Business Manager  Amy LaFleur  informed the Evangeline Parish School Board on Wednesday of the rate increase for its group medical plans. Lafleur said 640 employees are enrolled in the various medical plans provided by the State Office of Group Benefits.

         It was learned that the school board/employer share will increase by $205,806 next year. The individual employee rates will increase anywhere from $7.38 to $24.22 a month.

         The group plan enrollment period has moved from April to October each year.  Employees will have until November 2 to choose between a PPO plan administered by the State  Office of Group benefits and the HMO plan administered by Blue Cross.  Most  school district employees are under the Blue Cross plan.

        In other business, School Superintendent Toni Hamlin announced to the school board that every school employee will be required to take an ethics training course conducted by the State Board of Ethics. The Ethics Board has declared that all employees are considered public servants. All 900 school district employees  will undergo the ethics training this school year.

         Hamlin reported that Sarah Thomas, a Chemistry, Physics and Math teacher at Mamou High School,  has been recognized by the National Science Teachers Association and the Dow Chemical  for her accomplishments.

           In other action the school board approved the low quote of Lafayette Music of $15,629 for a new Public Address System at the Pine Prairie High School Gymnasium.