SPECIAL TO L’OBSERVATEUR

CONVENT — The St. James Parish School Board approved the recommendation to implement a cosmetology program at the Career and Technology Center for next school year in Tuesday’s meeting held at the Romeville Elementary School cafeteria.

On the recommendation by the district’s Director of Career and Technical Education and High School Redesign, Nolan Albert, the board unanimously voted to approve the implementation of the program for the upcoming school year.

“I truly appreciate the board for approving this recommendation,” Superintendent Alonzo Luce commented. “We have been looking at several ideas and solutions to keep our students on track and provide them with opportunities so that they don’t lose hope going forward.”

“We understand that not all of our children will aspire to go the traditional education four-year university; therefore, we want to allow these students the same dual enrollment opportunities for post-graduate success by offering them courses that can transfer to our state technical cosmetology colleges. When we talk about inspiring hope and purpose in our children, we can only do that by offering opportunities to every individual child.”

The board also held a town hall meeting prior to their official meeting to discuss the reconstruction efforts of Romeville Elementary. The school site suffered the most extensive damage of all other SJPS sites following Hurricane Gustav seven months ago. The board was seeking input from citizens of the Convent community whose children attend the school. John Gonzales of GOSEP briefed those in attendance with what his agency has been doing to help the school district recover at RES as well as other sites within the parish.

Architect Perry Segura of Perry Segura Inc. developed three potential renderings that included two of a remodeled RES and one of a new school at a yet to be determined site, potentially on Highway 3125.

Board Member George Nassar, who represents District 4, where RES is located, assured concerned citizens that the board would work together with FEMA and other parish entities to secure an improved RES.

“I have all the confidence in the world that this board will do everything in its power to meet the needs of the students of Romeville,” Nassar said. “We have to consider all of the financial aspects that will factor into securing a new school or renovating the existing building we have. However, I am in agreement and do support a new school being built on Highway 3125 in same area.”

Additionally, the board approved several other items including:

• Granting permission to the Parish Council to use three buses for Fifth District Summer Camp

• The endorsement of a resolution in support of the governor and the Louisiana Board of Regents continuation of funding the LSU AgCenter Program at the 2008-09 level

• The updated personnel list

• The 2009-2010 holiday calendar for 12-month employees

The board’s next scheduled meeting will be held on Tuesday, May 12. Minutes for the March 24 and March 26 meeting were approved as well and can be reviewed on the SJPS website at www.stjames.k12.la.us.