November 7, 2002
THE PARISH SCHOOL BOARD OF VERNON PARISH LOUISIANA CONVENED IN REGULAR SESSION, NOVEMBER 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
C.A. HUGHES
GAYE MCKEE
MURPHY O'BANION
W.W. PARKER
TED PARIS
MARK SMITH
LINDA WEST
BETTY WESTERCHIL
COL. MARK ROCKE
ABSENT: JANE HOLTON
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 Ted Paris, seconded by Murphy O'Banion, the Board voted to approve and dispense with the reading of the minutes of October 8, 2002.
On recommendation of Superintendent Gillespie and on motion of Murphy O'Banion, seconded by Willis Farris, the Board voted to approve the attached list of employee resignations.
ATTACHMENT
On recommendation of Superintendent Gillespie and on motion of C.A. Hughes, seconded by Ted Paris, the Board voted to approve the attached sabbatical leave request.
ATTACHMENT
On recommendation of Superintendent Gillespie and on motion of Gaye McKee, seconded by Betty Westerchil, the Board voted to approve the attached requests for leave without pay.
ATTACHMENT
On recommendation of Superintendent Gillespie and on motion of Mark Smith, seconded by Willis Farris, the Board voted to approve the attached list of employee transfers.
ATTACHMENT
On recommendation of Superintendent Gillespie and on motion of Murphy O'Banion, seconded by Gaye McKee, the Board voted to approve the attached list of new employees.
ATTACHMENT
Mr. Ron DeGray, Superintendent Gillespie and the Board recognized Zachary Taylor, Noah Lee and Justin Deason, graduates from the GATES program. Superintendent Gillespie presented to each graduate his GED diploma and commended teachers of the program, Ms. Vanilla Sanders and Ms. Barbara Busby for their outstanding contributions to the GATES program.
On motion of Philip Gunn, seconded by Betty Westerchil, the Board voted to increase William Dowden's bus size from 60 to 65 passengers.
On motion of Mark Smith, seconded by the Board, the Board adopted the following resolution concerning State Group Benefits:
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, the necessity of quality healthcare for all is undeniable; and
WHEREAS, the health of the employees and the families of any organization is a high priority; and
WHEREAS, recent trends in health insurance premiums and healthcare in general suggest a continued upward spiral; and
WHEREAS, the escalating cost of insurance premiums and of healthcare in Louisiana and across America is an unpleasant reality; and
WHEREAS, The Vernon Parish School Board and the school system as a whole recognize affordable health insurance as an essential commodity to ensure quality health care for its employees; and
WHEREAS, the increasing cost of health insurance makes this vital necessity cost-prohibitive for many school systems employees; now
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Vernon Parish School Board strongly encourages the State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education and the Louisiana Legislature to allocate funding within the Minimum Foundation Program or in another way which they deem appropriate and feasible, to assist all Louisiana school systems with group health insurance premiums, including those systems who participate in the State Group Health Insurance Plan as well as those who have private carriers or allow the districts with private carriers to enter the State Group Health Insurance Plan on an equal status with other systems, without penalty from experience ratings or vesting schedules; and
THEREFORE, BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that copies of this resolution be sent to the Office of the Governor of the State of Louisiana, the members of the State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education, the office of the State Superintendent, members of the State Legislature, the Louisiana School Boards Association; Louisiana School Systems, local governing authorities, and local news media.
On motion of Ted Paris, seconded by C.A. Hughes, the Board voted to accept the bid of Asphalt Associates, in the amount of $480,111.00 and Alternate #1, in the amount of $117,150.00, for the construction of the track at Leesville High School.
On motion of Ted Paris, seconded by Philip Gunn, the Board voted to award the low bid, in the amount of $555,000.00, for roofing and air conditioning at Leesville Jr. High School to Pat Williams Construction.
On motion of Betty Westerchil, seconded by Ted Paris, the Board voted to award the high bid on each of two used tractors in Ward I. The high bid on a Long 460 tractor, in the amount of $3,150.00, was awarded to Farm Equipment and the high bid on an International Harvester, in the amount of $350.00, was awarded to Jimmy Chaney.
On motion of Gene Haymon, seconded by Betty Westerchil, the Board voted to reject all bids on an activity bus at Simpson High School and participate in a cooperative purchasing agreement with the Allen Parish School Board. This agreement will be for the procurement of a school bus awarded by public bid. The cost of the bus is $59,986.00.
On motion of Betty Westerchil, seconded by Murphy O'Banion, the Board voted to award the low bid on a bus for the Special Education Department, in the amount of $56,294.00, to Kent Mitchell.
On motion of B.R. Harvey, seconded by Philip Gunn, the Board voted to advertise for bids to sell a 1973 cub tractor at Pitkin High School.
On recommendation of the Transportation Committee and on motion of Philip Gunn, seconded by Gene Haymon, the Board voted to reinstate as locked in pay for two bus drivers who had voluntarily bid on other routes for the remainder of the time left on a five year agreement and create a new policy that bus drivers bidding on any new route will not be locked in.
On recommendation of the Salary and Finance Committees, and on motion of B.R. Harvey, seconded by Mark Smith, the Board voted to provide a $1,200.00 per year pay raise for teachers, starting with the current school year.
On motion of A.C. Dowden, seconded by Philip Gunn, the Board voted to add as a regular agenda item a motion to approve budget amendments in relation to employee changes.
Ted Paris, District 1/6 Committee Chairperson, reported that the Committee had agreed to schedule a meeting with the City of Leesville officials to discuss sewer problems at Vernon Middle School.
In other business, Mrs. Westerchil announced a meeting of the Curriculum Committee to be held on Tuesday, November 12, 2002 at 4:00 p.m.
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 Vernon Parish School Board wishes to express its sincere condolences to the family of Mrs. Robbie Poe Causey-Sasser, of LaCamp, who recently passed away; and
WHEREAS, Mrs. Sasser was the sister of Mrs. Shirley Parady, retired cook at Hicks High School, and the mother-in-law of Mrs. Jeannie Causey, custodian at Hicks High School. She was a lifetime resident of LaCamp 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 Mrs. Parady and Mrs. Causey 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 deepest sympathies to the family of Mrs. Lena Jackson, former cook at Pitkin High School, who recently passed away; and
WHEREAS, Mrs. Jackson was the mother of Mrs. Yvonne McDonald, former substitute teacher at Pitkin School; now
BE IT THEREFORE RESOLVED, that the Board requests that a copy of this memorial resolution be sent to Mrs. McDonald and her 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 condolences to the family of Mrs. Mary Martin, of Dry Creek, who recently passed away; and
WHEREAS, Mrs. Martin was the mother of Mrs. Tammy Lambright, teacher at Pitkin Elementary School, and she will be lovingly remembered and 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. Lambright and her family at this time of sorrow.
On motion of Philip Gunn, 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 sympathies to the family of Mrs. Rebecca Reggans, of Leesville, who recently passed away; and
WHEREAS, Mrs. Reggans 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 requests that a copy of this memorial resolution be sent to Mrs. Reggans' family at this time of sorrow.
On motion of Gaye McKee, 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 Mrs. Sybil Owens, of Rosepine, who recently passed away; and
WHEREAS, Mrs. Owens was the mother of Mrs. Lynell Johnson, central office secretary, the mother-in-law of Mrs. Lettie Owens, teacher at Rosepine Elementary School, the sister of Mr. Reid Weeks, retired Rosepine High School teacher, the aunt of Mrs. Sharon Richardson, cafeteria employee at Rosepine High School and Mrs. Andrea Barkley, teacher at North Polk Elementary School; and
WHEREAS, Mrs. Owens was a longtime resident of Rosepine and her family and friends will sadly miss her; now
BE IT THEREFORE RESOLVED, that the Board requests that a copy of this memorial resolution be sent to Mrs. Owens' family at this time of great sorrow.
On motion of Gaye McKee, 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 deepest sympathies to the family of Mrs. Audie Doyle, of DeRidder, who recently passed away; and
WHEREAS, Mrs. Doyle, a longtime resident of DeRidder, was the mother of Mrs. Pat Gill, cafeteria employee at Rosepine 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. Gill 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, PRESIDENT
ATTEST:
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DR. CYNTHIA GILLESPIE, SUPERINTENDENT