The LaSalle Parish School Board approved the hiring of a new Transportation and Maintenance Supervisor along with extending the contract of the current Secondary Supervisor during the April 9 meeting held at the LaSalle Parish Media Center in Jena.

Travis Glenn was unanimously approved as the Transportation and Maintenance Supervisor and given a two-year contract beginning April 9, 2024 and ending on April 8, 2026.

Glenn replaces longtime supervisor Glen “Slick” Joiner whose retirement officially took place on April 8. Joiner served many years in the school system as an educator, principal and retired as a supervisor.

Glenn was recommended for the position by LaSalle Superintendent Jon Garrett after an exhaustive search was conducted for Joiner’s replacement.

A Catahoula Parish native, Glenn graduated from Louisiana Tech University in 2003 with a B.A. in Speech Communication and History. He obtained his teaching certification through the TEACH program at Louisiana College in 2021.

He brings 13 years of construction and maintenance experience from working at Louisiana Delta Plantation and as Facilities Maintenance Supervisor at Honey Brake Lodge. He also taught U.S. History, Civics, Public Speaking and Wood Tech at Jena High School for four and a half years.

In addition, he has many years of experience working as a cabinet builder and a finish carpenter.

He is married to JHS teacher Brooke Glenn and they have two children, Judah and Audrey, both students in the LaSalle system.

Tania “Tish” Taylor had her contract extended by the Board as the LaSalle Parish School System’s Secondary Supervisor, beginning May 8, 2024 and ending May 7, 2026.

Taylor has served in this capacity for over 12 years and was recommended for the contract extension by Superintendent Garrett.

Prior to becoming Secondary Supervisor, Taylor served in administration at Jena High School and prior to that, was a longtime educator at JHS.

In other personnel items, the Board approved Superintendent Garrett’s March and April Personnel Report, which included the following personnel matters: -Accepted the resignation of Mark McPherson, bus operator, effective January 30, 2024; -Accepted the resignation of Harvey Boyette, bus operator, effective February 9, 2024; -Accepted the resignation of Toy Bowes, LHS Secretary, effective February 25, 2024; -Accepted the resignation of Kim Spangler, paraprofessional at Jena Elementary, effective March 28, 2024; -Accepted the resignation of Ellen “Pearl” Prince, paraprofessional at Olla-Standard Elementary, effective May 24, 2024; -Accepted the resignation of Karli Simmons, teacher/coach at Jena High, effective July 31, 2024; -Accepted the resignation of Katie Barham, secretary, effective June 30, 2024; -Hired Alyssa Nealy for the new Special Education teaching position at Good Pine Middle, effective March 1, 2024; -Hired Corey Coleman, bus operator, effective March 1, 2024 (replacing Mark McPherson); -Hired Charles G. Hoffpauir, teacher at Jena High, effective with the 2023-2024 school year (replacing Karli Simmons); -Granted retirement to Missy McEntyre, LPSB Homeless Liaison, effective August 2, 2024; and -Was updated that the system is currently advertising for applications for the position of secretary at both Jena High and LaSalle High schools.

Also at the meeting, the Board approved other items of business including a motion to receive a report on donations made to the LaSalle Parish School Board on behalf of LPSB schools, in accordance with a new policy regarding the public posting of such donations.

The list of donations is now available on the system’s website, www.lasallepsb.com.

The Board also approved out of state travel for the Good Pine Middle School Archery Team members and school chaperones to attend the national competition for the National Archery in Schools Program set for May 9-11 in Louisville, Kentucky.

They also approved to enter into a standard lease agreement with Tammara Gresham with Gresham School of Dance for use of the Jena High School auditorium May 11, 2024, for their annual dance recital.

Finally, the Board approved the following summer pay rates for summer education programs, including Accelerate Summer Learning Program, Summer Library Reading Program, Summer School Professional Development, IDEA, and JumpStart: Teachers $35 per hour, Support $20 per hour, bus drivers $50 per route up to $100 per day and Cafeteria workers $20 per hour, as the programs allow.

These programs are funded through various federal and state grant funds.