DONALDSONVILLE – The Ascension Parish School Board reviewed its proposed 2008-09 general; fund budget Tuesday, in advance of a public hearing on the matter at its July 15 meeting.

In a Committee of the Whole meeting held after its regular meeting at the School Board Central Office, board members poured over a proposed $176.6 million budgeted in expenditures, with proposed revenues totaling just under $172 million.

Director of Business Services Kathy Hebert reminded the board that the proposed budget includes the 5 percent raise it approved for teachers as well as a one-time teacher raise of $1,019 from the state.

The system hired 22 new teachers and numerous other administrators and staff members, mostly to staff two new schools set to open in August.

Board members also discussed possibly implementing a supplemental budget to facilitate maintenance projects that were cut from the proposed budget.

The board will hold a public hearing on the proposed general fund budget during its July 15 meeting at the Parish Courthouse East in Gonzales. After the hearing, the board will then vote on the budget.

During a Facility Management Committee meeting prior to the full board meeting, also discussed the situation involving a planned land donation in the proposed Orange Grove planned unit development for a new elementary school.

The development is set to be located along Hwy. 22 south of Sorrento.

Songy said that in recent days, the proposed deal between development firm Renaissance Group LLC and the school district to donate land for the last of six new primary schools has changed.

“The first offer would have them donate the land to the school district and if we didn’t build a school on it, it would revert back to the developer,” Songy said.

The new terms now state that if the school system decides not to build a school on the site, the system would be liable for damages to the developer, the superintendent said.

Songy said that Jeff Diez, attorney for the school district, advised him that the board can accept the deal but must also be sure on a total cost of developing the school on the site. That cost includes utilities such as gas, sewer and water and a possible sewer treatment plant for the school.

“We need to make sure we’re very well prepared to build a school when we take the donation,” Songy told board members.

Songy said that in talks with Renaissance representatives, the group is hoping that placing a school within the development will help to better market the neighborhood to potential residents.

Songy asked that the board hold off on accepting the act of donation on the land until its July 15 meeting so that more definitive cost estimates could be gathered.

In other news, the board:

• Named Lynette LaCaze as the new principal at Central Elementary School. LaCaze, a former assistant principal at the school, will take over for retiring principal Rhonda Lamendola. Songy said that since Lamendola’s retirement is not effective until August, the board will need to move Lamendola to an at-large position in order to accommodate the move. The issue will be addressed at the board’s July 15 meeting.

• Voted to readvertise an administrative position with Ascension Alternative School. The board originally advertised the position as Coordinator of Special Programs and Curriculum. However, Songy said that his office did not receive applications from people qualified for the position. The board then voted to change the position to an assistant principal post and readvertise the opening.

• Received numerous updates on the new primary schools currently under construction in the parish. Two of  the schools, Pecan Grove Primary School in Gonzales and Prairieville Primary School, are set to open in the fall. Planning and Construction Department officials said that while Pecan Grove Primary School will be totally ready for the start of the school year Aug. 8, crews may still be wrapping up construction at one building at Prairieville Primary School.

• Approved its 2008-09 salary schedule.

• Voted to cancel its July 22 Finance and Curriculum meeting.