September 4, 2003
THE PARISH SCHOOL BOARD OF VERNON PARISH LOUISIANA CONVENED IN REGULAR SESSION, SEPTEMBER 4, 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, TDY
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 B.R., seconded by Mark Smith, the Board voted to approve and dispense with the reading of the minutes of August 12, 2003.
On recommendation of Superintendent Gillespie and on motion of B.R. Harvey, seconded by Gaye McKee, the Board to approve the attached resignations.
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On recommendation of Superintendent Gillespie and on motion of Mark Smith, seconded by Betty Westerchil, the Board voted to approve the attached request for a leave without pay.
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On recommendation of Superintendent Gillespie and on motion of Gene Haymon, seconded by Gaye McKee, the Board voted to approve the attached employee transfers.
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On recommendation of Superintendent Gillespie and on motion of Gaye McKee, seconded by Randy Martin, the Board voted to approve the attached list of new employees.
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On motion of Randy Martin, seconded by Gaye McKee, the Board voted to approve budget amendments related to personnel changes
Vernon Parish Tax Assessor, Eugene Cavanaugh, discussed briefly millages in Vernon Parish and the role his office plays in the process. He also announced that after more than thirty years of serving as Vernon Parish Tax Assessor, he is retiring.
Ray Fugatt, architect for the Ward I projects, gave a progress update and answered questions and concerns of the Board. He requested a change order for East Leesville Elementary's covered walk and one for theVernon Middle School project.
On motion of Betty Westerchil, seconded by Philip Gunn, the Board voted to approve the change order requests.
Tom Neubert presented copies of the latest Legislative Policy changes (attached) for the Board's approval. Following some discussion, on recommendation of Superintendent Gillespie and on motion of James Armes, seconded by Mel Harris, the Board voted to adopt the policy changes as presented. Enforcement issues will be discussed at a later date.
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Mr. Harvey reported that the Salary Committee had met at 8:30 a.m. prior to the board meeting to discuss the attached proposed salary supplement for "highly qualified" classroom paraprofessionals. A large portion of the funding for the salary supplement will provided by Special Education and Title I funds.
On recommendation of the Salary Committee and on motion of B.R. Harvey, seconded by Philip Gunn, the Board voted to adopt the salary adjustment for "highly qualified" paraprofessionals.
The Salary Committee also heard a salary proposal offered by Dottie Neugebauer, Director of Special Education, for the Staff Development Specialist and the Special Education Program Development Specialist. The two individuals are current employees who have been placed in the new positions and will become twelve month employees.
Funding for the pay increase for the two positions will be provided through special education.
On recommendation of the Salary Committee and on motion of Mr. Harvey, seconded by Randy Martin, the Board voted to approve the salary proposal as presented by Mrs. Neugebauer.
Mark Smith reported that the Finance Committee had met to receive the consolidated budget from Bill Endris, Director of Finance. On recommendation of the Finance Committee and on motion of Mr. Smith, seconded by B.R. Harvey, the Board voted to accept the 2003-04 budget as presented.
In his report from the Student Uniform Committee, Philip Gunn stated that requests for an additional pants color were addressed and that the Committee felt that adding additional colors was not in keeping with the uniform concept.
On motion of Mark Smith, seconded by James Armes, the Board voted to advertise for bids to purchase a new activity bus for Leesville High School.
On motion of Philip Gunn, seconded by Betty Westerchil, the Board voted to advertise for bids to sell a used bus at Leesville High School.
In other business, on motion of Betty Westerchil, seconded by the Board, the Board adopted the following resolution of support for Senator Mary Landrieu:
WHEREAS, Senator Mary Landrieu has been supportive of the needs of the students of Vernon parish; and
WHEREAS, Senator Landrieu has responded to every request made by this board; and
WHEREAS, Senator Landrieu has supported the significant advances in the Louisiana Accountability Program: and
WHEREAS, the Vernon Parish School Board opposes voucher programs in any fashion; now
BE IT THEREFORE RESOLVED, that the Vernon Parish School Board applauds Senator Landrieu for her stand opposing voucher for students in Washington, D.C.
On motion of Ricky Reese, seconded by the Board, the Board adopted the following memorial resolution:
WHEREAS, the Vernon Parish School Board wishes to express its sincere condolences to the family of Mr. William "Bill" Summitt, of Anacoco, who recently passed away; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Summitt will be remembered for his community involvement and his personal achievements 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. Betty Summitt and her family at this time of sorrow.
On motion of Gene Haymon, seconded by the Board, the Board adopted the following memorial resolution:
WHEREAS, the members of the Vernon Parish School Board take this means to express their heartfelt sympathies to Mrs. Donna Kay Brown, aide at Hicks High School, in the recent losses of her family members; and
WHEREAS, Mrs. Brown's mother, Mrs. Gayle Bates, formerly of Leesville, passed away, followed by the death of Mrs. Brown's grandmother, Mrs. Eunice Coates, of LaCamp, and most recently, the death of her aunt, Mrs. Eula Brown, also of LaCamp, and they will all be sadly missed by the family and friends; now
BE IT THEREFORE RESOLVED, that the Board requests that a copy of this memorial resolution be sent to Mrs. Brown, along with its sincere condolences to the entire family, at this period of sorrow.
On motion of Gene Haymon, seconded by the Board, the Board adopted the following memorial resolution:
WHEREAS, the members of the Vernon Parish School Board take this means to express their heartfelt condolences to the family of Mr. James C. "Jimmy" Paris, of Leesville; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Paris was the brother of Mr. Ted Paris, retired Vernon Parish School administrator and former board member, and the brother-in-law of Mrs. Sherry Paris, retired Vernon Parish Board supervisor; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Paris was a native and lifelong resident of the Leesville area and he will be sadly missed by his family and friends; now
BE IT THEREFORE RESOLVED, that the Board requests a copy of this memorial resolution be sent to Ted and Sherry Paris and their family at this time of sorrow.
On motion of Gaye McKee, seconded by the Board, the Board adopted the following memorial resolution:
WHEREAS, the members of the Vernon Parish School Board wish to express their sincere sympathies to the family of Mr. Arnold Loftin, of Rosepine, who recently passed away; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Loftin was the father of Mr. Gary Loftin, retired custodian at Rosepine Elementary School and the grandfather of Mrs. Sheila Rogers, teacher at Rosepine Elementary School; now
BE IT THEREFORE RESOLVED, that the Board requests a copy of this memorial resolution be sent to Mr. Gary Loftin and Mrs. Sheila Rogers and their family at this time of sorrow.
On motion of Gaye McKee, seconded by the Board, the Board adopted the following memorial resolution:
WHEREAS, the members of the Vernon Parish School Board wish to express their condolences to the family of Mrs. Dessie Young, of DeRidder, who recently passed away; and
WHEREAS, Mrs. Young was the mother of Mrs. Donita McMahon, aide at Rosepine Elementary School, 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. McMahon and her family at this time of sorrow.
On motion of Betty Westerchil, seconded by the Board, the Board adopted the following memorial resolution:
WHEREAS, the Vernon Parish School Board was saddened by the recent death of Mrs. Nina Clifton, of Leesville, retired teacher, and the mother of Mrs. Barbara Cox, retired Vernon Parish teacher; and
WHEREAS, Mrs. Clifton, a native and lifelong resident of Leesville, retired after thirty-three years of service dedicated to teaching and guiding fourth grade students in our schools; now
BE IT THEREFORE RESOLVED, that the Board requests that a copy of this memorial resolution be sent Mrs. Cox and her family at this time of bereavement.
On motion of Betty Westerchil, seconded by the Board, the Board adopted the following memorial resolution:
WHEREAS, the Vernon Parish School Board wishes to express its heartfelt condolences to the family of Mrs. Elmena David, of Pineville, who recently passed away; and
WHEREAS, Mrs. David was the mother of Mrs. Anne Smith, Director of Elementary Curriculum at the central office, and the mother-in-law of Mr. Mark Smith, District I board member; and
WHEREAS, Mrs. David was a longtime resident of the Pineville area 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 Mr. and Mrs. Smith and their family.
On motion of Philip Gunn, seconded by the Board, the Board adopted the following memorial resolution:
WHEREAS, the members of the Vernon Parish School Board take this means to express their heartfelt sympathies to the family of Mr. Marv Lamond Wilson, of Leesville, who recently passed away; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Wilson was a graduate of Leesville High School and the brother of Mr. Ervin Wilson, bus driver at West Leesville Elementary School, along with several other relatives who work in our school system; now
BE IT THEREFORE RESOLVED, that the Board requests a copy of this memorial resolution be sent to Mr. Ervin Wilson and the entire family at this time of bereavement.
On motion of Robert Pynes, seconded by the Board, the Board adopted the following memorial resolution:
WHEREAS, the members of the Vernon Parish School Board wish to express their sincere condolences to the family of Mr. Peter J. "Pete" Sliman, Jr., of Leesville, who recently passed away; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Sliman was the father of Mr. Peter Sliman, III, bus driver at West Leesville Elementary School, and the father-in-law of Mrs. Kathleen Sliman, librarian at Leesville Jr. High School; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Sliman was a well-known businessman and was very actively involved in many civic and community organizations and he will be remembered and missed by many; now
BE IT THEREFORE RESOLVED, that this Board request a copy of this memorial resolution be sent to Peter and Kathleen Sliman and their family at this time of bereavement.
On motion of Mark Smith, seconded by the Board, the Board adopted the following memorial resolution:
WHEREAS, the members of the Vernon Parish School Board wish to express their heartfelt condolences to the family of Mr. Sam Ruby, of Arkansas, who recently passed away; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Ruby was the father-in-law of Mr. James Armes, District I board member and he will be sadly missed by his family and friends; now
BE IT THEREFORE RESOLVED, that the Board does hereby adopt this memorial resolution and requests that a copy be sent to James and Carolyn Armes and their 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