Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

LAPLACE — Superintendent Dr. Lynett Hookfin identified June 24 as a date when more information will be available regarding the transition of the St. John STEM Magnet Program to the East St. John High School Freshman Building. By June 24, Hookfin also plans to have a new site identified for the Redirection program for expelled students.

According to Hookfin, numerous collaborative discussions have been held with STEM scholars, parents and staff regarding the transition to East St. John’s campus. The School Board voted on April 29 to move the STEM site, which has operated at the old Leon Godchaux Junior High campus since the program debuted in 2018, to the East St. John Freshman building to save the District approximately $1 million.

During the June 17 School Board meeting held at LaPlace Elementary, Hookfin promised that the STEM scholars will have their own lunch period on East St. John’s campus, separate from other students. She also anticipates that the STEM scholars will have a separate entrance into the school.

According to Hookfin, engagement sessions revealed that top priorities for STEM scholars include ensuring technology is available and establishing leadership and student support initiatives. Scholars also want to know uniform expectations, since STEM students have previously not had to follow the same dress code as other school sites in the district.

Meanwhile, top priorities for faculty and staff included requiring resources to enhance effective communication and customizing course offerings for STEM scholars. Parents are most concerned with safety, logistical plans and communicating rules and procedures to STEM scholars.

“Please note that on Thursday, June 24, the physical transition date and plans will be shared with the groups that we have met with,” Hookfin said. “We’re making progress, and what I took from most of the meetings is that people want to have a tour of the actual building before school starts.”

Another discussion during the June 17 School Board meeting involved Hookfin’s plan to close the Connections Program site and redesign the Redirection Program.

The Connections Program serves approximately 60 students in the district who are two or more grade levels behind, while the Redirection Program is intended to guide expelled students back on the right path.

Hoofkin said these programs should provide transitional planning and support, individualized student learning plans, behavioral and academic intervention, specialized staff support and professional development for educators servicing these students.

She suggested moving the Connections Program students back to their respective schools with individualized plans similar to an IEP for each child. The goal is to provide support and help each Connections student reach the appropriate grade level.

“I am going to say that for us to service scholars at the highest potential, that we consider moving the scholars back to their home sites and provide them with additional resources,” Hookfin said.

However, the Redirections students cannot be placed at their respective school sites.

“We do know that the state law requires all expelled scholars to be in a separate location, but that can be worked out. We don’t anticipate having numerous scholars being expelled. That’s not our goal,” Hookfin said.

Administration projects that 14 expelled students will attend the Redirection Program in Fall 2021.

Board member Debbie Schum said she would feel more comfortable knowing the plan for Redirection students before closing the current Alternative School site. Hookfin expects to have an answer to this question within a week.

Baord members noted that it’s concerning that many students in the Connections program seem to be coming from the same schools.

School Board President Nia Mitchell-Williams said the Board needs to take a look at demographics to identify gaps in the educational system.

“I’m curious to know if we need to look deeply at specific early elementary programs at certain schools and put more focus there. If we have more of these kids coming from a certain population or subset in the community, we need to reach out to the community for more resources or partner with agencies for literacy. What’s the reason that certain children from certain areas are behind? Looking at data may help us so we don’t get here again,” Mitchell said.

Board member Ali Burl III said it is important to make sure students at the first, second and third grade level are getting a strong educational foundation to prevent them from falling behind or dropping out down the road.

In other news, Stacey Spies provided an update on the School District’s COVID-19 cases. Since June 5, three students and one adult have tested positive. St. John Parish currently has a 4% positivity rate, and Spies said the district administration is working closely with Ochsner Health System to establish vaccine clinics for students.