By David Vitrano
L’Observateur

LUTCHER – Members of the St. James Parish School Board got a sneak peek Thursday evening at a pair of commercials created to promote St. James Parish Public Schools’ recent approval as a Course Choice provider.

The first features students boarding a school bus, each heading to a different location where special course are offered. The second highlights the courses of study themselves.

According to Becky Louque, the commercial will be shown on ESPN2, BET, Family, the Food Network, TLC and Nickelodeon for the next two months. They will then rotate to other channels to reach the widest possible demographic.

Course Choice is a new, statewide initiative that gives students choices beyond the offerings of their home campuses to broaden both academic appeal and horizon. The Board of Elementary and Secondary Education recently approved St. James as a provider. Students will have the option of taking classes either face-to-face if it is offered locally or online. Students will be able to view an online catalogue of courses starting in January.

Registration for Course Choice will be from Dec. 14 until Jan. 15.

The commercials are the latest in a marketing campaign by the district begun last month with the unveiling of a new logo for the school district.

The new logo features stars representing the multiple generations of students and teachers who have passed through the parish’s education system; a stylized sword representing both St. James Parish and a compass representing the way forward; a laurel wreath representing victory, encouragement and inspiration; and arched wings symbolizing freedom and hope. Also the overall circular design of the logo is meant to signify completeness.

“We felt like this fulfilled the vision and purpose and where we’re headed,” said Louque.

The district will also be trying to increase its visibility through billboards and by maintaining a presence at public events such as next weekend’s Festival of the Bonfires.

“I think this is an extremely exciting time in the parish,” said Superintendent Alonzo Luce. “We are having a lot of people wanting to come back to public schools.”

The school board also agreed to advertise for bids for the sale of the surplus Pupil Appraisal Building in Vacherie. The building was appraised at $370,000, and the district must advertise for 85 percent of that amount.

Cosmetology students in the parish will once again get the chance to visit the Bonner Bros. International Hair Show in Atlanta in February. The board also granted the group $1,000 to help with expenses associated with the trip.

Cosmetology instructor Aleshia Smith said she took a group of 13 students to the show last year.

“The students had the opportunity to see cosmetology on a larger view,” she said.