July 15, 2003

THE PARISH SCHOOL BOARD OF VERNON PARISH LOUISIANA CONVENED IN REGULAR SESSION, JULY 15, 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

COL. MARK ROCKE

ABSENT:               M. GENE HAYMON, OUT-OF-TOWN

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

The meeting was opened in prayer by Ricky Reese.

The Pledge of Allegiance was led by James Armes.

On motion of B.R. Harvey, seconded by Gaye McKee, the Board voted to approve and dispense with the reading of the minutes of July 10, 2003.

On recommendation of Superintendent Gillespie and on motion of Randy Martin, seconded by Betty Westerchil, the Board to approve the attached resignations.

ATTACHED

On recommendation of Superintendent Gillespie and on motion of Gaye McKee,

 seconded by Mel Harris, the Board voted to approve the attached employee transfers

ATTACHED

On recommendation of Superintendent Gillespie and on motion of , seconded by , the Board voted to approve the attached employee transfers.

ATTACHED

On recommendation of Superintendent Gillespie and on motion of James Armes, seconded by Gaye McKee, the Board voted to approve the attached list of new employees.

ATTACHED

On motion of Mark Smith, seconded by Ricky Reese, the Board voted to approve employees who were not named in April but are now eligible to be named.

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

On recommendation of Tom Neubert and on motion of Philip Gunn, seconded by Mel Harris, the Board voted to approve Cheryl Ann Smyth for the new Licensed Practical Nurse position at the central office.

On motion of James Armes, seconded by Betty Westerchil, the Board voted to approve a change order for the Leesville High School track project.

John Farris introduced some changes in the wording of the 2004 Pupil Progression Plan and requested approval for the changes.

On motion of B.R. Harvey, seconded by Gaye McKee, the Board voted to approved the changes in the Pupil Progression Plan as presented.

Betty Westerchil reported that the Curriculum Committee had met at 4:00 p.m. preceding the Board meeting. Items discussed were LEAP and GEE tests, quality points, summer school, team observations and Focus 4 class. No action was taken.

On motion of Mark Smith, seconded by Philip Gunn, the Board voted to advertise for bids for the sale of miscellaneous used items at Leesville High School.

On motion of Gaye McKee, seconded by B.R. Harvey, the Board voted to advertise for bids to purchase a cargo trailer to be used for the 4-H program.

Col. Mark Rocke updated the Board concerning projects in place on Fort Polk.

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 heartfelt condolences to the family of Mr. A.C. Kennedy, of Pitkin, who recently passed away; and

                                WHEREAS, Mr. Kennedy was the father of Mrs. Angela Dowden, aide at Pitkin School, and he will be sadly missed by his family and friends; now

                                BE IT THEREFORE RESOLVED, that the Board request a copy of this memorial resolution be sent to Mrs. Dowden 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 Vernon Parish School Board wishes to express it sincere condolences to the family of Mr. Van Johnson, of Pitkin, who recently passed away; and

                                WHEREAS, Mr. Johnson was a lifelong resident of Pitkin and the father-in-law of Mrs. Valarie Johnson, former bus driver at Pitkin High School; now

                                BE IT THEREFORE RESOLVED, that the Board request a copy of this memorial resolution be sent to Mrs. Johnson and her family at this time of sorrow.

On motion of Mark Smith, seconded by the Board, the Board adopted the following memorial resolution:

On motion of Mark Smith, 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. Ruby Haymon, of Leesville, who recently passed away; and

                                WHEREAS, Mrs. Haymon, a native and lifelong resident of Leesville, has numerous relatives who have been or who currently are employees of this school system and she will be sadly missed by her family and friends; now

                            BE IT THEREFORE RESOLVED, that the Board request a copy of this memorial resolution be sent, along with its condolences to the entire family, at this time of bereavement.

On motion of Philip Gunn, seconded by Randy Martin, 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