By Pat Culverhouse

Voters in Webster Parish Consolidated School District 3 will be asked to renew a special tax within the district, with generated funds rededicated to include additional expenditures.

Consolidated School District 3 covers schools in south Webster Parish including Central Elementary and Lakeside Jr/Sr High School.

During their Monday meeting, parish school board members unanimously approved calling the tax renewal election, and to make application with the state Bond Commission. Date for the special election is set for June 27.

Bond attorney Grant Schlueter, with the firm Foley & Judell, reminded members that approval of the tax renewal and rededication would bring District 3 into line with other school districts.

“This is not a new tax, it’s simply a rededication of what the tax can be used for only within this district,” he said. “Currently it is used for capital expenses. It will expand what this money can be used for in this district.”

Schlueter said funds could be used for operating and maintenance costs, and other expenses.

“It will permit you to pay for SRO (School Resource Officers) in the district, and utility charges if that’s the will of the application,” he said.

During Monday’s meeting, board members also:

• Recognized Brennan Glen, custodian at North Webster Upper Elementary, as Employee of the Month for March.
• Gave approval for selected fifth-graders from E.S. Richardson Elementary to travel to the NASA Space Center in Houston, TX. Travel cost to be paid by students and through fundraiser.
• Approved 12-15 Minden High School Nature Club students to visit Caldwell Zoo in Tyler, TX. Funds for the trip from Nature Club funds.
• Granted approval for North Webster High School 10th graders to travel to Southern Arkansas University in Magnolia, AR, to tour campus. Funding source is Title 1.
• Approved travel to Six Flags over Texas in Arlington for 70-80 North Webster High School students to attend Educational Days Program. One -day trip will be funded by Title 1 funds.
• Granted permission to Yeager, Watson & Associates to advertise for bids on additions and alterations at Griffith Park.
• Accepted a land donation of approximately .41 acres owned by David Peterson, located at 504 College St.

Board members approved a total of $509,799.53 in invoice payments from the several school system maintenance and tax funds. Payments from various funds include:

• Consolidated Dist. 3 Maintenance Fund: $138,104.41. Payments include $49,920 to install a professional putting green at Lakeside Jr/Sr High; $25,963.50 to construct a livestock barn for the Ag. Dept. at Lakeside Jr/Sr High; $17,900 to pour a concrete slab for the Ag. Dept. livestock barn at Lakeside Jr/Sr High; $11,200 to purchase a livestock trailer for use by the Ag. Dept. at Lakeside Jr/Sr High;  $5,690 for replacement of bulbs and ballast kits on football field at Lakeside Jr/Sr High; $4,935 to purchase fencing and equipment for the Ag. Dept. livestock barn at Lakeside Jr/Sr High; $4,313.14 to purchase new ice machine at Central Elementary.

• Dist. 6 One-half Cent Sales Tax Fund: $312,747.34. Major expenditures are $175,000 to install roof system on D wing at Minden High School; $36,691 to purchase 100 Chromebooks for J.L. Jones Elementary; $25,482 to replace flooring in front office and auditorium at Minden High; $25,269.25 to purchase 80 football helmets for Minden High; $12,950 to install 935 sq. Ft. customized vinyl wall wrap on interior wall and big accent room at E.S.Richardson Elementary;  $11,359 to purchase LAZER-Z S-Series lawn mower for J.A. Phillips Elementary; $8,706.82 to repair damaged phone system at J.A. Phillips Elementary; $7,874.53 to replace faulty VSD assembly for cooling tower fan at Minden High.

• Cotton Valley Maintenance Fund: $760.30 to repair fire alarm system at North Webster Upper Elementary.

• Doyline Maintenance Fund: $30,126.77. Payments include $26,150 to replace outdoor walkway lighting at Doyline High School and $3,976.77 to purchase vacuum, buffer and burnisher for Doyline High.

• Springhill Maintenance Fund: $28,060.71. Expenses include $9,100 to demo and replace baseball field dugout roof at North Webster High School; $6,269.96 to repair sewer line and add two clean outs at Browning Elementary; $5,260 for removal of three trees at North Webster High School; $4,677 to purchase 13 tables and 4 storage carts for Brown Upper Elementary School;$1,415 for jetting and camera in sewer line at Browning Elementary.