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, M a r c h 25, 2026
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12TH YEAR, NO. 24
Zachary Early College Academy launches BY OLIVIA MCCLURE Contributing writer
High schoolers who want to get a head start on college coursework or even earn an associate’s degree can now apply to be part of the inaugural class of the Zachary Early College Academy. The program formally launched March 9, Superintendent Ben Necaise told the school board at its March 10 meeting. Zachary High School students will be able to take online, hybrid and in-person courses through partner colleges and universities while still completing high school graduation require-
ments. “Participants will be working toward an associate degree or developing an individualized collegiate pathway aligned with their academic and career interests,” according to information posted on the Zachary Community School District website. The first academy cohort will begin classes in fall 2026. To be admitted, students must meet several requirements — including having at least a 2.5 grade point average, completing an interview and getting a recommendation from a teacher. Students also need to demonstrate responsibility,
independence and time management skills. Additional information is available online at www.zacharyschools. org/early-college-academy or by emailing ZECA@zacharyschools. org. The academy builds on a mostly online pilot program that’s been offered for the past year. “We’re excited about expanding that,” Necaise said. “We’ve had a lot of interest. A ton of feedback came in in the last 24 hours from parents. The community members are excited about that moving forward.” He is hopeful that adding more class formats will encourage more
students to participate. “If a student wants to go to brick and mortar all day, that’s great,” he said. “If they want to do a hybrid approach where they’re taking dual enrollment classes and courses virtually but also going into band or choir or athletics, they have that option. They can go hybrid throughout the day, or they can do a full virtual option. So it gives them three choices to tailor fit.” Regardless of the course modality they choose, all students will have access to support from the academy’s administrator, counselor and academic assistance partners, the website said.
STAFF FILE PHOTO BY LEILA PITCHFORD
Shredding company employees empty paper into a bin at the Central Branch of the Bank of Zachary on April 26. People can again bring papers to be shredded on site on April 11.
Bank of Zachary to host Shred Day
The Bank of Zachary is hosting its Community Shred Day event on two weekends. Leila The Main Pitchford Branch, 4743 Main St., ZachAROUND ary, and the ZACHARY Watson Branch, 32340 La. 16, will hold its events April 11. The Central Branch, 14395 Grand Settlement Blvd., will hold its event April 25.
ä See AROUND, page 4G
Suspect in kidnapping of Zachary teen awaiting extradition
Easter Bunny makes stop in Zachary
Lee Street Boutique on March 22 hosted an Easter party for the Zachary community. Children hunted eggs, an Easter Bunny took pictures with the children, and hot dogs, chips and soft drinks were served.
Lee Street Boutique draws a crowd for its Easter party on March 22.
BY ELLYN COUVILLION
Alternative meal planned for students $20 in lunch debt
Staff writer
A 38-year-old man is accused of misrepresenting his age online to a 17-year-old Zachary girl and taking her out of state, Zachary Police Chief Darryl Lawrence said Wednesday. The suspect, Michael Jay, is in jail in Oklahoma and will face charges of kidnapping and contributing to the delinquency of a juvenile, Lawrence said. According to Louisiana State Police, the teenager was last seen Monday at her home and was discovered missing the next morning. “We gather that she thought she was dealing with somebody younger,” Lawrence said. “Once she gets to this guy, he transported her to Oklahoma.” Jay “drives 18-wheelers,” Lawrence said. He was arrested in Ardmore, Oklahoma, and is in the Carter County Jail. He is reportedly from Kentucky. Lawrence said he didn’t yet have the timeline for Jay’s extradition to East Baton Rouge Parish Prison.
PHOTOS BY SONYA GOSS
Children enjoy a March 22 Easter egg hunt at the Easter party in Zachary.
BY OLIVIA MCCLURE Contributing writer
STAFF PHOTO BY MICHAEL JOHNSON
Zachary guard Ava Raymond drives to the hoop through the Neville defense in the first period of the LHSAA Division I nonselect semifinals on March 5 at the University Center in Hammond.
Ava Raymond
Third generation Zachary superstar Warren Brady ZACHARY SPORTS
Before the brutally physical Zachary High quarterfinal game against Natchitoches Central and eventual second straight state championship on March 7, I sat down with coach Tami McClure and senior Ava Raymond. I have followed Raymond since she was a freshman and her sister, Bria, was an upperclassman on the
ä See BRADY, page 3G
Zachary students who run up $20 or more in debt in the cafeteria will be served sandwiches, not hot meals, starting next school year under a policy change approved by the School Board at its March 10 meeting. The board, on a 6-1 vote, signed off on the change, setting in motion what leaders are calling an alternative meal plan. At a meeting in early March, child nutrition supervisor Bianca Coats asked the board to OK the plan, saying the district is facing a significant amount of debt created by students who eat school meals but don’t pay the required fees — to the tune of $35,000. Most years, that number is closer to $15,000 to $20,000. Coats said some students have eaten hundreds of dollars worth of breakfasts and lunches without
paying. Staff members have struggled to get parents to respond to calls and letters pointing out the problem. The alternative meals — a sandwich, a vegetable and a serving of milk — will comply with federal school nutrition guidelines, Coats said. Before the board voted on the item, members descended into a lengthy discussion about the verbiage of the policy. Board member Crystal London questioned whether it would allow school staff to deny meals to nonpaying students. She expressed concern with an existing line in the policy that says, “Those students not eligible for free meals who have not paid for a scheduled meal may have that meal withheld.” “I have heard of that happening — not here in Zachary,” London said. “But I know of adults who
ä See MEAL, page 2G