CENTRAL CITY
NEWS General Excellence Louisiana Press Association National Newspaper Assn.
& The Leader
®
Health
Fitness
Healthy Living After 65
Central
&
GUIDE
Coming July 12 • To advertise, call 261-5055
Thursday, June 28, 2012 • Vol. 15, No. 13 • 20 Pages • Circulation 10,000 • www.centralcitynews.us • Phone 225-261-5055
Key to Great Schools Zachary, Central Superintendents Tell Their Formula
Leaders of Top School Districts On What Makes Great Schools Woody Jenkins
Photo by Woody Jenkins
GRIDIRON STARS helped coach at the Todd McClure Football Camp this week at Central High School. Shown (left to right) are Drew Dileo of Central, who is a varsity starter at the University of Michigan; Coach David Simoneaux of Central High, who coached Dileo at Parkview before coming to Central; Central High starting QB Brett Courville, and Trevor Sansone, former Wildcat football star and State 5A Track Champion. Sansone is a member of the LSU track team, No. 2 men’s team in nation.
BREC Plans $1.5 Million Tax Hike
BATON ROUGE — The nine-member Board of BREC will vote today on whether to raise property tax millages on property owners in the parish by $1.5 million. The board, which has no official representative from Central, could bypass the voters and increase the property tax without a referendum. The public can testify for or
against the tax increase at 5:20 p.m. today at BREC headquarters at 6510 Florida Blvd. (old Sears building). For a list of BREC board members, see Page 11. Every four years, all property in the state is reassessed. At that time, millage rates are rolled back, so that property taxes do not go up. But each local government can by two-
thirds’ vote, roll forward property taxes without a vote of the people. The Republican Party of East Baton Rouge Parish is leading the fight against the tax increases. Dr. Dan Kyle, former Legislative Auditor, is party spokesman against all the roll-forward tax increases, which could total $10 million parishwide.
Editor, Central City News
CENTRAL — Only two men in the past 100 years have started new school systems in Louisiana and carried them through to success — Supt. Warren Drake of Zachary and Supt. Mike Faulk of Central. Last month, the Louisiana Department of Education named Zachary and Central the No. 1 and No. 2 ranked school systems in Louisiana. For Zachary and Warren Drake, it was the 7th straight year to be ranked No. 1. Then last week, Supt. Drake announced his retirement after 10 years as superintendent. Meanwhile, Supt. Faulk is completing construction of the new Central School Complex, the largest public school project in the history of East Baton Rouge Parish. In Southeast Baton Rouge, citizens are pushing to create a new
Todd McClure Draws 280 to Football Camp See related story on Page 11
See SUPTS. on Page 16
Photos by Woody Jenkins
Falcons’ Great Returns to Roots At Central High to Delight of Youths
CENTRAL — Atlanta Falcons’ star Todd McClure, the Iron Man of the NFL, returned to his alma mater, Central High School, this week to conduct the Todd McClure Football Camp on the Wildcat practice field on Wax Road. More than 280 youngsters and dozens of coaches participated in the three-day event. The students had individual drills by offensive or defensive position. They got to work with varsity athletes, college players such as Drew Dileo and Trevor Sansone, and of course NFL star McClure, who was known in Central more for his baseball TODD McCLURE OF ATLANTA FALCONS addresses 280 Central area youngsters at his annual football camp at Central High prowess than this football ability. School. McClure, who started 110 straight games for the Falcons, is by far the most celebrated former Central High football star.
For PHOTOS, see Page 18-19