Evangeline Parish School Board Meeting January 15, 2020 Certified Public Accountant Vic Slaven of the C.P.A. firm, Kolder, Slaven and Company on Wednesday presented the findings of its audit of the financial records of the Evangeline Parish School Board during the board's meeting. Slaven gave the board a "clean" opinion with no findings. He called it a good report. The ending fund balance in the general fund for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2019 showed the school district having $8.6 million dollars in its account. A member of the audience, Rufus Serailles, addressed the board after the audit report to complain about a salary discrepancy. He asked board members if they were aware that certain members of the school board office staff received a $6,000 a year pay raise while teachers only received a $1000 pay raise. School Board Legal Advisor, Assistant District Attorney Betsy Jackson, told Serailles that he was out of order since his subject matter did not deal directly with the subject of the audit. Board President Wayne Dardeau suggested to the speaker that the issue he raised would have to be brought at another time. Chief Financial Officer Amy Lafleur announced that two schools in the Basile area will pilot a new program using school accounting software. The software will offer the option for parents to pay fees on line rather than cash to the schools. It is expected other schools will soon be offering the payment options as well. School Superintendent Darwan Lazard praised CFO Amy Lafleur and her staff for the good audit report findings. She has been serving in that capacity for the school district for 19 years. Lazard also announced that she has been named as new Finance Secretary to the Louisiana School Business Officers Association. Amy Lafleur reported that sales tax collections dropped by $18,000 over the same time a year earlier for the month of December. However, overall collections, year to date still show a healthy balance with over $219,000 more that the same period a year earlier. Supt. Lazard introduced two new appointments: Miss Willie Goodley will serve as Interim Principal at Ville Platte High . She has over 40 years in education with 20 years serving at Basile and Mamou schools; Cherie Fontenot will serve as new Acting Elementary Supervisor for the school district. She has served more than 27 years in education. She was named as Louisiana Elementary Principal of the Year and worked at James Stephens Montessori School. Mr. Lazard also announced that Tom Prudhomme was recently appointed in the maintenance crew in AC, Heating and Electrical work. It was announced that Monday is a holiday for Martin Luther King Jr. Day while Tuesday will be a day of Professional Development where students will not attend classes.