Central Opens Two of Finest Public School in the South

by Woody Jenkins, Editor

CENTRAL— Monday, Aug. 13 is the first day of school for students in the Central Community School District.

For students attending Central Middle School (grades 6 to 8) and Central Intermediate School (grades 3 to 5), located at the new Central School Complex, it will be an eye-opening experience, especially for those who attended the old Central Middle School last year.

As one teacher said, “It is like leaving purgatory and arriving at the pearly gates of heaven!”

“Heaven” was a word used often by teachers, parents, and students alike during orientation at the new Central School Complex Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday night.

School board member Sharon Browning said, “I teared up.  It takes my breath away!”  Mrs. Browning attended Central schools as a student for 12 years and then taught for more than 30 years.  She served as School Board president during the board’s critical efforts to persuade the public to vote for a tax increase to build the new schools.

“A wonderful facility like this is something we in Central are not used to.  When the complex was being planned, PBK Architects told us that we had to have a lot of light in the classrooms, and this school does!  I taught for 30 years in a classroom without a window.  Ha!  No telling how good I would have been with a window!” she said.  Mrs. Browning was acclaimed by administrators and students alike as one of Central’s most outstanding teachers, even without a window.

Browning said, “I thank the Lord for this board and the way they focused and worked together to make this happen.  And, of course, this could not have been done without our superintendent Mike Faulk.”

Current school board president Dr. Jim Gardner, himself a Central High grad and lifelong educator, thanked the Central community for their support.  He praised the architects and all of the teachers, parents, and citizens who made the new school complex possible.

When asked if the new Central School Complex would be one of the finest schools in the Baton Rouge area, Central schools Supt. Mike Faulk laughed and said, “No, one of the finest in the South!”