La. joins Indiana same-sex marriage case as locals await ruling in N.O.
August 5, 2014
Lafourche public schools gear up for 2014-15 year
August 5, 2014
As Terrebonne Parish public school students get set to hit the books once more Aug. 11, there’s a lot of newness in the air.
There’s a new school, new class structure for high school students and new cell phone policy. There’s even a newly-designed school district website.
But one thing always stays the same: The school district motto “Every Student, Every Day.”
“We’re excited for the start of the school year. Within the school system there’s always excitement for the beginning of school, and we share that excitement. We are very optimistic about the school year and look forward to it. We believe in our mission and initiative, ‘Every Student, Every Day.’ We believe that, and we look forward to fulfilling our mission,” said Terrebonne Parish School District Supt. Philip Martin.
As for the changes, the most obvious difference will be the inception of the 7-period class schedule at the parish’s four public high schools Ellender, H.L. Bourgeois, South Terrebonne and Terrebonne.
Students will now have seven 50-minute classes per day which will last the entire school year. Previously, students had two sets of four 90-minute classes which lasted half of the school year.
“We make changes based on what we think is best for student achievement and obviously we wouldn’t make the change if we weren’t convinced it will be,” Martin said.
The Terrebonne Parish School Board unanimously voted for the change last year. Detractors of the 7-period day say the four fewer courses, one each year, high school students would take over the course of their prep careers limits the opportunities to acquire the appropriate credits for graduation and could add a full year – rather than one semester – if they need to remain in school to acquire those credits.
“There are some very strong benefits of a 4-period day. But some of the downsides are things move very rapidly, and in some classes, particularly the maths and the chemistries, those are foreign concepts to many kids. And when you’re moving 90 miles an hour like a 4-period day requires you to, with 14, 15, 16-year-old attention spans, it’s very difficult to keep them focused on that subject for 90 minutes. We decided, ‘Let’s look at taking smaller bites over a much longer period of time,’” the superintendent said.
Another change for the upcoming school year will be the allowed possession of cell phones at school – but not the allowed use of them.
Terrebonne Parish public school students can now possess a cell phone throughout the school day, however they cannot use them at any time – not even during recess. With so many students participating in after-school activities Martin said it allows parents to communicate with their children after school.
“As times change, as culture changes, as technology changes, as lifestyle changes, you have to change in the school system as well. The overwhelming majority of kids have cell phones, and to penalize one for having one at school is probably a little archaic and antiquated,” Martin said.
The superintendent said there may be certain on-campus events and activities where students could use their cell phones at the principal’s discretion.
In East Houma, there’s new in the form of a new school – Grand Calliou Middle School.
The base of the school sits 10 feet above sea level, and important improvement after the previous school located about 10 miles away in Dulac suffered flood damage on many occasions.
“We’re very excited with that,” Martin said. “It’s a beautiful school, and we’re very pleased to provide that to that community. The previous school was built in 1935 but not just being old, it’s flooded so many times we’ve lost track, and that creates a very unique set of challenges to the school. So rather than continue to face that flooding, building a new school, an elevated school, reduces the chances of flooding.”
As always in school districts across the country, new teachers make their way to new places during the summer months. Terrebonne Parish, of course, has its share of new teachers, however Martin said that the school district continues to have trouble finding certified teachers.
“It’s the supply and demand issue and a competitive one. We’re dealing with it, but it is a significant issue that we recognize we have to find some solutions to. There is a shortage generally speaking. It boils down to simple economics. If you’re a certified math teacher, you can teach anywhere,” he explained.
Martin said that teachers in the Terrebonne Parish School District are paid the 49th most among school districts in Louisiana.
“That creates some issues that hopefully in the future we’ll be able to address,” Martin said.
Despite the ongoing certified teacher shortage, Martin said the district made strides in both graduation rate and ACT scores last year. According to the superintendent, Terrebonne Parish’s graduation rate now stands at above 80 percent, and ACT scores have gone up nearly a full test score point.
“[Our graduation rate] used to be a 60-something percent, which is something that we said, ‘This is horrible.’ Over 80 percent is significantly higher than the state average, so we’re very pleased with the success and improvement we’ve had with kids finishing on time. Are we pleased with it? Yes. Are we satisfied with it? No. We want 100 percent. We don’t want to lose any child.”
Martin hopes AP courses, ACT prep classes and the honors program will continue to improve ACT scores in the future.
Terrebonne High School English teacher Stephanie Pellegrin goes through paperwork in her classroom to get set for the 2014-15 school year.
