DECEMBER 5, 2013
THE VERNON PARISH SCHOOL BOARD CONVENED IN REGULAR SESSION AT 10:00 A.M. ON DECEMBER 5, 2013, 201 BELVIEW ROAD, LEESVILLE, LOUISIANA. PRESIDENT GLEASON CALLED THE MEETING TO ORDER AND ON ROLL CALL THE FOLLOWING MEMBERS WERE PRESENT:
RANDI GLEASON, PRESIDENT
JOHN BLANKENBAKER, VICE-PRESIDENT
VERNON L. TRAVIS JR.
MEL HARRIS
ROBERT PYNES JR.
DOUG BRANDON
RICHARD SCHWARTZ
RANDY MARTIN
STEVE WOODS
MICHAEL PERKINS
GERALD COOLEY
ABSENT: JERRY L. JEANE
COL. T. GLENN MOORE
There was also present Mr. Jackie D. Self, Secretary of the Board.
The meeting was opened in prayer by Richard Schwartz.
The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Richard Schwartz.
On motion of Mel Harris, seconded by John Blankenbaker, the Board voted to approve the minutes of the November 12, 2013 regular meeting and dispense with the reading of the minutes.
On motion of Gerald Cooley, seconded by Steve Woods, the Board adopted a resolution giving preliminary approval to the issuance of not exceeding Three Million One Hundred Twenty Five Thousand Dollars ($3,125,000) of General Obligation School Refunding Bonds, Series 2014, of Orange School District No. 145 of Vernon Parish, Louisiana; making application to the State Bond Commission for approval of said Bonds; and providing for other matters in connection therewith.
On motion of Randy Martin, seconded by John Blankenbaker, the Board adopted a resolution providing for a reduction in the interest rates on the callable maturities of the General Obligation School Bonds, Series 2005, of Pickering School District No. 142 of the Parish of Vernon, Louisiana, providing for the employment of bond counsel and providing for other matters therewith.
On motion of Gerald Cooley, seconded by Richard Schwartz, the Board adopted a resolution giving preliminary approval to the issuance of not exceeding One Million Three Hundred Eighty Thousand Dollars ($1,380,000) of General Obligation School Refunding Bonds, Series 204, of Ward Eight Wardwide School District No. 151 of the Parish of Vernon, Louisiana; making application to the State Bond Commission for approval of said Bonds; and providing for other matters in connection therewith.
On motion of Michael Perkins, seconded by Randy Martin, the Board adopted a resolution providing for canvassing the returns and declaring the results of the special elections held in (i) the Parish of Vernon, State of Louisiana, for school purposes, (ii) Hornbeck School District No. 143 of the Parish of Vernon, Louisiana, (iii) Orange School District No. 145 of the Parish of Vernon, Louisiana and (iv) Ward One Wardwide School District No. 162 of Vernon Parish, Louisiana, on Saturday, November 16, 2013, to authorize the levy of special taxes therein.
Curtis Clay presented the Head Start Report and on motion of Vernon Travis, seconded by Randy Martin, the Board voted to approve the following policies/procedures:
Selection Criteria
Head Start Application
Discipline Plan
Policy Council By-Law
Confidentiality Policy
Compensation for Head Start Field Trips
Temporary Exclusion policy
Biting Policy
Spitting Policy
Mr. Clay also presented the Teaching Strategies and Developmental Skills Checklist to the Board.
On motion of Steve Woods, seconded by Robert Pynes, the Board voted to advertise for an internet provider, data circuits, and phone service.
Mr. James Williams, Transportation/Food Service Director, gave his presentation to the Board for the position of superintendent.
On motion of Richard Schwartz, seconded by the Board, the Board voted unanimously to name James Williams to the position of Superintendent effective July 1, 2014.
On motion of John Blankenbaker, seconded by Richard Schwartz, the Board voted to name Michael Perkins President of the Vernon Parish School Board for 2014.
On motion of Robert Pynes, seconded by Steve Woods, the Board voted to name Doug Brandon as Vice-President of the Vernon Parish School Board for 2014.
Superintendent Self discussed the “St. John the Baptist Parish School Board vs. State of LA”. On motion of Vernon Travis, seconded by John Blankenbaker, this will be on the Agenda December 10, 2013 for approval to join this lawsuit.
Mel Harris reported that the Salary/Personnel Committee had met and Mr. Funderburk discussed the personnel changes for December. There was also discussion regarding contract employees and group insurance. No action was taken.
Superintendent Self reminded Board members of the Salary/Personnel Committee meeting at 4:00PM, the Finance Committee meeting at 4:15 and the regularly scheduled Board meeting at 5:00PM on Tuesday, December 10th. Superintendent Self also mentioned the 2014 LSBA Conference and the registration deadline.
On motion of Vernon Travis, seconded by the Board, 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 Sallie Hickman who recently passed away; and
WHEREAS, Mrs. Hickman was the mother of Eula Hickman, cook at North Polk Elementary School; and
WHEREAS, Mrs. Hickman was a lifetime resident of Leesville 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 t his memorial resolution be sent to her family at this time of sadness.
On motion of Gerald Cooley, seconded by the Board, the Board voted to adopt 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 Wayburn Wilbanks who recently passed away; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Wilbanks was the father of Tammy McKenzie, secretary at Hicks High School, Cindy Chandler, former paraprofessional at Hicks High School, Doylan Wilbanks, retired teacher at Hicks High School, and the father-in-law of Kay Wilbanks, former District Eight Board member and Jerry McKenzie, bus driver at Hicks High School; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Wilbanks was a longtime resident of Hicks 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 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 Scott Avery Adams who recently passed away; and
WHEREAS, Scott was the son of Terry Adams, former paraprofessional at Simpson High School, Carol Adams, substitute at Simpson High School and the brother-in-law of Gena Adams, LA4 paraprofessional at North Polk Elementary; and
WHEREAS, Scott was a 1993 graduate of Simpson High School 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 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 wish to express their condolences to the family of Marianne James who recently passed away; and
WHEREAS, Mrs. James was the mother of Martha Vinson, Head Start teacher at Rosepine Elementary School; and
WHEREAS, Mrs. James was a longtime resident of Vernon Parish 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.
There being no further business, and on motion of Michael Perkins, seconded by the Board, the meeting was adjourned.
______________________________
RANDI GLEASON, PRESIDENT
ATTEST:
_________________________________
JACKIE D. SELF, SUPERINTENDENT