Board hears Pre‑K compliance warning, accountability decline; directs superintendent to deliver school improvement plan

District officials told the St. John the Baptist Parish School Board on Thursday that space‑and‑enrollment issues have placed several Pre‑K classes out of compliance with Head Start and state program rules, raising the possibility that federal and state early‑childhood funding could be withheld or reduced.

Bonnie Dinvaut, the district’s early‑childhood official, said four LPE classes and four ECW Pre‑K classrooms were out of compliance as of Dec. 7 because classrooms exceeded the allowable group size under program guidelines. Dinvaut reviewed options — moving classes to other campus wings, bringing in mobile trailers (which require permitting and fire marshal clearance) or relocating classes to GMMS’s Pre‑K wing — and said the Office of Head Start had warned the agency it could be designated chronically out of compliance and face withholding or reduction of base grants.

Dinvaut provided dollar estimates of funds that could be at risk: about $1.3 million for Head Start, $350,000 for LA 4 and $76,000 for Model Early, and said staff were researching precise figures and points of contact. Superintendent Lynett Hookfin described short‑term fixes, including use of the LES back wing or sending affected students to GMMS while longer‑term permits and installations for trailers are pursued.

Accountability and staffing: The Board also reviewed 2020–21 accountability results showing the district ranked 59th of 68 Louisiana districts, and some board members urged an urgent, school‑by‑school remediation plan. During public comment, teachers from JLO (Matthew Cox and Mike Brooks) said JLO has lacked a science teacher for much of the year; the Board directed the superintendent to provide a written plan to address academic achievement and School Performance Score deficiencies no later than the January 2022 retreat.

What the Board directed: By unanimous vote the Board asked the superintendent to submit a comprehensive written plan addressing academic achievement and deficiencies at all schools; the motion passed with 10 yeas and 1 absence. The Board also asked administration to provide updated absentee reports and a staffing breakdown to members.

Next steps: Administration will forward contact information requested by board members and pursue temporary space solutions while researching trailer availability and permit timelines. The Board set a January retreat as the deadline for the academic improvement plan.