By JIM BUTLER

Slashing and burning in Washington has the attention of school systems nationwide.

Rapides is no exception. The system received about $23 million through the federal pipeline in the last School Board audit year.

Not all of it came from the Department of Education, currently one agency at the center of D.C. attention.

The total includes allocations from the Department of Agriculture for the School Food Service program (breakfast and lunch).

Other audit notes:

The actuarial valuation of Post Employment Benefits for retirees, other than pension, increased $27 million in the year ending last June 30, to $319.8 million.

No payments were made to a trust fund and $12.3 million was paid in health care premiums, leaving a contribution deviancy of $7.1 million.

The board’s general obligation debt was $166 million and certificates of indebtedness totaled $600,000.

By law, the system is limited to debt not exceeding 35 percent of assessed property valuation in the district. The system is well shy of its current $465.5 million limit.

Property tax revenue totaled $57.8 million, $15.6 for dedicated debt service.

Sales taxes generated $68.9 million, with $52.7 million dedicated to salaries and benefits.

Minimum teacher salary was $44,527; maximum was $58,628. Average was $51,301. Statewide average was $58,229.

A decade ago, minimum was $36,415, maximum was $48,915, with average of $43,320. Statewide average was $47,795.

Enrollment in 2023-24 was 22,101. A decade earlier it was 23,652.

Classroom teachers numbered 1,769, compared to 1,595 ten years previous.

The system had 3,354 employees in the current audit year, compared to 3,201 ten years ago. It is the largest employer in the parish.