June 8, 2004
THE PARISH SCHOOL BOARD OF VERNON PARISH LOUISIANA CONVENED IN REGULAR SESSION, JUNE 8, 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. ”r;RANDY” MARTIN
GAYE McKEE
ABSENT: COL. A. WADE WOOLFREY, JR.
B.R. HARVEY, ILLNESS
There was also present Dr. Cynthia Gillespie, Secretary of the Board.
The meeting was opened in prayer by Mel Harris.
The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Robert Pynes.
On motion of Mark Smith, seconded by Gaye McKee, the Board voted to approve and dispense with the reading of the minutes of June 3, 2004.
On recommendation of Superintendent Gillespie and on motion of Randy Martin, seconded by Gaye McKee, the Board to approve the attached resignations.
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On recommendation of Superintendent Gillespie and on motion of Gaye McKee, seconded by Gene Haymon, the Board voted to approve the attached employee termination.
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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 sabbatical leave requests.
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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 request for a leave without pay.
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On recommendation of Superintendent Gillespie and on motion of James Armes, seconded by Gaye McKee, the Board voted to approve the attached requests to rescind leaves without pay.
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On recommendation of Superintendent Gillespie and on motion of Mel Harris, seconded by Randy Martin, 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 Mel Harris, the Board voted to approve the attached list of new employees.
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On motion to Willis Farris, seconded by Ricky Reese, the Board voted to approve budget amendments related to personnel changes.
Superintendent Gillespie and the Board recognized retirees who had retired during the past year. Each retiree was presented with a Certificate of Appreciation for his or her years of dedicated service to the school system.
Charlotte Cooper presented the Special Education Department's LEA Application for IDEA Flow Through Funds for FY 2005 and on motion of Gene Haymon, seconded by Gaye McKee the Application was approved as presented.
On motion of James Armes, seconded by Robert Pynes, the Board voted to approve right-away permits for overhead and underground electric lines to serve the new building at East Leesville Elementary School.
Tom Neubert, Director of Child Welfare and Attendance, made the Board aware of requests he had received for a parish-wide discipline policy to assure uniformity of discipline procedures for all schools in the parish. The matter will be studied before recommendations are presented to the Board.
Mr. Neubert presented the results of a vote by parents at the Hornbeck School to discontinue the uniform policy in place at the school. The majority of parents voted against school uniforms and on motion of Ricky Reese seconded by Willis Farris, the Board voted to discontinue the uniform policy for Hornbeck School students.
Betty Westerchil, chairperson for the Curriculum/Technology Committee reported that the Committee had met today at 3:30 p.m. to further discuss and finalize changes to the Pupil Progression Plan. After months of extensive study by the Committee, teachers and parents, the Committee presented its recommendations to the Board.
On motion of Betty Westerchil seconded by Willis Farris, the Board voted to adopt the Pupil Progression Plan as presented. The document will be on display at the school board office for public viewing for the next thirty days.
In other business, a move by Mel Harris, seconded by Mark Smith, the Board voted to advertise for a principal (a one-year non-promotional position) at Vernon Middle School.
In further business, on motion of Betty Westerchil, seconded by the Board, the following resolution was adopted:
WHEREAS, the Vernon Parish School Board is concerned about the health and well-being of the students and other citizens of Vernon Parish; and
WHEREAS, the number of our residents who carry the burden of disease is at a rate higher than national average; and
WHEREAS, this Board is supportive of measures taken in an effort to create a healthier environment and lower our local average rate of disease; now
BE IT THEREFORE RESOLVED, that the Vernon Parish School Board supports the Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals Office of Public Health application for the Department of Health and Human Services Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Program Announcement 04234, "Steps to a Healthier US: A Community-Focused Prevention Initiative to Reduce the Burden of Asthma, Diabetes, and Obesity."
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 heartfelt condolences to the family of Mr. Carl Prince, of Hornbeck, who recently passed away; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Prince was the grandfather of Mrs. Michelle Gentry, teacher at Hornbeck Elementary School, and a longtime resident of the Hornbeck community. 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. Gentry and her family at this time of sorrow.
On motion of Gene Haymon, seconded by the Board, the Board adopted the following memorial resolution:
WHEREAS, the Vernon Parish School Board takes this means to express its condolences to the family of Mrs. Mary George, of LaCamp, who recently passed away; and
WHEREAS, Mrs. George was the mother of Mrs. Jeannie Causey, custodian at Hicks High School and the grandmother of Chasity Barrington, teacher at Leesville High School; and
WHEREAS, Mrs. George was a longtime resident of Vernon Parish 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. Causey and Miss Barrington and their family at this time of sorrow.
On motion of Gaye McKee, seconded by the Board, the Board adopted the following memorial resolution:
RESOLUTION
WHEREAS, the members of the Vernon Parish School Board wish to express their sincere condolences to the family of Mrs. Lucille Stephens of Rosepine, who recently passed away; and
WHEREAS, Mrs. Stephens was the aunt of Debbie Perry and Karen Simmonsen, teachers at Rosepine Elementary School, Robert Simmonsen, assistant principal at Rosepine Elementary School, and Robert Thompson, employee at the central office Maintenance Department; and
WHEREAS, Mrs. Stephens was a lifelong resident of Rosepine and she will be sadly missed by her family and friends; now
BE IT THEREFORE RESOLVED that the Board requests that copies of this memorial resolution be sent to Mrs. Stephens' family at this time of sorrow.
On motion of Robert Pynes, 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 Mrs. Carol Sue McCameron, of Cheyenne, Wyoming, who recently passed away; and
WHEREAS, Mrs. McCameron was the sister of Mrs. Jan Scoles, teacher at North Polk Elementary School, and she will be sadly missed by her family and friends; now
BE IT THEREFORE RESOLVED that the Board does hereby adopt this memorial resolution and requests a copy be sent to Mrs. Scoles and her 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 convey their sincere sympathies to Mrs. Wannelle Jaeger, teacher at Pickering Elementary School, in the recent death of her mother, Mrs. Mary Germaine Powell, of Rosepine; and
WHEREAS, Mrs. Powell was a loving and caring person and she will be sadly missed by her family and friends; now
BE IT THEREFORE RESOLVED that the Board request a copy of this memorial resolution be sent to Mrs. Jaeger and her family at this time of sorrow.
On motion of Mark Smith, seconded by Ricky Reese, 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 PRESIDENT
ATTEST:
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DR. CYNTHIA GILLESPIE, SUPERINTENDENT