The December meeting of the Washington Parish School Board was held on Thursday, December 15. The meeting began with Superintendent Frances Varnado recognizing three "Comeback Campus" award winners from the parish. Louisiana Comeback is a coordinated campaign to recover and accelerate learning lost due to challenges from the pandemic and hurricane-related school disruptions.
In 2021, the Louisiana Department of Education asked school systems across the state to join the Louisiana Comeback by committing to invest a portion of their pandemic relief fund into three primary areas: attendance and wellbeing, recovery and acceleration, and professional learning. The Louisiana Department of Education is recognizing the impact educators have made with students despite facing extraordinary obstacles over the past two years. Washington Parish is home to three Louisiana Comeback Campuses: Franklinton Junior High School, Pine School, and Varnado High School. Louisiana Comeback Campuses are schools that increased the percentage of students scoring mastery and above and decreased the percentage of students scoring unsatisfactory in both math and ELA on statewide assessments when compared to 2019. High school Comeback Campuses also increased their ACT score.
Statewide, 41 schools representing over 20 school systems earned this prestigious honor. Superintendent Varnado reiterated that out of 41 schools in the state awarded this honor, Washington Parish is home to three. Each school will receive a banner from the State Superintendent to display.
Coordinator of Accountability and Assessment Katie Miller was on hand to summarize the recently released District and School Performance Scores. Some of the highlights of her presentation included that 20 school districts in the state earned an A for student growth and Washington Parish is included in that number; there was growth in overall K8-HS Assessment Index; growth in High School Progress Index; An A for the District Progress Index; Growth in Strength of Diploma Index; 7 Schools with an A in Progress Index; 4 schools recognized by the state as Top Gains; 2 schools recognized by the state as on track to exit UIR (Urgent Intervention Required); 4 schools achieved a "B" rating; and 3 schools recognized by the state as Comeback Campuses. Ms. Miller also explained a new reading remediation program for lower grades that will begin in the summer of 2023.
The board was then presented a short explanation by Tripp Roy about the Sunlight LLC solar project and its desire for the Income Tax Exemption Program. Attorney Wayne Kuhn explained that Sheriff Randy Seal and the Washington Parish Council has denied the ITEP but to not vote to deny it would be classified as an approval. The board, after listening to statements by those pro-solar farm and against-solar farm, voted to deny the ITEP request.
A representative from the firm of Postiethwaite and Netterville gave a short summary of the ongoing audit for 2021/22. She informed the board that there had been no irregularities found and the audit is on track to be completed and submitted to the Legislative Auditor on time.
Director of Student Support Services Tricia Smith informed the board that per a motion to adopt the SPED Camera Grant, there will be cameras in all self-contained SPED classrooms and SPED buses. Washington Parish is going beyond requirements by the legislature by suppling cameras as well as addressing parent concerns and requests. Mrs. Smith also reported that each school in the parish now has one Automated External Defibrillator on campus with personnel trained to use it. All the high schools in the parish will have three on campus.
In other business, the board accepted a low bid of $49,000 to demolish Angie Junior High School, but bids for a roof and down spouts at Franklinton Junior High School will have to be re-opened and due in February. Assistant Superintendent Jennifer Thomas presented the board with a revised Washington Parish Board policy regarding sick leave. The addendum defines sick leave special circumstances as medical, military for spouse, hurt, or a life event one cannot foresee. The board approved the addition to the policy.
The final order of business was to recognize outgoing school board members. Dan Slocum has served on the Board for 26 years and Dewitt Perry and Alan McCain for 16 years each. Superintendent Varnado presented them with a token of appreciation, and she and each board member thanked them for their service and support of all Washington Parish Schools and not just the ones in the district they represented. All three districts will have new board representatives in the new year.
Superintendent Varnado concluded the meeting with a heartfelt thank you to the entire system for the way they professionally handled the previous day's tornado warnings and inclement weather event. She also thanked Bobbi Jo Breland of Homeland Security and Franklinton Police Chief Justin Brown for their assistance. Varnado also praised the Franklinton High School JAG program on a "no blemishes" report by auditors and Coach Nate Murray for his work with the program.
