February 7, 2002
THE PARISH SCHOOL BOARD OF VERNON PARISH LOUISIANA CONVENED IN REGULAR SESSION, FEBRUARY 7, 2002, AT 10:00 A.M., AT 201 BELVIEW ROAD, LEESVILLE, LA. PRESIDENT REESE CALLED THE MEETING TO ORDER AND ON ROLL CALL THE FOLLOWING MEMBERS WERE PRESENT:
KIM REESE, PRESIDENT
WILLIS FARRIS, VICE PRESIDENT
ALVIN C. DOWDEN, JR.
PHILIP GUNN
M. GENE HAYMON
B.R. HARVEY
JANE HOLTON
GAYE MCKEE
MURPHY O'BANION
W.W. PARKER
TED PARIS
MARK SMITH
LINDA WEST
BETTY WESTERCHIL
ABSENT: C.A. HUGHES, ILLNESS
COL. THOMAS SITTNICK (REPRESENTED BY DON ROBINSON)
There was also present Dr. Cynthia Gillespie, Secretary of the Board.
The meeting was opened in prayer by Gene Haymon.
The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Gaye McKee.
On motion of Gene Haymon, seconded by Gaye McKee, the Board voted to approve and dispense with the reading of the minutes of January 15, 2002.
On recommendation of Superintendent Gillespie and on motion of Ted Paris, seconded by Jane Holton, the Board voted to approve the attached list of employee resignations.
ATTACHMENT
On recommendation of Superintendent Gillespie and on motion of Gaye McKee, seconded by Murphy O'Banion, the Board voted to approve the attached request for a leave without pay.
ATTACHMENT
On motion of Philip Gunn, seconded by Gaye McKee, the Board voted to approve the attached requests to rescind sabbatical leaves.
On recommendation of Superintendent Gillespie and on motion of Betty Westerchil, seconded by Ted Paris, the Board voted to approve that attached list of employee transfers.
ATTACHMENT
On recommendation of Superintendent Gillespie and on motion of Murphy O'Banion, seconded by Jane Holton, the Board voted to approve the attached list of new employees.
ATTACHMENT
Tom Neubert, Director of Child Welfare and Attendance, recognized the Vernon Parish school nurses in commemoration of National and State School Nurses Day which was proclaimed January 23, 2002. A plaque for the nurse's office was presented to Dodie Wallace, head nurse, and each nurse received a certificate for her outstanding service to Vernon Parish students.
At this time, Mr. Neubert recognized the Vernon Parish school counselors for National School Counselors Week. He emphasized the importance of the counselor's role and commended the counselors for their valued service to the students and schools. Each was presented a certificate of appreciation from the Board.
Bill Boone, of Redistricting L.L.C., who was present to discuss reapportionment, provided maps for eleven member plans for the Board's study and consideration. He explained that he could not provide maps for twelve member plans at this time because he is waiting for the Police Jury to adopt a plan for new precincts.
Following discussion, on motion of Mark Smith, seconded by Betty Westerchil, the Board voted to study the maps and schedule a special called meeting for a final vote on a plan to be submitted to the Justice Department. The special called meeting date will be decided at the Tuesday, February 12, 2002 board meeting.
Bill Endris, Director of Finance, presented the 2001 audit report to the Board.
Tom Neubert presented several policy changes that need to be adopted by the Board. On motion of Gene Haymon, seconded by Betty Westerchil, the Board voted to place the changes on the Tuesday, February 12th board meeting agenda for approval.
On motion of Ted Paris, seconded by Philip Gunn, the Board voted to adopt the following to be placed on the May 4, 2002 ballot:
A resolution ordering and calling for a special election to be
held in Leesville School District No. 16 of Vernon Parish,
Louisiana, to authorize the incurring of debt and issuance of
bonds therein; making application to the State Bond
Commission in connection therewith; and providing for other
matters in connection therewith.
On motion of Jane Holton, 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. Elizabeth Ann Hicks, a lifelong resident of Vernon Parish who recently passed away; and
WHEREAS, Mrs. Hicks was the daughter of the deceased Mr. Lee McConathy, retired bus driver at Anacoco High School, the sister-in-law of Mrs. Bonnie Hicks, teacher at West Leesville Preschool, and the aunt of Mrs. Susie Neubert and Mrs. Betty Hicks, teachers at Leesville High School, Mrs. Becky Rains, librarian at East Leesville Elementary and Mrs. Pam Anders, teacher at West Leesville Elementary School; now
BE IT THEREFORE RESOLVED, that the Board requests that a copy of this memorial resolution be sent to Mrs. Hicks' family at this time of sorrow.
On motion of Kim Reese, 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. Daisy Brooks, lifelong resident of Leesville, who recently passed away; and
WHEREAS, Mrs. Brooks was the grandmother of Mrs. Anita Portz, teacher at Pickering Elementary School, 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 Mrs. Portz, along with its sympathies to the entire family, at this time of bereavement.
On motion of Willis Farris, 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 Mr. John Farris, Secondary Curriculum Administrator, in the recent death of his mother, Mrs. Betty Ann Farris, of Port Arthur, Texas; and
WHEREAS, Mrs. Farris was also the mother of Mr. James Farris and the mother-in-law of Mrs. Dee Dee Farris, former Vernon Parish educators, and the mother-in-law of Mrs. Janet Farris, secretary at North Polk Elementary School. 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, along with its sincere condolences to the entire family, at this time of sorrow.
On motion of Willis Farris, 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. Thelma Nash, of Burr Ferry, who recently passed away; and
WHEREAS, Mrs. Nash was the grandmother of Mrs. Debbie Smith, aide at Evans School and the aunt of Mr. Gene Haymon, board member. She was a lifelong resident of Vernon Parish and a retired food service supervisor at the Louisiana State School in Leesville; now
BE IT THEREFORE RESOLVED, that the Board requests that a copy of this memorial resolution be sent to Mrs. Smith and her 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 Vernon Parish School Board takes this means to express its condolences to Mrs. Debbie Hatchett, aide at Hornbeck High School, in the recent death of her father, Mr. Howard "Rip" Westbrook; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Westbrook, retired bus driver at Hornbeck School, was a
loyal and dedicated employee who will be fondly remembered by the administration, faculty, staff and former students at Hornbeck School, and sadly missed by his family and friends; now
BE IT THEREFORE RESOLVED, the Board requests that a copy of this memorial resolution be sent to Mrs. Hatchett and her 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 condolences to the family of Mrs. Irma Erwin, of Anacoco, who recently passed away; and
WHEREAS, Mrs. Erwin was a retired cook at Anacoco High School where she was a loyal and dedicated employee. She was a lifelong resident of Anacoco and 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 Mrs. Erwin's family at this time of bereavement.
On motion of W.W. Parker and Kim Reese, 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 Mr. Luther Marze, Sr., of Anacoco, who recently passed away; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Marze, a retired bus driver at Anacoco High School, was a loyal and dedicated employee. He was a longtme resident of Anacoco and a former businessman 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. Marze's family at this time 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 condolences to the family of Mrs. Goldie Fletcher, of DeRidder, who recently passed away; and
WHEREAS, Mrs. Fletcher was the grandmother of Mrs. Julie Bertrand, teacher at Pickering Elementary School, and a longtime resident of DeRidder. 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 Mrs. Bertrand and her family at this time of sorrow.
There being no further business, on motion of Gaye McKee, seconded by, the meeting was adjourned.
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KIM REESE, PRESIDENT
ATTEST:
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DR. CYNTHIA GILLESPIE, SUPERINTENDENT