By Pat Culverhouse
Perfect scores on state mandated tests earned a pair of Webster Parish students special recognition during Monday’s parish school board meeting.
Eason Jeter, a fourth-grade student at Doyline High, and Levi Arender, a freshman at Lakeside Jr/Sr High, both received perfect scores on sections of LEAP exams. Jeter was perfect on the third-grade math exam; Arender received a perfect score on the eighth-grade social studies exam.
LEAP (Louisiana Educational Assessment Program) is taken each year and designed to measure proficiency in English Language Arts, math, science and social studies for students in grades 3 through 12.
During Tuesday’s meeting, board members also:
• Recognized Vickie Ramie, third-grade math teacher at Central Elementary, as employee of the month for September. The award was presented by Tiffany Govan of Taylor and Sons.
• Approved fiscal year 2025-26 operating budget for the school system.
• Approved fiscal year 2025-26 travel policy with state mileage increase to 70-cents per mile, effective Sept. 1.
• Gave permission for Ursula Hullaby, Lonnie O’Neal and Marla Hanson to attend fourth annual Emerging Drug Trends Conference in Dallas, Texas on Nov. 6-7. Funding source is Title I and Title IV.
• Approved travel to Southern Arkansas University by Minden High Theater Group to see musical presentation.
• Approved revised polices based on legislative changes covering instructional materials, student absences and excuses, bullying and hazing, expulsion and child abuse.
School board members also approved $326,704.05 from various school maintenance funds for the following payments for materials and repairs at parish schools:
• Consolidated District 3 Maintenance Fund: $110,672.31. Major expenses include $74,077.68 to purchase 150 Chromebooks for Lakeside Jr/Sr High; $26,150 to remodel awning at gym entrance of Lakeside Jr/Sr High; $3,041.63 to install metal door w/accessories at Central Elementary.
• Cotton Valley Maintenance Fund: $2,079 includes $1,350 for springer repair and service at North Webster Upper Elementary and $729 to purchase refrigerator for teacher’s lounge.
• Doyline Maintenance Fund: $4,158 to pay $1,783 to refinish gym floor at Doyline High; $1,300 for sprinkler repair and service at Doyline High; $450 to mow property at Doyline High as needed: $375 to bush hog at Doyline High; $250 to replace sprinkler valve on softball field at Doyline High.
• District 6 One-half Cent Sales Tax Fund: $114,979.71. Major expenditures include $21,709.20 to purchase 30 Chromebooks and 10 laptops for Webster Jr. High; $15,525 for rubber mulch on two playgrounds at J.A. Phillips Elementary; $11,756 to purchase 30 Chromebooks for J.L. Jones Elementary; $9,995 for bathroom renovations at Griffith Stadium; $8,800 to prep and apply non-slip surface on concrete at entrance of J.L. Jones Elementary; $8,561.53 to purchase and install backpack hooks at J.L. Jones Elementary; $5,000 to install 21 speed bumps at J.A. Phillips Elementary; $5,000 for three loads (spreading and roll), remove and replace parking bumpers at Minden High.
• Springhill Maintenance Fund: $70,536.37. Total includes $29,798.37 to upgrade and replace sound system at North Webster High football stadium; $25,100 to purchase compressor and rent crane for installation at North Webster High; $4,750 to install concrete pad for dumpsters at Brown Elementary; $4,018 for a variety of plumbing work at North Webster High; $3,965 to remove damaged tree and to remove overgrown trees, brush and vines at Brown Elementary.
• Sarepta Maintenance Fund: $23,208.66. Invoices paid include $5,400 to repair eroding on football field at Webster Jr. High; $5,188 to install new padding in gym at North Webster Jr. High; $5,152.57 to purchase 200 chairs for school assemblies at North Webster Jr. High; $4,468.09 to install tinted window wrap for windows in cafeteria at North Webster Jr. High; $3,000 to have gym floor refinished at North Webster Jr. High.
• Shongaloo Building Fund: $1,070 to remove tree and clean up materials at North Webster Lower Elementary.
