DONALDSONVILLE – The Ascension Parish School Board approved a resolution Tuesday calling for an October special election to extend an existing parish-wide millage for four years to renovate and rebuild some the district’s oldest school buildings.
The board unanimously approved the move during a special meeting held atthe B.C. Alwes Auditorium Tuesday night.
Pending approval of the state bond commission, the proposition would ask voters to extend an existing 15.08 millage, which currently runs out in 2025, for another four years to 2029.
School officials said it would bring in about $100 million to fund the district’s renovation projects, and would not increase the tax rate parish property owners currently pay.
“It is important that we correct the huge disparity that exists among so many of our schools,” Superintendent Donald Songy said in a press release. “We have campuses that are 50 to nearly 80 years old. These schools are not equipped to handle our large student enrollments, nor the technology needs in our classroom today.”
School Board President Ed Price said the board restricted the district renovation plan to what could be paid for without increasing taxes.
“Board members insisted that the administration work out a plan that could be funded without increasing taxes on the people of Ascension Parish,” Price said in the release. “The plan that will be sent to the voters for approval in October is a good, equitable plan that will greatly improve our school system and not increase taxes.”
Some of the major projects included in the proposed $100 million capital improvements plan are:
• Construction of a new G.W. Carver Primary.
• Major renovations at Prairieville Middle School.
• Major renovations at Gonzales Primary.
• Expand existing campuses to have a “hard capacity” for large enrollments, in order to eliminate the need and excessive cost of maintaining temporary buildings. The district’s “hard capacity” projections are 720 for elementary schools, 800 to 900 for middle schools and 1,700 for high schools.
“These sizes exceed optimal campus sizes, but they are more realistic considering Ascension Parish's large student enrollments and continuing growth rates,” Songy said.
• Major electrical infrastructure upgrades to older schools.
• Upgrade the district’s data network to support wireless campuses, making possible a district-wide one computer to one student ratio initiative.
• Provide security cameras for all campuses.
Songy said a national accreditation team noted a “striking difference” between the district’s new and old schools two years ago.
At that time, the team recommended the district seek measures to reduce the disparity among the facilities.
“Basically, the accreditation team said all our students should have facilities that support learning. And that’s what this plan will do. It will ensure that all are students have good learning environments,” Songy said.
The 15.08 millage rate that board members are asking voters to extend was approved in October 2005 as part of the district’s large construction effort to build five new elementary schools.
At that time, voters agreed to levy the tax for 20 years, to the year 2025, to pay for the construction plan.
Since voters approved the tax requests, the district has constructed five new elementary schools – Pecan Grove Primary and Prairieville Primary, which both opened August 2008; and Spanish Lake, Central Primary and Lakeside Primary, which will open in August.
At the same time, the Central K-8 school has been restructured into a middle school, to open in August, and board members have set aside surplus funds gained in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina for the construction of a sixth elementary school – Orange Grove Primary, to be located on Hwy. 22 in Sorrento, and anticipated opening set for August 2010.
In other business, Songy said the district is looking into stimulus grant money.
He recommended designating $5 million for land acquisition, bringing the deficit to $15 million instead of $10 million.
He said if the district has a healthy balance it won’t get any grants and the money would go to another parish.
Songy said if the money is not spent, it could be rolled over and spent when the land is found.
