January 8, 2004
THE PARISH SCHOOL BOARD OF VERNON PARISH LOUISIANA CONVENED IN REGULAR SESSION, JANUARY 8, 2004, AT, 10:00 A.M., AT 201 BELVIEW ROAD, LEESVILLE, LA. PRESIDENT GUNN 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
There was also present Dr. Cynthia Gillespie, Secretary of the Board.
The meeting was opened in prayer by Gene Haymon.
The Pledge of Allegiance was led by James Armes.
On motion of B.R. Harvey, seconded by Willis Farris, the Board voted to approve and dispense with the reading of the minutes of December 9, 2003.
On recommendation of Superintendent Gillespie and on motion of Randy Martin, seconded by Willis Farris, the Board to approve the attached resignations.
ATTACHED
On motion of Ricky Reese, seconded by Randy Martin, the Board voted to table the request for leave without pay for Mrs. Shirley Parrott, assistant cafeteria manager at Hornbeck High School, until Tuesday, January 13, 2004 at which time a decision will be made.
On motion of Willis Farris, seconded by Gaye McKee, the Board voted to approve the request for leave without pay for Mrs. Marlanea Cooley, teacher at Rosepine Elementary School, for medical reasons.
On recommendation of Superintendent Gillespie and on motion of Mark Smith, seconded by Betty Westerchil, the Board voted to approve the attached employee transfers.
ATTACHED
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.
ATTACHED
On motion of Willis Farris, seconded by Mark Smith, the Board voted to approve budget amendments related to personnel changes.
Mr. Philip Gunn, American Legion Post 510, Mr. Patrick and Mr. Johnny Keel, Retired American Legion Post 387, presented the Citizen of the Year 2003 award to Mrs. Sandra Whitlock for her assistance with the American Legion Oratorical Contest along with an American Flag for her role in Americanism.
Mrs. Westerchil introduced Dr. Mrs. Betty Webb, representative of the Rapides Foundation, who addressed the Board regarding the Foundation=s grant program. Dr. Webb, the Rapides Foundation Technical Assistant to Vernon the Parish School System, assists with the implementation of grants awarded to our schools. Vernon Parish schools have greatly benefited from the Rapides Foundation grant money they have received.
On motion of Betty Westerchil, seconded by the Board, the Board voted to approve a resolution for Rapides Foundation Systemic initiative.
On motion of B.R. Harvey, seconded by Randy Martin, the Board voted to authorize Superintendent Gillespie to request and sign all Federal Funding, P.L. 81-874 for the Vernon Parish School Board.
On motion of James Armes, seconded by Robert Pynes, Jr., the Board voted to advertise for bids to sell used Carpenter buses.
On recommendation of Superintendent Gillespie and on motion of Ricky Reese, seconded by Betty Westerchil, the Board voted to change the July board meeting dates from July 1st and 6th to the 8th and 13th.
On motion of Gene Haymon, seconded by Ricky Reese, the Board voted to approve board committees for 2004.
On motion of B.R. Harvey, seconded by Gaye McKee, the Board voted to name the Leesville Daily Leader as the official journal of Vernon Parish School System for 2004.
In other business, James Armes announced a scheduled meeting of the Transportation on Tuesday, January 13th at 3:00 p.m.
Also in other business, Mrs. Westerchil announced that a Curriculum Committee meeting will be scheduled for February.
On motion of Ricky Reese, 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. Francis Hughes, of Leesville, who recently passed away; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Hughes was the father-in-law of Mrs. Stacey Hughes, teacher at Hornbeck High School. He was a longtime resident of Leesville 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. Hughes and her family at this time of bereavement.
On motion of Ricky Reese, 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 Mrs. Irene Cabra of Hornbeck, who recently passed away; and
WHEREAS, Mrs. Cabra was the mother of Mrs. Barbara Evans, retired bus driver at Hornbeck High School and the grandmother of Mrs. Jenny Browning, teacher at Hornbeck Elementary School.
WHEREAS, Mrs. Cabra was a longtime resident of the Hornbeck 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 Mrs. Evans and Mrs. Browning and their family at this time of sorrow.
On motion Ricky Reese, seconded by the Board, the Board adopted the following memorial resolution:
WHEREAS, the Vernon Parish School Board was deeply saddened by the recent death of Mrs. Pam Carver, teacher at Hornbeck High School, and the wife of Mr. William Carver, principal at Evans High School, and the sister of Mrs. Mona Sandel, former counselor, at North Polk Elementary School; and
WHEREAS, Mrs. Carver was a beloved and highly respected teacher and, because of her dedication and devotion to the teaching profession, was a true credit to the educational community. Her positive attitude and deep faith were a great source of inspiration to all whose lives she touched and she will be sadly missed by her family, her friends and the faculty, staff and students at Hornbeck High School; now
BE IT THEREFORE RESOLVED, that the Board requests that a copy of this memorial resolution be sent, along with its heartfelt condolences, to Mr. Carver and his daughter, Amanda, and Mrs. Sandel 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 take this means to express its sincere sympathies to the family of Mrs. Becky Sue McElmerry of Ponca City, Oklahoma, who recently passed away; and
WHEREAS, Mrs. McElmerry was the mother of Mrs. Sherrie Balthrop, teacher at East Leesville Elementary School, and the mother-in-law of Mr. Charlie Balthrop, principal at South Polk 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 Mr. and Mrs. Balthrop and their 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 wishes to convey its heartfelt sympathies to the family of Mr. Mike Poe, of Leesville, who recently passed away; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Poe was the father-in-law of Mrs. Loretta Poe, Food Service assistant at the central office, and Mrs. Jeanne Poe, retired food service employee at East Leesville Elementary School, the grandfather of Mrs. Nona Jeane, teacher at Rosepine Elementary School, and the grandfather-in-law of Mrs. Kim Poe, Head Start teacher at West Leesville Preschool;
WHEREAS, Mr. Poe was a lifelong resident of Leesville/Vernon Parish 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 the 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 wish to convey their sincere condolences to the family of Mr. Gus Perry, of Pineville, who recently away; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Perry was the brother-in-law of Mrs. Lucille Singletary, bus driver, and Mrs. Olean Singletary, former cook, at Pitkin High School, 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 the 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 Vernon Parish School Board wishes to express its sincere condolences to the family of Mrs. Dimple Singletary Perry, of Pineville, who recently passed away; and
WHEREAS, Mrs. Perry was the sister-in-law of Mrs. Lucille Singletary, bus driver, and Mrs. Olene Singletary, former cook, at Pitkin 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 the 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 Vernon Parish School Board wishes to convey its heartfelt condolences to the family of Mrs. Bonnie Bass, of Pitkin, who recently passed away; and
WHEREAS, Mrs. Bass was the mother-in-law of Mrs. Glenda Bass, former bus driver, and the aunt of Mrs. Becky Farmer, bus driver, at Pitkin 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. Bass and Mrs. Farmer and their 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 were saddened by the recent, untimely death of Mr.Robert Doyle, of Oakdale; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Doyle was the son of Mrs. Theda Doyle, cook at Pitkin High School, 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, along with its heartfelt sympathies, to Mrs. Doyle 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:
WHEREAS, the members of the Vernon Parish School Board wish to convey their sincere condolences to the family of Ms. Deanna Polson Dickenson, of Houston, Texas, who recently passed away; and
WHEREAS, Ms. Dickerson was the niece of Ms. Betty Sue Compton, retired teacher, and the cousin of Ms. Pat Roberts, teacher, at Pitkin School. 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. Compton, Ms. Roberts and their entire 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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PHILIP L. GUNN, BOARD PRESIDENT
ATTEST:
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DR. CYNTHIA GILLESPIE, SUPERINTENDENT