THE ZACHA Y
ADVOCATE& T H E A D V O C AT E.C O M
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W e d n e s d ay, F e b r u a ry 26, 2025
11TH YEAR, NO. 20
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Louisiana education officials oust Impact Charter School board BY CHARLES LUSSIER Staff writer
Decried by school officials as a “takeover,” Louisiana education leaders on Friday tossed out the board of directors of troubled Impact Charter School in Baker. The Louisiana Board of Elementary and Secondary Education’s decision was unanimous to oust the school board’s seven directors. The move also likely means the eventual departure of the school’s founder Chakesha Scott. Scott has run the 400-plus student school, since it opened more
than a decade ago north of Baton Rouge. Her management of the school, however, was called into question by the Feb. 10 damning state investigative audit of the school‘s operations. The 173-page state audit accused Scott of diverting hundreds of thousands of dollars from the school and a related private foundation to pay for personal travel, a car lease, an in-ground swimming pool at her house and more. The report also found evidence of a potential kickback scheme with a school contractor and questioned Scott’s decision to divert
more than $1.5 million to Friends of Impact Charter School. That’s the name of a private philanthropic foundation that Scott also leads. It is supposed to support the 4815 Lavey Lane school financially, but auditors claim it never has. After the critical audit report was released, an attorney for the Impact charter school issued a 17page written rebuttal, claiming the audit is “defamatory” and full of inaccuracies. Knowing the state’s audit was forthcoming, Scott had sued the state Feb. 7 trying to
FILE PHOTO BY HILARY SCHEINUK
ä See BOARD, page 2G Impact Charter School is seen May 28 in Baker.
EDUCATIONAL
PHOTO BY OLIVIA MCCLURE
Derek Léger, right, a lead health and performance coach with Baton Rouge General, shows a Zachary police officer how to use foam rollers to relieve muscle tension.
INTERLUDE
Police station provides space for lessons in nutrition, fitness, stress management BY OLIVIA MCCLURE Contributing writer
Most people would agree that a police officer’s job is one that comes with a lot of risks. In a line of work where dealing with criminals is a daily task, there’s always the potential for injury — or worse. And stress stemming from constantly being ready for the next arrest, the next traffic stop, the next warrant to be served can build up over time. But there are other, less obvious points of working in law enforcement that pose risks to officers’ well-being — like long hours seated at the wheel of a patrol vehicle and powering through night shifts with meals from whatever fast food joint or gas station happens to be open. At the Zachary Police Department, training coordinator Lt. Jordan Logan recognized the toll being taken on his fellow officers. He saw the department’s recent move to its new headquarters — which includes an on-site gym — as the perfect opportunity to launch an officer wellness program. With help from Baton Rouge General Medical Center, Zachary officers are now getting lessons on topics like nutrition, physical fitness, injury prevention and stress management. “Our goal is to have a healthier department,” Logan said.
Need for program Logan knew who to call for help with getting the wellness initiative off the ground: Kyle Callihan, a retired Baton Rouge police officer who now is a health and performance program adviser at Baton Rouge General. Callihan and his colleagues lead educational outreach programs for law enforcement agencies in the area. The hour-and-a-half wellness lessons are being built in to Zachary officers’ routine in-service trainings, which are designed to sharpen jobrelated skills like using firearms and handcuffs. Logan hopes to expand the program later. Logan and Callihan know firsthand how being a
Zachary High orchestra students performing with David Saccardi, LSU music education professor.
PHOTOS BY SONYA GOSS
Zachary music students celebrate Orchestra Weekend
Zachary celebrated Orchestra Weekend Feb. 22-23 with masterclasses, sectionals, and a fun drum circle conducted by LSU American String Teachers Association members and Kids Orchestra Teaching Artists for Copper Mill Elementary, Northwestern Middle School, and Zachary High School students. The weekend program ended Sunday with a concert where students performed the music learned throughout the event.
ä See STATION, page 3G
Anna Stanley and Alicia Monroe, the Orchestra directors who put the Orchestra Weekend together. ä More photos. PAGE 3G
Play golf to help Zachary Charity League Leila Pitchford AROUND ZACHARY
Zachary Charity League is holding its golf tournament April 4 at Fennwood Hills Country Club, Zachary. The four-player scramble is $500 a team and has a 1 p.m. tee time. Contact Claire Simmons at (225) 202-8297 or send us an email at zacharycharityleague@ gmail.com with team information. Payments can be made by check or through Venmo @Zacharycharity-league. E-mail zacharycharityleague@gmail.com with any questions.
Libraries closed Tuesday All locations of the East Baton Rouge Parish Library will be closed on Mardi Gras Day, March 4.
Leadership North deadline looming Applications are open for Leadership North 2025. Hosted by the Zachary Chamber of Commerce, the course focuses on communication
skills, strategic thinking, tam building and community engagement. It’s a chance to meet and learn from local business leaders and others. It includes field trips. Spots are limited, and the deadline is Feb. 28. The course meets once a month beginning in April and runs through September. Cost is $600 per student, which includes meals. Sign up at www.zacharychamber.com.
ä See AROUND, page 2G