LEONARD GRAY

PHOTO: ADMIRING THE ART, Laura Abadie of the St. Charles Schools’ gifted and talented program, examines creations at the student art show now on display. (Staff Photo by Leonard Gray) LULING – Wednesday’s meeting of the St. Charles Parish School Board was adorned with student art work, both sculpture and drawings, from the front lawn, throughout the ground floor of the school board headquarters and filling the board meeting room. “This is wonderful!” said Laura Abadie, technical assistant for the gifted and talented arts program. Everything from pencil sketches to works of architectural talent and from sand sculptures to life-sized papier-mache sculptures. The exhibition, representing the work of 340 students and their nine teachers, will be open to the public through May 18. “It is truly outstanding,” observed Superintendent Dr. Rodney Lafon. In other matters, work continues on the new St. Rose Elementary School with approval of a $13,000 change order on the construction project. The item, approved by the board, is to pay for removal of a pecan tree located at the edge of the building, adding six inches of sand fill to ensure the administration building is properly placed, furnishing material for a second entrance on the west side of the property and adding 10 days to the project. Total cost of the change order is $13,832, and will be drawn from the Capital Project Fund. Lafon recognized Harry Hurst Middle School for achieving status as a National Service Learning Leader School for work performed by students in the LaBranche Wetlands. Teacher Barry Guillot is scheduled to receive an award for the achievement of his students from President Bush. Hahnville High School also earned ranking in “Family PC” magazine as one of the Top 100-wired high schools in the nation for internet accessibility. In other actions, the board: Approved new reading textbook series for grades 1-8 and English textbooks for grades nine-12. The series are “Scott, Foresman Reading” for grades one-six, “Elements of Literature” for grades seven-eight and “Elements of Language” for grades nine-12. Approved advertising for the three-year fiscal agent contract. The contract has been held by Hibernia Bank for the past three years and is due to expire June 30. Recognized the recent death of Enola Thompson Darensbourg, who taught in the school system for 43 years. Recognized the St. Charles Rotary Club’s students of the year, Eric Jacobi of Destrehan High and Reshan Joseph of Hahnville High School.