By David Vitrano

L’Observateur

RESERVE – The St. John the Baptist Parish decided on a direction for one of the two schools flooded by Hurricane Isaac.

At a special meeting Thursday, the school board gave the OK to consulting firm CSRS to go ahead and begin the design and bid phase of the renovation project at East St. John High School, but it chose to put a little more time into a decision concerning Lake Pontchartrain Elementary.

Although other options were initially discussed concerning East St. John, it was decided the best course of action — and the only course of action that would gain full FEMA approval — was to do a straightforward repair of damages at the school.

Frank Lacourse of CSRS also urged the school board to take action concerning the high school immediately so the extensive repairs can be completed in time for the start of the 2013-14 school year.

Lacourse added that CSRS is also looking into funding options for some sort of levee or other flood protection for the campus.

Concerning Lake Pontchartrain Elementary, the board was given eight different options for a path forward. The first two involve closing the school and redistricting. The next two would move LPE to the Leon Godchaux campus. Option five would be a full repair of the present facility, and the last three options would keep LPE at its present location but reduce the size of the facility.

Lacourse explained that the logistics of performing renovations at LPE was more complicated than doing so at ESJH because the school is below current flood elevation standards, and it would have to be upgraded as well as repaired. Also, because the district would be using federal dollars to do the repairs, the district would need to carry flood insurance for the facility at an annual cost of $400,000.

Despite the explanations, a group of LPE teachers — many of whom have attended every school board meeting since the storm — voiced displeasure at the board’s indecision as well as the possibility of closing the school and shifting its students around.       

“It seems once again the high school has become the priority,” said LPE teacher Kelly Eldridge. “No one has yet to walk through our school. I think we’re just as important as the high school.”

LPE master teacher Melissa Faucheux added, “My concern is for our kids and our school. We have a lot of issues that need to be addressed. We want answers.”

Board member Gerald Keller replied, “I’ll give you an answer. We will not close Lake Pontchartrain.”

Of course, a final decision on the future of the school is in the hands of the entire school board, not just one member, and some serious consideration of the district’s finances will have to be done before a path is chosen. Many of the options that include keeping LPE open at the same location entail the district taking on a heavy financial burden. The district is already bracing for a $1.5 million reduction in MFP funding because of students lost through the state voucher program and the possible loss of more funds because of the decrease in student population following Hurricane Isaac.

Another financial blow will come from an increase in health insurance premiums, which could go up by as much as 15 percent, or $1.2 million.

When asked how the district would cover for these losses, Executive Director of Business and Finance Felix Boughton said, “I can tell you, it’s going to come from a reduction in force.”

He added, “There are some options that Blue Cross presented. Of course lowering the benefits lowers the premium.”

No decision was made regarding health insurance, however, because when the Insurance Committee last met, it did not attain a majority vote for a recommendation, so following another meeting of the committee next week, the school board will hold a special meeting Wednesday at 10 a.m. to decide which insurance plan to go with.