MARCH 18, 2003
THE PARISH SCHOOL BOARD OF VERNON PARISH LOUISIANA CONVENED IN REGULAR SESSION, MARCH 18, 2003, AT, 5:00 P.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
GAYE McKEE
M. GENE HAYMON
ABSENT: B.R. HARVEY, ILLNESS
COL. MARK ROCKE, ON LEAVE
There was also present Dr. Cynthia Gillespie, Secretary of the Board.
The meeting was opened in prayer by Robert Pynes, Jr.
The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Ricky Reese.
On motion of Gaye McKee, seconded by Randy Martin, the Board voted to approve and dispense with the reading of the minutes of March 13, 2003.
On recommendation of Superintendent Gillespie and on motion of Mark Smith, seconded by James Armes, the Board to approve the attached resignations.
ATTACHED
On recommendation of Superintendent Gillespie and on motion of James Armes, seconded by Gaye McKee, the Board voted to approve the attached sabbatical leave requests.
ATTACHED
On motion of Ricky Reese, seconded by Mark Smith, the Board voted to approve budget amendments in relation to personnel changes.
Superintendent Gillespie and the Board recognized Ruby Smith, counselor at Pitkin High School for attaining national certification in school counseling and Jennifer Coriell for her national certification in elementary education. Each of the educators received plaque for her outstanding achievement.
Brenda Bealer introduced members of Girl Scout Troop 26 and their leader Ms. Janet Savageau, who had conducted a book drive and donated the books they collected to the Head Start program. Superintendent Gillespie commended the troop and Ms. Savageau and presented each with a Superintendent's Certificate of Appreciation.
On motion of Ricky Reese, seconded by Philip Gunn, the Board voted to enter into executive session for 15 minutes to discuss personnel issues. The time was recorded at 5:12 p.m.
On motion of Betty Westerchil, seconded by Gene Haymon, the Board voted to come out of executive session and resume order at 5:27 p.m.
On motion of Ricky Reese, seconded by Philip Gunn, the Board voted to re-enter into executive session for a period of 30 minutes to continue discussion on personnel issues. The time was recorded at 5:30 p.m.
On motion of Philip Gunn, seconded by Betty Westerchil, the Board to come out of executive session and resume order at 6:55 p.m.
A motion by Ricky Reese to place a bus driver on leave without pay was seconded by Gene Haymon.
The Board then voted to approve the motion to place the bus driver on leave without pay.
On motion of Ricky Reese, seconded by Randy Martin, the Board voted to terminate Kathy McClellan as a Head Start teacher's aide. James Armes voted no.
Move was made by James Armes to amend the motion to place the aide on leave without pay until after her court date. The motion to amend failed for the lack of a second.
Jackie Self presented the proposed 2003-04 school calendar and on motion of Philip Gunn, seconded by Mark Smith, the Board voted to approve the calendar as presented.
ATTACHED
Mr. Self proposed a certification incentive as a possible means to reduce the number of non-certified teachers in the parish. Requirements to receive the certification incentive, in the amount of $2,500.00, are as follows:
1. Be a new hire (not employed as a teacher in Vernon Parish for the last five years) and be eligible to be certified (Louisiana A, B, C, Level 1, 2, 3, OP, TEP, Practitioner License) to teach in your area of employment.
2. Be able to add on to your existing Louisiana certificate the certification for the area in which you are teaching on October 1, 2003. This add-on-certification must be accomplished prior to October 1, 2003.
3. Obtain certification in the area in which you are teaching on October, 2003.
This must be accomplished prior to October 1, 2003.
On recommendation of the Curriculum Committee and on motion of Betty Westerchil, seconded by James Armes, the Board voted to adopt the incentive program.
On motion of Randy Martin, seconded by James Armes, the Board approved increasing the size of Debra White's from 65 to 71 passengers.
On recommendation of the Transportation Committee and on motion of Betty Westerchil, seconded by Philip Gunn, the Board voted to approve the following policy regarding children left on school buses. James Armes voted no. The policy will become effective on April 28, 2003.
"In accordance with the commercial driver's license program requirements and Bulletin 1475 post-trip inspections are required by school bus drivers; therefore
Any driver who fails to adequately perform a post-trip inspection that results in a child being left on the bus when the driver vacates the bus at the end of each individual trip (route, run, event, etc.) will be terminated".
On recommendation of the Transportation Committee and on motion of Betty Westerchil, seconded by Gene Haymon, the Board voted to amend the fuel adjustment policy for bus drivers, which was approved on April 4, 2002, to include using the cost of diesel fuel to determine an average monthly price of fuel for bus drivers who own diesel buses. Bus drivers will now receive fuel adjustment checks three times a year instead of once a semester.
John Farris presented the following proposal which would amend current Board policy and allow seniors to participate in graduation ceremonies in the event the student has not passed all of the GEE 21 but has met all other requirements for graduation.
Seniors graduating in the 2002-03 school year who have not passed Language Arts and Math components of the GEE 21, will be permitted to participate in graduation activities if they and their parent/guardian sign a commitment to attend summer school and retake the test in the summer of 2003.
Beginning with the 2003-2004 school year, in order to participate in graduation activies a student must complete 23 carnegie units of credit as prescribed by the State, meet attendance requirements and do one of the following:
1. Pass all required components of the GEE 21, or
2. Attend all applicable GEE 21 Remedial Summer School opportunities, take all applicable retests, and take all required
applicable remedial classes. A student will be required to attend summer school after his/her sophomore year if he/she has not passed the English Language Arts and Math components of the GEE 21. A student will be required to attend GEE 21 Remedial Summer School after his/her junior year if he/she has not passed the English Language Arts, Math and Science or Social Studies components of the GEE 21. An agreement to these conditions/requirements will require the signatures of a parent and the student. Summer School is provided at no cost to the student.
If a student elects not to attend all GEE remedial summer school opportunities, take all summer retests, and attend all necessary remedial school year classes he/she will only be allowed to participate in graduation activities if the student has passed all required components of the GEE 21.
On recommendation of the Curriculum Committee and on Motion of Betty Westerchil, seconded by Mel Harris, the Board voted to approve the graduation policy.
Tom Neubert showed a video of the Ward I construction projects and gave the Board an update on progress being made.
On motion of Mark Smith, seconded by Mel Harris, 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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WILLIS A. FARRIS, BOARD PRESIDENT
ATTEST:
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DR. CYNTHIA GILLESPIE, SUPERINTENDENT