Barbe High School - Les Memoires Yearbook (Lake Charles, LA)

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r sK The dreaded rainy day had arrived like March’s lion — unwanted, unexpected. and unfortunately, not saved for. The nationwide economic depression had trickled down to Louisiana and hit the industrial community of Lake Charles a harder blow than could be absorbed. Plant closings and worker s lay-offs reduced revenues generated from in-lustrial and sales taxes. The coffers were empty. A tax millage was the only hope. Everyone joined in the campaigning — teachers, students, parents, and school board members. Despite the best of efforts, a community angered over what they considered a mismangement of school monies and threatened with further lay-offs, defeated the proposal 10,202 to 9.054. There was to be no rainbow. No pot of gold. Committees were formed, morales were deflated and the cuts announced: Reduce leaching naff and increase claw loads Close five schools Eliminate allotments for English, math, science, social studies, and physical eduatioo Eliminate funding for hand uniforms Reduce allotments for music and an Discontinue furniture and equipment allotments Reduce Office allotments Transfer financial responsibility of office machine maintenance to individual schools Elininatc funding for driver's education Stop funding for utilities at athletic events Eliminate funding for non-revenue sports Freeze salaries of all employees and reduce insurance benefits No ooe was spared, the budget bely «tightened all the way. Opening J 6 Student Life Organizations 58 6 Sports Academics 130 131 People ■■■ Index Groups 172 190 Ads Closing 2H