RESERVE — Student enrollment preferences and operational sites will be negotiated between Louisiana Premier Charter School and the St. John the Baptist Parish School Board before the two entities return to the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education in August.

While a recent committee meeting closed all possibility of a charter school opening in St. John Parish for the 2019-2020 school years a 2020-2021 opening is still possible.

School Board attorney Ty Manieri said BESE “strongly encouraged” St. John schools to work with Louisiana Premier to finalize an operating agreement that would allow the school to open as a Type 1 charter school.

As a Type 1 charter, Louisiana Premier would be overseen by the St. John School Board.

For the operating agreement to become a reality, Manieri said student preferences on admission requirements must change. In August 2018, the School Board and Louisiana Premier tentatively agreed to give current private school students preference for admission.

“Loud and clear, BESE told us they didn’t like that,” Manieri said. “They would prefer to see that preference taken out of there.”

School Board President Patrick Sanders said both the School Board and Louisiana Premier were “out of line” in outlining the preference.

“The intent of charter schools are to take failing public schools to assist the community in improving the quality of education provided,” Sanders said, referencing literature from BESE.

According to Sanders, preference should go to students attending the lowest performing schools.

Manieri said BESE indicated a desire for “neutral standards” for admission.

The other topic that must be discussed with Louisiana Premier is operational sites, namely whether the Riverside Academy campus or separate site would be utilized.

“Their location at Riverside Academy is not an absolute deal breaker, and I’ll reiterate that,” Manieri said. “The deal breaker was that the matter wasn’t further discussed and no proposals were made.”

According to Manieri, the School Board has outstanding concerns on potential conversion issues and the impact the location may have on desegregation approval.

Manieri also expressed concern over the Rebels mascot imagery and what procedure would be followed in the event that Riverside Academy closes.

“The other route is to explore the possibility of other locations,” Manieri said.

The School Board plans to meet with Louisiana Premier prior to the July 18 regular board meeting.

In other St. John School Board news, Board members approved the 2019-2020 Pupil Progression Plan discussed last week, with two minor changes.

According to Dr. Juanita Hill, the addition that states homework will be graded for completion only now includes the stipulation that students must demonstrate effort in order to receive full credit.

Effective for the 2018-2019 freshman class (graduating class of 2022), students must attain an 18 on the ACT or a silver achievement level on the ACT Work Keys to be eligible for early release senior year.

Under the approved Pupil Progression amendment, students may appeal decisions on early release to the principal.

“This is three years down the road,” Hill said. “It’s going into effect for the freshmen who entered in 2018-2019. They know in advance they are expected to be working towards an 18 on the ACT or silver achievement level on the ACT Work Keys.

School Board member Debbie Schum wants to assure parents an appeal system will be in place.

“Even if they don’t get to the 18, there could be extenuating circumstances,” Schum said.

During the meeting, Board members also voted to ratify Heidi Trosclair’s interim superintendent contract.

Trosclair named Patricia Triche as interim executive director of curriculum and instruction and reinstated Sharess Every as interim coordinator of curriculum and assessment.