July 21, 1997

THE PARISH SCHOOL BOARD OF VERNON PARISH LOUISIANA CONVENED IN SPECIAL SESSION JULY 21, 1997 AT 1:00 P.M., AT 201 BELVIEW ROAD, LEESVILLE, LOUISIANA. 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. ”r;DICKIE” BAILES

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

ABSENT: GERALD BURNS, FAMILY ILLNESS

There was also present Richard Schwartz, Secretary of the Board.

The meeting was opened in prayer by Colonel Stephen Shambach.

The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Mr. C.A. Hughes.

On motion of Mr. Alvin C. Dowden, seconded by Mrs. Betty Westerchil, the Board voted to approve and dispense with the reading of the minutes of July 8, 1997.

On recommendation of Superintendent Schwartz and on motion of Mr. C.A. Hughes, seconded by Ms. Linda West, the Board voted to approve the attached list of new employees.

ATTACHMENT

On recommendation of Superintendent Schwartz and on motion of Mr. Murphy O’Banion, seconded by Mr. W. W. Parker, the Board voted to approve the attached list of employee transfers.

ATTACHMENT

On recommendation of Superintendent Schwartz and on motion of Mrs. Betty Westerchil, seconded by Mr. Benard McKee, the Board voted to approve the attached list of employee resignations.

ATTACHMENT

 On recommendation of Superintendent Schwartz and on motion of Ms. Linda West, seconded by Mrs. Kim Reese, the Board voted to appoint Mrs. Debbie Clark, Assistant Principal at Vernon Elementary School to the position of principal at East Leesville Elementary School.

On recommendation of Superintendent Schwartz and on motion of Mr. Philip Gunn, seconded by Mr. Richard W. Bailes, the Board voted to appoint Mrs. Laura Clark, teacher at East Leesville Elementary School to the position of assistant principal at West Leesville Elementary School.

Ms. Randalle Moore, a representative of Kisatchie Delta Planning Commission, discussed recycling and displayed several items which had been made from recycled products. She expressed her interest in going to the schools to do presentations.

On motion of Mr. Gene Haymon, seconded by Mr. Philip Gunn, the Board voted to support the recycling program and to allow the principals to handle the program at their individual schools.

Mr. Bill Endris, Director of  Finance presented for adoption a resolution to levy millage rates on all taxable property shown on the official assessment roll for the year 1997.

ATTACHMENT

On motion of Mr. Benard McKee, seconded by Mr. Murphy O’Banion, the Board voted to adopt the resolution.

Mr. Endris explained a $1,000 state pay raise for professional personnel. Part-time professional personnel and sabbatical leave personnel will receive $500 for the year.

On recommendation of Mr. Endris and on motion of Ms. Linda West, seconded by the Board, the Board voted to approve the $1,000 a year pay raise for professional personnel and $500 for the year for part-time and sabbatical leave personnel.

Superintendent Schwartz discussed State Department communication he received which mandates a required revision of the 1997-98 school calendar to include two additional teacher days.

Dr. Larry Monk presented copies of the original 1997-98 school calendar and copies of a proposed revision reflecting the addition of two teacher days.

On motion of  Ms. Linda West, seconded by Mrs. Kim Reese, the Board voted to adopt the 1997-98 school calendar revision.

Superintendent Schwartz presented a proposal to eliminate the position of Title VII Supervisor and to change Dr. Mai Thai from a Supervising Teacher position to Coordinator of Title VII. The proposed change would reflect a $54,000 savings to the budget.

On motion of  Ms. Linda West, seconded by Mrs. Kim Reese, the Board voted to eliminate the position of Title VII and change Dr. Mai Thai from Supervising Teacher to Coordinator of Title VII.

On recommendation of Mr. Bobby Moss, Purchasing Agent, and on motion of Mr. Alvin C. Dowden, seconded by Mr. Gene Haymon, the Board voted to award the low bid of $87,360 for Leesville High School’s 300 hall and front canopy to Arrowhead Construction.

Superintendent Schwartz announced  an opening for the position of assistant principal at Vernon Elementary School. The vacancy was created by Mrs. Debbie Clark’s appointment to the position of principal at East Leesville Elementary School

On motion of Mrs. Betty Westerchil, seconded by Mr. Philip Gunn, the Board voted to advertise for the position of assistant principal at Vernon Elementary School beginning July 22, 1997. The deadline for application is August 6, 1997.

Colonel Stephen Shambach, Fort Polk’s garrison commander and liaison to the Board informed the Board of a possible loss in the Board’s federal funds because a large number of service personnel will be deployed to Bosnia for a period of ten months. Colonel Shambach and his office is making every effort to inform the families of deployed personnel of the advantage of staying at Fort Polk rather than relocating while the deployed family member is away.

Superintendent Schwartz commended Colonel Shambach as a tremendous asset to the Vernon Parish School system and thanked him for his outstanding cooperation and assistance.

Mr. B.R. Harvey announced that a meeting of the Salary committee will be held August 12, 1997 at 9:30 a.m.

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 do hereby wish to convey their heartfelt sorrows to Ms. Karen Robertson, teacher at East Leesville Elementary School, in the recent death of her brother, Mr. Ronald Lynn Strahan.

                THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Board does take the means to express its condolences to Ms. Robertson 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. Richard Bailes, 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 records with grief and sadness the recent death of Ms. Mackie Smart, a retired school  health nurse and aunt of Mrs. Cheryl Craft, Coordinator of Personnel at Vernon Parish Schools’ central office; and,

                WHEREAS, Ms. Smart was a loyal employee who was dedicated to her profession and she will be sadly missed by her family and friends;

                THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Board does take this time to send its condolences to Ms. Smart’s family at this time of bereavement.

There being no further business, on motion of Mr. Benard McKee, seconded by Mr. Philip Gunn, the Board voted to adjourn.

______________________________________

WILLIS FARRIS, PRESIDENT

ATTEST:

_______________________________________

RICHARD SCHWARTZ, SUPERINTENDENT