The Evangeline Parish School Board held its bi-monthly meeting tonight in the School Board Media Center.  The School Board voted to accept a revised proposal from First Student for services.  Regional Manager, Tony Vidrine, had previously presented a plan to the Board, but was asked to go over it again with his company to see if savings could be seen sooner than what had been proposed.  Mr. Vidrine explained to the Board that the revised proposal will now begin saving the School Board approximately $88,000.00 a year beginning at the end of the 2016/2017 school year. 

CFO, Amy Lafleur, explained to the Board that the State Treasury is now requiring sales tax be paid by all schools and universities for all fees for entry into “events” such as football and basketball games, as well as all concessions.  The rate will begin at 5% and then will go down from there.  She has been in touch with the area schools and will be working with them to put together a plan for keeping track of those numbers.  For example, students who attend an event will not be charged sales tax; however, a parents or other person who is not a student will have to pay the tax.

The Board was pleased to hear that they have received $45,000.00 from a Louisiana Department of Education Opportunity Grant to purchase a used passenger bus equipped with a wheelchair lift.  Superintendent of Schools, Toni Hamlin, explained the bus will be driven and used by an educator who will take Special Education children into the workforce and through what she called the “Workforce Initiative.”  The grant was applied for by Supervisor, Roxanne West.

The Board also approved the calendar for the next school year which was voted on by all schools.  The calendar approved includes 3 days for Mardi Gras and recognition of Memorial Day.