Board Briefing
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St. Tammany Parish School Board, May, 2014 BOARD BRIEFING Board Briefing is a summary of St. Tammany Parish School Board action taken at the Board meeting on May 15, 2014, and is not intended to be a complete accounting of Board action. Fundraiser Checks Presented to PRIDE and Jerseys for Jeremy Superintendent W. L. “Trey” Folse, III presented checks of $6,958 each to two community non-profit organizations, the proceeds of a special fundraising day held on April 17 across the School System when students and employees donated a dollar or more to wear their favorite sports jerseys or shirt for the day. Representatives from PRIDE and the Jeremy Hebert Defibrillator Fund thanked the School Board for the contributions. Supervisor Margaret Sharpe outlined the services provided by each group, community drug abuse awareness in the case of PRIDE and the purchase and distribution of Automatic External Defibrillators (AEDs) by the Jeremy Hebert Defibrillator Fund. State Student of the Year Honored By School Board Patrick Flanigan, a recent Mandeville High School graduate and the St. Tammany Parish Public School System’s “High School Student of the Year,” was honored by the Board for being selected Louisiana State Student of the Year in the High School Division. Superintendent Folse congratulated him and presented him with a certificate of recognition for his achievement. “Out of 700,000 students in Louisiana, Patrick was one of three chosen to represent the state as the Louisiana High School Student of the Year,” said Folse. “To have the High School Student of the Year again this year, after Jon Mitchell of Pearl River High won the honor last year, was a great surprise.” Flanigan thanked his parents for their support and his principal Bruce Bundy. National Merit Scholarship Finalists Recognized The 11 National Merit Scholarship Program finalists from the St. Tammany Parish Public School System for the 2013-2014 School Year were recognized by Superintendent Folse. He commended their accomplishment and told of their college and career plans. Students honored were Michael Dunham of Mandeville High; Scott Kent, Yuanxia Lee, and Dooyeol Kim, all from Northshore High; Aaron Reed, Julia Stricklin, and Greta Shallenberger of Mandeville High; Morgan Lee Kleis of Mandeville High; Andrew Paul Campbell and Leah Weaver, both of Northshore High, and Kevin Reiners of Lakeshore High. Winner and Finalist Named for 2014 Superintendent’s Award A special education teacher at Folsom Elementary School, John Wondergem, won the Superintendent's Award for Outstanding Character and Citizenship this year, and the Principal’s Goldfish Club at Abney Elementary in Slidell was named Finalist for the honor. Superintendent Folse praised Wondergem for his “above and beyond” attitude, and a video produced by Channel 13 showcased his work with his students. The goal of Abney Elementary Principal’s Goldfish Club is to reach out to the community through activities including visits to retirement homes, collection of items for those in need, a continual food drive, and even a shoe collection drive. A Channel 13 video was shown which outlined the many community service activities of the group. Superintendent Folse said that Capital One Bank had been working with the School System to sponsor the Superintendent’s award program since it began. The Superintendent's Award was created in 2003 to honor people and programs within the School System for showing outstanding character and citizenship at their individual schools or support sites. Winners are chosen based on criteria such as respect, responsibility, caring, trustworthiness, fairness, citizenship, and decision-making. Capital One Bank Awards Two $5000 Scholarships Two recent graduates of the St. Tammany Parish Public School System were each presented $5000 “Investing for Good” scholarships by Capital One Bank. Denis Schexnaydre, Northshore District Manager for the bank, presented the checks to Nicholas Williams from Salmen High School and Margaret Robinson from Lakeshore High. Superintendent Folse commended Williams for his involvement with several clubs at Salmen High, including the Beta Club, National Honor Society, and Interact Club. Miss Robinson was ranked in the top three percent of her graduating class. “She has challenged herself academically through AP, Honors, and Dual Enrollment classes,” said Superintendent Folse, noting that her list of clubs, organizations, and honors are extensive. Superintendent Folse said that Capital One provides opportunities for children and youth to access and excel in education and enrichment activities that prepare them for successful futures. “We would like to thank Capital One Bank for investing in the students of the St. Tammany Parish Public School System as we work together for success,” he concluded. Amanda Warren Congratulated For Presidential Award Amanda Warren, a fourth grade teacher at Lake Harbor Middle School, was presented a certificate of achievement by Superintendent Folse who announced she was the latest School System recipient of the Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching. The award is the highest honor bestowed on science teachers by the federal government. The award comes with a $10,000 grant from the National Science Foundation. A Channel 13 video presentation about Ms. Warren was shown. Her mother, Kim Wood, was the Louisiana winner of the Presidential Award for science education in 1995. Other Presidential Award winners from St. Tammany were Suzanne Buras, also from Lake Harbor Middle; Gina Allain, Whispering Forest Elementary; Priscilla Ray, Tchefuncte Middle; Maryanne Smith, Mandeville Middle; Fan Disher, Mandeville High; Carol Meyer, Tchefuncte Middle; Janiece Mistich, Tchefuncte Middle; Anne Lehman, Mandeville Middle; Ellen Marino, Mandeville Middle; Dr. John Swang, Mandeville Middle, Laura Norsworthy, Mandeville Middle; and Stephen Blume, Slidell Curriculum Center. Board Honors CHS Powerlifting Team Accomplishments The Covington High School Boys Powerlifting Team was recognized by the School Board for capping off an “exceptional season,” taking top honors in state and national competition, and coming back with a national championship title in late March. Administrative Supervisor Kevin Darouse welcomed team members and Coach John Burford to the meeting. A resolution introduced by Board Member Mike Dirmann commended the team for their accomplishments and passed unanimously. Dirmann said winning a national championship put them in a “rare” group of School System achievers. Coach Burford thanked the Board for the opportunity to recognize his team for their dedication and achievement, and he also thanked the administration of Covington High and his team members’ parents for help in making it possible. On a personal note, he voiced his appreciation for his coach in high school, Frank Jabbia, who is now principal of Northshore High School. A Channel 13 video was shown outlining the successes of the team over the season. Board Member Stephen J. Loup, III Receives Service Pin Assistant Superintendent Pete Jabbia presented District Two School Board member Stephen J. “Jack” Loup, III with a service pin signifying his 35 years of service to the School System, both as an educator and as a member of the Board. The Board then stood and gave a round of applause to Loup and all the other students and faculty who were honored during the meeting. Minutes Approved The minutes of the regular meeting held on April 10, 2014, were approved. Retirement Resolutions Approved Appropriate retirement resolutions were approved for the following certificated personnel subsequent to April 10, 2014: Beryl E. Hoffman, Abita Springs Elementary, 28.81 years, 20.81 years in St. Tammany Parish; Theresa W. Dennis, Abney Elementary, 32.50 years, 31.50 years in St. Tammany Parish; Cheryl A. Livingston, Alton Elementary, 34 years, 25 years in St. Tammany Parish; Kay P. Narcisse, Bayou Lacombe Middle, 30.76 years, 29.89 years in St. Tammany Parish; Heidi M. Berthelot, Bayou Woods Elementary, 32.99 years, 23.83 years in St. Tammany Parish; Patricia L. Paquette, Bonne Ecole Elementary, 33 years, 29 years in St. Tammany Parish; Denise A. Abadie-Smith, Boyet Junior High, 10.06 years, 5 years in St. Tammany Parish; John J. Raymond, Boyet Junior High, 28 years, 21 years in St. Tammany Parish; Judy E. Oubre, Brock Elementary, 15.50 years, all in St. Tammany Parish; Andrew A. Monteleone, Carolyn Park Middle, 40 years, all in St. Tammany Parish; and Darnell N. Boudreaux, Clearwood Junior High, 42.44 years, 33.44 years in St. Tammany Parish. Also, Teresa E. Williams, Clearwood Junior High, 36.73 years, 8.49 years in St. Tammany Parish; Patricia T. Brandt, Covington Elementary, 21.50 years, 15.50 years in St. Tammany Parish; Roland E. Huie, Jr., Covington High, 34.58 years, 24 years in St. Tammany Parish; Delores R. Maduell, Covington High, 26.93 years, 3.93 years in St. Tammany Parish; Maryanne W. Smith, Educational Center, 36.42 years, 21 years in St. Tammany Parish; Kimberly S. Wood, Educational Center, 33.48 years, all in St. Tammany Parish; Tyrone A. Callahan, Fifth Ward Junior High, 44 years, all in St. Tammany Parish; Judy A. Cambre, Florida Avenue Elementary, 24 years, 20 years in St. Tammany Parish; Margaret M. Waterson, Folsom Elementary, 36.45 years, 28 years in St. Tammany Parish; Michel L. Lavin, III, Fontainebleau High, 13.76 years, 5 years in St. Tammany Parish; and Jerry W. Taylor, Fontainebleau High, 20 years, all in St. Tammany Parish. Also, Jesus M. Gutierrez, Fontainebleau Junior High, 35 years, 22 years in St. Tammany Parish; Pamela M. Flynn, Harrison Curriculum Center, 39.43 years, 28.99 years in St. Tammany Parish; Jacqueline B. Ward, Harrison Curriculum Center, 37.91 years, 22 years in St. Tammany Parish; Alice C. Faciane, Honey Island Elementary, 24 years, all in St. Tammany Parish; Barbara N. Dooley, Lake Harbor Middle, 33.28 years, 21 years in St. Tammany Parish; Susan T. Doss, Lake Harbor Middle, 36.27 years, 13.38 years in St.