By Pat Culverhouse

A select group of administrators, teachers, students and support personnel received special recognition Monday when Webster Parish School Board handed out awards for “best of the year” in four categories.

Principals of the Year included Elementary: Cortney McCall of Brown Upper Elementary; Jr. High: Nathaniel Richardson from Webster Junior High; and High School: Denny Finley of Lakeside High School. 

Named Teachers of the Year were Jessica Green, Doyline High School; Madalyn Wynn, Doyline High School (Parish winner); Vickie Ramie, Central Elementary; Johnnie Ware, Brown Upper Elementary (Parish winner); Shelie Hanson, Browning Elementary; Callie Boyett, North Webster Jr. High; Annette Parrie, Richardson Elementary; Amy Jones, Webster Jr. High; and, Jamie Whatley, Doyline Elementary.

Also, Ja’Tavion Jackson, Doyline Jr. High (Parish winner); Don Watson, Doyline High School; Lessie Brown, Minden High School; Sasha Odom, North Webster Upper; Tikina Jones, Jones Elementary; Serena Martin, Phillips Elementary; Christin Hanson, North Webster Lower; and, Jeff Brown, North Webster High School. 

Honored as students of the year in Fifth Grade were Layla Holford, Richardson Elementary; Ada Murphy, Central Elementary (Parish winner); Parker Jo Howell, Doyline Elementary; Harleigh Humphrey, BUES; and, Maddox Taylor, North Webster Upper Elementary.

Eighth Grade students of the year are Lucas Owens, Webster Jr. High; Prudence Watson, Lakeside (Parish winner); Jsiyah Bell, North Webster Jr. High; and, Chloe McDowell, Doyline

Seniors receiving honors were Karlee Lange, Minden High (Parish winner); Kaileah Calloway, Doyline High; Kamryn Goodson, Lakeside High; and Isabella Sylvia, North Webster High.

Support personnel of the year included Darlene Couch, Lakeside High; Rachel Miller, Central Elementary; Shronda Taylor, Brown Upper Elementary; Calvin Gates, Browning; Lori Jester, North Webster Jr. High; Krystal Luellen, Richardson Elementary; and, Jasmine Cooksey, Webster Jr. High.

Also, Holly Watson, Doyline; Amy Barrett, Minden High; Tiffany Hanson, North Webster Upper Elementary; LaTiffany Burns, Jones Elementary; Tammy Guice, Phillips; AnnSexton, North Webster Lower; and, Donnie Coleman, North Webster High School (Parish winner).

Board members also unanimously approved a resolution expressing opposition to a bill in the state legislature that would establish Education Savings Accounts. The bill would create a LA GATOR Scholarship Program providing public dollars for private school tuition and educational expenses.

A portion of the resolution reads “…diverting public dollars to private schools and other programs through ESAs without fully funding public schools disadvantages students and schools, and, providing public dollars to ESAs without requiring the same state accountability testing imposed on public schools is irresponsible public policy.”

Maintenance fund expenditures totalling more than $440,000 were also approved in globo by the board Monday. A breakdown of individual funds shows:

• Consolidated Dist. 3 maintenance fund:  $271,679; Largest expenditure is $249,595 for 36,068 sq. ft. Dura-Last 50 ml PVC roofing system system at Central Elementary School.

• Cotton Valley maintenance fund: $895

• Doyline maintenance fund: $15,910

• District 6 one-half cent sales tax fund: $148,852; Top expenses include $93,550 to remove two layers of old roofing and install Dura-Last 50 ml PVC roofing system at Webster Jr. High, and $22,709 for sound system upgrades in the gymnasium and cafeteria at Phillips Elementary School.

• Sarepta maintenance fund: $545

• Shongaloo maintenance fund: $1,860

• Springhill maintenance fund: $700