Public school costs listed (pdf)

The St. Landry Parish School System spends about $125 million to operate its schools and the cost per student varies greatly in the school system from a low of $5,896 at Beau Chene High School to a high of $14,174 at the Center for Academic Programs, which houses fifth grade accelerated recovery and the virtual academy.
Confronted with aging schools, the St. Landry Parish school system’s superintendent recently said a plan is needed.
“I would like to see a firm that builds schools to take our numbers and give us a design for schools as well as cost,” Edward Brown, superintendent, said.
In a discussion on school costs at a Buildings, Lands and Sites Committee meeting on April 27 a presentation on costs was prefaced with comments from Palmetto and Washington residents that indicates how difficult the situation is for the school system.
Aaron Harris, speaking for a group from Washington, complained that finances alone should not drive school decisions.
“Have your ever considered the psychological effect this will have on the community,” Harris asked. “Would you rape it of its educational institution at whatever level it is?”
And, Milton Ambres, a School Board member, said closing Morrow Elementary had a severe impact on the town. “We don’t have 10 people in Morrow now living there. Nobody wants to stay where there is no school activity.”
Brown said, “Do I want to see a school closed?” And, answered his question with, “I don’t.”
Brown added, “But when we look across the district where we have 37 schools and all of them over 30 years old, all of them need some dire repairs and where is that money going to come from? We have to start making some hard decisions at this time.”
Estimated annual costs to operate schools based on 2013-14 operating data and 1014-15 contract salaries are as follows.
Alternative — $824,931 total.
Arnaudville — $1,970,585 total; and $9,707 per student.
Beau Chene — $5,064,366 total; $5,896 per student.
Cankton — $3,666,656 total; $6,215 per student.
Center for Academic Programs — $1,573,313 total; $14,174 per student.
Central Middle — $2,222,141 total; $5,910 per student.
Central Office — $7,525,472 total.
East — $2,704,386 total; $9,423 per student.
Eunice Career & Tech — $916,767 total.
Eunice Elementary — $2,173,771 total; $7,819 per student.
Eunice High — $3,995,799 total; $6,195 per student.
Eunice Junior High (including Eunice Alternative) — $2,738,075 total; $7,075 per student.
Glendale — $2,692,821 total; $8,062 per student.
Grand Coteau — $2,588,485 total; $7,727 per student.
Grand Prairie — $2,891,881 total; $8,481 per student.
Grolee — $3,608,025 total; $7,548 per student.
Highland — $1,841,955 total; $8,043 per student.
Krotz Springs — $2,514,612 total; $8,272 per student.
Lawtell — $4,611,192 total; $5,965 per student.
Leonville — $4,468,442 total; $7,254 per student.
MACA — $2,932,630 total; $10,822 per student.
North Elementary — $2,746,012 total; $11,490 per student.
North Central — $3,239,225 total; $11,093 per student.
Northeast —$3,437,927 total; $6,573 per student.
Northwest — $4,328,431 total; $8,045 per student.
Opelousas Junior High — $3,250,827 total; $8,422 per student.
Opelousas Senior High/Biomed — $5,858,841 total; $7,896 per student.
Pupil Appraisal Center — $4,503,439 total.
Palmetto — $2,249,584 total; $8,271 per student.
Park Vista — $6,241,861 total; $7,241 per student.
Plaisance — $2,320,018 total; $8,467 per student.
Port Barre Elementary — $3,664,118 total; $6,474 per student.
Port Barre High (Middle) — $5,616,542 total; $6,751 per student.
St. Landry Accelerated Transition School — $1,898,165 total; $12,654 per student.
South Street — $3,184,096 total; $8,206 per student.
Southwest — $2,960,225 total; $8,916 per student.
Sunset Elementary — $2,966,732 total; $8,550 per student.
Washington Career & Tech — $1,166,110 total.
Washington Elementary — $2,009,167 total; $11,750 per student.
The cost per student is $8,394 for the system’s 14,331 students.
The school costs were questioned because insurance and bond payments were apportioned evenly among the sites.
Candy Gerace, a School Board member whose district includes Palmetto, said five rental buildings were approved for Palmetto Elementary for two years, but that is only a start.
“I know we have limited funds, limited resources, limited personnel and probably the list goes on and on, however, what we do we need to do ... I believe we need a plan.”
Brown said the district needs to evaluate each of its schools.
“We are going to be looking at not only this situation, but other situations across the district,” Brown said. “Thirty-seven schools for our population is too many.”
Brown said a solution must be agreeable to the board and community.
“I repeat no one wants to see a school lost, but can we maintain them or see them fall down on the students?” he said.
Mary Ellen Donatto, a School Board member from Eunice and chairwoman of the committee, said no decision would be made without community input.
Donatto said there are no businesses or industries on the horizon to locate in the parish and bring more tax dollars.
As a result, the school system must look at its spending, she said.