Board tables consolidation talks
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SLAUGHTER — The East Feliciana Parish School Board delayed a discussion and possible vote Tuesday on merging the parish’s two high schools and two middle schools.
Clinton member Michael Bradford, who was re-elected as the board’s vice president, moved to remove the consolidation discussion from the meeting’s agenda, and Jackson member Beth Dawson offered a second to his motion.
Board members Richard Terrell, Oliver Wingfield, Leon Franklin, Henry Howell and Willie M. Jackson joined Bradford and Dawson in voting to table the discussion, while re-elected board President J. Curtis Jelks, Tony Rouchon, Clay Barksdale and Bud Wicker supported a discussion Tuesday night.
Bradford, the most outspoken opponent, said later that board members had expected a vote on the issue Tuesday,
but “a majority of the board felt they need more information.”
Schools Superintendent Douglas Beauchamp recently proposed combining Jackson and Clinton high schools at the Jackson campus and merging Jackson and Clinton middle schools on the Clinton High campus.
Clinton Middle School would be closed if the board voted to consolidate the schools.
Beauchamp circulated a memo to board members asking them to consider his reasons for the move, saying it would provide more competition for teaching positions, offer more elective and advanced courses and increase opportunities for extra-curricular activities.
A majority of the people speaking at public forums on the issue last month were adamantly opposed to the mergers, although some in Slaughter said they favored establishing a middle school and high school for their area.
Tuesday’s meeting was held at the Slaughter Town Hall in keeping with the board’s policy of holding meetings outside of Clinton on a quarterly basis.
On another matter, Food Services Supervisor Helen Williams said a program to prepare meals at Clinton High School and transport the food to Clinton Middle School saved $3,000 in its first month,
At Bradford’s request, Williams explained the steps that are taken to maintain the temperature of the meals during the trip between schools.
Asked why the district decided not to prepare meals at the middle school, Williams said the student participation was low.
“We had to find a way to survive in food services, financially,” Williams said.
Clinton member Michael Bradford, who was re-elected as the board’s vice president, moved to remove the consolidation discussion from the meeting’s agenda, and Jackson member Beth Dawson offered a second to his motion.
Board members Richard Terrell, Oliver Wingfield, Leon Franklin, Henry Howell and Willie M. Jackson joined Bradford and Dawson in voting to table the discussion, while re-elected board President J. Curtis Jelks, Tony Rouchon, Clay Barksdale and Bud Wicker supported a discussion Tuesday night.
Bradford, the most outspoken opponent, said later that board members had expected a vote on the issue Tuesday,
but “a majority of the board felt they need more information.”
Schools Superintendent Douglas Beauchamp recently proposed combining Jackson and Clinton high schools at the Jackson campus and merging Jackson and Clinton middle schools on the Clinton High campus.
Clinton Middle School would be closed if the board voted to consolidate the schools.
Beauchamp circulated a memo to board members asking them to consider his reasons for the move, saying it would provide more competition for teaching positions, offer more elective and advanced courses and increase opportunities for extra-curricular activities.
A majority of the people speaking at public forums on the issue last month were adamantly opposed to the mergers, although some in Slaughter said they favored establishing a middle school and high school for their area.
Tuesday’s meeting was held at the Slaughter Town Hall in keeping with the board’s policy of holding meetings outside of Clinton on a quarterly basis.
On another matter, Food Services Supervisor Helen Williams said a program to prepare meals at Clinton High School and transport the food to Clinton Middle School saved $3,000 in its first month,
At Bradford’s request, Williams explained the steps that are taken to maintain the temperature of the meals during the trip between schools.
Asked why the district decided not to prepare meals at the middle school, Williams said the student participation was low.
“We had to find a way to survive in food services, financially,” Williams said.
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