March 2, 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.
JANE HOLTON
C.A. HUGHES
TED PARIS
KIM REESE
MARK SMITH
WILLIS A. FARRIS
MURPHY O'BANION
B.R. HARVEY
PHILIP L. GUNN
BENARD MCKEE
LORETTA NALE
ABSENT: BETTY WESTERCHIL, DEATH IN FAMILY
GENE HAYMON, BUSINESS OBLIGATION
There was also present Richard Schwartz, Secretary of the Board.
The meeting was opened in prayer by Ted Paris.
The Pledge of Allegiance was led by C.A. Hughes.
On motion of A.C. Dowden, seconded by Mark Smith, the Board voted to approve and dispense with the reading of the minutes of February 9, 1999.
On recommendation of Superintendent Schwartz and on motion of Philip Gunn, seconded by Benard McKee, the Board voted to approve the attached list of employee resignations.
ATTACHED
On recommendation of Superintendent Schwartz and on motion of Murphy O'Banion, seconded by Kim Reese, the Board voted to approve the attached list of new employees.
ATTACHED
John Farris, Curriculum Supervisor, introduced Mrs. Michelle Farley, sponsor, and the Leesville High School Quiz Bowl Team members, the 1999 Quiz Bowl Champions. Each team member received a certificate from the Board.
Jackie Self, Personnel Director, introduced the six finalists for the Technology Administrator position for the parish. Each candidate gave a brief presentation to the Board. A recommendation for the position will be made at the March 9, 1999 board meeting.
Jackie Self presented, for approval, the attached forms to comply with the following law which was passed during the 1998 legislative session.
ATTACHED
HB NO. 118
(b) Consult with teachers regarding any recommendations made by the superintendent for the hiring or placement of a principal at the school in which such teachers are employed. Any recommendations made by teachers shall not be binding upon the superintendent but shall be considered by the superintendent in making his recommendations to the board.
On motion of A.C. Dowden, seconded by Kim Reese, the Board voted to adopt the attached forms for use concerning the hiring or placement of a principal at a school.
On motion of B.R. Harvey, seconded by Philip Gunn, the Board voted to adopt the following recommendations of the Salary Committee:
A. Eliminate maid positions and move all maids to custodian salary schedule.
B. Change the parish policy of paying $.21 per mile to a policy which would always match the state mileage rate. The state rate is $.28 per mile.
C. Adopt the following proposed club/school sponsor payment schedule
1. All schools will receive $100.00 yearly per approved club.
2. All schools that have club sponsors who have club members attend meetings throughout the parish and who spend time outside of school hours will receive a total of $200.00 yearly per club.
3. All schools that have club sponsors who have extra activities outside of Vernon Parish will receive a total of $300.00 yearly per club.
4. Each school that has 4-H sponsors will receive a total of $200.00 yearly per club, per school.
5. Middle school, jr. high or high school will receive a total of $500.00 yearly for their yearbook sponsors. All elementary schools with yearbook sponsors will receive a total of $100.00 yearly per school.
6. Student Council Sponsors, Junior Class/Prom sponsors, Quiz Bowl sponsors, National Honor Society Sponsors will receive $300.00 yearly per school.
7. Senior Class/Graduation sponsors, newspaper sponsors that publish at least 6 papers annually will receive $200.00 yearly per school.
8. Miscellaneous sponsors by approval will receive $100.00 yearly.
D. When the state grants a pay raise to teachers, all teachers and all positions above teacher will receive the same amount.
E. Adopt the following recommendations regarding sabbatical leave policy:
1. To not allow a teacher on sabbatical leave for rest and recuperation to be employed
2. Utilize the attached Medical Condition Form in addition to the current requirement of letters from two physicians before approval of a sabbatical leave for rest and recuperation.
3. Administrators' sabbatical leave shall begin on either July 1 or at midterm.
4. To increase sub pay for a degreed sub from $45.00 per day to $55.00 per day.
5. Enforce the existing state law and Vernon Parish policy that states "Applications shall be sent to the superintendent by registered mail at least sixty days preceding beginning of the semester of the school year for which leave is requested, except that, where a teacher has become sick during a semester and requests sabbatical leave for the purpose of recuperating from such sickness, it shall be sufficient if the application is mailed thirty days before the date upon which the requested leave is to commence."
Superintendent Schwartz discussed the new law from the Legislature which requires six hours inservice for all board members in the areas of school law in Louisiana, laws governing the powers, duties, and responsibilities of school boards, and in educational trends, research, and policy. He reported that two inservices of instruction concerning these topics have been made available to Vernon Parish School Board members. On February 10, 1999, Louisiana School Boards Association personnel conducted a three-hour inservice at the Vernon Parish School Board office. Those attending were: Superintendent Richard Schwartz, and Board Members Alvin C. Dowden, Jr., Willis A. Farris, Philip L. Gunn, B.R. Harvey, M. Gene Haymon, Jane Holton, C.A. Hughes, Benard McKee, Murphy O'Banion, W.W. Parker, Ted Paris, Kim Reese, and Betty Westerchil. On February 27, 1999, a three-hour inservice conducted in Grant Parish at Grant High School, was attended by Ted Paris, Mark Smith, Philip L. Gunn, Willis A. Farris, and B.R. Harvey. Additional hours by board members will be gained at the Louisiana School Boards Association Convention, in Alexandria, March 4-6, 1999.
On motion of Willis Farris, seconded by the Board, the Board adopted the following resolutions regarding Highways 8 and 117:
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, the Vernon Parish School Board is in full support of the idea of four-laning Highway 8 leading from Highway 171 in Leesville to the Sabine River.
WHEREAS, Highway 8 is the weakest link in the chain extending from Jackson, Mississippi to Bryan, Texas; and
WHEREAS, Fort Polk, Louisiana, home to the JRTC, will be adding the first Strike Force in America;
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that this Board is in full support of requests that a feasibility study be conducted concerning the four-laning of Highway 8 from Highway 171 in Leesville, LA to the Sabine River, and requests that a copy of this resolution be sent to Congressman Jim McCrery.
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, the Vernon Parish School Board is in full support of the request being made by the Greater Vernon Chamber of Commerce concerning the four-laning of Highway 117 between Leesville and Natchitoches; and
WHEREAS, the improvement would give easy access to I-49, thus encouraging travel through our area; and
WHEREAS, with a more modern highway the Kisatchie National Forest would attract more visitors and promote tourism; and
WHEREAS, many students commute from Leesville to Natchitoches for the purpose of attending classes at Northwestern State University;
BE IT THEREFORE RESOLVED, that this Board, hereby, adopts this resolution supporting efforts to four-lane Highway 117 from Leesville to Natchitoches and requests that a copy be sent to Congressman Jim McCrery.
On motion of Murphy O'Banion, seconded by Benard McKee, the Board voted to advertise for bids for the purchase of two new trucks for the maintenance department.
In other business, on recommendation of Superintendent Schwartz and on motion of Murphy O'Banion, seconded by Philip Gunn, the Board voted to change the date of the Thursday, April 8th board meeting to Tuesday, April 6th.
B.R. Harvey announced that the Salary Committee will meet at 9:00 a.m., Tuesday, April 6th, preceding the board meeting.
On recommendation of Philip Gunn, President W.W. Parker appointed a committee to study the Vernon Parish Optional School. Those appointed to the committee were Philip Gunn, A.C. Dowden, Kim Reese, and Mark Smith. The first meeting of the study committee will be conducted at 3:45 p.m., Tuesday, March 9th.
On motion of District I Board Members, seconded by the Board, the Board adopted the following memorial resolution:
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, the members of the Vernon Parish School Board were deeply saddened by the recent death of Mrs. Myrtle Carter, mother of Mrs. Betty Westerchil, District I Board Member and grandmother of Grant Westerchil, teacher at Leesville High School; and
WHEREAS, Mrs. Carter, a native of Winnfield, Louisiana, was very active in her community 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. Westerchil and her family at this time of sorrow.
On motion of W.W. Parker, seconded by the Board, the Board adopted the following memorial resolution:
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, the Vernon Parish School Board wishes to express its condolences to the family of Mr. Larry Dowden who recently passed away; and,
WHEREAS, Mr. Dowden, a native and lifelong resident of the Leesville-Vernon Parish area, was a former teacher in our school system, and the father of Ms. Larilyn Dowden, teacher at East Leesville Elementary School;
BE IT THEREFORE RESOLVED, that the Board does adopt this memorial resolution and requests that a copy be sent to the family.
On motion of A.C. Dowden, seconded by the Board, the Board adopted the following memorial resolution:
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, the Vernon Parish School Board wishes to express its deepest sympathies to the family of Mr. Samuel Bursh, Sr., of Phoenix, Arizona, who recently passed away; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Bursh, a native of Leesville and former teacher in this school system, was the father of Mr. Samuel Bursh, Jr., teacher at Vernon Middle School, and he will be lovingly remembered and sadly missed by his family and friends;
BE IT THEREFORE RESOLVED, that the Board requests that a copy of this memorial resolution be sent to the family at this time of bereavement.
On motion of B.R. Harvey, seconded by the Board, the Board adopted 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 Ms. Linda Thompson, custodian at Pitkin School, for the recent death of her mother, Mrs. Luerue Thompson, of Pitkin, who recently passed away; and,
WHEREAS, Mrs. Thompson was a longtime resident of Pitkin and a retired custodian at Pitkin School and she will be sadly missed by her family and friends;
BE IT THEREFORE RESOLVED, that the Board requests that a copy of this memorial resolution be sent to Mrs. Thompson=s family at this time of sorrow.
On motion of B.R. Harvey, seconded by the Board, the Board adopted the following memorial resolution:
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, the members of the Vernon Parish School Board learned with great sadness of the untimely death of Melissa Tenae Wiggins, a member of the eighth grade class at Hicks School; and
WHEREAS, Melissa was the niece of Mrs. Roxane Wiggins, teacher at Hicks School and she will be lovingly remembered and sadly missed by her family and friends;
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Board requests that a copy of this memorial resolution be sent the family along with sincere condolences from this Board.
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 wishes to convey its deepest sympathies to the family of Mrs. Bernice P. Peden, of Hicks, who recently passed away; and,
WHEREAS, Mrs. Peden, a lifetime resident of Vernon Parish, was the sister of Ms. Shirley Parady, a retired cafeteria worker at Hicks School, and Mr. Otis Poe, a retired Hicks School bus driver;
BE IT THEREFORE RESOLVED, that the members of the Board request that a copy of this memorial resolution be sent to the family at this time of bereavement.
On motion of Philip Gunn, seconded by the Board, the Board adopted the following memorial resolution:
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, the Vernon Parish School Board wishes to express its sincere sympathies to the family of Mr. Wade Toby of New Iberia, Louisiana, who recently passed away; and,
WHEREAS, Mr. Toby was the father of Mrs. Mary Cheatham, retired Vernon Parish teacher, and the grandfather of Fletcher Cheatham, Jr., teacher=s aide at South Polk Elementary School and he will be sadly missed by his family and friends;
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Board adopts this memorial resolution and requests that a copy be sent to the family at their time of bereavement.
On motion of Philip Gunn, seconded by the Board, the Board adopted 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 deepest sympathies to the family of Mrs. Essie Lynch, of Leesville, who recently passed away; and,
WHEREAS, Mrs. Lynch was the mother of Mrs. Mary Louise Henry, central office custodian, and Ms. Ada Thomas, retired cook at East Leesville Elementary School, and the grandmother of Ms. Alice Henry, teacher at Hicks School, and Ms. Billie Simms, teacher=s aide at East Leesville Elementary School;
BE IT THEREFORE RESOLVED, that the Board requests that a copy of this memorial resolution be sent to the entire family at this time of bereavement.
On motion of Linda West, seconded by the Board, the Board adopted the following memorial resolution:
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, the Vernon Parish School Board wishes to express its heartfelt sympathies to Mr. Herschel McDonald, Student Information Systems coordinator for our parish for the recent death of his mother, Mrs. Idealle McDonald;
and,
WHEREAS, Mrs. McDonald, a retired registered nurse, was a long resident of Beauregard Parish and she will be sadly missed by her family and friends;
BE IT THEREFORE RESOLVED, that the Board does, hereby, adopt this memorial resolution and requests that a copy, along with its sincere condolences, be sent to Mr. McDonald and his family.
On motion of Ted Paris, seconded by the Board, the Board adopted 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 its condolences to the family of Mr. Maury Schwartz, of Leesville, who recently passed away; and,
WHEREAS, Mr. Schwartz, a longtime resident of Leesville, was the grandfather of Mrs. Robin Perkins, teacher at East Leesville Elementary School, the father of Mrs. Rebecca Schwartz Nichols, a former central office secretary, and the uncle of Mr. Richard Schwartz, Superintendent of Vernon Parish Schools;
BE IT THEREFORE RESOLVED, that the Board does, hereby, adopt this memorial resolution and requests that a copy be sent to the family at this time of sorrow.
On motion of Ted Paris, seconded by the Board, the Board adopted 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 Mrs. L.E. Hooker, retired teacher, who recently passed away; and,
WHEREAS, Mrs. Hooker devoted thirty-five years to teaching Vernon Parish students 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 the family.
There being no further business, on motion of Benard McKee, seconded by the Board voted to adjourn.
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W.W. PARKER, PRESIDENT
ATTEST:
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RICHARD SCHWARTZ, SUPERINTENDENT