November 2, 2006

THE PARISH SCHOOL BOARD OF VERNON PARISH LOUISIANA CONVENED IN REGULAR SESSION AT 10:00 A.M. ON NOVEMBER 2, 2006, AT 201 BELVIEW ROAD, LEESVILLE, LOUISIANA.  PRESIDENT PYNES CALLED THE MEETING TO ORDER AND ON ROLL CALL THE FOLLOWING MEMBERS WERE PRESENT:

ROBERT PYNES, JR., PRESIDENT

RICKY REESE, VICE-PRESIDENT

MEL HARRIS

MARK SMITH

JOHN C. BURNS

BERYL FORD

RANDY MARTIN

MICHAEL PERKINS

MAXINE GUNN

GAYE MCKEE

GENE HAYMON

ABSENT:        DAVID G. SAGE – MILITARY OBLIGATION

                        JAMES ARMES - BUSINESS

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

The meeting was opened in prayer by John Burns.

The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Mark Smith.

On motion of Gaye McKee, seconded by Ricky Reese, the Board voted to approve the minutes of October 10, 2006 regular meeting and dispense with the reading of the minutes.

On motion of Ricky Reese, seconded by Beryl Ford, the Board voted to amend the agenda to allow Taylor and Sons to recognize Debbie Smith as Employee of The Month.

Mrs. Smith was presented a plaque and a monetary token for her outstanding contribution to Leesville High School.

Holly Carbo and Sally Dubroc gave a report on the Governor’s Program on Abstinence.

They stated that several Vernon Parish Schools were actively involved with this program and they praised the students as well as the teachers.

On motion of Gaye McKee, seconded by Gene Haymon, the Board voted to receive bids for Headstart playground surfacing to be placed under structures as required by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission.  Two bids were received as follows:

Bliss Products & Services        (Softtile without concrete)

East Leesville                          $7,249.35

North Polk                               11,149.48

Anacoco Elem                        14,478.48

Hicks                                       15, 938.59

Kids Play Inc.               (With concrete base)

East Leesville                         19,304

North Polk                             19,304

Anacoco Elem                        11,381

Hicks                                       19,304

On motion of Mark Smith, seconded by Michael Perkins, the Board voted to take these bids under advisement.

Mark Smith discussed the driver’s education program in regards to allowing home schooled and private school students to take the course in Vernon Parish.  On motion of Mark Smith, seconded by John Burns, the Board voted to allow home and/or private school students to take the driver’s education course if space was available.

John Farris discussed the school performance scores and the i-LEAP data.  More detailed information will be given at the curriculum meeting on Tuesday, November 7^th.

On recommendation of Superintendent Gillespie, and on motion of Mark Smith, seconded by Mel Harris, the Board voted to purchase property at 105 Harrison Street for $19, 500 subject to a clear title.

On motion of Gene Haymon, seconded by Mike Perkins, the Board voted to accept the Change Order for the Hicks Construction Project in the amount of $5,525.29.

In other business Mark Smith reported that the Salary/Personnel Committee had met and reviewed the changes for November, 2006 and would make its recommendation to the Board at the Tuesday, November 7, 2006 meeting.  Mr. Smith also reported that the committee had discussed substitute pay and that after further research found that Vernon Parish is in-line with surrounding parishes and that no action was taken on this matter.

Superintendent Gillespie discussed the Board Meeting Calendar for 2007 and explained why the dates vary.  She urged the members to look over the calendar and adopt the dates at the next meeting.  Superintendent Gillespie also reminded the Board of the Curriculum meeting on Tuesday morning, November 7^th at 8:30AM.  She also reminded the Board of the LSBA Conference in New Orleans and urged them to make their reservations early.

Mel Harris stated the Christmas social for the Board would be at Beryl Ford’s home on December 12^th and that more information would be given later.  

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 members of the Vernon Parish School Board wish to express their sympathy to the family of Otis Perkins who recently passed away; and

            WHEREAS, Mr. Otis Perkins was the father of Michael Perkins, School Board Member, the father-in-law of Jan Perkins, teacher at Pitkin High School, and the grandfather of Connie Britt, teacher at Pitkin High School; and

            WHEREAS, Mr. Perkins was a longtime resident of the Pitkin 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 his family at this time of sadness.

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 wish to express their condolences to the family of Geneva Garnett who recently passed away; and

            WHEREAS, Mrs. Garnett was the mother of Jackie Belton, bus driver , Martha Perkins and Annette Vinson, retired bus drivers, and the grandmother of Candy Bennett, teacher at East Leesville Elementary; and

            WHEREAS, Mrs. Garnett was a longtime resident of Vernon Parish and she will be sadly missed by her family and friends; now

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

On motion of Gene Haymon and 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 take this means to express their sympathy to the family of Tyler Gill who recently passed away; and

            WHEREAS, Tyler was the son of Melissa Gill, paraprofessional at East Leesville Elementary; and

            WHEREAS, Tyler was a graduate of Leesville High School, and will be sadly missed by all of 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 Melissa Gill and her family at this time of sadness.

On motion of Maxine Gunn, 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 Leona Williams who recently passed away; and

            WHEREAS, Mrs. Williams was the mother of Alice Guess, secretary at the Central Office; and

            WHEREAS, Mrs. Williams was a longtime resident of New Orleans and had been in Leesville since Hurricane Katrina, and she will be sadly missed by her family and friends;

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

On motion of Beryl Ford, 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 take this means to express their condolences to the family of Sandra Boagni who recently passed away; and

            WHEREAS, Sandra Boagni was the sister-in-law of Debbie Clark, Principal at East Leesville Elementary; and

            WHEREAS, Sandra Boagni was a resident of Opelousas 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 Debbie Clark and her family at this time of sadness.

There being no further business, on motion of Gaye McKee, seconded by the Board, the meeting was adjourned.

___________________________________

Robert Pynes, Jr., President

Attest:

________________________________

Cynthia A. Gillespie, Superintendent