CONSTRUCTION OF NEW DENHAM SPRINGS ELEMENTARY TO GET UNDERWAY SOON

Construction activity at the site of Denham Springs Elementary will soon get underway, now that a contractor has been selected and a formal “kick off” will be held Oct. 24.

The Livingston Parish School Board recently approved Blount General Contractors to be the contractor of the new Denham Springs Elementary School.  The estimated cost of building the new school and making repairs to the multi-purpose building that remains on the campus is $16 million. School officials will hold a ground breaking ceremony for the new school at 3 p.m. Oct. 24 at the original campus site.

GRANTS AWARDED TO LOCAL TEACHERS

Five Livingston Parish teachers have been selected to receive a Deborah Rochelle Teacher Grant to support school-site projects that provide direct service to students.

D’anna Macaluso of Juban Parc Elementary received $4,994 for her project, “Prevent a Gap with the Lap.” Carrie Young from Juban Parc Elementary earned $5,000 for her proposal, “Developing 21st Century Skills.” Leah Davis from Southside Elementary received $4,843 for her project, “Using Technology for Academic Success.” Rebekah O’Neal from North Corbin Junior High received $5,000 for “Blending Learning in the Classroom.”  Michelle Crochet from Live Oak Junior High earned $5,000 for the project, “Design. Build. Experiment. Repeat.”

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WALKER HIGH SCHOOL OPENS PAINT AND BODY SHOP

WHS Paint and Body Shop Ribbon-Cutting – Livingston Parish School officials and Gerry Lane Enterprises President Eric Lane recently cut the ceremonial ribbon to officially open Walker High School’s Paint and Body Shop.  The shop will give students hands-on training in automotive painting and repairs, which will qualify them to earn certification in the industry.  Pictured from left to right: Gerry Lane Enterprises President Eric Lane; Walker School Board Member Bo Graham; Career Technical Education Coordinator Staci Polozola; Walker High School Principal Jason St. Pierre; and Walker High School CTE Teacher Chris Ledoux.

Students at Walker High School who are interested in a career in automotive repair and maintenance can now get hands-on experience and earn certification thanks to a new 1,200-square-foot paint and body shop that’s been constructed on the campus.

The new facility houses two bays, one for holding the painting booth and the other for body work lessons.  Gerry Lane Enterprises donated the facility, while PPG Paints has given much of the paint needed for the work.

“This is a collaborative effort of educators and industry professionals working together to give our students greater opportunities in a career field that offers good-paying jobs in the local area,” Walker High School Principal Jason St. Pierre said.

Students who complete the class will be eligible to earn the Inter-Industry Conference on Auto Collision Repair (I-CAR) certification, which is the collision repair industry’s leading standard for measuring skill, training and professional excellence.   Gerry Lane Enterprises President Eric Lane said body shop workers can make up to $1,500 a week, and they have a “portable trade.”

RIBBON CUTTING CEREMONY HELD FOR STEM & ROBOTICS CENTER

Livingston Parish School System leaders recently held an official ribbon cutting for the Denham Springs High School STEM & Robotics Center.  The center already has nearly 300 students enrolled in classes.  Participating in the event were, pictured from left to right, (front row) Career Technical Education Coordinator Staci Polozola; Superintendent Joe Murphy, School Board Members Jan Benton and Buddy Mincey; Former School Board Member Karen Wax-Schmitt; Denham Springs Mayor Gerard Landry; (middle row) High School Supervisor Kelly Jones; School Board Member Bradley Harris; U.S. Congressman Garret Graves; Assistant Superintendent Jody Purvis; State Sen. Dale Erdey; (back row) Denham Springs High School Principal Wes Howard; School Board Member Bo Graham; Assistant Superintendent Stephen Parrill; State Rep. J. Rogers Pope and Denham Springs Freshman High Principal Ken Magee.