ASCENSION PARISH - School officials say there are less temporary buildings this school year, but they don't anticipate removing many more unless they get more funding.

This school year there are 120 temporary buildings, 30 less than last year.

"If the growth were to slow down or stop, then maybe we would catch up," said Chad Lynch, director of planning and construction for the Ascension Parish School Board, "but as long as the growth continues, then we'll have to continue to do what we're doing to keep up."

Typically, the school system welcomes about 500 new students every year, forcing many schools to fill extra space with temporary classrooms. Lynch says this allows them to keep the student-teacher ratio one to 20.

Next April 9th, voters will decide whether to approve or deny a $120 million school bond. If it gets that money, the school system plans to build three new primary schools and one middle school, in addition to smaller expansion projects.

"The bond is very important to the parish, I've been doing this job a long time, as have the administrators that I work with," said Lynch, "and we see ourselves very close to catching up with the growth."