Richard has two-year deal in Terrebonne. What’s next for schools?

Terrebonne Parish Schools Superintendent Ed Richard is back in the saddle with a pending new two-year contract.

So, what is he going to do? Or, what will the Terrebonne Parish School Board allow him to do, at least the five who voted to present him with the offer n Board Members Donald Duplantis, L.P. Bordelon, Roosevelt Thomas, Richard Jackson, and Roger Dale DeHart.

And, how much of a struggle will the four who voted against his two year offer give him n Board Members Gregory Harding, Rickie Pitre, Hayes Badeaux and Board President Clark Bonvillain?

Richard has said that many of the system’s schools are in bad physical shape, including windows falling out at Terrebonne High School.

In April 2005, he presented a revised plan to renovate the system’s physical plants.

The board originally conceived the plan in December 2003, with a $300,000 price tag.

However, after Richard’s revisions, the price dropped to $101,000.

The plan had no source of funding, although it was expected the board would eye property and sales taxes as probable money sources.

The board continued to deliberate on the issue, as the aftermath of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita further delayed their efforts.

But the storms forced the board’s hand, to some extent. Repairs totaled over $1 million and included repairs to the gym floor, walls and ceiling at Ellender Memorial High; $12,000 for floor and ceiling repairs at Grand Caillou Elementary; and $33,000 for cafeteria tables at Grand Caillou Elementary.

Richard told a local radio station in recent weeks that the plan will have to be revisited to keep schools operating at code.

Regarding academics, Richard has said that his first target is to place more concern for children in grades kindergarten through third.

“I hate failing children n it’s probably the number one thing about education that I don’t like, particularly children in these grades,” he said in a recent interview. “I’m also planning a program that will allow them to attend summer school for roughly 20 days to review the subject their deficient in and then, hopefully, promote them to the next grade.”

The superintendent is also planning to consolidate ninth grade students at their respective high schools, but in a separate academy situation, on each campus.

Since Richard has been superintendent, LEAP test scores have dropped in most areas.

The LEAP exam, which tests core subjects, is a benchmark the state Department of Education created in the late 1990s to determine how effective teaching is in its public classrooms. Passage of the test is required for students in grades four and eight in order to be promoted to the next grade.

The subjects tested are math, English, social studies and science.

According to a recent audit of the Terrebonne Parish school district, fourth grade results show:

• Math: In 2004, 361 students failed; in 2005, 326 students failed; in 2006, 325 students failed.

• English: In 2004, 278 students failed; in 2005, 219 students failed; in 2006, 256 students failed.

• Science: In 2004, 174 students failed; in 2005, 119 students failed; in 2006, 175 students failed;

• Social Studies: In 2004, 235 students failed; in 2005, 223 students failed; in 2006, 208 students failed.

Eighth grade results show:

• Math: In 2004, 369 students failed; in 2005, 422 students failed; in 2006, 208 students failed.

• English: In 2004, 219 students failed; in 2005, 221 students failed; in 2006, 149 students failed.

• Science: In 2004, 271 students failed; in 2005, 264 students failed; in 2006, 257 students failed.

• Social Studies: In 2004, 267 students failed; in 2005, 316 students failed; in 2006, 321 students failed.

Also, since Richard has been superintendent, GEE test scores have dropped in most areas, of the amount of students who fail the exam.

Students in grades 10 and 11 must take the Graduate Exit Exam, another state Department of Education benchmark to assess learning statewide, in order to graduate from high school.

Those combined test score results show:

• Math: In 2004, 318 students failed the test; in 2005, 361 students failed the test; and in 2006, 299 students failed the test.

• English: In 2004, 249 students failed the test; in 2005, 206 students failed the test; and in 2006, 199 students failed the test.

• Science: In 2004, 180 students failed the test; in 2005, 169 students failed the test, and in 2005, 179 students failed the test.

• Social Studies: In 2004, 176 students failed the test; in 2005, 184 students failed the test; and in 2006, 201 students failed the test.

The board has 22 elementary schools, 10 middle/junior high schools, five high schools, and four schools that include ninth grade students.