Superintendent Cooper highlights master plan; Northside High

Posted: Feb 3, 2012 11:23 AM by Lauren Wilson
Updated: Feb 3, 2012 11:25 AM

Last night, Superintendent Pat Cooper presented his plan for Northside High School. Changes are in the school's future with plans in the works for building renovations and circulium evaluations.

At Thursday night's meeting, Dr. Cooperspoke to the school's faculty, parents and supporters about what's ahead.

"Northside, as the parish's worst-performing high school, was selected as the pilot site for Cooper's turnaround process. It couples an academic revamp with physical plant improvements," says Angie Simoneaux, Director of Marketing and Student Recruitment for the Lafayette Parish School System.

Dr. Cooper also said, "Academic turnaround is not just about students, teachers and principals, but also about the physical condition of the building, which can hinder teaching and learning."

The school board now has a plan, approved on Wednesday night, to fix the most important issues first.

Dr. Cooper's plan includes the following:

1. Address health, safety and emergency issues as they arise
2. Address specific schools that are in trouble academically
3. Address the physical environment to enhance teaching and learning, a crucial factor in turning around failing schools
4. Partner with community groups, agencies and organizations to reassess our Master Plan in light of these principles
and the reality of our funding situation. The aim is to create a course of action that will show the public we can be trusted with additional funds in the future.

"In the Master Plan, the replacement of Northside was a top priority in the first phase of funding. The school's dire academic status, along with its facility needs and the community's placement of it as a high priority, resulted in its selection as the pilot site," Simeneaux says.

Board President Shelton Cobb said he believes the actions are a sign of things to come. "I think it was a step forward. Our direction is clear, and we're going to continue to pursue making Lafayette the best that it can be at all schools, not just Northside," Cobb said.

Other issues, action plans and goals are listed below.

ISSUES:
Discipline referrals
Absenteeism/Truancy
Poor performance on standardized tests
Unacceptable facility conditions
Academic Turnaround Highlights:
Personnel:
Interim principal - Melinda Voorhies
Acting assistant principals - Barbara Landor, Linda Nance, Laura Adams.
Counselor/Social Worker - Joyce Ellis
Dean of Students - Garrick Johnson
School to home Liason/In School Suspension - Betty Scott
Classroom Management & Instructional Strategist - Liz Breaux
Technology Facilitator - Brooke Fontenot
Add: Graduation Coach, two additional School Resource Officers
Estimated costs through the end of the fiscal year: $208,423

Action:
Discipline overhaul
Fiscal audit of all accounts
Assessment of all tutorial and educational programs
Survey of all stakeholders
Tutoring and credit recovery model
Professional development for faculty and staff
Community partnerships/engagement

GOALS:
• Safe & Orderly Environment
• Teaching & Learning taking place
• Student's academic outcomes begin to increase.
• Parent & community engagement & confidence increase.
• Consistent protocols for a code of behavior, expectations, and accountability established and
followed.
• Student, teacher and staff morale increase.
• Positive learning climate and environment.
• Facilities and conditions improve.
• District support is increased & very evident.

Facility Makeover Highlights:
Floor Replacement $195,000
Painting $183,000
Windows & Ceilings $47,000
Restroom Redos $208,000
Lighting $101,000
Misc (ceiling tiles, cafeteria tables, heating, a/c work $179,000
Wireless $50,000
Security Cameras upgrade/expansion $202,000
TOTAL: $1,887,700

Funding Highlights:
No current or budgeted projects are affected by the funding of this turnaround.
There are two sources of funding for the capital piece and two sources for the academic piece.
The Facility Makeover will be funded as follows:
QSCB 2009 $ 100,000
QSCB 2011 $ 500,000
Self-funded Construction Fund $ 1,273,402
Already budgeted for Northside work $ 14,301

The Academic Turnaround will be funded as follows:
Vacant positions $108,423
Textbooks line item $100,000
The vacant positions dollars are in budgeted to fund positions which are currently vacant.
The textbooks dollars are savings realized by the implementation of a computerized inventory
system that helps us keep better track of the number and location of textbooks so we can better
accommodate schools' textbook needs.