May 6, 2004
THE PARISH SCHOOL BOARD OF VERNON PARISH LOUISIANA CONVENED IN REGULAR SESSION, MAY 6,2004, 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
W.R. "RANDY" MARTIN
GAYE McKEE
ABSENT: WILLIS A. FARRIS, ILLNESS
B.R. HARVEY, ILLNESS
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 Gaye McKee, seconded by Randy Martin, the Board voted to approve and dispense with the reading of the minutes of April 6, 2004.
Curtis Clay recognized students from the following schools: Anacoco Elementary School, Leesville High School, Hornbeck High School Hicks High School and South Polk Elementary School. Each honored student was presented a certificate for his or her outstanding achievement.
John Farris gave and overview on District Accountability. Vernon Parish ranked 5th in the State on District Performance Scores and 10th in District Accountability growth. The major problem for our parish remains to be a lack of certified teachers.
On recommendation of Superintendent Gillespie and on motion of Ricky Reese, seconded by Mel Harris, the Board voted to name employees at Anacoco Elementary School.
On recommendation of Superintendent Gillespie and on motion of Gaye McKee, seconded by Ricky Reese, the Board voted to name employees at Rosepine High School.
On recommendation of Superintendent Gillespie and on motion of Randy Martin, seconded by Ricky Reese, the Board voted to name Jimmy Maricle as principal at Pickering Elementary School. This is a one-year appointment replacing Wallace Wilson, principal, who has been approved for sabbatical leave.
On motion of Betty Westerchil, seconded by Gaye McKee, the Board voted to advertise for Food Services Price Quotation Calendar for 2004-05.
On motion of Gene Haymon, seconded by the Board, the Board approved the following resolution:
WHEREAS, the Vernon Parish School Board has been notified that the employer's cost of Teachers Retirement will increase from 13.8% to 17.3% effective July 1. 2004; and
WHEREAS, the Vernon Parish School Board has been notified that the employer's cost of Louisiana School Employees Retirement will increase from 8.5% to 18.8% effective July 1, 2004; and
WHEREAS, the State is responsible for any unfunded accrued liability; and
WHEREAS, the local school systems cannot pay this increased cost as well as other mandated unfunded costs; and
WHEREAS, the state and not parish school systems benefited in reduced retirement rates the past several years; and
WHEREAS, group medical insurance cost continues to increase for both those school systems in the state insurance plan and those not in the state plan; and
WHEREAS, the state requires employers to pay 75% of the current and increased costs; and
WHEREAS, all school boards in the state are affected by this increased cost; now
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that on behalf of all school boards, the Vernon Parish School Board requests that the Louisiana School Boards Association be directed to coordinate legal action against the state and also file a petition with the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education asking the state to accept responsibility for these costs for which no funding has been provided.
On motion of Ricky Reese, seconded by Gaye McKee, the Board voted to receive bids on paper towels for the 2004-05 school year. Bids received are as follows:
BIDDER BID PER UNIT
West Central Wholesale $13.20
JLT, Incorporated $16.87
On recommendation of Tim Ward and on motion of Ricky Reese, seconded by Gaye McKee, the Board voted to award the low bid to S & M Produce.
Mark Smith reported that Salary/Personnel Committee held the first meeting of the newly formed joint Committee and that Jackie Self gave a review of the procedures of the Personnel Department regarding personnel changes. The Committee will meet prior to the first meeting of the month each month to review personnel changes and make recommendations to the Board. The personnel change list will be presented to the Board for approval at the second meeting each month.
In other business, on motion of Randy Martin, seconded by Betty Westerchil, the Board voted to advertise for an assistant principal at Pickering Elementary School. This is a one-year appointment replacing Jimmy Maricle who was named principal while Wallace Wilson, principal, is on sabbatical leave.
Also in other business, Mrs. Westerchil announced a Curiculum Committee meeting will be held at 9:00 a.m., Tuesday, May 11th.
On motion of Randy Martin, seconded by the Board, the following memorial resolution was adopted:
WHEREAS, the Vernon Parish School Board takes this means to express its heartfelt condolences to the family of Mr. George Kenneth Dowden, of Leesville, who recently passed away; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Dowden was the father of Mr. Scott Dowden, a employee of the central office Maintenance Department; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Dowden was a lifelong 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 Mr. Scott Dowden and his family 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 take this means to express their heartfelt sympathies to the family of Mrs. Sylvia Prince, of Hornbeck, who recently passed away; and
WHEREAS, Mrs. Prince was the grandmother of Mrs. Michelle Gentry, teacher at Hornbeck Elementary School; and
WHEREAS, Mrs. Prince was a native of Hornbeck and she will be sadly missed by her family and friends and the membership at Oak Grove Baptist Church where she was a member; now
BE IT THEREFORE RESOLVED, that the Board requests a copy of this memorial resolution be sent to Mrs. Gentry and her 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