February 8, 2005
THE PARISH SCHOOL BOARD OF VERNON PARISH LOUISIANA CONVENED IN REGULAR SESSION, FEBRUARY 8, 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
W.R. ”r;RANDY” MARTIN
PHILIP L. GUNN
B.R. HARVEY
GAYE McKEE
COL. A.WADE WOOLFREY
ABSENT: WILLIS A. FARRIS, ILLNESS
RICKY REESE, 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 Mark Smith.
On motion of Philip Gunn, seconded by Gaye McKee, the Board voted to approve and dispense with the reading of the minutes of February 3, 2005.
On recommendation of Superintendent Gillespie and on motion of Randy Martin, seconded by Gaye McKee, the Board to approve the following resignations:
Tina Hatfield Ortego, speech therapist/Anacoco Elementary
On recommendation of Superintendent Gillespie and on motion of Gaye McKee, seconded by Philip Gunn, the Board voted to approve the following requests for a leave without pay:
Sandra Hunter, SPED aide/Anacoco Elementary, medical, 1/18/05 – 9/1/05
Andrea Blackwell, custodian/Vernon Middle, medical, 1/13/05 – 3/13/05
On recommendation of Superintendent Gillespie and on motion of Mark Smith, seconded by B.R. Harvey, the Board voted to approve the following employee transfers:
Rhonda Zills, teacher/Rosepine Elem. to teacher/Evans, (new position-overcrowding, 1 semester only)
Sedric Clemons, teacher/GATES to teacher/LJHS (replacing Muriel Smith - sabb.)
Donna Busby, gen. fund aide/Vernon to secretary/central office (replacing Lynell Johnson-retired)
Sherril Martin, asst. cafeteria manager/LJHS to manager
Lori Glaze, SPED aide/LJHS to general fund aide/Vernon (replacing Donna Busby, transferred to central office)
Paula M. Wilson, cook/Pickering High to North Polk/bus driver (replacing Cedric Wilson – resigned)
Marvina Melton, cook/N. Polk to cook/Pickering High (replacing Paula Wilson, (trns. To N. Polk Elementary/bus driver)
Shirley Straight, cook/Vernon Middle to assistant manager/Leesville Jr. High (replacing Sheril Martin - trans. to manager)
Cha Henry, ESL aide/West Elementary to ESL aide/Pickering Elementary
On recommendation of Superintendent Gillespie and on motion of Philip Gunn, seconded by Mel Harris, the Board voted to approve the following list of new employees:
Cynthia Hankins, gen. fund aide/Pickering Elem. (replacing Cathy Littleton – resigned)
Jennifer D. Smith. Bus driver/West Leesville Elem. (replacing Ronald Jeane – trans. to c.o.)
Vaydra Reeves, teacher/LJHS (replacing Felicia Cavanaugh, sabb.1semester only)
Lynn Dell Pynes, teacher/West Preschool (retiree return to work)
Mary McCormick, teacher Pickering Elementary (replacing Moniva Irving-resigned)
Paula Rosenberger, SPED aide/LJHS (replacing Donna Busby – trns. to central office)
Lisa Williams, SPED aide/LJHS (replacing Lori Glaze – trns. to Vernon)
Sherry Jeter, bus aide/Pitkin (replacing Natasha Eaves – resigned)
Jennifer Nolen, cook/N. Polk (replacing Marvina Melton – trns. to Pickering High)
On motion of Gaye McKee, seconded by Philip Gunn, the Board voted to approve budget amendments related to personnel changes.
Kim Nugent, supervisor, recognized the 2005 Students-of-the-Year at the elementary, jr. high and high school levels from throughout the parish as follows:
Hicks Elementary, Nataley Sherman
Hornbeck Elementary, Haley Brister
Vernon Middle, Trinity Woods
Pickering Elementary, Amanda Schultz
Rosepine Elementary, Thomas Jeane
Simpson Elementary, Laiken Taylor
Anacoco Jr. High, Whitney Morrison
Evans Jr. High, Shelby Kennedy
Hicks Jr. High, Sonya Haase
Hornbeck Jr. High, Tyler Gentry
Leesville Jr. High, Jordan Anderson
Pickering Jr. High, Jessica Laramore
Rosepine Jr. High, Samatha Allardyce
Simpson Jr. High Miranda Dees
Anacoco High, Karra Porter
Evans High, Kelly Jordan
Hicks High, Julie Lack
Hornbeck High, Adrea Durr
Leesville High, Courtney Cavanaugh
Pickering High, Amanda Martin
Rosepine High, John Welborn
Pitkin High, no participant
Simpson High, no participant
The Parish Students-of-the-year were:
Trinity Woods, elementary, Jordan Anderson, jr. high and Kelly Jordan, high school.
Pam Andis, supervisor in the Technology Department, gave a presentation on the new website server. The web pages of the central office and the schools have been, or, are in the process of being updated. New or additional information will be posted on a daily basis and can be shared by the central office, the schools and can be readily accessed by the public.
In other business, Superintendent Gillespie spoke briefly about the upcoming LSBA convention, which will be held in Alexandria beginning March 3rd.
Also in other business, the Superintendent presented a request by the Maintenance Committee for a truck, which can be used by Keith Bush, assistant supervisor at the Maintenance Department, for traveling to all the schools.
On motion of James Armes, seconded by Gaye McKee, the Board voted to approve the purchase of the new truck. Mr. Smith requested that all trucks used by the Maintenance Department be of the same color and bear the Vernon Parish Schools Maintenance Department decal.
Gene Haymon, board president, appointed a special committee to address issues included in a new Memorandum of Agreement, which has been presented by Fort Polk for the Board’s approval and Superintendent Gillespie’s signature. Appointed to serve on the committee are Betty Westerchil, Chairperson, Superintendent Gillespie, Jackie Self,
Assistant Superintendent/Personnel Director, Pam Andis, Technology Supervisor, John Farris, Curriculum Director and Gene Haymon, Board President. The first meeting of the newly formed committee will be held on Tuesday, March 8th at 3:00 p.m preceding the 5:00 o’clock p.m. board meeting.
On motion of Betty Westerchil, on behalf of Willis Farris and seconded by the Board, the Board adopted the following memorial resolution:
WHEREAS, the Vernon Parish School Board was saddened by the recent death of Mr. Walter Austin Carver, of Burr Ferry; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Carver was the father of Mr. William Carver, principal at Evans High School; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Carver was a longtime resident of the Burr Ferry 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, along with its heartfelt condolences, to Mr. William Carver and his family at this time of sorrow.
On motion of Philip Gunn, seconded by the Board, the Board adopted the following memorial resolution:
WHEREAS, the Vernon Parish School Board records with sadness the recent death of Heather Roark, senior at Leesville High School; and
WHEREAS, Heather’s pleasing personality, respectful attitude and school involvement made her a favorite among her peers and she will be sadly missed by her family and friends and the administration, faculty and staff at Leesville High School; now
BE IT THEREFORE RESOLVED that the Board requests a copy of this memorial resolution, along with its heartfelt condolences, be sent to Heather’s parents, Greg and Donna Roark and their family at this time of bereavement.
On motion of Philip Gunn, seconded by James Armes, 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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M. GENE HAYMON, BOARD PRESIDENT
ATTEST:
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DR. CYNTHIA GILLESPIE, SUPERINTENDENT