Schools in Avoyelles have smooth opening day

   “I missed you Mr. Compton,” a green-shirted boy said as he passed through the metal detector at LaSAS. “I missed you, too.” Principal Dexter Compton said with a smile.

This type of scene was common at the public and Catholic parochial schools in Avoyelles Parish last week as the 2016-17 school year began. The 10 Avoyelles Parish School District schools and four parochial schools opened on Thursday while Avoyelles Public Charter’s first day was Friday.

   There were tears shed by children -- and by their parents -- as they entered school for the first time. Those were offset by smiles and greetings from teachers and administrators, and a reacquainting of friends who hadn’t been seen since May.

   “We are rolling on the first day,” Superintendent Blaine Dauzat said Thursday morning. “I have been to at least half the schools already and everything is going smoothly.”

   Students in the four public high schools were required to enter through only one entrance and to walk through a metal detector. At another station, teachers searched the students’ backpacks -- just to be sure there was no contraband making its way onto the campus.

   Dauzat said that is now common procedure, implemented to better ensure the safety of everyone in the school.

   As of Thursday, the only teacher vacancy was one in middle school at Marksville High. Dauzat said it will be filled as soon as possible.

   While Dauzat was visiting the schools, other Central Office staff members fanned out across the parish to help out at the schools as well.

   “We are off to a good start,” Dauzat added.

   The district was projecting an enrollment of 5,535 students in its 10 schools  -- 3,082 in the six elementaries and 2,453 in the four high schools, which is up from last year. Official first-day enrollment figures will be compiled later this week. The state will base the district’s funding on the Oct. 1 enrollment.

   The district is continuing last year’s program that enables all students in the 10 schools to eat breakfast and lunch at no cost to the student.