Acadia adds almost $1 million to projects

• By BOB ARDOIN
• Special to The Advocate
• Published: Jul 7, 2009 - Page: 1BA

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CROWLEY — The Acadia Parish School Board, on a unanimous vote Monday, added about $995,000 worth of school building improvements after approving a general fund budget that projects a deficit.

With these appropriations, the deficit for the fiscal year that began July 1 is projected at $50,675.

Business manager Mike Leonards said the projects are based on school enrollments for five geographic areas that include Crowley, Rayne, Church Point, Iota and Fifth Ward area, which encompasses the communities of Estherwood, Mermentau, Midland and Morse.

During the meeting, Leonards told the board the projects were not contained in the original $67.1 million general fund budget proposed and adopted for the 2009-10 school session.

Superintendent Johnny Bourque said the projects include gymnasium floors, bleachers maintenance, the building of agriculture classrooms and other facility improvements.

According to a project list given to board members, Crowley and Rayne schools are scheduled to receive about $560,000 worth of improvements. About 5,200 of the parish’s 9,195 public school students attend public schools in those towns, the list indicates.

Leonards said the board will review the general fund budget again in January to determine whether the district will still anticipate a deficit, thus requiring the school system to cancel or postpone any of the projects.

After Monday’s meeting, Leonards said school officials hope sales tax revenue will rise in order to help offset any deficits.

Leonards said the district also will apply to the state for zero-interest bond money that could help cover the costs of several of the projects.

In another matter, the board voted 6-1 to hire a central office data clerk to assemble school and personnel information annually submitted to state officials.

Board member Douglas Lacombe, who voted against creating the position, said he favors spending that money instead for more classroom educators.

Lacombe said several teaching positions are not being filled because of budget costs.

Bourque disagreed with Lacombe, saying Acadia recently approved the hiring of five classroom reading facilitators. The parish staffs classrooms according to a formula approved by the board, to make sure there are enough teachers, Bourque said.