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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 Banks, … 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 →
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 →
HAMMOND — The long-term solution to funding Hammond’s magnet school programs may require going before a federal judge, the Louisiana State Bond Commission and ultimately back to the voters, a Tangipahoa Parish School Board member told a parents group Monday. But School Board member Brett Duncan said short-term options aren’t much simpler. Voters in … Continue reading →
The president of Louisiana’s top school board said Monday that legislation that spells out proposed spending for public schools can still move through the Legislature despite a court ruling last week that struck down how the state finances vouchers. Chas Roemer, president of the state Board of Elementary and Secondary Education, said there are no plans for … Continue reading →
Gov. Bobby Jindal faces budget and political hurdles in his bid to continue funding for vouchers after the Louisiana Supreme Court ruled that the current spending method is unconstitutional. Where the money would come from, how to get it through a suddenly rebellious Legislature and even how much is needed — perhaps $41 million or more — … Continue reading →
In a departure from the past, the East Baton Rouge Parish school system this year selected three relatively young teachers as its Teachers of the Year for elementary, middle and high schools. The teachers have spent six, seven and 14 years in the classroom. In interviews Friday, all said they were surprised their names … Continue reading →
GREENSBURG — The St. Helena Parish School Board agreed Thursday to allow 12 seniors who met all course and grade requirements for graduation but did not pass a standardized test to participate in a May 17 graduation ceremony. St. Helena Central High School’s 67 seniors met with Superintendent Kelli Joseph to plead the case for … Continue reading →
State Superintendent of Education John White said Thursday that officials are trying to decide how to make the school year’s final $6 million payment for vouchers after the state Supreme Court scuttled the way the aid is allocated. “Those are things we are still working out,” White told the Senate Finance Committee. The court ruled 6-1 … Continue reading →
College and university leaders on Thursday told a state legislative panel that repeated cuts to higher education are compromising their ability to be competitive nationwide. Speaking in front of the state Senate Committee on Finance, state Commissioner of Higher Education Jim Purcell used the moment to highlight LSU and Baton Rouge Community College. The … Continue reading →
The University of New Orleans and Southern University at New Orleans have agreed to collaborate on a joint curriculum and degree program that would allow SUNO students to earn engineering degrees at UNO. UNO President Peter Fos and SUNO Chancellor Victor Ukpolo signed the agreement Wednesday. Under the plan, students who don’t initially meet the … Continue reading →
The Louisiana House on Wednesday voted 99-0 to allow public high school students with disabilities to be exempted from taking the ACT and other standardized tests. State Rep. John Bel Edwards, D-Amite and sponsor of the plan, said the exclusion would apply to students who are not pursuing a high school diploma and who have an exceptionality … Continue reading →
A propped open door. Pictures of students on hallway walls. Boys with untucked shirts. A parking space with the principal’s name on it. Parents bringing homemade cupcakes to school. These are some of the unlikely but telling signs of a weakened security system that Sonayia Shepherd, a school safety expert, shared Tuesday with an … Continue reading →
AMITE — The Tangipahoa Parish School Board called a special meeting of its finance committee for May 15 to discuss how the district will regroup after voters narrowly defeated a property tax to support Hammond-area magnet programs. Voters on Saturday rejected a 5-year, 15-mill property tax that was projected to generate … Continue reading →
CLINTON — The East Feliciana Parish public school district’s students will again attend classes five days a week beginning in the 2013-14 school year. The School Board Tuesday voted 10-2 in favor of dropping the district’s four-day week and returning to a five-day week for all students, staff and teachers. Board members Olivia … Continue reading →
DONALDSONVILLE — The Ascension Parish School Board hopes to create a parishwide strategic plan and streamline its facility improvements for athletics at the parish’s four high schools. The board’s Athletic Committee on Tuesday reviewed the current facility requests from the athletics departments at Donaldsonville, Dutchtown, East Ascension and St. Amant high schools. The requests … Continue reading →
ST. FRANCISVILLE — The West Feliciana Parish School Board on Tuesday approved restructuring several school programs, including the physical education programs at Bains Elementary and Bains Lower Elementary schools. The restructuring is designed to offset a projected $1.5 million deficit expected in the next fiscal year. Board members also approved during their special meeting … Continue reading →
BAKER — The Baker School Board recognized employees of the year for the 2012-13 school term at a meeting Tuesday. The principal of the year is Tammy Armand-Golden, of Park Ridge Academic Magnet School, while teachers of the year are Marcus Bennett, also of Park Ridge, and Brittany Hinyard, of Baker Middle School. Support … Continue reading →
The East Baton Rouge Parish school system is holding two informational sessions Thursday aimed at almost 2,900 Medicare-eligible retirees. Superintendent Bernard Taylor has proposed moving these retirees off the school system’s self-funded health insurance program and have them instead rely on Medicare through a privately managed Medicare Advantage plan. The sessions are scheduled at 10 … Continue reading →
The state Supreme Court on Tuesday derailed Louisiana’s expanded voucher program, setting off a scramble in the Legislature on whether and how to fund the effort. The ruling, a setback for Gov. Bobby Jindal, upheld and expanded on a decision last year by 19th Judicial District Court Judge Timothy Kelley, of Baton Rouge. It sets up … Continue reading →
Seven Louisiana high schools rank among the top 2,000 public high schools in the United States with one Jefferson Parish school landing in the top 100, according to a new ranking published Monday by Newsweek. Newsweek has for years published an annual ranking of high schools. U.S. News & World Report has a rival … Continue reading →
In a turnaround from last year, the state House on Monday voted 102-0 to put off for one year the major impact of the new job evaluations for public school teachers. On another issue, the House approved a bill that would block state plans to change how public high schools are graded. Under the current evaluation … Continue reading →
Nearly half of the college students awarded the TOPS college scholarship between 2002 and 2008 lost their award, costing the state about $165 million, according to a Louisiana Legislative Auditor’s Office report. The Taylor Opportunity Program for Students was started in 1998 to provide financial assistance to college students and to give high school students an … Continue reading →
POSITION: World language consultant at the Louisiana Department of Education. AGE: 54. Hammatt works to promote pre-kindergarten through 12th grade world language learning. Before her current job, she was a French teacher in East Baton Rouge Parish elementary schools … Continue reading →
A bill set for House debate on Monday would politicize the issuance of letter grades to public schools, the executive director of an education group said Friday. The proposal, House Bill 466, would require a change in state plans for how high schools are graded. Without the proposal, backers said, new rules will make ACT results … Continue reading →
The East Baton Rouge Parish School Board voted 8-2 late Thursday to allow Superintendent Bernard Taylor to discuss health-insurance options for active and retired employees with United Healthcare and Humana, two companies competing to be the provider of choice. Earlier Thursday, Taylor asked the School Board to vote on a process for choosing a health insurance … Continue reading →
LIVINGSTON — Livingston Parish public schools are not technologically ready for the PARCC assessments that will be implemented in 2014, and funding for needed infrastructure and devices is limited, the district’s technology director said. The Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers tests will require students in the third through 12th grades — … Continue reading →
Officials in 63 of Louisiana’s 70 school districts have submitted new salary schedules that will reward teachers for effectiveness and other areas, the state Department of Education announced Thursday. The new pay plans stem from a 2012 state law aimed in part at giving local school officials more flexibility in how educators are paid. The law … Continue reading →
Nearly 8,000 vouchers have been offered to students, up from about 5,000 last year, state officials said Wednesday. Nearly 12,000 families applied for the aid, which is up from about 10,000 who applied in 2012. Vouchers are state aid for students in C, D and F public schools to attend private and parochial schools if they … Continue reading →