KEN KREFFT

One of several Caddo Parish School Board’s closed facilities is Broadmoor’s Arthur Circle Elementary School.

It was discussed at a neighborhood meeting earlier this year and again at Mayor Adrian Perkins’ Town Hall Meeting held Tuesday, May 18. It was sponsored by the Broadmoor Neighborhood Association in the Broadmoor Presbyterian Church gym.

A rather large crowd attended. There were many questions, mainly on crime, sewer and drainage issues.

It was suggested at the BNA meeting that perhaps Arthur Circle could be a parish-wide PreK center or else a topnotch career technology center. The Caddo School Board’s ultimate decision what to do with Arthur Circle’s campus depends largely on what citizens want it to become.

I don’t like the idea of selling it, although that has been suggested. District 8 is where it is located. It was suggested at the earlier meeting that it could be Byrd High’s new baseball field. I hope that it is put to a good use.

The Caddo Parish School Board levies 74.77 mills, the most of 15 governmental jurisdictions with millages in Caddo Parish. The total parish millages assessed in 2020 were 130.36. CPSB has a sales tax rate of 1.5%. Its sales tax receipts are 7.1% more than the July through April period compared with the last fiscal year. CPSB’s tax and budget years begin on July 1 and end on June 30 annually.

CPSB expects to receive a considerable sum of around $200 million from the federal CARES Act. I very much hope that our teachers and other CPSB employees receive a pay hike soon. We aren’t quite as competitive on salaries as is needed to retain or attract qualified teachers. At a minimum a one-time salary check would be very beneficial, but a true 5% cost-of-living increase is better.

It is encouraging that so many citizens did attend the BNA event. The various department heads answered each question. People with sewer or drainage issues were told they would be contacted by an appropriate city person. The next BNA meeting is set June 15.

Finally, the loudest applause was when Mayor Perkins stated that SPD officers would undergo mental health training. It is needed.

THIS ARTICLE WAS PUBLISHED IN THE May 21 ISSUE OF FOCUS SB - THE INQUISITOR.