Castille elected president of Calcasieu School Board
Published 9:33 am Wednesday, January 11, 2023
- (American Press Archives)
Castille was nominated by Billy Breaux, District 13, and elected by unanimous vote.
“I want to thank y’all for electing me as President,” Castille said to his fellow board members. “I do promise to do my best and to keep the kids at the forefront of everything that we do.”
For the role of vice president, Eric Tarver, District 8, and Desmond Wallace, District 14, were nominated.
Wallace expressed his appreciation for Glenda Gaye’s nomination, but ultimately declined.
Following this, Tarver was elected as CPSB vice president unanimously.
The board also welcomed seven new members to the board.
The new members include Karen Hardy Mcreynolds, District 2, Mary Fontenot, District 4, Patrick Pichon, District 5, Betty Washington, District 7, Anthony O’Banion, District 10, Phyllis Stine Ayo, District 11, and Shawn Baumgarten, District 15.
“I’d like to welcome the new board members and returning board members,” said Superintendent Dr. Shannon LaFargue. “We look forward to your stewardship in CPSB’s continued growth.”
Billy Breaux, District 13, expressed welcome to the freshmen members as well. “Every board that I’ve been on… has gotten better every single year. I’m hoping that trend continues,” he said.
He continued by stating that the senior members of the board will be available to help when needed. “You’ve got a lot of knowledge from the board members from different people that have been in the system for years… you’ve got a good breadth of knowledge to be able to ask questions.”
One of the first things that the new board approved was the Master Sale and Use Tax Ordinance for 2023. The following rates were approved unanimously:
The Calcasieu Parish Sales Tax Ordinance of 1968 was approved at 1%, the Calcasieu Parish School Board District #2 Sales Tax Ordinance of 1992 at 0.05%, the Calcasieu Parish Sale and Use Tax Ordinance #4 of 1995 at 0.50% and the Calcasieu Parish School Board Salary #2 Sales and Use Tax Ordinance of 2015 at 0.50%.
