Boucher Elementary rebuilding its staff

• By MARSHA SILLS
• Advocate Acadiana bureau
• Published: Jul 10, 2009 - Page: 1B -- Acadiana Edition

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LAFAYETTE — The reconstitution of Alice Boucher Elementary School is nearly complete, its principal said Thursday.

More than 200 people were interviewed to be a part of the changes planned for the school, and few positions remain open, Principal Keith Bartlett said.

In May, Boucher teachers and staff, except cafeteria and custodial workers, were given the option to reapply for their positions, resign or be placed at another school. At the time, 44 of 61 teachers indicated they would reapply.

A small number are actually returning, said Bartlett, who could not provide an actual number on Thursday.

“The bottom line was, who did we feel was best suited to deliver the quality instruction that our children so much deserve,” Bartlett said.

A few special-education and classroom positions are open, and interviews for three staff positions, reading facilitator, social worker and instructional coach, will be held next week, Bartlett said.

The school’s reconstitution, which typically involves replacing school leaders and faculty and bringing in a new instructional plan, was part of the district’s Students Making a Remarkable Transition or SMART Project.

The incentive-based plan is directed toward faculty and staff, who will receive a stipend if the school moves off the state’s list of academically unacceptable schools and continues to show improvement. It was implemented to reduce the risk of a  takeover of the school by the Louisiana Department of Education.

Parents concerned about how the major staff changes would affect students spoke out against the reconstitution plan during a May meeting in which Bartlett was introduced as the new principal.
Bartlett said he hopes a parents meeting and open house scheduled for Aug. 9 will calm any lingering concerns. Students report to school Aug. 11.

“We wanted people to know that we have not drastically changed the spirit of the school,” Bartlett said.

“We just want to answer their questions and settle their fears before the first day, so when we hit the ground the first day, there are no obstacles,” he said.

The school serves students in  Pre-K through fifth grade and also offers immersion classes in Spanish and French. In August, Mandarin Chinese will be added to the line-up.

Another addition will be a new early childhood program — one regular education Pre-K4 class and two Pre-K3 classes. Parents zoned for the school can register for a lottery for an open spot in the new Pre-K3 program today at the Vermilion Conference Center. The lottery will be held at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, July 14, in the School Board’s chambers.