May 9, 2000
THE PARISH SCHOOL BOARD OF VERNON PARISH LOUISIANA CONVENED IN REGULAR SESSION, MAY 9, 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
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 Betty Westerchil.
The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Philip Gunn.
On motion of Philip Gunn, seconded by W.W. Parker, the Board voted to approve and dispense with the reading of the minutes of May 4, 2000.
On recommendation of Superintendent Schwartz and on motion of Murphy O’Banion, seconded by Gaye McKee, the Board voted to approve the attached list of resignations.
ATTACHED
On recommendation of Superintendent Schwartz and on motion of W.W. Parker, seconded by Ted Paris, the board voted to approve the attached sabbatical leave requests.
ATTACHED
On recommendation of Superintendent Schwartz and on motion of Willis Farris, seconded by Jane Holton, the Board voted to approve the attached employee transfers.
ATTACHED
On recommendation of Superintendent Schwartz and on motion of Gaye McKee, seconded by Betty Westerchil, the Board voted to approve the attached list of current employees who were not named in April.
ATTACHED
On recommendation of Superintendent Schwartz and on motion of Mark Smith, seconded by B.R. Harvey, the Board voted to approve the attached list of new employees.
ATTACHED
Curtis Clay directed the recognition of students from ten of the parish schools including Rosepine Elementary, Rosepine High, Pitkin, Pickering Elementary, Anacoco Elementary, Anacoco High, Simpson, Leesville Jr. High, and Vernon Middle. Students were recognized individually and presented certificates for their various accomplishments during the 1999-2000 school year.
Jimmy Funderburk presented by-laws recently adopted by the LHSAA regarding the hiring of non-faculty coaches. The by-laws state that in the sports of baseball, football, boys’ and girls’ indoor track and field, boys’ and girls’ outdoor track and field and girls’ volleyball, a school shall be allowed to use one non-faculty assistant coach provided the individual has successfully completed the LHSAA’s Coaches Education and Certification Program. The issue of hiring non-faculty coaches in the parish schools was referred to the Athletic Committee for further study.
At this time, Superintendent Schwartz recommended Dr. James Farris for principal at Anacoco Elementary to replace Don Stokes who will be taking sick leave. A motion was made by W.W. Parker and seconded by B.R. Harvey to approve the Superintendent’s recommendation.
On motion of Gene Haymon, seconded by W.W. Parker, a roll call vote was taken. The results of the roll call vote follows:
YEA NAY
ALVIN C. DOWDEN, JR. X
M. GENE HAYMON X
JANE HOLTON X
C. A. HUGHES ABSTAINED
TED PARIS X
KIM REESE X
LINDA WEST X
BETTY WESTERCHIL X
MARK SMITH X
W.W. PARKER X
WILLIS A. FARRIS X
MURPHY O’BANION X
B. R. HARVEY X
PHILIP L. GUNN X
GAYE MCKEE X
On a vote of 9-5, the motion did not pass.
Superintendent Schwartz recommended Sandra Cosio to replace Don Stokes as principal at Anacoco Elementary School. On motion of W.W. Parker, seconded by Willis Farris, the Board by roll call vote, voted as follows:
YEA Nay
ALVIN C. DOWDEN, JR. X
M. GENE HAYMON ABSTAINED
JANE HOLTON ABSTAINED
C.A. HUGHES ABSTAINED
TED PARIS X
KIM REESE X
LINDA WEST X
BETTY WESTERCHIL X
MARK SMITH X
W.W. PARKER X
WILLIS A. FARRIS X
MURPHY O’BANION X
B.R. HARVEY ABSTAINED
PHILIP L. GUNN ABSTAINED
GAYE MCKEE ABSTAINED
With nine members voting yes and six abstaining, Sandra Cosio was appointed as principal of Anacoco Elementary School.
On motion of Betty Westerchil, seconded by Jane Holton, the Board voted to award the low bid in the amount of $22,424.00 for a truck to be used by the Maintenance Department to Gray Nissan.
On motion of W. W. Parker, seconded by Jane Holton, the Board voted to award a bid for an activity bus for Hornbeck High School, in the amount of $34,900.00, to Ross Bus Sales.
On motion of W.W. Parker, seconded by Willis Farris, the Board voted to approve a $24,900.00 loan from the general fund to Hornbeck Maintenance Fund.
On motion of Betty Westerchil, seconded by Gene Haymon, the Board voted to receive bids on used gym bleachers at Leesville High School. No bids were received.
On motion of Mark Smith, seconded by Gene Haymon, the Board voted to authorize Superintendent Schwartz, Principal James Williams, and Bill Endris to dispose of the used bleachers.
On motion of Ted Paris, seconded by Mark Smith, the Board voted to receive bids on copier paper. The bids received were as follows:
BIDDER BID
XPDX $20.55 per case
UNISOURCE 20.25 per case
ECONOMICAL 21.28 per case
COOLEY PRINTERS & OFFICE SUPPLY 22.00 per case
On motion of Ted Paris, seconded by Gene Haymon, the Board voted to take the bids for copier paper under advisement.
In other business, after a discussion concerning Vernon Parish’s graduation policy which does not allow a student to march at high school graduation ceremonies if the student has not met all requirements for a diploma, Gaye McKee moved to change the policy. The motion was seconded by Philip Gunn and a roll call vote was taken as follows.
YEA NAY
ALVIN C. DOWDEN, JR. absent at time of vote
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 A. FARRIS X
MURPHY O’BANION X
B.R. HARVEY X
PHILIP L. GUNN X
GAYE MCKEE X
By a vote of three to eleven, the Board will uphold its policy that does not allow students who have not met all graduation requirements to march at graduation ceremonies.
Superintendent Schwartz, in further business, announced that with the Board’s approval, the central office and the schools would be closed for Memorial Day, May 29th.
Superintendent Schwartz also announced that an emergency meeting of the District 1/6 Committee would be held at 1:00 p.m., following the board meeting.
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
May 9, 2000