April 11, 2000
THE PARISH SCHOOL BOARD OF VERNON PARISH LOUISIANA CONVENED IN REGULAR SESSION, APRIL 11, 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.
M. GENE HAYMON
JANE HOLTON
C.A. HUGHES
TED PARIS
KIM REESE
MARK SMITH
BETTY WESTERCHIL
WILLIS A. FARRIS
MURPHY O’BANION
PHILIP L. GUNN
GAYE MCKEE
ABSENT: W.W. PARKER, DR. APPOINTMENT
COL. THOMAS SITTNICK
There was also present Richard Schwartz, Secretary of the Board.
The meeting was opened in prayer by Kim Reese.
The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Jane Holton.
On motion of Willis Farris, seconded by Murphy O’Banion, the Board voted to approve and dispense with the reading of the minutes of April 6, 2000.
On recommendation of Superintendent Schwartz and on motion of Philip Gunn, seconded by, the Board voted to approve the attached list of resignations.
ATTACHMENT
On recommendation of Superintendent Schwartz and on motion of Ted Paris, seconded by B.R. Harvey, the Board voted to approve the attached leave without pay.
ATTACHMENT
On recommendation of Superintendent Schwartz and on motion of Gene Haymon, seconded by Betty Westerchil, the Board voted to approve the attached employee transfer.
ATTACHMENT
On recommendation of Superintendent Schwartz and on motion of Murphy O’Banion, seconded by Jane Holton, the Board voted to approve the attached new employees.
On motion of C.A. Hughes, seconded by Willis Farris, the Board voted to advertise for a principal at Anacoco Elementary School.
Dr. Cindy Gillespie introduced Devin Costa, a fourth grade student at Anacoco Elementary School who placed second at the Vernon Parish and the Regional Social Studies Fairs and is now eligible to compete at the State level. Devin gave an interesting presentation of her project on school playground safety.
Elizabeth Maricle, president of the Vernon Parish Chapter of Associated Professional Educators of Louisiana (A+PEL), along with officers Nancy El Koubi and Susan Brown were present to address the Board regarding the organization’s philosophy and goals.
On recommendation of Superintendent Schwartz and on motion of B.R. Harvey, seconded by Mark Smith, the Board voted to name school employees for the 2000-2001 school year.
Betty Westerchil reported that the Curriculum Committee had met to discuss the Vernon Parish High Stakes Testing Policy. She then asked Dr. Cindy Gillespie to review the policy and to present the section of the state policy which needed to be addressed.
Dr. Gillespie reported that the overaged fourth graders would who do not pass the LEAP Test be placed in a transitional class, and would begin in the spring of 2001 taking age-appropriate tests.
Mrs. Westerchil moved and the Board seconded her request that a resolution be sent to BESE requesting that the age-appropriate testing issue be readdressed.
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, the Vernon Parish School Board fully supports the ”r;Reaching for Results” theme and the raising of standards for Louisiana students and schools; and
WHEREAS, the Vernon Parish School Board has accepted responsibility for preparing our students for success on the LEAP for the 21st Century High Stakes Tests; and
WHEREAS, The High Stakes Testing Policy for overage fourth grade students states that students cannot be retained in the fourth grade nor promoted to the fifth grade, but must be placed in an alternative placement/setting; and
WHEREAS, in the subsequent years the students would take age-appropriate state tests; and
WHEREAS, taking the age appropriate state-wide tet would put these students in a situation that would promote failure and eventually encourage student drop-outs;
BE IT THEREFORE RESOLVED, that the Vernon Parish School Board requests that the Louisiana Board of Elementary and Secondary Education revisit this section of the High Stakes Testing Policy and allow these students to retake the fourth grade test, and once passed, rejoin their peers in their progression toward readiness for the eighth grade LEAP 21 test.
Don Gallemore, Technology Administrator reported a great National School Board Convention and gave a brief overview of the various workshops he attended. Betty Westerchil, Jane Holton, A.C. Dowden, and Linda West added their comments regarding the information and insight they gained at the convention.
On motion of Philip Gunn, seconded by Ted Paris, the Board voted to award the bid for air conditioning equipment at South Polk Elementary to Trane Company, in the amount of $82,803.00.
On motion of Murphy O’Banion, seconded by Willis Farris, the Board voted to advertise for bids to purchase copier paper.
On motion of Jane Holton, seconded by Kim Reese, the Board voted to advertise for bids to see the used gym bleachers at Leesville High School.
On motion of Philip Gunn, seconded by Jane Holton, the Board voted to authorize the president and secretary to pay claims.
On motion of Murphy O’Banion, 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. Travis Pelt of Leesville, who recently passed away; and
WHEREAS, Mrs. Pelt was a longtime resident of the Leesville area and the mother-in- law of Mrs. Carlene Pelt, teacher at Simpson High School. 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. Carlene Pelt and the entire family at this time of sorrow.
On motion of Jane Holton, 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 learned with grief and sadness of the recent death of Mrs. Bess-T Smith of Leesville; and
WHEREAS, Mrs. Smith was the mother of Mr. Mark Smith, board member, the mother-in-law of Mrs. Anne Smith, central office curriculum supervisor, and Mrs. Pam Smith, homebound teacher;
WHEREAS, Mrs. Smith was a longtime resident of the Leesville 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 the family at this time of sorrow.
On motion of Gene Haymon, 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 Mrs. Shirley Parker, cook at Simpson High School, in the recent death of her husband, Mr. Glen Parker, of Simpson; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Parker was a longtime resident of the Simpson area and he will be sadly missed by his family and friends;
BE IT THEREFORE RESOLVED, that the Board adopts this memorial resolution and requests that a copy be sent to Mrs. Parker 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.
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LINDA WEST, PRESIDENT
ATTEST:
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RICHARD SCHWARTZ, SUPERINTENDENT
April 11, 2000