April 6, 2000
THE PARISH SCHOOL BOARD OF VERNON PARISH LOUISIANA CONVENED IN REGULAR SESSION, APRIL 6, 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
BETTY WESTERCHIL
MURPHY O’BANION
PHILIP GUNN
COL. THOMAS SITTNICK
ABSENT: KIM REESE, OUT-OF-TOWN
MARK SMITH, FAMILY ILLNESS
There was also present Richard Schwartz, Secretary of the Board.
The meeting was opened in prayer by Ted Paris.
The Pledge of Allegiance was led by C.A Hughes.
On motion of Murphy O’Banion, seconded by Willis Farris, the Board voted to approve and dispense with the reading of the minutes of March 14, 2000.
On recommendation of Superintendent Schwartz and on motion of Ted Paris, seconded by C.A. Hughes, the Board voted to approve the attached list of resignations.
ATTACHMENT
On recommendation of Superintendent Schwartz and on motion of Philip Gunn, seconded by W.W. Parker, the Board voted to approve the attached sabbatical leave request.
ATTACHMENT
On recommendation of Superintendent Schwartz and on motion of A.C. Dowden, seconded by Gene Haymon, the Board voted to approve the attached list of employee transfers.
ATTACHMENT
On recommendation of Superintendent Schwartz and on motion of W. W. Parker, seconded by Willis Farris, the Board voted to approve the new employee on the attached list.
ATTACHMENT
Philip Gunn, board member and representatives from American Legion Post 387 recognized Ashley Fletcher, a sophomore at Leesville High School, and presented to her a medal of appreciation for her participation in the American Legion Oratorical Contest. Ashley was the parish winner and competed at the district level.
Jimmy Funderburk recognized the Leesville High School boys’ basketball team, Class 4-A State Runner-up. 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 Grant Westerchil.
Jimmy Funderburk also recognized the Simpson boys’ basketball team, Class-C quarterfinalist. After recognizing each team member individually and presenting each a certificate of achievement, the team was presented with a plaque for the accomplishment along with a plaque presented to Coach Mike Charrier.
J. W. Todd, a student at Hornbeck High School and third place finisher in steer wrestling at the National Rodeo, addressed the Board regarding upcoming High School Rodeo events. The Vernon Parish High School Rodeo athletes will compete at the state level in Lake Charles in June.
Vickie Green, representative of the Leesville office of the Job Training Partnership Act (JTPA), informed the Board that the name of the program is being changed to Workforce Investment Act. Other changes involved Congress not funding the summer work program for youth. Mrs. Green introduced Mr. Ronald DeGray and he gave a brief overview of the Jobs for American Graduates (JAG) program.
Jackie Self presented the attached proposal for additions to the parish sick leave policy.
ATTACHED
On motion of A.C. Dowden, seconded by the Board, the sick leave policy proposal was approved.
On motion of A.C. Dowden, seconded by Gene Haymon, the Board voted to move the scheduled July 11th board meeting to July 20th and the November 7th board meeting to November 6th.
On motion of A.C. Dowden, seconded by Betty Westerchil, the Board voted to open bids on air conditioning equipment for South Polk Elementary School. Trane submitted the only bid received.
On motion of A.C. Dowden, seconded by Betty Westerchil the Board voted to take the bid on the air conditioning equipment under advisement.
On motion of W.W. Parker, seconded by Willis Farris, the Board voted to advertise for bids for the purchase of an activity bus for Hornbeck High School.
On motion of Murphy O’Banion, seconded by Willis Farris, the Board voted to advertise for bids for the purchase of a truck for the maintenance department.
On motion of Willis Farris, 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 sympathies to Ms. Kimberly Lawrence, teacher’s aide at North Polk Elementary, in the recent death of her mother, Mrs. Debbie Lawrence, of Leesville; and
WHEREAS, Mrs. Lawrence was a native and lifelong resident of the Leesville-Vernon Parish area and her children, Kimberly Lawrence, Joe Lawrence, and Scott Lawrence were educated in the Pickering Schools.
BE IT THEREFORE RESOLVED, that the Board requests that a copy of this memorial resolution be sent 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 express their heartfelt sympathies to the family of Mr. Jerry A. Wyatt, of Pitkin, who recently passed away; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Wyatt was the step-father of Mr. Floyd Stokes, custodian at South Polk Elementary School, and the brother-in-law of Mrs. Sintha Cryer, cafeteria employee at South Polk Elementary 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 Mr. Stokes and Mrs. Cryer and their entire family at this time of bereavement.
On motion of Philip Gunn, seconded by the Board, the adopted the following memorial resolution:
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, the members of the Vernon Parish School Board were saddened by the recent death of Mrs. Tamara Krenek’s father, Mr. Eldon Corley, of West Fork, Arkansas; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Krenek was a long-time resident of West Fork and a great supporter of the Boy Scouts of that area. 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, along with its sincere condolences, to Mrs. Krenek and her family at this time of bereavement.
On motion of W.W. Parker, 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 sympathies to the family of Mr. Harold Whatley, of Houston, Texas, who recently passed away; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Whatley was the brother of Mr. Roger Whatley, principal at Hornbeck High School, the brother-in-law of Mrs. Margaret Whatley, teacher at Hornbeck Elementary School and the uncle of Mr. Aaron Whatley, teacher at Hicks High School;
BE IT THEREFORE RESOLVED, that the Board requests that a copy of this memorial resolution be sent to Mr. and Mrs. Roger Whatley and their family at this time of bereavement.
On motion of Betty Westerchil, 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 are saddened by the recent death of Mr. John David, father of Mrs. Anne Smith, curriculum supervisor; and the father-in-law of Mr. Mark Smith, board member; and
WHEREAS, Mr. David was a longtime resident of Alexandria and he will be lovingly remembered and sadly missed by his family and friends;
BE IT THEREFORE RESOLVED, that the Board adopts this memorial resolution and request that a copy, along with its sincere condolences, be sent to Mr. and Mrs. Smith and their family at this time of bereavement.
There 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
April 6, 2000