February 9, 1993
THE PARISH BOARD OF VERNON PARISH LOUISIANA CONVENED IN SPECIAL SESSION ON TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 1993, AT 10:00 A.M. IN THE BOARD ROOM OF THE ADMINISTRATION BUILDING, 201 BELVIEW ROAD, LEESVILLE, LA PRESIDENT WESTERCHIL CALLED THE MEETING TO ORDER AND ON ROLL CALL THE FOLLOWING MEMBERS WERE PRESENT:
BETTY WESTERCHIL, PRESIDENT
CAROLYN WILLIAMS, VICE PRESIDENT
GERALD BURNS
ALVIN C. DOWDEN, JR.
PHILIP GUNN
MARK SMITH
T.B. PORTER
ARVIL HARVEY
B.R. HARVEY
WALLACE MCRAE
BENARD MCKEE
ABSENT: MURPHY O'BANION, ILLNESS
There was also present Mr. Sammy L. Hinson, Secretary of the Board.
The meeting was opened in prayer by Mrs. Carolyn Williams, Ward Two Hornbeck.
The pledge of allegiance was led by Mr. Arvil Harvey, Ward Three.
Superintendent Hinson read the attached Call Notice:
ATTACHED
On motion of Mr. Porter, seconded by Mrs. Williams, the Board voted to approve the minutes of February 4, 1993.
On motion of Mr. Smith, seconded by Mr. Burns, the Board voted to accept the attached list of resignations:
ATTACHED
On recommendation of Superintendent Hinson, and on motion of Mr. Porter, seconded by Mr. McRae, the Board voted to terminate the employment of Velva P. Helton, cook at South Polk Elementary School.
On motion of Mr. Dowden, seconded by Mr. Burns, the Board voted to approve a sabbatical leave request for Sandra Underwood, teacher, West Leesville Elementary, for Rest and Recuperation, 1993-94 school term.
On recommendation of Superintendent Hinson, and on motion of Mr. McKee, seconded by Mr. Gunn, the Board voted to approve the transfer of Johnny Cryer, from teacher/coach at Leesville High School, to Head Football Coach/teacher at Rosepine High School.
On motion of Mr. McRae, seconded by Mr. Dowden, the Board voted to name the attached list of new employees:
ATTACHED
At this time Superintendent Hinson and the Board recognized the winners of the first annual Vernon Parish Quiz Bowl and presented each participant with a Superintendent's Certificate for their outstanding accomplishments. The schools winning the local contest were:
1st place Anacoco High School
2nd place Rosepine High School
Consolation Pickering High School
All Vernon Parish high schools will participate in the regional competition to be held in Natchitoches.
On motion of Mr. Gunn, seconded by the Board, the Board voted to adopt the following resolution:
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, the rewards of academic competition are encouraging to students,
WHEREAS, academic competition generates enthusiasm in those students who excel in non-athletic areas and also to those students are inclined athletically and who enjoy the spirit of academic competition,
WHEREAS, emphasis has been placed for many years on athletic competition, now
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Vernon Parish School Board is proud to have held the first annual high school Quiz Bowl, featuring academic competition between Vernon Parish high school students.
Mrs. Anne Smith, Assistant Principal, of East Leesville Elementary, addressed the Board. Mrs. Smith shared information about staff programs to build self-esteem and pride in students at East Leesville Elementary and programs to encourage students to improve grades. Mrs. Smith was assisted by students, faculty and staff from East Leesville Elementary.
Mr. Richard Reese, Supervisor of Transportation, addressed the Board. Mr. Reese gave the Board a cost estimate sheet for a mechanic for Parish owned buses and equipment for bus repairs. Superintendent Hinson stated that the school board presently owns 37 buses, including route buses and activity buses. These buses require general repairs and maintenance which is done at consumer costs. He further commented that substantial savings would be realized by employing a staffed mechanic to do these repairs and maintenance and purchasing the necessary equipment. This position of mechanic would fall directly under the supervision of Mr. Reese, Supervisor of Transportation. On motion of Mr. Burns, seconded by Mr. Porter, the Board approved for Superintendent Hinson to establish a mechanic position and a mechanic's helper position and requested that Mr. Reese draw up guidelines for this program and job descriptions for a mechanic and a helper.
On motion of Mr. B.R. Harvey, seconded by Mr. Porter, the Board voted to adopt the following resolution:
R E S O L U T I O N ATTACHED
On motion of Mr. Gunn, seconded by Mr. McKee, the Board voted to proclaim the week of February 14-20, 1993 as Vocational Education Week.
On recommendation of Bobby Moss, Purchasing Agent, and on motion of Mrs. Williams, seconded by Mr. Porter, the Board voted to award the unusable business equipment bids and the unusable agriculture equipment bids at Hornbeck High School to the high bidders where applicable. BID TABULATIONS KEPT ON FILE IN THE OFFICE OF THE PURCHASING AGENT.
Mark Smith, Chairman of the Sales Tax Commission for the Vernon Parish School Board, reported on a recent Commission meeting. Mr. Smith stated that all Vernon Parish governing bodies were represented at this meeting except the Policy Jury. He said that the governing bodies discussed the employment by the Commission of Revenue Recovery Group. This company collects delinquent sales tax. On motion of Mr. Smith, seconded Mr. Porter, the Board voted to employ Revenue Recovery Group as the collector of delinquent taxes for the Vernon Parish School Board. Mr. Smith stated that this new company would not interfere with Broussard and Associates, which was hired by the Board several years ago to collect delinquent taxes. The Broussard company is still collecting and could continue to do so.
On motion of Mr. Porter, seconded by the Board, the Board voted to adopt the following memorial resolution:
On motion of Mr. Porter, 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. Alma Dees, retired teacher from Vernon Parish ,
WHEREAS, Mrs. Dees taught at Anacoco School for forty years,
WHEREAS, Mrs. Dees was a dedicated educator; her love and care for meeting her students' educational needs was exemplary,
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Board request that a copy of this memorial resolution be sent to Mrs. Dees' daughter, Mrs. Hilda Morrison, along with condolences from this Board.
On motion of Mr. Dowden, 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 takes this means to express their sorrow to the family of Maggie Hicks who recently passed away,
WHEREAS, Mrs. Hicks was the grandmother of Mrs. Susie Neubert, teacher at Leesville High School, and Mrs. Gary Anders, teacher at West Leesville Elementary School,
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Board request that a copy of this memorial resolution be sent to the family of Mrs. Hicks.
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 convey their heartfelt condolences to Mrs. Doris Carver, Cook at Rosepine Elementary School, in the recent death of her father, Mr. Dorr Brooks,
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Board request that a copy of this memorial resolution be sent to Mrs. Carver and her family.
On motion of Mr. B.R. Harvey, 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 to the family of Mr. Frank Duffle, their heartfelt condolences,
WHEREAS, Mr. Duffle was the father of Mrs. Lavada Ruth Fowler, retired cook of Pitkin School,
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Board request that a copy of this memorial resolution be sent to Mrs. Fowler and her family.
On motion of Mr. Arvil Harvey, 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 condolences to the family of Mrs. Jimmie Toney, who recently passed away,
WHEREAS, Mrs. Toney was a former cook at Evans School,
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Board request that a copy of this memorial resolution be sent to Mr. John Toney and his family.
On motion of Mr. Gunn, seconded by Mr. Porter, the Board voted to authorize Superintendent Hinson and Dr. Monk to study the possibilities of offering African languages in the high school curriculum.
Superintendent Hinson announced that the Headstart Monitoring Team were presently in the Vernon Parish schools. He stated that Headstart has grown to such a large program, servicing two hundred nineteen children throughout the Parish, that the monitoring team consisted of five persons. Also, he stated that the review by this team would conclude on Friday, February 12, 1993. Mr. Hinson said that this federally funded program is very beneficial to the young children who qualify for this educational program.
On motion of Mr. McRae, seconded by Mr. Burns, the Board voted to resolve itself into a claims committee and approve the claims.
On motion of Mr. Gunn, seconded by Mr. Porter, the Board voted to authorize the Secretary and President to pay claims as approved by the claims committee.
There being no further business, on motion of Mr. Dowden, seconded by Mr. McKee, the Board voted to adjourn.
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BETTY WESTERCHIL, PRESIDENT
ATTEST:
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SAMMY L. HINSON, SECRETARY