December 4, 2003
THE PARISH SCHOOL BOARD OF VERNON PARISH LOUISIANA CONVENED IN REGULAR SESSION, DECEMBER 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
COL. MARK ROCKE
There was also present Dr. Cynthia Gillespie, Secretary of the Board.
The meeting was opened in prayer by B.R. Harvey.
The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Gaye McKee.
On motion of Philip Gunn, seconded by Mark Smith, the Board voted to approve and dispense with the reading of the minutes of November 13, 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 Randy Martin, seconded by Philip Gunn, 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 Mark Smith, seconded by Randy Martin, the Board voted to approve the attached request to extend leave without pay.
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On recommendation of Superintendent Gillespie and on motion of Gaye McKee, seconded by Mel Harris, the Board voted to approve a request to extend a sabbatical leave.
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On recommendation of Superintendent Gillespie and on motion of Gene Haymon, seconded by Gaye McKee, the Board voted to approve a request to rescind a sabbatical leave.
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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 transfer.
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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 new employee.
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On Motion of Ricky Reese, seconded by Betty Westerchil, the Board voted to approve budget amendments related to personnel changes.
Chief of Detectives, Marvin Hilton and Chief Deputy Calvin Turner, representatives of the Vernon Parish Sheriff's Department, addressed the Board concerning placing resource officers in each public school in the parish. The program is pending additional funding through the Sheriff's office and will be administered at no cost to the Board.
A resolution in support of the program was offered by Betty Westerchil and seconded by the Board.
Tom Neubert presented new policy changes to the Board for approval and on motion of Ricky Reese, seconded by Mel Harris, the Board voted to accept the policy changes as presented.
John Farris, secondary curriculum administration, gave an informative and very positive report on school performances scores and labels followed by discussion, questions and comments by the Board.
B.R. Harvey reported there was no action or recommendations for the Board's consideration at the Transportation Committee.
On motion of B.R. Harvey, seconded by Randy Martin, the Board voted to approve a resolution for canvassing returns for the special tax election for Wards 4, 5, 6 and 8.
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 take this means to express their heartfelt condolences to the family of Mrs. Ellon Lowery, of Rosepine, who recently passed away; and
WHEREAS, Mrs. Lowery was the grandmother of Mrs. Tammy Bankson, school health nurse at the central office; and
WHEREAS, Mrs. Lowery was a loving and caring person 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. Bankson 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 wish to express their sincere sympathies to the family of Mr. Hayes Jackson, of Simpson, who recently passed away; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Jackson was the husband of Mrs. Willa Faye Jackson, retired cook at Simpson School; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Jackson was a lifelong resident of this area 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. Jackson and her family at this time of sorrow.
On motion of Willis Farris, seconded by the Board, the Board adopted the following memorial resolution:
WHEREAS, the members of the Vernon Parish School Board wish to express their deepest sympathies to the family of Ms. Juanita Martin, of DeRidder, who recently passed away; and
WHEREAS, Ms. Martin was a former Vernon Parish teacher and she will be remembered and 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 Ms. Martin's family at this time of bereavement.
On motion of B.R. Harvey, 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 Ms. Bonnie Mae Haymon, of Leesville, who recently passed away; and
WHEREAS, Ms. Haymon, a longtime resident of Leesville, was the daughter of Mr. George Bass, retired bus driver at Pitkin School and the sister-in-law of Mrs. Dollie Mayo Wilcox, retired Vernon Parish educator, 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 Ms. Haymon's family at this time of sorrow.
On motion of B.R. Harvey, 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 sincere sympathies to the family of Mr. Narie Haymon, of Pitkin, who recently passed away; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Haymon was a native of Vernon Parish 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 Mr. Haymon's family at this time of bereavement.
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