January 7, 1999
THE PARISH SCHOOL BOARD OF VERNON PARISH LOUISIANA CONVENED IN REGULAR SESSION, AT 10:00 A.M., AT 201 BELVIEW ROAD, LEESVILLE, LA. PRESIDENT PARKER CALLED THE MEETING TO ORDER AND ON ROLL CALL THE FOLLOWING MEMBERS WERE PRESENT:
W.W. PARKER, PRESIDENT
LINDA WEST, VICE PRESIDENT
ALVIN C. DOWDEN, JR.
M. GENE HAYMON
JANE HOLTON
C.A. HUGHES
TED PARIS
KIM REESE
MARK SMITH
BETTY WESTERCHIL
WILLIS A. FARRIS
MURPHY O'BANION
B.R. HARVEY
PHILIP L. GUNN
BENARD MCKEE
COL. STEPHEN SHAMBACH
There was also present Richard Schwartz, Secretary of the Board.
The meeting was opened in prayer by Betty Westerchil.
The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Philip Gunn.
On motion of Murphy O'Banion, seconded by Philip Gunn , the Board voted to approve and dispense with the reading of the minutes of December 8, 1998.
On recommendation of Superintendent Schwartz and on motion of C.A. Hughes, seconded by Willis Farris, the Board voted to approve the attached list of resignations.
ATTACHED
On recommendation of Superintendent Schwartz and on motion of Philip Gunn, seconded by Betty Westerchil, the Board voted to approve the attached list of leaves without pay.
ATTACHED
On recommendation of Superintendent Schwartz and on motion of A.C. Dowden, seconded by Kim Reese, the Board voted to approve the attached list of employee transfers.
ATTACHED
On recommendation of Superintendent Schwartz and on motion of B.R. Harvey, seconded by Kim Reese, the Board voted to approve the attached list of sabbatical leave requests.
ATTACHED
On recommendation of Superintendent Schwartz and on motion of B.R. Harvey, seconded by Benard McKee, the Board voted to approve the attached list of new employees.
ATTACHED
Jimmy Funderburk, Director of Athletics, recognized Coach Selina Friday and the Pitkin Girls' Cross Country Track team for their third consecutive State Championship. A plaque to be displayed at the school was presented to Coach Friday and the team and each team member received a certificate for their participation.
Anne Smith, Supervisor of Curriculum, introduced two winners of the Clean City Essay Contest, Shaylan Anding from Pitkin School and Joseph Brittain from Evans School represented all the other winners. Each read a portion of her or his winning essay to the Board.
Betty Westerchil gave an informative report from the Governor's Education Summit meeting she recently attended. She reported a very successful, well-planned meeting with plenty of information and knowledgeable speakers. Governor Foster attended and spoke on education and his commitment to the accountability program. Mrs. Westerchil, a member of the LSBA Board of Directors, also reported that the LSBA Board had met and hired a new executive director, Mr. Freddy Whitford.
On motion of C.A. Hughes, seconded by Betty Westerchil, the Board voted to advertise for bids to sell miscellaneous equipment at Leesville Jr. High School.
On motion of A.C. Dowden, seconded by Kim Reese, the Board voted to advertise for bids to sell miscellaneous equipment at Anacoco School library.
On motion of B.R. Harvey, seconded by Benard McKee, the Board voted to advertise for bids to sell miscellaneous equipment at Hicks School.
On motion of Willis Farris, seconded by Murphy O'Banion, the Board voted to advertise for bids to sell a Buckelew's warmer at Evans School.
On motion of Willis Farris, seconded by Kim Reese, the Board voted to advertise for bids to sell a Traulsen refrigerator at Evans School.
In other business, Superintendent Schwartz presented a proposed 1999 school board meeting calendar and on motion of Willis Farris, seconded by Gene Haymon, the Board voted to approve the 1999 school board meeting calendar as recommended by the superintendent.
ATTACHED
Superintendent Schwartz presented a list of board committees and asked members to see President Parker for committee assignments.
Superintendent Schwartz announced that a meeting of the Technology Committee was scheduled for Friday, January 8th, at 1:00 p.m. and that the Curriculum Committee would meet Tuesday, January 12th at 8:30 a.m.
In further business, Superintendent Schwartz discussed the six-hour inservice requirement for board members during this year.
Ted Paris informed the rest of the Board that he had prepared a motion to reduce board members' salaries; however, he had been advised by the Board's attorney, Lester Kees, that Louisiana Law prohibits such a reduction of member's salaries.
LOUISIANA LAW ATTACHED
On motion of Linda West, seconded by the Board, the Board voted to adopt the following resolution:
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, the directors and students of the music departments at our schools devote many hours to the planning, preparation, and performance of many beautiful music programs; and,
WHEREAS, the students throughout the parish, uplifted and entertained their audiences with outstanding performances of their 1998 Christmas music programs;
BE IT THEREFORE RESOLVED, that the members of the Vernon Parish School Board adopt this resolution of congratulations and appreciation to all directors, teachers and students who participated in making the 1998 Christmas programs at our schools such a beautiful success.
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 Vernon Parish School Board wishes to convey its deepest sympathies to the family of Mr. Archie James, of Leesville, who recently passed away; and,
WHEREAS, Mr. James was a lifelong resident of Vernon Parish and he will be sadly missed by his family and friends;
BE IT THEREFORE RESOLVED, that the Board adopts this memorial resolution and requests that a copy be sent, along with its sincere condolences, to the family in their time of bereavement.
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 Vernon Parish School Board was saddened by the recent death of Mr. Silas McKee, retired bus driver at Rosepine High School; and,
WHEREAS, Mr. McKee was the husband of Mrs. Lydia McKee, retired secretary at Rosepine High School and he will be sadly missed by his family and friends;
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Board takes this means to express its sympathies to Mrs. McKee and her family and request that a copy of this memorial resolution be sent to them at this 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 Vernon Parish School Board was saddened by the recent death of Mrs. Hughlene Martin, a retired teacher's aide at Simpson School; and,
WHEREAS, Mrs. Martin was a loyal and dedicated employee and she will be sadly missed by her family and friends;
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Board takes this means to express its condolences to Mrs. Martin's family and requests that a copy of this memorial resolution be sent to them in their time of sorrow.
There being no further business, on motion of Benard McKee, seconded by the Board, the meeting was adjourned.
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W.W. PARKER, PRESIDENT
ATTEST:
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RICHARD SCHWARTZ, SUPERINTENDENT