The Star Academy program will be added to two north Rapides Parish schools after a vote during Tuesday’s regular School Board meeting.
The vote to add the program to Buckeye High and Pineville Junior High schools was 8-1, with member Sandra Franklin the sole no vote.
The Star Academy is a program within a school that aims to help middle school students who have fallen behind their peers catch up. It has a goal to help students advance two grade levels within a year, according to its website.
Last month, the board had considered a motion to add the program at Arthur F. Smith Middle Magnet School. But Superintendent Jeff Powell said the Alexandria school was too close to Carter C. Raymond Junior High School, so they didn’t want to place the program there yet.
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During Tuesday’s meeting, Powell said the district will “proceed with caution” in putting the program at Buckeye and Pineville Junior and, pending funding, look at placing it at Arthur Smith and Tioga Junior High schools in the next academic year.
The meeting was the first of 2025, so the board also elected new officers. District B member Steve Berry was elected president, while District C member Mark Dryden was elected vice president.
Former President Dr. Stephen Chapman was named chairman of the finance committee, while Wilton Barrios, Linda Burgess and Sandra Franklin remained chairs of the personnel, education and District 62 committees, respectively.
This article originally appeared on Alexandria Town Talk: School Board 8-1 vote adds Star Academy at 2 north Rapides sites