December 2, 1993
THE PARISH BOARD OF VERNON PARISH LOUISIANA CONVENED IN REGULAR SESSION ON THURSDAY, DECEMBER 2, 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
LOU KENNEDY
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. Lou Kennedy, Fort Polk.
On motion of Mr. Gunn, seconded by Mr. Smith, the Board voted to approve and dispense with the reading of the minutes of November 9, 1993.
On motion of Mr. O'Banion, seconded by Mr. Arvil Harvey, the Board voted to accept the attached list of resignations:
attached
On motion of Mr. Burns, seconded by Mr. Smith, the Board voted to approve a sabbatical leave request as listed:
attached
On motion Mrs. Williams, seconded by Mr. O'Banion, the Board voted to approve the new employee list with the exception of the following people:
MARY A. ROBERTS, CUSTODIAN, HORNBECK HIGH SCHOOL
LILLIAN CRUZ, ESL AIDE, PICKERING ELEM
APPROVED LIST ATTACHED
On recommendation of Superintendent Hinson, and on motion of Mr. Porter, seconded by Mr. Burns, the Board voted to approve the hiring of Aleta Moss as English teacher for Anacoco High School under the provisions of LA. R.S. 11:708, Critical Shortage Act. Her official hire date is December 1, 1993.
Mrs. Debbie Clark, gifted teacher at Vernon Elementary, addressed the Board and presented her VIGIL award. Mrs. Clark and three of her students assisted in a presentation on using garbage for art projects.
Mrs. Sandy Perkins, Sales Tax Manager, gave an updated report on sales tax collection. Mrs. Perkins stated that there is an upward trend in sales tax collection for all governing agencies and that the Board's earnings as the collection agency is thus far $172,647.58.
ATTACHED
President Westerchil asked that Mr. Bobby Moss, Purchasing Agent, give a report a Board request that merchants be asked to give discounts on purchases within the Parish. Mr. Moss stated he sent a letter to all merchants in Vernon Parish requesting a 10% discount on school board purchases, such as maintenance supplies. He stated that he has received correspondence from many merchants stating that discounts are presently being given and some merchants stated that the lowest prices possible are being given already. He stated that he received one correspondence stating that a discount would be given.
Mr. Richard Reese, Supervisor of Transportation, addressed the Board concerning video cameras and black boxes for busses which had been discussed November 9, 1993.
Mr. Reese reported that the cameras and boxes have been very successful in helping bus operators in dealing with discipline. He stated that since the beginning of the use, February 1993, and starting with 3 cameras and 19 black boxes, bus operators have asked for additional equipment. Mr. Reese recommended that bids be taken on an additional 10 cameras and 127 additional black boxes (this would be a black box for each bus and enough cameras to spread throughout the parish for more efficient use).
On motion of Mr. McKee, seconded by Mr. Porter, the Board voted to advertise for bids for 10 cameras and 127 black boxes. Bids to be received January 6, 1994.
On recommendation of Superintendent Hinson, and on motion of Mr. B.R. Harvey, Mr. Wallace McRae, Mr. Murphy O'Banion, and seconded by the Board, the Board voted to adopt the following resolution (millage tax renewals tax election for March 26, 1994., and to examine the legalities of calling millage renewals elections on a 10 year basis as opposed to 5 year elections.
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ATTACHED
There were no bids received for the sale of a used bus at Pitkin School.
Mr. McRae announced that Simpson School construction has finally begun, with the Notice to Proceed beginning November 29, 1993.
On motion of Mr. O'Banion, seconded by the Board, the Board voted to commend the Pickering High School football team in winning the district championship in District AA football and having 9 team members selected the all-district team and to congratulate Coach Dale Ashley for selected as Coach of the Year for AA football.
On motion of Mr. Dowden, and seconded by the Board, the Board voted to commend the Leesville High School football team for winning district championship in District AAA.
On motion of Mr. Dowden, seconded by the Board, the Board voted to adopt the following memorial resolution:
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WHEREAS, the members of the Vernon Parish School Board wish to express their heartfelt sympathies to Mrs. Liz Cordova, Assistant Principal of Vernon Elementary School, in the recent death of her father, Mr. Henry Koury.
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Board request that a copy of this memorial resolution be sent to Mrs. Cordova and her family along with sincere condolences from this Board.
On motion of Mr. Porter, seconded by the Board, the Board, voted to adopt the following memorial resolution:
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WHEREAS, the members of the Vernon Parish School Board learned with sadness of the recent death of Mr. Burniss McInnis, retired teacher of Vernon Parish,
WHEREAS, Mr. McInnis was a loyal and dedicated educator who devoted many years to teaching the children of this Parish,
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Board takes this means to express their sympathies to Mr. McInnis' family.
On motion of Mr. Arvil Harvey, seconded by the Board, the Board voted to adopt the following memorial resolution:
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WHEREAS, the members of the Vernon Parish School Board learned with grief and sorrow of the untimely death of Mr. Larry Arbuckle, teacher at Evans High School,
WHEREAS, Mr. Arbuckle was employed as a social studies teacher at Evans for more than thirteen years,
WHEREAS, Mr. Arbuckle was loved and respected by everyone who knew him,
WHEREAS, Mr. Arbuckle was an exemplary educator, his expertise in history was second to none, his love and care for his students was evidenced daily. His love and desire for his students to receive a quality education was always his main goal in life. He will be sadly missed.
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Board request that a copy of this memorial resolution be sent to the family of Mr. Arbuckle along with sincere sympathies from this board.
On motion of Mr. McKee, seconded by the Board, the Board voted to adopt the following memorial resolution"
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WHEREAS, the members of the Vernon Parish School Board wish to convey their sorrow in the recent death of Rev. William Hendrix Owens, Jr., who was a bus operator from Vernon Parish. Mr. Owens was also was a retired Pentecostal minister from Rosepine.
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Board request that a copy of this memorial resolution be sent to the family of Rev. Owens along with sincere condolences from this Board.
On motion of Mr. B.R. Harvey, seconded by the Board, the Board voted to adopt the following memorial resolution:
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WHEREAS, the members of the Vernon Parish School Board wish to convey their heartfelt condolences to Mrs. Mary McCormick in the recent death of her mother, Mrs. Margaret Kemp.
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Board request that a copy of this memorial resolution be sent to Mrs. McCormick and her family.
There being no further business, on motion of Mr. Burns, seconded by Mr. Arvil Harvey, the Board voted to adjourn until December 7, 1993.
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BETTY WESTERCHIL, PRESIDENT
ATTEST:
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SAMMY L. HINSON, SECRETARY
DECEMBER 2, 1993