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Riser Middle School teacher Dawn Ponder is finishing her second year in a self-contained classroom. However, she realized almost from Day 1 that her students needed a calming room -- something that has become more of a norm in schools across America. It is a place for students to go when they are feeling overwhelmed or overstimulated.

“I have a daughter that is on the spectrum, and I do know that she deals with a lot of anxiety and gets overstimulated,” Ponder said. “I had one student particularly in mind. He did need a place to go to unwind … a quiet place where he could get some kind of sensory input to help him calm down, but we didn’t have anything like that.”

That’s when Ponder started looking into grant opportunities. She applied for one grant where only two middle school teachers were chosen, and she was not one of them. However, when one door closed, another one opened.

Brady Middleton, the Director of Business Development for Ascent Health, happened to be on the committee reviewing the grants, and Ponder’s application stuck out to him. Ascent is a non-profit that focuses on working with children and families with mental and behavioral health issues.

“This project speaks to both of those,” Middleton said. “Kids at Riser Middle School who have any kind of barriers in those lanes can utilize a space on campus to process whatever they are going through. We do a lot of school engagement activities. We have a passion for helping wherever we can, and we are really glad we could work it out.”

To make the room into a reality, Ponder first had to clean out the space in the back of her classroom and then start making a list of what she felt like her students could use most. At the top of her list was a mini trampoline with a handle and a sensory wall.

Her list kept growing, but so did the support. Ponder also submitted a grant through Donors Choose, where businesses or groups can review all the grants listed and give to what speaks to their heart. Within a week of submitting the grant, Tommy’s Car Wash in West Monroe got on board with making Ponder’s “Calming Corner” complete.

It is filled with a variety of textures on the wall, an oversized chair with sublimation sequin pillows, clouds hanging above that change colors, a chalk board, white board, magnets to express your feelings, and many other items that help students cope with what they are feeling.

“I love being able to tell them whenever they’re feeling a little overwhelmed or overstimulated that there is a place for them,” Ponder said. “We have new students coming in that are scared, and then being in a self-contained classroom, you never know. Sometimes, we have students that may get upset, and they don’t know how to communicate that, so telling them that they have some place to go, it’s great.”

Ponder started her career in elementary school in regular education, outside of the district before moving into non-profit. She worked at Early Steps, working with babies with disabilities, including autism. She said as hard as it was to leave that job, she knows she is where she is meant to be at Riser Middle.

“I love my kids,” Ponder said. “I love that they are all very unique. I love seeing them learn something new. I love interacting with them. Sometimes, you just never know what they’re going to say, and I love that. I love getting to come here every day. I love the people I work with, but the kids make it worth coming every day.”

The Ouachita Parish School Board unanimously extended the contract of Ouachita Parish Schools Superintendent Todd Guice during Tuesday’s regular board meeting.

The extension runs through December 31, 2028, which is the longest allowed by state law.

“Mr. Guice has done an excellent job and fulfilled all his duties with us and the community,” said Tommy Comeaux (District A), President of the Ouachita Parish School Board.

Guice assumed the role of superintendent in July 2023. Under his leadership, the district outperformed the state average school performance score for the 24th consecutive year, boasted 16 top-gain schools and had 16 schools improve their performance scores.

The district also celebrated excellence awards in financial reporting for the 36 consecutive year, while also receiving back-to-back perfect audits from the state.

“I’ve been totally pleased by the outstanding job Todd has done,” said Greg Manley (District G), Vice President of the Ouachita Parish School Board. “Todd is a hands-on leader that takes care of our school system. Every superintendent has their own style and I haven’t heard anything but great comments about the job he is doing.”

Cooperative Endeavor Agreement

The School Board approved a cooperative endeavor allocation from the Louisiana Legislature to disperse state funds at West Monroe High and West Ouachita High. West Monroe High received $25,000 to purchase a “mini-truck” vehicle for maintenance on campus. West Ouachita High received $150,000 to build a walking track at the school.

SMS Construction

The School Board granted Baron Construction a 30-day extension to complete the construction punch list at Sterlington Middle. As of the board meeting, Baron Construction is 235 days past the substantial completion date to complete the punch list.

Sterlington Middle received substantial completion on July 19, 2024, which allowed the district to open the new campus at the start of the 2024-2025 school year.

Lenwil Elementary Cafeteria

The School Board hired TBA Studio architecture firm to assess the cafeteria at Lenwil Elementary for a possible renovation. 

Policy Revision

The School Board considered a revision adding smart watches to the policy on cell phones and electronic telecommunication devices to comply with state law. The revision was approved by BESE in accordance with ACT 313 of the 2024 Louisiana Regular Legislative Session, which prohibits the use of cell phones or other electronic telecommunication devices at any K-12 public school during the instructional day.

The board will vote to adopt the policy revision at a later date.

Special Recognitions

·         The School Board recognized Emma Blank, a ninth grader at West Monroe High, and Connor Reitzell, a fifth grader at Sterlington Elementary, for placing in the Louisiana School Board Association (LSBA) 2025 Artwork Contest. Reitzell received a first-place award and Blank a third-place award.

Reitzell and Blank’s artwork will be displayed at the Governor’s Mansion for two weeks and at the LSBA office for the rest of the year.

·         The School Board recognized Janet Durden for her service to the community. Durden is retiring as president of the United Way of Northeast Louisiana, a position she held for 40 years.

·         The School Board recognized the United Way of Northeast Louisiana for its Read.Learn.Succeed program. This program trains community volunteers to become volunteer readers or “pen friends” with second-grade students at 20 partner schools across the region. These volunteers and students practice reading and writing skills monthly from October through March.

The Read.Learn.Succeed program has been adopted at five elementary schools in the district. 

Bid Item                                                                      Funding Source                 Budget Amount
Kitchen Cameras                                                            CNFP                                      $260,000
WMHS FB Field Renovations/Improvements           WOST                                     $1,300,000 

The School Board granted permission to bid on the following item:

Bid Item                                                                      Funding Source                 Budget Amount
Warehouse Cooler & Freezer Doors                           CN Equipment                     $250,000
Property Sale – 3420 Gordon Ave.                                                                             $17,700
Property Sale – Old Burks School                                                                               $67,600          School Buses                                                                     M&O                                    $2,200,000
WMHS Practice Field Renovations/Improvements    WOST                                  $3,400,000