MOREHOUSE PARISH, La. (KNOE) – Six NELA school districts could be coming under one umbrella. Those are Morehouse, Madison, Union, Catahoula, East Carroll and Tensas Parishes.
Morehouse Parish was listed as one of the six school systems that is facing multiple challenges.
Source: (KNOE)
The possibility of the merger has left Morehouse Parish Superintendent David Gray asking one question.
“What does this mean for the people that work in the school districts every single day?”
Gray said he first heard the news last week at the Louisiana School Board Association conference.
During the regular legislative session last year, the House Committees on Education requested the State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education study the challenges facing rural school systems. This was filed under House Resolution 228.
Some of those challenges included shrinking school populations, high transportation costs and minimal opportunities for increasing local tax revenues.
The Louisiana Department of Education responded to HR 228 with its own findings and possible solutions.
The LDOE reports that the six NELA school districts are facing financial challenges including “loss of local tax revenues due to the loss of local business.” In addition, they report a decline in student populations and state MFP funds. Ultimately, the report said the schools are at risk of a financial crisis.
The report includes possible solutions including a shared services structure and establishing a support center for the districts. Additionally, the districts would have to create a board to hire an executive director, business manager and procurement professional. Those individuals would then be responsible for overseeing expenses.
Gray said right now it’s a fear of the unknown, but he’s hoping he can gather suggestions for the good of the school system.
“[We] certainly believe that local autonomy is best and we’re going to bring the community with us and get them the answers that they absolutely need,” he said.
Gray also said that this wouldn’t be an overnight decision, in fact, the details, planning and final decision would have to be discussed during this year’s legislative session in Baton Rouge.
This is a developing story, refresh for updates.
