BOBBY ARDOIN
Contributing Writer
The newly-opened St. Landry Parish Charter School is looking for three employees to add for their staff, as school officials prepare to purchase the former Southwest Elementary School.
School executive director Debbie Faul said the school now located in the Park Vista-area of Opelousas is currently seeking a person with computer skills to assist a first-grade teacher.
Another opening exists for a kindergarten teacher, while the kindergarten through fourth grade school also wants to hire a certified social worker, according to Faul.
The charter academy was approved by the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education in 2021 and opened in August.
Faul said the school has operated with about 200 students since its opening. Nearly of those students Faul said, have indicated that they plan to reenroll for the school session next year.
Veteran St. Landry Parish administrator Elsie Semien is the school principal, while Dr. Jack Ortego is the head of the school’s Board of Directors.
Moving to the Southwest campus
Faul and St. Parish School Superintendent said in separate interviews last week that the sale of the Southwest Elementary to the charter academy is pending.
“Right now we’re waiting on (charter school officials),” Jenkins said in a Thursday night interview.
Jenkins said he understands that at this point attorneys associated with the charter school are still arranging details of the sale which he estimates will be finalized at $276,000.
School Board members voted last year to authorize Jenkins to negotiate the sale of the Southwest property with charter school officials.
