"CCSS Update and Status"
Speaker: Michael Faulk, Superintendent
When: Tuesday, October 19th, 2010 at 7:00 pm
Where: DEMCO – 16262 Wax Road, Central LA
Michael Faulk, Superintendent
Central Community School System Superintendent Faulk will update us on the status and projections of our new school constuction and bring us up to date on current school upgrades and student enrollment.
New Statewide testing results show that CCSS is among the best school districts in the state.
Mr. Faulk is always informative, so now is your time to get the facts as to where your School System is and where we are going.
Hope to see you there.

Submitted by Delia Taylor

Central Schools Rank #6 Overall in State

District Turns in 2^nd Highest Graduation Rate in State

CENTRAL, La. – Central Community Schools have improved their overall District Performance Score to 107.6, up 1.8 points from last year’s top-tier score, giving the school district the No. 6 ranking in the state, according to the Louisiana Department of Education’s 2010 report.

The report noted that four of the district’s five schools received School Performance Scores of more than 100 points, qualifying them as three-star schools, according to the state’s ranking system.  The district’s latest cohort graduation rate is at 87.5 percent, which is the second highest in the state for the 2008-2009 school year, according to preliminary reports from the state.

“We are very pleased with the district’s overall numbers and especially the preliminary report on our graduation rates.  This success is a direct result of the hard work of our teachers and administrators, as well as our parents and community who support our efforts and encourage our children to do their best,” Superintendent Michael Faulk said.

This is the second year that Central Community Schools have been included in the state-wide accountability report.  The state’s scoring system requires that a district report at least two consecutive years of results on state accountability tests and other statistical measurements before it can be compared to other public school districts in the state.  The Central Community School District has successfully completed four school years as an independent district, and it is currently in its fifth year.

The state’s cohort graduation rate measures the percentage of incoming freshman who graduate in the four-year prescribed time; thus, four consecutive years of results are needed for that score.  Central will receive its first graduation rate score this year.  The first preliminary report shows the district has the second-highest graduation rate in the state with 87.5 percent.  However, actual calculations will not be reported until early 2011.

Meanwhile, Central Schools have ranked among the state’s top-tier schools since its inclusion in the state’s accountability program.  This year’s report ranks the top districts as:  Zachary Community Schools, 119.8; West Feliciana Parish, 110.5; Orleans Parish, 110.3; St. Tammany Parish, 109.7; Vernon Parish, 108.6; Central Community Schools, 107.6; Jefferson Davis Parish, 107.3; Livingston Parish, 107.0; Ascension Parish, 105.6; and St. Charles Parish, 105.5.

Faulk said he anticipated an improved score this year after seeing preliminary results provided by the state in the fall.  At that time, the state reported that Central’s students were scoring well above their state peers on the iLEAP, LEAP and GEE tests.  In fact, the report showed that 86 percent of Central’s fourth graders scored proficient in both English/language arts and math, which ranked as the state’s sixth highest score, and 79 percent of its eighth graders scoring proficient in both subjects, which ranked as the state’s eighth best score. 

That report also showed that Central High students taking the state’s Graduate Exit Exam (GEE) outpaced their peers statewide, too.  Seventy-two percent scored proficient in English/language arts, compared to 63 percent statewide; 83 percent earned a passing score in math, compared to 69 percent statewide; 76 percent passed science, while only 60 percent statewide did; and 85 percent scored proficient in social studies, while the state average was 65 percent.  High school students must pass three of the four sections of the GEE to be eligible to graduate.

Those results are used to calculate 2009-2010 School Performance Scores, resulting in four of five Central Schools scoring over 100 points –

• Tanglewood Elementary – 117.3
• Bellingrath Hills Elementary – 115.7
• Central High – 112.0
• Central Intermediate – 102.5
• Central Middle – 98.5

Faulk noted that four of five of the district’s schools improved their scores from the previous year.  The two elementary schools had the most improvement — Bellingrath Hills Elementary improved 16.5 points and Tanglewood Elementary is up 15.2 points.  Central Middle bettered last year’s score by 7.1 points and Central High is up 6.8 points. Central Intermediate had a slight dip in their scores, down 2.2 points from last year’s 104.7 score.

“It’s important that our students continue to improve and they continue to compete well among their peers.  Our administrators will take this latest report and break it down to see where we might continue to make improvements to advance our students,” he said.

By Dave Freneaux

    The Monday night meeting of the Central Community School Board was tense, volatile, well attended and well publicized.  TV Channels 9 and 2 as well as the Advocate all reported on the meeting.  In addition, CentralSpeaks.com has posted 80 minutes of video of the meeting on the internet at http://www.centralspeaks.com/school-board-discussions-of-101110/. The hot topics were the Legislative Auditor's Report, a discussion of over $1 million payments to two companies for technology items, and a discussion of actions by the School Board to disallow public comment.  It is not possible to fully explain the content and attitudes presented at the meeting in a single newspaper article.  You are heavily encouraged to watch the video for yourself if you truly desire to know everything that occurred.  Having said that, the explanation in print is attempted as follows:

    Superintendent Faulk addressed the Legislative Auditor's report on the Central Community School System.  The audit was apparently limited to an investigation of technology purchases.  The report found that the School System may have violated Louisiana's Public Bid Law in spending almost a half a million dollars with MIS Technology Group without allowing any other companies to bid on the work.  Mr. Faulk's report was actually a retelling of the response given to the Legislative Auditor and is published in the audit.  The Audit Report can be seen on the web at http://app1.lla.state.la.us/PublicReports.nsf .  The School Board's stance appears to be that Public Bid Law was broken on over $424,000 in purchases and that the solution has been to hire a Purchasing Agent and to implement policies that will prevent such violations in the future.

    Mr. Keith Kepper, a private Central citizen, then asked for discussion and comment on just over $1 million in purchases made from two companies, MIS Technology Group and GM Cable Contractors over approximately two years.  Mr. Kepper pointed out that these two companies also shared a physical address in Central.  $424,000 of these invoices were the subject of the Legislative Audit.  Mr. Kepper indicated that the School System's approach of accepting that things were done wrong and simply doing it right in the future is insufficient.  He asserted that the School Board has a duty to fully investigate why these purchases were directed only to these two companies and why none of the purchases had been put out for Public Bid.  Mr. Kepper asked "How could this happen? Why did this happen?" Mr. Kepper then requested that the School Board authorize an independent investigation by a party not under the control of the School Board.  The School Board made no response to Mr. Kepper's request and no action was taken in the balance of the meeting to indicate that there will be any further investigation of the matter.

     Mr. Rodney Bonvillain then spoke and expressed that the School Board President improperly shut down public comment in its last meeting and that the action was in violation of both State Law and the procedural rules of the School Board.  School Board President Browning then brought forth an attorney, Mr. Hammonds, who had prepared arguments to refute Mr. Bonvillain's assertions.  The essence of Mr. Bonvillain's comments were that the School Board was specifically incorrect in disallowing public comment and that the Board should be looking for ways to allow the public to be heard rather than seeking to justify disallowing public comment.

    Louisiana State Law RS42:15 states:  "School board meetings; public comment – Notwithstanding any other law to the contrary, each school board … shall allow public comment at any meeting of the school board prior to taking any vote.  The comment period shall be for each agenda item and shall precede each agenda item."

 Photo by Expressions Photography

    Nathaniel “Doc” Johnson was honored Friday evening before and during the Central High football game at Wildcat Stadium as he was inducted into the Central High School Hall of Fame.  Doc is a long-time Central athletic trainer and a biology teacher who has proven to be well-loved by the student body and alumni.  Mayor Watts and EBR Mayor-President Kip Holden declared this past Friday to be “Doc Johnson Day” in his honor.  Doc also lent his time Friday night to the Celebrity Football Game, which helped to raise money for the American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life.  Thank you Doc, and congratulations!

Article & Photograph by Robert E. Lee

    On Monday, October 4, 2010, Central Lodge #442 F&AM honored four students from Central Private School with their Honesty & Integrity Award.  After a meal of jambalaya, Harold Ballard, Past Grand Master for the state of Louisiana, introduced the recipients and their parents.  He spoke of just who the Masons are and the purpose of the awards.  He then gave the traits of these young men and women on which the lodge made their choices.  Harold Ballard and Tony Spedale, Master of Central Lodge, presented each young person with their award.

The Central Community School Board held discussion and Public Comment on three high profile issues at its regular meeting on 10/11/2010.  The issues were the results of the Legislative Audit, invoices to the School System from MIS Technologies and GM Cable Contractors, and the tabling of a Resolution regarding pay for School Board members and the limiting of discussion and public comment on this issue.  The following is a complete video of this portion of the 10/11 meeting.  It is 80 minutes in length.

Untitled from central speaks on Vimeo.

Submitted by Cindy Dykes

    Business and Marketing students at Central High School need some help from the community and local business owners. Both programs are raising money to help students attend a conference in New York this December. DECA’s NY experience conference gives students a unique opportunity to learn about various career fields; explore marketing, finance, entrepreneurship, hospitality and tourism; tour the Wall Street financial district; network with students and business professionals from all around the world; and participate in various workshops and educational programs. Students have been attending this event annually for several years and we’d like to keep this tradition. It truly is a WONDERFUL experience for students! Due to the late start in school this year, help is desperately needed from anyone interested, willing, and able to. There are several ways community members and business owners can help:

• Paradise Smoothie will donate proceeds raised from receipts presented from customers who state they are helping DECA. How it works: stop into Paradise Smoothie, place your order, and tell the cashier you are there to help CHS DECA.

Many Thanks in advance to Paradise Smoothie • Sponsor a student or make a donation to CHS Business/Marketing Programs • Host or suggest a fundraiser for CHS Business/Marketing Programs • Purchase any items designed and sold by CHS Business/Marketing Students o Currently being sold are: maroon hoodies; senior t-shirts; spirit flip flops; World’s Finest Chocolate, with much more items to come • Donate items that CHS Business/Marketing Students can sell or auction off

    Anyone interested in helping and/or sponsoring CHS Business/Marketing Programs and Students, please contact Ms. Cindy Dykes (DECA) @ cdykes@centralcss.org, Mrs. Carmen Evans (Business) @ cevans@centralcss.org, or call either at 261-3438.

    Thank you in advance for your continued support of your Central High School students and educational programs. We graciously appreciate it.

Submitted by Cindy Ryals

Teachers Ally Smith and Annette Nicosia lad their classes on a Flat Stanley adventure.  Flat Stanley traveled to many different places, including Greece with Dr. Melanie Verges, the superintendent of schools for the Diocese of Baton Rouge!

This is the Agenda for Monday's School Board meeting as published on 10/08/2010

AGENDA

SCHOOL BOARD MEETING

October 11, 2010

6:00 PM

Kristenwood Catering and Reception

14025 Greenwell Springs Road
Central, LA   

1. Call to Order

1. Prayer

1. Pledge

1. Roll Call

1. Recognitions and Awards (Mr. Faulk)

1. To consider approval of the minutes of the September 27, 2010 Regular School Board Meeting.

1. To consider approval of the Superintendent’s recommendation for administrative, instructional, and support staff positions. (Mr. Faulk)

1. To receive the staff’s proposed revisions to the Extra-Curricular Drug Testing Policy to be considered by the Board at the October 25, 2010 meeting. (Mr. Faulk)

1. To receive a report from the Superintendent relative to School Performance Scores. (Mr. Faulk)

   10.   To consider approval of contract for Automatic Fire Sprinkler Water
           Connection and Private Fire Hydrant Instillation with Parish Water Inc.
           (Ms. Morris)

   11.   To receive a report from the Superintendent and Legal Adviser and to
           receive public comment relative to the Legislative Auditor’s report and
           the procurement policies. (Mr. Faulk and Ms. Morris)

   12.   Items requested by the public for discussion and public comment:

                        a.  Invoices to the Central Community School District from July
                             1, 2007 through September 29, 2010 of MIS Technology and
                             GM Cable. (Keith Kepper)

                        b.  Resolution regarding School Board Member Compensation
                             tabled on September 27, 2010. (Rodney Bonvillain)

   13.   Construction Coordinator’s Report

   14.   Superintendent’s Report

   15.   Legal Adviser’s Report

   16.   Announcements

NOTE:  The following item may be discussed in Executive Session pursuant to
              La. R.S. 44:6.1(A)(2).

   17.   Discussion regarding MAPP Construction LLC‘s Appeal of The Lemoine
           Co. v. the Central Community School District Board, et al., Suit No.
           592795 in the 19^thJudicial District Court
          

   18.   Adjourn

Data from the LA Secretary of State website.  Our apologies for not having this article online earlier- it was due to an error on our part.

The three newly elected Central School Board members are: Jim Lloyd (District 1- 64%), Roxanne Atkinson (District 2- 52%), and Ruby Foil (District 6- 60%).  Thank you to everyone who supported the candidates, and to all who showed up to vote on Saturday.  The close margin of some of these elections (one of the seats was won by 46 votes) should serve as a reminder that our individual votes really do matter.  It should also emphasize what good quality candidates we had running in these races, as no seat was won by a landslide.  A special thanks goes out to the candidates who care enough about our schools to dedicate such a huge amount of time and resources to these campaigns.