12-9-14
LAST NIGHT THE LAFAYETTE PARISH SCHOOL BOARD VOTED TO DIP INTO THE RAINY DAY FUND AND FROM NEXT YEAR’S CAPITAL PROJECTS CONTINGENCY FUND TO ADD 5-POINT-3 MILLION DOLLARS TO THE BUDGET. THE MOVE PREVENTS THE BOARD FROM HAVING TO CUT 70 POSITIONS, INCLUDING TEACHERS AND PARA-EDUCATORS, WHO STAFF IN-SCHOOL SUSPENSION. HOWEVER, THE SCHOOL BOARD VOTED 8-TO-1 TO IMPLEMENT THEIR REDUCTION IN FORCE POLICY, WHICH MEANS THE ELIMINATION OF 35 POSITIONS, INCLUDING TEACHERS AND ASSISTANT PRINCIPALS. IT’S NOT KNOWN YET HOW MANY EMPLOYEES WILL BE AFFECTED BY THIS MOVE, BECAUSE THERE ARE STILL SOME JOB POSITIONS THAT HAD NOT YET BEEN FILLED.
THE LAKE CHARLES REGIONAL AIRPORT AUTHORITY APPROVED A TWO-POINT-OH-6 MILLION DOLLAR OPERATING BUDGET FOR 2015. THEY PROJECT REVENUES OF TWO-POINT-2-3 MILLION DOLLARS. EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR HEATH ALLEN TELLS THE AMERICAN PRESS THAT THEY HAVE A LASER-LIKE FOCUS TO MAINTAIN AN EFFICIENT OPERATION. HE SAYS THE EVIDENCE OF THAT IS THEIR TOTAL EXPENSES TO OPERATE, WHICH IS MUCH LESS THAN THEIR PEER AIRPORTS.
A BREAUX BRIDGE MAN WAS BOOKED INTO THE ST. MARTIN PARISH JAIL AFTER HE ALLEGEDLY FIRED SEVERAL SHOTS AT A MOBILE HOME AND TWO VEHICLES ON ORCHARD PARK DRIVE. MAJOR GINNY HIGGINS OF THE ST. MARTIN PARISH SHERIFF’S OFFICE SAYS THAT AT AROUND 3:15 SUNDAY AFTERNOON, 41-YEAR-OLD LIONEL POTIER GOT INTO AN ARGUMENT WITH THE MAN WHO LIVED IN THE MOBILE HOME, LEFT AND RETURNED WITH THE GUN. HIGGINS SAYS THAT AFTER FIRING THE SHOTS, POTIER FLED IN A VEHICLE, WHICH HE ABANDONED AT A VACANT HOUSE ON APPLE STREET. HE SURRENDERED TO AUTHORITIES ABOUT TWO HOURS LATER.
Federal officials have again granted Louisiana a waiver from compliance with the Bush-era No Child Left Behind law. In 2011, the Education Department announced that states could petition for waivers from No Child Left Behind’s ambitious requirements, such as having all students read at grade level by 2014 or else risk their federal funding. In exchange states pledged to improve how they prepare and evaluate students. The U.S. Department of Education said Monday that Louisiana has implemented reforms that go above and beyond the law’s requirements.
THE ACADIANA HIGH WRECKIN RAMS ARE HEADED TO THE SUPERDOME IN NEW ORLEANS FOR THE CLASS 5-A STATE CHAMPIONSHIP. THEY’LL PLAY DESTRAHAN SATURDAY NIGHT AT SEVEN P-M. ACADIANA HIGH IS ATTEMPTING TO WIN THE TITLE FOR THE SECOND YEAR IN A ROW. MAKING IT TO THE CHAMPIONSHIP GAME IS A BIT OF A SURPRISE, BECAUSE THEY STRUGGLED DURING THE REGULAR SEASON, LOSING FOUR GAMES.
KAJN IMPACT NEWS PAGE TWO
A FAMILY OF SEVEN IN MOSS BLUFF LOST THEIR HOME, ALL THEIR BELONGINGS AND A FAMILY PET TO A FIRE SUNDAY. BUT THEY’VE SEEN THE COMMUNITY STEP UP TO HELP THEM. FRANCES FONTENOT TELLS K-P-L-C T-V THAT SHE AND HER FAMILY HAVE BEEN OVERWHELMED BY THE COMMUNITY RALLYING AROUND THEM. STUDENTS AT SAM HOUSTON HIGH SCHOOL HAVE BEEN HELPING WITH DONATIONS FROM A STUDENT-DRIVEN DONATION ROOM THAT WAS ESTABLISHED LAST MONTH. FAMILY FRIEND BEATRICE PIERCE SAYS IT’S AWESOME TO SEE CHURCHES, SCHOOLS, AND OTHERS STEPPING UP TO HELP THE FONTENOTS.
AN ERATH MAN REMAINS JAILED WITHOUT BOND FOR THE DEATH OF HIS GIRLFRIEND. JULIE DARCE REPORTS.
VOICER B :30
Gov. Bobby Jindal’s top budget officials say the state will reach the $76 million in state general fund savings it promised to keep this year’s budget balanced. The Jindal administration hired consultant Alvarez and Marsal to recommend ideas to save the state money, improve government operations and generate new money.
The administration assumed $75.7 million less would be spent this year because of those recommendations, and lawmakers built that into the budget. The Senate Finance Committee sought an update Monday.
