May 8, 2001

 

THE PARISH SCHOOL BOARD OF VERNON PARISH LOUISIANA CONVENED IN REGULAR SESSION, MAY 8, 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

LORETTA NALE

 

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

 

The meeting was opened in prayer by Philip Gunn.

 

The Pledge of Allegiance was led by W.W. Parker.

 

On motion of Philip Gunn, seconded by W.W. Parker, the Board voted to approve and dispense with the reading of the minutes of May 3, 2001.

 

On recommendation of Superintendent Schwartz and on motion of Betty Westerchil, seconded by Gaye McKee, the Board voted to approve the attached resignations.

ATTACHED

On recommendation of Superintendent Schwartz and on motion of Ted Paris, seconded by C.A. Hughes, the Board voted to approve the attached request to rescind a previously approved sabbatical leave.

 

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

ATTACHED

 

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

ATTACHED

 

Curtis Clay recognized students from South Polk Elementary School, Rosepine High School, Pitkin High School, Pickering High School, Anacoco Elementary School, Anacoco High School, Simpson High School, Vernon Middle School, and Hicks High School. The students were recognized individually and each was presented with a certificate of achievement.

 

On motion of Betty Westerchil, seconded by Philip Gunn, the Board voted to address item eight on the agenda before addressing item seven.

 

Brenda Bealer recommended Sabra Browning, a Head Start teacher, for the position of  Educational Specialist for the Head Start program and on motion of Ted Paris, seconded by Jane Holton, the Board voted to approve the recommendation. 

 

Dottie Neugebauer presented Special Education's application for funding IDEA Part B for approval and on motion of Linda West, seconded by Murphy O'Banion, the Board voted to approve the application as presented.

 

On motion of W.W. Parker, seconded by Gene Haymon the Board voted to advertise for bids for renovations at Hornbeck High School. Bids will be received on June 20, 2001 at 10:00 a.m. by a committee made up of Superintendent Richard Schwartz, Ricky Kay, Tim Ward, and Dona Dowden, board recorder.

 

On motion of Betty Westerchil, seconded by the Board, the Board adopted the following resolution:

 

R E S O L U T I O N

 

WHEREAS, the Simpson School facilities are in dire need of major repair and renovations; and

WHEREAS, the improvements to the Simpson School facilities which would be made possible through these bonds would greatly benefit the students at Simpson School and the citizens of the entire community; and

WHEREAS, a strategic plan was needed to inform and gain the support of the public with regard to a wardwide bond proposal; and

BE IT THEREFORE RESOLVED, that the members of the Board wish to commend and congratulate the Simpson Bond Committee,  along with the administration, faculty, and staff at Simpson High School, for their dedication to their school and their community, and for their many hours of work which made the positive results of the bond election possible.

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 provide quality education for its students and a quality environment for its employees; and

WHEREAS, the budgeting process in an integral part of our educational mission; and

WHEREAS, tax revenues which are protested can greatly interfere in the budgeting process under the current system; now

BE IT THEREFORE RESOLVED, that the Vernon Parish School Board hereby urgently requests the Louisiana Legislature to support Senate Bill number 1046  which will allow the local government to access the disputed money while it is being protested.

 

On motion of Linda West, 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 congratulate and commend the Leesville High School Music and Theatre Department for its magnificent  production of "The Wizard of Oz", and

WHEREAS, the impressive performance of the students delighted and entertained their audiences and, at the same time, provided them an excellent opportunity  to enrich and enhance their talents and educational experience; and

WHEREAS, Mrs. Mae Ann Ledet and Mr. Mike Drouilhet dedicated many hours of their time, energy, and expertise to insure the success of this outstanding  endeavor; now

BE IT THEREFORE RESOLVED, that the Board does hereby adopt this resolution of commendation and congratulations to all of those who gave so much of themselves and their time to make this exceptionally entertaining production available to our students throughout the parish and to our community.

 

Superintendent Schwartz announced an Athletic Committee meeting scheduled for Tuesday, May 15th at 9:00 a.m.

 

Betty Westerchil called for a Curriculum Committee meeting to be held on Thursday, June 7th at 1:00 p.m.

 

On motion of Linda West, 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 heartfelt sympathies to the family of Mrs. Ida Mae Simonelli, of Leesville, who recently passed away; and

WHEREAS, Mrs. Simonelli was the mother-in-law of Mrs. Jamie Simonelli, central office secretary, the sister of Mrs. Margaret LaCaze, retired teacher's aide at Hicks High School, Mrs. Bell Wilson, retired cook at East Leesville Elementary School, and Mrs. Georgia McRae, teacher's aide at East Leesville Elementary School, the grandmother of Ms. Michelle McLaughlin, teacher at West Leesville Preschool, and the aunt of Mrs. Donnis Poe, facilitator at Leesville High School; now

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

 

On motion of Murphy O'Banion, seconded by Philip Gunn, the Board voted to authorize the president and secretary to pay the claims.

 

There being no further business, on motion of Gaye McKee, seconded by  the Board voted to adjourn.

_____________________________________

B.R. HARVEY

 

ATTEST:

_______________________________________

RICHARD SCHWARTZ, SUPERINTENDENT