By Nicole Tull
The DeSoto Parish School Board met Thursday, April 13 at 6:00. Under the Good News agenda item, two Mansfield High students were recognized for their accomplishments as LHSAA Powerlifting Champions. Jordan Milton, a Senior, competed in squat, deadlift and bench for a total of 1430 pounds. Terrance Pegues, a Junior, also competed in squat, deadlift and bench for a total of 1365 pounds.
Mansfield Middle School was recognized for their “Call Me MISTER” program. MISTER is an acronym that stands for Mentors Instructing Students Toward Effective Role-models. These young men are taught to dress, behave and strive towards education that will affect their future. If the young men stay with the program all through high school, their college tuition could be paid in full to attend Grambling or Northwestern to pursue a degree in teaching.
Bridget Flanders spoke on the Universal Pre-K program and how it is expanding. The School Board had only been focusing on children getting ready for kindergarten in recent years. This new focus will continue working alongside the childcare centers to start training children from birth to be successful in the school system. The goals outlined by Mrs. Flanders are equipping and empowering families for appropriate stage development, increasing the children in the childcare centers by building two new sites, and increase the childcare center scoring. All childcare centers working with the School Board use curriculum and undergo the same requirements for grade-school teachers.
The old business discussed was awarding the bid for restroom renovations at Mansfield Middle school. Members voted to accept the lowest bid. Performance Construction will begin work on May 19 as soon as school lets out and will be completed on August 1 just in time for the new school year to begin.
Before adjournment, President Coday Johnston asked those present to remember Jimmy Stephens in their thoughts and prayers as he had suffered a stroke earlier in the day.
