THE PARISH SCHOOL BOARD OF VERNON PARISH LOUISIANA CONVENED IN REGULAR SESSION OCTOBER 6, 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
PHILIP L. GUNN
B.R. HARVEY
GAYE McKEE
COL. A. WADE WOOLFREY
ABSENT: WILLIS A. FARRIS, ILLNESS
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 Ricky Reese, seconded by James Armes, the Board voted to approve and dispense with the reading of the minutes of September 6, 2005.
Mr. Gunn reported that the Salary/Personnel Committee had reviewed the list of personnel changes for October and would make its recommendation to the Board at the Tuesday, October 11th board meeting.
On motion of Betty Westerchil, seconded by Robert Pynes, Jr., the Board voted to enter into the process to receive SACS CASI District accreditation. Schools serving K-12 students in Vernon Parish schools have received school accreditation and will now work toward District accreditation.
On recommendation of Superintendent Gillespie and on motion of Ricky Reese, seconded by Philip Gunn, the Board voted 10 – 2 to name Janet Farris as secretary at the Maintenance Department. James Armes and Randy Martin voted no.
Superintendent Gillespie led a discussion concerning hurricane related issues. She asked Mrs. Westerchil to set up a Curriculum Committee meeting to address class size waiver and modifying the school calendar to insure classroom minutes requirements are met. All Vernon Parish schools re-opened for classes on Wednesday, October 5th except for the Rosepine schools where students will possibly return to class on Friday, October 7th. Parish students missed 8 days of school with the exception of Rosepine students who could miss as many as 10 or 11 days, and the teachers missed 7 days except for the Rosepine schools. The Committee will also address accountability and testing.
On motion of Philip Gunn, seconded by the Board, the Board adopted the following resolution of appreciation to KJAE Radio and its staff for the outstanding reporting of information related to hurricane Rita:
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, the Vernon Parish School Board takes this means to express its heartfelt appreciation to KJAE Radio management and staff for their untiring efforts to keep the public informed during and following the recent hurricane and its impact on our community; and
WHEREAS, the staff worked very closely with Superintendent Gillespie to reach all Vernon Parish families with information regarding school closures and re-openings; and
WHEREAS, the KJAE staff was available to our community as well as the surrounding communities to assist in obtaining information, speaking with citizens and being a welcomed voice throughout the days and nights when other means of communication were unavailable; now
BE IT THEREFORE RESOLVED that the Board adopts this resolution of appreciation for the KJAE management and staff for their forethought and planning that kept Vernon Parish families informed about our schools and other extremely important issues.
Colonel A. Wade Woolfrey voiced his appreciation to Superintendent Gillespie and the Vernon Parish School system for their quick rebound after the hurricane.
On motion of Betty Westerchil, seconded by the Board, the Board adopted the following resolution of appreciation to Superintendent Gillespie and all Vernon Parish employees for all their services during after Hurricane Rita.
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, the Vernon Parish School Board wishes to commend Dr. Cindy Gillespie, Superintendent, and her staff at the central office for the superb handling of the emergency situations related to Hurricanes Katrina and Rita; and
WHEREAS, Superintendent Gillespie and her staff endeavored tirelessly to find answers to the numerous questions and resolve many issues involving our schools and students, along with exhausting all efforts through to media to keep the community and families informed of ever-changing developments; and
WHEREAS, the many days and hours spent studying so many situations and finding solutions to problems and issues that closed our schools, resulted in our schools being re-opened, teachers and students back in the classroom and all other staff and employees back at their jobs in a very short time; now
BE IT THEREFORE RESOLVED that this Board adopts this resolution of appreciation and commendation to Superintendent Cindy Gillespie and her staff for their extraordinary efforts during this time of crisis and for the successful re-opening of our schools with a minimal number of days lost.
Superintendent Gillespie informed the Board that the Orchard Foundation had been contacted by a mother and son team who had arranged donations for school supplies to help provide materials needed by student evacuees. The Orchard Foundation has also written a grant to provide tutors for evacuees who were unable to attend school following the recent hurricanes but are now enrolled in Vernon Parish schools.
Superintendent Gillespie discussed with the Board, the Rapides Foundation High School Summit which will be on Tuesday, October 25th. The Board and 40 community leaders received invitations to attend the summit.
In other business, Ricky Reese made the Board aware that the Athletic Commission had raised the cost of drug testing for student athletes from $14.00 per student to $20.00 per student. The drug test is administered 3 times a year to 10% of all student athletes.
On motion of Ricky Reese, seconded by James Armes, the Board voted to reduce the percentage of athletes tested from 10% to 7% for one year.
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 was saddened by the recent death of Mr. Jay Andis, retired administrator at Anacoco High School, the husband of Mrs. Pam Andis, supervisor at the central office, the father of Mrs. Jai Lyn Dauzart, Head Start aide at Anacoco Elementary School and the son-in-law of Mr. W.W. ”r;Bill” Parker, retired administrator at Anacoco High School and former District Two board member; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Andis had a genuine love for all the students and families he served and worked very hard to assure them that he had their best interests in mind, along with his strong desire for their success; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Andis was an avid sportsman and participated and excelled in numerous sporting activities, which is another example of his zest for life; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Andis will be sadly missed by his family, his many friends, his colleagues, and his former students; now
BE IT THEREFORE RESOLVED that the Board requests a copy of this memorial resolution be sent, along with its heartfelt sympathies, to Mrs. Pam Andis, her children, and the entire family.
On motion of Betty Westerchil, 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 wish to express their heartfelt condolences to the family of Mr. Verdro Cryer, of Leesville, who recently passed away; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Cryer was the father of Mrs. Suzanne Rowe, SPED aide at Leesville High School, and the father-in-law of Mrs. Sherry Cryer, teacher at Vernon Middle School; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Cryer was well-known in the Leesville area where he will be remembered for his genuinely friendly and cooperative attitude and will be sadly missed by his family and many friends; now
BE IT THEREFORE RESOLVED that the Board requests a copy of this memorial resolution be sent to Mr. Cryer’s family at this time of sorrow.
On motion of Betty Westerchil, seconded by the Board, the Board adopted the following memorial resolution:
RESOLUTION
WHEREAS, the Vernon Parish School Board takes this means to express its heartfelt condolences to the family of Mrs. Carolyn Jeane, of Ponca City, Oklahoma, who recently passed away; and
WHEREAS, Mrs. Jeane was the mother of Mr. Charlie Balthrop, principal at South Polk Elementary School, and the mother-in-law of Mrs. Sherry Balthrop, teacher at East Leesville Elementary School, 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 Mr. and Mrs. Balthrop 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 Vernon Parish School Board wishes to express its heartfelt condolences to the family of Mr. Charnel ”r;C.J.” Bailey, of Rosepine, who recently passed away; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Bailey was the father of Ms. Charlotte R. Goins and Mrs. Lettie Owens, teachers at Rosepine Elementary School, and the father-in-law of Ms. Kendra Bailey, also a teacher at Rosepine Elementary School; now
BE IT THEREFORE RESOLVED that the Board request copies of this memorial resolution be sent to Mr. Bailey’s wife, Mrs. Bonnie Bailey, and her entire 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 Vernon Parish School Board wish to express its heartfelt sympathies to the family of Ms. Nadine Fletcher who recently passed away; and
WHEREAS, Ms. Fletcher was the sister-in-law of Danny Fletcher, teacher at Pitkin High School and Barbara Fletcher, teacher at Rosepine High School, 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. Fletcher’s family at this time of sorrow.
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
WHEREAS, the Vernon Parish School Board wishes to express its heartfelt sympathies to Mrs. Rae Strother, secretary in the Transportation/Food Services Department at the central office, in the recent death of her mother, Mrs. Gertie McDonald, lifelong resident of the Cora community; and
WHEREAS, Mrs. McDonald was well-known and loved in her community 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. Strother 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.
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M. GENE HAYMON, BOARD PRESIDENT
ATTEST:
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DR. CYNTHIA GILLESPIE, SUPERINTENDENT