November 9, 1999

 

THE PARISH SCHOOL BOARD OF VERNON PARISH LOUISIANA CONVENED IN REGULAR SESSION, NOVEMBER 9, 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

ALVIN C. DOWDEN, JR.

WILLIS FARRIS

M. GENE HAYMON

JANE HOLTON

C.A. HUGHES

TED PARIS

MARK SMITH

BETTY WESTERCHIL

MURPHY O'BANION

B.R. HARVEY

PHILIP L. GUNN

COL. DAVE MCNEIL

 

ABSENT:               KIM REESE

LINDA WEST

BENARD MCKEE, ILLNESS

 

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 A.C. Dowden, seconded by Ted Paris, the Board voted to approve and dispense with the reading of the minutes of November 4, 1999.

 

On recommendation of Superintendent Schwartz and on motion of Ted Paris, seconded by C.A. Hughes, the Board voted to approve the attached employee resignation.

ATTACHED

 

On recommendation of Superintendent Schwartz and on motion of C.A. Hughes, seconded by Betty Westerchil, the Board voted to approve the attached employee transfer.

ATTACHED

 

On recommendation of Superintendent Schwartz and on motion of Philip Gunn, seconded by Mark Smith, the Board voted to approve the attached list of new employees.

ATTACHED

 

At this time, Betty Westerchil took the oath of office for the School Finance Commission. Willie Deon, Clerk of Court Elect, was present to administer the oath.

 

Superintendent Schwartz recognized and presented plaques to Mrs. Fay Martin, teacher at Pickering Elementary School, who was recently named Region VI Elementary Teacher of the Year, and Mrs. Leslie Koenck, teacher at Vernon Middle School, who was named Region VI Middle School/Jr. High School Teacher of the Year. Mrs. Martin and Mrs. Koenck competed with teachers from schools throughout Southwest Louisiana for the honor.                                                

 

Leslie Koenck gave an interesting and informative presentation on DEEP, Developing Educational Excellence and Proficiency, in math. She explained that the goal of this hands-on math program is to help students develop necessary skills and to prepare them for the LEAP test.

 

Dr. Cindy Gillespie requested approval of the Proposed 1999-00 Pupil Progression Plan which she had presented at the November 4th board meeting for the Board's review.

 

On motion of Philip Gunn, seconded by the Board, the Board adopted the 1999-00 Pupil Progression Plan as presented.

 

On motion of Philip Gunn, seconded by Willis Farris, the Board voted to adopt the following resolution requesting the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education to revisit the Transfer Policy Changes with regard to LEAP 21 placement tests

 

R E S O L U T I O N

 

WHEREAS, the Vernon Parish School Board fully supports the "Reaching

 for Results" theme and the raising of standards for Louisiana students and schools; and

WHEREAS, the Vernon Parish School Board has the responsibility for preparing our students for the LEAP for the 21st Century High Stakes Tests; and

WHEREAS, Vernon Parish School System welcomes the opportunity to serve the dependents of the service men and women at Fort Polk, Louisiana, and other mobile students transferring from out of the state to our system; and

WHEREAS, the student population of our students in grades five and nine changes twenty-five to thirty percent per year due to the mobility of these students, it is the belief of the Vernon Parish School Board that the transfer policy will place transferring students  at an unfair disadvantage if placement decisions are determined before the child has had opportunity to pursue the curriculum upon which the LEAP 21 test has been based;

BE IT THEREFORE RESOLVED, that the Vernon Parish School Board adopts this resolution requesting the Louisiana Board of Elementary and Secondary Education to revisit the Transfer Policy Changes with regard to LEAP 21 placement tests.

 

Asa Skinner, Attorney for the Board, stated that the Board would not conduct an executive session to hear a student expulsion appeal at the parents' request not to appear at this time.

 

A.C. Dowden, Finance Committee Chairman, reported that he had attended a meeting with the Superintendent and Finance Director to discuss the proposed 1999-00 budget and that it was his recommendation to request the Superintendent to direct the staff to prepare cost saving recommendations in all departments. The Finance Committee will study the recommendations and present their findings to the Board at the December 2nd board meeting.

 

On motion of A.C. Dowden, seconded by Philip Gunn, the Board voted to approve the recommendation of the Finance Committee as presented.

 

On motion of Philip Gunn, seconded by Willis Farris, the Board voted to open bids for the sale of unusable equipment at the Central Office. No bids were received.

 

On motion of Philip Gunn, seconded by Betty Westerchil, the Board voted to authorize Dr. Cindy Gillespie, Director of Curriculum and Bill Endris, Director of Finance, to dispose of the unusable equipment.

 

On motion of B.R. Harvey, seconded by Willis Farris, the Board voted to open bids for the sale of a Wurlitzer piano at Pitkin School. No bids were received.

 

On motion of B.R. Harvey, seconded by Murphy O'Banion, the Board voted to open bids for the sale of two Sharp copiers at Pitkin School.

 

On motion of B.R. Harvey, seconded by Murphy O'Banion, the Board voted to authorize Bill Endris and the principal of the school, Roger Willis, to dispose of the Wurlitzer piano and the two Sharp copiers at Pitkin School since no bids were received.

 

On motion of Murphy O'Banion, seconded by Willis Farris, the Board voted to authorize the president and secretary to pay claims.

 

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 was saddened by the recent death of Mr. Matthew Willis, father of Mr. Roger Willis, principal at Pitkin School, and the father-in-law of Mrs Elizabeth Willis, cafeteria employee at Pitkin School; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Willis was a lifetime resident of the Pitkin area, and a great supporter of the Pitkin School. He will be lovingly remembered for his many contributions to his community and 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, along with its sincere condolences, to Mr. Roger Willis, Mrs. Elizabeth Willis, and to their entire family at this time of sorrow.    

 

There being no further business, on motion of B. R. Harvey, seconded by the Board, the meeting was adjourned.

_____________________________________

W.W. PARKER, PRESIDENT

 

ATTEST:

_______________________________________

RICHARD SCHWARTZ, SUPERINTENDENT