By KERI CHAMPION

Staff Reporter

RESERVE- St. John Parish Schools confirmed a healthy budget balance and a bright financial outlook for the 2007 fiscal year. The 2006 fiscal year ended on June 30, 2006. The October 2006 audit was made public at the St. John Parish School Board meeting on Thursday.

Felix Boughton, comptroller for the parish school system confirmed that St. John the Baptist Parish Schools were found in compliance with every tax ordinance except for the school lunch program where the parish exceeded projected budget expenditures by more than five percent. The additional costs were incurred from the extra number of displaced students needed to be fed during the school year.

&#8220Overall, the audit was very clean, and we are happy with the finding,” Boughton said.

The general fund balance for the fiscal year was $9.6 million.

The board also honored its students of the year for 2006-2007.

The fifth grade students of the year were as follows: Gil Jasmine, East St. John Elementary; Darius Adams LaPlace Elementary; Leonard Harris Lake Pontchartrain Elementary; Alexis Harris, Garyville/Mt. Airy Magnet; Jalyn Brignac West St. John Elementary.

Eighth grade: Tim Roussel, West St. John Elementary; Brittany Caston, East ST. John Elementary; Jennifer Ilski, LaPlace Elementary; Darichelle Sampson, Lake Pontchartrain Elementary; Crystal Connor, Fifth Ward Elementary; Charissa Livingston, Garyville/Mt.Airy; and Na’Kia Ricks, John L. Ory Magnet.

12th grade students of the year were Desney Dumes, East St. John High School. And Chelsea Garner from West St. John High School.

Overall winners who competed regionally for student of the year are” Darius Adams, fifth grade, from LaPlace Elementary; eighth grade Jennifer Ilski, from LaPlace Elementary; 12th grad Desney Dumes, from East St. John High School.