By Pat Culverhouse
A lengthy study into the future of J.L. Jones Elementary School was presented Tuesday, including possible plans to move students from Jones to a pair of Minden elementary schools.
Prior to the Webster Parish School Board’s regular meeting, school staff discussed reasons for the student shift with members of the community.
Superintendent of Schools Johnny Rowland explained the current configuration of students at Jones “…is not right for our children…” under new state accountability guidelines.
Jones, which houses students in second and third grades, now will be rated on third-grade LEAP scores with points in Mastery and Advanced categories. The state will award no points for a basic (growth) category. With no points awarded, that would mean Jones could fall into an “F” category under state accountability.
“We have never had an ‘F’ school in Webster Parish,” Rowland told the audience. “If you look at the growth category, Jones receives an ‘A’ and now that would get them zero points.”
Dusty Rangel, Title II Supervisor (Curriculum, Instruction and Accountability), said the state keeps raising the bar for proficiencies, and the zero growth score hurts Jones.
Rangel said other school boards are facing similar situations, including some which have posted agenda items which deal with possible takeovers by the state Department of Education.
Supervisor Oreata Banks said school system staff had seen what could be on the horizon under new state accountabilities and had been discussing possibilities for Jones.
“This now means we cannot pair third graders with Richardson, and we get no points for the growth component,” she said. “We do not want an ‘F’ school. We simply cannot have it.”
Banks also warned against using the term “closing” in reference to whatever the board decides to do with the school.
“It’s still our building. It’s not going anywhere, she said.
A few proposed future uses for J.L. Jones could include an arts and creative learning center, professional development and learning enter, academic enrichment programs, educator pathway model classroom and parent center and model classroom.
“We’re meeting tonight in what was Harper School,” Banks told the audience. “This building is used for many purposes. This is what we would imagine J.L. Jones could be.”
Rowland said no decision had been made at this time.
“We’re having this meeting tonight to explain the situation we’re facing,” he said. “We plan to continue to meet with staff and with community members. We want input.”