Ridgecrest News

Paul Nelson, named by the Concordia Parish School Board Thursday night as acting superintendent, says one of his goals will be to continue academic growth in parish schools.

They are the few, the proud - they are the seven teachers and two administrative staff that were selected to start molding young minds in August at Concordia Parish's Magnet program.

Concordia Parish students are continuing to inch their scores on state tests higher -A improving 1 percentage point this year.

When the final bell at Ridgecrest school rings today at 12:30 p.m., it will dismiss more than just students for summer vacation.

With two separate unanimous votes Monday night, the Concordia Parish School board approved to close the doors to Ridgecrest school and open the same doors to a magnet school.

Paul Nelson, Director of Academic Affairs for the School Board. The board learned last week that the U.S. Department of Justice had given its approval for the school, which may open as early as August.

The Concordia Parish School Board has one last hurdle to jump before it can officially open a magnet school in Ridgecrest.