Still No Budget For Lafayette Parish School Board

LAFAYETTE, La. (KPEL) -- There is still no budget for the Lafayette Parish School Board, but there was an intense discussion on the school system's proposed budget for general fund spending in the next fiscal year.

In that budget were potential cuts to 83 teachers, guidance counselors, and assistant principals.

The cuts would be made to align the system to the board's preferred student-teacher ratio, fixing what some central office staff called an over staffing issue.

Board members appeared unwilling to give those positions the axe, instead focusing on possible cuts to instructional strategists. They work behind the scenes to help teachers brainstorm ideas for classroom instruction and lesson plans.

Instead, the board voted to extend the meeting into its next regular meeting on Wednesday.

Chief Financial Officer Billy Guidry said at the current rate, he doesn't believe a budget will be finalized before the end of the fiscal year on June 30th.