February 1, 2001

                                                                                                               

THE PARISH SCHOOL BOARD OF VERNON PARISH LOUISIANA CONVENED IN REGULAR SESSION, FEBRUARY 1, 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

PHILIP GUNN

M. GENE HAYMON

JANE HOLTON

C.A. HUGHES

GAYE MCKEE

MURPHY O'BANION

W.W. PARKER

TED PARIS

MARK SMITH

LINDA WEST

BETTY WESTERCHIL

LORETTA NALE

 

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

 

The meeting was opened in prayer by Ted Paris.

 

The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Gene Haymon.

 

On motion of Ted Paris, seconded by Mark Smith, the Board voted to approve and dispense with the reading of the minutes of January 9, 2001.

 

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

ATTACHMENT

 

On recommendation of Superintendent Schwartz and on motion of Murphy O'Banion, seconded by Willis Farris, the Board voted to approve the attached requests for leave without pay.

ATTACHMENT

 

On recommendation of Superintendent Schwartz and on motion of Mark Smith, seconded by Betty Westerchil, the Board voted to approve the attached list of employee transfers.      ATTACHMENT

 

On recommendation of Superintendent Schwartz and on motion of C.A. Hughes, seconded by Jane Holton, the Board voted to approve the attached list of new employees.

ATTACHMENT

 

Ms. Thresa Johnson, representing the Greater Vernon Chamber of Commerce, presented a plaque to Philip Gunn in honor of his being selected as Individual Member of the Year.

 

Ms. Debbie Hanchey, teacher at Pickering High School gave a presentation on a PVE (Petroleum Violation Escro) Grant which will help to fund a program to develop critical thinking skills and to promote Computer Literacy.

 

Mr. Lonnie Bewley, bonding attorney for the Board, presented for approval a resolution providing for canvassing the returns and declaring the results of the special elections held in Ward Three Wardwide School District N. 160 of Vernon Parish, Louisiana, Hornbeck School District No. 143, and Orange School District No. 145 of Vernon Parish Louisiana, to authorize the incurring debt and issuance of bonds.

 

On motion of Willis Farris, seconded by W. W. Parker, the Board voted to approve the resolution as presented by Mr. Bewley. 

 

Mr. Lonnie Bewley also presented for approval, a resolution authorizing the advertising for sealed bids for the purchase of Six Hundred Thousand Dollars ($600,000.00) of General Obligation School Bonds, Series 2001, of Hornbeck School District No. 143 of Vernon Parish, Louisiana, authorized at an election held on Saturday, January 20, 2001, and providing for other matters in connection therewith. Bids will be received on Tuesday, April 10, 2001, at 10:00 a.m.

 

On motion of W.W. Parker, seconded by Willis Farris, the Board voted to approve the  resolution authorizing the advertising for sealed bids as presented by Mr. Bewley.

 

On motion of Willis Farris, seconded by Murphy O'Banion, the Board adopted the following resolution:

 

R E S O L U T I O N

 

WHEREAS, the Vernon Parish School Board has need to acquire land adjoining Evans High School;

WHEREAS, Mrs. Bernadine LaCaze Presley has agreed to sell to the Vernon Parish School Board, for the sum of $25,000.00, five acres of land described as:

 

                A part of the SE 1/4 of the SW 1/4 and a part of the SW 1/4 of the SW 1/4

                all situated in Section 9, Township 1 South, Range 11 West, Vernon Parish, La., described as follows: Begin at the Northeast corner of said SW 1/4 - SW 1/4; Thence N89 degrees 55' 00" W along the North line of said SW 1/4 - SW 1/4 - 55.00 feet; Thence S1 degree 59' 36"E - 612.65 feet (previous call - S1 degree 25' E - 612.50 feet) for Point of Beginning - point being 190.0 feet East of the East right of way of La. Hwy. No. 111; Thence S 89 degrees 55' 00" E - 441.32 feet; Thence S0 degrees 05' 00" W - 299.80 feet; Thence N89 degrees 55' 00" W - 430.45 feet; Thence N 1 degree 59' 36" W - 300.00 feet to Point of Beginning, containing 3.00 acres and being subject to any easements that may exist.

 

 

A part of the SE 1/4 - SW 1/4 and a part of the NE 1/4 - SW 1/4 all situated in Section 9, Township 1 South, Range 11 West, Vernon parish, La. described as follows: Begin at the Northwest corner of said SE 1/4 - SW 1/4; Thence S89 degrees 55'00" E along the North line of said SE 1/4 - SW 1/4 - 260.00 feet for Point of Beginning: Thence continue along said North line S89 degrees 55'00" E - 4.00 feet; Thence N0 degrees 04'00" W - 174.10 feet; Thence S89 degrees 55'00" E -  296.00 ft.; Thence S 0 degrees 04' 00" - 292.80 feet; Thence N 89 degrees 55' 00"W - 300.00 feet; Thence N 0 degrees 04' 00" W - 118.70 feet to Point of Beginning, containing 2.00 acres and being subject to easements that may exist.

 

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Vernon Parish School Board does hereby authorize the President, Mr. B.R. Harvey, and/or the Secretary, Mr. Richard Schwartz, to enter into an agreement finalizing necessary acts to obtain the above described property for the price of $25,000.00. 

 

On motion of Gene Haymon, seconded by Betty Westerchil, the Board voted to increase the bus size from 65 passengers to 71 passengers for Howard Hunt and Ronald Jeane.

 

Kim Reese, District 1/6 Committee chairperson, reported that the Committee had taken no action to be brought before the Board at this time.

 

A. C. Dowden, Jr., Finance Committee chairperson, reported that Bill Endris, Director of Finance, addressed the Finance Committee at its 9:00 a.m., February 1st meeting regarding GASB report audit. There were no findings to be reported to the Board.

 

In other business, Superintendent Schwartz commended Betty Westerchil for the outstanding job she is doing as president of the Louisiana School Boards Association.

 

On motion of Ted Paris, 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 Mrs. Theda Hughes Bourgeois, of Lake Charles; and

WHEREAS, Mrs. Bourgeois was the sister of Mr. C.A. Hughes, Vernon Parish School Board member, and the sister of Mr. Hoy Hughes, retired bus driver; and

WHEREAS, Mrs. Bourgeois was a native of the Leesville area 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, along with its heartfelt condolences, to the family at this time of bereavement.

 

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 wish to express their sincere condolences to the family of Mr. Lee McConathy, retired bus operator at Anacoco School, who recently passed away; and

WHEREAS, Mr. McConathy, was the father-in-law of Mr. Hyman Self,retired principal at Hornbeck School; and

WHEREAS, Mr. McConathy devoted thirty six of loyal and dedicated service to the children of this school system and he will be sadly missed by his family and friends;

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

 

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 wish to express their heartfelt sympathies to Mrs. Neda Robertson, teacher at Hornbeck Elementary School, in the recent death of her mother, Mrs. Pauline Nelms Moore, retired cafeteria manager at Hornbeck School; and

WHEREAS, Mrs. Moore was a loyal and dedicated employee and she will be lovingly remembered and sadly missed by her family and her many friends;

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

 

On motion of Betty Westerchil, 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. DeWanna Craft, teacher at Vernon Middle School; and,

WHEREAS, Mrs. Craft was a loyal and dedicated teacher and she will be sadly missed by her family and the faculty, staff, and students at Vernon Middle School;

BE IT THEREFORE RESOLVED, that the Board requests that a copy of this memorial resolution, along with its deepest sympathies, be sent to Mrs. Craft's 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 Mrs. Marjorie Guess, of Madison, Mississippi; and

WHEREAS, Mrs. Guess was the sister of Mrs. Jane Holton, Vernon Parish School Board member, 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, along with its heartfelt sympathies, to Mrs. Holton and her 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 Vernon Parish School Board wishes to express it sincere condolences to the family of Mrs. Ruby Prewitt, retired bus driver at Simpson School, who recently passed away; and

WHEREAS, Mrs. Prewitt was a loyal and dedicated employee and she will be sadly missed by her family and friends;

BE IT THEREFORE RESOLVED, that the Board does hereby adopt this memorial resolution and request that a copy be sent to Mrs. Prewitt's family at this time of bereavement.

 

There being no further business, on motion of Gaye McKee, seconded by the Board, the meeting was adjourned.

_____________________________________

B.R. HARVEY, PRESIDENT

 

ATTEST:

_______________________________________

RICHARD SCHWARTZ, SUPERINTENDENT