November 2, 1989
THE PARISH BOARD OF VERNON PARISH LOUISIANA, CONVENED IN REGULAR SESSION ON NOVEMBER 2, 1989 at 10:00 a.m. in the Board Room of the Administration Building, 201 Belview Road, Leesville, LA President Goins called the meeting to order and on roll call the following members were present:
DON GOINS, PRESIDENT
ARVIL HARVEY, VICE PRESIDENT
KENNETH BAGGS
GERALD BURNS
ALVIN C. DOWDEN, JR.
PHILIP GUNN
B.R. HARVEY
C.A. HUGHES
BENARD MCKEE
WALLACE MCRAE
MURPHY O'BANION
W.W. PARKER
There was also present Mr. Sammy L. Hinson, Secretary of the Board.
The meeting was opened in prayer by Mr. Arvil Harvey, Ward Three.
The pledge of allegiance was led by Mr. B.R. Harvey, Ward Five.
On motion of Mr. O'Banion, seconded by Mr. Baggs, the Board voted to dispense with the reading and approve the minutes of October 10, 1989.
On motion of Mr. O'Banion, seconded by Mr. B.R. Harvey, the Board voted to accept the following resignations:
L.C. Lawrence, bus driver, Polk Elementary
Debra Thompson, teacher, Polk Elementary
Candace Poston, teacher, Vernon Elementary
Jacqueline Graves, teacher, Pickering Elementary
On motion of Mr. McKee, seconded by Mr. McRae, the Board voted to name the attached list of new employees:
ATTACHED
On motion of Mr. Burns, seconded by Mr. Dowden, the Board voted to approve the attached requests for leaves without pay:
ATTACHED
At this time the Board and Superintendent Hinson recognized the Lions Club Rodeo Queen participants and winners and the West Louisiana Forestry Festival Queen contestants and winners. Each girl was presented a Superintendent's Certificate from their respective Board Member.
On motion of Mr. O'Banion, seconded by Mr. Parker, the Board voted to open bids received for garbage disposals for various schools:
COMPANY BID
Buckelews Company $21,595.00
On motion of Mr. Parker, seconded by Mr. O'Banion, the board voted to take under advisement the bid received for the garbage disposals.
On motion of Mr. Gunn, seconded by Mr. Burns, the Board voted to declare January 19, 1990 as Arbor Day in Vernon Parish Schools.
On motion of Mr. B.R. Harvey, seconded by Mr. Gunn, the Board voted to approve the following loans from General Fund:
a. Ward Five Sinking $6,300.00
b. Ward Five Sinking $30,000.00
c. Hornbeck Sinking $8,000.00
d. Preschool '90 $10,000.00
e. Title II '89 c/o '90 $5,000.00
On motion of Mr. McKee, seconded by the Board, the Board voted to transfer $500,000.00 from General Fund to Maintenance accounts as monies become available.
Superintendent Hinson addressed the Board relative to Whittle Communications, the Channel One program. Superintendent Hinson stated that:
IF
1. Vernon Parish District Attorney agrees that the Whittle Communications contract is legally sound and that the contract language parallels the information presented by its representatives and
2. Whittle Communication provides service for the following schools:
Anacoco High School Pickering High School
Evans High School Pitkin High School
Hicks High School Rosepine High School
Hornbeck High School Simpson High School
Leesville High School Vernon 6th Grade School
Leesville Junior High School
Superintendent Hinson stated that if and when we find Channel One Programming to conflict with our community standards and/or be inconsistent with our educational goals and objectives for our students, then he will recommend to the Board that we discontinue Channel One Programming immediately.
Also the Superintendent stipulated that any student(s) whose parents do not wish for them to see the programming, that those students will be allowed to leave the classroom(s) where viewing is shown.
The Superintendent stated that if all of the above stipulations are met, then the Superintendent does recommend the Whittle Communications offer.
On recommendation of the Superintendent, and on motion of Mr. B.R. Harvey, seconded by Mr. McRae, the Board voted to go into a contract agreement with Whittle Communications, Inc. (the Channel One Program) subject to the Superintendent's stipulations. There was one nay vote by Mr. C.A. Hughes, Ward One.
On motion of Mr. Dowden, seconded by Mr. Burns, the Board voted to direct the Superintendent to establish guidelines concerning Channel One to insure that the programming seen by Vernon Parish students are acceptable to community standards of Vernon Parish.
On motion of Mr. Gunn, seconded by Mr. Burns, the board voted to adopt the following resolution:
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, the Grambling State University choir, The Voices of Faith, is one of the finest singing groups in this state, and
WHEREAS, Pleasant Hill Baptist Church will be greatly blessed by the beautiful music and message presented by this group of young people on November 5, 1989, AND
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the members of the Vernon Parish School Board welcome the Voices of Faith and invite them to return to our community.
On motion of Mr. O'Banion, seconded by Mr. Baggs, the Board voted to state that it agrees with the concept of LTIP and LTEP and LEAD organizations established by the State, however, it is the strong feeling of this Board that training for school principals and teachers should be conducted during the summer months, so that valuable school time for children is not hampered. The Board requests that this motion be sent to all area law makers, BESE members and the Governor.
On motion of Mr. Baggs, seconded by the Board, the Board voted to congratulate all teachers in Vernon Parish for their dedication and excellent work with the children of this parish.
There being no further business, on motion of Mr. O'Banion, seconded by Mr. Gunn, the Board voted to adjourn.
_____________________________
DON GOINS, PRESIDENT
ATTEST:
______________________________
SAMMY L. HINSON, SECRETARY