BHS School Board highlights new health center

Published 8:34 am Monday, November 24, 2014

Members of Bogalusa High School’s new school-based health center were recognized during Thursday night’s regular board meeting.

The center earned the Champion Award after an inspection by 15 members from the Department of Health’s Adolescent School Health Program. The center was certified to continue to operate for three years. The center opened in October 2013.

“They’ve done a great job in a short period of time,” Health Center Director Deloris Walker said. “We are so proud of them. Now our students can go to the school health center on campus instead of taking a day out of school. It will keep the kids in school, and we’re proud of that.”

The health center staff includes nurse Katasha Bryant, nurse practitioner Julia Kreger, data clerk Ashley Peters and social worker Leah Jenkins.

In other business the School Board approved a motion to amend the 2014-2015 Pupil Progression Plan. With parental permission, students who are 17 years of age and have 10 or fewer credits will be able to enter the HiSET prep class, located on Northside School’s campus. To enroll in the program, students must also score a 7 on another exam.

When the student has passed the official HiSET practice test and/or has had their 18th birthday, they will be recommended to take the HiSET test. A student who passes the HiSET will be eligible to participate in graduation at the end of the school year.

The School Board also approved the contract between the Bogalusa School Board and the LSU Health Sciences Center in New Orleans through the Our Lady of the Angels Hospital.

Additionally, the School Board gave permission to discard old and broken district property, including 46 computers. Other assets on the discard list included projectors, printers and VCRs.

Approval was granted to allow Bogalusa Middle School’s basketball teams to travel to Picayune, Miss., on Jan. 15, 2015.

Board members also adjusted the December board meeting dates because of school holidays. December’s committee meeting was changed to 5:30 p.m. on Monday, Dec. 8. The regular board meeting will be 5:30 p.m., on Wednesday, Dec. 10.

In personnel moves, the School Board hired Gail Marcks as Central Elementary School teacher, approved resignations of Denhamtown Elementary teacher Haley Amacker, Central Elementary teacher Kim Crowe, Northside technology assistant Darriona Lee and Central resource teacher Regina Williams.

Also, board members approved retirement for the high school’s Child Nutrition Programs Manager Carmen Comans, high school teacher Cathy B. Magee and Denhamtown custodian Mary Robinson.