December 3, 1998
THE PARISH SCHOOL BOARD OF VERNON PARISH LOUISIANA CONVENED IN REGULAR SESSION, DECEMBER 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 Linda West.
The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Mark Smith
On motion of Philip Gunn, seconded by Benard McKee, the Board voted to approve and dispense with the reading of the minutes of November 10, 1998.
On recommendation of Superintendent Schwartz and on motion of Murphy O'Banion, seconded by Kim Reese, the Board voted to approve the resignation of Melissa Neil, teacher at Pickering Elementary School.
On recommendation of Superintendent Schwartz and on motion of Kim Reese, seconded by Gene Haymon, the Board voted to approve new employee, Amy Palmer, teacher at Leesville High School.
Dr. Cindy Gillespie called the Board's attention to the display of winning posters from entries into the Clean City Poster contest.
Jackie Self recognized the Leeville Jr. High School football team and coaches for their undefeated season. Coach Roger Causey was presented a plaque along with an additional plaque to the school. Each team member was introduced and presented a certificate. Also introduced and recognized were Coach John Driscoll and Coach Will Endris.
Mrs. Abby Cryer, Special Education teacher at Leesville High School and students from her class distributed information about their annual Christmas Bazaar and extended an invitation for everyone to attend.
Dr. Gillespie discussed book needs of the parish schools. She explained that a plan to place two novels per each grade will be implemented as funds become available.
At this time, Dr. Gillespie explained new state mandates on testing of fourth and eight graders.
On motion of Betty Westerchil, seconded by the Board, the Board voted to adopt a resolution requesting that the state fully fund mandated testing program requirements.
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, the Vernon Parish School Board believes that all children should be provided the best possible opportunities for a quality education; and
WHEREAS, the Vernon Parish School Board believes in and fully supports the direction in which the state is moving toward raising the bar of educational standards statewide to improve the quality of education for all students; and,
WHEREAS, the Vernon Parish School Board accepts the charge of insuring quality educational programming in both regular and alternative programming; and,
WHEREAS, the Vernon Parish School Board pledges to make every effort to organize and prepare to accept the challenges of educational reform in a responsible, fair, and consistent manner and to act on school performance measures that do not meet state standards;
BE IT THEREFORE RESOLVED that the Vernon Parish School Board is petitioning the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education that the necessary funding beyond current allocations is assured and appropriated annually so that quality educational alternatives are ongoing and permanent.
On motion of B.R. Harvey, Salary Committee Chairperson, seconded by Gerald Burns, the Board voted to designate one of the school nurses as head nurse to be selected by Superintendent Schwartz and Mr. Mike Perkins. The head nurse will receive a $1,200 a year salary increase to compensate for the additional responsibilities of the position.
Mr. Harvey further advised that the Salary Committee agreed to conduct a salary study of surrounding parishes and bring the information back to the board.
On motion of Philip Gunn, seconded by Gerald Burns, the Board, by roll call vote approved a questionnaire to be sent to all Vernon Parish parents concerning school uniforms. Willis Farris voted no.
On recommendation of Bobby Moss and on motion of W.W. Parker, seconded by Kim Reese, the Board voted to approve bids for calculators as follows: Bid for scientific calculators was awarded to Eric Armin, Inc. for the alternate bid of $10.99 each and for the bid of $81.86 each for graphing calculators. The bid for basic calculators was awarded to Wholesale Electronics for their bid of $3.68 each.
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 members of the Vernon Parish School Board wish to express their heartfelt sympathies to the family of Mrs. Katy Hyatt, of Anacoco, who recently passed away; and,
WHEREAS, Mrs. Hyatt was the mother of Mrs. Patsy Jett, retired secretary at Anacoco High School, and she 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 to Mrs. Jett and her family, along with its sincere condolences, in their time of sorrow.
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 wish to convey their heartfelt sympathies to Mr. Roland Booty, retired curriculum director for Vernon Parish Schools, in the recent death of his mother, Mrs. Joyce Booty; and,
WHEREAS, Mrs. Booty was a longtime member of the Kisatchie community 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 to Mr. Booty and his entire family in their time of bereavement.
On motion of Kim Reese, 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 heartfelt sympathies to Ms. Tonya Dayton LeBeouf, in the recent death of her son, Christian Wayne Francois; and
WHEREAS, Christian Wayne was the grandson of Mrs. Debbie Scanlan, a former teacher in the Vernon Parish School system and the great grandson of Mrs. Jackie Curtis, Child Search Supervisor for Vernon Parish Schools;
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Board requests that a copy of this memorial resolution be sent, along with its sincere condolences to the family in their time of sorrow.
On motion of Gerald Burns, 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 sympathies to the family of Mrs. Willa Mae Bailey, of Leesville, who recently passed away; and,
WHEREAS, Mrs. Bailey was the mother of Mr. Lionel Bailey, former Vernon Parish teacher, the mother-in-law of Mrs. Laura Bailey, retired educational diagnostician at the central office, and the grandmother of Tracy Lack, teacher aide at Anacoco High School;
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Board requests that a copy of this memorial resolution, along with its sincere condolences, be sent to the family at this time of bereavement.
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 was deeply saddened by the recent death of Harley Chance Clark, the infant son of Jason and Stacey Clark of Evans; and,
WHEREAS, Harley Chance was the nephew of Mr. Mike Perkins, central office supervisor, and also the nephew of Mrs. Faye Gandy, receptionist at Evans School and he will be lovingly remembered and sadly missed by his family and friends;
BE IT THEREFORE RESOLVED, that the Board takes this means to convey its heartfelt sympathies to Mr. and Mrs. Clark and their entire family at this time of sorrow.
There being no further business, on motion of Philip Gunn, seconded by Betty Westerchil, the Board voted to adjourn.
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ALVIN C. DOWDEN, JR., PRESIDENT
ATTEST:
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RICHARD SCHWARTZ, SUPERINTENDENT