By T. Scott Boatright
The Lincoln Parish School recognized the best of their best and also discussed performance schools as it met Tuesday night at the Central School Office.
It started by honoring the best of its best among parish students, teachers and principals.
Students of the Year were:
Elementary — Cohen Foster from Cypress Springs
Middle — Kaeja Stewart from A.E. Phillips
High School — Melissa Le from Ruston High
Teachers of the Year:
Early Elementary — Rachel Brown from LPEC
Elementary — Laura Hall from Glenview
Middle — Jennifer Williams from A.E. Phillips
High School — Kaitlyn Mercer from Simsboro High
Principal of the Year:
Lacey Holcomb from Simsboro
Lincoln Parish Schools Director of Testing Dr. Lillian Williams Hearn also presented reports on the Beginning of the Year 2025 Literacy Screener Report as well as the 2024-25 Student Performance Scores and District Performance Scores.
As for the Literacy Screener Report, Hearns reported that growth was made from the Beginning of the Year 2024 to Beginning of Year 2025 scores, with kindergarten scores showing a flat growth.
K-Grade 3 scores showed a 4.7% improvement, First Grade scores showed an 11.9 percent improvement, Second Grade scores showed a 3.1% improvement, Third Grade scores showed a 10.2% improvement and First – Third Grade scores showed a 10.2% improvement.
Because of the 0% improvements in Kindergarten Scores, LPSB Vice President Dr. Danielle Williams asked why anything such a Children’s Coalition teaming with other schools from across the state shouldn’t be investigated to improve those scores.
“For two years there haven’t been improvements in those scores,” Williams said. “Are we talking about day care (facilities), childcare (facilities) or what?
Hearn said that those facts likely played roles in the scores, adding that some students entering kindergarten might not have ever experienced anything other than home learning.
Williams pointed out that those students not receiving early education will still feed into the Lincoln Parish School System and requested something like a Children’s Coalition be investigated to help improve scores.
It was shortly later pointed out that despite that lower 24.6 literacy rate for new Kindergartners, those same students scored a 60.7 proficiency rate by the start of their first-grade year.
Hearn later pointed out that Lincoln Parish was one of only 12 state school systems to achieve an “A” rating.
During his Superintendent’s Report at the end of the meeting, Ricky Durrett said he was pleased with the school system’s scores overall.
“I think overall our scores were great and I appreciate the work our students and parents did with that, some schools grew, some fell back a little bit but overall, I think they showed really strong growth in some schools that we’re really proud of.”
The only actions voted on during Tuesday’s meeting was the LPSB passing six policy revisions.
Those included the Sales of Surplus Equipment and Supplies policy, the Equal Employment Opportunity policy, the Education of Students with Exceptionalities policy, the Cameras in Special Education Classrooms policy, the Equal Education Opportunities policy, and the Discipline policy.
One key policy involving the use of cameras in Special Ed classrooms. As opposed to the old policy of installing cameras after a written request is made, the revised policy reads that the LPSB shall install cameras as such that record both audio and video as required by state law and in accordance with procedures specifically put into effect by the Schools Superintendent.
That revised policy also states the LPSB will verify periodically that such cameras remain in operation and if found not to be so for more than two consecutive days, the school shall provide notice to students in the affected classrooms through normal school communication channels.
The major change in disciplinary police adds “or a school employee” to “each teacher (or a school employee) may take disciplinary action to a student that violates school rules or who interferes with an orderly education process.
