Parents claim staff ‘mistreated’ their kids

Published 1:37 am Saturday, October 31, 2015

Three parents accused Bogalusa High School teachers of mistreating their children during Thursday night’s meeting of the Bogalusa City School Board.

Donna Mingo, Yolanda Ladner and Rosalind Smith all requested an end to harassment of their children by high school staff members.

Superintendent Willie “Toni” Breaux addressed the mothers’ concerns.

“If you have a problem, I would like to work with you to work it out,” Breaux said. “I do want to hear from you. If you have an appointment set up, I promise I will meet with you.

“I don’t smear these kids and I treat kids with respect like I want to be treated with respect. I’m never going to disrespect your kid. Let’s make this system what it used to be — one of the best in Louisiana.”

The protocol and procedure by which parents must follow to raise concerns is first to contact one of four disciplinarians at the school. The particular concern then is heard by Principal Lesley McKinley, followed by Child Welfare and Attendance Supervisor Phlesher Mingo.

If a parent still desires to meet with Breaux, an appointment must be made through Breaux’s executive secretary, Robin Day.

In other matters, District A Bogalusa City Councilwoman Gloria Kates presented certificates of appreciation to two school employees who assisted with the recent Summer Feeding Program. She said the program fed 120 children over a four-week period at St. Paul A.M.E. Church. Recognized were BHS Child Nutrition Program Supervisor Lorene Randazzo and program monitor Charlotte Robinson.

State Senate District 12 candidate Mickey Murphy, who advanced to the Nov. 21 runoff against Franklinton Republican Beth Mizell, also addressed the board.

Mizell led the four-person field with 14,344 votes, or 43 percent. Murphy, a Democrat from Bogalusa, managed 10,767 votes, or 33 percent. The district encompasses all of Washington Parish and the northern parts of St. Tammany and Tangipahoa parishes.

“My entire life has been about public education, said Murphy, a former drill sergeant and dean of Northshore Technical College-Sullivan Campus.  I’m concerned about where our state is headed. Educators are un-deserving of the treatment they’ve received. I want to change that.”

In business matters, the Board approved:

• The 2015-2016 Pupil Progression Plan

• Distribution of sales tax checks.

• Discarding of old and broken system-wide assets.

• Travel of the BHS Jr. ROTC to Brandon, Miss., earlier this month.

• Partnership Agreement between Bruce Sampson’s ICON Performing Arts, Believe Summer Camp Experience, Washington Parish Community Arts Council and Bogalusa City Schools.

• The 2015 Legislative Update series, which includes revisions addressing school bus routing and violations of uniform policies from James Prescott of Forethought Consulting Inc.

• Forethought Consulting Inc. policy updates.

• Travel for seniors to go to Orlando, Fla., on April 20-24, 2016.

• A Nov. 16 committee meeting and Nov. 19 board meeting, as well as a Dec. 14 committee meeting and Dec. 17 board meeting.