April 11, 2002
THE PARISH SCHOOL BOARD OF VERNON PARISH LOUISIANA CONVENED IN REGULAR SESSION, APRIL 11, 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 A. FARRIS, VICE PRESIDENT
ALVIN C. DOWDEN, JR.
PHILIP L. GUNN
B.R. HARVEY
JANE HOLTON
C.A. HUGHES
GAYE MCKEE
MURPHY O’BANION
TED PARIS
W.W. PARKER
MARK SMITH
LINDA WEST
BETTY WESTERCHIL
ABSENT: M. GENE HAYMON, ILLNESS
COL. THOMAS SITTNICK, REPLACED BY LORETTA NALE
There was also present Dr. Cynthia Gillespie, Secretary of the Board.
The meeting was opened in prayer by Jane Holton.
The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Linda West.
On motion of Willis Farris, seconded by W.W. Parker, the Board voted to approve and dispense with the reading of the minutes of March 12, 2002.
On recommendation of Superintendent Gillespie and on motion of Murphy O’Banion, seconded by B.R. Harvey, the Board to approve the attached resignations.
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On motion of B.R. Harvey, seconded by W.W. Parker, the voted to approve the attached termination.
On recommendation of Superintendent Gillespie and on motion of Jane Holton, seconded by Betty Westerchil, the Board voted to approve the attached sabbatical leave requests.
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On recommendation of Superintendent Gillespie and on motion of Gaye McKee, seconded by Betty Westerchil, the Board voted to approve the attached request for a leave without pay.
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On recommendation of Superintendent Gillespie and on motion of W.W. Parker, seconded by Mark Smith, the Board voted to approve the attached employee transfers.
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On recommendation of Superintendent Gillespie and on motion of C.A. Hughes, seconded by Gaye McKee, the Board voted to approve the attached list of new employees.
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Curtis Clay recognized Vic Ortiz, coach and the Anacoco High School Girls Class B State Champion basketball team, and the school principal, Mr. Norman Beason. Plaques for the school were presented to Mr. Beason and Mr. Ortiz and each team member received a certificate of accomplishment. Mr. Mark McRae, representative of Congressman Jim McCrery’s office read and presented a letter of commendation and congratulations from Congressman McCrery to the team.
Mr. Dan Richey addressed the Board regarding The Governor’s Program on Abstinence.
The program is designed to be incorporated into the health curriculum at the jr. high school level to encourage abstinence. The program, materials, and trained teachers are offered at no cost to school systems that approve its utilization. Superintendent Gillespie recommended that the issue be sent back to the Curriculum Committee for further study.
Liz Maricle and Mary Jane Rabalais, teachers at South Polk Elementary School, presented an overview of on-line professional development taking place in Vernon Parish. The two teachers are facilitators of the program which is designed to help teachers use information gathered from this technology in their classrooms. Teachers can also participate in on-line discussion and idea sharing that they find beneficial.
Jackie Self presented the proposed 2002-2003 school calendar for approval and on motion of W.W. Parker, seconded by Ted Paris, the Board voted to approve the calendar as proposed.
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On motion of W.W. Parker, seconded by Gaye McKee, the Board voted to increase the size of Paul Marsh’s bus from 60 to 66 passengers and Elsie Johnson’s bus from 36 to 48 passengers.
On motion of Philip Gunn, seconded by C.A. Hughes, the Board voted to advertise for bids to purchase paper towels for the parish schools for the 2002-2003 school year.
On motion of Murphy O’Banion, seconded by W.W. Parker, the Board voted to advertise for bids for air conditioning equipment at Pitkin School.
On recommendation of the Transportation Committee and on motion of W.W. Parker, seconded by Philip Gunn, the Board voted adopt the following policy:
”r;Transportation of non-school related students (children) or adults on school buses during the performance of official duties for the Vernon Parish School Board is prohibited.”
Ted Paris reported that the District 1/6 Committee had discussed the upcoming bond election and encouraged continued support.
In other business, Superintendent Gillespie called the Board’s attention to a memo regarding the National School Board Association Conferences.
Betty Westerchil announced a Curriculum Committee meeting scheduled for Tuesday, April 16th at 4:00 p.m.
On motion of Mark Smith, 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. Searcy Gothard, of Jacksonville, Texas, who recently passed away; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Gothard, a long-time resident and businessman of Leesville, was the husband of Mrs. Frances Gothard, retired and now deceased teacher at Leesville High School; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Gothard was a well-respected and beloved member of this community 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. Gothard’s 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 Vernon Parish School Board wishes to express its sincere condolences to the family of Mrs. Reba Jeane, retired bus operator at Evans High School, who recently passed away; and
WHEREAS, Mrs. Jeane was the mother of Mr. Ronald Jeane, bus operator at West Leesville Elementary School, the mother-in-law of Mrs. Paulette Jeane, secretary at the central office, and the sister of Mrs. Carolyn Coriell, bus aide at Pickering Elementary School; and
WHEREAS, Mrs. Jeane was a loyal and dedicated employee 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. and Mrs. Jeane, Mrs. Coriell, and their 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. Lillian O’Hara, of Pickering, who recently passed away; and
WHEREAS, Mrs. O’Hara was the mother of Mr. Patrick O’Hara, Maintenance Department employee at the central office, and the mother-in-law of Mrs. Johnette O’Hara, bus operator at Pickering Elementary School; and
WHEREAS, Mrs. O’Hara was a longtime resident of the Pickering area 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. and Mrs. O’Hara and their 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 wish to express their heartfelt condolences to the family of Mrs. Irene Griffin, of Pitkin, who recently passed away; and
WHEREAS, Mrs. Griffin, a former cafeteria employee at Pitkin High School, was a loyal and dedicated employee 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. Griffin’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 members of the Vernon Parish School Board take this means to express their heartfelt condolences to the family of Mr. Richard Martin, of Pitkin, who recently passed away; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Martin was the father of Mrs. Tammy Lambright, teacher at Pitkin Elementary School. He was a great supporter of this school system 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. Lambright 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.
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KIM REESE, BOARD PRESIDENT
ATTEST:
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DR. CYNTHIA GILLESPIE, SUPERINTENDENT