By Kimberly Hopson
L’Observateur

LAPLACE – Teachers, parents and students of East St. John High School resolved to create a new, unified front during its third annual stakeholder meeting at New Wine Christian Fellowship’s multipurpose facility on Tuesday afternoon.
After assessing last year’s overall performance, groups of “stakeholders” discussed the school’s repair and recovery, analyzed strengths and weaknesses and covered goals for the upcoming year. The consensus was overwhelmingly focused on academic achievement, specifically reducing dropout rates while increasing graduation rates and fostering career and post-secondary education readiness in students.
Attendees also devised a mission statement for the school based
on the school district’s all-inclusive new mission statement, designed a bookmark for students, and brainstormed ways to reward the school’s “silent heroes.”
Glenda Pavageau, a business teacher at the school, said she thought the meeting was efficient and effective, and is excited to see the new ideas implemented this year.
“I think it’s just a fresh start. I see everyone more on-board and more eager,” she said. “When you have community leaders in here and they see how our school’s performing, maybe the students we’re going to have will be employees in the future, so we’re making that connection with everybody.”
East St. John High School Principal Patricia Triche said she was pleased with the community participation at this year’s meeting. The stakeholder meeting is intended
to generate ideas to
help better the school and create a comfortable learning environment.
“We have to look at the data and look at where we were to know where we’re going to go. We have to look at the expectations that are set on us by not only the Department of Education, but by the superintendent of school, who is setting the course for progress in our district,” said Triche. “It’s a great way to start the school year and a great way to get input. It’s a way to get everyone focused on counting our blessngs instead of counting our worries.”