March 7, 1995
THE PARISH BOARD OF VERNON PARISH LOUISIANA CONVENED IN SPECIAL SESSION ON TUESDAY, MARCH 7, 1995 AT 5:00 P.M. IN THE BOARD ROOM OF THE ADMINISTRATION BUILDING, 201 BELVIEW ROAD, LEESVILLE, LA 71446 PRESIDENT SMITH CALLED THE MEETING TO ORDER AND ON ROLL CALL THE FOLLOWING MEMBERS WERE PRESENT:
MARK H. SMITH, PRESIDENT
T.B. PORTER, VICE PRESIDENT
GERALD BURNS
ALVIN C. DOWDEN, JR.
PHILIP L. GUNN
BETTY WESTERCHIL
CAROLYN WILLIAMS
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. T.B. Porter, Ward Two, Anacoco.
Superintendent Hinson read the following Call Notice:
ATTACHED
On motion of Mr. Burns, seconded by Mrs. Williams, the Board voted to approve and dispense with the reading of the minutes of March 2, 1995.
On motion of Mr. McKee, seconded by Mr. Porter, the Board voted to approve a sabbatical leave request for Johnna Hursaek, Rosepine Elementary teacher, for rest and recuperation, 1995-96 school year.
At this time Mrs. Cynthia Johnson, Hornbeck Elementary teacher, addressed the Board relative to her VIGIL grant. Mrs. Johnson introduced four first grade students from Hornbeck to the Board. She explained that each student would demonstrated "Lunchbox Learning" in science. Mrs. Johnson stated that learning with hands-on items, motivates and encourages students to participate and learn with enthusiasm.
At this time Superintendent Hinson called on Asa Skinner, school board attorney, Sandra Perkins, Registrar of Voters, and Donnie Perkins, Clerk of Court, to address the Board relative to reapportionment. Mr. Skinner reiterated to the Board as he had done on March 2, 1995, that to proceed with an election for school board members, an agreement with the plaintiffs, the Judge, and the school board to set qualifying dates and the election dates would be the first step. After the agreement is reached, the U.S. Justice Department and the Secretary of State would be notified to approve the agreed upon qualifying and election dates, with this approval qualifying and the election would be held.
Mrs. Perkins stated that her office would need a minimum of 4 weeks to prepare the necessary work to call the election. She stressed that as the Registrar of Voters, she would ask that the Board consider the voter in deciding on the date for the election. She said that it would take a considerable amount of time to notify citizens of the new voting precincts and that the Board should not rush into an election. Mrs. Perkins went on to state that whatever the Board's decision on an election date, she and her staff would work with the Board to get prepared for the election. She said that reapportionment is very hard to understand and the Board should give plenty of time for voters to know about the changes.
Mr. Perkins reported to the Board that it would take approximately three months for all of the necessary arrangements to be made prior to the date of qualifying and the election. Mr. Dowden noted his concerns of a large ballot and asked Mr. Perkins how much time a voter is allowed in a voting machine. Mr. Perkins stated that the ballot for October 21st primary would be a large ballot, however, there would not be a problem in having all issues and candidates on the voting machine ballots. Mr. Perkins stated that no one has ever been "kicked out of a voting machine", but there is a 3 minute limit.
Mr. Perkins stated that whenever the election date is set, he and his staff would work diligently in the preparations.
Mr. Perkins stated that the approximate costs of a special election, if called by the Board, would be $61,000.00. (This amount includes the primary and the general elections.) He said there would be a substantial savings to the Board to set the election for the State October primary; in his estimation the savings would be approximately $55,000.00. He stated that if the Board decided to hold the election in the fall primary, the State would bare the majority of the costs, and the remaining costs would be divided among the local elections. He agreed with Mrs. Perkins that sufficient time should be given for the people to know where to vote.
President Smith asked Mr. Skinner to review the possible dates for an election. Mr. Skinner stated that the dates are April 29th, which is out of the timeliness for this election, July 15th, which is for propositions only, and October 21st.
A motion was made by Mr. Dowden, seconded by Mr. O'Banion, that the Board call for qualifying dates and an election date be set at the earliest available time which would be agreeable to all parties and with sufficient time for voters to be notified of the new voting precincts and reduce the salary of Board members so that the total compensation of 15 members would not exceed that of 12 members.
Mrs. Westerchil asked if parliamentary procedure was correct on this motion.
Mr. Skinner responded that the motion could be voted on as written.
An amendment was made by Mr. Porter, seconded by Mr. Burns, the Board call for qualifying dates and an election be set for the October 21, 1995 primary and the general election for November 18, 1995.
An amendment was made by Mr. O'Banion to have qualifying dates and elections dates set the last of June or the first part of July.
Mr. O'Banion withdrew his amendment.
Mr. Gunn thanked Mr. Perkins and Mrs. Perkins for their efforts for the school board. He asked them to make a comment on their opinion or advise to the Board. Mr. Perkins and Mrs. Perkins again stated that the Board should remember the voters and allow plenty of time for them to understand their voting precincts due to fact that reapportionment is hard to understand.
A roll call vote was called for the amendment by Mr. Porter, seconded by Mr. Burns, that the Board call for qualifying dates and an election be held October 21, 1995 for the primary and November 18, 1995 for the general election.
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
_________ _________
7 YEA 5 NAY
The amendment passed.
A roll call vote was called for the original motion of Mr. Dowden, seconded by Mr. O'Banion, changed by the passage of the amendment by Mr. Porter, to read: Motion by Mr. Dowden, seconded by Mr. O'Banion, that the Board call for qualifying dates and an election date be set for the October 21, 1995 primary and the November 18, 1995 general election and reduce the salary of Board members so that the total compensation of 15 members would not exceed that of 12 members.
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
________ _______
5 YEA 7 NAY
The motion failed.
A motion was made by Mr. Porter, seconded by Mrs. Williams, that the Board set qualifying dates and an election to be held on October 21, 1995 for the primary and November 18, 1995, for the general election. (Mr. Porter stated that he felt that this was the best time for the election because as stated by Mr. Donnie Perkins, it would save the Board an estimated $55,000.00 and that too much money has already been spent on the reapportionment law suit.)
An amendment was made by Mr. O'Banion, seconded by Mr. Dowden, that the Board call for qualifying dates and an election in June 1995 or July 1995. A roll call vote was taken:
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
________ ________
3 YEA 9 NAY
The amendment failed.
A roll call vote was called for the original motion by Mr. Porter, seconded by Mrs. Williams, that the Board call for qualifying dates and an election be set for the October 21, 1995 primary and the general election on November 18, 1995:
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
_________ ______
11 YEA 1 NAY
The motion passed.
Mr. O'Banion stated that he voted nay because the people who have talked to him about the election have indicated that they wanted an election held as soon as possible.
Mr. Skinner stated that he will proceed with the appropriate negotiations to have a school board elections with the primary October 21, 1995 and the general election on November 18, 1995, qualifying on September 5, 6, and 7, 1995.
On motion of Mr. Porter, seconded by Mrs. Williams, the Board voted to call for the following maintenance tax renewal elections:
PARISH OF VERNON, 10 YEAR RENEWAL, 7.7 MILLS
WARD ONE WARDWIDE SCHOOL DISTRICT NO. 162, 10 YEAR RENEWAL, 13.03 MILLS
HORNBECK SCHOOL DISTRICT NO. 143, 10 YEAR RENEWAL, 13.32 MILLS
ORANGE SCHOOL DISTRICT NO. 145, 10 YEAR RENEWAL, 13.24 MILLS
SEE ATTACHED
Mrs. Leslie Koenck, representative of the Vernon Federation of Teachers, addressed the Board. Mrs. Koenck stated that the VFT is requesting that the Vernon Parish School Board consider a comprehensive plan which would allocate $800,000.00 to 1 million dollars for an increase in salaries for all employees and to supplement the advisors of extra curricular activities in the same manner as the coaches are supplemented.
Superintendent Hinson responded to the VFT request, stating that Vernon Parish school system employee salaries have continually been on the rise since 1991. He used salary figures furnished by the VFT showing that Vernon Parish teacher salaries are ranked in the top 11 in the state, whereas in 1989 the beginning teacher salary in Vernon Parish was ranked 54th in the state. Superintendent Hinson stated that the Board has worked diligently for the children of Vernon Parish and for the employees and will continue to do so, however, at this time he stated he could not recommend that the Board grant the VFT request for a pay raise because the budget will possibly decrease due to Impact Aid cuts and MFP funding reductions.
On motion of Mr. O'Banion, seconded by Mr. Gunn, the Board voted to advertise to purchase a new activity bus for Pickering High School. Bids to be received April 4, 1995, at 10:00 a.m.
On motion of Mrs. Williams, seconded by Mr. Porter, the Board voted to advertise to sell used copiers at Hornbeck High School. Bids to be received April 4, 1995 at 10:00 a.m.
On motion of Mrs. Westerchil, seconded by Mr. Burns, the Board voted to advertise to sell used drivers' education simulation equipment located at Leesville High School. Bids to be received April 4, 1995, at 10:00 a.m.
Superintendent Hinson reviewed Bulletin 741, Bulletin 746 and Title XVII information with the Board, stating that the Vernon Parish School Board does abide by these regulations.
On motion of Mr. McKee, seconded by the Board, the Board approved Change Order #2 on North Fort Construction in the amount of $80,408.47. This change order would allow for the addition of a fence, added kitchen equipment, an extended warranty, a computer, and additional sodding for the grounds.
On motion of Mr. McRae, seconded by Mr. B.R. Harvey, the Board voted to advertise to sell all merchantable pine timber and all merchantable hardwood timber up to 100 feet of both sides of Comrade Creek on the 240 acre tract, 16th section T4N-R7W, located in the Simpson area. Bids to be received April 4, 1995, at 10:00 a.m.
On motion of Mr. McRae, seconded by Mr. Burns, the Board voted to authorize the Superintendent to negotiate an agreement with Mr. Mike Ketchum, forester, for timber management of the 240 acre tract, 16th section T4N-R7W to oversee the entire logging job for 10% of the timber sales, not to exceed $4,900.00. After timber sales he will re-seed the cut areas furnishing all see and labor and management thereafter for the costs of $3,200.00.
On motion of Arvil Harvey, seconded by Mr. O'Banion, the Board voted to authorize the Superintendent to sign a lease agreement with Boise Cascade for the Evans ball park located on Highway 8 West, in the amount of $50.00 for a five year lease.
On recommendation of Superintendent Hinson, and on motion of Mr. McKee, seconded by Mr. Gunn, the Board voted to change the April 6, 1995 board meeting to April 4, 1995 at 10:00 a.m.
Superintendent Hinson noted that the Pitkin Lady Tigers, Class B, and the Anacoco Lady Indians, Class AA, won the girls' state championships in the Sweet Sixteen Basketball Tournament. Also, the Hornbeck boys basketball team competed in the Top 28 Basketball Tournament in the semi-finals.
On motion of Mr. B.R. Harvey, seconded by the Board, the Board voted to congratulate the students and coaches for their accomplishments. The teams will be honored by the Board in May.
On motion of Mr. Gunn, seconded by Mr. Dowden, the Board voted to resolve itself into a claims committee approve the claims.
On motion of Mr. Dowden, seconded by Mr. Gunn, 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. McKee, seconded by Mr. B.R. Harvey, the Board voted to adjourn.
________________________________
MARK H. SMITH, PRESIDENT
ATTEST:
_______________________________
SAMMY L. HINSON, SECRETARY