September 7, 2000

 

THE PARISH SCHOOL BOARD OF VERNON PARISH LOUISIANA CONVENED IN REGULAR SESSION, SEPTEMBER 7, 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

TED PARIS

W.W. PARKER

GAYE MCKEE

KIM REESE

MARK SMITH

BETTY WESTERCHIL

MURPHY O'BANION

PHILIP GUNN

COL. THOMAS SITTNICK

 

ABSENT:C.A. HUGHES, ILLNESS

 

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

 

The meeting was opened in prayer by A. C. Dowden, Jr.

 

The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Ted Paris.

 

On motion of Mark Smith, seconded by Ted Paris, the Board voted to approve and dispense with the reading of the minutes of August 8, 2000.

 

On recommendation of Superintendent Schwartz and on motion of Murphy O'Banion, seconded by Willis Farris, the Board voted to approve the attached list of employee resignations.

ATTACHMENT

 

On recommendation of Superintendent Schwartz and on motion of Gaye McKee, seconded by B.R. Harvey, the Board voted to approve the attached list of employee terminations.

ATTACHMENT

 

On recommendation of Superintendent Schwartz and on motion of A. C. Dowden, Jr., seconded by Kim Reese, the Board voted to approve that attached sabbatical leave request.

ATTACHMENT

 

On recommendation of Superintendent Schwartz and on motion of Gene Haymon, seconded by Betty Westerchil, the Board voted to approve the attached request to rescind a leave without pay.

ATTACHMENT

 

On recommendation of Superintendent Schwartz and on motion of Ted Paris, seconded by Jane Holton, 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 Gaye McKee, the Board voted to approve the attached list of new employees.

ATTACHMENT

 

On motion of B.R. Harvey, seconded by Gaye McKee, the Board voted to move agenda item 18, a motion to receive bids on an activity bus at Hicks High School,  up to follow item 7.

 

On motion of B.R. Harvey, seconded by W.W. Parker, the Board voted to open bids for an activity bus at Hicks High School. Only one bid was received. Taylor Bus Sales submitted the bid in the amount of $35,000.00, for a 1995 International 71 passenger bus.

 

On motion of B.R. Harvey, seconded by Murphy O'Banion, the Board voted to award the bid to Taylor Bus Sales.

 

Curtis Clay recognized Coach Randy Lansdale and the Hicks High School Class C State Champion boys' baseball team. The team's last State Championship in May of 2000 was the third consecutive State Championship won by the Hicks Pirates. A plaque commemorating the Championship was presented to the team and Coach Lansdale received a plaque for being the State Champion coach. Additionally each team player was given a certificate for their accomplishment.

 

Mr. Clay, at this time recognized Coach Randi Weisgerber and the Hicks High School girls' track team for being named  the State Class C Runner-up. Each of the Lady Pirates received a certificate of accomplishment for her participation and a plaque was presented to the team. Also receiving a plaque was Coach Weisgerber, State Class C Runnerup coach.

 

Hicks High School was also recognized as two-time winner of the Piccadilly Cup which recognizes the top overall athletic programs in each class.

 

Lauren Hogan, a student at Pickering High School, was recognized as the State Triple Jump Champion. Miss Hogan was presented a certificate for the accomplishment by her Coach, Mr. John Cook. 

 

Brenda Bealer, director of the Head Start Program in Vernon Parish gave a brief report on the program's federal review and explained the training program for the governing body.

 

Tom Neubert gave an update on the security and crisis plans that are in place in each of the parish schools. He reported great cooperation from the city police, sheriff's department and Fort Polk and commended their team efforts to help keep our schools safe.

 

Bill Endris presented the 2000-01 operating budget for the Board's review and announced that the Finance Committee will meet Tuesday, September 12, 2000, at 4:00 p.m. for a Public Hearing on the budget.

 

On motion of Willis Farris, seconded by Philip Gunn, the Board voted to allow a $2,000.00 threshold on fixed asset inventory for auditing purposes.

 

On motion of B.R. Harvey, seconded by W.W. Parker, the Board voted to authorize Superintendent Richard Schwartz to execute the oil and gas lease on Pitkin School property.

 

On recommendation of the District 1/6 Committee and on motion of Gene Haymon, seconded by A.C. Dowden, Jr., the Board voted to award the five-year lease/purchase bid in the amount of $72,902.80 for an activity bus at Leesville High School, to Ross Bus Sales.

 

Betty Westerchil reported that the Curriculum Committee had met on August 21st and then called on Dr. Cindy Gillespie who discussed LEAP 21 statistics and gave a report on  summer school.

 

On motion of Murphy O'Banion, seconded by Willis Farris the Board voted to award the bid for a portable building at Pickering Elementary School to B & B Portable Buildings in the amount of $29, 600.00.

 

On motion of Philip Gunn, seconded by Betty Westerchil, the Board voted to open bids on SOAR microscope equipment for the parish high schools. Bids received are as follows:

 

                BIDDER                                 NUMBER UNITS                 BID PER UNIT

Southland Instruments                                       15                                                            $1,854.00

School Technology Resources                         15                                                            $1,789.50

 

On motion of Betty Westerchil, seconded by Murphy O'Banion, the Board voted to take the bids under advisement.

 

In other business, Superintendent Schwartz reported a great school opening and commended the school administrators and staffs and the central office supervisory staff for their efforts in making this possible. He also reported that the student count was up approximately 165 over this time last year, however, he mentioned that the official count will not be known until October 1.

 

Superintendent Schwartz announced that a Finance Committee meeting was scheduled for 4:00 p.m., Tuesday, September 12th, preceding the board meeting.

 

Colonel Thomas Sittnick voiced a concern about regulations regarding the participation of transfer students in school sporting events and their possible effect on military dependent students.

 

A meeting of the Athletic Committee was scheduled for 3:30 p.m, Tuesday, September 12th for the purpose of discussing regulations regarding the participation of transfer students in school sporting events.

 

On motion of Gaye McKee, 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 Reverend J.D. Young, of DeRidder, who recently passed away; and

WHEREAS, Reverend Young was the father of Mrs. Donita McMahon, teacher's aide at Rosepine Elementary School. He was a lifetime resident of the DeRidder area 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. McMahon and her 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 condolences to the family of Mrs. Nellie Wisby Cole, of Pitkin, who recently passed away; and

WHEREAS, Mrs. Cole was a native and lifelong resident of Pitkin 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 Mrs. Cole's 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 Mr. Dave Johnson, of Pitkin, who recently passed away; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Johnson was the father of Mrs. Billie Ray Perkins, bus operator at Pitkin School, the grandfather of Mrs. Pam Brister, teacher at East Leesville Elementary School, the grandfather of Mrs. Deborah Moore, secretary at Pitkin School, and the brother-in-law of Mrs. Lynell Johnson, secretary at the central office;

BE IT THEREFORE RESOLVED, that the Board requests that a copy of this memorial resolution 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:

 

RESOLUTION

 

WHEREAS, the members of the Vernon Parish School Board wish to express their heartfelt sympathies to the family of Mr. Travis Thompson, of Pitkin, who recently passed away; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Thompson was the grandfather of Mr. Paul Lemieu, former teacher at Pitkin High School;

BE IT THEREFORE RESOLVED, that the Board requests that a copy of this memorial resolution be sent to Mr. Lemieu and his family at this time of sorrow.

               

On motion of Kim Reese, 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 were  saddened by the recent death of Mr. Mark Nance, of Leesville; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Nance was the father of Marcus Tanner Nance, student at Anacoco High School and Ashley Renee Nance, student at Anacoco 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, along with its heartfelt condolences, to Tanner and Ashley and their entire 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