JANUARY 11, 2011

DRAFT

THE VERNON PARISH SCHOOL BOARD CONVENED IN REGULAR SESSION, ON JANUARY 11, 2011 AT 10:00AM, 201 BELVIEW ROAD, LEESVILLE, LA. PRESIDENT TRAVIS CALLED THE MEETING TO ORDER AND ON ROLL CALL THE FOLLOWING MEMBERS WERE PRESENT:

VERNON TRAVIS, PRESIDENT

BERYL FORD, VICE PRESIDENT

RANDI GLEASON

MEL HARRIS

ROBERT PYNES JR.

DOUG BRANDON

JERRY JEANE

MIKE PERKINS

RANDY MARTIN

STEVE WOODS

JOHN BLANKENBAKER

GERALD COOLEY

COL. FRANCIS B. BURNS

 

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

 

The meeting was opened in prayer by Jerry Jeane.

 

The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Jerry Jeane.

 

On motion of Doug Brandon, seconded by Randy Martin, the Board voted to approve and dispense with the reading of the minutes of January 6, 2011.

 

President Travis moved Agenda Item number three before number two with no opposition from the Board. 

 

Ms. Ellen Ibert, Mr. John Crook, and Mrs. Elise Howerton gave a presentation on ”r;Journey Stories” sponsored by the Vernon Parish Tourism Commission and the Louisiana Endowment for The Humanities.  Journey Stories will be coming to Leesville July 16th through August 27th.  Mrs. Anne Smith, Elementary Curriculum Director, will be coordinating the development of Units of Study which are aligned to state standards for different grade levels.

 

Mr. Dale Bayard, BESE Member District Eight, addressed the Board.  Mr. Bayard discussed the new grading system for schools and voiced his hope that this system is reevaluated by the legislature in the near future.

 

On recommendation of Superintendent Self and on motion of Doug Brandon, seconded by Steve Woods, the Board to approve the following resignations:

 

Floyd, Bessie, cook/ELE

Lonergan, Jacqueline, teacher/Evans

Carey, Penny, teacher/PES

Ramirez, Ashley, Sped aide/SPE

 

On recommendation of Superintendent Self and on motion of Randi Gleason, seconded by Mike Perkins, the Board voted to approve the following terminations:

 

Moore, Robert, custodian/LJHS

Thurman, Lois, cook/VMS

 

On recommendation of Superintendent Self and on motion of Beryl Ford, seconded by Gerald Cooley, the Board voted to approve the following sabbatical leave request:

 

Cawley, Deborah, teacher/NPE-MEDICAL SABB-1-3-2011/5-27-2011

 

On recommendation of Superintendent Self and on motion of Jerry Jeane, seconded by Beryl Ford, the Board voted to approve the following requests for a leave without pay:

 

Keller, Diana, teacher/LJHS-MEDICAL LWOP 10-30-10/1-19-11

Roy, Naomi, Sped aide/Hicks-MEDICAL LWOP extended to 1-21-11

 

On recommendation of Superintendent Self and on motion of Gerald Cooley, seconded by Mel Harris, the Board voted to approve the following list of new employees:

 

Downs, Brittany, teacher/Hornbeck-replacing Lyndi Wells Keller (resigned)

Jarvis, Lacy, teacher/PES-replacing Lacy Blocker (trns to Simpson)

Branch, Judy, LA4teacher/PES-replacing Colleen Fletcher (resigned)

McKee, Megan, teacher/VMS-replacing Cristy Guevara (resigned)

Horton, Jessica, teacher/LHS-replacing Karen Skinner (trns to PES)

Elliott, Stephanie, teacher/SPE-replacing Frank Scharff (retired)

Byrd, James, lease bus driver/RHS-replacing Connie Johnson (trns to Pitkin)

Williams, Lindsay, teacher/NPE-replacing Deborah Cawley(SABB ½ year)

Kibodeaux, Judy, cook/LJHS-replacing Wanda Hogans (resigned)

 

On recommendation of Superintendent Self and on motion of Doug Brandon, seconded by John Blankenbaker, the Board voted to approve the following employee transfers:

 

Blocker, Lacy, teacher/PES-trns to Simpson-replacing DeeAnn Cain (I/S trns to asst. principal)

Hagan, Mary, instructional coach/WLE-I/S trns to 4th grade-replacing Carrie Lisenbe(resigned)

Skinner, Karen, teacher/LHS-trns to PES counselor-new position

Rowe, Suzanne, gen fund aide/LHS-trns to teacher-replacing Janice Spurgeon(1/2 year SABB)

Butcher, Tamarie, teacher/LHS-trns to RES-replacing Pam Simmons (Professional SABB)

 

On motion of Beryl Ford, seconded by Randy Martin, the Board voted to accept the following employee retirements:

Blasingame, Sharon, teacher/Adult Ed

Walters, Julia, Title I Aide/VMS

 

On motion of Gerald Cooley and seconded by Beryl Ford, the Board adopted a resolution providing for the issuance and sale of Three Hundred Eighty-One Dollars ($381,000) of General Obligation School Refunding Bonds, Series 2011, of Ward Six Wardwide School District No. 161 of the Parish of Vernon, Louisiana; prescribing the form, fixing the details and providing for the rights of the owners thereof; providing for the payment of the principal of and interest on such Bonds and the application of the proceeds thereof to the prepayment of certain bonds of said District; awarding said Bonds to the purchaser thereof; and providing for other matters in connection therewith.

 

Randi Gleason reported that the Headstart Policy Council had met and adopted a minimum age policy for volunteers, a child abuse and procedure policy, and an organizational chart.  Mrs. Browning also discussed creative curriculum in the classroom.  There was also discussion of the Headstart budget.

 

On motion of Steve Woods, seconded by Randy Martin, the Board voted to approve budget amendments related to personnel changes.

 

On motion of Randy Martin, seconded by Beryl Ford, the Board voted to authorize the president and secretary to pay the claims.

In other business, Superintendent Self informed the Board members of the bus inspections for private buses only.  The inspections will be January 15th and January 22nd.

 

Colonel Francis Burns discussed deployments and rotations at Fort Polk.  Colonel Burns also discussed the Installation Program at Fort Polk.  Colonel Burns also congratulated Superintendent Self on receiving the Hero of Fort Polk Award from BG Yarbrough.

On motion of Gerald Cooley, 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 Ronald James Bennett who recently passed away; and

 

WHEREAS, Mr. Bennett was a former bus driver for Vernon Parish Schools and was the husband of Wilma Bennett, retired bus driver; and

 

WHEREAS, Mr. Bennett was a lifelong resident of Vernon Parish and he will be greatly missed by all of 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.

 

On motion of Gerald Cooley, 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 Alan Randall McRae who recently passed away; and

 

WHEREAS, Alan McRae was the brother of Wallace McRae, former District Eight Board Member and the brother-in-law of Georgia McRae, retired aide; and

 

WHEREAS, Mr. McRae was a resident of Simpson and he will be greatly 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.

 

On motion of John Blankenbaker, 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 Audie Joe ”r;Dink” Perry Jr. who recently passed away; and

 

WHEREAS, Mr. Perry was the father of Karen Simmonsen, the father-in-law of Robert Simmonsen, and Deborah Perry, and the grandfather of Christie Kemp; and

 

WHEREAS, Mr. Perry was a resident of Rosepine and he will be greatly 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.

 

On motion of Jerry Jeane, seconded by the Board, the Board adopted the following memorial resolution:

 

R E S O L U T I O N

 

WHEREAS, the Vernon Parish School Board members wish to express their condolences to the family of Joseph Edward Phelps who recently passed away; and

 

WHEREAS, Mr. Phelps was a retired bus driver for the Vernon Parish Schools; and

 

WHEREAS, Mr. Phelps was a lifelong resident of Hornbeck 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.

 

On motion of Jerry Jeane, 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 Alnas Andria ”r;Ann” Chance Smart who recently passed away; and

 

WHEREAS, Mrs. Smart was the sister of Theresa Nicks, Doris Knippers, and Eula Durrett, and the sister-in-law of Vicki Chance  and

               

WHEREAS, Mrs. Smart was a longtime resident of Hornbeck and she will be greatly 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 sadness.

 

On motion of Steve Woods for the entire Vernon Parish School 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 students and faculty of Leesville High School and the family of Sandra Ann Collins Neff; and

 

WHEREAS, Sandra was a member of the Drama Club, Manager of the Lady Cats Basketball Team, and very active in Special Olympics; and

 

WHEREAS, Sandra was a student at Leesville High School for several years and she will be greatly 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 Leesville High School and her family.

 

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

 

____________________________________

VERNON TRAVIS, BOARD PRESIDENT

 

ATTEST:

__________________________________________

JACKIE D. SELF, SUPERINTENDENT