PARISH OF DESOTO

DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

Mansfield, Louisiana

August 4, 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, August 4, 2022, at 6:00 p.m. with the following members present:

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

            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 Mr. Tommy Craig and others facing health issues.  Mr. Corley and Board Members also asked to remember all students and staff as another school year begins.    Mr. Ross led the invocation and the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.

            Item 2:  Revisions to the agenda.

            Motion was made by Mr. Glenn, seconded by Mr. Boyd, to add Item 8A – Consider allowing parent and employee option for quarantine determination in the DeSoto Parish School Board COVID-19 screening protocols. 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 3:  Approval of minutes of the regular Board meeting of July 7, 2022.

            Motion was made by Mr. Morvan, seconded by Mr. Glenn, to approve the minutes of the regular Board meeting of July 7, 2022.  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:  Strategic Plan Initiative Updates

            Mr. Corley gave an update on school safety meetings that had taken place throughout the summer with law enforcement and school system staff.  He expressed appreciation to staff members Josh Dahlem, Clint Fuller, and Heith Parker, as well as law enforcement staff, for their hard work and hours of planning.  Sheriff Richardson will be presenting more information at the October or November Board meeting. 

·         Student Learning Department

            Ms. Willa Smith, Student Learning Coordinator, gave a brief presentation regarding FASTalk, which is a program designed to keep parents up to date on students ELA assignments and coursework.  The District has been successfully using FASTalk as a parent involvement tool and has received positive feedback from staff and families.  Mr. Corley and Board members thanked Ms. Smith for the presentation.

Item 5:  Approval of the 2022-23 Pupil Progression Plan/Working Outline

                  Mrs. Flanders, Student Learning Director, gave a brief summary of the purpose of and changes to the Pupil Progression Plan/Working Outline for 2022-23.  The most significant one is that Kindergarten is now mandatory in Louisiana.   Motion was made by Dr. Henderson, seconded by Mr. Johnston, to approve the 2022-2023 Pupil Progression Plan/Working Outline 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 6:  Approval of the revised 2022-23 Personnel Evaluation Plan

            Mrs. Janice Lingle, HR Director, presented a summary of changes to the 2022-2023 Personnel Evaluation Plan.  Only a few changes were made to the wording of job descriptions to more accurately reflect job duties.   Motion was made by Mr. Glenn, seconded by Mrs. Mayweather, to approve the revised 2022-23 Personnel Evaluation Plan 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 7:  Consider Employee Attendance Incentive Stipend for the 2022-23 school year

            Mr. Corley explained to the Board that, if approved, all staff would be offered the opportunity to sign up for the Attendance Incentive stipend for 2022-23.  The incentive provides a stipend of up to $300/month if an employee has no late scan in times, early scan out times, or missed days. Keeping teachers and staff in front of students is a top priority of the district.  These stipends will be paid in January and in May.  He further explained that absences for professional development, school business, or jury duty would not count against an employee. Motion was made by Dr. Henderson, seconded by Mr. Boyd to approve the stipend as presented for the 2022-23 school year.  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 8:  Consider approval of (corrected) resolution adopting Plan A as the election plan for the DeSoto Parish School Board in accordance with the 2020 census. 

            Mr. Corley explained that there was a clerical error in the original resolution adopting Plan A, so this corrected version needed to be approved to correct that error.

Motion was made by Mr. Dufour, seconded by Mr. Johnston, to approve the (corrected) resolution 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.

DeSoto Parish School Board

Resolution

Adoption of Reapportionment Plan A

(Corrected)

A RESOLUTION REGARDING REAPPORTIONING SINGLE MEMBER VOTING DISTRICTS FOR THE SCHOOL BOARD OF THE PARISH OF DESOTO, LOUISIANA, IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE 2020 CENSUS

WHEREAS,      The Census 2020 count has been completed and the PL 94-171 reapportionment data was delivered to the State of Louisiana on the 12th of August 2021, and,

WHEREAS,       The DeSoto Parish School Board conducted a study which found the current districts were malapportioned and thereby required redistricting, and,

WHEREAS, the DeSoto Parish School Board has held several public redistricting workshops and has developed draft Plan 4 to meet the requirements of the applicable state statutes and.

WHEREAS, Draft Plan 4 is hereby formalized as the School Board’s official redistricting plan and is designated as Redistricting Plan A; and,

WHEREAS, Redistricting Plan A meets all of the requirements of the Voting Rights Act and applicable State Statutes; and,

WHEREAS, the DeSoto Parish School Board hereby authorizes the demographer to submit Plan A, hereby designated as the Reapportionment Plan to the State of Louisiana for review and implementation.

THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the DeSoto Parish School Board, in regular session assembled, that this Resolution adopting Reapportionment Plan A be adopted with the Districts described to -wit:

SECTION I

(Definition of District 1)

District 1 of the DeSoto Parish School Board shall be defined by the following precincts, all or in part:

Precinct: 23A

Precinct: 34 (part): That part of Precinct 34 north of La. Hwy. 5.

Precinct: 34A

Precinct: 35 (part): That part of Precinct 35 east of the centerline of Hannah Tucker Rd. going north from the pipeline right of way to La. Hwy. 172, then the north side of La. Hwy. 172 going west to Bushneck Bayou, then the east side of Bushneck Bayou north to the Parish boundary.

SECTION II

(Definition of District 2)

District 2 of the DeSoto Parish School Board shall be defined by the following precincts, all or in part:

Precinct: 23B

Precinct: 16 (part): That part of Precinct 16 east of Cathy Rd. between Stonewall-Frierson Rd. and the drainage lateral, then south and west of the drainage lateral to the Precinct 16/30 boundary.

Precinct: 16A (part): That part of Precinct 16A west of the northbound lane of U.S. Hwy. 171 northerly from the intersection with Satterfield Lane to Williamson Rd.

Precinct: 30 (part): That part of Precinct 30 west of a boundary commencing at the intersection of the Precinct 16 boundary and Missile Base Rd., then north to Keithville Kingston Rd., then northwesterly to the Parish boundary.

SECTION III

(Definition of District 3)

District 3 of the DeSoto Parish School Board shall be defined by the following precincts, all or in part:

Precinct: 22

Precinct: 21

Precinct: 33 (part): That part of Precinct 33 north of a boundary commencing at the intersection of Red Bluff Rd. and La. Hwy. 175, then northwesterly on La. Hwy. 175 to Gravel Point Rd., then easterly to Friendship Rd., then southerly and southeasterly to Red Lick Rd.

Precinct: 33A (part): That part of Precinct 33A bounded by Interstate 49, La. Hwy. 175, and Red Bluff Rd.

SECTION IV

(Definition of District 4)

District 4 of the DeSoto Parish School Board shall be defined by the following precincts, all or in part:

Precinct: 11B

Precinct: 31

Precinct: 31A

Precinct: 34 (part): That part of Precinct 34 south of La. Hwy. 5.

Precinct: 37

Precinct: 37A

Precinct: 44A

Precinct: 60

Precinct: 60A

SECTION V

(Definition of District 5)

District 5 of the DeSoto Parish School Board shall be defined by the following precincts, all or in part:

Precinct: 1 (part): That part of Precinct 1 commencing at the intersection of Martin Luther King Dr. and Oxford Rd., then north on Oxford Rd. to Gibbs St., then east to Johnson St., then south to Martin Luther King Dr., then west to Oxford Rd.

Precinct: 42

Precinct: 53

Precinct: 55

Precinct: 56 (part): That part of Precinct 56 west of Interstate 49.

Precinct: 59

Precinct: 59A

Precinct: 63A

SECTION VI

(Definition of District 6)

District 6 of the DeSoto Parish School Board shall be defined by the following precincts, all or in part:

Precinct: 28 (part): That part of Precinct 28 south of Willie Glaze Rd.

Precinct: 46

Precinct: 48

Precinct: 49

Precinct: 49A

Precinct: 51

SECTION VII

(Definition of District 7)

District 7 of the DeSoto Parish School Board shall be defined by the following precincts, all or in part:

Precinct: 10

Precinct: 11

Precinct 11A:

Precinct: 28 (part): That part of Precinct 28 north of Willie Glaze Rd

Precinct: 35 (part): That part of Precinct 35 west of the centerline of Hannah Tucker Rd. going north from the pipeline right of way to La. Hwy. 172, then the south side of La. Hwy. 172 going west to Bushneck Bayou, then the west side of Bushneck Bayou north to the Parish boundary.

SECTION VIII

(Definition of District 8)

District 8 of the DeSoto Parish School Board shall be defined by the following precincts, all or in part:

Precinct: 16 (part): That part of Precinct 16 west of Cathy Rd. between Stonewall-Frierson Rd. and the drainage lateral, then north and east of the drainage lateral to the Precinct 16/30 boundary.

Precinct 16A (part): That part of Precinct 16A east of the northbound lane of U.S. Hwy. 171 northerly from the intersection with Satterfield Lane to Williamson Rd.

Precinct 23

Precinct: 30 (part): That part of Precinct 30 east of a boundary commencing at the intersection of the Precinct 16 boundary and Missile Base Rd., then north to Keithville Kingston Rd., then northwesterly to the Parish boundary.

SECTION IX

(Definition of District 9)

District 9 of the DeSoto Parish School Board shall be defined by the following precincts, all or in part:

Precinct: 5

Precinct: 9

Precinct: 9A

Precinct: 26

Precinct: 26A

Precinct: 38 (part): That part of Precinct 38 east of the pipeline right of way and south of Cotton Belt Rd.

Precinct: 56 (part): That part of Precinct 56 east of Interstate 49.

SECTION X

(Definition of District 10)

District 10 of the DeSoto Parish School Board is an at-large district and shall be defined by the following whole precincts:

Precinct: 5A

Precinct: 6

Precinct: 6A

Precinct: 32

Precinct: 33 (part): That part of Precinct 33 south of a boundary commencing at the intersection of Red Bluff Rd. and La. Hwy. 175, then northwesterly on La. Hwy. 175 to Gravel Point Rd., then easterly to Friendship Rd., then southerly and southeasterly to Red Lick Rd.

Precinct 33A: (part): That part of Precinct 33A to include all of Precinct 33A east of La. Hwy 175.

Precinct: 37B

Precinct: 38A

Precinct: 38 (part): That part of Precinct 38 west of the pipeline right of way and north of Cotton Belt Rd.

SECTION XI

(Definition of District 11)

District 11 of the DeSoto Parish School Board is an at-large district and shall be defined by the following whole precincts:

Precinct: 1 (part): All of Precinct 1 with the exception of that part commencing at the intersection of Martin Luther King Dr. and Oxford Rd., then north on Oxford Rd. to Gibbs St., then east to Johnson St., then south to Martin Luther King Dr., then west to Oxford Rd.

Precinct: 4

Precinct: 44

Precinct: 63

The district descriptions adopted by this resolution shall become effective upon approval by the Louisiana Secretary of State and otherwise as allowed by law.

Votes taken on presentation of this resolution are recorded as:

YEAS:                         

NAYS:

ABSENT:         

ABSTAINS:      

CERTIFICATE

I hereby certify that the foregoing Resolution was adopted by the DeSoto Parish School Board in regular session duly convened on _____________, 2022.

______________________________                  ________________________________

Clay Corley, Secretary-Treasurer                                   Alice Thomas, President           

DeSoto Parish School Board                                         DeSoto Parish School Board

            Item 8A – Consider allowing parent and employee option for quarantine determination in the DeSoto Parish School Board COVID-19 screening protocols

            Mr. Corley explained that this option would allow parents to determine if they wanted their child to quarantine/not quarantine if they had a classmate test positive for COVID-19.   It would also allow employees the option to quarantine/not quarantine if they experienced close contact with someone who tested positive.  Motion was made by Mr. Dufour, seconded by Mr. Morvan, to approve the option 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:   Comments

Mr. Corley recognized Mrs. Tammie Phillips for being recently honored as Louisiana High School Principal of the Year.  We are very proud and appreciative of Mrs. Phillips and the work she has done in DeSoto Parish.

He also introduced:

·         Mrs. Lindsay Burford as the newly appointed Administrative Assistant at North DeSoto Lower Elementary School.

·         Mr. Ronnie Morris as the unopposed School Board member candidate for DeSoto Parish School Board District 9.  He will serve as District 9 School Board member after January 1, 2023.

Mr. Corley asked Board Members and others to remember Mr. Tommy Craig with healing prayers as he recuperates from a recent health issue.  Mr. Craig has represented District 9 since 1991 and will retire from that position on December 31, 2022.

Mr. Corley closed by thanking school administrators, staff and district leaders and staff for their hard work and long hours they have given while getting schools ready to open on August 4, for the 2022-23 school year.

              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