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Bossier Parish board approves LDOE-funded work-based learning internships at BIPSTL
Summary
The Bossier Parish School Board approved a $90,000 Louisiana Department of Education grant to start a work-based learning internship program at the Bossier Parish School for Technology and Innovative Learning; program starts with four paid student positions and awards school credit.
The Bossier Parish School Board on Sept. 4 approved a Louisiana Department of Education-funded work-based learning internship pilot at the Bossier Parish School for Technology and Innovative Learning (BIPSTL).
Assistant Superintendent Wayland Bates said the district received $90,000 from LDOE to start the program and that the pilot will be “housed and operated by our BIPSTL principal, Ms. Amy Washington.” Bates said the initial cohort includes four students working on-site and that pay for participating students will be $9.50 per hour. He said the course is a Carnegie-unit Career and Technical Education (CTE) course, so students will earn school credit in addition to pay.
The program’s stated goals include providing on-site work experience in areas such as cafeteria services, transportation, custodial and light maintenance, and ultimately “grow our own” employees who could be reemployed by the district after college or training, Bates said. CTE supervisor Doug Scott and BIPSTL principal Amy Washington were present for the presentation.
Superintendent Jason Rowland told the board the LDOE is emphasizing internships as part of its accountability system and said the district needed to accept the grant money or risk losing it to other parishes. “If we don't use the money, they would end up sending it back, and it would go to another parish,” Rowland said.
Board member Miss Smith moved to approve the program; the motion was seconded by Mr. Bullard and passed. Bates told the board the program is starting “in the infancy stage,” with plans to add up to two more students in the spring and to expand over the next few years if results support growth. He said the grant covers the program costs and that the board’s only expense would be staff time.
Board discussion included brief remarks of support and appreciation for the program’s alignment with CTE priorities. No public opposition or formal amendments were recorded.
The board approved the program during the regular session and moved on to other business, with the program to be administered under BIPSTL and supervised by district CTE staff.
