The Vernon Parish School Board met Thursday, June 6, at 10 a.m. in the Central Office board room.
Food Service Supervisor Raymond Jones relayed to Board members details on the Summer EBT/Sun Bucks program. This USDA sponsored program has no cost to the Vernon Parish system but offers great summer benefits for food and groceries to students and families. Students in several federal programs have already been identified and qualified. Students will receive $40 per month for the three summer months.
Secondary Curriculum Director Lisa Lohman addressed the Board on the new Firefighters I II programs that just received state approval this week. This is a pilot program. Six junior and senior students from Vernon Parish will be selected for the initial program. The program will lead to credits and five credentials. The result will be trained young firefighters eligible to join the workforce upon graduation. The program will include classroom time and experience training with fire departments at Leesville and Ft. Johnson. Applications for the program will be at Vernon Parish high schools Monday, June 10. Lohman reported the Capturing Better Initiatives welding program had 15 available slots for the coming school year and over 30 applicants.
Lohman also relayed to Board members that Louisiana has improved the state educational ranking to #40 in the nation according to recent polls. Lohman briefed the Board on the current BESE Board accountability proposal that will be discussed again next week in Baton Rouge. There were several points in the proposal she was unhappy with, including a pre-determined bell curve on school grades. She also pointed out a nearly complete reversal by the BESE Board on school accountability. One of the proposals would require a student maintain a dual enrollment (HS-College) and an ACT score of 21 or the school would get no accountability points, despite the fact that state universities do accept lower ACT scores for enrollment.
Superintendent James Williams urged Board members to contact anyone connected with the BESE Board to object and voice concern over these proposals.
Maintenance Supervisor Dwain Ducote updated the Board members on the state mandated AED program that must be in place in all schools and athletic sites this fall. School nurses have been training personnel in the use of the equipment, and Ducote said the system is only 4-5 AED’s short at this point.
The Vernon Parish School Board will hold its next meeting Tuesday, June 11, at 10 a.m.