EPSB learns public meeting set for school issue

By: CARISSA HEBERT

Managing Editor

In her report to the Evangeline Parish School Board, Superintendent Toni Hamlin urged board members to attend the Ward One public meeting Thursday, March 13, at 6 p.m. in the Ville Platte High cafeteria to discuss the proposed tax issue, which will be on the ballot on July 19.

Hamlin said she has met with several groups to discuss suggestions and proposals for the tax election. She invited and encouraged board members to attend the meeting so they could hear what the public had to say. She said she wanted the board to make the best decision in regards to Ward One’s future.

Hamlin also asked parents to make sure students are at school next week during LEAP testing. She said makeup tests times are limited, so it’s important students attend classes and take the tests during testing week. She encouraged parents to work with their children and to make sure they are well rested for testing.

In regards to Ville Platte school being closed Tuesday, she said it was a difficult decision to make, but they were not prepared to handle the water issue. The City of Ville Platte issued a boil advisory for water before it could be used by residents. She said they were at meetings all day and didn’t learn of the advisory until around 9 or 10 p.m. She said they could not be prepared to handle the crisis at that time of the evening, so a decision to close was made. She said she believed the other schools in Ville Platte, including the vocational school, followed.

Hamlin expressed thanks to Liz Hill from the Office of Emergency Preparedness. She said Hill assisted the school district with getting water from the Department of Agriculture, and the warehouse workers arrived at the media center after hours to unload approximately 8,000 bottles of water, which were distributed Wednesday morning when the schools reopened.

The board heard from Ville Platte’s LSU Cooperative Extension Service’s Keith Fontenot and Tina Guillory. Both encouraged board members to call if they needed something. They said many people do not realize they have a vast amount of information on a variety of topics.

Guillory said the Smart Bodies program was accepted by Vidrine Elementary, which piloted the program, for next year. She hoped to expand the program to two more schools. She said the program helps students learn about their bodies through a variety of activities.

Guillory also informed the board 4-H would be celebrating its 100th year anniversary every month with special events. On Tuesday, May 13, the annual banquet would include a big celebration.

In other business:

•Hamlin addressed a rumor about payroll. She said the district will be on Easter break, and payroll is scheduled for March 25. She said Amy Lafleur, business manager, and one or two of her employees would return on the 24th to issue paychecks through the mail. Those, who have direct deposit, will have the money on the 25th.

•Hamlin said information would be sent to board members who could not attend the annual conference in Shreveport. She said especially information on changes to ethics and legal issues.

•Agreed to allow Ville Platte High’s site to be utilized by the city once again for the summer feeding program.