Congressman John Fleming has pledged to work toward finding funding for the construction of a new Leesville High School.
Fleming met with Vernon Parish Superintendent Jackie Self, Brig. Gen. James Yarbrough and members of the Vernon Parish School Board Monday afternoon to discuss the construction of a new Leesville High School facility.
“I will flip over as many stones as I can," said Fleming.
As the meeting concluded, Fleming, with proposals in hand of the new Leesville High School and renovation plans for South Polk Elementary, agreed that action needed to be taken and said that a representative from his office would attend the July meeting of a Greater Vernon Chamber of Commerce committee meeting to give a status report on both projects.
The current Leesville High School opened its doors in 1959 and in spite of routine maintenance, renovations and upgrades, is outdated.
The main obstacle in building a new school is financing. Due to lack of industry and homestead exemption, if a millage was passed, at the maximum amount, only $28.5 million dollars could be earned.
A new school that would serve grades nine through 12 would cost an estimated $70 million.
“We are in need of a new school setting,” said Self. “You can fix it (the school facility) so many times before it costs more to upgrade than to build a new facility.”
Both the school board and grant writers from the Rapides Foundation have been looking at alternative sources for funding from the Department of the Army and the federal government including possible funding through House Resolution 2593.
HR 2593 is the Military Children’s School Investment Act and was introduced on May 21 before being referred to the House Education and Labor, House Armed Services and the House Armed Services Subcommittee on Readiness committees. All or any can decide to move the bill forward to be considered by the full House or kill it entirely.
The bill would allow for funding for school construction as well as many other school projects for districts where a large population of the student base are military dependents.
Fleming is a member of the Armed Services Committee.
Hopes are that if the bill is passed and signed by President Barack Obama, then Vernon Parish will be eligible for funding.
More than 40 percent of the students who attend Leesville High School are military dependents, and a majority of those families live on post and therefore do not contribute to the tax base.
One of the ways that school systems like Vernon Parish are compensated for the potential revenue loss created by federal property ownership is Impact Aid. Last year the Vernon Parish School System received $6 million in Impact Aid, though the program is only funded at about 40 percent.
“We are trying to help ourselves (military families and community), but there are only a limited amount of ways to raise funds,” said Yarbrough.
The physical appearance of Leesville High School, which educates the majority of Vernon Parish military dependents, is often viewed negatively. As the Army continues to increase the quality of life for its soldiers, the facility is often a bone of contention.
“Unfortunately, whether right or wrong, there is a projected correlation between Leesville High School getting a new facility and the prosperity to Fort Polk,” said School Board President Steve Woods. “People fear if Leesville High School isn’t improved Fort Polk may shut down.”
Also discussed during the meeting was possible renovations to South Polk Elementary, built in the 70’s with an open air floor plan.
Like many ideas hatched during the 70’s, the concept was good, but the reality of such projects isn’t conducive to classroom learning.
Renovations to the school would include building walls, doors and modifying much of the building to become compliant with fire codes. The school is currently compliant, but with the addition of walls and doors, the evacuation plan and stairwells would have to be remodeled to the tune of $2 million.
Self and Yarbrogh both know the obstacles faced by Fort Polk and the Vernon Parish School system. Monday's meeting is not the first to discuss funding for a new Leesville High School, and will not be the last. In past months Self and members of the school board have met with leaders from the Louisiana Department of Education as well as with Senator Landrieu both here in Leesville and during a trip to the nation's capitol.
Leesville, La. —
