DANIEL TYLER GOODEN / L’Observateur / July 29, 2000

LUTCHER – Romeville principal Geneva Landry has been reassigned, and Arianna Banks, a former guidance counselor at Lutcher Elementary, has been named acting principal.

Landry’s reassignment as principal on special assignment for pupil appraisal was approved unanimously by the St. James School BoardTuesday.

Landry will be working with the parish’s students with learning disabilities, known as 504 students. Because Landry’s certification is inspecial education the school system’s administration feels she will bring skills the parish needs in improving the education of the 504 student, said Millie Matherne, administrative director.

Banks thanked the school board for its vote of confidence.

“I’m excited about working with the staff at Romeville Elementary, and you will see good things,” said Banks.

Board President Kenneth Foret Sr. said Landry had done very well at Romeville in the years she worked there and he was sorry to see her leave that position. Foret continued by congratulating Banks.In another matter, the school board requested a bid package be prepared for the St. James High softball facility. It was also reported to the board that Gallo Mechanical Contractors was prepared replace the air conditioning and roofing at Fifth Ward Elementary. Ted Beaullieu, school board engineering consultant, said Gallowould be ready to start on Oct. 15. Gallo would continue at the biddingprice submitted to the board earlier in the year but requested that if material costs have increased since the prior bid the school board pay the added increase if given proof. Gallo promised a $10,000 cap on anypossible increase, saying it would pay the extra at its own expense.

Beaullieu was given permission to go ahead with the project by the board’s vote.

It was also reported that the greenhouse at St. James High School iscomplete except for a final inspection of the work by Beaullieu.

In other business: A resolution was passed providing for canvassing the returns and declaring the results of the special election held on July 15. At the nextboard meeting a resolution requesting advertising for bids on the projects funded by the passed propositions will be voted on. The projects proposedare replacement of the air conditioning and roofing a various schools in the parish, the construction of two technology centers and two new athletic tracks at St. James and Lutcher high schools. Salary schedules were approved for the 2000-01 school year.

Superintendent Edward Cancienne reported that the ACT workshop for St.

James Parish teachers at Nicholls State University was a success.

“It was a very effective workshop. The teachers reported that they arevery excited about bringing what they learned back to the classroom,” he said. Nicholls is hoping to expand the classes next year, he added.

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