July 8, 1997
THE PARISH BOARD OF VERNON PARISH LOUISIANA CONVENED IN SPECIAL SESSION JULY 8, 1997 AT 10:00 A.M., AT 201 BELVIEW ROAD, LEESVILLE, LA. PRESIDENT FARRIS CALLED THE MEETING TO ORDER AND ON ROLL CALL THE FOLLOWING MEMBER WERE PRESENT:
WILLIS FARRIS, PRESIDENT
ALVIN C. DOWDEN, JR., VICE PRESIDENT
RICHARD W. ”r;DICKIE” BAILES
GERALD BURNS
M. GENE HAYMON
C.A. HUGHES
KIM REESE
LINDA WEST
MARK SMITH
BETTY WESTERCHIL
W. W. PARKER
MURPHY O’BANION
B.R. HARVEY
PHILIP L. GUNN
BENARD MCKEE
COL. STEPHEN SHAMBACH
There was also present Richard Schwartz, Secretary of the Board.
The meeting was opened in prayer by Mr. Alvin C. Dowden.
The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Col. Stephen Shambach
On motion of Mr. Gerald Burns, seconded by Mrs. Kim Reese the Board voted to approve and dispense with the reading of the minutes of July 3, 1997.
Superintendent Schwartz called on Mr. Lester Kees, Attorney for the Vernon Parish School Board to discuss the pending litigation concerning the Simpson library.
On motion of Mr. Alvin C. Dowden, seconded by Mr. Gerald Burns, the Board voted to enter into executive session for a period of 15 minutes to discuss the pending litigations.
Parliamentarian Dowden announced that the executive session would be from 10:04 a.m. to 10:19 a.m.
On motion of Mr. Benard McKee, seconded by Mr. Murphy O’Banion, the Board voted to come out of executive session and resume order.
Parliamentarian Dowden announced the time was 10:19 a.m.
On motion of Mr. Alvin C. Dowden, seconded by Mr. Gene Haymon, the Board voted to authorize the Superintendent to consult with Mr. Lester Kees, Board Attorney, and the District Attorney’s office on the pending litigations concerning the Simpson library.
On recommendation of Superintendent Schwartz and on motion of Mr. Murphy O’Banion, seconded by Mrs. Betty Westerchil, the Board voted to name employees who were not named in May.
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On recommendation of Superintendent Schwartz and on motion of Mr. Philip Gunn, seconded by Mr. W. W. Parker, the Board voted to approve the attached list of new employees.
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On recommendation of Superintendent Schwartz and on motion of Mrs. Kim Reese, seconded by Mr. Richard Bailes, the Board voted to approve the attached employee transfer.
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On recommendation of Superintendent Schwartz and on motion of Mr. Gene Haymon, seconded by Mr. Mark Smith, the Board voted to approve the attached request to rescind a sabbatical leave.
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On recommendation of Superintendent Schwartz, and on motion of Mr. Gerald Burns, seconded by Ms. Linda West, the Board voted to appoint Mrs. Anne Smith, Principal at East Leesville Elementary School to the position of Elementary Supervisor. Mr. Mark Smith, District I, abstained.
On motion of Ms. Linda West, seconded by Mr. Gene Haymon, the Board voted to move the August 7, 1997 Board meeting back to July 21, 1997 at 1:00 p.m. Mr. B.R. Harvey voted no.
On motion of Mr. Gerald Burns, seconded by Mrs. Kim Reese, the Board voted to advertise for the principal position at East Leesville Elementary School. Applications will be accepted through July 17, 1997 and the appointment to the position will be made Monday, July 21, 1997.
On motion of Ms. Linda West, seconded by Mr. Mark Smith, the Board voted to advertise for the assistant principal position at West Leesville Elementary School. Applications will be accepted through July 17, 1997 and the appointment to the position will be made Monday, July 21, 1997.
On motion of Mr. Gene Haymon, seconded by Mr. W. W. Parker, the Board voted to declare critical shortages of teachers in certain areas.
On recommendation of the Salary Committee, and on motion of Mr. B.R. Harvey, seconded by Mr. Philip Gunn, the Board voted to approve a $350.00 per year pay increase to all support personnel from local funds to match the $350.00 per year increase they will receive from the State. Support personnel includes secretaries, aides, cooks, custodians, bus drivers and maintenance workers.
Mr. Gerald Burns, Finance Committee Chairperson, reported that a public hearing on the budget had been held July 8, 1997, at 9:00 a.m. Mr. Endris, Director of Finance had provided copies of the attached budget amendments for Board approval.
Mr. Endris, Director of Finance, read to the Board the attached budget resolution for the Board’s approval and adoption.
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On motion of Mr. Gerald Burns, seconded by Mr. W. W. Parker, the Board voted to adopt the budget as presented by Mr. Endris.
In further business, Mr. Endris discussed the refinancing of Districts 7, 2, 4, and 5 bond issues as recommended by Mr. Lonnie Bewley, Bonding Attorney for Vernon Parish School Board. Mr. Bewley had previously presented two scenarios for the Finance Committee and the Board’s consideration.
On recommendation of Mr. Bill Endris and on motion of Mr. Gerald Burns, seconded by Mr. Philip Gunn, the Board voted to approve Scenario I, as attached.
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On motion of Mr. Gene Haymon, seconded by the Board, the Board voted to commend Mr. Bill Endris, and his department for developing an intelligible and operational 1997-98 budget.
On motion of Mr. B.R. Harvey, seconded by Mr. Murphy O’Banion, the Board voted to advertise for bids to sell timber at Pitkin.
On motion of Mr. C.A. Hughes, seconded by Mr. Murphy O’Banion, the Board voted to appoint Superintendent Richard Schwartz, Mr. Bobby Moss, Purchasing Agent, Mr. Bill Endris, Director of Finance, Mr. B.R. Harvey, District Five Board Member, and Mr. Willis Farris, Board President, to receive bids on the sale of the Pitkin timber on August 7, 1997.
On motion of Mrs. Betty Westerchil, seconded by Mr. Mark Smith, the Board voted to receive bids on Leesville High School’s 300 hall and front canopy. Bids received are as follows:
COMBINED
BIDDER BASE BID I BASE BID 2 BASE BID
Arrow Head Contractors $50,160.00 $37,200.00 $87,360.00
Pat Williams Construction $52,870.00 $44,745.00 $93,930.00
On motion of Mrs. Betty Westerchil, seconded by Mr. Philip Gunn, the Board voted to take the bids on Leesville High School’s 300 hall and front canopy under advisement until July 21, 1997.
On motion Mr. Alvin C. Dowden, seconded by Mr. C.A. Hughes, the Board voted to award the low bid of $1.10 for bread, $1.15 for hamburger buns, and $1.15 for hot dog buns to Interstate Brands Corporation.
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 does hereby wish to convey its their heartfelt sorrows to Mrs. Janet Cannon, teacher at West Leesville Elementary School, in the recent death of her father, Mr. Robert W. Shirley,
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Board does take this means to express their condolences to Mrs. Cannon and her family in this time of sadness and also requests that a copy of this memorial resolution be sent to the family.
On motion of Mr. Murphy O’Banion, seconded by the entire 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 learned with grief and sorrow of the recent death of Dr. William Foster, Director of Vernon Parish School System’s Bilingual Program.
WHEREAS, Dr. Foster was a loyal and dedicated employee and he will be sadly missed by his family and the staff and employees of the Vernon Parish School System,
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Board does wish to convey its condolences to Mrs. Foster and her family and requests that a copy of this memorial resolution be sent to her.
On motion of W. W. 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 deepest sympathies to Mr. Elsworth Walls in the recent death of his wife, Mrs. Velma Walls, a retired cook at South Polk Elementary School. Mrs. Walls was a loyal employee and she was loved by her school family and will be sadly missed,
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Board does wish to convey its condolences to Mr. Walls and his family and requests that a copy of this memorial resolution be sent to him.
There being no further business, on motion of Mr. Benard McKee, seconded by Mr. W. W. Parker, the Board voted to adjourn.
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WILLIS FARRIS, PRESIDENT
ATTEST:
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RICHARD SCHWARTZ, SUPERINTENDENT