Severe weather last Friday not only forced school closures throughout the parish, but has now caused Superintendent of Schools Darwan Lazard to request alterations to be made to the 2018-2019 district calendar.
His request came during the Evangeline Parish School Board’s meeting Wednesday, where information was also shared about a new partnership between EPSB and Ville Platte Iron Works, Inc.
At the school board’s previous meeting, Lazard requested that students be dismissed from school at 1:00 p.m. on May 20 through May 24. However, thunderstorms on Friday, May 11, forced Lazard to request approval of a new schedule for this coming school week. See Page 14 for the new schedule approved by the board at the May 15, 2019 meeting.
Acting Supervisor Johnny Deshotel then shared information about a partnership the school board has entered into with Ville Platte Iron Works, where students will be able to do job shadowing as a part of Jump Start summers.
Jump Start is Louisiana’s innovative career and technical education program, which prepares students to lead productive adult lives capable of continuing their education after high school while earning certifications in high wage career sectors.
During the meeting, Deshotel said, “We met with Ville Platte Ironworks last week and they agreed to let 12 of our students participate in job shadowing at their facilities either in the morning or afternoon.”
During other portions of this program, Deshotel said, “Our ag teachers will teach those students for credentials in Oca 10, NCCER and also first aid. So, it is going to be a good little program.”
Deshotel continued, “We are very thankful that Ville Platte Ironworks will allow our students to go there and see, and want to get them started and interested in machinists. We are going to work hard to try to get a machinists program so that we can use some of our students to fulfill some of those jobs right here at home.”
This particular program, which will be offered this summer, will be at Ville Platte High School, but it is offered to any upcoming 10th grade student interested. Those who participate from another school, will be transported from their school to VPHS.
Programs that will be offered are for areas pertaining to digital media, electrician, plumber, welding and machinists.
The course is eight weeks long and will consume a large portion of a student’s summer.
After completing the job shadowing, Deshotel said a student will receive $512. There are a total of 12 slots for this program, and at least six must be filled to be able to offer this during the summer.
Interim Special Education Director Kelli LaFleur then gave a reminder about her Act 833 Jump Start summer program. She said, “I just wanted to remind you that I already came to you and spoke to you about the Act 833 Jump Start summer program. We are also going to have this in conjunction with the second program that Mr. Johnny spoke about.”
Act 833 Jump Start provides students with an alternative option for eligible students to pursue any Jump Start pathway. As a part of Act 833, a school district’s IEP team will determine which Jump Start pathway is most appropriate for the eligible student, and will make the final determination as to which culminating industry credential the student must attain in order to graduate from high school.
The IEP team will use the guidelines in any graduation pathway to identify those industry credentials that might be appropriate for the student.
According to LaFleur, last year, students who participated in the Act 833 Jump Start program received a $386 stipend after completion.
LaFleur said, “We are going to do this again this summer, and we are just excited.”
Finally she thanked the board for their support of these programs.
During the meeting, Lazard recognized students who particiapted at the state fitness meet recently.
Those students are as follows:
Quin/Darrious Spriggins, Ville Platte Elementary, who participated at the state meet iin the shuttle run, pull ups, curl ups, standing long jump, and sit and reach. Spriggins also placed first over-all at the parish meet.
Maquan Sam, James Stephens Montessori, who participated at the state meet in the shuttle run, pull ups, curl ups, standing long jump and the sit and reach. Sam place second overall at the parish meet.
Tristan Bowman, Mamou Elementary, participated at the state meet in the 50 yeard dash, 600 yard run and placed sixth at the state meet in the 600 yard run. Bowman placed third over-all at the parish meet.
Malayshia LeDay, Ville Platte Elementary, participated in the shuttle run, pull ups, curl ups, standing long jump, sit and reach and placed third at state in the sit and reach. LeDay placed first overall at the parish meet.
Alexis Folse, Bayou Chicot Elementary, participated in the shuttle run, pull ups, curl ups, standing long jump, and sit and reach at the state meet. Folse placed second over-all at the parish meet.
Anna Breaux, Sacred Heart School, participated in the 50 yard dash and the 600 yard run at the state meet. She placed third overall at the parish meet.
Ville Plate Elementary won first at this year’s Parish Fitness Meet.
The newly approved school schedule for this coming week is as follows:
•Monday, May 20, 2019, will be a staff development day. There will be no school for students. All eighth grade students at BHS, BCE, CE, MHS, VE and VPHS will participate in their end of they year recognition ceremonies. Parents and family members will be invited to attend.
•All other end of the year ceremonies will be held on May 23 or May 24.
•Tuesday, May 21, 2019, through Thursday, May 23, 2019, all schools will dismiss students at regular dismissal times.
•All students will be dismissed at 1:00 p.m. on Friday, May 24, 2019.
•All employees will be dismissed at their regular times on May 20 through May 24.
•Teachers and administrators will begin their record day activities during the afternoon of May 24, 2019, unless they are otherwise assigned.
•Last instructional day for students is May 24. Report cards will be issued on May 24, 2019.
•May 27 is Memorial Day. School and District offices will be closed.
•May 28 will be record day/professional development/end of the year landing ceremony for all employees. Absent employees will be docked.
•The following schools will increase their instructional minutes, effective Thursday, May 16, through May 23 accordingly: BHS - nine minutes per day, MHS - two minutes per day, BCE - 13 minutes per day, ME - 11 minutes per day, PPHS - five minutes per day, VE - 13 minutes per day, and WWS - six minutes per day. All schools continue with their normal schedule.
Image
ELIZABETH WEST Managing Editor