September 3, 1998

THE PARISH SCHOOL BOARD OF VERNON PARISH LOUISIANA CONVENED IN REGULAR SESSION, SEPTEMBER 3, 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

B.R. HARVEY

PHILIP L. GUNN

BENARD MCKEE

LORETTA NALE

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

The meeting was opened in prayer by Gerald Burns

The Pledge of Allegiance was led by B.R. Harvey

On motion of W.W. Parker, seconded by Willis Farris, the Board voted to approve and dispense with the reading of the minutes of August 11, 1998.              

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

ATTACHMENT

On recommendation of Superintendent Schwartz and on motion of Richard Bailes, seconded by Kim Reese, the Board voted to approve the attached sabbatical leave requests.

ATTACHMENT

On recommendation of Superintendent Schwartz and on motion of Philip Gunn, seconded by W.W. Parker, the Board voted to approve the attached request for a leave without pay.

ATTACHMENT

On recommendation of Superintendent Schwartz and on motion of Mark Smith, seconded by Willis Farris, the Board voted to approve the attached list of employee transfers.

ATTACHMENT

On recommendation of Superintendent Schwartz and on motion of Murphy O'Banion, seconded by B.R. Harvey, the Board voted to approve the attached list of new employees.

ATTACHMENT

Dr. Cindy Gillespie recognized and presented certificates to Vernon Parish's Teachers of the Year. The three teachers honored were Joan Simmons, Elementary Teacher of the Year, Virginia Butler, Junior High Teacher of the Year, and Reginald Lambright, High School Teacher of the Year.

Dr. Cindy Gillespie explained the purpose of Staff Development Day and presented copies of each school's agenda for the day to board members.

Jimmy Funderburk recognized a group of local doctors who donated their time to conduct athletic physicals for approximately 900 Vernon Parish students who participate in various sports programs, saving the school system several thousand dollars. Also recognized for giving their time on Saturdays to assist in these clinics were the school nurses. Certificates of appreciation and athletic  tee shirts were presented to the following: Doctors Otis Biggs, David DeLapp, Sanjay Garg, Hanna Lobbose, Jose Mathew, Reymond Meadaa, David Steiner, Steven Sewell, Ani Toth and School Nurses, Gina Grant, Dody Wallace, Tammy Bankston, Beth Williams, Sybil McCullough, Joan Smith and Physical Therapist Jim Anderson.

On motion of Willis Farris, seconded by the Board, the Board voted to adopt the following resolution of appreciation:

R E S O L U T I O N

WHEREAS, the Vernon Parish School Board wishes to express its heartfelt gratitude to the doctors and the Vernon Parish school nurses who volunteered their services to conduct physical examinations for Vernon Parish students who participate in various sports programs;

WHEREAS, Dr. Otis Biggs, Dr. David DeLapp, Dr. Sanjay Garg, Dr. Hanna Lobbose, Dr. Jose Mathew, Dr. Reymond Meadaa, Dr. David Steiner, Dr. Steven Sewell, and Dr. Ani Toth, unselfishly gave of their time on Saturdays to hold the clinics, thereby, saving the school system several thousand dollars in funds;

WHEREAS, school nurses, Beth Williams, Joan Smith, Glenda Grant, Tammy Bankston, Dody Wallace and Sybil McCullough, also volunteered their services at the Saturday clinics  in order to assist in the administering of athletic physicals;

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Board does, hereby, adopt this resolution of deep appreciation and gratitude to the doctors and nurses who gave of their personal time to provide this vital service in the interest of our student athletes. Each one of these dedicated professionals is truly a credit to the medical profession and a tremendous asset to our community.

Jimmy Funderburk recognized and presented certificates and plaques to Coach Randy Lansdale and the Hicks High School Class C State Champion baseball team and to Coach Paul Lemieux and the Pitkin High School Class B State Champion baseball team. Pitkin School Girls Cross Country team was also presented a plaque recognizing it as State Class B Champion.

Vickie Snowden presented the 1124 Career Options Plan for the Board to study. Approval will be requested at the September 8, 1998 board meeting.

Jackie Self explained the purpose of and administrators' academy which is being implemented in Vernon Parish in an effort to increase the number and enhance the quality of potential candidates for principalships.

At this time, W.W. Parker, Technology Committee Chairperson, called on Bill Endris, Director of Finance, to give an update on technology program installation process. Mr. Endris reported that by late January, 1999, the installation should be completed and that all schools and the central office will be connected. 

On recommendation of the Technology Committee and on motion of W.W. Parker, seconded by Gerald Burns, the Board voted to approve the revised Technology Code of Conduct for Vernon Parish schools.

On motion of Benard McKee, seconded by Murphy O'Banion, the Board voted to open bids for an activity bus at Rosepine High School. Bids received are as follows:

BIDDER                                                                                 BID

D&T EQUIPMENT SALES                                                $13,000

ROSS BUS & EQUIPMENT SALES                                  $  9,650

On motion of Benard McKee seconded by Betty Westerchil, the Board voted to take all bids for an activity bus at Rosepine High School under advisement.

On motion of Gerald Burns, seconded by B.R. Harvey, the Board voted to open bids on risograph supplies. Bids received are as attached:

ATTACHMENT

On recommendation of Bobby Moss and on motion of Willis Farris, seconded by B.R. Harvey, the Board voted to take the bids for risograph supplies under advisement.

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 condolences to the family of Mrs. Ima Palmer, a retired teacher at Hornbeck School, who recently passed away; and

WHEREAS, Mrs. Palmer was at dedicated and devoted teacher for many years and she will be lovingly remembered and sadly missed by her family and friends;

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Board does adopt this memorial resolution and requests that a copy be sent to the family.

On motion of Mark Smith, 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 learned with great sorrow of the recent death of Mrs. Adele Stanly, a retired teacher of this school system; and,

WHEREAS, Mrs. Stanly was the wife of Mr. Finly Stanly, a retired central office supervisor, and the mother of Mrs. Brenda Bealer, Director of the Vernon Parish Head Start program. She will be lovingly remembered and sadly missed by her family and her many friends;

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Board requests that a copy of this memorial resolution, along with its deepest sympathies, be sent to Mr. Stanly, Mrs. Bealer and the entire family in their time of sorrow.

On motion of Willis Farris, 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 Ms. Cathy James, a teacher at Vernon Middle School, in the recent death of her father, Mr. O.C. James of Leesville; and,

WHEREAS, Mr. James was a very active member of his community and a great supporter of this school system and he will be sadly missed by his family and friends;

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, the Board requests that a copy of this memorial resolution be sent to Ms. James and her family in their time of bereavement.

On motion of Linda West, 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 learned with grief and sorrow of the death of Mrs. Bea Bookter, East Leesville Elementary School cafeteria manager;

WHEREAS, Mrs. Bookter was a loyal and dedicated employee and a beloved co-worker 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, along with its deepest sympathies, to Mrs. Bookter's family in this time of bereavement.

On motion of 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 takes this means to convey its sincere condolences to the family of Mr. Woodrow James, of Cravens, who recently passed away; and,

WHEREAS, Mr. James was a native and lifelong resident of the Cravens area and a former Vernon Parish Police Jury member. He was also the uncle of Mrs.

Dawn James, a Pitkin School bus operator and he will be sadly missed by his family and friends;

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Board does requests that a copy of this memorial resolution be sent to Mrs. Audie James and her family in their time of sorrow.

On motion of 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 express its condolences to the family of Mrs. Missouri Sweat, of Pitkin, who recently passed away; and,

WHEREAS, Mrs. Sweat was the mother-in-law of Mrs. Wilma Sweat, retired custodian at Pitkin School, and a cousin of Mrs. Carlene Johnson, cook and Mrs. Mickie Cooley, aide at Pitkin School;

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Board requests that copies of this memorial resolution be sent to Mrs. Sweat's family.

On motion of 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 heartfelt sympathies to the family of Mrs. Audrey James, of Hicks, who recently passed away; and,

WHEREAS, Mrs. James was the mother of Mrs. Earlene Bennett, North Polk Elementary secretary, Mrs. Connie Harvey, aide at Hicks School, and W.L. Bynog, bus driver at East Leesville Elementary School;

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Board adopts this memorial resolution and requests that copies be sent, along with its sincere condolences, to Mrs. Bennett, Mrs. Harvey, Mr. Bynog and their family in their time of sorrow.

 There being no further business, on motion of Benard McKee, seconded by W.W. Parker   the Board voted to adjourn.

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ALVIN C. DOWDEN, JR., PRESIDENT

ATTEST:

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RICHARD SCHWARTZ, SUPERINTENDENT