February 3, 2005
THE PARISH SCHOOL BOARD OF VERNON PARISH LOUISIANA CONVENED IN REGULAR SESSION, FEBRUARY 3, 2005, AT, 10:00 A.M., AT 201 BELVIEW ROAD, LEESVILLE, LA. PRESIDENT HAYMON CALLED THE 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
W.R. ”r;RANDY” MARTIN
B.R. HARVEY
PHILIP L. GUNN
GAYE McKEE
M. GENE HAYMON
COL. A. WADE WOOLFREY
ABSENT: WILLIS A FARRIS, ILLNESS
There was also present Dr. Cynthia Gillespie, Secretary of the Board.
The meeting was opened in prayer by Betty Westerchil.
The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Randy Martin.
On motion of Mark Smith, seconded by Robert Pynes, the Board voted to approve and dispense with the reading of the minutes of January 11, 2005.
Bill Endris, Director of Finance, gave a report on the annual audit for the 2003-04 fiscal year with which there were no findings by the auditors. He also reported that the Finance Department ranked second in the State based on a Financial Risk Analysis conducted by the Louisiana Department of Education.
On motion of Betty Westerchil, seconded by the Board, the Board adopted the following resolution of congratulation and appreciation to Mr. Bill Endris and his office staff:
WHEREAS, the Vernon Parish School Board congratulates Mr. Bill Endris, Director of Finance and Business Affairs, Mr. Tim Ward, Assistant Business Manager, and the finance and business office staff for the splendid operation of the finance and business office; and
WHEREAS, the Board commends Mr. Endris and his staff on the results of the recently conducted State Department of Education study on fiscal risk as the Vernon Parish School Board was rated the least risk in the state and scored a perfect score; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Endris possesses the expertise, along with the knowledge, leadership and training abilities vital to the operation of a finance office of this caliber and worthy of this extremely commendable report; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Endris extends the credit to include the local tax payers, the central office instructional staff, his finance office staff and the superintendent in their efforts to work together to deserve this recognition; now
BE IT THEREFORE RESOLVED that the Vernon Parish School Board adopts the resolution of appreciation to Mr. Bill Endris and his office staff for the risk free operation of the Vernon Parish School Board Finance Office.
General Michael Barbero and Colonel A. Wade Woolfrey presented to the Board issues derived from Fort Polk’s Education Town Hall meeting held on September 21, 2004.
The issues were put in the form of a new Memorandum of Agreement, which the Board is being asked to enter into, in addition to the one that already in place. The list of issues included in the new Memorandum of Agreement is as follows:
1. Public Preschool
a. Assist Fort Polk in acquiring funding - will provide an opportunity for all preschool children to attend school regardless of parents; income and a student’s developmental delays.
b. Sent letter to State Superintendent Cecil Picard requesting support
2. Gifted and Talented Program
a. Support Fort Polk with the revision of the criteria for the Gifted and Talented Program
b. Align Louisiana’s criteria with other gifted programs across the country so transitioning students are not penalized.
c. Place students in the Gifted and Talented Program on an interim basis based on previous school records, pending completion of LA evaluation requirements.
d. Sent letter to State Superintendent Cecil Picard requesting assistance.
3. Volunteers at Leesville High School
a. Adjust the policy regarding parent volunteers to allow parents to volunteer in classrooms.
b. Volunteers can assist with classroom activities such as, organizing materials, tutoring students in need of remediation, assisting students with make-up assignments and preparing bulletin boards.
4. Documentation of Volunteer Hours
a. Implement procedures regarding documenting volunteer hours of military personnel.
b. Affords volunteers an opportunity for recognition through the Installation Volunteer Program at Fort Polk - Provides documentation for Fort Polk volunteers who require childcare at the Child Development Center.
c. Schools would provide documentation of training for volunteers.
d. Schools would record number of hours for each military volunteer.
e. School Liaison representatives would deliver documentation of volunteer hours to the Fort Liaison Office.
5. School Performance Scores
a. Support schools in their efforts to improve test scores through continuing to offer educational opportunities for students
b. Communicate the results of those efforts parish wide to include post officials
6. Perception of Vernon Parish Schools
a. Improve the military’s perception of Vernon Parish Schools through positive marketing of course framework, extracurricular activities, School Performance Scores, etc.
7. Websites
a. Develop websites for all schools within Vernon Parish no later than the end of the 2005 school year
b. School websites to include: registration procedures, advance placement
programs, college prep courses, school demographics, clubs and organizations scholarship opportunities, teachers’ certification information, etc.
8. Pre-college Programs
a. Increase the number of pre-college programs to provide academic opportunities for qualified high school students.
b. Additional advance placement courses at Leesville High School
c. Implement advance placement courses in the curriculum at Pickering High School
d. Include ACT/SAT prep courses in the curriculum of all Vernon Parish high schools
Don Gallemore, Technology Administrator, gave his annual presentation on the E-Rate program and provided copies of the information for the Board.
On motion of Philip Gunn, seconded by Mel Harris, the Board voted to accept RFP solutions to RFP proposals that were posted on the Vernon Parish School Board web site as part of Form 470 application process for year 8 of the E-Rate program. The awardees are as follows:
1. LaNet Internet Access
2. Bell South Data, local phone service where available
3. Cingular Cellular Cell phone service
4. Eatel Long Distance carrier
5. Cameron Communication Local phone service Pitkin
6. Cxtec Swithches
On motion of Ricky Reese, seconded by B.R. Harvey, the Board voted to approve a resolution ordering and calling special elections to be held in (i) the Parish of Vernon, State of Louisiana, for school purposes, (ii) Hornbeck, District No. 143 of the Parish of 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.
Mark Smith reported that the Personnel/Salary Committee had met and reviewed the personnel changes for February as submitted by Mr. Self. The Committee will present its recommendations and request approval for the changes at the Tuesday, February 8th board meeting.
Mr. Smith also reported that the Committee had discussed the need to increase our number of speech therapists in order to better serve children throughout the parish. He then called on Dottie Neugebauer, Director of Special Education, who reported a critical shortage of speech therapists and presented the following recommendations for increasing the incentive for speech therapists to come to Vernon Parish
Recommendations:
1. To increase the salary scale for speech therapist by:
a. 1st year - regular salary + $2,000.00
b. 2nd year - regular salary + $4,000.00
c. 3rd year – regular salary + $6,000.00
and, to offer the same $2,500.00 certification incentive that all new teachers receive. Contracted speech therapist will receive from $45.00 to $55.00 per hour.
Mr. Smith, on recommendation of the Committee, offered a motion, which was seconded by Mel Harris and approved by vote of the Board, to approve the proposal as presented by Mrs. Neugebauer.
Mrs. Westerchil requested that Superintendent Gillespie be directed to write a letter to Mr. Joseph Savoie, State Commissioner of Higher Education requesting more course offerings in the area of speech therapy at the State universities.
Mrs. Westerchil also requested that the Personnel/Salary Committee look at possibilities for allocating more teachers for the Honors/Gifted program. This item will be placed on the Committee’s agenda for its March 3rd meeting.
On Motion of Betty Westerchil, 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 wishes to express its heartfelt condolences to Dr. Mai Thai, supervisor at the central office, in the recent death of her father, Mr. Buu Ky Thai, of Australia; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Thai was originally from Vietnam but had become a citizen of Australia and was a resident there at the time of his death. He will be lovingly remembered and 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 Dr. Mai Thai and her family at this time of bereavement.
On motion of Mark Smith, 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 condolences to Mrs. Mary Early, retired educator, in the recent death of her mother, Mrs. Mollie Roberts, of Leesville; and
WHEREAS, Mrs. Roberts will be fondly remembered for her involvement and service in many community, church and civic organizations 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. Early and her family at this time of sorrow.
On motion of Gaye McKee, seconded by the Board, the Board adopted the following memorial resolution:
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, the Vernon Parish School Board takes this means to express its sincere condolences to the family of Mr. Coleman Kenneth James, of Cravens, who recently passed away; and
WHEREAS, Mr. James was the father of Mr. Jeff James, bus driver at Rosepine Schools, 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. Jeff James and his family at this time of sorrow.
On motion of Gaye McKee, seconded by the Board, the Board adopted the following memorial resolution:
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, the Vernon Parish School Board wishes to express its heartfelt condolences to Mrs. Lynette Myers, aide at Rosepine Elementary School, in the recent death of her father, Mr. William ”r;Freddie” Rogers, of Tulsa Oklahoma; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Rogers, also the brother of Mrs. Anna Sue Myers, teacher at Rosepine Elementary, was a former resident of Rosepine and a graduate of Rosepine High School. He will be remembered and 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. Lynette Myers and Mrs. Anna Sue Myers, along with its condolences to the entire family, at this time of sorrow.
On motion of Gaye McKee, seconded by the Board, the Board adopted the following memorial resolution:
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, the Vernon Parish School Board wishes to express its sincere sympathies to the family of Mr. Robert Bates of Rosepine, who recently passed away; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Bates was the husband of Mrs. Lenda Bates, retired teacher at Pickering Elementary School, and the brother-in-law of Mr. David Gibson, teacher at Pickering High School; now
BE IT THEREFORE RESOLVED that the Board requests a copy of this memorial resolution be sent to Mrs. Bates and Mr. Gibson and their family at this time of bereavement.
On motion of Gaye McKee, seconded by the Board, the Board adopted the following memorial resolution:
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, the members of the Vernon Parish School Board would like to express its sincere sympathies to the family of Mrs. Gloria Dean Faircloth, of Anacoco, who recently passed away; and
WHEREAS, Mrs. Faircloth was the sister of Harvey Ray Haymon, retired Leesville Schools bus driver and Lamar Salter automotive instructor, and the niece of Mr. Norman Haymon, retired Rosepine School bus driver; now
BE IT THEREFORE RESOLVED that the Board requests a copy of this memorial resolution be sent to Mrs. Faircloth’s family at this time of sorrow.
On motion of James Armes, seconded by the Board, the Board adopted the following memorial resolution:
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, the members of the Vernon Parish School Board take this means to express their heartfelt condolences to the family of Mr. Johnnie Payton, of Leesville, who recently passed away; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Payton was the father of Mrs. Mary Bass, cafeteria employee at Leesville High School and;
WHEREAS, Mr. Payton was known and well-respected throughout the Leesville area 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. Bass and her family 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 heartfelt condolences to the family of Mrs. Ure Lee West, former cook at Pitkin High School, who recently passed away; and
WHEREAS. Mrs. West was a loyal and dedicated employee 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. West’s family 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 wish to express their sincere sympathies to the family of Mr. James Thompson, former custodian at Pitkin High School, who recently passed away; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Thompson was a loyal and dedicated employee 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. Thompson’s 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, PRESIDENT
ATTEST:
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DR. CYNTHIA GILLESPIE, SUPERINTENDENT