School Board to consider committee proposals

A number of procedural items were recommended to the Acadia Parish School Board for approval during recent committee meetings
The board’s Budget and Finance Committee will recommend paying bus driver privatization cost in one lump sum payment
As noted by Justin Carrier, the board’s CFO, there are still 22 Acadia Parish bus drivers who are not part of the DS Bus South system.
This was a program passed with LA R.S. 11:1195.2 when anytime a school system privatizes, outsources, or contracts with a private company, the system must pay an actuarial-based fee to LSERS (Louisiana School Employees Retirement System) on the number of positions lost.
The system outsourced its transportation department in 2012. The board elected at that time not to eliminate all of the Acadia Parish bus drivers positions, but rather privatize each position as a board bus driver retires or resigns.
Every time one of the school boards bus drivers retires or resigns, they are replaced by a DS employee. LSERS charges a one-time fee -every time that happens.
Last year, there were eight parish bus driver employees who either resigned or retired. All eight were replaced by DS employees.
The fee to LSERS is a one time fee of $369,546.44 that could either be paid in one lump sum payment or spread out over 10 years at an interest rate of 6.90%. Spreading the payments out over 10 years would cost the parish system $489,917.20, according to Carrier.
The committee elected to pay the entire fee in one lump sum payment, saving APSB $120,370.76 in interest at Monday’s committee meeting.
The full board will consider that recommendation when it meets on Dec. 6.
Also considered for approval was the Industrial Exemption in the amount of $558,268) for Cajun Traditions Food Processors, LLC, the former Garan Building located in Church Point.
Following a presentation by Benjamin Richard of Cajun Traditions Food Processor, LLC, the exemption was approved by the committee.
The annual exemption for the first and second five-year timeline is 80% for each five-year increment.
Richard also noted that Ash Wednesday was the first day of business for the company, which now employs 10 people. It is expected to hire additional employees soon for the manufacturer of sausage, boudin and tasso.
The final item to be considered was an Industrial Tax Exemption in the amount of $1,721,357 for Tally Ho Investments, LLC, the company responsible for the renovation of the former Garan building and turning it into a food manufacturing plant now being operated by Cajun Traditions.
The exemption was approved by the committee to be voted upon at the board’s next meeting.
Under the Personnel, Insurance and Curriculum Committee meeting, the following three considerations were recommended to the full board:
• Dates of the 2022 Board and Committee meetings were approved. The complete list will be announced for the December regular School Board meeting.
• Changes to various policies as a result of legislative action; and
• Changes to policy DJD-Expense Reimbursement to 56 cents per mile as a result of local action — the lone nay vote was cast by Board member Rebecca Atkinson.
The regular school board meeting is slated for Monday, Dec. 6.