January 9, 1997
THE PARISH BOARD OF VERNON PARISH LOUISIANA CONVENED IN SESSION REGULAR SESSION, THURSDAY, JANUARY 9, 1997, AT 10:00 A.M., IN THE BOARD ROOM OF THE ADMINISTRATION BUILDING, 201 BELVIEW BOARD, LEESVILLE, LA PRESIDENT FARRIS CALLED THE MEETING TO ORDER AND ON ROLL CALL THE FOLLOWING MEMBERS WERE PRESENT:
WILLIS A. FARRIS, PRESIDENT
ALVIN C. DOWDEN, JR., VICE PRESIDENT
RICHARD W. "DICKIE" BAILES
GERALD BURNS
M. GENE HAYMON
C.A. HUGHES
KIM REESE
MARK SMITH
LINDA WEST
BETTY WESTERCHIL
PHILIP L. GUNN
W.W. PARKER
MURPHY O'BANION
B.R. HARVEY
BENARD MCKEE
There was also present Mr. Sammy L. Hinson, Secretary of the Board.
The meeting was opened in prayer by Mr. C.A. Hughes, District 1.
The pledge of allegiance was led by Mr. Benard McKee, District 7.
On motion of Mr. Parker, seconded by Mr. Smith, the Board voted to approve and dispense with the reading of the minutes of December 10 and 19, 1996.
On motion of Mr. O'Banion, seconded by Ms. West, the Board voted to approve the attached list of resignations:
ATTACHED
On motion of Mr. McKee, seconded by Mr. O'Banion, the Board voted to approve a sabbatical leave request for Mr. Rufus Goins, Principal, Rosepine Elementary, January 1997 to June 1997, for rest and recuperation.
On motion of Mrs. Westerchil, seconded by Mr. Dowden, the Board voted to approve a leave without pay request for Martha Hood, aide, West Leesville Elementary, January 1997 to January 1998.
On motion of Mr. Smith, seconded by Mr. Burns, the Board voted to open the bids received for a general contractor for the science lab at Leesville High School.
COMPANY BID
ARROWHEAD CONST.. $73,500 (COST.)
MISCO, INC. 53,575 (EQUIP)
RBE, INC. 70,319 (COST)
LEON ANGEL CONST. 75,000 (COST)
PAT WILLIAMS CONST. 80,000 (COST)
ROWLEY HANSELL PETETIN 47,000 (EQUIP)
PHILIP MAYO 72,890 (COST)
On motion of Mr. Hughes, seconded by Mrs. Reese, the Board voted to take the bids for a general contractor for the science lab at Leesville High School under advisement.
On motion of Mr. Gunn, seconded by Ms. West, the Board voted to accept the low bid of Arrowhead Construction for the roofing contractor at Vernon Elementary in the amount of $74,300.00.
On motion of Mr. Burns, seconded by Ms. West, the Board voted to open the bids received for the fire alarm system at the Vernon Elementary 5th grade building.
COMPANY BIDDER
BROWN SECURITY $20,870.00
COMMERCIAL COMPANY 8,766.14
On motion of Mr. Burns, seconded by Ms. West, the Board voted to award the fire alarm bid to Commercial Company in the amount of $8,766.14 if specifications are met. This will be reviewed by Mr. Moss.
There were no bids for the sale of a used paper-burster at the Sales Tax office.
On motion of Mr. Dowden, seconded by Mrs. Reese, the Board voted to authorize the Superintendent and Mr. Moss to dispose of the paper burster.
There were no bids received for the sale of the used copier at the nurses' office.
On motion of Mr. Harvey, seconded by Mr. O'Banion, the Board voted to authorize the Superintendent and Mr. Moss to dispose of the used copier.
Superintendent Hinson announced that January 22, 1997 has been announced by Governor Foster as School Nurse Day.
On motion of Mr. Parker, seconded by the Board, the Board voted to declare January 22, 1997 as Vernon Parish School Nurse Day.
At this time Superintendent Hinson and the Board recognized Mr. Mark Smith and thanked him for his dedication to the Board and children of the Vernon Parish School system while serving as President of the Board for 1995 and 1996. President Farris presented a plaque of appreciation to Mr. Smith from the Board.
The Board and Superintendent also recognized and presented a plaque of appreciation to Mr. Asa Skinner, Assistant District Attorney, and school board legal advisor. Mr. Skinner has been promoted in the DA's office. Mr. Lester Kees will being serving as school board legal advisor at this time.
President Farris announced that at this time applicants for the position of Superintendent would address the Board. He stated that two persons had applied and that they would address the Board in alphabetical order.
Dr. Larry Monk, Assistant Superintendent
Mr. Richard Schwartz, Curriculum Supervisor
After the presentations President Farris announced that a roll call vote would be taken according to the regular order of roll call voting:
RICHARD BAILES DR. MONK
GERALD BURNS DR. MONK
ALVIN DOWDEN, JR. MR. SCHWARTZ
GENE HAYMON MR. SCHWARTZ
C.A. HUGHES DR. MONK
KIM REESE MR. SCHWARTZ
LINDA WEST DR. MONK
BETTY WESTERCHIL DR. MONK
MARK SMITH DR. MONK
W.W. PARKER MR. SCHWARTZ
WILLIS A. FARRIS MR. SCHWARTZ
MURPHY O'BANION MR. SCHWARTZ
B.R. HARVEY MR. SCHWARTZ
PHILIP GUNN DR. MONK
BENARD MCKEE MR. SCHWARTZ
Mr. Schwartz received 8 votes.
Dr. Monk received 7 votes.
President Farris stated that Mr. Schwartz had received a majority of votes to be named Superintendent of Vernon Parish Schools January 14, 1997 to January 12, 1998.
Mr. Dowden asked that the members notice the JRTC and Fort Polk land acquisition information in their folders. He asked that each member fill out the comment area of the form requesting that the mentioned forestry land be used for extensive military training.
Mrs. Westerchil encouraged all members to actively work to help with this important issue.
Mr. Haymon will address the Vernon Parish Principals group on January 10, 1997 and will ask that they report to school faculties the importance of completing the forms showing support of the Army use of the mention land for Fort Polk.
On motion of Mr. McKee, seconded by Mr. Smith, the Board voted to adjourn until Tuesday, January 14, 1997.
_______________________________
WILLIS A. FARRIS, PRESIDENT
ATTEST:
______________________________
SAMMY L. HINSON, SECRETARY