February 1, 2000
THE PARISH SCHOOL BOARD OF VERNON PARISH LOUISIANA CONVENED IN REGULAR SESSION, FEBRUARY 1, 2000, AT 10:00 A.M., AT 201 BELVIEW ROAD, LEESVILLE, LA. PRESIDENT WEST CALLED THE MEETING TO ORDER AND ON ROLL CALL THE FOLLOWING MEMBERS WERE PRESENT:
LINDA WEST, PRESIDENT
B.R. HARVEY, VICE PRESIDENT
ALVIN C. DOWDEN, JR.
WILLIS FARRIS
M. GENE HAYMON
JANE HOLTON
C.A. HUGHES
TED PARIS
W.W. PARKER
GAYE MCKEE
KIM REESE
BETTY WESTERCHIL
MURPHY O’BANION
PHILIP GUNN
COL. DAVE MCNEILL
ABSENT: MARK SMITH, FRN CONFERENCE
There was also present Richard Schwartz, Secretary of the Board.
The meeting was opened in prayer by Gaye McKee.
The Pledge of Allegiance was led by C.A. Hughes.
On motion of W.W. Parker, seconded by C.A. Hughes, the Board voted to approve and dispense with the reading of the minutes of January 11, 2000.
On recommendation of Superintendent Schwartz and on motion of Betty Westerchil, seconded by Ted Paris, the Board approved the attached resignations.
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On recommendation of Superintendent Schwartz and on motion of Kim Reese, seconded by Jane Holton, the Board voted to approve the attached sabbatical leave requests.
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On recommendation of Superintendent Schwartz and on motion of Murphy O’Banion, seconded by W.W. Parker, the Board voted to approve the attached request for a leave without pay.
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On recommendation of Superintendent Schwartz and on motion of C.A. Hughes, seconded by W.W. Parker, the Board approved the attached list of employee transfers.
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On recommendation of Superintendent Schwartz and on motion of B.R. Harvey, seconded by Willis Farris, the Board voted to approve the attached list of new employees.
ATTACHED
Ms. Joan Cowart, representing the Daughters of the American Revolution, presented Hornbeck senior, Chancey Nicks, the Daughters of the American Revolution Essay and Good Citizens award. Miss Nicks was the over-all parish winner.
Tom Neubert announced that February 7-11, 2000 has been proclaimed National School Counselor Week and called on Patrick Johnson, counselor at Pickering Elementary School, who presented certificates of recognition and appreciation to several of the parish school counselors who were present at the meeting.
On motion of Willis Farris, seconded by the Board the following resolution for school counselors was adopted:
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, the Vernon Parish School Board wishes to acknowledge the efforts of guidance counselors and their association with the students of our schools; and
WHEREAS, Vernon Parish guidance counselors plan appropriate school-wide guidance and counseling programs and are available to assist students, parents, and teachers; and
WHEREAS, we further acknowledge the contributions being made to the overall development of our children by school counselors; and
WHEREAS, we wish to express our gratitude and appreciation for the expertise of our school counselors and their role in the lives of our children;
WHEREAS, February 7-11, 2000 has been designated as NATIONAL SCHOOL COUNSELOR week to honor our school counselors.
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Vernon Parish School Board, does hereby proclaim February 7-11, 2000, as SCHOOL COUNSELOR WEEK in Vernon Parish Schools and encourages all our citizens to recognize and thank school counselors for their concern for the students of Vernon Parish.
Susan Batson, Division Director of Special Populations of the Louisiana Department of Education, presented a State Department certificate to Vernon Parish for exemplary special education programming.
On motion of Murphy O’Banion, seconded by the Board, the Board voted to adopt the following resolution commending and congratulating Dottie Neugebauer, Director of Special Education, and her staff.
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, the members of the Vernon Parish School Board are extremely proud recipients the State Department certificate for exemplary special education programming and wish to commend and congratulate Mrs. Dottie Neugebauer and her entire staff for making this outstanding award possible; and
WHEREAS, the special education team works diligently with the students, parents, teachers, and school personnel to organize and implement individual plans of instruction so that all exceptional students are given every possible opportunity for educational development;
BE IT THEREFORE RESOLVED, that the Board adopts this resolution of appreciation to Mrs. Neugebauer her staff for the outstanding services rendered to the students of Vernon Parish.
Tim Green and Margie Williamson presented the annual audit report. This was the first report issued in Louisiana under the GASB reporting model. Each member of the Board received a copy of the audit report.
On motion of Gene Haymon, seconded by Betty Westerchil, the Board voted to enter into executive session to hear a report on sales tax. The time was recorded at 11:10 a.m.
On motion of B.R. Harvey, seconded by Philip Gunn, the Board voted to come out of executive session and resume order. The time was recorded at 11:40 a.m.
On motion of W.W. Parker, seconded by the Board, the Board voted to adopt a resolution commending Tim Green and his staff for outstanding auditing and reporting.
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, the Vernon Parish School Board wishes to express its appreciation to Mr. Tim Green, Ms. Margie Williamson, and the staff of Allen, Green and Company for the outstanding services provided this office; and
WHEREAS, the audit report presented was the first report issued in Louisiana under the GASB reporting model; and
WHEREAS, the auditing process was conducted in thorough and professional manner and the reports were attractive, well-planned, and easy to understand;
BE IT THEREFORE RESOLVED, that the Board adopts this resolution of appreciation to Mr. Green, Ms. Williamson and the staff who assisted, for excellent auditing and reporting.
On motion of W.W. Parker, seconded by Willis Farris, the Board voted to apply for a $6,000.00 rural Development Grant for Hornbeck High School.
On motion of Gene Haymon, seconded by Philip Gunn, the Board voted to approve the recommendation of the Technology Committee to hire an additional technician through Title I. C. A. Hughes and Ted Paris voted no.
W.W. Parker reported that the Transportation Committee agreed to ask a representative from U. S. Unwired to meet with the Committee to discuss cell phones on school buses. Also requested to meet with the Committee were representatives from the local banks and from Ross Bus Sales to discuss bus financing. The Transportation will meet on Tuesday, February 8th at 2:00 p.m.
On motion of Murphy O’Banion, seconded by Willis Farris, the Board voted to receive bids on a used copier at Pickering High School. No bids were received.
On motion of Murphy O’Banion, seconded by Willis Farris, the Board voted to authorize the principal at Pickering High School to dispose of the used copier at Pickering High School.
On motion of Gene Haymon, seconded by Betty Westerchil, the Board voted to pursue the oil companies concerning royalties possibly owed to Vernon Parish School System.
On motion of A.C. Dowden, Jr., on behalf of the District One members, seconded by the entire Board, the Board adopted the following resolution:
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, Kevin Mawae, former Leesville High School student and athlete, has represented our school system well. He is a positive role model and volunteers his time to come back and speak to student groups in Vernon Parish; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Mawae has established a successful fund raising project for the Leesville High School football program; and
WHEREAS, his talents and work ethic has established him as one of the premiere players in the National Football League;
BE IT THEREFORE RESOLVED, that the members of this board congratulate Mr. Kevin Mawae for all his accomplishments and appreciate the continued contributions he continues to make to the Vernon Parish School System.
On motion of Murphy O’Banion, seconded by the Board, the Board voted to adopt the following memorial resolution:
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, the Vernon Parish School Board wishes to express its heartfelt sympathies to Mrs. Lynda Mitchell, secretary at Pickering High School in the recent death of her brother, Mr. Hugh Jeane Sr., of Lufkin, Texas; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Jeane was a native and longtime resident of Vernon Parish and he will be sadly missed by his family and friends;
BE IT THEREFORE RESOLVED, that the Board requests that a copy of this memorial resolution be sent to Mrs. Mitchell and her entire family at this time of bereavement.
On motion of Murphy O’Banion, seconded by the Board, the board voted to adopt the following memorial resolution:
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, the members of the Vernon Parish School Board wish to express their deepest sympathies to Mrs. Irma Blackwell, bus driver at Pickering Elementary School, in the recent death of her mother, Mrs. Martha Jordan; and
WHEREAS, Mrs. Jordan was a longtime resident of the Leesville area and she will be sadly missed by her family and friends;
BE IT THEREFORE RESOLVED, that the Board requests that a copy of this memorial resolution be sent to Mrs. Blackwell and her family at this time of sorrow.
On motion of Betty Westerchil, seconded by the Board, the Board voted to adopt the following memorial resolution:
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, the members of the Vernon Parish School Board were deeply saddened by the untimely death of Mrs. Darla Tuck, secretary at Leesville High School; and
WHEREAS, Mrs. Tuck was the wife of Mr. Kim Tuck, central office maintenance department employee, the mother of Miss Haley Tuck, member of the junior class at Leesville High School, and the daughter of Mrs. Gloria Toney, central office secretary; and
WHEREAS, Mrs. Tuck was a lifetime resident of Leesville and a graduate of Leesville High School. She was actively involved in many youth programs throughout the parish and she will be lovingly remembered and sadly missed by her family, the faculty, staff, and students at Leesville High School, and her many friends;
BE IT THEREFORE RESOLVED, that the Board requests that a copy of this memorial resolution be sent, along with its heartfelt sympathies, to Mr.Kim Tuck and Haley and Mrs. Gloria Toney at this time of sorrow.
On motion of W.W. Parker, seconded by the Board, the Board voted to adopt the following memorial resolution:
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, the members of the Vernon Parish School Board were deeply saddened by the recent death of Ms. Sharon Hilton, teacher’s aide at Leesville High School; and
WHEREAS, Ms. Hilton was a loyal and dedicated employee who will be remembered for her cooperative spirit, her ready smile, and her ability to make others smile. She will be sadly missed by her family, the faculty, staff, and students at Leesville High School, and her friends;
BE IT THEREFORE RESOLVED, that the Board requests that a copy of this memorial resolution, along with its sincere condolences, be sent to Ms. Hilton’s family at this time of sorrow.
The being no further business, on motion of Gaye McKee, seconded by the Board, the meeting was adjourned.
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LINDA WEST, PRESIDENT
ATTEST:
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RICHARD SCHWARTZ, SUPERINTENDENT
February 1, 2000