By David Vitrano

L’Observateur

RESERVE – The St. John the Baptist Parish School Board may be asking voters to add a couple of mills to the tax rolls during the upcoming fall elections.

According to Executive Director of Business and Finance Felix Boughton, St. John Parish’s school system-dedicated millages, which are expected to generate about $14 million for the upcoming fiscal year, are substantially lower than those of neighboring parishes. St. James Parish taxpayers contribute 46 mills to their school system, and St. Charles Parish dedicates close to 60 mills to its education system.

Board member Albert Burl III was the first to suggest upping the millages.

“We really need to look into expanding our millages,” he said. “Even though these times are hard, I think it’s time we invest in our future.”

Boughton agreed, saying to sustain the academic growth the district has experienced recently, more funding is needed.

He noted transportation is the one area of the school system’s budget that has no taxes dedicated to it, and while it is mandated by the state, the state provides no funding for it.

St. John Tax Assessor Whitney Joseph, who happened to be in the audience at Thursday’s meeting, said he thought at least a temporary upping of the millages is a good idea. He noted the expansion at Marathon will lose its tax-exempt status in eight years, so rolling back the millages once that happens is a possibility.

“You can look eight years in the future and see the tax roll will double,” said Joseph.

After the board approved the existing millage rate for the upcoming fiscal year, board members decided to get attorney Hugh Martin to come talk about what it would take to get such a measure on the ballot in October.

The introduction of the amended budget for the 2010-11 school year was what prompted the talk of raising millages in the parish.

While introducing the budget Boughton said, “We’re still going to be in the black after this year, but I’m telling you to get ready to roll up your sleeves in July.”

The school board decided at a meeting earlier in the year to not begin working on next year’s budget until July when all the final figures for this year are in.

The board also approved Superintendent Courtney Millet’s revised organizational chart for district administration for the upcoming school year. It is much the same as last year’s, but she noted that the responsibilities of positons left vacant through retirement or leave will be spread among existing members of the administration.

“Where our budget is right now, we’re not looking to replace anyone,” said Millet.

The most significant change came at the position of Garyville/ Mt. Airy Magnet School principal. Former Principal Kelli Joseph was tapped by the St. Helena Parish School System to be their next superintendent.

Shelton Smith was originally hired as her replacement, but he will be out on leave, so Assistant Principal Glenn Chenier was named acting principal in his absence.

In accepting the position, Chenier said, “This morning I had to say goodbye to a dear friend.”

He went on to recount Joseph’s many successes during her tenure.

“It is my vision and my dream to continue that,” he added.