December 9, 2003
THE PARISH SCHOOL BOARD OF VERNON PARISH LOUISIANA CONVENED IN REGULAR SESSION, DECEMBER 9, 2003, 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
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 Gaye McKee.
The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Gene Haymon.
On motion of Mark Smith, seconded by Ricky Reese, the Board voted to approve and dispense with the reading of the minutes of December 4, 2003.
On recommendation of Superintendent Gillespie and on motion of Randy Martin, seconded by Mel Harris, the Board voted to approve the attached sabbatical leave request.
ATTACHED
On recommendation of Superintendent Gillespie and on motion of Gaye McKee, seconded by Gene Haymon, the Board voted to approve the attached request to rescind a leave without pay.
ATTACHED
On motion of Mark Smith, seconded by B.R. Harvey, the Board voted to approve budget amendments related to personnel changes.
Mr. Ron DeGray and Ms. Ida Darby introduced the following GATES graduates and Superintendent Gillespie and the Board recognized them for their accomplishments: Tim Nelson, Certificate of Mastery for the Job Skills Program; Kristina Lynch, GED and Certificate of Mastery for the Job Skills Program, Joshua Simms, GED; and Charles Andy Hooper, GED. Also mentioned but not in attendance were, Thomas Dillon Avery, GED and Certificate of Mastery for the Job Skills Program and Jakovon Perkins, Mastery of Job Skills Program Certificate.
On motion of Ricky Reese, seconded by Gaye McKee, the Board voted to approve the following board meeting dates for 2004:
JANUARY 8 10:00 A.M.
JANUARY 13 5:00 P.M.
FEBRUARY 5 10:00 A.M.
FEBRUARY 10 5:00 P.M.
MARCH 11 10:00 A.M.
MARCH 16 5:00 P.M.
APRIL 1 10:00 A.M.
APRIL 6 5:00 P.M.
MAY 6 10:00 A.M.
MAY 11 5:00 P.M.
JUNE 3 10:00 A.M.
JUNE 8 5:00 P.M.
JULY 1 10:00 A.M.
JULY 6 5:00 P.M.
AUGUST 5 10:00 A.M.
AUGUST 10 5:00 P.M.
SEPTEMBER 2 10:00 A.M.
SEPTEMBER 7 5:00 P.M.
OCTOBER 7 10:00 A.M.
OCTOBER 12 5:00 P.M.
NOVEMBER 4 10:00 A.M.
NOVEMBER 9 5:00 P.M.
DECEMBER 2 10:00 A.M.
DECEMBER 7 5:00 P.M.
On motion of Randy Martin, seconded by Betty Westerchil, the Board voted to elect Philip Gunn to serve as board president for 2004.
On motion of B.R. Harvey, seconded by Gaye McKee, the Board voted to name Gene Haymon as vice-president of the Board for 2004.
Superintendent Gillespie recognized Willis Farris, out-going 2003 board president, and presented to him a plaque bearing the gavel he used while serving as board president.
Mr. Farris expressed his appreciation and thanks to the Board for their cooperative spirit throughout 2003.
On motion of Betty Westerchil, seconded by the Board, the Board adopted the following resolution of commendation and appreciation to principals, teachers and other school personnel for the outstanding test scores recently received.
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, the Vernon Parish School Board is pleased that the test scores of our students continue to improve and that our parish's scores remain considerably above the state average; and
WHEREAS, Mr. John Farris and Mrs. Anne Smith and the central office supervisory staff dedicate many hours to developing an instructional program that is aligned with our required tests, and to supplying materials and resources to assist teachers with meeting the needs of individual students, and to training personnel in testing procedures; and
WHEREAS, our teachers incorporate the information and materials made available to them into their lesson plans and utilize every opportunity afforded them to prepare their students for testing; and
WHEREAS, our students continue to excel and work hard to reach expectations set for them; now
BE IT THEREFORE RESOLVED, that the Board adopts this resolution to commend the teamwork of the administration, teachers, support personnel, parents and students in accomplishing these results.
On motion of Gene Haymon, 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 sincere condolences to the family of Mr. Roger Dale Parker, of Simpson, who recently passed away; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Parker was the father of Mrs. Kim Holton, teacher at Anacoco Elementary School and Mrs. Melody Woodham, teacher at Simpson Elementary School; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Parker was a well-known and respected resident and businessman of the Simpson/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 Mrs. Parker, Mrs. Holton, Mrs. Woodham and their family at this time of sorrow.
On motion of Gene Haymon, 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 the family of Mrs. Frankie Hughes, who recently passed away; and
WHEREAS, Mrs. Hughes was the mother of Mrs. Dot Dousay, assistant cafeteria manager at Hicks High 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. Dousay and her family at this time of sorrow.
On motion of Randy Martin, 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 Mrs. Esther Stephens, former cafeteria employee at Pickering High School, who recently passed away; and
WHEREAS, Mrs. Stephens was the mother-in-law of Mrs. Jeanine Stephens, secretary at the central office; and
WHEREAS, Mrs. Stephens was a longtime resident to the Pickering 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 Donnie and Jeanine Stephens and their family at this time of sorrow.
On motion of Randy Martin, 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 sincere condolences to the family of Mr. Robert Dye, Sr., of Red Level, Alabama, who recently passed away; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Dye was a former teacher and coach at Rosepine High School; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Dye was the husband of, Mrs. Sharon Dye, a former bus driver at West Leesville Elementary School and the brother of Mr. Tim Dye, former teacher at Pickering Elementary School. He will be sadly missed by his family and friends; now
BE IT THEREFORE RESOLVED, that the Board requests that copies of this memorial resolution be sent to Mr. Dye's family at this time of sorrow.
On motion of Ricky Reese, seconded by Mark Smith, the Board voted to authorize the president and secretary to pay claims.
There being no further business, on motion of Gaye McKee, seconded by the Board the meeting was voted to adjourn.
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WILLIS A. FARRIS, BOARD PRESIDENT
ATTEST:
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DR. CYNTHIA GILLESPIE, SUPERINTENDENT