At first the Caddo School Board played ostrich---put head in sand. Now, it looks like they are playing the old school yard game of “chicken.”
Caddo School officials ignored a request by Shreveport city council chairman to meet with a committee to discuss funding of school crossing guards. After much publicity and a delay , the council voted to decrease the crossing guard budget item by $75,000.
In effect, this tossed the ball back to the school board. And the board ducked.
Yesterday the school board passed the 2019-2020 budget. The amount for school crossing guards was maintained at $12,500.
Superintendent Dr. Goree made statement after the vote, when was televised by KTAL. “Like many governmental bodies, found our self in a situation where we were strapped for funds. Find ourselves in a deep deficit situation , so in that respect, we were not looking to increase very much of anything…”
By email Dr. Goree was asked if in fact the school board is operating in a deficit. Additionally if in a deficit, what is the amount and how will it be paid.
Hopefully Dr. Goree will explain his statement. More importantly, someone from central office should contact the city council chair Bowman to discuss the crossing guard funding.