It is really amazing that this school year has passed so quickly.  May 24th will be our students last day for the 2006-2007 School Year.

     Our students participated in Education Celebration this past week at the new Shreveport Convention Center, and they performed magnificently.  I have had so many of the workers involved in the event to comment about how well behaved and respectful our students were the entire week.  Our teachers and administrators are to be complimented for all they did to make this event a success.  Our entire curriculum staff under the direction of Mrs. Sally Namie performed a yeoman task to accomplish a great deal of work in a limited time span.  Mrs. Jeannette Bange, Supervisor of Instructional Services, was our lead person in this effort and I cannot thank her enough.  The Transportation Department and especially our bus drivers received so many positive comments about their cooperation and efficiency.  Our students continue to shine and the Best of Show award winners were all from Bossier Parish.  The Bernard J. Kallenberg Memorial Best of Show winner was Jenee Jordan of Airline High School for “Brilliant Fluffy Bingos”.  Jenee’s teacher is Mrs. Janice Melancon.  The Best of Show Poetry winner was Anna Welch, Parkway High School, for “The Man of Ladder Forty-Seven”.  Anna’s teacher is Mrs. Karla Hardaway.  The Best of Show in Prose Award winner was Victoria Johnson, Haughton High School, for “Wish”.  Victoria’s teacher is Mrs. Kathy Allison.  Bossier Parish had numerous other students that received recognition and we are proud of everyone who participated in Education Celebration.

     We will have our annual memorial service on May 7, 2007, at 6:00 PM at First Baptist Church of Haughton.  We recognize our students and employees who have left us this year.  One other person, Mr. Harold Harlan, long-time teacher, coach and principal at Haughton High School, will be recognized.  Mr. Harlan touched so many lives including mine.  He was my first football coach and a special man to so many.

     We had the official ground-breaking ceremony for Legacy Elementary School on Thursday, April 26, 2007.  Our building program continues to move forward.  We will open bids on W. T. Lewis Elementary School on May 1, 2007.  To date we have completed nineteen (19) bid projects and currently those projects have been 92% of our architects/engineers probable cost.

     We want to wish our seniors of 2007 the very best as they prepare to graduate from high school.  Graduation for Airline High School, Benton High School, Bossier High School, Haughton High School and Parkway High School will be Saturday, May 19, 2007, at Century Tel.  Plain Dealing High School has chosen to have their graduation ceremony at their school on Tuesday, May 22, 2007.

     I want to applaud all of our seniors for their accomplishments and thank you for the positive manner in which you have represented your families, schools and our school system.  May God richly bless each of you as you graduate from high school.  Congratulations on a job well done!