March 7, 2006
THE PARISH SCHOOL BOARD OF VERNON PARISH LOUISIANA CONVENED IN REGULAR SESSION, MARCH 7, 2006 AT, 5:00 P.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. ”r;RANDY” MARTIN
B.R. HARVEY
GAYE MCKEE
M. GENE HAYMON
COL. A. WADE WOOLFREY
ABSENT: RICKY REESE – SCHOOL BUSINESS
There was also present Dr. Cynthia Gillespie, Secretary of the Board.
The meeting was opened in prayer by Gaye McKee.
The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Robert Pynes.
On motion of Gaye McKee, seconded by Mark Smith, the Board voted to approve and dispense with the reading of the minutes of March 2, 2006.
On recommendation of Superintendent Gillespie and on motion of Randy Martin, seconded by Glennie Farris, the Board voted to approve the following resignation:
Fred Sketoe-Hicks High School
On recommendation of Superintendent Gillespie and on motion of Mel Harris, seconded by Mark Smith, the Board voted to approve the following sabbatical leave requests:
Lawanda Sexton, teacher/LHS-Professional Sabbatical-2006-2007 school year
Karen Skinner, teacher/LHS-Professional Sabbatical-2006-2007 school year
On recommendation of Superintendent Gillespie and on motion of Gene Haymon, seconded by Gaye McKee, the Board voted to approve the following request for a leave without pay:
Melony Trowbridge, 2-15-06/3-31-06 - Medical
On recommendation of Superintendent Gillespie and on motion of Glennie Farris, seconded by Randy Martin, the Board voted to approve the following employee transfer:
Valerie Burnette, teacher/Optional School-trns to Evans (new 1st grade position due to overcrowding)
On recommendation of Superintendent Gillespie and on motion of Gaye McKee, seconded by Randy Martin, the Board voted to approve the following new employees.
Mike Moses, bus driver/Pickering Elem-replacing Wesley Grimes (resigned)
Deborah Boyd, custodian/North Polk-replacing Emerick Wilson (resigned)
On recommendation of Superintendent Gillespie and on motion of Betty Westerchil, seconded by Mark Smith, the Board voted to approve the following employee termination:
Ivy Adams, Headstart Aide – Job Abandonment
On motion of Randy Martin, seconded by Mel Harris, the Board voted to approve budget amendments related to personnel changes.
Retired Colonel and Mrs. Willie Banks, sponsors of the ”r;Dictionary Project” presented the Board with a dictionary. They provide all third grade students with dictionaries every year. Dr. Gillespie presented them with the Superintendent’s Certificate and thanked them for all they have done for the students in Vernon Parish.
Mrs. Kim Nugent presented the Students Of The Year from each school. Winners from the parish were Nicole Phillips, Elementary; Elizabeth Gautreaux, Jr. High; and Elise Cowan, High School.
The Board recognized B.R. Harvey as outgoing Ward Five Board Member and Dr. Gillespie represented him with a plaque for his many years of dedicated service.
On recommendation of Dr. Gillespie, and on motion of B.R. Harvey, seconded by Randy Martin, the Board approved Michael Perkins to fill Mr. Harvey’s unexpired term of Ward Five Board Member.
On motion of Mark Smith, seconded by James Armes, the Board voted to receive bids for bleachers at Leesville Jr. High School.One bid was received from Insight of Ruston for $35,000 and on motion of Mark Smith, seconded by Betty Westerchil, the Board voted to take this bid under advisement to check specifications.
On motion of James Armes, seconded by Betty Westerchil, the Board voted to receive bids for sandblasting/painting the bleachers at Leesville High School. One bid was received from Pat Williams Construction Company of Leesville for $145,000 and on motion of James Armes, seconded by Mark Smith, the Board voted to take this bid under advisement.
On motion of Gaye McKee, seconded by Betty Westerchil, the Board voted to receive bids for playground equipment at Rosepine Elementary School. One bid was received from Planet Recess for $36,167 and on motion of Gaye McKee, seconded by Randy Martin, the Board voted to take this bid under advisement. Mrs. McKee will discuss this with Rosepine Elementary.
On motion of Mark Smith, seconded by Betty Westerchil, the Board voted to advertise for bids for the JROTC Pavilion at Leesville High School.
On motion of Betty Westerchil, seconded by James Armes, the Board voted to advertise for bids for smoke detectors at Leesville Jr. High School.
On motion of James Armes, seconded by Betty Westerchil, the Board voted to advertise for bids for intercom/smoke detectors at Leesville High School.
Mark Smith gave a report from the Finance Committee. Mr. Smith reported that Mr. Tim Ward, Finance Director, gave an update on the budget and that Mr. Self discussed restructuring.
James Armes gave a report from the Transportation Committee. The committee had a presentation from Trans-Finder, a bus routing software company. No decision was made.
On motion of Gaye McKee, seconded by Mark Smith, the Board voted to authorize the president and secretary to pay claims.
In other business, Dr. Gillespie noted that Mr. Self had given each Board member the naming lists for employees for the 2006-2007 school year. Dr. Gillespie reminded the Board that the April 6th Board meeting would be at Fort Polk. Dr. Gillespie mentioned that the central office would be making a donation to the Kiwanis Club Scholarship Fund for Mr. Philip Gunn if anyone wished to contribute. Dr. Gillespie also reminded the Board of the Retired Teachers Reception on March 16th and of the Transportation Committee Meeting on March 16th, at 4:00P.M.
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 sympathy to the family of Marilyn West Coriell, of Leesville, who recently passed away; and
WHEREAS, Marilyn Coriell was the sister of Carolyn Coriell, bus aide at Pickering Elementary; sister-in-law of Stephen Coriell, bus driver at Pickering Elementary and aunt of Lee Coriell, teacher at Leesville High School; and
WHEREAS, Marilyn Coriell was a lifelong resident of Vernon Parish 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 her family at this time of sorrow.
On motion of Gaye McKee, seconded by the Board, the Board voted to adopt the following memorial resolution:
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, the Vernon Parish School Board wish to express their sympathy to the family of Robert Foshee, of Utah, who recently passed away; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Foshee was the brother of Helen Jarrell Fontenot, retired cafeteria worker at Evans 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. Fontenot and her family at this time of sadness.
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 members of the Vernon Parish School Board wish to express their condolences to the family of Patricia Lemmer, who recently passed away; and
WHEREAS, Mrs. Lemmer was a teacher at North Polk Elementary School for fifteen years and was a loyal and dedicated employee who loved teaching; and
WHEREAS, Mrs. Lemmer was a longtime resident of the Leesville area, and will be sadly missed by her co-workers, family, and friends; now
BE IT THEREFORE RESOLVED, that the Board requests a copy of this memorial resolution be sent to 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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ROBERT PYNES JR., BOARD PRESIDENT
ATTEST:
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DR. CYNTHIA GILLESPIE, SUPERINTENDENT