May 7, 1998
THE PARISH SCHOOL BOARD OF VERNON PARISH LOUISIANA CONVENED IN REGULAR SESSION MAY 7, 1998 AT 10:00 A.M., AT 201 BELVIEW ROAD, LEESVILLE, LA. PRESIDENT DOWDEN CALLED THE MEETING TO ORDER AND ON ROLL CALL THE FOLLOWING MEMBERS WERE PRESENT:
ALVIN C. DOWDEN, JR., PRESIDENT
W.W. PARKER, VICE PRESIDENT
RICHARD W. BAILES
GERALD BURNS
C.A. HUGHES
KIM REESE
MARK SMITH
LINDA WEST
BETTY WESTERCHIL
WILLIS A. FARRIS
MURPHY O'BANION
B.R. HARVEY
PHILIP L. GUNN
BENARD MCKEE
LORETTA NALE
ABSENT: M. GENE HAYMON, OUT-OF-TOWN COMMITMENT
There was also present Richard Schwartz, Secretary of the Board.
The meeting was opened in prayer by Linda West
The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Mark Smith
On motion of Murphy O'Banion, seconded by Philip Gunn, the Board voted to approve and dispense with the reading of the minutes of April 7, 1998.
Joe Pope, Director of Secondary Curriculum, recognized students of eight Vernon Parish Schools. Each student was introduced to the Board and presented a certificate for his or her outstanding achievements during the 1997-98 school year.
On motion of Betty Westerchil, seconded by Philip Gunn, the Board voted to approve the attached list of employee resignations.
ATTACHMENT
On motion of Philip Gunn, seconded by W.W. Parker, the Board voted to approve the attached list of employee transfers.
ATTACHMENT
On motion of Richard Bailes, seconded by Kim Reese, the Board voted to approve the attached list of sabbatical leave requests.
ATTACHMENT
On motion of Gerald Burns, seconded by C.A. Hughes, the Board voted to approve the attached request for leave without pay.
ATTACHMENT
On motion of Philip Gunn, seconded by W.W. Parker, the Board voted to approve the attached request for extended sick leave.
ATTACHMENT
On motion of Betty Westerchil, seconded by Richard Bailes, the Board voted to approve the attached request to rescind a leave without pay.
ATTACHMENT
On motion of Willis Farris, seconded by W.W. Parker, the Board voted to name school employees for 1998-99.
W.W. Parker offered a motion to advertise for an assistant principal at Anacoco Schools, seconded by Willis Farris. Before a vote was taken, Kim Reese questioned the need to take applications, and suggested considering a lateral transfer instead.
Philip Gunn made a motion to table the issue of taking applications for the assistant principal position at Anacoco until the Tuesday, May 12, 1998 board meeting. The motion failed due to the lack of a second.
Willis Farris asked for a roll call vote on whether or not to advertise for the position. A roll call vote was taken with results as follows:
YEA NAY
RICHARD W. "DICKIE" BAILES X
GERALD BURNS X
ALVIN C. DOWDEN, JR. X
C.A. HUGHES X
KIM REESE X
LINDA WEST X
BETTY WESTERCHIL X
MARK SMITH X
W.W. PARKER X
WILLIS A. FARRIS X
B.R. HARVEY X
PHILIP L. GUNN X
ABSENT: MURPHY O'BANION AND M. GENE HAYMON. BENARD MCKEE ABSTAINED.
The motion was not approved to advertise for the assistant principal position at Anacoco Schools.
On motion of B.R. Harvey, seconded by Benard McKee, the Board voted to advertise for a Level II Supervisor of Instruction (elementary) at the central office.
On motion of Gerald Burns, seconded by B.R. Harvey, the Board voted to advertise for a Level II Supervisor of Instruction (secondary) at the central office.
Bill Endris, Director of Finance presented copies the 1998-99 operating budget to the Board. The budget will be presented for adoption on June 4, 1998.
B.R. Harvey gave a report from the Maintenance Committee.
On motion of B.R. Harvey, seconded by Benard McKee, the Board voted to purchase two new trucks for the maintenance department this year, two additional new trucks next year, and one new truck each year thereafter.
Bill Endris gave a report from the Insurance Committee and reported the following Committee recommendations: 1) That quotes be taken on liability and workman's compensation insurance before renewal time 2) That insurance firms located outside of Vernon Parish be allowed to quote on this insurance coverage 3) That a 1% preference be given to firms located in Vernon Parish and 4) That firms located in
Vernon Parish be given the opportunity to pick one referred carrier before other firms select a carrier.
On motion of Willis Farris, seconded by Linda West, the Board voted to adopt the Insurance Committee report presented by Mr. Endris.
On motion of Linda West, and on roll call vote the Board voted unanimously to adopt an equitable sick leave pay policy for all support personnel.
On motion of Willis Farris, seconded by W.W. Parker, the Board voted to advertise for bids to sell miscellaneous used equipment at Evans School.
On recommendation of Bobby Moss, Purchasing Agent and on motion of Benard McKee, seconded by W.W. Parker, the Board voted for Bobby Moss to summarize the list of bids received for general supplies and present the summary to the Board at the June 4, 1998 Board meeting.
On motion of C.A. Hughes, seconded by Richard Bailes, the Board voted to open bids for light fixtures for Leesville High School.
On motion of C.A. Hughes, seconded by Gerald Burns, the Board voted to take the bids for light fixtures for Leesville High School under advisement until the June 4, 1998 Board meeting.
On motion of Willis Farris, seconded by Gerald Burns the Board voted to open bids for resurfacing the track at Pickering High School.
On motion of Willis Farris, seconded by Gerald Burns, the Board voted to take the bids for resurfacing the track at Pickering High School under advisement.
On motion of Gerald Burns, seconded by Kim Reese, the Board voted to open bids on an activity bus for Simpson School.
On recommendation of Bobby Moss and on motion of Gerald Burns, seconded by C.A. Hughes, the Board voted to take the bids for an activity bus for Simpson High School under advisement.
On motion of Benard McKee, 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 sorrow the recent death of Mrs. Ella Mae McElveen, a retired Vernon Parish educator; and,
WHEREAS, Mrs. McElveen was the sister of Mr. B.R. Harvey, District Five and Eight Board member, and Mr. Arvil Harvey, a former District Three Board member; and,
WHEREAS, Mrs. McElveen was a credit to this school system and she will be sadly missed by her family and friends;
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, the Vernon Parish School Board does, hereby, adopt this memorial resolution and requests that copies be sent, along with its sincere condolences to the family.
On motion of 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 members of the Vernon Parish School Board wish to convey their deepest sympathies to the family of Mr. John B. Driscoll who recently passed away; and,
WHEREAS, Mr. Driscoll was the father of Mr. John Driscoll and the father-in-law of Mrs. Deborah Driscoll, teachers at Leesville Jr. High School;
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Board does adopt this memorial resolution and requests that a copy be sent to Mr. and Mrs. Driscoll and their family.
On motion of 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 members of the Vernon Parish School Board wish to convey their deepest sympathies to the family of Attorney Louis Berry of Alexandria who recently passed away; and,
WHEREAS, Mr. Berry was a great supporter of the school systems of Louisiana and he will be sadly missed by his family and his many friends;
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Board does, hereby, adopt the memorial resolution and requests that a copy be sent to Mr. Berry's family.
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 heartfelt sympathies to Mrs. Catherine Jeane, cook at the Anacoco Schools, in the death of her mother, Mrs. Meldredge Martin of Anacoco; and,
WHEREAS, Mrs. Martin, a lifelong resident of Vernon Parish, was a caring and loving person and she will be sadly missed by her family and friends:
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Board does, hereby, adopt this memorial resolution and requests that a copy be sent to Mrs. Jeane and her entire family at this time of bereavement.
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 Vernon Parish School Board wishes to convey its sincere condolences to the family of Mrs. Dorothy L. Wyatt of Deer Park, Texas, who recently passed away; and,
WHEREAS, Mrs. Wyatt was the mother of Mr. Joseph Piro, Mayor of Anacoco and also former teacher in our school system, and the mother-in-law of Mrs. Barbara Piro, a teacher at Anacoco Elementary School;
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Board adopts this memorial resolution and requests that a copy be sent to Mr. and Mrs. Piro and their family.
There being no further business, and on motion of Benard McKee, seconded by Linda West, the Board voted to adjourn.
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ALVIN C. DOWDEN, JR., PRESIDENT
ATTEST:
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RICHARD SCHWARTZ, SUPERINTENDENT