m. with the following members present:
Dudley M. Glenn, Dr. Neil Henderson, Jeffrey Dillard, Donald Dufour, Alice Thomas, Coday Johnston, Mark Ross, Thomas Craig, Bobby Boyd, Rosie Mayweather, and Clay Corley, Superintendent.
Absent: Dale Morvan
Item 1: Call to order
Vice-President Glenn called the meeting to order and welcomed everyone. Mr. Corley and Board Members asked to remember those suffering health issues and victims of Hurricane Ida. Mr. Ross 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 August 5, 2021, and the Retiree Benefits Funding Trust Board meeting of August 19, 2021.
Motion was made by Mr. Boyd, seconded by Mrs. Mayweather to approve the minutes of the August 5, 2021, Board meeting and the Retiree Benefits Funding Trust Board meeting of August 19, 2021, 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.
Item 4: Request from parent Mrs. Jordan Russell to speak regarding masks/exemptions
Mrs. Russell addressed the Board and audience regarding requiring students to wear masks in school and exemptions from the Governor’s mandate.
Item 5: Request from NAACP – DeSoto Parish Branch to speak concerning hiring/promoting minorities and education of minority students in the DeSoto Parish School Board system.
Mrs. Demetria Drain, member of the Executive Board of the DeSoto Parish Branch of the NAACP, spoke regarding concerns about hiring practices and promoting/retention of minority educators.
Item 6: Approval of the 2021-2022 Pupil Progression Plan/Working Outline
Mrs. Bridget Flanders, Director of Student Learning, presented the Pupil Progression Plan/Working Outline for 2021-2022.
Mr. Craig made the motion, seconded by Mr. Boyd, to approve the changes to the Pupil Progression Plan and Working Outline as presented. The President stated the motion carried with the following votes – Yes = 10, No = 0, Absent = 1, and Abstentions = 0.
Item 7: Board policies for review
Board policies were presented for review and will be presented for approval at the October Board meeting.
a. BCAD – Teleconference/Remote Participation in School Board Meetings
Item 8: Board policies for approval
Board policies were presented for approval.
a. JCD – Student Conduct
b. JCDAB – Student Alcohol and Drug Use
c. JCDAC – Dangerous Weapons
d. JD – Discipline
e. JDD – Suspension
f. JDE - Expulsion
Motion was made by Dr. Henderson, seconded by Mr. Dillard, to approve the policies 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.
Item 9: Report of the Budget/Finance Committee meeting held on August 19, 2021
Motion was made by Mr. Ross, seconded by Mr. Craig, to approve the minutes of the August 19, 2021, Budget/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.
Motion was made by Mr.Ross, seconded by Mr. Boyd, to approve the following action from the August 19, 2021, Budget/Finance Committee meeting:
a. Approve budget revisions to Internal Service Fund and OPEB Trust as presented
b. Declare items as surplus and proceed with surplus sale
Item 10: Comments
Superintendent Corley made the Board Members and public aware:
· We need to shift the October Board meeting to Thursday, October 14, 2021, due to the fact we are closed for fall break October 4-8.
· Please continue to remember those impacted by Hurricane Ida. We have a lot of colleagues and friends in other school systems that are struggling.
· We are wishing everyone a happy Labor Day weekend.
· Thank you to school and district staff for continuing to do a great job in these difficult times.
Item 11: Adjournment
On a motion by Mr. Dillard, seconded by Mr. Dufour the Board voted to adjourn at 6:22 p.m.
Dale Morvan, President Clay Corley, Secretary
DeSoto Parish School Board DeSoto Parish School Board