October 4, 2001
THE PARISH SCHOOL BOARD OF VERNON PARISH LOUISIANA CONVENED IN REGULAR SESSION, OCTOBER 4, 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
WILLIS FARRIS
PHILIP GUNN
M. GENE HAYMON
JANE HOLTON
C.A. HUGHES
GAYE MCKEE
MURPHY O’BANION
W.W. PARKER
TED PARIS
MARK SMITH
LINDA WEST
BETTY WESTERCHIL
COL. THOMAS SITTNICK
ABSENT: ALVIN C. DOWDEN, JR., COURT
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 Mark Smith.
On motion of Philip Gunn, seconded by W.W. Parker, the Board voted to approve and dispense with the reading of the minutes of September 11, 2001.
On recommendation of Superintendent Schwartz and on motion of Ted Paris, seconded by C. A. Hughes, the Board voted to approve the attached list of employee resignations.
ATTACHMENT
On recommendation of Superintendent Schwartz and on motion of Gaye McKee, seconded by Willis Farris, the Board voted to approve the attached sabbatical leave requests.
ATTACHMENT
On recommendation of Superintendent Schwartz and on motion of Murphy O’Banion, seconded by W.W. Parker, the Board voted to approve attached request for 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 C.A. Hughes, seconded by Jane Holton, the Board voted to approve the attached list of new employees.
ATTACHMENT
Liz Descant, principal at West Leesville Preschool Center, gave an update and overview of the newly restructured school which now has an enrollment of 190 students in non-categorical preschool, Head Start, and Starting Points classes. Olivia McKee discussed the Early Intervention Program, another program offered and operated by the school, which provides services to children from birth to three years who have exceptionalities.
Don Gallemore reported that Vernon Parish School System is in line with local, state, and federal student, faculty, and staff computer usage. He also gave a progress report on technology and provided copies of the development of Vernon Parish School Board’s local area network by school.
On motion of W.W. Parker, seconded by Philip Gunn, the Board voted to approve an increase in the size of Steve Dowden’s bus from 48 passenger to 59 passenger, and the size of Bobby Jett’s bus from 65 to 70 passenger.
Dr. Cindy Gillespie addressed the Board regarding her candidacy for superintendent-elect. Following her presentation, on motion of Murphy O’Banion, seconded by the Board, Dr. Gillespie was appointed superintendent-elect of the Vernon Parish School System. She will assume her duties as superintendent January 1, 2002.
Kim Reese reported the District 1/6 Committee held its regular monthly meeting at 9:00 a.m., prior to the board meeting, and had nothing to bring before the Board at this time.
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 deepest sympathies to the family of Mr. Donald Lormand, of Elizabeth, who recently passed away; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Lormand was the father of Mrs. Jennifer Craft, former secretary at the Vernon Parish Optional 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. Craft, along with its heartfelt condolences to her entire 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 Mr. Wayne Read, retired teacher at Hornbeck High School and former school board member; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Read was the father of Mrs. Glenda Prewitt, teacher at Hornbeck Elementary School; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Read was a credit to the educational community and he will be remembered for his dedication to the profession of teaching children; now
BE IT THEREFORE RESOLVED, that the Board requests that a copy of this memorial resolution be sent to Mrs. Prewitt and her family at this time of sorrow.
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 deepest sympathies to the family of Mr. Marlon R. Keel, of Rosepine, who recently passed away; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Keel was the husband of Mrs. Emily Keel a retired cook at Rosepine 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. Keel and her family at this time of sorrow.
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 Vernon Parish School Board wishes to express its heartfelt condolences to the family of Ms. Tonia Craft, of Rosepine, who recently passed away; and
WHEREAS, Ms. Craft was the niece of Mrs. Linda Martinez, teacher at North Polk Elementary 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 Mrs. Martinez and her family at this time of sorrow.
On motion of Ted Paris, 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 were saddened by the recent death of Dr. Todd Brigance, son of Dr. and Mrs. W. H. Brigance, of Paducah, Kentucky; and
WHEREAS, Todd, the nephew of Mrs. Jane Holton, retired teacher and member of the Vernon Parish School Board, was employed in research at the JohnsHopkins Medical Center, Baltimore, Maryland. He will be sadly missed by his family and friends and by his associates in the medical field; now
BE IT THEREFORE RESOLVED, that the Board requests that a copy of this memorial resolution be sent, along with its heartfelt condolences, to Dr. and Mrs. Brigance, their family, and to Mrs. Jane Holton, at this time of sorrow.
On motion of Murphy O’Banion, 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 deepest sympathies to the family of Mr. William ”r;Bill” Gibson, of Leesville, who recently passed away; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Gibson was the father of Mr. David Gibson, teacher at Pickering 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 Mr. David Gibson, along with its heartfelt 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 were saddened by the recent death of Mrs. Elsie Goins, of Leesville; and
WHEREAS, Mrs. Goins was the mother of Mr. Don Goins, former board member, the mother-in-law of Mrs. Sarah Goins, retired teacher at East Leesville Elementary School, and the grandmother of Mrs. Renita Davis, assistant principal at Leesville High School; and
WHEREAS, Mrs. Goins was a well known and respected resident of Leesville and she will be remembered not only in the business community but also for her involvement in many various organizations and activities in the Leesville area; now
BE IT THEREFORE RESOLVED, that the Board requests that a copy of this memorial resolution be sent, along with its sincere condolences, to Mrs. Goins’family at this time of bereavement.
In other business, Colonel Thomas Sittnick suggested, in view of the recent terrorist attacks and in an effort to help students better cope with the situation, that teams be organized to visit the schools for the purpose of assuring students that their schools are safe.
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
October 4, 2001