JANUARY 10, 2008

 

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

 

BERYL FORD, PRESIDENT

STEVE WOODS, VICE-PRESIDENT

JAMES ARMES

ROBERT PYNES JR.

MEL HARRIS

MARK SMITH

RICKY REESE

RANDY MARTIN

MICHAEL PERKINS

VERNON TRAVIS

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 James Armes.

 

The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Mel Harris.

 

On motion of Vernon Travis, seconded by James Armes, the Board voted to approve the minutes of the December 11, 2007 regular meeting and dispense with the reading of the minutes.

 

Mr. Lance Bishop, TAC, gave an update on the South Polk energy conservation project.

 

On recommendation of Superintendent Gillespie, and on motion of Mark Smith, seconded by Mel Harris, the Board voted to table any changes in the Pediculosis Policy until further clarification of the policy and to get more input from the principals.

 

On motion of Steve Woods, seconded by Randy Martin, the Board voted to name The Leesville Daily Leader as the official journal of the Vernon Parish School Board.

 

On motion of Mel Harris, seconded by James Armes, 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 motion of Robert Pynes, seconded by James Armes, the Board voted to approve the Board Committees for 2008.

 

No decision was made regarding the discussion of agenda setting meetings and was deferred until a later date.

 

Randy Martin reported that the Maintenance Committee had met and recommended that Robert Mace be hired as a Level I maintenance position.  On motion of Randy Martin, seconded by Robert Pynes, the Board voted to hire Robert Mace for this position.

 

Mark Smith reported that the Salary/Personnel Committee had met and reviewed the personnel changes for January and would make its recommendation to the Board at the Tuesday, January 15, 2008 Board meeting.  The committee also discussed certification incentives and Mr. Self reported that the grant had been written and that he would gather the information needed to finalize the incentive program.  The Salary/Personnel Committee also recommended that three technology technicians be hired and on motion of Mark Smith, seconded by Mel Harris, the Board voted to approve the hiring of three technology technicians.

 

On motion of Ricky Reese, seconded by Gene Haymon, the Board voted to accept the resignation of James Armes, District I Board Member. 

 

Superintendent Gillespie and the Board recognized Mr. Armes and thanked him for his dedication and hard work for the children and school personnel of Vernon Parish.  Mr. Armes was presented a plaque and congratulated for his new venture as representative.

 

On motion of Gene Haymon, seconded by the Board, the Board voted to name John C. Burns to replace James Armes as District I Board member until an election can be held.

 

In other business, Superintendent Gillespie reported that Headstart monitoring will be January 27th thru February 1st and that Ms. Cart will give an update at the Tuesday, January 15, 2008 Board meeting.

 

Superintendent Gillespie also scheduled an informal special called meeting for the Vernon Parish Legislative elected officials and the Board for Friday, January 25, 2008 at 9:00AM.

 

Superintendent Gillespie also asked the Board members for their input on school visits and that it would be on the agenda for Tuesday for discussion.

 

Mr. Steve Woods requested input from the Board to decide if we needed a representative from the district attorney’s office to attend the Board meetings.  This will be discussed at a later date.

 

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 take this means to express their sympathy to the family of Joseph ”r;Joe” Piro who recently passed away; and

 

            WHEREAS, Mr. Piro was a retired teacher from Vernon Parish; and

 

            WHEREAS, Mr. Piro was the husband of Barbara Piro, teacher at Anacoco Elementary School; and

 

            WHEREAS, Mr. Piro was a longtime resident of Anacoco and he will be sadly missed by his family and friends; now

 

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

 

On motion of Vernon Travis, 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 John Youngblood who recently passed away; and

 

            WHEREAS, Mr. Youngblood was the brother of Elsie Clay, teacher at South Polk Elementary and the brother-in-law of Curtis Clay, curriculum supervisor at central office; and

 

            WHEREAS, Mr. Youngblood was a resident of Shreveport 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 Vernon Travis, 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 Shirley Ann Dudley who recently passed away; and

 

            WHEREAS, Mrs. Dudley was a cook at East Leesville Elementary School, and

 

            WHEREAS, Mrs. Dudley was a lifelong resident of Vernon Parish and she will be sadly missed by her co-workers, 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 sorrow.

 

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 take this means to express their condolences to the family of Jefferson Albert ”r;Jeff” Laughlin who recently passed away; and

 

            WHEREAS, Mr. Laughlin was a retired employee of the Vernon Parish Board with twenty seven years of service and was the father of Jeannie Wentworth, paraprofessional at Anacoco Elementary School; and

 

            WHEREAS, Mr. Laughlin was a longtime resident of Anacoco and he will be sadly missed by his friends and family; 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 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 would like to express their sympathy to the family of Junko ”r;June” Stephens who recently passed away; and

 

            WHEREAS, Mrs. Stephens was a relative of Joe and Libby Pope; and

 

            WHEREAS, Mrs. Stephens was a resident of Anacoco and she will be sadly missed by her family and friends; now

 

            BE IT THEREFROE 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 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 wish to express their sympathy to the family of James ”r;Jim” Merritt Jr. who recently passed away, and

 

            WHEREAS, Mr. Merritt was a graduate of Leesville High School, a military retiree, and the operations manager for KANE and KLLA.  Mr. Merritt was host of the Cats Den and a huge supporter of the Wampus Cats as well as LSU.

 

            WHEREAS, Mr. Merritt was a resident of Leesville and he will be sadly missed by his many 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 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 take this means to express their sympathy to the family of Raymond Midkiff who recently passed away; and

 

            WHEREAS, Reverend Midkiff was the father of Sadia Midkiff, teacher at Rosepine Elementary School; and

 

            WHEREAS, Reverend Midkiff was a resident of Cottonwood and he will be sadly missed by his family and friends; now

 

            BE IT THEREFORE RESOLVED that the members of the Vernon Parish School Board request 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 wish to express their sympathy to the family of Earl Cooley who recently passed away; and

 

            WHEREAS, Mr. Cooley was the father of Mary Clark and the father-in-law of George Clark, retired employees of the Vernon Parish School Board; and

 

            WHEREAS, Mr. Cooley was a resident of Rosepine and he will be sadly missed by his family and friends; now

 

            BE IT THEREFORE RESOLVED that the members of the Vernon Parish School Board request 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 sympathy to the family of Jimmie Dale Jeane who recently passed away; and

 

           WHEREAS, Mr. Jeane was a lifelong resident of Vernon Parish, a dedicated employee for Maxim Technologies for twenty-five years, and

 

            WHEREAS, Mr. Jeane always enjoyed the outdoors 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.

 

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

 

________________

Beryl Ford, President

 

Attest:

_____________________________

Cynthia A. Gillespie, Superintendent