St. John school board may add days to calendar

Published 12:00 am Saturday, February 7, 2004

By SUE ELLEN ROSS Staff Reporter

RESERVE – Adding two days to the school year may increase students’ test scores, according to St. John School Board member Clarence Triche. The topic was discussed at length during Thursday’s board meeting, with mostly positive comments.

“Class periods were 6o minutes long when I began teaching,” said Triche, a retired math teacher. “Then it changed to 55 minutes, then to 50 minutes. I thought I was a good teacher, but my students didn’t get the time they really needed.”

Many changes would have to be made to accommodate students attending class for a few extra days a year. The board agreed that more information, which includes discussions with the teacher’s union, is key in this situation.

The price tag to add the additional time to St. John Parish schools is high – $200,000 per day. This would cover the everyday expenses involved, from running the buses to paying the electricity bill, teacher’s salaries, and everything in between.

Board member Lowell Bacas said he is not convinced that this is the best way to spend that type of money. He suggested that after school programs and remedial classes could possibly serve the same purpose.

Triche disagreed.

“If this additional teaching helps to improve test scores even 1- or 2-percent, it would be a justice to give students more time,” he told the board. “A lot of good can come of this.”

Board member Russ Wise said he would be willing to consider the proposal, but much more research is needed. “What are the facts (regarding more teaching time equals better test scores)? Yes, it might help our kids, but we need to find out more.”

The topic of additional class time was on Thursday’s agenda as discussion only, but Triche said he would gather additional relevant information and bring the proposal before the school board for a vote at its next meeting on Feb. 19.

The board told the audience that public input is welcome on this subject.

In other news, the board accepted a bid proposal for fitness equipment to be located at East St. John High School.

The cost for purchasing the items from ProMaxima is listed at $32,028, with an additional $4,500 addendum.

The $36,528 total comes in quite a bit less than the original approximate $51,000 estimate, according to ESJ Athletic Director Larry Dauterive. “The estimate was based on using the manufacturers of very high-end equipment,” Dauterive told the board.

He said the quality of the items to be purchased has not been compromised due to the lower cost.

“We were given references of others using ProMaxima equipment. We are satisfied of the quality.” One of the reasons the cost is relatively lower may be due to the fact that equipment is coming directly from the manufacturer, with no middleman involved, he added.

The new equipment is part of a plan to upgrade athletic facilities at the school. This includes offering an area for physical education classes, as well as addressing safety factors.

Also at the meeting, the makeup of a Strategic Planning Committee was announced by the board.

This committee will formulate the school district’s 5-year Strategic Plan. Although the board did not name specific persons to these categories, they agreed on the breakdown of the 22-member composition.

To be included are: two parents; two administrators; two school board members; two teachers, one superintendent; one union (SJAE) officer; two large business representatives; two small business representatives; two members from St. John Parish government; one clergy member; one private school representative; one practicing professional in the community; one representative of special needs population and two high school students.

The board said additional members may be added, but they want to keep the number at a comfortable level. “Too many cooks can’t stir the soup,” said board member Russ Wise.

Superintendent Mike Coburn agreed and added, “We wanted to design this committee to include representation from all groups without becoming too cumbersome.”

Before Thursday’s meeting concluded, the board recognized Felix “Pappy” LeBouef, former school board member, who was in attendance.

The Garyville resident served on the board for almost 30 years, and was instrumental in the construction of Garyville/Mt. Airy Magnet School in 1993.

The school originally did not include an area for sports teams to practice or play their games. They had to travel to neighboring communities to use their facilities.

Not so anymore.

A new 12,700-sq. ft. gymnasium has just been completed at the school. The $1.2 million structure seats 375 people and includes locker rooms, concession areas and restrooms. School board members want to name the new building in honor of LeBouef.

They unanimously decided to forward their proposal to the State Legislature for approval.