Big Changes Coming to Union Parish Schools

UNION PARISH -- A tax initiative rejected by Union Parish voters in May is having a ripple effect across the school district.

"We saw it coming when the tax didn't pass," said Marion Elementary School principal William Fields.

Union Parish Schools Superintendent? Dr. George Cannon lays out the big changes to come -- one of which moves students at Marion elementary to Farmerville Elementary.

The 6th graders at Bernice Elementary -- and the 6th through 8th graders at Spearsville -- will move to Farmerville Junior High School.

"You'll find all 6th, 7th, and 8th graders in the parish and district coming into Farmerville for school," Cannon said. "We think we can offer them far more than what they could get at the smaller school where they were."

The district is working to overcome a? budget deficit this coming school year.

"One of the reasons we're doing all this is that the district does have a shrinking budget," said Cannon. "We had to eliminate about $2.4 million for next year out of the budget to make it balanced."

Cannon also says the district will also be looking at cutting staff, including teachers.

"I think from the teacher ranks, we're looking at about 22 teachers. On the other hand, we've already had 13 resignations and retirements within the system," added Cannon.

Cannon said this entire process is not an easy task.

"It's painful, you don't like to do it," he said. "We will do everything we can to affect as few people as possible. But at the end of the day, there's always someone who will feel it."

Principal Fields said he and some of his staff will move to Famerville elementary alongside his students.

"I will still be their principal, they'll see my face every day," he said.

This was a projection for upgrades and improvements envisioned at Marion Elem. School, but district officials say this is no longer possible after the tax initiative was rejected.
District officials say Marion was already shrinking, down to 70 students this next school year

"Even with the reduction in enrollment, many of the parents began to call wondering if Marion was going to be open next year," said Principal Fields. "But even as time progressed, we saw there was a decline in enrollment, so the handwriting was on the wall."

Cannon said Farmerville Elementary has plenty of room for the newcomers.

"Farmerville Elementary now serves about 600 students and it has some growth capacity, we'll be able to work there fine," he said.

One question is transportation for kids to get to Farmerville.

"I was surprised last night that we didn't have a larger number of people expressing those kinds of concerns," said Cannon.

He said they've upgraded software on their transportation system to make them more efficient and have made it their goal to get students to school as quick as possible.

"What's more important than that bus ride, is what we're you're offering on the other end of that ride," said Cannon.

Fields said the closure is actually providing more opportunities for Marion kids.

"We don't offer many programs here at Marion -- we don't have art or a librarian, nor a P.E. teacher," he said.

Now, he said students have access to more programs, different electives, and extracurricular activities.

"We see now with time changing, technology is very key," he said. "We could not offer everything at Marion."

Since the district remains under a federal desegregation order, no decision is final until granted approval by a federal judge.

District officials hope to come back to the public with another plan on the ballots next spring.

Source: http://myarklamiss.com/fulltext?nxd_id=231372

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