March 14, 2000
THE PARISH SCHOOL BOARD OF VERNON PARISH LOUISIANA CONVENED IN REGULAR SESSION, MARCH 14, 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
C.A. HUGHES
TED PARIS
W.W. PARKER
KIM REESE
MARK SMITH
BETTY WESTERCHIL
WILLIS A. FARRIS
MURPHY O’BANION
PHILIP L. GUNN
GAYE MCKEE
COL. THOMAS SITTNICK
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 Kim Reese.
On motion of Willis Farris, seconded by W.W. Parker, the Board voted to approve and dispense with the reading of the minutes of March 9, 2000.
On recommendation of Superintendent Schwartz and on motion of Murphy O’Banion, seconded by Ted Paris, the Board voted to approve the resignations of Shanna Hartline, teacher at Pickering Elementary and Sarah Gervais, teacher at West Leesville Elementary.
Superintendent Schwartz and the Board recognized Mr. Jack Spence, president of the Vernon Parish Retired Teachers’ Association, and other members of the association who were present. Superintendent Schwartz signed a proclamation designating March 16, 2000 as Retired Teachers’ Day in Vernon Parish to coincide with the Louisiana Retired Teachers’ Day as proclaimed by Governor Mike Foster.
Curtis Clay introduced and the Board recognized the Leesville High School Quiz Bowl Team, winner of the Vernon Parish Quiz Bowl 2000. This was the fifth time win for Leesville High School.
At this time Curtis Clay introduced the Leesville High School Dance Line, national champion in the jazz division and third in national over-all.
Betty Westerchil, president of Louisiana State School Board Association, and Linda West, Vernon Parish School Board president, presented plaques from LSBA and Vernon Parish, to Jose Pena, Leesville High School student, who was the winner of the Louisiana School Board Art Contest. His painting will hang for one year at the Louisiana School Board Association office.
Sharon Hardwick presented Leesville High School winners of the Congressional Art Caucus. The group of art students received four of the top seven awards and three received honorable mention.
Jimmy Funderburk recognized the Evans girl’s basketball team, Class C quarterfinalists. Each team member was recognized individually and presented with a certificate of achievement. The team received a plaque to commemorate the accomplishment along with a plaque presented to Coach Raymond Haymon.
On recommendation of Superintendent Schwartz and on motion of B.R. Harvey, seconded by Murphy O’Banion the Board voted to employ Jeremy Ingalls to fill the Title I computer technician position.
Jackie Self presented the proposed 2000-2001 school calendar for approval.
On motion of W.W. Parker, seconded by Willis Farris, the Board voted to approve the 2000-2001 school calendar as proposed.
On recommendation of Superintendent Schwartz and on motion of Philip Gunn, seconded by Ted Paris, the Board voted to execute an exchange of a small portion of land near Vernon Middle School with an adjacent landowner.
On recommendation of the Finance Committee and on motion of A.C. Dowden, Jr., seconded by the Board, the Board granted bus drivers a $.10 per mile increase to the base milage in their maintenance allowance. The increase will be retroactive to February 1, 2000 and continue until the end of the 1999-2000 school year.
On recommendation of the Curriculum Committee and on motion of Betty Westerchil, seconded by Kim Reese, the Board voted to approve the Head Start budget for 2000-2001.
On recommendation of the Curriculum Committee and on motion of Betty Westerchil, seconded by Philip Gunn, the Board voted to approve a resolution for continuing the consolidated application for program funding for Titles I, II, IV, VI, and VI class size reduction.
On motion of Ted Paris, seconded by Kim Reese, the Board voted to award the low bid, that met specifications, for floor tile for District I schools to Sherwin-Williams Company.
On motion of Philip Gunn, seconded by Gene Haymon, the Board voted to award the low bid, that met specifications, for gym bleachers at Leesville High School to Insight, Inc.
On motion of Philip Gunn, seconded by A.C. Dowden, Jr., the Board voted to advertise for bids to purchase air conditioning equipment at South Polk Elementary School.
On motion of A.C. Dowden, Jr., seconded by Willis Farris, the Board voted to support Representative John Smith’s resolution which he will be introducing to the Legislative Delegation, that will allow bus drivers to be treated as statutory employees with respect to their base salary and treated as independent contractors with respect to the operation expense allowance, for income tax purposes.
On motion of Philip Gunn, seconded by Willis Farris, the Board voted, by roll-call vote, to change the time of the Board’s Tuesday meeting each month back to 10:00 a.m. Results of the roll call vote follows:
YEA NAY
ALVIN C. DOWDEN, JR. X
M. GENE HAYMON X
JANE HOLTON X
C.A. HUGHES X
TED PARIS X
KIM REESE X
LINDA WEST X
BETTY WESTERCHIL X
MARK SMITH X
W. W. PARKER X
WILLIS FARRIS X
MURPHY O’BANION X
B.R. HARVEY X
PHILIP GUNN X
GAYE MCKEE X
By a vote of 8 to 7, the motion to change the Tuesday board meeting time back to 10:00 a.m. passed.
On motion of Ted Paris, 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 heartfelt condolences to the family of Mrs. Evangeline Olson, who recently passed away; and
WHEREAS, Mrs. Olson was the mother of Mrs. Marie Frasher, Head Start teacher at East Leesville Elementary School;
BE IT THEREFORE RESOLVED, that the Board does, hereby, adopt this memorial resolution and requests that a copy be sent to Mrs. Frasher and her 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 heartfelt sympathies to the family of Mrs. Velma Welch, of LaCamp, who recently passed away; and
WHEREAS, Mrs. Welch was the mother of Mr. Gerald Welch, bus operator at Hicks School, the grandmother of Miss Heidi Welch, teacher at West Leesville Preschool Center, and the mother-in-law of Mrs. Martha Welch, teacher at West Leesville Preschool Center;
BE IT THEREFORE RESOLVED, that the Board does, hereby, adopt this memorial resolution and requests that a copy be sent to 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 members of the Vernon Parish School Board wish to convey their heartfelt sympathies to the family of Mr. Milton Cole, of DeRidder, who recently passed away; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Cole was the father of Mrs. Kelley Stewart, teacher at Pitkin School, 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. Stewart and her family at this time of sorrow.
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
March 14, 2000