By KATHY HANRAHAN-Staff Reporter

LAPLACE – In other council news, the board agreed to donate $4,000 to the St. John Summer Witness program to help student prepare for LEAP tests.

The program, which is designed for students that will be enrolled in fourth and eighth grade in fall 2003, reaches Garyville Grammar School students who are low-income and at-risk. For a cost of $10 per child, the program provides children with a hot lunch and field trip opportunities.

The program is building support with other organizations as well. Businesses in the parish and the Parish School Board have also donated money.

“They want to get the people of Saint John Parish involved,” Councilman Cleveland Farlough said.

Farlough believes that this program can help students later in their academic career.

“Education helps children do better,” he said.

In unrelated news, the council also voted to table the discussion of the construction of a new animal shelter. After hearing an outcry from some community members, the council entered into a discussion about the $200,000 building. The council decided to look at a variety of locations before deciding on the best possible site.

“We need to put 100 percent into trying to find property for the new site,” Councilman Dale Wolfe said.