The Allen Parish School Board’s November agenda included sharing good news in the district, student accomplishments, program successes and salary supplements. The board recognized the state champion Kinder High School Forestry team and heard from the LSU AgCenter assistant extension agent. It also discussed recent District Performance Scores (DPS) for the parish and approved resolutions to pay a salary supplement to its employees this month.
Last week, Allen Parish learned it had received a 86.6 (B) on the overall district’s performance score (DPS). School districts had to score 90 or above to receive an A, according to Superintendent Kent Reed. In his comments, Reed said the parish was 3.4 points short of receiving the A rating.
“We showed an overall district growth of 1.5 points over the previous year, and as a district we ranked 13th in the state. The previous year we were ranked 14th in the state. Once again, we had no D or F schools in our district. There are three A schools, six B schools and two C schools.”
Student accomplishments included the LSU Ag Center and Kinder High’s Forestry team.
Brooke LaFargue, LSU AgCenter assistant extension agent, brought members of the Junior Leaders to discuss programs students are enjoying in the parish. From the livestock program to the Chef Club and Junior Leaders program, LaFargue said they are seeing growth. Students provided data stating Junior Leaders have grown from 30 to 60 members, and they are focusing on environmental awareness this year.
Extension programs with third graders were discussed including an interactive event being planned in Alexandria. In the livestock program, 74 students showed 121 exhibits. In shooting sports, the group has grown to about 40 to 50 participants this year.
Kinder High’s Sullivan Fontenot presented members of his forestry team to the school board. He said last year the team placed third at state as juniors and returned this year to win first. In October 2020, they will compete at the national level which will be held in Indianapolis, Indiana, or Kentucky.
Fontenot said the forestry competition is a very tough competition. He said students must learn 67 pieces of equipment and identify any given 20 at the competition; identify 20 of the 46 trees they learn; know 10 out of 24 tree/forest disorders; utilize a compass correctly; answer 50 out of 250 possible questions correctly for two points per each correct answer; identify parts of a chain saw and troubleshoot; tree measurement; etc.
He said there are four areas in the state able to qualify for the state competition. Five teams from each area, consisting of four people per team, can compete for a total of 80 individuals. Kinder’s Gabe Courville was number one in the competition, and William Fontenot was number two. He said the students must learn a lot of knowledge to participate in this competition.
Kinder had two teams to compete this year. Fontenot said the second team placed sixth in state. At the area competition, Team Two actually beat Team One.
Members of the school board also approved two resolutions to give employees money for a salary supplement from the Coushatta Tribe Gaming Compact Funds and one from the Sales Tax Salary Enhancement Fund. This year the gaming compact will distribute $1,400 to all degreed professional employees and $800 to all other employees. The salary enhancement fund will give each employee $800.
The additional funds were made possible with $989,777 in compact funds and $673,955 in surplus sales tax. The extra monies will be distributed to employees sometime in December. Employees with degrees will receive $2,200, and other employees will receive $1,600. Tammi Ritchie, director of finance, said this was the same totals given last year.
In his other comments, Reed congratulated Oberlin Coach Durrell Peloquin, Kinder Coach Bret Fuselier and Oakdale High Coach Destin Dietrich for qualifying for this year’s state football playoffs. He said Oberlin will receive a first round bye, Kinder will host Rosepine and Oakdale will travel to take on Red River in Coushatta.
He reminded board members the December meeting is a luncheon on December 9, at 11 a.m.
Reed also noted the Thanksgiving holiday would begin November 25, and end November 29.
In other business, the board gave Reed permission to:
•Sell a 2002 Dodge van as surplus.
•Advertise for an assistant principal at Oakdale High School and part-day lunchroom technician for Oberlin High School.
Misty Alexander and Jennifer Manuel discussed a tutoring program in the parish for after school on Tuesdays and Thursdays. The hour-and-a-half each day will be used for math (45 minutes) and ELA (45 minutes). Funding is coming through three percent of Title One funds for URI and URN students (classification for subgroups for students with disabilities).
There are 13 students at Oakdale Elementary; 55 at Kinder Middle and 27 at Oakdale Middle for a total of 95 students. The 19 week program kicked off Tuesday, November 12.
The $52,000 will also allow two teachers at Oakdale Elementary, four at Kinder Middle and eight at Oakdale Middle to lead the program.
Kim Rider also introduced the new electronic board to the board. Two principals attended the meeting through the electronic board. She explained the board is being utilized for principal meetings, bus driver training classes, professional development training, staff projects, etc.
