November 5, 1998
THE PARISH SCHOOL BOARD OF VERNON PARISH LOUISIANA CONVENED IN REGULAR SESSION, NOVEMBER 5, 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
MURPHY O'BANION
B.R. HARVEY
PHILIP L. GUNN
BENARD MCKEE
COL. STEPHEN SHAMBACH
ABSENT: WILLIS A. FARRIS, OUT OF TOWN
There was also present Richard Schwartz, Secretary of the Board.
The meeting was opened in prayer by Richard Bailes
The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Kim Reese
On motion of Benard McKee, seconded by Philip Gunn, the Board voted to approve and dispense with the reading of the minutes of October 6, 1998.
On recommendation of Superintendent Schwartz and on motion of Richard Bailes, seconded by Kim Reese, the Board voted to approved the attached list of resignations
ATTACHED
On recommendation of Superintendent Schwartz and on motion of Philip Gunn, seconded by W. W. Parker, the Board voted to approve the attached list of sabbatical leave requests.
ATTACHED
On Mr. Endris' recommendation and on motion of Benard McKee, seconded by W.W. Parker, the Board voted to approve the proposed policy for school financial deposits.
Gene Haymon announced that the Insurance Committee agreed to table any decisions regarding liability insurance coverage until the December 3, 1998 Board meeting. The Insurance Committee has scheduled a meeting for 10:00 a.m., November 17, 1998, at which time John Norris, Insurance Consultant for the Board, and two insurance agents will be present.
B.R. Harvey presented the following Salary Committee Proposals to the Board for approval: 1) Transfer Millie Haymon from S.I.S. teacher aide to S.I.S. secretary; 2) Increase the salary index of Wesley Lack, computer technician to, 1.46, hire Andy Shepard as a computer technician at a pay index of 1.46; and 3) Give central office administrators a pay increase equal to the 1998 state teachers' pay raise.
On recommendation of Mr. Harvey, seconded by W.W. Parker, the Board voted to approve the Salary Committee Proposals. C.A. Hughes voted no.
On motion of B.R. Harvey, seconded by the Board, the Board voted to request the Legislature to earmark funds for salary increases to include all employees.
In other business, Superintendent Schwartz explained that the roof leaks throughout the central office building and is badly in need of repair or replacement. Ricky Kay briefly discussed his recommendation for the project and requested the board members to look at the roof following the board meeting.
On recommendation of Superintendent Schwartz and on the motion of C. A. Hughes, seconded by Betty Westerchil, the Board voted to approve the attached list of employee transfers.
ATTACHED
On recommendation of Superintendent Schwartz and on motion of Murphy O'Banion, seconded by Benard McKee, the Board voted to approve the attached list of new employees.
ATTACHED
Bill Endris, Director of Finance/Business Affairs, presented for the Board's approval a proposed policy change regarding advanced degree payment for professional personnel. The current policy states that certified personnel will be paid for the year based on documentation on file October 1 of each year. The proposed policy states that certified personnel will be paid for the first semester based on documentation on file October 1 of each year. If they receive an advanced degree and provide proper documentation by January 15 of that year, they will receive pay based on the higher degree the second semester.
On recommendation of Mr. Endris and on motion of B.R. Harvey, seconded by Gerald Burns, the Board voted to approve the policy concerning advanced degree payment.
Mr. Endris, at this time, presented a proposed policy concerning school financial deosits. The current policy requires that school funds shall be deposited on a daily basis, whenever possible. The proposed policy will require that school funds shall be deposited on a daily basis whenever possible and that schools in the outlying areas of the parish where daily deposits are not feasible, shall make deposits at least twice a weekly. All schools shall be required to make a daily deposit when they have a deposit amount of $500.00 or more.
On motion of Benard McKee, seconded by the Board, the Board voted to adopt the following memorial resolution:
RESOLUTION
WHEREAS, the members of the Vernon Parish School Board were saddened by the recent death of Mrs. Bertha McCain, the mother of Mr. Byron McCain, retired principal of Rosepine High School; and
WHEREAS, Mrs. McCain was a longtime resident of the Rosepine community and she will be sadly missed by her family and friends;
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Board takes this means to express its sincere condolences to Mr. McCain and requests that a copy of this memorial resolution be sent to the family.
On motion of W.W. Parker and Benard McKee, seconded by the Board, the Board voted to adopt the following memorial resolution:
RESOLUTION
WHEREAS, the members of the Vernon Parish School Board were saddened by the recent death of Mrs. Hazel Ashworth, mother of Mr. Audry Ashworth, retired principal at Rosepine High School and the mother-in-law of Mrs. Jessica Ashworth, a Hornbeck Elementary School teacher; and
WHEREAS, Mrs. Ashworth was a longtime resident of the Rosepine area and she will be sadly missed by her family and friends;
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Board adopts this memorial resolution and requests that a copy be sent, along with its sincere condolences, to the family.
On motion of W.W. Parker, seconded by the Board, the Board voted to adopt the following memorial resolution:
RESOLUTION
WHEREAS, the Vernon Parish School Board was deeply saddened by the recent death of Chad Hughes, a 1994 graduate of Leesville High School and a resident of Anacoco; and
WHEREAS, Chad, the brother of Mrs. Rhonda Morrison, teacher at Leesville Jr. High School and Susan Swafford, teacher at North Polk Elementary School, will be lovingly remembered and sadly missed by his family and friends;
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Board takes this means to express its sincere sympathies to Mrs. Morrison and Mrs. Swafford and requests that a copy of this memorial resolution be sent to the entire family.
On motion of Mark Smith, seconded by the Board, the Board voted to adopt the following memorial resolution:
RESOLUTION
WHEREAS, the Vernon Parish School Board wishes to convey it deepest sympathies to the family of Mrs. June Breaux, of Sulphur, who recently passed away; and
WHEREAS, Mrs. Breaux, a Leesville native and the sister of Mrs. Sue Toney, cook at North Polk Elementary School, will be lovingly remembered and 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 sincere condolences, to Mrs. Toney and her entire family at this time of sorrow.
On motion of Linda West, seconded by the Board, the Board voted to adopt the following memorial resolution:
WHEREAS, the Vernon Parish School Board was deeply saddened by the death of Keith Busby, the son of Mrs. Barbara Busby, teacher at Leesville High School; and,
WHEREAS, Keith was a lifelong resident of Leesville and he will be lovingly remembered and sadly missed by his family and friends;
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Board takes this opportunity to express its deepest sympathies to Mrs. Barbara Busby and her family in their time of sorrow.
On motion of Mark Smith, seconded by the Board, the Board voted to adopt the following memorial resolution:
RESOLUTION
WHEREAS, the Vernon Parish School Board learned with deep sadness of the death of Mrs. Jacqueline Morris, a retired cook at Leesville High School; and,
WHEREAS, Mrs. Morris was a dedicated and loyal employee 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 sincere condolences, to the family.
On motion of Linda West, seconded by the Board, the Board voted to adopt the following memorial resolution:
RESOLUTION
WHEREAS, the members of the Vernon Parish School Board wish to convey their deepest sympathies to Mrs. Henrietta Cavanaugh, counselor at Leesville Jr. High School, in the recent death of her mother, Mrs. Mable Cavanaugh; and
WHEREAS, Mrs. Cavanaugh was a longtime resident of the Leesville area and she will be sadly missed by her family and friends;
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Board adopts this memorial resolution and requests that a copy be sent to Mrs. Henrietta Cavanaugh and her family in their time of sorrow.
There being no further business, on motion of Benard McKee, seconded by B.R. Harvey, the Board voted to adjourn.
ALVIN C. DOWDEN, JR. PRESIDENT
ATTEST:
RICHARD SCHWARTZ, SUPERINTENDENT
November 5, 1998 PERSONNEL CHANGES
RESIGNATIONS
Charles McDade, bus driver/Rosepine High School
Sherri MacDonald, teacher/Leesville High School
Laura Carlton, time cook/Pickering High School
SABBATICAL LEAVE REQUEST
Corene Steagall, teacher/Leesville High, rest and recuperation 1/11/99 - 5/28/99
Cheryl Pollock, teacher/East Leesville, rest and recuperation 11/3/98 - 5/28/99
Martha Allen, Educational Diagnostician/central office, rest and recuperation 1/11/99 - 1/2000
EMPLOYEE TRANSFERS
Linda Hagan, SPED aide/LJHS to SPED aide/LHS (new slot)
Linda Russell, part-time cook/Rosepine Elem. to full-time cook/Rosepine Elem. (replacing Lenora Garris --resigned)
NEW EMPLOYEES
Lilia Becerra, teacher (Cordell Hull)/Pitkin (replacing Miriam Sarmiento)
Darlene Thompson, teacher/East Leesville (new SPED position)
Donna Olsen, teacher/Pickering Elem. (replacing Richarde Pinegar--in-school transfer)
Shanna Hartline, teacher/Pickering Elem. (new SPED position)
Sherry Johnson, teacher's aide/Pickering Elem. (new SPED position)
Sharon Butler, part-time cook/Rosepine Elem. (Linda Russell--in-school transfer to full-time)
Rickie Keen, 1/2 time cook/Pickering High (replacing Laura Carlton--resigned)
Rosa Irene Sanchez, teacher (Cordell Hull)/Pickering Elem. (replacing Lisbeth Williams--resigned)
James Louis Arceneaux, teacher/LHS (replacing Linda Stimac--deceased)
Terry Adams, bus aide, aide specific/Simpson (new position)
Constance Draughn, nurses assistant/central office (new position)
Donna Ward, nurses assistant/central office (new position)
Becky LaCaze, 1/2 time cook/Pitkin (replacing 1/2 position of Oleane Singletary--retired)
JoAnn Pollard, time cook/Pitkin (replacing 1/2 position of Oleane Singletary--retired)
Elizabeth Decker, teacher/East Leesville (replacing Cheryl Pollock--sabb. leave)
Sheri O'Neal, teacher/Leesville High (replacing Sherri MacDonald--resigned)
Lavena McDade, bus driver/Rosepine High (replacing Charles Mcdade--resigned)
Karen France, teacher/Rosepine High (replacing Kim Blackmon--sabb. 1/2 year)