SEPTEMBER 9, 2008

THE PARISH SCHOOL BOARD OF VERNON PARISH LOUISIANA CONVENED IN REGULAR SESSION ON SEPTEMBER 9, 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

M. GENE HAYMON

COL. DAVID G. SAGE

ABSENT:   NONE

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

The meeting was opened in prayer by Steve Woods.

The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Ricky Reese.

On motion of Mel Harris, seconded by Gaye McKee, the Board voted to approve and dispense with the reading of the minutes of September 4, 2008

Presentations for Transportation/Food Service Directors were made as follows:

Charles Balthrop – Kevin Dowdle – Charles Lewis – Joey Whiddon – James Williams

Tom Neubert recognized doctors and staff of Byrd Hospital and thanked them for their support.  Mr. Neubert presented plaques to Mr. Roger LeDoux and Sam Fulton for all the doctors that participated in the athletic physicals.  These physicals were all provided at no cost to the parents or to the Board.

Kem Johnson and Chad Hagan presented the annual 4-H Report.

On recommendation of Superintendent Gillespie and on motion of Mel Harris, seconded by Gaye McKee, the Board to approve the following resignations:

Rhonda Byrd, teacher/Pitkin

Charlotte Brady, teacher/SPE

Tiffany Rhodes, Title I aide/NPE

Margaret Upshaw, Sped aide/LHS

Heather Holsomback, LA4 teacher/NPE

Cherri Patterson, teacher/VMS

Travis Johnson, bus driver/WLE

Ilona Hines, cook/NPE

Sharon McKee,cook/SPE

Janet Collins, teacher/PES

Elizabeth Fox-Nunn, Headstart Aide/ELE

On recommendation of Superintendent Gillespie and on motion of Mel Harris, seconded by Ricky Reese, the Board voted to approve the following request for a leave without pay:

Paulette Jeane, medical LWOP 9-1-08/2-1-09

On recommendation of Superintendent Gillespie and on motion of Gaye McKee, seconded by Randy Martin, the Board voted to approve the following list of new employees:

Jeffery Willis, custodian/LJHS-replacing Jimmie Duke (retired)

Donnis Herrington, custodian/Hicks-replacing Eloise Jordan (retired)

Theresa Cleveland, teacher/WLE-replacing Josephine Cruz (resigned)

Tabitha Addison, bus driver/ELE-replacing Lori Haymon (resigned)

Shannan Tuia’ana/NPE-replacing Cathy Ambler (LWOP)

Hub Jordan, teacher/LHS-replacing Maxine Murphy (resigned)

Clarine Martin, teacher/AHS (retiree return to work)-replacing Keith Waddell (resigned)

Christine Clark, teacher/PHS-replacing Fayola Lavenhouse (resigned)

Martha Collins, cook/WLE-replacing Bessie Huff (retired)

Linda Harvey, homebound teacher/CO-part-time-2 days a week

LaDonna Wellman, Sped Aide/WLE-replacing Dawn Collins (trns to Simpson)

Dorinda Richardson, teacher/AES-new LA4 class

Sheila Fair, cook/ELE-replacing Marilyn Martinez (resigned)

Weston Thibodeaux, Sped Aide/LHS-replacing Cynthia Fletcher (resigned)

Melissa Maddox, teacher/RHS-replacing Judith McNeely (on leave thru December 2008)

Amanda LaCaze, teacher/Evans-new position due to Kindergarten enrollment

Desiree Lansdown, teacher/NPE-replacing Heather Holsomback (resigned)

Denise Mitchell, general fund aide/AHS-replacing Kelley Moore (trns to AES)

Elsie Clay, teacher/SPE-Retiree Return To Work

Sandra Hunter, teacher/Hicks-new position due to student enrollment

Sandra Underwood, teacher/Hicks-Retiree Return To Work-replacing Velda Wellman (sick leave)

Christy Ballard, teacher/VMS-replacing Cherri Patterson (resigned)

Belinda Starnes, teacher/Hicks-replacing Steve Wellman (sick leave)

On recommendation of Superintendent Gillespie and on motion of Mel Harris, seconded by Gaye McKee, the Board voted to approve the following employee transfers:

Martha Vinson, Headstart teacher/RES-trns to NPE –replacing Lisa Stephens (I/S trns to Headstart aide)

Lisa Stephens, Headstart teacher/NPE-I/S trns to Headstart aide-replacing Gelisa Howard (combo class)

Barbara Fletcher, teacher/AHS-trns to RHS-new position

Sonny Boone, teacher/PES-trns to RHS-new position

Eula Durrett, Sped Aide/Hornbeck-trns to ELE-new aide specific position

Charlotte Martin, cook/WLE-I/S trns to assistant manager-replacing Charles Thomas (to manager)

Charles Thomas,asst.cafeteria manager/WLE-I/S trns to manager-replacing Marie George (resigned)

Gena Adams, LA4aide/NPE-trns to Simpson -new LA4 position

Pam Smith, homebound teacher/CO-trns from fulltime to 3 days a week

Wanetta Bolton, teacher/LJHS-trns to Simpson-replacing Michael Charrier until mid-term)

Kelly Moore gen.fund aide/AHS-trns to AES as Sped teacher-replacing Angela Schraven (asst. principal)

Wyonna Jeane, teacher/RES-I/S trns from music to Gifted-replacing Renee McCain (resigned)

Michael Charrier,teacher/Simpson-I/S trns to Administrative Assistant-replacing Ron Roy till mid-term

Verna Jones, counselor/PES-trns to NPE-replacing Rebecca Spurgeon (MED SABB)

Regina Westmoreland, Title I Aide/VMS-trns to LJHS-new position

Jamie Busby, teacher/ELE-trns to Hicks (RTI Coordinator)

Lori Partridge, teacher/Gates-trns to RHS JAG Specialist (new position)

Betty Yarbrough, teacher/LHS-trns to Gates-replacing Lori Partridge (trns to RHS)

On motion of Mark Smith, seconded by Ricky Reese, the Board voted to adopt the following resolution to adopt the 2008-2009 consolidated budgets:

BUDGET RESOLUTION

The following resolution was offered by Mark Smith and seconded by Ricky Reese:

A resolution adopting, finalizing, and implementing the General Fund, Special Revenue, and Consolidated Fund Budgets of the Vernon Parish School Board for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2008 and ending June 30, 2009, which was accompanied by a budget adoption resolution; and

WHEREAS, the proposed Consolidated, General Fund, and the Special Revenue Fund Budgets and the accompanying budget adoption resolution have been submitted to this School Board for review and consideration; and

WHEREAS, notice of the public hearing on the proposed Consolidated, General Fund, and Special Revenue Fund Budgets, notice of the availability of the proposed budgets for review at such hearing and a general summary of the proposed budgets have been timely published in the Leesville Daily Leader; and

WHEREAS, a public hearing on the proposed Consolidated, General Fund, and Special Revenue Fund Budgets has now been reviewed and considered; now

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED by the School Board that the proposed Consolidated, General Fund, and Special Revenue Budgets are hereby approved, adopted, and finalized.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED actual revenues, expenditures and fund balances for the year ended June 30, 2008 are hereby adopted as the amended budgets for the year, in compliance with the requirements of the state law.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Secretary-Treasurer of the School Board, Cindy Gillespie, or her successor, is hereby authorized and in her sole discretion, to make such changes within the various budget classifications as she may deem necessary provided that any reallocation of funds affecting in excess of five percent (5%) of the projected revenue collections must be approved in advance by action of the School Board at a meeting duly noticed and convened.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Superintendent of the School Board, Cindy Gillespie, or her successor, in her capacity as chief administrative officer of the School Board, is hereby directed to advise the School Board when:

1. Revenue collections plus projected revenue collections for the remainder of the year, within a fund, are failing to meet estimated annual budgeted revenues by five percent (5%) or more, or

2. Actual expenditures plus projected expenditures for the remainder of the year, within a fund, are exceeding the estimated budgeted expenditures by five percent (5%) or more, or

3. The actual beginning fund balance, with a fund, fails to meet the estimated beginning fund balance of five percent (5%) or more, and the fund balance is being used to fund current year expenditures.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Secretary-Treasurer of the School Board, Cindy Gillespie, or her successor, shall certify completion of all actions required by Louisiana R.S. 39:1306 by publishing a notice of the minutes of the meeting in the Leesville Daily Leader.

This Resolution having been submitted to a vote, the vote thereon was as follows:

YEAS:  12                  

NAYS:  0       

ABSTAINING: 0      

ABSENT: 0

On motion of Mark Smith, seconded by Ricky Reese, the Board voted to approve the final budgets for 2007-2008.

On motion of Ricky Reese, seconded by John Burns, the Board voted to adopt a resolution ordering and calling a special election to be held in Orange School District No. 145 of Vernon Parish, Louisiana, to authorize the incurring debt and issuance of bonds, making application to the State Bond Commission in connection therewith, rescinding and repealing a similar resolution adopted on August 7, 2008, and providing for other matters in connection therewith.

On recommendation of Superintendent Gillespie and on motion of Ricky Reese, seconded by Mark Smith, the Board voted to name James Williams as Transportation/Food Service Director replacing Jimmy Funderburk effective January 5, 2009.  Roll call vote taken as follows:

             YEA                        NAY

JOHN BURNS                                                                                                     X                                            

MILLARD ”r;MEL” HARRIS                                               X                                                                            

ROBERT PYNES, JR.                                                           X                            

MARK SMITH                                                                     X                                            

STEVE WOODS                                                                   X

RICKYREESE                                                                        X                                                                                

BERYL FORD                                                                                                      X                                            

RANDYMARTIN                                                                                               X                                            

MIKE PERKINS                                                                   X                                            

VERNON TRAVIS                                                                                              X

GAYE MCKEE                                                                                                     X

M. GENE HAYMON                                                            X            

Yeas:  7

Nays:  5

Mr. Smith reported that the Finance Committee met on September 4, 2008.  No action was taken as there was not a quorum present.  Mr. Ward discussed the budgets and these were approved at this meeting.

Mel Harris reported that the Transportation Committee had met on this date.  Mr. Harris stated that the committee had recommended that Mr. Funderburk and Tim Ward get  proposals/bids from different companies for fuel in order to comply with the bid laws.  Another Transportation Committee will be scheduled when these proposals are received.

Gene Haymon reported that the Insurance Committee met on September 8, 2008 at 1:00PM.  No action was taken as there was not a quorum present.  Another meeting will be scheduled at a later date.

On motion of Gaye McKee, seconded by Randy martin , the Board voted to approve budget amendments related to personnel changes.

On motion of Vernon Travis, seconded by John Burns, the Board voted to authorize the president and secretary to pay the claims.

In other business Superintendent Gillespie informed the Board members that copies of the changes and/or modifications made to the Pupil Progression Plan were in their folders and that approval of these changes/modifications would be asked for on October 2, 2008.

There was also a decision made to postpone advertising for a principal at Leesville High School.

On motion of Vernon Travis, seconded by the Board, the Board adopted the following memorial resolution:

R E S O LU T I O N

            WHEREAS, the members of the Vernon Parish School Board take this means to express their sympathy to the family of Debra Stewart who recently passed away; and

            WHEREAS, Debra was the daughter of Mildred Moore, cook at Vernon Middle School; and

            WHEREAS, Debra was a resident of Leesville and she will be greatly missed by her family and friends; now

            BE IT THEREFORE RESOLVED that the Vernon Parish School Board requests a copy of this memorial be sent to her 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 wish to express their condolences to the family of Rosalie Bursh who recently passed away; and

            WHEREAS, Mrs. Bursh was the grandmother of Samuel Bursh, teacher at Vernon Middle School, and the mother-in-law of Lydia LaSane, retired teacher and current substitute teacher for the Vernon Parish School Board; and

            WHEREAS, Mrs. Bursh was a resident of Leesville and she will be sadly missed by 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.

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

____________________________________

BERYL FORD, BOARD PRESIDENT

ATTEST:

__________________________________________

DR. CYNTHIA GILLESPIE, SUPERINTENDENT