February 8, 2000

THE PARISH SCHOOL BOARD OF VERNON PARISH LOUISIANA CONVENED IN REGULAR SESSION, FEBRUARY 8, 2000, AT, 4:00 P.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.

M. GENE HAYMON

JANE HOLTON

W. W. PARKER

KIM REESE

MARK SMITH

BETTY WESTERCHIL

WILLIS A. FARRIS

MURPHY O’BANION

PHILIP L. GUNN

GAYE  MCKEE

COL. DAVE MCNEILL

ABSENT:               C. A. HUGHES, FAMILY ILLNESS

                                TED PARIS, OUT-OF-TOWN

There was also present Richard Schwartz, Secretary of the Board.

The meeting was opened in prayer by Gene Haymon.

The Pledge of Allegiance was led by A.C. Dowden, Jr.

On motion of W.W. Parker, seconded by B.R. Harvey, the Board voted to approve and dispense with the reading of the minutes of February 1, 2000.  

On motion of Murphy O’Banion, seconded by Willis Farris, the Board voted to approve the attached employee transfers.

ATTACHED

Kris Hickman, Community Partners Specialist, presented information and briefly discussed Census 2000, emphasizing the importance of making sure every citizen is counted.  Materials explaining the process will be made available to all teachers.

Mrs. Sandra Whitlock, Curriculum Supervisor, introduced Student’s of the Year from the parish schools. One Student of the Year was chosen from each 5th grade, 8th grade, and 12th grade to compete at the parish level. Chosen as Vernon Parish Students of the Year, were Vernon Middle School student, Kirsten Rolon, 5th grade, Autumn Costa, Anacoco Jr. High School, 8th grade, and Leesville High School senior, Rachel Lehr, 12th grade.  

The parish winners will next compete at the regional level.

W.W. Parker, in his report from the Transportation Committee, reported that representatives from Ross Bus Sales, the Vernon Bank, and the Merchants and Farmers Bank attended the meeting and spoke to the Committee concerning available financing for buses. He further stated the Committee’s recommendation to allow wage assignments through the accounting department, for bus drivers wishing to purchase buses from Ross Bus Sales.

On recommendation of the Transportation Committee and on motion of W.W. Parker, seconded by B.R. Harvey, the Board voted to allow payroll deduction for notes to Ross Bus Sales if bus drivers choose the option of financing through Ross Bus Sales.

Betty Westerchil reported that the Curriculum Committee had met on Monday, February 7th, to discuss state mandated testing and summer school. She commended  Dr. Cindy Gillespie and the central office supervisors for their outstanding preparation and planning.

Mrs. Westerchil, at this time, called on Mrs. Anne Smith, supervisor of instruction, who presented, and explained in more detail, the plan for implementing the summer school program and re-test schedule.    

On recommendation of the Curriculum Committee and on motion of Betty Westerchil, seconded by the Board, the plan for summer school and retesting was adopted.

On motion of A.C. Dowden, Jr., seconded by Gene Haymon, the Board voted to advertise for bids to purchase floor tile for District 1 schools.

On motion of Gene Haymon, seconded by Jane Holton, the Board voted to advertise for bids to purchase gym bleachers at Leesville High School.

Superintendent Schwartz offered a proposal concerning a  custodial position at the central office and noting a reduction in the number of custodians. The proposal also included a plan to advertise in all parish schools for the position.

On motion of Willis Farris, seconded by B.R. Harvey, the Board voted to accept the proposal as presented.

Mark Smith reported on the National School Boards Association Federal Relations Network conference in Washington D.C. which he attended January 30 through February 1, 2000.

On motion of W.W. Parker, seconded by Willis Farris, the Board voted to adopt a resolution to apply for a grant to repair the old gym at Anacoco School.

A motion was made by Willis Farris and seconded by the Board, to retire Mr. John R. Cryer’s bus number because of his numerous contributions and dedicated service to the students and employees of the school system.

On motion of B.R. Harvey, seconded by the Board, the Board adopted the following memorial resolution:

R E S O L U T I O N

                WHEREAS, the Vernon Parish School Board wishes to express its sincere sympathies to the family of Mrs. Evie Doyle, of Pitkin, who recently passed away; and

                WHEREAS, Mrs. Doyle, the mother-in-law of Mrs. Theda Doyle, cafeteria employee at Pitkin School, will be sadly missed by her family and friends;

                BE IT THEREFORE RESOLVED, that the Board adopts this memorial resolution and requests that a copy be sent to Mrs. Theda Doyle and her entire family at this time of bereavement.

On motion of B.R. Harvey, seconded by the Board, the Board adopted 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 condolences to the family of Mrs. Clara Thompson, cafeteria employee at Pitkin School, who recently passed away; and

                WHEREAS, Mrs. Thompson was a loyal and dedicated employee and she will be sadly missed by her family, the faculty, staff, and student body at Pitkin School, and her friends;

                BE IT THEREFORE RESOLVED, that the Board adopts this memorial resolution and requests that a copy be sent to Mrs. Thompson’s husband, Mr. Sherwood Thompson, and the entire family at this time of sorrow.

On motion of B.R. Harvey, seconded by the Board, the Board adopted the following memorial resolution:

R E S O L U T I O N

                WHEREAS, the Vernon Parish School Board wishes to express its sincere condolences to the family of Mrs. Mary ”r;Betty” Bookter, of Leesville, who recently passed away; and

                WHEREAS, Mrs. Bookter was a retired teacher in the our school system and she will be remembered for her many years of dedicated service to the students and families of Vernon Parish;

                BE IT THEREFORE RESOLVED, that the Board adopts this memorial resolution and requests that a copy be sent to Mrs. Bookter’s family at this time of bereavement.

On motion of A.C. Dowden, Jr., seconded by the Board, the Board adopted 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 the family of Mrs. Jeri Dunn, former teacher in the Vernon Parish School System, who recently passed away; and

                WHEREAS, Mrs. Dunn was the wife of Mr. Albert Dunn, president of the Leesville High School Alumni Association and the sister-in-law of Mrs. Alice Lack, secretary at the Vernon Parish Special Education Department;

                BE IT THEREFORE RESOLVED, that the Board requests that a copy of this memorial resolution be sent to Mr. Dunn and Mrs. Lack and their family at this time of bereavement.

On motion of Philip Gunn, seconded by Betty Westerchil, the Board voted to authorize the president and secretary to pay claims.

There being no further business, on motion of Gaye McKee, seconded by  the Board, the meeting was adjourned.

______________________________________

LINDA WEST, PRESIDENT

ATTEST:

_______________________________________

RICHARD SCHWARTZ, SUPERINTENDENT

February 8, 2000