BATON ROUGE – Leading a diverse group of action-oriented, results-driven higher education advocates is a trying task in the best of times. Try doing it during a pandemic. That is precisely what outgoing Louisiana Community and Technical College System (LCTCS) Board of Supervisors Chair Paul Price, Jr. of Winnsboro did during his past two years of service on the LCTCS Board.
At the June board meeting held in Baton Rouge, the LCTCS Board recognized Price for “his time, energy, and commitment to the success of every student, faculty, and staff member across Louisiana’s 12 community colleges, as well as the board office.”
“Serving on the LCTCS board has been a great honor and experience for me personally,” Price said. “Little did I know when I started in the classroom that I would end up on the state oversight board, much less chairing it.”
Price began his association with the Louisiana Community and Technical College System in 1978 when he stepped into the classroom as a drafting instructor at the vocational-technical school located on Warren Street in Winnsboro. He worked there for 20 years before retiring to pursue other interests in February 1999, which ironically, was the month the Louisiana Community and Technical College System came into being.
During his time in the classroom, Price gained a clear understanding of the importance of post-secondary education to the people of this state. “Many of the students attending school back then were older and fit the mold of the non-traditional student, and many had reached a point where they needed to either learn or improve upon a skill in order to provide for their families,” Price said. “Quite frankly, the LCTCS mission today hasn’t really changed in that regard.”
Price noted that Legislative Act 391 in 2007 and Act 360 in 2013 paved the way for development of new and renovated facilities in both urban areas and rural communities across the state. As a direct result of the 2013 legislation, Louisiana Delta Community College was able to relocate from its former location to the new school north of Winnsboro which opened in January 2017.
“This was a game-changer for our community,” Price said. “I can honestly say without the efforts of Steve Pylant, who was our state representative during that time, the new Winnsboro campus probably would not have happened. He fought hard early on to secure the building and I, like many others, am very appreciative for what he did on behalf of the school and this region.”
“And, through the outstanding leadership of Deanne Kiper on the local level, the Winnsboro campus is flourishing today despite residuals from the pandemic that have plagued other parts of the state,” Price said. “Before the renovations could begin at the new campus in 2016, a $650,000 local match toward the $5 million renovation price tag had to be raised. I couldn’t have been more proud of Deanne’s efforts and this community’s generosity when that goal was met. Because of that, our community was often cited throughout the state for recognizing the importance of the two-year college mission and the impact it has on a community.”
“Our system is blessed with exemplary leaders throughout the state, as well as dedicated staff and faculty members who put their students first,” Price said. “These leadership qualities became apparent during the pandemic when entire course structures and protocols had to be changed on the fly, and were amplified by the heroic efforts of many system leaders who dealt with catastrophic damage to their campuses because of the hurricanes. It’s really unbelievable what all of them accomplished under the most difficult of circumstances.”
Price cited Monty Sullivan for his exemplary leadership since being named LCTCS system president in 2014. “Monty’s a native of West Carroll Parish, and is recognized as a visionary higher education leader both on the state and national level,” Price said. “A great example of that is his diligence to bring the MJ Foster Promise Program to fruition. This program was named after the driving force behind the creation of the LCTCS, Louisiana Governor Murphy “Mike” J. Foster, and offers financial support for the older students in the LCTCS system. Monty aptly tabbed it ‘TOPS for grownfolks’ early on and worked tirelessly to bring it to life with a unanimous vote of the state legislature in 2021.”
The program is currently accepting applications for prospective students for the upcoming fall semester. It allows qualifying students to earn credentials that align to high-demand jobs in growing industry sectors such as construction, healthcare, information technology, transportation and logistics and manufacturing. It also includes students pursuing associate degrees, a technical certificate, or HiSet/high school equivalency.
“The average age of a community college student is 27, and this program will help those who come to the two-year schools in search of new skills and training in order to increase their earning potential,” Price said. “That training will lift up that student for a better job and higher wages to provide for their family which, in turn, will translate to a stronger work force for our region and our state. What’s not to like about that?”
Price was initially appointed to represent the fifth Congressional District on July 10, 2009, was reappointed in 2015, and again in 2021 for another six-year term. He will continue his service to the 17-person board as Immediate Past Chair. Former Lake Charles mayor and three-term state senator Willie Mount succeeded Price and will serve as board chair for the next two years.
Price remains active in the local community and serves on the Franklin Medical Center Board of Commissioners, as well as the Winnsboro Main Street Board of Directors.
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About the Louisiana Community and Technical College System
The Louisiana Community and Technical College System (LCTCS) provides strategic management and support for Louisiana's 12 community and technical colleges. LCTCS colleges award associates degrees, technical diplomas, and industry-based certificates in programs aligned with business and industry and local economies, which lead students to good in-demand, high-wage jobs.
