FEBRUARY 10, 2009

THE PARISH SCHOOL BOARD OF VERNON PARISH LOUISIANA CONVENED IN REGULAR SESSION ON FEBRUARY 10, 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

ABSENT:   NONE

There was also present Mr. Jackie D. Self, Secretary of the Board.

President Woods introduced Lee Turner, District Director-Southern Region.  Mrs. Turner presented the Board with an American Flag on behalf of Congressman John Fleming. 

President Woods thanked her on behalf of the Board – the flag will be used in the Board Room.

The meeting was opened in prayer by Elder Maurice Johnson.

The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Vernon Travis.

On motion of Mel Harris, seconded by Randi Gleason, the Board voted to approve and dispense with the reading of the minutes of February 5, 2009.

Renita Davis, principal at Leesville High School, recognized members of the Vernon Arts Council for their donation of $5,000 to the Leesville High School Musical Theatre Department.  The Board thanked them for their generosity and community involvement.

Ralph Kimball, representative from Taylor & Sons, presented Employee Of The Month to Martha Hood, librarian at South Polk Elementary School.  The Board congratulated her for her hard work and dedication.

On recommendation of Superintendent Self and on motion of Beryl Ford, seconded by Mel Harris, the Board to approve the following resignations:

Judith McNeely, teacher/RHS(was on LWOP)

Kendra Hoffpauir, Sped Aide/VMS

Ginger Wisnoski, teacher/PES

On recommendation of Superintendent Self and on motion of Mark Smith, seconded by Gene Haymon, the Board voted to approve the following sabbatical leave requests:

Joy Wiggins, teacher/Simpson-MEDSABB-1-5-09/5-31-09

Velda Wellman, teacher/Hicks-MEDSABB 1-5-09/5-22-09

On recommendation of Superintendent Self and on motion of Randi Gleason, seconded by Mel Harris, the Board voted to approve the following requests for a leave without pay:

Paulette Jeane, central office-MED LWOP 2-1-09/8-1-09

Manda Morris, psychologist/central office-Other LWOP 3-14-09/5-22-09

Jessica Kennedy, headstart secretary-Other LWOP 2-2-09/8-4-09

On recommendation of Superintendent Self and on motion of Vernon Travis, seconded by Gaye McKee, the Board voted to approve the following list of new employees:

Beth Finn, librarian/Hornbeck-Retiree Return To Work

April Dowd, Headstart Aide/ELE-replacing Elizabeth Nunn(resigned)

Dawana Smith. Sped Aide/WLE-New Position

Laura Hewitt, teacher/VMS-replacing Patricia Brooks(sick leave)

Cindy Gibson, Sped Aide/ELE-replacing John Westlake(deceased)

Paula Engeldinger, teacher/WLE-new Sped class

Bethany Hewett, teacher/RES-new position(class started in August)

Brittany Draughn, teacher/AHS-new sped position

Janna Mistrzak, teacher/Evans-replacing Essie Jarrell(sick leave)

Bessye Floyd, cook/ELE-replacing Evelyn Burlison(resigned)

Amy Shackleford, Sped Aide/PES-replacing Doris Welch(retired)

Ashlee Witucki, teacher/PES-replacing Ginger Wisnoski(resigned)

Beverly Paull, Sped Aide Specific/RES-new position (student need)

Marcus LeBlanc, teacher/LHS-replacing Betty Yarbrough(trns to Gates)

On recommendation of Superintendent Self and on motion of Mike Perkins, seconded by Randy Martin, the Board voted to approve the following employee transfers:

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

Sandra Maddox, custodian/Pitkin-I/S trns to cook-replacing Sandra Suydam(custodian)

Sandra Suydam, cook/Pitkin-I/S trns to custodian-replacing Sandra Maddox(cook)

On motion of Vernon Travis, seconded by Gaye McKee, the Board voted to receive bids for copy paper.  Bids were received as follows:

Unisource                                             $28.45 per case

Economical Janitorial Supplies         $25.58 per case

RIS Paper Company                            $26.65 per case

XPEDX                                                  $32.60 per case

Standard Stationery Supply                NO BID

On motion of Vernon Travis, seconded by Gaye McKee, the Board accepted the low bid for copy paper from Economical Janitorial Supplies in the amount of $25.58 per case.

On motion of Beryl Ford, seconded by Mark Smith, the Board voted to receive bids for improvements at Evans High School.  Bids were received as follows:

Philip Mayo Construction                      Base - $1,797,000

                                                            Alternate #1     $98,000

                                                            Alternate #2     $99,000

                                                            Alternate #3     $140,000

Pat Williams Construction                     Base     $1,914,900

                                                            Alternate #1     $101,000

                                                            Alternate #2     $114,000

                                                            Alternate #3     $152,000

On motion of Beryl Ford, seconded by Gene Haymon, the Board voted to accept the low bid from Philip Mayo Construction for improvements at Evans High School for the above stated dollar amounts.

On motion of Ricky Reese, seconded by Randy Martin, the Board voted to adopt a resolution for the opening of the sealed bids received for the purchase of Five Hundred Thousand Dollars ($500,000) of General Obligation School Bonds, Series 2009A, of Orange School District No. 145 of Vernon Parish, Louisiana, approving the Official Notice of Bond Sale and Preliminary Offering Memorandum in connection therewith, and authorizing the President and Secretary to sign copies thereof as evidence of the approval thereof.  Bids as follows:

Sabine State Bank                                                5.92% average interest cost

Hancock Bank                                                       4.26%

First National Bank (DeRidder)                          4.22%

Iberia Bank (Lafayette)                                         4.10%

On motion of Ricky Reese, seconded by Randi Gleason, the Board voted to adopt a resolution to accept the lowest and best bid submitted by Iberia Bank of Lafayette, Louisiana, for the purchase of a Four Hundred Twenty-Five Thousand Dollar($425,000) portion, and (ii) the Louisiana Public Facilities Authority, of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, for the purchase of a Seventy-Five Thousand Dollar ($75,000) portion of Five Hundred Thousand Dollars ($500,000) of General Obligation School Bonds, Series 2009A, of Orange School District No. 145 of Vernon Parish, Louisiana.

On motion of Ricky Reese, seconded by Randi Gleason, the Board voted to adopt a resolution authorizing the incurring debt and issuance of Five Hundred Thousand Dollars ($500,000) of General Obligation School Bonds, Series 2009A, of Orange School District No. 145 of Vernon Parish, Louisiana; prescribing the form, terms and conditions of said Bonds; designating the date, denomination and place of payment of said Bonds; providing for the payment thereof in principal and interest, if any; and providing for other matters in connection therewith.

On motion of Vernon Travis, seconded by Randy Martin, the Board voted to approve expenditures for 2009-2010 E-Rate.

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

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

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

PROCLAMATION

            WHEREAS, New Willow Baptist Church is holding a Youth Revival February 18-21, 2009 in the City of Leesville; and

            WHEREAS, New Willow Baptist Church has invited Mr. Thomas N. Bessix, the Dean of Young Adults/College Division of the 4th District Congress of Christian Education, to preach their Youth Revival and to participate in this Christian uplifting experience at the New Willow Baptist Church of Red Town Road, Leesville, Louisiana; and

WHEREAS, this Youth Revival will greatly impact the lives of our area youth and impact our community in a positive manner; now

BE IT THEREFORE RESOLVED that the Vernon Parish School Board is truly pleased to take this opportunity to welcome Dean Thomas N. Bessix as he ministers to our area youth and as he serves the Lord.

Elder Maurice Johnson thanked the Board for their assistance and cooperation with the LAMA Food Drive in December.

Superintendent Self stated that Vernon Parish has six schools that qualify to apply for the Department of Defense Grant to promote student achievement at schools impacted by military force structure changes.  Vernon Parish is in the process of applying for this grant.

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

            WHEREAS, the Vernon Parish School Board is concerned about the loss in the K-12 Accountability Rewards Program; and

            WHEREAS, the Board is understanding of the financial situation of the need to reduce expenditures; now

            BE IT THEREFORE RESOLVED that the Vernon Parish School Board requests that other areas of reduction should be considered that do not directly affect students and teachers.

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 sympathy to the family of Sidney James Drouilhet II who recently passed away; and

            WHEREAS, Mr. Drouilhet was the father of Mike Drouilhet, teacher at Leesville High School and the father-in-law of Karen Drouilhet, teacher at Anacoco High School; and

            WHEREAS, Mr. Drouilhet was an advocate of high academic standards and taught at several universities; 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 sorrow.

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 Douglas Marshall who recently passed away; and

            WHEREAS, Mr. Marshall was a former member of the Leesville Police Department and was retired from the Louisiana Fire Marshall’s Office; and

            WHEREAS, Mr. Marshall 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.

On motion of Mike Perkins, 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 Susan McDonald who recently passed away; and

            WHEREAS, Mrs. McDonald was the wife of Herschel McDonald, former employee of the Vernon Parish School Board; and

            WHEREAS, Mrs. McDonald was a resident of Dry Creek 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 sorrow.

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

____________________________________

STEVE WOODS, BOARD PRESIDENT

ATTEST:

____________________________________

JACKIE D. SELF, SUPERINTENDENT