MARCH 2, 2006

THE PARISH SCHOOL BOARD OF VERNON PARISH LOUISIANA CONVENED IN REGULAR SESSION, MARCH 2, 2006 AT 10:00 A.M., AT 201 BELVIEW ROAD, LEESVILLE,, LA.

PRESIDENT PYNES CALLED THE MEETING TO ORDER AND ON ROLL CALL THE FOLLOWING MEMBERS WERE PRESENT:

 ROBERT PYNES JR., PRESIDENT

JAMES K. ARMES, III

MEL HARRIS

MARK H. SMITH

BETTY WESTERCHIL

GLENNIE FARRIS

W.R. "RANDY" MARTIN

B.R. HARVEY

GAYE MCKEE

M. GENE HAYMON

COL. A. WADE WOOLFREY

ABSENT:        RICKY REESE - BUSINESS

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

The meeting was opened in prayer by Robert Pynes, Jr.

The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Mel Harris.

On motion of Mark Smith, seconded by Gaye McKee, the Board voted to approve and dispense with the reading of the minutes of February 7, 2006.

On motion of Randy Martin, seconded by Gaye McKee, the Board voted to approve a motion to advertise for bids to sell a used activity bus at Pickering High School.

On motion of Gaye McKee, seconded by B.R. Harvey, the Board voted to receive bids to tear down and remove an old storage building at Rosepine Elementary.  No bids were received and on recommendation of Tim Ward, and on motion by Gaye McKee, seconded by Gene Haymon, the Board approved for the Maintenance Department to tear down and dispose of the building.

On motion of Gene Haymon, seconded by Randy Martin, the Board voted to approve a motion to approve a resolution for the Ward 8 Wardwide School District #151- Hicks of the Vernon Parish School Board authorizing and providing for the incurrence of indebtedness for the purpose of providing a portion of the cost of acquiring, constructing, enlarging, improving, and/or extending its Ward 8 Wardwide School District -Hicks School - Vernon Parish facility to serve an area lawfully within its jurisdiction to serve.

On recommendation of Superintendent Gillespie and on motion of Mel Harris, seconded by the Board, Maxine Gunn will serve the unexpired term of her husband, Mr. Philip Gunn, District Six Board Member.

 Mark Smith reported that the Salary/Personnel Committee had reviewed the personnel  changes for March and would make its recommendation to the Board at the Tuesday, March 7, 2006 Board Meeting.

On motion of Mel Harris, seconded by Betty Westerchil, the Board approved to sell the school building at the Vernon Parish Fairgrounds to the Fair Board.

In other business, Dr. Gillespie reminded the Board of the reception for retired teachers on March 16th at 10:00AM.  Dr. Gillespie also noted that the Kiwanis Club had set up a scholarship fund for Philip Gunn and that the Central Office would be making a donation in memory of Mr. Gunn.  Dr. Gillespie reminded Board Members that the April 6th Board meeting would be held at Fort Polk.

 Dr. Gillespie informed the Board that B.R. Harvey would resign at the end of this month due to his health.  On motion of Mark Smith, seconded by James Armes, the Board regretfully accepted the resignation of B. R. Harvey effective March 31, 2006.

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 Vernon Parish School Board records with grief and sadness the recent death of Mr. Philip Gunn, District Six Board Member; and

            WHEREAS, Mr. Gunn was the husband of Maxine Gunn, and the brother-in-law of Zenobia Wilson, receptionist at the Central Office; and

            WHEREAS, Mr. Gunn was a devoted School Board Member, having served Vernon Parish for nearly twenty years and was president for two years; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Gunn enjoyed seeing students recognized by the Board and quickly led the applause as we recognized these students; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Gunn was a civic-minded gentleman who was always willing to help anyone in need; and  

WHEREAS, Mr. Gunn was involved in many organizations in our Parish and will be sadly missed by his family, friends, residents of District Six, and the Vernon Parish School Board Members; now

BE IT THEREFORE RESOLVED that the Board requests a copy of this memorial resolution be sent, along with their heartfelt condolences, to Maxine Gunn, Zenobia Wilson, and their families at this time of sorrow.

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 wish to express their sincere condolences to the family of Claude Daniel "Danny" Stewart, of DeRidder who recently passed away; and

            WHEREAS, Mr. Stewart was the husband of Mechele Stewart, teacher at South Polk Elementary School; and 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. Stewart and her family at this time of sorrow.

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 takes this means to express their sympathy to the family of Fern Parker of Simpson who recently passed away; and

            WHEREAS, Fern Parker was the mother-in-law of Shirley Parker, retired cook at Simpson High School; and

            WHEREAS, Fern Parker was a long time resident of Simpson and will be greatly missed by her friends and family; now

            BE IT THEREFORE RESOLVED, that the Board requests a copy of this memorial resolution be sent to Shirley Parker and her family at this time of sadness.

On motion of Robert Pynes, 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 sincere condolences to the family of Dewey A. Creasey, of Leesville, who recently passed away; and

            WHEREAS, Mr. Creasey was the father-in-law of Elizabeth Creasey, a paraprofessional at East Leesville Elementary School; and

            WHEREAS, Mr. Creasey was a long time resident of the Leesville/Vernon Parish area, and 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 Elizabeth Creasey and her family at this time of sadness.

On motion of B.R. Harvey and 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 sincere condolences to the family of Curtis Davis, of Pitkin, who recently passed away; and

            WHEREAS, Mr. Davis was the father of Deborah Perry, a teacher at Rosepine Elementary School; and

            WHEREAS, Mr. Davis was a long time resident of Pitkin, and will be sadly missed by his family and friends; now

            BE IT THEREFORE RESOLVED that the Vernon Parish School Board requests a copy of this memorial resolution be sent to Deborah Perry and her family at this time of sadness.

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 takes this means to express its sympathy to the family of Elmer "Janie" McDonald, who recently passed away; and

            WHEREAS, Mrs. McDonald was the mother-in-law of Odom M. McKee, retired Rosepine High School bus driver; and

            WHEREAS, Mrs. McDonald was a lifelong resident of the Rosepine area, and 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 Odom McKee and his 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 wish to express their sympathy to the family of Ettarene Sessions, who recently passed away; and

            WHEREAS, Ettarene Sessions was the sister of Susie Davis, teacher at Rosepine Elementary School; and

            WHEREAS, Ettarene  Sessions was a resident of Fort Worth, Texas and 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 Susie Davis and her 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 wish to express their sympathy to the family of Donna Richardson, who recently passed away; and

WHEREAS, Donna Richardson was the sister-in-law of Sharon Richardson, cook at Rosepine High School; and

            WHEREAS, Donna Richardson was a resident of Wichita, Kansas and 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 Sharon Richardson 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.

 _____________________________________

ROBERT PYNES, JR., BOARD PRESIDENT

ATTEST:

_______________________________________

DR. CYNTHIA A. GILLESPIE, SUPERINTENDENT