SANDY SEAL / L’Observateur / September 23, 1998

RESERVE – East St. John High School is overcrowded, but at least a littlerelief is on the way.

The St. John Parish School Board agreed Thursday to solicit quotes andplace three doublewide trailers on campus as soon as possible.

That will provide six classrooms for the school. That isn’t enough to solvethe overcrowing problem, but Principal Debbie Schum said that’s all there is room for at the present time.

Schum told the board two weeks ago that 14 of the school’s teachers are not assigned a classroom. The school – designed for 1,200 students – hasmore than 1,500 this year.

The trailers will be a temporary solution to the school’s problem. Theboard is also looking at constructing a new metal classroom building on the campus.

In another matter, the school board voted to hire KPMG to conduct a performance review and audit of the school system. Several boardmembers, including Dr. Gerald Keller, said curriculum and instructionshould be the number 1 priority of the audit.

“That’s what drives the school system,” Keller said.

Superintendent Cleveland Farlough said he wants the public to have confidence in the report and said the board and school system should accept and follow it, whatever the outcome.

The school board also: Heard that Fifth Ward Elementary teacher Joyce Polk has received a $1,000 Learn for the 21st Century science grant.

Recognized Sandra Triche, who has made numerous contributions to the East St. John High nursing assistant program. At the meeting Trichedonated a glucometer to West St. John High for use in its nursing assistantprogram.

Declared two metal buildings, one at East St. John High and one atLaPlace Elementary, as surplus items. Both buildings are in bad shape,board members learned.

Heard from fellow board member Aleitha Bardell, who asked the superintendent to look into having ACT preparation classes in the parish.

She also asked that Dr. Gerald Keller be on the committee.

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