October 6, 1998
THE PARISH SCHOOL BOARD OF VERNON PARISH LOUISIANA CONVENED IN SPECIAL SESSION, OCTOBER 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 Gene Haymon
The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Mark Smith
Superintendent Schwartz read the following call notice.
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On motion of Philip Gunn, seconded by Willis Farris, the Board voted to approve and dispense with the reading of the minutes of October 1, 1998.
On recommendation of Superintendent Schwartz and on motion of Richard Bailes seconded by Philip Gunn, the Board voted to approve the attached resignations.
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On recommendation of Superintendent Schwartz and on motion of W.W. Parker, seconded by Kim Reese the Board voted to approve the attached sabbatical leave request.
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On recommendation of Superintendent Schwartz and on motion of Gerald Burns, seconded by Gene Haymon, the Board voted to approve the attached list of new employees.
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Dr. Cindy Gillespie recognized Mrs. Lisa Deen, Leesville High School teacher and SBA advisor and the students who participated in National LSBA competition. Mrs. Deen presented certificates to each of the students.
On recommendation of Dr. Cindy Gillespie and on motion of Murphy O'Banion, seconded by Willis Farris, the board voted to adopt the Foreign Exchange Student Policy for Vernon Parish Schools.
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Superintendent Schwartz report that on the October 1, 1998 student count was 10,354 which is an increase over October 1, 1997.
On motion of Gene Haymon seconded by the Board, the Board voted to adopt a resolution supporting a National Cemetery at Fort Polk.
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, there is in excess of 28,000 military retirees who are eligible for interment in the local area and with, in excess of 380,000 veterans in the State of Louisiana, and
WHEREAS, the only open National Cemetery at Port Hudson, LA, an eighteen acre site, has used approximately ten of the eighteen acres, and
WHEREAS, a site between Fort Polk and Leesville, LA, approximately 216.4 acres, is already owned by the federal government and does not figure in the training program of the Joint Readiness Training Command, and
WHEREAS, a site located within two miles of Fort Polk, LA would be very cost effective, i.e., burial details, transportation, assistance in maintenance, and
WHEREAS, these veterans have earned the right of interment in their home state, now
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Vernon Parish School Board adopts this resolution supporting a National cemetery at Fort Polk, LA.
On motion of B.R. Harvey, seconded by Murphy O'Banion, the Board voted to accept the Salary Committee's recommended salary schedule for Licensed Practical Nurses.
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On motion of Willis Farris, seconded by Philip Gunn, the Board voted to resolve itself into a claims committee and approve the claims.
On motion of Gerald Burns, seconded by Philip Gunn the Board voted to authorize the president and secretary to pay claims as approved by the claims committee.
On motion of Mark Smith, seconded by the Board, the Board voted to adopt the following resolution:
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, the Vernon Parish School Board emphasizes the importance of keeping the public informed of the policies and decisions they make in the interest of the families and employees of the school system; and
WHEREAS, Ms. Tisha O'Neill, reporter for the Leesville Daily Leader, has always been prompt in attendance, attentive to details, and has done a superb job of fair and accurate reporting of school board meetings;
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the members of the Board wish to take this means to express their appreciation to Ms. O=Neill for her dedicated and faithful service and to wish her continued success in the future.
On motion of Benard McKee, seconded by the Board, the Board voted to officially thank the citizens of Vernon Parish who took advantage of the opportunity to vote in the October 3, 1998 election.
Philip Gunn expressed his appreciation to the Vernon Parish School Board Maintenance Department for the excellent job they do with the maintenance of all the parish schools.
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 was saddened by the recent death of Mrs. Lorene Causey, a retired bus operator at Hicks School and the mother of Mrs. Dianne Stratton, a retired Vernon Parish teacher; and
WHEREAS, Mrs. Causey was a dedicated and loyal employee 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, along with its sincere sympathies, to Mrs. Causey's family in their time of sorrow.
There being no further business, on motion Philip Gunn, 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