January 9, 2003
THE PARISH SCHOOL BOARD OF VERNON PARISH LOUISIANA CONVENED IN REGULAR SESSION, JANUARY 9, 2003, AT, 10:00 A.M., AT 201 BELVIEW ROAD, LEESVILLE, LA. PRESIDENT FARRIS CALLED THE MEETING TO ORDER AND ON ROLL CALL THE FOLLOWING MEMBERS WERE PRESENT:
WILLIS A. FARRIS, PRESIDENT
PHILIP L. GUNN, VICE PRESIDENT
JAMES K. ARMES, III
MEL HARRIS
ROBERT PYNES, JR.
MARK H. SMITH
BETTY WESTERCHIL
RICKY REESE
W.R. "RANDY" MARTIN
B.R. HARVEY
GAYE McKEE
M. GENE HAYMON
ABSENT: COL. MARK ROCKE
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 Gaye McKee.
On motion of Mark Smith, seconded by Philip Gunn, the Board voted to approve and dispense with the reading of the minutes of December 10, 2002.
On motion of B.R. Harvey, seconded by Gaye McKee, the Board voted to approve and dispense with the reading of the minutes of December 12, 2002.
On recommendation of Superintendent Gillespie and on motion of B.R. Harvey, seconded by Mark Smith, the Board to approve the attached resignations.
ATTACHED
On recommendation of Superintendent Gillespie and on motion of Philip Gunn, seconded by Gaye McKee, the Board voted to approve the attached sabbatical leave request.
ATTACHED
On recommendation of Superintendent Gillespie and on motion of Philip Gunn, seconded by Betty Westerchil, the Board voted to approve the attached employee transfers.
ATTACHED
On recommendation of Superintendent Gillespie and on motion Gaye McKee, seconded by B.R. Harvey, the Board voted to approve the attached list of new employees.
ATTACHED
On motion of Mark Smith, seconded by Robert Pynes, the Board voted to approve budget amendments in relation to personnel changes.
Bob Westmoreland, Sanitarian Parish Manager and Dennis Wallett, State Entomologist, addressed the Board regarding a parish-wide mosquito control program and encouraged the Board to support a 1/4 cent sales tax to fund the program.
On motion of Philip Gunn, seconded by the Board, the Board voted to support the 1/4 cent sales tax.
On motion of B.R. Harvey, seconded by Gaye McKee, the Board voted to authorize Superintendent Gillespie to request and sign all Federal Funding, P.L. 81-874 for the Vernon Parish School Board.
On motion of Betty Westerchil, seconded by Mel Harris, the Board voted to adopt the following resolution regarding textbook adoption and allocation:
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, school boards throughout the state are experiencing difficulty in providing new textbooks because of the increasing cost; and
WHEREAS, the monies allocated to school systems through the MFP are not sufficient to cover the increased cost of these textbooks; and
WHEREAS, the textbook adoption cycle established by the State of Louisiana does not coincide with the states for whom textbook companies make major editorial revisions; and
WHEREAS, parishes must purchase new textbooks adopted and replace worn textbooks with allocated monies which are insufficient; now
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Vernon Parish School Board petitions the Louisiana School Boards Association to sponsor legislation which will change the textbook adoption cycle to coincide with major states, and allocate sufficient funds to cover the increased actual cost of books; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that copies of this resolution be forwarded to the Louisiana School Boards Association, to the Governor of Louisiana, to the members of the Vernon Parish Legislative Delegation, to the State Superintendent of Public Education and to the State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education.
On motion of B.R. Harvey, seconded by Randy Martin, the Board voted to name the Board Committees for 2003.
On motion of Philip Gunn, seconded by the Board, The Leesville Daily Leader was named as official journal of Vernon Parish School Board for 2003.
On motion of B.R. Harvey, seconded by Philip Gunn, the Board voted to approve a resolution ordering and calling a special election to be held in Pitkin School district No. 144 of Vernon Parish, Louisiana, to authorize the incurring of debt and issuance of bonds therein; making application to the State Bond Commission in connection therewith; and providing for other matters in connection therewith, to be placed on the April 5, 2003 ballot.
On motion of Randy Martin, 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 wish to express their sincere condolences to the family of Mrs. Verna Sumler, lifelong resident of Leesville, who recently passed away; and
WHEREAS, Mrs. Sumler was the mother of Mrs. Verna Jones, counselor at Pickering Elementary School, the mother-in-law of Mr. Roland Jones, retired administrator at Vernon Middle School, and the grandmother of Mr. Raymond Jones, teacher at Leesville High School; now
BE IT THEREFORE RESOLVED, that the Board adopts this memorial resolution and requests that a copy be sent to Mrs. Jones, her husband, Roland, and son, Raymond, at this time of sorrow.
On motion of B.R. Harvey, 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 wish to express their sincere condolences to the family of Mr. Stewart Willis, lifelong resident of Pitkin, who recently passed away; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Willis was the father of Mrs. Zetta Johnson, retired cook at Pitkin School, and Mrs. Bonnie Johnson, SPED bus driver at North Polk Elementary School, the sister-in-law of Mrs. Mary Willis, custodian at Pitkin School, and the uncle of Roger Willis, principal, and Mrs. Elizabeth Willis, cook at Pitkin School; now
BE IT THEREFORE RESOLVED, that the Board does hereby adopt this memorial resolution and requests a copy be sent to the family.
On motion of Betty Westerchil, seconded by the Board, the following memorial resolution was adopted:
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, the Vernon Parish School Board wishes to express its heartfelt condolences to Dr. Lynda Boren, teacher at Leesville High School, in the recent death of her father, Mr. Leonard Schoenberger, of New Llano; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Schoenberger was a longtime resident of this area and once served as band director at Leesville High School. 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 Dr. Boren, along with its sympathies to the family, at this time of bereavement.
On motion of Gene Haymon, seconded by the Board, the following memorial resolution was adopted:
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, the Vernon Parish School Board records with sadness the recent death of Mr. Thad Bailes, husband of Mrs. Robbie Bailes, teacher, and the father of Polly Bailes, student, at Anacoco High School; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Bailes was the brother of Mrs. Zoe Parker, former teacher at Rosepine High School, the brother-in-law of Mrs. Rose Bailes, teacher at Leesville Jr. High School and the uncle of Mrs. Katie Segura, teacher at West Leesville Preschool; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Bailes served the citizens of our area for many years as a law enforcement officers, became the founder of the D.A.R.E. program in Vernon Parish, and through his dedication and involvement earned the respect and love of students and parents throughout Vernon Parish; now
BE IT THEREFORE RESOLVED, that the Board takes this means to express its heartfelt condolences to Mrs. Robbie Bailes and Polly and the entire family, and requests that a copy of this memorial resolution be sent to them at this time of sorrow.
On motion of Betty Westerchil, 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 wish to express their sincere condolences to the family of Mr. Hugh Pearce, of Lake Charles, who recently passed away; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Pearce was the father of Mrs. Shirley Smith, retired teacher at Leesville High School 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. Smith and her family at this time of bereavement.
On motion of Betty Westerchil, 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 wish to express their heartfelt condolences to Mrs. Rhonda Morrison, teacher at Leesville Jr. High School, in the recent death of her grandmother, Mrs. Lena Ellis, of Leesville; and
WHEREAS, Mrs. Ellis was a native and lifelong resident of Vernon Parish and she will be sadly missed by her family and friends; now
BE IT THEREFORE RESOLVED, the that the Board requests a copy of this memorial resolution be sent to Mrs. Morrison and her family at this time of sorrow.
On motion of Gaye McKee, seconded by the Board, the following memorial resolution was adopted:
RESOLUTION
WHEREAS, the members of the Vernon Parish School Board wish to express their sincere condolences to the family of Mr. David Horsley, of Rosepine, who recently passed away; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Horsley was the brother of Mr. Larry Horsley, CECP coach at Rosepine High School, 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. Larry Horsley and his family at this time of sorrow.
On motion of Gaye McKee, seconded by the Board, the following memorial resolution was adopted:
RESOLUTION
WHEREAS, the Vernon Parish School Board records with sadness the recent death of Mrs. Mittie Grose, retired teacher at Rosepine Elementary School; and
WHEREAS, Mrs. Grose was the mother of Mrs. Mitzi Martin, teacher at Rosepine High School and Mr. Torry Grose, teacher at Vernon Middle School; and
WHEREAS, Mrs. Grose was a loyal and dedicated teacher and she will be sadly missed by her family, friends and former students; now
BE IT THEREFORE RESOLVED, that the Board requests that a copy of this memorial resolution be sent, along with its heartfelt condolences, to Mr. Bobby Grose, Mrs. Mitzi Martin and Mr. Torry Grose and their family at this time of sorrow.
On motion of Gaye McKee, seconded by the Board, the following memorial resolution was adopted:
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 Mr. Homer James, of Leesville, who recently passed away; and
WHEREAS, Mr. James was a lifelong resident of Vernon Parish and the uncle of Mrs. Lenda Bates, retired teacher at Pickering Elementary School. 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. James' 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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WILLIS A. FARRIS, BOARD PRESIDENT
ATTEST:
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DR. CYNTHIA GILLESPIE, SUPERINTENDENT