EPSB hears about Industry Based Credentials

The Evangeline Parish School Board, Wednesday night, heard from Supervisor John Deshotel who updated the board on Industry Based Credentials, known as IBCs. These classes are created by industries to help students master critical skills necessary to be effective employees. These classes include customer service, Microsoft Office, safety production, emergency medical responder, etc. Students must have at least one state IBC to graduate.
Deshotel said customer service is a credential that businesses want students to have. “They want them to be taught how to deal with people, how to handle people.” For each of the IBCs, the schools get an extra 10 points on their school performance scores. The number of IBCs offered at each school have gone up over the last few years.
According to Deshotel, the robotics program at Ville Platte High School was started last year. He said they have already built some robots and the instructor wants to expand the program. He added, “The kids seem to love it.” He also said the district is in talks with the technical school in Oakdale, and they are pushing for LSUA for dual enrollment classes. Acadian Ambulance is in discussion for an EMT program. Deshotel said there are at least two teachers who teach the first responder classes who have expressed interest in getting their EMT license to teach the EMT courses. Acadian Ambulance told them they are short on EMTs, but if these students can start this program, they will hire them upon graduation, and pay for them to go through the EMT program. “If we can get this going, I think it would be a great thing for our district,” said Deshotel.
Deshotel also said they have upgraded the welding programs with CNC (computerized numerical controls) plasma cutters. They have two, and they will have two more on the way. “All of our four high schools will have that capability before long,” he said.
The board also approved the new 2020-2021 school calendar, with a first instructional day of August 12, 2020, and last instructional day of May 27, 2021.
In his closing comments, Superintendent Darwan Lazard talked about cooperative purchasing. Many times they get quotes locally, other times they purchase through state contract. They also purchase through cooperate agreement where they piggy-back with other districts to get the best prices for items purchased. He used the example of purchasing pencils. If all districts purchase pencils at the same time, you get a better deal than just one district purchasing.
Lazard also congratulated Pam Fontenot, a registered nurse at Ville Platte High, who was nominated by special education director Kelli Lafleur for the Top RN award in the Acadiana region. Fontenot was selected as one of the top registered nurses in the seven-parish area for district four of the Louisiana State Nurses Association. Fontenot will be honored at the Acadiana Celebrates Nursing Awards to be held in Lafayette on Friday, May 8.
Lazard said he represented the State of Louisiana when he attended the AASA, the school superintendent’s association, convention where he discussed issues with Education Secretary Betsy Devos and the Trump administration, where they talked about improving education in the state and the country.
Sarah Hamlin LaFleur is the new acting principal at Chataignier Elementary. She has 13 1/2 years of education, including assistant principal at Ville Platte High. She will be acting principal at Chataignier Elementary while principal Peggy Edwards is on leave.
Tori Fontenot is now acting assistant principal at Ville Platte High while LaFleur is at Chataignier Elementary. Fontenot has 18 years in education in Evangeline Parish.
Lazard also announced Basile High School won the state championship in wrestling for classes 1A, 2A, and 3A. This makes two years in a row they win the championship.
Lazard commended those who brought the Breakfast in the Classroom program to Ville Platte Elementary. “Not only are more students eating regularly, but also there has been an increase of instructional minutes.” Instructional time has increased by one hour and 15 minutes.
Zachary Richard raised money though a Go Fund Me account to purchase books for 12 schools that have French Immersion classes. Ville Platte Elementary has been selected to receive $500 worth of books.