[StBernard] More Than 300 Show Up to Register For School

[Westley Annis]

More Than 300 Show Up to Register For School 

November 3, 2005

By: Steve Cannizaro


----------------------------------------------------------------------------
----

Superintendent pleased as more than 300 St. Bernard children register
Wednesday for public school that starts Nov. 14

St. Bernard Parish Superintendent of Schools Doris Voitier had hesitated to
speculate in advance on how many children would register Wednesday for a
temporary school to open Nov. 14.

But by the end of the day Voitier was pleased, saying she could confirm at
least 322 registered by approximately 2 p.m. when she left the
administration building where parents were enrolling their children, and
that others were still waiting to sign up. Reportedly, the unofficial number
was near 360.

"I'm happy to see so many children coming back,'' said Voitier. "It's a good
number.''

"The atmosphere was wonderful,'' she said, as the registration took place
from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the administration building in the 200 block of
East St. Bernard Highway in Chalmette, site of the old Meraux school. The
first week of registration continues through Saturday, Nov. 5, at the same
hours.

"Kids were happy. We gave every student a book bag and sat and spoke with
parents,'' Voitier said. "I think people in general were happy,'' and many
hugs were exchanged, she said.

Public schools in the parish have been closed since Hurricane Katrina but
many parish officials believed it was important to the rebuilding of the
parish for a school system to be running as quickly as possible.

Voitier said 250 students reported they will be there for the first day of
classes Nov. 14, being held in temporary quarters in trailers in the parking
lot of the Chalmette High School football stadium.

Parents of 52 students said heir families will be back when they receive
their travel trailer from FEMA, allowing them to live in St. Bernard Pais as
they rebuild homes, Voitier said. And, she said, 19 said they will be moving
here and attending school for the second semester in January.

Of the number who registered, Voitier said, 118 are in high school, 70 are
in middle school and 113 are elementary school students. There were also 21
preschoolers, she said.

It was expected that at first most of the students would be children of St.
Bernard Parish sheriff's deputies, firefighters and other parish employees,
plus children of residents as they move back into the parish, school
officials have said.

Voitier also said she plans to try to have the Chalmette High School
building cleaned and ready for use in January. That would replace a previous
plan to move in January to two schools of modular classrooms at Chalmette
Middle School and Trist Middle in Meraux.

Classes will be from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., with additional activities offered
after school until 6 p.m., including recreation programs, Voitier said.
There will also be transportation. Breakfast, lunch and snacks will be
served, she said.