May 12, 1998
THE PARISH SCHOOL BOARD OF VERNON PARISH LOUISIANA CONVENED IN SPECIAL SESSION, MAY 12, 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
M. GENE HAYMON
C.A. HUGHES
KIM REESE
MARK SMITH
LINDA WEST
BETTY WESTERCHIL
WILLIS A. FARRIS
MURPHY O'BANION
PHILIP L. GUNN
BENARD MCKEE
COL. STEPHEN SHAMBACH
ABSENT: B.R. HARVEY, ATTENDING A FUNERAL
There was also present Richard Schwartz, Secretary of the Board.
The meeting was opened in prayer by Mark Smith.
The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Betty Westerchil.
On motion of W.W. Parker, seconded by Benard McKee, the Board voted to approve and dispense with the reading of the minutes of May 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 recommendation of Superintendent Schwartz and on motion of Philip Gunn seconded by Benard McKee, the Board voted to approve the attached employee resignation.
ATTACHMENT
On recommendation of Superintendent Schwartz and on motion of Kim Reese, seconded by Linda West, the Board voted to approve the attached list of sabbatical leave requests.
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On recommendation of Superintendent Schwartz and on motion of Richard Bailes, seconded by Kim Reese, the Board voted to approve the attached list of employee transfers.
ATTACHMENT
On recommendation of Superintendent Schwartz and on motion of Linda West, seconded by Betty Westerchil, the Board voted to approve the attached new employee.
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On recommendation of Superintendent Schwartz and on motion of Philip Gunn, seconded by Gene Haymon, the Board voted to name the attached list of employees who were not named at the May 7, 1998 Board meeting.
On recommendation of Superintendent Schwartz and on motion of Benard McKee, seconded by Gene Haymon the Board voted to advertise for a Level II Supervisor of Instruction (secondary) at the Central Office. Deadline for applications will be May 29, 1998 at 4:30 p.m.
W.W. Parker, Technology Committee Chairperson, asked Bill Endris, Director of Finance to give an update on the process of selecting a technology consultant to assess our technology program. He reported that the Technology Committee will meet on May 26, 1998 and will be ready to make a recommendation at the June 4, 1998 board meeting.
On recommendation of Bill Endris and on motion of W.W. Parker, seconded by Gerald Burns, the Board voted to name Susan Gautreaux as Software Specialist.
On recommendation of Superintendent Schwartz and on motion of W.W. Parker, seconded by Gerald Burns, the Board voted to enter into an agreement with Northwestern State University that will allow a rural school in Vernon Parish to receive courses from Northwestern and share courses and information with nine other parishes involved in the program. Northwestern has applied for and received a technology grant that will help to make the program available to rural schools in Louisiana.
On motion of Philip Gunn, seconded by Murphy O'Banion, the Board voted to approve the Special Education IDEA/Preschool Federal budget for 1998-99.
On recommendation of Jackie Self, Personnel Director, and on motion of Gerald Burns, seconded by Kim Reese, the Board voted to approve the attached policy change with regard to accrued employee vacation time.
ATTACHMENT
On recommendation of Dr. Cindy Gillespie and on motion of Murphy O'Banion, seconded by Betty Westerchil, the Board voted to approve the mathematics textbook adoption. The adopted series for elementary is Houghton-Mifflin/D.C. Heath and for jr. high and high school Glencoe, Macmillan/McGraw-Hill.
On recommendation of Superintendent Schwartz and on motion of Betty Westerchil, seconded by W.W. Parker, the Board voted to approve the school and district improvement plans.
On recommendation of Bobby Moss, Purchasing Agent and on motion of Murphy O'Banion, seconded by Benard McKee, the Board voted to award the low bid for resurfacing the track at Pickering Schools in the amount of $63,500.00 to No Fault Industries, Inc., with the stipulation that an agreement between No Fault Industries and the Board on the beginning and completion dates of the project can be reached.
On recommendation of Bobby Moss, Purchasing Agent and on motion of C.A. Hughes, seconded by Richard Bailes, the Board voted to award the low bid of $17,500.00 to Mid State Supply for light fixtures at Leesville High School.
On motion of Gene Haymon, seconded by Linda West, the Board voted to refer the bids for an activity bus for Simpson back to the District 1/6 Committee for further study.
In other business, Superintendent Schwartz announced a schedule of Board committee meetings as follows: Curriculum Committee, May 21st at 1:00 p.m., Technology Committee, May 26th at 1:00 p.m., Goals and Objectives Committee, June 2nd at 9:00 a.m.
On motion of 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 Vernon Parish School Board wishes to convey its deepest sympathies to Mrs. Mary Jeane, West Leesville Elementary secretary, in the recent death of her husband, Mr. Walter Jeane; and,
WHEREAS, Mr. Jeane was a longtime and well respected member of his community and he will be sadly missed by his 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 family at this time of sorrow.
On motion of 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 Vernon Parish School Board wishes to convey its heartfelt sorrows to the family of Mr. Walter Highbaugh, Jr., who recently passed away; and,
WHEREAS, Mr. Highbaugh was the son of Mrs. Billie Boyd, a retired bus operator in our school system, 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 Mrs. Boyd and her family in their time of sorrow.
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 deepest sympathies to the family of Mrs. Jackie Lawrence, who recently passed away; and,
WHEREAS, Mrs. Lawrence was the sister-in-law of Mrs. Diane Stokes, Anacoco Elementary teacher, and the niece of Mr. B.R. Harvey, Districts Five board member;
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Board adopts this memorial resolution and requests that a copy be sent to Mrs. Lawrence's family in their time of bereavement.
On motion of Philip Gunn, seconded by W.W. Parker, the Board voted to resolve itself into a claims committee and approve the claims.
On motion of Gene Haymon, seconded by Kim Reese the Board voted to authorize the president and secretary to pay claims as approved by the claims committee.
There being no further business, on motion of Benard McKee, seconded by Murphy O'Banion, the Board voted to adjourn.
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ALVIN C. DOWDEN, JR., PRESIDENT
ATTEST:
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RICHARD SCHWARTZ, SUPERINTENDENT