September 8, 1998
THE PARISH SCHOOL BOARD OF VERNON PARISH LOUISIANA CONVENED IN SPECIAL SESSION, SEPTEMBER 8, 1998 AT 5:00 P.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
BENARD MCKEE
COL. STEPHEN SHAMBACH
ABSENT: PHILIP GUNN, DR. APPOINTMENT
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 C.A. Hughes.
On motion of Gerald Burns, seconded by Linda West, the Board voted to approve and dispense with the reading of the minutes of September 3, 1998.
On motion of Willis Farris, seconded by W.W. Parker, the Board voted to approve termination of an employee as attached.
ATTACHMENT
On motion of W.W. Parker, seconded by Betty Westerchil, the Board voted to approve the attached sabbatical leave request.
ATTACHMENT
On motion of C.A. Hughes, seconded by Kim Reese, the Board voted to approve the employee transfer as attached.
ATTACHMENT
On motion of Murphy O'Banion, seconded by B.R. Harvey, the Board voted to approve the attached list of new employees.
ATTACHMENT
Kem Villejoin, Home Economists, assisted by Dana Courtright, Assistant County Agent, recognized the parish 4-H members who qualified for state competition. Out of thirty-six students who participated in 4-H short courses, eleven ribbons were won. There was at least one participant from each high school in the parish. From the seven horse exhibitors, four placed at State.
On motion of Betty Westerchil, seconded by Mark Smith, the Board voted to approve the Career Options Plan for Vernon Parish, as presented at the September 3, 1998 board meeting.
At this time Bill Endris, Director of Finance, presented to the Board two Certificates of Excellence in Financial Reporting from both GFOA and ASBO. Only one percent of government agencies receive these awards and this is the second consecutive year that Vernon Parish has been a recipient.
On recommendation of Bobby Moss, Purchasing Agent, and on motion of Willis Farris, seconded by Gerald Burns, the Board voted to accept the low bid of Alexandria Business Machines for risograph supplies at a per case amount of $384.40 for RA masters, $239.00 for RA ink, $337.50, and $239.00 for GR masters and $239.00 ink. The only other bid received that was lower was from Prairie Carbon and Ribbon did not meet bid specifications.
On recommendation of Bobby Moss, Purchasing Agent, and on motion of Benard McKee, seconded by Murphy O'Banion, the Board voted to award the low bid of Ross Bus and Equipment Sales, in the amount of $9,650.00, for an activity bus at Rosepine High School.
On motion of Benard McKee, seconded by B.R. Harvey, the Board voted to advertise for bids for the sale of two used copiers at Rosepine High School.
On motion of B.R. Harvey, seconded by Richard Bailes, the Board voted to resolve itself into a claims committee and approve the claims.
On motion of Gerald Burns, seconded by Kim Reese, the Board voted to authorize the president and secretary to pay the claims as approved by the claims committee.
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 members of the Vernon Parish School Board wish to convey their condolences to the family of Mr. George Robert Shafer, Jr., of DeRidder, who recently passed away; and,
WHEREAS, Mr. Shafer was the husband of Mrs. Gloria Shafer, a retired cook at Rosepine High School;
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Board adopts this memorial resolution and requests that a copy be sent, along with its deepest sympathies, to Mrs. Shafer and her family at 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 records with grief and sadness the death of Mr. Karl Mayo, a retired administrator of our school system; and,
WHEREAS, Mr. Mayo was the husband of Mrs. Doris "Dollie" Mayo, a retired Vernon Parish supervisor. He was a beloved and well-respected resident of Hicks and he will be sadly missed by his family and friends;
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Board takes this means to convey it deepest sympathies to Mrs. Mayo and her family at this time of sorrow.
On motion of Gene Haymon, 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 Mrs. Virginia Turick in the recent death of her husband, Mr. John Turick, Jr.; and,
WHEREAS, Mr. Turick was the brother-in-law of Mrs. Jane Holton, a retired Vernon Parish teacher. He was longtime resident of Leesville and he will be sadly missed by his family and friends;
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Board requests that a copy of this memorial resolution be sent, along with its deepest sympathies, to the family in their time of bereavement.
Murphy O'Banion offered a motion, seconded by Willis Farris, to downsize the number of school board members from fifteen to nine.
B.R. Harvey, seconded by W.W. Parker, moved to amend the motion to downsize the number of board members, to say all candidates would run at large parish-wide with a residency requirement that would insure that each taxing ward would have representation.
Mark Smith, seconded by Linda West, moved to table the motion.
Mark Smith withdrew his motion
Betty Westerchil, seconded by Linda West, offered a subsidiary motion that the Board will, after proper study, reduce the number of members on the Board. No vote was taken because at this time a parliamentary question followed to which there was no satisfactory answer, therefore, the motion died for lack of support.
Gene Haymon suggested that the Board ask Superintendent Schwartz to consult the District Attorney's office and arrange for an expert to meet with the Board for the purpose of conducting a study of the issue.
Gerald Burns moved to table the motion until the Superintendent could arrange for further study. There was no second.
Murphy O'Banion withdrew his motion to downsize the Board to nine members.
B.R. Harvey withdrew his motion to downsize to one board member for each taxing ward.
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