August 5, 1999
THE PARISH SCHOOL BOARD OF VERNON PARISH LOUISIANA CONVENED IN REGULAR SESSION, AUGUST 5, 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
LORETTA NALE, FORT POLK REPRESENTATIVE
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 Benard McKee.
On motion of Ted Paris, seconded by C.A. Hughes, the Board voted to approve and dispense with the reading of the minutes of July 13, 1999.
On recommendation of Superintendent Schwartz and on motion of Murphy O'Banion, seconded by Willis Farris, the Board voted to approve the attached list of resignations.
ATTACHED
On recommendation of Superintendent Schwartz and on motion of Kim Reese, seconded by Gene Haymon, the Board voted to approve the attached list of terminations.
ATTACHED
On recommendation of Superintendent Schwartz and on motion of A. C. Dowden, seconded by Jane Holton, the Board voted to approve the sabbatical leave request on the attached list.
ATTACHED
On recommendation of Superintendent Schwartz and on motion of Linda West, seconded by B.R. Harvey, the Board voted to approve the attached list of requests for leave without pay.
ATTACHED
On recommendation of Superintendent Schwartz and on motion of Betty Westerchil, seconded by Ted Paris, the Board voted to approve the attached list of transfers.
ATTACHED
On recommendation of Superintendent Schwartz and on motion of Benard McKee, seconded by Kim Reese, the Board voted to approve an employee who was not named on the school list in April.
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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 retirees who are returning to work.
ATTACHED
On recommendation of Superintendent Schwartz and on motion of Willis Farris, seconded by Betty Westerchil, the Board voted to approve the attached list of new employees.
ATTACHED
On motion of Murphy O'Banion, seconded by Jane Holton, the Board voted to adopt the following resolution for hiring retirees for critical shortage areas:
R E S O L U T I O N
The Vernon Parish School Board does hereby declare a critical shortage of Louisiana certified science and special education teachers and does hereby authorize the employment of three retired teachers under the Critical Shortage Act. The Vernon Parish School Board hereby acknowledges the employment of Nathan Avant, III for the position of biology teacher at Leesville High School, Ned Terry Barrett, special education teacher at Rosepine High School, and Darlene Thompson, special education teacher at East Leesville Elementary School.
At this time, on motion of Mark Smith, seconded by Ted Paris, the board voted to enter into executive session for a period of 30 minutes to discuss a sales tax situation. A.C. Dowden announced that the time at 10:08.
On motion of Benard McKee, seconded by Gene Haymon, the Board voted to come out of executive session and resume order. The time was recorded at 10:38 a.m.
Dr. Cindy Gillespie presented for the Board's approval, a resolution to receive Rapides Foundation Grants awarded to two Vernon Parish Schools, Leesville High School and Rosepine High School.
On motion of Benard McKee, seconded by the Board, a resolution was approved to receive Rapides Foundation Grants awarded to two Vernon Parish Schools, Leesville High School and Rosepine High School.
On motion of A. C. Dowden, seconded by Ted Paris, the Board voted to approve millage rates for 1999 as follows:
Parish Wide School Regular 3.70 mils
Parish Wide School Special 7.17 mils
Ward 1 Maintenance Regular 13.03 mils
Ward 2 Hornbeck Maintenance Regular 13.32 mils
Ward 2 Orange Maintenance Regular 13.24 mils
Ward 3 MaintenancRegular 3.00 mils
Ward 4 Maintenance Regular 13.98 mils
Ward 5 Maintenance Regular 13.37 mils
Ward 6 Maintenance Regular 12.59 mils
Ward 7 Maintenance Regular 13.00 mils
Ward 8 Maintenance Regular 13.48 mils
Jackie Self, Director of Personnel reported on the changes in extended sick leave and sabbatical leave policies. The new parish policy will be ready for approval in September.
Jimmy Funderburk presented a proposed parish-wide drug testing policy for all interscholastic athletes for the Board to study. Approval for the policy will be requested at the August 12th board meeting.
Jimmy Funderburk reported that he had spoken to Centennial Wireless and U.S. Unwired about the cost of placing cell phones on school buses. Centennial Wireless offered to supply the phones for an initial investment of $13,743.20 and $888.20 per month fee. U.S. Unwired offered to supply the phones for no charge with 20 minutes of free time per month and a fee of $1.00 per minute over 20 minutes. According to U.S. Unwired, a restriction could be placed on the phones making it possible to call only certain emergency numbers. With this restriction, no calls could be received and no number called other than the predetermined emergency numbers.
Philip Gunn made a motion to not accept the offer from U.S. Unwired. A.C. Dowden seconded the motion. Benard McKee requested a roll call vote. The results of the roll call vote 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 Gunn X
Benard McKee X
The motion did not pass. The vote was 12 - 1.
On motion of Benard McKee seconded by the Board, the proposal from U.S. Unwired was accepted with the restrictions discussed.
Mark Smith reported that he had been notified by John Norris, the Board's Insurance Consultant, of an Errors and Omissions policy which would cover employees in a case of criminal accusations that did not lead to a guilty verdict. The Board could purchase for this liability coverage at an additional $5,700 a year in premium cost.
On motion of Mark Smith, seconded by Murphy O'Banion, the Board voted to purchase the additional liability insurance.
Mark Smith further reported that he, A.C. Dowden, and Bill Endris had met with the State Group Benefits Program representatives in an informational meeting. Premium sheets were presented to the Board and information regarding premium costs, options, and deadlines for enrollment will be provided to all employees. All employees will be given and opportunity to vote, by ballot, on whether they want to keep their coverage with Patient's Choice or make the change to State Group Benefits Program.
On motion of B.R. Harvey, seconded by Willis Farris, the Board voted to approve the premium sheet and petition the state to re-enter the State Group Benefits Program pending the employee vote.
A.C. Dowden gave a report from the Sanitation Committee. He stated that Enviroclean would renew our five-year contract and absorb any increase in tipping fees. The issue was referred back to the Sanitation Committee and Asa Skinner, the Board's legal counsel.
The Sanitation Committee will have a proposed resolution prepared for the Board's approval on August 12th.
On motion of C.A. Hughes, seconded by Betty Westerchil, the Board voted to open bids on unusable equipment at East Leesville Elementary School. Bill Endris reported that no bids were received.
On motion of Mark Smith, seconded by Betty Westerchil, the Board voted to authorize Superintendent Schwartz, Bill Endris, and Debbie Clark, Principal of East Leesville Elementary School, to dispose of the unusable equipment.
Superintendent Schwartz requested that because of a conflict in dates, the August 10th board meeting be changed to August 12th.
On motion of Gene Haymon, seconded by Ted Paris, the Board voted to change the August 10th board meeting to August 12th due to the Fall Teachers' Workshop being scheduled for August 10th.
On motion of A.C. Dowden, seconded by the Board, the following memorial resolution was adopted:
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, the members of the Vernon Parish School Board record with grief and sadness the recent death of MSG William E. Tyree, Sr., ROTC Instructor at Leesville High School and the father of Mrs. Lisa Whitford, former teacher at Vernon Middle School; and,
WHEREAS, Sgt. Tyree was highly respected by the students, faculty, and staff at Leesville High School and he will be sadly missed by his 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. Sun Tyree and her children at this time of bereavement.
On motion of Betty Westerchil, seconded by the Board, the following memorial resolution was adopted:
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. Inez Temple, a long-time resident of Leesville; and
WHEREAS, Mrs. Temple was a very active and well-respected member of this community and she will be sadly missed by her family and friends;
WHEREAS, Mrs. Temple's late husband, Mr. Austin L.Temple, Sr., served Vernon Parish Schools for many years as an administrator and supervisor;
BE IT THEREFORE RESOLVED, that the Board requests that a copy of this memorial resolution be sent, along with its sincere condolences, to Dr. Austin L. Temple, Jr. and his entire family at this time of bereavement.
On motion of Murphy O'Banion, seconded by the Board, the following memorial resolution was adopted:
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. O.C. "Ord" Perkins who recently passed away; and,
WHEREAS, Mr. Perkins, a native and lifelong resident of the Leesville area, was a very active and well-respected member of this community and he will be sadly missed by his family and friends;
BE IT THEREFORE RESOLVED, that the Board does, hereby, adopt this memorial resolution and requests that a copy be sent to Mr. Perkins' family at this time of sorrow.
On motion of B.R. Harvey, seconded by the Board, the following memorial resolution was adopted:
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 Mrs. Jewel Lene Gill, of Pitkin, who recently passed away; and,
WHEREAS, Mrs. Gill, a longtime resident of the Pitkin area, was the mother of Mrs. Mary Lynn Johnson, teacher's aide at South Polk Elementary 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. Johnson and her 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