SLCC chancellor briefs VP chamber

South Louisiana Community College Chancellor Dr. Natalie Harder took more questions than are usually brought up to guest speakers during this month’s Ville Platte Chamber of Commerce meeting, causing a rare extension of the meeting by some 15 minutes Wednesday, August 27.
Camille Fontenot, chamber president who worked at Coreil Campus for 25 years, questioned Harder about a reduction in staff at the campus -- from 14 to 11 -- because of spending cuts and about programs that are being cut.
State Representative Bernard LeBas said he was also concerned about the reductions in faculty and students at the campus.
Dr. Harder pointed out there are enhanced programs and while there was a slight drop in enrollment this year, the students are taking more credit hours. A second welding instructor has been added. Harder said the Coreil Campus is looking for full-time English and math instructors, and adjunct instructors for business and accounting classes.
Dr. Harder said the campus is the third most efficient of the eight facilities in the SLCC system. “It’s doing much better financially,” she said.
Evangeline Parish Clerk of Court Randy Deshotel and Representative LeBas encouraged the community to survey employment needs for hospitals and nursing homes, business, industry and other economically involved segments of the parish and communicate those requirements with SLCC.
Carleen Jones, who has been the Ville Platte campus administrator since late last year and who also answered questions at the chamber meeting Wednesday, has said she is increasing emphasis on outreach to high schools as well as industries an businesses in the parish.
Harder was introduced at the beginning of the chamber meeting by Dr. Tojo Ward, chairman of the Evangeline Parish Industrial Development Board. Before introducing Harder, Ward said site selectors from an out-of-state company had looked at three “certified sites” in the state -- in Alexandria, Bunkie and at the Evangeline Parish Industrial Park, on Tuesday, August 26. Certified sites have had the necessary environmental, archaeological and other tests so that industries that decide to locate there do not have to take the time and pay for those tests to be performed. The site selectors were looking for a location for an agricultural processing plant.
“Competition is fierce,” among parishes that are seeking new business and industry, Ward said.
In other business during the chamber meeting:
•Suzy Lemoine, Evangeline Parish Library outreach coordinator, reported the library will be closed beginning Thursday, September 4, so staff and movers can make the move to the new library. Library staff expect to reopen, at the new location, Monday, September 22. The library plans to have a grand opening and dedication during the afternoon on Friday, September 26. On Saturday, September 27, library staff is planning a family and friends fun day from 8 a.m. to noon, sponsored by the Friends of the Library.
•Fontenot, the chamber executive director, said the Christmas parade will be on Sunday, December 7, at 6 p.m. She said the chamber is seeking a location to hold its annual social this year, and the next chamber meeting will be at Nick’s at noon on Wednesday, September 17.
•Fontenot also reported the old Wal-Mart store on Opelousas Road will become a Dirt Cheap store in September . That company has stores mostly in Alabama and Mississippi, and two in Louisiana. About 30 employees are expected to be hired for the Ville Platte store.