WEBSTER PARISH SCHOOL BOARD MINUTES

MONDAY, April 4, 2022

The Webster Parish School Board, of the Parish of Webster, State of Louisiana, met in the Educational Services Center, 1442 Sheppard Street, Minden, Louisiana on Monday, April 4, 2022 at 6:00 PM. Meeting was called to order by Fred Evans. The Prayer was led by Margaret Edens, and the Pledge of Allegiance was led by Fred Evans. Members present: Glenda Broughton, Margaret Edens, Fred Evans, Johnnye Kennon, Linda Kinsey, Penny Long, Jerry Lott, Jeri O’Neal, Ronald Rhymes, and Charles Strong. Member present virtually: Frankie Mitchell. Malachi Ridgel was absent.

Item #2: Approve Minutes from the Financial Committee Meeting held March 14, 2022. Motion to approve was made by Linda Kinsey; seconded by Jeri O’Neal. Motion passed.

Item #3: Approve Minutes from the Regular Board Meeting held March 14, 2022. Motion to approve was made by Linda Kinsey; seconded by Penny Long. Motion passed.

Item #4: Presentation by Mr. Rodney Taylor of Taylor and Sons to recognize Employee of the Month recipient for the month of April 2022, to Jamie Barnett, Social Worker.

Item #5: Recognition of Webster Parish 2021-22 Students of the Year.

Item #6: Eileen Chao of Empower Schools to address the board. Mrs. Edens spoke to what a great five-year program this is. Mr. Rowland wanted to recognize Mrs. Lewing for all the hard work she did on this project.

Item #7: Consider approval of the following updated job descriptions:  Supervisor of Title 1 and Elementary Grades 3-5, Supervisor of Curriculum, Instruction, and Accountability, and Supervisor of Student Services/Child Welfare and Attendance. Motion to approve was made by Frankie Mitchell; seconded by Linda Kinsey. After discussion Jeri O’Neal called for a substitute motion; seconded by Penny Long. Mrs. O’Neal wanted the board to allow this be considered at a later date. That motion failed 4 in favor and 7 against. Then a vote was held on the original motion and it passed by roll call vote. The following board members voting to approve Item #7: Glenda Broughton, Johnnye Kennon, Linda Kinsey, Jerry Lott, Frankie Mitchell, and Ronald Rhymes. The following Board members voting against Item #7: Margaret Edens, Penny Long, Jeri O’Neal, and Charles Strong. Fred Evans abstained. Motion Passed.

Item #8: Consider approval of naming the gymnasium at Doyline High School the "James D. Roach Gymnasium." Motion to approve was made by Penny Long; seconded by Linda Kinsey. Motion passed.

Motion to approve Item 9 thru Item 31 in global vote was made by Charles Strong; seconded by Glenda Broughton. Motion passed.

Item #9: To consider approval for Lakeside History Club to go on an out-of-state field trip May 28, 2022, to Dallas and Waxahachie, Texas. The itinerary would include the Sixth Floor Museum in Dallas and the Scarborough Renaissance Festival in Waxahachie. Students will be paying their way.

Item #10: To consider approval from Janene Ashley, Principal at J.A. Phillips Elementary School, for the Dean of Students and five staff members to attend Orlando National Get Your Teach On in Kissimmee, Florida from June 26-29, 2022. Funding source is Title I.

Item #11: To consider for approval from Bewanichi Sheppard, Principal at Webster Junior High School, for nine teachers and three administrators to attend Kagan Cooperative Learning Strategies Institute in Dallas, Texas, June 20-24, 2022. Funding source is Title I.

Item #12: To consider for approval the NWJH softball teams request to travel by bus to Magnolia, AR., on April 8, 2022, to visit the campus of SAU. While there, students will be given a tour of the campus to learn about the college and the offered programs and then watch the SAU softball team play a game against Harding University beginning at 5:00 P.M. Immediately following the game, students will return to NWJH campus for parents to pick them up. The bus will depart from NWJH at 2:00 P.M. and return approximately 7:00 P.M. Chaperones will be the coaching staff, and the bus will be driven by Lonnie O’Neal. 

       Consolidated 3 Maintenance Fund

Item #13: To consider approval from Denny Finley, Principal at Lakeside Jr/Sr High School, to purchase 8 tables and 32 chairs from Virco for $2,475.00. Funding source is the Consolidated 3 Maintenance Funds.

Item #14: To consider approval from Denny Finley, Principal at Lakeside Jr/Sr High School, to purchase a new scoreboard from Minden Athletic Supply to replace the broken one currently at the baseball field at a cost of $9,544.00.  Funding source is the Consolidated 3 Maintenance Fund.

Item #15: Consider approval for Lakeside Jr/Sr High School to have Homeland Safety Systems install microphone equipment for the security cameras in the office area for $499.59.  Funding source is the Consolidated 3 Maintenance Fund.

Springhill Maintenance Fund

Item #16: Consider approval for Brown Upper Elementary to purchase a Sthil FS 91 Trimmer for $306.00, an FC91 Edger for $342.00, and a BR430 blower for $387.00 from Hol-Mont Sales per state contract for a total of $1035.00.  Funding Source is the Springhill Maintenance Fund.

      District 6  ½ Cent Sales Tax Fund.

Item #17: Consider approval for Richardson Elementary to purchase a Sthil FS 91 Trimmer for $306 and an Exmark 60-inch mower for $12,166.00 from Hol-Mont Sales per state contract for a total of $12,472.00.  Funding source is the District 6 ½ Cent Sales Tax Fund.  

Item #18: Consider approval to authorize Johnson Controls to replace 2 ABB VFD drives and bypasses for both chilled water pumps at Minden High School for $15,266.14.  Funding source is the District 6 ½ Cent Sales Tax Fund.

Item #19: Consider approval to ratify invoice #861 from Wildlife Abatement, LLC for bat exclusion from the south side of the courtyard at Minden High School for $1398.63.  Funding source is the District 6 ½ Cent Sales Tax Fund.  

Item #20: Consider approval to ratify invoice #1-115499372541 from Johnson Controls for Chiller repairs at Minden High School for $1605.04.  Funding source is the District 6 ½ Cent Sales Tax Fund.

Item #21: Consider approval to ratify invoice #1-115499111337 from Johnson Controls for AHU#7 bearing and blower repairs at Minden High School for $1989.57.  Funding source is the District 6 ½ Cent Sales Tax Fund.

Item #22: Consider approval to ratify invoice #1-115609623808 from Johnson Controls for Boiler repairs at Minden High School for $790.54.  Funding source is the District 6 ½ Cent Sales Tax Fund.  

Doyline Maintenance Fund

Item #23: Consider approval for Doyline High School to purchase and replace the sign at the baseball and softball field complex for $1475.00 from Designs by Kelly Avery.  Funding source is the Doyline Maintenance Fund.  

Item #24: Consider approval for Doyline High School to purchase 4 metal picnic tables from Outdoor School Furniture for $3650.13.  Funding source is the Doyline Maintenance Fund.  

Item #25: Consider approval for Doyline High School to have JD’s Clean Krete Pressure Washing Service to pressure clean the buildings and sidewalks at Doyline High School for $8500.00.  Funding source is the Doyline Maintenance Fund.  

Item #26: Consider approval for Doyline High School to have JNJ Fencing install a 6-foot privacy fence around the shop area for $4830.00.  Funding source is the Doyline Maintenance Fund.  

Item #27: Consider approval for Doyline High School to have JNJ Fencing install black chain link fencing on the playground areas for $11,020.00.  Funding source is the Doyline Maintenance Fund.  

Item #28: Consider approval for Doyline High School to have JNJ fencing install a new perimeter fence at the baseball field for $40,278.00.  Funding source is the Doyline Maintenance Fund.  

Item #29: Consider approval to accept service proposal #8416 from Mechanical Concepts for $12,500.00 to replace the evaporator coil, compressor, inverter board, and condenser fan on one HVAC unit in the elementary wing at Doyline High School.  Funding source is the Doyline Maintenance Fund.  

Item #30: Consider approval to ratify invoice #S-7973 from Mechanical Concepts for Heat – HVAC repairs at Doyline at the P-K building at Doyline High School for $6852.21.  Funding source is the Doyline Maintenance Fund.  

Shongaloo Building Fund

Item #31: Consider approval to ratify invoice #9018 from Mechanical Cooling Services to rebuild and install the chilled water pump at North Webster Lower Elementary School for $5200. Funding source is the Shongaloo Building Fund.

Item #32: FYI

·         Webster Jr. High School 8^th grade students with an A/B average and no referrals will travel to SciPort Discovery System in Shreveport, La, April 8, 2022.

·         Kindergarten Timeline 2022-2023

Item #33: PERSONNEL REPORT

Item #34: School Community Liaison Report

Item #35: Superintendent’s Report

Mr. Rowland yielded his time to Jeff Franklin to report about the teachers who will be driving buses and the bus training class. Mr. Franklin reported he had 18 participants in his class.

Item #36: Announcements

Item #37: Request:  Enter into Executive Session, pursuant to La. R.S. 42:17(A)(2), to discuss the status and strategy concerning prospective litigation and a written demand for waiver of dispute resolution procedures by ELA Group on the Minden High School Multipurpose Project. Motion to approve made by Charles Strong; seconded by Ronald Rhymes. Motion passed.   

Item #38: Consideration of any actions deemed necessary resulting from the above referenced Executive Session or agenda item. Motion to approve made by Charles Strong; seconded by Johnnye Kennon. Motion passed.

·         January 2022 and February 2022 Monthly Financial Reports

Attached are the Balance Sheet and the Statement of Revenues and Expenditures for the General Fund Consolidated 3 Maintenance Fund, Minden School Building Fund, Strong Start Achieve Fund, and District #6 Sales Tax (1/2 Cent) Fund. These funds represent our largest fund balances to date. The Statement of Revenues and Expenditures gives a budget versus actual comparison.

        Next Board Meeting on May 2, 2022, will be held at:

Harper Pathways to Excellence Center

618 Germantown Road

Minden, Louisiana

The meeting will be open to the public as required by law.

Meeting was adjourned at 8:10 P.M.                                                      

BY ORDER OF THE PRESIDENT

                                                                        _______________________________________

                                                                        JOHNNY R. ROWLAND, JR., SECRETARY