October 3, 1996

THE PARISH BOARD OF VERNON PARISH LOUISIANA CONVENED IN SESSION THURSDAY, OCTOBER 3, 1996, AT 10:00 A.M., 201 BELVIEW BOARD, LEESVILLE, LA PRESIDENT SMITH CALLED THE MEETING TO ORDER AND ON ROLL CALL THE FOLLOWING MEMBERS WERE PRESENT:

MARK H. SMITH, PRESIDENT

RICHARD W. "DICKIE" BAILES

GERALD BURNS

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

COL. GEOFF PROSCH

ABSENT:               WILLIS A. FARRIS, DOCTORS APPOINTMENT

ALVIN C. DOWDEN, JR., COURT

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

The meeting was opened in prayer by Mrs. Betty Westerchil, District 1.

The pledge of allegiance was led by Mr. Richard Bailes.

On motion of Mr. Parker, seconded by Mr. O'Banion, the Board voted to approve and dispense with the reading of the minutes of September 10, 1996.

On motion of Mr. O'Banion, seconded by Mr. Parker, the Board voted to accept the attached list of resignations:

ATTACHED

On motion of Mr. Harvey, seconded by Mr. McKee, the Board voted to name the attached list of new employees:

ATTACHED

At this time the Board and Superintendent honored the 4-H Short Course summer winners.  Miss Kem Villejoin, 4-H Agent, introduced the students.  Each student was presented a Superintendent's Certificate for their outstanding accomplishments.

Miss Villijoin recognized Superintendent Hinson and presented him with the State Educational Leadership Award from 4-H.

At this time the Board and Superintendent recognized the following teachers of the year for Vernon Parish.  Each teacher was presented a certificate and a check for $500.00  for their outstanding accomplishments. The teachers of the year are Judith Willis, Anacoco Elementary, Cheryl Browning, Leesville Junior High, and Ernesto Abad, Leesville High School.

Mr. Danny Wilson, District Manager, Bell South, presented Bell South Teacher Mini-Grants in the amount of $500.00 each to Jennifer Coriell, East Leesville Elementary, Judith Willis, Anacoco Elementary, and Tammy Schamerhorn, Leesville Junior High School.

On recommendation of Superintendent Hinson, and on motion of Mr. Gunn, seconded by Mr. McKee, the Board voted to advertise for the position of Supervisor of Transporta0tion/Drug Free Schools and Community Administrator, contract effective June 30, 1997 and applications are due by October 31, 1996, at 4:30 p.m. 

On motion of Mr. O'Banion, seconded by Mr. Parker, the Board voted to call for a Maintenance Renewal Election for Ward Three School District 160 for 13 mills for January 18, 1996. 

ATTACHED

At this time Superintendent Hinson stated that Mr. Jerry Buckner, parent of Jeremy Buckner, requested a review of the expulsion of Jeremy from Leesville High School, recommended by Tom Neubert, Principal, Leesville High School, and upheld by Mike Perkins, Child Welfare and Attendance Supervisor and Superintendent Hinson. Mr. Hinson stated that Mr. Buckner and Jeremy had been notified by correspondence and verbally that Jeremy would be allowed to attend the Vernon Parish Optional School.

Mr. Asa Skinner, school board attorney, addressed the Board, stating that by law of due process, Mr. Buckner had verbally requested and was granted an  appeal to the decision to expel his son from Leesville High School,  and that the Board's obligation in this matter is to review the situation and the information and to decide whether or not to support the expulsion recommendation.

 Mr. Hinson stated that Jeremy Buckner instigated and participated in a fight at Leesville High School on September 12, 1996, whereas he held a boy down while another boy beat the boy being held, when a teacher tried to break up the fight and told the boys to stop fighting and hitting the held down boy, Jeremy would not stop (nor the other boy). They called two other teachers to help break up the fight.  One teacher was injured while he was trying to break up the fight.

Mr. Buckner stated that today he is appealing the expulsion recommendation and that he requested that:  

1.             Jeremy is reinstated to Leesville High School

2.             Jeremy is allowed to makeup any missed work

3.             Jeremy's absent days are voided

4              Other boy be recommended for expulsion (boy being held by Jeremy)

Mr. Buckner stated that Jeremy Buckner was suspended for 9 days for fighting and that  Mr. Neubert had recommended expulsion and that he received a letter (dated September 26, 1996) from Superintendent Hinson after a  hearing with Mr. Perkins, that the Superintendent had reviewed the information about the fight upholding the recommendation for expulsion.   

Mr. Buckner stated that the reasons for his request for the expulsion be appealed were:

(He stated that he had requested and received copies of Mr. Avant's statements, Mario's statement (boy being held by Jeremy while another boy hit Mario) and cassette tape of the initial hearing.)

1.             LHS 96-97 handbook was not followed

2.             Investigation was not complete by Mr. Neubert and Mr. Neubert was biased

3.             Credibility of Mr. Avant

5.             Was teacher accidentally injured in the fight?

6.             Jeremy was trying to stop the fight, he did not attack Mr. Avant

Mr. Neubert addressed the Board.  He stated that the reasons for Jeremy's expulsion and recommendation to attend the Optional School were because Jeremy would not stop fighting when told repeatedly to stop and because a teacher was injured while trying to break up the fight.

Mr. Gunn asked Mr. Buckner to consider visiting the Optional School and talk to Mrs. Seastrunk, (Principal).  Mr. Buckner said that he would look at the school, however, he does not want Jeremy to go there.  He further stated that if Jeremy wants to go to the Optional School, he would not stop him.

On motion of Ms. West, seconded by Mrs. Reese, the Board voted that after reviewing and listening to all the information presented, that the Board supports the recommendation of expulsion of Jeremy Buckner from Leesville High School and will allow him to enroll in the Optional School if he desires.

Mr. James Ward, Administrator of Support Services, reported to the Board of an emergency situation at Vernon Elementary.  Mr. Ward stated that the master panel of the fire alarm system at the 5th grade center at Vernon Elementary was inoperable due a short which had burned the panel.  All avenues of replacing parts for repair had revealed that it cannot be repaired, therefore the system must be replaced.   

He also stated that a fire alarm system must be in working order in each as stated by Louisiana law.

Mr. Skinner advised the Board that by law, a state of emergency must be declared by the Board by official notice and quotations may be taken instead of using the bid process.

On motion of Mrs.  Westerchil, seconded by Mr. Gunn, the Board voted to declare an emergency situation at Vernon Elementary and to take quotes for a new fire alarm system for the 5th grade center.  Mr. Ward and Mr. Kay will take quotations and advise the Board of these quotes.

On motion of Mr. McKee, seconded by Mr. Harvey, the Board voted to advertise for bids to sell used equipment at Rosepine High School.  Bids to be received November 7, 1996.

Mr. Mike Perkins distributed three policies for consideration to the Board.  They were Discipline, Expulsion, and Suspension.   He stated that every local school board is required by law to have these policies in the school system.

On motion of Mr. Parker, seconded by Mrs. Westerchil, the Board voted to adopt the attached policies as described by Mr. Perkins.

ATTACHED

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

A.            USED EQUIPMENT AT HICKS         NO BIDS RECEIVED

B.            USED EQUIPMENT AT EAST LEESVILLE

BIDDER                                                 BID

Betty and Danny Gilcrease                 $25.00 for all equipment

Mavis Watson                                     Overhead projector:             $35.00 (#02-0-6353)

$ 5.00 for all other equipment.

On motion of Mrs. Reese, seconded by Mrs. Westerchil, the Board voted to take the used equipment bids under advisement.

Superintendent Hinson called attention to LSBA information regarding submission of resolutions from local school boards for consideration and information for members who are interested in running for an elected office at the state level at the annual convention to be held in Lafayette February 27- March 1, 1997.

Mr. Parker reported that Mr. Skinner was progressing with the land lease at Hornbeck with the Fist Baptist Church, land that will be used for parking.

On motion of Mr. 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 Mrs. Louise Brinkley, custodian at Pitkin High School,

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Board takes this means to express their concern and sorrow in this time of bereavement to Mrs. Brinkley and her family and further request that a copy of this resolution be sent to Mrs. Brinkely.

On motion of Mrs. 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 wish to convey their heartfelt sorrows to  Danny Smith, Leesville High School coach, and Melody Aledredge, teacher at Vernon Elementary, in the recent death of their mother, Mrs. Elaine Smith,

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

There being no further business, on motion of Mr. McKee, seconded by Mr. Gunn, the Board voted to adjourn until Tuesday, October 3, 1996 at 10:00 a.m.

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MARK H. SMITH, PRESIDENT

ATTEST:

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