January 4, 2001
THE PARISH SCHOOL BOARD OF VERNON PARISH LOUISIANA CONVENED IN REGULAR SESSION, JANUARY 4, 2001, AT 10:00 A.M., AT 201 BELVIEW ROAD, LEESVILLE, LA. PRESIDENT HARVEY CALLED THE MEETING TO ORDER AND ON ROLL CALL THE FOLLOWING MEMBERS WERE PRESENT:
B.R. HARVEY, PRESIDENT
KIM REESE, VICE PRESIDENT
ALVIN C. DOWDEN, JR.
WILLIS FARRIS
M. GENE HAYMON
JANE HOLTON
C.A. HUGHES
TED PARIS
W.W. PARKER
GAYE MCKEE
MURPHY O'BANION
MARK SMITH
LINDA WEST
BETTY WESTERCHIL
COL. THOMAS SITTNICK
ABSENT:PHILIP GUNN, PREVIOUS COMMITMENT
There was also present Richard Schwartz, Secretary of the Board.
The meeting was opened in prayer by Murphy O'Banion.
The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Gaye McKee.
On motion of W.W. Parker, seconded by Willis Farris, the Board voted to approve and dispense with the reading of the minutes of December 12, 2000.
On recommendation of Superintendent Schwartz and on motion of Ted Paris, seconded by Gaye McKee, the Board voted to approve the attached employee resignation.
ATTACHMENT
On recommendation of Superintendent Schwartz and on motion of Mark Smith, 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 Murphy O'Banion, seconded by Willis Farris, the Board voted to approve the attached list of new employees.
ATTACHMENT
On motion of Gene Haymon, seconded by Kim Reese, the Board voted to name the Leesville Daily Leader as the official journal of the Vernon Parish School System.
On motion of Willis Farris, seconded by W.W. Parker, the Board voted to authorize Superintendent Schwartz to request and sign all Federal Funding, including P.L. 81-874 for the Vernon Parish School Board.
On motion of Murphy O'Banion, seconded by Jane Holton, the Board voted to enter into executive session to discuss a personnel matter. The time was recorded at 10:04 a.m.
On motion of A. C. Dowden Jr., seconded by Betty Westerchil, the Board voted to come out of executive session and resume order at 10:55 a.m.
On motion of Gene Haymon, seconded by Jane Holton, the Board voted to suspend an employee for three days without pay.
In her report from the Curriculum Committee, Betty Westerchil gave an update on the textbook adoption process and the current cost of textbooks.
On recommendation of the Curriculum Committee, and on motion of Betty Westerchil, seconded by Ted Paris, the Board voted by roll call vote to proceed with the restructuring of East and West Leesville Elementary Schools beginning in the 2001-02 school year. The results of the roll call vote are as follows:
YEA NAY
Alvin C. Dowden, Jr. X
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 Absent
Gaye McKee Abstained
In other business, W.W. Parker, Transportation Committee Chairperson, announced that a Transportation Committee meeting will be held Tuesday, January 9th at 9:00 a.m., preceding the Board meeting.
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 members of the Vernon Parish School Board were deeply saddened by the recent death of Mrs. Emmy Jean Blakeway, cafeteria manager at Anacoco High School; and
WHEREAS, Mrs. Blakeway was the mother of Mrs. Sandra Thibodeaux, teacher at Hicks Elementary School, Mrs. Lisa Lohman, teacher at Anacoco High School, and Mrs. Beth Harris, former Vernon Parish teacher; and
WHEREAS, Mrs. Blakeway was a dedicated and loyal employee and she will be sadly missed by her family, her friends, and the entire faculty, staff, and student body at Anacoco High School;
BE IT THEREFORE RESOLVED, that the Board requests that a copy of this memorial resolution, along with its sincere condolences, be sent to Mrs. Blakeway's, family at this time of sorrow.
On motion of A.C. Dowden, Jr., 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 condolences to the family of Mrs. Margie Nash, a native and lifelong resident of Leesville, who recently passed away; and
WHEREAS, Mrs. Nash was the mother of Mrs. Dianne Gibson, secretary at Leesville High School, and Mrs. Darlene Moses, secretary at Vernon Middle School. She will be lovingly remembered and sadly missed by her children, family, and friends;
BE IT THEREFORE RESOLVED, that the Board requests a copy of this memorial resolution be sent to Mrs. Gibson and Mrs. Moses and their entire family at this time of sorrow.
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 members of the Vernon Parish School Board wish to express their heartfelt condolences to the family of Mrs. Lillie Allbritton, who recently passed away; and
WHEREAS, Mrs. Allbritton, a longtime resident of the Pitkin area, was the grandmother of Mrs. Lanette Nolen, teacher at Rosepine Elementary School 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. Nolen and her family at this time of sorrow.
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 members of the Vernon Parish School Board wish to express their heartfelt sympathies to the family of Mrs. Madeline Thomas, of Rosepine, who recently passed away; and
WHEREAS, Mrs. Thomas was the mother-in-law of Mrs. Elizabeth Thomas, teacher at Rosepine Elementary School, and she will be sadly missed by her family and friends;
BE IT THEREFORE RESOLVED, that the Board requests a copy of this memorial resolution be sent to Mrs. Elizabeth Thomas and her entire family at this time of sorrow.
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 condolences to the family of Mrs. LaWanda Smith, of Rosepine, who recently passed away; and
WHEREAS, Mrs. Smith was the mother of Mrs. Donna French, cafeteria employee at Rosepine Elementary School, and the sister of Mrs. Linda Martinez, teacher at North Polk Elementary 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. French and Mrs. Martinez 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 to express their condolences to the family of Mr. Jimmy L. Jeane, a longtime and well-known resident of Leesville, who recently passed away; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Jeane was the father of Brandon Jeane, student at Pitkin High School, the stepfather of Amber Bryant, student at Pickering High School, the grandfather of Callie Martin, student at Pickering High School, and the grandfather of Nathan Jeane, student at Pickering High School;
BE IT THEREFORE RESOLVED, that the Board requests that a copy of this memorial resolution be sent to Brandon, Amber, Callie, and Nathan and their 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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B.R. HARVEY, PRESIDENT
ATTEST:
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RICHARD SCHWARTZ, SUPERINTENDENT