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There will be an informational fair offering information about Headstart, Early Headstart, Childcare, and PreK programs later this month, so parents can get ready for registration, which happens in March.
The event will be held from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. at AA Comeaux Park on February 12.
There will be parent meetings as well, offering assistance to parents who need help filling out the forms.
Those meetings are from 5:30 p.m. until 7 p.m. at the following locations on the following dates:
• Leblanc Elementary Cafeteria on February 15, 2022
• Abbeville Library Meeting Room on February 17, 2022
• Kaplan Library Meeting Room on February 21, 2022
• Cecil Picard Elementary Cafeteria on February 22, 2022

• To register, here's what you need to know:
• Copies will be made & originals immediately returned
• Your child must be present
• Child’s Birth Certificate- age 4 before September 30th
• Child’s Social Security Card
• Child’s Current Immunization Record- must have expiration date at the top of the page
• Current electric bill- If the electric bill is not in the parent’s name listed on the birth certificate, a notarized affidavit must be submitted as the second proof
• Second residency document must be one of the items below:
• Vermilion Parish Schools Notarized Residency Affidavit (if the electric bill payee is not the parent on the birth certificate)
-• current water bill
-• current gas bill
• current filed Homestead Exemption Application Form
- current lease agreement
• Proof of Income- Each adult in the household must provide one of the following:
• 2 consecutively dated check stubs for the last 2 months of employment
• Signed Employer Letter on business letterhead- Must include business name/address where the parent/guardian is employed, hourly rate of pay, and the average number of work hours per week.
• Statement of No Income Form- adults, 18 or older, with no income must complete the form at the time of registration
• Declaration of Irregular Employment Form- for irregular work, self-employment, or when no tax documents available
-• SNAP/food stamp statement with child’s name and current certification date
• Social Security benefits details page for the PreK child and all family members living in the household who receive benefits
• Signed Foster Care Placement Agreement by Department of Child/Family Services
• Vermilion Parish Student Services Homeless Verification papers

Most people in Vermilion Parish have never heard of a “balanced calendar.” Yet, those two words were spoken at a recent school board meeting for possibly the first time. However, it will probably not be the last time.
Assistant Superintendent Paul Hebert introduced next year’s school calendar to the school board.
Next year’s school calendar will be like this year’s school calendar. Students report to school on Aug. 11, 2022 for the first day of school. Graduation will be held May 18, 19 and May 20.
But when school starts in 2023-2024, it could be on a different date.
Vermilion Parish public schools could be going to a “balanced” calendar in two years.
School officials will be visiting Red River Parish soon. Red River Parish is the only parish that follows a balanced calendar.
What is a “balanced” calendar?
Balanced year school calendars are calendars in which the typical summer vacation is 10 weeks or six weeks. There would be two-week breaks (called intersessions) in the fall and spring.
All of the other holidays remain the same.
By using a balanced calendar approach, schools seek to provide a full year of academic instruction through a more evenly distributed learning cycle resulting in diminished learning loss and more consistent learning gain.
Red River’s calendar change has not added any days to the school year. Instead, the long summer break students and teachers are accustomed to has been chopped up and redistributed. Under the new calendar, students attend classes for nine weeks, followed by a two-week break.
In the United States, more than 3,000 schools operate on a non-traditional calendar, but very few are in the South.
Not everyone favors the ‘Balanced’ scheduled in Red River Parish. In a recent news story by WWNO, one parent told the reporter that students are burned out and need a break by June. An online petition to do away with a “balanced” calender was started, and 600 names were signed within a couple of hours
Red River was the first district to make the change in Louisiana. Webster Parish’s neighbor has approved its own balanced calendar for the coming year, while a similar effort in another nearby parish failed.
Districts attempting to make the change have cited the support of Louisiana State Superintendent of Education Cade Brumley, who is a big balanced calendar fan.
While he is not pushing schools to take the plunge, he is trying to make the process easier and is currently working with legislators on plans for a state-wide pilot program.
In an interview, Brumley said he knows the change may not be suitable for every district, but he hopes they will seriously consider making the switch if it is truly in the best interest of students.
“We need to recognize that Louisiana nationally is 48 or 49 when it comes to educational outcomes,” Brumley said. “I just don’t think we can sit back and say we’re never trying anything new.”
(WWNO in New Orleans, Mississippi Public Broadcasting, WBHM in Birmingham, Ala. and NPR. contributed to this story)

The Vermilion Parish School System finished the year in decent financial shape. The school system is about to be in better financial shape in 2022 thanks to the Federal Government handing out $2.6 billion to the Louisiana school systems Coronovirus Aid Relief.
The Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Fund (ESSER) was established as part of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act in March of 2020.
The Vermilion Parish School system has slowly been getting ESSER Funds. Last school year, the Vermilion Parish school district received around $10 million.
In 2022, accountant Rob Carter of Kolder, Slaven and Co. gave an updated audit report to the school board members at last week’s meeting.
The report projected the Vermilion Parish School system to receive around $35 million in ESSER funds.
That money, coupled with the grant money the school board typically gets a year ($13 million), brings the total to $48.2 million that the school district is expected to receive.
The ESSER money can be spent in various ways, such as purchasing equipment for summer learning and after-school programs. Or hiring extra help to help teach students after school or for distance learning.
Another possibility could be to improve facilities to help with distance learning or reduce the risk of COVID.
The government would also allow school systems to improve air conditioning systems to improve ventilation.
It can not be used for employee pay raises.
The Vermilion Parish School Board did not address the spending of the $48 million of ESSER money.

Overall, finances are good for the school system.

The good news is that the school board brought in $113 million in revenue and spent around $113 million. So bottom line, it was a break-even year.
Carter presented the board with pie charts showing the school board’s expenses and revenues.
The pie chart for revenues shows an increase of $13 million over the last three years.
In 2019 and 2020, the school board’s revenue was around $99 million. However, it jumped to $113 million in 2021.
The reason for the $13 million increase was a combination of two things. The most significant increase was $10 million from ESSER funds. Each school district received millions to help with COVID-19 relief.
The second-biggest increase was in sales tax collections. The school board collected close to $2 million more in sales tax revenue than in 2020.
With more money coming in, the school board spent more money.
The school board spends most of its money on salaries and benefits. The school board spends 75 percent of its budget on wages and benefits.
Last year, that equaled $79 million out of the $113 million. That figure has remained the same for the previous two years.
This year the school board had to spend $10 million it did not expect to pay. The school board spent $10 million in hurricane repair on wind-rain-damaged schools.
Another increase in spending was for materials and supplies. The school system spent $5.2 million, which is $2 million more than it did two years ago.

Hello, fellow residents of District A.
My name is Tony J. Hardy. I am running for the open position of District A Councilman. I am a longtime resident of Abbeville, and I have dedicated 34 proud years of public service to the City of Abbeville.
I began my career in 1980 as a patrolman for the Abbeville Police Department and worked my way up to the position of Lieutenant, before becoming Chief of Police. After 8 years serving as Chief, I retired to take care of my wife Trudy, who was diagnosed with cancer.
As I walk the streets of District A, I am listening to your concerns and problems. If elected, I would like to help each and everyone of you needing assistance.
Drainage is just one of my major concerns of residence in District A, and I think all maintenance and work should be done so that water runs off as fast as possible. These problems should be taken care of before severe weather comes.
Having served the city for so long, I have seen how your voice may go unheard and the issues District A faces.
Using an open door policy, I’m going to eliminate the hassle. If you have an issue, come talk to me.
If I can help, I will. Through partnerships with you, local parish and state entities, I will streamline your complaints and ideas, so that we can improve both our communication and community as a whole. When choosing a councilman, you do not want someone who will waiver when faced with opposition. You want a strong, unwavering presence, one you know and can trust that will work to make sure your voice is heard, and your problems are solved.
Remember I am just a phone call away. I hope to meet each and everyone of you as I walk all of the streets of District A. (My cell Phone: 337- 281- 9818)
God Bless and thank you for your consideration.
On March 26, 2022, eliminate the barriers between residents and council, don’t let your voice fall upon deaf ears. Vote for the person best for the job.

Tony Hardy