Employees of Allen Parish will receive salary supplements, just in time for Christmas, totaling $2,500 for support employees and $3,500 for degreed employees (compared to $1,600 for support and $2,200 for degreed given in December of 2021).
“I would like to thank the Coushatta Tribe for their continued support to make our annual employee supplements possible,” Superintendent Kent Reed said.
The board approved resolutions at Monday’s meeting (November 14), to provide the supplements from the Coushatta Tribe Gaming Compact Fund ($900 for support and $1,900 for degreed) and from the Sales Tax Salary Enhancement Fund ($1,600 per employee). This has been done by the board, when applicable, to give employees extra funds, especially in December. To date, since December 2021, this supplement will total $8,600 for support personnel and $10,800 for degreed personnel in the last 12 months for Allen Parish School Board employees.
“I also want to thank this board for their efforts and contributions to this year’s annual holiday supplement. We are very appreciative of the contribution that we received from the Coushatta Tribe. Our partnership with the tribe has been ongoing for many years, and we look to continue our positive relationship for many years to come. I also know our employees will be appreciative of this board’s decision to contribute supplemental sales tax to the Coushatta amount,” Reed said.
The board welcomed Ethan McGee to its meeting for a brief performance. McGee, Oakdale High, fourth percussion drums, has been selected to the 2022 Louisiana Music Educators Association (LMEA) All-State Symphonic Band. His teacher, Timothy Vasquez, and principal, Lynn Deville, were on hand.
McGee had to perform through two rounds of audition (first at the district level and then the state level to qualify). The band will perform Monday, November 21, at the Crown Plaza Center in Baton Rouge.
Vasquez said he has taught McGee since sixth grade. He said McGee has been named to the District Five LMEA Honor Band and McNeese Regional Honor Band. His advice to his student was to embrace this moment. “We’re all proud of you.
Deville added, “Ethan is a great lad, who scored a 34 on his ACT, and a model student. We are very proud.”
Reed’s comments to the board included a slide show showing the fourth grade reading growth mark the state achieved as number one in the nation. This led to information on the CKLA (Core Knowledge Language Arts) program from Marla Sanders (Instructional Supervisor (K-4) who explained the district threw out the old ELA (English/Language Arts) curriculum to try this program. She stated it was getting great reviews and kindergarten students were reading, which was not the case last year. “Teachers love it.” She gave an update on recent projects in the classroom, as well as, support from the Oakdale Community Hospital, who gave supplies and sent support to help with the curriculums on heath.
Reed reviewed the veterans programs and how students were learning hands-on through these experiences. Brad Soileau (Instructional Supervisor Secondary and Assessment, Title III) gave an update on high school testing and CTE (Career Technical Education) program. He gave testing dates and said last week’s CLEP (College-Level Examination Program®) exams appeared to have a 70 percent passing rate mostly in English comp. He said 41 students are working on college hours and many would have the 60 hours for an associate degree. He said the district is likely to see six to eight kids with Northwestern caps and gowns at their high school ceremony this year. He also discussed recent career fairs and achievements by some groups like EdRising, Oakdale High’s carpentry team, etc.
Reed also said a group was attending SpEd Law Conference in Baton Rouge. The Special Education Advisory Council, which meets quarterly saw a slight adjustment with 50 percent parent participation of the 10 members on the committee.
Progress reports for the first nine weeks were being distributed Tuesday, November 15, and the mid point of the second nine-weeks was already here. He said the second nine-week schedule would end January 9, and then the second part of the school year would be underway.
Reed reminded everyone of the December 12, board meeting moving to 11 a.m. He said the Thanksgiving break would be observed November 21, through November 25, with students off November 18, for the parish’s annual Fair Day.
In other business, the board:
•Authorized the superintendent to advertise for special education para at Oberlin Elementary; part-day cafeteria technician at Elizabeth High, Kinder Elementary and Oakdale Elementary; and cafeteria assistant manager at Oakdale Elementary.
•Approved an out-of-state trip for two administrators and six teachers to the TCEA Technology Conference in San Antonio at the end of January 2023, and a trip for three Title I staff members to the Texas Statewide parent Involvement Conference in Frisco, Texas, in December.
•Approved the minutes of its October meeting.
•Paid the bills authorized by the finance committee.
•Postponed purchasing land across from the present school board for $119,000 with ESSER (Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Fund) funds. Board member Carolyn Manuel asked to table the purchase until more information was gathered.
•Declared three buses surplus and authorized the superintendent to accept bids and advertise for bids for an activity buss for Reeves High.
