November 6, 2003

THE PARISH SCHOOL BOARD OF VERNON PARISH LOUISIANA CONVENED IN REGULAR SESSION, NOVEMBER 6, 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

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

ABSENT: JAMES K. ARMES, III, ILLNESS

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

The meeting was opened in prayer by Philip Gunn.

The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Philip Gunn.

On motion of B.R. Harvey, seconded by Mark Smith, the Board voted to approve and dispense with the reading of the minutes of October 7, 2003.

On recommendation of Superintendent Gillespie and on motion of Gaye McKee, seconded by Mel Harris , the Board to approve the attached resignations.

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On recommendation of Superintendent Gillespie and on motion of Mel Harris, seconded by B.R. Harvey, the Board voted to approve the attached sabbatical leave requests.

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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 requests for leave without pay.

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On recommendation of Superintendent Gillespie and on motion of Mark Smith seconded by Randy Martin, the Board voted to approve the attached leave with pay.

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

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

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On motion of Gaye McKee, seconded by Mark Smith, the Board voted to approve budget amendments as related to personnel changes.

Ms. Monique Smith, American Heart Association Project Director, gave an overview of a project designed to deploy Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) to not-for-profit organizations where large numbers of people congregate. The project is funded by the Rapides Foundation and the cost of the AED ranges, on average, $1,900.00 - $2,500.00 each.

The receiving organization pays a co-payment in the amount of $250.00 per AED. Mr. Doug Stannard was present, also, to help answer questions and provide information to the Board.

On recommendation of Superintendent Gillespie and on motion of Mel Harris, seconded by the Board, the Board will proceed with the program and pay $250.00 per school co-payment. Superintendent Gillespie, Mr. Jackie Self, Mr. Jimmy Funderburk and Mr. Tom Neubert will tour the schools for evaluation of the location the AEDs will be placed in each school.

Mrs. Westerchil gave an update on the Ward I construction projects. Many of the projects are nearing completion and will soon be ready of use by the schools.

Mr. Haymon reported that Don Gallemore, technology administrator, had met with the Technology Committee and discussed the technology program and gave an in-depth explanation of the process of keeping the school's computers updated. The meeting also accounted for one hour of the six-hour training requirement for new board members.

Mr. Haymon also suggested looking toward hiring an additional technician for the Technology Department in the near future.

On motion of Philip Gunn, 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 its heartfelt sympathies to the family of Mr. Cedric Johnson, native of Leesville, who recently passed away and;

WHEREAS, Mr. Johnson was the son of Mr. Hirl Haynes, Jr., retired Vernon Parish educator and administrator, and the brother of Mrs. Rosland Williams, paraprofessional at West Leesville Preschool, and

WHEREAS, Mr. Johnson was a graduate of Leesville High School where he excelled in basketball and other sports. He will be sadly missed by his family, friends, and former classmates and teams; now

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

On motion of Philip Gunn, 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 were saddened by the recent death of Mr. Carey Jarrett, bus driver, at West Leesville Elementary School; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Jarrett was a loyal and dedicated employee and he will be sadly missed by his family, his family, his friends and the students and families he served; now

BE IT THEREFORE RESOLVED, that the Board request that a copy of this memorial resolution be sent, along with its sincere condolences to Mr. Jarrett's wife, Mrs. Leola Jarrett, and her family.

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 takes this means to express its sincere condolences to the family of Mrs. Versie Duffel McKee, who recently passed away; and

WHEREAS, Mrs. McKee was a lifelong resident of the Pitkin area and the mother of Mr. James McKee, employee at the Vernon Parish School Board Maintenance Department. 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. McKee and his entire 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 members of the Vernon Parish School Board wish to express their sincere sympathies to the family of Mr. Waymon Robinson, Sr., of LaCamp, who recently passed away; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Robinson was a lifelong resident of the LaCamp area and the brother-in-law of Mrs. Patricia Robinson, aide at Pitkin School. 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 Mrs. Robinson and the entire family at this time of sorrow.

On motion of Betty Westerchil, 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 record with grief and sadness, the recent death of Miss Jeanette Moses, retired Vernon Parish curriculum supervisor; and

WHEREAS, Miss Moses devoted 40 years of dedicated service to the students and families of Vernon Parish as a teacher and supervisor and was a true credit to the education profession; and

WHEREAS, Miss Moses was the aunt of Mrs. Debbie Woods, homebound special education teacher at West Leesville Preschool, and she will be sadly missed by her family, her many friends and her former students; now

BE IT THEREFORE RESOLVED, that this Board requests that a copy of this memorial resolution be sent, along with its heartfelt condolences, to Ms. Woods and her family at this time of sorrow.

On motion of Betty Westerchil, 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 was saddened by the recent death of Mrs. Marie Durr Williams, wife of Mr. L.C. Williams, retired teacher at Anacoco High School, and mother of Mr. Terry Williams, former teacher at Leesville Jr. High School; and

WHEREAS, Mrs. Williams, retired Vernon Parish Home Economist, served young people and adults of the parish for many years through her work with 4-H and other activities of the LSU Cooperative Extension Service; and

WHEREAS, Mrs. Williams was well-known throughout the parish for her involvement with many church and community organizations and activities 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, along with its heartfelt condolences, to Mr. L.C. Williams and Mr. Terry Williams and their family at this time of bereavement.

On motion of Betty Westerchil, 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 its condolences to Mrs. Pam Robertson, secretary at Leesville Jr. High School, in the recent death of her father, Mr. Johnny Ray James; and

WHEREAS, Mr. James was a lifelong resident of Leesville and he will be sadly missed by his family and his many friends; now

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

On motion of Ricky Reese, 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 it=s heartfelt sympathies to the family of Mrs. Helen Thornton, of Hornbeck, who recently passed away; and

WHEREAS, Mrs. Thornton was a longtime resident of Hornbeck and the mother-in-law of Mrs. Elena Thornton, cafeteria manager at Hornbeck High School, and the grandmother of Mrs. Tami Griffin, former teacher at Anacoco Elementary School, Mr. Tully Thornton and Mr. Todd Thornton, teachers at Hornbeck High School; now

BE IT THEREFORE RESOLVED, that the Board requests a copy of this memorial resolution be sent to Kenneth and Elena Thornton and Tami Griffin and their family at this time of bereavement.

On motion of Ricky Reese, 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 wish to express their sincere condolences to the family of Mr. Bill Prewitt, of Hornbeck, who recently passed away; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Prewitt, a lifelong resident of Hornbeck and a former custodian at Hornbeck High School, was the father of Mr. Ben Prewitt, former Hornbeck School bus driver. 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 the family at this time of sorrow.

On motion of Ricky Reese, 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 its heartfelt condolences to Mrs. Michele Goins, teacher at Anacoco Elementary School, in the recent death of her mother, Mrs. Sandy Jeane; and

WHEREAS, Mrs. Jeane, a lifelong resident of Vernon Parish, was also the mother-in-law of Mrs. Wynonna Jeane, teacher 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. Michele Goins and Mrs. Wynonna Jeane and their family at this time of sorrow.