February 10, 2004
THE PARISH SCHOOL BOARD OF VERNON PARISH LOUISIANA CONVENED IN REGULAR SESSION, FEBRUARY 10, 2004, AT, 5:00 P.M., AT 201 BELVIEW ROAD, LEESVILLE, LA. PRESIDENT GUNN CALLED THE MEETING TO ORDER AND ON ROLL CALL THE FOLLOWING MEMBERS WERE PRESENT:
PHILIP L. GUNN, PRESIDENT
M. GENE HAYMON, VICE PRESIDENT
JAMES K. ARMES, III
MEL HARRIS
ROBERT PYNES, JR.
MARK H. SMITH
BETTY WESTERCHIL
RICKY REESE
WILLIS A. FARRIS
W.R. "RANDY" MARTIN
B.R. HARVEY
GAYE McKEE
COL. MARK ROCKE
There was also present Dr. Cynthia Gillespie, Secretary of the Board.
The meeting was opened in prayer by Robert Pynes.
The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Ricky Reese.
On motion of Mark Smith, seconded by Mel Harris, the Board voted to approve and dispense with the reading of the minutes of February 5, 2004.
On recommendation of Superintendent Gillespie and on motion of Gaye McKee, seconded by B.R. Harvey, the Board to approve the attached resignation.
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On recommendation of Superintendent Gillespie and on motion of Willis Farris, seconded by Randy Martin, 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 Gaye McKee, 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 of Gene Haymon, seconded by Gaye McKee, the Board voted to approve the attached list of new employees.
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On motion of Mel Harris, seconded by Gaye McKee, the Board voted to approve budget amendments related to personnel changes.
Kim Nugent made presentations to Students-of-the-Year from each elementary, Jr. High and high school in the parish. The following parish Students-of-the-Year were Autumn Costa, Anacoco High School, Mariam Molani, Leesville Jr. High School and Misha Molani, Vernon Middle School.
At this time, on motion of Ricky Reese, seconded by Mark Smith, the Board voted to reverse the order of items 9 and 10 on the agenda.
Ricky Reese reported that the Insurance Committee had met with John Norris, Insurance Consultant, to discuss workman's compensation insurance. Mr. Norris recommended that the Board employ a firm to oversee the workman's compensation program and he also recommended that the Board employ a safety person to investigate all of our facilities for safety issues.
On motion of Ricky Reese, seconded by the Board, the Board approved the recommendations of the Insurance Committee.
Paula Schlag, from the Fort Polk Public Affairs Office, presented a Lewis and Clark Discovery Box to Superintendent Gillespie. Schools can borrow the box, filled with authentic materials and replicas of many items that represent some of the events of this very significant era in our history, as they study and commemorate the bicentennial of the Louisiana Purchase.
Mrs. Westerchil reported a very good Curriculum/Technology meeting. Mr. Bruce Frazier, Program Leader for Louisiana Agricultural Education attended the meeting and discussed Agri-science with the Committee. Mrs. Westerchil further reported discussion regarding Renaissance Reading, the Rapides Foundation Systemic Initiative and AP and Honors classes.
On motion of Gene Haymon, seconded by Mel Harris, the Board voted to reject all bids on five used Carpenter buses and re-advertise.
In other business, Superintendent Gillespie explained that efforts are being made to accommodate military dependent students whose parents are returning from Iraq and will be going to visit family in other areas. Some students affected by the parent's return may be absent from school for several days more than allowed by the State's attendance policy. Superintendent Gillespie will work with the principals to excuse the days covered by the block leave and to provide opportunities for missed work to be made up.
These absences may negatively be reflected in the school's accountability reports in the area of attendance. So, Superintendent Gillespie is working closely with military officials and has contacted State Superintendent Cecil Picard with a request for his office to consider options for assisting the students and families of the military community in the situation.
On motion of Betty Westerchil, seconded by the Board, the Board adopted the following resolution:
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, the Vernon Parish School Board takes this means to commend and congratulate all those involved in the 2004 Quiz Bowl; and
WHEREAS, the team members dedicated numerous hours of hard work and sacrificed many hours of their time in preparation for their participation in the parish competition; and
WHEREAS, the untiring efforts, leadership and dedication of all of the school level sponsors encouraged the students to do their best and provided them an opportunity to enrich and enhance their education experience; and
WHEREAS, we wish to express our sincere appreciation to Mr. Rick Barnickel, Mrs. Shirley Smith and Ms. Mae Ann Ledet for serving as moderators for the event; and
WHEREAS, the Board is grateful to Northwestern State University, Leesville/Fort Polk campus, for providing the team of experts who had the difficult task of judging the competition. The team members included Dr. Larry Monk, Executive Director, Dr. Marion Skiles, Joyce Barnes, Juanita Darby, Patricia Martinez, Tommy Tilley, Dr. Paralee Norman, Dr. Glen Cooley, John Byrd, Corinne Pearce, Martha Koury, Lisa Cortez, Dr. Michael Kane and Dr. Leeann Sticker; and
WHEREAS, the Board appreciates Mrs. Pam Andis for her planning and supervision of the program, and for Vernon Parish Technology Department technicians, Mr. Wesley Lack and Mr. Alan Stackhouse, for providing technical assistance and keeping the scores; now
BE IT THEREFORE RESOLVED, that the Board congratulates and commends the students, parents, sponsors, supervisor, judges, and technicians for the presentation of the Vernon Parish 2004 Quizbowl.
On motion of mark Smith, seconded by Betty Westerchil, the Board voted to authorize the president and secretary to pay the claims.
There being no further business, on motion of Gaye McKee, seconded by the Board, the meeting adjourned.
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PHILIP L. GUNN, BOARD PRESIDENT
ATTEST:
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DR. CYNTHIA GILLESPIE, SUPERINTENDENT