Bossier Press-Tribune
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 8, 2020 | $1.00 | BOSSIER CITY, LA | SERVING GOD & OUR COMMUNITY | VOL. 91 NO. 40
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Bossier schools gathering input on graduation STACEY TINSLEY Bossier Press-Tribune Bossier Parish School system leadership is gathering input from senior counselors and high school principals to formulate a plan for seniors who were set to graduate this spring, Bossier Schools Superintendent Mitch Downey said Thursday. “Now that districts have guidance from the Louisiana Department of Education, Bossier Schools leadership is gathering input from senior counselors and
high school principals to formulate a plan for seniors and graduation,” Downey said in an email statement. “We want to assure our families that Bossier Schools are using every means available to determine that their high school seniors have demonstrated proficiency in required courses, and provided options to help students meet credit requirements, so they can be awarded credit and certified eligible to graduate,” The message from Downey came shortly after the Depart-
Jason Smith: Help is available for small businesses during COVID-19 pandemic
STACEY TINSLEY Bossier Press-Tribune Small businesses who are struggling to stay afloat during the worldwide COVID-19 pandemic can apply for federal loan assistance. On Friday April 3, the Greater Shreveport Chamber, along with the Bossier Chamber of Commerce, held their weekly chamber member webinar to receive updates regarding COVID-19. Topics that were discussed by speakers during the webinar included an update on applying for SBA loans, ppdate on SMITH Paycheck Protection Program, accounting requirements for PPP and Economic Injury Disaster Loans and Teleworking Tips and Tricks. Citizens National Bank President Jason Smith gave an update during the webinar on the Paycheck Protection Program. One of the major differences between the SBA loan and the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) is the fact that the PPP will go through your local bank. © 2020 Bossier Newspaper Publishing Co., Inc.
ment of Education announced it was leaving it up to local school systems to decide whether high school seniors who were on track to graduate before the COVID-19 outbreak have met course requirements. The uncerDOWNEY tainty surrounding soon-to-be graduates is one of many repercussions from the
novel coronavirus pandemic, which saw a 42-percent increase in one day to 9,150 positive cases in Louisiana, according to the Louisiana Department of Health. The status for seniors grew even more uncertain on Thursday, when Gov. John Bel Edwards said he was officially extending his “stay at home” order through April 30. Many schools in the state were originally scheduled to end the school year in mid to late May. In Livingston Parish, schools were set to conclude the 2019-20
school year on May 22, which would leave less than a month of school after the current order is lifted. Acting State Superintendent Beth Scioneaux and state Board of Elementary and Secondary Education (BESE) President Sandy Holloway made a joint statement Thursday in response to Gov. John Bel Edwards’s announcement Thursday to extend Louisiana’s stay-at-home order and school facility closures until April 30. See, SCHOOLS, Page 3
AT CAPACITY
“I would ask for your patience when you work with your lender. It’s best to work with them on the requests that they have. And if things change in the course of the program, don’t be surprised” Jason Smith Citizens National Bank Not directly through the small business administration. Many, if not all, of the local banks are eligible to participate in the PPP, Smith said, “I have been banking for 30-plus years and I cannot recall an experience that compares in any way with the experience that we have had at Citizens National Bank. That is a shared experience with my fellow lenders,” said Smith. “Certainly the PPP program is a remarkably effective program that an awful lot of work has gone into. Unfortunately, even up to 11 o’clock today — which was the last time I had the chance to get an update from our team — there are still a number of questions about the specifics of the program. I would ask for your patience when you work with your lender. It’s See, PPP, Page 3
National chains limiting the number of customers allowed in stores at one time STAFF REPORT Bossier Press-Tribune
STACEY TINSLEY/BOSSIER PRESS-TRIBUNE
Customers at Academy Sports & Outdoors (Top) wait in line (Above) to enter the store Sunday afternoon. Academy, and other national retailers, are limiting the number of customers allowed in stores at one time.
National retailers including Walmart, Target and Academy Sports & Outdoors started limiting how many people are allowed inside stores at one time this past weekend to help control the coronavirus pandemic. Walmart said the new measure, which went into effect Saturday, will limit the number of customers inside the store to five per 1,000 square feet of space. That total is about 20% of store capacity. Target will also start limiting the number of shoppers based on store square footage, relying on meters to keep a count of people entering the store. Harbor Freight is also limiting access.