Southeastern NEWS

                                                   Southeastern Louisiana University
                                          Public Information Office
                                          publicinfo@selu.edu
                                          SLU 880, Hammond, LA 70402
                                          504/549-2341/fax 504-549-2061
    Date:  11/2/99
      Contact:                            Christina Chapple 1

NEW LIVINGSTON CENTER TO FOCUS ON LITERACY
     HAMMOND -- The Livingston Parish School Board, Southeastern Louisiana University
and the federal court have teamed up to expand educational opportunities for Livingston Parish
residents by establishing the Livingston Parish Center for Literacy and Technology.
     Funded by the Livingston Parish School Board and residual dollars from a federal lawsuit,
Combustion, Inc., ordered by U.S. District Court Judge Richard J. Haik, the Center will offer
family literacy programs and math, science, technology and environmental education for K-12
students. 
      Haik announced November 2 that the Center will be funded through $4.5 million awarded
to Southeastern from Combustion, Inc. residual funds and $1 million contributed by the
Livingston Parish School Board. The Center will be located in Livingston Parish and will be
programmed by Southeastern in conjunction with the school board. 
      In his court order, Haik said, "The Livingston Parish Literacy Center represents, and is, a
fundamental step in the improvement of the quality of life for all residents and businesses in
Livingston Parish. This full and final distribution will close the door to almost 20 years of
litigation while opening many doors to the 21st century." 
      Southeastern President Sally Clausen said the Livingston Parish Literacy Center is an
example of Southeastern's commitment to university-community partnerships. "Southeastern is
continually seeking collaborative efforts with our schools and communities that promote higher
standards, particularly early literacy and teacher quality," she said.
      U.S. Secretary of Education Richard W. Riley and Governor Mike Foster both praised
the collaboration among Southeastern, Livingston Parish and Judge Haik.
     "This partnership will raise standards so students will have greater opportunities for
success in colleges and universities and in obtaining better jobs," Riley said. "Southeastern has 
definitely become a pacesetter in developing new partnerships that benefit all." 
      "I offer my personal congratulations to President Sally Clausen and Superintendent
Rogers Pope as they continue to develop new and different ways to improve literacy and provide
new opportunities for students to attend colleges and universities. Students will be even more
prepared to enter the work force at higher salaries," Foster said.
      "This is another example of the Livingston Parish School Board working collaboratively
with other agencies to enhance learning opportunities for our students," said Keith Martin,
president of the Livingston Parish School Board.
      Pope said the Center, "will jump start our plans to improve success at the early grades
while working to improve our graduation rates and increase the number of students attending
universities, technical or community colleges, or just being better prepared for entering the work
force."         
      The specific purpose of the Center is to:                   
     increase preschool and primary grades readiness for greater academic success.
     increase positive parent-child interaction.
     increase math, science, and technology achievement of students from pre-school through
high school, particularly in early grades.
     increase percentage of students with high school diplomas.
     strengthen an already existing strong relationship between Livingston Parish School Board
and Southeastern faculty, staff and students.
      Lewis "Skip" Smart, executive director of the Livingston Economic Development
Council, said the Center "is the kind of partnership that makes sense to business and creates better
opportunities for its citizens. I'm proud of our education leaders in Livingston and Southeastern
for being so creative."
      University of Louisiana System President Bobby Jindal agreed. "This program has every
element for enormous success," he said. "It emphasizes parental involvement; works with students
early when they are developing their learning skills; focuses on core academics such as math,
science and reading; involves technology and the latest teaching techniques; and utilizes a strong
partnership with higher education through Southeastern. We applaud Sally Clausen for her vision
and leadership on this important project, and we hold this partnership up as an example for others
to follow." 
                              -SLU-
Press release available on the World Wide Web:
www.selu.edu/NewsEvents/PublicInfoOffice/newsf99.htm