At their first meeting of the new year held Thursday night of last week, members of the LaSalle Parish School Board elected new officers for the 2022 year.
The board unanimously chose Ward 2 member Jonny Fryar as the 2022 President and Ward 4 member Marcia Cooksey as the 2022 Vice President.
Fryar served as the board’s 2021 Vice President while Ward 6 member Buddy Bethard served as President. Fryar was absent from the meeting last week due to COVID so Bethard moderated the meeting in his absence.
The highlight of the meeting was the presentation of the 2021-2022 LaSalle Parish Students of the Year, who opened the meeting by leading everyone in the Pledge of Alligiance.
LaSalle Parish Elementary Supervisor Brandy Brunson recognized each divisional winner sharing details about their lives, families, inspirations, and goals.
Recognized as the Elementary Student of the Year was Gentry Stowe, a fifth grader at Olla-Standard Elementary School. Due to an illness, Gentry was unable to attend the meeting last week.
Recognized as the Junior High Student of the Year was Triniti Williams, an eighth grader at Jena Junior High School.
Recognized as the High School Student of the Year was James Sanders, a senior at Jena High School.
“Congratulations to each of you,” Bethard said on behalf of the board. “It is always great when we can celebrate our students’ accomplishments.”
In other business, the board received the personnel report from Superintendent Janet Tullos, which showed:
Wendell M. Callender, Custodiam at Good Pine Middle School, submitted his resignation effective January 1, 2022.
Shellie B. McCartney, Secretary at Nebo Elementary School, submitted her resignation effective January 7, 2022.
Anthony Jackson, Principal at Jena High School, submitted his retirement request effective January 27, 2022.
Chelsea Ingle was hired as a teacher at Olla-Standard Elementary School, effective January 5, 2022, replacing Emmalee Smith.
Rebecca Anderson was hired as a Child Nutrition Technician (7-hour-position) at Jena High School effective January 5, 2022, replacing Brittany Lee.
Felicia Brown was hired as a Child Nutrition Technician (7-hour-position) at Jena High School effective January 5, 2022, replacing Anna Pearce.
The report also showed vacancies for the following positions: JHS Principal, OSES Principal, NES Secretary, GPMS Custodian, and LHS Custodian.
Ward 5 member D’Juana McCartney recognized JHS Principal Anthony Jackson, who was at the meeting, and thanked him for his years of service to the district and Jena High School.
“This might be the last meeting to see Mr. Jackson and I just want to say ‘thank you,’” McCartney said.
Also at the meeting, the board voted to:
• approve the proclamation issued by the Louisiana School Boards Association declaring January 2022 as local School Board Member Recognition Month in the State of Louisiana.
• approve the Louisiana School Boards Association Code of Conduct for Louisiana School Board Members.
• accepted the quote from Spray Foam Professionals in the amount of $18,058.00 for the Olla-Standard Elementary School gymnasium.
• approved the La-Salle Parish School System’s participation as a vendor in the Louisiana Workforce Commission’s Community Rehabilitation Program with Louisiana Rehabilitation Services as presented by Jenene Bignar, Special Education Supervisor.
The School Board’s next regularly scheduled meeting is set for Monday, February 7, 2022, 6 p.m., at the LaSalle Parish Media Center in Jena.