January 4, 1996

 

THE PARISH BOARD OF VERNON PARISH LOUISIANA CONVENED IN REGULAR SESSION ON THURSDAY, JANUARY 4, 1996, 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 H. SMITH, PRESIDENT

WILLIS A. FARRIS, VICE PRESIDENT

RICHARD W. "DICKIE" BAILES

GERALD BURNS

ALVIN C. DOWDEN, JR.

M. GENE HAYMON

C.A. HUGHES

KIM REESE

LINDA WEST

BETTY WESTERCHIL

PHILIP L. GUNN

W.W. PARKER

MURPHY O'BANION

B.R. HARVEY

BENARD MCKEE

LT. COL. BRADLEY

 

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

 

The meeting was opened in prayer by Mr. Alvin  C. Dowden, Jr., District One.

 

The pledge of allegiance was led by Mr. Gerald Burns, District One.

 

On motion of Mr. Parker, seconded by Mr. O'Banion, the Board voted to approve and dispense with the reading of the minutes of December 12, 1995.

 

On motion of Mr. Gunn, seconded by Ms. West, the Board voted to accept the attached list of resignations:

ATTACHED

 

On motion of Mr. Hughes, seconded by Ms. West, the Board voted to accept the new employees as attached:

ATTACHED

 

On motion of Mr. O'Banion, seconded by Mr. Haymon, the Board voted to approve a sabbatical leave request for Mrs. Shelia Turnipseed, teacher, Pickering Elementary, February 16, 1996 to May 31, 1996 for rest and recuperation.

 

Superintendent Hinson reported that Barbara Dowden, bus operator, District One, has requested a termination hearing due to her positive drug screening test.  On motion of Mr. Parker, seconded by Mr. Dowden, the Board voted to hold a termination hearing at the request of Barbara Dowden on February 1, 1996 at 10:00 a.m.

 

At this time Superintendent Hinson and the Board recognized and honored the Leesville High School football team and coaches for winning State Runner-Up Football in class 4-A.

 

Leesville Mayor Jim Shapkoff and Eugene Cavanaugh, Vernon Parish Tax Assessor, addressed the Board about the Industrial Development Seminar offered to Vernon Parish.  They stressed that the industrial park and development is a parish wide effort and invited the board to apply for the LSU and Cajun Electric training seminar.  On motion of Mr. Farris, seconded by the Board, the Board voted to endorse and support the efforts of the city of Leesville and Vernon Parish in obtaining industry for the Parish.

 

Mr. Johnny Reed, Compliance Services of Eunice, Louisiana, addressed the Board.   Compliance Services is the drug screening agency that, according to federal and state law, conducts random drug and alcohol screening test on employees who transport children.  Mr. Reed explained the operation and procedures of random drug screening.

 

On motion of Mr. B.R. Harvey, seconded by Mr. Burns, the Board voted to open the following bids:

 

ROOFING CONTRACT FOR WEST LEESVILLE ELEMENTARY

 

BIDDER                                                                 BID

 

RBE INC                                                                $59,839.00

SMITH CONTRACTING                                      53,971.68

PAT WILLIAMS CONST.                                    45,000.00

 

On motion of Mr. Dowden, seconded by Mr. Burns, the Board voted to accept the low bid of Pat Williams Const. in the amount of $45,000.00 with the stipulation that all specifications are met and approved by Mr. Moss, Mr. Kay and Mr. Ward.

 

BUILDING MATERIALS FOR HICKS HIGH SCHOOL

 

C. HUGH TARVER                                              3,224.08

LOWE=S                                                               3,285.04

PRASSELL LUMBER CO.                                  3,607.20

 

On motion of Mr. B.R. Harvey, seconded by Mr. Burns, the Board voted to accept the low bid of C. Hugh Tarver in the amount of $3,224.08 with the stipulation that all specifications are met and approved by Mr. Moss, Mr. Kay, and Mr. Ward.

 

HICKS HIGH SCHOOL ROOF TRUSSES

 

SOUTHERN COMPONENTS, Inc.                                    3,191.00

SENTRY BLDG. CO                                                             2,510.00

ROGERS MFG. CORP.                                                         3,629.00

KRANTZ BLDG. SUP                                                         3,375.00

 

On motion of Mr. B.R. Harvey, seconded by Mr. Burns, the Board voted to accept the low bid of Sentry Building Company in the amount of $2,510.00 with the stipulation that all specifications are met and approved by Mr. Moss, Mr. Kay and Mr. Ward.

 

HICKS HIGH SCHOOL METAL PANELS

 

CUSTOM METAL AND SIDING                                      11,045.00

CARLISLE ENG. METALS                                                 10,970.05

MCELROY METALS                                                           9,014.57

METAL WAREHOUSE                                                      10,315.32

SECURITY METAL ROOFING                                            9,451.43

SOUTHERN STRUCTURE                                                 11,329.59

PAT WILLIAMS CONST.                                                  11,605.00

 

On motion of Mr. B.R. Harvey, seconded by Mr. Burns, the Board voted to award metal panels bid to the low bidder, Security Metal Roofing in the amount of $9,451.43 with the stipulation that all specifications are met and approved by Mr. Moss, Mr. Kay and Mr. Ward.

 

BUILDING MATERIALS FOR EVANS SCHOOL

 

LOWES                                                                  970.00

 

On motion of Mr. Farris, seconded by Mr. O'Banion, the Board voted to award the building materials bid for Evans School to Lowes in the amount of $970.00 with the stipulation that all specifications are met and approved by Mr. Kay, Mr. Moss and Mrs. Ward.

 

CEILING MATERIALS FOR EVANS SCHOOL

 

LOWES                                                                  10,554.37

PAT WILLIAMS CONST.                                  12,076.00

CENLA INTERIORS                                            10,196.38

 

On motion of Mr. Farris, seconded by Mr. O'Banion, the Board voted to accept the low bid for the ceiling materials for Evans School of Cenla Interiors in the amount of  $10,196.38 with the stipulation that all specifications are met and approved by Mr. Moss, Mr. Kay, and Mr. Ward.

 

LIGHT FIXTURES FOR EVANS SCHOOL

 

DIAMOND ELECTRIC                                       6,898.00

SOUTHERN ELECTRIC                                      7,000.00

 

On motion of Mr. Farris, seconded by Mr. O'Banion, the Board voted to award the light fixture bid for Evans School to the low bidder Diamond Electric in the amount of  $6,898.00 with the stipulation that specifications are met and approved by Mr. Moss, Mr. Kay and Mr Ward.

 

SUPERINTENDENT'S CAR

 

ALFORD MOTOR CO                        96 LESABRE                         21,602.00

PYNES Chrysler                                   96 CONCORDE                     17,950.00

MCRAE FORD TOYOTA                   96 CROWN VIC                    19,847.00

 

On motion of Mr. McKee, seconded by Mrs. Westerchil, the Board voted to take under advisement the bids received for the Superintendent's car.

 

On motion of Mr. Harvey, seconded by Mr. Haymon, the Board voted to advertise for bids for one to three high speed duplicators.  Bids to be received February 1, 1996, at 10:00 a.m.

 

On motion of Mr. Gunn, seconded by Mr. Farris the Board voted to name the Leesville Daily Leader as the official journal for the Vernon Parish School Board for 1996.

 

On motion of Mr. Hughes, seconded by Mr. Gunn, the Board voted to name the Vernon Bank and the Merchants and Farmers Bank as fiscal agents for the Vernon Parish School Board for 1996.  There was one abstaining vote cast by Mr. O'Banion.

 

On motion of Mr. Burns, seconded by Mr. Dowden, the Board voted to authorize Mr. Sammy L. Hinson, Superintendent, to sign all federal funding, P.L. 81-874.

 

Dr. Monk presented the proposed revised Drug Free Work Place Policy to be considered at the January 11, 1996 school board meeting.

 

Superintendent Hinson announced that District 1/6 will conduct school tours on Tuesday, January 9, 1996 and will begin at 9:00 a.m.

 

Superintendent Hinson announced that Mark Smith has been appointed to the Federal Relations Network which is sponsored by the Louisiana School Boards Association and the National School Boards Association. 

 

On motion of Mr. Burns, 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 the family of Mrs. Kathleen Little, retired teacher from Hicks High School, who recently passed away,

WHEREAS, Mrs. Little was a loyal and dedicated teacher who loved her students,

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

 

On motion of Mr. Gunn, seconded by the Board, the Board voted to adopt the following memorial resolutions:

 

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 condolences to the family of Mr. Julius Robinson, Jr., who recently passed away,

WHEREAS, Mr. Robinson was the father of Linda Lipton, Head start Secretary, Elizabeth Edwards, aide Vernon Elementary, grandfather of Martha Acey, aide, Leesville Junior High School and father of Jerry Robinson, custodian at Vernon Elementary,

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Board does request that a copy of this memorial resolution be sent the family of Mr. Robinson along with sincere sympathy from this Board.

 

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 Mrs. Bertha Harrison, retired teacher of Vernon Parish and wife of Reverend Monroe Harrison,

WHEREAS, Mrs. Harrison was a dedicated and loyal employee and her expertise in the classroom was exemplary,

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Board does request that their sincere condolences be sent to Reverend Harrison and his family along with a copy of this memorial resolution.

 

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 Vernon Parish School Board wishes to express their heartfelt sympathies to the family of Mrs. Viola Brister, who recently passed away,

WHEREAS, Mrs. Brister was the mother-in-law of Mrs. Glennell Brister, custodian at Pitkin High School,

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Board does send their condolences to Mrs. Brister's family and request that a copy of this memorial resolution be sent to the family.

 

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. Theda Doyle and her family in the recent death of her father-in-law, Mr. Johnny Doyle,

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Board does request that a copy of this memorial resolution be sent to the family of Mr. Doyle along with sincere sympathies.

 

R E S O L U T I O N

 

WHEREAS, the members of the Vernon Parish School Board doe hereby wish to convey their heartfelt sympathies to the family of Mr. Ike Hagan who recently passed away,

WHEREAS, Mr. Hagan was a former bus operator from Pickering High School and he was the uncle of Belinda McKenzie, teacher, Gatha Wills, bus operator, JoAnn Hagan, bus operator, Melody Woodham, teacher, Jamie Hagan, teachers aide, Linda Woodham, bus operator, Tina Wheeler, aide, Abby Gayle Walters, aide, Shalon Johnson, aide, Dewanna Craft, teacher, and Linda Hagan, aide,  all employed by the Vernon Parish School Board,

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Board does take this means to send their condolences to the family of Mr. Hagan along with sincere condoles from this Board.

 

On motion of Mr. Dowden, seconded by the Board, the Board voted to adopt the following memorial resolutions:

 

R E S O L U T I O N

 

WHEREAS, the members of the Vernon Parish School Board wishes to express their heartfelt sympathies to Mr. Joe Duke, custodian at Leesville Junior High School, in the recent death his wife, Jewell S. Duke,

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Board does hereby request that a copy of this memorial resolution be sent to Mr. Duke and his family in this time of bereavement along with sincere condolences from this Board.

 

R E S O L U T I O N

WHEREAS, the members of the Vernon Parish School Board do hereby express their heartfelt sympathies to Mrs. Evelyn Edwards, custodian at Leesville Junior High School, in the recent death of her father Mr. Eldon Edwards,

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED,   that the Board does express their sincere sympathies to Mrs. Edwards and her family and request that a copy of this memorial resolution be sent to the family.

 

Mr. Haymon announced that the Greater Vernon Chamber of Commerce will hold its annual membership banquet at Celebrations on January 12, 1996 beginning at 6:00 p.m.

 

On motion of Mr. Dowden, seconded by Mr. Harvey, the Board voted to adjourn until Thursday, January 11, 1996 at 10:00 a.m.

__________________________________

MARK H. SMITH, PRESIDENT

 

ATTEST:

____________________________________

SAMMY L. HINSON, SUPERINTENDENT