September 2, 2004
THE PARISH SCHOOL BOARD OF VERNON PARISH LOUISIANA CONVENED IN REGULAR SESSION, SEPTEMBER 2, 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. ”r;RANDY” MARTIN
B.R. HARVEY
GAYE McKEE
COL. A. WADE WOOLFREY
There was also present Dr. Cynthia Gillespie, Secretary of the Board.
The meeting was opened in prayer by Philip Gunn.
The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Willis Farris.
On motion of James Armes, seconded by Gaye McKee, the Board voted to dispense with the reading and approve the minutes of August 10, 2004
Ron DeGray, GATES Administrator recognized Robert Smith, GATES graduate and presented him with his diploma. Mr. DeGray also gave an update on the GATES program and attributed its success to a dedicated staff.
On motion of Ricky Reese, seconded by Willis Farris, the Board voted to approve a resolution ordering and calling Tax Elections (Tues, November 2, 2004) for (i) the Parish of Vernon, State of Louisiana, for school purposes(ii) Hornbeck School District No. 143 of the Parish Vernon, Louisiana, (iii) Orange School District No. 145 of Vernon Parish, Louisiana, and (iv) Ward One Wardwide School District No. 162 of Vernon Parish, Louisiana, to authorize the levy of special taxes therein, making application to the State Bond Commission in connection therewith and providing for other matters in connection therewith.
On motion of Gaye McKee, seconded by B.R. Harvey, the Board voted to approve a resolution to request that the Interim Emergency Board of the State of Louisiana declare that an emergency exists pertaining to underground water lines located within the Town of Rosepine traversing that property of the Vernon Parish School Board, District 7 Rosepine Elementary addition and further requesting emergency funds be made available for the relocation of said water lines.
On recommendation of Superintendent Gillespie and Don Gallemore, Technology Administrator, and on motion of Mark Smith, seconded by Betty Westerchil, the Board voted to name Betty O’Banion, secretary at West Leesville Elementary School, to the position of secretary/bookkeeper at the Technology Department, and to advertise for a secretary at West Leesville Elementary School to fill the vacancy created by Mrs. O’Banion’s transfer.
B.R. Harvey and Superintendent Gillespie gave a report from the Transportation Committee meeting held for the purpose of discussing a request from the City of Leesville to use Vernon Parish school buses for the Home Front Celebration. Recommendation by the Transportation Committee was to approve the use of the buses with a stipulation that the City provide event insurance and pay for the gas needed for the buses.
On motion of B.R. Harvey, seconded by James Armes, the Board voted to approve the recommendation of the Transportation Committee.
Mark Smith reported that the Personnel/Salary Committee had reviewed the list of personnel changes submitted by Mr. Self, Personnel Director. The Committee approved a recommendation to present the list to the full Board for approval on Tuesday, September 7, 2004.
Superintendent Gillespie gave further report that the Personnel/Salary/Finance Committee heard a request from Mrs. Dottie Neugebauer, Director of Special Education, to consider a signing bonus for speech therapist. The request explained a critical shortage of speech therapists and a need create more incentive for applicants. The incentive will not be in addition to the sign-up bonus already approved for teachers.
On recommendation of the Personnel/Salary/Finance Committee and on motion of B.R. Harvey, seconded by Ricky Reese, the Board voted to approve the sign-up bonus, in the amount of $2,500.00, for speech therapists.
On recommendation of the Finance Committee and on motion of B.R. Harvey, seconded by Mel Harris, the Board voted to approve the 2004 consolidated budget.
Bill Endris, Director of Finance, addressed the Finance Committee concerning a new change in Medicare regarding employees who were hired before April 1, 1986 and therefore not eligible to pay into Medicare. Effective January 2005 those employees will be allowed to pay into Medicare Part B.
On motion of Gene Haymon, seconded by Gaye McKee, the Board voted to support the changes in the Medicare program.
On motion of B.R. Harvey, seconded by Willis Farris, the Board voted to approve a change order to Pat Williams Construction in the amount of $1,919.96 for the construction project at Pitkin High School.
On motion of B.R. Harvey, seconded by Gaye McKee, the Board voted to award the low bid of $135,000.00 for additional renovations at Pitkin School, to Master Craft Construction.
On motion of Mark Smith, seconded by Betty Westerchil, the Board voted to receive bids on used vehicles at the Maintenance Department. No bids were received and on motion of Mark Smith, seconded by Mel Harris the Board voted to donate the vehicles to Fort Polk to be used as targets in training exercises.
On motion of Gaye McKee, seconded by James Armes, the Board voted to open bids for an activity bus at Rosepine High School. The only bid received was from Ross Bus Sales in the amount of $78,969.00. On recommendation of Bill Endris, Finance Director, and on motion of Gaye McKee, seconded by B.R. Harvey, the Board voted to take the bid under advisement.
On motion of Gene Haymon, 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. Allie Johnson, of Simpson, who recently passed away; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Johnson was the father of Ms. Betty Simmons, teacher at Hicks High School and Ms. Martha Hillman, teacher at North Polk Elementary School; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Johnson was a life long resident of Vernon Parish 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. Ruthie Johnson, Ms. Simmons and Ms. Hillman at this time of sorrow.
On motion of B.R. Harvey, 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 sincere condolences to the family of Mrs. Minerva Robinson, of Hineston, who recently passed away; and
WHEREAS, Mrs. Robinson, a lifelong resident of the Hineston/LaCamp area, was the mother-in-law of Mrs. Patricia Robinson, aide at Pitkin School; now
BE IT THEREFORE RESOLVED that the Board requests a copy of this memorial resolution be sent to Mrs. Robinson’s family at this time of bereavement.
On motion of Ricky Reese, seconded by the Board, the Board adopted the following memorial resolution:
WHEREAS, the Vernon Parish School Board wishes to express its heartfelt condolences to Mrs. Doris Knippers, retired cafeteria employee at Hornbeck High School, in the recent death of her husband, Mr. Jimmy Knippers; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Knippers, a lifelong resident of Vernon Parish, was a caring and compassionate person 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. Knippers and her family at this time of sorrow.
On motion of Betty Westerchil, 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 its heartfelt condolences to Mr. Curtis Brumley, retired Vernon Parish teacher, in the recent death of his mother, Mrs. Leora ”r;Mickey” Stitzel; and
WHEREAS, Mrs. Stitzel ,a native and lifelong resident of Louisiana, had lived in Leesville for many years 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 Mr. Brumley and his family at this time of bereavement.
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