THE PARISH SCHOOL BOARD OF VERNON PARISH LOUISIANA CONVENED IN REGULAR SESSION, MARCH 11, 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:
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
ABSENT: COL. MARK ROCKE. TDY
There was also present Dr. Cynthia Gillespie, Secretary of the Board.
The meeting was opened in prayer by Ricky Reese.
The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Head Start students.
On motion of Gaye McKee, seconded by Mel Harris, the Board voted to approve and dispense with the reading of the minutes of February 10, 2004.
On recommendation of Superintendent Gillespie and on motion of Randy Martin, seconded by Willis Farris, the Board to approve the attached resignations.
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On recommendation of Superintendent Gillespie and on motion of James Armes, seconded by Betty Westerchil, the Board voted to approve the attached employee terminations.
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On recommendation of Superintendent Gillespie and on motion of Gaye McKee, seconded by James Armes, the Board voted to approve the attached sabbatical leave request.
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On recommendation of Superintendent Gillespie and on motion of Mel Harris, seconded by Willis Farris, 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 Randy Martin, seconded by Mark Smith, the Board voted to approve the attached list of new employees.
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On motion of B.R. Harvey, seconded by James Armes, the Board voted to approve budget amendments related to personnel changes.
Superintendent Gillespie introduced Mr. James Eaves, Louisiana School Boards Association board member who serves our district. Mr. Eaves addressed the Board briefly and encouraged the members to call on him for any needed assistance.
Jackie Self presented the attached 2004-05 Vernon Parish School calendar proposal for the Board's review and approval. The Board will vote on the proposed calendar at the Tuesday, March 16th board meeting.
Mr. Self presented the following proposal for certification incentive for the 2004-05 school year:
1. Be a new hire (not employed as a teacher in Vernon Parish for the last five years) and be eligible to be certified (Louisiana A, B, C, Level 1, 2, 3, OP, TEP, Practitioner License) to teach in your area of employment.
2. Be able to add on to your existing Louisiana certificate the certification for the area in which you are teaching on October 1, 2004. This add-on-certification must be accomplished prior to October 1, 2004.
1. Accepting more than one (1) certification incentive
2. Not completing the entire school year as a classroom teacher in Vernon Parish - this will prevent you from receiving the entire amount. In this case the incentive will be paid on a day-by-day basis
** Certification incentive will be $2500
On motion of B.R. Harvey, seconded by the Board, the certification incentive for the 2004-05 school year was approved.
On motion of James Armes, seconded by B.R. Harvey, the Board voted to receive bids on five used Carpenter buses. Tim Ward announced that no bids were received and no action was taken.
B.R. Harvey, chairperson for the Salary Committee, reported the Committee had met at 8:30 a.m. prior to the board meeting to discuss reorganization of the Sales Tax Office and then called on Tim Ward to explain the proposed plan to the Board. Mr. Ward explained that with the, increasing work load and responsibilities of the present secretary, Paulette Jeane, he felt it necessary to change her title from secretary to Assistant Sales Tax Office Manager and increase her salary index to 1.4.
On motion of B.R. Harvey, seconded by Mark Smith, the Board voted to authorize the Sales Tax Office reorganization proposal.
On motion of B.R. Harvey, seconded by the Board, the following resolution for the Pitkin boys= basketball team was adopted:
WHEREAS, the members of the Vernon Parish School Board take this means to express their tremendous sense of pride in the Pitkin Tigers Basketball team and Coach Danny Fletcher for an outstanding season; and
WHEREAS, through their determination, talent, teamwork and strong leadership, the Tigers have advanced to the Class B State Finals; now
BE IT THEREFORE RESOLVED, that the Board adopts this resolution commending and congratulating the Pitkin Tigers and Coach Fletcher for a very exciting and successful 2003-04 basketball season.
On motion of Robert Pynes, seconded by the Board, the following memorial resolution was adopted:
WHEREAS, the Vernon Parish School Board takes this means to express its sincere condolences to the family of Mr. Wallace Clark, of Eunice, who recently passed away; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Clark was the father of District Judge Vernon Clark and the father-in-law of Mrs. Debbie Clark, principal at East Leesville Elementary School; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Clark was a longtime resident to Eunice 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. Clark's family at this time of bereavement.
On motion of Randy Martin, seconded by the Board, the following memorial resolution was adopted:
WHEREAS, the members of the Vernon Parish School Board wish to express their heartfelt condolences to the family of Mr. Ricky Conn, of Leesville, who recently passed away; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Conn was the husband of Mrs. Linda Conn, former employee at Pickering Elementary School, the brother-in-law of Mrs. Jolene Lawrence, secretary at Pickering Elementary School and the brother-in-law of Mr. L.C. Lawrence, former Vernon Parish bus driver; now
BE IT THEREFORE RESOLVED, that the Board requests a copy of this memorial resolution be sent to Mrs. Conn and Mr. and Mrs. Lawrence at this time of sorrow.
On motion of Ricky Reese, seconded by the Board, the following memorial resolution was adopted:
WHEREAS, the members of the Vernon Parish School Board wish to express their sincere condolences to the family of Mr. Kennith Dixon, of Anacoco, who recently passed away; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Dixon, a lifelong resident of Anacoco and a retired Vernon Parish Sheriff's Department employee, 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. Dixon's wife, Mrs. Ruth Dixon, and her family at this time of sorrow.
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 condolences to the family of Mrs. Willie Mae Tilley, of Hornbeck, who recently passed away; and
WHEREAS, Mrs. Tilley was the mother of Mrs. Sharon Kay Owens, bus driver at Hornbeck High School and Mrs. Jonell Poston, retired Head Start teacher at Hornbeck Elementary School; and
WHEREAS, Mrs. Tilley was a lifelong 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. Owens and Mrs. Poston and their 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