Most Laura-damaged APSD ‘hotspots’ up and running

Although extended power outages across the parish caused batteries of many of the Avoyelles Parish School District's virtual network "hotspots" to run down, Superintendent Blaine Dauzat told the School Board on Sept. 1 that Detel was making progress in getting all 50 sites up and running.

Dauzat said the initial enrollment for the 10 schools shows 5,200 students, with over 2,000 choosing the "virtual option" of 100 percent online instruction. The remaining students were divided into two groups, with Group A (names A-I) attending school on Tuesday and Wednesday and Group B (J-Z) attending Thursday and Friday. The students are taught online on the days they are not at school.

He said an unofficial count was to be conducted Friday using students in the "two on/two off" program who have attended school and the number of "virtual only" students who have logged on during the first week.

The "count that counts," which determines state Minimum Foundation Program allocations, will be done in October.

'BRAND REFRESH'

In another matter, the board instructed Education Committee Chairman Stanley Celestine Jr. to appoint a "Brand Re-Fresh Committee" to spotlight the positive aspects of the school district and develop ways APSD can better market itself.

"This committee will look at things such as the district's logo, its mission statement, vision statement and other things that will effectively help market the district better," Celestine said. "It will include students, district employees and parents. It will be diverse group so no one particular group will dominate its work."

Celestine said the committee will look at the positive aspects of the school system "and the challenges we face."

This effort will tie in with developing a teacher recruitment effort called "Teach Avoyelles," which can be presented at job fairs and universities to prospective new teachers.

EQUITY TASK FORCE

The board also created another community committee, the Equity Task Force, that was proposed by the Education Committee.

Board member Latisha Small will co-chair the committee with a district employee to be appointed by Dauzat.

"We are no longer under the desegregation order, which focused on the racial diversity in schools," Celestine said. "We have met the federal mandates as they relate to racial diversity. Now we need to focus on equity within the schools."

Celestine said the task force will look at such things as the way students are taught to ensure equity in education.

"What works for some students may not work for others," he said. "We need to identify the causes of inequity."

Celestine said the committee will also consider whether faculty and staff need additional training in to address possible inequities.

This committee will also include students, parents and others in the community to work with a few board members, Central Office staff, teachers and other district employees.

In other action, the School Board:

-- Approved creating a temporary limestone parking lot for faculty at Bunkie Elementary to address a problem with on-street parking at the school. The board will receive quotes from contractors to pour a permanent cement parking lot in the near future.

-- Approved purchasing up to 20 loads of limestone, or spending up to $13,000, to repair the road on the Garfish Section 16 area.