Recognition of the varsity football coaching staff for winning the District 7-3A championship and reaching the quarterfinal round of the playoffs was front and center during Thursday night’s Bogalusa City Schools System board meeting.

In his first year as BHS head coach, Dave Roberts guided the Lumberjacks to a 7-6 overall mark. The Jacks were eventually eliminated in the playoffs by Amite.

In that game with Amite, both teams engaged in a fight near the end. BHS was to learn of its sanctions at Wednesday’s disciplinary hearing in Baton Rouge, but since Amite requested an extension, BHS will learn of its sanctions on Jan. 7, 2016.

The Lumberjacks finished the season 7-6 overall and Roberts was selected the district’s Coach of the Year. He came to BHS from Pearl River High School where he was an assistant. BHS quarterback Tym Toussaint was selected the district’s Most Valuable Offensive Player of the Year.

The coaching staff received certificates and checks from the board. Roberts’ staff includes defensive coordinator/defensive backs coach Bruce Plummer, receivers coach Troy Wilson, running backs coach Rumeall Morris, outside linebackers coach Aubrey Watson, linebackers/defensive line coach Kenneth Matthews, offensive line coach James Cummings and junior high coach Speedy Butler.

“I am so proud of my varsity football team,” Superintendent Willie “Toni” Breaux said. “You brought this community back together. It was really great. Academics are important, but the whole child is equally important.

“We needed someone who would grow the program and stay here. Coach Roberts, we’re so proud of you.”

BHS athletic director Ken Martin, high school principal Lesley McKinley and assistant principal Linda Pittman were also recognized.

Board member and former varsity head coach Calvin Hymel distributed the certificates.

“We commend you for your success,” board president Curtis Creel said. “Because of the success in football, the system was riding a wave of support from the community. I hadn’t seen that in a long time. I hope we can continue that success we had this year.”

In other matters, the board:

• Recognized Finance and Business Supervisor Deloris Walker and her staff for the recent sterling 2014 audit by the auditing firm of Carr Riggs & Ingram. The staff received a Certificate of Excellence and a Certificate of Achievement from the Government Finance Officer Association. Walker’s staff includes Lynn Jenkins, Cynthia August, Ottiney Self and Sherry Burton.

• Approved a Canon copier lease for Central Elementary School and Northside Technical Middle School.

• Approved the district serving a partnership with Northshore Technical College-Sullivan Campus in connection with the YouthBuild Program for 2016 through 2019.

• Reported the district received an overall grade of D on recent State Assessment testing. In comparison, Northshore Charter School received an F.

“We have done a whole lot better than our competition on the testing,” Breaux said. “We’re not where we need to be, but we’re better than we were.”

• Recognized former employee Juanita Magee with a plaque and certificate of appreciation.

• Creel and Paul Kates were re-elected president and vice president of the board, respectively.