School system budget approved

The St. Landry Parish School Board approved a $144 million budget with a lone dissenting vote from Eunice area board member Albert Hayes.
Hayes objected to school activities, which he said costs families up to $400 and force them to take out high interest loans.
“If we can revise this budget I would be glad to accept it,” he said.
Hayes asked for a study of student activity fees by school.
Tressa Miller, finance director, said the budget is due Sept. 15 and any adjustments would have to be made by then.
The board held a meeting Monday in which there was a line-by-line examination of the budget.
Miller said Thursday there is an $8 million to $8.5 million fund balance.
Hayes and board members Charles Ross, Randy Wagley and Donnie Perron did not attend the Monday meeting.
Thursday’s meeting was marked by votes that presented a conflict with money-saving efforts.
Superintendent Edward Brown recommended the board change the head of the Title I program from director to supervisor to save $2,500. The job responsibilities would remain the same.
The board voted 7-6 to keep the director title.
Board member Donnie Perron said, “I want to remind the board that regardless of how much we are saving, if we are saving $2,500 it mounts up. It is money we can put in a classroom.”
Anthony Standberry, board president, noted the school system went through a reduction in force and he would not want to experience that again.
“What we need to do is stay on the trend that we are on, continue to move forward and try to keep this system afloat and make this system work for our children; not for all the grownups sitting in this room, but for the children of St. Landry Parish,” he said.
But Standberry joined six others to vote for not to save $2,500. Joining him voting against saving the money were Ross, Milton Ambres, Raymond Cassimere, Hazel Sias and Mary Ellen Donatto.
Voting for the cost-savings were Candace Gerace, Perron, Huey Wyble, Kyle Boss and Roger Young.
Brown said the enrollment of 14,274 is down by about 200 students.
“I expect to get those students back,” he said.
Contact Harlan Kirgan at harlan.kirgan@eunicetoday.com