JULY 15, 1994
THE PARISH BOARD OF VERNON PARISH LOUISIANA CONVENED IN SPECIAL SESSION ON FRIDAY, JULY 15, 1994, AT 10:00 A.M. IN THE BOARD ROOM OF THE ADMINISTRATION BUILDING, 201 BELVIEW ROAD, LEESVILLE, LA 71446 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 GUNN
BETTY WESTERCHIL
T.B. PORTER
MURPHY O'BANION
B.R. HARVEY
WALLACE MCRAE
BENARD MCKEE
COL. PETER SUN
ABSENT: ARVIL HARVEY, FAMILY ILLNESS
There was also present Mr. Sammy L. Hinson, Secretary of the Board.
The meeting was opened in prayer by Mr. Alvin C. Dowden, Jr., Ward One.
The pledge of allegiance was led by Mr. Philip Gunn, Ward One.
Superintendent Hinson read the attached Call Notice:
attached
On motion of Mr. Burns, seconded by Mr. Smith, the Board voted to approve and dispense with the reading of the minutes of July 7, 1994.
On motion of Mr. Dowden, seconded by Mrs. Westerchil, the Board voted to accept the attached list resignations:
attached
On motion of Mr. Smith, seconded by Mr. Burns, the Board voted to name the attached list of new employees:
attached
On motion of Mr. O'Banion, seconded by Mr. McKee, the Board voted to transfer Lynette Wilson from aide at Pickering Elementary to bus operator at Pickering School.
On motion of Mr. Porter, seconded by Mrs. Westerchil, the Board voted to approve a sabbatical leave request for Mrs. Ruth Westmoreland, counselor at Anacoco High School, for rest and recuperation for the 1994-95 school year.
On recommendation of Superintendent Hinson, and on motion of Mr. O'Banion, seconded by Mr. Burns, the Board voted to name Mr. Wallace Wilson as Principal of Pickering Elementary on a two year contract.
On recommendation of Superintendent Hinson, and on motion of Mr. Gunn, seconded by Mr. Porter, the Board voted to name Ms. Cassandra Wilson as Assistant Principal at North Polk Elementary on a two year contract.
On motion of Mr. McRae, seconded by Mr. B.R. Harvey, the Board voted to increase the bus size of Gayle Basco, Simpson bus operator, from a 36 passenger to a 48 passenger bus.
On motion of Mr. O'Banion, seconded by Mr. McKee, the Board voted to reject the bid received for the track repairs at Pickering High School.
On motion of Mr. Porter, seconded by Mr. McKee, the Board voted to award the activity bus bid to Kent-Mitchell Bus sales for a 5 year lease agreement in the amount of $14,442.05 per year. The alternate bid of Eddie Edwards Bus sales did not meet specifications.
President Williams asked that Mrs. Westerchil and Tandy Schwartz work with her on a presentation for Dr. Carolyn Huntoon on August 25th to be presented on behalf of the Vernon Parish School Board.
Mr. Porter, Insurance Committee Chairman, reported that the Committee met on Thursday, July 14, 1994.
On motion of Mr. Porter, seconded by Mr. Burns, the Board voted to receive quotes for an appraiser to review school board facilities for insurance purposes.
On motion of Mr. Porter, seconded by Mr. Burns, the Board voted to award insurance coverages to Snowden-Word Insurance Agency as listed on the attached report.
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On motion of Mr. Porter, seconded by Mr. Dowden, the Board voted to award Boiler and Machinery insurance coverage to Fertitta Insurance Agency as listed on the attached report.
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Mr. Mike Juneau, reapportionment attorney, addressed the Board. Mr. Juneau suggested that the Board go into executive session to discuss litigation on the reapportionment law suit for 30 minutes.
Motion was made by Mr. Gunn, seconded by Mr. Porter, that the Board go into executive session for 30 minutes to discuss litigation on reapportionment.
An objection was raised by the media that executive session had not been previously posted and announced. Mr. Juneau and Mr. Skinner, school board attorney, stated that they would check this issue at this time.
President Williams asked for other business until the attorneys advised the Board on the executive session matter.
Mr. O'Banion inquired of the necessary enrollment at Pickering Elementary to generate a second assistant principal for Pickering Elementary, stating that Dr. Cindy Gillespie has reported to him that the ending enrollment of Pickering Elementary was 1,100 students.
Superintendent Hinson stated that school board policy would be followed in the allotment of assistant principals for Pickering Elementary and that at the present enrollment, only a half assistant principal is generated at this time and that presently Pickering Elementary has had two assistants.
Motion was made by Mr. O'Banion, seconded by Mr. Dowden, that the Board advertise for an Assistant Principal at Pickering Elementary.
ROLL CALL VOTE WAS TAKEN:
YEA NAY
GERALD BURNS X
ALVIN C. DOWDEN X
PHILIP GUNN X
MARK SMITH X
BETTY WESTERCHIL X
CAROLYN WILLIAMS X
T.B. PORTER X
MURPHY O'BANION X
B.R. HARVEY X
WALLACE MCRAE X
BENARD MCKEE X
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5 YEA 6 NAY
The motion failed to advertise for Assistant Principal at Pickering Elementary.
Motion was made by Mr. Dowden, seconded by Mr. Burns, that the Board vote to request that the Superintendent provide an updated study on school enrollments which generate Assistant Principals of each school.
A nay vote was cast by Mr. McRae.
An amendment was made by Mr. O'Banion, seconded by Mr. Gunn, that the Board include in the above motion that all employees be included in the above study.
The amendment passed.
Nay votes were casts were cast by Mr. B.R. Harvey and Mr. McRae.
On motion of Mr. Dowden, seconded by Mr. Burns, the Board voted to request that the Superintendent provide an updated study on school enrollments which generate the number of all employees in each school.
Mr. McRae voted nay.
At this time Mr. Juneau and Mr. Skinner returned to the meeting to report on the executive session issue. Mr. Juneau stated that to insure that proper procedures are followed, he would discuss the reapportionment litigation in the open meeting if the Board so desired. President Williams asked if the Board objected. Superintendent Hinson stated that Mr. Juneau should proceed in open discussion.
Mr. Gunn withdrew his motion for executive session. Mr. Porter withdrew his second to the motion.
Mr. Juneau stated that he would discuss his opinions and the options that the Board has in this issue.
Mr. Juneau reported that one option is to appeal the judge's ruling in this case, however, several issues would have to be addressed with the plaintiffs. He recommended that the Board go forward with the judge's ruling in re-drawing a new reapportionment plan to include the total population including Fort Polk as evidenced in the 1990 census, even if an appeal is decided upon. He stated that two issues he sees necessary to discuss with the plaintiffs and the judge are:
1. to mutually agree on a reasonable election schedule
2. to jointly petition the court to amend the ruling relative to future elections
Mr. Juneau stated that since the judge ruled to draw a new plan, then the Board could proceed to draw a proposed plan with an option on the number of board members. He stated that Gary Joiner had spoken with him and that Mr. Joiner would need approximately two weeks to work on the statistics for a new plan. Mr. Juneau recommended that the Board continue the employment of Mr. Gary Joiner as reapportionment consultant due to the fact that Mr. Joiner has the necessary data and since the judge has given a very tight timeline and to keep within this 60 day period from June 28, 1994, it is necessary in his opinion to continue with Mr. Joiner. He further stated that in his opinion, Mr. Joiner has the expertise to continue in the position of reapportionment consultant to assist the Board in re-drawing a new reapportionment plan.
He said that as he sees this situation, it will be necessary that a proposed plan will have to meet U.S. Justice approval.
On recommendation of Superintendent Hinson, and on motion of Mr. Porter, seconded by Mr. Gunn, the Board voted to authorize Mr. Juneau to meet with the plaintiffs in this case and to discuss the following issues:
1. a mutual agreement on a reasonable and realistic election schedule
2. to jointly petition the court to amend the judgement relative to future elections.
Superintendent Hinson stated that Wednesday, July 27, 1994, would be the first date available for Mr. Joiner to meet with the Board and Mr. Juneau and Mr. Skinner to consider a proposed plan. The meeting will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Wednesday, July 27, 1994 to discuss reapportionment and the at this time the Board announces that executive session may be called for at this meeting.
Superintendent Hinson requested that Mr. Juneau and Mr. Skinner carefully review and examine the procedures of work done on the re-drawing of a new reapportionment plan.
On motion of Mr. B.R. Harvey, seconded by Mr. Gunn, the Board voted to continue the employment of Mr. Mike Juneau as the reapportionment attorney.
On motion of Mr. B.R. Harvey, seconded by Mr. Gunn, the Board voted to continue the employment of Mr. Gary Joiner as the reapportionment consultant.
There were 3 nay votes cast, Mr. Dowden, Mr. McKee, Mr. O'Banion.
Mr. Dowden inquired of Mr. Skinner the possible litigation against Mr. Joiner to retrieve any possible monetary loss in this case. Mr. Skinner advised that at this time the Board should deal with the issue at hand and at a later date possibly address this matter.
Mrs. Westerchil asked that it be recorded that she would not be able to attend the meeting on July 27th, due to previous plans.
Mr. James Ward gave a report on the tornado damage done at Anacoco School
On motion of Mr. Porter, seconded by the Board, the Board voted to express their thanks to everyone who assisted in the clean up of the damage and repairs to the school. A special thanks was announced to the Central Office maintenance department.
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 their heartfelt sympathies to Mr. William Carver, Principal of Evans School, and Mrs. Debbie Smith, Headstart Aide at Evans School, in the recent death of Mr. Willie Nash,
WHEREAS, Mr. Nash was the great-great uncle of Mr. Carver and the great-grandfather of Mrs. Smith,
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Board request that condolences be sent to Mrs. Nash and her family along with a copy of this memorial resolution.
On motion of Mr. Gunn, seconded by Mr. McRae, the Board voted to resolve itself into a claims committee and approve the claims.
On motion of Mr. Burns, seconded by Mr. Gunn, the Board voted to authorize the President and Secretary to pay the claims as approved by the claims committee.
There being no further business, on motion of Mr. McRae, seconded by Mr Gunn, the Board voted to adjourn.
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CAROLYN G. WILLIAMS, PRESIDENT
ATTEST:
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SAMMY L. HINSON, SECRETARY