Superintendents name challenges for new school year

During the next two weeks public school students in the Tri-parish region will be headed back to the books. While most will see changes in classes and teachers, others may experience adjustments to program offerings due to budget cuts.

First days for students to be in attendance are Aug. 5 in the Lafourche Parish School District, Aug. 8 for the Terrebonne Parish School District and Aug. 11 in the St. Mary Parish School District.

Tri-parish school superintendents were invited to offer their thoughts regarding challenges and opportunities for the 2011-12 academic year.

Terrebonne School District

Financial cuts will be at the forefront of concerns for all administrators according to Terrebonne Parish School District Superintendent Philip Martin, who admitted he is facing this year wondering how to operate with fewer dollars on a $191 million budget.

“The financial security of the district is a constant worry, a constant presence in my mind” Martin said. “We are already fearing next year because we have some continued financial concerns.”

Martin said that when budget matters first became an issue initial cuts came easy, but have already moved into the difficult. “You reach a point of diminishing return because there is nothing left to cut,” he said. “We are trying to make ends meet.”

On the financial front, the Terrebonne school district is balancing money concerns, instructional optimism and expected improved performance among 19,000 students with fewer resources.

“To put things into perspective, if you look at just the state contribution [to the budget] and look at the number of kids we have in school and break it down in hourly rates, the state is giving us $3.80 an hour for each kid,” Martin said. “You can’t get babysitting for that. We are charged with much more than babysitting.”

As for goals, Martin said that educators want to expand with response to intervention. “That’s a new buzz word,” Martin said. “Quite simply it means teach the kids what they didn’t learn.”

Martin in the past has admitted that some school districts have taught based on meeting the requirements of standardized tests. With the response to intervention initiative Terrebonne educators intend to fill in the gaps not only from testing programs but from subjects some students are not catching the first time.

“We want to find out what they don’t know and do something,” Martin said. “You have some children who haven’t mastered reading comprehension at their grade level. Maybe it is math. When you address those needs children have in class and during class you are more successful.”

The Terrebonne Parish School District has a 20-1 student to instructor ratio which is considered good among education experts.

Lafourche School District

Superintendent Jo Ann Matthews said she is “hoping and planning” for a productive school year among students, with improvements including updates to facilities and the addition of a new charter school in Thibodaux.

“We are offering a digital learning component where students can take some of their course work home online,” Matthews said. “It is all about offering parents choices. You know sometimes traditional school settings are not for everyone. So our goal is to provide innovative choices that parents can put their kids into that will keep them in school.”

The Lafourche Parish School District lost approximately $4 million this year in budget cuts. Matthews said she did not want to specify an adjusted budget level that had not yet been finalized. “We have made accommodations for changes, but we are concerned about increased costs for retirement,” she said.

As for goals, Matthews hopes to see an influx of students returning to the system that had previously dropped out of school. “We want to get moving on our vocational magnet school,” she said. “Students will go to school to enjoy learning.”

With 14,437 students and 1,141 teachers the average instructor to ratio is estimated at 24 to 1, but does not replace input from parents. “I think No.1, parental involvement in schools is essential,” Matthews said. “Contact the schools. See what’s going on over there. Contact the principals and your child’s teachers. We also have a lot of information online on our website.”

Matthews said that during the next five years she expects the appearance of education in Louisiana to take on significant changes. “Watch the initiatives going on [in Baton Rouge] and how the state budget influences education,” she said. “That does impact student learning.”

St. Mary School District

St. Mary Parish School District Superintendent Donald Aguillard was not available to offer personal comments on challenges and objectives for the school year. He did, however, provide a statement of requirements and offer of assistance.

In a release issued by the school district, officials stress that they are aware of the importance of equipping all students with the tools necessary for academic success, which includes the safety of students, prioritization of expenditures and implementation of a new four-year program designed to assist parents as they struggle to budget school expenses.

“As a result, parents getting their children ready for school can anticipate only minimal expenditures as the school board has allocated $22.50 per student to each school for supplies, various fees, and science materials,” the release reads.

This program offered by the school district is designed to assist parents in defraying a portion of back-to-school costs incurred annually while enabling the schools to supply students with needed materials or various school-related fees normally required.

The release also noted the addition of security cameras and metal detectors in schools for this academic year.

Getting Started

Parents with children in all three school districts were offered a reminder that students are expected to arrive on the first day of school in full uniform or appropriate attire.

Each district places and emphasis on maintaining a safe and secure environment for learning and have measures in place to ensure that stand.

For eligible families, the National School Lunch Program requires schools to offer equitable financial support for student lunches, and Section 205 of the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010 mandates a gradual increase per year until the average paid lunch price equals the difference between federal reimbursements received for free meals and paid meals.

Beginning in August, the gap between an average paid lunch price and the required level will be addressed with an annual increase of 10 cents. Parents should see local schools for details in receiving this assistance.

Students not present on their respective first day of class by district will be marked absent and miss vital information delivered on the first day of instruction. Attendance policies are set by the Louisiana State Department of Education. Under established policy, elementary and junior high students are allowed only 11 absences during the school year.

During the school year high school students must be present 94 percent of the required instructional time. Students in grades 9-12 are allowed only six absences per semester.

Kristy Mason helps daughters Ava (left) and Jewel make their selections while matching uniform requirements for Mulberry Elementary School at Jake’s School Uniforms in Houma. MIKE NIXON