Why does the Calcasieu Parish School Board allow a private dance center to use W.W. Lewis Middle School for its annual recital? It’s an event people must pay to enter, so it’s not a nonprofit group. Is there any insurance taken out as an additional precaution?

School Board policy allows the leasing of school facilities to private groups, and the lease agreement that groups must sign requires them to provide the board with proof of insurance.

As to the question of why lease the facilities: “The Calcasieu Parish School Board believes the functions of school buildings and grounds shall be to accommodate approved school programs … and to assist in meeting community needs,” reads the policy.

The primary features of the lease agreement, according to the School Board policy manual:

“A ‘hold harmless’ statement having the effect of holding the Board free from any liability that may arise while the facilities are in use.”

“A statement requiring, with limited exception, any person or group leasing the school facilities to purchase liability insurance identifying the Board as an additional insured.”

“A statement that the individual or group lessee shall assume all responsibility for damages and/or maintenance expenses invested in the building, directly or indirectly resulting from lessee’s use.”

The policy prohibits the use of the facilities for political campaigning, including the distribution of pamphlets and the displaying of signs.

And it says the School Board can refuse to lease facilities to those whose events include “activities prohibited by state and/or Board policies” or are “contrary to the best interest of the school system.”

The fee schedule, according to the lease agreement:

Auditorium — $250 a day; $125 for four hours or less.

Conference room — $150 a day; $75 for four hours or less.

Gym — $250 a day; $125 for four hours or less.

One to five classrooms — $150 a day; $75 for four hours or less.

Six-plus classrooms — $250 a day; $125 for four hours or less.

Cafeteria — $150 a day; $75 for four hours or less.

Stadium — $400 a day.

A janitorial fee may be added.

For more information, call Skylar Giardina, district risk manager, at 217-4240, ext. 3001.

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Online: www.cpsb.org/Page/61; www2.cpsb.org/forms/public/406.pdf.

Inmate costs as high as $76.29 per day

How much does it cost to house a prisoner in the penitentiary in Louisiana?

The total cost per offender per day in each of the state’s prisons, according to the state Department of Corrections:

Angola State Penitentiary — $56.22.

Avoyelles Correctional Center — $43.19.

Louisiana Correctional Institute for Women — $52.96.

Winn Correctional Center — $31.69.

Allen Correctional Center — $31.55.

Dixon Correctional Center — $63.85.

Hunt Correctional Center — $76.29.

Wade Correctional Center — $59.45.

Rayburn Correctional Center — $50.30.

Total for all prisons — $53.31.

A department budget summary lists the daily cost to house a state inmate in a local jail as $25.07, and the cost per day for transitional work programs is $14.38.

The budget summary lists the grand total for per-day offender costs as $37.40; the grand total including costs for nonprimary medical care is $40.31.

Department spokeswoman Pam Laborde said Friday that the above costs were projections made for the beginning of the current fiscal year and that the final figures might be different.

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Online: http://www.doc.la.gov/quicklinks/statistics/statistics-briefing-book.

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The Informer answers questions from readers each Sunday, Monday and Wednesday. It is researched and written by Andrew Perzo, an American Press staff writer. To ask a question, call 494-4098 and leave voice mail, or email informer@americanpress.com.

Calcasieu Parish School Board’s main office at 3310 Broad St. (Special to the American Press)