September 6, 2001
THE PARISH SCHOOL BOARD OF VERNON PARISH LOUISIANA CONVENED IN REGULAR SESSION, SEPTEMBER 6, 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 FARRIS
PHILIP GUNN
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: C.A. HUGHES, ILLNESS
There was also present Richard Schwartz, Secretary of the Board.
The meeting was opened in prayer by Gene Haymon.
The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Kim Reese.
On motion of W.W. Parker, seconded by Gaye McKee, the Board voted to approve and dispense with the reading of the minutes of August 7, 2001.
On recommendation of Superintendent Schwartz and on motion of Kim Reese, seconded by Jane Holton, the Board voted to approve the attached list of employee resignations.
ATTACHMENT
On recommendation of Superintendent Schwartz and on motion of Gene Haymon, seconded by Ted Paris, the Board voted to approve the release of an employee.
ATTACHMENT
On recommendation of Superintendent Schwartz and on motion of Gaye McKee, seconded by Kim Reese, the Board voted to approve that attached requests for leave without pay.
ATTACHMENT
On recommendation of Superintendent Schwartz and on motion of Ted Paris, seconded by Jane Holton, the Board voted to approve a request to rescind a leave without pay.
ATTACHMENT
On recommendation of Superintendent Schwartz and on motion of W.W. Parker, seconded by Gaye McKee, the Board voted to approve the attached list of employee transfers.
ATTACHMENT
On recommendation of Superintendent Schwartz and on motion of Willis Farris, seconded by W.W. Parker, the Board voted to approve the attached list of new employees.
ATTACHMENT
On recommendation of Superintendent Schwartz and on motion of Jane Holton, seconded by W.W. Parker, the Board voted to approve employees who were not previously named.
ATTACHMENT
John Farris, Supervisor of Instruction, reported very good results on the 2000 parish wide ACT scores. The parish composite scores were up one point over the last year's scores and were above the State composite score.
Don Gallemore reported that Vernon Parish School Board is in compliance with the Children's Internet Protection Act and has been in compliance for the past two years. Documentation to support this compliance is on file at the Vernon Parish School Board office.
Col. Thomas Sittnick and Loretta Nale addressed the issues transitioning military students face as they transfer from one school district to another. Mrs. Nale requested that the Board sign a Memorandum of Agreement which is designed to address transition problems and provide for information sharing among all schools that serve high school age military students. The Vernon Parish School System already implements all the practices outlined in the Memorandum of Agreement which will be signed at the September 11, 2001 board meeting.
On motion of Alvin C. Dowden, seconded by W.W. Parker, the Board voted to adopt the 2002 operating budget.
Kim Reese, District 1/6 Committee Chairperson, reported that the Committee had nothing to bring before the Board at this time.
In other business, Gaye McKee made a motion, seconded by Philip Gunn, to rescind her yes vote on the decision made by the Board at its August 7, 2001 meeting to downsize the Board to nine members, and ask the reapportionment consultant to provide maps using 9, 10, 11, and 12 members before the Board makes a decision on the number of board members. The results of a roll call vote are as follows:
YEA NAY
Alvin C. Dowden, Jr. X
M. Gene Haymon X
Jane Holton X
C.A. Hughes Absent
Ted Paris X
Kim Reese X
Linda West X
Betty Westerchil X
Mark Smith X
W.W. Parker X
Willis Farris X
Murphy O'Banion X
B.R. Harvey X
Philip Gunn X
Gaye McKee X
By a vote of 8-6 the motion to reconsider the number of board members passed.
On motion of Alvin C. Dowden, seconded by Mark Smith, the Board voted to rescind the August 7th vote to reduce the salary of board members from $800.00 to $500.00 per month and place the issue on the September 11th agenda for a re-vote. A roll call vote was taken and resulted as follows:
YEA NAY
Alvin C. Dowden, Jr. X
M. Gene Haymon X
Jane Holton X
C.A. Hughes Absent
Ted Paris X
Kim Reese X
Linda West X
Betty Westerchil X
Mark Smith X
W.W. Parker X
Willis A. Farris X
Murphy O'Banion X
B.R. Harvey X
Philip L. Gunn X
Gaye McKee X
By a vote of 10-4, the motion passed.
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 School Board wish to express their heartfelt sympathies to the family of Mrs. Zettie Mae Howard, of Leesville, who recently passed away; and
WHEREAS, Mrs. Howard was the mother of Mr. Jerry Howard, custodian at Leesville High School and Mr. Bruce Howard, custodian at East Leesville Elementary School. She was a long-time resident of our community and 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. Jerry Howard and Mr. Bruce Howard, along with its condolences to the entire family.
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. Marshall Mark Maddox, longtime resident of Pitkin, who recently passed away; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Maddox was the father of Mr. Houston Maddox, custodian at Pitkin School, and the uncle of Mrs. Carolyn Cook, cafeteria employee, and Mrs. Carolyn Maddox, teacher, at Pitkin School; now
BE IT THEREFORE RESOLVED, that the Board requests that a copy of this memorial resolution be sent to Mr. Houston Maddox, Mrs. Carolyn Cook, Mrs. Carolyn Maddox, and their entire 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 sincere condolences to the family of Mr. Ted Melder, of Pitkin, who recently passed away; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Melder was the stepfather-in-law of Mrs. Kelly Stewart, former teacher at Pitkin School and the aunt of Mrs. JoAnn Hagan, bus driver at Hicks School and Mrs. Sandy Wilson, teacher's aide at Pitkin School; now
BE IT THEREFORE RESOLVED, that the Board requests that a copy of this memorial resolution be sent to Mrs. Stewart, Mrs. Hagan, and Mrs. Wilson and the entire family at this time of sorrow.
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 was saddened by the recent death of Mrs. Merle Dowden, retired Vernon Parish educator; and
WHEREAS, Mrs. Dowden was the wife of retired Vernon Parish administrator and former board member, Mr. Alvin C. Dowden, Sr., the mother of Mr. Alvin C. Dowden, Jr., District I board member, and the mother of Mrs. Debbie Clark, principal at East Leesville Elementary School; now
BE IT THEREFORE RESOLVED, that the Board does hereby adopt this memorial resolution and requests that a copy be sent, along with its heartfelt condolences, to Mr. Dowden and Mrs. Clark and their family.
On motion of W.W. Parker and Kim Reese, 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 record with grief and sorrow the recent loss of Kody Chance, member of the junior class at Hornbeck High School; and
WHEREAS, Kody was the son of Rev. Wayne Chance, retired administrator at Hornbeck School and Mrs. Kathy Chance, teacher at Hornbeck Elementary School and the nephew of Dr. Douglas Chance and Mrs. Teresa Chance, retired Vernon Parish educators; and
WHEREAS, Kody was an honor student and an outstanding athlete on Hornbeck High School Hornets basketball, baseball and track teams. His wonderful personality and friendly attitude made him a favorite among his peers and he will be sadly missed by his family, his friends and classmates, and the administration, faculty and staff at Hornbeck High School; now
BE IT THEREFORE RESOLVED, that the Board requests that a copy of this memorial resolution be sent, along with its heartfelt condolences, to Rev. and Mrs. Chance and their family at this time of sorrow.
On motion of W.W. Parker and Kim Reese, the Board adopted the following memorial resolution:
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, the Vernon Parish School Board records with grief and sorrow the recent loss of Quisto' Chance, member of the sophomore class at Hornbeck High School; and
WHEREAS, Quisto' was the nephew of Rev. Wayne Chance, retired administrator at Hornbeck School, and Mrs. Kathy Chance, teacher, at Hornbeck Elementary School and the nephew of Dr. Douglas Chance and Mrs. Teresa Chance, retired Vernon Parish educators; and
WHEREAS, Quisto' was an honor student and a member of the Hornbeck High School Hornets baseball team. His contagious smile and his ability to make others smile endured him to all and made him a favorite among his peers. He will be sadly missed by his family, his friends and classmates, and the administration, faculty and staff at Hornbeck High School; now
BE IT THEREFORE RESOLVED, that the Board requests that a copy of this memorial resolution be sent, along with its heartfelt condolences, to Mr. Joe Chance, Mrs. Lori Chance and the entire family of sorrow.
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 wish to express their heartfelt sympathies to the family of Mr. John Gary Littleton, of Pickering, who recently passed away; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Littleton was the husband of Mrs. Cathy Littleton, teacher's aide at Pickering Elementary School and the son of Mr. John Littleton, retired Vernon Parish Educator 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. Cathy Littleton and her children and to Mr. and Mrs. John Littleton and their family at this time of sorrow.
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 State of Louisiana's Accountability Program and emphasis on High-Stakes Testing have raised the bar for students' success; and
WHEREAS, reform initiatives by teachers in classrooms due to this accountability have had a significant impact on student performance; and
WHEREAS, the Vernon Parish School Board has provided Act Prep software for schools; and
WHEREAS, the ACT Prep elective classes were offered by all parish high school last year; and
WHEREAS, the TOPS program has increased parent and student attention on ACT tests; and WHEREAS, the ACT scores in Vernon Parish have risen on point in the past year as a result of the above mentioned parish efforts; now
BE IT THEREFORE RESOLVED, that the Vernon Parish School Board commends Dr. Cindy Gillespie and the central office supervisory staff, the schools, the teachers, the parents, and the students for their commendable efforts in these achievements.
On motion of Gaye McKee, 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 Mrs. Annie Fletcher, of Rosepine, who recently passed away; and
WHEREAS, Mrs. Fletcher was a lifelong resident of Rosepine and the grandmother of Mr. Danny Fletcher, teacher at Pitkin High School, and Mrs. Barbara Fletcher, teacher at Rosepine High School, 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 Mr. and Mrs. Fletcher and their family at this time of bereavement.
On motion of Alvin C. Dowden, Jr., 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 takes wishes to express its sincere condolences to the family of Mr. Jasper "J.P." Cedars, of Kurthwood, who recently passed away; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Cedars was the husband of Mrs. Hazel Cedars, former cafeteria manager at Polk Elementary School, and the father-in-law of Mrs. Wendy Cedars, bus driver at Simpson High School and he will be sadly missed by his family and friends; now
BE IT THEREFORE RESOLVED, that the Board requests that a copy of this memorial resolution be sent to Mrs. Hazel Cedars and Mrs. Wendy Cedars and their 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 sincere condolences to the family of Mr. Milton "Ray" Masters, of Monroe, who recently passed away; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Masters was a lifelong resident to the Hornbeck area and the brother of Mrs. Mable Grafton, retired bus driver at Hornbeck High School, and he will be sadly missed by his family and friends; now
BE IT THEREFORE RESOLVED, that the Board requests that a copy of this memorial resolution be sent to Mrs. Grafton and her family at this time of sorrow.
There being no further business, on motion of Gaye McKee, seconded by the Board, the meeting was adjourned.
____________________________________
B.R. HARVEY, PRESIDENT
ATTEST:
_______________________________________
RICHARD SCHWARTZ, SUPERINTENDENT