February 6, 1997
THE PARISH BOARD OF VERNON PARISH LOUISIANA CONVENED IN REGULAR SESSION THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 1997 AT 10:00 A.M. 201 BELVIEW BOARD, LEESVILLE, LA PRESIDENT FARRIS CALLED THE MEETING TO ORDER AND ON ROLL CALL THE FOLLOWING MEMBERS WERE PRESENT:
WILLIS FARRIS, PRESIDENT
ALVIN C. DOWDEN, JR., VICE PRESIDENT
RICHARD W. "DICKIE" BAILES
GERALD BURNS
M. GENE HAYMON
C.A. HUGHES
MARK SMITH
KIM REESE
LINDA WEST
BETTY WESTERCHIL
PHILIP L. GUNN
W.W. PARKER
B.R. HARVEY
BENARD MCKEE
COL. GEOFF PROSCH
ABSENT: MURPHY O'BANION, DRS. APPOINTMENT
There was also present Mr. Richard Schwartz, Secretary of the Board.
The meeting was opened in prayer by Mr. Gerald Burns, District 1.
The pledge of allegiance was led by Col Geoffrey Prosch, Fort Polk.
On motion of Mr. B.R. Harvey, seconded by Mr. McKee, the Board, voted to approve and dispense with the reading of the minutes of January 21, 1997.
At this time the Superintendent and Board recognized the following groups of students:
LEESVILLE HIGH SCHOOL PARISH QUIZ BOWL WINNERS FOR 1997
LEESIVLLE JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL UNDEFEATED FOOTBALL TEAM
PITKIN HIGH SCHOOL STATE CHAMPIONS CLASS B GIRLS CROSS
COUNTRY TRACK TEAM
The students were presented a Superintendent's Certificate and the Coaches were presented plaques for the schools.
The Chapter I Literacy Center four year old program entertained the Board with a Mardi Gras parade and presented the Superintendent with a king cake.
On motion of Ms West, seconded by Mrs. Reese, the Board accepted the recommended list of resignations:
ATTACHED
On motion of Mr. Bailes, seconded by Mr. McKee, the Board voted to approve the attached list of recommended new employees:
ATTACHED
Superintendent Schwartz reported on the bad weather day to be made up on the school calendar. He stated that several possibilities had been discussed by the Calendar Committee and school employees. He stated that several functions have been planned for the President's Day holiday (it is a federal holiday). After careful study of this matter he recommended that Thursday, March 27, 1997 (listed as the first day of the Easter holiday) be a regular day of classes for all Vernon Parish Schools.
On recommendation of Superintendent Schwartz and on motion of Mr. Harvey, seconded by Ms West, the Board voted to approve March 27, 1997 as the makeup day for the bad weather day missed in January.
Mr. Bill Endris, Director of Finance, addressed the Board. He stated that the state pay raise issued in 1996 to all state teachers was projected by the state to be approximately $1,155.00. Vernon Parish teachers were awarded $1,000.00 of that amount at the time of the raise in 1996. At this time, he informed the Board that the state has sent notices to all parishes that the final determination is in the amount of is $1,042.00. Therefore, Vernon Parish teachers will receive $42.00. He recommended that this amount be applied to the May salary adjustment check for teachers.
On motion of Mr. McKee, seconded by Ms West, the Board voted to approve the $42.00 to be issued to Vernon Parish teachers in the May salary adjustment checks.
On motion of Mr. Haymon, seconded by Mr. Bailes, the Board voted to open bids received for timber sales at Simpson:
BIDDER BID
B & B WOODS $4,050.00
HARRELSON TIE AND LUMBER 6,846.10
LACAMP FOREST PRODUCTS 8,250.00
On recommendation of Mr. Moss, Purchasing Agent, and on motion of Mr. Haymon, seconded by Mrs. Westerchil, the Board voted to take the bids under advisement for the timber sell at Simpson. It was discussed that the matter of these proceeds would be presented at the District 1 meeting on February 24, 1997 at 9:00 a.m.
On motion of Mr. Harvey, seconded by Mr. McKee, the Board voted to promulgate the election returns from the Ward Three 13 mill renewal tax election.
ATTACHED.
Mr. James Ward explained to the Board that in reference to the bids received for the construction and equipment bids for the science lab at Leesville High School the low bid for construction of RBE, Inc. has been withdrawn. He stated that the second low bid is Phillip Mayo Construction in the amount of $72,890.00 for the construction. Mr. Ward recommended the Board accept the seconded low bid of Mayo Construction, meeting all specifications, in the amount of $72,890.00 and that the equipment bids be awarded to the low bidder, Rowley, Hansell-Petetin, Inc., meeting all specifications, in the amount of $47,787.00.
On motion of Mr. Dowden, seconded by Mrs. Reese, the Board voted to award the science lab Leesville High School construction contract bid to Phillip Mayo Construction, the second low bidder, in the amount of $72,890.00 as described by Mr. Ward.
On motion of Mr. Haymon, seconded by Mr. Burns, the Board voted to award the equipment bids for the science lab at Leesville High School to the low bidder, Rowley, Hansell-Petetin, Inc. in the amount of $47,787.00.
On motion of Mr. Harvey, seconded by Mr. Parker, the Board voted to advertise for risograph supplies. Bids to be received March 6, 1997, at 10:00 a.m.
On motion of Mr. Gunn, seconded by Mr. Hughes, the Board voted to advertise for copy paper for parish schools. Bids to be received March 6, 1997 at 10:00 a.m.
President Farris called for a Salary Committee report from Mr. Harvey, Chairperson.
Mr. Harvey reported that the Committee met at 9:00 a.m., February 6, 1997.
On motion of Mr. Harvey, seconded by Mr. Hughes, the Board voted unanimously that all Curriculum Directors will be named as nine month employees to include Leesville High School, and that the Principal will use his/her discretion to name the summer school coordinator and pay that coordinator from summer school funds and that the Principal may assign an Assistant Principal to the Summer School Coordinators'duties.
President Farris discussed the Committee appointments for 1997. On motion of Mr. McKee, seconded by Mr. Hughes, the Board voted to approve the 1997 School Board Member Committees for 1997.
ATTACHED
Superintendent Schwartz called on Mr Bill Endris to report on hospitalization insurance. Mr. Endris stated that he is presently reviewing and considering various options and programs that exist in hospitalization coverages on a competitive market. He stated that if there are benefits for members of the school board insurance hospitalization program he will seriously look into these options and report to the Insurance Committee.
Superintendent Schwartz stated that Col. Prosch had good news to report. Col. Prosch stated that he has received information from the Pentagon that the 4th Squadron, 2nd Armored Calvary Regiment would deploy troops to Fort Polk beginning May 16, 1997.
He stated this would include approximately 600 soldiers and their families.
Superintendent Schwartz reported that this is in response to a request to the Army for military dependent students to be enrolled in Vernon Parish schools at the beginning of a school year and/or before October 1st of each year.
On motion of Mr. Kee, seconded by the Board, the Board voted to thank Col. Prosch and Congressman Jim McCrery, who intervened on the school board's behalf, working diligently to relay the importance of this matter to the U.S. Army officials.
On motion of Mr. Harvey, seconded by the Board, the Board voted unanimously to request that Superintendent Schwartz officially contact our area legislative delegation to support a state pay increase at the upcoming session for all school employees.
Mr. Dowden stated that a clear lien certificate has been accepted for RBE, Inc. concerning the Simpson High School library construction job.
Mr. Bailes requested that the sales tax information letter issued to retirees each year be clearly identified. Superintendent Schwartz stated that the finance and sales tax offices will work to help the retirees in identifying this important correspondence.
Mr. Haymon inquired about a dedication of the library of the Simpson High School library. Superintendent Schwartz stated that he would ask Mr. Funderburk to make these arrangements.
Mr. Parker stated that he had attended a town meeting in Hornbeck. He reported that the improvements for parking at the school would not be donated by the City of Hornbeck. He added that any improvements in the future would be through the school.
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 wish to convey their heartfelt sympathies to Mr. Paul Poe, Principal of Hicks High School, and to Mrs. Loretta Poe, School Food Services technician, in the recent death of Mrs. Pearlie Poe, cousin to Mr. Poe and aunt of Mrs. Poe,
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Board does request that a copy of this memorial resolution be sent to the Poe family in remembrance of Mrs. Poe who was a great supporter of this school system and she will be sadly missed by her family and friends. The Board also requests that a copy of this memorial resolution be sent to the family.
On motion of Mr. Parker, 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 wish to convey their heartfelt sympathies to the family of Mrs. Betty Prewitt. Mrs. Prewitt was the mother of Mr. Ben Prewitt, bus operator for Hornbeck, and mother-in-law of Mrs. Linda Prewitt, teacher at Hornbeck School,
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Board does request that a copy of this memorial resolution be sent to Mr. Bill Prewitt and the family in this time of bereavement and sadness. Mrs. Prewitt was a great supporter of this school system and she will be sadly missed by her family and friends.
On motion of Mr. Parker, 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 sympathies to the family of Mr. Luther Taylor, retired Ward Two Constable, who recently passed away,
WHEREAS, Mr. Taylor was a great supporter of the Vernon Parish Schools and he will be sadly missed by his family and friends,
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Board does request that a copy of this memorial resolution be sent to Mr. Taylor's family along with sincere condolences from this Board.
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 do hereby record with grief and sadness the recent death of Mrs. Gladys Johnson, wife of retired bus operator, Mr. Huel Johnson, Ward Four,
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Board does request that a copy of this memorial resolution be sent to the family of Mrs. Johnson and request that a copy of this memorial resolution be sent to the family.
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 do hereby record with grief and sadness the recent death of Mr. Pierre Lacase, retired custodian, at Pitkin High School,
WHEREAS, Mr. Lacaze was the father of Mr. Gary Lacaze, former teacher and coach at Pitkin High School,
WHEREAS, Mr. Lacaze was a dedicated and loyal employee. He was loved by his school family and he will be sadly missed,
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Board does take this means to express their sympathy to the Lacaze family.
President Farris asked that a memorial resolution be offerd for Mrs. Loveda Miller.
On motion of Mr. Parker, 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 Mrs. Betty Miller, teacher's aide at Evans School, and her family, in the recent death of her mother-in-law, Mrs. Loveda Miller,
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Board does request that a copy of this memorial resolution be sent to Mrs. Miller and her family along with sincere condolences from this Board.
There being no further business, on motion of Mr. McKee, seconded by Mr. Harvey, the Board voted to adjourn until February 18, 1997.
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WILLIS FARRIS, PRESIDENT
ATTEST:
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RICHARD SCHWARTZ, SECRETARY