December 7, 2004
THE PARISH SCHOOL BOARD OF VERNON PARISH LOUISIANA CONVENED IN REGULAR SESSION, DECEMBER 7, 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
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
ABSENT: M. GENE HAYMON, OUT-OF-TOWN
There was also present Dr. Cynthia Gillespie, Secretary of the Board.
The meeting was opened in prayer by Robert Pynes.
The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Ricky Reese.
On motion of Gaye McKee, seconded by Willis Farris, the Board voted to approve and dispense with the reading of the minutes of December 2, 2004.
On recommendation of Superintendent Gillespie and on motion of Mel Harris, seconded by Gaye McKee, the Board to approve the attached resignations.
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On recommendation of Superintendent Gillespie and on motion of Betty Westerchil, seconded by Willis Farris, the Board voted to approve the attached sabbatical leave request.
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On recommendation of Superintendent Gillespie and on motion of James Armes, seconded by Randy Martin, 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 Mark Smith, seconded by Robert Pynes, the Board voted to approve the attached employee transfers.
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On recommendation of Superintendent Gillespie and on motion of Robert Pynes, seconded by Ricky Reese, the Board voted to approve the attached list of new employees.
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On motion of Gaye McKee, seconded by Mark Smith, the Board voted to approve budget amendments related to personnel changes.
On motion of James Armes, seconded by Willis Farris, the Board voted to increase the size of Mary Branch=s bus from 54 to 65 passengers, effective at the beginning of the 2004-05 school year.
On motion of Gaye McKee, seconded by Mel Harris, the Board voted to advertise for bids to sell two portable buildings at Rosepine High School.
On recommendation of the Transportation Committee and on motion of James Armes, seconded by Mel Harris, the Board voted to place an employee on leave with pay until the January 6, 2005 board meeting when an executive session will be held and a final decision will be made.
Robert Pynes reported that no action was taken at the Food Service Committee meeting.
On motion of Mark Smith, seconded by James Armes, the Board voted to elect Gene Haymon, 2004 vice-president of the Board, as president of the Board for 2005.
Mark Smith nominated Robert Pynes to serve as the 2005 vice-president of the Board. No other nominations were offered and on motion of Ricky Reese, seconded by the Board, Robert Pynes was elected to the position.
Superintendent Gillespie and the Board recognized Philip Gunn, out going board president, and presented to him a plaque in appreciation of his service during 2004.
In other business, Superintendent Gillespie acknowledged the support of Congressman Jim McCrery in procuring approximately $167,000.00 through the United State House of Representatives Appropriations Committee for upgrading of our Wide Area Network.
On motion of Willis Farris, seconded by the Board, the Board adopted the following resolution:
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, the Vernon Parish School Board wishes to acknowledge the continued support of our Esteemed Congressman, Mr. Jim McCrery, for procuring approximately $167,000 through the United States House of Representatives Appropriations Committee for the upgrading of our Wide Area Network connecting all of our district schools to the Internet.
WHEREAS, Representative McCrery's undying support of education and technology helps bridge the gap for our system's children to better compete in the 21st Century.
BE IT THEREFORE RESOLVED that Representative McCrery's efforts to fill the technology void in his district is truly appreciated by all our children and their parents. With his support we will continue to provide the best educational opportunities available for each and every child attending school in our system.
Colonel A. Wade Woolfrey, Fort Polk's representative to the Board, presented copies of the publication A Soldier's Place in History, a detailed history of Fort Polk. The Colonel also informed the Board that a copy of the publication would be placed in each school library.
On motion of Willis Farris, seconded by the Board, the following resolution was adopted:
WHEREAS, the Vernon Parish School Board wishes to express its appreciation to Colonel A. Wade Woolfrey for his outstanding support of the Vernon Parish School System; and
WHEREAS, Colonel Woolfrey was instrumental in correcting a drainage issue at South Polk Elementary School; and
WHEREAS, the Board acknowledges LTC Michael Jones and the soldiers of the 46th ENG BN for providing the drawings and manpower for this project; and
WHEREAS, Colonel Patrick Landry and Warrior Brigade played a vital role in the project by allowing the 46th to complete this project as a training mission; now
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Board adopts this resolution thanking Colonel Woolfrey and Fort Polk for the strong support they continue to demonstrate.
On motion of Ricky Reese, 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 Raymond Jack Martin, of Weatherford, Texas, who recently passed away; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Martin was the brother of Mrs. Regina Kees, teacher at Anacoco Elementary School, and the brother-in-law of Mr. Lester Kees, former legal counsel to this school board; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Martin was active in his church and community 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. and Mrs. Kees and their family at this time of sorrow.
On motion of Randy Martin, seconded by the Board, the Board adopted the following memorial resolution:
On motion of James Armes, 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 Mrs. Marie Mattie Wilkerson, of Taylor, Michigan, who recently passed away; and
WHEREAS, Mrs. Wilkerson was the mother of Mr. John Wilkerson, technician at the central office Technology Department, 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 Mr. Wilkerson and his family at this time of sorrow.
On motion of Gaye McKee, seconded by the Board, the following memorial resolution was adopted:
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, the Vernon Parish School Board takes this means to express its heartfelt sympathies to Mrs. Ellen Lytle, educational diagnostician, at the Special Education Department, in the recent death of her sister, Mrs. Maxine Eaves, of DeRidder; and
WHEREAS, Mrs. Eaves was the wife of Mr. James Eaves, member of the Louisiana School Boards Association Board of Directors, 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. Lytle and Mr. Eaves and their family at this time of sorrow.
On motion of Gaye McKee, 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. Donald Simmons, of Rosepine, who recently passed away; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Simmons was the father-in-law of Mrs. Pam Simmons, counselor at Rosepine Elementary, and the uncle of Mrs. Linda Simmons, cafeteria employee, and Mrs. Doris Simmons, retired cafeteria employee, at Rosepine High School; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Simmons was a longtime resident of Rosepine 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 Gaye McKee, seconded by the Board, the following memorial resolution was adopted:
WHEREAS, the Vernon Parish School Board wishes to express its heartfelt condolences to the family of Mr. Roy Rogers, of Oregon, who recently passed away; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Rogers was the father of Mrs. Linda Grooms, teacher at Rosepine Elementary 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 Mrs. Grooms and her family at this time of bereavement.
On motion of Mark Smith, seconded by Mel Harris, 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 was adjourned.
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PHILIP L. GUNN, BOARD PRESIDENT
ATTEST:
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DR. CYNTHIA GILLESPIE, SUPERINTENDENT