Natchitoches Parish School Board Superintendent Dale Skinner received a letter of intent from local voters league stating their opposition to the upcoming millage tax that’s being proposed by the NPSB for the April 28 election.
However, Skinner said that no one from the voters league has come to his office throughout this school year to talk to him. The letter (SEE BELOW) voiced the group’s concern over the “D” and “F” schools, to which Skinner said the grade banding they’ll be implementing next school year is the only way things will change the district’s situation.
“You are voting to hurt kids,” he said at the School Board meeting April 12. “You’re voting against students, not against Dale Skinner”
The April 28 election consists of one proposition to fund $19.7 million in 20-year General Obligation Bonds for the purpose of making the outlined District 9 school improvements (SEE BELOW). The estimated funding required in the first year for this proposal is a levy of 8.0 mills.
District 9 has a track record of growth in assessed property value. Why is this important? If District 9 assessed property values continue to increase in future years, millage will decrease in like proportion.
The proposition on the ballot focuses on renovations and new construction to positively position all District 9 schools for the future.
The issues:
Major mechanical, electrical and communication systems are at least 20 years old at schools and need major upgrades
Restrooms at all schools are in need of major refurbishing
Security fencing and camera systems at each campus should be updated
Outdoor activity spaces at most campuses are in need of repair or replacement
The cost of campus and building repairs exceeds normal maintenance funding
Natchitoches Jr. High has inadequate restrooms, gymnasium bleachers in need of replacement, a worn out parking lot and track, and no restroom or concessions facility for the public at the football field
Natchitoches Central High School is overcrowded and in need of additional classroom space
NCHS has completely outgrown the old field house and has no grandstand and restroom/concessions facility for the public at the football field
The plan:
The strategy for the District 9 Improvements Program is to address real needs at each campus in a responsible manner to enhance the learning environment for over 4,300 students. Critical long-term improvements are listed for each school with an emphasis on the following:
Modernization
Energy efficiency
Priority repairs and upgrades
Security and savings in maintenance costs
Enhancement and expansion of facilities and programs at the Jr. High and High School.
“If this doesn’t pass we’ll have to take the money we need for other things to keep the schools open and running,” said Skinner.
Early voting is April 14-21 (except Sunday, April 15) from 8:30 a.m.-6 p.m. The deadline to request an absentee by mail ballot is April 24 by 4:30 p.m. Voters can request an absentee by mail ballot online through our Voter Portal or in writing through your Registrar of Voters Office (other than military and overseas voters). The deadline for a registrar of voters to receive a voted mail ballot is April 27 by 4:30 p.m. (other than military and overseas voters).
EARLY VOTING STARTS TODAY AT THE COURTHOUSE
UM,first thing a lib does is come at u with spelling gotcha–we also didn’t kill teachers or other students-guess because we had not reached the common core level–we old un-educated know more in our pinky than the so called elite educated want to beees–
I , for one would never vote for a tax for Natchitotches Parish school Bd. Find where that $4,000,000.00 deficit money went for the last 3 years nobody wants to talk about. Is because of the lie published in the paper that the Super said NPSB had balanced budget?? Did they bring in a Legislative Auditor to look at the books? I doubt it. Early voting is a no’no for me too, strange things happen there too.
I don’t think spelling is the word you’re looking for, Nicholas. Instead, a simple typo–is for if–but funny nonetheless! Your exaggeration–zero to Nazi!–is more telling than Mr Laborde’s poor English, at least. Thanks for the giggle at your over-the-top hyperbole.
No, spelling is the word I mean to use for Mr. Laborde’s impeccable ENGLISH. Please keep your words to yourself as they are no use to me. Moreover, if I call you a Nazi…then you are. It’s my Jewish-diction. Why no name? Names have a use.
It was the implied contrast, Nicholas, in the structure of your post.
Hopefully the Parish Schools can get the funds they need to improve education, as it is glaringly needed.
Cheerio!
There is no “implied” contrast. The student IS a Grammar Nazi. It’s an inherent contrast. The student could not understand plain and simple English. If you do not understand that than you are just as bad as he or she. You know what is said about the blind leading the bind. For all I know, you both are the same person. Please use your names if you are going to continue to create your own meanings from others writings while being condescending as if were the right way to behave. Hopefully, the Parish Schools can get the funds they need to improve RESPECT, as it is glaringly needed.
Obviously, you’re not a pedant. Possibly, you’re anti-Semitic. If schools are producing idiots like you, they need no funding. Ciao.
It’s hard to support something when you don’t know anything about it. Perhaps it’s because I don’t have children in the schools, but this is the first I’ve heard about the tax being on the ballot and early voting has already started. It you want a tax passed, you have to sell it to the public by showing the need early and often.
Anyone voting against this is voting against the infrastructure of our community, and our children.
how about money for books–when i went to school in the day,we had free books,pencils and real home cooked food–only taught 3 r’s–and schools had very few failing–But books are my pet peeve since our kids come home with home work that parents and grandparents have no books to explain the problems–Whats the deal with stupid common core–got to working a probem with grand kid and could not believe we are teaching math like this–One of the multiplication problems was to multiple 3 digit number by another 3 digit number–the old day multiplication uses only 6 functions for the answer while uncommon core needs 18 functions to come to the same answer–and we call that education–I understand where the real problem stems from and its called social engineering at all cost with no education–sad state of affairs–I for one and I am sure most folks would be prone to give more money if our kids nationwide would not be last in education and its not because of a lack of money but lack of a spine and direction–
Um, is your post is indicative of the “better” education you supposedly received before Common Core? Perhaps consider applying your own “spine and direction” to using proper English, grammar, syntax, punctuation, and capitalization. I’m sure you can do it if you just apply yourself! Your own advice is to read a book. Most are decent models of better writing skills than you’ve demonstrated here.
However, your spelling is impeccable Mr. Ronald Laborde. I know you don’t say “Um, is your post is…” as some Grammar Nazi Keyboard Warriors may do in their first sentence. 😉