Citizens Magnet Committee Promotes Change at Baton Rouge High

In February, 1976, a citizens magnet school committee convinced the East Baton Rouge School Board to create an academic and arts school in downtown Baton Rouge. With new suburban schools drawing students from the inner city, the “old” Baton Rouge High School had declined considerably in students and repair. The Magnet Committee recommended re-inventing the old school with new courses, new faculty, and a new principal to draw students back to the old school. If the curriculum was truly different and attractive, with dedicated teachers and sound leadership, the students from all over the Parish may voluntarily come back to the inner city. The School Board agreed and appointed Lee Faucette, a graduate of Warren Easton and LSU, on February 5, 1976, as the first principal. Faucette was told if he could recruit enough students to justify keeping the school open, the Magnet School would be launched in late August, 1976. The new principal began recruiting immediately. With the help of Superintendent Robert Aertker, himself a Warren Easton Graduate, Faucette was allowed to speak to the students and parents in all public junior and senior high schools in general assemblies and PTA meetings. On his own, Faucette decided to also seek an audience in private and parochial schools that ended at grade 8. He also spoke to numerous professional and service groups, (Bar Association, Medical Society, Kiwanis, Lions, VFW, etc.) All in all, Faucette made more than 80 speeches on behalf of the Magnet Program. When school ended in May, he had obtained over 1100 applications. Given the final go ahead by the School Board, during the months of June and July old Baton Rouge High was given a facelift. Under the direction of School Board Maintenance Supervisors, Faucette and a small group of teachers, John Dobbs, Katy Young, Jan Daly, Bertha Sanchez, and Sharon Matthews, designed the library expansion, radio station, dance studio, mini-theatre, piano lab, and television studio. When the buses arrived on a hot day in late August, 1976, they carried 920 students in grades 9 through 12. By the end of the second year, the enrollment reached capacity at 1200, and a waiting list was established.

Warren Easton – Baton Rouge High Connection

With both superintendent and principal being Warren Easton Alumni (Aertker c.1934, Faucette, c.1954), and with the two schools committed to change, Warren Easton under the leadership of Dr. Tootle, and Baton Rouge High under Mr. Faucette, the two principals were

Warren Easton – Baton Rouge High Connection (continued)

destined to join forces in an effort to satisfy the high expectations of their students, faculty, and alumni. The two men met on the campus of Baton Rouge High School in 1977. Later they would meet on the campus of Warren Easton. They shared notes, plans, and resources, agreeing to work together in the interest of both venerable landmark institutions. Both men were struck by the similarities their schools shared, externally and internally. The interior rooms with such tall ceilings, three usable floors with multiple classrooms, and a fourth floor housing a band hall. The exteriors of each school present an attractive reddish brick, with white trim of mortar and masonry, sporting those medieval turrets reaching to the skies above. Students are imagined to be inspired gazing up at the schools’ architectural beauty of both Baton Rouge High and Warren Easton High. The breath of the architecture alone demanded restoration and preservation.

In the late 1970’s, educators from around the state, including some from Orleans Parish and Caddo Parish, came to visit. Both parishes would produce magnet high schools before the end of the decade. Dr. Tootle, principal of Warren Easton, was especially interested. He was in the process of implementing a Fundamental Magnet Program at Warren Easton. He came to Baton Rouge High School to see the schools program and speak with faculty and students. Mr. Faucette made available all the magnet data on hand, including Magnet Committee reports, course descriptions, curriculum, pre and post tests, schedules and material lists to Mr. Tootle. Educators from Orleans, especially members of the Louisiana Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development, toured the school and visited often. Later they held their State ASCD Conference at the school. The conference was well attended and the school received a wealth of good will and positive exposure. Mr. Faucette continued to work with the Orleans educators and was elected State President of the Louisiana Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development. That same year of 1977, Baton Rouge High’s student-operated FM Radio Station, WBRH 90.3, secured its FCC Permit and went on the air. It is still operating, winning awards and promoting jazz, rock, and classical music. The Federal License Application, a monumental task, was developed by the work of John Dobbs and Lee Faucette, with an assist from Congressman and Baton Rouge High Graduate, Henson Moore. The station and the school have won numerous awards. Like Warren Easton, the school has prospered and both are still going strong. Go Eagles! Go Bulldogs!