By Monique Roth
L’Observateur

EDGARD — New music teachers and adjusted bell time announcements were included in topics discussed at Thursday night’s St. John the Baptist Parish School Board meeting.

Superintendent Kevin George announced the district has hired three music teachers to work in the remaining district schools that did not have music programs. 

“Now, every school in St. John the Baptist will have music education,” George said.

East St. John High School, West St. John High School and Emily C. Watkins were the only three schools that had music programs previously. George said the three new teachers will rotate throughout the schools.

“We must teach the entire child,” George said. “We want to ensure that we are tapping into the artistic abilities of our children. Music enhances the overall education of a child and gives them something more than the three R’s to look forward to.”

George said the addition of the music programs will enhance the district’s schools and give the parish’s children a better education.

George reminded parents at the meeting that several bell times have changed for the upcoming school year. He said the changes were done to better route buses and ensure students weren’t on buses longer than necessary.

For Freshman Academy students, bell times will be 7 a.m. and 2 p.m.

East St. John High School bell times will be 7:10 a.m. and 2:10 p.m., while 7:40 a.m. and 2:40 p.m. will be the bell times for East St John Elementary and LaPlace Elementary.

St. Joan of Arc will have bell times of 7:45 a.m. and 3:10 p.m., while bells will ring at Ascension of our Lord at 7:55 a.m. and 3 p.m.

St. Peter’s bell times are 7:55 a.m. and 3:05 p.m., St. John Child Development Center’s bell times are 8 a.m. and 2 p.m. and Our Lady of Grace’s bell times are 8 a.m. and 3 p.m.

Fifth Ward Elementary and Lake Pontchartrain Elementary bell times are 8:05 a.m. and 3:05 p.m., while bell times for John L. Ory Magnet, Garyville Magnet / Mt. Airy, St. John Alternative and Emily C. Watkins will be 8:40 a.m. and 3:40 p.m.

On the west bank, West St. John High bell times will be 7:20 a.m. and 2:20 p.m., and West St. John Elementary bell times will be 8 a.m. and 3 p.m.

Communications Specialist Jennifer Boquet said any private schools mentioned above were done so because those private schools utilize the district’s buses.

In other meeting news:

• The Board awarded Lincoln Builders of Baton Rouge, the lowest of two bidders, a $10 million contract to repair East St. John High School. 

• Laverne Saulny, representative for Sen. Mary Landrieu, announced Landrieu’s donation of five computers to Lake Pontchartrain Elementary. The computers will be shipped Aug. 8.