Greg Patterson will lead the Jeff Davis Parish School Board into the new year after being elected as the board’s president for 2025.

Patterson, a representative of District 7, is currently serving his first term on the School Board.

District 3 board member Phillip Arceneaux was re-elected as vice president.

Both were elected without opposition.

Patterson said he is looking forward to serving as president.

“This is obviously a new thing for me being on the school board and now being the president of the school board, but I am excited for new things and challenges along the way,” Patterson said.

Patterson said he is excited about working together with school officials, community leaders, parents and students throughout the parish to focus on education.

“I’m really big in Jennings because that’s where my district is, but I also want to be a school board member for the parish,” he said. “I want to be an advocate for the parish, not just the Ward II district of Jennings.”

Patterson said it is important to build relationships and keep an open line of communication with all stakeholders throughout the parish.

Patterson is also looking forward to the completion of a $3 million  renovation project at Jerry Simmons Stadium in Jennings. The project includes a new field house, press box, concession stand, ticket booths and front facade.

Patterson also supports plans by the City of Jennings to buy 27 acres of the former Jennings Elementary School property to expand its recreational facilities. The property is located next to the city’s current sports complex just off East Academy Avenue.

“Personally, I’d like to see the City of Jennings end up with that property,” Patterson said. “I think it would be good for the community here in Jennings for them to buy it and build a bigger recreation center, if they are able to.”

Patterson said more recreation programs and space are needed for local youth.

“Soccer is one of our biggest recreational sports that people overlook and we don’t have the spots for soccer fields,” he said.

More than 300 children played soccer last season with games played on the baseball, softball and old practice field.

The city has also started a traveling PeeWee football league that can utilize the facility. Nearly 200 youth played football in the city this year, compared to 29 in 2023, according to Mayor Henry Guinn.

Among other goals, Patterson said he would like to see improvements made to the district’s food service warehouse.

“We need to see what we can do as a district and if it will be feasible to renovate it or is it better to just build a new, more centrally located facility,” Patterson said.

Patterson would also like to see the school district maintain its momentum on test scores and continue to build on them.

“….All our test scores have been going up at all our schools,” he said. “Jennings is finally an A school and that is always a good thing to do.”

The parish currently ranks 20th in the state based on performance scores with a score of 86.8, or a B letter grade, which is a slight improvement over last year’s score. The score is still above the statewide average of 80.2.