February 9, 1999
THE PARISH SCHOOL BOARD OF VERNON PARISH LOUISIANA CONVENED IN SPECIAL SESSION, FEBRUARY 9, 1999, 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 B.R. Harvey.
The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Benard McKee.
Superintendent Schwartz read the attached call notice.
ATTACHED
On motion of Philip Gunn, seconded by Willis Farris, the Board voted to approve and dispense with the reading of the minutes of February 4, 1999.
On recommendation of Superintendent Schwartz and on motion of C.A. Hughes, seconded by B.R. Harvey, the Board approved the resignation on the attached list.
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On recommendation of Superintendent Schwartz and on motion of Ted Paris, seconded by A.C. Dowden, the Board voted to approve the employee transfer on the attached list.
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On recommendation of Superintendent Schwartz and on motion of Murphy O'Banion, seconded by Linda West, the Board voted to approve the attached list of new employees.
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Sandra Whitlock, Supervisor of Instruction, introduced Vernon Parish Schools Students of the Year. One student was chosen from each elementary, jr. high, and high school and from the school winners, a parish winner was selected in each category. The parish winners will compete at the regional level and the winners at the regional competition will go on to compete at state level. Vernon Parish winners are: Elise Cowan, Vernon Middle School, Reba Clemons, Pickering Jr. High, and Rachal Chance, Leesville High School.
On motion of Benard McKee, seconded by Murphy O'Banion, the Board voted to enter into executive session to discuss on-going litigations in the Southern Electric versus Vernon Parish School Board lawsuit.
On motion of Philip Gunn, seconded by Murphy O'Banion, the Board voted to come out of executive session and resume order and continue the regular business of the meeting.
B.R. Harvey informed the Board that a report from the Salary Committee will be prepared for the March 2nd board meeting.
On recommendation of the Finance Committee and on motion of A.C. Dowden, seconded by Willis Farris, the Board voted to rescind a policy, approved by the Board on June 4, 1998, making it mandatory that all paychecks would be issued through direct deposit.
On motion of Philip Gunn, seconded by C.A. Hughes, the Board voted to approve the Vernon Parish Schools Test Security Policy. A copy of the Test Security Policy is kept on file in the office of the Director of Curriculum at the Vernon Parish School Board Office at 201 Belview Road, Leesville, LA, for public viewing.
A motion was made by Murphy O'Banion, seconded by the Board, to approve the following resolution:
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, the Vernon Parish School Board welcomes the opportunity to serve the dependents of the service men and women stationed at Fort Polk, Louisiana; and,
WHEREAS, this Board has the responsibility of providing the best possible educational opportunities and for preparing and equipping all students, civilian and military, who are enrolled in our schools, with the background needed for entering a program of higher education; and,
WHEREAS, the Louisiana Tuition Opportunity Program for Students makes a college education financially possible for many of our high achieving students; and,
WHEREAS, the two year residency requirement which has been written into the policy regulating eligibility for participation in TOPS, would almost eliminate the possibility of our military students being allowed to take advantage of the program; thereby placing them at an unfair disadvantage;
BE IT THEREFORE RESOLVED, that the Vernon Parish School Board adopts this resolution requesting our legislators to consider removing the two year residency requirement for TOPS, thus allowing more students the opportunity to take advantage of the program.
On motion of Kim Reese, seconded by the Board, the Board adopted the following resolution:
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, the Vernon Parish recognized and appreciates the advantages offered our teacher by Louisiana=s Tuition Exemption Program; and
WHEREAS, the requirements for eligibility eliminate any opportunity for professional personnel to apply for the program for the purpose of taking courses toward additional certification; and,
WHEREAS, a shortage of certified personnel in certain areas has created a need for some teachers to seek additional certification in an effort to eliminate this critical shortage;
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Board adopts this resolution requesting the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education to restate the Tuition Exemption Plan and the allocation of funds to include a provision for financial assistance for those professionals who desire to seek additional certification.
On motion of B.R. Harvey, seconded by Betty Westerchil, the Board voted to award the highest bid for the sale of miscellaneous used equipment at Hicks School to Arrowhead Contractors, Inc.
B. R. Harvey announced that a Salary Committee meeting is scheduled for 9:00 a.m., Tuesday, March 2, 1999.
The Board congratulated Betty Westerchil for being unopposed in her bid for president-elect of the Louisiana School Boards Association.
Gene Haymon announced a Technology Committee meeting which is scheduled for 1:00 p.m., March 1, 1999.
Col. Stephen Shambach announced that Visitors Day at Fort Polk will be observed Thursday, March 25, 1999. He added that more information and invitations to attend will be forthcoming.
On motion of A.C. Dowden, seconded by Kim Reese, the Board voted to resolve itself into a claims committee and approve the claims.
On motion of B.R. Harvey, seconded by Murphy O'Banion, the Board voted to authorize the president and secretary to pay the claims as approved by the claims committee.
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