August 6, 2002
THE PARISH SCHOOL BOARD OF VERNON PARISH LOUISIANA CONVENED IN REGULAR SESSION, AUGUST 6, 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.
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: PHILIP L. GUNN, APPOINTMENT
There was also present Dr. Cynthia Gillespie, Secretary of the Board.
The meeting was opened in prayer by B.R. Harvey.
The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Murphy O'Banion.
On motion of Ted Paris, seconded by C.A. Hughes, the Board voted to approve and dispense with the reading of the minutes of August 1, 2002.
On recommendation of Superintendent Gillespie and on motion of Gene Haymon, seconded by Betty Westerchil, the Board to approve the attached resignations.
ATTACHED
On recommendation of Superintendent Gillespie and on motion of Gaye McKee, seconded by Willis Farris, the Board voted to approve the attached request for a leave without pay.
ATTACHED
On recommendation of Superintendent Gillespie and on motion of C.A. Hughes, seconded by Jane Holton, the Board voted to approve the attached employee transfers.
ATTACHED
On recommendation of Superintendent Gillespie and on motion of B.R. Harvey, seconded by Gaye McKee, the Board voted to approve the employee on the attached sheet who was not named in April but is now eligible to be named.
On recommendation of Superintendent Gillespie and on motion Murphy O'Banion, seconded by Willis Farris, the Board voted to approve the attached list of new employees.
ATTACHED
On motion of Mark Smith, seconded by Linda West, the Board voted to approve a resolution providing for the opening of sealed bids received for the purchase of five million five hundred thousand dollars ($5,500,000) of General Obligation School Bonds, Series 2002, of Leesville School District No. 16 of Vernon Parish, Louisiana, approving the Official Notice of Bond Sale and Preliminary Official Statement in connection therewith, and authorizing the president and secretary to sign copies thereof as evidence of the approval thereof. Bids which were tabulated by Foley & Judell, L.L.P.
are as follows.
BIDDER INTEREST RATE
Morgan Keegan 4.399064%
Sun Trust Capital 4.516501%
UBS Paine Webber 4.437769%
On recommendation of Lonnie Bewley, Vernon Parish School Board=s bonding attorney, and on motion of A.C. Dowden, Jr., seconded by Linda West, the Board voted to award the low bid to Morgan Keegan.
On motion of Linda West, seconded by Mark Smith, the Board voted to approve a resolution authorizing the incurring debt and issuance of five million five hundred thousand dollars (5,500,000) of General Obligation Bonds, Series 2002, of Leesville School District No. 16 of Vernon Parish, Louisiana; prescribing the form, terms and conditions of said Bonds; designating the date, denomination and place of payment of said bonds; providing for the payment of thereof in principal and interest; and providing for other matters in connection therewith.
On motion of Willis Farris, seconded by the Board, the following resolution supporting SB 1523 and HS 2638:
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, Vernon Parish School Board employees are members of a
State retirement fund; and
WHEREAS, many of our employees have themselves paid or have spouses who have paid Social Security taxes; and
WHEREAS, employees receive yearly statements indicating the amount of benefits they are eligible to receive at age 65; and
WHEREAS, a significant portion of those benefits are denied to our employees because they receive retirement benefits from the state; now
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that we support SB 1523 and HB 2638 whose passage would repeal the Government Pension Offset and Windfall Elimination Provision of Title II of the Social Security Act.
On motion of Alvin C. Dowden, Jr. on behalf of Philip Gunn and seconded by the Board, the following memorial resolution was adopted:
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, the members of the Vernon Parish School Board were
deeply saddened by the recent death of Mrs. Cora Wilson, retired Vernon Parish teacher; and
WHEREAS, Mrs. Wilson was the mother of Ms. Cassandra Wilson, principal at North Polk Elementary School, and Mrs. Castine Porche, teacher at Vernon Middle School; and
WHEREAS, Mrs. Wilson was a loyal and dedicated educator and a credit to the educational community and she will be sadly missed her family, friends, and her former students; now
BE IT THEREFORE RESOLVED, that the Board requests that a copy of this memorial resolution be sent, along with its sincere condolences, to Ms. Wilson, Mrs. Porche and their family at this time of sorrow.
On motion of Alvin C. Dowden on behalf of Philip Gunn and seconded by the Board, the following memorial resolution was adopted:
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 Mrs. Rebecca Robinson, of Rosepine, who recently passed away; and
WHEREAS, Mrs. Robinson was the mother of Mr. Jerry Robinson, custodian at the central office and Mrs. Linda Jones, family specialist at the Head Start Office; and
WHEREAS, Mrs. Robinson was a longtime resident of Leesville and she will be sadly missed by her family and friends; now
BE IT THEREFORE RESOLVED, that the Board request that a copy of this memorial resolution be sent to Mr. Robinson, Mrs. Jones, along with its condolences to the entire family, at this time of sorrow.
On motion of Gene Haymon, seconded by Alvin C. Dowden, 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