PARISH OF DESOTO

DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

Mansfield, Louisiana

 

March 3, 2022

 

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, March 3, 2022, at 6:00 p.m. with the following members present:

 

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

 

            Absent:  Jeffrey Dillard, Bobby Boyd

 

            Item 1:  Call to order

           

            Ms. Thomas called the meeting to order and asked to please remember the families of those who recently lost loved ones as well as those facing health issues.   Mr. Morvan led the invocation and the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.

 

            Item 2:  Revisions to the agenda.

 

            There were no revisions to the agenda.

 

            Item 3:  To consider and take action with respect to adopting a resolution approving the acceptance of the bid of FHN Financial Capital Markets, of Memphis, Tennessee, for the purchase of Eight Million Five Hundred Thousand Dollars ($8,500,000) of General Obligation School Bonds, Series 2022, of School District No. 3 of the Parish of DeSoto, State of Louisiana.

 

            Mr. Grant Schlueter, bond counsel of Foley-Judell and Mr. Shaun Toups of Government Consultants both spoke about the sound financial state of DeSoto Parish School Board.  The bond sale was very successful, with a competitive bidding response.

 

            Motion was made by Mr. Johnston, seconded by Mr. Craig, to approve 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.

 

            Superintendent Corley and Board members commended the Business Department, bond counsel Foley-Judell and municipal financial consultants Government Consultants for a job well done.

 

RESOLUTION WAS PUBLISHED SEPARATELY

 

            Item 4:  Approval of minutes of the regular Board meeting of February 3, 2022.

 

            Motion was made by Mr. Glenn, seconded by Mrs. Mayweather, to approve the minutes of the regular Board meeting of February 3, 2022. 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:  Great News

 

 

            Ms. Lillie Giles, Director of Administration, presented an award to the DeSoto Parish Principal of the Year, Mrs. Tamela Phillips.  Mrs. Phillips serves as Principal of North DeSoto High School.

 

            Mrs. Tina Anderson, Early Childhood Coordinator and Mrs. Mary Register, Executive Master Teacher of the Student Learning Department, presented the school and district winners for DeSoto Parish Students of the Year.

 

5th grade Students of the Year

Thomas Clayton Usrey – Logansport High School – District Winner

Zakharia Hill – Mansfield Middle School

Rhett Burford – North DeSoto Upper Elementary School

Casen Paddie – Stanley High School

 

8th grade Students of the Year

Emmarie Atkins – Logansport High School

Christini’ Addison – Mansfield Middle School

Matilyn Brown – North DeSoto Middle School – District Winner

Alyssa Gooden – Stanley High School

 

12th grade Students of the Year

Moriah Kynzie Greshem – Logansport High School

Madison Jones – Mansfield High School

Mason Collins – North DeSoto High School – District Winner

Maggie Walker – Stanley High School

 

            Mrs. Register and Mrs. Anderson then presented school and district winners for DeSoto Parish Teachers of the Year.

 

Elementary Teachers of the Year

Miranda Blount – Logansport High School – District Winner

Martha Fontcuberta – Mansfield Elementary School

Marisa Cobbs – North DeSoto Lower Elementary School

Stephanie Arinder – North DeSoto Upper Elementary School

Caitlyn Wise – Stanley High School

 

Middle School Teachers of the Year

Moniqua Charday Wilson – Logansport High School

Jasmine Taylor – Mansfield Middle School – District Winner

Julie Cummings – North DeSoto Middle School

Ashley Dawn Asbell – Stanley High School

 

High School Teachers of the Year

Rebecca Falcon – Logansport High School

Andrew Peyton Dufour – Mansfield High School

Emilie King – North DeSoto High School – District Winner

Tiffany Nolen – Stanley High School

 

          Certificates and awards were given to all school and parish level winners.  Superintendent Corley and Board Members commended them all for their hard work and dedication in achieving this honor.

 

           Mr. Corley announced the state winners for wrestling and presented them with certificates.  Board Members and the audience applauded their efforts and sacrifices in reaching their goal of state champions.

 

North DeSoto High School – State Wrestling Champions

Daniel Olivier – 138 pound class

Lance Ferguson – 145 pound class

Hunter Addison – 152 pound class

Hunter Hanson – 160 pound class

 

            Mr. Corley reminded everyone that our district recently began a new contest, or challenge, between all schools, to emphasize and reward the importance of teacher attendance.  Each month, the school with the highest average percentage of teacher attendance receives a banner to hang in their school for a month; lunch is provided for the faculty; and faculty, staff and students are allowed to wear jeans for a week.  Mr. Mark Ross will provide lunch for February’s winning school on a day that the school chooses.  Mr. Corley then introduced Mrs. Janice Lingle to make the presentation.  Mrs. Lingle announced that North DeSoto Middle School was the winner of the challenge for the challenging month of February 2022.

 

The banner was presented to North DeSoto Middle School Principal Barry Carter.   Mr. Corley and Mrs. Lingle expressed their appreciation to all the schools for working diligently to keep staff attendance as high as possible.

 

            Item 6:  Consider approval of 2022-2023 school calendar

 

Mr. Corley presented the calendar option that received the most votes by district employees.  He explained it was very similar to our current calendar, with S/T/P conferences being held in the middle of the grading periods instead of at the end. Motion was made by Mr. Craig, seconded by Mr. Glenn, to approve the school calendar 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 7:  Report of the Budget/Finance Committee meeting held on February 17, 2022.

 

a.     Motion was made by Mr. Craig, seconded by Mr. Morvan, to approve the minutes of the February 17, 2022, 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. 

 

b.     Motion was made by Mr. Craig, seconded by Mrs. Mayweather, to approve the extension of Superintendent’ Corley’s contract 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 8:  Comments

 

Superintendent Corley made Board Members and the public aware:

 

·         Mr. Corley expressed his gratitude for the opportunity to serve as Superintendent of DeSoto Parish Schools.  He thanked the Board members for trusting him to continue leading the greatest students and staff in the State of Louisiana, and for their leadership, guidance and collaboration as they support students and staff. 

·         Mr. Corley extended congratulations to the students, teachers and principals receiving awards and to their families for supporting them as they work to achieve their life goals. We are all looking forward to seeing what the future holds for our students and staff.

·         NIET has notified Logansport High School that they are a Founder’s Award finalist, with the winner being named in the near future.  This is a great honor for the school.

 

            Item 9: 

 

            On a motion by Mrs. Mayweather, seconded by Mr. Johnston, the Board voted to adjourn the meeting at 6:49 p.m.

 

                                                                                               

Alice Thomas, President                                                                         Clay Corley, Secretary

            DeSoto Parish School Board                                                                   DeSoto Parish School Board