The Webster Parish School Board was extremely pleased with the results of this weekend’s elections. Both of the parish-wide maintenance tax renewals passed, and three of the four districts with maintenance tax renewals on the ballot (Minden, Cotton Valley, and Consolidated District No. 3.) passed overwhelmingly, demonstrating strong community support for the students in those schools.
Maintenance tax proceeds are used to pay for certain expenses that are not covered by state MFP funds such as new roofs, roof repairs, air conditioning and heating, and needed renovations. Unfortunately, voters in the Sarepta district did not approve the renewal for our school in that district. The Board will now have to decide whether to put the issue back before the voters next year or decide how services can be adjusted to fit within existing funding.
According to Superintendent Rowland, “The people in the Sarepta community support their students and wish for them to have the same facilities as other students in the district; however, funding for this is generated by the maintenance tax. This was not a new tax but was simply a renewal. Unlike other taxes, maintenance tax proceeds benefit all students directly by positively impacting the learning environment. While reasonable people can debate curriculum-related issues, everyone agrees that a good roof, heating, air conditioning, and numerous intangibles are essential for all students.”
