By David Vitrano

L’Observateur

RESERVE – While local residents debate whether there is any truth to the controversial statements made by former East St. John Athletic Director and head football coach Larry Dauterive and the conditions surrounding his subsequent resignation, the St. John the Baptist Parish Public School System released its own findings on some of the coach’s statements.

According to a release from Superintendent Courtney Millet, the majority of the school’s football players are not in the academic trouble alluded to by Dauterive.

East St. John’s first semester interim report, released on Oct. 15, stated nearly one-fourth of the team’s players are currently on the school’s honor roll while about 80 percent have a grade point average of at least 2.0. The Louisiana High School Athletics Association requires that student athletes maintain at least a 1.5 GPA.

Among the team’s upperclassmen, those in grades 10-12, 95 percent maintain a “C” average or better.

Additionally, ESJ Principal Patricia Triche said some of the team’s players are enrolled in honors courses such as Algebra and English.

Said Triche, “Our main focus on our campus is first and foremost academic success. We have set high expectations for our students — all of our students — and they are responding well to those expectations.”

She added, “We know that the best education is always a rich blend of strong academics and inspirational and motivational extracurricular activities, such as arts and sports.”

Although the comments from Dauterive that drew the most criticism had to do with a generalization he made regarding a lack of fathers in local African-American households, his speech to the Quarterback’s Club also referenced troubles many on the team have academically.