MARCH 11, 2008
THE PARISH SCHOOL BOARD OF VERNON PARISH LOUISIANA CONVENED IN REGULAR SESSION MARCH 11, 2008 AT, 5:00PM, 201 BELVIEW ROAD, LEESVILLE, LA. PRESIDENT FORD CALLED THE MEETING TO ORDER AND ON ROLL CALL THE FOLLOWING MEMBERS WERE PRESENT:
BERYL FORD, PRESIDENT
STEVE WOODS, VICE PRESIDENT
JOHN C. BURNS
ROBERT PYNES JR.
MEL HARRIS
MARK H. SMITH
RICKY REESE
RANDY MARTIN
MICHAEL PERKINS
VERNON TRAVIS
GAYE MCKEE
COL. DAVID G. SAGE
ABSENT: GENE HAYMON – BUSINESS OBLIGATION
There was also present Dr. Cynthia Gillespie, Secretary of the Board.
The meeting was opened in prayer by Ricky Reese.
The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Randy Martin.
President Ford welcomed Girl Scout Troop 2133 to the meeting.
On motion of Ricky Reese, seconded by Mark Smith, the Board voted to move Agenda Item #10 to the first item on the agenda.
Mr. Reese reported that the Uniform/Dress Code Committee had met and that no action was taken. Uniform/dress codes will not change and the current policy stands.
On motion of Mel Harris, seconded by Vernon Travis, the Board voted to approve and dispense with the reading of the minutes of March 6, 2008.
On recommendation of Superintendent Gillespie and on motion of Gaye McKee, seconded by Robert Pynes, the Board to approve the following resignations:
Kristen Kinsinger, teacher/RHS
Monica Bonnell, teacher/WLE
Renee Klann, teacher/NPE
Steve Kennedy, bus driver/LHS
On recommendation of Superintendent Gillespie and on motion of Robert Pynes, seconded by Gaye McKee, the Board voted to approve the following request for a leave without pay:
Ann Smith, assistant principal/PES-Other LWOP-Distinguished Educator Program 2008-2009 school year
On recommendation of Superintendent Gillespie and on motion of Mel Harris, seconded by Gaye McKee, the Board voted to approve the following list of new employees:
Chris Deon, teacher/RHS-replacing Kristen Kinsinger(resigned)
Alicia Howard, teacher/WLE-replacing Monica Bonnell(resigned)
Constance Johnson, custodian/Pitkin-replacing Glenelle Brister(retired)
Eduarda Diaz, teacher/LJHS-replacing Sonia Saray(resigned)
David Anthony, computer technician/central office-replacing Barry Toothman(resigned)
Charisse Flowers, cook/ELE-replacing Shirley Dudley(deceased)
On recommendation of Superintendent Gillespie and on motion of Robert Pynes, seconded by Steve Woods, the Board voted to approve the following employee transfers:
Janice Spurgeon, teacher/LHS-I/S trns from English to SPED
Belinda Newhouse, custodian/Pitkin-I/S trns to Head custodian
On motion of Mark Smith, seconded by Robert Pynes, the Board voted to advertise for playground equipment for North Polk Elementary School. Mr. Ward stated that this would be funded by monies raised by the school.
On motion of Mark Smith, seconded by Gaye McKee, the Board voted to accept bids for an activity bus for Pitkin High School. One bid was received from Ross Bus Sales for $69,471.00. On motion of Mark Smith, seconded by Mel Harris, the Board voted to take the bid under advisement pending review by Mike Perkins and Tim Ward.
On motion of Randy Martin, seconded by Gaye McKee, the Board voted to adopt Calendar ”A” for the 2008-2009 school year.
VERNON PARISH SCHOOL CALENDAR 2008-2009
August 4, 2008 New Teacher Induction
August 5, 2008 Staff Development
August 6, 2008 Staff Development
August 7, 2008 Teacher Workday (at each school site)
AUGUST 8, 2008 FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL For Students
September 1, 2008 Labor Day (Students & Employees Holiday)
October 2, 2008 Staff Development/Parent/Teacher Conference (Student Holiday)
October 3, 2008 Fair Day (Students & Employees Holiday)
October 20-24, 2008 Fall Retest (GEE) (ELA/M/Sc/SS)
November 3, 2008 Staff Development (Student Holiday)
November 4, 2008 Federal Election Day (Students and Employees Holiday)
November 10, 2008 Staff Development (Student Holiday)
November 11, 2008 Veterans Day (Students & Employees Holiday)
November 24-28, 2008 Thanksgiving/Fall Break (Students & Employees Holiday)
DECEMBER 19, 2008 MIDTERM
Dec. 22, 2008 - Jan. 2, 2009 Christmas/Winter Break
January 5, 2009 Teacher Workday (Student Holiday)
January 6, 2009 Students Return
January 19, 2009 Martin Luther King Day (Students & Employees Holiday)
February 9-13, 2009 GEE Seniors Only Retest
February 9-March 20, 2009 LEAP Alternate Assessment, Level 1 (LAA1)
February 13, 2009 Staff Development/ Parent/Teacher Conference (Student Holiday)
February 16, 2009 President’s Day (Students & Employees Holiday)
March 12 –March 18, 2009 LEAP, GEE, iLEAP, LEAP Alternate Assessment, Level 2 (LAA2)
March 23 – May 1, 2009 ELDA
April 10-17, 2009 Easter/Spring Break (Students & Employees Holiday)
May 21, 2009 ½ Day for Students (Testing) Full Day for Employees
May 22, 2009 ½ Day for Students (Testing) Full Day for Employees
MAY 22, 2009 LAST DAY OF SCHOOL
SIX WEEKS SCHEDULE NINE WEEKS SCHEDULE
August 8 - September 12 25 Days August 8 – October 10 43 Days
September 15 – October 31 33 Days October 13 – December 19 41 Days
November 5 – December 19 26 Days January 6 – March 13 46 Days
January 6 – February 20 31 Days March 16 – May 22 43 Days
February 23 – March 31 27 Days
April 1 – May 22 31 Days
PAYROLL DATES ARE FROM THE 1ST WORKING DAY OF THE MONTH UNTIL THE LAST WORKING DAY OF THE MONTH.
Note: Additional minutes for student half-days need to be included in the individual schools daily schedule.
PARAPROFESSIONALS are not required to work on AUGUST 5th and 6th and will report to work on AUGUST 7th. Paraprofessionals will also be dismissed for ½ day on OCTOBER 2nd and FEBRUARY 13th for Parent/Teacher Conferences.
On motion of Mark Smith, seconded by Steve Woods, the Board voted to accept the following Certification Incentive:
1) A $3,000.00 HIRING INCENTIVE will be given to teachers new (*) to Vernon Parish who hold a LA.Certificate (**) and will teach a majority (4/7th) of the school day next year in their certification area.
2) A $3,000.00 INCENTIVE will be given to elementary teachers who upon the request of the Principal will add a needed secondary area (secondary math, science, English, social studies, gifted, 1-12 special education, K-12 Instrumental music or K-12 vocal music) to their existing LA. Certificate and will teach a majority (4/7th) of the school day in one or more of the areas.
3) A $4,000.00 HIRING INCENTIVE (***) will be given to teachers new (*) to Vernon Parish who hold a LA. Certificate (**) in the areas of secondary math, secondary science, or secondary English and will teach those subjects a majority (4/7th) of the school day next year.
4) Teacher must teach at their assigned school the entire school year to receive the incentive. If the teacher leaves before the end of the school year, the incentive will be prorated on a day-by-day basis.
(*) New means not employed in Vernon Parish for the last five (5) years.
(**) Louisiana Teaching Certificate (no TAT’S or OFAT’S) with appropriate certification areas shown presented before September 15, 2008.
(***) This incentive is in place of the incentive shown in item #1 above.
Vernon Travis reported that the Goals and Objectives Committee had met and Board members were asked to bring goals to the next scheduled meeting on April 8, 2008 at 8:00AM.
On motion of Gaye McKee, seconded by Vernon Travis, the Board voted to approve budget amendments related to personnel changes.
On motion of Gaye McKee, seconded by Vernon Travis, the Board voted to authorize the president and secretary to pay the claims.
In other business, Colonel Sage invited the Board to Fort Polk for the April 3rd Board meeting and for lunch following the Board meeting.
Superintendent Gillespie reminded the Board of the Reception for Retired Teachers in observance of Retired Teacher’s Day on Tuesday, March18, 2008.
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 Ruth Fisher who recently passed away; and
WHEREAS, Mrs. Fisher was a retired teacher with over thirty-five years dedicated to education; and
WHEREAS, Mrs. Fisher was a longtime resident of Leesville and she will be greatly missed by her 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 he family at this time of sadness.
On motion of Randy Martin 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 Vernon Parish School Board wish to express their sympathy to the family of Vera Greer who recently passed away; and
WHEREAS, Mrs. Greer was the mother-in-law of Sandy Cosio, Principal at Anacoco Elementary School; and
WHEREAS, Mrs. Greer was a longtime resident of Anacoco and she will be sadly 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 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 Edward Kranzman who recently passed away; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Kranzman was the father of Linda Hudgens, teacher at West Leesville, and the father-in-law of Howard Hudgens, school resource office and
WHEREAS, Mr. Kranzman was a resident of Leesville 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.
There being no further business, on motion of Gaye McKee, seconded by the Board, the meeting was adjourned.
__________________________________
BERYL FORD, BOARD PRESIDENT
ATTEST:
__________________________________________
DR. CYNTHIA GILLESPIE, SUPERINTENDENT