February 11, 2003

 

THE PARISH SCHOOL BOARD OF VERNON PARISH LOUISIANA CONVENED IN REGULAR SESSION, FEBRUARY 11, 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

COL. MARK ROCKE

 

There was also present Dr. Cynthia Gillespie, Secretary of the Board.

 

The meeting was opened in prayer by James Armes.

 

The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Mel Harris.

 

 On motion of Mark Smith, seconded by Philip Gunn, the Board voted to approve and dispense with the reading of the minutes of February 6, 2003.

 

On recommendation of Superintendent Gillespie and on motion of B.R. Harvey, seconded by Gaye McKee, the Board to approve the attached resignation.

ATTACHED

 

On recommendation of Superintendent Gillespie and on motion of Gaye McKee, seconded by B.R. Harvey, the Board voted to approve the attached employee transfer.

ATTACHED

 

On recommendation of Superintendent Gillespie and on motion of Philip Gunn, seconded by Ricky Reese, the Board voted to approve the attached list of new employees.

ATTACHED

 

On motion of B.R. Harvey, seconded by Randy Martin, the Board voted to approve budget amendments in relation to personnel changes.

 

Sandra Whitlock, curriculum supervisor, introduced Students of the Year from each elementary, junior high school and high school in the parish. The students were individually recognized and presented an award for the outstanding accomplishment. The parish Students of the Year were announced as follows:  Elementary - Sara Maricle, Pickering Elementary School, Jr. High - Ashley Stovall, Leesville Jr. High School and High School - Amanda Stephens, Anacoco High School. The parish winners qualified to compete at the Regional level later this year.

 

Autumn Costa, a junior at Anacoco High School reported very positive results with the Governor's Program on Abstinence club at the school. The club is enjoying a steady growth in interest and membership.

 

On motion of Ricky Reese, seconded by the Board, the Board adopted the following proclamation:

P R O C L A M A T I O N

 

WHEREAS,          teenagers are led to believe in today's culture that their activities have no consequences; and

WHEREAS,          sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) have reached an epidemic level in America; and

WHEREAS,          teenagers will respond to positive peer pressure as well as negative peer pressure; and

WHEREAS,          public officials must take the lead in promoting healthy lifestyles for teenagers; and

WHEREAS,          abstinence is 100% effective, 100% of the time in preventing out-of-wedlock births and STDs; and

WHEREAS,          abstinence is free and has no harmful side effects; and

WHEREAS,          abstinence can be the start of a new sexual revolution; now

 

BE IT THEREFORE RESOLVED, that I, Cynthia A. Gillespie, superintendent of the Vernon Parish School Board, do hereby proclaim Friday, February 14, 2003 as

 

Abstinence Awareness Day

 

for the public schools of Vernon Parish; and, shall be instituted in an effort to raise awareness of abstinence and the need to restore healthy lifestyles in our parish.

 

On motion of Ricky Reese, seconded by Mark Smith, the Board voted to enter into executive session for a period of no more than fifteen minutes, to discuss a personnel matter. The recorded time was 5:25 p.m.

 

On motion of Mark Smith, seconded by Philip Gunn, the Board voted to come out of executive session and resume order. The time was recorded at 5:34 p.m.

 

On motion of Ricky Reese, seconded by Randy Martin, the Board voted to suspend the employee without pay until an investigation is completed.

Betty Westerchil, chairperson for the Curriculum Committee reported that the Committee had eight agenda items to discuss and had gathered a great amount of information. Brenda Bealer, Director of Head Start presented a 1.5 million dollar budget. The Committee found the budget within the guidelines and in order.

 

On recommendation of the Curriculum Committee and on motion of Betty Westerchil, seconded by B.R. Harvey, the Board voted to approve the 2003-04 Head Start budget.

 

Mrs. Westerchil further offered the following recommendation from the Curriculum Committee regarding summer school: Summer School for 4th, 8th, 10th and 11th grade LEAP21 remediation will be held at Leesville Jr. High School with no charge to the student and transportation will be provided. Regular summer school for grades 5 - 12 remediation will be held at Leesville High School. The cost for regular summer school will be $75.00 for one class or $125.00 for two classes.

 

On motion of Mrs. Westerchil, seconded by Mr. Haymon, the Board voted to approve the Curriculum Committee=s recommendation regarding summer school.

 

On motion of Betty Westerchil, seconded by Philip Gunn, the Board voted to approve a called meeting of the District 1/6 Committee for the purpose of discussing bids for miscellaneous improvement to four Leesville Schools and to further authorize the District 1/6 Committee to authorize the advertisement of these bids. 

 

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 heartfelt condolences to the family of Mr. Sheryl Maddox, who recently passed away; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Maddox was the brother of Mrs. Carolyn Cook, cafeteria manager at Pitkin High School and the brother-in-law of Mrs. Carolyn Maddox, teacher at Pitkin Elementary 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. Cook and Mrs. Maddox and their family at this time of sorrow.

 

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 heartfelt condolences to the family of Mrs. Hazel Farquhar, of DeRidder, who recently passed away; and

WHEREAS, Mrs. Farquhar was the mother-in-law of Mrs. Sharon Farquhar, teacher at Pickering High School, and a lifelong resident of DeRidder. 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. Sharon Farquhar and her family at this time of sorrow.

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 Vernon Parish School Board extends it heartfelt condolences to the family of Mr. Earnest Roshong, of Simpson, who recently passed away; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Roshong was the brother of Mr. Lavaughn Roshong, retired bus driver at Pickering High School and the uncle of Ms. Kandi Roshong, teacher at Pickering Elementary School; now

BE IT THEREFORE RESOLVED, that the Board requests that a copy of this memorial resolution be sent to the entire family at this time of sorrow.

 

On motion of the full 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 Mr. Bill Bailey, longtime resident of Leesville; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Bailey was the father of Mrs. Debbie Smith, teacher at Leesville High School and Mrs. Kathy Rolon, teacher at East Leesville Elementary School and the father-in-law of Mr. Roger Rolon, principal the Leesville Jr. High School; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Bailey was actively involved in school, community and civic organizations. He will be remembered for his many contributions to our community and 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. Marjorie Bailey, Mrs. Smith, Mr. and Mrs. Rolon and the entire family 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 Mrs. Linda Woods Williams, of Leesville, who recently passed away; and

WHEREAS, Mrs. Williams was the mother of Mr. Bobby Woods, president of The Vernon Bank, and the mother-in-law of Mrs. Linda Woods, former secretary at East Leesville Elementary School; now

BE IT THEREFORE RESOLVED, that the Board requests that a copy of this memorial resolution be sent to Bobby and Linda Woods and their family at this time of bereavement.

On motion of B.R. Harvey, seconded by Philip Gunn, 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 voted to adjourn.

 

____________________________________

WILLIS A. FARRIS, BOARD PRESIDENT

 

ATTEST:

__________________________________________

DR. CYNTHIA GILLESPIE, SUPERINTENDENT