December 7, 2006

THE PARISH SCHOOL BOARD OF VERNON PARISH LOUISIANA CONVENED IN REGULAR SESSION DECEMBER 7, 2006 AT 10:00 A.M., 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

JAMES ARMES

MEL HARRIS

MARK SMITH

JOHN C. BURNS

BERYL FORD

RANDY MARTIN

MICHAEL PERKINS

MAXINE GUNN

GAYE MCKEE

GENE HAYMON

COL. DAVID G. SAGE

ABSENT:        NONE

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

The meeting was opened in prayer by Ricky Reese.

The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Randy Martin.

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

Taylor and Sons recognized Rita Cleveland as Employee of the Month.  Ms. Cleveland is a teacher at East Leesville Elementary and has taught in Vernon Parish for twenty-two years.  Ms. Cleveland was presented a plaque for her outstanding contribution to East Leesville Elementary.

Mr. Jimmy Funderburk recognized Denise Smith as PCAL Vernon Parish Bus Driver of the Year.  Superintendent Gillespie and Mr. Funderburk presented Denise Smith a certificate and a jacket in honor of this award.

On motion of James Armes, seconded by Randy Martin,  the Board voted to accept bids for Headstart playground surfacing material.  Two bids were received as follows:

Kids Play:

Without Concrete:               East Leesville                $13,503.92

                                                Hicks                             $31,589.88

                                                North Polk                     $13,503.92

                                                Anacoco Elem.                $ 7,168.00

                                                Total                         $70,710.72

With Concrete                      East Leesville                $ 7,773.75

                                                Hicks                            $18,485.25

                                                North Polk                    $ 7,773.75

                                                Total                        $34,032.75

Bliss Products:

Without Concrete:               North Polk                     $12,005.93

                                                Hicks                             $15,938.59

                                                East Leesville                $10,141.97

                                                Anacoco Elem                $ 5,734.00

                                                Total                          $43,820.49

On motion of Ricky Reese, seconded by James Armes, the Board voted to take these bids under advisement.

On motion of James Armes, seconded by Mel Harris, the Board voted to accept bids for propane for Hicks, Simpson, and Evans.  Two bids were received as follows:

AmeriGas

Per Gallon        $1.55               .27 above weekly wholesale price average

Shawson

Per Gallon        $1.31               .35 above weekly wholesale price average

A roll call vote 8 yeas and 4 nays, and on motion of Mike Perkins, seconded by Gene Haymon, the Board voted to accept the lowest bid for .27 above the weekly wholesale price average from AmeriGas.  Yea votes were Mel Harris, John Burns, Ricky Reese, Randy Martin, Mike Perkins, Maxine Gunn, Gaye McKee, and Gene Haymon.  Nay votes were James Armes, Robert Pynes, Mark Smith, and Beryl Ford.

Mark Smith reported that the Salary/Personnel Committee had met and reviewed the changes for December, 2006 and would make its recommendation to the Board at the Tuesday, December 12, 2006 meeting.  Mr. Smith reminded the board members to review the transaction list before the next board meeting.

Mark Smith reported that the Finance Committee had met and that Tim Ward had explained the revised budget and that the committee was recommending the approval of the revised budget.  On motion of Mark Smith, seconded by Ricky Reese, the Board voted to accept the revised budget.

Mel Harris and Beryl Ford gave a report on the Leadership Conference at Cypress Bend.

On motion of Mark Smith, seconded by James Armes, the Board voted to elect Ricky Reese, 2006 vice-president of the Board, as president of the Board for 2007.

On motion of Mark Smith, seconded by Beryl Ford, the Board voted to elect James Armes as vice-president of the Board for 2007.

In other business, Superintendent Gillespie reminded the Board of LSBA in New Orleans and of the School Finance Seminar.  Superintendent Gillespie also reminded the board members to review the committee lists and to let her know which committees they would be interested in serving on.

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 Reverend Terry Adams Sr. who recently passed away; and

            WHEREAS, Reverend Adams was a bus aide and special education paraprofessional at Simpson High School; and

            WHEREAS, Reverend Adams was pastor of Simpson Church Of God, a longtime resident of Simpson, and he 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 his family at this time of sadness.

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 members of the Vernon Parish School Board wish to express their condolences to the family of Lindsi Freeman who recently passed away; and

            WHEREAS, Lindsi was the son the Wesley Lack, computer technician, and the step-daughter of Tracy Lack, secretary at the Central Office; and

            WHEREAS, Lindsi was a resident of the Pineville area and will be greatly 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 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 take this means to express their sympathy to the family of Ned R. Fayson, Sr. who recently passed away; and

            WHEREAS, Mr. Fayson was the father of Alton Bailey, Headstart teacher at East Leesville Elementary; and

            WHEREAS, Mr. Fayson was a resident of Orlando, Florida 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 Alton Bailey 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 members of the Vernon Parish School Board wish to express their sympathy to the family of Ruth Welch Stephens who recently passed away; and

            WHEREAS, Mrs. Stephens was the sister of Murphy O’Banion, former Vernon Parish School Board member, and the aunt of Randy Martin, Vernon Parish School Board member; and

            WHEREAS, Mrs. Stephens was a lifelong resident of the Leesville/Vernon Parish area and 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 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 to wish express their condolences to the family of Ruth Self who recently passed away; and

            WHEREAS, Ruth Self was the mother of Angela Longoria, teacher at Rosepine Elementary; and

            WHEREAS, Mrs. Self was a longtime resident of the Kinder/DeRidder area and 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 Angela Longoria 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 members of the Vernon Parish School Board wish to express their sympathy to the family of Daniel Wayne Kyle who recently passed away; and

            WHEREAS, Mr. Kyle was the father of Tim Kyle, teacher at Rosepine High School; and

            WHEREAS, Mr. Kyle was a resident of Brookhaven, Mississippi 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 Tim Kyle and his 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 condolences to the family of Wilford Parker, Jr. who recently passed away; and

            WHEREAS, Mr. Parker was the son of the late Wilford A. Parker, retired employee of the Vernon Parish School Board; and

            WHEREAS, Mr. Parker was a longtime resident of Simpson 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 his family at this time of sadness.

MEMORIAL RESOLUTIONS:

Robert Villamarette-Armes

Robert Lyons-Martin

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

____________________________

ROBERT PYNES JR., PRESIDENT

ATTEST:

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CYNTHIA A. GILLESPIE. Ed.D.