Broad education reform effort launched in St. James Parish
Published 12:00 am Tuesday, January 2, 2001
Daniel Tyler Gooden
LUTCHER – The St. James School Board and parish government are gathering the top names in education, business, environmental technology, economic development and the community to help focus the direction of the school system.
On Jan. 4 the two agencies are hosting an education reform symposium, having invited local principles, teachers and government, industry and community leaders to learn about education reform and other topics needed for a successful school system. A large part of the symposium will include audience feedback and participation.
The audience will hear from a variety of speakers, including Janie Vee Henderson, administrative director of St. James Parish School System; Linda Johns, district 8 state Board of Elementary and Secondary Education; Joan Savoy, executive director of the Leadership Institute, New Orleans Chamber of Commerce; Don Hutchinson, Louisiana secretary of the Department of Economic Development, Sr. Judith Brun, principal of St. Josephs Academy; Jim Dartez, president of Royce Instrumentation; Michael Abbiatti, associate commissioner of information and learning technology, Board of Regents; Edward Cancienne, St. James Parish superintendent; and St. James Parish President Dale Hymel.
The purpose of this program is to “closely align ourselves to the five-year mission, to produce students who love learning and desire to continue learning,” said Mary Edwards, director of personnel for the St. James Parish School System. The program is very business minded, discussing all facets of a school system with those who know them best.
“Brun has done and incredible job of integrating technology and learning,” said Edwards. At St. Joseph Academy it is required that all students have laptop computers to aid in their education.
The organizers of the program hope this will bring everyone across the parish and put them on the same page. With the help of those invited to attend, the school system hopes to build momentum for reform in the education system. “All the parish will be exposed to the issues at hand,” said Edwards.
As representatives of all parts of the parish, the audience will then be able to help the school system find ways to fulfill their goal of producing stellar students.
At the same time the symposium will address concerns of community education as well as student learning. Community classes have been held for graduate exit exams, learning to use computers and other areas of education. Part of the program will address how to expand that.
“We need the community. Were for them, so we need their input,” said Edwards.
For the parish government, the better the school system is the better the parish is.
“From the economic development standpoint, its easier if we have better students coming out of the school system,” said Hymel. With more qualified graduates, more jobs will be retained by local citizens.
By the end of next Thursday, hopes are that the issues of education reform will no longer lie just in the hands of the school system. With a tighter knit relationship between the school administration, parish government, industry and community, the problems of education reform are hoped to dissolve under a united parish.
