August 9, 1994
THE PARISH BOARD OF VERNON PARISH LOUISIANA CONVENED IN SPECIAL SESSION ON TUESDAY, AUGUST 9, 1994, AT 10:00 A.M. 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 G. 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
COL. PETER SUN
There was also present Mr. Sammy L. Hinson, Secretary of the Board.
The meeting was opened in prayer by Mr. Arvil Harvey, Ward Three.
The pledge of allegiance was led by Mr. Murphy O'Banion, Ward Four.
Superintendent Hinson read the attached Call Notice:
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On motion of Mr. Burns, seconded by Mr. Porter, the Board voted to approve and dispense with the reading of the minutes of August 4, 1994.
On motion of Mrs. Westerchil, seconded by Mr. Arvil Harvey, the Board voted to accept the attached list resignations:
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On motion of Mr. McKee, seconded by Mr. McRae, the Board voted to approve the attached list of Sabbatical Leave requests:
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On motion of Mr. B.R. Harvey, seconded by Mr. Smith, the Board voted to name the attached list of new employees:
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On motion of Mr. Dowden, seconded by Mrs. Westerchil, the Board voted to dismiss the following employees:
Eddie Clay, custodian, Leesville High School
Milton Woods, custodian, Vernon Elementary
On motion of Mr. Porter, seconded by Mr. Burns, the Board voted to approve a leave without pay request for Mrs. Dorothy Self, headstart teacher, for the 1994-95 school year.
On motion of Mr. O'Banion, seconded by Mr. McKee, the Board voted to approve the attached employee transfer:
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On recommendation of Superintendent Hinson, and on motion of Mr. Burns, seconded by Mr. Porter, the Board voted to announce that a critical shortage exists in the areas of science and special education and the Board voted to authorize the Superintendent to employee retired teachers to fill the vacancies in science and special education.
Mr. Bobby Moss, Purchasing Agent, recommended that the lawn mower bids for used mowers at Evans be rejected and that the parts be used as needed for future repairs. On motion of Mr. Arvil Harvey, seconded by Mr. Porter, the Board voted to reject the bid received for the sale of used lawn mowers at Evans School and authorize the Principal to use the parts as needed.
On motion of Mr. Porter, seconded by Mrs. Westerchil, the Board voted to award the bid for the sale of the used lawn mower at North Polk Elementary be awarded to Mr. Billy Foley in the amount of $51.50.
On motion of Mr. Dowden, seconded by Mr. Smith, the Board voted to award the bread bid to Cotton Brothers Baking Company, the low bidder.
On motion of Mr. Smith, seconded by Mr. McKee, the Board voted to award the milk bid to Foremost Dairies, the low bidder.
Mr. Moss recommended that the bids for the sale of used sewing machines at Hornbeck be rejected.
On motion of Mrs. Westerchil, seconded by Mr. Gunn, the Board voted to reject the bids received for used sewing machines at Hornbeck and to authorize the Principal to use parts as needed.
Mr. Moss recommended that the bids for a used portable building at Anacoco Schools be rejected due to the fact that it may be possible to purchase a used building from another school district. On motion of Mr. Porter, seconded by Mr. McKee, the Board voted to reject the portable building bids.
On motion of Mr. O'Banion, seconded by Mr. Arvil Harvey, the Board voted to increase the bus size of Lynette Wilson, North and South Polk Elementary bus operator, from a 60 passenger to a 65 passenger bus.
Superintendent Hinson read a letter of recommendation from Mr. John Norris, Insurance Consultant, whereas Mr. Norris stated that after reviewing the quotes received for insurance appraiser, he recommended GAB Business Services, Inc., for $9,860.00 and time required to appraise Vernon Parish facilities is 30 working days.
On motion of Mr. Porter, seconded by Mr. Burns, the Board voted to employ GAB Business Services, Inc. as insurance appraiser.
On recommendation of Superintendent Hinson, and on motion of Mr. Porter, seconded by Mr. Dowden, the Board voted to employ special counsel, Hammonds & Sills and Thomas H. Benton and Associates, in connection with School Boards VS State of Louisiana through the State Employees Group Benefits Program, Suit No: OPB-1141, under the attached resolution:
Mrs. Westerchil asked that it be noted that by joining the other school boards in this litigation, the suit against this Board would be cancelled.
R E S O L U T I O N
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Mr. Bill Bailey, Executive Director of the Chamber of Commerce, reminded that August 25, 1994 has been declared Dr. Carolyn Huntoon Day with a celebration beginning at the Vernon Parish Courthouse at 4:00 p.m. on August 25th.
Superintendent Hinson invited all members to attend the Fall Teachers' Workshop August 17, 1994.
On motion of Mrs. Westerchil, 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 learned with grief and sadness of the recent death of Mr. Harold Rhame, teacher, at Leesville High School,
WHEREAS, Mr. Rhame was an outstanding educator who loved children and exhibited an enthusiasm in the classroom that was exemplary. Mr. Rhame was loved by his fellow teachers and the administrators at Leesville High School, he was respected and admired by this school system,
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Board requests that a copy of this memorial resolution be sent to Mrs. Rhame and her children along with sincere condolences from this Board.
On motion of Mr. McKee, 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 send their sincere condolences to Mr. Danny Fletcher, teacher, at Rosepine High School, in the recent death of his grandfather, Mr. Alvin Fletcher,
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Board request that a copy of this memorial resolution be sent to Mr. Fletcher and his family.
On motion of Mr. McRae, seconded by Mr. Smith, the Board voted to resolve itself into a claims committee and approve the claims.
On motion of Mr. B.R. Harvey, seconded by Mr. McRae, the Board voted to authorize the President and Secretary to pay claims as approved by the claims committee.
On motion of Mr. Burns, seconded by Mr. Dowden, the Board voted to resolve itself back into regular session.
President Williams announced that at this time the Board would welcomed any comments from the audience on Reapportionment. Those addressing the Board at this time were:
1. Mr. Sherman Busby
Motion was made by Mr. Burns, seconded by Mr. B.R. Harvey, that the Board adopt a resolution for Plan E ( 15 member Board).
An amendment was made by Mr. O'Banion, seconded by Mr. Dowden, that the Board ask Mr. Joiner, reapportionment consultant, and Mr. Koepp, reapportionment attorney for the plaintiffs, to draw a plan that would be satisfactory for all school districts. Mr. O'Banion asked for a roll call vote.
YEA NAY
GERALD BURNS X
ALVIN C. DOWDEN, JR. X
PHILIP GUNN X
MARK SMITH X
BETTY WESTERCHIL X
CAROLYN WILLIAMS X
T.B. PORTER X
ARVIL HARVEY X
MURPHY O'BANION X
B.R. HARVEY X
WALLACE MCRAE X
BENARD MCKEE X
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The amendment was defeated.
After comments and discussion of a 15 member school board, an amendment was made by Mr. Dowden, seconded by Mr. Smith, that if the Board adopted a 15 member reapportionment plan, that they would set the compensation to be no more than that of a 12 member Board.
After discussion, the amendment and the second were withdrawn.
Question was called for the motion of Mr. Burns, seconded by Mr. B.R. Harvey, to adopt a resolution for Plan E (15 member plan). 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
ARVIL HARVEY X
MURPHY O'BANION X
B.R. HARVEY X
WALLACE MCRAE X
BENARD MCKEE X
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Motion defeated.
Motion was made by Mr. Dowden, seconded by Mr. O'Banion, that the Board adjourn. 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
ARVIL HARVEY X
MURPHY O'BANION X
B.R. HARVEY X
WALLACE MCRAE X
BENARD MCKEE X
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The motion was defeated.
On motion of Mr. Dowden, seconded by Mr. Burns, the Board voted to take a 5 minute recess.
RECESS
On motion of Mr. B.R. Harvey, seconded by Mrs. Westerchil, the Board voted to reconvene.
President Williams announced that a citizen had asked to address the Board. She stated that she would allow this.
1. Mr. Gene Haymon
Col. Peter Sun, military representative on the Board, stated that the vast majority of military students attend the Polk schools and those who are over grade 4 attend the Leesville Schools and that the military has continued to be satisfied with their representation on the school board. He further stated that he felt that it would better serve the military to continue to be included in the Leesville area and that the reapportionment plans drawn which align Fort Polk to Leesville are favored by Fort Polk.
Motion was made by Mr. B.R. Harvey, seconded by Mr. Burns, that the Board adopt a resolution for Plan E (15 member board). Roll call voted 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
ARVIL HARVEY X
MURPHY O'BANION X
B.R. HARVEY X
WALLACE MCRAE X
BENARD MCKEE X
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The motion was defeated.
Motion was made by Mr. Gunn, seconded by Mr. Dowden, that the Board put the vote for a plan off until a later date so that minority input could be given on the plans.
On motion of Mr. Dowden, seconded by Mrs. Westerchil, the Board voted to direct the Superintendent to work with Mr. Gunn on a satisfactory plan for the minority representation and to have Mr. Joiner to contact Mr. Koepp to determine if an alternative and workable plan could be drawn for all school wards to be represented in a reapportionment plan and to hold a called reapportionment meeting and hearing, if needed, on Monday, August 15, 1994 at 5:30 p.m.
On motion of Mr. Dowden, seconded by Mr. O'Banion, the Board voted to adjourn.
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CAROLYN G. WILLIAMS, PRESIDENT
ATTEST:
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SAMMY L. HINSON, SECRETARY