Acadia Parish School Board approves midyear budget revisions, $402 teacher stipend, right-of-way with CenterPoint and several travel requests

The Acadia Parish School Board on Monday approved midyear budget revisions, a $402 differential compensation payment for teachers, a right-of-way servitude agreement with CenterPoint Energy Resources Corporation and multiple out-of-state and field-trip travel requests, the board recorded.

The decisions affect payroll timing for the differential stipend, parish property use for utility infrastructure and school-sponsored travel for students and staff. Board members said the measures implement recommendations from standing committees and routine administrative reports.

The board first approved the minutes of its March meetings after a motion by Mr. Higginbotham, board member, seconded by Mr. Jones, board member; the motion carried on a voice vote.

On a motion by Mr. Higginbotham, board member, seconded by Mr. Richard, board member, the board approved a right-of-way servitude agreement described in the meeting packet as: "Section 16 Township 9 South Range 2 West, Parish of Acadia, State of Louisiana" with CenterPoint Energy Resources Corporation. The board recorded the motion as carried by voice vote; a numerical roll-call tally was not provided.

The board adopted 2024–25 midyear budget revisions after a motion by Mr. Higginbotham, board member, seconded by Mr. Jones, board member. The budget action was moved from the finance committee recommendation to the full board and approved by voice vote.

On personnel and compensation, the board approved a fiscal-year 2025 salary-book adjustment tied to state differential compensation funds. A motion by Delo Hebert, board member, seconded by Glenn Quivido, board member, sent the item from the committee to the full board; subsequently a motion by Mr. Quivido, seconded by Mrs. Atkinson, carried the adjustment. The board recorded that each eligible teacher will receive $402; the payment will be issued as a separate check and is scheduled for April 17, 2025.

The board authorized advertising and seeking bids for the 2025–26 official journal after a motion by Glenn Quivido, board member, seconded by Diego Hebert, board member; the motion carried.

Travel approvals included a request for junior Beta students from Crowley Middle/High to attend the national convention in Orlando, Florida, June 28–July 1, 2025, and a field trip for Eagan Elementary to Galveston, Texas on April 28, 2025. Both requests were approved after motions by Mr. Seymour, board member, seconded by Mr. Richard, board member.

The board received consent items including personnel assignment changes and a sales tax report. Staff member Justin reported a 5% increase in sales tax receipts, which a board member commented was "great." The meeting ended after a motion by Mr. Jones, board member, seconded by Mr. Higginbotham, board member, to adjourn; the motion carried.

Votes at a glance: - Item 2.1 — Approve minutes of March meetings. Motion: Mr. Higginbotham; second: Mr. Jones. Outcome: approved (voice vote; tally not specified). - Item 2.2 — Approve right-of-way servitude agreement with CenterPoint Energy Resources Corporation (Section 16 Township 9 South Range 2 West, Parish of Acadia, State of Louisiana). Motion: Mr. Higginbotham; second: Mr. Richard. Outcome: approved (voice vote; tally not specified). - Item 2.3 — Adopt 2024–25 midyear budget revisions. Motion: Mr. Higginbotham; second: Mr. Jones. Outcome: approved (voice vote; tally not specified). - Item 3.1 — Fiscal year 2025 salary-book adjustment and differential compensation (teachers to receive $402). Committee motion: Delo Hebert; committee second: Glenn Quivido. Full-board motion: Mr. Quivido; second: Mrs. Atkinson. Outcome: approved. Payment: separate check on April 17, 2025. - Item 3.2 — Advertise and seek bids for the 2025–26 official journal. Motion: Glenn Quivido; second: Diego Hebert. Outcome: approved. - Item 3.3 — Out-of-state travel: Crowley Junior Beta national convention, Orlando, FL, June 28–July 1, 2025. Motion: Mr. Seymour; second: Mr. Richard. Outcome: approved. - Item 3.4 — Out-of-state travel: Eagan Elementary field trip to Galveston, TX, April 28, 2025. Motion: Mr. Seymour; second: Mr. Richard. Outcome: approved.

No roll-call tallies or recorded no/abstain votes appear in the minutes provided; approvals were recorded by voice votes with "Ayes have it."