• By AARON E. LOONEY
• Special to The Advocate
• Published: Dec 15, 2009 - Page: 3B

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PLAQUEMINE — The Iberville Parish School Board voted 9-1 with one abstention Monday to move a distinguished educator from White Castle High School to serve as acting assistant principal at East Iberville elementary and high schools.

In moving Michelle Taylor, the School Board also voted to reassign current White Castle High School teacher and coach Ferrante Dominique to a role as acting student services coordinator and administrative assistant of discipline.

Board member Darlene Ourso voted against the move, asserting that Taylor should be replaced at White Castle High with another distinguished educator, an educator approved by the state Department of Education to help improve student achievement.

“Discipline is not the problem at White Castle High,” said Ourso, who represents the White Castle area on the board. “Academics is the problem there.”

Ourso said that test scores at White Castle High School have shown improvement, which she believes is a direct reflection of having a distinguished educator at the school.

Superintendent P. Edward Cancienne Jr. said Taylor helped to “set a model” at White Castle High for academic success, and added that he endorsed Dominique as an educator who can help the school continue that success.

“Discipline is more than punishing,” Cancienne said. “It’s about raising performance. He’s a perfect fit for White Castle High. He loves the school and the students there. He can help raise the leadership. He’s respected by everyone there.”

Board member Tom Delahaye said he supported the move, adding that Cancienne and the school system staff see more of the situation at the school than School Board members do.

“Anyone can walk into a room and see if education is taking place,” Delahaye said. “The superintendent and his staff know what’s going on at White Castle High.”

The School Board also voted to enter into an $800 per month cooperative endeavor agreement with White Castle for use of its community center through August. The board will use the center to house White Castle High School basketball games until its hurricane-damaged gymnasium is repaired.

The board also recognized students of the Iberville Parish Math, Science and Arts Academy who won a performance award in a division of the first annual Louisiana First Lego League Tournament held Nov. 21 in New Orleans. The middle-school students competed against students from 70 other schools from across the state in building robotics.