March 8, 2005

 

THE PARISH SCHOOL BOARD OF VERNON PARISH LOUISIANA CONVENED IN REGULAR SESSION, MARCH 8, 2005 AT 5:00 P.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

MEL HARRIS

MARK H. SMITH

BETTY WESTERCHIL

RICKY REESE

W.R. ”r;RANDY” MARTIN

PHILIP L. GUNN

GAYE McKEE

COL. A. WADE WOOLFREY

 

ABSENT:               JAMES K. ARMES, III

                                B.R. HARVEY, WIFE’S ILLNESS

                                WILLIS A. FARRIS, ILLNESS

 

There was also present Dr. Cynthia Gillespie, Secretary of the Board.

 

The meeting was opened in prayer by Gaye McKee.

 

The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Philip Gunn.

 

 On motion of Gaye McKee, seconded by Philip Gunn, the Board voted to approve and dispense with the reading of the minutes of March 3, 2005.

 

On recommendation of Superintendent Gillespie and on motion of Randy Martin, seconded by Gaye McKee, the Board to approve the following resignations:

 

Susan Chapman, teacher/South Polk

Leticia Ferguson, teacher/Pickering High

Silvia Van Ausdoll, cook/South Polk

Jessica Rosenstrauch, teacher/Pickering Elementary

Michelle Anderson, teacher/West Preschool

Melody Nix, teacher/Pickering Elementary

Beverly Williams, teacher/Leesville High

 

On recommendation of Superintendent Gillespie and on motion Robert Pynes, seconded by Randy Martin, the Board voted to approve the attached list of new employees:

 

Debra Liddell, teacher/Pickering Elementary (replacing Jessica Rosenstrauch – resigned)

Renelle Davis, teacher/Simpson High (1/14/05 – 5/27/05 replacing Ron Roy – trns. to assistant principal)

Kenneth Smart, electrician/Maintenance Department

 

On motion of Mark Smith, seconded by Gaye McKee, the Board voted to approve budget

amendments related to personnel changes.

 

On motion of Randy Martin, seconded by Philip Gunn, the Board voted to enter into executive session for 30 minutes to discuss a personnel matter. The time was recorded at 5:05 p.m.

 

On motion of Randy Martin, seconded by Mark Smith, the Board voted to come out of executive session at 5:35 p.m. and resume order.

 

On motion of Randy Martin, seconded by Ricky Reese, the Board voted to re-enter executive session for a period of 30 minutes to continue discussion of the personnel matter. The time was recorded at 5:36 p.m.

 

On motion of Randy Martin, seconded by Mark Smith, the Board voted to come out of executive session at 6:00 p.m. and resume order.

 

Mrs. Westerchil gave a report from the Fort Polk Study Committee meeting. In her report, Mrs. Westerchil stated that the Committee had addressed Fort Polk issues that were brought to the Committee. Laura Clark and Sandra Whitlock shared curriculum findings during visits made in San Antonio. Additionally, Anne Smith and John Farris discussed the Fort Polk Memorandum of Agreement, Pam Andis discussed web sites and Sonja Funderburk addressed the Vernon Parish Parent Involvement Policy and Documentation Log.

 

In other business, Superintendent Gillespie announced the death of Alice Lack, secretary at the Vernon Parish School Board Special Education Department.

 

Also in other business, Superintendent Gillespie also announced that Mrs. Betty Westerchil had been appointed to the Board of Directors for the Orchard Foundation.

 

In further business, Superintendent Gillespie announced a meeting of the Maintenance Committee, which will be held on Tuesday April 12th at 9:30 a.m.

  

On motion of Mark Smith, 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 heartfelt condolences to the family of Mrs. Mary Lou Poe, retired cafeteria manager at Hicks High School; and

                                WHEREAS, Mrs. Poe was the mother of Ms. Sally Meade, bus driver at Hicks High School and Ms. Patricia Robinson, aide at Pitkin High School, and the grandmother of Ms. Donna Kay Brown, aide at Hicks 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 Ms. Meade, Ms. Robinson, Ms. Brown and their family at this time of sorrow.

 

On motion of Ricky Reese, 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 records with grief and sadness the recent death of Mrs. Alice Lack, secretary at the Vernon Parish Special Education Department; and                                WHEREAS, Alice was a loyal, dedicated and very capable employee who fulfilled her duties with knowledge and understanding of the operations of the Special Education  Department; and   

                             WHEREAS, Alice was the wife of Aubrey Lack, electrician at the Maintenance Department, the mother of Wesley Lack, computer technician, and the mother-in-law of Tracy Lack, paraprofessional at Anacoco High School; and

                                WHEREAS, Alice was active in many community activities and organizations 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 Aubrey, Wesley and Tracy Lack and their family at this time of sorrow.

                               

On motion of Ricky Reese, 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 were deeply saddened by the recent death of Eric Alford, former Hornbeck High School student; and

                                WHEREAS, Eric was the son of Mrs. Geri Alford, Special Education paraprofessional, Hornbeck High School, and the brother of Allison Alford, ninth grader, and Katelyn Alford, first grader at Hornbeck School; and

                                WHEREAS, Eric will be sadly missed by his family, his friends, the faculty and staff and his former classmates at Hornbeck High School; now

                                BE IT THEREFORE RESOLVED that the Board requests a copy of this memorial resolution be sent, along with its heartfelt condolences, to Ryan and Geri Alford and their 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 members of the Vernon Parish School Board take this means to express their heartfelt condolences to the family of Mr. Bobby David Vernier, of Lake Charles, who recently passed away; and

                                WHEREAS, Mr. Vernier was the father of Ms. Terri Vernier James, substitute teacher and tutor 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. James 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.

____________________________________

M. GENE HAYMON, BOARD PRESIDENT

 

ATTEST:

__________________________________________

DR. CYNTHIA GILLESPIE, SUPERINTENDENT