The Vernon Parish School Board met at 10 a.m., Tuesday, January 14, at the Central Office Boardroom. The Board approved retirements and leave-without-pay requests. They also approved changes to Head Start Policies/Procedures.
Last week, the Board introduced the Students of the Year from five parish schools. Students from the other four schools were presented to the Board by Karen Robertson with the Curriculum Department. Following is a list of those students: Anacoco – Violet Simmons, 5th grade; Randi Brooks, 8th grade; Raylee Mitchell, 12th grade; Vernon Middle – Elijah Taylor, 5th grade; Leesville Junior High – Oakley Farris, 8th grade; Leesville High – Avery Tanner, 12th grade; Pitkin – Kynlee Bennett, 5th grade; Dakota Pollard, 8th grade; Amelia Lewis, 12th grade; Rosepine – Blakli Brister, 5th grade; Parker Williams, 8th grade; Reagan Herford, 12th grade.
Robertson also recognized the District winners, who will move forward in the state competition. The Vernon Elementary Student of the Year is Blakli Brister of Rosepine Elementary. The Middle School Student of the Year is Oakley Farris of Leesville Junior High. The High School Student of the Year is Amelia Lewis of Pitkin High School. They will represent the Vernon School District at the next level of state competition.
Jeff Taylor of Pelican Benefits presented the January Employee of the Month to Pitkin High School’s Lilian Becerra. Ms. Becerra has taught Spanish for over 25 years and currently teaches the ACT Prep classes. Pitkin Principal, Tiffany Holt, remarked that Pitkin has the best Spanish teacher in the state. She said that her students’ success is what drives Becerra.
This week is Louisiana School Board Association School Board Member Appreciation week. Vernon Parish Superintendent, James Williams, presented LSBA certifications to Board members Randy Martin, Deidra Shell, Jim Seaman, and Vernon Travis. This signifies 30+ hours of study and training on being a Board member. Williams urged the other Board members to add this training to their resumes.
Deidra Shell gave the report from the Transportation Committee on plans being developed for a parish-wide bus facility. The facility would be available for maintenance and safe storage of equipment.
The Board members heard from Bill Delp, the Rapides Foundation’s technical assistant for Vernon Parish. Delp is a former school superintendent from Illinois who has 20 years with the Foundation. Delp had very high praise for the Vernon Parish system and the approach they take with the Foundation’s Effective School Grant money. He remarked that when Vernon Parish identifies a problem, they fix it! That’s why they have an A-rated district.
The next meeting of the Vernon Parish School Board is planned for Thursday, February 6, at 10 a.m.