Fewer students mean financial hit for OPSB

The Ouachita Parish School Board is facing a larger decrease in funds than expected after losing more than 160 students since the count taken Feb. 1.

Juanita Duke, director of business for the school board, said the board was already expecting a reduction in funds of $1.6 million. The loss of students, she said, paired with an increase in health care costs for staff, led to an additional $1.4 million reduction. In total, she said, the board is expecting a $3.1 million reduction in funds.

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However, she said, the board is still looking at cost-cutting measures and other options, so the deficit might not be as severe by the end of the fiscal year. The next meeting of the finance committee, she said, will be Nov. 17.

The board approved a one-time pay supplement for support staff. Superintendent Don Coker said the state gave all certified employees a raise a few years ago, and the district distributes the whole raise in a check in January. Support staff, he said, were not eligible, and he asked the board to approve the one-time supplement for them.

Coker said the maintenance and operating fund has a budget specifically for salary restoration. The total cost of the supplement will be $580,000, including benefits paid, and the amount will start at $350 and be prorated up, depending on level of employment.

The board voted to let Coker enter into an agreement with Fontenot Benefits & Actuarial Consulting for the board's biennial OPEB valuation. The valuation lets the board record the future costs of non-pension post-employment benefits for employees. The fee, Dukes said, is $10,000 a year.

Coker said Ruby Billups has been named the permanent special education supervisor for the district.