Bissonet Plaza group on alert; Jefferson parish parents organize close watch in school construction

              Wary Jefferson par­ish parents, shaken into action by disclosures of the shortcomings of the Jefferson parish school system, has organized to watch the brick-by-brick erection of a school in their subdivision.
They are the people who live !n Bissonet Plaza, Country Club Homes and Green Acres, No. 3 and 4, a neatly laid-out section of upper middle class brick homes adjacent to the Veterans hwy.
Their motto is."It won't hap­pen here." Their set is the two-story Bissonet Plaza Elemen­tary school now under construc­tion.
Their efforts, now being con­ducted under the official name of the Bissonet School Boosters' Club, go back to about four years ago when the subdivisions were first being populated. Gained Strength
But the movement gained its real strength about a year ago when newspapers headlined ir­regularities in school construc­tion involving architects, closed contracts and a purchase of a swamp tract for $200,000 for a proposed school.
"Our people knew we were going to get a new school and they began pestering and peti­tioning and attending school board meetings to watch over their conduct," said the presi­dent of the new group, Dr., Jack Strong.
"It's funny how parents can watch malfeasance in office, like a sheriff being corrupted by gamblers and do nothing about it, but when their children are involved they jump into the fight," he added.
When their school came up for bids, about 40 mothers and 10 fathers showed up at the school board meeting and an offer higher than the budgeted figure was accepted. Close Tab Kept
Since that day when the con­tract was awarded, club mem­bers have kept a close tab on all phases of their school.
They have presented a peti­tion signed by 600 persons call­ing for the appointment of a teacher they believed is highly qualified for the principalship of the school, Mrs. Florence Juge.
They have asked for and got­ten, an inch-by-inch lour of the building, conducted by architect Benedict CiminL
The head of one committee is in weekly contact with the con­tractor.
They are preparing a list of supplies and teaching aids they will insist be in the school be­fore it opens.
One mother goes out of her way to check the school at least three times a week. Political Bosses
Dr. Strong, whose name fits his deameanor, is outspoken in pointing out the reasons for his "insurance" organization. • "It is a well known fact that many school appointments are made on a political basis," he said. "In the past certain school board members have had large i numbers of their family on the 'payroll from principal to jani­tor.
"We are not willing for the education and the future of our children to be decided on the whims of the political bosses.
"We will do all ihat is neces­sary to insure that our young­sters   get   a   first   class   edu- j cation."
He also pointed but that at a recent school board meeting, it was revealed that only $18,165. jof a budgeted $30,000 was spent jfor schesl supplies. And when the point was discussed, Supt. Lemuel Hig^ins said all requests of principals for supplies were honored. Believes Group Effective
"We know many schools are not  adequately   supplied,"   Dr. Strong  said.   "We  know many new schools have been opened without the necessary supplies, just desks and blackboards. We want  to make  sure  we  have them.
. "We don't want to be bogged down giving cake sales and re­vues to raise money to buy items that are supposed to be supplied out of our own tax money."
Dr. Strong, associate profes­sor of pathology at the Louisi­ana State university medical school, believes the group has been effective so far. He noted that it has a working relation­ship with Higgins, who suggest­ed formation of a boosters' club
to work with him.
"We are satisfied that the school is 'clean,' " Strong said. "There are no deals on the win­dows, there are no closed con­tracts. The school is being built to maximum standards, not min­imum, in the size of classrooms and other facilities. It's the re­sult of a combination of a good architect, public pressure and luck."
He praised the work of the contractor at the school, too.
Getting   people  interested   in , the club has been easy, said the president. Easiest Job                       ,   ~
"This is the easiest job I've ever had. Practically no one has turned down a committee appointment or a job."
The club now has 280 mem­bers and it's not a month old yet.
If the enthusiasm lasts, and it shows no signs of wavering, there will be maps, teaching aids, reference books and pen­cil sharpeners when the gleam­ing, $721,000 school opens next September.
And there will be a ready-made parents' organization to make sure the school is one of the best in the parish.