Byline: Tommy Santora, Contributing Writer
The 2018 graduating class at Chalmette High will forever hold a special place in the heart of Doris Voitier, St. Bernard Parish Public School superintendent for 14 years.
The seniors were in kindergarten when Hurricane Katrina heavily damaged or demolished all 14 schools in the district and forced students and teachers to return to temporary modular buildings and trailers. FEMA eventually paid out close to $300 million for repairs.
"We had to start from scratch, but out of a lot of devastation and heartache to our students, teachers, employees and all their families, there was an ultimate silver lining because we built something better than what we had before," Voitier said.
One of those examples is Chalmette High School, which underwent a $50 million expansion five years ago. It included a 25-classroom addition, an athletic field house, turf sports fields, planetarium, Olympic-sized pool and 400-seat auditorium and cultural arts center.
Along with these renovations, a high level of academic success has followed.
Chalmette High School for the last two years has received an A letter grade, placing it among the top high schools in the state. The 2018 senior class featured a 91 percent graduation rate with 450 graduates who earned more than $13 million in college scholarship funds. Seven students graduated with a high school diploma and an associate of applied science degree in petroleum Technology (PTEC) from Nunez Community College, and 270 graduates earned direct college credit through dual enrollment.
"We focus on the big economic development picture around both our parish and the state of Louisiana, and we realize our students not only need to be prepared for college but also need to have the skills to enter the workforce," Voitier said. "Chalmette Refining, Valero, Domino Sugar they are all routinely hiring and require highly skilled technicians for operational positions in these plants and we are working hard through business partnerships and partnerships with neighboring Nunez Community College to create graduating seniors with skills in welding, electrical, engineering, operations, HVAC, etc."
Current district enrollment stands at 7,500, compared to approximately 8,000 before Katrina. Compared to 14 schools before, St. Bernard now features 12 schools seven elementary (all new construction), three middle and one alternative school (fully renovated), and Chalmette High School.
Arlene Meraux Elementary, on 14 acres at Paris Road, is the newest facility in the district, opening in August 2017 to 550 students. The school features a clock tower, state-of-the-art classrooms including Promethean touch boards and five desktop computers.
All fourth and fifth grade classes have access to a Chromebook cart.
"When you add up our state-of-the-art physical facilities to the improved services we provided, and the top-of-the-line, standardized curriculum we have implemented, we have created something powerful here in St. Bernard Parish," Voitier said. "I am a firm believer in that our rebuilding our schools was a necessity for our St. Bernard community to come back stronger after Katrina, and we have definitely laid that foundation to help in our community's complete rebuilding efforts, and that's a rewarding feeling."
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