August 12, 1997
THE PARISH SCHOOL BOARD OF VERNON PARISH LOUISIANA CONVENED IN REGULAR SESSION AUGUST 12, 1997 AT 10:00 A.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
C.A. HUGHES
GERALD BURNS
RICHARD W. "DICKIE" BAILES
M. GENE HAYM0N
KIM REESE
LINDA WEST
MARK SMITH
BETTY WESTERCHIL
PHILIP L. GUNN
W.W. PARKER
MURPHY O'BANION
B.R. HARVEY
BENARD MCKEE
COL. STEPHEN SHAMBACH
There was also present Richard Schwartz, Secretary of the Board.
The meeting was opened in prayer by Mr. Gene Haymon
The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Mr. Gerald Burns
On motion of Mr. W.W. Parker, seconded by Mrs. Betty Westerchil, the Board voted to approve and dispense with the reading of the minutes of July 21, 1997.
On recommendation of Superintendent Schwartz and on motion of Mr. Murphy O'Banion, seconded by Mr. A. C. Dowden, the Board voted to name the attached list of employees not named in May.
ATTACHMENT
On recommendation of Superintendent Schwartz and on motion of Mr. B.R. Harvey, seconded by Mr. Benard McKee, the Board voted to approve the attached list of new employees.
ATTACHMENT
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 employee resignations.
On recommendation of Superintendent Schwartz and on motion of Mr. Gerald Burns, seconded by Mr. Richard Bailes, the Board voted to approve the attached list of employee transfers.
ATTACHMENT
On recommendation of Superintendent Schwartz and on motion of Mr. A.C. Dowden, seconded by Mr. Gerald Burns, the Board voted to appoint Mrs. Sandra Cosio as assistant principal at Vernon Middle School. Opposing was Mr. Philip Gunn.
The Board recognized three outstanding Vernon Parish students who represented Louisiana and placed at National competitions. Mrs. Pat Crawford introduced to the Board, Joy Sullivan, Anacoco High School, who was elected vice president of Public Relations for National FHA Hero, Mac Moss, Anacoco High School, who represented the State in National FBLA competitions and placed 6th nationally in Business Communications, and Nathan McDugal who represented the State in National FBLA competitions in Business Math.
Mr. Jackie Self presented certificates to the following school cafeteria managers who placed first in state competitions which were held in support of National Breakfast Week:
Mrs. Cindy Shafer, Rosepine Elementary, Mrs. Alice Persons, Rosepine High School, and Mrs. Pat Buckley, Evans Middle School. Mrs. Jackie Cryer, South Polk Elementary School received the State Nell Brouillette Heart of the Program Award for outstanding job performance.
Ms. Pat Crawford presented for Board approval the copyright policy for copying computer software.
On motion of Mr. Gene Haymon, seconded by Mr. Chuck Dowden, the Board voted to approve the policy on copying computer software.
Ms. Crawford, then presented and explained the Code of Conduct policy for students' use of the Internet for Board approval.
On motion of Mrs. Kim Reese, seconded by Mrs. Linda West, the Board voted to adopt the Vernon Parish Code of Conduct Policy.
Ms. Crawford explained technology funds and the computation and distribution of the funds to the schools. All schools receive the same base amount. After the base amount, funds are allocated on a per student basis.
On motion of Mr. B.R. Harvey, seconded by Mr. Gerald Burns, the Board voted to adopt the plan for distribution of technology funds.
On motion of Mrs. Betty Westerchil, seconded by the Board, the Board voted to adopt a resolution commending the Technology Committee for the outstanding job they had done with the technology programs.
R E S O L U T I ON
WHEREAS, it is a goal of the Vernon Parish School Board to incorporate the use of today's technology into all its classrooms; and,
WHEREAS, the Vernon Parish Technology Committee has dedicated many hours to the development of programs aimed at meeting this goal,
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that this Board commends the members of the technology committee for the development of the plan to expend funds allocated by the Louisiana Classroom Technology Fund.
At this time, Mr. Mike Perkins addressed the Board on energy conservation studies and plans. He stated that Dr. Debra Davis, Energy Specialist from LSU Extension Service, plans to return and review the plans. Mr. Perkins will address the issue and present the conservation plan to the Board for adoption at a later date.
On recommendation of Mr. Bobby Moss, Purchasing Agent, and on motion of Mr. Murphy O'Banion, seconded by Mr. Benard McKee, the Board voted to advertise for the sale of a used copier at Pickering Elementary School.
On recommendation of Mr. Bobby Moss, Purchasing Agent, and on motion of Mr. C.A. Hughes, seconded by Mrs. Betty Westerchil, the Board voted to advertise for the sale of used lawn mowers at West Leesville Elementary and Vernon Middle School.
On motion of Mr. W.W. Parker, seconded by Mrs. Kim Reese, the Board voted to open bids on Hornbeck School parking lot.
On motion of Mr. W.W. Parker, seconded by Mr. Murphy O'Banion, the Board voted to take the bids on Hornbeck School parking lot under advisement.
On motion of Mr. B.R. Harvey, seconded by Mr. W.W. Parker, the Board voted to award the Pitkin timber bid in the amount of $71,372.71 to Leesville Lumber Co., Inc.
Mr. B.R. Harvey, Salary Committee Chairperson, reported that the Committee had taken no action at its August 12, 1997 meeting.
On motion of Mr. Gene Haymon, seconded by the Board, the Board voted to adopt a resolution commending all Vernon Parish teachers and other employees who worked during the summer preparing for the 1997-98 school year.
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, the members of the Vernon Parish School Board wish to convey their sincere appreciation to all of Vernon Parish teachers and other personnel who volunteered so much of their time preparing for the 1997-98 school year; and,
WHEREAS, a great number of personnel attended classes, workshops and inservices and enthusiastically devoted many hours of their 1997 summer to gathering materials and working in their classrooms,
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Board does adopt this resolution commending all of their dedicated personnel who have given so much of themselves and their time to insure that the 1997-98 school year will be another successful one.
Colonel Stephen Shambach thanked the board members for their attendance at the "Meet the Principal" activities held at North Polk Elementary, August 5, 1997. He reported a successful and enlightening meeting and that he looks forward to future meetings of this nature.
Colonel Shambach also reported that results of recent studies his office had conducted, showed that approximately 80 percent of the families of deployed service personnel, will remain at Fort Polk for the 1997-98 school year. Only 20 percent expect to be leaving the area.
In further business, Mrs. Betty Westerchil requested that the date of the board meeting scheduled for September 9, 1997 at 5:00 p.m. be moved to September 16, 1997 at 5:00 p.m.
On motion of Mrs. Kim Reese, seconded by the Board, the Board voted to move the September 9, 1997 board meeting to September 16, 1997 at 5:00 p.m.
President Farris appointed Mr. Mark Smith, Mr. A.C. Dowden and Mr. C.A. Hughes to a committee to study a new law concerning public input at board meetings.
On motion of Mr. Benard McKee, seconded by Mr. Murphy O'Banion, the Board voted to advertise for bids for the purchase of a bus for Rosepine Schools.
On motion of Mr. B.R. 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 Vernon Parish School Board wishes to convey its condolences to Mr. James McKee, Jr., a former employee in the maintenance department, in the recent death of his father, Mr. James McKee, Sr. of Pitkin,
WHEREAS, Mr. McKee was a longtime resident of the Pitkin area and he will be sadly missed by his family and friends,
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Board does adopt this memorial resolution and requests that a copy be sent to Mr. McKee's family.
On motion of Mr. B.R. 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 deepest sympathies to the family of Mr. Ivy Haymon who recently passed away,
WHEREAS, Mr. Haymon was the brother of Mrs. Dolly Mayo, retired Title I Coordinator for the Vernon Parish School system,
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Board does take this means to express its condolences to Mrs. Mayo 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. B.R. 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 Vernon Parish School Board does hereby wish to convey its heartfelt sorrows to Mrs. Dorothy Underwood, a custodian at Hicks School, in the recent death of her husband, Mr. William Thomas Underwood,
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Board does take this means to express their condolences to Mrs. Underwood and her family in this time of bereavement and also requests that a copy of this memorial resolution be sent to the family.
On motion of Mr. Philip Gunn, 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 does hereby wish to convey its heartfelt sorrows to Mr. Robert Dean, a custodian at Leesville High School, in the recent death of his wife, Mrs. Dorothy Sue Dean,
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the members of the Board do take this means to express their condolences to Mr. Dean and his family in this time of bereavement and also request that a copy of this memorial be sent to the him.
On motion of Mr. Murphy O'Banion, 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 Mrs. Johnette O'Hara, Pickering High School bus driver, in the recent death of her mother, Mrs. Barbara Fee,
WHEREAS, Mrs. Fee was a loving and caring person and she will be sadly missed by her family and friends,
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Board does hereby request that a copy of this memorial resolution be sent to Mrs. O'Hara and her family along with sincere condolences in their time of sorrow.
There being no further business, on motion of Mr. Philip Gunn, seconded by Mr. C.A. Hughes, the Board voted to adjourn.
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WILLIS FARRIS, PRESIDENT
ATTEST:
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RICHARD SCHWARTZ, SUPERINTENDENT