At its meeting Thursday, June 9, the Zachary Community School Board voted to accept “Foundation Hall” as the name for Zachary High’s new building for freshmen.

Until now, the building has been referred to as the “Ninth-Grade Academy;” however, Scott Devillier, director of operations for the Zachary School District, told the board it was important to consider that the facility may not always house freshmen. The name was chosen at the recommendation of the board’s Building Committee.

“There were a number of names that came up,” said Devillier, “but it was overwhelming at the high school that they liked Foundation Hall.”

The building is expected to open around mid-September.

Also on the agenda were several personnel recommendations from Superintendent Warren Drake. The board approved and welcomed four new teachers to fill vacancies in the district.

“As you come on board you’re part of a team - part of a team that’s 600 strong and that’s part of the number one school district in the state. “It’s an extremely professional, dynamic team, and I know that each one of you fits that mold or you wouldn’t be here tonight.”

For Northwestern Middle School, the board welcomed two new teachers, Anne Grant for reading and Carrie Trotti for science.

“My heart is beating out of my chest,” Trotti told the board. “We worked very hard to get here, and it’s finally happened.”

Copper Mill Elementary received the other two additions, teachers Laura Badkobeh for Spanish and Muriel Leewright for CSR.

In other business, the board voted to change its official journal from the Zachary Plainsman-News to The Advocate despite deciding in its September 2010 meeting that:

“The School Board shall select, through public advertisement and bid, a newspaper of the municipal boundaries as the official journal of the School Board to publish all official minutes of Board meetings, as well as all other legal advertising. The official journal shall be selected annually and meet all qualifications as outlined in state law and any others the Board may prescribe.”

According to Louisiana Revised Statue RS 43:140 parishes, municipalities and school boards shall select as its official journal a newspaper whose office is physically located within the boundaries of the jurisdiction. Additionally, Louisiana Revised Statue RS 43:171 requires that political subdivisions select a newspaper as its official journal whose office is physically located in the political subdivision. The Zachary Plainsman-News is the only newspaper whose principal office is located within the Zachary School District boundaries.

Superintendent Warren Drake said the Zachary Plainsman-News has been the official journal since Zachary schools separated from the East Baton Rouge system in 2003, but the Zachary system has grown to the point that a daily newspaper is preferable for publishing the board’s legal notices.