MARCH 10, 2009
THE PARISH SCHOOL BOARD OF VERNON PARISH LOUISIANA CONVENED IN REGULAR SESSION ON MARCH 10, 2009, AT, 5:00PM, 201 BELVIEW ROAD, LEESVILLE, LA. VICE-PRESIDENT PERKINS CALLED THE MEETING TO ORDER AND ON ROLL CALL THE FOLLOWING MEMBERS WERE PRESENT:
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
ABSENT: STEVE WOODS-BOARD BUSINESS
JACKIE SELF-BOARD BUSINESS
COLONEL DAVID SAGE-MILITARY OBLIGATION
There was also present Mr. Jimmy Funderburk for Superintendent Self.
The meeting was opened in prayer by Pastor Gil Arthur.
The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Randi Gleason.
On motion of Mel Harris, seconded by Randi Gleason, the Board voted to approve and dispense with the reading of the minutes of March 5, 2009.
Melissa Miller, teacher at Pitkin High School, gave a Senior Project presentation. Pitkin High School is the only school in the parish currently participating in the Senior Project program. The Board thanked Ms. Miller for her dedication and commended her on a job well done.
On recommendation of Jimmy Funderburk, and on motion of Beryl Ford, seconded by Mel Harris, the Board voted to approve the following resignations:
Leadeth Paddy, cook/LHS
Angela Jimenez, assistant principal/Hicks
Amy Sommerfeld, counselor/ELE
Ronda Gillam, teacher/PES
On recommendation of Jimmy Funderburk, and on motion of Randi Gleason, seconded by Gene Haymon, the Board voted to approve the following sabbatical leave request:
Kathryn Arthur, teacher/LJHS-MEDSABB-August 2009/Midterm 2010
On recommendation of Jimmy Funderburk, and on motion of Gaye McKee, seconded by Randi Gleason, the Board voted to approve the following requests for a leave without pay:
Mammie Nolen, bus driver/Pitkin-Medical LWOP 2-12-09/5-22-09
Wyonna Jeane, teacher/RES-MED LWOP 3-2-09/5-22-09
On recommendation of Jimmy Funderburk, and on motion of Gaye McKee, seconded by Ricky Reese, the Board voted to approve the following request to rescind a leave without pay:
Cheri Cryer, Sped Aide/WLE-rescind LWOP effective 2-6-09
On recommendation of Jimmy Funderburk and on motion of Mel Harris, seconded by Gene Haymon, the Board voted to approve the following list of new employees:
Miranda Randle, Headstart aide/NPE-replacing Lisa Stephens(resigned)
Ashley Paddy, Sped Aide/NPE-new position based on student need
Dara Standish, bus aide/Pitkin-new position(student need)
On recommendation of Jimmy Funderburk, and on motion of Randy Martin, seconded by Ricky Reese, the Board voted to approve the following employee transfers:
Cheri Cryer, Sped Aide/WLE-trns to VMS-replacing Kendra Hoffpauir(resigned)
Joanne Pollard, cook/Pitkin-I/S trns to gen fund aide
Barbara Cart, headstart coordinator/CO-trns to nurse-replacing Norma Frisby(retired)
On motion of Ricky Reese, seconded by Randy Martin, the Board voted to advertise for bids for demolition of the auditorium at Anacoco Elementary School. This demolition has to be done before new construction can begin.
Gene Haymon reported that the Insurance Committee had met and discussed the 403(b) Plan. The Committee recommended keeping the existing eight vendors and adding Pacific Life to the vendor list. These vendors would have one year from today’s date to enroll a minimum of twenty-five members. Those vendors failing to enroll twenty-five members will be excluded after one year. All new vendors will be recommended by Finance Director Tim Ward to the Insurance Committee for approval before they are presented to the full Board.
Beryl Ford reported that the Curriculum Committee had met on this date. On recommendation of the Curriculum Committee, and on motion of Gaye McKee, the Board voted to approve the Headstart Reduction in Enrollment Request. Also on recommendation from the Curriculum Committee and on motion of Randi Gleason, seconded by Gaye McKee, the Board voted to approve the Headstart Quality Improvement Plan.
Mrs. Anne Smith gave an update on LA4 and the possible increase of students for the 2009-2010 school year. Mr. John Farris gave a report on Summer Remediation stating that the credit recovery system would be utilized at individual schools using the Plato Software Program. Mr. Farris also stated that Summer Remediation would be held at the district level for those students not meeting the requirements for the LEAP Test (4th and 8th grade) and for students not meeting the requirements for the GEE.
Mr. Tom Neubert discussed the need for another location for the Optional School. Several suggestions were made and a Search Committee (Beryl Ford, Randi Gleason, Mike Perkins) was named to check these locations.
On motion of Mark Smith, seconded by Robert Pynes, the Board voted to approve budget amendments related to personnel changes.
On motion of Vernon Travis, seconded by Beryl Ford, the Board voted to authorize the president and secretary to pay the claims.
In other business Mr. Funderburk stated that the Naming List for Employees had been given to Board members and approval of these lists would be requested at the April 2, 2009 Board meeting.
Mr. Vernon Travis recognized Terrence Williams, Head Football Coach at Leesville High School, for being selected to serve on the Board of Directors for the Louisiana Football Coaches Association and the High School Committee of the American Football Coaches Association.
On motion of Vernon Travis, seconded by the Board, the Board adopted the following resolution:
R E S O LU T I O N
WHEREAS, the members of the Vernon Parish School Board take this means to welcome Elder Dr. Lloyd Washington, Jr. of the Alexandria-Thibodaux District to Leesville; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Washington will preside over a District Conference at Greater Bethel African Methodist Church on March 27-28; now
BE IT THEREFORE RESOLVED that the Vernon Parish School Board appreciates Dr. Washington for his participation in this Christian uplifting experience.
On motion of Robert Pynes, seconded by the Board voted to adopt 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 Huey Causey who recently passed away; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Causey was the father of Linda Williams and Rodger Causey, teachers at Leesville Jr. High School, the father-in-law of James Williams, Transportation/Food Service Director at the Central Office, and the grandfather of Amy Williams, student at Leesville High School; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Causey was a lifelong resident of Leesville 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.
There being no further business, on motion of Gaye McKee, seconded by the Board, the meeting was adjourned.
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MIKE PERKINS, BOARD VICE- PRESIDENT
ATTEST:
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JACKIE D. SELF, SUPERINTENDENT