APRIL 3, 2008
MG Bolger welcomed the Board to Fort Polk and thanked the Board members for their dedication, hard work, and support of Fort Polk Families.
THE PARISH SCHOOL BOARD OF VERNON PARISH LOUISIANA CONVENED IN REGULAR SESSION AT 10:00 A.M., AT THE FORT POLK EDUCATION CENTER, FORT POLK, LOUISIANA. PRESIDENT FORD CALLED THE MEETING TO ORDER AND ON ROLL CALL THE FOLLOWING MEMBERS WERE PRESENT:
BERYL FORD, PRESIDENT
STEVE WOODS, VICE-PRESIDENT
ROBERT PYNES JR.
MEL HARRIS
MARK SMITH
JOHN C. BURNS
RICKY REESE
RANDY MARTIN
MICHAEL PERKINS
VERNON TRAVIS
GAYE MCKEE
GENE HAYMON
COL. DAVID G. SAGE
ABSENT: NONE
President Ford welcomed guests and thanked everyone for their hospitality and for inviting the Board to have their meeting at Fort Polk.
There was also present Dr. Cynthia A. Gillespie, Secretary of the Board.
The meeting was opened in prayer by John Burns.
The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Colonel David Sage.
On motion of Mel Harris, seconded by Vernon Travis, the Board voted to approve the minutes of the March 11, 2008 regular meeting and dispense with the reading of the minutes.
On motion of Ricky Reese, seconded by Mark Smith, the Board voted to approve the addition of Agenda Item 8A to receive bids for LCD Projectors.
Colonel Sage welcomed the Board and presented a growth update for JRTC and Fort Polk.
Pam Evans, Family Advocacy Program, discussed the Child Abuse Prevention Seminar.
On motion of Mark Smith, seconded by Mel Harris, the Board voted to adopt a resolution authorizing the retention of Hammonds and Sills Law Firm as special counsel as follows:
RESOLUTION OF VERNON PARISH SCHOOL BOARD
REGARDING EMPLOYMENT OF SPECIAL COUNSEL
WHEREAS, Louisiana Revised Statutes 42:263 authorizes the retention of special counsel by any school board upon a statement of reasons why such counsel is necessary and upon the approval by the Attorney General; and
WHEREAS, the Vernon Parish School Board has employed the law firm Hammonds & Sills since 2003 as its special counsel with experience, training, and expertise in school law issues including, but not limited to, special education, school personnel matters, public bid laws and general school board policy matters involving compliance with federal and state laws and regulations, including due process hearings, tenure hearings, misconduct investigations and the handling of administrative hearings and litigation in state and federal courts; and
WHEREAS, through its representation of the Vernon Parish School Board and various school boards throughout the State of Louisiana, the law firm of Hammonds & Sills of Baton Rouge and Monroe, Louisiana, has special experience, training and expertise in those issues of school law.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT DULY RESOLVED by the Vernon Parish School Board in regular session duly convened:
Section I – This School Board does hereby renew its employment of the law firm of Hammonds & Sills of Baton Rouge and Monroe, Louisiana as special counsel with training, experience and expertise in school law issues including, but not limited to, special education, school personnel matters, public bid law and general policy matters to include administrative hearings and litigation with respect thereto for the purpose of advising, consulting with, and representing this School Board in connection with such legal matters involving the school system.
Section II – Said law firm shall be paid for their services at hourly rates equal to the maximum hourly fee schedule for special counsel published by the Attorney General of the State of Louisiana in effect at the time of the services subject to a maximum hourly rate of $150.00 and except that the paralegal rate shall be $75.00 per hour and to be reimbursed for out-of-pocket expenses for long distance telephone calls, document duplication, expert witness fees, court reporter fees, printing costs, travel expenses and other expenses as a result of the legal services to and for this School board..
Section III – Said law firm shall keep itemized records for presentation to the Superintendent with respect to services rendered at said hourly rates and the expenses incurred, and the Superintendent is hereby authorized and directed to pay same upon submission and receipt thereof.
Section IV – This employment shall continue and is effective immediately upon adoption of this resolution.
The vote, in open meeting, on the resolution was as follows:
YEAS: 12
NAYS: 0
ABSENT: 0
CERTIFICATE
I HEREBY CERTIFY THAT THE FOREGOING Resolution was adopted by the Vernon Parish School Board in regular session duly convened on April 3, 2008 and that same has not been rescinded or repealed.
LEESVILLE, LOUISIANA, this 3rd day of April, 2008.
__________________________ ______________________________
Ms. Beryl Ford, President Dr. Cynthia Gillespie, Secretary-Treasurer
VERNON PARISH SCHOOL BOARD VERNON PARISH SCHOOL BOARD
On motion of Mike Perkins, seconded by Randy Martin, the Board voted to accept the bid from Ross Bus Sales for $69,471.00 for an activity bus for Pitkin High School.
On motion of Gaye McKee, seconded by Gene Haymon, the Board voted to advertise for bids for paper goods.
On motion of Mel Harris, seconded by Gaye McKee, the Board voted to advertise for bids for copier paper.
On motion of Robert Pynes, seconded by Mark Smith, the Board voted to advertise for bids for trash bags.
On motion of Gene Haymon, seconded by Vernon Travis, the Board voted to receive bids for LCD Projectors. One bid was received from Troxell in Shreveport, Louisiana in the amount of $53,760.00 ($840 each for 64 projectors). On motion of Ricky Reese, seconded by John Burns, the Board voted to take this bid under advisement.
On motion of Vernon Travis, seconded by Gaye McKee, the Board voted to approve a resolution for continuing the consolidated application for program funding for Titles I, II, IV, IDEA, IDEA Pre-School for 2008-2009.
On motion of Randy Martin, seconded by Ricky Reese, the Board voted to accept the Memorandum of Agreement from the Department of Health and Hospitals for Emergency Preparedness and Response.
On motion of Gaye McKee, seconded by Gene Haymon, the Board voted to advertise for bids to sell two (2) used buses and one (1) used tractor at Rosepine High School.
On motion of Mike Perkins, seconded by Ricky Reese, the Board voted to advertise for bids to sell a used bus at Pitkin High School.
On motion of Gene Haymon, seconded by Gaye McKee, the Board voted to advertise for bids for printer cartridges.
Mark Smith reported that the Salary/Personnel Committee had met and reviewed the personnel changes for April and would make its recommendation to the Board at the April 8, 2008 Board meeting.
In other business Superintendent Gillespie reminded the Board of the Leesville High School Musical next week, the Day at the Legislature on April 16th, the Goals and Objectives Meeting on April 8th at 8:00AM, and that the Tuesday, April 8th Board meeting would begin at 9:00AM for Headstart Goverance Training. Superintendent Gillespie also stated that she would be at a conference on July 10th and Mr. Self would attend the Board meeting.
On motion of Mel Harris, seconded by the Board, the Board adopted the following resolution in appreciation of MG Bolger:
R E S O L U T I O N
APPRECIATION RESOLUTION FOR BOLGER
On motion of Mel Harris, seconded by the Board, the Board requested that Superintendent Gillespie write letters to the legislature in support of House Bill #197 and to defeat or amend Senate Bill #272.
On motion of Steve Woods, seconded by the Board, the Board adopted the following resolution:
R E S O L U T I O N
RESOLUTION FOR REESE & CASTILLO
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 Imelda Watson who recently passed away; and
WHEREAS, Mrs. Watson was a retired teacher with twenty-seven years of dedicated service; and
WHEREAS, Mrs. Watson was very active in community affairs and was respected and loved by all in our community; now
BE IT THEREFORE RESOLVED that the Vernon Parish School Board requests a copy of this 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 Ralph Carter who recently passed away; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Carter was the father of Robert Carter, teacher at Leesville Jr. High School; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Carter was a longtime resident of Leesville 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 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 condolences to the family of Katie Nichols who recently passed away; and
WHEREAS, Mrs. Nichols was the mother-in-law of June Nichols, cook at Rosepine High School; and
WHEREAS, Mrs. Nichols was a resident of Rosepine 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.
There being no further business, and on motion of Gaye McKee, seconded by the Board, the meeting was adjourned.
_________________________
BERYL FORD, PRESIDENT
ATTEST:
___________________________________
CYNTHIA A GILLESPIE, SUPERINTENDENT