JANUARY 13, 2009
THE PARISH SCHOOL BOARD OF VERNON PARISH LOUISIANA CONVENED IN REGULAR SESSION, JANUARY 13, 2009, AT, 10:00AM, 201 BELVIEW ROAD, LEESVILLE, LA. PRESIDENT WOODS CALLED THE MEETING TO ORDER AND ON ROLL CALL THE FOLLOWING MEMBERS WERE PRESENT:
STEVE WOODS, PRESIDENT
MICHAEL PERKINS, VICE PRESIDENT
RANDI GLEASON
MEL HARRIS
ROBERT PYNES JR.
MARK H. SMITH
RICKY REESE
BERYL FORD
RANDY MARTIN
VERNON TRAVIS
GAYE MCKEE
M. GENE HAYMON
COL. DAVID G. SAGE
There was also present Mr. Jackie D. Self, Secretary of the Board.
The meeting was opened in prayer by Brian Thurman.
The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Michael Perkins.
On motion of Mel Harris, seconded by Gaye McKee, the Board voted to approve and dispense with the reading of the minutes of January 8, 2009.
Mr. James Williams, Transportation Director, on behalf of Edwards Risk Management presented School Bus Driver of The Year to Mike Moses. Wallace Wilson, Principal at Pickering Elementary and Randy Martin, District Four Board Member presented Mr. Moses with a certificate and jacket from Edwards Risk Management. The Board thanked Mr. Moses for a job well-done and expressed their appreciation for his dedication.
On recommendation of Superintendent Self and on motion of Beryl Ford, seconded by Mel Harris, the Board to approve the following resignations:
Amy Kinard, teacher/NPE
Sharon Farquhar, teacher/PHS
Heather Morrison, teacher/PES
Shelly Buller, teacher/RHS
Charles Bealer, teacher/Evans
On recommendation of Superintendent Self and on motion of Gaye McKee, seconded by Gene Haymon, the Board voted to approve the following request for a leave without pay:
Judith McNeely, teacher/RHS-medical LWOP 12-18-08/12/18/09
On recommendation of Superintendent Self and on motion of Mark Smith, seconded by Mike Perkins, the Board voted to approve the following list of new employees:
Jamie Bruce, teacher/LJHS-replacing Jennifer Odle (resigned)
Susan Swofford, teacher/ELE-replacing Cecelia Montiel (sick leave-2nd semester)
Quenton McGlothlin, teacher/LHS-replacing Hub Jordan (I/S trns to asst. principal)
James Landon McKee, maintenance/central office-replacing Joe Sandell (resigned)
On recommendation of Superintendent Self and on motion of Vernon Travis, seconded by Gaye McKee, the Board voted to approve the following employee transfers:
Gelisa Howard, headstart aide/NPE-I/S trns to LA4 (funding change)
Kelli LeBato, gen fund aide/PHS-I/S trns to librarian-replaced Sharon Farquar (resigned)
Lori Stillwell, teacher/AHS-trns to PES-replacing Janet Collins( resigned)
Wanetta Bolton, teacher/Simpson-trns to NPE-replacing Sandra Spurgeon (SABB)
On motion of Beryl Ford, seconded by Ricky Reese, the Board voted to advertise for bids for improvements at Evans High School. Bids will be received on February 10, 2009.
On motion of Gene Haymon, seconded by Mel Harris, the Board voted to adopt the 403B Plan Document.
RESOLUTION
BE IT RESOLVED, that the Vernon Parish School Board 403(b) Plan set forth in the Plan Agreement, a copy of which is attached hereto, is hereby adopted.
RESOLVED FURTHER, that the Superintendent is hereby authorized and instructed to execute said Plan Agreement for and on behalf of the organization.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this 13th day of January, 2009.
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Signature and Title
Mr. Tom Neubert presented the Board with policy changes/additions by the legislature and stated that adoption of these policies would be on the Agenda for February 5, 2009.
On motion of Gaye McKee, seconded by Beryl Ford, the Board voted to advertise for bids for copier paper.
On recommendation of Superintendent Self, and on motion of Beryl Ford, seconded by Mel Harris, the Board voted to name Charlotte Cooper as Special Education Supervisor.
Roll Call Vote as Follows:
Yeas: Gleason, Harris, Smith, Reese, Ford, Martin, Perkins, Haymon
Nays: Pynes, Woods, McKee, Travis
Mr. Gene Haymon reported that the Insurance and Transportation Committees had met to discuss the liability insurance for bus drivers. It was recommended from the Committees that the liability insurance on privately owned buses be increased from $300,000 to one million dollars. On motion of Gene Haymon, seconded by Ricky Reese, the Board voted to change the amount of liability insurance to one million dollars for privately owned buses. This change is effective immediately and must be completed by January 31, 2009
On motion of Mark Smith, seconded by Beryl Ford, the Board voted to approve budget amendments related to personnel changes.
On motion of Randy Martin, seconded by Gaye McKee, the Board voted to authorize the president and secretary to pay the claims.
In other business, Mrs. Beryl Ford gave a report on the Headstart Policy Council meeting and also scheduled a Curriculum meeting for February 10, 2009 at 9:00AM.
Superintendent Self addressed the issue of changing the June 4, 2009 Board meeting place to Fort Polk and this will be placed on the Agenda February 5, 2009 for approval.
Mr. Self also discussed make-up day(s) for the two bad weather days we have had. A final decision will be made after discussion with the principals.
On motion of Gene Haymon, 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 Stephen Wellman who recently passed away; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Wellman was a teacher at Hicks High School and was the husband of Velda Wellman, teacher at Hicks High School; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Wellman was a dedicated teacher and a longtime resident of this area 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 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 Daniel McRae Jr. who recently passed away; and
WHEREAS, Mr. McRae was the son of Lena Wheelock and the late Daniel McRae Sr.; and
WHEREAS, Mr. McRae was a resident of Irving, Texas 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.
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 sympathy to the family of Billy Salim who recently passed away; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Salim was a graduate of Leesville High School; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Salim was a resident of Florence, Mississippi and he will be sadly 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 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 condolences to the family of Charles Maxie who recently passed away; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Maxie was a retired teacher from the Vernon Parish School Board and was the husband of Dianetta Maxie, secretary at Vernon Middle School; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Maxie was a 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 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.
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STEVE WOODS, BOARD PRESIDENT
ATTEST:
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JACKIE D. SELF, SUPERINTENDENT