MARCH 10, 2011
DRAFT
THE VERNON PARISH SCHOOL BOARD CONVENED IN REGULAR SESSION, ON MARCH 10, 2011 AT 5:00PM, 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 Reverend Bobby Ganaway.
The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Randi Martin.
On motion of Mel Harris, seconded by Doug Brandon, the Board voted to approve and dispense with the reading of the minutes of March 1, 2011.
Randi Gleason recognized the Youth School Board sponsored by Mrs. Lisa Lohman. Each participating school is represented by two students. They are in the planning stage for programs to be implemented next school year.
On recommendation of Superintendent Self and on motion of Randy Martin, seconded by John Blankenbaker, the Board voted to approve the following resignations:
Shackleford, Amy, Sped aide/PHS
Russ, Susan, cook/Hornbeck
On recommendation of Superintendent Self and on motion of Gerald Cooley, seconded by Beryl Ford, the Board voted to approve the following sabbatical leave requests:
Cryer, Abigail, Ed diagnostician/CO-MEDICAL SABB August, 2011 - May, 2012
Welch, Martha, teacher/ELE-MEDICAL SABB - August 2011 - January 2012
On recommendation of Superintendent Self and on motion of Doug Brandon, seconded by Randi Gleason, the Board voted to approve the following requests for a leave without pay:
Jackson, Daisy, cook/LJHS-MEDICAL LWOP 2-3-11/3-9-11
Cedars, Nikoh, teacher/WLE-MEDICAL LWOP 2-1-11/5-27-11
On recommendation of Superintendent Self and on motion of Beryl Ford, seconded by Jerry Jeane, the Board voted to approve the following list of new employees:
Borden, Judy, teacher/SPE-new class due to class size
Williams, Tammy, cook/VMS-replacing Lois Thurman (terminated)
Snell, Joan, cook/Hornbeck-replacing Susan Russ (resigned)
Schmidt, Rana, cook/ELE-replacing Bessie Floyd (resigned)
On motion of Steve Woods, seconded by Jerry Jeane, the Board voted to accept the following employee retirements:
Summerell, Judy, teacher/Hornbeck
Newhouse, Belinda, custodian/Pitkin
On motion of Robert Pynes, seconded by John Blankenbaker, the Board voted to accept the low bid from Vology for $1695.00 each for Ethernet Switches. These switches will be purchased upon E-Rate approval.
Mr. Gallemore discussed E-Rate. On motion of Beryl Ford, seconded by Randy Martin, the Board voted to approve to pay the balance that E-Rate does not pay for all data, phone, and long distance bills for the 2011-2012 school year. On motion of Jerry Jeane, seconded by John Blankenbaker, the Board voted to pay the balance that E-Rate does not pay for the E-Rate application that covers switches for East Leesville Elementary, Vernon Middle and West Leesville Elementary.
On motion of Mike Perkins, seconded by Beryl Ford, the Board voted to consider a tenure hearing against a tenured bus driver and a date for the hearing. Mr. Jon Guice, attorney with Hammonds and Sills, discussed the resolution for the tenure hearing process and the confidentiality of such hearing. On motion of Jerry Jeane, seconded by John Blankenbaker, the Board voted to adopt the following resolution to schedule a tenure hearing for April 5, 2011 at 10:00AM. at the Central Office:
VERNON PARISH SCHOOL BOARD
Leesville, Louisiana
RESOLUTION
RESOLUTION OF THE VERNON PARISH SCHOOL BOARD CALLING A TENURE HEARING IN ACCORDANCE WITH L.R.S. 17:493 TO DETERMINE WHETHER OR NOT A BUS DRIVER SHOULD BE DISMISSED OR DISCIPLINED AS A BUS OPERATOR IN THE VERNON PARISH SCHOOL SYSTEM
WHEREAS, L.R.S. 17:493 provides that tenured bus operators may be dismissed or disciplined for one or more of the reasons stated therein; and
WHEREAS, the Superintendent has received information suggesting that a bus driver has failed to fulfill the requirements of a bus operator and has engaged in certain activities in contravention of Board policies or procedures and State Laws;
WHEREAS, the Superintendent has conferred with the bus driver and offered him/her an opportunity to explain his/her actions; and
WHEREAS, after considering the issues and the bus driver’s response, the Superintendent feels that this Board should call a tenure hearing in accordance with the provisions of L.R.S. 17:493 for the purpose of determining whether the bus driver should be dismissed or disciplined as a tenured bus operator in this school system;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Vernon Parish School Board in regular session duly convened that a tenure hearing be called and held in accordance with L.R.S. 17:493 on Tuesday, the 5th day of April, 2011, at 10:00 o'clock A.M., to determine the truth or falsity of such allegations against a bus driver and to determine whether or not such allegations, if true, warrant his/her dismissal or discipline as a bus operator in the Vernon Parish school system.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this resolution signed and certified by the Superintendent of Schools and the President of the Board be forwarded to the bus driver and that the Superintendent advise him/her in writing that this Board will hold a tenure hearing on Tuesday, the 5th day of April, 2011, at the Vernon Parish School Board office in Leesville, Louisiana, beginning at 10:00 o'clock A.M., to consider the aforementioned charges and to determine whether or not he/she should be dismissed or disciplined as a tenured bus operator in this school system. Further, the Superintendent is directed by the Board to inform the bus driver in writing that the hearing may be public or private at his/her option and that he/she may be represented by legal counsel and may present any witnesses or other evidence that he/she desires on his/her behalf, all in accordance with L.R.S. 17:493. The Superintendent is further authorized and directed to advise the bus driver in writing at least twenty (20) days in advance of the hearing of the specific reasons for the charges against him/her and of the names of witnesses who may be called to testify against him/her at said hearing.
The vote, in open meeting on the within resolution, was as follows:
YEAS: Randi Gleason, Mel Harris, Robert Pynes Jr., Doug Brandon, Steve Woods, Jerry L. Jeane, Beryl Ford, Randy Martin, Mike Perkins, Vernon Travis, John Blankenbaker, Gerald Cooley
NAYS: None
ABSENT: None
CERTIFICATE
I hereby certify that the foregoing resolution was adopted by the Vernon Parish School Board in regular session convened on March 10, 2011, and that the same has not been rescinded or repealed.
Dated at Leesville, Louisiana, this 10th day of March, 2011.
Jackie D. Self Vernon L. Travis Jr.
Secretary-Treasurer President
Vernon Parish School Board Vernon Parish School Board
On motion of Beryl Ford, seconded by Randy Martin, the Board voted to advertise for bids for Phase II renovations at Evans High School.
Randi Gleason reported that the Headstart Policy Council had rescheduled their meeting for March 14th and that a report would be given in April.
Beryl Ford reported that the Curriculum Committee had met and Mrs. Anne Smith and Mr. John Farris discussed the Connections Program, STEM, and school visits/observations.
On motion of Gerald Cooley, seconded by Randi Gleason, the Board voted to approve budget amendments related to personnel changes.
On motion of Doug Brandon, seconded by John Blankenbaker, the Board voted to authorize the president and secretary to pay the claims.
In other business, Colonel Burns extended an invitation for the "Box" Tour on March 19, 2011. This includes observing the training of the rotational unit 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division. This tour is from 9:00AM until 2:00PM.
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 wish to express their sympathy to the family of Bobby Woods who recently passed away; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Woods was the husband of Linda Woods, former secretary at East Leesville Elementary; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Woods was a graduate of Leesville High School, was very active in community affairs, and was an avid supporter of the Vernon Parish Schools; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Woods was a lifetime resident of Vernon Parish 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 Robert Pynes, 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 Esther Neubert who recently passed away; and
WHEREAS, Mrs. Neubert was the mother of Tom Neubert, Child Welfare and Attendance Director, the mother-in-law of Susie Neubert, retired teacher, and the grandmother of Tabitha Neubert, teacher at Leesville High School; and
WHEREAS, Mrs. Neubert was one hundred and one years old and a resident of Manitowoc Wisconsin 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 Randy Martin, 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 Guinevere O’Banion who recently passed away; and
WHEREAS, Mrs. O’Banion was the sister-in-law of Murphy O’Banion, former District Four Board Member; and
WHEREAS, Mrs. O’Banion was a resident of Mobile, Alabama 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 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 Vernon Parish School Board members wish to express their sympathy to the family of Timothy Fred Lewis who recently passed away; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Lewis was a former teacher at Pitkin High School and the nephew of Charles Lewis, Principal at Rosepine Elementary School; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Lewis was a resident of Rosepine and he will be dearly 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.
There being no further business, on motion of John Blankenbaker, seconded by the Board, the meeting was adjourned.
____________________________________
VERNON TRAVIS, BOARD PRESIDENT
ATTEST:
__________________________________________
JACKIE D. SELF, SUPERINTENDENT