LEONARD GRAY / L’Observateur / September 15, 1999

LULING – Responding to a rising concern about violence on school campuses, the St. Charles School Board approved on first reading a crisismanagement and emergency response plan policy.

The policy requires the superintendent to develop procedures for crisis preparedness and crisis management. School Board President Ronald St.Pierre emphasized, “While the very nature of a crisis prohibits explicit planning, the St. Charles Parish School Board recognizes that the districtand school staffs must make crisis planning a top priority.”The policy declared that the plan be developed with input from educators, community agencies, parents and students as part of ongoing school and district planning efforts with annual updates and reviews.

Associate Superintendent Carolyn Woods added that a flip-book pamphlet is being prepared, condensed from a thick book, making it readily accessible during emergency situations to guide school staff in proper, prompt response.

It defines the roles of every school employee in case of emergencies and is coded for the type of crisis. Training is planned in the schools soon,according to Superintendent Dr. Rodney Lafon.Related to safety and security, the board also approved in second reading a policy for mandating employee photo-identification badges, to be worn at all times whenever on school property. Cost of the project is $2,000, witheach badge to cost one dollar.

Additionally, School Board Member Steve Crovetto asked about the possibility of school uniforms. Lafon responded that a survey is underway, organized by internal communication officer Regina Benoit.

In other matters, the board approved: Renewal of the cooperative agreement with the New Orleans/Bayou Chapter of the Associated Builders and Contractors for recruitment and training in trade skills, using the Destrehan High School Technology Building.

Lafon said an annual $14,400 lease payment to the school district will permit use of the facilities for the school term, $5,600 of which covers the lease and the remainder in utility costs. “It’s fair to the school systemand fair to them,” Lafon said.

School Board Member Clarence “Sonny” Savoie said a more accurate estimate on the utility cost could be determined by use of a separate meter.

Accepting the low bid for the Allemands Elementary classroom addition of $2.038 million from Bonneval Construction, payable from the sales taxbond fund.

Accepting the revisions of the Allemands Elementary classroom addition project, to bring the project within budget. The budget was $1,692,775,and the low bid exceeded that. The revisions in air conditioning, flooringand electrical, reduced the cost to $1,692,442.

During his regular report, Dr. Lafon provided an enrollment update of10,118 students, which is still below that of Oct. 1, 1998. He expectedadditional enrollment by Oct. 1 of this year.

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