APRIL 7, 2009
THE PARISH SCHOOL BOARD OF VERNON PARISH LOUISIANA CONVENED IN REGULAR SESSION ON APRIL 7, 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
RANDY MARTIN
VERNON TRAVIS
GAYE MCKEE
ABSENT: BERYL FORD – OUT OF TOWN
GENE HAYMON – OUT OF TOWN
COL. DAVID SAGE – MILITARY OBLIGATION
There was also present Mr. Jackie D. Self, Secretary of the Board.
The meeting was opened in prayer by John Burns.
The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Mark Smith.
On motion of Mel Harris, seconded by Gaye McKee, the Board voted to approve and dispense with the reading of the minutes of April 2, 2009.
Taylor and Sons Insurance recognized Dynette Cooley as Employee of the Month. Ms. Cooley is a teacher at East Leesville Elementary School. She was presented with a plaque and gift certificate from Taylor & Sons.
Superintendent Self recognized Vernon Parish Principals of the Year as follows:
Joan Simmons – Elementary
Cassandra Wilson – Middle School
Joey Whiddon – High School
Mr. Whiddon was unable to attend.
Tom Neubert recognized the following Support Personnel of The Year:
Elementary – Linda Brinkley – paraprofessional-Pickering Elementary
Middle School – Geraldine Alexander – secretary-Leesville Jr. High
High School – Johnny Martin – custodian-Leesville High School
Dodi Wallace discussed a student dental program and medication policy. The dental program would be no at no cost to parents or the Board. On motion of Mark Smith, seconded by Randy Martin, the Board voted to take the dental program under advisement.
The ”r;Standing Order” medication policy would include over the counter medications given at school with parent/guardian permission. These over the counter medications would be administered by a school nurse. On motion of Mel Harris, seconded by Mike Perkins, the Board voted to approve a Memorandum of Understanding with Dr. Otis Biggs to serve as Medical Director for the Vernon Parish School Board and to accept the ”r;Standing Order” medication policy with parent approval.
On recommendation of Superintendent Self and on motion of Vernon Travis, seconded by Gaye McKee, the Board to approve the following resignations:
A.L. Scott, (lease) bus driver/PES
Rose Holaway, teacher/Evans
Bobbie Merchant, cafeteria manager/Hicks
Margaret Cosby, teacher/NPE
Debra Boyd, custodian/NPE
Melanie Jackson, teacher/ELE
Sandra Underwood, teacher/Hicks
Carlene Martin, teacher/AES
Carolyn Fletcher, cook/NPE
On recommendation of Superintendent Self and on motion of Gaye McKee, seconded by Randi Gleason, the Board voted to approve the following sabbatical leave requests:
Shana Hunter, teacher/WLE-MEDSABB 8-11-09/1-3-2010
Summer Boyle, teacher/NPE-MEDSABB 8-12-09/1-3-10
On recommendation of Superintendent Self and on motion of Mark Smith, seconded by Gaye McKee, the Board voted to approve the following requests for a leave without pay:
Martha Acey, cook/LJHS-Other LWOP 3-17-09/5-22-09
Ann Smith, asst.principal/PES-Other LWOP 7-1-09/6-30-10
On recommendation of Superintendent Self and on motion of Randi Gleason, seconded by Gaye McKee, the Board voted to approve the following new employee:
Donna Lavergne, cook/Pitkin-replacing Joanne Pollard(I/S trns to gen fund aide)
Superintendent Self discussed the Children’s Internet Protection Act, a federal law enacted by Congress to address concerns about access to offensive content over the internet on school and library computers. The Vernon Parish School Board has a Technology Policy but will also present internet safety programs to grades five through twelve. These presentations will take place on April 30th and May 1st.
On recommendation of Superintendent Self and on motion of Vernon Travis, seconded by Robert Pynes, the Board voted to name Curtis Clay as Director of Headstart.
On motion of Ricky Reese, seconded by Vernon Travis, the Board voted to approve the school calendar for 2009-2010.
2009-2010
VERNON PARISH SCHOOL CALENDAR
August 11, 2009 New Teacher Induction
August 12, 2009 Staff Development
August 13, 2009 Teacher Workday (at each school site)
AUGUST14, 2009 FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL For Students
September 7, 2009 Labor Day (Students & Employees Holiday)
October 8, 2009 Staff Development/Parent-Teacher Conference (Student Holiday)
October 9, 2009 Fair Day (Students & Employees Holiday)
October 19-23 2009 Fall Retest (GEE) (ELA/M/Sc/SS)
November 11, 2009 Veterans Day (Students & Employees Holiday)
November 23-27, 2009 Thanksgiving/Fall Break (Students & Employees Holiday)
Dec. 21, 09 - Jan. 1, 10 Christmas/Winter Break
January 4, 2010 Staff Development/Work Day (Students Holiday)
January 5, 2010 Students Return
January 15, 2010 MID-TERM
January 18, 2010 Martin Luther King Day (Students & Employees Holiday)
February 8-12, 2010 GEE Seniors Only Retest
February 8-March 19, 10 LEAP Alternate Assessment, Level 1 (LAA1) & ELDA
February 12, 2010 Staff Development/ Parent-Teacher Conference (Student Holiday)
February 15, 2010 President’s Day (Students & Employees Holiday)
March 29-April 2, 2010 Easter/Spring Break
April 12-16, 2010 LEAP, GEE, iLEAP, LEAP, Alternate Assessment, Level 2(LAA2)
April 26, 2010 Holiday
May 27, 2010 ½ Day for Students (Testing) Full Day for Employees
May 28, 2010 ½ Day for Students (Testing) Full Day for Employees
MAY 28, 2010 LAST DAY OF SCHOOL
SIX WEEKS SCHEDULE NINE WEEKS SCHEDULE
August 14 - September 25 30 Days August 14 – October 16 43 Days
September 28 – November 13 32 Days October 19 – January 15 47 Days
November 16 – January 15 29 Day January 19 – March 19 42 Days
January19 - February 26 27 Days March 22 – May 28 45 Days
March 1 – April 16 30 Days
April 19 – May 28 29 Days TOTAL DAYS 177
PAYROLL DATES ARE FROM THE 1st WORKING DAY OF THE MONTH UNTIL THE LAST WORKING DAY OF THE MONTH.
Note: Additional minutes for student half-days need to be included in the individual schools daily schedule.
PARAPROFESSIONALS are not required to work on August 12 and will report to work on August 13. Paraprofessionals will also be dismissed for ½ day on October 8 and February 12 for Parent/Teacher Conferences.
On motion of Ricky Reese, seconded by Randi Gleason, the Board voted to receive bids for demolition of the auditorium at Anacoco. Bids were received as follows:
Haymon Construction $83,750.00
Welch Trucking $29,400.00
United Builders $39,473.21
Mike O’Banion Trucking $48,000.00
Charlie Carlisle Trucking $$31,600.00
On motion of Ricky Reese, seconded by Mark Smith, the Board voted to accept the low bid from Welch Trucking and Dirt Work if the bid meets all specifications.
On motion of Vernon Travis, seconded by Gaye McKee, the Board voted to accept the bid from Ross Bus Sales for $76,463.00 for an activity bus at Hicks High School.
On motion of Ricky Reese, seconded by Gaye McKee, the Board voted to accept the low bid from Ruffin Building Systems for $49,155.00 for the metal building kit for the maintenance/nurses building.
Mike Perkins reported that the Maintenance Committee had met and recommended adopting an evaluation instrument for maintenance employees using ten years of service as a benchmark. Maintenance employees will be evaluated yearly and upon recommendation of Mr. Bush and Mr. Neubert promotion would be recommended to the Board if the employee meets all the requirements. On motion of Mike Perkins, seconded by Ricky Reese, the Board voted to approve this evaluation instrument. The Board approved to transfer Danny Slaydon from Level I to Level II, Patrick O’Hara from Level II to Level III, Gary Dunn from Level II to Level III, and Scott Dowden from Level II to Level III.
Mel Harris reported that the Transportation Committee had met at 9:00AM on this date. Nancy Hunt, Fuel Trac Representative, gave a presentation on the Fuel Trac Card System. On motion of Mel Harris, seconded by Randi Gleason, the Board voted to implement the Fuel Trac System for our leased buses beginning with the 2009-2010 school year.
On motion of Vernon Travis, seconded by Gaye McKee, the Board voted to approve budget amendments related to personnel changes.
On motion of Ricky Reese, seconded by Randi Gleason, the Board voted to authorize the president and secretary to pay the claims.
In other business, Superintendent Self reported that a representative from Hammond and Sills would be here on Tuesday, May 12th for an in-service for all Board members who need the required four hours of training. This will be from noon until 4:00PM after the morning Board meeting. Also, Superintendent Self recommended advertising for two elementary curriculum supervisor positions replacing Laura Clark and Curtis Clay. On motion of Ricky Reese, seconded by Gaye McKee, the Board voted to approve advertising for these two positions.
Superintendent Self also reminded the Board of the Finance Committee meeting on Thursday, May 7th at 8:00AM.
On motion of Ricky Reese, 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 Thaney Cabra who recently passed away; and
WHEREAS, Mrs. Cabra was a retired bus driver for Vernon Parish and was the grandmother of Leah Williams, counselor at Hornbeck High School; and
WHEREAS, Mrs. Cabra was a life-long resident of Hornbeck and she will be sadly missed by her 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 her 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