EPSB prepares to spend over $2 million on updates

The Evangeline Parish School Board discussed the updating of its infrastructure and technology during its meeting Wednesday, May 21, an update that will cost over $2 million.
Superintendent Toni Hamlin addressed the board and discussed the fact that PARCC assessment, an online testing mandate, is what initiated the update. However, with the governor vocally opposed to this mandate and the slight possibility that he may be able to end it and its online testing requirements, Hamlin said it is still necessary to update the infrastructure and technology in the school system.
“This is a digital age,” Hamlin said. “It’s not going away and we need to prepare for it.”
Hamlin stated that even if the PARCC assessment is no longer a mandate, there are other online testing that will need to be done and it’s best for the school system and students to have these updates in place.
According to Amy Lafleur, chief financial officer, the update is expected to cost approximately $2,300,000.
In other business, the board received some good news on the technology front from Technology Facilitator Connie Guillory, who said that thanks to the parish’s participation in the E-Rate program, which offers discounts to school systems on technology purchases, the parish saved a large sum of money. Without E-Rate, Guillory said the parish would have spent approximately $780,000 this year, but ended up spending only $117,000, a savings of over $660,000.
The board also discussed the school schedule for the remainder of the school year. Schools will be in session Monday, May 26, for Memorial Day. However, employees will receive their pay checks Friday, May 23, due to bank closures on that day.
Two early dismissals (parishwide) were added to the final week of school on May 28, and May 29. Both students and school staff will be dismissed early on both of those days.