School Bells Ring Despite Boiling Heat

With the temperature expected to reach 96 degrees, Central’s principals and teachers are expecting 4,400 students in grades one through 12 for the first day of school.  This marks the sixth anniversary of the Central Community School District’s first opening day in August 2007.

The school district operates five public schools — Bellingrath Elementary, Tanglewood Elementary, Central Intermediate, Central Middle, and Central High.

At a meeting of the City of Central Chamber of Commerce Tuesday morning, Central schools Supt. Mike Faulk reported on where the new school system stands.

Faulk said Central has now achieved an “A” rating from the Louisiana Department of Education and is currently ranked 4th among the state’s 70 school systems.  He reported that Central High students are now rated No. 3 in the state in ACT, or college entrance, scores.  Central High students are also among the state’s top performers in End of Course Testing with 75 percent proficient. For the past four years, Central’s 3rd graders have ranked No. 1 in the state in standardized testing.

Faulk said the keys to Central’s success have been its investment in professional development of teachers, high expectations, and a strong curriculum. “We focus on those things that impact learning.  We use ‘Seven Habits of Highly Effective People’ as our school model.  It promotes higher academic performance, fewer discipline problems, and increased engagement among teachers and parents,” he said.

The school system’s budget has increased from $22 million in 2007-2008 to $36 million in 2013-2014.  This growth has come as student enrollment has increased, resulting in an increase in the state’s MFP funding, a gradual increase in sales tax revenues, and a steady increase in property tax revenues.

Faulk said a bond and tax election approved by Central voters in May 2009 resulted in construction of the new Central School Complex and improvements at all other campuses.  This included $12 million in improvements for life/safety issues, better energy management, athletic facility upgrades, repair of driveways at the high school, and new playground equipment at elementary schools.

The new school complex included the opening of an all-new Central Middle School and Central Intermediate School.

Faulk said the next steps for the school system will be:

• Continue to focus on academic excellence

• Manage anticipated growth

• Prepare teachers and students for new Common Core standards and assessments

• Enhance partnerships with community colleges and the business community for improved dual enrollment and career training programs.

The superintendent outlined the Central school board’s proposal for voters to consider in the Nov. 16 election.  It would include up to $13.1 million in dedicated improvements, including

• Construction of the 9th Grade Academy ($5.82 million) on the campus at Central High

• Repair of the Central High parking lot ($1.8 million)

• Installation of lighting at Central High ball fields ( $500,000)

• Upgrading the district’s technology capacity to manage assessment mandates ($2 million)

• Demolition, asbestos abatement, and upgrades to the old Central Middle School campus ($1.5 million)

The $13.1 million would include $11.62 million in costs and $1.39 million, or 12 percent, for contingencies.

The 2009 bond and tax election authorized a 23.65-mill property tax for a 20-year period to fund bonds for school improvements.  The proposed Nov. 16 election would authorize the use of that same property tax for the issuance of new bonds for the proposed school improvements.  No additional taxes would be authorized by this election.

According to Faulk’s projections, property taxes in Central would continue to go down, even with approval of the bond issue, because of anticipated growth of property on the tax rolls.

Faulk asked that voters mark their calendar for the Nov. 16 election and go to the polls and express their approval or rejection of the plan.