NOVEMBER 1, 2007

                                                                                                           

THE PARISH SCHOOL BOARD OF VERNON PARISH LOUISIANA CONVENED IN REGULAR SESSION AT 10:00 A.M., 201 BELVIEW ROAD, LEESVILLE, LOUISIANA.  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 SMITH

STEVE WOODS

BERYL FORD

RANDY MARTIN

MICHAEL PERKINS

VERNON TRAVIS

GAYE MCKEE

GENE HAYMON

COL. DAVID G. SAGE

 

ABSENT:        RICKY REESE – BUSINESS

 

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

 

The meeting was opened in prayer by Mel Harris.

 

The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Robert Pynes.

 

On motion of Mel Harris, seconded by Steve Woods, the Board voted to approve the minutes of the October 9, 2007 regular meeting and dispense with the reading of the minutes.

 

Mrs. Raetta Harvey recognized the school Forestry Festival Queens.  They were congratulated by the Board for their achievements.

 

Ruby Smith, counselor and students from Pitkin High School gave information on the Governor’s Program on Abstinence and on motion of Mike Perkins, seconded by the Board, the Board voted to proclaim November 10, 2007 as STD Awareness Day for the public schools in Vernon Parish.

 

On motion of Mark Smith, seconded by Steve Woods, the Board voted to receive bids for a used bus for Districts 1/6.  No bids were received and on motion of Mark Smith, seconded by Mel Harris, the Board voted to re-advertise for bids for a used bus for Districts 1/6.

 

On motion of Beryl Ford, seconded by Randy Martin, the Board adopted a resolution ordering and calling a special election to be held in Ward Three Wardwide School District No. 160 of Vernon Parish, Louisiana, to authorize the incurring debt and issuance of bonds, making application to the State Bond Commission in connection therewith and providing for other matters in connection therewith.

 

On recommendation of Superintendent Gillespie and on motion by Gaye McKee, seconded by Beryl Ford, the Board voted to name Steve Thomas as principal for Rosepine Elementary School.

 

Beryl Ford reported that the Curriculum Committee had met and that Mr. Travis presented the Coca Cola Valued Youth Program.  The Curriculum Committee will study this program further at the Curriculum meeting on December 11, 2007 at 3:00PM.  Mrs.  Ford also reported that Anne Smith reported on supervisor visits to the schools.

 

Mark Smith reported that the Salary/Personnel Committee had met and reviewed the personnel changes for November 2007 and would make its recommendation to the Board at the Wednesday, November 7th Board meeting.  Mr. Smith also reported that Mr. Self and Superintendent Gillespie will work on a comprehensive plan for incentives and/or sign-on bonuses to be presented to the Salary/Personnel Committee in March or April of 2008.

 

In other business Superintendent Gillespie reminded the Board members of the SACS interviews on Monday, November 5th.  She also noted that the Board meeting would be Wednesday, November 7th at 1:00PM and lunch at East Leesville Elementary at 11:30AM in the multi-purpose room.  Superintendent Gillespie urged all Board members to attend on these dates to show their support.

 

On motion of Gene Haymon, seconded by Mike Perkins, the Board voted to adopt a resolution for the Vernon Parish Police Jury to improve and maintain the bus turnaround at 357 Acorn Drive in Simpson, Louisiana.

 

On motion of Gaye McKee, seconded by Beryl Ford, the Board voted to adopt a resolution for the Vernon Parish Police Jury to improve and maintain a bus turnaround at 141 V&E Trailer Park Road #16.

 

On recommendation of Superintendent Gillespie and on motion of Gaye McKee, seconded by Randy Martin, the Board voted to advertise for assistant principal at Rosepine High School.

 

On motion of Beryl Ford, for 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 take this means to express their sympathy to the family of Virginia Christine Koonce who recently passed away; and

 

            WHEREAS, Mrs. Koonce was a former employee of the Vernon Parish School Board and she was also the mother of Linda Parker, cafeteria manager at Hornbeck High School; and

 

            WHEREAS, Mrs. Koonce was a longtime resident of Hornbeck and she will be greatly missed by her friends and family; 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 Mark Smith for 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 take this means to express their sympathy to the family of ”r;Coach” Mickey Goins who recently passed away; and

 

WHEREAS, Coach Goins was a retired teacher, coach, assistant principal, and  principal for Vernon Parish, and was the father of Michael Goins, retired teacher for Vernon Parish; and

 

WHEREAS, Coach Goins was a longtime resident of Anacoco and he will be sadly missed by his family and many 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 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 would like to express their sympathy to the family of Hazel Calhoun who recently passed away; and

 

            WHEREAS, Mrs. Calhoun was the wife of the late Ivey Calhoun who was principal at Rosepine High School, the mother of Geraldine LeBato, retired teacher, and the grandmother of Marc Lebato, teacher at Pickering High School; and

 

            WHEREAS, Mrs. Calhoun was a longtime resident of the Cravens area and she will be sadly missed 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 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 would like to express their condolences to the family of Henry Orville Bass who recently passed away; and

 

            WHEREAS, Mr. Bass was the brother of Elaine Fontenot, retired secretary and the father of Debbie Lewis, cook at Rosepine Elementary School; and

 

            WHEREAS, Mr. Bass was a longtime resident of Rosepine 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 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 take this means to express their sympathy to the family of Oscar Stephens who recently passed away; and

 

            WHEREAS, Mr. Stephens was the grandfather of Daniel and Barbara Fletcher, teachers in Vernon Parish; and

 

            WHEREAS, Mr. Stephens was a lifelong resident of the Cottonwood Community and Rosepine area 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 sorrow.

 

On motion of Steve Woods, 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 Monique Guzman who recently passed away; and

 

            WHEREAS, Monique was a 2007 graduate of Leesville High School and an avid Wampus Cat fan; and

 

            WHEREAS, Monique was a lifelong resident of Leesville and she will be sadly missed by her family and many friends; now

 

            BE IT THEREFORE RESOVLED that the Vernon Parish School Board requests a copy of this memorial resolution be sent to 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.

________________________

James Armes, Vice- President

 

Attest:

_____________________________

Cynthia A. Gillespie, Superintendent