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EDUCATION UPDATES
The Louisiana Board of Elementary and Secondary Education (BESE) will met on Tuesday, October 15th and Wednesday, October 16th. Updates from the BESE Meetings of October 15-16, 2013 are as follows:
The October 15th committee meetings began at 8:30 A. M. and concluded at 11:15 P. M. It was certainly a marathon meeting that sparked contentious and controversial discussions. Common Core standards were of utmost concern to parents and members of the community. There were those in support of the Common Core standards and those who objected to the hasty implementation of the standards. There was criticism aimed at the Louisiana Department of Education’s failure to provide a comprehensive curriculum and adequate professional learning opportunities. The concerns raised at the meeting resulted in an emergency response from members of the state board of elementary and secondary education (BESE) at the formal meeting held on October 16th. In my opinion, BESE violated its governing rules—the Administrative Procedures Act (APA) - by hastily approving policies without first presenting to board members the opportunity to read and comprehend proposed policies. I objected to the policies which will likely yield unintended consequences. I questioned BESE’s failure to comply with the APA guidelines. I asked for clarification and the response received from Chas Roemer, BESE President, was “you will receive it later.†Therefore, I requested to have the item addressed at the December 3 and 4 BESE meetings.
As a BESE member, I asked the state board to create a panel of statisticians and mathematicians to determine if Louisiana’s Value Added formula is reliable and credible. After what seemed like hours of discussions, a proposal was offered by Chas Roemer, BESE President, to seek a “third party†review of the formula. A recommendation will be offered at the December 3rd BESE meeting. We will have to wait and see what is offered.
Charters Approved in Lafayette Parish
Despite Community and Board Opposition
Two charter school organizations that currently operate in Louisiana were given permission to open schools in Lafayette, East Jefferson and East Baton Rouge Parishes, despite parental and school board opposition.
Lafayette parents and concerned citizens voiced opposition to decision, after the parish school board voted 8-2 to reject the charter applications at the local level.
Dr. Pat Cooper, Lafayette Superintendent of Schools, spoke against his board’s decision. Cooper said the need for new facilities in Lafayette convinced him to support the charter expansion.
BESE Approves New Rules Favoring Tax Rebates on Donations to Non-Public Schools
A new rule approved by BESE will allow non-public tuition organizations to advertise in ways that promote particular private schools. If the change goes into effect, it will overturn a current regulation prohibiting the promotion of a particular school over other qualified schools.
The tuition organizations allow Louisiana taxpayers to get a 95% rebate on donations, which are sent to non-public schools on behalf of parents and students.
The rebate has been controversial because of its cost to the state, and because the governor vetoed a similar measure that would have allowed rebates for donations to public schools.
The new rule must still be published in the Louisiana Register and opened for public comment before it can go into effect.
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Calendar of Events
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November 7 - Parish Track & Field Day, SMSH
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November 11 - New Teacher's Mtg., SS, 3:30
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November 12 - Leader PLC, BBHS, 4:00
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November 15 - Librarian's Meeting, PDLab, 8:30
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November 15 - Technology Coordinator;s Mtg, PDLab, 12:30
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November 25 & 26 - Offices Open - 8:00-4:30
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The St. Martin Parish School Board recognized
Mrs. Noelle Prados and Mr. James Meaux for being nominated and selected as the October 2013 Employees of the Month. Mrs. Prados and Mr. Meaux are facilitators of the Virtual Learning Program. They were nominated by Mrs. Kellie Leblanc, Supervisor of the Virtual Learning Program. Each was presented a plaque in appreciation of their exemplary services within the program and school system during the November 6, 2013 St. Martin Parish School Board Meeting.
Shown below are: Mrs. Noelle Prados, Facilitator; Mrs. Kellie LeBlanc, Supervisor of Virtual Learning; Mr. James Meaux, Facilitator; and Dr. Lottie Beebe, Superintendent.
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Accolades are extended to Parks Primary Faculty and Staff, students, parents and education stakeholders for their continued performance of excellence. Parks Primary once again earned the distinguished letter grade of A. Four schools attained a letter grade—B. These include Breaux Bridge Primary, Cecilia Jr. High, St. Martinville Sr. High, and Stephensville Elementary. Thirteen of the sixteen schools showed growth from 2011-2012 assessments when compared to the 2012-2013 assessments. The growth ranges showed an increase of .3 of a point to a high of 11.7 points. Four of the five (80%) lower performing schools showed growth with ranges of 5.2 points at Breaux Bridge Elementary and 8.8 points at Breaux Bridge Jr. High. The Early Learning Center (ELC) and St. Martinville Primary grew 6 points. St. Martinville Sr. High is to be celebrated for being the top school in the state to show the most growth in the graduation cohort index (students graduating in four years and on time).
We are proud of our students, parents, educators, support staff, and other education stakeholders for their desire and commitment to educational excellence. The aforementioned results are indicative of the talent in St. Martin Parish. We merely need to continue to cultivate and nurture expectations of excellence. Together we can!
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A reception was held at 3:30 P. M. on Wednesday, November 6, 2013 at the Breaux Bridge Municipal Building, 101 Berard Street, Breaux Bridge in honor of outstanding Parish educators. Outstanding Teachers and Leaders were celebrated for their exemplary performance within the education arena. Plaques were presented to each during the scheduled 5:00 P. M. school board meeting.
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SCHOOL |
TEACHERS
OF THE YEAR |
LEVEL |
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BREAUX BRIDGE PRIMARY |
Tiffany Francis |
Primary/Elementary |
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BREAUX BRIDGE ELEMENTARY |
Ashley Gary |
Primary/Elementary |
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EARLY LEARNING CENTER |
Chelsy Taylor |
Primary/Elementary |
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ST. MARTINVILLE PRIMARY |
Allie Renard |
Primary/Elementary |
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PARKS PRIMARY |
Angela Toncrey* |
Primary/Elementary |
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CECILIA PRIMARY |
Valerie Theriez |
Primary/Elementary |
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CATAHOULA ELEMENTARY |
Kily Boggs |
Primary/Elementary |
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TECHE ELEMENTARY |
Amie Champagne |
Primary/Elementary |
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STEPHENSVILLE ELEMENTARY |
Chasity Morales |
Primary/Elementary |
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ST. MARTINVILLE JUNIOR HIGH |
Aleasha Mallery* |
Middle School |
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BREAUX BRIDGE JUNIOR HIGH |
Jennifer Landry |
Middle School |
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CECILIAR JUNIOR HIGH |
Holly Bobbitt |
Middle School |
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PARKS MIDDLE |
Natalie Foster |
Middle School |
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ST. MARTINVILLE SENIOR HIGH |
Loretta P. Wooters* |
High School |
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BREAUX BRIDGE SENIOR HIGH |
Kevin Bonhomme |
High School |
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CECILIA SENIOR HIGH |
Jeanne Calais |
High School |
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SCHOOL |
PRINCIPALS OF THE YEAR |
LEVEL |
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PARKS PRIMARY |
Bonnie Thibodeaux |
Primary/Elementary |
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BREAUX BRIDGE JUNIOR HIGH |
Denise Frederick |
Middle School |
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CECILIA SENIOR HIGH |
Anthony Polotzola |
High School |
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*Parish Teacher of the Year |
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ST. MARTIN PARISH SCHOOL BOARD
St. Martin Parish School District has been awarded $636,186.30 from E-Rate grants.
BREAUX BRIDGE HIGH SCHOOL
Artwork from two Visual arts/Talented (Gifted Art) students was selected to compete in this year's Louisiana High School Athletic Association Poster Contest for the state football championships. These students utilized advanced artistic techniques for Elements & Principles of Design to complete their designs.
Pictured from left to right are:
Mr. Louis Blanchard - Principal of Breaux Bridge High School
Alec Hebert, Student; Mrs. Deirdre D. Robertson, Instructor of Visual Arts/Talented (Gifted Arts) Program; Javin Derouselle, student.
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Congratulations are also in order for the hard work of the business department for placing in the top 10 state-wide in the Microsoft Information Technology Academy. Breaux Bridge High School placed 8th with a 62% passing percentage. Keep up the good work!
ST. MARTINVILLE SENIOR HIGH
Congratulations to the SMSH student body, faculty, staff, and community for achieving the highest increase in the cohort graduation rate in the state! SMSH’s graduation cohort grew to 85.5%, an increase of 22 points. St. Martinville High also improved its School Performance Score to a “B†rating!
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SMSH would also like to recognize business teachers, Pam Stelly and Wendi Thibodaux for achieving the 9th highest amount of Microsoft certifications in the state as part of the Microsoft Information Technology Academy. A total of 21 SMSH students have achieved this impressive goal. Great job!
EARLY LEARNING CENTER
The Save the Children Emergent Reader Literacy Block consists of those students that are identified to be struggling readers. STC works in partnership with SMP and ELC to provide children in K-5th grade with the tools they need to develop reading skills and the guidance and support they need to grow as readers. STC has programs at local schools in more than 150 communities and 14 states.
In the photo, Emergent Reader Literacy Coordinator, Wanda Johnson works with students at ELC in phonemic awareness, letter recognition, sound-symbol correspondence, and beginning sight word. The repeated reading of text will lead the students to reading with fluency and sight word acquisition, providing additional reading skills and strategies. The activities are set in sessions to help students build confidence and promote participation in reading. STC host monthly Family Engagement Nights where parents can observe, ask questions, and engage in parent-child reading.
Pictured below is a young boy who is part of the 0-3 home visiting component. Home visits are done twice a month. During the home visits Ms.Ashley Wiltz works with the parent to assist their child with learning necessary skills needed for early steps to school success. After each completed home visit, parents receive a book bag with age appropriate books to read with their child! Once a month, parents and children are invited to a parent/child group. Children ages 3-5 are part of the book bag exchange program and once a week, they receive the raising a reader bag with age appropriate books.
PARKS PRIMARY
Walmart is helping teachers purchase much-needed classroom supplies through the retailer’s Teacher Rewards program. Through the Teacher Rewards program, more than 4,600 U.S. Walmart stores, distribution centers and Sam’s Club locations are eligible to select one local kindergarten through eighth grade public school and provide $50 reward cards to 20 teachers. Winning teachers can use the funds to purchase essential items for their classrooms such as paper, folders, binders, clipboards, pens, pencils, crayons and markers. Now in its fourth year, Walmart said its program is donating up to $4.5 million to help 90,000 teachers across the country.
Parks Primary was selected by Walmart in Broussard to receive this incentive because of its academic achievements. Twenty teachers were awarded $50 gift cards to purchase items for the classroom.
PARKS MIDDLE
Perfect Attendance is rewarded at Parks Middle School. Congratulations to Mrs. Breaux, Ms. Clark, Mrs. Landry, and Mrs. Theriot for having Perfect Attendance for the first nine weeks of school. Each teacher was presented with flowers and candy by the principal, Dr. Wanda Phillips and Assistant Principal, Ms. Shirley Thibodeaux. Teachers were also given a Thursday Jean Day!
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Breaux Bridge Elementary
Breaux Bridge Elementary would like to thank Mrs. Yvette Landry, author of "The Ghost Tree" for stopping by on October 27th to read her book to 4th and 5th grade students. Mrs. Landry also donated a free copy of her book to each student.
St. Martinville Junior High
St. Martinville Junior High School has partnered with St. Martin Parish Community Action Center to offer a tutoring program to assist SMJH’s students with their homework and to help prepare them for state testing. Ms. Caroline Jean-Batiste will serve as the coordinator for the tutoring program.
Breaux Bridge Primary
In honor of National School Lunch Week, the Breaux Bridge Primary cafeteria staff hosted a Business Partner/School Board luncheon. Congratulations to Ashley Dugas, from MidSouth Bank, and Olan Granger, St. Martin Parish Maintenance Department, who won door prizes. Thank you to the following Business Partners and School Board representatives who participated in the luncheon:
MidSouth Bank – Mark Thibodeaux, Chalanda Davis, Ashley Dugas
Teche Baptist Church – Rev. Joseph Jenkins, Billy Shirley, Marcel Hebert, Cal Tabor, Wayne Guidry
Archie’s Inc. – Butch Hebert
St. Martin Parish School Board – Jimmy Blanchard, Olan Granger, Jackie Landry, Adam Courville
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