Principals plan meeting on plans for schools

PATTERSON — Three Patterson-area principals are holding a community school concerns meeting at 6 p.m. today at Patterson High School.

The principals will inform parents of the school district’s budget constraints and how it will affect all schools.

“All we want to do is let the parents know … our district is up against some tough challenges and we know that,” Hattie Watts Elementary Principal Niki Fryou said.

But Fryou said the principals have three goals:

—First, their goal is to do whatever it takes to maintain quality instruction for all students.

—Second, they want to do everything to protect all employees’ jobs.

—Third, they want to protect the salaries.

In addition, “we’re going to talk about some facts our schools may face if they (school board members) don’t vote for consolidation,” said Patterson Junior High Principal Suzanne Bergeron. “We’re in favor of the consolidation.”

Many parents are not aware of the consolidation plans because “the schools that they’re talking about are not affecting their children right now,” Bergeron said. “But we wanted to give them an opportunity to know what’s going on first-hand from us.”

Fryou wants to have a positive meeting.

“We’re not going to have any ‘he said, she said, close this school, and open this school,’” Fryou said. “We don’t want to talk about any of that. We just want to inform our parents.

“I think that there’s just been so much misinformation out there.”

While striving to conduct a positive meeting, she also plans to be realistic regarding budget cuts.

“And yes, there could be effects,” Fryou said. “Programs might be cut and certain positions, not that they won’t have a job. They may have to cut certain positions and move personnel around. …

“But we just want them to know that we have to put faith in the people we elected to be on our board,” Fryou said. “And that they’re going to support us because the bottom line is they want what’s best for all kids.”

Fryou will address class sizes because Watts is a large elementary school.

“There’s been a whole lot of concern about class size,” Fryou said. “I will address class size because our average class size is 21.

“And even if they have to do consolidation, Mr. (Ricky) Armelin (director of human resources) is amazing. He works with every school.

“We are not going to have 33 kids in an elementary classroom unless it’s just dire straits where we can’t do anything else.”

There is speculation that if J.A. Hernandez remains open, federal Title I funding for schools serving large low-income populations could possibly be cut from Watts Elementary and Patterson Junior High schools to raise Hernandez’ low school accountability grade.

But Michael Moncriffe , St. Mary Parish Schools Supervisor of Federal Programs (Title I & Title III), assures the Title I funding for Patterson schools will stay intact.

“They’re kind of exaggerating a little bit,” Moncriffe said. “There may be a possibility that some schools may lose funding, but it won’t be those schools.”

Across the parish, Title I funding for the 2015-16 school year was cut approximately $500,000 from the previous year, Moncriffe said. At this time, he does not know if or how much Title I funding will be cut for next school year.