The Vernon Parish School Board held its second meeting of 2024 on Tuesday, January 9, at 10 a.m. During last week’s meeting, Board members heard from several department heads. Others gave their summaries this week.

The Board conducted routine business, including authorizing a resolution to issue debt in Ward 7. Board members approved retirements and granted leave without pay requests. There were several newly-state-mandated guidelines to Head Start policies and procedures that were adopted by the Board.

Tim Ward introduced Scott Walker with Taylor & Sons Insurance, who presented the Employee of the Month award to Tara Beebe, a para-professional at Leesville High School. Her principal, Lisa Haymon, said, “Beebe is great at everything and always willing to help; coaching, bus driving, even concessions at ball games.”

Curriculum Directors Anne Smith and Lisa Lohman updated the Board on student progress in the system. A focus this fall has been on 4th, 5th and 6th grade math and literacy in K-4th grade. Last year, Vernon Elementary students showed levels of mastery and above at a 37% mark. The state average is 32%. In English language and science, Vernon Parish showed mastery and above in 52% of students as opposed to the date average of 43%. Several new programs have been implemented in the system, including Math Boot Camp and the new Exact Math, which offers a plan for all students. Smith reminded the Board of new state-mandated guidelines that require every K-3 school to have a literacy plan. Lohman shared with the Board that Vernon Parish received an Academic A-rated district award from the state in 2022-2023. That is good enough for a Top 10 ranking statewide for another year. The Top 10 districts did not change from last year.

Special Education Supervisor Leslie Ortiz reported there are currently 1,094 students in special ed. Title One funding is based on economic and disadvantaged students and currently pays for nine teachers and five para-professionals. Since the 2021 year, the program is down 165 students, which translates to less available funding.

Mr. Roland Jones with Food Service told of increasing state and federal funding for reimbursement have led to increased participation in the Free Meals Program. Jones pointed to a 3.26% increase in the Vernon Parish lunch program. “Functioning dishwashers,” according to Jones, “have led to diminished reliance on paper products and disposable items.”

Remarks from Superintendent James Williams concerned dwindling student population and the loss of funding for public schools at both the state and national levels. He stressed the school system must do more with less.