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By Nicole FoerstnerOpinions/Entertainment Editor

New school board member ready to take charge

schools in my district. I want to know what they want to see change in their schools,” Delesdernier said.

Family and f r iends are very impor tant to Delesdernier.

“I am first and foremost a family man. I believe I have done a great job taking care of my family, but what have I done for the community?” Delesdernier reflected.

According to the Louisiana Department of Education, out of the 70 public school systems in the state, Jefferson Parish ranks 64th in overall educational quality. Within the New Orleans metropolitan area, Jefferson’s scores are consistently second to last among the eight school systems in the region.

“The school board was shaken-up due to poor performance by all the school board members. I think the recent election has helped a great deal, and we are really trying to stay focused this time around,” Delesdernier said.

As a 1985 graduate of Tulane Law School, Delesdernier has since opened his own law firm. He represents small businesses in New Orleans and surrounding areas.

In 2007, Delesdernier ran for judge for the 24th District Court, Section L. His campaign was unsuccessful, but he refused to let the loss put him down.

In addition to his law firm, Delesdernier is an active member of the youth board at his church, and other community related activites.

Delesdernier said, “Mediocrity has been accepted in the past, and that is just not right. We have to change the culture that says it is okay to be average and strive for the best we can be in every way possible.”

One of Jefferson Parish’s newest school board members, Michael Delesdernier, has many plans to help the district, King in particular.

As an alumnus of Holy Cross High School, Delesdernier said, “King was one of the best high schools in the state when I was in high school. We need to strive for excellence and challenge everyone to do better so we can get things back to where they used to be.”

Since Grace King has been placed in School Improvement Level I, many problems with school performance have risen throughout the school district, and Delesdernier hopes to begin making changes as soon as possible.

“I believe that if you are not part of the solution, you are part of the problem,” Delesdernier said when asked why he decided to run for this position.

Delesdernier believes that his strong sense of community service and willingness to address the problems at hand will make for great success for the school board.

“I want to hear from the parents and students from

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Underclassmen enrollment in AP courses at King questionedBy Ashley Guillory

Editor-in-Chief

Newly elected Jefferson Parish District VIII school board representative Michael Delesdernier speaks to students and teachers during his tour of King on Oct. 19.

Sean McGuire

AP Courses Offered at Grace King

- Art History- Biology- Calculus AB- Calculus BC- Comparitive Government & Politics- English Language & Composition- English Literature & Composition- European History- Human Geography

- Macroeconomics- Microeconomics- Physics C (Electricity)- Physics C (Mechanics)- Psychology- Statistics- Studio Art & Drawing- U.S. Government & Politics- U.S. History- World History

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In recent years, King has seen a rise in the number of underclassmen taking Advanced Placement (AP) courses.

CollegeBoard, which administers 30 AP tests as well as other exams such as the SAT, describes the focus of an AP course as to “engage in intense discussions, solve problems collaboratively, and learn to write clearly and persuasively.” AP classes help students to acquire specific skills needed to succeed in college.

According to freshman counselor Brenda Wilson, though AP courses are not currently being suggested to freshmen at King, taking AP would be to their advantage. “It’s a good way for them to begin high school with rigor,” she said.

Kirk Steen, Ph.D., who teaches courses including AP World History, AP Psychology and AP Statistics,

also feels that underclassmen are at no disadvantage in taking AP courses. “The earlier students start to build up their transcripts, the better. It shows that they are actually taking real courses and don’t take classes like copy room two times a day.”

Last year at King, 13 out of over 100 students received a 3 or higher on their AP exams. Three of these students received AP Scholar with Distinction, which is awarded to students who receive an average of at least a 3.5 on all AP exams taken, and scores of 3 or higher on five or more exams. Three students also received AP Scholar with Honor, and seven received AP Scholar awards.

Unlike Steen and Wilson, social studies teacher Melanie Rieger, who has taught AP Human Geography for 10 years, said, “Some universities automatically do not accept AP credit for a course taken by a freshman or sophomore, even if they made a good score. She also said she feels

AP is too much to ask of underclassmen. “I’m not an advocate of younger students taking AP. They don’t have the background they need to succeed in the course, and they’re not used to grappling a college textbook.”

Freshman Landon Sapera, who said he was forced into taking AP World History, does not plan to take the AP exam. “I don’t like history at all, and I feel that it would benefit me more to take my core classes first.”

Freshman Farah Alqhafaf, who is also currently taking AP World History, said she, too, feels it would be better to take her required classes before AP. However, she said, “I’m the type of person who would like to get ahead and understand more than just what other people would know. I want to see what I’m in interested in so that I can see what I’m going to do for the rest of my life.”