8-12-15
THE LAFAYETTE PARISH SCHOOL BOARD’S EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE WILL RECEIVE A REPORT TOMORROW FROM THEIR ROUTING VENDOR ABOUT WAYS TO CUT TRANSPORTATION COSTS. THE TRANSPORTATION BUDGET, AT 17 MILLION DOLLARS, IS THE COSTLIEST EXPENSE FOR THE CENTRAL OFFICE, AND THE SCHOOL SYSTEM ROUTINELY RUNS A DEFICIT. ACCORDING TO THE DAILY ADVERTISER, EDULOG IS EXPECTED TO RECOMMEND THAT THE BELL TIMES AT 26 PARISH SCHOOLS BE CHANGED, WHICH WOULD ALLOW 25 TO 35 FEWER BUSES ON THE ROAD. THE REPORT IS ALSO EXPECTED TO RECOMMEND NO LONGER PROVIDING BUS SERVICE FOR STUDENTS WHO LIVE RELATIVELY CLOSE TO THE SCHOOL.
A DERIDDER HOMEOWNER WAS KILLED IN A FIRE THAT ENGULFED HIS BEDROOM EARLY TUESDAY MORNING AROUND ONE A-M. LOUISIANA STATE FIRE MARSHAL DEPUTY CHIEF BRANT THOMPSON SAYS FIREFIGHTERS FOUND THE FIRE CONFINED TO THE MASTER BEDROOM AND THE BODY OF 52-YEAR-OLD PAUL ASHWORTH ON THE FLOOR NEXT TO THE BED. THOMPSON SAYS FAMILY MEMBERS TOLD THEM THAT ASHWORTH HAD A HABIT OF SMOKING IN BED. ASHWORTH SAYS THEY FOUND SMOKING MATERIALS AND A BUTANE LIGHTER.
THE OPELOUSAS BOARD OF ALDERMEN AGREED TO A REQUEST BY POLICE CHIEF DONALD THOMPSON TO BEGIN MAKING PLANS TO REPAIR AND MODERNIZE THE CITY JAIL. THOMPSON SAYS THE JAIL, DESIGNED TO HOUSE 22 PRISONERS, HAD 46 PRISONERS AT THE TIME IT CAME UNDER SCRUTINY BY A FEDERAL JUDGE AND FIRE MARSHAL. HE SAYS BOTH OF THEM AND A BOARD OF HEALTH WROTE HIM UP BECAUSE OF THE JAIL. THE BOARD AGREED TO A RECOMMENDATION BY ARCHITECT JACK TOLSON TO HAVE A GROUP OF CONSULTANTS PERFORM A NEEDS ASSESSMENT AT THE JAIL, WHICH, HE SAYS, WOULD COST AROUND EIGHT THOUSAND DOLLARS.
Louisiana’s state school board has given initial backing to a proposal boosting day care assistance to low-income families. A plan that won preliminary support Tuesday from the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education will increase subsidies available to parents, using $10 million in available federal funding. When the program was overseen by Gov. Bobby Jindal’s administration, payments were cut. Superintendent of Education John White, whose department took over management in July, said the number of children served has dropped from 40,000 to 15,000.
ABOUT SIX HUNDRED INCOMING FRESHMEN AT U-L LAFAYETTE TOOK PART IN COMMUNITY SERVICE PROJECTS YESTERDAY AT SENIOR CENTERS AND PARKS. IT’S PART OF SOUL CAMP, WHICH IS A FOUR DAY PROGRAM, DESIGNED TO HELP THE NEW STUDENTS DEVELOP TEAM BUILDING AND LEADERSHIP SKILLS. U-L DIRECTOR OF SUSTAINABILITY GRETCHEN VANICOR TELLS THE ADVOCATE THAT THE CAMP IS A GREAT INTRODUCTION FOR STUDENTS TO LAFAYETTE. THIS YEAR, SOUL CAMP PARTNERED WITH THE LAFAYETTE CONSOLIDATED GOVERNMENT AND PROJECT FRONT YARD TO FIND NEEDED BEAUTIFICATION PROJECTS.
THE CALCASIEU PARISH SCHOOL BOARD APPROVED A TEACHER EVALUATION PLAN THAT, THEY SAY, WILL PROVIDE GUIDELINES FOR PRINCIPALS IN THEIR EVALUATIONS. BOARD MEMBER ERIC TARVER SAYS THEY HAVE ALREADY BEEN DOING THIS, BUT THIS PLAN PROVIDES MORE STRUCTURE. TERRI JOHNSON, PRESIDENT OF THE CALCASIEU FEDERATION OF TEACHERS, SAYS SOME OF THE PROFESSIONAL EXPECTATIONS OF TEACHERS ARE UNREALISTIC AND COULD COST THEM THEIR JOBS. VICKI JOHNSTON OF THE CALCASIEU ASSOCIATION OF EDUCATORS SAYS THEY NEED TO CLEARLY DEFINE THE PROFESSIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES SO THEY KNOW FOR WHAT THEY ARE RESPONSIBLE.
ONE OF LAW ENFORCEMENT’S BIGGEST SUPPORTERS WAS KILLED IN A CAR CRASH ON I-TEN. JULIE DARCE REPORTS.
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The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries says the recreational red-snapper season in state waters will close Sept. 8. NOLA.com/The Times-Picayune reports data collected through the state’s LA Creel Survey program indicate by that date Louisiana anglers will have met the historic red-snapper harvest for the state of 745,000 pounds, which includes fish landed during the 10-day federal season in June. The season in state waters opened March 20. Because of federal law, Louisiana’s charter captains were not legally allowed to participate in the state season.
