The Acadia Parish School Board held committee meetings on Monday of this week.
During the personnel, insurance and curriculum committee meeting, members passed a motion to be brought to the full board to consider requests from the Iota Middle School and Church Point Middle School Junior Beta Clubs to attend the National Junior Beta Convention in Savannah, Georgia, on June 12 through June 17.
The committee also received a report on student transportation.
Currently there are a few buses that are suffering from stop-sign failure. The failure can be caused by various issues, such as a burnt fuse, air pressure or a broken wire. However, the buses will be repaired and it was noted that one is under factory warranty.
Also, two owner-operator buses will need to be phased out at the end of this school year. After 25 years a school bus is no longer allowed to operate.
One of the drivers has not decided if he will retire with the bus or begin working with the board-owned buses.
And, as of Monday, a special needs bus broke down with an estimated $15,000 in repairs to get the bus operable again, leaving the parish with only one spare special needs bus. Next year the spare special needs bus will expire at 25 years.
The committee agreed to look into purchasing a new special needs bus for about $98,000. A special needs bus includes air conditioning, seat belts and a wheelchair lift.
The transportation reports noted an increase in school field trips and discipline problems as the school year draws to a close.
Once the school year ends, bus drivers, have been instructed to park buses at various staging areas and to fill out forms for any issues they may be experiencing to be addressed during summer maintenance.
The committee also was addressed by Chad Arceneaux of Louisiana Athletic Care.
Arceneaux said his company can no longer foot the bill for concussion testing. Previously, the company absorbed the cost about $20,000.
The school board agreed to pay the bill for the upcoming school year and then address what portion the schools will possibly be responsible for in the future.
