By David Vitrano

L’Observateur

RESERVE – In their first meeting since school began and the first since a slew of education reforms went into effect, the St. John the Baptist Parish School Board got a firsthand look at some of the results of the new reforms.

Interim Superintendent Herbert Smith said, “I am pleased to report the school year began smoothly,” adding that the challenges presented have had a minimal impact in the classroom.

He did note, however, that the district’s enrollment — at 5,772 as of Thursday — is down nearly 200 students. Executive Director of Business and Finance Felix Boughton pointed out that figure is comparable to the same point in the school year last year and that the number will not be made official until Oct. 1.

Still, the threat of scores of students leaving the system — and the loss of the accompanying MFP funding from the state — as a result of the voucher program hangs over the district.

Although official figures are not yet available from the state, Boughton said he has counted 240 scholarships awarded at private and parochial students in the parish.

“We could lose about $2 million in funding (if the district loses 240 students),” said Boughton.

So far, however, only about 70 students have been positively determined to be taking part in the voucher program.

“We won’t know until Oct. 1 when we finalize our student count,” said Boughton. “There are so many uncertainties with this program.”

Another change that came as a result of the newly passed legislation is that for the first time when Human Resources Director Leigh Ann Beard presented her list of personnel changes, it did not require action by the school board. While medical leaves and sabbaticals still require board approval, new hires of teachers do not.

Beard noted there are still eight teaching positions open in the district and said interviews for 10 aide positions will be conducted next week.

A new policy regarding reduction of personnel was also introduced to the board Thursday evening. The new policy states, in accordance with the new system of teacher evaluation, that choices in staff reduction should be based solely on teacher performance compared to the old policy that also took seniority into consideration. That policy will be up for board approval at the next board meeting and must be adopted by Sept. 1.

Lastly, the board approved the new rental fee policy for school board facilities introduced at the last meeting in July. The new fee schedule keeps the basic fee structure the same, but the $500 deposit is no longer required.