Monday, June 14
June 14, 2010Cuts will be devastating
June 16, 2010
Things have come full circle for new W. S. Lafargue Elementary principal Monica Tauzin.
She was awarded the position of principal at last week’s Lafourche Parish School Board meeting after it became available with the retirement of former principal Arlene Adams.
“It’s a pleasure to have started my education at W.S. Lafargue as a five-year-old kindergarten student and return as a student teacher in Mrs. Arlene Adams’ classroom,” said Tauzin. “She mentored me, and to end her career with me as my principal and mentor, I thank her very much.”
Tauzin served as an assistant principal at W.S. Lafargue for the previous four years and at Bayou Blue Elementary prior to that – experience Superintendent Jo Ann Matthews said makes her a perfect fit for this job.
“The school has gone through many changes in trying to increase the instructional level, and she’s been part of that process,” said Matthews. “She’s the person for the job.”
With a total of 14 and a half years in the Lafourche Parish System, Tauzin will begin her job duties July 1.
“I have yet to let you down, and I promise not do so now,” said Tauzin to the school board. “With accountability as crucial as it is, W.S. Lafargue will continue to grow, and we will continue to move forward as a team. We will continue to do great things for our education system.”
Along with every other school in Lafourche Parish, W.S. Lafargue will have to adjust to new admission and dismissal times.
As part of the school board’s effort to remain on budget, it decided to revert back to a three-admission and dismissal system – a change from its two-admission and dismissal system.
The effort aims to save money by decreasing the number of busses required to adequately service the school system. Administrators say the cut will save the school board $783,820 – eliminating the need for 20 busses and 20 bus drivers.
Under the change, every high and middle school will admit students at 7:25 a.m. and dismiss students at 2:25 p.m. Upper elementary schools, as well as St. Charles, W.S. Lafargue, Cut Off and Larose elementary schools, will admit students at 8 a.m. and dismiss students at 3 p.m.
Meanwhile, every lower elementary school, as well as Bayou Blue, Chackbay, Thibodaux and Galliano elementary schools, will admit students at 8:35 a.m. and dismiss students at 3:35 p.m.
But even in the face of the $7.1 million deficit the Lafourche Parish School Board had to address with its budget cuts April 21, a small amount of financial help is on the way.
The school board has been notified of a $452,040 grant award for next school year – a $14,316 increase from last school year.
The award must go toward maintaining the Lafourche Parish Migrant Education Program, which services eligible migrant students and families in a 12-parish area.
The grant funds ensure that migrant students are able to adjust to the challenges of moving with programs that help students overcome educational disruptions and help students prepare for a successful transition to post-secondary education or employment.
The grant will keep 14 workers employed in this department.
