In our experience, you don’t get very far without making some bold moves at some point.

And the Concordia Parish School Board and administrators are doing just that to try to improve test scores at Ferriday schools.

The school board voted Tuesday to extend school hours three days per week to allow for nine weeks of intense tutoring as students and teachers prepare for testing in March.

With new Superintendent Kerry Laster &045;&045; who was principal of a blue-ribbon school in Shreveport &045;&045; Concordia Parish is taking a big step toward improving not only students’ scores but also their academic opportunities.

The lower elementary, upper elementary and junior high in Ferriday are on a &uot;school improvement&uot; list &045;&045; a state designation one step away from a watch list. Ferriday High is on the watch list.

The schools must show progress in test scores in the next year or they will move to a higher level of &uot;school improvement&uot; &045;&045; one which could require school choice and supplemental services.

The school board took a risk in extending school hours. While many parents and teachers are supportive of the extended school day because they know the difference that it can make, we imagine some will complain about the longer day.

But the school board would have taken a bigger risk by not accepting the new plan.

We cannot afford to let our students miss out on academic opportunities. This improvement plan is not just about boosting test scores, it’s about giving students pride in their work and in their achievement &045;&045; and giving them a leg up in their educational future.

We’re eager to see the results of this experiment.