April 16, 2002
THE PARISH SCHOOL BOARD OF VERNON PARISH LOUISIANA CONVENED IN REGULAR SESSION, APRIL 16, 2002, AT, 5:00 P.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
M. GENE HAYMON
JANE HOLTON
C.A. HUGHES
GAYE MCKEE
MURPHY O’BANION
TED PARIS
W.W. PARKER
MARK SMITH
LINDA WEST
BETTY WESTERCHIL
ABSENT: COL. THOMAS SITTNICK (DON ROBINSON REPRESENTED HIM)
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 Linda West.
On motion of Murphy O’Banion, seconded by Willis Farris, the Board voted to approve and dispense with the reading of the minutes of April 11, 2002.
On recommendation of Superintendent Gillespie and on motion of Ted Paris, seconded by Betty Westerchil, the Board to approve the attached resignations.
ATTACHED
On recommendation of Superintendent Gillespie and on motion of W.W. Parker, seconded by Willis Farris, the Board voted to approve the attached employee transfers.
ATTACHED
On recommendation of Superintendent Gillespie and on motion of Gaye McKee, seconded by Jane Holton, the Board voted to approve the attached list of new employees.
ATTACHED
On motion of B.R. Harvey, seconded by Betty Westerchil, the Board voted to name school employees for the 2002-2003 school year.
On recommendation of the Transportation Committee and motion of W.W. Parker, seconded by Murphy O’Banion, the Board voted to approve the following policy regarding a fuel adjustment for bus drivers. The price of fuel will be monitored and fuel adjustments will be made twice yearly, once in January and again in June.
PRICE PER GALLON FUEL ADJUSTMENT SCALE
$1.25 - $1.50 $.10 per mile one way
$1.51 - $1.75 $.15 per mile one way
$1.76 - $2.00 $.20 per mile one way
On motion of A.C. Dowden, seconded by Mark Smith, the Board voted to adopt the Louisiana Compliance Questionnaire which a requirement for auditing purposes.
Tom Neubert proposed some minor changes in the wording of school uniform policy that would help prevent misinterpretation of the policy. Since this proposal was requested by the District 1/6 schools, it will be placed on the agenda for the May 2, 2002 District 1/6 Committee meeting.
On motion of Gaye McKee, seconded by Philip Gunn, the Board voted to approve school uniforms for Rosepine Elementary and Rosepine High School effective at the beginning of the 2002-2003 school year.
On motion of Murphy O’Banion, seconded by Willis Farris, the Board voted to advertise for bids for copier paper for the 2002-2003 school year.
On motion of Betty Westerchil, seconded by C.A. Hughes, the Board voted to approve the 2002-2003 budget proposal for the Head Start program.
Betty Westerchil, Chairperson of the Curriculum Committee, recommended that the Board adopt the Governor’s Program on Abstinence for the parish junior high schools.
Materials and information regarding the program were presented for the Board’s study at the April 11th board meeting.
On motion of Willis Farris, seconded by Gaye McKee, the Board voted to adopt the Governor’s Program on Abstinence effective at the beginning of the 2002-2003 school year. Superintendent Gillespie suggested that the program may begin as a pilot program and if results are positive, then it will be put in place in all the parish junior high schools.
Mrs. Westerchil announced a Curriculum Committee which is scheduled for Tuesday, May 7th at 4:30 p.m. preceding the 5:00 p.m. board meeting.
On motion of B.R. Harvey, seconded by Murphy O’Banion, the Board voted to advertise for bids to purchase a bus for the Head Start program.
In other business, on motion of W.W. Parker, seconded by Mark Smith, the Board voted to approve the purchase of a school board owned vehicle for use by the superintendent.
On motion of Alvin C. Dowden, seconded by the Board, the Board will request that our Legislative Delegation consider an increase in the maintenance allocation for bus drivers.
Gene Haymon voiced his concern regarding the use of school facilities by the community for school related activities. He suggested that the board attorney and insurance consultant be contacted for clarification of the Board’s liability coverage.
On motion of Murphy O’Banion, seconded by Jane Holton, the Board voted to allow Hicks High School and Simpson High School to proceed with alumni activities as planned.
On motion of Gene Haymon, seconded by the Board, the following memorial resolution was adopted:
RESOLUTION
WHEREAS, the members of the Vernon Parish School Board take this means to express their heartfelt condolences to the family of Mrs. Aki Driscoll, of Leesville who recently passed away; and
WHEREAS, Mrs. Driscoll was the mother of Mr. John Driscoll and the mother-in-law of Mrs. Debbie Driscoll, teachers at Leesville Jr. High School; and
WHEREAS, Mrs. Driscoll will be remembered for her involvement in community organizations, as a great supporter of the sports programs in our schools, 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 John and Debbie Driscoll and their entire family at this time of bereavement.
On motion of B.R. Harvey, seconded by Murphy O’Banion, the Board voted to authorize the president and secretary to pay the claims.
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