Board discusses plan and timeline to advertise 1¢ sales‑tax millage renewal; board member proposes paying $400 for postcards from personal bereavement fund
April 21, 2026 | Avoyelles Parish, School Boards, Louisiana
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A board member at the Avoyelles Parish School Board meeting on April 21 outlined a plan to publicize a renewal of the district’s 1¢ sales‑tax millage, proposing postcards, pushcards, social‑media posts and school‑level assemblies to explain what the funds pay for.
"Of course, we cannot use government funds for that," the board member said, adding: "I suggested with the board's blessing if we could use our personal bereavement fund that we all contribute every month to each board member and take the $400 out of that to purchase the postcards." The board discussed starting heavy advertising after May 17 to avoid confusion with a May 16 election and noted early voting and other outreach will follow.
Board staff said the mailers and presentations will explain that the item on the ballot is a renewal and that proceeds pay for maintenance, upkeep and instructional needs. The presenters reported the plan would include sending schedules of school assemblies in early May and having board members attend assemblies to answer questions in person.
Board members confirmed a ballot date of June 27 and said the outreach timeline will be calibrated to provide roughly six weeks of public information following the May 16 election. The board noted that government funds cannot be used for campaign materials and that the proposed $400 expense for postcards would come from the board members’ personal contributions rather than public money.
Next steps: staff will circulate the advertising schedule and sign‑up sheet for school assemblies, finalize the postcard design and begin social‑media posting as agreed after May 17.
(Reporting note: quotes and paraphrase are drawn from remarks made during the board’s April 21 meeting.)
"Of course, we cannot use government funds for that," the board member said, adding: "I suggested with the board's blessing if we could use our personal bereavement fund that we all contribute every month to each board member and take the $400 out of that to purchase the postcards." The board discussed starting heavy advertising after May 17 to avoid confusion with a May 16 election and noted early voting and other outreach will follow.
Board staff said the mailers and presentations will explain that the item on the ballot is a renewal and that proceeds pay for maintenance, upkeep and instructional needs. The presenters reported the plan would include sending schedules of school assemblies in early May and having board members attend assemblies to answer questions in person.
Board members confirmed a ballot date of June 27 and said the outreach timeline will be calibrated to provide roughly six weeks of public information following the May 16 election. The board noted that government funds cannot be used for campaign materials and that the proposed $400 expense for postcards would come from the board members’ personal contributions rather than public money.
Next steps: staff will circulate the advertising schedule and sign‑up sheet for school assemblies, finalize the postcard design and begin social‑media posting as agreed after May 17.
(Reporting note: quotes and paraphrase are drawn from remarks made during the board’s April 21 meeting.)
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