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Students at LeBlanc Elementary will attend a meet and greet next week to kick off the start of the new school year.
Among the happiest to greet them will be their new principal, Rachelle Brown.
“It’s very exciting,” Brown said of the opportunity.
Brown officially started her new job on July 1. She takes over for Susie Stephen, who transferred to another job in Vermilion Parish. Brown spent the previous four years as an assistant principal at Cecil Picard Elementary at Maurice. She also served as an assistant principal at S.J. Montgomery Elementary in Lafayette from 2012-’14.
“Any time you come into a new place,” Brown said, “it’s learning new ways of doing things. Even though I have had experiences in elementary schools with similar sizes, everybody has different processes.
“It’s about learning those processes of the school and meeting new people.”
With that, Brown is working diligently to learn those processes and people, not coming in and dictating to teachers and staff how she wants things done.
“This is our school,” Brown said. “Not my school. One of the first things I did when I got here was have some focus groups. I spoke to all staff members and learned as much as I could about the school. I also formed a leadership team.
“We make decisions as a team.”
Brown’s new staff has certainly helped ease the transition.
“All the staff members here have been just unbelievable,” Brown said. “The work ethic here, and I would say this about our entire parish, is second to none. It amazes me. When I reach out for help or ask questions, people are stepping up.
“It is just unbelievable.”
Parents are also putting a smile on Brown’s face.
“This community is filled with hard-working people who want what’s best for their children,” Brown said. “Parents have come into the school to tell me they are here for us. They ask what they can do because they want to be a part of this. You don’t even have to ask. People are showing up looking for things to do.
“I am excited about welcoming them in.”
Vermilion Parish Superintendent Jerome Puyau said he is happy to have Brown in place at LeBlanc to welcome those parents.
“She’s a very strong leader,” Puyau said. “She is very committed to parental support and looks forward to working with a community and a school that values high standards.
“We are excited to have such a strong leader at LeBlanc Elementary.”
Again, the feeling of being there is mutual for Brown.
“It’s fun,” Brown said of this moment. “It’s so amazing to be here, especially when you have this kind of staff.
“We are going to make some really incredible things happen.”

KAPLAN—Funeral services were held at 11:00 AM on Monday, July 30, 2018 at Vincent Funeral Home - Kaplan honoring the life of Jerry Wayne Capps, 73, who died Friday, July 27, 2018 at his residence. He will be laid to rest at Pecan Island Community Cemetery.
He is survived by his loving wife of 42 years, Zula Ann Foster Capps; his three sons, Thomas Capps and his wife, Tiffany of Broussard, Gerald Capps and his fiancée, Amy of Maurice, and David Capps and his husband, Clifford of Lafayette; and four grandchildren, Mason Capps, Gabrielle Capps, Isabelle Capps, and Annabel Capps.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Benjamin James Capps and Christine Greer Sullivan; three brothers, Sonny Capps, Tommy Capps, and Benjamin Capps; and his sister, Betty Hernandez.
All funeral arrangements were conducted by Vincent Funeral Home of Kaplan, (337) 643-7276 [Service Information 225-5276]. Condolences may be sent to the Capps family at www.vincentfuneralhome.net.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11:00 AM on Monday, July 30, 2018 at St. Alphonsus Catholic Church of Maurice for Mary Aline "Taunt Toot" Foreman, 81, who passed away on July 27, 2018 at 7:00 AM at her residence surrounded by her loving family.
Father Paul Bienvenu, Pastor of St. Alphonsus Catholic Church, will be the Celebrant of the Mass and will conduct the funeral service with musical accompaniment by Paul Piazza. Reading from scripture will be Lacy Labbe, Ethan Labbe, and Angie Foreman. Gift bearers will be her great grandchildren.
Burial will take place in Broussard Cemetery in Milton.
Mary Aline Broussard Foreman was a lifelong resident of Maurice. She was the daughter of the late Andre Broussard and the former Adonna Simon.
The love of her life was her husband, Eldes “Popeye” Foreman of 66 years, her dog Suzette, her children, her nephew (son), grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and great-great grandchildren and all of their families.
She enjoyed fishing, trawling and being at the camp. She also enjoyed dancing, sitting and relaxing with her pup “Suzette” and cooking for her family and friends. Her favorite saying was “there is always room for one more”.
Survivors include her children, Rogers Foreman and his wife Dawn, Brenda Broussard and her husband Jeff, Keith Foreman and his wife Francine, Rebecca “Beckie” Desormeaux and her husband Delfread; her nephew(son), Lucas Foreman and his wife Tina; her grandchildren, Charrissa Menard, Andrea “Drea” Foreman and her fiancé Brent, Angella “Angie” Foreman, Cody Broussard, Tara "Tatoo" DeHart and her husband David, Lacy Labbe and husband Leo, Katy Foreman, Rhonda Foreman and her husband Brandon; her great niece and nephew, Taylor Foreman and Lane Foreman; her step granddaughter, Tessa Nolen and her fiancé James; her great-grandchildren, Lacy Hebert and her fiancé Aaron, Laura Broussard and her wife Katie, Lane Menard, Brody McFarlain, Cody McFarlain, Ashley Petry and her husband Dustin, Cade Broussard, Hannah Broussard, PFC Davin Touchet, Ethan Labbe, Maddox Labbe, Addison Labbe, Alik Foreman and Ashton Foreman; her great-great grandchildren, Daniel Hebert, Aaden Cassard, Jackson McFarlain, Andi Petry, Cheyanne Petry and Laken Primeaux; her sister-in-law, Vivian “Bebin” Broussard; her godchildren, Lillian Baker and Sharon Duhon and all of her many loving nieces, nephews, friends and family, whom she cherished dearly.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Eldes “Popeye” Foreman; her parents, Andre Broussard and the former Adonna Simon; her three brothers, Jean Isaac Broussard, Pierre Dalton “Cat” Broussard and Pierre Wilton Broussard; her four sisters, Lillie Mae Broussard, Loula Mae Turner, Alexina Leblanc and Anna May Broussard; and her great-grandchild, Shawna McFarlain.
The family requests that visiting hours be observed at Delhomme Funeral Home of Maurice on Sunday, July 29, 2018 from 11:00 AM until 9:00 PM. A Rosary will be recited at 7:00 PM on Sunday evening in the funeral home. Visiting hours will continue on Monday from 8:00 AM until the time of the service.
Pallbearers will be Cody Broussard, Cade Broussard, Brandon Foreman, Leo Labbe, Rogers Foreman and Brody McFarlain.
Honorary Pallbearers will be Keith Foreman, Jeff Broussard, PFC Davin Touchet, Delfread Desormeaux, Lucas Foreman, David DeHart, Brent Hollier and all of her granddaughters.
The immediate family would like to thank their sister, Brenda for taking such good care of her in the last few months. We are grateful that she was able to remain in her home, that she loved so much.
Thank you to Amedisys Hospice and their staff, and her nurse aide, Dominique Benoit for everything they have all done for our family over the past few months. The love and compassion you have shown is true and near to our hearts.
Personal condolences may be sent to the Foreman family at www.delhommefuneralhome.com.
Delhomme Funeral Home, 200 Chief H. Fred Road, Maurice, LA is in charge of funeral arrangements.

The definition of a ‘Scam’ is a “confidence racket as a fraudulent means for unlawful gain money, or which may be lawful, but not praiseworthy or respectable”. Is it possible that Governor Edwards and the Department of Health (LDH) are running a ‘Scam’ with state hospitals and nursing homes in order to fiscally justify Medicaid expansion?
This question is being asked because over the course of the three legislative sessions in 2018 to fix the states “fiscal cliff” the following facts have come to light, and they do not add up;
• In spite of the state’s Medicaid costs doubling in the last nine years to $3.3 billion, Governor Edwards chose to expand Medicaid in Louisiana. Why?
• LDH has defended Medicaid expansion by claiming the state will save money by expanding. How?
• Proposed legislation to fight Medicaid Recipient Fraud, which could save the state $500 million or more, was resisted by the Governor and Senate Democrats. Why?
• The Nursing Home lobby, whose members rely on Medicaid dollars, makes substantial political contributions to the Governor and Senate leaders. Why?
• The Chairman of the Louisiana Hospital Association, whose members rely on Medicaid dollars to help balance their budgets, recently sent a very critical letter to the “Gang of No” ( 25 House Republicans who consistently voted against raising taxes this year as they wanted to instead see spending cuts primarily in the LDH budget for Medicaid). Was he upset about possible Medicaid cuts?
• Curiously, the state also charges our state hospitals and nursing homes substantial “Medicaid Provider Taxes”. Why?
• The Governor and Democrat legislators were elated over raising $800 million of sales taxes to balance the 2019 budget – while apparently ignoring recent federal projections which indicate Louisiana’s portion of the Medicaid tab will almost double again the $6.1 billion by 2026, and that the state could therefore be facing another $450 million fiscal cliff next year just from increased Medicaid costs. What happens then?
• The non-partisan Task Force recommendations made to the Legislature on budget and tax policy, and which included a recommendation for “a formal multi-year spending forecast on Medicaid”, was not adopted. Why not?
The above facts raise more questions than answers – until you read the following:

1. Why Tax Hospitals? It’s a Medicaid ‘Shell Game’, by Red Jahncke (The Wall Street Journal, 12-30-17);
2. Biden Was Right: Medicaid Provider Taxes A ‘Scam’ That Should Be Scrapped, by Brian Blasé (Forbes, 2-16-16):
3. The Price of Politics, by renowned “Watergate” journalist Bob Woodward.

These sources describe a shell game in which states assess Medicaid Provider Taxes against hospitals and nursing homes – usually accompanied with state guarantees of increased Medicaid supplemental payments to those same hospitals and nursing homes, largely financed from federal Medicaid matching funds.
As an illustration, assume that –

• The state assesses a hospital a Medicaid Provider Tax of $100 million;
• The state then funds back to the hospital $110 million of higher Medicaid supplemental payments;
• The federal government will then reimburse the state 60% of its Medicaid supplemental payments, or $66 million in this case , under Medicaid’s matching funds program;
• At this point the state has made a $56 million profit , the hospital has made a $10 million profit, and the federal government, i.e. taxpayers, has just lost another $66 million.
As you can see, this Medicaid ‘Scam’ shifts costs from states to the federal government in a convoluted, opaque and costly manner. It is also obvious that political leaders in both Washington and the state capitals have known about this ‘income redistribution plan’ for some time now. The above articles also imply that many Governors may have based their decision to expand Medicaid on this Medicaid ‘Scam’, and which will continue until Washington changes the rules or goes bankrupt. Which brings us to President Trump, who has promised to “drain the swamp” and eliminate fraud and waste. So what happens if Washington changes the Medicaid Provider Tax rules after Louisiana has one third of its population on Medicaid? How high will the fiscal cliff be then? Should Louisiana taxpayers be concerned?

Steve Gardes is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) and Certified Valuation Analyst (CVA) with over 40 years of public accounting experience.