PARISH OF DESOTO

DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

Mansfield, Louisiana

July 7, 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, July 7, 2022, at 6:00 p.m. with the following members present:

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

            Item 1:  Call to order

            President Alice 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. Boyd led the invocation and the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.

            Item 2:  Revisions to the agenda.

            Motion was made by Mr. Boyd, seconded by Mr. Morvan to revise the agenda’s order by moving Item 9 – Comments to Item 6A, which immediately follows Item 6.  The vote was taken and the President stated the motion carried with the following votes – Yes = 8, No = 0, Absent = 3, and Abstentions = 0.  This change was made in order to allow the comment portion to be completed before the Board entered executive session.

            Item 3:  Approval of minutes of the regular Board meeting of June 2, 2022.

            Motion was made by Mr. Johnston, seconded by Mrs. Mayweather, to approve the minutes of the regular Board meeting of June 2, 2022.  The vote was taken and the President stated the motion carried with the following votes – Yes = 8, No = 0, Absent = 3, and Abstentions = 0.

            Item 4:  Great News

Superintendent Corley introduced Special Services Supervisor Francie Woods.  She spoke about the various services the Special Services Department provides to DeSoto Parish students.  Mrs. Woods then shared a video highlighting some of the programs, activities and therapies available to students. Mr. Corley and Board Members thanked Mrs. Woods for taking the time to put together such an informative presentation to share with them. 

Item 5:  Report of the Finance & Operations Committee meeting held on June 16, 2022

a.     Motion was made by Mr. Dillard, seconded by Mr. Johnston, to approve the minutes of the June 16, 2022, meeting as presented.  The vote was taken and the President stated the motion carried with the following votes – Yes =8, No = 0, Absent = 3, and Abstentions = 0. 

b.     Motion was made by Mr. Morvan, seconded by Mr. Boyd, to approve the action from the meeting as presented, including: 

·         Approve budget revisions to the General Fund, Special Revenue Funds and the Capital Projects Funds as presented.

·         Approve bids from various vendors for toner and ink cartridges

·         Approve revision to 2021-22 salary schedule as presented

                       The vote was taken and the President stated the motion carried with the following votes – Yes = 8, No = 0, Absent = 3, and Abstentions = 0.

c.     Motion was made by Mr. Johnston, seconded by Mr. Morvan, to adopt the millage rate for District No 3 for the tax year 2022 and approve the resolution for the tax year 2022 as presented. The vote was taken and the President stated the motion carried with the following votes – Yes = 8, No = 0, Absent = 3, and Abstentions = 0.

DeSoto Parish School Board

PROPERTY TAX RESOLUTION #3

The following resolution was offered by Coday Johnston and seconded by Dale Morvan:

BE IT RESOLVED, that the following millage(s) are hereby levied on the 2022 tax roll on all property subject to taxation by the DeSoto Parish School Board:

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 2022, 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 = 8, Nays = 0, Abstaining = 0, Absent =3:

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

NAYS:  None

ABSTAINING:  None

ABSENT:  Thomas Craig, Jr., Dudley M. Glenn, Mark Ross

CERTIFICATE

I hereby certify that the foregoing is a true and exact copy of a Resolution adopted at a regular meeting held on the 7th day of July 2022, at which time a quorum was present and voting.

Mansfield, Louisiana, this 8th day of July 2022.

  /s/ Clay Corley

Clay Corley, Superintendent

DeSoto Parish School Board

          Item 6:  Review and consider approval of revised 2022-23 salary schedule

          Mr. Corley explained that the State of Louisiana is giving certified personnel a raise in the amount of $1,500/year and support personnel a raise in the amount of $750/year.  The salary schedule has been revised to reflect these changes.  Motion was made by Mr. Boyd, seconded by Mr. Dillard, to approve the revised 2022-23 salary schedule as presented.  The vote was taken and the President stated the motion carried with the following votes – Yes = 8, No = 0, Absent = 3, and Abstentions = 0.

Item 6A (formerly Item 9):  Comments

Mr. Corley made Board members and those in attendance aware of the following:

·         The district is launching a “Back to School” page on the website on Friday, July 8, that has useful information for parents and students.  Also, parents are able to email any questions they may have and receive answers from staff members.  

·         The district is again able to provide school supplies for all students.

·         The next Board meeting will be on Thursday, August 4, which is the first day of the 2022-2023 school year for students.

            Board members asked for an update on summer projects and teacher hiring.  Mr. Corley gave an update on the timelines of various projects and teacher vacancies.

Item 7:  The Board may enter into executive session pursuant to La. R.S. 42:17(A)(2) to discuss strategy and the status of Case 5:20-cv-00476-SMH-KDM Haley et al v. DeSoto Parish School Board et al pending before the United States District Court for the Western District of Louisiana. 

            Motion was made by Mr. Boyd, seconded by Mr. Dufour, to enter into executive session.  The vote was taken and the President stated the motion carried with the following votes – Yes = 8, No = 0, Absent = 3, and Abstentions = 0.

********************************Executive Session************************************

              Motion was made by Dr. Henderson, seconded by Mr. Dufour, to return to regular session.  The vote was taken and the President stated the motion carried with the following votes – Yes = 8, No = 0, Absent = 3, and

Abstentions = 0.

              Item 8:  The Board may consider any action deemed necessary as a result of the foregoing executive session.  There was no action taken regarding Item 8.

                          Item 9:  Comments

              This item was moved to and completed as Item 6A.

                          Item 10:  Adjournment

On a motion by Mr. Dufour, seconded by Mr. Boyd, the Board voted to adjourn the meeting at 6:48 p.m.

Alice Thomas, President                                                                         Clay Corley, Secretary

            DeSoto Parish School Board                                                       DeSoto Parish School Board