DANIEL TYLER GOODEN / L’Observateur / February 26, 2000

ST. JAMES – The St. James School Board meeting at Fifth Ward ElementarySchool Tuesday lasted only an hour but was packed with concerns, honors and information.

Jackie Levy of the Concerned Citizens group requested the board develop due process procedures for students, personnel and staff. She said the schoolsneed a consistent set of rules with clear discipline codes. Grievances shouldbe submitted in written form and an investigation of the grievance should be made within 10 days, she added.

She said it is important that any problem should be acted on, if not by the school system then by the local authorities. She hoped the board wouldguarantee a written policy that would give answers to any complaint that is filed, including written documentation of the investigations findings.

Concerning a statewide topic, C.C. Campbell-Rock was on hand representingParents for Educational Justice to discuss past, present and future problems of the LEAP test.

State law requires fourth- and eighth-graders take the test, however it is not law that students who have failed the test be held back from promotion.

The state Legislature directed the Department of Education and the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education to decide what options should be given to the students who fail the test, and Campbell-Rock said it was those groups which decided to hold back the students.

The main problem with not promoting students who fail the LEAP test is that it’s speculated about a third of the students will in fact fail. This leaves anincredible strain when the advancing class combine with the held back students, said Campbell-Rock. She strongly advised parents in the parish tomeet with the school board in a “full forum to look at the LEAP test.”In another matter, Evergreen Plantation, Regions Bank and American Iron Reduction were presented plaques honoring their participation in the Making the Connection Program. The program gave students the chance to viewtheir studies from the practical aspects of the local businesses and their employees.

Also, Amber Mitchell and Erin Steib of St. James High School were honoredfor the work they did in cooperation with students from Nicholls State University concerning St. James pollution. The project tested mercurydeposits in lichens across St. Charles, St. John and St. James parishes. Thestudents found the pollution in the fungus was lower than in the rest of the state.

Also, Assata Olgabata stood before the board on behalf of the St. JamesHigh parents and requested reinstatement of Ridgely Mitchell as principal.

“We need Mr. Mitchell. Our children are being pushed aside. Our children comelast,” Olgabata said referring to the board’s transfer of Mitchell.

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