May 9, 2006

 

THE PARISH SCHOOL BOARD OF VERNON PARISH LOUISIANA CONVENED IN REGULAR SESSION, MAY 9, 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

RICHARD J. ”r;RICKY” REESE, VICE PRESIDENT

JAMES K. ARMES, III

MEL HARRIS

MARK H. SMITH

BETTY WESTERCHIL

BERYL FORD

W.R. ”r;RANDY” MARTIN

MICHAEL PERKINS

MAXINE GUNN

GAYE MCKEE

M. GENE HAYMON

 

ABSENT:  COL. DAVID G. SAGE – ARMY OBLIGATION

 

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

 

The meeting was opened in prayer by Gene Haymon.

 

The Pledge of Allegiance was led by James Armes.

 

On motion of Gaye McKee, seconded by Mark Smith, the Board voted to approve and dispense with the reading of the minutes of May 4, 2006.

 

On motion of Gene Haymon, seconded by Ricky Reese, the Board voted to receive bids on the Hicks School Improvement Project.  Three bids were received.  (1)Priola Construction in the amount of $1,749,000, (2) Pat Williams Construction in the amount of $1,685,000, and (3) Phillip Mayo Construction in the amount of $1,724,700.  On motion of James Armes, seconded by Randy Martin, the Board voted to accept the low bid from Pat Williams Construction Company contingent on negotiations where costs may be cut.

 

On motion of James Armes, seconded by Betty Westerchil, the Board voted to receive bids for painting/sandblasting the bleachers at Leesville High School.  Three bids were received.  (1) Pat Williams Construction Company in the amount of $165,000, (2) Painting & Corrosion Solutions in the amount of $99,350, and (3) Mastercraft Construction Company in the amount of $185,000.  On motion of James Armes, seconded by Randy Martin, the Board voted to take these bids under advisement.

 

On motion of Mark Smith, seconded by Betty Westerchil, the Board voted to accept the low bid for the Leesville High School JROTC Pavilion from Phillip Mayo Construction Company in the amount of $45,697.00.

 

On motion of Gaye McKee, seconded by James Armes, the Board voted to advertise for bids to sell a used 1996 Bluebird bus at Rosepine High School.

 

Curtis Clay recognized students from Pickering Elementary, Pickering High, Vernon Middle, Evans High, Anacoco High, Hornbeck High, Hicks High, Pitkin High, Leesville Jr. High, and Leesville High School.  Students were presented certificates for their achievement and congratulated by the Board.

 

Tom Neubert recognized the school nurses for Nurse’s Week and thanked them for all their hard work.

 

Tom Neubert presented the Board with a proposed change in policy for cell phones.

 

GRADES K-6

1st Confiscation of device and given to parent

2nd Confiscation of device and given to parent with a one day suspension

3rd Confiscation of device and given to parent along with a two day suspension

GRADES 7-12

1st Confiscation of device and given to parent along with a one day suspension

2nd Confiscation of device and given to parent along with a two day suspension

3rd Confiscation of device and three day suspension

 

On motion of Beryl Ford, seconded by James Armes, the Board voted to accept these changes in policy.

 

On recommendation of Superintendent Gillespie and on motion of Mark Smith, seconded by Mel Harris, the Board voted to approve the following resignations:

 

Carrie Lisenbe, teacher/SPE

Amanda Bealer, teacher/ELE

Shannon Long, teacher/PES

Ida Darby, teacher/LHS

Anna Beheler, teacher/SPE

Cherish  Fletcher, teacher/LHS

Allison Jenkins, teacher/SPE

 

On recommendation of Superintendent Gillespie and on motion of Mel Harris, seconded by Gene Haymon, the Board voted to approve the following sabbatical leave requests:

 

Susan Wade, teacher/WLE-Medical 1st Semester–Professional 2nd Semester 2006-07

Carolyn Smith, teacher/VMS-Medical 3-13-06 thru 7-31-06

 

On recommendation of Superintendent Gillespie and on motion of Gaye McKee, seconded by James Armes, the Board voted to approve the following requests for a leave without pay:

 

Linda Doyal, Cook/LHS-Medical 4-4-06/5-5-06

Bruce Stanley, bus driver/VMS extension from 5-1-06 until 5-9-06(still working)

            2nd request dated 5-4-06 to extend LWOP until 5-31-06

Geneieve Wilson, SPED Paraprofessional/ELE 2006-2007 school year(going back to school)

 

On recommendation of Superintendent Gillespie and on motion of Randy Martin, seconded by James Armes, the Board voted to approve employee transfers.

 

Beryl Ford asked Superintendent Gillespie if this was her recommendation and Superintendent Gillespie replied yes.  A roll call vote was taken with results as follows:  James Armes-Yes, Mel Harris-Yes, Robert Pynes-Yes,  Mark Smith-Yes, Ricky Reese-Yes, Beryl Ford-Yes, Randy Martin-Yes, Maxine Gunn-Yes, Gene Haymon-Yes, Gaye McKee-No, Michael Perkins-No, and Betty Westerchil abstained.  On the roll call vote of nine yeas, two nays, and one abstain, the following employee transfers were approved by the Board:

Lisa Causey, teacher/SPE-transferred to ELE-replacing Amanda Bealer(resigned)

Neil LeBlanc, custodian/PES – I/S trns from full to ½ time

Barbara Barnickel, principal/PHS-trns to Optional School effective 7-1-06

 

On motion of Mark Smith, seconded by Beryl Ford, the Board voted to approve budget amendments related to personnel changes.

 

On motion of Randy Martin, seconded by Mel Harris, the Board voted to approve the Change Order for Pickering Schools in the amount of $7891.69 to increase size of computer lab in the library.

 

James Armes gave a report from the Transportation Committee.  On motion of James Armes, seconded by Ricky Reese, the Board voted to grant permission for the transportation director to temporarily lease buses where needed for the 2006-2007 school year with the superintendent’s approval.  Mr. Armes reported that the Salary/Personnel Committee will meet June 1, 2006 to discuss the salary schedule for new bus drivers who drive board provided buses. 

 

On motion of Gaye McKee, seconded by Randy Martin, the Board voted to authorize the president and secretary to pay the claims.

 

In other business, Superintendent Gillespie stated that Barbara Barnickel, new principal at the Optional School beginning July 1, 2006, would also be in charge of the Parish High School Redesign, the expansion of the use of the virtual school, and transforming the optional school.  Superintendent Gillespie stated that Ms. Barnickel is one of the most knowledgeable principals in the state on High School ReDesign.

 

On recommendation of Superintendent Gillespie, and on motion of Mel Harris, seconded by James Armes, the Board voted to advertise for the position of principal at Pickering High School effective July 1, 2006.

 

Superintendent reminded the Board of the NSBA Conference and of their evaluation sheets to be turned in. There will be a tour of AmeriTech on Friday, May 12, 2006 and Betty Westerchil urged all Board members to attend.  Superintendent Gillespie reminded the Board of the Blood Drive on Tuesday, May 23, 2006 at the School Board Office. There will be a Special Called Meeting on June 6, 2006 at 6:00 P.M. to name a replacement for Betty Westerchil.

 

On motion of Michael Perkins, 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 Anthony McDaniel who recently passed away; and

            WHEREAS, Anthony McDaniel was the brother-in-law of Debra Moore, Secretary at Pitkin High School, and the grandson of the late Gertrude Moore, bus driver at Pitkin High School; and

            WHEREAS, Anthony McDaniel was a life-long resident of Pitkin 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 Debra Moore and her family at this time of sorrow.

 

On motion of Michael Perkins, 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  Marie Green who recently passed away; and

            WHEREAS, Marie Green was a sister-in-law to Obie Dickens, former custodian at Pitkin High School; and

            WHEREAS, Marie Green was a resident of Stonewall, Louisiana 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 Obie Dickens 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 sincere condolences to the family of Roy Thompson who recently passed away; and

            WHEREAS, Roy Thompson was the uncle of Danny Fletcher, teacher at Pitkin High School, and Barbara Fletcher, teacher at Rosepine High School; and

            WHEREAS, Roy Thompson was a resident of Rosepine 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 his family at this time of sorrow.

 

On motion of Randy Martin, 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 would like to take this means to express their sympathy to the family of Myrtle Thompson who recently passed away; and

            WHEREAS, Myrtle Thompson was a retired cook at the Pickering Schools; and

            WHEREAS, Myrtle Thompson was a long-time resident of the Leesville 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 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.

 

ATTEST:

__________________________________________

DR. CYNTHIA GILLESPIE, SUPERINTENDENT