June 3, 1999
THE PARISH SCHOOL BOARD OF VERNON PARISH LOUISIANA CONVENED IN REGULAR SESSION, JUNE 3, 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 Jane Holton.
The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Betty Westerchil
On motion of Ted Paris, seconded by C.A. Hughes, the Board voted to approve and dispense with the reading of the minutes of May 11, 1999
On recommendation of Superintendent Schwartz and on motion of Linda West, seconded by Kim Reese, the Board voted to approve the attached list of resignations.
ATTACHED
On recommendation of Superintendent Schwartz and on motion of C.A. Hughes, seconded by Willis Farris, the Board voted to rescind the previously approved sabbatical leave of Norman Beason, principal at Anacoco High School.
On recommendation of Superintendent Schwartz and on motion of Philip Gunn, seconded by Betty Westerchil, the Board voted to approve the attached list of employee transfers.
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On recommendation of Superintendent Schwartz and on motion of Murphy O'Banion, seconded by Ted Paris the Board voted to approve the attached list of new employees.
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On recommendation of Superintendent Schwartz and on motion of Betty Westerchil, seconded by Willis Farris, the Board voted to approve the attached list of current employees who were not named in April.
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On recommendation of Superintendent Schwartz and on motion of Gene Haymon, seconded by Kim Reese, the Board voted to approve the attached list of employee terminations.
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On recommendation of Superintendent Schwartz and on motion of Jane Holton, seconded by Philip Gunn, the Board voted to approve the attached central office staff list.
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On recommendation of Superintendent Schwartz and on motion of Willis Farris, seconded by B.R. Harvey, the Board voted to approve the attached list of principals and assistant principals at the parish schools.
On recommendation of Superintendent Schwartz and on motion of Murphy O'Banion, seconded by B.R. Harvey, the Board voted to approve Roger Rolon as principal at Pickering High School.
On recommendation of Superintendent Schwartz and on motion of B.R. Harvey, seconded by Murphy O=Banion, the Board voted to approve Randy Lansdale as principal of Hicks High School.
Brenda Bealer, Director of Head Start, recognized and presented certificates of appreciation to parent volunteers Michelle Horn, Christy Dixon, and Cathy Turner. The three donated the top numbers of the total 10,244.5 hours given to the Head Start classes throughout the parish. Teachers who had the highest number of hours donated were Deborah Edwards, North Polk Elementary and Debbie Calhoun, Anacoco Elementary.
At this time, presentations were given by the applicants for the position of Director Child Welfare and Attendance/Maintenance. Those giving presentations were Angela DeGray, James Farris, Patty Gates and Tom Neubert.
Jackie Self presented the 1999-2000 Personnel Evaluation Plan for the Board's study and consideration. Adoption will be requested at the June 8, 1999 board meeting.
Don Gallemore, Technology Administrator, gave an update on Vernon Parish's technology program and explained plans to standardize bookkeeping in the schools and to make SIS software uniform. Mr. Gallemore also reported that the training center is nearing completion and that thirty teachers at a time can be trained this summer. He requested authorization from the Board to apply for a grant for $75,000 worth of computers and equipment for qualifying schools in the parish.
On motion of Gene Haymon, seconded by Ted Paris, the Board voted to grant Mr. Gallemore authorization to apply for the grant.
Betty Westerchil presented recommendations from the Curriculum Committee for the Board=s review. Approval for the recommendations will be requested at the June 8, 1999 board meeting.
Dr. Cindy Gillespie discussed the State math program, DEEP, and explained that Vernon was one of only fifteen parishes accepted to participate in the program.
A. C. Dowden reported that the Finance Committee held a Public Hearing for the purpose of presenting the 1999-2000 budget to the Board for review. Adoption of the budget will be requested at the June 8, 1999 board meeting.
On motion of Gene Haymon, seconded by Benard McKee, the Board voted to advertise for bids for garbage collection.
On motion of B.R. Harvey, seconded by Benard McKee, the Board voted to advertise for bids for bread for the parish school for the 1999-2000 school year.
On motion of Kim Reese, seconded by Jane Holton, the Board voted to advertise for bids for milk and juice for the parish schools for the 1999-2000 school year.
Bill Endris presented the attached compiled report on bids received for kitchen equipment for the parish schools.
ATTACHED
On motion of Gene Haymon, seconded by Betty Westerchil, the Board voted to accept the low bid, meeting specifications, for kitchen equipment for parish schools.
On motion of B.R. Harvey, seconded by Kim Reese, the Board voted to advertise for an assistant principal at Hicks High School.
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 Mrs. Rena Johnson, a retired cafeteria employee at Pitkin High School, who recently passed away; and,
WHEREAS, Mrs. Johnson was a loyal and dedicated employee 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 be sent to Mrs. Johnson's 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 members of the Vernon Parish School Board wish to convey their condolences to the family of Mrs. Gloria Stephens who recently passed away;
WHEREAS, Mrs. Stephens was the mother-in-law of Mrs. Lisa Stephens, teacher's aide at North Polk Elementary School and the grandmother of Mrs. Heather Paul, teacher at Pitkin School;
BE IT THEREFORE RESOLVED, that the Board requests that a copy of this memorial resolution be sent to Mrs. Stephens' 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 express its deepest sympathies to the family of Mr. Larry LaCaze, who recently passed away;
WHEREAS, Mr. LaCaze was the son of the late Mr. Pierre LaCaze, retired custodian at Pitkin School, and the late Mrs. Freda LaCaze, retired Pitkin School cafeteria manager;
BE IT THEREFORE 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 Benard McKee, 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 take this means to express their heartfelt sympathies to the family of Mr. Alton R. "Happy" Johnson, who recently passed away;
WHEREAS, Mr. Johnson, the brother-in-law of Mrs. Doris "Dolly" Mayo, retired supervisor in the Vernon Parish School System, was a lifetime resident of Rosepine and he will be 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 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