New School Chapters Begin For St. Landry
BOBBY ARDOIN
St. Landry Now.com Editor
An historic financial downsizing plan for the St. Landry Parish School District began Wednesday night as board members voted to close six elementary schools in order to save an estimated $21 million next year and reduce expanding debt.
However the lengthy decision-making process that led to the campus closures wasn’t that easy..
Some board members questioned the amount of money that District officials propose to save by cutting staff and the school operational costs.
Other board members suggested or devised ways to keep schools open in their election districts, while several who attended the meeting launched impassioned requests to keep Krotz Springs open for at least another year.
A last-minute temporary restraining order filed on behalf of Krotz Springs Elementary delayed the special meeting for nearly 40 minutes, but an amended version of the original order signed by State District Judge Charles Cravins Wednesday afternoon allowed the discussion and voting to proceed.
The closing of the six schools — Northeast, Grolee, Central Middle, Grand Prairie, Grand Coteau and Krotz Springs along with moving alternative school students to the alternative training center in Opelousas — was the largest enacted parish wide school closing measure since the high school consolidation plan was implemented 40 years ago.
During the last five years the Board has also voted to close North and Southwest elementary schools in Opelousas, Washington Elementary and repurposing Highland Elementary in Eunice into an early learning center.
Over the next few weeks the school administrative staff will begin reshuffling personnel assigned to each school site and developing transportation plans.
What’s Closing
The board action did not deviate from the initial cost reduction plan proposed last month by Superintendent Milton Batiste III.
In Opelousas there will be only two lower elementary schools — Park Vista will accept all pre-kindergarten through second graders and the former Opelousas Junior High School where third and sixth graders will now attend.
Students in Eunice will be rezoned for East Elementary in first though third grades. Glendale Elementary will absorb the fourth through sixth grades.
Grand Prairie students will eventually move to Plaisance Middle School or other locations. The Grand Coteau students will be dispersed to either Leonville, Arnaudville or Cankton.
Those previously attending Krotz Springs will move to Port Barre for pre-kindergarten through fourth grades.
Still Pending
The District has a scheduled court hearing scheduled July 10 before Cravins to apparently defend its position on the closing of Krotz Springs and to request removal of the temporary restraining order filed Wednesday morning.
In their remarks before the Board on Wednesday night, Krotz Springs Mayor Carroll Snyder said the city and parents whose students have been sent to the school were prepared to do all that is necessary to keep the school open.
Jeff Morrow told the Board that if Krotz Springs is closed, there is now the chance of creating a charter school in the town.
Financial Position
Batiste has said for several months that the District is debt-ridden due to recurring student loss and the increasing charter school presence which Batiste said has cost St. Landry $12.7 million.
Operating costs have been mounting due to the maintenance for 34 school sites, Batiste has said, as general fund revenue loss continues to trend towards $10 million.
Overall school officials estimate the District has $18.1 million in debt to reduce.
