OCTOBER 2, 2025   THE VERNON PARISH SCHOOL BOARD CONVENED IN REGULAR SESSION AT 10:00 A.M., 201 BELVIEW ROAD, LEESVILLE, LOUISIANA. VICE-PRESIDENT, DEIDRA SHELL CALLED THE MEETING TO ORDER AND ON ROLL CALL THE FOLLOWING MEMBERS WERE PRESENT: District One: Kelly K. Goodwin Rhonda Morrison Robert Pynes, Jr. Jim Seaman Jackie Self District Two: Angie Davis District Three: Deidra Shell District Four: Randy Martin District Five: Shad Stewart District Seven: John Blankenbaker District Eight: Candace Black Fort Polk Garrison Commander: Col. J. Adam Barlow Absent: Vernon L. Travis, Jr. – District Six Angie Davis – District Two Shad Stewart – District Five Candace Black – District Eight  The meeting was opened in prayer by: Jim Seaman The Pledge of Allegiance was led by: Jim Seaman  Item #1: September 9, 2025 Minutes On motion of John Blankenbaker, seconded by Jackie Self, the Board voted to approve the minutes of the September 9, 2025 regular meeting and dispense with the reading of the minutes.  Item #2: Motion to Receive Bids for Propane for Simpson, Hicks, and Evans Director of Finance, Tim Ward informed the Board that he received only one bid for propane and that was from Jim South propane. On motion of Rhonda Morrison, seconded by John Blankenbaker the Board voted to approve accepting the Jim South bid for propane. Item #3: Discussion of VPSB Meeting Dates for 2026 Personnel Director, Joseph Bartz presented the Board with the Vernon Parish School Board meeting dates for 2026 during the Salary/Personnel committee meeting. On motion of Kelly Goodwin, seconded by Randy Martin, the Board voted to add to the 10-7-25 agenda for approval Item #4: College Career Night Overview Assistant Superintendent/Secondary Curriculum Director, Lisa Lohman introduced Steven Gruesbeck, with Health Ace to the Board. Mr. Gruesbeck discussed the academic and career areas for juniors and seniors and the colleges and vo-techs working with students in these programs. 97 LHS participated in the program last year. Item #5: Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in the Finance Department Finance Director, Tim Ward was presented with the Certificate of Achievement again this year from the State. Item#6: Report from Salary/Personnel Kelly Goodwin, Chairperson , presented an overview to the Board of the discussion during the Salary/Personnel Committee meeting held at 9:30. Personnel Director, Joseph Bartz discussed the following: l. Personnel transactions for October, 2025. On motion of Jackie Self seconded by Deidra Shell the Board voted to add to the 10-7-25 agenda for approval. 2. Advertise for a vacant promotional Principal position at LJHS. On motion of John Blankenbaker, seconded by Randy Martin the Board voted to add to the 10-7-25 agenda for approval. 3. Discussion of Board calendar/meeting dates: On motion of Kelly Goodwin, seconded by Rhonda Morrison, the Board voted to add the proposed 2026 Board Meeting dates/calendar for approval to the 10-7-25 agenda. 4. Discussion to combine two inactive committees into one committee to form the Policy Committee. On motion of Deidra Shell, seconded by Jim Seaman, the Board voted to add to the 10-7-25 meeting to form a Policy Committee. 5. Hybrid calendar starts on Monday 10-6-25 6. Fall Festival events are on the agenda for November. Item #7: Superintendent’s Remarks Superintendent, James Williams welcomed all to the meeting. Mr. Williams asked Col. J. Adam Barlow, Fort Polk Garrison Commander for an update on Fort Polk events. Col. Barlow discussed the previous bus accident on Fort Polk and discussed more efficient communications between Fort Polk and School Board. He informed the Board about a drone competition to be held October 8th and 9th at Fort Polk between soldiers and students. Looking forward to that. JRTC is complete until March, 2026 and 3-10 is coming back. Also Fall Festival events will be on the agenda for November. Mr. Williams reminded the Board of the Head Start Training on Tuesday, October 7th at 9:00 am and immediately after the 10:00 am regular meeting, Jon Guice will conduct the ACT 705 Training Session for the Board Members. Mr. Williams reminded the Board that October 2nd is a Virtual Day Checklist covering the following: 1. Parent/Teacher Conference 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm 2. This is a work day for all administrators & teachers (8:00 am – 3:00 pm) bus drivers and paraprofessionals are not required to work. Secretaries/bookkeepers and custodians are expected to report to work. Lunch break 12:00 – 1:00. Administrators, teachers and students have scheduled assignments which include chrome devices set-up. 3. Friday is Fair Day and schools will be closed. 4. Friday, October 3rd is the 2nd day of the Fall Trailblazer in Covington, LA. and Monday, October 20, 2025 the Fall Trailblazer will be held in Natchitoches. Mr. Williams turned the meeting over to the Vice-President, Deidra Shell. Item #8: Memorials There were no memorials. Item #9: Adjournment There being no other business, the meeting was adjourned. Authorized Officer: _________________ Vernon L. Travis, Jr., President ATTEST: _________________ James Williams, Superintendent 11746193 10/12/25 ($107.60)