½ cent.
100% Dedicated. 248Permanent Classrooms.
THIS IS A CLASSROOM IN LAFAYETTE
PARISH
THERE ARE OVER 400 MORE JUST LIKE IT. THE PROBLEM... • The Lafayette Parish School System has relied heavily on temporary metal classrooms over the past 30 years rather than expanding permanent buildings. Some of those “temporary” buildings have been in use for over 40 years. * There are currently 420 temporary metal classrooms used by thousands of students daily.
420 TEMPORARY
CLASSROOMS, SOME OVER
40-YEARS OLD.
• When it rains, it can be very difficult to hear teachers and other students in temporary metal classrooms. And when classes change, or students need to use a restroom, they can be drenched while moving between outdoor buildings. •Our schools require students to use mesh backpacks to expose potential safety hazards. This requirement means that students going from class to class between outdoor buildings in the rain can have books, papers and school projects ruined.
•For thousands of students in Lafayette Parish, when it rains, education can stop. Students are held in outdoor classrooms until they can move to other classrooms without being soaked. • During weather alerts and warnings, students must be brought inside to more secure buildings until it is safe for them to return to their classes.
WHAT IS THE PROPOSAL? • A proposed 1/2 cent sales tax is expected to eliminate a majority of the temporary classrooms over the 10-year life of the dedicated tax. • Sales tax funds will be used to build the first phase of new construction at Lafayette High, two (2) new elementary schools for Prairie and Carencro Heights in addition to wings at nine (9) schools. In all, 248 temporary metal classrooms will be eliminated from campuses across Lafayette Parish through replacement with permanent school structures.
• No tax will be collected on purchases of food or drugs.
On April 29, Lafayette Parish voters will decide on a 1/2 cent dedicated tax, replacing 248 Temporary Buidings. If approved, the tax will be collected for 10 years and then expire. Early voting is April 15-22.
WHAT GETS DONE ANDFOR
HOW MUCH? REPLACE 248 TEMPORARY CLASSROOMS WITH NEW CONSTRUCTION (ESTIMATED COSTS)
Projects
Budget
Temporary Classrooms
Lafayette High (Phase I)
$43,000,000
31
New Prairie Elementary
$34,000,000
32
New Carencro Heights Elementary
$32,000,000
14
Evangeline Elementary
$16,000,000
32
Broadmoor Elementary
$12,500,000
25
Alice Boucher Elementary
$12,000,000
24
Ridge Elementary
$11,000,000
22
Plantation Elementary
$11,000,000
22
Woodvale Elementary
$10,000,000
20
$4,500,000
9
L. Leo Judice Elementary
$4,500,000
9
Ossun Elementary
$4,000,000
8
Duson Elementary
TOTAL IMPROVEMENTS Yearly Operations & Maintenance
$194,500,000
248
$3,000,000
PAID FOR BY THE LAFAYETTE PARISH SCHOOL SYSTEM.