New school year welcomes special guests

New school year welcomes special guests

The Petal News

By: Dana Gower

Students at Petal's Dynamic Dyslexia Design 3D School had special visitors to their class this week - Dr. William "Bill" Cassidy, U.S. Representative for Louisiana's Sixth Congressional District, and his wife, Dr. Laura Cassidy - as the new school year got underway.

Cena Holifield, executive director of the 3D school, said Laura Cassidy is planning on starting a dyslexia school in Baton Rouge, where the couple lives.  One of their daughters is dyslexic, Holifield said.

Holifield said that, after meeting Laura Cassidy about a month ago, "she called about a week ago" and asked if she could visit the school.  "She just happened to bring her husband."

Holifield said Cassidy plans to set up her dyslexia school in Louisiana as a charter school.

"Louisiana has a charter school law," she said.

Mississippi doesn't yet have a law authorizing charter schools, but area superintendents have said they expect such a law to pass the state Legislature this year.  If such a law were passed, Holifield said, it would be worth looking into whether it would be advantageous to convert Petal's 3D school into a charter school.

"Our school is basically an unfunded charter school," she said, with costs being paid through tuition.  Should a charter school law be passed that would allow the 3D school to transition itself into a charter school, "that is something we would consider, but it would depend on if it were beneficial," Holifield said.

Classes got underway at the 3D school last week, Holifield said, noting, "It's been crazy trying to get school started, but we're off to a great start."

The school has a maximum enrollment of 42 students this year, with additional students remaining on a waiting list for next year.