July 16, 2014

Evangeline Parish School Board

The Evangeline Parish School Board held its meeting last night wherein a Resolution was passed giving preliminary approval to the issuance of, not to exceed, Two Million Five Hundred Thousand Dollars ($2,500,000) of Limited Tax Revenue Bonds for the purpose of paying for the costs of data distribution including servers, external and internal wiring, switches and related equipment for Evangeline Parish Schools.  These changes will bring technology to a new level in the schools and will help prepare for the upcoming changes in how children are tested.

Board Member, David Landreneau, reported that he and other board members, along with Superintendent, Toni Hamlin, visited the Extended School Year Program at the old Mamou High Upper building.  They visited a class of students with disabilities consisting of seven students.  Mr. Landreneau reported that the facility they are now in has “fallen through the cracks” during all of the projects that have being taking place.  The building is in need of a suspended ceiling, insulation, heating in the winter and cooling in the summer.  He asked the board to pass a Resolution to get quotes and begin on those renovations soon.  The Board unanimously agreed to pass the requested resolution.  The resolution also provides for the superintendent’s office to schedule to have the improvements done once quotes are received.

Assistant Superintendent, Darwan Lazard, reported that the projects around the parish schools are coming along very nicely and they hope to have them finished before the beginning of school.  He thanked the board for funding the projects, which includes new windows and some doors at Bayou Chicot Elementary and new lighting at Mamou Elementary.  He also thanked Mike Hazleton for doing great work with the small crew he has.  They have worked on special projects as well as other maintenance.  He thanked him for the leadership he gives to his crew.  

Superintendent, Toni Hamlin, noted that she will be placing a pilot program into place this year at a couple of schools.  She said she will be putting some of those who have completed their Educational Leadership Certification into Administrative Assistant roles so they can learn all facets of running a school.  She noted the complexity of running a school and this program would assist principals in daily administration work, along with providing mentoring and a ton of experience to the new administrative assistants.