Acadia Parish committee adopts revenue plan, approves salary book and several routine agreements; discusses millage options

The Acadia Parish School District Budget & Finance Committee on April 5 adopted a revenue plan for fiscal 2025–26 and approved a set of routine items, including the district salary book, a hunting lease, a right-of-way renewal with Entergy Louisiana LLC and authorization to pursue a three-year cybersecurity pilot grant.

The action came after staff reported year-to-date collections and recommended revenues for the upcoming fiscal year. "We were able to actually close that deficit. So we are currently at a breakeven budget," Justin (staff member) said, summarizing year-to-date general fund revenue and expenditures. The committee then voted to consider the revenue projection for the 2025–26 budget; the motion carried.

The revenue picture and why it matters

Finance staff told the committee that general fund revenue collections stood at about 74.56% ($68,200,897) with expenditures at 68.44% ($62,931,863). Staff attributed improved results in part to savings from a Medicare Advantage plan for retirees. For 2025–26, staff proposed total projected general fund revenues of $91,007,062, a roughly $475,000 decrease from the current year driven largely by an assumed drop in student count and the end of certain federal ESSER funds. The staff memo budgeted a 50‑student decrease for planning purposes; the presentation noted that figure was conservative and subject to revision as enrollment data and state funding detail become final.

Board members and staff discussed state voucher applications (referred to in the meeting as the "Gator" program), noting an assessor report to superintendents that showed a drop of about 93 applications in parish‑resident charter/voucher filings; staff said it was not clear how many were new students versus renewals and that the application deadline had just closed. If the district were to lose students to vouchers, the board noted the potential revenue impact could be substantial—staff estimated roughly $6,200 per student in basic funding, meaning 200 students could represent more than $1.3 million annually if those were district students not being counted for MFP funding.

Salary book, residency stipend and child nutrition

The committee approved the FY25–26 salary book and authorized the superintendent to adjust it for any changes resulting from the legislative session that ends in June 2025. The approved package includes a $1,000 per‑month stipend for university resident teachers (5 months per residency term), a provision that recipients must repay stipends if they fail to complete the residency term, and clarified language on supplements that the district said reflects long‑standing practice rather than a new pay change. The salary schedule shows a starting bachelor’s salary of $41,773 (before supplements).

The board also approved child nutrition-related items included in the salary package: the child nutrition salary book mirrors the main salary book and adds a $2,000 stipend for summer feeding operations (drive‑through meal boxes), to be paid from Child Nutrition funds, not the general fund.

Millage discussion

Staff presented a discussion item on millage rates and the choices the board faces after a parish reassessment increased property values. The committee was advised it could adopt an adjusted maximum millage rate (to hold revenue constant) or "roll forward" to collect the higher revenue produced by the reassessment. Staff noted the legal advertisement for a roll forward requires specific language and display size in the newspaper and said rolling forward could yield about $514,000 in additional general fund revenue. Several board members expressed concern that rolling forward now could be politically sensitive because two major parishwide maintenance taxes will be on the ballot in 2026 and require voter renewal; staff recommended adopting the adjusted maximum mills to hold current revenue while planning for renewal campaigns next year.

Property agreements and leases

The committee approved a three‑year hunting lease on approximately 142–144 acres in Section 16, Township 7 South, Range 1 East (Perchville area). Staff said the lone bid received was $900 per year; the bidder must carry annual insurance and sign a district contract. The committee also approved a renewal of an existing right‑of‑way with Entergy Louisiana LLC on Section 29, Township 9 South, Range 1 East (northern part of the parish, near Eunice); the district will receive $2,468.79 for the renewal. Legal counsel (referred to by staff as Mr. Geist) will review the Entergy agreement and the hunting lease contract to ensure insurance and contract provisions meet district requirements.

Cybersecurity pilot RFP

The board voted to approve issuing a request for proposals for a three‑year CyberPilot cybersecurity pilot. Staff said participation would allow the district to seek about $409,000 in grant funding (no general‑fund match required) to strengthen firewalls, threat detection and response. IT staff (Mister Coutee) described existing protections including filters and two‑step verification but said the grant would allow the district to acquire more comprehensive services and vendor support.

Other routine approvals and reports

The committee received a Head Start update noting ongoing grant application paperwork (SF‑428 and SF‑429 reports) and enrollment work for FY25–26. It approved two out‑of‑state student travel requests for North Crowley Elementary and Church Point Middle to attend national Beta conventions in Orlando. The board also approved renewal of the district’s Blue Cross health insurance for FY25–26; staff reported an approximate 5% decrease in health insurance premiums and highlighted the Medicare Advantage option that benefited retirees and active employees.

Superintendent performance targets

The committee approved five additional performance targets to be added to the superintendent’s contract for evaluation purposes. Staff presented two grade‑level academic targets tied to third‑grade literacy (DIBELS) and third‑grade math (i‑Ready), and three districtwide measures: maintain a graduation rate of at least 83.8%, maintain or increase overall student attendance to at least 90%, and increase district student progress/growth on forthcoming school performance metrics. Staff said the literacy and math targets reflect state statutory expectations that apply to superintendents hired after July 1, 2024.

Votes at a glance

- Consider approval of child nutrition bids 337SL and 338SL: motion by Eber, second by Quivido; outcome: approved. - Review budget-to-actual comparison (general and special revenue funds): informational; no vote to change previous action. - Consider approval of hunting lease (≈142 acres, Section 16, Township 7S, Range 1E): motion made and seconded; outcome: approved. - Consider approval of right‑of‑way agreement with Entergy Louisiana LLC (Section 29, Township 9S, Range 1E): moved by Quivideo, second by Abare; outcome: approved. - Approve FY25–26 salary book and authorize superintendent to update for legislative changes: motion by Hebert, second by Quivido; outcome: approved. - Consideration/discussion of millage adoption: discussion only; no formal vote on roll‑forward. - Consider revenue for FY25–26 budget: motion by Abare, second by Quiwedo; outcome: approved. - Approve superintendent Hall as school board representative to local ITEP committee: moved by Abare, second by Quivido; outcome: approved. - Approve CyberPilot RFP (seek bids for three‑year cybersecurity pilot): moved by Abares, second by Quivido; outcome: approved. - Head Start monthly update: informational. - Approve out‑of‑state travel — North Crowley Elementary (National Beta, Orlando, June 27–29, 2025): motion moved/seconded; outcome: approved. - Approve out‑of‑state travel — Church Point Middle (Junior Beta, Orlando, June 28–July 1, 2025): motion moved/seconded; outcome: approved. - Approve Blue Cross health insurance renewal for FY25–26: motion moved/seconded; outcome: approved. - Approve additional performance targets on superintendent’s contract: motion by Hebert, second by Atkinson; outcome: approved.

What’s next

Staff will finalize enrollment and revenue projections as state and federal funding details are confirmed, prepare contract documents and insurance certificates for the hunting lease and Entergy right‑of‑way renewal, and proceed with the RFP for cybersecurity services if grant application planning continues. The board will also consider messaging and timing on the 2026 parishwide maintenance tax renewals referenced during the millage discussion.

(Reporting based on committee meeting remarks and motions as recorded in the meeting transcript.)