APRIL 8, 2008

 

THE PARISH SCHOOL BOARD OF VERNON PARISH LOUISIANA CONVENED IN REGULAR SESSION, APRIL 8, 2008, AT 10:00AM, AT 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.

MARK H. SMITH

RICKY REESE

RANDY MARTIN

MICHAEL PERKINS

VERNON TRAVIS

GAYE MCKEE

COL. DAVID G. SAGE

 

ABSENT:       MEL HARRIS – BUSINESS OBLIGATION

                        GENE HAYMON – BUSINESS OBLIGATION

 

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

 

The meeting was opened in prayer by Mike Perkins.

 

The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Vernon Travis.

 

HEADSTART GOVERANCE TRAINING – 9:00 – 10:00

 

On motion of Vernon Travis, seconded by Gaye McKee, the Board voted to approve and dispense with the reading of the minutes of April 3, 2008.

 

On recommendation of Superintendent Gillespie and on motion of Ricky Reese, seconded by Randy Martin, the Board to approve the following resignations:

 

Eileen Howard, custodian/Pitkin

Susan Teegardin, teacher/WLE

Lori Haymon, bus driver/ELE

Jennifer Lawler, teacher/RES

Andy Kennedy, teacher/Evans

Colleen Sysock, teacher/SPE

Kimberley Martin, Sped Aide/Evans

 

On recommendation of Superintendent Gillespie and on motion of Gaye McKee, seconded by Ricky Reese, the Board voted to approve the following sabbatical leave requests:

 

Brenda Ramer, counselor/Simpson-Professional SABB 8-5-08/1-2-09

Pauline Pommier, teacher/PHS-Professional SABB 8-5-08/5-22-09

Angela Groves, teacher/PES-Medical SABB 8-5-08/1-2-09

 

On recommendation of Superintendent Gillespie and on motion of John Burns, seconded by Steve Woods, the Board voted to approve the following termination:

 

Christina Brown, teacher/Evans-job abandonment

 

On recommendation of Superintendent Gillespie and on motion of Robert Pynes, seconded by Ricky Reese, the Board voted to approve the following list of new employees:

 

Riley McCullough, teacher/Pitkin-Retiree Return To Work

Sandy Thompson, custodian/Pitkin-replacing Eileen Howard(resigned)

Gregory Johnson, cook/VMS-replacing David Kirby(trns to LJHS)

 

On recommendation of Superintendent Gillespie and on motion of Ricky Reese, seconded by Steve Woods, the Board voted to approve the following employee transfers:

 

David Kirby, cook/VMS-trns to LJHS-replacing Belinda Tetreault(resigned)

Tara Henry, Sped Aide/ELE-trns to WLE-student need

 

On motion of Vernon Travis, seconded by the Board, the Board voted to adopt the following resolution for Rapides Systemic Initiative:

 

VERNON PARISH SCHOOL BOARD R E S O L U T I O N

SYSTEMIC INITIATIVE

 

            RESOLVED, on motion of Vernon Travis, seconded by the Board, that the Vernon Parish School Board designated Cynthia A. Gillespie, Superintendent, to initiate, negotiate, and sign for grants for the Systemic Initiative Grant Agreement with Rapides Foundation and the Vernon Parish School Board.

 

_______________________________

Beryl Ford, Board President

 

I hereby certify that the above and foregoing is a true and correct extract from the minutes of a regular meeting of the Vernon Parish School Board held on April 8, 2008, at which there was a quorum present and voting.

 

Attest:  _______________________, Cynthia A. Gillespie, Secretary-April 8, 2008

 

On motion of Mike Perkins, seconded by Robert Pynes, the Board voted to approve the Headstart budget and program for 2008-2009.

 

On motion of Mark Smith, seconded by Randy Martin, the Board voted to adopt a resolution providing for the opening of the sealed bids received for the purchase of Two Million Two Hundred Twenty-Five Thousand Dollars of General Obligation School Bonds, Series 2008, of Ward Three Wardwide School District No. 160 of Vernon Parish, Louisiana, approving the Official Notice of Bond Sale and Preliminary Official Statement in connection therewith, and authorizing the President and Secretary to sign copies thereof as evidence of the approval thereto.  Bids received as follows:

 

Morgan & Keagan                5.17% average interest cost

Alluvion                                  4.19% average interest cost

 

On motion of Mark Smith, seconded by Gaye McKee, the Board voted to adopt a resolution accepting the bid from Alluvion for 4.19% for purchase of $2,225,000 of General Obligation School Bonds, Series 2008, of Ward Three Wardwide School District No. 160 of Vernon Parish Louisiana.

 

On motion of Steve Woods, seconded by Randy Martin, the Board voted to adopt a resolution authorizing the incurring debt and issuance of Two Million Two Hundred Twenty Five Thousand Dollars of General Obligation School Bonds, Series 2008, of Ward Three Wardwide School District No. 160 of Vernon Parish, Louisiana; prescribing the form, terms and conditions of said bonds; designating the date, denominations and place of payment of said bonds; providing for the payment thereof in principal and interest; and providing for other matters in connection therewith.

 

On motion of Ricky Reese, seconded by Gaye McKee, the Board voted to dispose of a used bus at Simpson High School.

 

On motion of John Burns, seconded by Mark Smith, the Board voted to receive bids for playground equipment for North Polk Elementary School.  Bids were as follows:

 

BYO Playground                              $40,064.59

Planet Recess                                    $32,450.00

 

On motion of Ricky Reese, seconded by Gaye McKee, the Board voted to accept the low bid from Planet Recess in the amount of $32,450.00.

 

On motion of Ricky Reese, seconded by John Burns, the Board voted to accept the bid from Troxell for LCD Projectors in the amount of $53,760.00 ($840.00 each for 64 projectors).

 

Vernon Travis reported that the Goals and Objectives Committee had met on this date at 8:00AM and progress was made on the Goals and Objectives for the Vernon Parish School Board.  Mr. Travis scheduled a committee meeting on May 6, 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 Vernon Travis, seconded by Gaye McKee, the Board voted to authorize the president and secretary to pay the claims.

  

In other business Superintendent Gillespie recommended that bids be advertised for Hitachi Projector Bulbs and on motion of Ricky Reese, seconded by John Burns, the Board voted to advertise for bids for Hitachi Projector Bulbs.

On motion of Mark Smith for Gene Haymon, the Board voted to adopt two (2) resolutions for the Vernon Parish Police Jury to repair and maintain bus turn- arounds on 219 Harper Road and 1604 Forest Drive in District Eight.

 

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 sincere sympathy to the family of Bernie Cyr who recently passed away; and

            WHEREAS, Mr. Cyr was the father of Linda DeRush, paraprofessional at Leesville High School, and the father-in-law of Becky Cyr, teacher at North Polk Elementary; and

            WHEREAS, Mr. Cyr was a longtime resident of Leesville and he will be greatly 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 his 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 wish to express their condolences to the family of Marshal Patton who recently passed away; and

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

            WHEREAS, Mr. Patton was a longtime resident of Vernon Parish, very active in community affairs, 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 take this means to express their sincere sympathy to the family of Nyhlia and Janell Youngblood who recently passed away; and

            WHEREAS, Nyhlia and Janell were nieces of Curtis and Elsie Clay and cousins of LaCurtria Clay; and

            WHEREAS, Nyhlia and Janell  will be greatly missed by their family and friends; now

 

            BE IT THEREFORE RESOLVED that the Vernon Parish School Board requests a copy of this memorial resolution be sent to their families at this time of sadness.

 

On motion of Randy Martin, 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 Kendrick Johnson who recently passed away; and

            WHEREAS, Mr. Johnson was a Pickering High School graduate and was currently serving in the military; and

            WHEREAS, Mr. Johnson will be greatly 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.

                       

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