Evangeline Parish School Board Meeting – August 16, 2023 The Evangeline Parish School Board met on Wednesday night. Ville Platte Elementary School faculty and staff were recognized for outstanding academic growth on the 2023 LEAP State Assessment. This is a wonderful achievement for the entire community – faculty, staff, parents and students. Raises for Support Personnel were requested. Several speakers spoke in support of raises for the Cafeteria workers and support staff across the board, and there was significant discussion. Although the Board was generally in favor of raises, the matter was tabled until the Executive Committee meeting so that a detailed evaluation of the request and the budget could be undertaken. Then, the matter can be brought back to the Board. The revised 2022-2023 General Fund, Parish-wide Maintenance, Basile Maintenance, BHS Athletic Fund and CNP Program were presented by CFO Amy Lafleur. She also presented the 2023-2024 Consolidated Budget. The budgets will be reviewed in depth by the Executive Committee on Tuesday, August 22nd, and will be brought back to the Board for a vote on September 6th. The Board approved adding two secretarial positions at the Central Office. All the requisitions and invoices were approved as well as the Consulting Agreements. Superintendent Darwan Lazard let everyone know that the school year has gotten off to a relatively smooth and successful start. Most of the campus projects are complete with the exception of the air conditioning in the Mamou Gym, projects at James Stevens and Mamou Elementary, and the Ville Platte Athletic Track. There will be Ribbon Cuttings on Monday, August 21st, at Bayou Chicot Star Academy at 10:00, Mamou Star Academy at 11:00 and Reimagine Academy after that. Superintendent Lazard is hoping that Governor John Bel Edwards' schedule will allow him to be at Mamou and Reimagine Academy. Lastly, the French Immersion Program received two private donations from Ms. Chicken and Mr. Winky Aucoin for the programs at Ville Platte at Mamou for grades K-7.