January 6, 2005
THE PARISH SCHOOL BOARD OF VERNON PARISH LOUISIANA CONVENED IN REGULAR SESSION, JANUARY 6, 2005, AT 10:00 A.M., AT 201 BELVIEW ROAD, LEESVILLE, LA. PRESIDENT HAYMON CALLEDTHE MEETING TO ORDER AND ON ROLL CALL THE FOLLOWING MEMBERS WERE PRESENT:
M. GENE HAYMON, PRESIDENT
ROBERT PYNES, JR., VICE PRESIDENT
JAMES K. ARMES, III
MEL HARRIS
MARK H. SMITH
BETTY WESTERCHIL
RICKY REESE
WILLIS A. FARRIS
W.R. ”r;RANDY” MARTIN
B.R. HARVEY
PHILIP L. GUNN
GAYE McKEE
COL. A. WADE WOOLFREY, JR.
There was also present Dr. Cynthia Gillespie, Secretary of the Board.
The meeting was opened in prayer by Ricky Reese.
The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Mark Smith.
On motion of Gaye McKee, seconded by Ricky Reese, the Board voted to approve and dispense with the reading of the minutes of December 7, 2004.
Ron DeGray, and Superintendent Gillespie recognized and presented GED certificates to GATES graduates, Chris Frazier, Rosepine High School, J.L. McDonald, Pickering High School, Matt Bass, Hicks High School and Latasha Johnson, Leesville High School. The Board commended and congratulated the graduates for their outstanding accomplishments.
On motion of Randy Martin, seconded by Willis Farris, the Board voted to approve a resolution providing for the opening of the sealed bids received for the purchase of Three Million Two Hundred Thousand Dollars ($3,200,000) of General Obligation School Bonds, Series 2005, of Pickering School District No. 142 of the Parish of Vernon, Louisiana, approving the Official Notice of Bond Sale and Preliminary Official Statement in connection therewith, and authorizing the President and Secretary to sign copies thereof as evidence of the approval thereof.
On motion of Ricky Reese, seconded by Mel Harris, the Board voted to accept the bid of Sabine State Bank of Many, at a net interest rate of 4.63884 percent, for the purchase of Three Million Two Hundred Thousand Dollars ($3,200,000) of General Obligation School Bonds, Series 2005, of Pickering School District No. 142 of the Parish of Vernon, Louisiana.
On motion of Randy Martin, seconded by Willis Farris, the Board voted to approve a resolution authorizing the incurring of debt and issuance of Three Million Two Hundred Thousand Dollars ($3,200,000) of General Obligation School Bonds, Series 2005, of Pickering School District No. 142 of the Parish of Vernon, Louisiana; prescribing the form, terms and conditions of said Bonds; designating the date, denominations and place of payment of said Bonds; providing for the payment thereof in principal and interest; and providing for other matters in connection therewith.
On motion of Philip Gunn, seconded by Randy Martin, the Board voted to enter into executive session at 10:20 a.m. for a period of 30 minutes to discuss a personnel matter.
On motion of Philip Gunn, seconded by Randy Martin, the Board voted to come out of executive session and resume order at 10:35 a.m.
James Armes announced the executive session resulted in a decision to turn the personnel matter over to Superintendent Gillespie for a decision.
On Motion of Ricky Reese, seconded by Betty Westerchil, the Board voted to approve a resolution to request authorization of Referendum for Medicare as follows:
WHEREAS, Act No. 204, Regular Session, Louisiana Legislature of 1952 (La. R.S. 42:1001-1011 as amended by Act 280 of 2004) established procedures whereby members of the retirement systems in political subdivisions may obtain hospital insurance-Medicare only coverage; and
THEREFORE, be it resolved that the Vernon Parish School Board desiring to obtain hospital insurance-Medicare only coverage of its employees, hereby respectfully requests the authorization necessary referendum under Section 218 (d)(6) of the Social Security Act among the employees of the Vernon Parish School Board who are members of the Teachers' Retirement System of Louisiana and Louisiana School Employees' Retirement System based on whether employees in positions under the retirement system desire hospital insurance-Medicare only coverage effective July 1, 2005.
Bill Endris, Director of Finance, requested that the Board approve a salary scale for the new Maintenance Department assistant supervisor position.
On motion of Randy Martin, seconded by Betty Westerchil, the Board voted to place the salary scale approval on the Tuesday, January 11th board meeting agenda.
James Armes reported no action was taken by the Transportation at its 8:00 a.m. meeting.
The Transportation Committee will meet in February to review the school bus driver policies.
Mark Smith reported that the Salary Personnel Committee will present the list of personnel changes for January at the Tuesday, January 11th board meeting for full Board approval.
On motion of Gaye McKee, seconded by Randy Martin, the Board voted to open bids on two used portable buildings at Rosepine High School. Bids received are as follows:
BIDDER BID PER UNIT TOTAL BID
(14 X 24) $450.00
On motion of Gaye McKee, seconded by Willis Farris, the Board voted to take the bids under advisement.
In other business, Mrs. Westerchil requested a meeting of the Curriculum/Technology Committee to be held on Tuesday, January 11th at 9:00 a.m.
On motion of Gaye McKee, seconded by the Board, the Board adopted the following memorial resolution:
WHEREAS, the Vernon Parish School Board wishes to express its deepest sympathies to the family of Mr. Olvin Ray, of Rosepine, who recently passed away; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Ray was the father of Mrs. La Nan James, bus driver at Rosepine High School, and the grandfather of Tammy Kay, librarian at Evans High School; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Ray was a lifelong 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 Mrs. James and Mrs. Kay and their 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 were saddened by the recent death of Ms. Corene Steagall, retired teacher at Leesville High School, who recently passed away; and
WHEREAS, Ms. Steagall was a loyal employee and a dedicated teacher 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, along with its heartfelt condolences, be sent to Ms. Steagall's family at this time of sorrow.
On motion of Betty Westerchil, seconded by the Board, the Board adopted the following memorial resolution:
WHEREAS, the Vernon Parish School Board takes this means to express its heartfelt condolences to the family of Ms. June Tidwell, of Leesville, who recently passed away; and
WHEREAS, Ms. Tidwell was a longtime resident of Leesville and the sister of the late Ms. Corene Steagall, retired teacher at Leesville High School. 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. Tidwell's 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 wish to express their deepest sympathies to the family of Ms. Elizabeth Dowden, of Leesville, who recently passed away; and
WHEREAS, Ms. Dowden was a well known and respected member of our community and the grandmother of Mr. Mike Godwin, bus driver at West Leesville Elementary School; now
BE IT THEREFORE RESOLVED that the Board requests a copy of this memorial resolution be sent to Mr. Godwin and his family at this time of sorrow.
On motion of Betty Westerchil, seconded by the Board, the Board adopted the following memorial resolution:
WHEREAS, the Vernon Parish School Board wishes to express its heartfelt condolences to Ms. Carolyn Coody, teacher at Leesville Jr. High School, in the recent death of her mother, Ms. Reba Webre, of Gorum; and
WHEREAS, Ms. Webre was a longtime resident of the Gorum area 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 Ms. Coody 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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M. GENE HAYMON, BOARD PRESIDENT
ATTEST:
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DR. CYNTHIA GILLESPIE, SUPERINTENDENT