EPSB sees tax improvement, approves summer feeding

The Evangeline Parish School Board learned that tax collections for the month of January were up during its meeting Wednesday, February 19.
Chief Financial Officer Amy Lafleur reported that for the month of January the school board collected $713,932.40 in sales taxes, an increase of $9,390.69 over the same period last year. While the increase was small, especially when compared to November and December’s decreases of well over $200,000, Lafleur said that it was at least a step in the right direction. Overall, the school board is still down nearly a $1 million over the past seven months when compared to the previous year.
In other business, the board approved the summer feeding program to be held again this year, giving students the ability to visit the Ville Platte High School campus and eat when school is out of session. This program will run from June 2, to July 15, Monday through Friday.
The board also discussed the Harlem Ambassadors, a motivational basketball group formed in 1997, will be visiting and speaking with students from around the parish Friday, February 21, at Ville Platte Elementary from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. The ambassadors spread positive messages about learning, staying in school and making something of yourself. The group will also meet with students in Eunice on Thursday.