April 10, 2001
THE PARISH SCHOOL BOARD OF VERNON PARISH LOUISIANA CONVENED IN REGULAR SESSION, APRIL 10, 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
JANE HOLTON
C.A. HUGHES
GAYE MCKEE
MURPHY O’BANION
TED PARIS
W.W. PARKER
MARK SMITH
LINDA WEST
BETTY WESTERCHIL
ABSENT: M. GENE HAYMON, OUT-OF-TOWN
COL. THOMAS SITTNICK
There was also present Richard Schwartz, Secretary of the Board.
The meeting was opened in prayer by Jane Holton.
The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Betty Westerchil.
On motion of W.W. Parker, seconded by Gaye McKee, the Board voted to approve and dispense with the reading of the minutes of April 5, 2001.
On recommendation of Superintendent Schwartz and on motion of Willis Farris, seconded by Jane Holton, the Board voted to approve the attached resignations.
ATTACHED
On recommendation of Superintendent Schwartz and on motion of Philip Gunn, seconded by Willis Farris, the Board voted to approve the attached sabbatical leave request.
ATTACHED
On recommendation of Superintendent Schwartz and on motion of Ted Paris, seconded by Kim Reese, the Board voted to approve the attached employee transfers.
ATTACHED
On recommendation of Superintendent Schwartz and on motion Gaye McKee, seconded by Ted Paris, the Board voted to approve the attached list of new employees.
ATTACHED
On recommendation of Superintendent Schwartz and on motion of C.A. Hughes, seconded by Murphy O’Banion, the Board voted to name school employees for 2001-02.
Curtis Clay recognized the Hornbeck High School Quiz Bowl team for placing second in the State, Division IV, in Quiz Bowl competition. The team’s sponsor, Mrs. Pam Carver, presented certificates of achievement to each team member.
Philip Gunn recognized Mrs. Sandra Whitlock, supervisor of instruction, for coordinating the American Legion Oratorical Contest. Patrick Clark, District Commander of the American Legion, presented Mrs. Whitlock with a plaque of appreciation from the local American Legion Organization.
Jimmy Funderburk gave a report on senior schedules in regard to participation in athletics. The recommendation is to not change the present procedure and leave to the principal’s discretion the establishment of the minimum number of credits that a senior athlete would have to address above LHSAA requirements to be eligible to participate in athletics.
Tom Neubert presented following procedural guidelines for principals to follow in dealing with school safety. Information on these procedures will be sent to parents.
On motion of W.W. Parker, seconded by Kim Reese, the Board voted to approve school uniforms for Anacoco Elementary School, beginning with the school year 2001-02. Colors for the uniforms will be khaki bottoms and white, navy blue, or purple tops. Willis Farris voted no.
On motion of Linda West, seconded by Betty Westerchil, the Board voted to address item 15 on the agenda before item 12 because of the time element involved.
On motion of W.W. Parker, seconded by Jane Holton, the Board voted to open bids on General Obligation School Bonds for Hornbeck School District N. 143. Bids were as follows:
BIDDER BID
Morgan Keeton 5.396%
Bank One, Lafayette 5.40 %
Sabine State Bank 5.147%
On motion of W.W. Parker, seconded by Mark Smith, the Board voted to accept the low bid of Sabine State Bank at 5.147%.
On motion of W.W. Parker, seconded by Kim Reese, the Board voted to adopt a resolution authorizing the incurring of debt and issuance of $600,000.00 of General Obligation School Bonds, Series, 2001, of Hornbeck School District No. 143 of Vernon Parish, Louisiana; prescribing the form, terms, and conditions of said bonds; designating the date, denomination, and place of payment of said bonds; providing for the payment thereof in principal and interest; and providing for other matters in connection therewith.
Betty Westerchil reported a productive meeting of the Curriculum Committee meeting which was held at 8:00 a.m. prior to this board meeting. Topics of discussion at the Curriculum Committee meeting were the Governor’s Program on Abstinence, Brenda Bealer’s presentation of a Head Start proposal for the Boards approval, LEAP 21, and textbook adoption.
On recommendation and motion of Betty Westerchil, seconded by Ted Paris, the Board voted to approve the Head Start proposal as presented.
Dr. Cindy Gillespie reported that Vernon Parish’s LEAP 21 test results were very good. She also announced that the McGraw reading series, a seven year reading program, had been adopted for the parish schools.
Linda West reported that the Salary Committee had met at 9:00 a.m. and had discussed a supplement for support personnel and a signing bonus for teachers, however, the committee took no action and had no recommendations to present to the Board.
W.W. Parker reported that the Transportation Committee met at 9:30 a.m. to discuss a proposition by the Vernon Parish Sheriff’s office involving the use of activity buses as a contingency plan to provide a means to transport inmates housed at the Vernon Parish Correctional Facility to a central local location in the event of a disaster at the facility.
On motion of W.W. Parker, seconded by Willis Farris, the Board voted to approve the proposition.
On motion of W.W. Parker, seconded by Kim Reese, the Board voted to reject the low bid, submitted by D & A Associates, for Pitkin High School gym bleachers because it did not meet specifications. The bid was awarded to Insight, Incorporated in the amount of $67,195.00.
On motion Ted Paris, seconded by Jane Holton, the Board voted to award the low bid for a bus for the Special Education Department to Ross Bus Sales in the amount of $22,500.00. A.C. Dowden voted no.
On motion of Gaye McKee and 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 wishes to express its deepest sympathies to the family of Mr. Wilmer ”r;Bill” Johnson, who recently passed away; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Johnson was a lifelong resident of the Providence community and the father-in-law of Mrs. Bonnie Johnson, bus driver at North Polk Elementary School; now
BE IT THEREFORE RESOLVED, that the Board requests that a copy of this memorial resolution be sent, along with its condolences, to Mr. Johnson’s family at this time of bereavement.
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 take this means to express their deepest sympathies to the family of Mr. Lealon Foshee, of Rosepine, who recently passed away; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Foshee was the nephew of Mrs. Helen Jarrell, retired maid at Evans High 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. Jarrell and the entire 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 of the Vernon Parish School Board wish to express its sincere condolences to the family of Mrs. Ellen ”r;Doris” Horn, of Anacoco, who recently passed away; and
WHEREAS, Mrs. Horn, a longtime resident of Anacoco, was the mother of Mrs. Dana Horn-Trujillo, Anacoco Elementary School’s Parent/Teacher Organization president. She will be sadly missed by her family and friends; now
BE IT THEREFORE RESOLVED, that the Board requests that a copy of this memorial resolution be sent to Mr. Dan Horn and Mrs. Dan Horn-Trujillo and their family at this time of sorrow.
On motion of W.W. Parker, seconded by the Board, the Board voted to send a letter supporting House Bill no. 910 and House Bill no. 1529 to our State legislators.
On motion of Murphy O’Banion, seconded by Gaye McKee, the Board voted to authorize the president and secretary to pay claims.
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 10, 2001