April 1, 2004
THE PARISH SCHOOL BOARD OF VERNON PARISH LOUISIANA CONVENED IN REGULAR SESSION, APRIL 1, 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 Willis Farris.
The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Randy Martin.
On motion of B.R. Harvey, seconded by , the Board voted to approve and dispense with the reading of the minutes of March 16, 2004.
On recommendation of Superintendent Gillespie and on motion of Gaye McKee, seconded by B.R. Harvey, the Board to approve the attached resignations.
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On recommendation of Superintendent Gillespie and on motion of Randy Martin, seconded by Gaye McKee, the Board voted to approve the attached sabbatical leave request.
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On recommendation of Superintendent Gillespie and on motion of Ricky Reese, seconded by Robert Pynes, the Board voted to approve the attached request to rescind a. sabbatical leave.
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On recommendation of Superintendent Gillespie and on motion of Betty Westerchil, seconded by Gaye McKee, the Board voted to approve the attached employee transfers.
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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 new employee noted on the attached list.
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On motion of Willis Farris, seconded by Ricky Reese, the Board approved budget amendments related to personnel changes.
On motion of B.R. Harvey, seconded by Gaye McKee and approved by vote of the Board, Superintendent Gillespie and B.R. Harvey, District 5 board member, recognized and presented plaques of appreciation and congratulations to the Pitkin Boys 2004 Class B State Champion basketball team and Coach Danny Fletcher for their outstanding success.
Superintendent Gillespie and the Board recognized Mrs. Angela DeGray for being named 2004 Louisiana Social Worker of the Year. Mrs. DeGray was also commended by members of the Board for her many other contributions to the community.
Ricky Reese reported that the Insurance Committee had met to discuss to discuss the 457 Plan which is an alternative to Social Security. On motion of Mr. Reese, seconded by Mr. Smith, the Board voted to authorize Mr. Bill Endris, Director of Finance, to obtain proposals from local Insurance companies and bring the information back to the Insurance Committee.
On recommendation of the Salary Committee and on motion of B.R. Harvey, seconded by Mark Smith, the Board voted to appoint a Personnel Committee to work with the Salary Committee to review all requests for leave by Professional and support personnel. The newly formed joint committee, Salary/Personnel, will conduct a meeting in the near future to study and set guidelines.
On recommendation of the Salary Committee and on motion of B.R. Harvey, seconded by the Board, the Board renewed Dr. Cindy Gillespie's contract as Vernon Parish School Superintendent for the next four years, January 1, 2005 through December 31, 2008.
On recommendation of the Salary Committee and on motion of B.R. Harvey, seconded by the Board, the Board increased Superintendent Gillespie's travel allowance from $300.00 to $700.00 per month, effective immediately.
On motion of Mark Smith, seconded by Betty Westerchil, the Board voted to advertise for bids to purchase paper towels for the 2004-05 school year.
In other business, Mrs. Westerchil spoke briefly about the "Step-up Program" designed to allow high school students to earn 18 hours dual high school and college credit.
Mrs. Westerchil called for a Curriculum Committee meeting to be held on Tuesday, April 6th at 8:15 a.m.
On motion of Mark Smith, 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. Virginia Jones, of Converse, who recently passed away; and
WHEREAS, Mrs. Jones was the mother of Ms. Patricia "Trish" Gentry, Head Start paraprofessional at West Leesville Preschool, and she will be sadly missed by her family and friends; now
BE IT THEREFORE RESOLVED, that the Board requests that a copy of this memorial resolution be sent to Ms. Gentry and her family at this time of sorrow.
On motion of Mark Smith, 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 convey its sincere sympathies to the family of Mr. Johnny Davis, retired custodian at Leesville High School, who recently passed away; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Davis was the husband of Mrs. Ruth Davis, retired cook at Vernon Middle School and the uncle of Mr. Jewel Davis, custodian at West Leesville Preschool and Mr. John Foster, employee at the central office Maintenance Department.
WHEREAS, Mr. Davis 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. Ruth Davis, Mr. Jewel Davis, Mr. John Foster and their family at this time of sorrow.
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, the Vernon Parish School Board takes this means to express its sincere condolences to the family of Mrs. Winnie Farabee, of Arkansas, who recently passed away; and
WHEREAS, Mrs. Farabee was the mother-in-law of Mrs. Jean Farabee, former teacher 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 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 members of the Vernon Parish School Board wish to express their sincere sympathies to the family of Mr. George W. Andrews, Jr., of Leesville, who recently passed away; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Andrews was a lifelong resident of the Leesville-Vernon Parish area and the brother-in-law of Mrs. Janice Andrews, teacher at Leesville 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 to the family at this time of sorrow.
On motion of Willis Farris, 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 Mr. Joe Wells, of Leesville, who recently passed away; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Wells, a native and lifelong resident of Vernon Parish, was the father-in-law of Mrs. Sharon Wells, cook at Evans 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 to the family at this time of sorrow.
On motion of B.R. Harvey, seconded by the Board, the Board adopted the following resolution:
WHEREAS, the Vernon Parish School Board appreciates the community support of the programs and activities of all our schools; and
WHEREAS, the First Baptist Church of Pitkin recognized the Pitkin Boys 2004 Class B State Champion Basketball team and Coach Danny Fletcher, along with the 1966 State Champion team and Coach B.R. Harvey, at the Sunday morning services on March 28, 2004; now
BE IT THEREFORE RESOLVED, that the Board adopts this resolution of appreciation to the First Baptist Church of Pitkin for recognizing and commemorating the accomplishments of the Pitkin High School Basketball program.
There being no further business, on motion of ,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