BOBBY ARDOIN
Editor/Consulting Writer
The decades-old matter of selling the Morrow Elementary School property remains unresolved.
St. Landry Parish school board members are scheduled to again debate next week whether to sell the dilapidated school complex in its current condition or pay an estimated $9,500 to clean the property and perhaps attract a better sales price.
Board members have already agreed that they eventually favor selling the 8.6 acre tract along La. 71.
Board members are in agreement that the former classroom site now vandalized and overgrown with vegetation, has become a community eyesore.
The Board agreed after a 10-1 vote Thursday night to have Operations Director Claudia Blanchard contact a potential buyer who has reportedly verbally offered $40,000 to purchase the Morrow property.
Board member Bianca Vedell, who cast the only “no” vote, represents District 5, which includes the Morrow area.
Vedell, who favors spending money for a land cleanup, said individuals living nearby the abandoned school are frustrated and want to see something done about the property.
“The community has been inquiring about what (the District) is going to do about this for a long time,” Vedell said during a board meeting last week.
Vedell added that historically the Morrow school property was designated to provide education for the area’s Black students during the early part of the 20th century.
During the mid-20th century the school broadened its outreach and continued to serve the community, by also hosting a high school population that is now served by North Central High School in LeBeau.
At this point the board is somewhat divided about selling the Morrow property “as is” or paying a land clearing company to remove the overgrowth that now obscures the classroom, cafeteria and offices.
Morrow, which once featured a new cafeteria, has been stripped of its equipment and copper wiring. There was also a fire at the abandoned property several years ago, said board member Milton Ambres.
Board member Kyle Boss is opposed to paying for clean up work to be done on the property.
“If we invest in (land clearing) we probably won’t get our money back for it. If there is someone who is going to purchase the property and (the District) does a clean up, then I would feel different,” said board member Robert Gautreaux.
Since the District isn’t expecting to receive any more COVID-relief revenues, Boss said it’s time board members consider more frugality in finances.
Board member Joyce Haynes sees things oppositely.
Haynes contended at the meeting that if $40,000 was offered for the property two years ago, that it might be best to pay for clearing the land in order to attract a higher appraisal.
Tiffany Nolan, another board member, said that regardless, it’s time for the Board to make a decision about Morrow elementary.
“If we can save (the money proposed for the cleanup), I say give it a shot. We can’t keep dragging this on and maybe we can also keep the money in our pocket,” Nolan added.
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