JULY 1, 1993
THE PARISH BOARD OF VERNON PARISH LOUISIANA CONVENED IN REGULAR SESSION ON THURSDAY, JULY 1, 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 L. GUNN
MARK SMITH
T.B. PORTER
ARVIL HARVEY
MURPHY O'BANION
B.R. HARVEY
WALLACE MCRAE
BENARD MCKEE
There was also present Mr. Sammy L. Hinson, Secretary of the Board.
The meeting was opened in prayer by Mr. Wallace McRae, Wards Six and Eight.
The pledge of allegiance was led by Mr. B.R. Harvey, Ward Five.
On motion of Mr. Arvil Harvey, seconded by Mr. Dowden, the Board voted to approve and dispense with the reading of the minutes of June 8, 1993.
On motion of Mr. O'Banion, seconded by Mr. McKee, the Board voted to accept the attached list of resignations:
attached
On motion of Mr. Gunn, seconded by Mr. Burns, the Board voted to approve the attached sabbatical leave request:
Attached
On motion of Mr. Burns, seconded by Mr. Smith, the Board voted to approve a leave without pay request:
attached
On motion of Mr. McRae, seconded by Mr. B.R. Harvey, the voted to approve a request to rescind a resignation:
attached
On recommendation of Superintendent Hinson and on motion of Mr. Gunn, seconded by Mr. Smith, the Board voted to approve the attached list of employee transfers:
attached
On recommendation of Superintendent Hinson, and on motion of Mr. Burns, seconded by Mr. B.R. Harvey, the Board voted to approve the attached Administrative contracts renewals:
attached
On recommendation of Superintendent Hinson, and on motion of Mr. B.R. Harvey, seconded by Mr. McKee, the Board voted to name the attached list of Central Office Staff.
attached
On recommendation of Superintendent Hinson, and on motion of Mr. McRae, seconded by Mr. B.R. Harvey, the Board voted to name Mr. Randy Lansdale as Assistant Principal at Hicks High School on a one year contract. A nay vote was cast by Mr. Gunn.
On recommendation of Superintendent Hinson, and on motion of Mr. McKee, seconded by Mrs. Williams, the Board voted to name Mrs. Patty Cupit as Assistant Principal at Rosepine Elementary School on a one year contract.
At this time Superintendent Hinson introduced Mr. Harvey Werner. Dr. Larry Monk explained the funding sources and areas of certification requirements for each funding area of foreign language teachers. Mr. Werner addressed the Board relative to native speaking Spanish teachers who are seeking assistance from the Vernon Parish School Board to have changes made in the National Teachers Examination. The existing problem is that the State requires that to be a Louisiana certified teacher, a person must pass all parts of the test. However, provisions are not made for foreign speaking teachers. Mr. Werner, speaking on behalf of certain Secondary Language Specialists, asked for the Board's assistance by resolution beseeching state level and national level authorities to make provisions for persons taking the NTE who do not speak English as a primary language. Mr. Werner stated that due to the language barrier in the present form of the test that the SLS teachers have not been able to pass the NTE, therefore, on August 1, 1993 these teachers, by Louisiana law, shall be terminated by the Vernon Parish School Board. Mr. Werner suggested the following three changes in the present test which would allow these teachers to be tested on an equal basis with English speaking Anglo Americans. He stressed that these native speaking Spanish teachers are not asking for anything other than an equal and fair test taking opportunity:
1. Ask the National Teachers Examination publishers to have the test printed in Spanish or,
2. Ask that the test be read aloud in Spanish to foreign language speaking teachers and in turn they would answer in English on answer sheets, or
3. That more time be allotted in taking the test for foreign speaking teachers so that they are able to make translations.
On recommendation of Superintendent Hinson and on motion of Mr. Smith, seconded by Mr. Burns the Board voted to seek assistance for the Secondary Language Specialists in having changes made in the National Teaches Examination test to alleviate the language barrier which exists in the present form of the test through the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education and also by requesting assistance through the State Representatives and Senator.
Mr. Roland Booty presented the 1993-94 Pupil Progression Plan. Mr. Booty called attention to changes made in the plan and asked that the Board consider this plan for approval at the July 6, 1993 school board meeting. He stated that the mandated Pupil Progression Plan is due to the department of education by July 9, 1993.
There were no bids received for the sale of used buses in Ward One.
On motion of Mr. Dowden, seconded by Mr. Burns, the Board voted to authorize Superintendent Hinson, Mr. Moss and Mr. Reese to dispose of the used buses.
On motion of Mr. Dowden, seconded by Mr. Porter, the Board voted to approve the following loan from General Fund;
a. Preschool '93 $10,000.00
President Westerchil announced the following loan paybacks to General Fund:
a. Title II c/o 92-93 $12,000.00
b. Chapter II c/o 92-93 18,000.00
c. Title II ' 93 10,000.00
d. Headstart ' 93 45,000.00
On motion of Mr. O'Banion, seconded by Mr. B.R. Harvey, the Board voted to advertise for bids to sell a used bus located at Pickering High School. A minimum bid of $3,500.00 is required. Bids to be received August 5, 1993 at 10:00 a.m.
On motion of Mr. Burns, seconded by Mr. Porter, the Board voted to approve the following loan from General Fund:
a. Headstart '93 $10,000.00
On motion of Mrs. Williams, 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 sympathies to the family of Mrs. Beatrice Beebee, aide at Hornbeck School, who recently passed away,
WHEREAS, Mrs. Beebee was a loyal and dedicated employee and she will be sadly missed by her school family,
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Board request that a copy of this memorial resolution be sent to Mrs. Beebee's children and family along with sincere sympathies from the Vernon Parish School Board.
On motion of Mr. O'Banion, seconded by the Board, 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 the family of Mrs. Ethel Sankovich, retired teacher from Pickering High School,
WHEREAS, Mrs. Sankovich was a dedicated educator who always strived to provide enriched education for her students,
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Board request that a copy of this memorial resolution be sent to the family of Mrs. Sankovich.
There being no further business, on motion of Mrs. Williams, and on motion of Mr. O'Banion, the Board voted to adjourn until July 6, 1993, at 5:00 p.m.
_________________________________
BETTY WESTERCHIL, PRESIDENT
ATTEST:
___________________________________
SAMMY L. HINSON, SUPERINTENDENT