JUNE 12, 2007
THE PARISH SCHOOL BOARD OF VERNON PARISH LOUISIANA CONVENED IN REGULAR SESSION, JUNE 12, 2007, 5:00PM, AT 201 BELVIEW ROAD, LEESVILLE, LA.
VICE-PRESIDENT ARMES CALLED THE MEETING TO ORDER AND ON ROLL CALL THE FOLLOWING MEMBERS WERE PRESENT:
JAMES ARMES, VICE PRESIDENT
ROBERT PYNES JR.
MEL HARRIS
MARK H. SMITH
STEVE WOODS
BERYL FORD
RANDY MARTIN
MICHAEL PERKINS
VERNON TRAVIS
GAYE MCKEE
M. GENE HAYMON
ABSENT: RICKY REESE - PERSONAL
COL. DAVID SAGE - MILITARY OBLIGATION
There was also present Dr. Cynthia Gillespie, Secretary of the Board.
The meeting was opened in prayer by Vernon Travis.
The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Beryl Ford.
On motion of Mark Smith, seconded by Steve Woods, the Board voted to approve and dispense with the reading of the minutes of June 7, 2007.
Ralph Kimball, Representative from Taylor & Sons, recognized Deloris (Dee) Rogers, secretary at South Polk Elementary, as Employee of the Month. Superintendent Gillespie accepted the plaque for Mrs. Rogers as she was unable to attend.
Tom Neubert recognized doctors and staff of Byrd Regional Hospital and thanked them for their support. Mr. Neubert presented a plaque to Mr. Robert LeDoux, Sam Fulton, Dr. Biggs, and Dr. Granger on behalf of all the doctors that participated in the athletic physicals at no cost to the parents.
Superintendent Gillespie and the Board recognized retirees who had retired during the past year. Each retiree was presented a Certificate of Appreciation for his/her years of dedicated service to the school system.
On recommendation of Superintendent Gillespie and on motion of Robert Pynes, seconded by Mark Smith, the Board to approve the following resignations:
Nathan Avant, teacher/Pitkin
Laurie Kaffka, teacher/ELE
Kerri Stubbs, teacher/WLE
Tina Wolford, teacher/PES
Angie Lambert, teacher/NPE
Jacqueline Zarnesky, teacher/NPE
Heather Harvey, teacher/NPE
Auhui Oetter, teacher/LHS
Deborah Liddell, teacher/PES
William Fulks, custodian/Simpson
Brittany Gleason, teacher/RHS
Weldon Nelson, custodian/ELE
Chris Deon, teacher/LHS
Jennifer Mellender, teacher/LHS
Gatha Merchant, teacher/AES
Krista Penney, teacher/RES
Martha Rankin, teacher/LJHS
Kimberly Franks, teacher/RHS
Tiffany Holt, teacher/Pitkin
Valerie Masiker, speech therapist/ELE
Cetrice Acey, Sped Aide/ELE
Annetta Ewald, teacher/RHS
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:
Jennifer Odle, teacher/PES-MED SABB 8-13-07/1-12-08(1st semester)
Tamela Phillips, teacher/LHS-PROF SABB 1-12-08/5-29-08
Doris Murphy, teacher/LHS-MED SABB 1-12-08/5-29-08
On recommendation of Superintendent Gillespie and on motion of Mark Smith, seconded by Gaye McKee, the Board voted to approve the following requests for a leave without pay:
Lindsey Bryant, teacher/Pitkin-Other LWOP- 2nd semester 07-08 school year
Kendra Bailey, teacher/RES-Other LWOP-2007-08 school year
Jeannete Mayo, custodian/NPE-Medical LWOP 6-1-07/7-13-07
On recommendation of Superintendent Gillespie and on motion of Randy Martin, seconded by Vernon Travis, the Board voted to approve the following request to rescind a leave without pay:
April Ronayne, bus driver/AHS-rescind LWOP 5-20-07
On recommendation of Superintendent Gillespie and on motion of Beryl Ford, seconded by Randy Martin, the Board voted to approve the following list of new employees:
John Cryer, teacher/Optional School-Retiree Return To Work
Janet Edwards, teacher/LHS-replacing Chris Deon(resigned)
Dwayne Leary, custodian/VMS-replacing Walter Brooks(resigned)
April Stelly, speech therapist/NPE-replacing Connie Robison(trns to ELE)
Ora Lee Miller, teacher/Pitkin-Retiree Return To Work
Rhonda Stokes, teacher/Pitkin-replacing Ramona Avant(retired)
On recommendation of Superintendent Gillespie and on motion of Vernon Travis, seconded by Gaye McKee, the Board voted to approve the following employee transfers:
Kelly Dillon, teacher/WLE-trns to ELE-replacing Laurie Kaffka(resigned)
Robin Horton,teacher/ELE-trns to AES-replacing Kelly Phillips(I/S trns to new gifted position)
Kelly Phillips, teacher/AES-I/S trns from 3rd grade to new gifted position
Catherine Kersey, teacher/ELE-trns to WLE-replacing Kerrie Stubbs(resigned)
Jackie Prielipp, GT teacher/WLE-trns to SPE fulltime GT teacher-school change only
Shannon Dowdle, teacher/AES-trns to Central Office Sped-replacing Ellen Lytle(retired)
Courtney Austin, teacher/Evans-trns to PES-replacing Johanna Husarek(resigned)
Susan Cryer, teacher/RHS-trns to PES-replacing Jessica Deon(trns to RES)
Kathy Yielding,Headstart Aide/RES-I/S trns to Title I aide-replacing Doris Myers-I/S trns to Gen. Fund Aide
Doris Myers, Title I aide/RES-I/S trsn to Gen.Fund Aide(new position-increased enrollment)
Elizabeth Jean Thomas, teacher/RES-I/S trns from Kindergarten to Title I-replacing Kendra Bailey-LWOP
Tammy Littleton,teacher/ELE-I/S trns from Sped to 1st-replacing Millie Ballagh(trns to WLE)
Millie Ballagh, teacher/ELE-trns to WLE-replacing Jackie Prielipp(trns to SPE full time)
Cheryl Tilley,teacher/AES-I/S trns from5thto Sped-replacing Shannon Dowdle(trns to Central Office)
Iris Bruce, teacher/PES-trns to RES-replacing Lettie Owens(1 year SABB)
Sheila Underwood, teacher/PES-trns to RES-replacing Lisa Tucker(I/S trns to librarian)
Angela Gilcrease, teacher/ELE-I/S trns from Sped to 1st replacing Robin Horton (to AES)
John Cryer, teacher/Optional School-trns to RHS-replacing Brittany Gleason(resigned)
Lisa Tucker,teacher/RES-I/S trns from 2nd to librarian-replacing Linda Calhoun(retired)
Wyonna Jeane,teacher/RES-I/S trns from GT to music-replacing Sharon Owings-resigned
Monica Bailey, teacher/VMS-trns to RES-replacing Kathryn Manzanres(resigned)
Jessica Deon, teacher/PES-trns to RES-replacing Sandra McCarty(retired)
Virginia Lansdale, teacher/Hicks-I/S trns from 1st grade to Title I teacher(new position)
Katie Fontenot, teacher/PES-trns to RES-replacing Krista Penney(resigned)
John Westlake, teacher/WLE-trns to ELE(student need)
Connie Robison, speech therapist/NPE-trns to ELE-replacing Valerie Masiker(resigned)
Debbie Woods, teacher/WLE-trns to SPED Office
Olivia McKee, teacher/WLE/Hornbeck-trns to SPED Office
Cheree Atkins,teacher/PES-I/S trns from 6th to GT-replacing Tracy Dahlhoff(trns to PHS)
Susan Cryer, teacher/RHS-trns to PES-replacing Cheree Atkins(trns to gifted)
Tracy Dahlhoff,teacher/PES-trns to PHS fulltime(was ½ at PES and ½ at PHS)
Karen Drouillet, teacher/AES-trsn to AHS-replacing Jerome Maricle
Todd Sasser, teacher/LHS-trns to Pitkin-replacing Nathan Avant(resigned)
Sandy Blakeway, teacher/VMS-trns to AES-replacing Karen Drouillet(trns to AHS)
Kim Lorenz, teacher/PES-I/S trns from 5th grade to SPED-replacing Jennifer Fitzgerald(resigned)
Kathleen Conner, teacher/PES-trns to LHS-replacing Dalice Lacon Eaves(trns to PHS)
David Dease,custodian/Evans-I/S trns to bus driver-replacing Stacy Kennamore(resigned)
Dalice Lacon Eaves, teacher/LHS-trns to PHS
Barbara Fletcher, teacher/RHS-trns to AHS-replacing Vic Ortiz(sick leave)
Lynette Martin/bus driver/Simpson-trns to custodian-replacing Billy Fulks (resigned)
On motion of Steve Woods, seconded by Mel Harris, the Board voted to advertise for juice and milk for 2007-2008.
On motion of Gaye McKee, seconded by Robert Pynes, the Board voted to advertise for bread for 2007-2008.
On motion of Mark Smith, seconded by Steve Woods, the Board voted to name central office employees and administrators. Mike Perkins voted no on this motion.
On motion of Mark Smith, seconded by Beryl Ford, the Board voted to approve the following changes in the cell phone policy with the additional wording that parents be notified the day the phone is confiscated.
Students will not be allowed to have cell phones in view or turned on during the school day.
Consequences:
1st Offense-Confiscation of the phone for 3 school days and parent will pick up the phone
2nd Offense-Confiscation of the phone for 5 days school days and parent will pick up the phone
3rd Offense-Confiscation of the phone for 7 school days and parent will pick up the phone and the student will receive a one (1) day suspension
Any subsequent offense will be treated just like the 3rd offense
Tim Ward discussed the Sales Tax Supplement and the amounts to be dispersed.
SALES TAX COLLECTIONS 2006-2007
The sales tax collections for the year were up 1.7 % which is up $157,487.49 from last year. Based on that the supplemental sales tax checks are:
Teachers: $ 3664.61
Aides: 2694.13
Secretaries 2849.41
Janitors 2694.13
Bus Drivers 3016.33
Lease Bus Drivers 1508.17
Cooks 2694.13
Retiree 393.78
Total Collections for the year were $ 9,798,987.53 compared to last year's total of $9,641,500.04.
Checks will be mailed out on June 22, 2007.
On motion of Gene Haymon, seconded by Mel Harris, the Board voted to advertise for propane for Hicks, Simpson, and Evans Schools including the tank if needed.
On motion of Vernon Travis, seconded by the Board, the Board voted to approve a resolution for Rapides Foundation Systemic Initiative.
Beryl Ford reported that the Curriculum Committee had met and discussed the following:
1. SACS Update - Motto, Vision, Mission, and Belief Statements
2. Valedictorian & Salutatorian
3. Test scores update
4. Summer school update
5. Attendance
6. Other business
On motion of Vernon Travis, seconded by Gaye McKee, the Board accepted the Motto, Vision Statement, Mission Statement, and Belief Statement as presented.
No action was taken on the policy of valedictorian and salutatorian – no change made.
Mr. John Farris explained and discussed test scores and what action was being taken to improve on these scores.
Mr. John Farris also reported that student attendance was an important part of our overall scores and that a committee had been working on ways to improve attendance. The Board supported this endeavor and Mr. Farris will report back to the Board at a later date.
On recommendation of Superintendent Gillespie, and on motion of Gaye McKee, seconded by Mel Harris, the Board voted not to have the Fall Teacher's Meeting at Leesville High School for this year. Teachers will report to their individual schools on August 13 &14, 2007.
On motion of Mark Smith, seconded by Robert Pynes, the Board voted to approve budget amendments related to personnel changes.
On motion of Beryl Ford, seconded by Randy Martin, the Board voted to authorize the president and secretary to pay the claims.
In other business, Superintendent Gillespie reminded Districts One and Six of the meeting on Thursday, June 14th at 1:00PM. Food Service Committee meeting was scheduled for Thursday, July 12, 2007 at 8:00AM. Curriculum Committee meeting was scheduled for Tuesday July 17, 2007 at 8:00AM.
On motion of Robert Pynes, 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 Marvin Eugene McManus who recently passed away; and
WHEREAS, Mr. McManus was the father of Lowell McManus, retired teacher of Vernon Parish; and
WHEREAS, Mr. McManus was a longtime resident of Vernon Parish 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 Lowell McManus and his family at this time of sadness.
There being no further business, on motion of Gaye McKee, seconded by the Board, the meeting was adjourned.
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JAMES ARMES, BOARD VICE- PRESIDENT
ATTEST:
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DR. CYNTHIA GILLESPIE, SUPERINTENDENT