October 10, 2000

 

THE PARISH SCHOOL BOARD OF VERNON PARISH LOUISIANA CONVENED IN REGULAR SESSION, OCTOBER 10, 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

M. GENE HAYMON

JANE HOLTON

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

 

ABSENT  :             C.A. HUGHES, ILLNESS

                                 A.C. DOWDEN, JR.

 

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

 

The meeting was opened in prayer by Mark Smith.

 

The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Kim Reese.

 

On motion of Murphy O=Banion, seconded by B.R. Harvey, the Board voted to approve and dispense with the reading of the minutes of September 12, 2000.

 

Brenda Bealer addressed the Board regarding the Head Start Program and informed the members that October has been designated as Head Start awareness month and announced that a Family Summit with focus on fatherhood was scheduled for October 11th at Leesville High School. She also shared with the Board that one of the strengths the Regional Head Start Association=s 1999 monitoring team found in the Vernon Parish program was  including  children with disabilities in Head Start. The disability must be identified by both the Special Education and Head Start programs.

 

At this time, Mrs. Bealer presented the Louisiana Head Start award of achievement for thirty-five years of comprehensive Head Start Service in Vernon Parish to the Board. Accepting the award for the Board was Linda West, board president.  

 

On motion of Philip Gunn, seconded by the Board, the Board voted to commend Mrs. Bealer and the Vernon Parish Head Start personnel for their dedication to the comprehensive Head Start program and the services it provides for our preschool children and their families.

 

Bill Endris, Director of Finance, gave an interesting and informative report on the Government Accounting Standard Board (GASB) 34 conference for business managers that he recently attended. Mr. Endris had been invited to speak at the seminar for business managers.

 

Superintendent Schwartz announced that Representative Vic Stelly will be at Leesville High School on Tuesday, October 24th to discuss the Stelly Plan.

 

Betty Westerchil pointed out significant points in the Stelly Plan then offered a motion, which was seconded by Gene Haymon, to support the plan as a board. The motion was followed by a brief discussion.

 

On motion of Ted Paris, seconded by Willis Farris, the Board voted to table the motion until after Representative Stelly=s presentation at Leesville High School on October 24th. Mrs. Westerchil and Mr. Gunn voted no.

 

Philip Gunn announced that a meeting of the Food Services Study Committee will be scheduled in the near future for the purpose of discussing the feasibility of establishing satellite kitchens to serve the schools.

 

On motion of W.W. Parker, seconded by the Board, the Board adopted the following memorial resolution:

October 10, 2000

 

R E S O L U T I O N

 

WHEREAS, the members of the Vernon Parish School Board wish toexpress their heartfelt sympathies to the family of Mrs. Essie Howard, former employee at Hornbeck School, who recently passed away; and

WHEREAS, Mrs. Howard was the mother of Mrs. Martha Knippers, former custodian at Hornbeck School, the mother-in-law of Mrs. Betty Howard, secretary at Hornbeck High School, at the grandmother of Mrs. Tammy Hollis, teacher=s aide, at Hornbeck Elementary School;

WHEREAS, Mrs. Howard was a longtime resident of Hornbeck 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 entire family, along with sincere condolences from this Board. 

 

 

On motion of W.W. Parker, seconded by the Board, the following memorial resolution was adopted:

 

R E S O L U T I O N

 

WHEREAS, the members of the Vernon Parish School Board wish toexpress their sincere sympathies to Mrs. Terri Whiddon, teacher at Hornbeck High School, in the recent death of her grandmother,  Mrs. Nora Westbrook, of Hornbeck; and

WHEREAS, Mrs. Westbrook was a longtime resident of Hornbeck and she will be sadly missed by her family and friends;

BE IT THEREFORE RESOLVED, that the Board does adopt this memorial resolution and requests that a copy be sent, along with its heartfelt condolences, to Mrs. Whiddon and her 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 Vernon Parish School Board takes this means toexpress its condolences to the family of Mr. Auston Thomas Bedgood, of LaCamp, who recently passed away; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Bedgood was the father of Mrs. Valerie Johnson, former bus driver at Pitkin School and Mrs. Patricia Rutherford, teacher at Pitkin School. He was a lifelong resident of LaCamp 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. Johnson and Mrs. Rutherford and their family at this time of sorrow.

 

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 toexpress their condolences to Mrs. Helen Jarrell, retired cafeteria employee at Evans School, in the recent death of her husband, Rev. T.J. Jarrell; and

WHEREAS, Rev. Jarrell was a longtime resident of Rosepine and served as pastor of many of the area churches. 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 the family at this time of sorrow.

 

On motion of Mark Smith, seconded by W.W. Parker, the Board voted to authorize the president and secretary to pay the claims.

 

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

 

October 10, 2000