February 20, 2002
THE PARISH SCHOOL BOARD OF VERNON PARISH LOUISIANA CONVENED IN SPECIAL CALLED SESSION, FEBRUARY 20, 2002, AT 1:00 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
There was also present Dr. Cynthia Gillespie, 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 Murphy O'Banion, the Board voted to approve and dispense with the reading of the minutes of February 12, 2002.
President Reese stated that the purpose of the called meeting was to discuss reapportionment and opened the floor for discussion.
Gene Haymon registered a complaint that neither Mr. Glenn Koepp nor Mr. Bill Boone of Redistricting L.L.C., the firm hired to draw redistricting plans for the Board, were present at the meeting. Ted Paris voiced similar concerns.
Following discussion, W.W. Parker made a motion, seconded by B.R. Harvey, to adopt a twelve member plan subject to modifications regarding Districts One and Three, and asking the Police Jury to split precincts. A roll call vote was taken with results 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 L. Gunn X
Gaye McKee X
The motion to approve the twelve member plan subject to modifications passed 11-3 with one members absent.
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 sincere condolences to the family of Mrs. Pearlie Norris, of Leesville, who recently passed away; and
WHEREAS, Mrs. Norris was the mother-in-law of Mrs. Murlene Norris, retired bus driver, and the grandmother of Mrs. Mamie Zerr, bus driver at Pickering Elementary School. 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. Norris' 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 members of the Vernon Parish School Board with to express their sincere condolences to the family of Mrs. Vergie Johnson, of Pitkin, who recently passed away; and
WHEREAS, Mrs. Johnson was the mother of Mrs. Billie Rae Perkins, bus driver at Pitkin High School, and the grandmother of Mrs. Pam Brister, teacher at East Leesville Elementary School, and Mrs. Debbie Moore, secretary at Pitkin High School. 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. Perkins, Mrs. Brister, Mrs. Moore, and their family at this time of sorrow.
There being no further business, on motion of Murphy O'Banion, seconded by Gaye McKee, the members voted to adjourn.
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KIM REESE, PRESIDENT
ATTEST:
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DR. CYNTHIA GILLESPIE, SUPERINTENDENT