The Madison Parish School Board (MPSB) during its regular meeting Monday unveiled plans to solve a longstanding and very visible problem in Tallulah: the state of the crumbling campus of the former Tallulah High School on Bayou Drive.
The board unanimously approved a notice of intent to consider during its next regular meeting the calling of a special election to authorize an ad valorem tax on all property "within the boundaries of the school board for the purposes of restoring, renovating, improving, operating and maintaining" the old Tallulah High School building. The renovations, MPSB Superintendent Dr. Charlie Butler Jr. said, would include the former school's gymnasium, football field and all related properties.
If approved by the MPSB, the tax would then need to be approved by the qualified voters within the proposed area before any such tax could be levied.
Butler said the project is the latest in his “Vision to Fruition” program, adding the proposed renovation would include space for the school district to use for various purposes, but also public space, such as the gym and football field and an area to serve as a community center.
“We’ll be working with the city to make sure that our students have a recreation place to go after school hours,” Butler said. “We’re always talking about our kids getting in trouble because they don’t have anything to do.Three short years ago someone asked me what we’re going to do with this old Tallulah High School building. Not only is it an eyesore for the school district. It’s an eyesore for the entire city and parish. I’ve been working with a couple of gentlemen, trying to get this on for an election. We have about six more years to pay for the high school, so really, this would be like an even wash in a few years.”
Details on the project’s timeline, as well as a detailed breakdown of the proposed ad valorem tax numbers will be available at the MPSB’s next meeting, Mon., Sept. 18.
