APRIL 7, 1992
THE PARISH BOARD OF VERNON PARISH LOUISIANA CONVENED IN SPECIAL SESSION ON TUESDAY, APRIL 7, 1992, at 10:00 a.m. in the Board Room of the Administration Building, 201 Belview, Leesville, LA President McRae called the meeting to order and on roll call the following members were present:
WALLACE MCRAE, PRESIDENT
BETTY WESTERCHIL, VICE PRESIDENT
GERALD BURNS
ALVIN C. DOWDEN, JR.
PHILIP L. GUNN
MARK SMITH
T.B. PORTER
CAROLYN G. WILLIAMS
MURPHY O'BANION
BENARD MCKEE
ABSENT: B. R. HARVEY, ILL
There was also present Mr. Sammy L. Hinson, Secretary of the Board.
The meeting was opened in prayer by Mr. Philip L. Gunn, Ward One.
The pledge of allegiance was led by Mr. Arvil Harvey, Ward Three.
Superintendent Hinson read the attached Call Notice:
ATTACHED
On motion of Mr. Arvil Harvey, seconded by Mr. Porter, the Board voted to approve and dispense with the reading of the minutes of April 2, 1992.
On motion of Mr. Burns, seconded by Mr. Smith the Board voted to accept the attached list of resignations:
ATTACHED
On motion of Mr. Gunn, seconded by Mrs. Westerchil, the Board voted to approve the attached list sabbatical leave requests:
ATTACHED
On motion of Mr. McKee, seconded by Mr. O'Banion, the Board voted to name the attached list new employees:
ATTACHED
On motion of Mrs. Westerchil, seconded by Mr. Gunn, the Board voted to approve the attached leave without pay request:
ATTACHED
Mrs. Jackie Curtis, Child Search Coordinator, addressed the Board relative to Child Search and Childnet. These programs serve children ages 0-2 and 3-5 years of age.
On recommendation of Superintendent Hinson, and on motion of Mr. McKee, the voted to adopt the attached proclamation declaring April as Child Search month.
On motion of Mr. O'Banion, seconded by Mr. Dowden, the Board voted to advertise for bids for Headstart playground equipment for the following schools:
a. Pickering Elementary
b. Hicks Elementary
c. East Leesville Elementary
d. Pitkin Elementary
e. Rosepine Elementary
Bids to be received May 7, 1992.
On motion of Mr. Arvil Harvey, seconded by Mr. Burns, the Board voted to advertise for bids for general supplies. Bids to be received May 12, 1992.
On recommendation of Superintendent Hinson, and on motion of Mr. O'Banion, seconded by Mr. Arvil Harvey, the Board voted to borrow $200,000.00 from the Insurance Account to supplement the General Fund for the issuance of employees salary adjustment checks and to repay the loan at the beginning of the fiscal year. Mr. Dowden voted nay on this motion and stated that he is concerned about the fiscal affairs of this school system.
On recommendation of Superintendent Hinson, and on motion of Mr. Gunn, seconded by Mr. McKee, the Board to issue the May salary adjustment checks to employees in the following amounts:
$650.00 TEACHERS
$325.00 COOKS, JANITORS, AIDES
$435.50 BUS DRIVERS
$377.00 SECRETARIES
Mr. Dowden voted nay to this motion again stating that he is concerned as to the fiscal state of this school system.
Superintendent Hinson stated that he will attach a letter to every teachers' contract and send a letter to every support personnel employee explaining that unless the 2.1 million dollar increase in the MFP becomes a reality, the salary adjustment checks could not be continued next year at the current funding levels.
On recommendation of Superintendent Hinson, and on motion of Mr. Gunn, seconded by Mr. Arvil Harvey, the Board voted to adopt the school calendar as presented by the Calendar Committee. (attached) Mrs. Westerchil asked that all employees be polled as to the Easter holidays for 1993.
Superintendent Hinson invited all members to the 1992 Spring Teachers' Meeting to be held at Leesville High School on Friday, April 10, 1992.
Mr. Hinson announced that Vernon Parish LEAP testing is being conducted throughout the Parish at this time.
Mrs. Westerchil reminded the members of the April 14, 1992 meeting of the Minimum Foundation Commission in Baton Rouge, and encouraged the members to attend.
President McRae appointed the following members as Legislative Liaison:
MR. DOWDEN
MR. GUNN
Superintendent Hinson announced that May 5th is "Day at the Legislature" for all school boards and invited everyone to attend.
Mr. Hinson announced that pictures will be taken at the May 7, 1992 school board meeting.
On motion of Mr. O'Banion, 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 wish to express their heartfelt sympathies to Mrs. Kathy Pelt Haley, teacher at Evans School, in the recent death of her father, Mr. John Pelt,
WHEREAS, Mr. Pelt was a great supporter of this school system and he will be missed by his many friends and family,
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Board request that a copy of this memorial resolution be sent to Mrs. Haley and her family.
On motion of Mr. O'Banion, 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 wish to convey they sympathies to Dixie Allen, custodian at Pickering Elementary, in the recent death of her grandmother, Mrs. Ellen Rebecca Allen,
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Board request that a copy of this memorial resolution be sent to Ms. Allen and her family.
On motion of Mrs. Westerchil, 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 learned with grief and sadness of the recent death of Mrs. Susan Gillan, former teacher from Vernon Parish,
WHEREAS, this Board expresses sorrow to Mr. Gillan, who was also a Vernon Parish teacher, and his daughters in their time of bereavement,
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Board request that a copy of this memorial resolution be sent to Mr. Gillan and his family.
On motion of Mr. McKee, 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 wish to send their heartfelt sympathies to Mr. Bill Churchman, Agriculture teacher at Rosepine High School, in the recent death of his uncle, Mr. Lee Churchman,
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Board request that a copy of this memorial resolution be sent to Mr. Churchman and his family.
On motion of Mr. O'Banion, seconded by Mr. Burns, the Board voted to resolve itself into a claims committee and approve the claims.
On motion of Mr. Burns, seconded by Mr. Arvil Harvey, the Board voted to authorize the President and Secretary to pay claims as approved by the Claims Committee.
There being no further business, on motion of Mr. O'Banion, seconded by Mr. Gunn, the Board voted to adjourn.
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WALLACE MCRAE, PRESIDENT
ATTEST:
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SAMMY L. HINSON, SECRETARY
APRIL 7, 1992