MAY 4, 1995

THE PARISH BOARD OF VERNON PARISH LOUISIANA CONVENED IN REGULAR SESSION ON THURSDAY, MAY 4, 1995, AT 10:00 A.M. IN THE BOARD ROOM OF THE ADMINISTRATION BUILDING, 201 BELVIEW ROAD, LEESVILLE, LA  PRESIDENT SMITH CALLED THE MEETING TO ORDER AND ON ROLL CALL THE FOLLOWING MEMBERS WERE PRESENT:

MARK 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

There was also present Mr. Sammy L. Hinson, Secretary of the Board.

The meeting was opened in prayer by Mr. Philip L. Gunn, Ward One.

The pledge of allegiance was led by Mr. Alvin C. Dowden, Jr., Ward One.

On motion of Mr. Gunn, seconded by Mr. Porter, the Board voted to dispense with the reading and approve the minutes of April 11, 1995.

On motion of Mr. O'Banion, seconded by Mr. Arvil Harvey, the Board voted to approve the attached list of resignations:

ATTACHED

On motion of Mr. O'Banion, seconded by Mr. McKee, the Board voted to rescind the second semester sabbatical request for Mrs. Betty Harper, teacher at Pickering High School.

On motion of Mr. McKee, seconded by Mr. Burns, the Board voted to approve a sabbatical leave request for Melinda Granger, teacher, Rosepine High School, rest and recuperation, 1995-96 school year.

On recommendation of Superintendent Hinson, and on motion of Mr. Gunn, seconded by Mrs. Betty Westerchil, the Board voted to name Mr. Tom Neubert as Principal of Leesville High School on a one year contract, July 1, 1995 to June 30, 1996.

On recommendation of Superintendent Hinson, and on motion of Mr. Burns, seconded by Mr. Gunn, the Board voted to advertise for an Assistant Principal of Leesville High School for a one year contract.  Applications will be taken until May 26, 1995 at 4:30 p.m.

Mr. Roland Booty gave a report on the LEEP Camp.  This enrichment camp is for qualified 5th graders throughout the parish.

On recommendation of Superintendent Hinson, and on motion of Mr. Porter, seconded by Mrs. Williams, the Board voted to change the May 9, 1995 school board meeting to May 11, 1955, due the LSBA Day at the Legislature in Baton Rouge,

On motion of Mrs. Westerchil, seconded by Mr. Gunn, the Board voted to appoint the following committee to open general supply bids on May 9, 1995 at 10:00 a.m.

BOBBY MOSS

JAMES WARD

BILL ENDRIS

TANDY SCHWARTZ

On motion of Mrs. Westerchil, seconded by Mr. Gunn, the Board voted to open the bids for metal roofing materials and trusses for the Leesville High School gym:

BIDDER                                                 AMOUNT

Custom Metal & Siding                      $24,208.10

Carisle Engineered                                24,893.76

Rogers Manufacturing(Trusses)        21,000.00

On motion of Mrs. Westerchil, seconded by Mr. Gunn, the Board voted to award the bid for metal materials to the low bidder, Custom Metal and Siding in the amount of $24,208.10, if all specifications are met.

On motion of Mrs. Westerchil, seconded by Mr. Gunn, the Board voted to award the trusses bid to the low and only bidder, Rogers Manufacturing Company in the amount of $21,000.00 if specifications are met.

There were no bids received for the following:

SALE OF EQUIPMENT AT LEESVILLE HIGH SCHOOL

SALE OF EQUIPMENT AT PICKERING SCHOOLS

SALE OF EQUIPMENT AT VERNON ELEMENTARY

On motion of Mr. O'Banion, seconded by Mr. Burns, the Board voted to authorize Mr. Moss, Mr. Ward and the principals of Leesville High School, Pickering Elementary and High School and Vernon Elementary to dispose of the used equipment.

Motion was made by Mr. McRae, seconded by Mr. B.R. Harvey, the Board voted to advertise for garbage collection.

On motion of Mrs. Westerchil, seconded by Mrs. Williams, the Board voted to advertise for pest control.

On motion of Mr. O'Banion, seconded by the Board, the Board voted to congratulate all students and teachers for their outstanding CAT scores.  Superintendent Hinson stated that Dr. Cindy Gillespie will make a formal report to the Board on May 11, 1995 about the Vernon Parish scores which were well above the national mean.  Mr. Hinson stated that the dedication of our outstanding teachers is the key to the success of the increased average in the scores.

On motion of Mr. B.R. Harvey, seconded by the Board, the Board voted to express their appreciation to the voters for the recent passage of the maintenance tax renewals.

On motion of Mrs. Betty 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. JoAnn Babin, in the recent death of her daughter, Alicia,

                WHEREAS, this Board does share in her grief and sadness in the loss of this wonderful young person who will be sadly missed by her classmates and family,

                THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED,  that the Board does hereby request that a copy of this memorial resolution be sent to Mrs. Babin along with sincere condolences.

On motion of Mr. Burns, seconded by the Board, the Board adopted 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 send their sincere condolences to Mrs. Ann Stephens, lunchroom technician, at West Leesville Elementary, in the recent death of her husband, Mr. Edwin Stephens,

                THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Board request that a copy of this memorial resolution be sent to Mrs. Stephens along with sincere condolences from this Board.

On motion of Mrs. Williams, 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 record with grief and sadness  the death of Mr. Deloy Ross, long time supporter of the Vernon Parish School system and husband of Mrs. Louise Ross, retired teacher from Anacoco High School,

                                WHEREAS, Mr. Ross will long be remembered for his civic leadership and support of the public school system,

                                THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Board does request that a copy of this memorial resolution be sent to Mrs. Ross 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:

                                                                               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 Mr. Jackie Self and his family in the recent death of his father, Mr. George M. Self,

                THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Board does take this means to express their condolences to Mr. Self and his family in this time of bereavement and request that a copy of this memorial resolution be sent to the family.

On motion of Mr. Burns, seconded by the Board, the Board voted to request that the city of Leesville install a caution light at the intersection of First Street and Mechanic Street.

There being no further business, on motion of Mrs. Williams, seconded by Mr. Dowden, the Board voted to adjourn.

______________________________

MARK H. SMITH, PRESIDENT

ATTEST:

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SAMMY L. HINSON, SECRETARY