EPSB finishes year ‘very well’ financially

The Evangeline Parish School Board learned during its meeting Wednesday, January 15, that fiscal year ended June 30, 2013 ended positively for the parish school system.
Chief Financial Officer Amy Lafleur reported that the Evangeline Parish school system was $3,215,219 in the black for the fiscal year. Overall, she reported the parish expended $57,825,088 during the course of the fiscal year, and it received $60,990,742 in revenues from ad valorem and sales taxes, as well as state $36,268,555) and federal ($7,705,020) funding.
After all the numbers were crunched and calculated, Lafleur said the parish school system now has a fund balance of $14,167,304.
However, Lafleur also noted that one of the most important parts of the audit was the fact that there were no findings and the Evangeline Parish School Board does qualify as a low-risk auditee.
In other business, the board:
•Accepted the low quote of Follett for library books for the 2013-2014 school year. The quote submitted was for $9,927.02.
•Approved the purchase of $10,000 of limestone from the Evangeline Parish Police Jury for various school bus turnarounds throughout the parish.
•Appointed Anthony Bertrand as interim principal at Basile High School in place of Georgie Courville, who will be undergoing surgery and may not return to work. Superintendent Toni Hamlin stated that Bertrand would serve as principal until they receive final word on whether or not Courville will be able to return to work.
•Approved the payment of $232,422.30 to First Student for providing transportation services to the parish during the month of December.
•Approved payment of $11,824 for Basile High School for the replacement of outdated personal computers and to complete the school laboratory.