April 5, 2001
THE PARISH SCHOOL BOARD OF VERNON PARISH LOUISIANA CONVENED IN REGULAR SESSION, APRIL 5, 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 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 Linda West.
The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Jane Holton.
On motion of Murphy O’Banion, seconded by Gaye McKee, the Board voted to approve and dispense with the reading of the minutes of March 6, 2001.
On recommendation of Superintendent Schwartz and on motion of Philip Gunn, seconded by W.W. Parker, the Board voted to approve the attached resignations.
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On recommendation of Superintendent Schwartz and on motion of Gaye McKee, seconded by Jane Holton, the Board voted to approve the attached sabbatical leave requests.
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On recommendation of Superintendent Schwartz and on motion of Murphy O’Banion, seconded by Willis Farris, the Board voted to approve the attached request for a leave without pay.
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On recommendation of Superintendent Schwartz and on motion of Philip Gunn, seconded by Gaye McKee, the Board voted to approve the attached request to rescind a leave without pay.
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On recommendation of Superintendent Schwartz and on motion of W.W. Parker, seconded by C.A. Hughes, the Board voted to approve the attached employee transfers.
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On recommendation of Superintendent Schwartz and on motion Ted Paris, seconded by Betty Westerchil, the Board voted to approve the attached list of new employees.
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Mrs. Jessica Ashworth’s first grade class at Hornbeck School gave a presentation of poetry selections which were written by Mrs. Ashworth and incorporated into all areas of her classroom curriculum.
Curtis Clay recognized Mrs. Vickie Karamales, sponsor, and students Brittany Neal and Cyle Garrett, for their accomplishments in the Cordell Upshaw/Vernon Middle School Jump Rope for Heart. Brittany, the top sixth grader raised $2,033.61, and Cyle, the top fifth grader, raised over $534.00 in the effort.
Mr. Clay recognized Leesville High School’s Quiz Bowl team as Vernon Parish’s 2001 Quiz Bowl champion and six time winner of the Parish Quiz Bowl.
At this time, Mr. Clay recognized the parish basketball teams for their outstanding accomplishments. Those teams recognized were Anacoco Jr. High Boys’ for an undefeated season, Pitkin High School Girls Basketball Class B State Runner-up, Simpson High School Girls Basketball Class C State Champion, Anacoco High School Girls Basketball Class B State Champion, and Leesville High School Boys Basketball 4-A State Champion.
Tom Neubert presented a proposed Homeless Student Policy for approval and on motion of A.C. Dowden, seconded by Murphy O’Banion, the Board voted to approve the policy as presented.
On recommendation of Superintendent Schwartz and on motion of Ted Paris, seconded by Philip Gunn, the Board voted to approve a principal position at West Leesville Preschool Center.
On motion of Murphy O’Banion, seconded by Betty Westerchil, the Board voted to open bids on bleachers for Pitkin High School gym. Bids received are as follows:
BIDDER BID
Insight, Inc. $67,195.00
D & A Associates $57,791.88
Hahn Enterprises $74,927.00
On motion of W.W. Parker, seconded by Betty Westerchil, the Board voted to take the bids for Pitkin School gym bleachers under advisement.
On motion of Murphy O’Banion, seconded by Gaye McKee, the Board voted to open bids on a bus for the Special Education Department. Bids received are as follows:
BIDDER BID
Masters Transportation $34,950.00
Ross Bus and Equipment Sales $22,500.00
On motion of Murphy O’Banion, seconded by W.W. Parker, the Board voted to take the bids for a bus for the Special Education Department under advisement.
On motion of W.W. Parker, seconded by Willis Farris, the Board voted to advertise for bids to sell some used bleachers at Hornbeck High School. Bids will be received on May 3, 2001, at 10:00 a.m.
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 sincere sympathies to the family of Rev. Charles Cooper, of Pitkin, who recently passed away; and
WHEREAS, Rev. Cooper was a longtime pastor of the First United Pentecostal Church of Pitkin, and a great supporter of Pitkin School and this school system. He will be sadly missed by his family, his church community, and his friends; now
BE IT THEREFORE RESOLVED, that the Board does hereby adopt this memorial resolution and requests that a copy be sent to Mrs. Cooper 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 members of the Vernon Parish School Board wish to express their heartfelt sympathies to the family of Mr. William Perry Strother, of Pitkin, who recently passed away; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Strother was the brother-in-law of Mrs. Sybil McCullough, retired school health nurse, and the uncle of Mrs. Kim Thompson, teacher at Pitkin School;
BE IT THEREFORE RESOLVED, that the Board does hereby adopt this memorial resolution and requests that a copy be sent to Mr. Strother’s family at this time of sorrow.
On motion of Gene Haymon, 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 deepest sympathies to Mrs. Charlotte DeLacerda in the recent death of her father, Mr. Marion Merriman, Jr., of Slagle, who recently passed away; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Merriman was a lifelong resident of Slagle 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 Mrs. DeLacerda , along with its sincere condolences to the entire family, at this time of sorrow.
On motion of Willis Farris, 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 deepest sympathies to the family of Mr. Dan Harvey, of Evans, who recently passed away; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Harvey was a lifelong resident of the community and the brother of Mrs. Melonie Allardyce, retired cafeteria at Evans School; now
BE IT THEREFORE RESOLVED, that the Board requests that a copy of this memorial resolution be sent to Mrs. Joyce Harvey and Mrs. Melonie Allardyce, along with its sincere condolences to the entire family, at this time of sorrow.
On motion of Willis Farris, 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. J.W. Smith of Evans, who recently passed away; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Smith was a longtime business man in the Evans community and a great supporter of the Evans School and he will be sadly missed by his family and friends; now
BE IT THEREFORE RESOLVED, that the Board does hereby adopt this memorial resolution and requests that a copy be sent to Mrs. Donice Smith and her family at this time of sorrow.
On motion of Betty Westerchil, 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. Frank Norman Frazier, of Leesville, who recently passed away; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Frazier was the husband of Mrs. Linda Frazier, teacher at North Polk Elementary School, and he will be sadly missed by his family and friends; now
BE IT THEREFORE RESOLVED, that the Board does hereby adopt this memorial resolution and requests a copy be sent to Mrs. Frazier and her children at this time of sorrow.
On motion of Philip Gunn, 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. Lim Patterson, of Leesville who recently passed away; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Patterson was a retired custodian who had worked in several Vernon Parish Schools and he will be sadly missed by his family and friends; now
BE IT THEREFORE RESOLVED, that the Board takes this means to express its condolences to Mr. Patterson’s family and requests that a copy be sent to Mr. Patterson’s family at this time of sorrow.
On motion of Philip Gunn, 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 wish to express their sincere condolences to the family of Mrs. Rosie Edison of Leesville, who recently passed away; and
WHEREAS, Mrs. Edison was a retired Vernon Parish cafeteria employee and she will be sadly missed by her family and friends; now
BE IT THEREFORE RESOLVED, that the members of the Board request that a copy of this memorial resolution be sent to Mrs. Edison’s 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 the family of Mrs. Elsie Chance, of Anacoco, who recently passed away; and
WHEREAS, Mrs. Chance was the mother of Mrs. Sharlon Frederick, teacher’s aide at East Leesville Elementary School. She was a great supporter of this school system and she will be sadly missed by her family and friends; now
BE IT THEREFORE RESOLVED, that the Board does hereby adopt this memorial resolution and requests that a copy be sent to Mrs. Frederick and her 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 Vernon Parish School Board wishes to express its sincere condolences to the family of Mr. Robert Coburn, of Hornbeck, who recently passed away; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Coburn was the father of Mr. Venton Coburn, retired principal at Anacoco High School, and the father-in-law of Mrs. Glenda Coburn, retired teacher at Anacoco Elementary School; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Coburn was a longtime resident of Hornbeck 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 Mr. and Mrs. Venton Coburn at this time of sorrow.
On motion of Murphy O’Banion, seconded by the Board, the Board adopted the following resolution:
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, the Vernon Parish School Board strives to offer quality education to its students; and
WHEREAS, this quality education is affected by both the instructional staff and the support staff of the school system; and
WHEREAS, the support staff has not received any state funded salary increments since 1998; now
BE IT THEREFORE RESOLVED, that the Vernon Parish School Board does petition its legislators to fund a salary increase for its support personnel starting with the 2001-2002 school year so that the school board can maintain and recruit quality personnel to support the educational functions of its students and facilities.
On motion of W.W. Parker, seconded by the Board, the Board adopted the following resolution:
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, the Vernon Parish School Board wishes to commend and congratulate the Hornbeck High School Quiz Bowl team and their sponsor, Mrs. Pam Carver, for placing second in the State Quiz Bowl competition; and
WHEREAS, the team members devoted numerous hours of hard work and sacrificed many hours of their time in preparation for their participation in the parish and state competition; and
WHEREAS, Mrs. Carver’s untiring efforts, leadership and dedication encouraged the students to do their best and provided them an opportunity to enrich and enhance their education experience; now
BE IT THEREFORE RESOLVED, that the Board takes this means to express its tremendous pride in the Hornbeck High School Quiz Bowl team and to congratulate each member and the team sponsor, Mrs. Pam Carver, for this outstanding accomplishment.
In other business, Linda West announced that the Salary Committee will meet on Tuesday, April 10th, at 9:00 a.m.
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
April 5, 2001