Avoyelles School Board cancels lease for Bunkie Middle gymnasium

Bunkie Middle School’s gymnasium is officially back on the market for any organization who might want to lease or purchase it.

At its Feb. 5 meeting, the Avoyelles School Board terminated the lease with Arthur Lovall and Kingdom of Life Fellowship.

Lovall addressed the board, saying he had problems with getting the money and community support needed for his organization to provide the educational and recreational programs he had intended when the lease was approved several years ago. He said those problems should be resolved now.

Board member Van Kojis, who represents the Bunkie area, adamantly opposed extending the lease. He said he was told the water had been cut off since October, even though Lovall’s organization had been allowed to have basketball games in the gym.

Lovall said the water is on. Kojis asked when that happened. Lovall said earlier that day.

Kojis noted that he helped Lovall get board approval to lease the gym in exchange for in-kind services and programs offered at the facility.

“You have not lived up to your end of the agreement,” Kojis said.

The organization has seldom met its obligations to provide programs and other in-kind services to offset the monthly rental the board should charge.

Kojis recommended the board accept the Building & Lands Committee recommendation to terminate the lease.

Board member Chris Robinson, who also represents the Bunkie area, said he is familiar with Lovall’s struggle to operate his programs in the gym and also “how much the children love that gym.”

Board member Latisha Small, of Marksville, said she sympathized with Lovall and offered an amendment to remove that item from the committee’s recommendations and extend the lease for four months to allow Lovall time to get his programs running. The lease would automatically terminate if those conditions were not met, she said.

Board member Chris LaCour expressed concern as to whether there were enough adults on site to supervise children when they are playing basketball.

Lovall assured that there was adequate supervision.

LaCour asked Lovall to come back to the School Board at a later date “when you have the resources and the community support,” and a more detailed plan to support the lease.

He said the board would consider leasing the gym to his organization again once those conditions are in place.

Maintenance Supervisor Steve Marcotte said there is at least one other organization in the Bunkie area that has expressed an interest in leasing the gym for the purpose of providing community programs.

Small’s amendment failed, 3-6, with Small, Robinson and Stanley Celestine Jr. voting yes.

The original motion was approved, 7-2, with Celestine voting for the motion, which terminated the lease.

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