Ville Platte-  A new annual operating budget for the 2011-2012 fiscal year was adopted Wednesday by the Evangeline Parish School Board.

    Business Manager Amy LaFleur reported that the school district anticipates $57.4 million dollars in revenues while total expenditures is expected to amount to $58.8 million dollars. Other revenue sources totaled $390,426. The school board expects to end the fiscal year with a $50,000 surplus.

    Also, LaFleur announced that sales tax collections for the months of July and August showed a $73,000 decrease over the same period a year ago. She urged school employees to do as much of their shopping in the parish as possible to help the sales tax efforts.

    In other business, the school board approved renewing its three year contract with Air Environmental Services for conducting asbestos re-inspections and management plan updates for all school buildings in the parish at a cost of $7500.

    Some board members wanted to know if the price quote had gone up since the last contract.

    Also Board President Wayne Dardeau was concerned over whether the board is having to pay the firm to do inspections at school buildings where asbestos had been removed in the past such as at Pine Prairie High School. “Why are we inspecting schools that no longer have an asbestos issue?” asked Dardeau.

    Central office staff is due to have the answers to these questions in time for the next board meeting.

    In other action, the school board was notified that Kenneth Kidder, a teacher at Ville Platte High School will be honored by the American Chemical Society for formulating a Pre-Advanced Placement course of instruction at the school.

    The school board was given a plaque of appreciation from the Southern University Agriculture Center for sponsoring its annual “Back to School” summit for students and teachers. This year’s summit drew 600 people to the back to school event.