The St. Mary Parish School Board has called a meeting for 5:30 p.m. Monday to discuss a request for medical leave by Superintendent Dr. Buffy Fegenbush.
The agenda includes the possibility of a closed-door session.
The meeting will be at the Central Office in Centerville.
PATTERSON — Chasity Paul is a 2025 recipient of the New Orleans Excellence Teaching Award, designating her as one of the top 3% of educators in the city.
Paul is a member of the InspireNOLA Faculty at Dwight D. Eisenhower Charter School, in the Tall Timbers subdivision of Algiers, teaching seventh- and eighth-grade English language arts and commuting to work daily from her home in Patterson.
Her accomplishments come despite a 2020 cancer diagnosis.
New Schools for New Orleans feted Paul as a NOETA winner, along with 86 other teachers Saturday during its fourth annual gala at the Ritz Carlton Hotel.
“NOETA winners are teachers who are enormously dedicated to their students, bringing immense experience, skill, and care to their work, and they provide a model for new and aspiring teachers to emulate. Their principals have identified them as among the most impactful educators in their schools, and their students have shared what a difference they’ve made in their lives,” a press release from New Schools for New Orleans said.
Paul also received a $1,000 Classroom Excellence Grant with the honor.
She began her career as a Winnie the Pooh Head Start Center Teacher with the St Mary/Vermilion Community Action Agency, then moved on to Terrebonne Parish, where she taught at Ellender High School , Evergreen and Oaklawn Middle.
“I love teaching,” Paul said. “Ever since [she was] a small child, I’ve wanted to be a teacher. I used to play school with my cousins under my grandmother’s carport.
“The challenge for me each day is for me to inspire my students to become the greatest they can be. To be themselves and to be genuine in everything that they do. One of my mottos is, if I have inspired at least one student a day, I have done my job.”
Dr. Shekeitra Matthews, who is Paul’s principal, said she admires her dedication to her students as well as to the profession of teaching.
She said Paul teaches 150 of the 600 students who are enrolled at Eisenhower.
“I was so favored to represent her at this nomination,” Matthews said.
She said the New Orleans Public School District is composed of 68 schools enrolling more than 43, 000 students, so for Paul to be considered among the top teachers across the region is “quite a testament to her dedication, expertise and care to her students, colleagues and the teaching profession.”
Samarick Paul said his mother Chasity is the most influential person in his life, crediting her with his becoming a teacher. Currently, he teaches math and business math at Brown Middle School in Forney, Texas, just outside Dallas.
Paul said what inspires him most about his mother, is the manner in which she approaches life.
“She always shows up,” he said. “She’s selfless and puts everyone before herself. She is the most perfect mother. There has never been a time that I have picked up the phone, and she doesn’t come through.
“Just seeing how she interacts with people, and the way she goes about her business, it’s so inspirational.”
Matthews said Paul’s resilience as a breast cancer survivor is also a testament to her, as well as her school community.
Terri Foulcard said Paul is just a loving, caring person, whose presence is a “light to be around.”
“You just can’t ask for a better person to be around,” Foulcard said. “She walks the walk. She stays clear of any type of drama and always puts God first.”
Foulcard, the St Mary Parish registrar of voters, said she and Paul are members of the Franklin-Jeanerette Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority.
“She’s very giving, always helpful, always serving,” Foulcard said. ”She shows up to just about all the events, and is a very active member. Inspiring and compassionate.”
Paul said that in 2020, she was diagnosed with triple negative breast cancer at the age of 44.
“It was very devastating afterward, when I went in for a routine mammogram. I had started mammogram testing four years prior,” she said.
“I received a call stating that my mammogram was abnormal. I went to a surgeon who performed a biopsy, which later confirmed the cancer. My life at that time felt like I had been given a death sentence. Just hearing the word was devastating, and all I could think about was me leaving behind my three beautiful children.”
Eventually, she said God spoke to her after she kept asking, “’Why me?’”
“He said to me, ‘Why not?’
“I was picked to fight that battle, because I know God only gives His battles to the strongest. So going through treatments, I would promise myself and my family that I would not give up.”
She went through 16 rounds of chemotherapy, “which was very harsh on my body. My lifestyle changed dramatically.”
“I prayed and sang in my prayer closet daily, while fighting and asking God to please bring me through.”
Paul said she rang the bell noting the end of her treatment in March 2021.
But she cautioned that once the bell has rung, the battle continues.
“I just want to caution everyone, to please take of yourself, get the examinations, and follow through will all treatments and medications.”
“I had no clue of what I was facing on this journey,” she said.
Paul thanked the Lydia Cancer Association in Lydia, the Miles Perret Cancer Center in Lafayette and the Thibodaux Regional Cancer Center for their “unwavering and unmatched support.”
“God is able and He is a healer. No one needs negativity in their life, especially when they’re in a battle. Be proactive instead of reactive.”
She encourages persons who are in a cancer battle to stand on these two Biblical verses: Joshua 1:9 and Matthew 5:7.
“Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid. Overcome fear with faith.”
What’s next for Paul? She’s currently working on her doctorate.
“Remember God is good. And He can do it for you as well.”
The Spirit of Morgan City Christmas Festival Pageant has crowned queens for this year’s festival.
The pageant was Saturday at Morgan City Municipal Auditorium.
The children’s pageant took place at 11 a.m. Saturday. The queens pageant was held at 5 p.m. The queens pageant included four divisions.
The Junior (ages 12-13), Teen (ages 14-16) and Ms. (24 or over or married women and mothers) divisions participated in introduction, evening gown, and on stage question competitions.
The Miss Division (ages 17-23) also competed in a formal interview.
The contestants who had the highest score in their respective divisions were selected as the winners. They will spend the year representing the festival and the city of Morgan City by traveling the state of Louisiana, advertising and bringing more attendees to the festival.
They will reign over the Fourth Annual Spirit of Morgan City Christmas Festival on Nov. 29 at Lawrence Park.
Staff report
The Brothers Doobie, a Doobie Brothers tribute band, will perform live at 7 p.m. Monday, Nov. 10, at Schreier Theatre at Morgan City Municipal Auditorium.
Single concert tickets are $25 for adults and $5 for students K-12. Season tickets are now on sale for the 2025-2026 Concert Season. All tickets, subscription or single concert, are available online at www.morgancitylive.com or at the door
The Brothers Doobie honor the iconic sound of The Doobie Brothers and Michael McDonald. Composed of six musicians, the Brothers Doobie “captivate audiences with their uncanny ability to recreate the soulful sounds and energetic performances of the original band,” according to promotional material.
Their set features iconic songs like “What a Fool Believes,” “Takin’ It to the Streets,” “Black Water” and more.
Morgan City Live Community Concert Association of Morgan City, Inc., formed in 1947, continues to bring world-class entertainment to the tri-city area of Morgan City, Berwick and Patterson, as well as the rest of St. Mary Parish and surrounding parishes.
The Morgan City Open Fishing Rodeo and Golf Scramble has donated $10,400 to Nicholls State University Department of Petroleum Engineering Technology and Safety Management and $2,600 to support Nicholls Veterans Services.
The donations have been used to renovate and expand classrooms, improve technology and build a state-of-the-art well-control simulation lab. The portion donated to Nicholls Veterans, many of whom are PETSM students, will help supplement vets whose monetary benefits for education have ended, with a panel to select the candidates based on criteria like GPA.
“In our 13th year, MCOFR has donated a total of $124,500 to the Nicholls’ PETSM program and Veterans Services. The PETSM program is a great asset to the energy industry in South Louisiana and abroad," sid Joey Cannata, vice president of Tanks-A-Lot.
MCOFR is a nonprofit corporation founded in 2013 by Tanks-A-Lot, a deepwater container specialist, for the purpose of promoting community spirit in the local oil and gas industry while benefiting notable organizations for future growth within the community. The corporation seeks to provide a family-oriented environment where the community can gather and enjoy the camaraderie and sport of fishing and golf, making the event best representative of the Morgan City area.
The 2025 Morgan City Open Fishing Rodeo was held in June, with proceeds from the events donated to Nicholls PETSM and other charitable causes to enrich the tri-parish area and encourage the pursuit of higher education. MCOFR has donated over $200,000 to its tri-parish area and seeks to contribute more. For more information on MCOFR, click here.
Nicholls’ unique PETSM program caters to non-traditional working students in the energy industry, particularly for Gulf operations and beyond, offering flexible courses that accommodate rotational work schedules.
City of Patterson photo
On Tuesday, Aidan Sanders was honored with the city of Patterson’s Community Spotlight Award at its monthly meeting. Sanders also received a key to the city in recognition of his volunteerism and significant contributions to the highly successful 2025 Fall Festival, which positively impacted the city’s economy and promoted a favorable image of the City of Patterson. Shown from left are Councilmen R. DeMale Bowden and Ray Dewey Sr., Sanders, Mayor Rodney Grogan, Councilwoman Miranda Weinbach, Councilman Lee Condolle and Police Chief Garrett Grogan. Not pictured is Councilwoamn Mamie Perry.
U.S. LNG exports reached a fourth consecutive monthly high in October at 10.1 million tons as new gas liquefaction plants on the Louisiana and Texas Gulf Coast commenced operations, LSEG data shows.
Activity ramped up at Venture Global’s Plaquemines plant in Louisiana and Cheniere Energy’s Corpus Christi Stage 3 project in Texas, with production at each of the LNG export facilities up about 600,000 tons from September, LSEG data shows. Overall, U.S. LNG exports in October were up 1 million tons, or 11%, from a revised 9.1 million tons in September.
Shipping data provided by Bloomberg shows 84 LNG tankers departed Louisiana export terminals in the four weeks between Oct. 2 and Oct. 29, representing 67% of total U.S. loadings in the period. In the same four weeks, 38 LNG tankers departed Texas export facilities, while six shipments left terminals in Virginia and Georgia, the data shows.
Cheniere’s Sabine Pass facility in Cameron Parish, the world’s largest export terminal with capacity of 29.5 million tons per year, shipped a record 33 cargos in October. Venture Global and Cheniere together accounted for 72% of total U.S. exports in October, LSEG data shows.
While U.S. LNG shipments continued to increase in October, more of the Haynesville shale gas that feeds the export terminals changed hands during the month.
JERA, one of the world’s largest LNG buyers, agreed in October to pay $1.5 billion to GEP Haynesville and Williams for assets around the South Mansfield gas field in Louisiana, as reported by The Center Square. In March, Rockcliff Energy III, a subsidiary of Tokyo Gas, purchased a 70% interest in Chevron’s East Texas Haynesville shale assets.
“A land rush into the Haynesville by Asia companies with LNG commitments continues with JERA acquiring the South Mansfield joint venture from GEP Haynesville and Williams for $1.5 billion,” said Andrew Dittmar, principal analyst at Enverus Intelligence.
South Louisiana Community College has once again been recognized among the nation’s best, earning a place as one of the Top 200 U.S. community colleges eligible to compete for the $1 million Aspen Prize for Community College Excellence.
This distinction, awarded by the Aspen Institute College Excellence Program, honors institutions demonstrating strong and improving student outcomes in areas such as retention, completion, transfer, and workforce success.
This marks the fifth consecutive recognition for SoLAcc (2019, 2021, 2023, 2025, and now 2027), reflecting the College’s ongoing commitment to student success, community partnership, and workforce innovation.
“We’re honored to once again be recognized among the nation’s top community colleges,” said Dr. Vincent June, chancellor of South Louisiana Community College.
This achievement represents the dedication of our faculty, staff, and students who live out our mission every day, creating opportunity, advancing talent, and driving the future of South Louisiana’s workforce. Recognition from the Aspen Institute affirms the true impact of the work happening across our campuses.”
The Aspen Prize for Community College Excellence, awarded every two years, is considered the nation’s premier recognition for community colleges. It highlights colleges that deliver strong and equitable student outcomes, both in the classroom and after graduation. This year’s eligible institutions were selected from nearly 1,000 community colleges across the country based on performance data in key areas of student success.
“The Aspen Prize rewards colleges that achieve the kind of outcomes that actually matter to students, completing college degree programs that, in turn, lead to lifelong success,” said Josh Wyner, Executive Director of the Aspen Institute College Excellence Program. “Aspen Prize winners offer a powerful message: Community colleges can deliver the kind of life-changing education that makes the American Dream real.”
SoLAcc now moves forward in the Aspen Prize application process, which includes a rigorous review of student outcomes and institutional practices that promote equitable achievement. The final Aspen Prize winner will be announced in spring 2027 following multiple rounds of evaluation and site visits to the top 10 colleges nationwide.
This recognition underscores SoLAcc’s leadership in delivering accessible, high-quality education that strengthens families, fuels regional economies, and builds brighter futures across Acadiana. For more information about the Aspen Prize, visit as.pn/prize.
South Louisiana Community College is a comprehensive community college that operates campuses in Abbeville, Crowley, Franklin, Lafayette, Morgan City, New Iberia, Opelousas, St. Martinville and Ville Platte.
The college serves approximately 12,000 students annually and offers an array of academic programs. Students earn associate degrees, technical diplomas, certificates, and industry-based certifications. The college was recognized as the “Best Community College in Louisiana” for 2023 by Intelligent.com and BestColleges.com, trusted resources for college rankings and higher education planning. The 2024–2025 Annual Report, highlighting SoLAcc’s impact and progress across Acadiana, is now live at solacc.edu/annualreport2025.
The LSU Board of Supervisors on Tuesday selected Wade Rousse as the university system’s 29th president and chose James Dalton to serve as system vice president and chancellor, separating roles that had been combined since 2012.
The board voted 12-1 for the Rousse-Dalton slate. Rousse, a Louisiana native who has led McNeese State University since 2019, has pitched himself as a nontraditional change agent who will court industry partnerships and focus on workforce needs. He succeeds former President William Tate IV, who left earlier this year for Rutgers University after four years at LSU.
Political insiders said Rousse was favored by Republican Gov. Jeff Landry and had strong backing from Board Vice Chair Lee Mallett, a major Landry donor. Board members serve at the governor’s pleasure, and the governor selects the chair.
Rousse, a Nicholls State alumnus who earned a Ph.D. in economics from the University of Illinois at Chicago, worked at the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago and founded an alternative investment firm after co-founding a marine logistics company earlier in his career. In interviews and at a candidate forum, he highlighted turning around enrollment and finances at McNeese and promised a pragmatic, market-minded approach at LSU.
“There are two things that truly drive GDP growth — capital and labor,” Rousse said. “We’re doing a pretty good job attracting capital… the question is, are we doing our part on labor — producing a workforce that’s ready immediately and the next generation of scholars?”
Rousse said he intends to meet daily with faculty for his first 30 days in office to set priorities and to ask whether vaulting into the ranks of the top 50 public research universities should be a defining goal.
While promising to encourage philanthropic giving, Rousse made clear he views corporate partnerships as central to LSU’s funding strategy.
The choice drew mixed reaction on campus. Supporters cited Rousse’s executive experience, turnaround messaging and ties to Louisiana industry. Critics — including some students and faculty who addressed the search committee — questioned his limited research record and lack of traditional academic progression, noting that McNeese is a smaller regional institution.
without LSU’s top research designation. They also raised concerns about perceived political connections and whether he meets several of the search committee’s desired qualifications.
Rousse acknowledged the nontraditional path and sought to reassure skeptics. He pledged “full support” for faculty and emphasized that corporate alignment would not supplant academic freedom or research aspirations. “This position will shape what higher education looks like for the next 10 or 15 years,” he said. “I’m humbled by that responsibility.”
Dalton, tapped as system vice president and chancellor, will assume a role that restores a two-leader structure for LSU. The Board’s decision to separate the president and chancellor posts marks a return to a governance model supporters say will clarify lines of authority as LSU pursues both research ambitions and statewide workforce missions.
Rousse’s biography says he graduated from Nicholls in 1993, entered the marine transportation business and later moved into finance and economics. He joined McNeese’s administration in 2019, holding several roles before becoming president, where he has touted enrollment stabilization and budget improvements.
Next steps include contract finalization and transition planning.
Tate’s contract included a $750,000 base salary, university-provided housing at 188 South Lakeshore Drive or another LSU residence, with utilities, upkeep, security and official-function costs covered, plus a $15,000 annual vehicle allowance paid monthly.
Tate’s deal layered annual incentives on top of his base pay, tied to LSU’s research, fundraising, retention and system budget margin.
Rousse said he wants the Board to set “four or five key goals” against which he can be judged — whether that is research stature, workforce outcomes, philanthropy and partnerships, or student success. “In my mind, this is the biggest position in the world,” he said at the candidate forum. “I’m honored to be part of the process.”
Morgan City High
Bi-District round
6 p.m. Nov. 6 at South Lafourche
Central Catholic
Bi-District round
Nov. 4: W vs. Family Christian, 25-3, 25-7
Regional
5 p.m. Nov. 6 vs. Catholic-Pointe Coupee
Berwick
Bi-District round
Nov. 5: W vs. Abramson, 25-6, 25-7, 25-9
Regional
5 p.m. Nov. 7 at University Lab
Franklin Banner-Tribune
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Fax: 337-828-2874
Morgan City Review
1014 Front Street, Morgan City, LA 70380
Phone: 985-384-8370
Fax: 985-384-4255