Bogalusa City Schools’ ‘Teachers of the Year’ named
Published 4:24 am Wednesday, January 31, 2018
The Bogalusa City School Board’s meeting Monday included the recognition of the system’s “Teachers of the Year.”
The recognized teachers included Melondy Hughes of Byrd Avenue, Mary May of Central Elementary, Ivy Lewis of Bogalusa Middle School, and 1st Sgt. Jack Rogers of Bogalusa High School. They were all commended for their exemplary work.
LaRobyn Houston was welcomed as the new principal at Central Elementary, and Gwendolyn Piggott was welcomed as the new assistant principal of discipline for grades six through eight.
Later in the meeting, Jobs for America’s Graduates teacher Myleeza Mingo gave a testimonial for the JAG program, and she was followed by students in the new class that Superintendent Lisa Tanner secured for the high school.
In other business, it was announced by Becky Prader Hanan of Carr, Riggs, and Ingram that the Bogalusa School Board Audit had earned an unmodified or “clean opinion.”
Hanan said, “I commend Ms. (Deloris) Walker and her staff for seven consecutive now eight years of positive findings in such a large governmental institution.”
Terese Bennett of F3 Management LLC then rose to say her company has made a purchase offer, based on the appraised value of $179,000, to buy Pleasant Hill School in order to change the space into one and two-bedroom senior citizen apartments and cottages. The plans include 100-percent solar energy, energy efficient appliances, a Senior Garden, a Senior Community Auditorium, and a Community Cafeteria, with onsite property management.
LSU Ag Center’s Henry Harrison then spoke of wanting to keep the cooperative agreement with the Bogalusa School Board. He said LSU Ag provides guidance with school gardens, 4-H programs, and nutrition and health programs.
Next, Marie Goff outlined the Special Education Independent Education Evaluation (IEE) Policy.
She said, “We’re under rules and regulations from the state of Louisiana that lays out our procedure. We want to be ready.”
Walker also expressed appreciation that 56 percent of local voters agreed to continue the 7.79 mill property tax for 10 years, beginning with the year 2019.
Items that passed unanimously included the approval of the audit, of the LSU Ag Center cooperative agreement, of the agreement to sell Pleasant Hill School, of the IEE policy, and the resolution providing for canvassing returns and declaring the results of the Nov. 18, 2017 vote to authorize the levy of special taxes. Only the Rev. Raymond Mims was absent.
Also passed unanimously were the 2017 revised budget, approval to distribute the 12 mill checks, and the 2017 Policy Alert Update.