Brad Soileau, the newly appointed superintendent of Allen Parish School Board, took his oath of office from the honorable Judge Judi Abrusley during the board meeting held Monday, September 11.
During his first report as superintendent, Superintendent Soileau unveiled the first edition of the monthly district newsletter for administrators, as well as new smartboards in the boardroom. He further stated the remaining ESSER funds will be spent on new intercoms at Oberlin Elementary and Kinder High School and on fire alarm issues at Fairview High School, Oberlin Elementary and Oberlin High School.
Superintendent Soileau also introduced Joshua Sampey as new principal of Fairview High School.
The meeting began with a public hearing on the proposed consolidated budget for the fiscal year ending June 2024.
As discussed during the hearing, 87.4 percent of the general fund expenditures come from salaries and benefits. Office of Group Benefits (OGB) has also raised premiums by 6.15 percent beginning January 2024.
Superintendent Soileau explained the increases to the HRA plan offered by OGB amounts to an increase of $405,887 a year. Coupled with last year’s increase, Soileau further explained the increase is almost $700 thousand.
“I don’t think it’s something we can sustain over the long term to have another $700 thousand come out of our budget every year for insurance,” Superintendent Soileau said.
The superintendent recommended keeping the insurance as it is for the next year and to explore the possibility of dropping HRA next year so the school district would still be able to afford Gap insurance.
No action was taken by the board on the issue.
Also, during the public hearing, it was stated the previous general fund budget showed a surplus of $79,667. The upcoming budget, however, shows a deficit of $185,345. Part of the deficit is attributed to the raise which was given as well as the school district sharing costs with the Allen Parish Sheriff’s Office for school resource officers in each town.
As for the resource officers, the school board granted Sheriff Doug Hebert’s request to add two additional officers. The sheriff explained the school resource officer program has been a success so far and has made a dent in the vaping problem on school campuses.
According to the sheriff, however, the only issue with the program is there are only four school resource officers for six school locations. “This has caused us a real problem with Fairview and Reeves kind of getting left out,” Sheriff Hebert said.
He went on to say, “By adding two officers, I’ll feel better, parents will feel better and nobody will feel left out. I just think that’s a much better and workable plan than just having four.”
Superintendent Soileau agreed with the addition of two school resource officers and said, “I would be very pleased to have one in each town because Reeves, Elizabeth and Fairview kind of get the short end of the stick. I think that’s something we definitely need to support.”
The costs of the additional school resource officers will be split 50/50 between the school board and the sheriff’s office.
In other business, the school board:
•Adopted the Consolidated Budget for Fiscal Year 2024.
•Approved the budget revisions for the 2022-2023 fiscal year.
•Approved an out-of-state trip, to be funded by Title I, for Misty Alexander, Michelle Wagnon and Christy Patrick to attend the Texas Statewide Parent and Engagement Conference in Corpus Christi, Texas, on October 4-6.
•Approved an out-of-state trip for sponsors Stacy Stark and Shelly Dowies and Fairview High School Beta members to travel to Washington, D.C. on June 24-27, 2024.
•Adopted resolutions calling and ordering elections to authorize the continuation of the levy and collection of existing ad valorem taxes for the purpose of constructing, improving, operating, and maintaining school facilities in and for School Districts Ward One, No. 25, No. 5, No. 4-A, and No. 3.
•Adopted a resolution calling and ordering an election to authorize the continuation of the levy and collection of an existing ad valorem tax for the purpose of giving additional support to the public elementary and secondary schools in the Allen Parish School District.
•Adopted a resolution for paying a salary supplement for Allen Parish School Board employees from the Sales Tax Salary Enhancement Fund to be paid in December.
•Adopted a resolution providing for paying a salary supplement for Allen Parish School Board employees from the Coushatta Tribe Gaming Compact Fund to be paid in December.
•Adopted a resolution providing for paying a salary supplement for Allen Parish School Board employees from ESSER funds to be paid in January 2024.
•Adopted a resolution providing for paying a salary supplement for Allen Parish School Board employees from the Sales Tax Salary Enhancement Fund to be paid in January 2024.
•Approved the 2023-2024 state stipends of $2,000 for all certificated staff and $1,000 for all support staff to be paid in October to all staff including Pre-K staff.
(Editor’s Note: The stipends will be given in three installments. Degreed personnel will receive a total of $6,700 and support a total of $4,450. The state stipend will be given in October; Coushatta and sales tax funding in December and Esser funds with sales tax in January.)
