School performance scores: Bossier maintains a 'B' rating. See the grades for all parish schools
Plus — Bossier City Councilmembers' disrespect for citizens is increasingly troubling. Will the Mayor veto the "risky" pay raise budget?
Bossier City weather — Today: Sunny. Highs in the mid 60s. Tonight: Clear. Lows in the upper 30s. Friday: Sunny. Highs in the lower 60s.
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School performance scores released: Bossier maintains a 'B' rating: See the grades for all Bossier Parish schools
The Louisiana Department of Education has released 2024 performance scores for the state’s public schools and systems. The results show the statewide school performance score has increased for the third consecutive year, as Louisiana students achieved the highest score under the current 150-point system.
Bossier Parish's 2024 score remained unchanged from 2023 at 85.2, maintaining a B score.
Louisiana’s 2024 statewide school performance score improved by nearly two points. The 2024 statewide score is 80.2, a 1.7 point increase from 2023, when the statewide score was 78.5.
These results come one year after Louisiana students exceeded the pre-pandemic performance score.
“Louisiana students continue to make progress. A third consecutive year of growth is a testament to the many talented educators across our state and the student-first commitment from Governor Landry, the legislature, and our board,” said Louisiana State Superintendent of Education Dr. Cade Brumley.
This is the latest data to show Louisiana students are maintaining and accelerating academic gains made since the pandemic.
Louisiana has achieved its highest national rankings ever, moving from 46th to 40th on the U.S. News & World Report Best States ranking.
Louisiana's 4th graders led the country in reading growth, and economically disadvantaged 4th graders improved from 42nd to 11th in reading on The Nation’s Report Card.
Louisiana is one of three states where average reading achievement in 2023 was above 2019 levels.
Louisiana maintained LEAP gains made over the past two years on the most recent state assessments.
Since 1999, the state has issued school performance scores for public schools based on student achievement data. To clearly communicate the quality of school performance to families and the public, Louisiana adopted letter grades (A-F). All schools with sufficient data receive school performance scores.
Early Childhood ProfilesThe LDOE also released 2024 Early Childhood Performance Profiles today. Each publicly-funded child care, Early Head Start/Head Start, and school-based program serving children birth to five in Louisiana receives a performance profile with a rating based on rigorous classroom observations. Each network of providers within a community also receives a performance profile.
The latest early childhood data reveals a 5.49 statewide performance rating, indicating a 0.07 increase from 2022-2023. More than 95% of early childhood sites are rated Proficient or higher, with 91% of school districts rated as High Proficient or Excellent. All observation domain scores increased, particularly Engaged Support for Learning, across all site types.
Bossier City Councilmembers' disrespect for citizens is increasingly troubling
Six weeks ago, a woman was escorted out of a Bossier City council meeting as she insisted on adding an item to the agenda. On Tuesday, another frequent attendee and speaker was also tossed out of the meeting.
However, the council members' demeanor is increasingly troubling. They show disdain and disrespect for citizens.
The latest involved a comment by at-large councilmember David Montgomery. While defending his budget plan for city raises, Montgomery made a comment alluding to the fact that a frequent commenter at council meetings, David Crockett, was a parish resident and not a resident of the city.
"This council's not here to take something that we might think might be better for the police, for the fire, for the municipal employees, and it is our prerogative. That is given to us by authority in our city charter that was voted on by the people in the 70s. The people of Bossier City, by the way, not those that don't live in the city," Montgomery said.
Crockett approached the speakers' stand in what was likely to be a defense of his civic involvement.
"No, sir, you do not have the floor!" Montgomery said. "You do not have the floor. Mr. Crockett. Mr. Crockett! You do not have the floor."
Crockett was not allowed to speak, and Montgomery asked council President Don Williams to have him removed from council chambers by marshals.
As Crockett was being escorted from the room, Williams was heard muttering, "What a jerk, man."
Jeff Free, sitting next to Williams, motioned to the microphone and said, "You're on the mike."
"I don't care," Williams replied.
Free chuckled.
Some BossierNow readers are calling for an apology from the council.
See the exchange in the YouTube clip below.
Will Mayor Chandler veto the 'risky' Montgomery budget?
Mayor Tommy Chandler and the Bossier City Council were at odds on how to fund the recently passed pay raises for first responders and municipal employees.
"In September, I proposed a budget that raises a stable, predictable source of funding that we know we'll have every year," the Mayor said at Tuesday's meeting. "This council voted to change the funding source and remove the guaranteed revenue stream, and choose to fund raises on projections of future tax collections alone."
The mayor said he considered the funding plan " unresponsible" and "risky."
"It could lead to problems in the future if the projections are wrong. Right now, the Louisiana legislature is in a special session considering major changes to the tax structure — changes that could reduce the amounts collected by Bossier City," the Mayor added. "At this time, there are too many unknowns."
Believing that the budget move is risky leads to the question: Will Chandler veto the ordinance approving the Montgomery amendment?
Bossier City's charter allows a mayor to veto any ordinance passed by the City Council.
The veto must be filed in writing with the City Clerk within ten days of the ordinance's publication date. The clerk then notifies all of the council members in writing of the filing.
So far, so good. The Mayor could still file a veto within the timeframe set out by the charter. But it may be a futile effort.
The City Council may override a Mayor’s veto if at least five members of the City Council vote in favor of the ordinance. A vote to override the veto of the Mayor must be taken within 30 days of the filing of the written veto with the clerk.
A veto seems like a dead end. All seven council members voted to approve the Montgomery amendment, so five votes to override the veto would seem a simple matter.
BossierNow contacted the Mayor's office to get Chandler's thoughts on a veto. Public information officer Louis Johnson said the mayor had not mentioned a veto effort and agreed that the likelihood of an override would likely preclude any such effort.
"One of his strongest campaign points is that he wanted to work in order to accomplish raises for city employees. And so the fact that that happened during this budget cycle was really exciting for his administration and in many ways a victory," Johnson said.
Bossier City free time calendar
Live music in Bossier City and other notable events in the area for your free time consideration. If you would like to add an event to the Bossier City free time calendar, send the details to email@bossiernow.com.
November 22: John Michael Montgomery at the Riverdome in the Horseshoe Casino and Hotel.
November 23: William Clark Green brings his "Whole Lotta Lubbock" tour to his debut appearance at the Louisiana Grandstand. Green is tearing up Texas dance halls and filling venues nationwide with his hits like "She Likes The Beatles" and "West Texas in My Eye."
November 29: Neal McCoy in the Paradise Theater at the Margaritaville Casino.
December 5: The Trans-Siberian Orchestra performs The Lost Christmas Eve at the BGA.
December 6: Neo-traditional country artist Braxton Keith at the Louisiana Grandstand.
December 7: Williamson Branch, one of Nashville's fastest-growing family bands, is touring the country with their traditional country sound and will perform at the Louisiana Grandstand.
December 6, 7, and 8: Bossier Parish Community College, in partnership with the City of Bossier City, presents the 32nd Annual Christmas Show at the Stephen W. Slaughter Theatre, located inside Building C on the BPCC Campus at 6220 E. Texas Street. While admission is free, tickets are required and can be reserved online at www.bpcc.edu/theatre.
December 13: Creed Fisher at the Louisiana Grandstand.
December 14: A Candlelit Evening with Marc and Ted Broussard.
December 19: Marcus King, the southern blues & rock guitar phenom, is coming to the Louisiana Grandstand. Marcus will be playing an intimate acoustic evening featuring Drew Smithers.
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