APRIL 6, 2017                                         

DRAFT

 

THE VERNON PARISH SCHOOL BOARD CONVENED IN REGULAR SESSION AT 10:00 A.M., 201 BELVIEW ROAD, LEESVILLE, LOUISIANA.  PRESIDENT WOODS CALLED THE MEETING TO ORDER AND ON ROLL CALL THE FOLLOWING MEMBERS WERE PRESENT:

 

STEVE WOODS, PRESIDENT

DOUG BRANDON

VERNON L. TRAVIS JR.

JIM SEAMAN

ROBERT PYNES JR.

JACKIE SELF

JOHN BLANKENBAKER

RANDY MARTIN

SHAD STEWART

GERALD COOLEY

COL. DAVID G. ATHEY

 

ABSENT:           DAVID DETZ, ANGIE DAVIS

 

There was also present Mr. James Williams, Secretary of the Board.

The meeting was opened in prayer by Shad Stewart.

The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Shad Stewart.

 

On motion of John Blankenbaker, seconded by Jim Seaman, the Board voted to approve the minutes of the March 7, 2017 regular meeting and dispense with the reading of the minutes.

 

On motion of Shad Stewart, seconded by Gerald Cooley, the Board voted to advertise for bids for janitorial and cafeteria supplies.

 

On motion of Vernon Travis, seconded by Robert Pynes, the Board voted to advertise for bids for copier paper.

 

On motion of Doug Brandon, seconded by Jackie Self, the Board voted to advertise for bids for bread, milk and juice.

 

Mr. Hub Jordan updated Board Members on upcoming athletic events.  Parish Football Jamboree scheduled for August, Parish Basketball Tournament scheduled for December and plans are being made for Parish Softball Jamboree for next school year.  He also noted that a track tournament was held at Pickering High on March 24th and every school in Vernon Parish was represented.  Mr. Jordan also stated that athletic directors meet monthly and the VPSB Athletic Committee meets on a quarterly basis.

 

Curtis Clay presented the Headstart Report and noted that Maria Norman, Headstart representative from Dallas, was at the office and visiting all schools with Headstart classes. 

 

Vernon Travis reported that the Salary/Personnel Committee had met and reviewed personnel changes for April.  Mr. Kay noted that employee contracts would be approved later in the month and also stated that positions were being reviewed and reduction in force hopefully could be made through attrition.  Mr. Travis stated that the 2017-2018 School Calendar will be placed on the April 11th Agenda for approval.  No action was required.

 

Superintendent Williams noted that April was Child Abuse Prevention Month and thanked CASA for their donation of pinwheels for the front lawn.  Mr. Travis scheduled a Finance Committee meeting for May 4 to discuss the revised budget.  Mrs. Page noted that testing was ongoing in the schools and only minor adjustments had to be made due to the “weather day”.  Colonel Athey noted Red Cross Activities, Color Run and the upcoming fishing tournament.  He also stated that the new fire station at Fort Polk was opening on April 12th.  Colonel Athey also announced the Forever In Your Mind Concert to be held at Fort Polk in conjunction with the Month of The Military Child.

 

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 wish to express their sympathy to the family of Vincent Paul Magee who recently passed away; and

             WHEREAS, Mr. Magee was a 1982 Graduate of Leesville High School and an avid supporter of Vernon Parish Schools; and

             WHEREAS, Mr. Magee was a dedicated fireman at Fort Polk for over thirty years and he will be greatly missed by his family and many 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 Vernon Travis, 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 Marvin Haynes who recently passed away; and

             WHEREAS, Mr. Haynes was the husband of Bernadine Haynes, retired paraprofessional, the brother of Hirl Haynes, retired principal and the brother-in-law of Opalene Haynes, retired supervisor; and

             WHEREAS, Mr. Haynes was a former longtime resident of Leesville 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 Jackie Self on behalf of David Detz, 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 send their condolences to the family of Vickie Westbrook who recently passed away; and

             WHEREAS, Mrs. Westbrook was the step-daughter of Ulita Watson, Principal at Evans High School; and

             WHEREAS, Mrs. Westbrook was a lifelong resident of Newton, Texas 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 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 takes this means to express their sincere sympathy to the family of Ruby Addison who recently passed away; and

             WHEREAS, Mrs. Addison was the mother of Andy Addison, bus driver at West Leesville Elementary; and

             WHEREAS, Mrs. Addison was a lifelong resident of Leesville and a great supporter of Vernon Parish Schools; 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 Jackie Self, 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 extend their condolences to the family of Michael Paris who recently passed away; and

             WHEREAS, Mr. Paris was the son of Sherry Paris, retired supervisor and now deceased Ted Paris, retired principal and former District One Board Member; and

             WHEREAS, Mr. Paris was a resident of Moss Bluff and he will be greatly missed by his family and many 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 to wish express their sympathy to the family of Elizabeth Ann Taylor who recently passed away; and

             WHEREAS, Ms. Taylor was the daughter of Neva Knight, librarian at Simpson High and the sister of Rhonda Hampton, teacher at Simpson High; and

             WHEREAS, Ms. Taylor was a resident of Simpson 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 Doug Brandon on behalf of Angie Davis, 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 Minnie Ruth Foshee Hall who recently passed away; and

             WHEREAS, Mrs. Hall was the grandmother of Michelle Cooley, teacher at West Leesville Elementary School; and

             WHEREAS, Mrs. Hall was a lifelong 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.

 

On motion of Jackie Self on behalf of David Detz, 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 takes this means to express their condolences to the family of David Nash who recently passed away; and

             WHEREAS, Mr. Nash was the father-in-law of Laura Nash, software facilitator for Special Education; and

             WHEREAS, Mr. Nash was a longtime 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 Vernon Travis, 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 wishes to express their sympathy to the family of Latisha Bass who recently passed away; and

             WHEREAS, Ms. Bass was the daughter of Sam Bursh, teacher at Vernon Middle School and the granddaughter of Lydia LaSane; and

             WHEREAS, Ms. Bass was a former resident of Leesville and she will be greatly missed by her family and friends; now

             BE IT THEREFORE RESOVLED 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 Shad Stewart, 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 Linda Thompson who recently passed away; and

             WHEREAS, Mrs. Thompson was a retired custodian at Pitkin High School; and

             WHEREAS, Mrs. Thompson was a longtime resident of Pitkin 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 Jackie Self, 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 takes this means to express their condolences to the family of Mark Walker who recently passed away; and

             WHEREAS, Mr. Walker was a retired teacher at the Vo-Tech School with over sixteen years of dedicated service; and

             WHEREAS, Mr. Walker was a resident of DeRidder 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 Jim Seaman, 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 Herbert Copeland who recently passed away; and

             WHEREAS, Mr. Copeland was a retired Leesville Police Officer with twenty-one years of service; and

             WHEREAS, Mr. Copeland was a longtime 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 Steve Woods, 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 takes this means to express their sympathy to the family of US Army CSM (Ret.) William H. Hood who recently passed away; and

             WHEREAS, CSM Hood was the father-in-law of Shandra Hood, retired counselor and Martha Hood, retired librarian; and

             WHEREAS, CSM Hood was a longtime resident of Leesville 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 sadness.

 

There being no further business, and on motion of Vernon Travis, seconded by the Board, the meeting was adjourned.

 

_________________________

STEVE WOODS, PRESIDENT

 

 

ATTEST:

 

___________________________________

JAMES WILLIAMS, SUPERINTENDENT