April 12, 2005
THE PARISH SCHOOL BOARD OF VERNON PARISH LOUISIANA CONVENED IN REGULAR SESSION, APRIL 12, 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:
ROBERT PYNES, JR., VICE-PRESIDENT
JAMES K. ARMES, III
MEL HARRIS
MARK H. SMITH
BETTY WESTERCHIL
PHILIP GUNN
RICKY REESE
M. GENE HAYMON, PRESIDENT
W.R. ”r;RANDY” MARTIN
B.R. HARVEY
GAYE McKEE
ABSENT: M. GENE HAYMON, TRAINING CONFERENCE
WILLIS FARRIS, ILLNESS
COL. A. WADE WOOLFREY, TDY
There was also present Dr. Cynthia Gillespie, Secretary of the Board.
The meeting was opened in prayer by James Armes.
The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Mr. Alton Bailey’s Head Start Class.
On motion of Philip Gunn, seconded by Gaye McKee, the Board voted to approve and dispense with the reading of the minutes of April 7, 2005.
On motion of Mark Smith, seconded by James Armes the Board voted to move agenda item 18 up to item 10.
On recommendation of Superintendent Gillespie and on motion of Randy Martin, seconded by Philip Gunn, the Board to approve the following resignations:
Michelle Burke, custodian/Optional School
Sherry Russell, teacher/Pickering Elementary
Sylvia Jones, Title I paraprofessional/West Leesville Elem.
Vicki Snowden, counselor(retiree)/Pickering Elementary
Mary McCormick, teacher/Pickering Elementary
Kathleen Whetsel, teacher/South Polk
Donna Adams, teacher/Vernon Middle
On recommendation of Superintendent Gillespie and on motion of Gaye McKee, seconded by Randy Martin, the Board voted to approve the following sabbatical leave requests:
Betty Hale, teacher/Optional School, medical, 2005-06 school year
Charles Lewis, principal/Rosepine High School, medical, 2005-2006 school year
On recommendation of Superintendent Gillespie and on motion of, seconded by, the Board voted to approve the following request for a leave without pay:
Cetrice Acey, SPED aide/East Leesville Elementary, medical 3/1/05 – 3/1/06
On recommendation of Superintendent Gillespie and on motion of, seconded by, the Board voted to approve the attached list of new employees:
Deanna Hurt, teacher/Leesville High School (replacing Beverly Williams – resigned)
Donnis Herrington, cook/S. Polk Elementary (replacing Silvia Van Ausdoll - resigned)
On motion of Mark Smith, seconded by B.R. Harvey, the Board voted to approve budget amendments related to personnel changes.
Superintendent Gillespie introduced Mrs. Vickie Karamales and Mr. Terry Grose, sponsors of the ”r;Cordell Upshaw Jump Rope for Heart” fundraiser for The American Heart Association, held at Vernon Middle School. Two students, Jessica Jackson and Shauntrice Woodberry earned $1,000.00 each. Each of the following students earned at least $200.00: Hillary Schraven, Teirse Brankel, Brianna Harris, Jacey Covington, Eleni Rice, Cody Barras, Tiana Marshall, Shannon Brown, Ciara Holt, Tony Eldridge, Laryn Ward, Adam Woods, Zackary Squyres, Kylie McGee, Kaleb Bennett, Tyler Yamashita and Logan Carr. Mrs. Alice Upshaw Guess, Mrs. Karamales and Mr. Grose presented certificates to each of the students recognized.
Ron DeGray and Ida Darby presented Parish Certificates of Achievement to the JAG-LA students for their achievements of state honors the 9th Annual Career Development Conference held in Lafayette on March 22nd as follows:
Angel Hulsey, 1st place essay writing, Rabecka Baldwin, 1st place art, 1st employability skills and 3rd place outdoor competition, Candace Davis, 3rd place public speaking and 3rd place outdoor competition. Placing 3rd in outdoor competition were: Shamika Long, Jared Chapman, Elliott Hardy, Alan Harmer, Eric Souders, Randi Abel and Danyell Benge was recognized for her accomplishment as Project Coordinator, seeing that projects were completed in a timely manner.
Terry Ward, Commander of Troop E, Louisiana State Police and Jeffery Covington, Public Information officer for Troop E, discussed state police efforts to further community involvement and better relationships with the public. Officer Covington addressed safety programs available for schools and expressed his willingness to bring the programs to schools upon request.
In a report from the Transportation Committee, James Armes, Chairperson, said the Committee had addressed two issues, the first being the fuel adjustment scale that was approved on November 9, 2004. The Committee recommended placing a $3.50 cap on the fuel adjustment and on motion of Ricky Reese, seconded by James Armes the scale was approved as follows:
$1.25 – 1.50 .10 per mile one way
$1.51 – 1.75 .15 per mile one way
$1.76 – 2.00 .20 per mile one way
$2.01 – 2.25 .25 per mile one way
$2.26 – 2.50 .30 per mile one way
$2.51 – 2.75 .35 per mile one way
$2.76 – 3.00 .40 per mile one way
$3.01 – 3.25 .45 per mile one way
$3.26 – 3.50 .50 per mile one way
James Armes addressed the second issue discussed by the Transportation Committee, which was the policy regarding a child being left on a bus at the end of the route and recommended changing the policy to a case-by-case basis.
On motion James Armes, seconded by Randy Martin, to suspend the policy on a child being left on a bus, before the holding the executive session on the day’s agenda. A roll call vote was taken with results as follows:
YEA NAY
James Armes X
Mel Harris X
Robert Pynes, Jr. X
Mark Smith X
Betty Westerchil X
Ricky Reese X
Willis Farris Absent
Randy Martin X
B.R. Harvey X
Philip Gunn X
Gaye McKee X
Gene Haymon Absent
By vote of 5 to 5, the present policy stayed in place.
On motion of James Armes, seconded by Philip Gunn, the Board voted to take the policy change under study and make bus alarms mandatory on all buses by the beginning of the 2005-06 school year. As previously approved, the equipment and installation will be paid the Board.
On motion of Betty Westerchil, seconded by James Armes, the Board voted to go into executive session for 45 minutes to discuss a personnel matter. The time was recorded at 11:05 a.m.
On motion of Philip Gunn, seconded by Ricky Reese, the Board voted to come out of executive session and resume order at 11:50 a.m.
On motion of James Armes, seconded by Randy Martin, the Board voted to suspend the employee without pay until the end of the 2004-05 school year.
Mrs. Westerchil suggested adding one or two new members to the Transportation Committee to assist in the study of the policy concerning a child being left on a bus.
Mr. Gunn volunteered to serve.
A meeting of the Transportation Committee was scheduled for May 10th at 9:00 a.m.
On motion of Philip Gunn, seconded by Mel Harris, the Board voted to name school employees for 2005-06.
ATTACHED
On motion of B.R. Harvey, seconded by Betty Westerchil, the Board voted to approve a change order for Pitkin construction in the amount of $33,445.31.
Tim Ward reminded the Board that Maintenance Tax renewals and a special called election for Hornbeck High School bleachers, which will be held on April 23rd.
On motion of Philip Gunn, seconded by Mark Smith, the Board voted to advertise for a Technology Software Facilitator at the Special Education Department.
On motion of Ricky Reese, seconded by Gaye McKee, the Board voted to approve the 2005-06 school calendar as follows:
August 8, 2005 New Teacher Induction
August 9, 2005 Staff Development
August 8, 2005 New Teacher Induction
August 9, 2005 Staff Development
August 10, 2005 Staff Development
August 11, 2005 Staff Development
August 12, 2005 Teacher Workday
August 15, 2005 First Day of School for Students
September 5, 2005 Labor Day (Students and Employees)
October 6, 2005 ½ Day Staff Development, ½ Day Parent/Teacher Conferences (Student Holiday)
October 7, 2005 Fair Day (Students & Employees)
November 11, 2005 Veteran’s Day (Students & Employees)
November 21-25, 2005 Thanksgiving/Fall Break (Students & Employees)
December 16, 2005 Staff Development (Student Holiday)
December 19-30, 2005 Christmas/Winter Break
January 2, 2006 Teacher Workday (Student Holiday-Employee Workday)
January 3, 2006 Students Return from Christmas/Winter Break)
January 16, 2006 Martin Luther King Day (Students & Employees
February 20, 2006 President’s Day (Employees & Students)
March 20-24, 2006 LEAP 21 ELA/M/Sc/SS Grades 4 & 8
GEE 21 ELA/M/Sc/SS Grades 10,11 & Re-testers
IOWA Tests (ITBS) Grades 3,5,6,7,
IOWA Tests (ITED) Grade 9
March 31, 2006 ½ Day Staff Development –1/2 day Parent/Teacher Conferences (Student Holiday)
April 14-21, 2006 Easter/Spring Bread (Employees & Students)
April 24-26, 2006 Old GEE Re-testers
May 24, 2006 ½ Day for Students (Testing) Full Day Employees
Mary 25, 2006 ½ Day for Students (Testing) Full Day Employees
LAST DAY OF SCHOOL
May 29, 2006 Memorial Day Holiday
On motion of James Armes, seconded by Mel Harris, the Board voted to advertise bids for a bus for Head Start.
On motion of Gaye McKee, seconded by Ricky Reese the Board voted to advertise bids for paper towels for the 2005-06 school year.
Betty Westerchil reported that the Curriculum Committee had met at 8:30 am and addressed three agenda items. 1) The Pitkin School-based Health Center pilot program was discussed and on motion of Mrs. Westerchil, seconded by Mel Harris, the Committee agreed to approve the program and allow the seeking of grants. 2) Brenda Bealer gave a Head Start Power Point presentation and announced the Head Start monitoring interviews would begin on Monday, April 25th. 3) The Committee discussed the proposed hiring of up to 10 new teachers for Honors/AP programs. No action was taken.
Randy Martin reported that the Maintenance Committee had discussed several proposals for energy savings at South Polk Elementary School. On recommendation of the Maintenance Committee and on motion of Mr. Martin, seconded by James Armes, the Board voted to award the contract to T.A.C.
In other business, on motion of Gaye McKee, seconded by Ricky Reese, the Board voted to advertise for a principal at Rosepine High School, a 1-year non-promotional appointment. Applications will be accepted until April 30th at 4:30 p.m.
On motion of B.R. Harvey, seconded by the Board, the Board adopted the following memorial resolution:
R E S O L U T I O N S
WHEREAS, the members of the Vernon Parish School Board wish to express their heartfelt condolences to the family of Mrs. Evelene James Wingate, of Pitkin, who recently passed away; and
WHEREAS, Mrs. Wingate was the mother-in-law of Mrs. Judy Wingate, teacher at Pitkin School; and
WHEREAS, Mrs. Wingate was a native and lifelong resident of Cravens 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. Judy Wingate and her family at this time of sorrow.
On motion of Ricky Reese, seconded by Gaye McKee, 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:
__________________________________________
DR. CYNTHIA GILLESPIE, SUPERINTENDENT