APSD, Catholic Diocese schools begin Thursday

   All but two schools in Avoyelles Parish will begin the 2016-17 school year this Thursday. Avoyelles Public Charter School students get an extra day of summer vacation as they open on Friday. Nazarene Christian will begin its school year on Aug. 22. The four Catholic schools, and 10 Avoyelles Parish School District schools will receive students Thursday. 

   “We are excited about starting a school year because we want to continue to build on the successes the system had last year,” Avoyelles Superintendent Blaine Dauzat said.

Dauzat said the public schools will have about 63 more students than they had last year, according to preliminary figures. The district will have about 5,535 students in its 10 schools  -- 3,082 in the six elementaries and 2,453 in the four high schools. Last year, the system had 5,472 students when schools opened -- 2,967 in elementary and 2,505 in secondary grades.

  He said schools will have a preliminary student total within a few days. The count that counts is the one on Oct. 1, which determines the amount of state Minimum Foundation Program funds the parish will receive.

 

   Assistant Superintendent Thelma Prater told board members at their Aug. 2 meeting that there were only three teaching vacancies -- one each at Cottonport Elementary, Plaucheville Elementary and Marksville Elementary.

  Cottonport is looking for a 6th grade science/social studies teacher, Plaucheville is looking for a 3rd grade science-social studies teacher and Marksville is looking for a 6th grade math teacher. Marksville High is looking for an athletic trainer.

   “The way it has been going, we may have those positions filled by the time school starts,” Prater said.“We are working hard on trying fill those remaining teaching slots.”

   Prater said teachers are contacting the school system for a job due to the $5,000 sign-on incentive for new teachers.

 

   There are several new faces in the parish schools’ administrative offices. This year’s administrators in the 10 APSB schools are: Avoyelles High -- Mike Rachal, principal, Jennifer Dismer and Ashley Robinson,  assistant principals; Cottonport Elementary --  Wendy Adams, principal, and Sara Venable, assistant principal; Lafargue Elementary -- Sharice Sullivan, principal and Shaun Reynaud, administrative assistant; Marksville Elementary --  Dawn Pitre, principal and Shalonda Berry, assistant principal; Plaucheville Elementary --  Toni Wilson, principal and Kim Adams, assistant principal; and Riverside Elementary in Simmesport --  Jessica Gauthier, principal and Monique Gaspard, assistant principal.

   The administrators for the Catholic schools are: Sacred Heart Catholic School, Moreauville -- Sister Sandra Norsworthy, principal and Darcy Bordelon,  assistant principal; St. Anthony of Padua Catholic School, Bunkie -- Martha Coulon,  principal; St. Joseph Catholic School, Plaucheville -- Bryan Runyan, principal and Gerard Jeansonne, assistant principal; and St. Mary’s Assumption Catholic School, Cottonport -- Nathan Laborde, principal.

   The director of Avoyelles Public Charter School in Mansura is Julie Roy and the assistant director is Kim Gagnard. Lori Thames is the high school’s dean of students.

Nazarene Christian will be led by Bro. Gary Jones with Sister Bobbie Jones as assistant principal.