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ST. FRANCISVILLE — West Feliciana Parish School Board members clashed over personnel issues at their meeting Tuesday. Board members Milton Coates and James White objected to advertising for a curriculum specialist and an instructional coach to assist with the implementation of the new teaching standards beginning in fall. Common Core State Standards, or CCSS, … Continue reading →
CLINTON — The East Feliciana Parish School Board should consider withholding a “13th check” from employees this summer to avoid wiping out the general fund’s small balance in the coming fiscal year, the board’s financial adviser said Tuesday. Certified public accountant Tommy LeJeune said paying a salary supplement of about $600,000 as the fiscal year … Continue reading →
More than 9,000 Catholic elementary school students in East Baton Rouge Parish could be starting their school day at 7:45 a.m. next year, 45 minutes earlier than this year, in a change expected to save the public school system $2 million a year, officials said. Under a tentative agreement reached with the East Baton Rouge Parish … Continue reading →
PINEVILLE — Louisiana College recognized its 2012 spring graduates in the commencement ceremony at 10 a.m. Saturday, May 12, in Guinn Auditorium. Graduates from The Advocate’s circulation area include: Laquita Armstead, Donaldsonville; Glenn Barras III, Baton Rouge; Emily Bordelon, Plaucheville; Daniel Chapman, Denham Springs; Kathleen Fairchild, Denham Springs; Devan Greene, Kaplan; Kayla Guidry, … Continue reading →
AMITE — The Tangipahoa Parish school system may soon change auditing firms for the first time in 18 years. Of the seven firms responding to a request for proposals, Harris CPA of Baton Rouge fell to the middle of the pack in scoring, Chief Financial Officer Bret Schnadelbach told the School Board’s Financial Advisory Committee … Continue reading →
Central schools won’t be offering vouchers to children in lower-performing public schools in other school districts to attend Central schools this fall, the Central School Board decided this week. In a letter to the board sent last week, Central Superintendent Michael Faulk recommended rejecting participating in the state’s voucher program because the school system is … Continue reading →
When Capitol High School administrators were looking toward this graduation season, one big obstacle they had to overcome was finding a place to hold the ceremony. The small graduating class of 100, out of the 265 students at the school, meant there was little money from senior fees to pay for putting on the event. Continue reading →
A bill that would pave the way for a breakaway school district in southeast Baton Rouge was cleared Monday for a showdown vote in the full Louisiana House. The measure, Senate Bill 563, won approval in the House Appropriations Committee, which was asked to review the financial impact of the change. The vote was 11-8 and … Continue reading →
Louisiana Association of Educators President Joyce Haynes told the Press Club on Monday that union leaders are looking at possible lawsuits and they plan to come back next year to try to overturn Gov. Bobby Jindal’s sweeping education revamp. “We’re going to have to come back and show you that doesn’t work,” Haynes said. “Experts say … Continue reading →
PLAQUEMINE — A proposal by Iberville Parish School Superintendent Ed Cancienne to reverse start times of the district’s elementary and high school students in the upcoming school year got a lukewarm reception from several School Board members Monday night. Cancienne told the board he wants to bump up the start time … Continue reading →
HAMMOND — Southeastern Louisiana University conferred degrees on more than 1,200 graduates Saturday at the university’s spring commencement exercises. Louisiana Secretary of State Tom Schedler was keynote speaker at the 10 a.m. ceremony in the University Center arena. Candidates for associate, bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees were honored. Southeastern President … Continue reading →
LAFAYETTE — More than 1,300 students graduated from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette during commencement exercises Saturday. Candidates for graduation are listed by parish and college below. Arts: Dustin J Benoit, Lindsey T Delacerda, Damien Damon Mitchell, John A Prevost. Business Administration: Jeanne M … Continue reading →
A high-ranking LSU administrator recommended the university next week award an honorary doctorate to a booster whose company pays the official a six-figure salary. Opponents to awarding an honorary doctorate in Humanities to Sean Reilly, chief executive officer of Lamar Advertising Co., say the award is a conflict of interest because LSU Provost Jack Hamilton is … Continue reading →
A scaled-down bid to curb bullying in public schools remains alive, and may well win final approval, largely because one Baton Rouge lawmaker had a change of heart. Meanwhile, a bill that would require the teaching of sex education in public schools is likely dead for the session because another Baton Rouge legislator changed his mind. Continue reading →
PLAQUEMINE — The Iberville Parish School System on Friday marked a major expansion of its Math, Science and Arts Academy-West campus with opening ceremonies for its $2.4 million Science, Technology, Engineering and Math learning center. The new 11,000-square-foot center took a little more than a year to construct and adds five additional classrooms to the … Continue reading →
One hundred and seventy-five graduates are expected to participate in the Southern University Law Center 2012 Commencement to be held at 10 a.m. Saturday in the F.G. Clark Activity Center on the Southern University Baton Rouge campus. The group comprises Fall 2011 graduates and Spring and Summer 2012 graduates. U.S. Rep. Cedric Richmond, D-New Orleans, will … Continue reading →
Legislation that, for the first time, would provide state school aid for some students to attend private and parochial schools won approval Thursday in the state Senate Education Committee. The proposal, Senate Concurrent Resolution 299, passed 4-1 and next faces action in the full Senate. The plan authorizes the spending of $3.4 billion for Louisiana’s 700,000 … Continue reading →
GREENSBURG — Among the 140 or so letters the St. Helena school system mailed out last week, three carried word that their recipients would not have a job for the 2012-13 school year. The School Board sent letters to all system employees notifying them of their status for next year, due to a reduction in … Continue reading →
The state-run Recovery School District announced Thursday the names of the six principals who will lead the north Baton Rouge public schools it plans to run in the 2012-13 school year. The RSD also announced Thursday that it plans to offer its teachers a competitive compensation package 5 percent better than what they’d make with the … Continue reading →
LSU Chancellor Michael Martin has been named the finalist for the same position at Colorado State University by the system’s Board of Governors. Martin, however, said he has neither decided to leave Baton Rouge nor has Colorado State University, called CSU, extended a formal offer for him to lead their three-campus system. If he did … Continue reading →
After more than three hours of often-pointed testimony, a Louisiana House committee Wednesday approved a plan that would pave the way for a new public school district in southeast Baton Rouge. The two-bill package won approval in the House Education Committee 12-6, with Republicans behind the plan and Democrats opposed. When the issue will be debated … Continue reading →
The Colorado State University Board of Governors is scheduled to hold a special meeting Thursday morning, just one day after LSU Chancellor Michael Martin confirmed that he is being seriously considered for the chancellor position at that school. Colorado State University System spokesman Kyle Henley previously said the university’s chancellor search committee met Monday night and … Continue reading →
Three East Baton Rouge Parish teachers were named 2013 teachers of the year Tuesday, citing high expectations, developing relationships and real-life problem solving as reasons for their success. Sabrina Dixon Jenkins, a fifth-grade teacher at Highland Elementary; Corie McKinley Buras, an eighth-grade Louisiana history teacher at Southeast Middle School; and Ni’Shawn Leneigh Stovall, a … Continue reading →
A proposal to fold LSU-Shreveport into the University of Louisiana System, and then merge the institution with Louisiana Tech, cleared its first hurdle Tuesday morning in the state House Education Committee. The panel voted 14-4 to advance the legislation. House Bill 964, sponsored by state Rep. Jim Fannin, D-Jonesboro, has been advertised as a … Continue reading →
A bill that would require the teaching of sex education in public schools narrowly failed again Tuesday in the state House Education Committee. The vote was 9-9, with three Republicans joining six Democrats in favor of the proposal on a volatile social values issue. The same measure failed 8-8 on April 25. After the vote, … Continue reading →
ZACHARY — Bowing to public pressure, the Zachary Community School District won’t accept any students from other, less-successful school systems under the new state voucher program, Superintendent Warren Drake said. The School Board voted April 26 to accept 30 eligible students next year who would normally attend C-, D- and F-rated schools in other … Continue reading →
Serena Gotch was one of just a couple of parents, and one of barely a dozen people, attending a meeting Tuesday to discuss the latest changes at the north Baton Rouge middle school where her son, Darius, 13, is about to finish eighth grade. “They have worked with him here,” said Gotch, standing in a … Continue reading →
LSU Chancellor Michael Martin said Tuesday night he is being seriously considered for the chancellor position at Colorado State University, and that he will strongly consider it, if is offered. The job offer could be forthcoming in the next couple of weeks. Continue reading →
The president of the state’s community and technical college system condemned Monday a report by a Washington D.C. firm that concluded Pell Grants and other forms of financial aid for low-income students don’t have a significant impact on their success. The study entitled “Can Financial Aid Improve Student Success at Louisiana’s Community Colleges,” found that academic preparation … Continue reading →
The Louisiana Recovery School District plans to relocate Prescott Middle School students to the campus of Istrouma High School effective this fall, officials said at a public meeting Monday. The move comes as the Recovery School District takes over the middle school, which is being operated this year by Advance Baton Rouge, a charter school organization. Continue reading →
Chris and Natalia Andrade’s desire to get their son off to an early start in school has ended up with the family in court, owing thousands of dollars to a private Christian school in Baton Rouge that their son never attended. Chris Andrade says he can’t afford the bill, which has grown over the course … Continue reading →
Career educator and civic leader Roxson Welch has dedicated most of her life to trying to make Baton Rouge a better place. The 57-year-old mother of three taught in the East Baton Rouge Parish public school system for 17 years, helped start the Louisiana Resource Center for Educators, and worked as Mayor-President Kip Holden’s educational … Continue reading →
In the spring of 1997, Bernard Taylor was summoned to the office of the then-human resources director of Pittsburgh Public Schools and got a big surprise. “She said, ‘The superintendent and I would like to offer you the opportunity to be principal of Weil Technology School,’ ” Taylor recalled. “I said, ‘I didn’t apply for … Continue reading →
AGE: 38. POSITION: President and chief executive officer of the Baton Rouge Area Chamber. Knapp started his current job with BRAC in April 2008. Before that, he served as economic development adviser to two Louisiana governors and as deputy director of the Louisiana Recovery … Continue reading →
ExxonMobil presented Southern University with a check for $89,550 Friday as part of the corporation’s three-to-one matching gift program from employees and retirees. The majority of the money will go toward needs-based scholarships. However, the university will honor donations designated for specific purposes, said Margaret Ambrose, special assistant to the chancellor of Southern’s Baton Rouge campus. … Continue reading →
Southern University’s main Baton Rouge campus should hit the student performance and graduation targets needed under the GRAD Act, System President Ronald Mason Jr. said Friday. If Mason is correct, the financially troubled university will avoid losing several million dollars out of its 2012-13 operating budget. The law also allows colleges to increase tuition by up … Continue reading →
NATCHITOCHES: Northwestern State University awarded degrees to 792 students Friday at Spring commencement exercises in Prather Coliseum. University of Louisiana System President Dr. Randy Moffett was the commencement speaker. Spring graduates by hometown in The Advocate’s circulation area are: Abbeville: Shaquille Broussard, Bachelor … Continue reading →
Professor Eric Ravussin, an award-winning scientist known for his research examining the genetic and molecular causes for obesity, was unanimously named a Boyd Professor by the LSU Board of Supervisors, an LSU spokesperson said Friday. The recognition is LSU’s top academic honor. Ravussin, 62, chief of health and performance enhancement at Pennington Biomedical Research Center, becomes … Continue reading →
A bill touted as a way to curb bullying in public schools, without spelling out controversial protections for gay students and others, won approval in the state Senate Education Committee. The proposal is a substitute for Senate Bill 709. Continue reading →
LIVINGSTON — The Louisiana Federation of Teachers has asked the Livingston Parish School System to rescind the furloughs of 3,600 teachers and support staff this school year. The School Board voted last July to freeze district salaries and eliminate three non-instructional work days for all employees, including administrators, in order to save the system nearly … Continue reading →
The EBR School Board voted on Thursday to close EBR Lab Academy at the end of this school year, sparking tears from students who made emotional pleas to keep their school open. Continue reading →
The Baton Rouge Area Chamber on Thursday announced it is opposed to legislation that would create a new southeast Baton Rouge school district until there’s more information about its impact. “BRAC shares in parents’ frustration with our current public education outcomes. However, BRAC’s board of directors felt it cannot support this legislation until proper planning and cost … Continue reading →
AMITE — The Tangipahoa Parish School Board will seek court approval to resume collecting two millages supporting Hammond accelerated and alternative school programs. The board voted unanimously Tuesday night to approve the Hammond delegation’s recommendation to reinstitute the pair of ad valorem taxes previously approved by Hammond-area voters. Neither millage was collected in 2011. Continue reading →
The East Baton Rouge Parish School Board on Wednesday began discussing 53 budget cuts that would save the school system an estimated $28.6 million during the 2012-13 fiscal year, including possibly closing two schools and merging two small alternative schools. The School Board took no votes Wednesday, but could approve many of the cuts at a … Continue reading →
The state has a moral obligation to upgrade failing public schools in the East Baton Rouge Parish school system, state Superintendent of Education John White said Wednesday. White told the Rotary Club of Baton Rouge that no parish school system in the state needs public school improvements more than those in the capital city. He said … Continue reading →