May 6, 1999
THE PARISH SCHOOL BOARD OF VERNON PARISH LOUISIANA CONVENED IN REGULAR SESSION MAY 6, 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 Linda West.
The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Mark Smith.
On motion of Murphy O'Banion, seconded by Willis Farris, the Board voted to approve and dispense with the reading of the minutes of April 13,1999.
On recommendation of Superintendent Schwartz and on motion of Ted Paris, seconded by C.A. Hughes, the Board voted to approve the attached list of resignations.
ATTACHED
On recommendation of Superintendent Schwartz and on motion of Betty Westerchil, seconded by Gene Haymon, the Board voted to approve the attached list of sabbatical leave requests.
ATTACHED
On recommendation of Superintendent Schwartz and on motion of Willis Farris, seconded by Philip Gunn, 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 Murphy O=Banion, the Board voted to approve the attached list of new employees.
ATTACHED
On recommendation of Superintendent Schwartz and on motion of Benard McKee, seconded by B.R. Harvey, the Board voted to name the attached list of current employees who were not named in April.
ATTACHED
Mrs. Sonja Funderburk presented certificates to three winners of the Young Authors Contest. Two students from Evans School, Dustin Ramsey and Casey Smith, placed first in the fiction category, and Jonathan Lenahan, Anacoco student placed third in non-fiction. Not present to receive certificates were Rachel Terry, from Hornbeck School and Kevin McAvey from Vernon Middle School. Each placed second.
John Farris directed the recognition of students from seven Vernon Parish Schools including East Leesville Elementary, West Leesville Elementary, Leesville High School, Evans School, Hornbeck School, Pickering Elementary, and Hicks School. Each student was recognized individually and presented certificates for their various accomplishments during the 1998-99 school year.
At this time, presentations were given by applicants for two Supervisor of Instruction positions. Applying for the position of Supervisor of Instruction, Level III, was Mr. Curtis Clay, and applicants for Supervisor of Instruction, Level II were Mrs. Pam Andis and Mrs. Kim Nugent.
On recommendation of Superintendent Schwartz and on motion of A.C. Dowden, seconded by C.A. Hughes, the Board voted to name Mr. Curtis Clay to the position of Supervisor of Instruction, Level III, effective July 1, 1999. The Supervisor of Instruction, Level II will be named at the May 11th board meeting.
Betty Westerchil reported that the Curriculum Committee had met at 9:00 a.m prior to the board meeting and at this time called on Dr. Cindy Gillespie to discuss DEEP, a new mathematics grant for grades 3-8, for which Vernon Parish has applied. The results of the application will be available this summer.
Mrs. Westerchil further reported that the Curriculum Committee had approved a recommendation to the Board to hire a full-time assistant principal at Anacoco Elementary School and place a principal at the Vernon Parish Optional School.
On motion of Betty Westerchil, seconded by Willis Farris, the Board voted to allocate a full-time assistant principal for Anacoco Elementary School.
On motion of Betty Westerchil, seconded by B.R. Harvey, the Board voted to approve a principal, with administrative experience, for Vernon Optional School for the 1999-2000 school year.
On motion of Kim Reese, seconded by Philip Gunn, the Board voted to advertise for Food Services 1999-2000 Price Quotation Calendar.
On motion of C.A. Hughes, seconded by Betty Westerchil, the Board voted to receive bids on two used lawn mowers at North Polk Elementary School. No bids were received.
On motion of A.C. Dowden, seconded by Kim Reese, the Board voted to authorize Superintendent Schwartz, Principal George Thompson and Bill Endris to dispose of the two used lawn mowers.
A motion was made by Linda West, seconded by A.C. Dowden that Superintendent Richard Schwartz be allowed to be paid up to 75 days unused sick leave at the time of his retirement.
Ted Paris asked for a roll call vote. The results of the roll call vote as follows:
YEA NAY
ALVIN C. DOWDEN, JR. X
M. GENE HAYMON X
JANE HOLTON X
C.A. HUGHES X
TED PARIS X
KIM REESE X
LINDA WEST X
BETTY WESTERCHIL X
MARK SMITH X
W.W. PARKER X
WILLIS A. FARRIS X
MURPHY O'BANION X
B.R. HARVEY X
PHILIP L. GUNN X
BENARD MCKEE X
The motion passed 14 to 1.
A.C. Dowden announced that the Finance Committee has scheduled a meeting for Friday, May 28th at 1:00 p.m.
On motion of Mark Smith, seconded by Betty Westerchil, the Board voted to change the time of the May 11th board meeting to from 10:00 a.m. to 8:30 a.m.
A motion was made by B.R. Harvey, seconded by the Board, to adopt the following resolution opposing legislation concerning the age requirements for eligibility for athletes.
R E S O L U T I ON
WHEREAS, the members of the Vernon Parish School Board take this means to express their desire to utilize all avenues available to encourage students to stay in school and receive a high school diploma; and,
WHEREAS, Senate Bill No. 268 would change the LHSAA age rule so that no student will be eligible to participate in an extracurricular interscholastic athletic activity once the student reaches the age of nineteen;
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that this Board adopts this resolution in opposition to Senate Bill No. 268 because of the detrimental effect this rule would place on some student athletes.
On motion of Linda West, seconded by Benard McKee, the Board voted to authorize Bill Endris to open bids on general supplies. Mr. Endris will compile all the information a present to the Board at the May 11th board meeting.
On recommendation of Superintendent Schwartz and on motion of Gene Haymon, seconded by Jane Holton, the Board voted to change the date of the July 6th board meeting to July 13th.
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 wish to express their deepest sympathies to the family of Colonel Dewight Tynes, of Mississippi, who recently passed away; and
WHEREAS, Colonel Tynes was the father of Mrs. Paula Thompson, teacher at Pitkin School, and he will be sadly missed by his 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. Thompson and her 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 Vernon Parish School Board wishes to express its sincere condolences to the family of Mrs. Tressie Franklin, a native of Pitkin, who recently passed away; and
WHEREAS, Mrs. Franklin was the sister-in-law of Mrs. Bertie Mae Thompson, retired custodian at Pitkin School and the aunt of Mrs. Paula Thompson, teacher at Pitkin School;
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Board request that a copy of this memorial resolution be sent to the family at this time of bereavement.
On motion of Murphy O'Banion, 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 Mr. Luther Cryer, of Leesville, who recently passed away; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Cryer was a longtime resident of the Pickering/Vernon Parish area and the father of Ms. Joyce Ray, cafeteria employee at Pickering High School;
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Board adopts this resolution and requests that a copy be sent to Mr. Cryer's family at this time of bereavement.
On motion of Murphy O'Banion, 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 sincere sympathies to the family of Mrs. Zayna Crowley, of Anacoco, who recently passed away; and
WHEREAS, Mrs. Crowley was the mother of Mr. Duane Roberts, principal at Pickering High School, and she will be lovingly remembered and 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 Mr. Roberts and his family at this time of bereavement.
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