August 2, 2001
THE PARISH SCHOOL BOARD OF VERNON PARISH LOUISIANA CONVENED IN REGULAR SESSION, AUGUST 2, 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.
M. GENE HAYMON
JANE HOLTON
GAYE MCKEE
MURPHY O’BANION
W.W. PARKER
TED PARIS
MARK SMITH
LINDA WEST
BETTY WESTERCHIL
COL. THOMAS SITTNICK
ABSENT: WILLIS FARRIS, ILLNESS
PHILIP GUNN, ILLNESS
C.A. HUGHES, ILLNESS
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 Alvin C. Dowden, Jr.
On motion of Ted Paris, seconded by Gaye McKee, the Board voted to approve and dispense with the reading of the minutes of July 10, 2001.
On recommendation of Superintendent Schwartz and on motion of Murphy O’Banion, seconded by W.W. Parker, the Board voted to approve the attached list of employee resignations.
ATTACHMENT
On recommendation of Superintendent Schwartz and on motion of W.W. Parker, seconded by Ted Paris, the Board voted to approve the attached sabbatical leave request.
ATTACHMENT
On recommendation of Superintendent Schwartz and on motion of Betty Westerchil, seconded by Jane Holton, the Board voted to approve the attached request to rescind a sabbatical leave.
ATTACHMENT
On recommendation of Superintendent Schwartz and on motion of, seconded by, the Board voted to approve the attached list of employee transfers.
ATTACHMENT
On recommendation of Superintendent Schwartz and on motion of, seconded by, the Board voted to approve the attached list of new employees.
ATTACHMENT
On motion of Alvin C. Dowden, seconded by Mark Smith, the Board voted to name Janice Turnage to fill the new school nurse position.
Tom Neubert recognized Ms. Patricia Cleveland, Region VI Drug Abuse Prevention Coordinator, and students who participated in the Substance Abuse Prevention Camp this summer.
On motion of Alvin C. Dowden, seconded by Ted Paris, the Board voted to approve the millage rates for the tax year 200l.
ATTACHMENT
On motion of Alvin C. Dowden, seconded by Betty Westerchil, the Board voted to adopt a resolution to retain the law firm of Rainer, Anding and McLindon, as special counsel for Vernon Parish School Board Sales Tax Agency.
On motion of Alvin C. Dowden, seconded by Betty Westerchil, the Board voted to enter executive session for the purpose of discussing Civil Suite #58083. The time was recorded at 10:25 a.m.
On motion of Murphy O’Banion, seconded by Mark Smith, the Board voted to come out of session and resume order. The time was recorded at 10:38 a.m.
On motion of Linda West, seconded by Ted Paris, the Board voted to authorize Superintendent Schwartz to follow the recommendation of the Board’s attorney, Jon Guice, regarding Civil Suit #58083.
Mr. Bill Boone, of Redistricting L.L.C., presented maps and discussed majority/minority districts with respect to reapportionment guidelines.
On motion of Alvin C. Dowden, seconded by Betty Westerchil, the Board voted to determine the total number of board members that would be reflected in the reapportionment plan by Tuesday, August 7, 2001 and be prepared to present a plan to the Justice Department by December 31, 2001.
Kim Reese, president of the District 1/6 Committee, reported that the Committee, at its 9:00 a.m. meeting had discussed a possible Ward I bond issue for repairs and improvements at the District 1/6 schools.
In other business, Colonel Thomas Sittnick gave an interesting report from an education conference he recently attended. The Child Education Coalition Committee is studying curriculum requirement differences from state to state in and searching for ways to make the transition of military dependent students less difficult.
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 condolences to the family of Mr. Ottis Poe, retired bus operator at Hicks High School, who recently passed away; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Poe was the father of Mrs. Joy Bailey, bus operator at Hicks School, the brother of Mrs. Shirley Paraday, retired cook at Hicks School and the uncle of Mrs. Mary Meade, bus driver at Hicks School and Mrs. Pat Robinson, aide at Pitkin School.
WHEREAS, Mr. Poe was a loyal and dedicated employee and he will be sadly missed by his family and friends;
BE IT THEREFORE RESOLVED, that the Board adopts this memorial resolution and requests that a copy be sent to Mr. Poe’s 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 Vernon Parish School Board wishes to express its deepest sympathies to Mrs. Mary Willis, custodian at Pitkin School, in the recent death of her husband, Mr. Ruben Willis; and,
WHEREAS, Mr. Willis was the uncle of Mr. Roger Willis, principal a Pitkin School, and the uncle of Mrs. Elizabeth Willis, cafeteria employee at Pitkin School, 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 Mrs. Willis, along with its condolences to the entire 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 wish to express their condolences to the family of Mr. George Harris, of Brewton, Alabama, who recently passed away; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Harris was the father-in-law of Mrs. Sharon Harris, Vernon Parish School nurse, 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 Mel and Sharon Harris and their family at this time of bereavement.
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 wish to express their heartfelt condolences to the family of Mrs. Hazel Marie Palmer, of Leesville, who recently passed away; and
WHEREAS, Mrs. Palmer, the mother of Rev. Wallace Palmer, former long-time pastor of the First Baptist Church of Leesville, made many contributions to her church and community 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 Rev. and Mrs. Wallace Palmer and their family at this time of bereavement.
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 members of the Vernon Parish School Board wish to express their sincere condolences to the family of Mr. Newton McLaren, Jr., of Leesville, who recently passed away; and
WHEREAS, Mr. McLaren was the step-father of Mrs. Betty Chance, retired teacher at Anacoco Elementary School and the step-grandfather of Mrs. Angela Griffis, teacher at Anacoco Elementary School; now
BE IT THEREFORE RESOLVED, that the Board does hereby adopt this memorial resolution and requests that a copy be sent to Mrs. Chance and Mrs. Griffis and their 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, PRESIDENT
ATTEST:
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RICHARD SCHWARTZ, SUPERINTENDENT