School laptop program to continue

• By JAMES MINTON
• Advocate Baker - Zachary bureau
• Published: Jul 23, 2008 - UPDATED: 12:05 a.m.

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ST. FRANCISVILLE — The West Feliciana Parish school system will expand its student laptop computer project in the coming school year despite Gov. Bobby Jindal’s veto of a state appropriation, Superintendent Lloyd Lindsey said Tuesday.

Lindsey told the School Board the state appropriation would have saved the parish much of the cost of outfitting each new sixth-grader with a laptop computer that can be used in class work and at home.

Jindal vetoed the Legislature’s $2.5 million appropriation that would have continued the program begun last year during Gov. Kathleen Blanco’s administration.

“But we’ll live through it,” Lindsey said, noting that last year’s sixth-graders would use their computers in the seventh grade.

“In my humble opinion, as the longest-serving superintendent now in any parish, the one-to-one laptop initiative and more money for early childhood education would bring great dividends to this state,” Lindsey said.

“We will continue to equip these ‘21st-century learners’ with our own funds. I just feel sorry for some of the kids in the state who will not be able to participate,” he said.

Jindal also vetoed a $100,000 appropriation to begin converting the old Julius Freyhan High School building and a former synagogue into a community center and museum of Jewish culture and support for education in the Deep South.

The Legislature appropriated the money to the School Board because the board owns the Freyhan building.

On another matter, Business Manager Helen “Ruthie” Davis reported the school system ended the school year June 30 with a better-than-expected operating surplus of $200,750 despite lower sales tax revenue and interest earnings on investments.

The board’s 2007-08 budget projected a $44,500 surplus on revenue and expenses of more than $23 million.

Davis said the school system spent $156,000 less than budgeted. Part of the savings resulted from using fewer substitute employees during the year, she said.

The board also approved Lindsey’s recommendation of Ben Necaise as assistant principal of West Feliciana Middle School, replacing Beverly Grant.

The board recently named Grant to head the Family Service Center upon the retirement of its founding director, Eileen Sonnier.