NOVEMBER 13, 2008

THE PARISH SCHOOL BOARD OF VERNON PARISH LOUISIANA CONVENED IN REGULAR SESSION NOVEMBER 13, 2008 AT 10:00AM, 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 – OUT OF STATE BUSINESS

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 Mel Harris.

 On motion of Mel Harris, seconded by Gaye McKee, the Board voted to approve and dispense with the reading of the minutes of November 6, 2008.

Mrs. Raetta Harvey recognized the school Forestry Festival Queens from the parish. They were all congratulated by the Board for their achievement.

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

Lisa Stephens, Headstart Aide/NPE

Joseph Sandell, maintenance/CO

Traman Thibodeaux, teacher/LHS

Ashley Cloud, teacher/AES

Carla Likes, cook/LJHS

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

Elizabeth Pope, teacher/Simpson-replacing Joy Wiggins (sick leave till mid-term)

Sandra Maddox, custodian/Pitkin-replacing Connie Johnson (trns to WLE as bus driver)

Ilona Haynes, LA4Aide/NPE-new position due to enrollment

Tonia Nolan, LA4Teacher/NPE-replacing Heather Holsomback (resigned)

Sherrie Sterling, teacher/Hornbeck-replacing John Arthur (retired)

Carolyn Cook, cafeteria manager/Pitkin-Retiree Return To Work

Heather Davis-Belton, teacher/LJHS-replacing Kyle Walter (trns to LHS)

Edwin Koenck, asst. principal/WLE-Retiree Return To Work

Barbara Lawson, Sped Aide/VMS-replacing Marilyn Barnard (retired)

Ervin Wilson, bus driver/WLE-Retiree Return To Work

Jessica Dunn, Headstart Aide/RES-replacing Kim Craft (I/S trns to LA4)

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

Jennifer Smith, contract bus driver/WLE-trns to Anacoco-replacing Lindy Todd (route change)

Sandra Cooley, leased bus driver/WLE-I/S trns from regular ed to sped bus driver (route change)

Charles LeBlanc, contract bus driver/AHS-I/S trns to lease bus driver-replacing Norma Cedars (resigned)

Kyle Walter, teacher/LJHS-trns to LHS-replacing Traman Thibodeux (resigned)

Tonya Day, custodian/PES-trns to NPE-replacing Iona Hines (resigned)

Karri Bailes, cook/VMS-trns to RES-new position due to increased enrollment

On motion of Ricky Reese, seconded by John Burns, the Board voted to adopt a resolution declaring the intention of the Vernon Parish School Board, State of Louisiana, acting as the governing authority of Orange School District No. 145 of Vernon Parish Louisiana, to reimburse itself and/or the school district, as the case may be for certain expenditures to be made by the School District and/or by the School Board on behalf of the School District, in connection with a proposed capital improvement program in the School District which was approved by the voters at an election held on November 4, 2008, which includes the acquisition of activity buses, from the proceeds of tax-exempt bonds to be issued by the School District.

On motion of Ricky Reese, seconded by John Burns, the Board voted to adopt a resolution providing for canvassing the returns and declaring the result of the special election held in Orange School District No. 145 of Vernon Parish, Louisiana, on Tuesday, November 4, 2008, to authorize the incurring of debt and issuance of bonds.

Mike Perkins reported that the Curriculum Committee had met.  There was a report given by John Farris on the school performance scores.   On motion of Mike Perkins, seconded by the Board, the Board voted to adopt the following resolution:

R E S O L U T I O N

            WHEREAS, the Vernon Parish School Board is pleased that the test scores of our students continue to improve and that our parish’s 2007-2008 scores placed Vernon Parish fourth in state; and

            WHEREAS, Mr. John Farris and Mrs. Anne Smith and the central office supervisory staff dedicate many hours to developing an instructional program that is aligned with our required tests, and to supplying materials and resources to assist teachers with meeting the needs of individual students, and training personnel in testing procedures; and

            WHEREAS, the school’s administrators are to be commended for overseeing the operations of the schools and for their support, encouragement and assistance they provide for their students and teachers; and

            WHEREAS, our teachers incorporate the information and materials made available to them into their lesson plans and utilize every opportunity afforded them to prepare their students for testing and the accomplishments realized by the 2007-2008 test scores are a direct result of great teaching; and

            WHEREAS, the level of support and cooperation demonstrated by Vernon Parish parents is an important component in our team efforts to help our children and youth succeed; and

            WHEREAS, our students continue to excel and work hard to reach high expectations set for them and certainly deserve to be congratulated and commended for the success of their endeavors; now

            BE IT THEREFORE RESOLVED that the Vernon Parish School Board adopts this resolution to commend the teamwork of the administration, teachers, support personnel, parents, and students in accomplishing these results.

Another Curriculum Committee was scheduled for 3:00PM on December 9, 2008.

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

On motion of Ricky Reese, seconded by Steve Woods, the Board voted to authorize the president and secretary to pay the claims.

In other business, Superintendent Gillespie recognized Anacoco Elementary School as the only school in Louisiana to have received award money every year that award monies were given.  On motion of Ricky Reese, seconded by the Board, the Board adopted the following resolution:

R E S O L U T I O N

Whereas, the Vernon Parish School System has approached the Louisiana Accountability Program and No Child Left Behind as means to increase student achievement, and

Whereas, Vernon Parish has made strides in encouraging schools to show positive growth as a part of the accountability program, and

Whereas, according to the press release from the Louisiana Department of Education on Friday, November 7, 2008,  Anacoco Elementary School is the only school in Louisiana to have received award money every year that award monies were given, and

Whereas, Anacoco Elementary School has a school performance score of 127, the highest score in the parish, now

Therefore, be it resolved that the Vernon Parish School Board recognizes Anacoco Elementary School for their efforts that have resulted in this great accomplishment.

Superintendent Gillespie also recognized West Leesville Elementary School for being eligible to apply for the Distinguished Schools Recognition Program because of their significant progress in closing the achievement gap between student groups and whose students have exhibited sustained academic achievement.  On motion of Mark Smith, seconded by the Board, the Board adopted the following resolution:

R E S O L U T I O N

Whereas, the Division of Educational Improvement and Assistance has presents the Distinguished Schools Recognition Program, and

Whereas, the National Association of State Title I Directors are nominating schools to receive this honor, and

Whereas, the program honors schools that have made the most significant progress in significantly closing the achievement gap between student groups and whose students have exhibited sustained academic achievement, and

Whereas, West Leesville Elementary School is eligible to apply for this recognition because of its success with closing the achievement gap between student groups,

Therefore, be it resolved that the Vernon Parish School Board congratulates West Leesville Elementary School for achieving this recognition.

The Board also commended the Rosepine Eagles and the Leesville Wampus Cats for their football accomplishments.

Mark Smith scheduled a Finance Committee meeting for December 4, 2008 at 8:00AM and urged all Board members to attend.

Vernon Travis reported that he attended a school board training session offered by the Louisiana School Board Association. 

On motion of Beryl Ford, 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 Williams Charles Hilton who recently passed away; and

            WHEREAS, Mr. Hilton was a retired bus driver, the husband of Sandra Hilton, teacher at West Leesville Elementary, the father of Joey Hilton, bus driver, and the brother of Marvin Hilton, retired bus driver; and

            WHEREAS, Mr. Hilton was a lifelong resident of Vernon Parish and he will be greatly 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 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 James ”r;Buddy” Williams who recently passed away; and

            WHEREAS, Mr. Williams was the father-in-law of Penny Williams, teacher at Leesville High School; and

            WHEREAS, Mr. Williams was a longtime resident of Vernon Parish 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.

Memorial Resolutions:   Gertrude Raiford   Neal Turner   Aliene Larney

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

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BERYL FORD, BOARD PRESIDENT

ATTEST:

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DR. CYNTHIA GILLESPIE, SUPERINTENDENT