As the sun lifted over the Mississippi River in Donaldsonville and burned off early-morning mist, school buses cruised the streets while teachers prepared for the first day of class at Donaldsonville High School. More than 400 students would soon begin taking courses ranging from the essentials to specialized offerings, including a welding class created in conjunction with River Parishes Community College.

Yet one class in the Ascension Parish School District is entirely new this year: cosmetology. Offered on both the east and west banks of the parish, the class will introduce students to cosmetic treatments—such as hairstyling and skin care—and basic business skills in case they want to eventually run their own salons.

Ronda Matthews, the district’s career and technical education superv

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