EPSB hears from new LSU-A chancellor, votes to remove economic hardship waivers

The Evangeline Parish School Board, on Wednesday, heard from new LSU-A Chancellor and Ville Platte native Dr. Paul Coreil.
Dr. Coreil, Program Chancellor for LSU-A, addressed the board to invite Evangeline Parish students to enroll at LSU-A. Coreil grew up in Ville Platte. He was the director of the 4-H extension service. He said, “I have a really sensitive part of my heart for Evangeline Parish and for the kids of this area, and I just wanted you to know that I want to do everything I can to help the students look at LSUA.” He said they like doing dual enrollment with high school students and would like to grow that in Evangeline Parish. “We love this area. We want to help our students in Evangeline Parish.”
The board went on to discuss automatic waivers to students with economic hardship. Most Evangeline Parish students qualify as having economic hardship, when factoring in criteria such as if the family receives unemployment benefits or public assistance which includes SNAP benefits, parent or guardian is serving in active military, an emancipated minor, etc. The board could decide what criteria could be used as a waiver.
Superintendent Darwan Lazard said, “Our teachers, our principals, for a number of years, have been paying for our students when they don’t have everything they need. It’s nothing new.” Lazard and Lombas said keeping all the suggested criteria for the waivers would lock them in and would exempt most of the students in the parish. Lombas said, “We do things like Stuff the Bus where they get school supplies. The churches donate quite a bit to the schools. Any student who is in need and can’t get the supplies, we take care of them.” Several school board members agreed, saying there are other programs, such as Caring Closet, and donations from the hospital, and there is funding for migrants and homeless students. The board agreed to continue doing what they have been doing for years, which is find other means of support for students. These fees include money for field trips, uniforms, club fees, etc.
The board voted to remove the economic hardship waivers, and go with a 20-percent range for estimated school supply costs. Wanda Skinner was the only board member who opposed. She did not say why she opposed.
CFO Amy Lafleur announced the October sales tax is $77,821.38 more than October of last year. “With that boost, that put us ahead by $42,673.73,” said Lafleur.
Lafleur also said Louisiana Worker’s Compensation Corporation, better known as LWCC, and Lemoine Insurance (ISU), presented them a check for a mid-year dividend in the amount of $120,802.28. “Normally the dividends come out in March. This is not going to impact it in any way, shape or form,” said Lafleur. She said it was decided to use the money for safety at school campuses, paying for cameras, panic hardware, and alarm systems. “With safety issues being reduced, we also reduce our loss runs, which impacts our premiums that we pay. Since we began with LWCC, we’ve actually decreased our premiums, not including the dividends, by about $40,000.”
The board then granted permission to Evangeline Parish Youth Basketball (EPYB) and Lil Dribblers (Basile Program) to use school facilities for the school year 2019-2020. The organizations have to have a uniformed officer present at all the games, and have a liability insurance of $1 million. 25% of their profits will be given to the schools.
Superintendant Lazard commented on the recent break-ins at James Stephens Montessori. He thanked the maintenance crew, principal Melanie Bordelon, the custodians, and the teachers. “We’re fully cooperating with law enforcement, as we do all of the time. I want to thank the Ville Platte PD for their prompt action, and our maintenance crew and Mr. Lombas for making sure the glasses that were broken on the doors were replaced that same day.” He said a bench warrant has been issued for a suspect. “I’m hoping justice will be served for whoever this person is for doing this kind of damage.”
In his closing comments, Lazard said December and January each have one school board meeting. December’s meeting will be December 11, and January’s meeting will be January 15.