What's Next for Union Parish Schools After Judge's Ruling?
By: Cynthia Milledge
Updated: June 1, 2010
D'Arbonne Wood's Charter, executive director, Corie Williams has been anxious to get this confirmation so her school can move on.
The court’s ruling forces the Union Parish school system to provide local tax revenue to D’Arbonne Woods.
Williams says, “There’s no negative side to it. We're not trying to take anything from anybody, stop anybody from doing anything, cause anybody any harm."
Meantime, Union Parish school Superintendent, Steve Dozier, says the rest of the school system will suffer the consequences.
He says now the schools will have operate with fewer dollars, which is tough considering they were already facing a shortage of 1.8 million dollars to 2. 1 million dollars.
Superintendent Dozier says a loss of students and an increase in retirement funds are partially to blame.
He says they will continue to try and work within their budget.
Dozier says this could mean consolidating high schools and middle schools and making cuts like going to four day work weeks and reducing teacher bonus checks.
Despite the resistance that D’Arbonne Woods Charter has faced form the school system in the past year, Williams says they’re moving full speed ahead.
In fact, they’re estimating a total of 280 students next year, that’s about 60 more over this year.
