St. Charles Parish school officials are working to persuade voters to pull the lever in favor of a $42 million bond issue on the May 2 ballot.
“This is something for our children and will enhance their educational opportunities,” said Clarence Savoie, School Board District 4 member. “Business and industry are not against it, and the [River Region] Chamber of Commerce has endorsed it.”
Homeowners with a $100,000 home would continue to pay $14.65 a year if the school tax passes.
The bond issue calls for a $35 million performing arts center, as well as $4 million in renovations at Lakewood Elementary School in Luling and Albert Cammon Middle School in St. Rose, and $1.6 million to upgrade lighting at elementary schools throughout the parish.
Another $850,000 will go to safety improvements in parish schools, including the installation of an electronic system to manage school visitors by scanning driver’s licenses to run the information against the national sex offender registry and make visitor passes with photographs, as well as keep an electronic log of school visits. Money also would be dedicated to doubling 440 cameras in the system.
The proposed world-class, 1,300-seat performing arts center would be built on Judge Edward Dufresne Parkway near R.K. Smith Middle School in Luling. The center would be for school, community and professional performances, as well as educational opportunities. The facility would also include areas for special interests, such as theater, music, dance and set design.
“I think that is a building that we need in this parish and would be a venue for the students and the general public,” said Ellis Alexander, District 1 school board member.Savoie said the center was a dream of the late Rodney Lafon, former superintendent.
“We just want to provide the best to be successful,” he said.
If the measure fails, school officials say taxes would not go down.
“The school system has existing bonds to pay through 2032, therefore the tax rate would not go down,” said Jim Melohn, chief financial officer and legislative liaison. “This bond issue would just extend the current debt by three years. It is important for the public to understand that, whether or not the bond issue passes or fails, taxes will not decrease.”
The current $45 million bond issued in 2012 is being used to eliminate portable buildings used as classrooms by renovating nine schools.
In addition to the 2012 bond issue, the system has had four other bond issues since 1992: $14.8 million for new schools, wings, labs and gym air conditioning. In 1996, the system’s $10 million bond issue covered new wings, roof repairs, ROTC buildings at Hahnville and Destrehan high schools and Hahnville High School Math and Science Building.
The 1998 bond issue for $6.7 million was used to build the New Sarpy Elementary School and two wings. In 2001, a $28 million bond issue was used to complete the St. Rose Elementary K-5 School, construction of the R.K. Smith Middle School and Satellite Center, along with school renovations and expansions, as well as cafeteria upgrades for all schools.
The school bond issue will be alongside three government propositions that include Proposition 1 – a 4-mill property tax for 30 years dedicated to building a hurricane protection levee; Proposition 2 – a 2.2-mill property tax renewal for another 30 years for the parish’s wastewater facilities, and Proposition 3 – a .7 mill tax for 10 years aimed at helping ARC of St. Charles deal with unfunded mandates and rising costs.
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