June 7, 1994
THE PARISH BOARD OF VERNON PARISH LOUISIANA CONVENED IN SPECIAL SESSION ON TUESDAY, JUNE 7, 1994, IN THE BOARD ROOM OF THE ADMINISTRATION BUILDING, 201 BELVIEW ROAD, LEESVILLE, LA PRESIDENT WILLIAMS CALLED THE MEETING TO ORDER AND ON ROLL CALL THE FOLLOWING MEMBERS WERE PRESENT:
CAROLYN WILLIAMS, PRESIDENT
MARK SMITH, VICE PRESIDENT
GERALD BURNS
ALVIN C. DOWDEN, JR.
PHILIP L. GUNN
BETTY WESTERCHIL
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. Betty Westerchil, Ward One.
The pledge of allegiance was led by Mr. Mark Smith, Ward One.
Superintendent Hinson read the attached call notice:
ATTACHED
On motion of Mr. Smith, seconded by Mr. Burns, the Board voted to approve and dispense with the reading of the minutes of June 2, 1994.
On recommendation of Superintendent Hinson, and on motion of Mr. O'Banion, seconded by Mr. B.R. Harvey, the Board voted to approve the attached list of Central Office employees:
ATTACHED
On recommendation of Superintendent Hinson, and on motion of Mr. Porter, seconded by Mr. Dowden, the Board voted to approve the administrative contracts of central office personnel, principals and assistant principals as attached:
ATTACHED
Motion was made by Mr. McKee, seconded by Mr. Porter, that the Board extend the contract of the Superintendent of the Vernon Parish Schools, Sammy L. Hinson, in a mutual agreement with the Superintendent of Vernon Parish Schools to cancel and declare terminated the contract entered into on the 1st day of March 1992 between the Vernon Parish School Board and Superintendent, Sammy L. Hinson, and to further enter into another contract wherein the Vernon Parish School Board would employ Sammy L. Hinson as Superintendent of Vernon Parish Schools beginning July 1, 1994 and ending June 30, 1998, said contract to be for a period of (4) years.
The motion passed with the following opposing votes:
Mr. Dowden
Mr. O'Banion
On recommendation of Superintendent Hinson, and on motion of Mr. Porter, seconded by Mr. Burns, the Board voted to approve a Sabbatical Leave request for Mrs. Barbara Guidry, teacher, Anacoco High School, for rest and recuperation, for the school year 1994-95.
Mr. Joe Pope, Coordinator of Curriculum, grades 7-12, gave a report on recent LEAP and CAT tests scores of Vernon Parish students. Mr. Pope reported that test scores indicate that Vernon Parish students rank in the 65.1 percentile which is well above the state norm on the CAT scores, and the percentage of students who met the minimum standard in the LEAP test was 95%, which ranked Vernon Parish students third
in the state for LEAP.
On motion of Mr. Gunn, seconded by the Board, the Board voted to commend all teachers and administrators and especially the students in Vernon Parish Schools who were tested and scored these outstanding marks.
Mr. Roland Booty, Coordinator of Curriculum, grades K-8, briefed the Board on the Pupil Progression Plan for 1994-95 and the proposed changes in the plan. Each member was presented a plan for review and the Board will vote on the changes in the July 7, 1994 school board meeting.
On motion of Mr. Dowden, seconded by Mr. Porter, the Board voted to advertise for milk bids for the 1994-95 school term.
On motion of Mr. Burns, seconded by Mr. McKee, the Board voted to advertise for bids for bread for the 1994-95 school term.
On motion of Mr. Porter, seconded by Mr. McKee, the Board voted to awarded the air conditioner bids for Hornbeck High School gym to the low bidder, Walter's Sheet Metal in the amount of $15,726.00.
On motion of Mr. Arvil Harvey, seconded by Mr. Porter, the Board voted to award the general supply bids to the low bidders where specifications have been met.
On motion of Mr. McKee, seconded by Mr. Porter, the Board voted to award the used trailer bid to the First Pentecostal Church of DeRidder in the amount of $555.00.
President Williams called for a Salary Committee report.
On motion of Mr. B.R. Harvey, seconded by Mr. Gunn, the Board voted to approve the following reductions in salary indexes,
SUPERINTENDENT 2.3 (FROM 2.5)
ASSISTANT SUPERINTENDENT 1.94 (FROM 2.09)
ADMINISTRATOR OF SUPPORT SERVICES 1.87 (FROM 1.97)
and to reinstate the index of administrators of the Central Office.
The following members voted nay:
Mr. T.B. Porter
Mrs. Carolyn Williams
Mr. Asa Skinner, school board legal counsel, reported to the Board on the May 31st and June 1st in federal court in Lake Charles. Mr. Skinner stated that the presiding judge made many complimentary remarks about the Vernon Parish School system and that the judge will study the information presented to him in the suit. The judge declare later in June whether or not he will require changes be made in the plan or if the plan should be redrawn or approve the plan as presented. Mr. Skinner noted that it is possible that a school board election will be held in October, however, the judge will make that determination.
On motion of Mr. O'Banion, seconded by Mr. Burns, the Board voted to advertise for bids for a contractor for repair work to be done on the Pickering High School track.
President Williams stated that the LSBA Day at the Legislature is June 14, 1994, and that all members are urged to attend.
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 do hereby wish to convey their heartfelt sympathies to Mrs. Salvina Moses, retired teacher, in the recent death of her mother, Mrs. Nettie Fertitta,
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Board request a copy of this memorial resolution be sent to Mrs. Moses 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 wish to take this means to express their heartfelt sympathies to Mrs. Violet Shira, retired cook, in the recent death of her husband, Mr. Donald Shira,
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Board request that a copy of this memorial resolution be sent to Mrs. Shira and her family.
President Williams asked that a memorial resolution be adopted for Mrs. Dovie Ettie Hext, the Board seconded this request.
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, the Vernon Parish School Board learned with grief and sadness of the recent death of Mrs. Dovie Ettie Hext, mother of Dona Dowden, central office secretary, Delores Rogers, South Polk Elementary secretary, and Dovie Curtis, custodian at Hornbeck High School,
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the members of the Board do hereby request that a copy of this memorial resolution be sent to the family of Mrs. Hext along with sincere condolences from this Board.
Superintendent Hinson thanked the Board for the contract awarded him and pledged his continued dedication to the students of the Vernon Parish School system.
On motion of Mr. Burns, seconded by Mr. Dowden, the Board voted to resolve itself into a claims committee and approve the claims.
On motion of Mr. Gunn, seconded by Mr. Burns, 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. Gunn, seconded by Mr. Burns, the Board voted to adjourn.
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CAROLYN WILLIAMS, PRESIDENT
ATTEST:
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SAMMY L. HINSON, SECRETARY