April 8, 2003

THE PARISH SCHOOL BOARD OF VERNON PARISH LOUISIANA CONVENED IN REGULAR SESSION, APRIL 8, 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

COL. MARK ROCKE

ABSENT:               B.R. HARVEY, ILLNESS

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

The meeting was opened in prayer by Mark Smith.

The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Betty Westerchil.

On motion of Gaye McKee, seconded by Randy Martin, the Board voted to approve and dispense with the reading of the minutes of April 3, 2003.

On recommendation of Superintendent Gillespie and on motion of Randy Martin, seconded by James Armes, the Board to approve the attached resignation.

ATTACHED

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

ATTACHED

On motion of Gaye McKee, seconded by Betty Westerchil, the Board voted to approve employees for the 2003-04 school year.

On motion of Mel Harris, seconded by James Armes, the Board voted to approve budget amendments in relation to personnel changes.

On motion of Gene Haymon, seconded by Gaye McKee, the Board voted to approve the attached resolution for special counsel.

ATTACHED

On motion of James Armes, seconded by Betty Westerchil, the Board voted to award the low bid of Priola Construction, LA License #16174, in the amount of $3,290,000.00, for miscellaneous improvements to four Leesville schools.

On motion of Betty Westerchil, seconded by Philip Gunn, the Board voted to advertise for bids for paper towels at the parish schools for 2003-04.

Mel Harris, acting chairperson for the Transportation Committee, gave a report from the Committee's meeting which was held at 3:30 p.m. preceding the board meeting. The Committee met to discuss requests that modifications be made to the policy regarding post-trip inspections for bus drivers that was approved by the Board on Thursday, April 3, 2003.

On recommendation of the Transportation Committee and on motion of Mel Harris, seconded by Betty Westerchil, the Board voted to postpone the April 28, 2003 effective date for implementation of the new post-trip inspection policy for further study by the administration. The administration will give a report of its findings to the Transportation Committee on May 1^st.

Mark Smith, Insurance Committee chairperson, reported that Bill Endris, Director of Finance, led a discussion of the cafeteria plan under which employees are given an opportunity to place their payroll deductible insurance policies and eliminate income tax on the amount of their monthly premium withholdings.

Mr. Smith further reported that no action was taken by the Insurance Committee at this time.

On motion of Ricky Reese, 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 sympathies to the family of Mrs. Hazel McInnis, of Anacoco, who recently passed away; and

                                WHEREAS, Mrs. McInnis was the mother of Mrs. Macel Anderson, retired teacher at Simpson School; and

                                WHEREAS, Mrs. McInnis was known in her community and the surrounding area as a quietly supportive pastor's wife and a teacher and leader by example, who had a positive influence on all the lives she touched. She will be sadly missed by her family and her many friends; now

                                BE IT THEREFORE RESOLVED, that the Board requests a copy of this memorial resolution be sent to Mrs. McInnis' son, Mr. Garland McInnis, and her daughters, Mrs. June Antony, Mrs. Macel Anderson, Mrs. Elwyn Martin and their family at this time of sorrow.

On behalf of B.R. Harvey, a move by Betty Westerchil was seconded by the Board to adopt 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 deepest sympathies to the family of Mrs. Lucy Maddox, of Pitkin, who recently passed away; and

                                WHEREAS, Mrs. Maddox was the mother of Mrs. Carolyn Cook, cafeteria manager at Pitkin High School, and the mother-in-law of Mrs. Carolyn Maddox, teacher at Pitkin and she will be sadly missed by her family and friends; now

                                BE IT THEREFORE RESOLVED, that the Board requests a copy of this memorial resolution be sent to Mrs. Maddox and Mrs. Cook 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 takes this means to express their heartfelt condolences to the family of Mrs. Margaruite Smith, of Rosepine, who recently passed away; and

                                WHEREAS, Mrs. Smith devoted 23 years of loyal and dedicated service to teaching students in the Vernon Parish School System 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 to Mrs. Smith's brother, Mr. James Walter Williams, and his family at this time of bereavement.

On motion of James Armes, seconded by Mark Smith, 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