NOVEMBER 10, 2009
THE PARISH SCHOOL BOARD OF VERNON PARISH LOUISIANA CONVENED IN REGULAR SESSION ON NOVEMBER 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. FRANCIS B. BURNS
There was also present Mr. Jackie D. Self, Secretary of the Board.
The meeting was opened in prayer by Gaye McKee.
The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Steve Woods.
On motion of Vernon Travis, seconded by Gaye McKee, the Board voted to approve and dispense with the reading of the minutes of November 5, 2009.
Ralph Kimball, representative of Taylor & Sons, presented Kendra Lewis as Employee of The Month. Ms. Lewis is a teacher at South Polk Elementary School and she was congratulated by the Board for her dedication and for achieving this honor.
On recommendation of Superintendent Self and on motion of Beryl Ford, seconded by Mel Harris, the Board to approve the following resignations:
Marion Puckett, custodian/ELE
Pamela Robertson, secretary/LJHS
Chester Campbell, custodian/NPE
Stephanie Harbison, Sped aide/RHS
Felicia Cavanaugh, teacher/LJHS
Vivian Chaney, teacher/AES
Tony Hickman, custodian/ELE
Morgan Mitchell, Sped Aide/Evans
On recommendation of Superintendent Self and on motion of Gaye McKee, seconded by Randi Gleason, the Board voted to approve the following sabbatical leave request:
Angela Gilcrease, teacher/ELE-MED SABB-1-18-2010/5-28-2010
On recommendation of Superintendent Self and on motion of Vernon Travis, seconded by Gaye McKee, the Board voted to approve the following requests for a leave without pay:
JoAnn Hillman, custodian/Simpson-MED LWOP 9-29-09/11-11-09
Cathy Ambler, teacher/NPE-MED LWOP 8-12-09/5-28-10
Lisa Leedom, Sped Aide/WLE-MED LWOP 10-8-09/10-20-09
On recommendation of Superintendent Self and on motion of Randy Martin, seconded by Mark Smith, the Board voted to approve the following list of new employees:
Jennifer Welch, headstart aide/NPE-new class
Tom Neubert, director/central office-Retiree Return To Work
Kimberly Aaron, teacher/PES-replacing Tanisha Guillory(sick leave)
Deidre Golemon, bus aide/WLE-replacing Sherry Jeter(resigned)
Jessica Jinks, teacher/Hornbeck-replacing Tully Thornton(resigned)
Alice Duncan, Sped aide/VMS-RRTW-aide specific-student need
Noelie Coleman Mills(RRTW), psychologist/CO-vacant position
Brian Berzins, maintenance/CO-replacing Ronald Jeane
On recommendation of Superintendent Self and on motion of Gaye McKee, seconded by Vernon Travis, the Board voted to approve the following employee transfers:
Debby Mace, Sped aide/LJHS-I/S trns to gen fund aide-replacing Cheri Cryer(trns to CO)
Muriel Smith, Sped aide/LJHS-trns to CO-new finance/personnel position
Randi Gleason voted NAY to the employee transfers.
On motion of Beryl Ford, seconded by Mel Harris, the Board voted to approve the following employee retirements:
Ronald Jeane, maintenance/central office
Wyonna Jeane, teacher/RES
Deborah Woods, teacher/central office
Doris Henry, Sped aide/VMS
Miriam Kay, bus driver/SPE
On motion of Beryl Ford, seconded by Randy Martin, the Board voted to approve the Board Meeting Calendar Dates for 2010.
Beryl Ford gave the following report on Headstart:
Headstart celebrated Headstart Awareness on October 29th. A parent meeting was scheduled with guest speaker Mr. Kahree Wahid, Head Start State Collaboration Director.
Headstart has experienced lots of illness but has maintained the mandatory 85%. A Fatherhood Trip is planned for November 21st to Alexandria. Current enrollment is 271.
Ricky Reese reported that the Dress Code/Uniform Committee had met and reviewed the proposed staff/employee dress code. Further review of this proposal is required and no action was taken.
Beryl Ford reported that the Curriculum Committee had met with the following agenda:
A G E N D A
1. Rapides Foundation Updates - Anne Smith
a. STEM/CTE Grant - Anne Smith
b. CART Grant - Anne Smith
2. End of Course & Spring Test Results - John Farris
3. School Performance Scores - John Farris
4. Other business
Our School Performance Score is 105.7 and presently we are ranked sixth in the State.
The GEE test will be replaced by End of Course Testing beginning with next year’s Freshman Class.
Rapides Foundation’s main focus now is STEM - we are in the second year of a five year plan to prepare students for the 21st century skills.
On motion of Vernon Travis, seconded by Gaye McKee, the Board voted to approve budget amendments related to personnel changes.
On motion of Gaye McKee, seconded by Ricky Reese, the Board voted to authorize the president and secretary to pay the claims.
In other business, Mr. Mark Smith, Chairman of the Finance Committee, scheduled a Finance Committee meeting for December 8, 2009 at 4:00.
Colonel Burns reported that the current policy at Fort Polk for the registering of vehicles has not changed and that no vehicle with a legitimate reason for accessing Fort Polk will be turned away. He also stated that school buses will not be affected. Personnel from the School Board that frequent Fort Polk may pick up temporary passes and or apply for long term passes on post. Delays can be expected for non-registered vehicles.
On motion of The Vernon Parish School Board, 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 families and friends who lost loved ones during the recent tragedy at Fort Hood; and
WHEREAS, your Army Community loss is felt all across our nation and these brave men and women will be remembered for serving their country well; now
BE IT THEREFORE RESOLVED that the Vernon Parish School Board requests a copy of this memorial resolution be sent to the Commanding General at Fort Hood.
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