May 5, 2005
THE PARISH SCHOOL BOARD OF VERNON PARISH LOUISIANA CONVENED IN REGULAR SESSION, MAY 5, 2005, AT 10:00, 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
WILLIS A. FARRIS
W.R. ”r;RANDY” MARTIN
B.R. HARVEY
PHILIP L. GUNN
GAYE McKEE
COL. A.WADE WOOLFREY
There was also present Dr. Cynthia Gillespie, Secretary of the Board.
The meeting was opened in prayer by Mel Harris.
The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Robert Pynes, Jr.
On motion of Gaye McKee, seconded by Mark Smith, the Board voted to approve and dispense with the reading of the minutes of April 12, 2005.
Curtis Clay recognized students from the following schools: Anacoco Elementary, Anacoco High, Simpson High, West Leesville Elementary and Hornbeck High. Each honored student was presented a certificate for his or her outstanding achievement.
Leesville High School faculty member, Penny Williams, along with students, Kallyn Jones and Wes Tunuufi Sauvao, presented a power points program on Student2Student (S2S) Transitioning. The presentation described how the program trains students to welcome and assist in-coming students in developing peer relationships and providing information about the school in areas of academics, sports and even the town. The Student2Student program is funded by the Military Child Coalition.
On motion of Ricky Reese, seconded by Mel Harris, the Board voted to approve the 2005-06 Food Service Price Quotation Calendar. SEE ATTACHED
On motion of Ricky Reese, seconded by Mark Smith, the Board voted to approve a resolution providing for canvassing the returns and declaring the results of the special elections held in (i) the Parish of Vernon, State of Louisiana, for school purposes, (ii) Hornbeck School District No. 143 of the Parish of Vernon, Louisiana, (iii) Orange 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.
On motion of Randy Martin, seconded by Betty Westerchil, the Board voted to award the low bid, in the amount of $2,890,00.00, for the Pickering Construction project to Pat Williams Construction.
On recommendation of Superintendent Gillespie and on motion of James Armes, seconded by Randy Martin, the Board voted to name Laura Nash as Technology Software Facilitator at the Special Education Department.
On motion of Gaye McKee, seconded by B.R. Harvey, the Board voted to appoint Steve Thomas as principal at Rosepine High School for the 2005-06 school year. This is a one-year, non-promotional position created by Principal Charles Lewis’ sabbatical leave.
On motion of Mark Smith, seconded by Gaye McKee, the Board voted to advertise for a principal at Simpson High School.
On motion of Randy Martin, seconded by Willis Farris, the Board voted to advertise for two positions at the Maintenance Department; one for air conditioning and one for kitchen equipment.
Mr. Gunn reported that the Salary/Personnel Committee had reviewed all personnel changes for May and will present the Committee’s recommendations to the full Board for approval on May 10th.
In other business, Mrs. Westerchil offered a resolution commending all Vernon Parish teachers for the outstanding student test scores, which placed Vernon Parish third in the State in test scores.
WHEREAS, the Vernon Parish School Board is pleased that the test scores of our students continue to improve and that our parish’s 2003-04 scores placed Vernon Parish third in the state; and
WHEREAS, the Vernon Parish School Board commends and congratulates our very capable, qualified, and quality teachers for their untiring efforts dedicated to the education and future of the students entrusted to them; and
WHEREAS, our teachers incorporate the information and materials made available to them into their lesson plans and utilize every opportunity afforded them to prepare their students for testing and the accomplishments realized by the 2003-04 scores are a direct result of great teaching; now
BE IT THEREFORE RESOLVED, that the Board adopts this resolution of appreciation and congratulations to all Vernon Parish teachers for preparing and inspiring our students to attain these outstanding test results.
On motion of Gaye McKee, seconded by the Board, the Board adopted the following memorial resolution:
WHEREAS, the Vernon Parish School Board takes this means to express its sincere condolences to the family of Mrs. Louise Cormier, of Jennings, who recently passed away; and
WHEREAS, Mrs. Cormier was the grandmother of Mrs. Chris Hinson and Mrs. Melissa Ducote, teachers at Rosepine Elementary 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. Hinson and Mrs. Ducote and their family at this time of sorrow.
On motion of Mark Smith, seconded by the Board, the Board adopted the following memorial resolution:
WHEREAS, the members of the Vernon Parish School Board were saddened by the death of Mrs. Pat Lawrence, of Leesville, who recently passed away; and
WHEREAS, Mrs. Lawrence was a retired teacher who had dedicated more than twenty years to educating Vernon Parish students; now
BE IT THEREFORE RESOLVED that the Board request that a copy of this memorial resolution be sent to Mr. Claude Lawrence and his family at this time of bereavement.
On motion of James Armes, seconded by the Board, the Board adopted the following memorial resolution:
WHEREAS, the Vernon Parish School Board was deeply saddened by the recent untimely death of Dustin Clemons, sophomore at Louisiana State University; and
WHEREAS, Dustin was a 2003 graduate of Leesville High School where he excelled both academically and in athletics and student government; and
WHEREAS, Dustin was the nephew of Ms. Phoebe Clemons, retired aide at Pickering Elementary School. He will be sadly missed by his family, former classmates and friends
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 sincere condolences to Mrs. Barbara Battiste, longtime teacher at Leesville Jr. High School, in the recent death of her husband, Mr. Sullivan Battiste; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Battiste formerly served our community as a city council and a part-time deputy sheriff, 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. Battiste and her family at this time of sorrow.
On motion of Randy Martin, seconded by the Board, the Board adopted the following memorial resolution:
WHEREAS, the members of the Vernon Parish School Board take this means to convey their heartfelt sympathies to the family of Mr. Melvin E. Gordon, of Leesville, who recently passed away; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Gordon was a retired bus driver at Pickering High School and served our community as a deputy sheriff, and as Ward Four constable for many years: now
BE IT THEREFORE RESOLVED that the Board requests a copy of this memorial resolution be sent to Mrs. Madge Gordon and her family at this time of sorrow.
On motion of Ricky Reese, seconded by the Board, the Board adopted the following memorial resolution:
WHEREAS, the Vernon Parish School Board wishes to convey its heartfelt condolences to the family of Mrs. Daisy Laurence, of Anacoco, who recently passed away; and
WHEREAS, Mrs. Laurence was the mother of Mrs. Diane Stokes, retired teacher at Anacoco Elementary School and the mother-in-law of Mr. Don Stokes, retired Anacoco Elementary School principal; and
WHEREAS, Mrs. Laurence 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 Mr. and Mrs. Stokes and their family at this time of sorrow.
On motion of Randy Martin, seconded by the Board, the Board adopted the following memorial resolution:
WHEREAS, the Vernon Parish School Board takes this means to express its sincere condolences to the family of Mrs. Prentice McKellar, of Oberlin, who recently passed away; and
WHEREAS, was a former city administrator for Leesville and a retired educator in Beauregard Parish and he will be sadly missed by his family and friends; now
BE IT THEREFORE RESOLVED that the Board request a copy of this memorial resolution be sent to Mr. McKellar’s family at this time of bereavement.
On motion of Randy Martin, seconded by the Board, the Board adopted the following memorial resolution:
WHEREAS, the Vernon Parish School Board wishes to express its heartfelt condolences to Mrs. Joan Menard, cook at Pickering Elementary School in the recent death of her husband, Mr. Gerald Menard; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Menard was a longtime resident of Vernon Parish 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. Menard and her family at this time of sorrow.
They’re 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