January 11, 2007
THE PARISH SCHOOL BOARD OF VERNON PARISH LOUISIANA CONVENED IN REGULAR SESSION AT 10:00 A.M., ON JANUARY 11, 2007 AT 201 BELVIEW ROAD, LEESVILLE, LOUISIANA. PRESIDENT REESE CALLED THE MEETING TO ORDER.
The meeting was opened in prayer by Mark Smith.
The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Mel Harris.
WILLIE DEON ADMINISTERED THE OATH OF OFFICE TO THE FOLLOWING BOARD MEMBERS:
DISTRICT 1: JAMES ARMES
MEL HARRIS
ROBERT PYNES
MARK SMITH
STEVE WOODS
DISTRICT 2: RICKY REESE
DISTRICT 3: BERYL FORD
DISTRICT 4: RANDY MARTIN
DISTRICT 5: MICHAEL PERKINS
DISTRICT 6: VERNON TRAVIS
DISTRICT 7: GAYE MCKEE
MR. M. GENE HAYMON DISTRICT 8 WAS ABSENT AND WILL BE SWORN IN AT A LATER DATE.
ON ROLL CALL THE FOLLOWING MEMBERS WERE PRESENT:
RICKY REESE, PRESIDENT
JAMES ARMES, VICE-PRESIDENT
ROBERT PYNES JR.
MEL HARRIS
MARK SMITH
STEVE WOODS
BERYL FORD
RANDY MARTIN
MICHAEL PERKINS
VERNON TRAVIS
GAYE MCKEE
COL. DAVID G. SAGE
ABSENT: GENE HAYMON - BUSINESS
There was also present Dr. Cynthia A. Gillespie, Secretary of the Board.
On motion of Gaye McKee, seconded by Beryl Ford, the Board voted to approve the minutes of the December 12, 2006 regular meeting and dispense with the reading of the minutes.
Lisa Lohman was recognized by the Board and Superintendent Gillespie as Louisiana High School Teacher of the Year. Superintendent Gillespie congratulated her for her hard work and dedication and presented Mrs. Lohman with a school bell and pen set for her accomplishment. Mrs. Lohman thanked the Board and Anacoco High School for the opportunity to represent Vernon Parish.
On recommendation of Superintendent Gillespie, and on motion of Beryl Ford, seconded by Randy Martin, the Board voted the name The Leesville Daily Leader as the official journal of the Vernon Parish School Board for 2007.
On motion of Mark Smith, seconded by Steve Woods, the Board voted to authorize Superintendent Gillespie to request and sign all Federal Funding, P.L. 81-874 for the Vernon Parish School Board.
On recommendation of Superintendent Gillespie and on motion of Robert Pynes, seconded by Mark Smith, the Board voted to name the Board committees for 2007.
Judge Roy B. Tuck discussed the Dyslexia Training Program of the Masonic Learning Center of Louisiana and on motion of Mark Smith, seconded by the Board, the Board adopted the following resolution:
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, the Masonic Learning Center of Louisiana has requested to open a unit of the Dyslexia Training Program in Vernon Parish; and
WHEREAS, there are students in our district with dyslexia that may be helped by additional instruction; and
WHEREAS, the services offered by the Dyslexia Training Program are of no cost to families or the Vernon Parish School Board; now
BE IT THEREFORE RESOLVED that the Vernon Parish School Board requests that a unit of the Dyslexia Training Program be opened to serve Vernon Parish Students.
James Johnson, Vernon Parish Tax Assessor, discussed pipeline litigation and on motion of Mike Perkins, seconded by the Board, the Board adopted the following resolution:
RESOLUTION
WHEREAS, there is on-going litigation over the assessment and ad valorem taxation of certain pipeline property located in Vernon Parish; and
WHEREAS, the Assessor of Vernon Parish is in the process of reassessing the properties for the referenced taxpayers pursuant to Judgement issued by the 19th Judicial District Court; and
WHEREAS, the referenced have lodged the following appeals with the Louisiana Tax Commission challenging the Assessor’s reassessed valuation for the referenced years:
TAXPAYER: LTC DOCKET NO: TAX YEARS:
Tennessee Gas Pipeline 06-22115-001 2000-2003
WHEREAS, as this litigation proceeds it has become necessary for the Assessor to defend the assessments in legal proceedings;
WHEREAS, such a defense will necessitate the Assessor contracting with legal counsel;
WHEREAS, in an effort to limit the costs of such legal counsel, which cost is ordinarily borne proportionately by the ad valorem taxing bodies in this Parish, the Assessor intends on engaging legal counsel on a contingency fee basis, with any fees coming only from any additional taxes collected as a result of the new assessment of the above referenced tax payers; and
WHEREAS, the Vernon Parish School Board will benefit from the collection of any additional ad valorem taxes collected with the assistance of the legal counsel contracted by the Assessor.
NOW BE IT THEREFORE RESOLVED by the Vernon Parish School Board in a duly called open meeting does hereby authorize the Assessor to engage BRIAN A. EDDINGTON, Attorney at Law, as legal counsel for its benefit on a contingency fee basis, not to exceed 10% of the additional taxes, interest and penalties collected for its benefit pursuant to the decision of the Louisiana Tax Commission in the above referenced proceedings or by judgment of a reviewing Court and does hereby obligate and encumber an amount not to exceed 10% of the additional taxes, interest and penalties collected for its benefit for the payment of said legal fees.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED by the Vernon Parish School Board that the Assessor and/or the Ad Valorem Tax Collector of Vernon Parish be and are hereby authorized to pay said legal fees to the legal counsel contracted by the Assessor to provide legal services in the above referenced matters prior to or contemporaneously with the disbursal of any additional taxes, interest and penalties to it.
RICKY REESE, BOARD PRESIDENT
This Resolution adopted this 11th day of January, 2007 in a duly noticed meeting of the Vernon Parish School Board at which a quorum was present, by a vote of 11Yeas,
0 Nays, One Absent and none abstained.
ATTESTED TO BY:
CYNTHIA A GILLESPIE
SECRETARY
On motion of Vernon Travis, seconded by Mel Harris, the Board voted to advertise for bids to sell a 1985 bus at Leesville High School.
Mark Smith reported that the Salary/Personnel Committee had met and reviewed the personnel changes for January, 2007 and would make its recommendation to the Board at the Tuesday, January 16, 2007 meeting. Mr. Smith also noted that the committee discussed retirees returning to work and part-time employees and that no action was taken.
In other business, Superintendent Gillespie reminded the Board members of the Transportation meeting at 8:00AM on Tuesday, January 16, 2007 and urged all Board members to attend. Superintendent Gillespie also noted that Board pictures would be made on February 1, 2007.
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 sympathy to the family of Will Waldrup who recently passed away; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Waldrup was the husband of Lola Waldrup, retired teacher of Vernon Parish; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Waldrup was a retired teacher in Vernon Parish, a long-time resident of Leesville, and he will be greatly 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 Lola Waldrup and her family at this time of sadness.
MEMORIAL RESOLUTIONS:
IRMA MANNING
CHARLES FRUSHA
BUDDY DONALDSON
GEORGE BARNEY
CHARLES MCSHANE
LUCILLE OSBORNE
GLORIA CARVER BUTLER
A.J. WELCH MAY
JAY BENTON HAWKES
BURNA LENAHAN
There being no further business, on motion of Gaye McKee, seconded by the Board, the meeting was adjourned.
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RICKY REESE, BOARD PRESIDENT
ATTEST:
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CYNTHIA A. GILLESPIE, SUPERINTENDENT