EPSB extends COVID leave

At Wednesday’s meeting of the Evangeline Parish School Board, the board agreed to the policy committee’s recommendation to extend COVID leave for employees through June 30, 2021, the end of the fiscal year. Federal legislation granted 10 days of COVID leave, but that expired on December 31, 2020. Those employees who did not use those 10 days, will still have leave available. If some of those days were used, the employees retain the balance. Superintendent Darwan Lazard said employees do not get a “brand new set of days.” It is only an extension of the previous law.
During the policy committee’s last meeting, the question was asked if older students in upper grade levels should be able to play junior varsity. There was some confusion on the definition of what grade levels constitute “junior varsity.” Since the policy meeting, coaches and athletic directors were asked for their input.
School board president Wayne Dardeau said the issue is trying to determine when elementary school ends and high school begins. He said Bayou Chicot Elementary, Chataignier Elementary, and Vidrine Elementary stop after eighth grade and have elementary tournaments. Basile High, Ville Platte High, and Mamou High have been allowing ninth graders against eighth graders because the junior highs do not have another grade. “I think it’s unfair,” said Dardeau. “In one week, I watched a ninth grader playing seventh and eighth grade, which I think is illegal, or it should be.”
Further, Dardeau added, “I coached in four different parishes. Every parish handles it the same way. When you got into ninth grade, that was high school. Eighth grade is not high school. It’s elementary.”
Since the policy committee, clarification was reached to say varsity/junior varsity is grades nine through 12. The rule now says athletes in grades nine through 12 cannot play with seventh and eighth graders.
In other business, CFO Amy LaFleur said they were notified over the Christmas holidays that the 8-G program, used for Pre-K programs, is going to receive a reduction in funds due to the state having financial problems, largely COVID based. The original award was for $107,194, but are now facing a reduction of $29,585, giving them a new total of $77,609. LaFleur said the Title I funds have picked up that shortfall. She added there is no hit to the General Fund. “Hopefully this is not a permanent situation as we move forward through the next fiscal year,” said LaFleur.
Child Nutrition Program Director Karen Soileau said the Child Nutrition program received a grant in the amount of $81,300 from the Share Our Strength’s No Kid Hungry Campaign. The funds are earmarked to purchase a new delivery truck. “We’re very excited,” said Soileau.
Lazard congratulated Pine Prairie High School for receiving a national distinction for exceptional performance. Two years in a row of progress with certain groups of students, and because of that, they were one of two schools recognized in Louisiana. “We’ve very proud of the faculty, staff, the principal, and all those at Pine Prairie High for achieving this national distinction,” he said.
Lazard also reminded everyone all public schools and district offices will be closed Monday, January 18 for the Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday.