May 10, 2005
THE PARISH SCHOOL BOARD OF VERNON PARISH LOUISIANA CONVENED IN REGULAR SESSION, MAY 10, 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
GAYE McKEE
ABSENT: COL. A.WADE WOOLFREY, ANOTHER COMMITMENT
WILLIS A. FARRIS, ILLNESS
PHILIP GUNN, ILLNESS
There was also present Dr. Cynthia Gillespie, Secretary of the Board.
The meeting was opened in prayer by Robert Pynes, Jr.
The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Ricky Reese.
On motion of Gaye McKee, seconded by B.R. Harvey, the Board voted to approve and dispense with the reading of the minutes of May 5, 2005.
On recommendation of Superintendent Gillespie and on motion of Ricky Reese, seconded by Mark Smith, the Board to approve resignations.
Amarie Burwell, teacher/Pickering Elementary
Tommie G. Merriman, ECE aide/Simpson
Larissa Filler, teacher/Pickering High
Lana Leau, teacher/Pickering High
Michael Taylor, teacher/Pickering Elementary
Venny Jones, teacher/Pickering High
Sharon Payne, teacher/Pickering Elementary
Marcey Gaiton, teacher/Pickering Elementary
Angela Ford, SPED aide/N. Polk
David Montiel, teacher/Leesville High
Julie Work, teacher/ S. Polk
Danielle Kennedy, teacher/S. Polk
Kenny Haymon, SPED aide/Vernon Middle
Julie Paulin, teacher/Pickering Elementary
John R. Edwards, teacher/Simpson High
Aubrey Lack, maintenance/central office
Christine Thornburg, teacher/Pickering High
Karen LeMay, teacher/Pickering High
On recommendation of Superintendent Gillespie and on motion of Gaye McKee, seconded by Mel Harris, the Board voted to approve sabbatical leave requests.
Lisa Causey, teacher/S. Polk, medical, 8/9/05 – 1/17/06
Stacey Mills, teacher/N. Polk, professional, 8/9/05 – 5/25/06
Charlotte Goins, teacher/Rosepine Elementary, medical, 8/9/05 – 5/25/06
On recommendation of Superintendent Gillespie and on motion of Robert Pynes, seconded by Mark Smith, the Board voted to approve requests for leave without pay.
Renita Hampton, cook/Hornbeck, medical, 3/11/05 – 5/27/05
Andrea Blackwell, custodian/Vernon Middle, medical, 4/8/05 – 6/11/05
On recommendation of Superintendent Gillespie and on motion of Gaye McKee, seconded by Randy Martin, the Board voted to approve employee transfers.
Chevella Williams, cook/LJHS to assist.manager/Vernon Middle (replacing Shirley Straight – trans. to LJHS/assist. Manager)
Betty Jeane, Gen. Fund aide/Anacoco High to secretary (replacing Judy Dowden)
Judy Dowden, secretary/Anacoco High to Gen. Fund Aide (replacing Betty Jeane – trans. to sec.)
Ethel Boles, aide/North Polk to aide/Simpson (replacing Tommie Merriman – resigned)
Dwain Ducote, assistant principal Pickering High to assistant principal/Rosepine High, a one-year, non-promotional position, (replacing Steve Thomas – transferred to principal)
James Wesley, principal/Vernon to assistant principal/West (Tamra Krenek – retired)
On recommendation of Superintendent Gillespie and on motion of Betty Westerchil, seconded by James Armes, the Board voted to approve new employees.
Lillian Olazagasti, teacher/S. Polk (replacing Julie Work – resigned)
Laura Haden, teacher/S. Polk (replacing Danielle Kennedy – resigned)
Cheryl Thibeault, teacher/S. Polk (replacing Kathleen Whetsel)
Angela Groves, teacher/Pickering Elementary (replacing Sharon Payne – resigned)
Elizabeth Kochis, teacher/Pickering Elementary (replacing Julie Paulin – resigned)
Stace Rasberry, teacher, Honors English/Anacoco High (new position)
Cassie Reed, teacher/Pickering Elementary (replacing Marcey Gaiton – resigned)
Jimmy Funderburk, Director of Trans. & Food Services (retiree return to work)
On motion of Robert Pynes, seconded by Mel Harris, the Board voted to approve budget amendments related to personnel changes.
Ron DeGray, GATES administrator, and Ida Darby, teacher, presented GED certificates to Dustin Williams and La-Tonya Colton, additionally, each was presented JAG certificates. Also receiving a JAG certificate was Jared Chapman. Kayla Nash, who had also earned a GED, was not present to receive her certificate.
May 10, 2005
Tom Neubert, Director, and Dody Wallace, head nurse, introduced and recognized the Vernon Parish School nurses in observance of Louisiana School Nurses Day, Wednesday, May 11th, and National Nurses Week. Nurses present were: Gina Grant, Tammy Bankson, Joan Smith, and Donna Ward. The following nurses were out in the schools and were unable to attend: Sharon Beckcom, Norma Frisby, Gina Grant, Cindy Howell, Shawnee Powell, Jancie Turnagae, Helen Phillips, Melissa Sweat and Cheryl Smythe.
Pam Andis, Supervisor, recognized the Pickering High School Quiz Bowl Team, the 2005 Vernon Parish Quiz Bowl Champion. Each student received a Superintendent’s Certificate for this highly commendable accomplishment. The team’s sponsor was Mr. Ronald Skaggs.
Curtis Clay, Superintendent Gillespie, Board members, and principals recognized students from the following schools: Hicks, Evans, Rosepine High, Pitkin, Leesville Jr. High, Pickering High and Leesville High. Each honored student was presented a Superintendent’s Certificate for his or her outstanding achievement.
On motion of Mark Smith, seconded by Betty Westerchil, the Board voted to advertise for a secretary at the Special Education Department.
On motion from the Transportation Committee, the Board voted to rescind the current policy regarding a child being left on a school bus and adopt the following policy:
First Offense: Driver will be suspended for a minimum of 60 days without pay.
A full investigation will follow and the Board will decide if further action is necessary.
If a bus alarm is found to be disabled or disconnected, the driver will be immediately terminated.
Second Offense: Driver will be immediately terminated.
On motion of Gaye McKee, seconded by James Armes, the Board voted to open bids on a bus for Head Start. The only bid received was submitted by Ross Bus Sales in the amount of $65,555.00.
On motion of Mark Smith, seconded by James Armes, the Board voted to take the bid under advisement and if it meets all specifications, accept the bid.
On motion of Mark Smith, seconded by Gaye McKee, the Board voted to open bids for paper towels for 2005-06. Bids received as follows:
BIDDER BID PER UNIT
Hernandez $15.35 per case
S & M Food Service $15.75 per case
West Central Wholesale $14.10 per case
On motion of Ricky Reese, seconded by Betty Westerchil, the Board voted to take all bids under advisement and award the lowest bid that meets specifications.
On motion of Gene Haymon, 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 was deeply saddened by the recent death of Mr. Wesley N. ”r;Wes” Ward, of Pineville; and
WHEREAS, Wes was the son of Mrs. Sabra Browning, Education Coordinator at West Leesville Preschool Head Start; and
WHEREAS, Wes was formerly of Simpson and a graduate of Simpson High 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. Browning, along with its heartfelt sympathies to her and her family, at this time of sorrow.
On motion of Ricky Reese, seconded by Mark Smith, the Board voted to authorize the president and secretary to pay 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