"The Zachary school district is larger than Zachary's city limits," said Chip Mills. "The goal of this bill we're pursuing is to extend jurisdictional boundaries of Zachary relative to new developments, including the subdivision of land, to mirror that of the Zachary Community School District."
Mills explained that an ETJ is a designated area just outside of a city's limits. In some states, cities are allowed to exercise authority in an ETJ as a method of promoting orderly growth and defining future service boundaries such as water, gas, fire protection and schools.
Currently, land beyond Zachary's city limits are under East Baton Rouge Parish jurisdiction, even though Zachary provides services there. One of the goals identified in Zachary's master plan is to annex land within the school district boundary so that the city limits eventually mirror the school district's limits.
"Myself and Senator Sharon Weston Broome have agreed to co-author this bill assuming we get support from the school board," Havard said. "This is to stop huge developments that would swamp the school system, and it's like insurance until we annex. With this bill, the ZCSD and City of Zachary would have a say in what developments come here."
All school board members supported the resolution except David Dayton, Kenneth Mackie and Gaynell Young, who all abstained from voting 'yea' to the resolution.
In other school news, the board also:
•Approved a reorganization of the main office which supports the district's 10-year configuration once the new first- and second-grade school is built and supports a new national standard in several core subjects.
The significant moves include:
-Copper Mill Assistant Principal Keisha Thomas, as of April 2, becomes a curriculum specialist in the school board main office
-Zachary Elementary Principal Jennifer Marangos becomes principal of the new first- and second-grade school effective Jan. 2013
-Northwestern Elementary Assistant Principal Kelli Day will move in the same position to the new school with Marangos
-Angela Cassard, currently Assistant Principal at Zachary Early Learning Center, becomes the new assistant principal at Copper Mill, replacing Thomas.
Michelle Clayton, now the director of accountability and assessment, will lead a new office on curriculum, instruction and professional learning, and Karin Lawless will take over the district's testing program.
•Approved a move to advertise the sale of $14 million in construction bonds on March 8. "It's an excellent time to be selling bonds," said Jerry Osbourne, bond attorney with Foley and Judell.
•A budget of $600,000 for the overhaul and improvement of Ada Street
•Honored the ZHS girls and boys soccer teams and their coaches for each winning the District 4-5A titles; also honored BETA Sponsor of the Year, Cathy Raziano, BETA State Vice President Deon Somer and BETA student Madeline Pipkin.
•Upheld school administrators' decision to expel three students who will now attend Port Hudson Career Academy.
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