Avoyelles School Board asked to consider leasing Mansura High to RRCA

For the past several years, the proposed -- and then the state-approved -- Red River Charter Academy has polarized the parish. During that time, the Avoyelles School Board was firmly in the “No” camp, with one -- and maybe two -- leaning in favor of RRCA.

A board committee’s discussion this past Monday (Feb. 18) on Red River’s request to lease the closed Mansura High/ Middle School complex showed that staunch anti-RRCA position is dead.

After the dust settled, the Building & Lands Committee voted 4-1 to ask the full board to negotiate a lease agreement with the new school for the old school. However, at least one -- and maybe two -- of those “yes” votes might not be “yes” votes if a lease is actually presented.

RRCA Board President Brad Augustine presented the formal request to the committee. He included a sample lease agreement, based on other School Board leases, but emphasized it was not a lease proposal.

He said he was asking only for the board to enter into negotiations to develop a lease agreement for the property and was responding “to a resolution of support from the Town of Mansura. They want us in Mansura Middle.”

Town officials have received complaints about the deteriorating condition of the campus.

Augustine said the new charter school would be leasing “a building that is not in use and is a blight to the community.”

RRCA officials have said from the beginning the Mansura site would be good location because it is centrally located and could be made ready to house the school relatively quickly.

Board member Van Kojis said Mansura High is the school district’s emergency location in the event one of the other schools is unable to be used.

He initially made a motion to deny RRCA’s “proposed lease.” That was seconded by Chris Robinson, who thought the board needed more time to review a lease.

Augustine pointed out the item in the informational packet is not a proposal, which meant the original motion was inappropriate and it was withdrawn.

MOTION TO DENY LEASE

Kojis changed his motion to say the committee recommends denying any lease to Red River Charter.

“You have your charter, now go out and find a building to lease or build your own school.”

There was no second from the five-member committee, so the motion died.

Board member Robin Moreau raised the issue of Red River becoming part of the public school district.

If that were to happen, state law would require the School Board make any unused school site available to the new charter.

Kojis said he might be willing to approve allowing RRCA to come into the school system as a Type IV charter -- like LaSAS.

A Type IV -- and LaSAS is the only one in the state -- is approved by the state but is under the jurisdiction of the local school board. State MFP allocations for the school’s enrollment would still go directly to the school.

Kojis said the board would have no control over a Type I school.

“You want control over ANOTHER school,” one of the RRCA entourage quipped.

Augustine noted that if the charter school and School Board did enter into negotiations for RRCA to become a Type I or Type IV charter within the school district, “Wouldn’t it be better if we were already in one of your facilities?”

Committee Chairman Rickey Adams expressed reservations about leasing the property to Red River because it would take students, teachers and state revenue from the school district.

‘HELPING YOU HURT ME’

“I would be helping you hurt me,” Adams said.

Board President Lynn Deloach said he would rather see the property being used for a good purpose than “just let it sit there.”

Moreau said the people of Mansura supported that property for education and it would be appropriate to return it to that use.

“If we are not going to do anything with it, we need to seriously address” charter’s request, he said.

Moreau said he believes leasing the old school to the new school “would be a win-win for everyone.”

Board member Chris Robinson said he had heard some people say the Mansura site is move-in ready while others have said it could take months to clean, repair and make it ready to house a school.

“It can’t be both,” he said.

Maintenance Superintendent Steve Marcotte said it would take a good crew of workers about a month to get the site ready to operate as a school in the event one of the other schools is put out of commission by a natural disaster or fire.

‘AN EYESORE’

Mansura Mayor Kenneth Pickett said the closed buildings “have been an eyesore” and something needs to be done to address the issue of blight. He said the town is getting tough on its residents to repair or tear down their dilapidated buildings.

“We need to take the politics out of this issue and do what is best,” Pickett said.

In addition to putting a school back in the heart of Mansura, the new school would be an economic boost to the town and parish with new jobs in town, Pickett added.

As a starting point for negotiation, RRCA offered to pay $3,000 a month for 45 years. The property has been appraised for sale at $595,000. Marcotte said the board would need to have an appraisal done to determine an appropriate lease rate.

“We will always negotiate with you in good faith,” Augustine said. “All we ask is that you negotiate with us in good faith.”

Augustine said RRCA is willing to commit to a reasonable monthly lease agreement, plus other concessions that would enable the school district to take over the property in the event it is needed for use as an APSD school.

“If you just don’t want to lease it, I can’t do anything about it,” he added.

Moreau made a motion that the property be appraised and that the board consider negotiating a lease with RRCA. Deloach seconded the motion.

It was approved 4-1, with Kojis voting no and Adams and Robinson also voting yes.

The committee recommendation will go to the full board at its March 12 meeting. If approved, Deloach would appoint a committee to negotiate a possible lease with RRCA.

District Attorney Charles Riddle told the committee that a lease is a negotiated agreement and can include any conditions and requirements both parties agree to

He said that means issues like requiring RRCA to vacate the building if the district needs the site can be in the lease. Requiring the school district to reimburse RRCA for any improvements to the site if the school is forced to vacate prior to end of the lease could also be included, he said.

However, neither of those conditions HAS to be in the lease.

One factor that was only briefly mentioned during the committee discussion is the fact that Red River still plans to open in August and time is growing short to find and prepare even a temporary site for classes to start for the 2019-20 school year.