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Southern University Law Center graduated more than 170 law students from its Fall 2012 and Spring and Summer 2013 sessions. Stephanie Finley, United States Attorney for the Western District of Louisiana, gave the commencement address at the ceremony held May 11 in the F. G. Clark Activity Center on the Southern University Baton Rouge campus. The graduates are: Continue reading →
The East Baton Rouge Parish school system will dip substantially into its reserves to stay in the black during the fiscal year that starts July 1 with projected revenue decreasing and spending increasing sharply, according to a proposed general operating budget released Friday. The proposed $424.6 million general fund budget for the 2013-14 fiscal year represents … Continue reading →
Lists of graduates for colleges and universities around Louisiana will be posted here as names of the graduates are sent to The Advocate. Names of graduates will only be accepted from each college or university.
Lists of graduates for high schools in The Advocate’s coverage area will be posted here as names of the graduates are sent to The Advocate. Names of graduates will only be accepted from each high school. Parishes will be added as graduations occur. Continue reading →
Graduates at Baton Rouge Community College’s commencement ceremony Friday were encouraged to envision what they want Louisiana to look like in the future and then use their talents to help make that vision happen. Pam Breaux, assistant secretary for the state’s Office of Cultural Development, spoke about Louisiana’s place in history as the birthplace of jazz, … Continue reading →
WHITE CASTLE — White Castle High held its 2013 commencement ceremony at 7 p.m. Friday, May 17, 2013, at the school’s gymnasium. Valedictorian: Shetamian Elranita Wilson Other graduates: Kamri Leshawn Barrett, Deandré Muhammad Bellock, Kelsey Sally … Continue reading →
YOUNGSVILLE — Ascension Episcopal School held its 2013 commencement ceremony at 7 p.m. Friday, May 24, 2013, at East Bayou Baptist Church in Lafayette. The guest speaker was U.S. Rep. Charles Boustany, R-Lafayette. Graduates: Avery Elise Andrus, Alexis Leigh Badon, Eber John Beadle V, … Continue reading →
CROWLEY — Crowley High School held its 2013 graduation ceremony at 6:30 p.m. May 23 in the boys gym. Graduates with distinction and a 4.0 grade-point average: Olivia Nicole Boullion, Trakalyn Brieon Goodley, Jordan Kade Guillotte, Alex Kade Lebouef, Alex David Miller, Kitana Marie Navarre and Therese Marie Richard. … Continue reading →
A ruling by the Louisiana Supreme Court means the state will scale back plans to offer public school students classes through online firms, colleges and private companies, state Superintendent of Education John White said Friday. The change, which stems from a 2012 state law, is called course choice and is set for launch during the 2013-14 school … Continue reading →
The sponsor of a House-passed bill that would delay the impact of Louisiana’s new teacher evaluations said Thursday action on his proposal is being unfairly delayed in a state Senate committee, as the session nears its June 6 adjournment. “If they do succeed in stalling it out, there is going to be a backlash you wouldn’t believe,” … Continue reading →
SLAUGHTER — The Slaughter Community Charter School made academic progress in its second year of operation, the school’s director told parents attending an awards program Thursday. The school opened with seventh- and eighth-grade classes in August 2011 under an agreement with the East Feliciana Parish School Board. It added the ninth grade … Continue reading →
JACKSON — East Feliciana High School held its 2013 graduation ceremonies Thursday, May 23, at Bethany World Prayer Center in Baker. Valedictorian: Marcus Harris. Salutatorian: Stephanie Weber. Honor graduates: Kendell Beckwith, Briclyn Collier, Darius … Continue reading →
AMITE — Tangipahoa Parish School Board members clashed Wednesday over whether a May 15 budget-cutting session was properly conducted as a full board meeting. The May 15 meeting was called as a Finance Committee As a Whole to discuss the 2013-14 operating budget, which had a projected $9.6 million deficit. All board members were … Continue reading →
GONZALES — Ascension Parish is looking for a few more good teachers. The School Board is poised to hire 50 new teachers in an effort to ease staffing levels due to continued growth. Funds needed to hire the new teachers are listed in the school district’s 2013-14 budget, which is due for adoption June 18. … Continue reading →
ZACHARY — Zachary High School held commencement exercises for its class of 2013 on Tuesday, May 21, at Bethany World Prayer Center in Baker. Valedictorians: Allison Rachel Burton, Brandon Reed Deshotels, Morgan Elizabeth Hurst, Destiny Janaé Johnson, Trey Michael Leiva, Thomas Joseph Manuel, Nicholas Ryan Maxey, Moriah … Continue reading →
Promotion rates for fourth- and eighth-graders on a test required for advancement are essentially unchanged this year compared with 2012, figures released by the state Department of Education showed Wednesday. The results also show that: Public school students are struggling with more rigorous classes, which will become more common as part of a nationwide … Continue reading →
With barely two weeks left in the session, legislative committees will debate four key public school bills at the State Capitol. Senate Bill 199, which is part of a package to set up a new school district in southeast Baton Rouge, will be reviewed for cost considerations in the House Appropriations Committee during a 10 a.m. hearing. Continue reading →
GONZALES — Change is coming to the boundaries of the Ascension Parish School Board districts. The board on Tuesday made its first public presentation on potential changes to districts, as mandated every decade following U.S. census changes. Due to rapid growth in the northwestern portion of the parish, several districts likely will undergo radical changes. Continue reading →
ST. FRANCISVILLE — The West Feliciana Parish School Board agreed Tuesday to join a cooperative of Louisiana school districts that hope to save money through bulk purchases of computers and software and by devising curriculum and online courses. The Vermilion Parish School Board administers the District Cooperative of Louisiana, and West Feliciana is assessed $1,500 … Continue reading →
LSU is not one of the nation’s elite institutions, nor is it on the cusp of reaching that status, members of the university’s Transition Advisory Team agreed Tuesday. The group, led by consultant Christel Slaughter, is in charge of recommending how the LSU System’s separate institutions will be consolidated under the main campus in Baton Rouge. Continue reading →
PORT ALLEN — Port Allen High School held its graduation ceremony on Friday, May 17, 2013, at the high school. Valedictorian: Kimi Terrell Clopton Other graduates: Jeffrey Allen, Nelson Allen, Diamond Cepadria Anderson, Kathryn Lorise Andre, Trevez Antoine, Biran Keith Bell, Robert Wayne Bonaventure, Brandon Michael … Continue reading →
ST. FRANCISVILLE — West Feliciana High School held its 2013 graduation ceremonies May 17 at the school’s football stadium. Valedictorians: Christopher Connor Dixon and Hannah Rebecca Pohlmann. Salutatorian: Kristen Nicole Livingston. Continue reading →
PLAQUEMINE — St. John High held its 2013 graduation ceremony at 6:50 p.m. Thursday, May 16, 2013, at the St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church. Valedictorian: Diana Ngan Uong. Other graduates: Andrew Paul Baldwin, Malori Elizabeth Bezet, Alex James Bickham, Morgan James Booksh, Wesley … Continue reading →
A $3.5 billion spending plan for public schools was rejected by a state Senate committee Tuesday, which will likely kill the measure for the session. The proposal, Senate Concurrent Resolution 23, was denounced primarily for proposed changes in how the state would change funding for special education students. After about 90 minutes of criticism, a move … Continue reading →
LIVONIA — Livonia High School held its commencement exercises at 6 p.m. Friday, May 17, 2013, at the school’s football stadium. Valedictorians: Porsha Blackmore, Chassidy Francois and Paige Vaughn. Other graduates: Austin Matthew Abshire, Tanner Joseph Amond, Kaitlyn Michelle Andre, Brandon … Continue reading →
The state Department of Education failed to properly monitor some operations of charter schools, Legislative Auditor Daryl Purpera said in a report issued Monday. The review says the Louisiana Department of Education, or LDOE, did not verify that data used to calculate how charter schools are faring is reliable and failed to do all the required academic … Continue reading →
A top official of the state Department of Education lives in Los Angeles and commutes to his office in Baton Rouge. The educator is Dave Lefkowith, who is an assistant superintendent and oversees Louisiana’s new program that will allow public school students to take classes from private firms, online groups and colleges. Lefkowith, who is paid … Continue reading →
From buildings filled with mold to faulty water and sewer systems that back up into classrooms, higher education leaders across Louisiana are growing increasingly concerned with the state’s backlog in repairing and renovating campus facilities. The state Board of Regents estimates that colleges and universities are looking at a $1.7 billion price tag to address maintenance … Continue reading →
Among the hundreds of smiling sons and daughters, air horns blasts and proud parents at Southern University’s commencement ceremony on Friday, Barbara Johnson stood out as one of the day’s most celebrated graduates. At 71 years old, Johnson gracefully accepted a standing ovation as Chancellor James Llorens singled her out, acknowledging the varied and sometimes painful … Continue reading →
BAKER — Baker High School held its 98th annual commencement exercises Thursday, May 16, 2013, at Bethany World Prayer Center. Valedictorian: Michael Anthony Mitchell Jr. Salutatorian: Johnay Idella Hall. Honor graduates: Chrysen Sarai Grace Banks, Jamaun Lynard … Continue reading →
Southern held its commencement ceremonies for 714 graduates at 10:30 a.m. Friday, May 17, in the F.G. Clark Activity Center on the north Baton Rouge campus. Louisiana Supreme Court Chief Justice Bernette J. Johnson was the commencement speaker at Southern. Continue reading →
More than 4,400 students in Baton Rouge are donning caps and gowns for the walk across the graduation stage, a symbolic act representing their transition from one phase of their lives to another. On Thursday, LSU honored 3,735 graduates hailing from 59 Louisiana parishes and representing 45 states. Southern holds its commencement ceremonies for … Continue reading →
The East Baton Rouge Parish School Board voted late Thursday to give thousands of Medicare-eligible retirees the choice of staying on the district’s self-funded health insurance plan or shifting completely to Medicare through a Medicare Advantage Plan managed by Humana. The shift will occur in January. Retirees can stay on the school system’s group insurance … Continue reading →
ZACHARY — The Zachary Community School Board decided Thursday to contract with a private academy to provide an alternative program for middle- and high-school students who are expelled from their regular schools. The district’s alternative school has been at the Port Hudson Career Academy,
the old Port Hudson Elementary School on Flanacher Road, but the … Continue reading →
ST. GABRIEL — The Math, Science and Arts Academy-East held its 2013 commencement ceremony Thursday, May 16, at the school. Valedictorian: Xuan Thi Tran. Salutatorian: Anthony Jamarc Sanchez. Other graduates: Victoria Christine Ausbon, Britney Ashanté Bell, Austin Paul … Continue reading →
ST. GABRIEL — East Iberville High School held its 2013 commencement ceremony Friday, May 17, at the school’s gymnasium. Valedictorian: Marlana Y’Vette Stewart. Other graduates: Kasheena Bryant, Byron Clark, Adrian Mark Cummings, Kiwandria Ta’Hersula Frazier, Duran John Haywood, Lamont Marquis Kerr, Chardi Rene Lanaute, Indianna … Continue reading →
Thirty-five organizations submitted applications to start about 100 new charter schools in 19 parishes in Louisiana, the state Department of Education reported Thursday. The organizations turned their applications in by the May 1 deadline and are seeking to open their new schools in 2014, 2015 or 2016. Twenty-two of the applicants want to … Continue reading →
One day after rejecting a public school spending plan, a legislative leader said Thursday his committee will consider a slightly different version submitted by Louisiana’s top school board. The latest proposal will allow the panel to consider a $3.5 billion spending plan without forcing a new proposal from the state Board of Elementary and Secondary Education, said … Continue reading →
AMITE — The Tangipahoa Parish School Board on Wednesday used a rededication of sales tax revenues, cuts to transportation services, elimination of a perfect attendance salary supplement and a one-time reduction in the board-mandated minimum fund balance to come within $1 million of a balanced budget for 2013-14. The remaining $892,000 needed to prevent a … Continue reading →
The East Baton Rouge Parish School Board on Thursday will vote again on whether to move thousands of Medicare-eligible retirees off the district’s self-funded health insurance plan and have them rely solely on Medicare through a privately managed Medicare Advantage Plan. The move could save the school system as much as $13 million in … Continue reading →
Joe Ben Welch will walk away from the community college he helped build from the ground up, retiring from River Parishes Community College in August. Welch, who has been RPCC’s chancellor since it opened in 1999, announced last week to colleagues that he would retire effective Aug. 31, and the college made the announcement public in a … Continue reading →
LUTCHER — The St. James Parish School Board will pay nearly $1 million under protest after losing a lawsuit it filed to avoid paying pension expenses that school officials say are state responsibilities and not that of local education systems, Schools Superintendent Alonzo Luce said. “We think it’s very clear in the state constitution that … Continue reading →
An estimated 129 students are likely to change schools in August as a result of proposed attendance zone changes at four public elementary schools in Baton Rouge. The East Baton Rouge Parish School Board is set to vote on the proposed changes at Audubon, LaBelle Aire, Twin Oaks and Wedgewood elementary schools when it meets at … Continue reading →
Parents of St. Helena Parish public school students will soon have a school of their own to attend. Schools Superintendent Kelli Joseph and her staff are working to create a Parent Academy, where parents can learn more about meeting their children’s educational needs by taking classes, learning about student performance data and participating in various activities. Continue reading →
It’s a “modest, humble building” now, Preston Castille Jr., acknowledged, but the Baton Rouge lawyer has a grand vision for what’s going to be happening in the future in the building now labeled “SMED 122.” “We want this building to be a magical experience,” said Castille, the father of a senior at Southern University Lab … Continue reading →