2
Back to School, Thursday, July 9, 2015
Stories
Curriculum ...........................................…Page 2
Volunteers of the Year ..........................…Page 3
School calendar ....................................…Page 4
School calendar (month by month)......…Page 5
Summer construction ...........................…Page 6
Public schools of Livingston Parish....Pages 9-16
School Board members.......................…Page 21
Superintendent John Watson..............…Page 21
School resource officers ......................…Page 21
Advertisers
Our Lady of the Lake ...........................…Page 3
Livingston Youth & Family Counseling ..... Page 6
The Learning Tree .................................…Page 7
Community Christian Academy.............…Page 7
Denham Finance Inc. ............................…Page 8
CASA .....................................................…Page 8
Primerica............................................…Page 12
St. Alphonsus Catholic School .............…Page 12
Sport-N-Center ...................................…Page 14
Christ’s Community Church ................…Page 14
State Sen. Dale Erdey .........................…Page 15
Pelican State Credit Union..................... Page 17
Cellular Stuff ......................................... Page 18
Sport-N-Center ...................................... Page 18
Walker Pharmacy .................................. Page 19
Children’s International Medical ............ Page 22
AT&T ...................................................... Page 24
What comes next
after Common Core?
By Mike Dowty
The Livingston Parish News
LIVINGSTON — Common Core is
on its way out, so what’s next?
For now, the carefully crafted
Livingston Parish school curriculum to comply with Common Core remains in place,
though the testing mechanism
is up in the air.
Four years ago educators
began scrambling to put the
mandated Common Core education standards into their curriculum, typically lacking any
textbooks that actually adhered
to them. One workaround in
Livingston Parish was to order
workbooks and other materials to supplement classroom
instruction.
Now these same educators
wonder what will become of
all this work, the brainchild
of some experienced teachers
who may have to start over or
significantly alter what they
have done.
Because Common Core is
being phased out rather than
summarily dropped, the adjustments to what stays and what
changes won’t have to be made
this year.
“The big question was
whether Common Core is going
to remain or whether we’re
doing something else,” Assistant Superintendent of Schools
Joe Murphy said. “Basically
they left Common Core in
place, so that will allow us to
continue with the curriculum
we’ve been developing for four
years. Our curriculum is in
place, our teachers are more
familiar with it than they have
ever been and our children
are performing better in the
classroom.”
Common Core is a set of
standards, generally regarded
as tougher ones, setting goals
for proficiency in subjects
‘Our curriculum
is in place, our
teachers are
more familiar
with it than they
have ever been
and our children
are performing
better in the
classroom.
’
Joe Murphy
Assistant Superintendent of Schools
taught that allows comparison of attainment across the
United States and between U.S.
students and the rest of the
world. Many businesses and
employers see it as critical for
a well-trained, competitive national workforce in the future.
Critics see it as a top-down approach that takes key teaching
decisions out of the hands of
classroom teachers and vests
them in a bureaucracy. Conservatives are highly suspicious
of a stealth agenda by liberals
to impose teachings at odds
with traditional beliefs. Many
parents also have been critical
of the convoluted and confusing way some subjects such as
math seem to be taught.
Gov. Bobby Jindal, who initially went along with Common
Core, abandoned it last year, declaring he is against “one size
fits all” solutions in education.
Livingston Parish educa-
tors who have invested a great
deal of time and thought into
complying with Common Core
don’t want to have to tear up
their curriculum and start
over.
To local educators caught in
the middle, Common Core is
simply a blueprint for them to
write a curriculum. Now that
it’s been done and students
have demonstrated they are
learning, teachers are leery of
making more changes.
“You have to understand the
difference between curriculum and standards,” Assistant
Superintendent Rick Wentzel
said. “We wrote our curriculum.”
Several years ago when
everyone saw Common Core
coming, Superintendent John
Watson and the School Board
took a proactive stance for
their system to be ready. They
selected a group of close to 80
teachers, supervisors and coordinators to come up with a curriculum aligned with Common
Core and to assess and revise it
as needed.
The group included 54 teachers and 14 supervisors and
another eight to 10 special education teachers. They went to
work honing the material that
would be taught and the results
have shown up in better test
scores across the board the last
two years by Livingston Parish
students.
Just as everyone has gotten
into a groove, those tests will
now change under new legislation that will do away with the
PARCC tests and replace them
with … no one is sure.
The Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College
CURRICULUM
PAGE 23
Back to School, Thursday, July 9, 2015
3
2 from Livingston Parish are top volunteers
BATON ROUGE — The Associated Professional Educators of Louisiana (A+PEL)
recently honored 38 education volunteers
from across the state for their dedication
to students and teachers in Louisiana’s
public schools. Livingston Parish had
two honorees – Jessica Alman, a volunteer at North Live Oak Elementary;
and Jeffrey Maruschak, a volunteer at
Walker High School.
Alman is currently serving her fourth
year as a public school volunteer. She
serves as a substitute teacher when
needed, and this past year, she hosted
an Operation Christmas Child packing
party for her Fellowship of Christian
Athlete students, packing more than 100
boxes for the cause.
Maruschak volunteers more than 90
minutes each day to teach students in
grades 10-12 about heating ventilation,
air conditioning and refrigeration. After
working in the HVAC field for more than
35 years, he said he wanted to share
his knowledge with those students who
sought career options that didn’t require
traditional college.
Jeffrey Maruschak, a volunteer at Walker High School, and Jessica Alman, a volunteer at North Live Oak Elementary
4
Back to School, Thursday, July 9, 2015
Livingston Parish Public Schools
Post Office Box 1130
Livingston, Louisiana 70754
SCHOOL CALENDAR – 2015/2016
Planning/Preparation (TEACHERS and PRINCIPALS)*
Planning/Preparation (TEACHERS and PRINCIPALS)*
First Semester Begins (STUDENTS)
Parent/Teacher Conference Day
First Semester Ends (STUDENTS)
Planning/Preparation (TEACHERS and PRINCIPALS)*
Second Semester Begins (STUDENTS)
Second Semester Ends (STUDENTS)
Second Semester Ends (TEACHERS and PRINCIPALS)*
Wednesday, August 5, 2015 (Full Day)
Thursday, August 6, 2015 (Full Day)
Friday, August 7, 2015
Thursday, October 15, 2015
Friday, December 18, 2015
Wednesday, January 6, 2016 (Full Day)
Thursday, January 7, 2016
Monday, May 23, 2016
Tuesday, May 24, 2016
SCHOOL HOLIDAYS (STUDENTS)
Labor Day
Monday, September 7, 2015 (1 Day)
Livingston Parish Fair
Friday, October 9, 2015 (1 Day)
Parent/Teacher Conference Day
Thursday, October 15, 2015 (1 Day)
Convention and Thanksgiving
Monday - Friday, November 23-27, 2015 (5 Days)
Christmas and New Year’s
Monday, December 21, 2015 - Wednesday, January 6, 2016 (13 Days)
Classwork resumes
Thursday, January 7, 2016
Martin Luther King Day
Monday, January 18, 2016 (1 Day)
Mardi Gras
Monday & Tuesday, February 8 & 9, 2016 (2 Days)
Good Friday/Easter
Friday, March 25, 2016 - Friday, April 1, 2016 (6 Days)
*School staff will observe all holidays with the exception of those designated as for planning and in-services.
PROGRESS REPORTS TO BE ISSUED
Tuesday
ELEMENTARY & JUNIOR HIGH
September 8, 2015
Wednesday
Thursday
November 11, 2015
February 11, 2016
Wednesday
April 20, 2016
GRADING PERIOD ENDS/ELEM. & JUNIOR HIGH
Thursday
Friday
Friday
Monday
October 8, 2015
December 18, 2015
March 11, 2016
May 23, 2016
-
44
44
44
45
days
days
days
days
SECONDARY
Tuesday
Thursday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
Wednesday
September 8, 2015
October 8, 2015
November 11, 2015
February 11, 2016
March 11, 2016
April 20, 2016
GRADING PERIOD ENDS/SECONDARY
Friday
Monday
December 18, 2015 - 88 days
May 23, 2016 - 89 days
REPORT CARDS TO BE ISSUED
ELEMENTARY AND JUNIOR HIGH
Thursday
Friday
Friday
Tuesday
October 15, 2015
January 8, 2016
March 18, 2016
May 31, 2016
SECONDARY
Friday
Tuesday
January 8, 2016
May 31, 2016
Back to School, Thursday, July 9, 2015
5
6
Back to School, Thursday, July 9, 2015
Summer school construction hums
By John Dupont
The Livingston Parish News
LIVINGSTON — Never mention
“summer vacation” to the
Livingston Parish School
System maintenance crew.
The 2 ½-month gap between the previous school
year and the next one provides little rest for the weary
in the maintenance department.
The summer break for
teachers and students puts
the maintenance crew at
work on projects they could
not otherwise complete during the regular school year.
“The kids are gone, so
it gives us a chance to get
the most work done,” said
Jimmie Willson, assistant
director of maintenance for
the Livingston Parish School
System.
Fifteen major projects top
the work list for the maintenance workers, but it does
not account for the minor
paint jobs, repairs and refurbishing at the 46 schools
across Livingston Parish.
The time restraint poses a
huge challenge for workers,
but other factors add to the
stress load, said Willson,
a 17-year employee of the
department.
Daily rainfall has put a
strain on crews as they work
to finish projects before the
next school year begins Aug.
7.
“The weather has been a
major pain,” Willson said.
“Even after construction
crews miss work because of
rain, they have to contend
with mud the next day.”
Work crews often work Saturday and Sunday to ensure
the prompt completion of
projects.
“Contractors are given
CONSTRUCTION
PAGE 7
DAVID NORMAND | THE NEWS
Work is underway on a pavilion in the commons area outside a renovated Denham Springs High cafeteria that will give the students shaded tables to have lunch outdoors if they choose.
7
Back to School, Thursday, July 9, 2015
Construction hits the ground running on last day of school
From Page 6
rain days, but it costs them
more to bring in workers
on Saturdays and Sundays,
which cuts into profits,”
Willson said. “But when they
have to do it, they do it.
“We’ve been very fortunate
with our contractors,” he
said. “They work hard and
cooperate with us to get everything done on time.”
Crews generally give classrooms top priority to ensure
no disruption with instruction time.
“There’s a rush on everything we do during the summer, but we always think
about the instruction-related
projects first,” Willson said.
“We’re already running like
crazy, but it gets even more
intense the last week or two
CONSTRUCTION
PAGE 18
DAVID NORMAND | THE NEWS
Construction workers
have removed A/C units
and windows in 10
classrooms in the 100
hall at French Settlement High School and
installed new energy
efficient windows and
A/C units. Pictured
at left is a classroom
with new units and
windows. ProStart will
be starting its second
year at the school, but
the first year in its own
classroom with all new
equipment. Last year,
ProStart was taught in
the old Home Economics classroom.
8
Back to School, Thursday, July 9, 2015
9
Back to School, Thursday, July 9, 2015
LIVINGSTON PARISH PUBLIC SCHOOLS
http://albanyue.lpsb.org
Start time: 8:19 a.m.
Dismissal time: 3:17 p.m.
Number of students: 329
Number of faculty: 25
Albany High
29710 Mulberry Street, Albany
Principal: Jill Prokop
Assistant Principal: Amy Carter
Grades: 9 - 12
Phone: 567-9319
Fax: 567-9162
http://albanyhs.lpsb.org
Number of students: 560
Number of faculty: 35
Start time: 7:18
Dismissal: 2:30
Denham Springs Elementary
Jill
Prokop
Albany Lower Elementary
30051 W. School Street, Albany
Grades: Pre-K - 2
Principal: Kathy Stilley
Designee: Robin Stewart
Phone: 567-9281
Fax: 567-2972
http://albanyle.lpsb.org
Number of students: 453
Number of faculty: 37
Start time: 8:20 a.m.
Dismissal: 3:17 p.m.
Kathy
Stilley
940 N. Range Ave., Denham Springs
Principal: Ken Magee
Assistant Principal: Karen Grant
Admin. Assistant: Josh Hogan
Grades: 9
Phone: 665-7890
Fax: 665-1865
http://freshman.lpsb.org
Start time: 7:31 a.m.
Dismissal time: 2:48 p.m.
Number of students: 681
Number of faculty: 36
Ken
Magee
Denham Springs High
Rachel
Jenkins
Albany Upper Elementary
P.O. Box 1750, Albany
Principal: Lisa Sessions
Designee: Jena Saucier
Grades: 3 - 4
Phone: 567-5097
Fax: 567-5085
Gail
Delee
Denham Springs
Freshman High
Albany Middle
29675 Reeves Lane, Albany
Principal: Rachel Jenkins
Assistant Principal: John Hill
Grades: 5 - 8
Phone: 567-5231
Fax: 567-9177
http://albanyms.lpsb.org/
Car drop begins: 7 a.m.
Start time: 7:23 a.m.
Dismissal: 2:19 p.m.
Number of students: 589
Number of faculty: 37
306 N. Range Ave., Denham Springs
Principal: Gail Delee
Designee: Amy Craig
Grades: Pre-K - 5
Phone: 665-5855
Fax: 664-8672
http://DenhamES.lpsb.org
Start time: 7:40 a.m.
Dismissal time: 2:30 p.m.
Number of students: 469
Number of faculty: 37
Lisa
Sessions
1000 N. Range, Denham Springs
Principal: Kelly Jones
Assistant Principals: Wesley Partin - Shana White
Admin. Assistant: Lee Hawkins
Grades: 10 - 12
Phone: 665-8851
Fax: 665-4082
http://DenhamHS.lpsb.org
Start time: 7:30 a.m.
Dismissal time: 2:56 p.m.
Number of students: 1,728
Number of faculty: 87
Kelly
Jones
10
Back to School, Thursday, July 9, 2015
LIVINGSTON PARISH PUBLIC SCHOOLS
Denham Springs Jr. High
401 Hatchell Lane, Denham Springs
Principal: Bryan Wax
Assistant Principals: Karen Hoyt and Terry Landon
Admin. Assistant: Wesley Howard
Grades: 6 - 8
Phone: 665-8898
Fax: 665-8601
http://denhamjh.lpsb.org
Start time: 8:10 a.m.
Dismissal time: 3:20 p.m.
Number of students: 885
Number of faculty: 45
Bryan
Wax
Doyle Elementary
29285 South Range Road, Livingston
Principal: Donna Sibley
Designee: Angela Edwards
Grades: Pre-K - 6
Phone: 686-2416
Fax: 686-1500
http://doylees.lpsb.org
Start time: 8:24 a.m.
Dismissal time: 3:07 p.m.
Number of students: 563
Number of faculty: 41
Donna
Sibley
Cindy
Gill
15875 La. Hwy. 16, French Settlement
Principal: Lance Hutson
Assistant Principal: Lindy Gill
Grades: 7 - 12
Phone: 698-3561
Fax: 698-6458
http://FrenchHs.lpsb.org
Start time: 7:26 a.m.
Dismissal time: 2:36 p.m.
Number of students: 413
Number of faculty: 25
Lance
Hutson
Freshwater Elementary
Tommy
Hodges
Eastside Elementary
8735 Lockhart Road, Denham Springs
Principal: Kelly LaBauve
Designee: Lauren Kennedy
Grades: Pre-K - 5
Phone: 791-8581
Fax: 791-8582
http://eastside.lpsb.org
Start time: 8:30 a.m.
Dismissal time: 3:17 p.m.
Number of students: 495
Number of faculty: 25
15180 La. Hwy. 16, French Settlement
Principal: Cindy Gill
Designee: Wendy Woods
Grades: Pre-K - 6
Phone: 698-6848
Fax: 698-6849
Start time: 8:30 a.m.
Dismissal time: 3:24 p.m.
http://FrenchES.lpsb.org
Number of students: 493
Number of faculty: 35.
French Settlement High
Doyle High
20480 Circle Drive, Livingston
Principal: Tommy Hodges
Assistant Principal: Jamie Arnold
Admin. Assistant: Lance Dawsey
Grades: 6 - 12
Phone: 686-2318
Fax: 686-2701
http://DoyleHS.lpsb.org
Start time: 7:25 a.m.
Dismissal time: 2:25 p.m.
Number of students: 667
Number of faculty: 35
French Settlement Elementary
1025 Cockerham Road, Denham Springs
Principal: Julie Dugas
Designee: Amy Chaney
Grades: K - 5
Phone: 665-5371
Fax: 664-6577
http://freshwater.lpsb.org
Start time: 8:20 a.m.
Dismissal time: 3:22 p.m.
Number of students: 386
Number of faculty: 30
Julie
Dugas
Frost Elementary
Kelly
LaBauve
19672 La. Hwy. 42, Livingston
Principal: Stacey Wise
Grades: Pre-K - 8
Phone: 698-3780
Fax: 698-3126
Start time: 8 a.m.
Dismissal time: 2:58 p.m.
http://www.ourfrostschool.com
Number of students: 325
Number of faculty: 27
Stacey
Wise
11
Back to School, Thursday, July 9, 2015
LIVINGSTON PARISH PUBLIC SCHOOLS
Gray’s Creek Elementary
11400 Hwy. 1033, Denham Springs
Principal: Melissa Dougherty
Designee: Terry Peyton
Grades: Pre-K - 5
Phone: 667-1808
Fax: 667-3597
www.oncoursesystems.com/school/webpage.
aspx?id=11137540
Start time: 8:15 a.m.
Dismissal time: 3:12 p.m.
Number of students: 482
Number of faculty: 36
Number of students: 628
Number of faculty: 36
Levi Milton Elementary
Melissa
Dougherty
Holden School
30120 La. 441, Holden
Principal: Paula Green
Assistant Principal: Kris Roundtree
Designee: Rusty Hutchinson
Grades: Pre-K - 12
Phone: 567-9367
Fax: 567-5248
http://Holden.lpsb.org
Start time: 7:45 a.m.
Dismissal time: 2:55 p.m.
Number of students: 698
Number of faculty: 51
Paula
Green
7686 Vincent Road, Denham Springs
Principal: Carol Robertson
Designee: Lynette Wheat
Grades: K - 5
Phone: 665-8198
Fax: 665-9713
http://Lewis.lpsb.org
Start time: 8:25 a.m.
Dismissal time: 3:12 p.m.
Number of students: 431
Number of faculty: 28
Live Oak Elementary
Shanna
Steed
Juban Parc Junior High
12470 Brown Road, Denham Springs
Principal: Jeff Frizell
Assistant Principal: Greg Hayden
Grades: 6 - 8
Phone: 664-1001
Fax: 664-5000
http://jubanparcjh.lpsb.org
Start time: 7:15 a.m.
Dismissal time: 2:25 p.m.
Josh
Day
Lewis Vincent
Elementary
Juban Parc Elementary
12555 Brown Road, Denham Springs
Principal: Shanna Steed
Designee: Pam Masters
Grades: Pre-K - 5
Phone: 665-4079
Fax: 665-4114
http://jubanparces.lpsb.org
Start time: 8:25 a.m.
Dismissal time: 3:20 p.m.
Number of students: 489
Number of faculty: 32
31450 Walker North Road, Walker
Principal: Josh Day
Designee: Stacey Viator
Grades: Pre-K - 5
Phone: 664-9711
Fax: 665-4415
http://lmes.lpsb.org
Start time: 8:20 a.m.
Dismissal time: 3:20 p.m.
Number of students: 623
Number of faculty: 44
35194 Old Hwy. 16, Denham Springs
Principal: Michelle Wheeler
Designee: Kenya Wells
Grades: K - 5
Phone: 665-6702
Fax: 664-7910
http://liveoakle.lpsb.org
Start time: 8:20 a.m.
Dismissal time: 3:22 p.m.
Number of students: 644
Number of faculty: 36
Live Oak High
Jeff
Frizell
Carol
Robertson
P.O. Box 590, Watson
Principal: Beth Jones
Grades: 9 - 12
Michelle
Wheeler
12
Back to School, Thursday, July 9, 2015
LIVINGSTON PARISH PUBLIC SCHOOLS
Phone: 665-8858
Fax: 665-8850
http://liveoakhs.lpsb.org
Start time: 7:10 a.m.
Dismissal time: 2:20 p.m.
Number of students: 1,377
Number of faculty: 64
Live Oak Middle
8444 Cecil Drive, Watson
Principal: Ryan Hodges
Assistant Principals: Rhonda Blount and Melissa Wilson
Admin. Assistant: Traci J. Hebert
Grades: 6 - 8
Phone: 664-3211
Fax: 664-1551
https://www.oncoursesystems.com/school/webpage/301624
Start time: 7:15 a.m.
Dismissal time: 2:40 p.m.
Number of students: 998
Number of faculty: 51
Maurepas School
23923 Hwy. 22, Maurepas
Principal: Kenny Kraft
Beth
Jones
Assistant Principal: Mardelle Blount
Designee: Cassie Felps
Grades: Pre-K - 12
Phone: 695-6111
Fax: 695-3997
http://maurepas.lpsb.org
Start time: 7:40 a.m.
Dismissal time: 2:40 p.m.
Number of students: 397
Number of faculty: 34
Kenny
Kraft
North Corbin Elementary
Ryan
Hodges
32645 North Corbin Road, Walker
Principal: Glenda Newman
Designee: Barry Harris
Grades: Pre-K - 5
Phone: 686-9169
Fax: 686-9170
www.oncoursesystems.com/school/webpage.
aspx?id=348128
Start time: 8:35 a.m.
Dismissal time: 3:25 p.m.
Number of students: 645
Number of faculty: 41
Glenda
Newman
13
Back to School, Thursday, July 9, 2015
LIVINGSTON PARISH PUBLIC SCHOOLS
North Corbin Junior High
32645 North Corbin Road, Walker
Principal: Dennis DeLee
Assistant Principal: Carolyn Vosburg
Grades: 6 - 8
Phone: 686-2038
Fax: 686-2690
http://www.northcorbinjuniorhigh.org/
Start time: 7:35 a.m.
Dismissal time: 2:58 p.m.
Number of students: 623
Number of faculty: 39
Number of faculty: 42
Northside Elementary
Dennis
DeLee
North Live Oak Elementary
1090 Robbie Street, Denham Springs
Principal: JoAn Cook
Designee: Jullie Jeffers
Grades: K - 5
Phone: 664-4223
Fax: 664-5660
www.oncoursesystems.com/school/webpage.
aspx?id=454799&xpage=
Start time: 7:40 a.m.
Dismissal time: 2:40 p.m.
Number of students: 453
Number of teachers: 29
JoAn
Cook
Pine Ridge School
36605 Outback Road, Watson
Principal: Michell Stone
Designee: Jennine Newsom
Grades: K - 5
Phone: 667-3135
Fax: 667-1994
http://liveoakne.lpsb.org
Start time: 8:10 a.m.
Dismissal time: 3:15 p.m.
Number of students: 890
Michell
Stone
30228 Travis Street, Walker
Principal: Tony Terry
Designee: Karla Polcyn
Phone: 664-4823
Fax: 667-2984
Start time: 7:45 a.m.
Dismissal time: 1:30 p.m.
Tony
Terry
3 nationally ranked high schools
LIVINGSTON – Three Livingston Parish High
Schools have once again been named among
the nation’s best in this year’s rankings by
U.S. News & World Report.
Holden, Maurepas and Springfield high
schools were among the 85 schools in Louisiana to be nationally recognized for their
academic performances in 2014, according
to the U.S. News & World Report’s latest
report on public schools.
All three Livingston Parish schools
earned a Bronze Medal, which is given to
those schools throughout the nation that excel at a variety of measurable performance
outcomes. It is based on a key principle that
a high school must serve all students well,
not just those bound for college.
Scores from these schools on tests such as
the iLEAP, LEAP and ACT were compared
to those of students across the nation. Specifically, the performance of students with
disabilities, minority students, and economically disadvantaged students was also
assessed and found to be exemplary.
All three schools had high proficiency
levels throughout their student body. Holden’s students scored 95 percent proficiency
in both English and Algebra; Maurepas’
students also scored 95 percent proficient in
English and 85 percent proficient in Algebra; and Springfield’s students scored 95
percent proficient in English and 81 percent
proficient in Algebra. All of these scores are
an improvement from last year’s performance.
“Not only are these three schools once
again being recognized nationally for their
achievements, they are also moving the bar
higher by improving on their already great
scores,” Superintendent John Watson. “We
are very proud of the hard work and dedication of our faculty and students to once
again be recognized among the best schools
in the nation.”
Watson said the Livingston Parish School
District contains nine traditional high
RANKED
PAGE 19
SUBMITTED BY TAYLOR STEELE
Eight Springfield High FFA members showing swine at the Parish 4-H FFA
Livestock Show are (from left) Chelsea Ratcliff, Megan Threeton, Dale
Smith, Justine Threeton, Evan Shearer, Leland Brandon, Taylor Steele and
Gabe Patterson. The educational program at Springfield engaging a diverse
student body shows up in test score results, which have helped net the
school a U.S. News and World Report Bronze ranking.
14
Back to School, Thursday, July 9, 2015
LIVINGSTON PARISH PUBLIC SCHOOLS
Start time: 8:25 a.m.
Dismissal time: 3:25 p.m.
Number of students: 537
Number of faculty: 26
Number of students: 30
Number of faculty: 12
Seventh Ward Elementary
24495 La Hwy. 16, Denham Springs
Principal: Stacey Milton
Designee: Laura Dunlap
Grades: Pre-K - 5
Phone: 665-5815
Fax: 665-7280
www.seventhwardelem.com
Start time: 7:45 a.m.
Dismissal time: 2:37 p.m.
Number of students: 294
Number of faculty: 26
South Live Oak Elementary
Stacey
Milton
South Fork Elementary
23300 Walker South Road, Denham Springs
Principal: Allison Raborn
Designee: Misti Thomason
Grades: K - 5
Phone: 664-2281
Fax: 664-2282
www.southforkelem.org
8400 Cecil Drive, Watson
Principal: Amy Savage
Designee: Marty Henry
Grades: Pre-K - 5
Phone: 667-9330
Fax: 667-2713
http://LiveOakUE.lpsb.org
Start time: 8:10 a.m.
Dismissal time: 3:10 p.m.
Number of students: 516
Number of faculty: 39
Amy
Savage
Southside Elementary
Allison
Raborn
1129 South Range, Denham Springs
Principal: Laura Williams
Designee: Michelle Crochet
Grades: Pre-K - 5
Phone: 665-5500
Laura
Williams
15
Back to School, Thursday, July 9, 2015
LIVINGSTON PARISH PUBLIC SCHOOLS
Phone: 294-3398
Fax: 294-6920
http://springes.lpsb.org
Start time: 8:23 a.m.
Dismissal time: 3:20 p.m.
Number of students: 470
Number of faculty: 44
Fax: 667-3171
http://SouthsideES.lpsb.org
Start time: 8:23 a.m.
Dismissal time: 3:20 p.m.
Number of students: 550
Number of faculty: 35
Southside Jr. High
26535 La. Hwy. 16, Denham Springs
Principal: Carlos Williams
Assistant Principal: Terry Griffin
Grades: 6 - 8
Phone: 664-4221
Fax: 664-9061
www.southsidejh.org
Start time: 7:35 a.m.
Dismissal time: 2:37 p.m.
Number of students: 477
Number of faculty: 31
Springfield High
Carlos
Williams
Springfield Elementary
25190 Blood River Road, Springfield
Principal: Lanelle Arceneaux
Designee: Cathty Martin
Grades: Pre-K - 4
37322 La. Hwy. 42, Springfield
Principal: Spencer Harris
Assistant Principal: Kim Freeman
Grades: 9 - 12
Phone: 294-3256
Fax: 294-4800
http://SpringHs.lpsb.org
Start time: 7:29 a.m.
Dismissal time: 2:29 p.m.
Number of students: 539
Number of faculty: 30
Springfield Middle
Lanelle
Arceneaux
24145 Coates Road, Springfield
Principal: Dwayne Dykes
Spencer
Harris
Dwayne
Dykes
16
Back to School, Thursday, July 9, 2015
LIVINGSTON PARISH PUBLIC SCHOOLS
Walker Freshman High
Assistant Principal: Ray Alphoso
Admin. Assistant: Jessica Easley
Grades: 5 - 8
Phone: 294-3306
Fax: 294-3307
http://springms.lpsb.org
Start time: 7:25 a.m.
Dismissal time: 2:29 p.m.
Number of students: 408
Number of faculty: 24
South Walker Elementary
13745 Milton Lane, Walker
Principal: Chad Broussard
Designee: Belinda Avant
Grades: Pre-K - 5
Phone: 665-0446
Fax: 665-0816
http://southwalker.lpsb.org
Start time: 8:25 a.m.
Dismissal time: 3:20 p.m.
Number of students: 538
Number of faculty: 44
Chad
Broussard
12615 Burgess Avenue, Walker
Principal: Steve Link
Assistant Principal: Brian Gunter
Grades: 6 - 8
Phone: 665-8259
Fax: 665-8283
http://westside.lpsb.org
Start time: 7:20 a.m.
Dismissal time: 2:30 p.m.
Number of students: 624
Number of faculty: 35
Steve
Link
School Board Central Office
Bonnie
Cox
Walker High
12646 Burgess Avenue, Walker
Principal: Jason St. Pierre
Assistant Principal: Ray Alphoso
Admin. Assistant: Mildred Powell
Grades: 10 - 12
Phone: 664-4825
Fax: 664-4321
http://walkerhs.lpsb.org
Start time: 7:25 a.m.
Dismissal time: 2:25 p.m.
Number of students: 1247
Number of faculty: 60
David
Clark
Westside Jr. High
Walker Elementary
13327 Wildcat Drive, Walker
Grades Pre-K-5
Principal: Bonnie Cox
Designee: Terri Junda
Phone: 665-5534
Fax: 665-9951
http://walkeres.lpsb.org
Start time: 8:20 a.m.
Dismissal time: 3:27 p.m.
Number of students: 508
Number of faculty: 34
13443 Burgess Avenue, Walker
Principal: David Clark
Assistant Principal: Sammie Lacara
Admin. Assistant: Arthur Bernard
Grades: 9
Phone: 664-0243
Fax: 665-0512
https://www.oncoursesystems.com/school/webpage/11159356
Start time: 7:27 a.m.
Dismissal time: 2:27 p.m.
Number of students: 455
Number of faculty: 19
Jason
St. Pierre
13909 Florida Blvd., Livingston, La.
Mailing address: PO Box 1130, Livingston, La 70754
Main number 225-686-7044
Fax number: 225-686- 3052
Adult Education 225-667-9427
Pupil Appraisal 225-667-2080
Credit Union 225-664-9103
www.lpsb.org
Back to School, Thursday, July 9, 2015
17
18
Back to School, Thursday, July 9, 2015
Maintenance chores dominate list of summer construction
From Page 7
before school starts.”
The school system now
includes 46 campuses and
nearly 27,000 students.
“I’ve seen a lot of changes,” said Willson, who has
worked with the school
system since 1999. “Ever
since Hurricane Katrina, the
numbers haven’t gone down,
and most of those who came
here during that time have
stayed.”
The addition of four classrooms at South Fork Elementary School tops the projects
there this summer.
The work at South Fork
will also include construction of a multipurpose
building for P.E. class on
rainy days, along with school
CONSTRUCTION
PAGE 20
DAVID NORMAND | THE NEWS
The addition of four classrooms at South Fork Elementary School tops the projects there this summer.
19
Back to School, Thursday, July 9, 2015
Schools ranked based on measurements of academic success
From 13
schools and two freshmen schools.
And while three schools were awarded
bronze and were recognized nationally,
the other schools join them as being
some of the state’s top performing campuses, he said.
The U.S. News & World Report first
released its Best High Schools rankings
in 2007. The project is intended to identify the country’s top-performing public
high schools. The goal is to provide a
clear, unbiased picture of how well public schools serve all of their students –
from the highest achieving to the lowest
achieving – in preparing them to demonstrate proficiency in basic skills as well
as readiness for college-level work.
This is the fifth time Holden High
School has been awarded a Bronze
Medal ranking by U.S. News, including
the last two years when it shared the
distinction with Springfield High School
both of those years. This is the third
year for Springfield to be honored with a
RANKED
PAGE 22
SUBMITTED BY CINDY STILLEY
Maurepas High
School Library Club
members attending
the Louisiana Teenage Librarians Association convention
are (from left, front)
Justin Raffray, Ean
Nava, Julia LeBlanc,
Sarah Hess, (back)
Chaz Montaldo, Cayla
Breland, Krickett
Simoneaux, Kayla
Yarborough, Randi
Carber, Faith Blount,
Courtney Fontenot
and Katie Balfantz.
Though small, the
school offers a wellrounded education
to all its students,
a factor in getting
ranked in U.S. News
and World Report as
a Bronze School.
20
Back to School, Thursday, July 9, 2015
School system employees team with contractors on construction
From Page 18
assemblies and other functions.
The project, awarded to Blount Construction
of Walker, began in the first quarter of this
year.
Work has progressed at a smooth pace, Willson said.
“The four classrooms will be ready for the
start of the school year – it’s moving along
well,” he said. “The multipurpose facility isn’t
as big a rush.”
Work is also near completion on a new field
house at Albany High School. The building will
include a field house, concession stand, weight
room, locker room, media room and training
room.
“We had a lot of trouble when we started that
project because we had so much rain, but it’s
moving along well now,” Willson said.
A project near completion at Denham Springs
High School will include a new outdoor pavilion that will enable students to eat lunch
outdoors when weather permits.
Workers also moved three temporary buildings to the campus that will add eight classrooms at DSHS.
Some additional projects include:
MAUREPAS HIGH – Four new classrooms,
which are near completion, Willson said.
FRENCH SETTLEMENT HIGH – Work on
the roof of the historic building, as well as new
buildings.
SPRINGFIELD MIDDLE – A Life Skills
Apartment for special-needs students, where
they will learn basic home skills.
SOUTHSIDE ELEMENTARY – Construction
of a new cafeteria and renovation of the old
lunchroom, which will house four new full-size
classrooms.
GRAY’S CREEK ELEMENTARY – Replacement of the roof on the school building.
7th WARD ELEMENTARY – Renovations
and remodeling of the administrative area and
security, which will allow for more workspace
in the front office.
NORTHSIDE ELEMENTARY – Renovation of
the commons area and parking lot. The work
on the parking lot involved replacement of the
soil from the old asphalt pavement.
JUBAN PARC JR. HIGH – Replacement of the
air conditioning units.
Upcoming projects include renovation and
remodeling of the old Live Oak High School,
which will accommodate students in grades 7
and 8.
The school system targeted completion by
August 2016.
At Southside Junior High, plans include parking lot renovation, a new band building and
expansion of the school gymnasium.
DAVID NORMAND |
THE NEWS
Workers at
Maurepas School
spread concrete
for a sidewalk
leading from
the main school
building to the
gym. The approximately 75' long
sidewalk leads
to two staircases
on both sides of
the gym. Three
classrooms and
a storage room,
built above the
locker rooms,
were finished in
May.
DAVID NORMAND |
THE NEWS
Workers install
new roof panels
on the Springfield High gym
located on the
school campus.
Construction is
a common sight
around schools
in summer as
workers battle
the elements
to make necessary repairs and
upgrades. Daily
rainfall has been
above normal
this year, and
work crews often
work Saturday
and Sunday
to ensure the
prompt completion of projects.
21
Back to School, Thursday, July 9, 2015
District 1
Malcolm Sibley
District 2
Kellee Dickerson
District 3
Jan Benton
District 4
Karen Schmitt
District 5
Buddy Mincey, Jr.
District 6
Jeffery Cox
District 7
James Watson
District 8
Jim Richardson
District 9
Sid Kinchen
33176 Weiss
Road
Walker, LA
70785
(225) 686-7935
kstimber@aol.
com
35104 Perkins
Road
Denham Springs,
LA 70706
(225) 664-2945
kelleehd@
bellsouth.net
31845 Myers
Road
Denham Springs,
LA 70726
(225) 664-6412
(225) 978-1731
benton16@
me.com
412 N College E
Denham Springs,
LA 70726
(225) 665-5849
ed_schmtt@
yahoo.com
Schools: Live
Oak High, Live
Oak Middle,
North Live Oak
Elementary,
South Live Oak
Elementary, Live
Oak Elementary
34121 Cane
Market Road
Walker, LA
70785
(225) 664-8084
jpcbass123@
bellsouth.net
jeffery.cox@
lpsb.org
13561 Graham
Lane
Walker, LA
70785
(225) 665-5705
james.watson@
walker-la.gov
james.watson@
lpsb.org
20035 LA Highway 444
Livingston, LA
70754
(225) 698-6189
james.richardson@lpsb.org
Schools: Doyle
High, Doyle Elementary, Frost,
North Corbin
Elementary,
North Corbin
Junior High, 1/2
of Holden
10983 La Hwy
1033 Denham
Springs, LA
70726
(225) 667-3811
buddy@
volksconst.com
albert.mincey@
lpsb.org
P. O. Box 1883
Albany, LA
70711
(225) 567-1109
sidkin@charter.
net
sidney.
kinchen@lpsb.
org
Schools: Southside, Lewis Vincent, 7th Ward,
DS, Juban Parc
& Gray’s Creek
Elem., DS High,
Freshman High
& Jr. High, Juban
Parc Jr.
Schools: Walker
High & Freshman High,
Westside Junior
High, Walker,
S. Walker, Levi
Milton, N. Corbin
Elem., N. Corbin
Jr. High
Schools: Walker
High & Walker
Freshman High,
Westside & N.
Corbin Jr., Walker, S. Walker,
Southfork, N.
Corbin Elem.
Schools: Eastside Elementary, Freshwater
Elementary,
Denham Springs
High, Denham
Springs Freshman, Denham
Springs Junior
High
Schools: Northside Elementary,
Denham Springs
High, Freshman High, and
Junior High,
Denham Springs
Elementary,
Southside Junior
and Southside
Elementary
Meet Superintendent
John Watson
John Watson, a 34-year veteran with
the Livingston Parish School System,
was chosen by the School Board in
2012 to lead one of the state’s most successful public school districts.
Watson has served in varying capacities including teacher, coach, assistant
principal and principal at schools in
Denham Springs, Watson and Walker
and as the human resources supervisor at the Central Office.
He served as assistant superintendent from 2009 until his promotion
following the retirement of former
Superintendent Bill Spear. Under
Watson’s leadership, Livingston Parish
schools have produced impressive
achievements.
With an enrollment topping 26,000
students, the system is now the seventh largest in Louisiana, yet it continues to turn in top performances in the
state for scores on
standardized tests.
Livingston Parish
schools received an
overall “A” rating
from DOE for the
2013-2014 school
year and a performance score that
improved nearly
12 points. The
district improved
John Watson
in almost all of the
state’s indicator
areas, including higher ACT scores,
students’ continued success in passing
dual enrollment classes, increases in
the achievement levels on Advanced
Placement (AP) exams, more students
graduating on time, and improved
LEAP and ILEAP scores at the elementary and middle school levels.
Schools: French
Settlement High,
French Settlement Elementary, Springfield
High, Springfield
Middle, Springfield Elementary,
Maurepas
Schools: Albany
High, Albany
Middle, Albany
Upper Elementary, Albany Lower
Elementary, 1/2
of Holden
Resource officers protect campuses
LIVINGSTON — The joint effort
between the Livingston Parish School Board and local law
enforcement agencies has placed
resource officers in schools
throughout the parish.
Last month the School Board
renewed its pacts with Livingston Parish Sheriff Jason Ard and
the Denham Springs and Walker
Police departments to provide officers in the schools.
“The program focuses on providing the schools in Livingston
Parish added security to their already safe environment as well as
working hand-in-hand with school
administrators to fulfill everyday
needs at their school,” Ard said.
“We want to see the resource officers develop a strong bond with
students at their school by interacting with them. We’d also like to
see them be positive role models
that can be turned to if a student
needs guidance or assistance.”
Ard started the partnership for
the 2013-14 school year.
“The principals speak highly
of the officers’ presence on their
campuses,” Assistant Superintendent Rick Wentzel said. “Their
presence and their mentoring of
the kids is important.”
Officers include Cpl. Aaron
Bond for the Live Oak area
schools, Deputy Burley McCarter
for the South Denham SpringsWalker area, Deputy Darren
Sibley for the Livingston area,
Deputy Robbie Ellis for the Albany-Springfield area, Deputy Reece
Holden for the Maurepas-French
Settlement area, Walker Police Officer Dave Morris for the Walker
area and Sgt. Paul Golmon of the
DSPD for the Denham Springs
area.
22
Back to School, Thursday, July 9, 2015
Ranked high schools join elementary schools on short list
From 19
Bronze Medal ranking and the second time for
Maurepas High School to be named to the list.
French Settlement High School is also a past
recipient of the Bronze Medal ranking.
In addition to these distinctions, French
Settlement Elementary was named a National
Blue Ribbon School in 2009 by the U.S. Department of Education for its superior academic
performance and dramatic gains made in
student achievement, particularly among minority and disadvantaged students. Springfield
Elementary and Southside Elementary have
been past recipients of the Louisiana Department of Education’s High Performing, High
Poverty School designation, which recognizes
those schools that have successfully overcome
challenges associated with educating large
populations of poor and minority children.
And this past year, Albany Upper Elementary
was named a Higher Performing School by the
National Center for Educational Achievement
(NCEA), a department of ACT that recognizes
schools for raising student achievement levels
more quickly than schools that enroll similar
student populations.
SUBMITTED
At the invitation of
Louisiana Youth
Advisory Council
Member Kaity
Addison (left),
Senator Dale
Erdey (center)
visits Coach David
White's (right)
civics class at
Holden High
School to teach
students the value
of compromise
and to encourage
them to become
involved in the
political process.
23
Back to School, Thursday, July 9, 2015
Curriculum for national standards was written at home
From Page 2
and Careers (PARCC) developed tests
from grades K through 12 that are
aligned with Common Core. Whatever tests replace it, current state law
requires them to have fewer than 50
percent of the questions on the PARCC
tests. So now local educators are
tasked with teaching a curriculum
that may or may not conform to the
tests their students will take at the end
of the year.
That’s frustrating for a system that
prides itself on adapting to whatever
rules get tossed out and thriving
anyway.
“We all have great people in our system,” Wentzel said. “Tell us the rules
of the game and get out of the way.
We’re going to handle it.”
Parish educators are proud of the
accomplishment of designing the curriculum now in place, which includes
some tweaking mechanisms.
Watson said former Curriculum
Coordinator Dawn Rush built into the
system a means of following student
progress and getting feedback from
teachers during the year.
“She created a benchmark system
for our curriculum which allows us to
assess where our children are during
the course of the year on the curriculum that we’re teaching,” he said.
“Benchmark testing is basically a pretest, a middle-of-the-year test and an
end-of-the-year test locally designed so
our teachers will be able to tell where
our students are at any given time,”
Watson said.
As for the revision process, every
teacher had the opportunity to complete a survey to give feedback on the
curriculum.
Closely linked to the issues about
teaching and testing is technology.
Standardized tests taken with paper
and pencils are not quite a thing of
the past yet, but every year more and
more gets digital and goes online.
In Livingston Parish, grades 3
through 8 will take end of course tests
the old-fashioned way, while grades
9 through 12 will take tests electronically.
“We’re on a huge technology initiative right now with infrastructure to
get wiring into every class,” Murphy
said.
Once that happens, students will be
DAVID NORMAND | THE NEWS
Southside Elementary School 4th grade students Martin Barrera and Madalyn Harris wrap up 4th grade teacher Marcia Wollfarth
with toilet paper. Third, fourth and fifth grade students raced in the game of “Wrap Your Teacher” at the “Rock the Test” pep rally in
preparation for a week of PARCC English/language arts and math tests. The state is discontinuing PARCC next year, and local school
officials are unsure about the regime that will replace it.
functioning more often than not with
tablet computers or other interactive
devices.
The I-Class Initiative brings such
devices to 9th grade level Algebra I
and English I classrooms.
“In the future we’ll be expanding
this into the lower grades,” Murphy
said. “We chose 9th grade to start with
because ‘Springboard Curriculum’ already has an ‘electronic component.’”
The SpringBoard program is an
Internet-based program sponsored by
the College Board, creators of the SAT
test, that helps prepare students from
6th through 12th grade to succeed at
college level.
The move toward a more high-tech
future will happen with or without
Common Core in place. The political
battle over the controversial standards
in Louisiana reached a new phase
in the past legislative session with
a series of compromises intended to
keep standards high, while putting
state educators in control of them. To
avoid disarray, Common Core is to be
phased out rather than just dropped.
The law now tasks the state Board
of Elementary and Secondary Education to start a review of English and
mathematics standards this month.
That review process includes public
input at a series of public meetings to
be scheduled in each of the state's congressional districts before next spring.
This review period, which follows
a process long established by the
Louisiana Administration Procedures
Act, is designed to give parents and
school patrons a chance to have input
that many complained they never had
with Common Core. In addition to
appearing at these public hearings to
speak, citizens have the opportunity to
submit written comments.
BESE is required to post the academic standards it plans to use as a
replacement to Common Core on its
website by Feb. 21, 2016. Those standards would become official on March
4, 2016.
Education Superintendent John
White continues to be a supporter of
Common Core, and his board could
adopt standards not all that much
different from those in place now.
However, the next Governor has the
power to reject BESE’s new standards
and require a rewrite. The Governor
taking office next year also appoints
the Superintendent of Education. Gubernatorial candidates David Vitter,
Scott Angelle and John Bel Edwards
have all promised to scrap Common
Core, while Jay Dardenne remains
uncommitted.
State Rep. J. Rogers Pope, a former
superintendent of Livingston Parish
Schools, was one of the Common Core
detractors who worked to change it.
“We’ve been working several months
to put something together, and even
though it may not be exactly what
everyone likes, it looks like we have
a compromise,” Pope said. “The good
thing here is that we can get a good
move on stability in our schools.”
24
Back to School, Thursday, July 9, 2015