LEONARD GRAY

LUTCHER – A police siren ripped through the air of a recent St. James Parish School Board meeting, followed by a stern voice. “The following program is intended for mature audiences,” said the voice. What immediately followed was a multi-media presentation on the past year at St. James High School, with pictures of top students and teachers at work and play joined by background vocal clips from several movies, including “Young Frankenstein,” “Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure” and “Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery.” A similar program is planned for the next school board meeting from Lutcher High School. In other activity, St. James Parish youth will participate in the Young Summer 2001 Peace Initiative Retreat, Aug. 9-11, in Biloxi, Miss., led by facilitator Elvis Cavalier. The retreat itself will be held at Seashore United Methodist Assembly in Biloxi, and include circle discussions on racial equality. Cavalier, in addressing the board about the trip, said 60 potential participants have been selected from grades 6-11, all as a reaction to May’s Peace Initiative. The emblem of the summer retreat, Cavalier said, is a circle “with no beginning, no end and all equal parts.” In other business, the School Board members approved payments for the new air conditioning system, the new softball facility and a roof replacement at St. James High School, for the replacement of the roof and air conditioning system at Vacherie Elementary School and for the air-cooled water chiller at St. James Junior High School. The board also accepted the low bid of $97,510 from M&H Builders for the air conditioning system replacement and roof repair at the primary building at Lutcher Elementary School. The board also approved the 2001-2002 personnel list for the school session. The firm of Postlewaite & Netterville has been renewed for its auditing services for the coming three years, by board approval. Projected cost will be $18,500 for 2001, $19,750 for 2002 and $21,825 for 2003. Costs in the past three years were $13,500 for 1998, $14,500 for 1999 and $15,435 in 2000.