July 13, 1999

THE PARISH SCHOOL BOARD OF VERNON PARISH LOUISIANA CONVENED IN REGULAR SESSION, JULY 13, 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.

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

ABSENT:               M. GENE HAYMON, OUT-OF-TOWN

There was also present Richard Schwartz, Secretary of the Board.

The meeting was opened in prayer by Philip Gunn.

The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Willis Farris.

On motion of A. C. Dowden, seconded by Benard McKee, the Board voted to approve and dispense with the reading of the minutes of July 1, 1999.               

On recommendation of Superintendent Schwartz and on motion of Philip Gunn, seconded by Ted Paris, the Board voted to approve the attached list of employee resignations.

ATTACHED

On recommendation of Superintendent Schwartz and on motion of B.R. Harvey, seconded by Kim Reese, the Board voted to approve the attached sabbatical leave request.

ATTACHED

On recommendation of Superintendent Schwartz and on motion of Betty Westerchil, seconded by Willis Farris, the Board voted to approve the attached list of employee transfers.

ATTACHED

On recommendation of Superintendent Schwartz and on motion of Murphy O’Banion, seconded by B.R. Harvey, the Board voted to approve the attached list of new employees.

ATTACHED

On recommendation of Superintendent Schwartz and on motion of Kim Reese, seconded by Ted Paris, the Board voted to name Renita Davis as assistant principal at Leesville High School.

Mr. Asa Skinner, Attorney for the Board, introduced Mr. Glenn Koepp, Reapportionment Consultant.

Mr. Koepp discussed issues the Board could expect as it approaches reapportionment and listed information items the Board would need to have organized such as the last population count, voter registration, maps and information from the last three elections. He suggested that the Board set guidelines, rules and regulations before beginning plans. He added that Public Hearings would be conducted as a part of the planning.

A. C. Dowden gave a report from the Sanitation Committee meeting which was held at 9:30 a.m, prior to the Board meeting. He explained that committee’s function was to find out if the Board has any options regarding solid waste collection. He reported that the cost to the Board for garbage collection is $80,000.00 per year.

On motion of A.C. Dowden, seconded by Philip Gunn, the Board voted to authorize the Sanitation Committee to meet with the Police Jury’s Solid Waste Committee to determine if the Board should be covered as a non-commercial government organization and therefore be exempt from paying for garbage collection.  The committee will give a report at the August 5th board meeting.

Superintendent Schwartz, at this time recognized Colonel Stephen Shambach for his dedicated service to the students of the Vernon Parish School System while serving as military representative to the Board since 1997. Colonel Shambach will be leaving Fort Polk in August for his new assignment.

Superintendent Schwartz announced that a special awards ceremony has been planned for all recipients of the Rapides Foundation Education Initiative Schools to distribute grant monies and certificates recognizing each school as a participant in the initial round of grant funding. Two Vernon Parish Schools, Rosepine High School and Leesville High School have been selected to receive the award.

Superintendent Schwartz further announced that the annual legislative update meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, August 11th in Baton Rouge and that the Louisiana School Boards Association has encouraged all board members to attend.

Betty Westerchil discussed COPS (Career Options Program) and its purpose to make young people aware that there are options available to them and invited all board members to attend Career Night at the Leesville Neighborhood Center on July 22nd at 6:00 p.m. 

Superintendent Schwartz reminded the Board that Meet the Principal Night is scheduled for August 5th at North Polk Elementary School.

Jimmy Funderburk presented a draft of the Louisiana High School Athletic Association’s newly adopted rule mandating a chemical testing program for student athletes. Each school will have to have some type of drug testing program. He explained that he will be meeting with principals and athletic directors to formulate plans for their compliance to the rule for the 1999-2000 school year. Mr. Funderburk will give a report from the meeting at the August 5th board meeting.

On motion of Betty Westerchil, seconded by the Board, the Board adopted the following resolution:

R E S O L U T I O N

                WHEREAS, the Vernon Parish School Board wishes to express its appreciation to all the individuals who were instrumental in bringing the Integrating Technology Program, an intensively structured Staff Development Program, to Vernon Parish; and

                WHEREAS, the Board further wishes to express its gratitude to all the teachers who took advantage of the opportunity to participate in the program, in an effort to enhance their knowledge of the technology program and equip themselves with the techniques necessary to more effectively bring technology to their classrooms;

                BE IT THEREFORE RESOLVED, that the Board adopts this resolution of appreciation and congratulations to everyone responsible for the successful presentation of the InTech Program, and to all of the teachers who voluntarily completed this vital training course.

On motion of Philip Gunn, seconded by the Board, the Board adopted the following the following memorial resolution:

R E S O L U T I O N

                WHEREAS, the Vernon Parish School Board records with grief and sadness, the recent death of Mr. Audrey Jones, former music director at Anacoco High School and the brother of Ms. Janice Gaither, teacher at East Leesville Elementary School; and

                WHEREAS, Mr. Jones was an extremely talented individual who was dedicated to the profession of teaching music. He will be lovingly remembered and sadly missed by his students, his family and friends;

                BE IT THEREFORE RESOLVED, that the Board takes this means to express its heartfelt sympathies to Mr. Jones’ family and requests that a copy of this memorial resolution be sent to them at this time of sorrow.

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 was deeply saddened by the untimely death of Corbin Ralph Thompson, of Pitkin; and

                WHEREAS, Corbin was the grandson of Mrs. Paula Thompson, teacher at Pitkin School and he will be lovingly remembered and sadly missed by his family and friends;

                THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Board wishes to express its deepest sympathies to family and requests that a copy of this memorial resolution be sent to them at this time of grief and sorrow.

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 members of the Vernon Parish School Board wish to express their heartfelt sympathies to the family of Mrs. Dorothy Willis, former cafeteria employee at Pitkin School, who recently passed away; and

                WHEREAS, Mrs. Willis 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 request that a copy be sent to Mrs. Willis’ family at this time of bereavement.

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 members of the Vernon Parish School Board wish to convey their sincere sympathies to the family of Mrs. Carmel Anderson, of Pitkin, who recently passed away; and

                WHEREAS, Mrs. Anderson was the aunt of Mrs. Sharon Jordan, teacher at Pitkin School and the cousin of Mrs. Deloris Nelson, also a teacher 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. Jordan and Mrs. Nelson and their family at this time of sorrow.

Jimmy Funderburk, Director of Transportation reported that he had contacted U.S. Unwired and Centennial Wireless telephone companies concerning rates for cell phones on school buses.

On motion of A.C. Dowden, seconded by Mark Smith, the Board voted to refer the issue of placing cell phones on school buses back to the Transportation Committee for further study before making a decision.

 On motion of Mark Smith, seconded by Philip Gunn, the Board voted to refer reimbursement amounts for travel to the Finance Committee for review and study.

On motion of Philip Gunn, seconded by B.R. Harvey, the Board voted to authorize the president and secretary to pay claims.

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