Lafayette Superintendent Says School Supplies Can’t Wait

LAFAYETTE, La. (AP) — Lafayette Parish Superintendent Pat Cooper is asking the school board to give officials permission to purchase $500,000 in academic supplies for the upcoming school year.

Students report to class on Aug. 12.

Earlier this summer, the board delayed purchasing new school supplies, preferring to wait until the budget approval process is complete. Under a new timeline, the board is scheduled to approve the entire budget on Aug. 27.

The Advertiser reports Cooper said in an email sent to board member that the system cannot wait any longer to have supplies ready teachers.

Cooper said the $500,000 request is "bare bones." If the board does not authorize the purchases, Cooper wrote that the district could be violating state directives, a federal law and the district's unitary status agreement.

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