Backpacks, calendar changes on IPSB agenda

Published 6:00 am Wednesday, April 4, 2018

Outstanding recognitions, a change to the 2018-2019 school calendar year and dress code policy changes that will affect school backpacks are all on the agenda for the next Iberia Parish School Board meeting, which takes place Wednesday.

Among recognitions scheduled for the meeting are the North Lewis Street Elementary  School Junior BETA Club awards and achievements. Coteau Elementary School also  will be recognized for being named one of the Top 100 Public Schools in Louisiana by EdNavigator.

Also on Wednesday night’s agenda is a staff recommendation to award a bid for renovations to Coteau Elementary School and Jeanerette Elementary School.

Housekeeping details will include the consideration of the renewal of contracts for Wilson’s Janitorial services as well as Bourque’s Exterminating.

The Easter holiday break for next year is being amended due to state LEAP testing dates and a more congruent schedule with surrounding parishes. 

This year Iberia Parish stood out in its Easter break schedule allowing students to be off last week leading up to Easter rather than having spring break follow Easter. The original date adopted for next year’s spring break was April 19 to April 26.  

The new schedule being proposed will call for spring break in 2018-2019 to be April 15 to April 22. 

Iberia Parish Superintendent of Schools Dale Henderson said there are two reasons for the requested change of dates.

“We received the state testing schedule so this aligns itself better with testing dates for LEAP. It also aligns itself better with other districts in the surrounding areas,” Henderson said.

The superintendent said School Board officials prefer that students be back in school at least a week before starting LEAP testing in order to get them settled back in to a routine.

Also on the agenda for Wednesday night is a revision to Ithe beria Parish Schools Dress Code which would allow clear book bags to be required by all students. The agenda items was discussed at the last School Board meeting as a proactive measure to increase school safety in wake of recent threats made at area schools.

The Iberia Parish School Board will meet at 5:30 p.m. in the board room at the Administrative Office located at 1500 Jane St.