Carmen Cuppens

The board meeting included a quarterly sports medicine report for the district, a recognition ceremony for regional robotics teams that competed at the World Championships, and an update on the Louisiana Junior Beta state representatives. The board also recognized students who achieved high scores in the national AMC8 mathematics competition and acknowledged a support staff member from Vincent Settlement Elementary for receiving the elementary support staff person of the year award. Additionally, student teams from Washington Marian High School and Sulphur High School presented their community leadership projects supported by Woodside Energy, which included the construction of raised garden beds for a local senior center.

The committee meeting covered several policy updates regarding employee conduct and student mental health support. Discussions included mandatory dismissals for employees listed on the Department of Children and Family Services State Central Registry as of August 1, 2025, and reporting requirements for such registry entries. The board also reviewed the administration of mental health screenings for students in grades K-12. Additional agenda items addressed the removal of notification requirements for school board meetings to the Commissioner of Administration, protocols for the sale of surplus technology devices, and procedures for checking excluded parties on the federal System for Award Management (SAM) website. The committee also deliberated on improving transparency in the procurement process for professional services and consultants to ensure equal opportunity for local businesses.

The board conducted a budget hearing and public meeting covering the adoption of 2018 millages and 2018-2019 budgets. Key discussion topics included the appointment of board representatives for the Chennault Board of Commissioners, adoption of the Louisiana Compliance Questionnaire, and various bid reports for school construction, maintenance, and food service supplies. Additionally, the board discussed an incentive agreement for the I-210 bridge project, approved liability and property insurance proposals, and reviewed professional services contracts. Committee reports provided updates on bus purchasing rotations, student debt collection, and various administrative policy revisions.

The board meeting included several presentations, such as sports program updates, student representation reports, and award recognitions. Key actions taken included approving the promulgation of an election, authorizing the sale of bonds for District 27, accepting a payment in lieu of taxes for a grain terminal, and approving a cooperative endeavor for the Safe School Program. The board also reviewed and approved an instructional resource review process and passed a resolution opposing the Common Core State Standards. Furthermore, the board approved several out-of-state field trips for student groups and accepted the donation of property adjacent to Iowa High School and a sidewalk donation to the Calcasieu Parish Police Jury.

This document outlines the School Improvement Plan for Oak Park Middle, focusing on a three-year strategic effort to enhance student achievement and school performance. Key components include the implementation of approved Tier I curriculum, extensive teacher training, and the Teacher Advancement Program (TAP). The plan sets specific goals to increase student mastery on LEAP 2015 assessments by 3% annually, raise the school's letter grade to 'C' or higher, ensure 90% teacher certification, and maintain a student attendance rate of 93% or higher. It emphasizes communication and partnership with families to achieve these objectives.