March 6, 2001

THE PARISH SCHOOL BOARD OF VERNON PARISH LOUISIANA CONVENED IN REGULAR SESSION, MARCH 6, 2001, AT 5:00 P.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 A. FARRIS

PHILIP L. GUNN

M. GENE HAYMON

JANE HOLTON

C.A. HUGHES

GAYE  MCKEE

MURPHY O’BANION

TED PARIS

W.W. PARKER

MARK SMITH

LINDA WEST

BETTY WESTERCHIL

COL. THOMAS SITTNICK

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 Linda West.

On motion of W.W. Parker, seconded by Willis Farris, the Board voted to approve and dispense with the reading of the minutes of February 6, 2001.

On motion of W.W. Parker, seconded by Ted Paris, the Board voted to approve and dispense with the reading of the minutes of March 1, 2001.

On recommendation of Superintendent Schwartz and on motion of C.A. Hughes,seconded by Murphy O’Banion, the Board voted to approve the attached list of employee resignations.

ATTACHED

On recommendation of Superintendent Schwartz and on motion of Willis Farris, seconded by W.W. Parker, the Board voted to approve the attached sabbatical leave request.

ATTACHED

On recommendation of Superintendent Schwartz and on motion of Gaye McKee, seconded by Willis Farris, the Board voted to approve the new employee on the attached list.

ATTACHED

Sandra Whitlock, supervisor of instruction, recognized individual school and parish Students-of-the-Year for elementary, junior high, and high school. The parish Students-of-the-Year were Devin Costa, Anacoco Elementary School, Jessica Deen, Leesville Jr. High School, and Derek Lewis, Pitkin High School. The parish winners will participate in Regional Student-of-the-Year competition in March.

Mr. Glen Koepp, J.D., Chief Executive Officer of Redistricting, L.L.C., presented a proposal for redistricting services for the Vernon Parish School Board.

On motion of A.C. Dowden, Jr., seconded by Willis Farris, the Board voted to accept Mr. Glen Koepp’s contract.

On motion of Murphy O’Banion, seconded by Willis Farris, the Board voted to pay Mr. Koepp for redistricting services on a monthly basis.

Dr. Cindy Gillespie presented State mandated changes in the 2000-2001 Vernon Parish Pupil Progression Plan for the Board’s approval.  

On motion of Betty Westerchil, seconded by Philip Gunn, the Board voted to adopt the revised 2000-2001 Pupil Progression Plan as presented by Dr. Gillespie.

Jackie Self presented the proposed 2001-02 school calendar and on motion of for approval.

On motion of A.C. Dowden, Jr., seconded by W.W. Parker, the Board voted to approve the 2001-01 school calendar as presented by Mr. Self.

On motion of Kim Reese, seconded by Ted Paris, the Board approved a resolution ordering and calling a special election to be held in Ward Six Wardwide School District No. 161 of Vernon Parish, Louisiana, to authorize the incurring of debt and issuance of bonds, making application to the State Bond Commission in connection therewith and providing for other matters in connection therewith. The bond issue will be on the May 5, 2001 ballot.

On motion of C.A. Hughes, seconded by Kim Reese, the Board approved a resolution allowing Superintendent Richard Schwartz to submit a pre-application for a Federal Rural Development grant for a 30 year loan for School District 161, Ward Six in the amount of $450,000.00 subject to passage of the proposition by the electorate.

On motion of Murphy O’Banion, seconded by Philip Gunn, the Board voted to increase the size of Charles Simmons’ bus from 65 passenger to 72 passenger.

On motion of Philip Gunn, seconded by Jane Holton, the Board voted to approve the purchase of a Head Start bus as a ”r;piggy back” item on bid for Rapides School Board.

On motion of Murphy O’Banion, seconded by Gaye McKee, the Board voted to authorize the president and secretary to pay claims.

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

R E S O L U T I O N

                WHEREAS, the members of the Vernon Parish School Board take this means to express their tremendous sense of pride in the Anacoco High School Lady Indians and Coach Vic Ortiz for an outstanding season; and

                WHEREAS, the Lady Indians won the Class B State Championship, the fifth consecutive girls state championship for Anacoco High School, at the Sweet Sixteen tournament;

                BE IT THEREFORE RESOLVED, that the Board adopts this resolution commending and congratulating the Anacoco High School Lady Indians for a very exciting and successful 2000-01 basketball season.

On motion of Jane Holton, seconded by the Board, the following resolution was adopted:

R E S O L U T I O N

                WHEREAS, the members of the Vernon Parish School Board take this means to express their tremendous sense of pride in Simpson Lady Broncos and Coach Jay White for an outstanding season; and

                WHEREAS, the Lady Broncos earned the 2000-01 Class C State Championship at the Sweet Sixteen tournament;

                BE IT THEREFORE RESOLVED, that the Board adopts this resolution commending and congratulating the Simpson High Lady Broncos for a very exciting and successful 2000-01 basketball season.

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

R E S O L U T I O N

                WHEREAS, the members of the Vernon Parish School Board take this means to express their tremendous sense of pride in the Pitkin Lady Tigers and Coach Selena Friday for an outstanding season; and

                WHEREAS, the Lady Tigers won Class B State Runner-up in the Sweet Sixteen tournament;

                BE IT THEREFORE RESOLVED, that the Board adopts this resolution commending and congratulating the Pitkin High School Lady Tigers for a very exciting and successful 2000-01 basketball season.

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. J.W. Pollard, of Pitkin, who recently passed away; and

                WHEREAS, Mr. Pollard was the brother of Mr. Hardy Pollard, retired bus driver at Pitkin School, the uncle of Mrs. Mickey Hodges, bus driver, and Mrs. JoAnn Pollard, cook, at Pitkin School, and the great-uncle of Mrs. Angela Dowden, an aide at Pitkin School;

                BE IT THEREFORE RESOLVED, that the Board requests that a copy of this memorial resolution be sent to Mr. Pollard’s 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.

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B.R. HARVEY

ATTEST:

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RICHARD SCHWARTZ, SUPERINTENDENT

March 6, 2001