November 9, 1993
THE PARISH BOARD OF VERNON PARISH LOUISIANA CONVENED IN SPECIAL SESSION ON TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 1993 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
MURPHY O'BANION
B.R. HARVEY
WALLACE MCRAE
BENARD MCKEE
COL. PETER SUN
There was also present Mr. Sammy L. Hinson, Secretary of the Board.
The meeting was opened in prayer by Mr. Wallace McRae, Ward Six.
The pledge of allegiance was led by Mr. B.R. Harvey, Ward Five.
Superintendent Hinson read the attached Call Notice:
attached
On motion of Mr Arvil Harvey, seconded by Mrs. Williams, the Board voted to accept and dispense with the reading of the minutes of November 4, 1993.
On motion of Mr. McKee, seconded by Mr. Dowden, the Board voted to accept the attached list of resignations:
attached
On motion of Mr. Porter, seconded by Mr. Burns, the Board voted to name the attached list of new employees:
attached
On motion of Mr. Arvil Harvey, seconded by Mr. O'Banion, the Board voted to approve a leave without pay request for Mrs. Betty Miller, aide at Evans High School. Time granted for October 10, 1993 through December 17, 1993.
On motion of Mr. Dowden, seconded by Mr. McRae, the Board voted to approve a Sabbatical Leave request for Mrs. Joyce Cureton, teacher, North Polk Elementary School, for rest and recuperation for the spring semester 1994.
Mrs. Lauretta Houston, teacher, Rosepine High School, VIGIL Grant winner, addressed the Board. Mrs. Houston discussed her ideas concerning the ACT test. She stated that she is excited about the school board sponsored ACT workshops for teachers and agrees that more emphasis should be placed on student preparation for this test.
On motion of Mr. B.R. Harvey, seconded by Mr. McRae, the Board voted to advertise for bids to sell a 1984 GMC school bus located at Pitkin High School. A minimum bid of $5,000.00 is required. Bids to be received December 2, 1993.
On motion of Mr. O'Banion, seconded by Mr. Arvil Harvey, the Board voted to accept the low bid of Pressure Cleaning Systems, Inc. of Leesville, the low bidder, for the purchase of a tandem goose-neck trailer, in the amount of $6,320.00.
On motion of Mr. Porter, seconded by Mr. McRae, the Board voted to employ Norris Insurance Consultants, Inc., as Insurance Consultants for the Vernon Parish School Board.
Superintendent Hinson stated that Mr. Asa Skinner, school board attorney, would work with John Norris, President of the company, on the workers compensation segment and item #6 of the contract.
CONTRACT ATTACHED
Col. Peter Sun, Chairman of the Steering Committee for the proposed new North Polk Elementary School, reported that this committee had received proposals from Lewis Brown, architect, in the fee amount of 6.5% and from Yeager, Watson in the fee amount of 5.81%. He asked that it be made clear that the appointments of the fourteen member building committee have not yet been finalized and that the Steering Committee is acting only in the beginning stages of this project. He stated that according to form 1391 (government form for application for funding) that 6% is allowed for architectural fees. Col. Sun recommended that due to the lower percentage fee of Yeager, Watson, that this firm be employed as architects and engineers for the proposed new school at Fort Polk.
On motion of Mr. Gunn, seconded by Mr. Porter, that the Board accept the recommendation of Col. Sun and his committee and employ Yeager, Watson as architects and engineers for the proposed new school at Fort Polk.
On motion of Mr. B.R. Harvey, seconded by Mr. O'Banion, the Board voted to hold 10% of the final payment to the architect and the general contractor until the new construction of North Polk Elementary is approved and accepted by the building committee.
Superintendent Hinson stated that Mr. Skinner would oversee the regulations and laws on the architectural contract. Col. Sun further stated that two possible sites have been located for the proposed construction. There is a 20 acre site located in a residential area north of South Polk Elementary and a 40 acre site located across from South Polk on entrance road. It was the recommendation of Col. Sun and the Steering Committee that the 20 acre site be chosen for the construction and he gave the following rational for this decision:
1. The safety factor of a residential area
2. The site is of sufficient size needed for the school
3. Choosing the 20 acre site leaves the 40 acre site for larger expansion of facilities
4. The traffic flow is conducive to a school setting
5. The street construction in this area is geared to bus traffic
6. The site is "North" of South Polk, therefore the name could remain the same.
On motion of Mr. Gunn, seconded by Mr. Burns, the Board voted to accept the recommendation of the 20 acre site for the proposed North Fort School.
Superintendent Hinson and the Board congratulated Pickering High School and Leesville High School for winning District Championships in football and proceeding on to the football state playoffs.
Mr. Porter asked that more video cameras and black boxes be purchased for school buses. Mr. McKee, Chairman of the Transportation Committee, stated that he agreed with Mr. Porter. Superintendent Hinson stated Mr. Reese would report to the Board at the December 2, 1993 school Board meeting relative the cameras and black boxes.
On motion of Mrs. Williams, seconded by Mr. Smith, the Board voted to resolve itself into a claims committee and approve the claims.
On motion of Mr. Arvil Harvey, seconded by Mr. Burns, the Board voted to authorize the President and Secretary to pay claims as approved by the claims committee.
____________________________________
BETTY WESTERCHIL, SECRETARY
ATTEST:
_______________________________________
SAMMY L. HINSON, SUPERINTENDENT